China Entertainment’s rescue plan is hard to come by

Chapter 976 A Unique Kind of "Dog Food" from the East [Part Two]

Luc Besson couldn't help but feel emotional, but as a family member, he knew his own situation best. EuropaCorp had already reached this point, and his schemes had been seen through. He could only force a smile and rise to greet them.

"Director Sun, Ms. Liu, Scarlett, thank you for coming."

"Director Lu Ke."

Everyone nodded and greeted each other.

Such greetings were polite and courteous, but also very brief. Everyone knew the purpose of today's meeting, so no one bothered with formalities.

The group sat down. There were only a few of them in the huge conference room, not even a single service staff member. Luc Besson's personal assistant temporarily filled in and served them a drink.

Sun Yi and Scarlett remained silent, while Liu Yifei knew that the main character today was still her husband, and it had little to do with her, so they all waited patiently for Luc Besson.

Seeing the situation, Luc Besson finally understood that any further pretense was futile in the face of an opponent who had seen through everything.

He could only take a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, and placed his hands on the table. He glanced helplessly at the group and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Director Sun, Scarlett, Crystal... I think we need the most honest communication."

After saying this, he paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts, or perhaps trying to calm his inner humiliation, and sighed:
"Yes, I must admit that EuropaCorp's operations have been in terrible shape for the past two years. My mismanagement and the failure of several films have crippled us. Faced with pressure from investors and banks, I desperately need a successful and impactful big project to turn things around and... earn enough money to keep the company afloat."

He spread his hands, pushing the project proposal out of the table, his tone becoming serious and sincere:
"Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a space epic I've dreamed of realizing ever since The Fifth Element. I guarantee it will be a perfect work, but the investment required is too huge. So, I started the Lucy project first. In this respect, I did have a selfish motive—I hoped to use Lucy to attract funding, with the ultimate goal of supporting Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets."

"Gentlemen, I apologize for using a less-than-honorable method."

He said those last words almost through gritted teeth, which was a heavy blow to his pride.

The meeting room fell silent again, and the two project proposals on the table were placed in front of Sun Yi, seemingly within easy reach.

But he didn't move, seemingly indifferent. He leaned back slightly and tapped his fingertips lightly on the smooth tabletop, making a crisp sound.

He didn't rush to reply; instead, he had the leisure to turn around and admire the bracelet that Miss Liu was wearing today.

She's quite pretty, and it suits her skin tone very well.
After being lightly stepped on by someone who was embarrassed and annoyed, he finally restrained himself.

Well, the occasion isn't quite right; we need to take care of business first.

It's not that he disrespects Luc Besson.

He's been famous for a long time, and he's older than his father. It's unreasonable and inappropriate to treat him like this.

But this old guy is really cunning. Even at this point, he still wants to save face, saying that he has a little selfish motive.

He clearly wanted to take money from both companies to fill the hole in the EuropaCorp project, while also hoping to make a name for himself.

They've got a good plan; they're treating him like a sucker.

But forget it.
"Director Luc, first of all, I want to thank you for your honesty."

Sun Yi's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly. Although he was inwardly complaining, since things had come to this point, he decided to give them some face.

Always leave a way out for others.

Getting the substance is the most important thing.

"But in business, cooperation is based on mutual benefit and win-win results, and the premise is that the risks are controllable. There is an old Chinese saying, 'You can't have your cake and eat it too.'"

Sun Yi's gaze, almost tangible, was fixed on Luc Besson's face, his tone leaving no room for argument:

"Given your company's current situation, even with Scarlett and my investments, you can only choose one as the core project and devote all your resources to it. The other must be offered as a bargaining chip to a true partner to share the risks and responsibilities. This is the basis for our continued cooperation."

After Sun Yi finished speaking, he turned to Scarlett across from him, who nodded in agreement, indicating that she also agreed with the plan.

Upon seeing this, Luc Besson's face turned ashen, although he had roughly guessed this would be the outcome, since these two projects were the only valuable things he had left.

But when the time comes, I still feel somewhat humiliated.

Choose one: "Lucy" or "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets".

This choice was extremely harsh, directly revealing his inner conflict and the company's predicament.

He glanced at the copy of "Lucy" on the left, which represented relative stability and short-term benefits, and then at the copy of "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" on the right, which carried his lifelong ambitions and could become a classic in film history. His eyes were filled with painful struggle.

"Lucy" and "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" are like two investment targets with different returns. The former focuses on the short term, with quick results and limited returns, but with extremely low risk.

The latter is a long-term investment with slow returns, but once successful, the returns are phenomenal. It could even be developed into a science fiction series like Star Wars, thanks to its vast and ever-expanding worldview over the years. However, the risks are also extremely high.

The choice ultimately rests with Luc Besson.

The meeting room was so silent that you could hear a pin drop.

Liu Yifei could even hear her own heartbeat quickening. Looking at the renowned director who had once brought her countless moments of awe on screen, she couldn't help but feel a pang of reluctance as he faced such a difficult choice.

Imagine what I would do if my husband, Sun Yi, were to face such a predicament one day.
Impossible, no way, I absolutely will not allow this to happen!

And her too!

Time passed by, second by second, feeling as long as an eternity.

Sun Yi remained expressionless, calmly observing every subtle expression on Luc Besson's face, like a most patient hunter.

Whatever choice Luc Besson ultimately makes, he has a corresponding solution, which he has communicated with Scarlett's side beforehand.

Yes, we did communicate with them.

A few days ago, he and his local crony John took the initiative to visit Scarlett, and reached a concrete cooperation agreement with Scarlett, or more accurately, the Hollywood capital behind her. By any measure, the only loser today is Luc Besson.

It's just a matter of how much.

Finally, in the conference room, Luc Besson, as if all his strength had been drained, slumped back in his chair, closed his eyes, and, in an almost trembling voice, uttered his decision with difficulty:
"I choose... City of a Thousand Planets."

He opened his eyes, looking at Sun Yi and Scarlett with a complex expression, a hint of pleading and relief in his eyes: "Lucy... I can offer this project as a token of our sincerity in our three-way cooperation."

Almost the instant he finished speaking, Sun Yi and Scarlett Johansson moved at the same time.

The old man chose option A!

Sun Yi sat up straight, his tone decisive and without the slightest hesitation:

“Alright! Director Luc, in that case, the cooperation framework is clear: the complete copyright, script and project leadership of ‘Lucy’ will be transferred to our Starry Sky Pictures, the early preparation will be converted into an equivalent investment from EuropaCorp, and we will also open up a corresponding investment quota to Ms. Scarlett.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Scarlett's investment assistant quickly followed up, speaking rapidly and clearly, obviously already having a plan in mind:
"So, for the 'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets' project, we will lead the investment, participating as the main investor and co-producer. EuropaCorp can retain the main control of the project, but we have the veto power and will nominate a co-producer. And taking all factors into consideration, we recommend that Ms. Scarlett Johansson play the lead role in this film."

After saying that, he turned to Sun Yi and continued:
"Furthermore, we hope that Starry Sky Digital will provide comprehensive, top-notch, and cost-effective special effects technical support for 'City of a Thousand Planets.' Our team can discuss the specific technical details and business terms later."

"No problem, that's only natural."

Sun Yi nodded directly; this was a condition he had agreed upon with Scarlett and the others beforehand.

Otherwise, why would someone hand over a film like "Lucy," which is clearly likely to make money, to him?

Of course, Sun Yi also took advantage of an information gap here, sharing certain risks with Starry Sky Digital's cost and technical services, as well as his personal efforts, in exchange for the "Lucy" project.

No one who makes it in this industry is a fool.

Both Luc Besson and Scarlett Johansson expect "Lucy" to be very likely to make money and also to have a significant impact on the lead actress's career.

But neither side anticipated that "Lucy" would earn so much money, raking in $5 million at the global box office and receiving high praise from all sides.

If either of them had known this outcome beforehand, they probably wouldn't have easily given up the project to Sun Yi.

They even thought he was making an exchange for his wife's career plans as her husband.

The series of lightning-fast, clearly defined, and seemingly rehearsed profit-sharing schemes from both sides were executed smoothly, like a pre-prepared script.

Luc Besson was completely stunned. He opened his mouth, but found himself speechless. He suddenly realized that not only had his plan failed, but even his bargaining chips and escape routes had been thoroughly calculated by the other side. He thought he was playing chess, but he had unknowingly become a pawn on someone else's chessboard.

Looking at the two well-coordinated "allies" before him, he felt a sense of powerlessness. But things had come to this point, and in order for his dream project, "City of a Thousand Planets," to be launched, he had no choice but to accept this seemingly fair but actually dominated cooperation framework.

With the framework agreed upon, the lawyers and teams from all three parties began to negotiate the specific contract terms.

The meeting temporarily adjourned. Taking advantage of a brief lull in Luc Besson and his team's hushed discussion of details on the other side, Liu Yifei finally couldn't resist leaning closer to Sun Yi, lowering her voice, and cautiously asking in Chinese while glancing at Scarlett:
"Scarlett... she really gave up on Lucy? This... is unbelievable!"

Although her voice was soft, it still caught Scarlett's attention in the quiet conference room.

She looked up at Liu Yifei. Although she didn't understand Chinese, she seemed to guess her question. She put down her pen, stood up, and walked over. Across half the conference table, she answered clearly in her uniquely magnetic voice:
“Crystal, this is because of Sun.”

Liu Yifei turned her head in surprise.

Scarlett's face revealed a complex smile, tinged with admiration and a hint of envy:

"Sun traded me for a brand new, highly promising script and project, which made me withdraw from the competition for 'Lucy.' It was an excellent female-led project that perfectly suited my current development needs."

She paused, her gaze shifting between Sun Yi's composed face and Liu Yifei's surprised expression, and said with genuine emotion, "Crystal, you are so lucky to have such an excellent and thoughtful boyfriend. I think I should find someone just as considerate."

After saying that, her alluring gaze drifted towards Sun Yi.

Sun Yi sniffed, unmoved. He indicated that he could resist even the greatest temptations in front of his wife.

When Liu Yifei heard this, she was taken aback, especially when she heard the word "boyfriend," which made her react a beat slower.

Immediately, a bright smile, tinged with a touch of pride, bloomed on her face. She straightened her back, met Scarlett's gaze firmly, and corrected her in fluent, clear English, word by word, with utmost seriousness:

"Scarlett, not boyfriend."

She reached out and naturally and intimately took Sun Yi's arm, as if declaring to the world, her smile sweet and filled with undeniable certainty:
He is my husband.

"!!!"

At this moment, even the well-traveled Scarlett Johansson was visibly taken aback.

There are even... in this circle
She raised an eyebrow, then chuckled, shook her head, her tone carrying a deeper, undisguised感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing both regret and reflection):

“Wow… Okay, my mistake. Husband. Really… congratulations.” Her gaze lingered for a moment on their tightly linked arms, a complex emotion seemingly flashing within them.

Sun Yi felt the strength coming from the crook of his arm and listened to Miss Liu's bold declaration of ownership, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

Needless to say, it’s quite a sense of accomplishment.

Sitting in the main seat, Luc Besson, who had just experienced a "commercial Waterloo," took in the whole scene, feeling a mix of emotions.

He not only lost this game, but also unwittingly got a mouthful of "dog food" (a slang term for public displays of affection) from the East.

He sighed helplessly, shook his head, and turned his attention back to the complex contract terms. At least, in his opinion, his novel, *City of a Thousand Planets*, finally saw a glimmer of hope for its future.

(End of this chapter)