They surrounded me right after the breakup.

Guo Fan quickly extended his hand and shook hands with Jiang Han.

His palms were dry and warm, and the pressure was a bit stronger than when he shook hands with Xu Li earlier.

"President Jiang, I didn't expect you to be so young."

His tone betrayed undisguised surprise.

Xu Li just said on the phone that General Manager Jiang from Xingyue Media was coming, without mentioning anything else.

In today's film and television industry, the name "Star Moon Media" carries more weight than any other title.

Liu Cixin also stood up and extended his hand: "Hello, President Jiang!"

His voice had a slight southeastern Shanxi accent.

The eyes behind the glasses weren't big, but the gaze was deep.

Jiang Han sat down at one side of the tea table.

Shen Qingning sat quietly next to him by the window.

Xu Li picked up the purple clay teapot to refill the tea for the group, and steam rose from the rim of the cup.

Guo Fan didn't beat around the bush; he placed his phone on the table, the screen displaying a concept design drawing.

A massive planetary engine stands on the ice field, blue ion beams shooting straight into the sky from its nozzles.

The image is in black and white, with rough lines.

"President Jiang, I have been preparing for the Wandering Earth project for two years, and in those two years I have met with dozens of investors."

"Some even said they'd pay immediately if you switched to a teen movie..."

"Later, we finally managed to raise enough start-up capital, but the funding ran out halfway through filming. At the most difficult time, the crew couldn't even afford boxed lunches."

"Wu Jing came to help out with a cameo role, but in the end he simply stayed and became the lead actor, not only working for free but also paying out of his own pocket to make up for part of the shortfall."

Jiang Han picked up his teacup: "This is the first time such a situation has occurred in the country."

"So I was not willing to give up. Everything was prepared, except for the last fire."

Guo Fan took off his glasses and wiped them, revealing bloodshot eyes.

Jiang Han turned his attention to Liu Cixin.

"Mr. Liu, what's the most important thing when adapting your works into movies?"

Liu Cixin placed his hands on the table and pondered for a moment.

"Don't turn science fiction into mythology. The core of science fiction is industrial logic, how humans use technology to solve problems when facing extreme environments."

"It's not magic, it's not cultivation of immortality; it's about taking a step further based on reality."

"To put it bluntly, it must be logically self-contained."

Guo Fan nodded vigorously beside him.

"Therefore, I rejected the streamlined, sci-fi design of the planetary engine from the very beginning."

"What I wanted was a heavy industrial feel! Rough, heavy, to make the audience believe that this thing was built brick by brick by humankind."

"Has the visual design been finalized?"

"It's settled. The main focus will be on building a realistic set, with special effects as an auxiliary element. We plan to build a life-size model of the engine base in the studio."

Jiang Han placed the teacup on the table and leaned forward slightly.

"Director Guo, if the funding is fully in place, what will be the biggest technical challenge?"

"The actors' physical exertion is considerable, the spacesuits are very heavy, and close-up shots may require dozens of takes."

"Money can't solve this; we can only tough it out."

Jiang Han leaned back in his chair, his tone unusually firm.

"Director Guo, Mr. Liu, Xingyue Media wants to invest in this movie."

Guo Fan's fingers stopped at the edge of the teacup.

"The specific amount will be handled by the team later. My principle is to meet the actual needs of the production crew."

"I don't interfere with the creative process; you decide how the film is made."

Xu Li's shock was written all over his face.

He thought Jiang Han only wanted to participate in the investment, but he didn't expect him to offer to fully guarantee the investment.

StarMoon Media has the capability, but its boldness is still awe-inspiring.

Guo Fan remained silent for a while before asking, "President Jiang, what are your conditions?"

"There is only one right, and the creative autonomy must be jointly controlled by you and Mr. Liu."

"Star and Moon only provide resources and do not interfere with the content."

"In addition, we can handle the film's music."

Guo Fan nodded vigorously.

"President Jiang, if this funding comes through..."

Jiang Han waved his hand: "Don't make any promises to me. Once the movie is made, let the audience vote for it themselves."

Liu Cixin had been listening quietly the whole time, only turning his gaze away from the window at this moment.

I've been drinking tea for almost two hours.

Guo Fan did most of the talking, speaking faster and faster, and his gestures became larger and larger.

Liu Cixin would occasionally chime in, each time brief but always on the key points.

Before parting, Jiang Han suddenly changed the subject, speaking casually.

"Professor Liu, do you still hold the copyright to *The Three-Body Problem*?"

The private room fell silent.

Liu Cixin picked up a glass of water and took a sip: "It was sold a long time ago."

"How much did you sell it for?"

10.

Jiang Han appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly he was cursing.

This shows how tough it was for science fiction writers in the domestic market back then.

Even Liu Cixin, who is at the top of the industry and has published many books, sold the copyrights at a low price due to financial difficulties.

10 RMB?

This is cheaper than cabbage!

"Mr. Liu, your business has suffered a huge loss."

Liu Cixin did not refute, a faint bitterness appeared on the corner of his mouth, which disappeared in an instant.

"Back then, nobody thought science fiction was valuable."

He spoke casually, but everyone in the private room knew the weight behind his words.

In bookstores, science fiction is placed in the far corner, and publishers shake their heads when they hear about novel classifications.

The first volume of "The Three-Body Problem" had a pitifully small print run.

Nobody believed that Chinese people could write science fiction, and nobody believed that domestic hard science fiction could win the Hugo Award.

What he cherished most was worthless in this market.

Jiang Han stood up, walked up to Liu Cixin, and extended his hand.

"Mr. Liu, if I have the opportunity, I would like to buy back the copyright to The Three-Body Problem, no matter the price."

Liu Cixin looked up, a hint of surprise flashing behind his glasses.

Why?

"The Three-Body Problem is the best science fiction work in China, and it shouldn't be worth only 10 yuan."

"People who bought it for 10 won't use or develop it properly because they don't know how to cherish it!"

Liu Cixin swallowed.

"Mr. Jiang, before you came in, I thought I was only going to meet a wealthy investor."

"Now I think you might be the one who has actually read science fiction."

Jiang Han smiled, then turned to Guo Fan: "Director Guo, the film's investment should be within 1 million. The team will start working on the contract tomorrow."

"Mr. Jiang, are you sure?"

"Confirmed! But there's an additional condition."

"When the movie is released, the end credits will include the line: Special thanks to Mr. Xu Li."

"He sold the house he had lived in for seven years so that I would have the opportunity to come and have this cup of tea with you."

Xu Li turned his head away and rubbed his face vigorously. A closer look revealed that his eyes were a little red.