Chapter 1684
Going Too Far
Those in the Tianjin business community knew that Zhang Yuan, along with his senior apprentice and the old man who was half-master and half-advisor, were not to be trifled with. After that, the group finally quieted down.
In the following days, while filming in Tianjin, colleagues would come to visit me every night, saying they wanted to treat me to dinner.
Zhang Yuan declined all offers, saying he was currently filming a movie and needed to lose weight, so he was really embarrassed.
If just anyone invites me to dinner, then I won't be able to do anything else all year round.
They worked their way up until they finished filming their scenes in Tianjin, and the whole team was ready to head overseas.
A dozen or so people have already gone to scout ahead, and the rest are packing the equipment.
Christmas is just around the corner, and the holiday starts the day before the holiday.
The day before, we finished work in the afternoon and everyone said we should have a meal together.
"I still have some business to handle at the company. I'm going to North America, so I'll treat you to dinner." He then got into his car and returned to Beijing.
"He's really quite busy," Tong Dawei muttered.
"He's a big boss, that's normal." Deng Chao wasn't disappointed at all.
The busier Zhang Yuan was, the happier he was. After all, he owned shares in the company, and he even had a bit of a "hope that the boss will become a dragon" mentality.
He drove his Phaeton all the way back to his office in the capital, and as soon as he got inside, he had to start a meeting.
The work involved in the listing process is far more demanding than before.
Coincidentally, after going to North America, the role he was to play in the film was a mature male lead who had entered middle age.
At this point, Lao Yu is already the owner of the largest private education company in all of Asia.
You can develop a feel for the role through work and switch between different characters.
Zhang Yuan did the math. Back then, Lao Yu, who was the same age, had just left Peking University and borrowed someone else's qualifications to run the "Oriental University English Training Class." He only had a single-story building as a classroom and had to pay 15% management fees to the "Oriental University" shell.
I am clearly stronger.
Self-confidence is very important, especially when you're busy.
First, an internal meeting was held to publicly commend Jia Shikai for his outstanding performance recently. The success of "Pacific Rim," in which the company participated in the investment, was entirely due to his unremitting efforts.
After the meeting, I spoke to him face-to-face and told him to start taking that week of paid leave.
"Boss, after that movie became a huge hit, a lot of our competitors have been trying to poach our team members," he said before leaving.
"Hmm." Zhang Yuan didn't even look up, skipping the roundabout part and giving the answer: "Starting next fiscal year, your salary will increase by 30%."
Jia Shikai opened his mouth, but didn't say anything more.
He waved and went home.
His suggestion to poach talent was simply to emphasize our importance, knowing that ultimately it would fall on our shoulders.
It's not that small matter.
"The rest of the team members should also get a raise, not only for their contributions this time, but also for the stability of the company before the IPO," he muttered to himself after the other person left.
Then several more groups of people arrived.
Guo Xiaosi came to meet him. His film had already finished shooting and post-production was complete.
"That's all easy to arrange. We'll help you with the review and submission, and we'll also handle the distribution."
"Depending on the progress of the process, if it's fast enough, it can be released after the New Year, and it would be best if it could be released around Valentine's Day."
"That's great!" Xiao Si said happily.
"Alright, you can ask my colleague to handle these matters."
"You don't need to come looking for me anymore."
"Uh...is there a problem?" Xiao Si asked, seeing his attitude.
"I don't want to get involved in that Taiwanese guy's business." He expressed his meaning bluntly.
Xiao Si could clearly sense his disgust for those people from Taiwan, so he stopped mentioning it.
But he found it strange.
Even though there was more than one Taiwanese artist in the film, he only targeted one person.
As he was thinking, he encountered an older man with medium-length hair and sunglasses walking towards him.
Upon seeing this person, his stomach churned.
"Hello!" Han Han waved, and Xiao Si forced a smile, replied casually, then stepped aside and quickly left.
In recent years, Han Han has been relentlessly pursuing Guo Jinming.
He spends all his time "flirting" with the other person online.
That's right, it's flirting.
He always makes sarcastic remarks about Guo Jingming on Weibo. After all, both of them are darlings of the Chinese publishing industry, the most profitable young writers, and they were also planning to make movies and create films at the same time.
When it comes to witty banter, Xiao Si is no match for Han Han.
I still vividly remember Han Han's fierce battle against the entire literary and artistic circle in the capital back then.
Xiao Si often endured it, or occasionally complained a few words.
Han Han got even more excited. When others asked about their conflict, he said, "We quarrel at the head of the bed and make up at the foot of the bed."
Then people started to speculate about the "Shanghai Love Story" pairing.
He then jumped out again in a cheeky manner, saying that he and Xiao Si were of different genders, and mocking the other's orientation.
He also said that the other party's work was intended for the "urban-rural fringe" and that the other party's work instilled a "very despicable value system".
Anyway, it's just a rebellious youth meeting a pragmatic young man, so neither of them should laugh at the other.
"In my eyes, you two are the same."
After meeting Han Han and receiving his new script, Zhang Yuan listened to him talk about his recent encounter with Xiao Si and then replied.
Young Master Han's face stiffened.
"What does it mean?"
“I’m way more handsome than him, okay?” he said, flicking his long bangs.
"I'm talking about the same thing, not appearance or gender, but your abilities."
“The ability to make money,” Zhang Yuan added.
“You are all very good commercial writers, and your works will definitely have a large audience willing to pay for the film adaptations.”
"This is my judgment of you, and also my trust in you."
“Even if it’s a bad movie with warped values, there are still people who like to watch it.” Zhang Yuan glanced towards the door.
Upon hearing this, Han Han finally burst out laughing.
Zhang Yuan thought to himself, "Some of your values aren't exactly righteous either."
But the old saying that writers despise each other and artists look down on each other is absolutely true.
“I will provide a suitable schedule to participate in the filming. I will check with you again regarding the actors. You can recommend the ones you like first.”
"By the way," he said with a smile, looking at the other person, "I think your online conflict with Xiao Si is harmless and quite interesting." "I won't stop you two."
Han Han rolled her eyes, not quite understanding, and needed to think about it.
Zhang Yuan's statement that he wouldn't stop them meant that they could do whatever they wanted!
The more a commotion there is, the higher the buzz will be, and the more popular your show will become.
After this person left, Lu Yang also came to him and handed him the latest version of the script for "Brotherhood of Blades".
Zhang Yuan looked at the mountain of documents and scripts and scratched his head.
"I'll try to arrange them and take pictures one by one."
"So... how's the casting going?" he asked, rubbing his temples.
"I have a list, take a look."
"Regarding the selection of the third brother, Jin Yichuan, I plan to mentor Chen Chuhe. You know him, right?"
"Tall and handsome, from Taiwan."
"I've heard of it." Lu Yang knew what was going on and decided to go with it.
You decide how you spend the money.
Zhang Yuan turned to the page with the female lead.
There are many candidates, including currently popular and not-so-popular female celebrities, and most of the photos are quite beautiful.
Lu Yang noticed that he was flipping through the list of female leads with particular focus and thought to himself, "Are you choosing a favorite actress?"
"It's her."
Zhang Yuan was actually looking for someone, and luckily he found them.
He placed Liu Shishi's photo on the table.
In her previous life, this play had another investor who chose her.
The main reason is that she's popular right now, and she's also cheap.
In a later interview, Lu Yang said that he chose her early on because he had watched "Scarlet Heart" and felt that she had a free spirit that was not from a professional acting background.
Does that sound like a compliment?
It means that some of the investors like her and believe she can boost box office sales.
Now that I'm an investor, I'll choose her too, to avoid any complications from changing her.
Besides, Mr. Yuan just told me to take good care of him, and I'll keep my word right away.
"We're from the same school, so we can address each other as senior and junior brothers," Zhang Yuan explained.
"Oh." Lu Yang nodded, not entirely convinced.
Judging from the way you were looking through the photos just now, I seriously suspect you're lusting after those women.
Lu Yang was unaware that the little lion's body was already his, freely plucked, the kind of body he had acquired with developer privileges.
We chatted about late-night snacks, and the two of us drank quite a bit before parting ways.
I went straight to bed after I got home.
The next morning, Zhejiang TV delivered the final proposal for the second season of "The Voice of China".
The immense popularity of "I Am a Singer" spurred them on, prompting them to rush out for the next season.
He glanced at the list; there wasn't anything particularly annoying or unbearable, so he stopped bothering with it.
Even someone like A-mei, who wavers on the fence, has publicly expressed her loyalty, so he turns a blind eye to her actions.
The next morning, I asked my assistant to help me pack my luggage, which was filled with several boxes of gifts.
The Olsen twins invited him to their Christmas Eve party, where they would be inviting many friends and business partners.
"Dandan, bring the red sweater from the bottom of my wardrobe drawer too."
He was directing his subordinates to help when he received a call from Professor Feng Gong.
"Teacher Feng, how have you been?"
"Stop playing innocent." The other person said irritably.
"You're all set now, Mr. Yuan stood up for you, you're really in the limelight."
"It wasn't me who invited them; they walked right into the line of fire. They didn't even know that Mr. Yuan is always so public-spirited and intolerant of injustice."
"Alright then," Feng Gongxin said, adding that the old man wasn't going to stand up for everyone.
"I was just about to go for a walk with the old man later, so please give him my regards."
"Oh, thanks... And then, I have something to tell you." The other person's tone suddenly became serious.
"Your proposal."
"You can do whatever you want with it. I'm just expressing my opinion. I'm not taking it too seriously," he quickly replied upon hearing this.
But the other person didn't respond and continued talking.
"It's approved."
Zhang Yuan: !!!
"What the hell?" he asked again, picking at his ear.
"After it was submitted, the higher-ups thought it was good and wanted to support it."
"You've achieved your wish," Feng Gong said sourly.
"Uncle Feng, you're not joking, are you?" Zhang Yuan even changed his form of address.
“There’s a leader at the Federation of Literary and Art Circles who came from a small town in southern Yunnan. He read your proposal and said he would give strong support to niche folk arts in the south. He was very pleased.”
"It reminded him of his hometown."
Zhang Yuan took a deep breath.
It exploded!
I was just kidding, but they took it seriously... wait, that's not right.
It should be said that it was going with the flow.
The leaders used my proposal to benefit their hometown.
It's true that everyone has selfish motives.
"Anyway, the next big meeting will discuss it openly, and you can participate in the voting then."
"Can I ask for leave and not go?" Zhang Yuan asked with a bitter face.
Will I be cornered in the restroom by my fellow performers in traditional Chinese performing arts?
"You're the one who made the proposal, you have to be there, otherwise it's unacceptable."
"I warned you before not to come looking for me." Feng Gong displayed the leadership demeanor of the vice chairman of the Quyi Association, first disclaiming any responsibility.
I was just someone who submitted the documents; I didn't know anything else.
"I'm just letting you know. Prepare your speech. See you later." Teacher Feng then hung up the phone.
Hearing the busy tone on the phone, Zhang Yuan wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Did I mess things up? (End of Chapter)