Chapter 28: Establishing the Company

"Girlfriend?"

Meng Ziyi's pupils contracted sharply. The smile frozen on her lips gradually stiffened as she looked back and forth, in disbelief, between Tian Xiwei’s delicate, doll-like face and the "panicked" look in Jiang Ye’s eyes.

The atmosphere turned awkward for a moment...

Jiang Ye was covered in metaphorical black lines. He opened his mouth, just about to offer an explanation, when Tian Xiwei beat him to it.

"That’s right, brother, don't you remember? You said you’d take me to the amusement park last week. What, did you forget all about me the moment you saw a pretty lady?"

Tian Xiwei blinked her large eyes, looking at Jiang Ye with a wronged expression—a performance so convincing that anyone unaware of the truth would truly believe she had suffered a grave injustice.

As expected, some people are born for the entertainment industry. At such a young age, she was already a master of acting.

Lin Jianjun frowned, his eyes filled with suspicion. He looked at Jiang Ye, then at Tian Xiwei, and said in a deep voice, "Xiao Ye, what is going on here?"

He was clearly getting angry. To him, it was one thing for his nephew to play around with a few women since he had entered the entertainment industry, but he couldn't be a beast who wouldn't even spare a high school student! What was he doing—trying to land himself a prison sentence?

Just as Jiang Ye was about to explain, Tian Xiwei suddenly ran over to Lin Jianjun, grabbed his arm, and acted spoiled. "Uncle~ Brother Jiang Ye is just teasing me. He’s so good to me; he even said he’d treat me to a big meal after we finish filming this project!"

As she spoke, she secretly winked at Jiang Ye.

Watching this sequence of events, Jiang Ye’s jaw nearly hit the floor. But it didn't stop there.

Lin Xiaoman also emerged from behind Lin Jianjun, took Tian Xiwei’s hand, and said with great affection, "That’s right, Dad! Weiwei is so nice, I like her so much. From now on, she’s going to be my sister-in-law!"

Meng Ziyi had been observing from the side. Her peripheral vision swept over Jiang Ye’s changing complexion and caught the guilty, evasive look in Tian Xiwei’s eyes. She suddenly understood the situation.

She trusted Jiang Ye’s feelings for her. Besides, this girl was clearly very young, and other than having slightly larger eyes, she wasn't as pretty as her. A mere slip of a girl, not even fully grown—and she wanted to snatch a man away? Wait, no... was that true? Did children these days have such good nutrition?

She walked over to Tian Xiwei, crouched down, pinched her cheek, and teased, "Little sister, you’re so good at acting. Would you like to join my film crew? Shall I teach you?"

Tian Xiwei felt extremely annoyed with Meng Ziyi, but she feigned shyness on the surface. She whispered, "Really? Sister, I love acting so much!"

Suddenly, she looked up, her almond-shaped eyes wet and glistening as she stared at Meng Ziyi’s glossy lips. "And sister, why were you kissing the director just now?"

The air instantly froze.

Meng Ziyi’s smile stiffened on her face. Jiang Ye lunged over in two strides and gave his cousin, who was hiding behind Lin Jianjun, a sharp flick on the forehead.

He turned to glare at Tian Xiwei, his eyes flickering with a dangerous light. "So, you like acting, do you? Perfect, I have a role that’s just right for you. Do you want to try it?"

Tian Xiwei shrank back, her strawberry hair clip swaying in a chaotic arc. She peeked at Jiang Ye’s clenched fists and remembered how this guy had signed her up for tutoring just because of a cake. A sense of lingering fear began to set in.

She quickly waved her hands. "I was just joking! I just... I just thought you two were too immersed in the scene!"

"Hehe, I... I was just trying to liven up the atmosphere!"

"Brother, you wouldn't be that petty, would you?"

"You aren't going to stay mad at me, are you?"

"Is that so? What a pity then..." Jiang Ye narrowed his eyes. "I actually had a special guest role available. It’s easy work, 800 a day, and meals included."

"Xiaoman, do you want to try..."

"I'll do it!!!"

Before Jiang Ye could finish, Tian Xiwei had already darted to his side like a pink cannonball, grabbing his arm and shaking it frantically, the pearl clips on her hair ends clinking together.

"Brother, how many days is it? I have to go back to school on Monday. Could you help me ask my teacher for leave?"

Jiang Ye looked down at her sparkling almond eyes and suddenly reached out to pinch her chubby cheeks.

"I hope you can keep it up when the time comes..."

...

Jiang Ye followed Lin Jianjun to a secluded spot, and the two found a step to sit on.

Lin Jianjun poured some goji berry tea from his thermos and looked at his nephew through the rising steam. "Tell me, what’s really going on with that girl?"

"It really is just a kid messing around," Jiang Ye said, one hand in his pocket. "You know what Xiaoman’s personality is like. I suspect she’s involved in this, too."

He paused, his fingertips rubbing the rim of his cup. "Besides, she’s only seventeen. What kind of ideas could I possibly have?"

"Better stay that way. The industry is most sensitive to scandals, especially when you're just starting out..." He suddenly shifted the topic. "However, we need to speed up the process of setting up your studio!"

"Do you want to register as a sole proprietorship or a single-member company?" He pulled a folded tax comparison chart and a fountain pen from his bag. "Under current flat-rate collection, a studio with an annual turnover under 500,000 pays a 6.8% tax. But the General Administration issued a notice last month: the film industry will gradually phase out flat-rate collection. In the future, everything will be subject to audit-based taxation."

The tip of the pen slid across a red box labeled '40% Individual Income Tax on Labor Remuneration.' "If this project of yours sells for 3 million, and you run it through your personal bank card, you'll have to pay 1.2 million in taxes."

"Uncle, you’re underestimating me! This project will definitely earn more than 3 million. When the time comes, you can help me negotiate a revenue-sharing model!"

"Is that so? I’ll wait and see. Also, I suggest you register a company directly!"

"Small-scale enterprises with annual profits under 100,000 pay an actual tax rate of 5%, and 10% for profits between 100,000 and 300,000—that’s 25% less than a studio under audit-based taxation." He unfolded a tax document from Dongyang, Zhejiang, with a red seal stamped over a clause regarding a 40% local retention rebate on value-added tax. "If you register in Hengdian, equipment rental and venue fees alone can deduct 300,000 in costs, but registering a company requires paid-in capital."

"Even if this project earns over 3 million in revenue, if you account for equipment rental, venue fees, and scriptwriting fees as costs... plus fixed asset depreciation and staff salaries, the taxable income can be pushed under 300,000."

"Then... you can lend me the registration capital..."

??????

Lin Jianjun was stunned. When he looked up, he met Jiang Ye’s expectant gaze.

That look was exactly the same as the one he’d had twenty years ago when he borrowed money from others to open his video arcade. This kid clearly knew everything and was digging a hole for him!

He silently took a "Personal Loan Contract" out of his bag. "500,000, with interest calculated at the 2014 LPR, one-year term."

Jiang Ye stared at him, eyes wide. This old fox was clearly prepared!

"Are you really charging your own nephew interest?"

"I'll give you a 50% discount on the interest."

"Then I’ll go ask my mom. I’ll make her cut ties with you as brother and sister!"

"Look at you, getting all worked up? Can't your uncle make a joke?"

He was just teasing his nephew. Of course, if the kid actually made money, he would definitely collect the interest. What was wrong with paying respects to his uncle?

And if he lost it... well, he lost it.

It was good for a young man to be ambitious, and he only had this one nephew.