Chapter 1689
New Year
After thinking for a long time, Zhang Yuan felt that life was like a tangled mess, with no clear direction.
It often feels like pressing down a bunch of ladles in a swimming pool; pressing down one causes another to float up.
Especially when it concerns oneself, it is the most troublesome, and it is difficult to have both.
After thinking for a while, I simply stopped thinking about it.
Address the problem first!
Call Brother Long to the room.
"Tell those guys from the Eighteen Arhats to take over if they have any free time."
"Now, immediately, bring me the bodyguard that the company assigned to Miss Liu a few days ago, who came to North America with her."
Zhang Yuan used a rather stern tone.
After hearing this, Brother Long sensed something was wrong.
"Did he make a mistake?"
"Just do it, and when you get there, you'll see." Zhang Yuan waved his hand with a deep gaze.
"I need to meet someone after I finish get off work on set tomorrow."
"Understood." After hesitating for a moment, Brother Long turned and left to inform them.
Locating the target of the leak is quite simple.
Zhang Yuan gleaned several key phrases from Xixi's accusations.
She must know exactly what she did, which means that there must be both the investigator and the person being investigated.
Based on first principles and without emotional bias, this incident essentially stemmed from someone triggering a management loophole in the company, resulting in a leak of information.
It's not simply a matter of personal emotional conflict.
There are only a handful of people who can directly contact both himself and Xixi.
The other party said that he investigated her through his bodyguards, which is obvious.
Since I can't arrest her assistant, I can only arrest one of my own.
Moreover, he specifically asked Brother Long to make the arrangements and requested that his company's most elite and trusted bodyguards carry them out, which was itself a test for the security company.
Observe their execution ability, and see whether they follow my instructions thoroughly or resort to tricks to "protect" their buddies when faced with internal problems.
This relates to how I will handle things afterwards.
I go to sleep as soon as I finish my work, but I don't get a good rest because I have things on my mind.
The next morning, his assistant could clearly sense that he was in a bad mood.
Upon arriving at the film set, the crew borrowed a small office and found some foreign supporting actors to play the main roles in the film, namely the scenes of meeting and suing ETS.
ETS stands for Educational Testing Service.
Founded in 47, it is theoretically a non-profit organization headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey.
That is, the location of Princeton University, a world-renowned university.
North American "non-profit" organizations—those who know, know.
This is called "the more you lack something, the more you cry for it".
Its core business holds the rights to develop and interpret the GRE and TOEIC tests in more than 180 countries worldwide.
There is also the development and sale of related teaching materials and supplementary teaching materials.
It is a "non-profit" organization that earns billions of dollars annually.
Even thugs have to dress up as gentlemen of the peace.
The conflict between New Oriental and ETS lies in the copyright of teaching materials!
Ten years ago, ETS did not authorize any official teaching materials or past exam papers to be used in mainland China.
After discovering that 70% of TOEFL and GRE test takers in the United States came from New Oriental, the other party hired a lawyer and arrived in Beijing in 00 to launch a copyright lawsuit.
After a three-year legal battle, New Oriental lost the first instance trial and is ordered to pay 1000 million yuan in damages.
Mr. Yu appealed, arguing that ETS discriminates against mainland China and constitutes knowledge blockade and technological monopoly.
Because New Oriental is not the copyright agent of the other party in mainland China; rather, the other party does not have an agent at all and does not open its copyright to mainland China.
New Oriental argued that this was a reason for discrimination against mainland students, preventing them from accessing genuine textbooks, and that North America was deliberately obstructing mainland students' path to studying abroad.
They raised the banner of anti-monopoly and anti-discrimination.
While Lao Yu's words might seem a bit like he was trying to exaggerate or make a big deal out of nothing, they weren't entirely without merit.
Americans have always been in a state of ambivalence regarding Chinese talent, wanting them but also opposing them.
Moreover, as everyone knows, if you don't sell or manage copyright, it's the same as not having copyright.
Just like the World Cup, if you're so tough, don't sell it, and see who gets upset.
It's also because the Chinese government cares about its reputation and is one of the few management groups willing to abide by international law. You try going to India.
New Oriental ultimately lost the case, but the compensation amount was increased to over 300 million yuan.
After the lawsuit concluded, New Oriental and ETS began a second round of negotiations.
What if we win?
Is it worth spending millions of dollars on legal fees and receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation?
They're all losing money!
Moreover, New Oriental controls the English education of 7% of Chinese students studying in the United States, and these students provide ETS with half of the test registration revenue in mainland China.
Come on, hurt each other.
In the end, New Oriental became ETS's largest partner in China, and it was a comprehensive partnership.
ETS provides New Oriental with first-hand exam materials and even adjusts the exam content and format based on New Oriental's feedback.
New Oriental pays copyright fees to the other party and also pays for the other party's personnel to provide paid training for its own teachers.
This is what is meant by seeking peace through struggle, and thus peace will endure.
When doing business with foreigners, it's best to have a fight first, to show your skills.
Only when the other party is afraid, or feels that fighting with you is not worthwhile, will they be willing to cooperate honestly.
This is what white people mean by "cheap".
He doesn't understand or want to listen to reason.
In reality, white people are far weaker than you might imagine. You don't need to crush them; just tear off a piece of flesh and make them feel pain, and they will back down on their own.
The biggest flaw of the Chinese people is that they always think about fighting total war. When faced with the threat of war, they think about national subjugation and genocide, and they never stop fighting until the death. They also judge others by their own standards.
The most important affairs of a nation are sacrifice and war—a statement that most countries in the world simply do not understand.
This major event in the history of Chinese overseas education was greatly simplified in the film script.
After all, it's impossible for a film to depict a court battle that lasts for several years.
Therefore, it was simplified into a negotiation between the two parties with an emotional reversal.
Chen Kexin fabricated a premise that the second male lead, Meng Xiaojun, discovered in advance that New Dream's use of ETS textbooks would pose a copyright risk, and took the initiative to go to North America to meet with him in order to obtain the copyright.
He was turned away for several days in a row; the other party was so arrogant that he couldn't be bothered to see him at all.
This scene also serves as a major catalyst for the second male lead's inner transformation, leading to his complete disillusionment with North America.
Before, I was so poor that I could only work in a restaurant, and I would think it was because I was not good enough or capable enough.
By this time, I was dressed in a suit and tie and had achieved great success, yet you still looked down on me.
Then that's not my problem!
In reality, New Oriental has never taken the initiative to seek a meeting. How could someone as stingy as Lao Yu (Old Yu) voluntarily give money to others?
Chen Kexin wrote this passage not only for dramatic conflict and to flesh out the characters, but also to express his views on the Western world, especially North America.
They have always looked down on Chinese people.
This was also based on his personal experience.
"Hey, you're in good shape." Chen Kexin said when she saw him arrive.
He glanced at her expression; her face was deep and imposing, exuding authority without anger.
This coincides with Chen Dongqing's situation at the same time, as he is facing a copyright lawsuit.
As expected of a Hundred Flowers Award-winning actor, he was already in character before even arriving on set.
it is good!
Unbeknownst to him, Zhang Yuan had already "gotten into character" last night.
He was furious, and furious as the boss.
The result is that he just sits in front of the camera and becomes a character without having to act.
Deng Chao and Tong Dawei took their seats, but Deng Chao was far less imposing than Tong Dawei.
"You're really getting into character today."
Deng Chao was puzzled as he continued filming until nightfall.
How come Zhang Yuan is in such a good state when filming scenes with big bosses, and his performance is so vivid and lifelike?
"I'm leaving now, see you tomorrow."
He remained somber, said something casually, and then turned and left.
"Still in top form, pretty impressive." Tong Dawei sighed as he looked at his retreating figure.
Actually, none of them knew that Zhang Yuan had already been hiding his true intentions.
Just like Sun Honglei's portrayal of Liu Huaqiang, he could be even more of a rogue.
Zhang Yuan could also appear more solemn and dignified, exuding immense pressure.
He was still suppressing his temper.
Back at the hotel, he went straight to his room without even eating.
"Has the person arrived?" He glanced at his phone.
It takes more than ten hours to get from Beijing to New York, so even if you travel overnight, it should have taken several hours to arrive.
"We've arrived." Brother Long nodded. "I'll bring them over."
The man was kept in his room and brought in shortly afterward.
This big guy is named Liu Jian, and he is quite robust.
He was a man from Shanxi, not yet thirty years old, with a square face and a rather imposing appearance.
Zhang Yuan sat upright on the sofa, staring straight ahead. Last night, the other party was suddenly confronted by a large group of colleagues, taken out of his home, and put on a plane.
It took another ten hours of flight to arrive.
Along the way, I asked my colleagues what was wrong, but they didn't answer. They only said that the boss wanted to see me and that we were just there to escort him.
Feeling nervous and mentally exhausted, her heart trembled several times when Zhang Yuan's eagle-like eyes caught her gaze.
"Everyone else, just leave this person, Brother Long, and Dandan here."
Zhang Yuan spoke after a long pause.
After everyone had left, he glanced at the other person a few more times.
He didn't fly into a rage, because getting angry wouldn't help.
"Tell me, I want to know how you leaked the task I assigned to you to Ms. Liu's team."
Upon hearing this, the Shanxi man shuddered, finally understanding why this had happened.
"Sit down." Zhang Yuan gestured with his hand. "Tell me slowly and carefully."
The other party frowned and hesitated, but soon revealed the situation.
The matter is not complicated, and there is no corporate espionage, conspiracy, or instigation involved.
Everything had gone well until Christmas Day, when this person reported to Zhang Yuan, who then expressed his approval of his work and promised him a bonus.
Afterwards, he and Xixi went out for dinner and shopping, while giving their assistants and bodyguards a holiday to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
And then... that's where things went wrong!
Once the work was handed over, people relaxed.
It's Christmas again, and the boss gave us time off, so of course we had to go out and have some fun.
But in a foreign country, where you don't know any foreigners, who can you entertain yourself with?
It's simply that he and Xixi's teams can get together to eat, drink, and chat.
When a person's nerves relax, they become completely relaxed.
Moreover, this person had been in contact with the other party's team multiple times before and they were quite familiar with each other; otherwise, how could an investigation have been conducted?
In a foreign land, the festive atmosphere, when amplified, becomes like dry tinder igniting a raging fire.
They were both in their early twenties, the woman gentle and the man strong, and they drank quite a bit in their excitement, so they got together after dinner.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuan helplessly covered his face.
You can guard against anything, but it's hard to guard against a thief within your own family.
You can protect yourself from the schemes of those with ulterior motives, but you can't protect yourself from these "unexpected" events.
I sent the dog to investigate the cat, and the dog and the cat became good friends.
Then she remembered that she had just given a red envelope to a bodyguard at the company. It was because of their frequent contact at work that she got involved with someone in Song Jia's team and they eventually got married.
You only see a few people around you regularly, so it's easy to develop feelings for them.
Just like actors who are in seclusion for several months during filming, they are more likely to find a partner.
It's not unusual for feelings to develop over time.
"Go on," Zhang Yuan said, having already grasped the general idea but still urging the other party to continue.
After dinner and back at the hotel, a fierce fight ensued.
The man was satisfied, and the woman was satisfied too.
Needless to say, bodyguards are all strong men.
When the body feels good, the mind feels good too.
After returning to China the next day, the two actually started dating and planned to get to know each other.
Whether he's serious or not, Zhang Yuan wouldn't care even if he knew about it.
Private life is a private matter; as long as you do your job well, that's all that matters.
Only a handful of people can truly separate public and private matters.
As they spent more time together, they developed feelings for each other while sleeping together.
Once feelings develop, you have to talk, and as you talk, the conversation inevitably turns to work-related matters.
Since they already knew everything and were on the same side, they started to speak without thinking.
After being questioned repeatedly, the guy finally confessed the whole thing to his "girlfriend".
This woman is inherently cunning; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to find out about Wu Xiubo on set just by talking.
Bodyguards are mostly simple-minded and stubborn; they can't outsmart such people.
Zhang Yuan likes people who are single-minded, efficient, and quick to follow instructions.
But they can only do manual labor; if they try to be cunning, they're complete noobs.
This is advantageous to him, as it makes him easier to control and figure out, but it also makes him easier for others to figure out.
That woman was a good person to begin with.
Some people may not be very capable at work, but they are good at currying favor with their superiors by reporting on others and spreading rumors, thus highlighting their own abilities and importance.
Anyone who has ever worked or even gone to school will surely know someone like this.
Such people are often eloquent, playful, and cheerful, and are quite popular with their superiors because they bring a lot of fun and appear loyal.
After learning about this, he immediately went to report it to his own artist, who was also half the boss.
Sisi was heartbroken after hearing this. Already lacking in a sense of security, she felt that she had been violated.
That woman showed off her skills. I helped the boss understand people's hearts and knew the hidden agents around him. How amazing!
Little did they know, such people often do not end up well.
"Dandan, do you remember what I told you when we dealt with Zhang Shaohan's problem in Taiwan last time?" Zhang Yuan asked.
She thought for a moment and nodded.
"You said not to interfere in conflicts between fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, or couples and spouses."
"Hmm, you do have some brains. You saw what happened today, remember that." Zhang Yuan pointed.
Because no matter whether he is good or bad with Xiaolongnu, the "informer" will ultimately not be good.
But some people just don't understand this principle.
"I understand. You can go back to your room and rest." He still didn't look angry; he just waved his hand wearily.
"Have others keep an eye on him and prevent him from running around." After this person left, he instructed Brother Long.
"I'll rest for a bit first, then you guys can come with me for a walk later."
After resting until around 11 a.m., he put on a thick wool coat, a hat, and a mask, and walked along the street toward Times Square.
When we arrived at 11:45, the square was already packed with people.
It was a scene of fluttering red flags and a sea of people.
Just by looking at it, I estimate there are over 100,000 people.
It's actually even more exaggerated!
Every year during New Year's Eve, millions of people gather near Times Square to watch the live broadcast, and the global audience is in the billions.
It was even more lively than a military parade in China.
Times Square was completed in 1904, and a fireworks display is held every Lunar New Year.
But in 1906, an earthquake struck San Francisco.
The earthquake itself was manageable, but the ground subsidence and displacement caused massive damage, including to gas pipelines, which ultimately triggered a devastating fire that shocked the world.
Furthermore, the water pipes were also interrupted by the earthquake, leaving firefighters without water.
Even more impressively, when the San Francisco government realized it couldn't handle the situation, it called on the federal army for help.
After the federal troops arrived, they decided to use explosives to blow up the building and create a series of broken wires.
The result was not only the collapse of a significant portion of the building, but also the creation of new fires due to issues with the amount of explosives and the detonation point…
These guys aren't good at handling explosives, but they're really good at their old trade.
Taking advantage of the chaos caused by the earthquake and fire, federal troops carried out an organized looting and vandalism campaign in San Francisco's Chinatown, leaving it completely ransacked.
That's why white people always ask when they see Chinese troops coming to their aid, "Aren't you afraid the soldiers will take advantage of the chaos?"
People can't imagine things they haven't experienced. The Chinese don't understand why they ask such questions, because they really steal from those people!
They assumed that the People's Liberation Army soldiers were also convicts from their own side.
Just like North America accused us of using slaves to grow cotton.
Because of the earthquake and fire, the federal government changed the law to ban fireworks in major cities, which disrupted the annual fireworks show in Times Square.
That's when the alternative solution came about.
Since 1907, the crystal ball dropping ceremony has been a signature New Year's Eve event.
This has made it different from fireworks displays around the world, becoming a unique feature that continues to this day.
Starting at 6 p.m. on the last day of each year, a giant crystal ball rises in the center of the square, with lights and crystal projections intertwining to create a dazzling spectacle.
As the countdown continues until midnight, the giant ball will slowly descend and land precisely on time to welcome the New Year.
This is the most well-known New Year's Eve event in North America, and basically the most well-known in the world.
Zhang Yuan stood at a distance, looking at the crystal ball, which appeared extremely small due to the vast distance.
Fortunately, the footage was also being shown on the large screens around the area, which helped to accommodate the crowd.
Zhang Yuan looked around and thought to himself that the Americans were really carefree, as there weren't many police officers stopping or guarding them.
What if someone took out an AR scanner and scanned the area...?
"Dandan, is it on?"
"It's on." The assistant said, filming with a DV camera.
As millions of people simultaneously began the English countdown, the area around the square reverberated!
"Three, Two, One...Happy new year!"
Just as lively as the Lunar New Year celebrations in China are here!
Zhang Yuan took off his hat and mask, watched the crystal ball fall, then turned around with a smile and said to DV.
"Happy New Year."
The crowd behind them were all embracing and kissing.
He glanced at the crowd again, unmoved by the festive atmosphere. He silently tightened his collar, and while the crowd was still cheering and the return journey was less crowded, he quietly began his journey home in the cold wind. (End of Chapter)