Chapter 9

The incentive effect of the funds was immediate. The letter of intent was reached with remarkable speed, and the core team of the "Qingguo" project immediately traveled to Xiangbei City for their first joint on-site inspection of the "Hanfeng Ancient City" film studio.

In early spring in Xiangbei, the air still carried a chill. A convoy of three commercial vehicles and a bus drove into the somewhat deserted movie studio.

After two days of inspection and negotiation, the final acquisition agreement was reached.

Haicheng Qingguo Cultural and Creative acquired 100% of the equity of the "Hanfeng Ancient City" cinema for RMB 120 million, and at the same time assumed all of its RMB 160 million debt.

For the "Alluring Country" project, although the total cost was slightly higher than the original investment in the cinema, what was obtained was a ready-made asset with clear property rights, large scale and solid foundation, which saved at least two years of construction time.

This "time cost" is far more valuable to the project than the extra 20 million.

After the agreement was signed and the studio representatives left, only the core project team remained in the conference room. After a brief silence, Lin Na breathed a sigh of relief, rubbed her tense temples, and her face couldn't hide the fatigue after the excitement. "Finally, we got it. It's a bit higher than their initial investment, but the time saved is priceless."

The executive producer looked at the preliminary renovation budget and smiled wryly. "Next, the real money starts to burn. Turning this place into what we want will probably cost much more than buying it."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ping'an looked up at him and said in a flat tone: "There's no need to mention money again and again. Make a solid budget and spend it when it's necessary." His focus is always on execution.

Su Ying sorted through the documents and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Zhou. The finance and legal teams at Qingcheng Culture will follow up throughout the process to ensure that every expenditure is compliant and efficient."

At this moment, Zhou Ping'an suddenly seemed to remember something and added to Su Ying, "Also, tell Xiaoyun that existing employees of the studio who are willing to stay will be given priority for employment after training. Those who don't want to stay will be compensated according to regulations. We won't drive anyone away, and we'll ensure a smooth transition."

This seemingly ordinary instruction caused several people present to pause for a moment, before revealing a hint of admiration. In capital mergers and acquisitions, the fate of lower-level employees is often the most easily overlooked aspect.

"I understand, Mr. Zhou. I will handle it carefully with Mr. Ruan." Su Ying agreed solemnly.

Zhou Ping'an nodded, said nothing more, and left the meeting room. His mission was complete—setting the direction, drawing the bottom line, and securing key resources. He fully trusted the professional team for the remaining detailed work.

Watching him leave, Lin Na sighed softly to Su Ying, "I understand a little now. Mr. Zhou's 500 million yuan isn't just buying a city. It's also buying 'unquestionable' and 'undivided attention'. With this kind of support, if we don't do a good job, we'll really have to jump off the building."

On the night the studio acquisition was finalized, the atmosphere in the hotel conference room where the core project team was staying was far from harmonious. Before the euphoria of success had faded, a debate erupted over the script's core.

The original intention of the meeting was to strike while the iron was hot, using the momentum of finalizing the real scenes to unify the direction of the next stage of creation. However, when the topic delved into the core of the relationship between King You of Zhou and Bao Si, Wang and the assistant screenwriter, perhaps out of consideration for market popularity or perhaps due to their own creative habits, made a suggestion:

"Could we consider strengthening the love story between King You of Zhou and Bao Si? Or even making it a key emotional driving force behind the plot? For example, showing King You's infatuation for the beauty's smile, and Bao Si's complex and tragic feelings at the loss of her kingdom... This might resonate more easily with modern audiences."

Director Lin Na raised her head abruptly. Before the assistant screenwriter could even finish his words, she interrupted him decisively:

"Absolutely not! What is the foundation of our project? It's to deconstruct the narrative of 'beautiful women are the root of trouble,' to show the fate of women under the gaze of power! If we romanticize King You of Zhou's foolish behavior that led to the downfall of his kingdom as 'infatuation,' and portray Bao Si as a tragic heroine caught in a love-hate relationship, how is that fundamentally different from the very subject we're criticizing? This completely betrays the very soul of our project!"

"Director Lin, everyone," Wang He adjusted his glasses, his tone insistent with academic discussion, yet also tinged with a subtle anxiety. "I understand the original intention of deconstructing the 'beauty is a disaster' narrative. But are we ignoring narrative dynamics? King You of Zhou, as a historical figure, needed internal, even if distorted, driving forces for his actions."

If we completely strip away his extraordinary "obsession" with Bao Si - we don't have to call it love, it can be a pathological possession, a destructive pursuit of ultimate beauty - then the act of "setting off beacons to trick the princes" becomes a purely stupid act of violence, lacking the depth of tragedy and the complexity of the characters.

If Baosi's resistance and strength were not countered by the distorted "focus" from the pinnacle of power, would her "not smiling" appear passive or even pale? Do we need a more complex emotional tension line, even if it ultimately leads to destruction, to support this grand tragic framework?

The conference room was completely silent, with only the low hum of the air conditioner. Director Lin Na didn't immediately react. Instead, she leaned forward, her fingertips drumming heavily on the unfolded script, making a dull sound.

"Editor Wang, your question precisely exposes the inertia of our narrative thinking!" Her voice wasn't loud, but it was like a taut steel wire, sharp and oppressive. "You believe that power and resistance must be conveyed through the medium of 'emotion'? You believe that the depth of tragedy must rely on the 'entanglement' of character relationships? Why do we repeat this discourse system? What we need to do is to break it!"

She stood up, walked to the whiteboard, and quickly drew a simple diagram of the power structure.

"Bao Si's power did not come from being 'loved' or 'infatuated' by King You! Her power came from her 'non-cooperation', her 'indifference'! This was an existentialist rebellion! King You's stupidity and tyranny did not need 'love' to whitewash it! It was a boring, self-destructive toying with power itself! His motives could be extreme boredom, a complete contempt for traditional rules, a kind of Nietzschean degeneration of the 'superman'!

Bao Si, the only sober person in this mad drama, her silence is a silent judgment of her complete alienation from all this absurdity! When she refuses to participate in the performance, the illusion of power constructed around her begins to crumble! This is a higher level of anti-gaze and tragedy, belonging to the philosophical level!

Wang He tried to refute: "Director Lin, I understand your theoretical depth. But film is a popular art form, and we need to make the audience understand..."

"What we need to do isn't to please the audience's understanding, but to challenge their cognition!" Lin Na interrupted him abruptly, her eyes blazing. "Use the most beautiful images and the most extreme performances to tell the most cruel and true story! This is the true meaning of 'Turning a Nation'!"

The debate had reached this point, becoming extremely abstract and philosophical. At this moment, Zhou Ping'an, who had been listening silently since the start of the meeting, seemingly unconcerned, suddenly raised his hand gently, almost casually.

All eyes, including Lin Na's burning gaze, instantly focused on him. He was the final decision maker.

Zhou Ping'an didn't look at anyone, his eyes fell on the teacup in his hand, as if he was organizing a more instinctive feeling.

"I don't quite understand what you're arguing about... ideologies, frameworks, motivations," he said, his tone indifferent to the academic atmosphere, but like a stone thrown into boiling water, it instantly made the atmosphere stagnant.

He paused, raised his head, and his eyes calmly swept over Lin Na and Wang He, finally falling on Liu Yifan.

"But I have a hunch." He frowned, as if searching for the right word. "In this film, Teacher Liu is the heroine, that's fine. But we must not make it into something that's... uh, called 'feminist'."

These words made everyone stunned.

"Once you're involved in 'isms,'" Zhou Ping'an continued in his characteristic tone, a tone tinged with ordinary people's impatience yet cutting to the heart of the matter, "it's easy to become pretentious, to think you need to 'make something clear.' Once you think you need to make something clear, you lose your authenticity and your beauty."

He looked at Lin Na and Liu Yifan with a frank look in his eyes. "I think what you just said about... Baosi's 'coldness,' that uncooperativeness, is correct. But that intensity shouldn't be the intensity of an 'ism,' nor should it be the intensity of 'resistance.' It should be... the kind of 'coldness' that comes from a person, in a completely absurd environment, instinctively feeling completely drained."

He strives to express himself: "Women are powerful, but they don't necessarily have to be portrayed as 'feminist.' Just like a delicious dish, it's enough as long as it's delicious. There's no need to label it 'healthy.' Once you put a label on it, the taste becomes three points fake."

Finally, he concluded, his tone short and firm:

"This film has to be beautiful. It's the kind of beauty that makes your heart skip a beat, and you can't explain why, but you just can't forget it. If you talk about 'isms', it's no longer beautiful. Let's film it based on the most genuine energy of 'people'. Don't worry about logic or illogicality. Truth is the ultimate logic."

Silence fell in the conference room. Zhou Ping'an's words, without any theoretical support, were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the overly theoretical arguments and like a heavy hammer, smashing any conceptual shackles that might have existed.

He paused, looked at Wang He, and turned the conversation to the romance plot, his tone becoming more direct: "As for the romance plot, my opinion is that King You of Zhou can have it vague and complicated. But Bao Si, she definitely can't have it in her heart."

He changed the subject, looking at Liu Yifan with a frank, even cruel, analytical gaze. "However, my opinion isn't entirely based on the script's tone or historical themes. My opinion is based on our heroine, Teacher Liu herself."

Liu Yifan was slightly startled and met his gaze.

Zhou Ping'an didn't mince words, his tone as calm as if he was stating an objective fact: "Teacher Liu, I'm going to be frank. If you look through all her past works, her most beautiful, moving, and unforgettable moments are always when she's 'not in love.'"

He spoke slowly, each word clear, as if sharing a long-cherished discovery: "She can be proud, broken, and aloof...but when she's acting 'falling in love,' that energy is always missing the mark. You can mock me for being an amateur, or say her acting is flawed, but in my opinion, it's not an acting problem at all."

His voice held a strange certainty. "I believe her inherent beauty is unsuitable for romance. Her beauty carries a sense of alienation, the clarity and indifference of an 'onlooker.' Forcing this beauty into the framework of romance is a waste of natural beauty, like treating diamonds like glass."

Finally, he leaned forward slightly, his eyes sweeping across the audience, his tone emphasizing a serious reminder: "Everyone, art experts, you must remember my original purpose."

"I invested in this project not to make a historical masterpiece that will go down in history. That was just a side job."

"My core purpose has always been just one: I want to make a film for Ms. Liu that captures all her beauty and even amplifies all her qualities."

"Don't let the in-depth discussion cause you to forget our original intention. All artistic exploration must serve this most fundamental purpose. If the love line diminishes Teacher Liu's beauty, then it has no reason to exist. It's that simple."

You could hear a pin drop in the conference room. Everyone's eyes were involuntarily, either overtly or covertly, cast towards the center of the storm—Liu Yifan.

She had been sitting there quietly, like a piece of fine porcelain, enduring the heated debate about her own "beauty" and Zhou Ping'an's almost cruel "original intention theory" that dissected her to pieces.

After Zhou Ping'an finished speaking, she didn't look up immediately. Her long lashes drooped, casting a small shadow on her lower lid, obscuring any emotion that might be revealed. Her hand rested on her lap, and her fingertips curled slightly. Only her agent, Yang Wei, who was closest to her, keenly noticed this subtle movement.

The few seconds of dead silence seemed as long as a century.

Then, Liu Yifan slowly raised his head.

She didn't look at Zhou Ping'an, nor at the two sides of the argument. Her gaze first fell on a certain point in the air, as if she was digesting the huge amount of information. Her face showed no obvious anger, nor was there any shame or irritation at being offended. Instead, it showed an extremely complex, almost trembling clarity.

Finally, her gaze turned and first fell on the face of Wang He, the deputy screenwriter who proposed adding a love line. Her eyes were calm, but with an unquestionable penetrating power that made Wang He subconsciously avoid her sight.

Then she looked at Lin Na, who was still excited, and nodded slightly.

Finally, her gaze steadily met Zhou Ping'an's.

Zhou Ping'an's eyes were calm, as if the shocking words he had just said were just a description of the weather.

Liu Yifan's lips moved slightly, as if she were about to say something, but in the end, no sound came out. She simply stared at him, her expression extremely complex: a stinging feeling of being completely seen through, with nowhere to hide; a profound shock brought on by being so thoroughly, even obsessively, "understood" and "cherished"; and a heavy fighting spirit ignited by this immense trust and expectation.

She suddenly smiled very lightly. There was not much warmth in that smile, but instead it was filled with a kind of determination and self-mockery that broke through the fog.

"Mr. Zhou," her voice rang out, slightly hoarse but remarkably steady, breaking the suffocating silence. "Your words...are truly merciless."

She paused, as if weighing the weight of each word.

"It exposed my past inability to act in romantic scenes."

Yang Wei was so nervous that she almost wanted to speak out to smooth things over.

But Liu Yifan raised her hand and gently stopped her movements, her eyes still locked on Zhou Pingan:

"But you're right."

She said these four words clearly and forcefully.

"That's absolutely right."

She took a deep breath and sat up straighter. The aura of a top actor slowly spread out. She was no longer an object passively accepting scrutiny, but a protagonist who took the initiative to accept the challenge.

"I used to... I really always couldn't find myself when I was 'in love.' Turns out it wasn't my acting, it was just my nature." Her self-deprecation deepened, yet she also spoke with greater composure. "This kind of 'coldness' you desire, this feeling of 'feeling completely drained,' I seem to be born with..."

Her eyes became sharp and focused, as if she had entered a certain state. "Mr. Zhou, thank you for... 'not understanding' art. Thank you also for your 'original intention.'"

There was a strange sense of respect and challenge in her tone:

"Don't worry. I won't lose the things you invested your money to keep."

After saying this, she no longer looked at anyone and picked up the book on classical etiquette again, but her fingertips exerted a little force, causing the pages to wrinkle slightly. With this action, she concealed the huge pressure and excitement surging in her heart, which was about to burst out.

She is no longer Liu Yifan, she has begun to become Bao Si, who is about to complete a silent rebellion in extreme luxury and absolute loneliness.

Zhou Ping'an looked at her, his face still expressionless, and just nodded almost imperceptibly.

Others in the conference room felt a more heart-pounding and heavy power in this silent confrontation and commitment than any heated debate.