The Birth of the Best Director

Chapter 231: Various parties are trying to win him over; the value of a world-class director is too high!

……

—Starlight Brilliant Culture Media Co., Ltd. 2011 Annual Report Released: Profits Exceed 20 Billion Yuan, Up 35% Year-on-Year, Profitability Continues to Strengthen, Leading the Entire Industry

—Starlight Brilliant Culture Media Co., Ltd. and Wanda Pictures Reach Strategic Cooperation to Jointly Build a New Ecosystem for Cultural Entertainment

—Accelerating Globalization! Starlight Entertainment and Wanda Pictures Plan to Acquire AMC Theatres in North America for $25 Billion, Making Hollywood Their Backyard

……

One day in July.

The entertainment and finance sectors were suddenly flooded with news featuring a galaxy of stars.

There's no doubt that this company is preparing to go public and raise money.

Before the company went public and raised funds, it had already completed equity transfer and capital restructuring.

All those mysterious funds have already been cashed out and the money has been withdrawn.

Most of those who took over their shares were partners with whom they had very close relationships.

Among the shareholders of Starlight Brilliant, there are many celebrities and directors in the entertainment industry.

But unfortunately, one person is missing!

This person is the core and the most important person in the entire Starlight Brilliance.

This incident caused an uproar in the industry.

……

Inside Huayi Brothers' office.

Mr. Wang knocked on the door early in the morning, a gloating look on his face.

"Brother, have you seen the news?"

"Those people in the Starlight Club have completely lost their minds."

"They want to go public and raise money, but they only want to keep it all for themselves. They won't even give us, Ah Yuan and his brother, a small share."

"Back when Huayi Brothers went public, we even gave Xiaogangpao 2% of the original shares at a low price."

Although 2% of Huayi Brothers' original shares are not a lot, they are now worth about 200 million yuan.

If he didn't have so many shares, why would Feng Xiaogang work like a slave for them?

Faced with the sarcasm of the younger CEO, the older CEO remained calm: "Starlight Brilliant has now sided with Wanda Pictures and plans to acquire AMC Theatres for $25 billion, preparing to create a vertically integrated film and television industry chain."

"Even without the backing of a big-name director, the capital market will still be optimistic about their prospects."

They may not have big-name directors, but they have theaters.

No matter how great a director is, their movies still need to be released in theaters, right?

In the eyes of many, fixed assets like movie theaters are equivalent to very stable bonds, which can easily weather economic cycles.

After all, even big-name directors can flop.

But as a cinema chain, they can always make money as long as people want to go to the cinema.

"Too."

Mr. Wang scratched his head, looking somewhat annoyed.

Starlight is quite impressive.

At the very least, Wanda is their staunch ally.

Having its own cinema chain is a very important part of the film industry chain.

Thinking about this, Mr. Wang sighed, "They are rich and powerful. Brother Yuan helped them earn billions. They turned around and used that money to cooperate with Wanda and acquire AMC Theatres. It was indeed a brilliant move."

"However, I still feel sorry for Brother A Yuan."

“If he were with Huayi Brothers, I would give him at least 5% of the shares! If any new, beautiful female stars come, I will make sure he has a bite to eat and never lets him go hungry.”

That silly little brother of mine, he's always doing things that don't make sense!

The king was somewhat speechless. He waved his hand, telling his silly younger brother to hurry up and leave, and stop spouting nonsense all day long.
"Brother, you said last time you'd take Zhou Xun to chat with Brother A Yuan for a bit. Did you actually go?"

Before leaving, Mr. Wang couldn't help but ask one more question.

"I understand."

"Judging from your expression, you definitely didn't go."

Seeing that the eldest boss was silent, the youngest boss was speechless and started to complain wildly.

"That makes sense. You don't have any connection with Brother Yuan. If you ask him out, he'll most likely ignore you."

"My brother A Yuan is quite arrogant. He would never give you any face, especially not an insignificant NPC like you."

From childhood to adulthood, Xiao Wang has never been as good as his older brother in anything.

Today, he finally has something that can completely overwhelm his older brother.

In Boss Wang's office, he specifically dialed Lu Zhiyuan's number: "Ah Yuan, are you free today? I'd like to bring Zhou Xun to your company this afternoon to have a cup of tea with you, how about it?"

The king sneered, "Let's see how you get humiliated."

He did invite Lu Zhiyuan to have tea and chat, but Lu Zhiyuan politely declined, saying he was too busy.

"I'm not at the company right now. I'm filming a green screen shoot in Huairou."

Lu Zhiyuan's voice came from the other end of the phone.

It was as if they were refusing.

A smile immediately appeared on Boss Wang's face.

See? I knew this would be the result.

The capital market values ​​Lu Zhiyuan's net worth at over 200 billion yuan.

More than his two brothers combined.

In Lu Zhiyuan's eyes, the two brothers were most likely useless.

However, the king's expression changed very quickly.

Because he heard Lu Zhiyuan reply, "If you're not bored, Mr. Wang, you can bring Teacher Zhou to my filming location for a look."

"Okay. It's settled then!"

Mr. Wang hung up the phone happily, then made a gesture as if he were embracing a beautiful woman towards his older brother, gently swaying his body and performing an elegant waltz.

He acted very smugly.

Lu Zhiyuan's warm treatment of his younger brother puzzled the eldest prince, who asked, "That's strange. Why is he willing to give you face?"

"What's so weird about this?"

With a smile, Mr. Wang calmly said, "We have no conflict of interest. I even introduce female celebrities to him every few days. When the company gets a new young actress, I even ask him if she's pretty, if she has a good figure, and if he wants to send her to warm his bed."

"Although he always gave perfunctory answers and never accepted my kindness."

"However, a smart man like him can sense my goodwill."

“Showing enough goodwill is a prerequisite for making friends.”

Mr. Wang's behavior was no different from Xin Yukun's, giving Lu Zhiyuan a very familiar feeling.

I inexplicably felt a sense of closeness.

Moreover, Mr. Wang doesn't have any bad intentions; he just wants to cooperate with me to make money. What's the big deal?
Lu Zhiyuan wouldn't say he liked this adorable spendthrift, but he didn't dislike him either.

As for the Boss Wang, he has a somewhat gloomy appearance and looks cunning and treacherous.

Lu Zhiyuan instinctively sensed that he didn't like it, so he naturally distanced himself.

"Brother, you're better than me at business."

"However, you're not good at making friends."

"You always act like someone owes you millions, and you look like a gangster boss. Who would want to have tea and chat with you?"

"Even Little Cannon doesn't like you."

"I'm different, I'm much more handsome!"

Lu Zhiyuan rejected his older brother's offer but invited him to the Huairou filming base to see the green screen, which made Xiao Wang very happy.

Lu Zhiyuan gave him far too much face.

What a great brother!
Nothing to say.

Dude, I'll definitely support you to the end!
……

Arrived at the underground garage.

The driver had already driven the car out, and Zhou Xun had been waiting inside for a long time.

After getting into the car, Mr. Wang smiled at Zhou Xun and said, "Zhou, you're such a smart girl. You're beautiful, a good actress, and very likable."

What are you praising for no reason?
How embarrassing!
Zhou Xun was speechless, but this was the company's second boss, and she couldn't afford to offend him, so she could only smile and say, "Mr. Wang, you're too kind."

At 38, Zhou Xun still retains some of her charm.

Mr. Wang had a relationship with Zhou Xun before, and now he suddenly feels that women are more charming when they are a little older.

This woman, in particular, must have some acting skills to help her career.

It's quite novel to sleep on a purely decorative vase once in a while.

However, in the long run, it becomes worthless.

Forget it.

I shouldn't think about these things; important matters are more important.

As long as he can bring Ah Yuan over, he won't have to worry about the company for the next few decades.

He can still tell what is important and what is not.

"Xiao Zhou, you're also a veteran artist in our company. I've invested a lot of resources in promoting you. 'Flying Swords of Dragon Gate' was outstanding, wasn't it?"

"Of course, it can't compare to Pacific Rim at all."

"Wait a minute, say a few good words for me."

“We’ll bring this God of Wealth and this great director over here, and then you can make Hollywood blockbusters.”

Zhou Xun has a movie called "The Silent War" which will be released in August.

The film was directed by Alan Mak and Chong Man-keung.

The movie was already filmed before Zhuang Wenqiang became Lu Zhiyuan's underling.

That's why they say the entertainment industry is a small circle.

Among these people, there are all sorts of intricate relationships. Sometimes they are friends, but sometimes their friends' friends become their enemies.

Within this circle, people can only talk about interests, not personal relationships.

If we're talking about personal relationships, it's impossible to calculate.

"Mr. Wang, you overestimate me. What face do I have in front of him? When he's in a good mood, he calls me Teacher Zhou. When he's in a bad mood, he calls me Big Water Tank, and there's nothing I can do about it."

Zhou Xun didn't get involved at all.

She was born in 1974 and is 38 years old this year. It's about time she retired and returned to her hometown.

However, before retiring to her hometown, she did have a wish: to star in a real Hollywood blockbuster.

However, Mr. Wang's tricks were useless against Lu Zhiyuan.

She is well aware of this.

"Xiao Zhou, don't underestimate yourself."

“You stayed at his house for several days, living under the same roof and using the same pots and pans, so there must have been a bond between you.”

"He is very indifferent to most people, but he is very considerate to his own people."

Mr. Wang patted Zhou Xun on the shoulder, letting her get into the right mood.

When he met Lu Zhiyuan, he immediately threw it out.

Maybe this can move Lu Zhiyuan and make him have a change of heart.

……

Huairou.

China Film Green Screen Shooting Base.

"Pay attention to their eyes."

"Shishi, give me some feeling, a little pain."

"Crack!"

"Not profound enough, start over."

Although Liu Shishi was removed from the main cast list in the movie Interstellar, she still got a part of the plot.

Because, on Earth, there also needs to be some storylines.

As the two people left behind at the Earth base, Jing Tian and Liu Shishi... Jing Tian gave up hope.

Liu Shishi should have some compassionate and empathetic qualities.

As a representative of human wisdom and the raven messenger of Odin, the king of the gods, she should possess the common characteristics of both gods and humans.

They possess divine foresight and control over everything.

We should also have human compassion and appreciation for all things.

"Brother, let me help you."

Seeing that Liu Shishi was having trouble getting into the zone, Dilraba walked over to her, seemingly ready to offer some pointers.

Liu Shishi looked at Reba with some confusion.

I can't even handle this look in my eyes, so what can you do about it?
Reba asked with a smile, "Senior Sister, do you think I look good lately?"

Liu Shishi looked Dilraba up and down and thought that Dilraba's skin was incredibly smooth and delicate lately.

Curious, she couldn't help but ask, "What skincare products did you use? They look really effective."

Dilraba shook her head and said with a smile, "It's the nourishment of love."

Damn!

I knew I couldn't talk to you.

At that moment, Liu Shishi's blank gaze suddenly focused, her pupils seemed to burn with flames as she stared intently at Reba.

Reba continued nonchalantly, "You have no idea how much he likes me? We go home once every day at noon and once every night. Sometimes, when I wake up in the morning, wearing loose pajamas and brushing my teeth, he can't help but hug me from behind..."

To shut up!

Shut up right now!

You bitch, I was here first!
Liu Shishi felt like she was about to burst into flames, with a force inside her about to explode, and she needed to find an outlet for it.

The TV series "Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky" is currently airing and Liu Shishi's popularity has exploded once again.

She became the last top influencer of the Tieba era.

In the martial world, a million-strong army began to appear.

In 2012, Liu Shishi was almost the most popular actress on the internet.

Although Dilraba is very popular, this is only in comparison to the international market. In China alone, Dilraba's influence is limited.

After all, film is the director's art.

Lu Zhiyuan's fame far surpasses that of Dilraba!
Idol dramas like "Xuan-Yuan Sword" are the best platform for stars to create a divine image.

Everyone knows that Liu Shishi starred in "Xuan-Yuan Sword", but how many people know which director directed this TV series?
This is the difference between TV series and movies.

"Senior Sister, I have more good news for you. After we finish filming your scenes, he's going to take me home to meet his parents. Next time we meet, remember to call me sister-in-law."

After whispering a few words in Liu Shishi's ear, Dilraba raised her eyebrows at Liu Shishi with a smug look.

However, in Liu Shishi's eyes, Dilraba's appearance was extremely annoying and deserved a beating.

Reba's two short sentences immediately stirred up Liu Shishi's emotions.

She could barely contain herself.

On the other side, Dilraba retreated to Lu Zhiyuan's side and said as if to ask for credit, "Brother, that's enough. She's gotten into the mood."

"Yes, Not Bad."

Lu Zhiyuan turned his head and looked at Liu Shishi, who was standing there stiffly. Although her expression did not seem to change, her pupils were trembling violently.

There was an incredibly strong emotion, on the verge of exploding.

But Liu Shishi suppressed it firmly with her willpower.

At that moment, Liu Shishi seemed to see an extremely tragic scene, her heart ached so much that she couldn't breathe, she couldn't bear to watch any longer, but she was helpless.

This sense of contradiction and inner conflict was so intense, almost overwhelming, that it emanated from her eyes.

awesome!
This is what I want!

"Camera 2, Camera 3, one close-up, one profile."

"Mark the location."

"start!"

"Aim for a one-take success!"

Lu Zhiyuan, holding a walkie-talkie, instructed each unit to begin operations in an orderly manner.

At that moment, the light shone down, and Liu Shishi turned her head.

All the cameras were circling around her.

Under the peculiar interplay of light and shadow, her face appeared haggard, half-hidden in the shadows, with only her eyes gazing into the distance, filled with a hint of bewilderment, confusion, and pain.

Most remarkably, her eyelids were trembling slightly.

Such superb acting skills are truly rare and hard to come by.

At that moment, everyone held their breath, drawn into a special atmosphere by Liu Shishi.

"so beautiful!"

"Everyone will have an extra meal tonight."

Liu Shishi delivered another amazing performance, showcasing micro-expressions that withstand close-up scrutiny, rivaling even Zhou Xun's expressive eyes.

How awesome!

Her acting skills have been underestimated.

At that moment, many people present were thinking the same thing.

"Master, thank you for your hard work."

Lu Zhiyuan personally handed Liu Shishi a cup of milk tea, saying, "Xuan-Yuan Sword is doing well. Next, you should go to Hunan TV with Gulnazar to promote it, right?"

Liu Shishi turned to look at Lu Zhiyuan with great anticipation, wondering what he was going to say.
For example, would Lu Zhiyuan explain to her why he didn't come looking for her after breaking up with Jing Tian?

Not even a single message.

She found out about her relationship with Dilraba on Weibo.

Has their relationship become so cold?

"Shishi, do you have time in the second half of the year?"

"What I mean is, would you like to go to Florence to see the sights?"

At this moment, he saw Liu Shishi looking over with some surprise, and even a hint of joy in her eyes.

Lu Zhiyuan thought she had guessed something and said with a smile, "That's right. There's another female lead in the movie 'Project Gutenberg,' and I'd like to invite you to star in it."

what the hell!

Who wants to hear this from you!
Liu Shishi thought that Lu Zhiyuan had invited her to travel to Florence to see an art exhibition and maybe something would happen between them.
Then he kicked Dilraba away.

Who knew it was this?

and many more!

There's a problem here!
Liu Shishi lowered her head, took a sip of her milk tea, and asked casually, "I heard from Brother Kun that you wanted to cast Liu Yifei for this role, didn't you?"

"Kun did recommend it to me."

Lu Zhiyuan nodded, neither denying anything, and continued, "But I think you are more suitable for this role."

"How to say?"

At that moment, Liu Shishi's competitive spirit flared up instantly.

Tangren's promotional strategy was to give her the nickname "Little Liu Yifei" when she debuted.

It did initially bring her some attention.

But now, this nickname has ruined her life.

She starred in the Palme d'Or-winning film "The Coffin in the Mountain".

She has acted in three popular TV series: Chinese Paladin 3, Xuan-Yuan Sword, and Scarlet Heart.

In addition, she also starred with Lu Zhiyuan in "Pacific Rim," a blockbuster that grossed over $12 billion.

Her status is not only no less than Liu Yifei's, but from some perspectives, it is even slightly stronger.

However, Liu Yifei's fans can easily break her defenses by calling her "Sister Xiao Niu".

At this moment, Lu Zhiyuan carefully explained the situation to Liu Shishi.

Why choose her instead of Liu Yifei?

"The character's name is Wu Xiuqing. In the movie's plot, she is a member of a Colombian drug cartel, and she's a technician."

“I think your indifferent look is more in line with the character’s underlying personality.”

"As for the character Wu Xiuqing, she doesn't care about anything except the male lead Li Wen."

"She doesn't care about good or evil at all. She only cares about one person."

"I did a mental simulation, and I think Liu Yifei probably couldn't portray this kind of character. She would only give people the feeling of being pure and untainted by the mud."

"You are different."

"You have a delicate and handsome appearance, which will stand out in a group of burly gangsters."

"Besides, your eyes are somewhat blank, and you can ignore the oppressive feeling brought by those burly gangsters... It gives people the impression that you are a big shot, the kind of top assassin who is arrogant and disdainful of everyone."

"Most importantly, when you play a villain, you have a certain eccentricity, and I really like that feeling about you."

Lu Zhiyuan gave a long analysis, but Liu Shishi only heard the parts she wanted to hear!
He likes me!

He has strong feelings for me.

He thinks I'm better than Liu Yifei!

Damn!

This guy has a good eye.

How could I refuse such an invitation?
“Zhiyuan, I won’t let you down. Send me the script, and I’ll spend three months figuring out the character.”

"I will definitely give it my all."

"You know, if the male lead were someone else, my eye acting might be a bit clueless... But if the male lead is you, I believe my eyes will be very convincing!"

There are only two female characters in the movie "Project Gutenberg".

Although the character 【Wu Xiuqing】 has few scenes, she is still the second female lead.

She's already become the second female lead, so if she works a little harder, she'll soon be able to push Dilraba down and become Lu Zhiyuan's leading lady!

"Well, I believe you."

"I'll have Kun send you the script in a few days."

Lu Zhiyuan still had some expectations for Liu Shishi.

Aside from her listless eyes, she seemed fine in other aspects.

After joining the film crew, he was very honest and never caused any trouble.

Most importantly, Liu Shishi is quite lucky; every time I collaborate with her, I always get some unexpected benefits.

"Zhiyuan, shouldn't we have an audition? After all, it's not easy for you to explain to Liu Yifei. If we have a fair and just audition, she won't have anything to say."

Liu Shishi's damned competitive spirit has flared up again.

Since it was a pre-arranged match, a game I was certain to win, I had to give Liu Yifei a good beating.

"No need."

Lu Zhiyuan glanced at Liu Shishi thoughtfully: "As an actress, Liu Yifei has the nickname 'Fairy,' which is her biggest label."

"I hope you can also find your own unique label."

Upon hearing this, Liu Shishi looked at Lu Zhiyuan with sparkling eyes, hoping that he would create a classic role for her.

Create a unique label for yourself.

If that's the case, I can also make my mark in film history.

Lu Zhiyuan stared at Liu Shishi for a while before saying, "Shishi, you have a pair of eyes that are full of world-weariness, but your temperament is very elegant. When you stand there, you give people a sense of tranquility."

“I think you’re a bit like a Priestess of the Moon.”

"Moonlight as a blade, silence as poetry, walking among the mortals with the grace of a celestial being."

"This kind of temperament gives people a sense of aloofness, but also an elegant feeling. In this respect, you and Liu Yifei do have some similarities."

"However, you also have your own unique characteristics."

"When you go crazy, you give people a sense of obsession and infatuation."

"As long as you can bring out these two characteristics, your character will become very three-dimensional, and the emotions will burst forth, breaking down the dimensional barrier and deeply touching all the audience in front of the screen."

Priestess of the Moon.

To walk among mortals with the air of a celestial being.

Persistence, obsession!
Lu Zhiyuan used many beautiful words to describe himself and his expectations, which made Liu Shishi very gratified.

At least he didn't criticize himself.

Just now, she was afraid that Lu Zhiyuan would say something like "Blind Swordsman" or "Blind Monk," in which case she would definitely roll her eyes and turn around and leave.

"Persistence, obsession."

"Also, he thinks that I have a lot of feeling when I'm acting crazy?"

Liu Shishi really wanted to complain.

When have I ever gone crazy?
Only Dilraba would do that.

However, upon careful consideration, she realized that Lu Zhiyuan's analysis and summary of her were truly insightful, instantly helping her find her place in the world.

This kind of positioning is very important in the entertainment industry.

It's a track that belongs only to her.

It would take a lot of effort for someone else to take it away.

"Zhiyuan, thank you. If Reba hadn't been watching, I really would have wanted to give you a big kiss."

Liu Shishi was in a very good mood. She suddenly became a little crazy, then laughed heartily and prepared to go home after get off work.

Her scenes have been filmed.

When she went back to pack her things, Liu Shishi waved to Reba.

"what?"

Dilraba walked over with a puzzled look on her face.

"Someone said that my demeanor is like that of a moon priestess, walking among mortals with the air of a goddess. What do you think of that person's assessment of me?"

"Has he fallen in love with me? Haha."

Liu Shishi looked at Dilraba with confidence and charisma, radiating an aura of power.

I'm in love with you my foot!
He didn't call you "blind sister" simply because he's well-mannered.

"So, does this legendary Priestess of the Moon know that when playing Warcraft III, if you choose the Elf race, everyone usually chooses the Demon Hunter first?"

"And the Demon Hunter is blind."

Dilraba replied casually, not falling for it at all.

You blind bastard, with eyes so small, you think you can be the Priestess of the Moon? Look at my eyes, they're twice the size of yours!
"you--"

Liu Shishi was speechless after Reba's words. This brat, she's still so stingy even after becoming the eldest sister-in-law.

"Senior Sister, until we meet again."

When she noticed Lu Zhiyuan looking over, Dilraba quickly and politely helped Liu Shishi pack up the remaining things, handed them to Liu Shishi's assistant, and personally saw her out.

"With you, I'd rather never see you again."

Liu Shishi snorted, got into the van, and drove off.

"You said it yourself. It's best if the two of us never see each other again for all eternity."

Don't think I don't know, you also want to be the eldest sister-in-law!

Reba now finds Liu Shishi utterly repulsive.

However, she had to behave herself in front of Lu Zhiyuan and not cause him any trouble.

She must remember Jing Tian's lesson.

……

"Reba, it's been a long time. Should I call you sister-in-law now?"

Not long after Liu Shishi left, Dilraba received two unexpected guests at the door: Xiao Wang, the CEO of Huayi Brothers, and Zhou Xun.

As soon as Mr. Wang got out of the car, his first words made Dilraba beam with joy. "Mr. Wang, please come in. My brother knew you were coming, so he specially asked me to wait for you at the door."

Dilraba's emotional intelligence is similar to Lu Zhiyuan's; she can adjust it at any time.

Since Mr. Wang was very polite, she treated him with the same courtesy.

"Haha, Yuan, you're too kind. I'm truly flattered."

Hearing Reba's words, Mr. Wang became even happier.

In the past, when Jing Tian was his younger brother and sister-in-law, she disliked him no matter what and couldn't be bothered to talk to him.

After all, everyone knows he was causing trouble within Huayi Brothers.

Jing Tian certainly didn't want Lu Zhiyuan to hang out with him, lest he be led astray by him.

……

"Ah Yuan, my good brother. I've come to see you."

Upon entering the filming location, Mr. Wang greeted Lu Zhiyuan from afar and gave him a warm hug.

"Mr. Wang, the filming location is a bit messy, don't get your clothes dirty."

Lu Zhiyuan has finished his work for the day and is directing the staff to pack up and arrange things in categories.

Filming locations are always quite chaotic, and Mr. Wang is used to it.

Fortunately, this was an indoor shoot, so there wasn't much dust or dirt. If it were outdoors, it would be no different from a construction site.

"Mr. Wang, Mr. Zhou, please come upstairs and sit for a while."

"Reba, pour two cups of tea."

Lu Zhiyuan could roughly guess the intentions of Xiao Wang and Zhou Xun.

He didn't refuse anything and led the two upstairs for a chat.

After the group was seated...

Young Master Wang cut to the chase: "Brother, Starlight Brilliant isn't being fair. The company's going public, and they're not giving you any shares? How could they do that?"

Xiao Wang started to stand up for Lu Zhiyuan.

Back when Huayi Brothers went public, they gave shares to every celebrity they collaborated with.

They want everyone to get rich with them.

This is why many stars who emerged from Huayi Brothers later became business tycoons.

After all, once you've earned your first pot of gold, the rest is easy.

"Mr. Wang, you've misunderstood that. They offered me shares, but I didn't take them. After all, I don't need them."

You're obligated to do what others do.

If Lu Zhiyuan were to accept shares in Starlight Brilliant, he would have to work like a slave for them for the rest of his life, and he would never be able to escape that fate.

They were truly and completely controlled.

"Mr. Wang, I understand your good intentions. Huayi Brothers is a very powerful company in the industry."

Lu Zhiyuan said he understood Mr. Wang's good intentions.

Besides that, he first complimented Huayi Brothers a few times.

Then he began to speak frankly.

"However, most of my films are Sino-US co-productions, and the male leads are mostly Hollywood stars, the kind that can carry box office revenue worldwide."

"As for the female lead, there are only two or three in a movie."

Lu Zhiyuan didn't need to say anything more.

I believe Mr. Wang can understand.

Just like Zhang Yimou's love for Gong Li, Lu Zhiyuan also has his own preferences.

Reba, Hanikezi, Gulnazar.

Just these three, if they come in rotation, will ensure that his movies always have a suitable leading lady.

In addition, there was Liu Shishi, his longtime friend.

Then, if he needs some new faces, he can also scout them out from New Classics Media.

As for the old guard at Huayi Brothers, he really had no interest in them.

However, after leaving the glitz and glamour, Lu Zhiyuan needs to maintain good relationships with everyone.

After all, people in the entertainment industry aren't there to build relationships; they're there to make money.

"Mr. Wang, we still need some supporting roles for the movie 'Project Gutenberg.' We need a seemingly dull but ruthless character."

He will become the male lead's good friend.

"I think Wang Baoqiang is a good fit. Could you ask him if he's available?"

Lu Zhiyuan didn't actually like Sun Honglei, a character who looked like a villain at first glance.

He likes to create contrasts in his characters in movies.

What kind of madness will Wang Baoqiang, a seemingly dull and somewhat dull rural boy, become once he joins a gang and starts making counterfeit money?
This is a wonderful kind of surrealism.

Once this character appears in a movie, the audience will automatically fill in the missing part of the story of this rural boy... This is the "automatic writing" feature of surrealism.

This arrangement will make the whole movie look more intense.

"Haha."

"Ah Yuan, you are truly my good brother."

"At this critical juncture, you've given me such a wonderful gift."

"To be honest, Wang Baoqiang's contract is expiring soon. I reckon he'll most likely want to go solo."

"With this contract from you, he'll probably be in a dilemma."

It's a popular trend in the industry now for celebrities to open their own studios after reaching a certain level of fame.

Huayi Brothers allows its artists to open their own studios.

However, the other party cannot leave Huayi Brothers.

With Lu Zhiyuan's words today, he can go back and discuss with Wang Baoqiang how to negotiate after the brokerage contract expires.
The reason Wang Baoqiang left Huayi Brothers was because he couldn't get enough film resources, right?

Now things are looking good. Internationally renowned director Lu Zhiyuan has approached you, Wang Baoqiang, to collaborate.

Whose influence are they relying on?
It's all thanks to my, Wang's, influence!

"Good brother, you gave me a gift. I'll remember it. If you ever need anything in the future... you know what I mean."

With Dilraba still nearby, CEO Wang didn't dare go too far and gave Lu Zhiyuan a flirtatious wink.

"Mr. Wang, you don't need to thank me. Our cooperation is a win-win situation. Besides, I think Huayi Brothers' stock price is currently significantly undervalued."

"I plan to use 100 million to buy some Huayi Brothers stock."

"You'd better be careful about releasing information about our cooperation."

If Wang Baoqiang were to cooperate with Lu Zhiyuan, it would likely not have a significant impact on the overall performance of Huayi Brothers.

However, the market will provide its own interpretation.

Lu Zhiyuan parted ways with Starlight Entertainment, but has been getting involved with Huayi Brothers. Is he planning to join Huayi?
If it's true, Huayi Brothers will likely see at least ten consecutive daily price limits!
"Brother, don't worry. I'll have the institutions we're working with release negative news first to drive down the stock price. You can buy as much as you want. Give me a call when you've bought enough."

"I'll find someone else to spread the good news."

"Take our strategic cooperation for example. In the future, if you want to make any Hollywood blockbusters, you will give priority to selecting actors from Huayi Brothers."

Although Mr. Wang is usually a bit dim-witted and only knows how to flirt with female celebrities, he's a natural at insider trading.

Moreover, Lu Zhiyuan is right.

Only through cooperation can both parties achieve the greatest benefit.

Putting everything else aside, isn't Huayi Brothers' stock price something they can manipulate at will?

A single piece of bad news and a single piece of good news can cause a dramatic shift in the market.

……

Xiao Wang felt that his trip was well worth it.

Firstly, by using Lu Zhiyuan's film invitation, they managed to win over Wang Baoqiang, who was about to switch jobs.

Secondly, Lu Zhiyuan proactively expressed his intention to cooperate, wanting to spend 100 million yuan to buy shares in Huayi Brothers. This shows his confidence in them with real money!

Thirdly, although no contract has been signed, Lu Zhiyuan wants to find actors to shoot Hollywood blockbusters, and at this stage, using actors from Huayi Brothers is the most cost-effective option.

Huayi Brothers is full of big-name actors and veteran performers.

They don't bother training ordinary newcomers; they only want the best and the most outstanding.

"Reba, I heard you bought a villa. Brother Wang, I'm giving you a brand new set of Italian furniture. Don't be shy with me."

Xiao Wang always felt that trying to please Lu Zhiyuan was a bit deliberate.

Good bro, let's not talk about this.

Send Dilraba a set of Italian furniture as a token of his appreciation.

"Thank you, Brother Wang."

Before speaking, Dilraba glanced at Lu Zhiyuan. Only after Lu Zhiyuan nodded did she agree with a smile.

"Ah Yuan, Reba, I have something to do, I'll head back first."

"Xiao Zhou, stay here. It's been a long time since you've seen each other, so have a good chat. Treat Reba and Ayuan to a big meal, and I'll reimburse you later."

Young Master Wang was eager to go back and boast to his elder brother.

As for Zhou Xun, she can stay and keep Lu Zhiyuan company.

……

"Brother Yuan, what exactly do you want? You've got him completely fooled with just a few words."

After Mr. Wang left, Zhou Xun dropped all pretense and looked at Lu Zhiyuan with a strange expression.

Lu Zhiyuan shook his head and said seriously, "I have always been sincere with my partners. I never play games with people. I have indeed prepared 100 million yuan to buy Huayi Brothers stock."

Due to the overall economic environment, Huayi Brothers' stock price is currently at a historical low.

Once "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons" is released, this company's stock will most likely take off.

Moreover, Mr. Wang was so cooperative.

Upon hearing that he was going to buy shares of Huayi Brothers, he immediately had someone spread negative news to drive down the stock price.

What kind of spirit is this?
How could Lu Zhiyuan refuse the company's second-in-command's offer to lower the company's stock price so he could buy at the bottom?

It's basically giving money away to yourself.

In addition, his collaborations with New Classics Media and Huayi Brothers... are all part of Lu Zhiyuan's efforts to weave a web for himself.

While maintaining his independence, he also keeps friendly relations with all companies.

Making money together is secondary.

In this situation, if anyone tries to harm him, other companies will fight tooth and nail to protect him.

He painstakingly won over everyone, all to create the perfect conditions for his film to break records and become the best in history!
"Brother Yuan, you're really becoming more and more like a big shot."

Zhou Xun showed some awe when facing the two Wang brothers.

After all, those two brothers were the company owners, and they directly controlled her life and death.

But when she faced Lu Zhiyuan, she inexplicably felt a sense of admiration.

That kind of demeanor is truly captivating.

Unfortunately, she's too old and doesn't have Gao Yuanyuan's courage. Despite being rejected countless times, she persists like a persistent leech.

"Teacher Zhou, don't miss the opportunity to make money that Mr. Wang has provided. Consider it my payment for your tuition on behalf of Honey."

By buying 100 million yuan worth of shares, Lu Zhiyuan was simply sending a message to Huayi Brothers, indicating that they were open to cooperation.

He never expected that Mr. Wang would be so perceptive.

It made him a little embarrassed.

"Thank you, Brother Yuan."

It's a fool not to take advantage of a good deal. Zhou Xun has reached the end of her career at Huayi Brothers. At her age, she doesn't have much ambition left in her career.

Let's try to make as much money as possible.

Otherwise, who will she be able to rely on for the rest of her life?
……

Zhou Xun treated everyone to a meal.

We had a big meal at the best hotel in Huairou.

Hanikezi also came and paid her respects to her teacher, Zhou.

During the meal, Zhou Xun gave Hanikezi a special test on her acting skills.

A few minutes later, Zhou Xun couldn't even eat anymore and couldn't help but cover her forehead: "Honey, how come your acting hasn't improved at all?"

She was completely convinced!

Hanikezi's acting is so terrible, how did she even manage to act in Lu Zhiyuan's movies?

All I can say is that the director is truly amazing, managing to overlook all of Hanikezi's flaws and capture only her unique youthful vivacity and charm.

After all, for actresses, as long as they are good-looking, directors can always get a nice angle if they put in a little more effort.

Besides, when it's a mecha hunter fighting monsters, the audience doesn't care about the actresses' acting skills.

As a pretty face, both Hanikezi and Gulnazar are top-tier.

"Teacher Zhou, I have made progress."

Hanikezi emphasized this point in a submissive manner.

"hehe."

Zhou Xun smiled silently.

Hanikezi has indeed made progress.

Everyone knows she and Dilraba are inseparable. She's become the sister-in-law and apprentice of a famous director.

On Lu Zhiyuan's side, the person with the strongest connections is Hanikezi!

……

Filming has been completed against the green screen.

Lu Zhiyuan took a break.

The main reason is that his father has graduated with a doctorate and will soon be working for the urban rail company.

Lu Zhiyuan needs to go back and talk to his father about this.

"Brother, uncles and aunts, will you like me?"

From the moment she boarded the plane, Dilraba asked Lu Zhiyuan this question no less than 30 times.

“If they don’t like you, just tell them you earn a hundred million a year. I guarantee they’ll treat you like a princess immediately.”

This is a very practical question.

Where do they normally find a daughter-in-law who earns 100 million yuan a year?
Not to mention, Dilraba is also so cute.

Of course, Lu Zhiyuan had already told his parents about Dilraba's situation.

His parents, of course, respected Lu Zhiyuan's choice.

This trip to bring Reba back for a visit was also at the request of the elderly couple.

"Brother, is the gift I brought a little low-end? How about we go shopping at the mall after we get off the plane?"

Dilraba rolled her eyes at Lu Zhiyuan's claim that she earned 100 million yuan a year.

Who would say that on their first visit?

That's far too provocative.

She still felt that she should be a well-behaved and virtuous daughter-in-law to be more liked by her parents.

"enough."

“If you buy too much, they will feel pressured. Because, according to the custom in my hometown, you are supposed to receive a red envelope when you visit for the first time.”

After Lu Zhiyuan said that, Dilraba finally felt relieved.

We must not cause trouble for Lu Zhiyuan, nor make his parents feel embarrassed.

This is the T0 rule.

It surpasses everything else.

She would never repeat Jing Tian's mistake.

……

After half a year, I returned home once again.

Lu Zhiyuan felt that although nothing in the house had changed, everything seemed to have changed.

"Uncle, Auntie, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Reba."

Reba walked out from behind Lu Zhiyuan with a particularly cute and sweet smile, as reserved as a quail.

Like a harmless little lamb.

At that moment, she unleashed her acting prowess to the fullest.

Lu Zhiyuan's father didn't say anything.

Lu Zhiyuan's mother was different. Seeing how lovely Reba was, she immediately took Reba's hand and was very happy.

"Dilraba, you're so much prettier than you are on TV. Look at your big eyes, look at your beautiful chin, you're so gorgeous. You're like a princess."

"To welcome you, Auntie specially made her best braised pork..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lu Zhiyuan coughed and said, "Mom, I don't like braised pork. Besides, the braised pork you make is not tasty at all."

Lu Zhiyuan's mother said, somewhat speechless, "You're not even eating braised mutton?"

Braised mutton?

You didn't tell me earlier!

Lu Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Upon hearing this, Reba immediately smiled and quickly flattered her, "Auntie, I like everything you do. My brother is always so picky. Let's ignore him."

"Yeah, he's always been like this since he was little, he's really annoying."

At this moment, Lu Zhiyuan's mother seemed to awaken a long-forgotten memory and joined in the rant: "I remember when he was in kindergarten, one day during nap time, a female classmate wanted to share a bed with him, but he kicked her off the bed. The teacher even came to me to complain about it."

what?
He's done this kind of thing before?

Reba turned to look at Lu Zhiyuan in utter shock. As expected of the older brother in my heart, he has never understood romance since childhood.

……

Lu Zhiyuan remembered that when Jing Tian came to his house, it wasn't like this at all.

At the time, his parents were very reserved and polite, treating Jing Tian as a distinguished guest.

However, Reba and her parents seemed to hit it off immediately and started chatting together right away.

Lu Zhiyuan even had a feeling that he was the outsider.

"Dad, let's talk for a bit."

After a while, when Reba and her mother went to the kitchen, Lu Zhiyuan saw this and pulled his father to the study.

"Ah Yuan, you deliberately chose this time to come back, are you trying to tell me not to go to work at the urban rail company?"

Lu Zhiyuan's father clearly understood something as well.

However, this opportunity was also a once-in-a-lifetime one for him.

He didn't want to miss out easily.

My father also has his own understanding of this.

"Ah Yuan, I reckon the listing date for Starlight Brilliant will most likely be after New Year's Day 2013."

"By now, your movie should have already been released. If the box office is hot enough, the company's stock price will soar."

"You bring them huge profits. Even if you part ways with them later, as long as you don't openly break ties, they will still have to fawn over you."

"For your sake, your mother and I will most likely have a smooth career."

Wherever there are people, there are factions and cliques.

In fact, even within the dazzling array of stars, there are factions.

Those who criticize Lu Zhiyuan and those who support Lu Zhiyuan in the film industry are not the same people.

Lu Zhiyuan and Jing Tian broke up, but YT Pictures still existed, and they still held onto a sliver of hope.

"Dad, has someone spoken to you about this?"

Lu Zhiyuan suddenly realized something.

How could his father be so sure that those people wouldn't mess with him?

"You little rascal, why are you so smart? Nothing can be hidden from you. As your father, I feel no sense of accomplishment at all."

Lu Zhiyuan's father felt that completing his doctorate had elevated him to a higher level. He felt his intelligence had reached the limits of human potential.

However, he was still not as cunning and resourceful as his own son.

"Someone will call in two minutes."

I waited in the study for two minutes, and sure enough, someone called.

After Lu Zhiyuan's father answered the phone, he said respectfully, "Yes, he's home. Okay, I'll give him the phone."

After handing the phone to Lu Zhiyuan, Dad went outside.

Lu Zhiyuan glanced at the caller ID and, sure enough, it was Jing Tian's uncle.

No wonder Dad was so confident that he could take over the urban rail company smoothly and that no one would mess things up for him.

"Ah Yuan, I'm very sorry about that."

"Because of this, Tian Tian is ignoring me and threw a huge tantrum at home. She demands an explanation from me, and an explanation from you."

On the other end of the phone, Jing Tian's uncle said something with a melancholy tone.

Clearly, the so-called explanation has already been given.

It's impossible for the news to report that some mice have been caught.

But Lu Zhiyuan's parents must have heard some rumors.

In particular, several key figures from the urban rail company were all arrested.

It would be strange if this had nothing to do with Jing Tian.

“Ah Yuan, your father got his doctorate through a company recommendation. After completing his studies, it’s only natural that he’ll return to the urban rail company. That was stipulated in a previous contract.”

“Your father told me that he doesn’t care if he breaches the contract himself. However, he is also worried about affecting your reputation.”

"Apart from that, you don't need to worry about anything. Right now, the company has just been cleaned up, and it's at its cleanest."

"As long as your father achieves some success, his talent will be recognized soon, and he can be promoted directly to the Beijing headquarters."

The pie in the sky that Jing Tian's uncle offered was indeed very tempting.

Lu Zhiyuan knew that his father would definitely not be able to refuse.

He's a workaholic, and so is his father.

His father is not yet 50 years old and has huge potential for advancement.

Moreover, his father had just finished his doctoral studies and was eager to make a name for himself.

They definitely don't want to rely on their son for old age.

"Ah Yuan, thank you for the New Classics Media thing."

Seeing that Lu Zhiyuan remained silent, Jing Tian's uncle whispered something to him.

At this moment, Lu Zhiyuan understood the subtext.

They did not completely part ways.

Both parties will continue their cooperation through New Classics Media.

However, I've parted ways with all those messy people from before.

There was only Jing Tian's family.

"Mr. Jing, thank you for your help with Netflix."

Lu Zhiyuan did not readily accept Jing Tian's uncle's kindness; instead, he subtly hinted to him in the same way that he had acquired Netflix shares.

In the future, they can be a help to him in critical moments.

Of course, the reason he said thank you was because without the pressure from Uncle Jing Tian, ​​the shady characters in their private equity fund might not have been willing to withdraw.

"Don't be so formal. We're all family."

After saying that, Uncle Jingtian hung up the phone.

We are all smart people.

He believed that Lu Zhiyuan would understand the subtext of those words.

Cooperation and mutual benefit mean we are one family.

If Lu Zhiyuan is willing to be with Jing Tian, ​​they can be family.

It all depends on how Lu Zhiyuan interprets it.

In any case, he has already shown his goodwill.

Lu Zhiyuan's father can go to work at the urban rail company with peace of mind, without any worries.

Uncle Jing Tian gave a clear guarantee, and Lu Zhiyuan was willing to trust him on this point.

Who is this person? Why would I need to fool him?

Totally unnecessary.

"A person's value should not be too great, nor should their destructive power be too strong."

"Otherwise, if others are afraid of you and worried that you will go crazy, they will have to go to great lengths to win you over, which would seem too hypocritical."

Lu Zhiyuan sighed a few times, hung up the phone, and went out.

"Congratulations, Dad."

"A hidden dragon lies in the abyss; if we seize the opportunity, we might be able to enter the capital."

Lu Zhiyuan suddenly remembered that he had drawn an A-level talent using the box office of the movie "The Coffin in the Mountain".

Yu Feihong's extraordinary family background!

……

After Lu Zhiyuan finished his phone call with Jing Tian's uncle, the atmosphere in the whole family became much more relaxed.

Should I go work for the urban rail company?

In fact, Lu Zhiyuan's parents had discussed this matter many times.

The main concern was that it might affect Lu Zhiyuan.

However, Jing Tian's uncle stepped in.

If the elderly couple still want to operate in this area, they have to give each other some face.

Moreover, the other party meant well.

They considered all their concerns and even made promises in person.

This made it impossible for them to refuse.

"Brother, let me peel a shrimp for you. It's high in protein, so it'll help you get some nutrition."

During dinner, Dilraba constantly displayed her virtuous and gentle demeanor, peeling several large shrimp for Lu Zhiyuan.

"You should eat more too. It's cuter when you're chubby. Anyway, you don't want to make movies anymore, so you don't need to control your diet."

Lu Zhiyuan put several of the large shrimp into Reba's bowl.

The two exchanged a glance and started eating together.

This harmonious scene made Lu Zhiyuan's parents very happy.

Unrestrained and free, that's what a family should be like.

……

At Jing Tian's home.

After finishing his call, Uncle smiled at Jing Tian and said, "Tian Tian, ​​your uncle personally negotiated a settlement for you. Are you satisfied now?"

"Thank you, uncle."

Jing Tian was naturally satisfied; the misunderstanding was about to be cleared up.

After saying that, Jing Tian started changing her clothes and putting on her shoes, seemingly preparing to go out.

"Tian Tian, ​​it's almost time to eat, where are you going?"

Grandma was watching TV on the sofa when she saw Jing Tian about to leave and couldn't help but ask a question.

Jing Tian replied with a smile, "Grandma, I want to go to the Xi'an city wall to wait for a rain, and wait to meet someone."

He came home.

He should come.

(End of this chapter)