Reborn Rich: Prices Dropped, My Savings Didn't

When they heard Cecilia Sterling was going to fill the entire remaining budget gap, everyone present was stunned.

That included Wesley Yates and Mr. Young.

As investors, they all managed investment risk. They would have a relatively conservative estimate of the ratio between their financial strength and a project’s potential profit or loss, based on their own means.

To casually offer thirty-two thousand—even the two top dogs at the table would have to think twice.

Because, as Wesley Yates had said, "What business in this world is a guaranteed moneymaker?"

The project was good, but if one got too greedy, the consequences of a flop were easy to imagine.

For a moment, the expressions on their faces shifted constantly. But one effect was obvious: the initial disdain in their eyes as they looked at Cecilia Sterling was completely gone.

Regardless of her background or identity, the ability to name that price spoke volumes about her resources.

James Lockwood and Whitt were so excited they straightened up in their seats to face Cecilia Sterling. Whitt raised his glass. "Miss Sterling, you trust us so much. I’d like to toast you!"

James Lockwood, on the other hand, was more concerned. "Miss Sterling, please, tell us your conditions. As long as it’s within our power, we won’t say no."

Cecilia Sterling was about to speak when Mr. Young suddenly snapped out of it and cut in, "Hold on, Lockwood..."

With that, everyone’s attention snapped back to Mr. Young.

Cecilia Sterling looked over as well, her expression calm.

Mr. Young’s gaze, however, was far more meaningful. He chuckled before speaking. "We can talk about conditions later. Little beauty, did you just say you want to invest thirty-two thousand?"

Cecilia Sterling nodded lightly, asking with a hint of confusion, "Is it a little too much?"

Seeing her naive reaction, the smile on Mr. Young’s face widened. "Let me put it this way. Jeb and I have been investing in film and television projects for seven or eight years, and we’ve never put more than twenty thousand into a single one. Aren’t you being a little too aggressive, little beauty?"

"Isn’t managing tens of thousands of employees enough for you, Mr. Young? Now you have to manage how much a young lady invests?" Wesley Yates said coldly. "She’s optimistic about this project. What’s wrong with her investing a little more?"

"See, my friend, you’re wronging me again. How is this me being nosy? I’m just teaching the little beauty about risk management."

Hearing this, Cecilia Sterling blinked and explained in a soft, gentle voice, "I understand your good intentions, Mr. Young. I didn’t plan on investing this much, actually. I was thinking that as a junior, I’m already honored that you’re all willing to include me in a good project. So my original plan was to take whatever scraps were left after everyone else made their offers. I would’ve been happy to treat those scraps like a feast."

"I didn’t expect everyone to be so conservative. What was left in the end wasn’t scraps, but the choicest cut. So, I didn’t hold back."

As she spoke, she glanced around at the investors with an innocent expression and asked again, "Or does anyone else want to add more? It’s not set in stone yet, so you can all think it over. If anyone wants to increase their bid, I’m more than willing to yield."

She said it with such earnestness that, combined with her expression, it seemed utterly sincere.

But these people were bound by social etiquette, or rather, by the unspoken rules of their circle.

As a newcomer, Cecilia Sterling could feign ignorance and instantly surpass the investment amounts of Mr. Young and Jeb, but they didn’t dare do the same.

With apprehension in their hearts, they naturally appeared hesitant.

But was Cecilia Sterling truly fearless? Of course not. She knew perfectly well that she couldn’t poke the tiger right now. Forget the two top dogs present—she probably couldn’t afford to offend even the others.

But she could act. Playing the pig to eat the tiger—when was that trick most effective?

The first time!

Everyone looked down, pretending to be lost in thought. No one spoke up.

Seeing this, Cecilia Sterling put on a disappointed expression. "You see, Mr. Young? No one is adding more. If I don’t cover the rest, President Lockwood and President Whitt will have to go out and secure more funding. This project is so well-crafted. If it starts with a budget shortfall, won’t we be the ones who suffer the losses later?"

"If you lose money, you’ll be in a very sorry state," Mr. Young said meaningfully.

Cecilia Sterling nodded with the expression of a student being taught. "Of course. Ever since I entered the investment world, I’ve known that high returns come with high risks. I’ll be sure to burn some incense and pray for the project’s success from time to time, so we can all earn a little more."

Since it had come to this, Mr. Young could only shrug. "Alright then. You’ve got guts, little beauty. I admit I underestimated you."

Mr. Young didn’t show any dissatisfaction. He was a big shot, true, but he had never personally said that no one else’s investment could exceed his own.

That was just an unspoken rule the people in their circle had set for themselves, mainly out of fear of angering him.

Today, Cecilia Sterling had set a precedent. It seemed reckless, but in reality, Mr. Young didn’t really take it to heart. Those with courage always get a bigger piece of the pie—that’s been an unchanging rule since ancient times.

As for Wesley Yates, he was even less concerned.

Seeing this, James Lockwood was actually sweating bullets for Cecilia Sterling. He had witnessed her methods before, making him perhaps the only person present who had some understanding of her.

He could see that Cecilia Sterling was maneuvering, but he was still secretly nervous for her, afraid she would say the wrong thing and offend someone she couldn’t afford to.

’Thank goodness.’

"So, can I state my conditions now?" Cecilia Sterling suddenly asked, looking at James Lockwood.

James Lockwood nodded repeatedly. "Please, Miss Sterling."

Cecilia Sterling opened the project file, stared at the name in the male lead column for a moment, and blurted out, "Silas Walsh. This actor won’t do. He has to be replaced."

"Huh?"

The one who reacted instinctively wasn’t James Lockwood, but Whitt, who was on Cecilia Sterling’s other side.

Because Silas Walsh was a male artist from their company, Hewitt Entertainment, and one of the most famous comedic actors in the country. With the two companies cooperating, the female lead was Heather Keaton from Goldman Golding, and the male lead was Silas Walsh from Hewitt Entertainment. This model had always been standard practice.

"Miss Sterling, Mr. Walsh is one of the best comedic actors in the country! Haven’t you seen his movies before? I recommend you watch them. For example, you could..."

Cecilia Sterling lifted her head slightly, interrupting Whitt’s lecture. "I know of Silas Walsh," she said softly, "but I’ve never had a good impression of him. I wouldn’t feel at ease if he’s in the movie."

As she spoke, she turned her head to look at Whitt and said with a dead-serious expression, "I have a premonition he’s going to have a career-ending scandal!"

That sentence caused a clear flicker in Whitt’s eyes, and his heart clenched with anxiety.

Because Cecilia Sterling was right.

Cecilia Sterling remembered this movie clearly. In her past life, it had been a huge success. The original male lead was Silas Walsh, but two months before its Chinese New Year release, he was exposed in a domestic abuse scandal. All of his pending films and shows were boycotted online.