Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 125 The Simp, Resignation

"You're overthinking it. Where are you now?" Chen Shou asked.

"In Hengdian."

"Uh, then why did you call me?"

"What, can't I just call you? Looks like you've gotten tired of the old and crave the new. Well, I am over thirty after all, and I can't compare to a girl in her twenties."

"It seems you don't want to make a sequel," Chen Shou said.

"Hey director, I was just kidding. I even slept with you, aren't you going to give me a role?"

"That's enough, when are we going back to the capital?" Chen Shou interrupted the older woman's coquettish pleading.

"Let's wait another week. Anyway, you don't lack women, so don't miss me too much."

"Let's talk about it when you get back. The movie has already passed censorship and is expected to be released in July. You'll have to do promotional work then," Chen Shou said.

"Got it, boss."

Yan Danchen hung up the phone, looked at her reflection on the screen, touched her face, and seemed lost in thought.

Chen hung up the phone and planned to treat the company's executives to dinner; it had been a long time since he had done so.

They invited Tao Le, Zhong Lifan, Guo Fan, Wu Ershan, and a dozen others, and went to a restaurant for a meal.

"What did Chen Jinfei say?" Chen Shouzhe asked Zhong Lifan directly, regardless of whether Tao Le and the others were there.

"What else can we say? We're just trying to find out if it's true or not. It seems like he's having some kind of conflict," Zhong Lifan said.

"Isn't there supposed to be a movie being released? How come there's a conflict?" Chen Shou asked in surprise. He remembered that Liu Yifei had a co-production film to be released this year. "2012" made money, and Liu Yifei became even more famous with "The Martian." Chen Jinfei struck while the iron was hot and got a co-production with the United States, which was scheduled to be released this year.

“Although it’s some inside information, it’s not that we can’t talk about it. It seems that Chen Jinfei has a girlfriend who is very young and looks a lot like Liu Yifei’s mother,” Tao Le said.

"What do you mean?" Guo Fan asked, leaning closer, while the others also pricked up their ears to listen.

"Back then, Chen pursued Liu's mother all the way to the United States. You could say that Liu's current situation is inseparable from this wealthy godfather. However, Chen has always wanted to become Liu's stepfather, but unfortunately, he has never succeeded. It seems that he has run out of patience and simply came out and started dating a female student from the Beijing Film Academy. I have seen the female student's information, and she does look somewhat like Liu's mother," Tao Le said.

"Uh, what did he mean by calling me? We're not related anymore," Chen Shou asked, puzzled.

“Chen Jinfei is also the boss of the company Liu Yifei works for, Hongxingwu. Liu Yifei is essentially an artist under his management,” Zhong Lifan said.

"Is that so? An old treasury." Chen Shou sneered.

"puff!"

Upon hearing Chen Shou's words, Zhong Lifan almost choked, and the others were stunned for a moment before not knowing what to say.

How to put it? It's very vivid.

But with so many people around, it wouldn't be good if word got out.

But then I thought of what Chen Shouzhe said, and what did it matter?

Licking the dog.

The word, which hadn't even appeared yet, came out of Chen Shou's mouth, and it described Chen so perfectly.

“You’re quite the exaggerator. Don’t talk nonsense. He’s a very wealthy man, after all,” Zhong Lifan said.

"What does it matter? How much influence does he have on the entertainment industry? The term 'simp' will be synonymous with him from now on, just like that stagnant pool of water," Chen Shou said with a sip of wine.

Hearing Chen Shou say "dead water," the others dared not say anything more. Now, describing the hometowns of those being reviewed as "dead water" was already infamous.

After finishing their meal, everyone went home. Chen Shou didn't drink today; he was going to drive back to the horse farm later, so he drove home after finishing his meal.

The entertainment industry is full of new things every day, especially those young stars. They have no representative works, but they have an astonishing number of fans. I don't know what's so charming about them. They all seem to want to lie in bed and wait for them to dote on them.

When someone asks for something, there are endless dinner invitations.

He received a call early this morning; someone was inviting him to dinner again.

"Hey, Mr. Ye."

"Is Director Chen free?"

Yes, is there something you need?

"I just wanted to treat you to a meal."

"Okay, noon or evening?"

"Noon, it's not far anyway."

"Let's get this straight, who's coming?"

"There's no one else, just you and me."

"That's good. Send me the restaurant location later. Too many people are inviting me to dinner these days."

"Haha, you're too busy. I'll wait for you at noon."

Chen spent the morning at home with his daughter, and at noon he went to the private club that Ye Ning had mentioned.

There was no one else besides Ye Ning, so the two of them sat in the private room and ate steak again.

"Why are you inviting me to lunch in the middle of the day? What's the matter?" After a hearty meal, Chen Shou believed that Ye Ning wouldn't be bothering him for no reason.

And judging from the looks of it, it's not a project; it's probably a private matter.

If it's business, it should be at the company. With Wanda's abilities, she wouldn't need to hide like this.

“I originally just wanted to treat you to a meal, but since you asked so directly, I'll be frank too. I plan to leave Wanda,” Ye Ning said. Chen Shou paused, his hand holding the wine glass still, and looked up at him in surprise: “You're leaving Wanda? What will you do after you leave? Where will you go?”

“Huayi…” Ye Ning said in a deep voice.

"ah?!!"

Luckily I didn't drink any alcohol; otherwise, I probably would have spat it out.

"Are you crazy? Joining Huayi, do you know what kind of behavior that is??"

"What behavior?"

"Entered that profession in 49."

"It can't be that bad, don't you watch the stock market? Huayi's stock price is soaring right now."

"It's true that prices are soaring, but what are you doing at Huayi? Isn't Wanda good enough?"

“I no longer have the opportunity to move up in Wanda. Huayi is now aiming for a market value of 100 billion yuan, making it the largest private enterprise in the media sector.”

"Do you know how Huayi achieved such a high market value?"

"what?"

"My God, don't you even know anything about this? How many movies does Huayi still have? How many artists does it have? Don't be fooled by all those studios, Huayi is already planning to divest its media business. A private enterprise that was supported by the higher-ups is now opening clubs, hotels, and some kind of small-town project. Do you think the real estate market isn't high enough right now?"

As a time traveler, Chen Shouzhe experienced some changes in the timelines of the two worlds, but history always repeats itself.

A careful look at historical records reveals that, in his view, Huayi was destined to perish along with the collapse of the real estate and cancer stocks.

He doesn't understand the stock market or stocks, but he can roughly understand that Huayi's current situation is very dangerous. What can a media company without movies do?
With those two brothers ruthlessly exploiting investors, it's no wonder they couldn't make money.

"Director Chen, you don't know, those two brothers haven't given up on the media sector. They invited me to be the general manager of the film," Ye Ning said.

"I think you're crazy. What movies does Huayi have now? Besides Feng Xiaogang, who else can they produce? What film projects have they had in recent years? Now, besides the stock market, they have nothing else. I'm only telling you this because we're friends. If you insist on joining Huayi, there's nothing I can do," Chen Shou said, spreading his hands.

"I'll think it over carefully," Ye Ning nodded. "If I join Huayi, Director Chen, can we still continue to work together?"

"Impossible." Chen Shou refused bluntly.

"I understand. Please don't tell anyone, Director Chen."

"Don't worry, I won't say anything."

After finishing his meal, Chen said goodbye, and his assistant drove him to the company.

"You've got a screw loose," Chen Shou cursed, then leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest.

The assistant glanced at the rearview mirror and continued driving carefully.

He didn't tell anyone, but Ye Ning must have been poached. He wondered if anyone else in their company had been poached.

"Sister Zhong, are you free? Come to my office for a moment." Chen Shouzhe made a phone call to Zhong Lifan.

A short while later, Zhong Lifan arrived at his office and sat down in front of him.

"You drank alcohol at noon?" Zhong Lifan asked in surprise.

"I had a few drinks with some friends. Sister Zhong, has anyone left your company recently?" Chen Shou asked.

"No, but I've heard that headhunters have been contacting our company's management," Zhong Lifan said.

"They've contacted you too?" Chen Shou asked with a smile.

“That’s right.” Zhong Lifan nodded.

"Do you know which company it is?" Chen Shou asked, resting his chin on his hand.

"They didn't say, but the offer was good, and they even promised company shares," Zhong Lifan smiled.

"Hmm, it seems like a big move. Company shares. There aren't many listed companies like that. It can't be Enlight Media. Wang Changtian isn't that generous. Is it from Alibaba?" Chen Shou asked with a smile.

"I don't know either, but it's certainly possible over there. They're very wealthy, and the stock market is doing so well right now," Zhong Lifan said.

"It seems I still need to be careful. I suspect some of the company's senior executives are also dissatisfied with me," Chen Shou said with a smile.

“I have no complaints. The dividends you’ve given me are more than enough,” Zhong Lifan said.

Although I don't own shares in Shouzhe Pictures, I receive a lot of dividends every year. If the company continues to grow at this rate, it will be more profitable than going public.

Going public is basically just about fleecing investors. You might have the resources to go public while holding onto your film business, but you'll lose a lot afterward.

Going public has its advantages; Chen Shou can acquire a lot of wealth in a short period of time. Not going public also has its advantages; the company relies on him alone anyway, so there's no need for him to work for someone else.

Losing the right to speak is a terrible thing. Zhong Lifan knew that Chen Shouzhe would not give up any shares; the entire company belonged to him.

This is precisely why many people are probably dissatisfied. They would love for the company to go public and become shareholders so they can make a lot of money.

"If anyone leaves, let me know. I want to see who's poaching people," Chen Shou said with a smile.

“Well, at least I don’t plan to leave, unless you fire me,” Zhong Lifan said.

"Sister Zhong, please don't joke around. I went to great lengths to invite you here, and I'm reluctant to see you leave," Chen Shou said.

"Then you might as well give me a raise."

"It will definitely rise."

(End of this chapter)