CHAPTER 992: CHAPTER 134: MAKING THINGS DIFFICULT (PART 2)

"Fashion" invited Yan Yuan, so naturally her looks and temperament perfectly match the theme of this issue’s cover.

Youthful, pure, vibrant, beautiful!

Even though Yan Yuan is a newcomer, she ticks all these boxes.

Especially, the kind of youth and vitality she possesses, which so many actresses lack.

She appears beautiful and intelligent, energetic, pure yet lively.

Her image is indeed excellent.

When Song Ming saw Yan Yuan about to start her makeup, he became quite unwilling.

All in all, he just looks down on this newcomer, Yan Yuan.

No matter how pretty she is, in the end, she lacks popularity.

If they end up shooting the cover together, and the magazine doesn’t sell well, as a leading star, how could he bear that?

Even if it goes well, this newcomer would be riding on his coattails, and he doesn’t like her. He despises people like that.

He just looks down on newcomers like her, so what?

"Wait a minute!" Song Ming shouted as he saw the makeup artist going to do Yan Yuan’s makeup.

He immediately yelled: "Today, if she goes up, I’m leaving. I won’t share the frame with her anyway."

The photographer got anxious when he heard this.

Though Yan Yuan is beautiful, the magazine’s sales would ultimately rely on Song Ming’s popularity.

If Song Ming indeed got angry and left, how would this issue of the magazine be shot?

How could it sell big?

"Mr. Song, Yan Yuan is just an ignorant little girl, there’s no need to be too harsh with her," the photographer quickly appeased him.

Xia Lu looked at the scene unfolding before her, frowning deeply.

She didn’t expect Song Ming to be as difficult to get along with as rumored.

So arrogant, really acting as if he’s some big shot.

Yan Yuan crossed her legs, looked back at him, with an expression that said "feel free to leave," and said, "Go ahead, just leave. If you leave, I’ll leave too. Since we’re both under contract, remember to pay the entire penalty."

The entire penalty?

Upon hearing this, Song Ming angrily said, "Yan Yuan, why should I pay your penalty?"

"You’re the one who breached the contract first, causing ’Fashion’ to suffer massive losses. If you leave, how am I supposed to shoot alone? This was originally a dual cover theme. You breaking the contract and asking me to pay the penalty, how does that make sense?"

Yan Yuan touched the small diamond ring on her little finger.

It’s part of a set with her wedding band; though small, the 14-carat diamond on her pinky was quite eye-catching.

The makeup artist beside her was staring, her eyes wide open.

It seemed she had never seen such a big diamond in her life.

"How much is your penalty?" Song Ming asked impatiently. He decided not to shoot anymore, so he’d rather pay the penalty.

It couldn’t be much for him anyway!

Yan Yuan sighed, "I didn’t want to come to shoot the cover. But Sister Lulu arranged it for me, with a full penalty in case I backed out. Now that you’re not shooting, I have no choice but to back out too."

"Yan Yuan, do you take me for a fool? I’ll pay your penalty! I don’t care, I’m leaving."

"Wait, Sister Lulu, bring my contract over. Let him see that if he breaches the contract causing me not to be able to shoot, the one backing out pays the entire penalty, which is the total value of ’Fashion’s’ quarterly sales, 1.2 billion."

Xia Lu was dumbfounded.

When did she sign a contract like that, and where could she find it?

Yan Yuan gave Xia Lu a look, and Xia Lu promptly took the contract out of her bag.

After taking it out, Yan Yuan said to Xia Lu, "Turn to the last page and have a look!"

Xia Lu turned to the last page and was instantly stunned.

On the last page, there was a specific clause about breach penalties.

Yan Yuan had signed her name, and there was also a line of additional conditions.

When was this added in, and how did she not know?

Xia Lu took the contract to show Song Ming.

After looking at it, Song Ming angrily said, "What rubbish contract is this? I didn’t sign this, how is this my concern? If there’s compensation, it should be you compensating."

"Then see if your own contract has it," Yan Yuan said, sitting there playing with her diamond ring, utterly bored.

Song Ming immediately called over his agent and then took out his own contract to check the last page.

When he saw it, it stated that the breach penalty not only compensated ’Fashion’ for some of the damages caused but also covered the newcomer’s idle time costs and the losses the newcomer brought to ’Fashion’.

"Why didn’t I see this when I signed!" Song Ming stamped his foot in anger.

How did this extra content appear all of a sudden?

Yan Yuan clapped her hands and said, "Let’s put on makeup. If anyone is willing to pay 1.2 billion alongside my idle time fee, I’d gladly wrap up here."

Song Ming gritted his teeth, threw the contract to his agent, and sat back down at the makeup table angrily.

What kind of lousy contract was this? ’Fashion’ dared to con him, utterly shameless.

Xia Lu and the photographer were utterly confused; was this really written in the contract?

How come they didn’t know?

Perhaps Song Ming was so enraged by Yan Yuan that he lost his head.

Throughout the makeup process, he glared at Yan Yuan, wishing he could kick this newcomer out.

Seeing her, he just couldn’t stay calm.

Yan Yuan, already quite pretty, had a light makeup session.

After makeup, she changed into today’s strapless dress.

She then tied her hair into a simple ponytail, just like that, after a little tidying up, she looked as beautiful as a fairy.

During Song Ming’s makeup session, he was uncooperative throughout, causing the makeup artist to become quite anxious.

The final look made his makeup appear a bit thick, but fortunately, it didn’t smudge; post-editing should fix it.

Yan Yuan admired the makeup artist’s skill; to achieve such a result with his expression was quite good.

First, shooting the indoor scenes.

It was supposed to depict young people’s home life.

The messy room, clothes thrown on the floor, crooked roses inserted in the vase, and the sofa covered with snacks.

This is the life of the youth, free and uninhibited.

In a gown, Yan Yuan stood there, contrasted against the indulgent scenery of the room, appearing even more youthful, vibrant, and carefree.

Throughout, Song Ming gazed at Yan Yuan with his steely gaze.

His eyes seemed filled with jealousy but also hatred.

The photographer shot several sets, and although the two looked good on camera, initially, Song Ming’s angry look gave it a special beauty, like a bickering couple.

However, the shoot required various styles, and he couldn’t just keep it like this; he had to smile at some point!

"Take a break," the photographer called the two agents over; this couldn’t continue.

Yan Yuan is a newcomer, and no matter what, the photographer hoped she could lower her stance a bit.

Once the shoot was over, they could settle their grievances however they wanted.

For now, time was tight; if Song Ming realized that the contract was merely Yan Yuan’s ploy.

If he breached, ’Fashion’ would face significant losses.

Xia Lu knew Yan Yuan’s character; asking her to compromise was impossible.

But, Song Ming was too arrogant; if this continued, it would indeed delay the shoot.

The consequences would be unimaginable.

She didn’t want Yan Yuan’s first shoot to face such issues.

Xia Lu walked over to Yan Yuan, patted her shoulder, and said, "Yueyue, can’t this be resolved? Song Ming is a big star, no matter what. How are you two going to work like this?"

Yan Yuan nodded and said, "I know what to do. But since he’s arrogant, I have to retaliate."

She certainly wasn’t the type to be bullied.

"Yes, yes, yes, you’re the boss; who would dare to bully you?" Xia Lu admired Yan Yuan greatly.

She could handle Su Meili, let alone just Song Ming.

After Xia Lu left.

Yan Yuan continued touching up her makeup and glanced at Song Ming beside her.

Actually, the clauses in the contract earlier were something she had Yu Heng add on.

When she came to ’Fashion’, Yu Heng had come chasing.

He was hovering over her, and at that moment, she told Yu Heng to add some words to the contract.

In a couple of hours, those words would naturally disappear from the contract.

And the contracts within ’Fashion’ did not actually have those additional terms.

To put it plainly, she intentionally tricked Song Ming.

The more he didn’t want to shoot, the less she’d let him leave.