Actor: Thank you.

"Mr. Wang, it's nice to see you again."

The following afternoon, Zhang Yuan met with Xiao Wang at a coffee shop in downtown Los Angeles.

We went to a well-known North American brand... namely Starbucks.

Zhang Yuan took a sip of his iced Americano and frowned.

What's the difference between this stuff and the water used to wash rags?
Having grown accustomed to Italian coffee and even tried premium coffee beans from Wah Gor's auction, this stuff is simply unpalatable.

And it's not that he's picky, it's just that this brand is really not that great.

Entering China in 99, the initial reason was to target the capital city and pursue a high-end strategy.

Just like Häagen-Dazs, it is only a mid-to-low-end brand abroad, but it has established a high-end image in China for more than ten years.

Back in 09, Starbucks was still considered a symbol of the petit bourgeoisie in the country.

So many people sit inside all afternoon with their laptops, I don't even know what they're busy with.

When Zhang Yuan ordered coffee, he specifically asked to confirm that "SHORT" (small cup) was not on the menus abroad.

This is Starbucks' American marketing strategy: hiding the smaller cups from the menu to entice customers to buy more expensive coffee.

If it's not on the menu, you can still order a small cup.

Unlike in China, where they simply play word games.

Teacher Luo is still too far ahead...

"This is your watch."

Xiao Wang took out a small box containing Zhang Yuan's Vacheron Constantin watch.

"Thank you for your help." Zhang Yuan accepted the paperwork without even looking at it.

Wang Zhonglei's mouth twisted into a smirk.

You're pretty impressive, kid. You didn't even bother to check such an expensive watch.

They didn't take it seriously at all, right?

You don't care about watches worth hundreds of thousands? That's impressive.

"No, it's me who's embarrassed," Xiao Wang said apologetically, with his signature smile on his face.

I also felt irritable.

What's wrong with my daughter?
He "took" his teacher's gold ring at school.

He "took" his aunt's diamond brooch at home.

Once outside, he "took" other people's luxury watches.

In his eyes, it was all just taking things, just playing around.

Little did they know, it was this very person in front of them who taught them...

"It's nothing, the kids are just joking." Zhang Yuan wouldn't admit that he taught them.

Not just because admitting it makes you vulnerable to being beaten.

At the same time, the child's skill level is too poor. If he admits that he taught him, he will be ashamed in front of his peers.

We chatted for a while.

We didn't go to a fancy restaurant today, so we were both dressed casually, not too formally.

After talking for a while, Xiao Wang asked a question.

"Why haven't I seen Miss Liu today?"

He looked quite interested.

"Ah... she's not feeling well," Zhang Yuan replied, sounding slightly embarrassed.

"Are you feeling unwell physically or mentally?" Xiao Wang said with a barbed tone and a hint of sarcasm.

"Hehehe..." Zhang Yuan responded with a dry laugh.

He then continued chatting idly, talking about his experiences filming in Hollywood.

It subtly, yet subtly, expresses that they are doing well overseas and have some influence.

Xiao Wang remained very calm throughout, as if he were a zoo visitor watching an animal performance through a glass window.

He rested his chin on his hand, took sips of coffee now and then, and watched with a smile.

Extremely relaxed.

Moreover, he doesn't talk much; Zhang Yuan does most of the talking, more than 7% of the time.

In life, if both sides are of equal strength...

Whether it's a performance or a negotiation, the one who talks more is usually the weaker party.

On stage, you might think that Mr. Guo talks a lot, while Mr. Qian talks very little.

But is Brother Qian really in a weak position?
Not necessarily. Sometimes a single, succinct remark can be more effective than reciting a script for a long time.

At the negotiating table, being cautious in one's words and actions is a very important rule.

Talking a lot means you're panicking.

Therefore, based on the current situation, Zhang Yuan is clearly the "weaker" party.

"Oh, it's getting late." After a long while, Xiao Wang raised his wrist and glanced at his watch.

"I should go back to be with my daughter."

"The houses here are nice; you could consider buying property nearby if you have the opportunity."

He then got up to leave.

"Hey, don't rush, Mr. Wang."

"I...have something else to say." Zhang Yuan said with a smile, standing up to stop the person.

"Is there something you want to say?"

"Yes, something's up."

"Hehehe, you." Xiao Wang, looking like he had successfully played hard to get, sat down again.

"Speak up, say what you need to say quickly."

"I'm quite busy."

“This…” Zhang Yuan answered hesitantly.

"This isn't like you at all," Xiao Wang said with a smile.

"Sigh." He sighed deeply, but still spoke.

"Mr. Wang, as the saying goes, it's better to resolve a feud than to let it fester."

"The film and television industry is neither too big nor too small."

"Actually, there are only a few people who can be considered respectable."

"It would be a real shame to ban one or two more," Zhang Yuan said with utmost sincerity.

"Why not be lenient and let's talk things over?"

"Let me tell you the truth too."

“Sisi hasn’t had any work for almost a year and she’s been in a bad mood, so I brought her out to relax.”

"It's fate that we met."

"Why don't we just solve the problem?"

"Oh?" Xiao Wang's face lit up with joy.

We've been waiting for you to speak!
“We at Huayi have our own plans and route designs.”

“Every step, every task, requires a huge cost.”

"No one can eat and drink for free, you should know that," Xiao Wang replied.

"But she got to eat and drink for free!"

"The show was performed, the fame spread, and people traveled both domestically and internationally."

"But it didn't bring us the reward we wanted."

"However, many actors have participated in Huayi's productions but have not joined the company."

"Yes, but those people are all already successful and famous."

Both sides come and go.

"I saw potential in her, but my efforts were met with indifference."

Zhang Yuanxin thought to herself, "My butt isn't cold."

I've posted quite a few updates these past few days...

"An artist who has just debuted and is still on the rise."

"They've consumed many of Huayi's important resources, but they want to just use them and leave."

"It's not that easy."

"No one can justify this."

Everyone has their own version of the truth; that's just how things are in this world.

Everyone has a different perspective on issues.

Hua Yi thinks that if I give you resources, you have to work hard for me.

Sisi and Boss Chen felt that since they were collaborating, and that Sisi had brought traffic, popularity, and revenue to Boss Chen's work, Boss Chen was not at a disadvantage.

No businessman ever thinks he can earn too much; everyone is greedy.

"What we at Huayi are doing is just to warn future generations; we don't want to take advantage of us."

"It seems that most people are still quite clear-headed."

Zhang Yuan was too lazy to argue with him.

If Xixi's father were a member of a privileged family in Beijing, you would never have done what you are doing now.

Ultimately, the other person isn't part of your circle.

"Hmm..." Zhang Yuan lowered his head and pondered for a while.

"She's my girlfriend."

"If a woman makes a mistake, a man should also bear the responsibility."

"I'm here to apologize to you on her behalf."

"Can an apology solve the problem?" Xiao Wang's tone changed: "In the end, Huayi has suffered losses."

“If these resources are given to others, the next Li Bingbing or Fan Bingbing will emerge.”

"And the next Bingbing will bring Huayi tens of millions of yuan in revenue every year."

"Can all of this be resolved with just an apology?"

"Zhang Yuan, you can't be that naive, can you?"

After the other person finished speaking, he lowered his head, as if he had been struggling with something for a while.

"Okay, I'll apologize."

"I will also compensate you for the losses you have suffered."

"You said it, we're all open to discussion."

After chuckling a few times, the other person got up and straightened their clothes.

"If you're so sincere, I'll consider it."

After saying that, he got up and left.

Zhang Yuan sat there for a long time, biting his fingers repeatedly, lost in thought.

Only after confirming that the other party had left and had not returned to see him did he get up and go back to the hotel.

Upon entering the room, Sisi was still reading.

When he arrived, she inserted a bookmark, closed the book, and set it aside.

"I'm home?"

"Ah."

The other person came up and gave him a light hug.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fortunately."

"Although I'm a little nervous, everything is going according to plan."

After the two sat down, Zhang Yuan took care of her and did not smoke in the room.

Instead, he asked for lots of candy to help him think.

"Now we only need to take the last step."

"It's almost finished."

Seeing his expression, Sisi looked at him seriously. "Now can you tell me what price you're willing to pay?"

Zhang Yuan shook his head slightly.

"It didn't come at much cost."

Little Dragon Girl pouted: "You don't really think I'm stupid, do you?"

Is Huayi so easy to please?
Besides, banning me also requires resources; they won't give up until they recoup their costs.
She's not good at thinking about these things.

But I also find Zhang Yuan's behavior to be very strange.

Even if you want help, you have to ask the other person for help.

What was the purpose of spending so much effort in the previous few months to help her break through the blockade in her career?
If you tried every means to break through the blockade before, why are you making demands on them now?

The inconsistencies feel off.

"What matters in this matter has never been what I'm willing to give."

"It's about what the other party wants." Zhang Yuan ate another piece of candy.

North American candies are so sweet they make your teeth hurt.

But it has a very good energizing effect.

The children here are very prone to sugary highs.

It's like eating too much sugar and going crazy, yelling and running around, with excessive energy.

Although Sisi was in the middle of it, she didn't understand.

Even his agents didn't understand.

Zhang Yuan had previously helped her break through the "blockade" from angles that Huayi could hardly reach, whether it was through overseas magazines or by arranging for her to sing theme songs.

It wasn't really to help her get out of the lockdown.

Because I can't do it yet.

But there are two advantages to doing this.

Firstly, it would make Huayi realize that she has many options.

These methods were all unexpected by them.

Even the Wang brothers would find this troublesome.

They felt it was troublesome, fearing that if he became even stronger, he might actually be able to break through the blockade.

He doesn't need to be able to do it; as long as the other party has the idea, it will push both sides to "reconcile."

This is a reversed three-sided encirclement with one missing.

Secondly, just like what he did to Feng Xiaogang, it will make Hua Yi feel very uncomfortable.

They would hate him because of that.

The reason he kept provoking Feng Xiaogang was that he wanted the other party to "pass on a message" for him.

Because Director Feng was the number one contributor to Huayi Brothers' success and was closest to the Wang brothers.

And this person's nature is rather petty.

It can be said that Hua Yi's success and failure were both due to Feng Xiaogang.

He started his business and built it up through his works.

But the seeds of disaster were also sown within him.

Back then, Liu Zhenyun and I invited Cui Yongyuan to our home for dinner to discuss industry matters.

Xu Fan even cooked herself, creating a joyful atmosphere.

Xiao Cui felt that everyone was in the same circle, so he told her about his experiences at CCTV and in the hosting industry.

The two of them then turned the material into a story and made the movie "Cellphone".

Xiao Cui's depression is inextricably linked to these two.

Very unauthentic.

Because of this incident, when "Cell Phone 2" was about to be released, Cui Yongyuan lost his temper and exposed the industry's secrets, causing upheaval throughout the entire Chinese film and television industry, especially the imperial circle.

At first, Xiao Cui thought Feng Xiaogang was a villain, so he kept in touch with Liu Zhenyun.

But it was later discovered that Feng Xiaogang was a villain, while Liu Zhenyun was the truly wicked one.

The renowned writer Liu has assured that he will not write "Cellphone 2".

After finishing the script, they changed the name and said my script wasn't called "Cellphone 2." They said it's none of my business how they filmed it and changed the name.

This is nothing short of being a hooligan.

You've made a lot of money.

The result was that they went too far and the sky collapsed and the earth caved in.

And the reason why Xiao Cui dared to do this was not just because he was provoked.

He is not afraid of retaliation.

Because not only does he have a legal basis, but he is also a top-tier privileged son of a powerful family!
Among the people in the imperial circle's network of connections, there are very few who can touch him.

Because of Director Feng's style of doing things.

Therefore, Zhang Yuan was very clear that everything he said would be relayed to the Wang brothers by Feng Xiaogang.

This is basically a done deal.

Moreover, since I have provoked him so many times, he is bound to say something unpleasant.

Just like he specifically told the other person that he was going to travel to Africa.

If you were to bump into Xiao Wang in Hollywood, he would immediately realize it wasn't a chance encounter.

Therefore, she deduced that her "pretending to bump into him" was because she needed his help.

Therefore, you gain a psychological advantage!

Feeling that he had complete control, Zhang Yuan was practically begging on his knees.

Weakness and ignorance are not obstacles to survival, arrogance is.

Arrogance can make people lose their rationality, ignore details, and become even more convinced of what they "see".

What Zhang Yuan was doing was controlling what he "saw".

Like a director, draw up storyboards, design shots, and present the visuals.

In this way, the audience will follow the director's train of thought.

As for the Wang brothers' temperaments and personalities.

Previously, Zhang Yuan had been so provocative and provoked them.

They will definitely hold a grudge and seek revenge because I stood up for Sisi so many times.

But it's different now.

Huayi went public and became a leader in the industry.

Just as Tian Feng knew that if Yuan Shao won, he could live.

why?

People are happy when they win.

When someone is happy, they will grant a general amnesty.

Not just happy.

After achieving victory, these people also need to project an image of being exceptionally magnanimous.

Only by winning can one "forgive" past enemies or those who have wronged them.

Anyone who betrays me will receive 100 million. (Applause if you understand...) That's roughly the gist of it.

Even if you're just pretending, you have to act like a big shot to attract more talent.

Therefore, they will most likely agree to a "reconciliation".

Next, we will discuss the conditions for reconciliation.

That's the most troublesome part.

Zhang Yuan repeatedly provoked Feng Xiaogang and the Wang brothers in order to make them act "more ruthlessly"!
If he's not ruthless enough, he won't achieve his goal.

Zhang Yuan clapped his hands, took a sip of water to rinse his mouth, and then looked at Qianqian.

"I have a question for you."

"You said."

"What is the most valuable thing I own?"

"Of course it's you," Little Dragon Girl answered without hesitation.

"That's because in your eyes, I'm the best."

"You're so vain," she said with a wrinkled nose and a laugh.

"What about me, aside from myself?"

"Hmm?" She bit her lip, thinking.

After a while, he answered.

"The Huayi shares you hold?"

Zhang Yuan smiled and patted her head.

"In the eyes of ordinary people, that is indeed the case."

"Then let me delve deeper into this issue and elaborate on it further."

"Of all the things I own, what is the most valuable to Huayi?"

Zhang Yuan is the "man they can't have".

Huayi Group is quite important to the two brothers.

But the largest shares are in their own hands, and these two brothers are busy cashing out, so why would they want his shares?

Sisi thought for a long time, then shook her head helplessly.

It's okay if you don't know.

"The Wang brothers will find out."

"Because I asked someone to remind them."

Zhang Yuan took a few deep breaths.

"Now we'll see if these two brothers will fall for it."

He did not receive any contact from the other party for the next three to five days.

For the first time, Zhang Yuan experienced the moves he often used.

That is, "let the bullets fly for a while," which is how uncomfortable it is.

The most agonizing part is the waiting.

Otherwise, why would imprisonment be considered a punishment?

Maintaining composure during anxious waiting is the most difficult thing.

Zhang Yuanlian's appetite has decreased significantly.

Sisi felt that he "ate little and had many things to do, how could he last long?"

I kept reassuring him that I was fine, and that at worst I could quit this line of work.

Zhang Yuan understood that this wasn't the truth.

Although she has only average talent.

It refers to having average performing talent.

Because performing requires experience and mental fortitude.

She has a rather mild temperament, which is a natural weakness in her personality.

But his physical appearance is top-notch, so he's particularly suited to certain roles.

He still loves his job.

"It's okay, now it's a contest of who loses their composure first."

"If he still doesn't contact me in two days, then I will contact him."

"The effect will be much worse..."

Before Zhang Yuan could finish speaking with worry, his phone started buzzing impatiently.

He hurriedly picked it up from the side, almost dropping it in his haste.

"Phew..." Zhang Yuan breathed a sigh of relief after seeing the caller ID.

"We've accomplished 90% now; it's just a matter of seeing how the final 10% goes!" (End of Chapter)