Reborn Rich: Prices Dropped, My Savings Didn't

After Lily Sterling finished her two scenes for the morning, Winnie helped her remove her makeup. Finn ran to a restaurant outside the film studio to grab some takeout, bringing back a spread of what were mostly Lily’s favorite dishes.

Over the past few days, Finn had gotten a good grasp of Lily Sterling’s habits and tastes.

Watching Finn lay out the dishes one by one, Lily Sterling couldn’t help but ask, "Isn’t this a bit much?"

Finn replied, "You think this is a lot? On a great day like today, we should be having a proper celebration. I only held back because you said you wanted to keep a low profile."

Yuna counted them and laughed. "It’s only eight dishes, just a few more than usual. Even if we’re keeping it low-key and not celebrating, we can’t treat you to a nice meal? Besides, your sister came to visit the set today, so isn’t it only right to order a few extra dishes?"

She had barely finished speaking when Cecilia Sterling walked in from outside, a smile on her face. "What’s this about buying something for me?"

"Sis!" Lily Sterling went to greet her. "Where did you go? I just sent Yuna out to look for you."

Cecilia replied casually, "Just wandering around. It’s not often I get to visit a film studio, so I was hoping I might run into a celebrity. I just saw Yuna Sutton. I remember you’re a big fan of hers."

Lily Sterling nodded excitedly. "I know, right? I watched several of her scenes. She’s an amazing actress."

Then she added, feeling it was a shame for her idol, "But with her level of talent, I don’t get why her agency keeps casting her in historical idol dramas. She barely gets a chance to win any awards."

Yuna blurted out, "Historical idol dramas generate buzz and attract fans! The genre might not be respected by major awards, but it’s an incredibly competitive field. Yuna Sutton is dominating it right now, so she probably doesn’t want to switch genres. If she tried and it failed, she’d be left with nothing!"

As an employee of an entertainment company, she knew the ins and outs of these things.

Lily Sterling seemed to understand Yuna Sutton’s position, yet at the same time, she couldn’t completely grasp it.

’Anyway, *she* didn’t want to act in historical idol dramas forever, unless it was for a completely different and challenging role.’

Cecilia Sterling knew her sister well and could guess what she was thinking. She smiled and reminded her, "Hold on to that thought. Remember to bring it up when we discuss the contract in a bit."

"Ah?" Lily Sterling was surprised her sister had read her mind so easily. She hesitated. "Can I really bring that up?"

Cecilia Sterling had already sat down calmly, ready to eat. "Whether you bring it up is your prerogative," she said casually. "Whether they accept it is up to them. That give-and-take is what negotiating is all about."

As she spoke, she picked up a piece of braised pork. Her eyes lit up the moment it entered her mouth. "It’s so tender! Delicious!"

Seeing this, Finn smiled proudly. "This place is a real hidden gem. It’s tucked away on a side street, so most people don’t know about it."

Cecilia Sterling beckoned for everyone to sit down and eat. Food always tastes better with more people, and it was a good chance to chat.

Halfway through the meal, Connie arrived. Before they could exchange more than a few words, Iris Underwood also arrived, fashionably late.

The moment they met, Iris Underwood took on the deferential air of a junior, greeting Connie. "Connie. It’s been a long time."

Connie was slightly heavyset, with a kind, gentle smile. She was just as polite to Iris. "It really has been a while. The last time, I believe, was at the Golden Plum Blossom Awards six months ago."

"Please, both of you, don’t stand. Have a seat and we can talk."

Finn cleared the table, and Lily Sterling quickly motioned for the two women to take a seat.

Everyone knew why they were here, so as soon as they sat down, Iris Underwood took the initiative. She looked at Lily and asked, "Lily, you’ve read the contract, I assume? What are you thinking?"

’Lily Sterling felt a familiar, uncontrollable wave of anxiety wash over her. If it had just been Iris Underwood, she might have felt more grounded. But now, with Connie in the room, she was hopelessly conflicted. She had no idea how to turn one of them down.’

Seeing her sister’s predicament, Cecilia Sterling stepped in. "Ladies," she began, "I’m Lily Sterling’s older sister. My name is Cecilia Sterling."

Connie already knew who Cecilia was but feigned a first meeting with a polite nod. Iris Underwood’s eyes, however, instinctively lit up as she looked at Cecilia.

’What stunning features. A natural beauty. If she can act, she’s definitely a promising talent.’

Cecilia turned to Iris first, her expression serious. "Ms. Underwood, it’s an honor. Lily has mentioned you more than once. I’ve also had a lawyer review the contract you offered."

Iris Underwood nodded with a smile. "Being cautious is a good thing."

Cecilia continued, "There are indeed no major issues with the contract. But, as you can see, Connie’s presence here means another company has also extended an olive branch to my sister."

"Lily is gentle-natured, easily conflicted, and has a hard time saying no to people. Therefore, I will be representing my sister today to further discuss the contract with you both."

Facing two industry heavyweights, Cecilia Sterling opened the discussion in a clear, organized manner, showing no hint of being flustered.

Lily shot her sister a grateful glance. ’Thank goodness she’s here. I wouldn’t have known what to do today otherwise.’

’Both contracts lay on the table. Cecilia considered this a pivotal moment for her sister. If they were going to negotiate, they had to be thorough and settle things properly. She wouldn’t let her sister compromise just because she was a newcomer.’

’Even if negotiations with both companies collapsed, Cecilia had the means to champion her sister’s career herself. Worst case, they’d start a private studio. She would act as the investor, select scripts and teams for her sister—she could afford the initial cash burn.’

’Of course, she was still entering these negotiations in good faith. Signing with a good company would undoubtedly be a great thing for her sister. After all, it was always better to leave professional matters to the professionals; they would handle it much more adeptly than an amateur like herself.’

"Alright, I’ll dispense with the formalities and get straight to the point." Cecilia looked at the two women before her and cut to the chase. "Looking purely at these two contracts, the terms Connie has offered are better than Ms. Underwood’s. The revenue split is a percentage point higher, and the commitment to future resources is more enticing."

Connie merely smiled, seemingly unsurprised by this assessment.

Iris took a deep breath and said with a helpless air, "I truly have no leeway on those points. An agent’s authority within the company is based on seniority. Connie is highly respected and has the clearance at Goldman Golding to offer a top-tier contract. I don’t. This is the best contract I was able to secure within my authority."

She couldn’t argue with that, especially not in front of Connie.

Cecilia nodded. "However, I’m not particularly concerned about those things. They’re nice to have, certainly, but their absence won’t be the deciding factor for Lily."

Here, Cecilia paused, then sat up a little straighter. "What I *am* concerned about," she said, her voice soft but direct, "are Lily’s own requirements. There are some clauses I need to add. It might seem presumptuous for a newcomer to be making these kinds of demands, but you both have the right to refuse. Since this is a negotiation, it should be reasonable for both sides to state their needs, correct?"