The voice of He Shen boomed on the stage again, “Aside from a cash prize this year, we also have prizes such as only taking twenty percent in commissions, the right to pick whatever character in the big drama produced by the company in the start of the year, and more. Let’s see who will be the lucky winner tonight.”
All of the company’s actors and actresses broke into a cheer after He Shen’s announcement. With the exception of Li Man and Xue Yu, everyone else in Huan Yu Century Entertainment needed to give half of their earnings to the company.
The actors and actresses could go crazy if the split was reduced to twenty percent, even if for only a year.
Adding to that was the right to choose any character that they wanted to play in the new year’s big drama that was produced by the company itself. The people who never had the chance to play in any leading role would of course be attracted.
There was only one way to draw the lot. A spinning roulette on the screen was controlled by a computer. The actor or actress would go up there themselves to touch it. A number would appear after the roulette had stopped rolling.
There was a rack containing scrolls that were tied up by red silks standing beside the screen. Above the scrolls, numbers hung.
The actor would then retrieve the scroll that corresponded with the number that they were given. The content of the scroll would be their prize.
“Who wants to be the first person?” The master of ceremonies was standing beside the computer.
The sequence of the actors in the draw was done by their own volition. It was proof that there were no backdoor deals, as well as evidence of impartiality.
Bigshots like Xue Yu and Li Man naturally would never clamber for the first place in line. That would be too embarrassing for them.
On the other hand, the unrecognized C-listers were sure that good luck would never befell the first in line. Nobody actually answered the MC’s call.
Just as Yun Xiangxiang was contemplating about being the first in line, a voice arced through the air, “I…I’ll go first.”
Yun Xiangxiang looked at the direction of the voice, only to see that it was Bo Yan. She smiled sheepishly to everyone around her. As she lifted the hem of her dress, she walked forward.
Trepidation was spelled upon her face. Even so, she was quite prompt and wasted no time.
The numbers on the big screen had just rolled around for a few seconds before Bo Yan asked for it to stop. She landed on an auspicious number: number eighty-eight.
Bo Yan clutched her chest in incredulity. Her smile was radiant.
Eight hundred and eighty grand in cash was big money for a newbie like Bo Yan. They were after the fame and money when they chose to act.
This was already quite a sizable reward. The crowd envied Bo Yan.
With the opening act ending with Bo Yan’s good luck, many in the crowd stopped hesitating. Many of them laid claim to small prizes too.
However, when ten odd people had only struck consolation prizes, the high that was brought by Bo Yan had diminished.
“I’ll have a go,” Yun Xiangxiang announced when she saw that nobody was taking the MC’s call.
Each actor must draw one lot. It would be her turn sooner or later. Yun Xiangxiang ascended the stage as she wanted to finish this early by drawing early.
Everyone’s attention was drawn to her immediately.
It was not just because of her peerless beauty. Her current momentum was also a force to be reckoned with.
Yun Xiangxiang touched the screen arbitrarily. The roulette actually stopped at number two.
“Number two. What are the odds?” Yun Xiangxiang remarked humorously before going to the rack and taking down scroll number two.
The MC crashed the gong that was standing at a side. This was the rule of Huan Yu Century Entertainment. Gongs would sound if someone drew a big prize.
“Congratulations, Miss Yun, for winning the big prize of twenty-eighty split in revenue for a year!”
“Heavens, what kind of luck is that?”
“Twenty-eighty split. Going by Yun Xiangxiang’s status now, I can’t even calculate how high her income is going to be!”
“That is so enviable. Twenty-eighty split is too far a dream. Forty-sixty split is already heaven for me!”
“…”
Everyone exploded into discussion instantly. Yun Xiangxiang really did not have any thoughts about winning any big prize.
However, it was impossible for her to not be happy about this windfall. She had more money to be given to her fund now.
“Miss Yun, the internet said that you are the reincarnation of a koi [1]. I did not believe it at first, but now I have seen you in action,” the MC congratulated Yun Xiangxiang.
“Thank you, thank you,” no matter what Yun Xiangxiang said now, they would seem fake. It was not the time for humility, gracefully thanking him was the way to go.
“Hold on a second. Can I have my junior help me?” Xue Yu dashed forward in a hurry when he saw Yun Xiangxiang descending the stage.
The MC looked at He Zhen and He Shen. He Shen nodded at the MC after the father and son discussed it.
Only then did the host say, “Almighty Xue has the right to choose regarding his own chance.”
“Come on, junior. I have had my eyes on that car for a long time,” Xue Yu dragged Yun Xiangxiang as he pointed at the list of prizes.
It was a limited edition sports car of which only seven of the same model were made worldwide. He could not get his hands on it now. The model was released eight years ago. He could not afford it during that time.
He knew that He Zhen had one of it. It was just that he never drove it. It was a surprise that he made it into a prize this year.
This was probably the only chance for him to get his hands on this car in his life. If he missed it, it would remain a regret for him.
“Senior, I don’t want to help you,” Yun Xiangxiang dared to help him less when she saw the burning desire in Xue Yu.
“I am an unlucky guy. Never had any big prizes in my ten odd years of drawing lots. Just draw that lot. Even if it is not the car, it will be better than my draw,” Xue Yu put his hands together to beg her.
He cared not about how many actors in that party were his fans. He was not putting on airs at all.
“Don’t blame me if the prize isn’t great,” Yun Xiangxiang could only brace herself to draw again. If they dawdled any longer, they would waste everyone’s time.
“You are still my best junior even if you get an eight hundred and eighty-eight yuan red packet for me,” Xue Yu guaranteed.
Eight hundred and eighty-eight yuan red packets was the worst prize. It carried a hidden dialogue of “Thanks for coming.”
Yun Xiangxiang returned to the stage. She turned her face around as she touched the screen. She did not even look at the number. Number seventy-four was what she was given…
“74, 74. Does that mean go mad, or to die [2]?” Chen Junjie, who was on the floor, guffawed.
He was a guest. Naturally, nobody tried to pick a bone with him, as he was special.
Even Yun Xiangxiang thought that this number was inauspicious. However, she loathed to see Chen Junjie being smug.
“Even this silly number I got just now landed on a big prize. It’s not impossible for seventy-four to be a big prize.”
Yun Xiangxiang straightened her back as she muttered that. With big strides, she went to the rack to retrieve scroll number seventy-four.
Everyone stretched their necks to see what the result was. As the scroll unfurled itself, words were not what was on it. Instead, it was a fiery red sports car.
In his excitement, the MC crashed the gong with the microphone. He only knew what he had done after he had done it. Hurriedly, he checked the microphone.
“Junior, junior, you are my goddess of luck!” Xue Yu forgot where he was in his elation. He wanted to pounce on Yun Xiangxiang to give her a hug.
It was fortunate that He Wei grabbed him with his fast reflexes.
There are so many people and media here. If this guy pounces at her so excitedly, the scandal between him and Yun Xiangxiang would spread all over town tomorrow.
Xue Yu only snapped out of it by now. He immediately redeemed himself. Loudly, he declared to the media that was present there, “If any of you dare to report nonsense, I swear, you will feel my wrath even if that is the last thing I do. You will be my blacklisted clients!”
Xue Yu had the confidence when he made that declaration. He Wei used to be a special agent after all. His scouting skill was off the charts. None of his actors could be followed by any reporters.
After Xue Yu gained fame, he was the one who had been providing them news. They had been unsuccessful in digging any news about him.
With how big Xue Yu was now, he did not need any news to keep him relevant.
During the banquet that happened later, Xue Yu drank with the media’s honchos to show his gratitude.
The media fell right into his trap of carrots and sticks.
When Xue Yu got his hands on the car after the end of the banquet, he immediately took a photo with it to post on Weibo.
[Xue Yu V: Thank you, my lucky star, for drawing my beloved car for me @Actress Yun Xiangxiang]
The Weibo post instantly went viral right after it was posted.