I'm just trying to ride the wave of popularity!

Chapter 20: Inhuman and Outrageous! (Second Update! Please Read On!)
"Mr. Xu..."

early morning.

sunny.

At the entrance of [A Liang Fast Food Restaurant].

Just as Xu Xueliang was about to open the door, he saw a figure in a suit and tie get out of an Audi A6.

Xu Xueliang subconsciously looked up and saw Zhou Yang, who was carrying a briefcase, smiling at him and offering him a cigarette.

Xu Xueliang took the cigarette, took a drag, exhaled a smoke ring, and smiled at Zhou Yang: "President Zhou, why are you up so early today? We didn't have breakfast..."

Zhou Yang is a regular customer of [A Liang Fast Food Restaurant].

Over the past month, Zhou Yang has been coming to his place for meals almost every few days.

They eat very slowly, often finishing their meals just as [A Liang Fast Food Restaurant] is about to close...

During this time, Zhou Yang would always take the initiative to chat with the shop owner and waiters whenever he had a spare moment.

He was quite talkative, had a wealth of knowledge, and was very outgoing. Over time, Xu Xueliang and Zhou Yang became acquainted.

"I skipped breakfast and came over specifically when you were free..."

"Oh?"

"I'm planning to make a movie..."

"Movie?"

Xu Xueliang was taken aback when he heard this, and looked Zhou Yang up and down, who was carrying a briefcase: "What movie?"

"It's a fantasy movie, filmed not far away, but we haven't figured out what lunch is for our staff yet, so we thought we'd come and find you... I've been eating here for a while now, the food is good and it's clean and hygienic, so I'm thinking of ordering my next boxed lunch from you..."

"Sure, I promise to use the best ingredients. Come on in!"

When Xu Xueliang heard this, his eyes lit up, and he quickly invited Zhou Yang into the house, pouring him tea.

【A Liang Fast Food Restaurant】is located in the suburbs of Yanjing, near the Yanjiao Industrial Park.

A year ago, this fast food restaurant was doing quite well. The surrounding area was full of employees from the industrial park, who would come to eat every few days.

However, starting this year, following the EU's announcement of a global pollution policy, various regions across China have begun to rectify some factories with large emissions.

Factories in the Yanjing area are naturally a key project for integration.

Under the leadership's guidance, a large number of factories in the nearby industrial park began to relocate and renovate, and the business of [A Liang Fast Food Restaurant] gradually declined.

In June, after the last neighboring [Mingxiang Plastics Factory] moved more than ten kilometers away, the fast food restaurant's business could only be described as dismal.

If they keep operating here, they'll eventually go out of business.

Moreover, the landlord showed no intention of lowering the rent.

So Xu Xueliang has been thinking for the past two days about holding out until the end of July when the rent is paid, and then moving the shop away.

"When will filming begin?" Xu Xueliang asked Zhou Yang.

"We'll film it tomorrow."

"So urgent?"

"Yes!"

"How much to invest?"

"A few million, I guess. By the way, Mr. Xu, when are you moving this shop?"

"By the end of next month, it'll be almost finished. What's wrong?" Xu Xueliang made Zhou Yang a cup of tea, silently gazing at the increasingly desolate industrial park in the distance, and sighed, "The overall economic situation isn't good..."

"Mr. Xu, have you ever considered creating your own brand and opening stores all over the country like franchise stores?" Zhou Yang took a sip of tea and suddenly stared at Xu Xueliang.

"Franchise store?"

"Yes, to create our own takeout fast food brand..."

“Mr. Zhou, don’t joke around. The highest annual turnover here is only about 200,000 yuan, and that’s mainly for these workers to eat. The profit margin is pitifully thin… We can barely make ends meet, let alone afford to build our own brand. Advertising is too expensive…” Xu Xueliang shook his head bitterly after hearing Zhou Yang’s words.

He had never thought of it this way.

"I can help you promote it..."

"How will you promote it?"

"I still have a few advertising slots left in my movie. If you're interested, I can help you put them up..."

“Mr. Zhou, you must be joking. I don’t have money for movie commercials. Opening a new store requires a huge investment in rent, utilities, labor, and renovations…” Xu Xueliang’s lips curled into a bitter smile when he heard this.

In his view, movies are something high-end, sophisticated, and classy.

Product placement in movies costs at least tens of thousands, and sometimes hundreds of thousands.

He's opening a new store, where would he get the money to do this?
After saying this, Zhou Yang silently glanced at the fast food restaurant's layout, and finally stared at Xu Xueliang again: "Boss Xu... you're a nice person. I've eaten quite a bit here these days. How about this, I'll put a free ad for your takeout restaurant in my movie!"

Xu Xueliang's eyes widened when he heard this: "Free? President Zhou, did I hear that right? Free!"

“No…” Zhou Yang’s gaze was fixed on Xu Xueliang: “Not only will it be free, I can also get celebrities to dine at your new restaurant and help boost its popularity…”

Xu Xueliang was stunned.

How can this be?

He stared at Zhou Yang, knowing full well that there's no such thing as a free lunch. After a moment, he shook his head: "Mr. Zhou, I'm uneducated and don't understand any of these intricacies. Just tell me straight, what do I need to offer?"

When Zhou Yang heard this, he looked around and finally smiled: "How much would it cost for half a month's worth of boxed meals?"

How many people are in your film crew?

"There aren't many people, it's a small crew, about twenty people."

"Twenty people, a normal pork chop set meal costs an average of 5 yuan per person. If you eat three meals a day, it would cost about 300 yuan a day, and 4500 yuan in half a month..."

Are you willing to spend this 4500?

"..."

Xu Xueliang's eyes widened.

Looking at Zhou Yang, who didn't seem to be joking, he was immediately incredulous: "What... 4500, that's enough to buy an advertising slot in your movie?"

"It's not just an advertising space, it's a very prominent one. Parts of the storyline can be tailor-made for your new store." Zhou Yang pushed up his glasses, staring at Xu Xueliang. "Of course, it's not just 4500; there are also some late-night snacks for the crew during night shoots..."

When Xu Xueliang heard this, his mind went blank.

He felt like he was dreaming.

Is this really not a fantasy?

He glanced instinctively at the Audi A6 parked not far away, somewhat dazed. "Mr. Zhou, are you joking?"

"I never joke..."

"So what else do I need to do besides these?"

“We don’t need to do anything, just ensure food safety…” Zhou Yang took out a contract from his briefcase and handed it to Xu Xueliang: “Mr. Xu, we will encounter many, many choices in our lives. If we seize them, we can soar to great heights!”

Even now, as Xu Xueliang stares at the contract, he still feels as if he's seen a ghost in broad daylight.

He lowered his head and carefully read through the contract. After finishing, he felt somewhat dazed.

"Mr. Zhou, are you saying that after I sign this contract, my fast food restaurant's advertisements can be featured in movies?"

"Yes, and we can tailor-make one just for you!"

"4500, you won't lose out, you won't be cheated..."

Zhou Yang narrowed his eyes, and as he finished speaking, he accidentally dropped the Audi A6 car keys.

He then picked it up and placed it on the table, looking at Xu Xueliang with a smile.

……

Half an hour later.

Xu Xueliang stared blankly as Zhou Yang, carrying the contract, walked out of the fast food restaurant.

He then looked down at the contract again.

Damn, it feels like a dream!

He slapped himself.

"Snapped!"

Damn it!

That slap actually hurt!
Am I not dreaming?
Just as Xu Xueliang was staring blankly into the distance...

He saw Zhou Yang not far away, seemingly smiling again, walking into another tool shop...

About half an hour later, Zhou Yang came out with a smile.

He instinctively walked to the tool shop.

Are movies this cheap now?

"Provide me with some tools, and you'll create a movie tailored to my needs?"

"??"

"..."

He saw the owner of the tool shop staring blankly at a contract, muttering to himself.

..............................

"what!"

"Mr. Zhou, you've secured more than ten endorsement contracts all at once?"

Late at night.

In a rental house.

Shen Long stared wide-eyed at the stack of contracts on the table.

He gasped!
this life!
He had never seen such a depraved person before!

He took a deep breath and carefully reviewed the contracts.

From the crew's tools and boxed lunches to their costumes, and even some of the filming locations and warehouses...

Everything, everything, was free!
How could there be such a heartless and insane person?
He swallowed hard.

then……

Looking at Zhou Yang under the lamplight.

He saw Zhou Yang looking at him with a smile.

"Can we start filming tomorrow?"

"Filming tomorrow?"

"Everything is in place, but you still can't take pictures? Here, tell me what else you need, and I'll get it for you."

"I……"

Shen Long lowered his head, looking at the stack of contracts.

The props needed for the movie flashed through my mind again...

like……

Everything is ready.

like……

Can we take pictures now?
but……

"Do all of these ads need to be product placement?"

Shen Long looked at Zhou Yang in despair.

"Integrate them all in. Oh, and give these ads a storyline... preferably something vivid and engaging..."

"I...I...all of it..."

Shen Long's hand trembled slightly.

"I, I, I can't do it..."

"You can do it, believe in your talent!" Zhou Yang patted him on the shoulder.

"I……"

Shen Long slumped into a chair and stared blankly at the ceiling.

So many ads...

That's absolutely insane!

(Three chapters today, delivered this afternoon. Please read and recommend, the new book period is very important.)
(End of this chapter)