"Sis Sisi, is it really you?"
One person excitedly widened their eyes and tightly grabbed her shoulders with both hands.
Another person moved that person away from Gu Sisi's sight and asked, "What's there to be confused about? With Sis Sisi's abilities, isn't this possible?"
"No, no." That person quickly denied, afraid of being misunderstood. "I'm just surprised."
"Haha, when you think about it like this, it makes sense. Who else could be this awesome? Right here beside us! Why didn't we think of it before!"
Everyone looked at the person who suddenly spoke up and complained, "Monday morning quarterback."
Then there was a flurry of various praises. Gu Sisi couldn't stand this kind of exaggerated praise that was more like what you'd hear in a fan circle. Embarrassed, she interrupted them.
"Who wants to come?"
"I do!"
"I do!"
...
The whole team signed up. So, the entire painting department got an extra job. However, for the comic "Yilian", 98% of the work was done by Gu Sisi alone. They only helped with coloring occasionally.
Still, everyone was extremely excited to be part of this production process.
In the end, the two comics from this department occupied the top two spots on the list.
That wasn't the best news. Finally, because this comic was so popular, a company actually wanted to buy its film and television rights.
Gu Sisi just focused on creating and left such matters to General Manager Dai. So, when she was informed that she had to meet the person in charge of the production team, she was completely bewildered.
"But it's not finished yet?"
"We can film while it's still being serialized. And it takes one or two years from organizing a film production to putting it on the big screen."
It seemed that General Manager Dai knew a lot about this.
Although this problem was solved, Gu Sisi still had something on her mind.
It wasn't until the meeting.
The other party said, "You also have the right to cast."
Gu Sisi looked up. "Huh? What's that?"
Things then developed in an unpredictable direction for Gu Sisi. The next day, the production team launched a grand casting call.
Gu Sisi sat on the judging panel, looking confused. She whispered to the person beside her, "Do I really have to be here?"
She stopped wondering why the casting was happening so quickly.
But now that she was here, how could she update the comic? Didn't they buy the script?
Weren't they in a hurry for it to be finished?
"This is your right," the person whispered.
Well, if that was the case.
"Don't mind me," Gu Sisi whispered back.
Just as she was about to leave, she turned her head. Before she could stand up, she was so shocked that she shrank back and sat back down on the chair.
"Well, it can't be said like that entirely. After all, these are the characters you created. You have the right," the person continued talking on their own.
Gu Sisi's mind was now in a complete mess.
Huo Cheng actually walked in and sat on the judging panel, just one seat away from her.
Most of the people in this casting were students who had just graduated from art schools. Gu Sisi watched the talent shows for a whole morning and gave scores to the contestants. It wasn't until it was over that she came to her senses.
Looking at the boxed lunch in front of her, she couldn't believe it and her chin trembled.
"Is there more today?"
"Yes, there are still a few hours to go," the person in charge she had met the day before was shoveling food into their mouth, eyes fixed on the contestants' profiles, very focused.
It seemed they were really dedicated, but she didn't need to be here!
Gu Sisi looked at Huo Cheng's empty seat. Maybe he had something to do. But whatever!
Now was the perfect time to make a run for it.
Gu Sisi suddenly stood up, put on her hat, and walked slowly towards the door as if she was just passing by. She stepped out, and the air was fresh.
Just as she turned her head and was about to speed up and run away, her hand was grabbed.
"I've read the comic."
That familiar voice. Gu Sisi tightly closed her eyes. This was what she had been worried about all morning. The male protagonist in the comic was based on him. How could she face him? Unless Huo Cheng was stupid, he couldn't not see that this story was real.
"Uh-huh," Gu Sisi swallowed hard and waved her hand, trying to break free. "Well, I have something to do this afternoon. I'll leave first."
Just as she finished speaking.
For a long time, she couldn't break free.
She turned around with a bitter smile on her face. "Do you still need something?"
Huo Cheng slowly let go of her hand and put it in his pants pocket.
"There are still some issues to discuss in the agreement contract. I think it's better to discuss them directly with you."
These matters...
"Just talk to our general manager," Gu Sisi wasn't trying to delay on purpose. It was just that the rights to these matters had already been given to the general manager.
"The company that bought this comic is mine. And your company... according to the shares, it's also mine."
Seeing Gu Sisi looking blank, he continued, "So, this isn't a cooperation between two companies. It's a cooperation between you personally and the company."
"Ah?" Gu Sisi was stunned.
Even when she saw the contract and signed it, she was still completely confused.
"So, it's this company that's going to produce it?"
What Gu Sisi didn't understand was that since they had already agreed on the profit - sharing, why did they need to sign another contract?
Soon, she got her answer.
"No, the Huo Group has just opened a new film and television company."
"Ugh."
Well, rich people can be capricious.
In the afternoon, although Gu Sisi found an excuse to rush back to the company, she was still very troubled because she knew she had to go again the next day.
Because the contract clearly stated that the original author needed to cooperate with the client in casting and give suggestions for the adapted script.
Gu Sisi could understand the adaptation. After all, after the comic was adapted into a film or TV show, the rhythm and length would definitely change.
But why did she have to give advice on casting?
Couldn't she just draw her comics and count her money?
But the contract had been signed. Gu Sisi could only go back and forth every day, watching the casting in the morning and going back to the company to draw in the afternoon, like clocking in for work.
The company understood her situation and reduced a lot of her work, asking her to focus on drawing "Yilian".
As days passed, soon only a few leading roles hadn't been finalized. Once they were, filming could start immediately.
Gu Sisi, who had initially been forced to participate in the casting, now started to look for the right roles whole - heartedly.
Seeing that the main male and female roles hadn't been finalized, she was a bit anxious.
"What about these? Aren't they okay?"
Gu Sisi handed two or three information profiles to the person beside her.
That person just took a look, then passed them to Huo Cheng and asked, "General Manager Huo, what do you think?"
"..."
Gu Sisi was extremely speechless. Why did a general manager come here every day? And these people had all been rejected by him.
"Zhang Yiyi?"
He read out the name of the character.
The person in charge quickly nodded. "Yes, the main thing we're looking for now is the female lead."
Huo Cheng raised his eyebrows and took a quick look. "I don't think it's okay."
"What's the problem?" Gu Sisi muttered silently.
He hadn't approved of any of these two characters. If they continued like this, they might not be able to find the right people for months.
Huo Cheng heard this, and the two accidentally locked eyes from a distance.