Chapter 706 Human Relationships and Social Skills (10,000 words update!)
Issuance requires costs.
Simply put, distribution = screening rate + release time.
To put it another way, in a supermarket, some products are placed in front of the main entrance, arranged in seven or eight rows, or even with an entire wall of them, while other products can only be placed in the corners and nooks.
When large distribution companies negotiate with cinemas, although there are differences from country to country, the principle is the same.
Offer more favorable terms to get your goods displayed on better shelves.
If Midoriya agrees to Longyan's conditions, it means that Midoriya will have to pay not only the five million in distribution rights fees, but also the costs of fulfilling these terms.
If "Burning Fire" doesn't do well at the box office and audiences don't buy it, then Midoriya will lose more than just five million.
The contents are, of course, much more complex, with various detailed constraints and profit distribution conditions; that's the general idea.
Midoriya is now willing to pay for Lu Yanhe's movies and act as a distributor because they have already produced many of Lu Yanhe's starring films, forming something akin to a "fixed industry chain".
In the market, films starring Lu Yanhe also have a loyal following.
This is why Green Valley keeps acquiring the distribution rights.
However, in the end, Lu Yanhe has not yet become a top-tier star in terms of commercial box office.
Moreover, "Burning Fire" is a completely Chinese-language film.
Will North American audiences buy into this?
Will audiences in other regions buy into this?
This is not an art film, which is more familiar to the European and American markets than Lu Yanhe; it is a special effects blockbuster.
Realistically speaking, this is similar to Chinese audiences hearing that a South Korean or Thai film has special effects, or even a Russian film, will likely be met with skepticism from Western audiences.
There's no other reason than that Hollywood has indeed dominated this area for far too many years. Everyone has basically formed that impression.
Let alone abroad, even in China, for many years, when people heard about domestically produced special effects blockbusters, the first thing that came to mind was "five-cent special effects".
There are too many examples to list.
Lu Yanhe still remembers which movie changed his impression of the special effects in domestic blockbusters.
The Wandering Earth.
That was truly a groundbreaking film. He went to see a movie with his friends and chose this one. At that time, the word-of-mouth hadn't spread widely, and the box office hadn't yet reached the level of over four billion.
But it was precisely in that situation, when no expectations were placed on them, that the shock and disbelief as Liu Qi and his group emerged from underground and the scene on the surface appeared on the big screen was a feeling that still runs through my spine to this day.
Lu Yanhe was well aware of Midoriya's doubts.
He did not get involved in the matter.
Longyan also hoped that he would communicate with Midoriya, since everyone knows that Lu Yanhe and Midoriya have been cooperating for a long time.
Even a Chinese-language film like "Love Letter" grossed over eight million US dollars at the North American box office.
Lu Yanhe remained silent, but Wang Biao, who was standing next to him, understood immediately and said jokingly, "President Huang, Brother Lu is just an actor. You were so stingy with his salary back then, unwilling to give him more. Surely you don't expect him to do the work of a producer now?"
Lu Yanhe glanced at Wang Biao.
Wang Biao silently revealed an expression that said, "I was too outspoken, I was wrong."
Lu Yanhe said, "President Huang, I will tell them about the merits of this movie when I have the chance later. However, I really can't control what kind of conditions they can offer. You know, the conditions Green Valley offered when they bought the distribution rights to my movies in the past weren't that good either."
Mr. Huang thought to himself: Isn't that good? Green Valley spent $6 million just on the North American distribution rights for your "Love Letter," and now the global distribution rights for "Burning Fire" (excluding mainland China) are only $5 million!
But there's really nothing to say about that.
Love Letter followed the film festival route, with the support of the Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography awards at the Jose Film Festival. The price they gave it was a market price. They didn't rely on theatrical box office to break even, so the fact that it grossed more than $8 million in North America was an unexpected bonus.
"Burning Fire" didn't have the backing of winning a film in the main competition section of the Jose Film Festival. This meant that it lacked a foundation in many areas, such as broadcasting rights on television stations, rental/DVD sales in the art film market, and streaming screenings. The fact that they only offered it $5 million was because Lu Yanhe and Shang Yongzhou had a certain number of fans and a market presence.
Otherwise, they wouldn't even bother to distribute your films. Currently, most Chinese-language films are distributed overseas by a single Chinese distribution company. In North America, that usually only gets you a two- or three-million-dollar theatrical release, which doesn't guarantee screen time, let alone the kind of promotional opportunities like Green Valley provides, such as premieres, media campaigns, and interviews on top TV shows.
Lu Yanhe said, "President Huang, since 'Burning Fire' is going to be a series of films, and the feedback on our first film is pretty good, why don't we offer a bigger discount on the first one and try to get it released on a large scale to build up its reputation? That way, we can make back the money in the sequel. Otherwise, if the first 'Burning Fire' doesn't do well, it will be even harder to get a good price for the sequel."
Mr. Huang said, "We also want to ensure that we can achieve a large-scale release."
“If that’s the case, why let Green Valley handle overseas distribution? It can be split up and handed over to different distributors in different regions,” Lu Yanhe said. “When Green Valley distributes outside of North America, it still has to rely on local distribution companies. With layers of agents, there are many more uncontrollable factors.” Lu Yanhe said, “If you find distributors separately, each one may offer a much lower price, but they can definitely guarantee better release conditions.”
"If we don't give Green Valley the global distribution rights outside of mainland China, they won't even guarantee 500 theaters in North America. They're now willing to offer $5 million plus a guarantee of 500 theaters, but there are conditions attached."
“That depends on how we negotiate,” Lu Yanhe said. “The reviews for ‘Burning Fire’ are pretty good after its screening at the Jose Film Festival. I believe you have more than one option.”
-
Lu Yanhe has dealt with film distributors from various places too much in recent years, and his mindset has changed a lot.
It might also be related to the fact that his films sell well.
He knew that no matter what, someone would buy his film, so he wasn't in a hurry to respond to the conditions proposed by various parties, but rather to let things play out for a while.
Because often, the other party's quote is also a test to see your reaction.
Even with such a long-standing partnership with Midoriya, when it comes to new projects, Midoriya will always try to secure his film with minimal cost.
They're not doing charity; they want to make more money too. If you spend less here, you'll earn more in the future.
Therefore, try to gather as much information as possible during negotiations. If you sign the contract and later find that the other party misled you in some ways—it's not a pleasant way to put it, but you can only accept it and learn from your mistakes.
However, Lu Yanhe felt that although Longyan had been distributing films overseas in recent years, it did not seem to have truly taken the plunge into "commercial distribution." Therefore, Lu Yanhe felt that their past negotiation experience and understanding of overseas distribution were somewhat "out of sync with the other party's pace."
-
Chen Ziyan said to Lu Yanhe, "There's nothing we can do about it. It's not that Longyan and their companies are incompetent. If they were incompetent, would there be no one capable in Chinese cinema? It's just that in the past, those film companies, especially top-tier Hollywood studios like Green Valley, had a deeply ingrained belief that Chinese films weren't profitable, so they completely ignored them. Longyan didn't have the opportunity to negotiate with them in depth. Even if they were genuinely interested in one or two films, their attitude was 'take it or leave it.' You can see this from the box office performance of Chinese films in European and American theaters over the years. It's fair to say that if we didn't have our own overseas distribution company working hard to open up the market for Chinese films, the situation over the past decade would have been even worse."
Lu Yanhe nodded: "I know."
"We were able to break into the market because we benefited from the prestige of international film festivals. There aren't many comparable examples in recent years regarding the market value of films like 'Burning Fire.' However, the transaction prices for films in the four major international competition sections, award-winning films, and films with good word-of-mouth are quite clear, so it's not easy to be misled. We connected with Green Valley through 'Rouge,' and gradually figured out some patterns through films like 'Rouge,' 'Love Letter,' and 'Late Spring.' We had enough films, contacted enough film companies, and received enough quotes and conditions to figure out some patterns. These things are our company secrets, and others can't get access to them, so naturally they can't keep up with the pace."
Lu Yanhe said, "I was really afraid that Longyan and the others would be fooled, but they really annoyed me this time. They invited Yang Zhoujin without informing me beforehand, and even tried to get him to come and greet me. Don't they know about my previous conflict with Yang Zhoujin? Now that the negotiations with Midoriya are not going smoothly, they want Midoriya to handle the distribution, so they came directly to me, wanting me to communicate with Midoriya on their behalf. It's not that I can't communicate, but that's not how things are done. Luckily, Wang Biao was quick-witted and immediately played the bad cop to deflect my question."
Chen Ziyan said, "It's not that you were fooled. Even if Longyan and the others don't quite understand the routine at first, you've already said those things to them. If they can't figure it out, that's their problem. You've already reminded them what you needed to remind them. But 'Burning Fire' isn't a movie you produced. You're just an actor. The more you say, the more mistakes you make. Don't do something bad with good intentions."
Lu Yanhe nodded.
He knew Chen Ziyan was right.
-
The second day included a press conference and a photo call, which were official events for film promotion and exchange.
Lu Yanhe attended the event along with everyone else.
Media from all over the world gather here, something only top-tier film festivals can achieve. This is why, despite the relatively small size of the film market, various countries attach great importance to it; it is one of the most accessible art forms for global exchange today.
Politics, geopolitics, ideology... Amidst all these complex circumstances, films continue to reach audiences around the world in various forms.
Lu Yanhe has taken his film to so many film festivals and given so many media interviews. Although some reporters occasionally ask some targeted or sensitive questions, it is generally a normal film exchange environment.
Lu Yanhe believes this is the most valuable fertile ground for these top film festivals to protect. He also believes this is a crucial reason why these top film festivals have been able to continue to this day: they have consistently strived to increase their influence while minimizing political impact. Of course, achieving 100% perfection is impossible; they can only do their best.
A South Korean reporter asked, "The film 'Burning Fire' presents an extraordinary Eastern fantasy world. Could you tell us if this film is intended to create a Chinese blockbuster series?"
Wanrenhai replied: "Actually, our original intention in making this film was not to make a blockbuster, but to present a Chinese fantasy world that has not been presented before. In traditional Chinese culture, there are myths and legends as well as tales of the strange and supernatural, which contain rich elements that can be adapted. For example, the film 'Burning Fire' is based on magic, yin and yang, and the five elements to design an academy and thus present a fantasy world. If we call it a blockbuster, its size actually stems from the fact that the foundation of this worldview is very large, but the story is actually very small. We still hope to tell the story of a group of flesh-and-blood people in a down-to-earth manner."
"Previously, American media reported that Lu Yanhe, you will be starring in a Green Valley Film called 'Godless,' a fantasy film set against the backdrop of European mythology. What are your thoughts on acting in this type of film, including films of the same genre from different countries, that you can share with us?"
Lu Yanhe said with a smile, "To be honest, the biggest feeling I had was the shock I felt when I sat in the screening room last night and saw 'Burning Fire.' As actors, when we are making these kinds of films, we don't really know what the final product will look like. But that's also what makes us actors so lucky in this era. We have this kind of technology, which expands the boundaries of film while also expanding the boundaries of our acting."
"As for 'Godless,' I haven't filmed it yet, so I don't know the difference between the two. However, I think that just like other films about youth, there are films like 'Late Spring' and films like 'Love Letter.' The theme is just a theme. Films are about specific people, specific events, and specific, unique emotional experiences that cannot be replicated."
After the exchange session, Lu Yanhe said goodbye to everyone and returned to the hotel with Wang Biao.
Wang Biao said, "When you were answering the question about 'Burning Fire' and 'Godless' just now, the publicity director of Longyan complained that you shouldn't have responded to questions unrelated to 'Burning Fire' in this setting."
Lu Yanhe: "Let him say what he wants; he wouldn't dare say it to my face anyway."
Wang Biao: "I feel that it's strange that such a big company as Longyan has had so many unpleasant experiences in this collaboration."
“It’s perfectly normal. Take it easy. Some companies seem to have a very pleasant working relationship with you, without any problems. There’s only one reason for that: they’re begging me for their money. So, everything is based on my needs and my mood,” Lu Yanhe said. “But you see, for any platform that’s stronger or bigger, like Beijing-Taiwan or Longyan, I’m very popular and can bring them a lot of revenue. But even without me, they can still have many profitable projects. There’s no need for them to cater to me in everything.”
"The Northern Lights and the ice fields have worked very well with us."
“That’s because we have a greater base of interests,” Lu Yanhe said. “If ‘Burning Fire’ were a project I brought to Longyan, their attitude towards me would be completely different. The problem now is that in their eyes, my relationship with them is a very neutral one, mutually beneficial and win-win. Only Longyan can do a project like ‘Burning Fire’. For me, they are also a rare collaborator.”
Wang Biao: "That's no excuse for them to disrespect you, is it?"
"You mean Yang Zhoujin?" Lu Yanhe asked.
Wang Biao nodded, "And what their publicity director said just now, complaining about such a small thing."
“It’s just a small matter, a complaint,” Lu Yanhe said. “I told them they didn’t dare say it to my face, but you happened to overhear it, or they wanted you to tell me to remind me that these are just trivial matters. They also know that these small matters will not affect our future cooperation.”
As for Yang Zhoujin—
Lu Yanhe has now figured it out.
"Shijin Group wants to enter the cultural and entertainment industry and bought 'Little Eyes,' which means they definitely have ideas about the film industry. The amount of capital behind Shijin means that once they enter the market, it is very likely to be a turning point for Longyan. Under such circumstances, they told me in advance, knowing that I would definitely not be happy. They might as well pretend to be confused and try to cover up the situation by doing so. They want to please both sides, give Yang Zhoujin face, and also have room for maneuver with me. At this stage, I can't just point my finger at them and scold them for going too far."
"That sounds so frustrating."
“There’s nothing to be upset about. It’s just that they’ve made it clear that as long as our core interests remain unshaken, these little things won’t affect the cooperation.” Although Lu Yanhe said this, his eyes were cold. He added, “However, just like you said, we don’t need to suffer for it.”
Wang Biao was taken aback.
"Brother Lu?"
“Go tell Longyan that I will not participate in the upcoming promotional activities for ‘Burning Fire’ in Jose,” Lu Yanhe said. “It is indeed an obligation for actors not to mention other films during promotional activities. However, according to the contract, I am not obligated to cooperate with Longyan in so much promotion. If they are dissatisfied with just a few simple responses to reporters, then everything from now on should be done according to the contract.”
Wang Biao's eyes lit up instantly.
"good!"
"Also, Wang Biao, you'll be in charge of negotiating the sequel to 'Burning Fire.' Sister Ziyan said you could also try to take over this part. I have no other requirements; you can discuss it with Sister Ziyan. Just one thing: drag it out and don't sign it," Lu Yanhe said. "If Yang Zhoujin brings funds into the production of the sequel, we won't renew the contract. You don't need to tell them this; we know it ourselves."
When Wang Biao heard that he would be in charge of negotiating a major project like Lu Yanhe, he became even more excited and nodded vigorously.
-
Within an hour, people in Longyan started apologizing to Lu Yanhe.
Lu Yanhe stared indifferently at the messages and calls that came his way, feeling both helpless and pathetic in his silence.
Despite his reluctance, he eventually became a "difficult" big shot.
-
That night was a night of prudence.
Lu Yanhe will not be attending.
Apart from him, almost all the other Chinese filmmakers who came to Jose went.
A very grand event.
At that moment, Lu Yanhe was having dinner with the director of "Dovano's Journey," a film nominated for the main competition at this year's festival.
Tim Verric, the director of "Dovano's Journey," is British.
Lu Yanhe had met and spoken with him twice during the North American awards season.
This is the first time we've sat down to eat together.
Tim Verick regrets that Lu Yanhe missed the screening of "Dovano's Journey" this time when he came.
The film received relatively positive reviews from the media, although it encountered the kind of "nitpicking" that veteran directors often face. People tend to hold his new work to a higher standard.
Tim Verick said, "Isn't there a big event for you Chinese filmmakers tonight? Why didn't you attend?"
Lu Yanhe had taken the initiative to invite Tim Verick to dinner.
Lu Yanhe smiled and said, "Those kinds of occasions are too noisy. I don't like them. I prefer things like this, where we can eat and chat quietly."
Tim Verick: "I completely understand. In the last year or two, even though you haven't been very active in Europe and America, I've been reading about you all the time. You're so popular."
Lu Yanhe waved his hand, "If possible, I would prefer to take a break for a while, film a movie, and let myself have a more comfortable rhythm, instead of being a work machine and working non-stop."
Tim Verick: "That's right. The number of films you've made in the last few years is equivalent to what an average actor does in ten years. Why did you take on so many roles all at once?"
"Because I'm someone who's very afraid of missing out on opportunities," Lu Yanhe said helplessly. "I know some actors are more relaxed and only film one project every one or two years, or even two or three years, but I don't think I can do that."
Tim Verick: "You can definitely slow down now, and as someone who's been there, although I know you're still producing great work, if you stop for a while and start creating again, you'll have a very different feeling, and that different feeling will give you a new understanding of creation."
Lu Yanhe nodded, "I will try to slow down the pace a bit."
Tim Verick then asked, "But you invited me out for dinner tonight because you have a script you'd like me to work on? If so, I don't mind if you work a little longer."
He was half-joking.
Lu Yanhe shook his head with a smile, "Tim, you've gone too far."
Tim Verick said, "As a director, it's perfectly normal to want to work with a screenwriter like you."
"I thought you meant to say that it's perfectly normal to want to work with an actor like me."
“Of course, but that requires the right role,” Tim Verick said. “Actually, there are several Chinese actors I would like to work with, but I don’t think it’s necessary to work together just for the sake of working together. Such collaborations don’t actually produce good works.”
Lu Yanhe nodded in agreement.
He said, "But I didn't prepare a script when I asked you out for dinner this time. I just knew you were here, so I wanted to meet you. I really like your directing style. Almost all of your films have a refreshing feel, which is rare. I don't know if you agree, but many art films are subconsciously made to be very heavy."
“Serious art films are often closely related to grand themes such as history, culture and the fate of humanity, and cannot help but be heavy. I just prefer to express a kind of lightness of adolescence,” Tim Verick said. “Most of the films I make are actually memories and replicas of my adolescence.”
Lu Yanhe nodded.
“I can feel it, and the feeling is very strong.”
Tim Verick said, "I watched your Love Letter last year. You have no idea how much I loved that movie. I watched it three times."
Lu Yanhe looked surprised.
Tim Verick: "I'm surprised that you're directing a film with two female leads. This is your first directorial work. Generally speaking, people's first directorial film is related to themselves and is told from their own perspective. However, you don't have much screen time in it."
Lu Yanhe smiled.
He asked, "But that story was indeed the one I most wanted to tell at the time, and because it was simple, I felt it was suitable for my first time directing."
Tim Verick: "What's your next directorial project?"
Lu Yanhe shook his head.
"Not at the moment, and there are no plans for that," Lu Yanhe said. "My desire for expression is not actually in the role of director; I still prefer writing and acting."
Tim Verick: "Your script is really good. In fact, I even thought about remaking Love Letter and making an English version of the movie, but I gave up on that idea for the time being."
Lu Yanhe smiled and asked, "Why?"
"On the one hand, there are many touching parts in this movie that belong to your Eastern culture. It feels a bit strange to put them into our Western culture. On the other hand, I couldn't think of a good way to remake it, so I gave up on it," Tim Verick said.
Lu Yanhe nodded in realization.
Tim Verick added, "I saw the news that you have several scripts to work with Hollywood on, mostly commercial films."
Lu Yanhe nodded, "Yes."
"I hope you will write more real movie scripts in the future."
Lu Yanhe smiled and said, "Tim, I have never thought about writing a story without creativity. For me, whether it is a commercial film or an art film, it is the same. The story I write must be the one I want to write."
It must be beautiful.
Tim Verick shrugged, clearly disagreeing.
"You'll understand what I mean later."
Lu Yanhe was already quite used to this.
Some directors—especially some more traditional, academically trained directors—always have one opinion or another about commercial films.
At first, Lu Yanhe thought they were prejudiced.
However, Lu Yanhe later accepted one thing as well.
Every creator has their own preferences and limitations, especially the most talented creators, who are more obsessed with pursuing "good" because they clearly know what "good" is.
Call them stubborn or arrogant, but perhaps that's one of the reasons they're able to reach the pinnacle in their fields of expertise.
-
Lu Yanhe was really just having a meal with Yotim Verick; he had no ulterior motives whatsoever.
However, when the two of them finished their dinner and were about to part ways, Tim Verick showed a hint of disappointment when he realized that Lu Yanhe really didn't have anything to ask him, which made Lu Yanhe feel quite embarrassed.
It's possible that when someone suddenly invites a director to dinner, the director comes with certain expectations.
As soon as the two of them came out of the restaurant, some people recognized them and took out their phones to take pictures of them.
Lu Yanhe shook hands with Tim Verick and said, "Tim, I hope we can find a suitable project to cooperate on in the future."
Tim Verick smiled and nodded, "I'm also looking forward to such a suitable project."
-
Lu Yanhe got into the car and went back to the hotel.
As soon as the car started moving, Wang Biao looked at Lu Yanhe with an excited expression that said, "Guess what happened?"
Seeing this, Lu Yanhe asked with some confusion, "What happened?"
Wang Biao nodded.
He said, "Tonight, at the Shijin Night, the person representing the Shijin Group is not Yang Zhoujin, but Yang Zhouli."
Lu Yanhe was taken aback. "Huh?"
Wang Biao said, "It's really exciting online. Many people are saying that this is a battle between the two heirs of the Yang family. Do you know what's the most exciting part?"
"Um?"
“Someone filmed Yang Zhoujin being forcibly taken away from the hotel by several bodyguards and put into a car. It is said that he was directly ‘escorted’ back to China,” Wang Biao said. “Now the whole internet in China is discussing this matter, and the hype surrounding Shijin Night has been suppressed.”
Lu Yanhe clicked his tongue, "Luckily we didn't get involved in tonight's events."
"That's right. Everyone was asking why all the Chinese filmmakers in Jose went to the Shijin Night, but you didn't. After this was exposed, everyone praised you, saying that you were the most well-informed and knew that tonight was not so simple, so you simply didn't go and avoided their internal strife."
Lu Yanhe: "Who can I reason with? It's not like that at all."
“But everyone thinks that’s how it is,” Wang Biao said. “However, something interesting happened at the scene.”
"What is it?"
“Chen Pinhe had already arrived at the scene, but he left as soon as Yang Zhouli appeared,” Wang Biao said. “That’s what people at the scene told me.”
Lu Yanhe frowned in surprise.
"What's going on here?"
"I don't know, that's why everyone is confused and discussing it," Wang Biao said.
He looked regretful, as if to say, "It's such a pity I couldn't be there to watch the drama unfold today."
Lu Yanhe laughed.
"Stop thinking about gossip all the time. We've just avoided a storm," Lu Yanhe said. "Everyone online is saying I've dodged a storm."
“That’s true.” Wang Biao nodded. “I’ve seen so many dramas about the struggles between wealthy families in movies and TV shows before, but this is the first time I’ve seen it in real life. Or rather, it’s not in real life, but it’s someone I know… It’s really melodramatic.”
Lu Yanhe smiled.
Wang Biao: "Shijin Group is so big, aren't there enough for the brothers to divide among themselves? They're fighting over this little corner of the entertainment industry, it just doesn't seem necessary."
Lu Yanhe: "How could we possibly understand the thoughts of the rich second generation? Their upbringing is completely different, so don't expect to figure out what they're thinking."
Wang Biao: "That's true."
-
The next day, Lu Yanhe went to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. Just as he sat down with his tray, he saw Yang Zhouli walking over with his assistant.
Lu Yanhe glanced at him with some surprise.
Yang Zhouli smiled at him and asked, "May I sit here?"
Lu Yanhe nodded.
Yang Zhouli then sat down.
"Mr. Yang, your sudden appearance has given us a huge surprise," said Lu Yanhe.
Yang Zhouli: "I hope I didn't scare you."
"No way," Lu Yanhe said with a smile. "I was so engrossed in gossip online last night that I stayed up late. May I ask where Yang Zhoujin is now?"
“He should be on the plane right now,” Yang Zhouli said. “After he gets off the plane, someone will pick him up and take him home. The child is too naughty, and the elderly can’t just keep indulging him.”
Lu Yanhe slightly twitched his eyebrows and nodded noncommittally.
Yang Zhouli's secretary brought over a plate and placed it in front of Yang Zhouli.
Lu Yanhe glanced at it and thought, "Ha, she eats healthier than I do, a celebrity."
We can go straight to the Green Green Grassland and settle down.
Lu Yanhe got straight to the point.
"Mr. Yang, is there something you need from me?"
Yang Zhouli shook his head and said, "There's nothing specific, but I'd like to get to know you better."
"Huh?" Lu Yanhe looked at Yang Zhouli in shock. "What you're saying can easily lead to misunderstandings."
Yang Zhouli paused noticeably for a moment.
He took a deep breath in resignation.
"You should know that's not what I meant."
“Uh, I don’t know,” Lu Yanhe said. “You’re actually no one I know better than Yang Zhoujin, and I don’t know what your situation is.”
The veins on Yang Zhouli's forehead were bulging.
This conversation was completely beyond his expectations.
Neither of these are "divine plot twists" anymore.
In fact, apart from Lu Yanhe, no one had ever said such a joking and indifferent thing in front of Yang Zhouli.
Yang Zhouli: "Shi Jin wants to work in the cultural and entertainment industry, and I'd like to find an opportunity to collaborate with you."
Lu Yanhe nodded, "I know that."
"So what do you think?"
"I have no ideas for now," Lu Yanhe said. "To be honest."
Can I ask why?
“I have no interest in getting involved in your internal strife,” Lu Yanhe said. “Judging from the situation you’ve been in recently, it’s a complete mess. Anyone who cooperates with you will be dragged into the internal struggles of your Shijin Group and suffer countless unnecessary disasters in the future.”
Yang Zhouli nodded.
He genuinely enjoyed interacting with Lu Yanhe.
Because Lu Yanhe really has a peculiar way of speaking; he'll say whatever he wants to you. This kind of person is the easiest to deal with, and even if nothing is reached in the end, the conversation is still comfortable.
Yang Zhouli was obviously aware of the situation on his side.
Since Lu Yanhe had been so direct, he couldn't possibly have the nerve to say that none of this mattered.
Yang Zhouli said, "What if I invest in some of your projects not in the name of Shijin, but in my personal capacity? Believe it or not, putting aside business cooperation, I would actually like to make you my friend."
"Now that we've made friends, I can't do business anymore, right?" Lu Yanhe asked sharply.
Yang Zhouli smiled and said, "No matter what, the initiative is always in your hands, not mine. I can't force you to do anything."
"You businessmen are cunning," Lu Yanhe remarked.
Yang Zhouli smiled without saying a word.
-
Lu Yanhe's last job at the Jose Film Festival was to present the Best Actress award at the closing ceremony.
Unfortunately, the film starring Meng Li and Ji Miao did not receive an invitation to be recalled, which means that the film was out of the running for awards.
Apart from Lu Yanhe, none of the other Chinese actors attended the closing ceremony.
This isn't how you crash a red carpet.
The entire awards ceremony has nothing to do with you, so what are you doing sitting there?
However, Yang Zhouli attended.
Moreover, his seat was right next to his.
Lu Yanhe: "..."
He didn't believe it was a coincidence.
As for how Yang Zhouli did it, he couldn't be bothered to ask.
For Yang Zhouli, this was a minor matter.
Then, throughout the entire awards ceremony, every time a winner or presenter went up, Yang Zhouli would find one or two topics related to them to chat with Lu Yanhe.
Lu Yanhe: "..."
At first, he was quite impatient, but as they talked, Lu Yanhe actually got into the conversation.
Yang Zhouli didn't just recite some information and chat with him aimlessly; he genuinely understands a lot about the film industry.
There were even some things that Lu Yanhe didn't know.
How should I put it?
Sometimes, even if you know that someone has ulterior motives or purposes in contacting you, if you see their efforts, their abilities, or their talents, as long as you don't have any deep-seated hatred towards them, you will more or less feel a sense of appreciation.
I'm impressed.
Lu Yanhe didn't say anything, but whether it was their previous interactions, Yang Zhouli's generous invitation to have breakfast with him this morning, or everything that happened at the closing ceremony, Lu Yanhe understood very well—
Regardless of Yang Zhouli's true intentions, at this moment, Lu Yanhe sincerely believed that compared to that idiot Yang Zhoujin, Yang Zhouli was far more admirable.
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I recommend the older entertainment-themed book, "I Became the Leading Lady of a Scandal Overnight."
(End of this chapter)
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