Chapter 881
Rejecting the "Golden Girl"
The Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong.
The lobby bar at the Peninsula Hotel seems to stand still, a place where time seems to stand still.
The melodious sound of a piano flowed through the air, filled with the rich aroma of premium coffee and black tea, and well-dressed guests conversed in hushed tones, maintaining just the right distance.
This place has been a venue for countless business legends and film moguls to hold secret talks. Today, it is witnessing another dialogue concerning the future landscape.
Lu Yang picked up the bone china cup, took a small sip of the fragrant Ceylon black tea, and calmly looked at Wang Jing, who seemed a little uneasy, across from him.
This director, known for his prolific output and keen business sense, is currently struggling to digest the massive plan that Lu Yang has just unveiled, which is completely beyond his expectations.
"Buy song copyrights? And only online and digital music copyrights?" Wang Jing spoke in awkward Mandarin with a heavy Hong Kong accent, her small eyes squinting with surprise and confusion, her expression a mixture of disbelief and huge question marks.
“Lu Sheng, you…you didn’t ask me to make a movie?” This was a far cry from the “big business” he had envisioned—investing in his next film or acquiring shares in his film company!
Lu Yang put down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and spoke in a calm and firm tone, without a trace of joking: "Director Wang, you heard me right. It's about the song copyright, and specifically, exclusive or long-term exclusive authorization for online distribution and digital format use."
He clearly defined the scope: "As for the copyrights of traditional channels such as record releases and physical cassette CDs, I have no need for them and no interest in touching them. My target is only the word 'digital'."
He paused, then looked sharply at Wang Jing, his tone carrying an undeniable weight: "Could you help me sort this out?"
Wang Jing was stunned by the decisiveness in Lu Yang's eyes and the grand plan he had made.
He subconsciously rubbed his hands together, his brain racing.
Having spent decades navigating the Hong Kong entertainment industry, he knows all too well how murky the waters of copyright transactions can be, especially when it comes to the digital rights to a vast array of classic and newly popular songs!
This requires a vast network of contacts, a precise understanding of the various record companies and songwriters, and extremely high negotiation skills.
This is not just "helping out," it's practically entrusting a mountain to someone.
“Well…” Wang Jing habitually drew out her words, her small eyes gleaming with shrewdness, as if assessing the risks and rewards, “Mr. Lu, to be honest, what you want is not a small project.”
He counted on his fingers, "International giants like PolyGram, Warner, and EMI, local giants like Universal, Emperor Entertainment, Capital Artists, and Rock Records, and countless independent musicians and songwriters... copyrights are scattered, licensing models are varied, and we're only talking about the 'digital' part? That definition is so vague now..."
He began to elaborate on the difficulties, a classic negotiation tactic.
Lu Yang listened patiently, without any impatience on his face.
He knew that Wang Jing was testing the waters, waiting for the right price to go.
After Wang Jing paused for a moment, Lu Yang spoke leisurely, his voice not loud, but like a boulder thrown into a lake:
"Director Wang, I am aware of the difficulties. Otherwise, I would not have asked you, the well-known 'know-it-all' in Hong Kong's entertainment industry, to take action."
He started with a flattering remark, then revealed his true intentions, offering a deal the other party couldn't refuse: "Money is not a problem."
Lu Yang's voice was resolute, carrying an air of absolute control: "As long as it's popular, whether it's a classic old song that's been sung for decades or a currently trending hit on the radio, the more the merrier! I only have two requirements: First, the copyright must be legal and clear to avoid future disputes; second, the scope of authorization must cover all the digital platforms I will designate and any future digital distribution channels, the longer the better, ideally exclusive or at least with the highest priority! As for the price…"
He looked directly into Wang Jing's eyes, which lit up instantly, and offered his ultimate guarantee: "Within a reasonable market range, I can accept a premium! Everything revolves around the core objective of 'securing' the copyrights! Director Wang, however many valuable copyrights you can help me acquire, that's how much I'll pay you accordingly! I will never let you work for nothing!"
"With those words from you!" Wang Jing slapped her thigh, all hesitation and worry on her face instantly replaced by excitement and greed, her voice becoming louder, "Then I, Wang Jing, will definitely do my best! I'll go through fire and water to help you get him!"
Lu Yang's "money is no problem" and "accepting a premium" were practically a shot in the arm for him! He had long heard of Lu Yang's generosity.
This is hardly a difficulty.
This was clearly a gold mine delivered right to Wang Jing's doorstep, allowing him to gain both fame and fortune and make a name for himself!
Lu Yang watched with satisfaction as Wang Jing's attitude changed.
He knew that Wang Jing was not only an active director in the Hong Kong film and television industry, but more importantly, he had his father, Wang Tianlin, a titan in the Hong Kong film and television industry, standing behind him!
Wang Tianlin is highly respected in the industry, with a deep-rooted network of connections. His students and former associates are spread across high-ranking positions in major record companies and television stations, and his influence covers the entire Hong Kong and Taiwan entertainment circle. Having Wang Jing handle the copyright negotiations under Wang Tianlin's name will make many things much easier and more efficient.
This is precisely the key reason why Lu Yang chose Wang Jing; he needed this "key" that could unlock the complex world of Hong Kong and Taiwan entertainment.
“I trust Director Wang’s efficiency and ability.” Lu Yang added fuel to the fire at the opportune moment, offering an enticing promise, “Once the copyright issue is resolved, you’ll naturally receive your share of the benefits. And…”
He paused, his tone casual yet weighty, "Next time Director Wang has a good script he wants to start filming, regardless of whether I, Lu, like the story or not, as long as you need funding, just ask me. I can approve investments in the tens of millions on the spot."
A worthless check?
Do not!
This is a highly tempting long-term commitment that Lu Yang offers based on Wang Jing's value!
For Wang Jing, who is constantly busy raising funds for her films, the promise of a "cash cow" that is not limited by the quality of the script is a dream come true!
"Mr. Lu is so generous! So generous!" Wang Jing was so excited she almost stood up, her face crinkling into a wide smile. She gave him a thumbs up and praised him repeatedly, "No problem! I'll take care of it! I'll go back and get ready right away, tell my dad, and we'll start shopping for you tomorrow! I promise you won't be disappointed!"
With the business settled, the atmosphere immediately relaxed.
Wang Jing was in high spirits and, as usual, wanted to indulge his "entertaining" side. He leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and gave a knowing smile that only men would understand: "Mr. Lu, you've closed such a big deal, shouldn't we celebrate? I know a few rising 'golden girls,' stunningly beautiful and with great charisma, absolutely perfect for someone of your status, Mr. Lu. How about..."
Before he could finish speaking, Lu Yang smiled and waved his hand, his movements swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation: "I appreciate Director Wang's kindness. I have some things to take care of, let's celebrate another day."
His smile was polite yet distant, and his eyes were clear, showing no sign of being tempted.
Wang Jing was taken aback, but then she understood, and her opinion of this young tycoon rose even higher.
He gave an awkward smile and didn't press the matter further: "I understand! I understand! Mr. Lu is a man destined for great things! Then I won't bother you any longer, I'll go take care of things right away!"
He tactfully got up to say goodbye, his steps hurried, as if he could already see countless copyright contracts and film investments beckoning to him.
After seeing off the excited Wang Jing, Lu Yang had just returned to his hotel suite and hadn't even had time to sort out the next steps for the Hong Kong copyright case when his satellite phone started vibrating urgently.
The screen displays Wei Shu's name.
Lu Yang immediately answered the call: "Sister Wei Shu, how is it?"
He was naturally asking about two major domestic events: the acquisition of Netac and the copyright buying spree.
On the other end of the phone came Wei Shu's calm yet invigorated voice, tinged with the excitement of efficient work progress: "Boss, there's been a major breakthrough in the Langke project! Following your directives, our people have made direct contact with Langke's founders, Deng Guoshun and Cheng Xiaohua's team, with an attitude of 'money is no object'."
Wei Shu spoke clearly and quickly, reporting key results: "After we demonstrated sufficient financial strength and a grand blueprint for empowering Langke in the future, their initial attitude softened significantly! They indicated that they could consider accepting strategic investment, selling a portion of the company's equity, and even..."
She paused deliberately, then emphasized, "...under certain specific conditions, it is not entirely impossible to relinquish controlling interest in the company!"
Lu Yang's eyes sharpened instantly.
Acquiring a controlling stake in Netac is his ideal outcome for building a flash memory empire and controlling the core lifeline of MP3 hardware!
“However,” Wei Shu’s tone shifted, becoming more serious, “the other party has made a clear request: they hope to have a face-to-face meeting with you, Boss. They expressed that they have some ideas about the company’s future development strategy and core technologies that they hope to discuss and confirm with you directly.”
A personal meeting?
Lu Yang narrowed his eyes slightly.
The founders of Netac clearly wanted to personally assess the weight of this potential "big spender," to determine whether he truly understood the value of flash memory technology and could genuinely contribute to their vision of a future-enabling technology, rather than simply being a speculator waving money around.
“Tell them,” Lu Yang’s voice was steady and powerful, without the slightest hesitation, “that they can decide the time and place. I’ll be waiting at any time.” (End of Chapter)