Actor: Thank you.

After the meal, the people split into two groups and started talking separately.

Middle-aged people have their own lives, and young people have their own lives.

It's normal that we can't get along.

Director Feng and his wife are middle-aged. After eating, their blood sugar and blood lipids rise, so they can only stay at home and rest, or take a slow walk around the house.

Zhang Yuan was already in good physical condition, and Guan Xiaotong, who had drunk some alcohol, completely turned into a crazy girl.

I dragged him along to take a night tour of Xixi Wetland.

In principle, Xixi Wetland will be closed to visitors at night.

But when Zhang Yuan found the hotel, he pulled out a stack of "principles".

The hotel then went to discuss the matter with the scenic area.

Opening everything up and turning on the lights would be too costly, and it would also require dedicated personnel to manage it.

So they found a compromise.

The hotel provided a traditional covered boat used for transporting customers and hung a white lantern on it.

The lampshade wasn't made of ordinary paper, but of silk, embroidered with plain-colored floral patterns.

We arranged a nighttime water tour for the two of them.

Firstly, Miss Guan was excited after drinking, and secondly, Zhang Yuan had specially reserved some private space for Director Feng and his wife.

What's the point of giving them space?
Let's analyze and review what just happened.

In other words, how Zhang Yuan offended two people in one meal.

"This kid has really made something of himself in recent years."

"My heart has changed too."

Feng Xiaogang and Xu Fan were resting on deck chairs on the outdoor waterfront platform.

As the year draws to a close, the weather in Yuhang has become quite cold and gloomy.

However, the heaters provided by the hotel helped to dispel the dampness and cold brought by the lake.

Therefore, nine out of ten problems in this world can be solved with money.

If you spend enough money, the solutions can exceed your wildest imagination.

Spending your own money is enjoyable, but watching others spend it can sometimes be a form of torture.

Especially when Feng Xiaogang saw Zhang Yuan spending so lavishly without any restraint, he began to complain.

Especially since Zhang Yuan had just brought up his and Shen Xing's past, Director Feng was even more furious and held a grudge.

The words then became increasingly harsh.

Only after the light from the lantern on the awning boat dimmed did the two begin to talk.

"A wolf from Zhongshan, once it gains power, it becomes arrogant and rampant!"

"This is getting more and more outrageous!"

"Yes, this child wasn't like this before; he was quite good."

"As expected, men turn bad when they have money." Xu Fan said in his usual sarcastic tone.

Director Feng clicked his tongue, and those words brought me into the conversation too.

"And he just talks, yet he launches a wide-ranging attack. What did Hubei Province do to offend him?"

Zhang Yuan's sweeping generalizations particularly displeased Xu Fan.

"He doesn't even respect me, so why would he respect you?"

"When the sky is wild, rain will fall; when people are wild, disaster will strike!"

Director Feng grinned widely, revealing his large, yellow teeth.

"I think he's had it too easy these past few years, and he's gone crazy."

"Someone will take care of him sooner or later!"

“Yes, he’s still too young. If he continues like this, he’ll suffer a great loss sooner or later,” Xu Fan echoed.

However, they deliberately waited until Zhang Yuan was not around before saying these words.

Director Feng, in particular, looked very gloomy, though he hadn't fully shown it during the meal.

On the other side, on a covered boat.

Zhang Yuan snatched the wine bottle that Miss Guan had been holding.

"Stop drinking."

"At your age, drinking too much will affect your development."

"No, I won't tell my parents."

"I like this floating feeling."

Some people enjoy drinking, while others don't.

This actually depends on one's constitution.

The feeling of being slightly tipsy is something that people who enjoy drinking especially love.

Relaxation, a sense of lightness, a nameless joy—it allows you to forget your worries and physical tension or pain.

However, most people who don't like or are not used to drinking alcohol will not be able to experience the feeling of being "slightly tipsy".

Some people like this only experience a sore throat and stomach after drinking; if they drink more, they feel even more dizzy and uncomfortable; if they drink more, they vomit...

The experience of drinking is vastly different for someone who gets a headache after just five seconds of being slightly tipsy, compared to someone who feels happy for several hours after drinking, then falls asleep immediately and wakes up feeling refreshed the next day.

Guan Xiaotong is clearly the kind of person who gets into character very easily; it's all innate.

He hasn't fully grown up yet and still shows some signs of being a drunkard.

As soon as Zhang Yuan snatched the bottle, she pounced on him.

Zhang Yuan turned his back, and she simply lay on top of him.

"Handsome brother, give it to me."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuan, who had been drinking too much, even reverted to using the same form of address.

Moreover, based on the creaking sensation of the other person lying on his back, Zhang Yuan felt that he couldn't give her any more drink.

They weren't developing much to begin with, and drinking this will only worsen their condition.

"You can't do this. It'll be dangerous outside." Seeing that the small boat was rocking a bit from her movements, Zhang Yuan turned around and helped her sit down.

"Aren't you here? What danger could there be?"

"Besides, why do you always give it to Jiang Yilang?"

She's a bit older than you.

"Where is it bigger?"

"Anywhere is bigger." Zhang Yuan simply drank the rest of the wine in the bottle, putting an end to her hopes.

"Ah!" Miss Guan let out a sharp scream.

"What's wrong? I bought this wine with my own money, can't I even have a sip?" Zhang Yuan was so frightened that he covered his ears.

"No, I've already drunk from it. You can drink directly from the bottle."

"Doesn't that mean we've indirectly kissed?"

Zhang Yuan: …

The word "indirect kiss" was really making him lose his composure.

These are words that only a student would use.

“If you keep doing this, I’ll call Mr. Guan Shaozeng and tell him you’re stealing my drink.”

Zhang Yuan never expected that he would resort to the tactic of "inviting the parents".

"Old Guan wouldn't bear to say anything to me."

This young lady addressed her father with disrespect.

It seems like a lot of girls in Beijing are like this.

Yang Mi called him "Dad" by his given name.

"I see you've had too much to drink, let's head back." Zhang Yuan raised his wrist, glanced at the time on his phone, and then told the boatman to head back.

"I want to use the swimming pool!" the young woman shouted, raising her hand.

"Okay, I'll go turn on the thermostat."

"Go to the hotel gift shop and pick out your swimsuit yourself, then put it on my tab."

Zhang Yuan wasn't very interested in her swimsuit.

Her figure was as flat as an iPhone, and besides, who looks at a child in a swimsuit?

She dragged me to the pool.

She's good at this; she's been doing it since she was little, and she's even participated in competitions with her school.

Moreover, having long legs is indeed an advantage in swimming.

Zhang Yuan barely went into the water.

Even if the other person is just a young woman, if she is already of adult height, it wouldn't look good for a lone man and woman to go out together.

If it were five or six years earlier, when he was still a child, it wouldn't have mattered.

He just watched from the sidelines, just in case something went wrong.

This also gives Director Feng and his wife more space to be alone and to criticize themselves.

“Three times.” Zhang Yuan looked at the long-legged girl who was having a great time in the water, sometimes doing the breaststroke and sometimes the freestyle.

This is the third time he has "provoked" Director Feng.

Since the beginning of the year, he has always acted very casually in front of the other party.

The last time I went to their restaurant, I refused Xu Fan's request for reconciliation; this was the second time.

So this is the third time.

He felt that three times was enough.

Because when you're stimulated, the emotions don't disappear; they just accumulate.

Especially just now!
It was fine before.

Now that Huayi has gone public, Feng Xiaogang is riding high.

However, Zhang Yuan overshadowed them in every aspect.

His source of pride, in particular, was the substantial benefits he reaped from the listing of Huayi.

However, Zhang Yuan downplayed these claims by using Tudou.com's shares.

Most importantly, Zhang Yuan was absolutely right!
Lies don't hurt, truth is the knife.

Compared to Zhang Yuan's assets, Director Feng derives about 70-80% less happiness from Huayi Shares.

Not afraid of not knowing the goods, but afraid of comparing goods.

He only made a big fortune and achieved fame in middle age.

But he's so young, with unlimited potential, and he'll earn more than I have.

That's what people fear most.

We can share hardship, but not prosperity.

Because people's mindset changes when they become rich and powerful.

Just like Zhang Yuan demonstrated.

Once your mindset changes, you start to act superior.

This Director Feng is no longer the same Feng Kuzi who followed Zheng Xiaolong and Wang Shuo around looking for opportunities to stand out.

Instead, he calls himself Director Feng, a famous director who can have famous actresses jump into his bed with a wave of his hand.

Another characteristic of Director Feng is that he is a "petty person" by nature.

It's not that petty people are bad.

A petty person is not necessarily an evil person; there's a fundamental difference between the two. Besides, there are plenty of petty people in this world.

In school, he betrayed his classmates and tried to curry favor with his teachers.

At work, betraying colleagues and currying favor with superiors.

Stealing credit, tripping up others, and tattling.

Everyone has these kinds of petty people around them; they are countless and unavoidable.

A characteristic of petty people is that they may not be able to cause great harm, but they are particularly good at "aiding and abetting evil".

And they profit from it.

In Water Margin, why did Huang Wenbing try so hard to kill Song Yashi?

Just to kill you, Cai Jiu can gain the great merit of "eliminating treason," and as the one who came up with the idea, he can also get some benefits.

This was calculated and purposeful.

In real life, most people don't have this logic.

Often, it's just that when they see you doing well, especially better than themselves, they want to harm you to vent their emotions.

This is human nature.

Zhang Yuan certainly understood human nature, and he understood Feng Xiaogang's human nature even better.

He "provoked Director Feng three times" precisely because he wanted to see his humanity!
In the following days, they rested in Xixi Wetland or went to Lingyin Temple in the vicinity to worship and offer incense.

Or go to the nearby mountains to drink tea.

Despite her height being comparable to that of an adult, Guan Xiaotong appears more like a child when she plays.

Zhang Yuan also bought three more three-bedroom, two-living-room apartments in high-rise buildings near Xixi.

Since Ali has just moved to the vicinity of Xixi, the houses here will generate substantial returns whether they are sold or rented in the future.

Furthermore, Alibaba will build its global headquarters nearby in the future, ensuring that this area will have industrial support for a long time and will not decline.

Zhang Yuan also asked Director Feng to buy it.

He's sincere; this place has great potential for appreciation.

But in Director Feng's eyes, given his previous attitude, he felt that Zhang Yuan was showing off and also mocked him for not being able to afford it.

Feng Xiaogang's shares in Huayi can only be sold in two years, so it's not impossible for him to buy several houses now, but he would be under pressure.

Zhang Yuan also told Guan Xiaotong to have his parents come and buy some too.

The girl wasn't interested in it and looked indifferent.

Look at you, you won't listen to any good advice.

After about a week of travel, I flew back to Beijing.

He greeted them with a smile and thanked Zhang Yuan for his hospitality.

But as soon as they went upstairs to their home, Director Feng and his wife's expressions changed.

"What's with the attitude!"

"So what if they have a private jet?"

"It's not yours, it's just borrowed."

The airplane that was once praised has now become a point of criticism.

When people like you, they'll even say you're bold if you defecate in public.

When people don't like you, they'll say you're being hypocritical when you donate money to charity.

"Xiaotong, thanks to your care, you must have had a blast."

"I didn't cause you any trouble, did I?"

"Old Guan, what are you saying!" Miss Guan jumped into her father's arms.

They sat on each other's shoulders with their arms around each other's.

Zhang Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

My dad and I are the same way.

That explains why she's been making me carry her around these past few days, and why she even falls on me while watching TV at night.

After handing the child back to the parents, he went home to organize the documents.

Documents, files, and passport required for travel to Africa.

You also need to get vaccinated in advance, since all sorts of strange diseases can be found in that place.

He then met with Zheng Xiaolong to double-check the film budget.

Excluding advertising costs, the estimated cost has reached 8700 million.

Director Zheng confirmed again whether he would pay for everything himself.

Zhang Yuan answered with certainty.

All the money I've earned this year will have to be thrown into this movie.

Fortunately, there are many other industries that can provide him with financial support; otherwise, he would be so poor that he would be drinking thin porridge at home.

Meanwhile, Director Feng returned to Huayi and met with Xiao Wang to discuss the plans for "If You Are the One 2".

"This film, 'Aftershock,' was a great success."

Xiao Wang, who was already overjoyed because of the listing, was even more delighted today.

He bluntly stated that Feng Xiaogang is Huayi's "pillar of strength and beam of support".

Because of the film "Aftershock", regardless of its reputation or whether its content is off-topic.

But the box office was extremely good!
This was also the opportunity that led to Director Feng making "1942".

This "disaster movie" earned over 6 million RMB at the box office!
The stock price of Huayi Brothers has been rising steadily since its listing, thanks in part to this drama.

Director Feng was overjoyed; his director's fee plus profit sharing for the film would amount to around ten million yuan.

Even Zhang Yimou would be drooling with envy...

However, Feng Xiaogang doesn't have the physique of Zhang Yimou.

After filming a very energy-consuming big-budget film like "Aftershock," it's time for something lighter to relax.

Films like "If You Are the One" are not only much lighter in tone, but also much easier to film.

Wang Shuo's team is already "assembling" the script.

This kind of romantic comedy is Feng Xiaogang's forte; after all, he made his name and fortune with these kinds of films.

"Let's control the costs, don't make it as big as 'Aftershock'."

“The company has a lot of big projects lately. Although we’ve gone public and can raise funds, we’re not exactly rolling in money,” Xiao Wang said.

Feng Xiaogang smiled and agreed.

But I was thinking to myself, you two brothers spend money like that, you'll never be rich.

They've bought all the big villas in Beijing.

The king went to Sotheby's to buy paintings, bottles, and cups.

Xiao Wang bought a new car and a limited-edition watch worth several million yuan.

Actually, the king has his reasons for buying paintings and works of art.

This person enjoys art and painting; they have this hobby.

He later spent nearly 4 million to buy a genuine Van Gogh painting, which caused quite a stir.

But before the emergence and widespread use of cryptocurrencies, art was a common tool for financial laundering.

The king buys paintings not only for the paintings themselves, but also to transfer the company's money to his own, and then transfer his own money from China to abroad.

He also painted his own pictures and sold them, making money by reselling them.

After all, the value of a painting depends entirely on hype.

"For modern films, find more sponsors and try to have them pay for more than 80% of the production costs."

"Yes, yes, yes," Director Feng nodded in agreement.

He's good at this.

"As for the actors, Ge You is indispensable, and Shu Qi must also come."

"As for the rest, we'll try to win Guan Xiaotong over. They have potential, and they're also part of our relationship."

"Who else is there? You decide what to do with them, and we can discuss it..."

"Oh, right!" Xiao Wang put down his teacup: "Zhang Yuan has been behaving well lately."

"His performance in 'The Message' has received a very good response online."

"Especially when combined with his meeting with the island nation's number one leader and the previous land crossing incident, the effect was quite good."

"I don't know where he got this opportunity from."

“He’s quite popular, and we can also negotiate a lower price with him, so the cost of using his services isn’t high.”

"You can assign him a role that will attract female viewers."

"Young girls like guys like him." This wasn't the first time Xiao Wang had considered this idea.

When they wanted him to play "Jianguo" in the first installment, Zhang Yuan decisively declined.

Now Xiao Wang is thinking, "You've made a lot of money since the company went public, I need to get some back."

We treat you like a beast of burden!

Unexpectedly, Director Feng responded with a cold snort.

"Heh, I don't think he'd even be interested in my show," the man said sarcastically.

"Especially after his trip to the island nation, his attitude became extremely arrogant."

“He talks to me incoherently, I’m afraid I can’t control him.”

"If he and I have a conflict on set, who's in charge?"

"It must be you." Xiao Wang sensed his dissatisfaction.

“He has more power than me, more money than me, and a bigger entourage than me.”

"Putting everything else aside, he owns more shares in our company than I do."

Mentioning this gives Xiao Wang a headache. Back then, in order to set a good example and defuse the storm of Wang Jinhua's departure, he gave this kid a huge benefit.

I didn't realize it at the time, but looking back now, I feel like I lost out big time.

“He not only owns shares in our company, but also in Tudou.com.”

"Once that company goes public, how much money will he have?"

"At that time, not only will you not take me seriously, but you will also be disregarding me."

The mention of potatoes made Xiao Wang even more conflicted.

Because the advantages of internet platforms are rapidly becoming apparent!
He didn't take it seriously a few years ago.

He only realized it when he saw that "iPartment" had become a nationwide hit.

Gan!
It's all this kid's doing.

Director Feng continued speaking.

He's a petty person.

Petty people seek revenge; they'll chant mountain chants whenever they get the chance.

"He's also going to Africa, which will cost over a million US dollars per trip," Director Feng exclaimed dramatically.

Goodness… Xiao Wang thought to himself, I’m not that extravagant.

"Then what should we do?" he asked.

"Anyway, if you say you want to use it, I'll use it."

"But if anything goes wrong, I can't take responsibility." Director Feng's words revealed his dissatisfaction.

Xiao Wang waved his hand, telling him to go and prepare.

He then swung his large executive chair, looked out the window, and seemed lost in thought… (End of Chapter)