Chapter 220 - 220: How Could I Afford To Invite A Star

With the hair and clothes, Albert looked completely different. He was always dressed in an old-fashioned way before. He was only in his twenties but looked as if he was more than thirty years old.

The look made him look at least ten years younger. Sophia thought he looked old, but now it seemed that it was just a matter of dressing.

While they were talking, a teenage girl pointed at Sophia and said to a young man beside her, "Brother, she seems to be… well, a star. I forget her name. She's so beautiful. I have to get an autograph of her."

Then she rushed to Sophia and said, "Excuse me. Could you sign it for me?"

Sophia smiled, "If you want someone to sign for you, you should at least know her name, right?"

She had heard about every word of her words.

The girl frowned and tried to think. Suddenly, she patted on her head, "Oh, I know. You're the high achiever. Yeah, I was wondering why I can't remember what you did. I watched the Super Quiz. You were amazing. I've been here a couple of times, and I've met several stars here."

The Tuncel Advertising Agency often invited stars to shoot advertisements, and it was common for stars to be here.

The girl took out her paper and pen from her bag and handed them to Sophia. "Please sign it for me. Maybe I can be a high achiever like you," she said with expectation.

Sophia handed the flowers to Albert. She took over the pen and signed her name on the paper and then gave them back to the girl. "You can be an excellent student if you study hard. It's no use relying on my signature, sister."

The girl thanked Sophia cheerfully. "We should go, Aimee," that young man came over and said to her.

That young man didn't look good, and he sounded stiff. Seeing that, Aimee asked with concern, "They don't want to do it, do they?"

The young man sighed, "Yes. They agreed. But the discount price is five thousand dollars, and it's just for simple making. But the chief director just gave me a budget of five thousand dollars. I knew he wanted to embarrass me to force me to leave. The money is barely enough for the production, how could I afford to invite a star?"

Aimee said, "But it's a public service ad. There should be kind stars willing to do it." 

The man shook his head. "If I have been doing this for a long time, I may accumulate some resources. But I'm new in this industry; I don't know anyone, I can't find anyone. Oh, I shouldn't have offended the chief director. See? I can't even keep my job now."

Suddenly, an idea occurred to Aimee. She ran to Sophia and grabbed her hand. "Sister, could you shoot an ad for my brother? There is nothing he can do about it. Well, we'll pay you. Please!"

Sophia was shocked. She could understand them, but she was not going to shoot an ad, even if it was a public service ad.

"I'm sorry, I don't shoot," said Sophia.

Everyone had their difficulties, and she couldn't help everyone. Since the chief director wanted to embarrass the young man, she could help him once, but she couldn't help him all his life. He had to learn to face his difficulties and solve them himself.

She could not bear to look at Aimee's disappointed eyes and turned to go.

Behind her, Aimee sighed, "How about changing the subject of the advertisement? No one would be interested in caring for the disabled. Well, how about the… telecom fraud prevention? People may be more interested in watching it. Maybe there are stars willing to take it. Then you can complete the task."

Sophia stopped.

Disabled…

"No. I don't want to change it. It's what I have always wanted to do. You know, mom is disabled. I would like to appeal to more people to care for the disabled and give them some convenience. And, it won't make a difference even if I change the subject. Without the payment, no celebrity would shoot."

When Albert noticed that Sophia stopped, he stooped. He did not speak but waited quietly.

Louie asked curiously, "What's the matter? Sister?"

Sophia didn't answer him but turned around and said to Aimee's brother, "If possible, I want to take this public service advertisement, but I'm not sure if I'm the one you wanted."

She was a disabled person in her last life. She was concerned by many people, but also looked down upon by many people. She was more aware of the needs of the disabled.

If she could influence more people willing to help the disabled, she would love to see it.

Aimee was stunned for a moment and said, "But… I have no money to pay you. Before, one colleague used the same money to make a public service advertisement, and he invited a celebrity to do it. That's why the chief director gave me the budget… But this colleague has been doing it for years, and I..."

He worked in the television industry and knew the market well. He knew all the celebrities on the Internet. Also, he knew Sophia, a network celebrity with millions of fans. She was in full compliance with the "celebrity" condition said by the chief director.

With Sophia's fame, she could charge thousands of dollars by forwarding a tweet. The cost of the public service advertisement was only five thousand dollars, not even enough for her to forward a tweet.

Sophia said, "You don't need to pay me. If there is nothing wrong, please contact me."

She picked up the book in Aimee's hand and wrote down her phone number on a page.

Then, in the startled gaze of Aimee and her brother, she turned away.

Louie followed up and asked in confusion, "Sister, why did you take the ad without payment? The Tuncel Advertising Agency just offered to pay you to shoot, and you refused."

Sophia said, "Because it's a public service ad."

Louie said, "Well… Even public service ads should pay the appearance fee. You know, there are lots of public service advertisements. Everyone charges for shooting. There's no free shooting."

Suddenly, Albert stuffed the flowers into Louie's hands, "Take it. Count how many flowers there are."

Louie stopped talking.