Rebirth 05: From Coal Mine Owner to Mobile Phone Tycoon

The thought of losing real money still made Zhou Mei feel a little heartbroken.

Actors in Hong Kong don't get paid very much; they earn all that money through hard work filming.

Lu Yuan thought that Zhou Mei had agreed verbally but was still hesitant in her heart, so he decided to reassure her.

"Mei'er, if you have any concerns about the funds, I'll cover it."

Zhou Mei didn't expect Lu Yuan to say something like that.

Her cheeks flushed instantly, but fortunately the lighting in the private room was dim, so others probably wouldn't notice.

"Is this about becoming your own sugar daddy?"

Zhou Mei's mind raced, and she couldn't help but scrutinize the man in front of her once more.

Young, handsome, tall and well-built, knowledgeable, and most importantly, very rich.

Wait, something seems off.

This guy looks much younger than me.

The main thing is that this guy's speech and knowledge are too deceptive. He doesn't seem like someone his age at all; he's more like someone my age.

But this guy is really wicked; he actually made me call him brother.

Seeing that Zhou Mei didn't say anything, Lu Yuan started to look her over, from head to toe, and then from toe to head.

Seeing this, Lu Yuan awkwardly touched his nose.

Could it be that I was too hasty and some unspeakable secret was exposed?

"Can you tell me why?"

Lu Yuan thought for a moment, then looked deeply into Zhou Mei's eyes and said...

"We're friends. Mei'er and I hit it off immediately. What else do I need to help a friend?"

"Just friends?"

Is this a coup attempt? Lu Yuan's heart skipped a beat; it seemed things had gone a bit too far.

So he quickly recalled the teachings of his ancestor, and wondered what to do in this situation.

Stay calm, then give it a push. Never admit you're brave first, or you'll become a simp.

"Of course, I also have my own selfish motives."

This was certainly a brilliant use of language; Lu Yuan was about to applaud himself. The founder had taught him well.

The word "of course" could mean that Zhou Mei was only asking a friend, or it could mean that she had other ideas.

How to explain it depends entirely on how the other party interprets it; it's a versatile approach that allows you to both attack and defend.

"I hope to take this opportunity to enter the mainland film and television industry together with Ms. Mei'er?"

In fact, after Lu Yuan decided to make mobile phones, he seriously considered investing in the entertainment industry.

After all, this industry later became incredibly lucrative.

While entering the market now may not be the best option, it can still attract a large group of promising actors.

When the time comes, they can use their own artists to endorse their products, creating a perfect closed loop.

"Firstly, I hope to diversify my business, but I am ultimately an outsider in this area."

"Secondly, Mei'er is now working on her own in mainland China, so she should be a free agent, and she probably doesn't want to sign with a Hong Kong agency."

"I wonder if Miss Zhou would be willing to cooperate with Brother Lu?"

Zhou Mei didn't expect that, based on just this short exchange, Lu Yuan had guessed most of her situation.

Having such a person to rely on is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me.

"You're really quick-witted and incredibly intelligent."

"Looks like I guessed right, bro?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

Zhou Mei was tempted, but why did this person always subtly take advantage of her after they became familiar with each other?

"Of course, I'd be happy to cooperate with you. May I ask what kind of cooperation model you're referring to?"

Zhou Mei looked at Lu Yuan with curiosity.

"I'll provide the funding to set up a personal studio in your name, and you'll take a cut!"

This model was very beneficial to Zhou Mei; she practically only took money.

"So, I'll be managing the company's operations from now on?"

Zhou Mei frowned; she wasn't good at managing a company.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan laughed.

"We don't need you to handle the company's affairs; we can just find a professional manager. Your job is simply to guide us!"

"Of course, it's fine if you want to take on roles; just consider it as earning a paycheck. You have the absolute right to choose."

"The only difference is the pay for roles outside the studio versus roles in my own studio."

After all, he has already received a share of the studio's profits, and acting in his own production means that the remuneration for this role is probably just a token gesture, practically nothing at all.

Zhou Mei probably understood what Lu Yuan meant, but she was still deeply moved.

Over the years, due to his agency contract, he has attended many banquets he didn't want to go to, and in order to promote new talents, he has also played many roles he didn't like.

Ultimately, he had a very unpleasant falling out with his agency, and was practically sidelined.

Over the years, I estimate that my value is just the little bit of fame and connections I've built up in the industry.

Moreover, Zhou Mei enjoys acting but doesn't want to be exploited by her agency. Lu Yuan has given her absolute freedom; she can act whenever she wants and rest when she doesn't.

"Okay, let's work together. Please take care of me in the future, Brother Lu."

She reached out and shook hands with Lu Yuan, but her slightly trembling hand couldn't hide her excitement.

"By the way, where will our studio be located?"

Lu Yuan thought for a moment and said, "I'll register the headquarters in Hong Kong, since I'll need it later. For the mainland, I'll choose Guangzhou or the capital city. I prefer the capital city."

"Actually, we should choose between the capital city and Shanghai, because both places have higher film and television schools, which is very helpful for expanding resources and connections."

"But Guangzhou is closer to Hong Kong, and also closer to my home base in Shenzhen, so it's up to you, Mei'er, to choose."

Zhou Mei didn't think much of it.

"You said it would be better to go to the capital, so let's go to the capital. It'll be a completely new environment and a fresh start."

"A wise choice. Would you like me to introduce you to a legal firm in mainland China?"

"No need, I can handle all of this myself. I have lawyer friends I know."

Lu Yuan thought about it and realized that it made sense; the relationship between artists and law firms was generally quite good.

"Alright, I'll leave the contract to you. I'll invest HKD 5 million as seed money. Mei'er, you can do whatever you want. We'll split the profits 30/70, with me taking the lion's share."

Zhou Mei shook her head, indicating that this was unreasonable.

"Brother Lu, this is too much. I'll only take 20%, no, 10% is fine, since I don't have to do anything and just get paid."

"Hey, this is nothing. Don't underestimate your brand. Your name alone is worth more than this. I think I'm getting a great deal by giving you 30%."

"Give me your bank account information, and I'll have someone transfer the money to you first."

Lu Yuan didn't give Zhou Mei any chance to refuse, and directly moved the conversation to the next stage.

"Okay, but... should I transfer the money to my personal account?"

"Okay, no problem. Go talk to Tangren about the role, register a company in the capital, find a studio location, and recruit staff. All of this will cost money. Once the company is registered and the corporate account is set up, you can transfer the remaining money."

"This is more convenient. We just need to keep the invoices and receipts for the initial expenses. The accountant can then do the accounting without any problems."