Actor: Thank you.

I was forced to turn on the computer, got up, drank a strong cup of tea, changed my clothes, and went out.

Soon they arrived at a private room in a large restaurant.

The meeting was arranged by Jiang Zhiqiang, who was in Hong Kong at the time and did not come over.

During the call, Zhang Yuan also mentioned the distribution of "Now You See Me" to him.

The other party has given an initial response, expressing their willingness to provide them with the distribution rights for more than 30 countries in parts of Asia and the Pacific.

It's said to be from more than 30 countries, but in reality, only about 10 are worth issuing.

This is a common tactic used by white people; you have to carefully check whether the issuing country in the contract is optional or mandatory.

Optional means I have the right but may not go; mandatory means these countries must issue it, otherwise they will be in breach of contract.

Two-thirds of the world's countries are actually underdeveloped.

Although white media outlets constantly tout China's backwardness, these arrogant white people don't even bother reporting on the truly backward regions.

Releasing films in most small countries results in losses.

Moreover, the equipment and markets in small countries are also terrible.

Just like in India, their people love watching movies, partly because cinemas have air conditioning, or at least fans.

He only arrived at the meeting after repeatedly emphasizing to Boss Jiang not to fall into the trap.

Although Mr. Jiang was not present, several of his Hong Kong associates and a few company employees were there.

In addition, there are several other artists.

"This look suits you quite well."

Zhang Yuan stepped forward to greet Tang Wei.

She was Jiang Zhiqiang's favorite, and he always doted on her.

In Lao Jiang's eyes, Tang Wei is the next Maggie Cheung.

That's what he thinks anyway.

Zhang Yuan believes that Tang Wei is not as "spirited" as Maggie Cheung, and that they are two different styles.

But Jiang Zhiqiang really went to great lengths. After being "banned" in mainland China, he helped her find a way in South Korea, where she filmed "Late Autumn" with Hyun Bin.

It received a lukewarm reception domestically, but it became a hit in South Korea.

In a society where cosmetic surgery is rampant, her natural appearance and gentle temperament make her stand out.

But just making art films isn't enough.

You can win awards, but you don't make money, especially not from mainland China.

And so, this situation came about.

"Hello, I'm so excited to meet you." He greeted the other "main guest," a well-dressed middle-aged man, with a polite handshake and compliments.

This is Wu Xiubo, a male celebrity from mainland China who has recently become quite popular.

This person is considered a typical example of "late bloomer" in the Chinese entertainment industry.

Especially compared to those artists who became famous at a young age.

He joined the Railway Art Troupe in 84 and was classmates with Fu Biao and Wang Zhifei.

He then took the entrance exam for the Central Academy of Drama as a member of the Railway Art Troupe. After that, he worked as a performer in a bar with Man Wenjun, Han Lei, and others.

So whether it's the entertainment industry or the music scene in Beijing, he's a veteran among veterans.

But Fu Biao is dead, Man Wenjun is dead, and he hasn't even become famous yet.

Of course, the main reason he was able to join the ironworks troupe, get into the Central Academy of Drama, and maintain good relationships with such a group of big names in the industry was his family.

He was also from a privileged family; his father worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Everyone has their own destiny; whether someone becomes famous or not is up to fate.

Favorable timing, advantageous location, and harmonious relationships are all indispensable.

He had the advantage of location and the support of the people, but he lacked the right timing.

But just a few years ago, the time was right!
This weather pattern is called "Uncle Wind"!
It is generally believed that it spread from the Korean entertainment industry, especially Korean dramas.

The root cause of the popularity of the "middle-aged man" trend is that most female viewers are tired of watching old-fashioned idol dramas.

Especially the type of characters like "Meteor Garden" who are immature young masters.

The Koreans have designed a completely new template for young and middle-aged idols.

It perfectly addresses the needs of some women for security and mature men.

Wu Xiubo happened to ride this wave of opportunity!

I don't know which cloud will bring rain.

Just like at the beginning, no one knew that Xiao Yue would become the most popular second-generation member of Deyuan Society.

Wu Xiubo, who had been acting and singing for over twenty years and was previously unknown on the street, suddenly became famous.

And for so many years before that, because of his image and temperament, he always played villains, gangsters, eunuchs, bandits... he played all sorts of evil characters.

All I can say is that directors have a really good eye for talent.

Now that I've gained some popularity, I'm slowly starting to take on positive roles.

What truly made him a star was the movie they were discussing now.

"Screenwriter Xue... oh, no, I should call him Director Xue now."

"Sorry, I'll punish myself with a drink later."

Zhang Yuan spoke politely to a middle-aged woman.

This woman is Xue Xiaolu, one of the main screenwriters of the show "Don't Talk to Strangers," which terrified countless viewers back then.

He was utterly wicked...

The movie "Ocean Heaven" that Li Lianjie starred in with Wen Zhang was also her work, which she wrote and directed.

Based on her own experience, my older sister has been working as a volunteer counselor for autism.

But the film ultimately lost money.

So this guy wrote another script, intending to make a commercial film.

Jiang Zhiqiang was also one of the producers of "Ocean Heaven", so when they were making the film this time, they contacted him again and recommended him to Zhang Yuan.

This new film requires a large amount of resources from North America.

Director Xue named the script "Beautiful Fate," which is incredibly corny.

Jiang Zhiqiang had people investigate, but no one seemed interested just from the names.

Therefore, based on the story background, we changed our approach and decided to "piggyback" on the movie title.

That's how it got its current name, "Finding Mr. Right".

It's piggybacking on the classic film "Sleepless in Seattle" starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

At least it's more catchy than "Beautiful Fate," even though the original title has nothing to do with the film. It has a pure, old-fashioned, literary vibe.

Zhang Yuan felt that the film was more like "A Native of Beijing in New York" than "Sleepless in Seattle".

Back then, these kinds of films were considered "romance films," and they were not only marketed as romance films but also used to win awards.

But if you look at it ten years from now, it's just like "American Dreams in China"—a pure Western demystification textbook.

"American Dreams in China" showcases Western arrogance. Meng Xiaojun, a once-promising young man, was reduced to washing dishes after going to North America, and even when he visited as a boss, he was turned away.

The male protagonist in "Finding Mr. Right" is a well-known cardiovascular doctor in China, but after coming to North America, he can only work as a driver in an illegal maternity center.

Let you idiots stop mistaking the lighthouse for heaven on earth.

Those white people wanted to be masters, even slave owners.

Do you foreigners want to act like royalty when you go there?

Then who will take care of people?

Besides its Western demystification elements, this play also contains extremely skewed values.

The female protagonist becomes a mistress, gets pregnant, and gives birth abroad.

In the end, her boyfriend went bankrupt, and with his help, the female lead became an independent and strong single mother...

What an independent woman!
I was a mistress, had a child out of wedlock, and was supported by a man, but I am a good girl.

This kind of character would be condemned by audiences 10 years from now.

Zhang Yuan would certainly not bring up such a thing at the dinner table.

Because nowadays, audiences find everything novel.

Not only do I not think the female lead's character has questionable values, but I also find her very inspiring.

Therefore, he felt that China was thriving because each generation was stronger than the last, especially in terms of values.

“You’ve never had a child, so this role is a challenge.”

“Yes.” Tang Wei nodded: “I want to find some material to observe.”

"We were just talking about this," Director Xue Xiaolu said, looking at him.

"Most of our filming locations are expected to be overseas."

"Documents and visas are required."

"And a permit to film the Empire State Building."

“No problem, I’ll have the company apply for it.” Zhang Yuan didn’t seem to care much.

Just take the photos; it's all part of the process.

As for the Empire State Building, it was just a filler film to piggyback on the movie title.

The famous scene in Sleepless in Seattle is the rooftop of the Empire State Building.

This is also a representative building of the entire Western world.

"Director Xue needs to plan the filming process carefully, and everyone needs to cooperate and strictly abide by it."

"After all, the costs are much higher abroad than in China."

"Definitely." Wu Xiubo raised his glass in agreement.

This guy is a seasoned veteran; he's completely at ease at the dinner table.

"I'd like to offer a toast to our big star and our big boss."

"I'm so envious of you."

"When I was your age, I didn't even know where I'd get my next meal."

"Now I have to thank Boss Zhang for treating me to this meal!"

This guy is different from popular celebrities like Wen Zhang and Huang Haibo. He's older and not as arrogant.

Or it's better to use experience to mask arrogance.

"That's not true." Zhang Yuan raised his glass, level with the other person's, without deliberately raising the rim of the glass.

He never puts on airs when dealing with people who can make money for him and who are also respectful.

As long as you don't mess with me, we're good brothers even if we're not from the same father or mother... He always thought so.

“When we work together, we are all equal.” Zhang Yuan even put his arm around his shoulder and poured him a drink.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I can't drink that much." Wu Xiubo quickly stopped him when she saw him about to fill the glass.

"My body..."

"It's nothing." Zhang Yuan stopped before he could explain.

"An actor's job is to make movies, not to accompany people for drinks."

"We drink as friends. There are no hierarchys at the table; it's all about being casual."

“Like Tang Wei, she can’t hold her liquor, so I don’t let her drink.”

"Refined taste, and temperament!" Wu Xiubo quickly praised.

"Now that we've eaten here, we're all friends."

"I'll be frank."

"Director Xue, please give me the script and budget as soon as possible. I will send them to the company after I have read them."

"Since it's a romance film, even if we have to shoot overseas, we have to control the costs."

"Including your salaries."

"The budget for romance films means that the actors' salaries can't be as exorbitant as those for big-budget productions."

"Furthermore, your box office appeal in the film industry has not been proven."

Zhang Yuan looked at Tang Wei, his "own man".

"Even for you, although Lust, Caution made a lot of money, everyone went to see it because of Tony Leung."

"After that, the movies you acted in solo were only so-so at the box office."

"And Brother Wu, you act in a lot of TV dramas, but you have very few leading roles in movies. Even the ones you participate in have only average box office returns. You don't have any movies that make hundreds of millions."

Pressuring actors to pay their fees is essentially cutting costs.

After the fire, it's one thing; now we should save money wherever possible.

Zhang Yuan's goal is that the combined income of the two of them should not exceed 300 million.

Wu Xiubo is quite wealthy. He has started investing in the industry based on his years of accumulated wealth, and has a record of spending tens of millions of yuan.

They're quite wealthy.

But these were all child's play to Zhang Yuan.

The older brother also sensed that although the young man in front of him seemed amiable, once the topic turned to work, his powerful aura was no less than that of any boss in the industry.

Looking at the female lead, Tang Wei, who is standing to the side, she is a star heavily promoted by Jiang Zhiqiang, a veteran of the Hong Kong entertainment circle, who didn't give up on her even when she was blacklisted.

However, she was very obedient to Zhang Yuan, nodding and agreeing to everything he said, just like a primary school student.

The main reason is that Tang Wei has a good temper, plus they've known each other for a long time and have a good relationship.

Wu Xiubo was unaware of these things.

He pondered and pondered, wondering if Tang Wei was Zhang Yuan's woman.

"I have something else I'd like to ask you for help with," Director Xue said after a short while.

"Please speak freely," Zhang Yuan said, blinking his big eyes at him.

Do you know any people who engage in surrogacy abroad?

Zhang Yuan: ...

What do you mean?
I think I know this kind of person, someone who does this kind of thing!

"The female protagonist in the film went overseas to give birth and stayed in a private maternity center run by Chinese people."

"These places are full of pregnant women, and there are also surrogates."

"You just mentioned having the actors do research and gather material, but I think on-site visits would be the best option."

Zhang Yuan: ...

You should have said so earlier.

“I know him,” Zhang Yuan replied, sounding somewhat strained.

This kind of thing is not uncommon in the industry, and it's not just in the industry; it's also common in the business world, where it happens on an even higher level.

Ordinary people just don't know that yet.

There are so many such resources around us.

For example, Fatty Zhao, Zhao Decai, spends his days indulging in pleasure and is bound to fall for some kind of trap.

What should I do if the woman comes pregnant?
Boss Zhao is a man of character; he's definitely not muddle-headed.

Money is fine with me; I'll give you whatever I say you'll get.

Don't try to use the child to tie me down or threaten me.

If you want to have a baby, we'll send you abroad, to the US, UK, or France—you'll be a foreigner from birth.

This involves illegal maternity centers, which also accept surrogacy clients.

As long as the money is right, finding a model is no problem.

Some reputable hospitals even offer you a "gene bank" where you can choose whatever you want.

Zhao Decai has to wait until the baby is born to see if it's his, and then he can choose to give the money or tell the other party to get lost.

Anyway, not staying in the country will only hinder me.

You can choose to go to the West or to the Western Paradise; the choice is yours.

According to him, the current rate is 10 yuan per month after pregnancy, plus the cost of buying a house.

A regular three-point shooter gets 1 to 200 million in one go; anything higher depends on whether you're lucky enough to get it.

Many bosses, and people who are not comfortable revealing their identities, do this.

The kind of person who turns on you as soon as you're done is less likely to suffer a major loss.

Those who are "hunted" are those who have developed genuine feelings, and that's the real problem—they'll be stuck with it for life.

These illegal maternity centers are common in the West, especially in North America.

The local police tacitly allowed this, occasionally coming to collect protection money.

They might even help keep watch, or give a heads-up to immigration officials before they arrive, telling you to run away quickly.

In many places, a complete ecosystem has been formed.

North America is still relatively expensive, while Eastern European countries like Ukraine, known as the "womb of Europe," offer both cheap and plentiful options.

In impoverished places like Estonia, one in six women are engaged in the sex industry, which is one in six of the total female population, including infants and the elderly.

That's roughly equivalent to over 60% of women of childbearing age having done this.

This is what happens when you act as a dog for the West.

Zhang Yuan agreed to help with the introduction, but he couldn't take photos or mention his own name.

I won't touch it!
Do not do things that violate public order and good morals.

After putting pressure on his salary, Zhang Yuan, as usual, planned to back down.

They started praising the two lead actors.

Praising Tang Wei naturally refers to her acting skills, while praising Wu Xiubo requires mentioning her appearance.

Besides his mature, older man persona, there's another element to the movie "Finding Mr. Right".

That's the "wimpy" uncle, a handsome middle-aged man with a warm personality.

Young women these days really fall for this.

If you do this kind of thing in private, everyone turns a blind eye, and nobody cares.

After drinking a bit more, he immediately started bragging about his methods of picking up girls.

"Last time on the set of a TV series, I managed to win over the third female lead in just one week."

He used girls as something to brag about.

Zhang Yuan didn't think much of this behavior, but he didn't stop it.

Even Tang Wei, that silly woman, didn't show her dislike on her face, so given his emotional intelligence, it's even less likely that he would openly criticize her.

This guy is getting more and more into bragging, he's been bragging for over ten years now.

He practically portrayed himself as a Casanova.

Zhang Yuan just watched him show off quietly.

I just never expected that this person would end up impersonating him.

"last year!"

"To make that movie."

"The female lead took the initiative to chat with me on the first day of filming."

"They said I'm handsome."

"Little girls like me the most."

"At that time, I had several girlfriends and didn't have time to deal with her."

"We're going to film a sequel soon, so we'll have to meet again."

"Regardless of whether she's a big star or not, I can definitely get this kind of girl within three days!"

He was excitedly spitting out saliva.

"superstar?"

"No name?"

"We're really looking forward to it, let's see if you can make it happen."

"Yeah, tell us about it later." The people around them chimed in.

"Absolutely famous, very beautiful."

"She usually presents a very innocent and pure image to the public."

"No matter how innocent she was before, she'll still be easily won over by me!" It was as if victory was already in sight.

It was as if every woman in the world would willingly kneel at his feet.

This handsome older man only needs to make a slight move to make anyone submit.

This is a typical case of mistaking market trends for personal ability.

If you're really that amazing, with such a family background and connections, why haven't you become famous for decades?
Putting aside others, the person next to him was just stroking her long hair, showing absolutely no interest in him.

"Who is it?" Like any woman, female director Xue Xiaolu was curious.

Wu Xiubo smirked, her gaze contemptuous, and spoke.

"Um... do you guys know about Little Dragon Girl?"

Zhang Yuan: ... (End of Chapter)