Huayu: Starting with Xiang Yu, the Hegemon of Western Chu

026. Asking Price

There were more people in the conference room than Chen Mo had expected.

On the day he terminated his contract a year ago, there were only three people sitting opposite him: Sister Lin, the legal counsel, and an assistant who took notes.

There are five people sitting here today.

Sister Lin was still sitting in the center.

To her left sat two middle-aged men whom Chen Mo did not recognize. One wore gold-rimmed glasses, and the other wore a dark blue suit. Both of them had notebooks and pens beside them.

Sitting to her right was someone Chen Mo knew.

Ma Hongzhi, Vice President of Star Entertainment.

During the four years that Chen Mo was sidelined a year ago, he never even entered Ma Hongzhi's office once. During those four years, Ma Hongzhi was one of the people furthest away from him in this building.

Ma Hongzhi is sitting here today.

The moment Chen Mo pushed open the door, all five of them stood up.

"Xiao Mo! You're here! Come on, have a seat!" Sister Lin's voice was at least an octave higher than usual.

Ma Hongzhi also walked over with a smile and extended his hand.

"Xiao Mo, hello. I'm Ma Hongzhi, the company's vice president. I've heard of you for a long time, but never had the chance to meet you in person. Today I'm finally meeting you in person."

We've never had a chance to meet.

That's a very artistic way of saying it.

During Chen Mo's four years at the company, everyone in this building knew that a newcomer named Chen Mo had been sidelined. As the vice president, Ma Hongzhi couldn't possibly not know; it would be strange if he didn't.

But he now says, "I've never had the chance to get to know him."

Chen Mo did not expose this statement.

He simply reached out and shook hands with Ma Hongzhi, very politely and briefly.

"Hello, Mr. Ma."

"Come, have a seat," Ma Hongzhi warmly led him to one side of the long table. "Would you like some water? Coffee? Or tea?"

"Mineral water is fine."

Sister Lin immediately got up, took a bottle of mineral water from the small refrigerator next to her, and handed it over.

Chen Mo took it, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip.

Then he sat down.

I was sitting on one side of the long table.

Those five people are on the other side.

A year ago, he sat on one side of this long table, opposite three people.

A year later, he was still sitting on this side, but now there were five people opposite him.

The seating arrangement remained the same, but the number of people increased.

Chen Mo looked at the five faces opposite him, feeling very calm.

He knew what was going to happen next.

He just needed to sit quietly and listen to them.

"Xiao Mo, here's what happened."

Ma Hongzhi spoke first, his voice carrying a deliberately crafted sense of intimacy.

"The company's senior management attaches great importance to bringing you back this time. The chairman himself has also inquired about this matter. Our meaning is very clear: the company did not consider things properly when handling your contract termination back then. This time, we want to make up for it with the utmost sincerity."

Chen Mo nodded without saying anything.

"Let's talk about the terms first." Ma Hongzhi gestured to the middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses next to him. "This is our company's legal director, Mr. Li. He will introduce the framework of the contract we have prepared to you."

Mr. Li cleared his throat and opened his notebook.

"Mr. Chen Mo, the cooperation terms our company is preparing to offer you are as follows."

"The base signing bonus is twelve million."

Chen Mo paused for a moment as he twisted the cap off the mineral water bottle.

Twelve million.

In this parallel world's entertainment industry, for an actor who has just won the Huabiao Award for Best Newcomer, has a hit TV series and a representative work in an art film, this signing fee is not outrageous, but it is definitely in the upper limit range.

When Chen Mo terminated his contract a year ago, he only had 20,000 yuan in his bank account.

A year later, Star Entertainment offered him 12 million to come back.

What's the difference between 10,000 yuan and 12 million yuan?

There was a TV series called "Legend of Chu and Han", another TV series called "Silent Snow", and a Huabiao Award for Best Newcomer.

But more importantly, there was the Central Academy of Drama after a four-year hiatus, dozens of stage plays, a well-worn copy of "Records of the Grand Historian," and a month spent honing my skills on the steering wheel at driving school.

This sum of twelve million was something his former employer could only afford after he had earned it with his own blood and sweat.

"The contract is for three years," Mr. Li continued. "During the contract period, the company guarantees to connect you with resources for no less than three top-tier films and two leading TV series. All resources will be directly overseen by the company's senior management."

"The revenue sharing ratio will be based on the company's top artist standards: you get 70%, and the company gets 30%."

"The company will provide you with an independent studio, a dedicated management team of five people, a publicity team of three people, and two assistants."

Regarding endorsements, the company promises to connect you with no fewer than three top-tier brands each year. You will receive nine-tenths of the endorsement fee, and the company will receive one-tenth.

"In addition, the company can provide you with a CBD office and a business vehicle as signing benefits."

After reading the long list of conditions, President Li closed his notebook and looked up at Chen Mo.

The five people opposite him were all looking at Chen Mo.

They expected Chen Mo to react at this point.

Perhaps it was surprise.

It might be excitement.

It could be that they accepted it gladly.

Or at least there should be some room for negotiation.

But Chen Mo didn't react at all.

He sat there quietly, holding a water bottle in one hand and resting the other on the table.

His eyes were as calm as a mirror.

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

Unable to bear the silence, Ma Hongzhi broke it with a smile.

"Xiao Mo, what do you think? This is already top-tier treatment in our company, even higher than the signing fees of those veteran A-list artists back in the day."

Chen Mo finally spoke.

"Mr. Ma, may I ask you a question?"

"you say."

"When the company terminated my contract, was there a meeting to discuss it?"

Ma Hongzhi was stunned for a moment.

"Yes, of course we've had meetings. Any contract termination process involves meetings for discussion."

What was the company's assessment of me at that meeting?

This question is very straightforward.

This caused the expressions of the five people on the other side to freeze for a moment.

Ma Hongzhi's smile froze on his face; he didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Sister Lin sat next to her, looking somewhat embarrassed.

She attended that meeting.

She remembered what the evaluation of Chen Mo was at that meeting.

"There is no commercial value; we recommend terminating the contract."

These eight words were Chen Mo's evaluation back then.

Sister Lin looked at Chen Mo, opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.

Chen Mo didn't wait for Ma Hongzhi's reply; he just smiled and waved his hand.

"No need to answer, I was just asking casually."

He took a sip of mineral water.

"Mr. Ma, I've heard Mr. Li's conditions. I need some time to consider them."

"Of course," Ma Hongzhi nodded immediately. "You can take it back and look at it carefully. We've already prepared the contract, and you can come and sign it anytime."

Just then.

There was a knock on the conference room door.

"Knock knock".

Two light taps.

Ma Hongzhi frowned.

Their company's employees don't knock on the door when the boss is having an important meeting.

"Please come in," he said.

The door was pushed open.

A woman walked in.

She looked to be in her early thirties, wearing a simple beige trench coat, her hair tied in a low ponytail, and she wasn't wearing any makeup.

She was carrying a black bag and had a Porsche car key slung over her shoulder.

All five people in the conference room looked up at her at the same time.