American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 320 Zero Survival Gear

However, Wang, the CEO of Douyin, smiled and shook his head. He held up four fingers and threw out a number that made everyone take notice: "400 million US dollars."

A murmur of surprise rippled through the conference room. Offering this price for a documentary-style program was almost unprecedented.

Mr. Wang looked around, his gaze finally settling on Lin Yu-an. His ambition was undisguised: "What we're interested in is no longer just a program. We're investing in Mr. Lin Yu-an as a person, and the immeasurable global influence behind him."

He continued, "For $400 million, we not only want exclusive broadcasting rights, but also an additional clause. We hope that Mr. Lin Yu-an can conduct no fewer than three live streams on the Douyin platform and collaborate with our e-commerce brand, which is to say, live streaming sales."

"Live-streaming e-commerce?" Upon hearing this term, David Cohen of CAA frowned imperceptibly, while Lin Yu'an's usually calm face showed a serious expression for the first time.

He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but unusually firm: "Mr. Wang, thank you for your support. Live interaction and sharing behind-the-scenes stories are no problem. But I refuse to do live-streaming e-commerce."

"Why?" Mr. Wang asked, somewhat surprised. "With your influence, this will create a business legend! We are willing to offer the highest profit-sharing ratio in the industry!"

“Because it goes against my original intention in making the show.” Lin Yu’an’s eyes were clear and honest. “The core of ‘Above the Wilderness’ is the pure relationship between man and nature, it is reverence and exploration.”

“If I were to become deeply entangled with consumerism, it would dilute its most precious core. I cannot allow my audience to be immediately led to click on their shopping carts after experiencing the magnificence of nature. That is my bottom line.”

Mr. Wang's face darkened: "Mr. Lin, if I may be frank, the $400 million price is based on maximizing your personal commercial value. If we remove the live-streaming sales component, the price would probably be..."

“Then there’s no need to discuss it.” Lin Yu’an’s attitude was decisive. He turned to Mr. Li of Tencent Video, “Mr. Li, we are willing to accept Tencent Video’s offer of $350 million.”

The atmosphere in the conference room instantly became extremely tense. No one expected that Lin Yu'an would give up a $50 difference for the sake of a principle.

Lin Yu'an's heart was at peace at this moment. This was the first ironclad rule he and CAA producer David Cohen had carefully considered: protecting the purity of the IP was the first principle of all commercial development.

An IP that is over-commercialized has a short lifespan. What they want to create is a legend that can last for ten years, not a short-lived, blockbuster consumer good for one quarter.

Therefore, he did not see the $50 as a loss, but rather as a necessary purification cost to clear obstacles for the future of the IP.

Mr. Wang fell silent, rapidly weighing the pros and cons. Should he give up? Such a phenomenal IP would be handed over to his biggest competitor. Should he not give up? The other side's principles were so firm.

Just when Mr. Wang was in a dilemma, Mr. Li of Tencent Video, who had been calmly observing the situation, demonstrated his strategic vision.

He smiled and tried to smooth things over: "President Wang, Yu'an, I think we should each take a step back. It would be a waste for one company to keep such a good project all to itself. Why don't we both work together to make the pie bigger?"

He proposed a brand new plan: "We, Tencent Video and Douyin, will each invest $150 million, totaling $300 million, as joint distributors, and jointly own the broadcasting rights in Greater China."

"Tencent will be responsible for the in-depth operation of long-form videos, while Douyin will be responsible for the promotion and trending topics of short-form videos. This not only solves Yu'an's concerns, but also allows both of our companies to achieve a win-win situation."

This proposal gave Douyin a perfect way out. After a moment of contemplation, Mr. Wang finally nodded: "Okay! I agree with Mr. Li's proposal! But we still hope to have a deeper collaboration with Mr. Lin on purely interactive live streaming."

Lin Yu-an and David Cohen exchanged an almost imperceptible glance, both seeing the affirmation in each other's eyes.

From $350 million to $300 million, this was the second time they had lost $50 on paper. But in their eyes, the deal was a godsend.

Lin Yu'an was very clear in his heart that if giving up 50 the first time was to protect the core of the IP, then accepting it this time was to expand it, to expand the territory of the IP's influence.

The exclusive partnership with Tencent Video is like a powerful aircraft carrier, guaranteeing depth and range. But Mr. Li's proposal is equivalent to equipping this carrier with the most powerful carrier-based aircraft fleet on the planet—TikTok!
One team is responsible for in-depth long-form video production, while the other is responsible for viral short-form video marketing. This three-dimensional marketing system, combining aircraft carrier and carrier-based aircraft, will have an exponentially increasing power!

This could push the IP value of "Wilderness" to a level that a single platform could never reach.

This second loss of $50 was exchanged for a top-tier combination of assets in the Chinese content market. This is the most worthwhile strategic investment made for the future of IP.

“I also think this plan is very good,” Lin Yu’an agreed with a smile.

A war without gunfire was resolved in a dramatic way.

Having secured the domestic market, David Cohen then announced overseas distribution plans, bringing this successful negotiation to a close.

After the meeting, the tension finally eased. Mr. Li from Tencent and Mr. Wang from Douyin warmly shook hands with Lin Yu'an, expressing their anticipation for further in-depth cooperation, before leaving with their respective teams.

They need to go back immediately and mobilize resources to open the highest-level green channel for this newly acquired S+ level project.

As the conference room door closed again, only Lin Yu'an and David Cohen remained in the room.

David Cohen couldn't hide his excitement. He let out a long sigh of relief, turned around and gave Lin Yu'an a tight hug, whispering in his ear in English, "Lin, you did it! You not only defended the bottom line, but you also won a perfect victory!"

He released Lin Yu'an, his face beaming with the excitement and smugness of a top agent: "You think this is the end? No, the show has only just begun. With President Li and President Wang here, there are some cards we can't reveal all at once."

Mark Williams also stood up with a smile and extended his hand to Lin Yu'an: "Lin, congratulations. Now, it's time for us to talk about the international market."

David took out two more pre-prepared documents from his briefcase, his face gleaming with the light of money and success.

“First, there’s distribution.” He handed the first document to Lin Yu’an. “While we were negotiating with Tencent and Douyin, the Los Angeles headquarters completed the final round of negotiations with the YouTube Originals division.”

"They were very optimistic about this project and ultimately agreed to our offer—$500 million—to buy out the exclusive global distribution rights (excluding Greater China)!"

$500 million! Lin Yu'an's pupils contracted slightly; this figure far exceeded his expectations.

"It's not over yet. Discovery Channel also concluded negotiations, investing $250 million and becoming its global lead content strategy partner."

"What does this mean?" Lin Yu'an asked.

"This means they won't interfere with any of your creative work or distribution, but the money will buy the 'select time slot rerun rights' for the show on Discovery Channel's global television network for the next five years, as well as priority rights to co-develop related documentaries and behind-the-scenes features."

David Cohen snapped his fingers excitedly: "Now, let's settle the score, my friend."

For the first time, Lin Yu'an's heart raced because of purely business figures. He quickly constructed a financial model for the entire project in his mind:
Production costs: Fully covered by $300 million sponsored by Mercedes-Benz.

Total project revenue:
Greater China distribution (Tencent + TikTok): $300 million

Global distribution (YouTube): $500 million

Strategic partnership (Discovery Channel): $250 million

Total revenue: $300 million + $500 million + $250 million = $1050 million!
All revenue will be pure net profit!

A net profit of $1050 million! This is not just a business success, it's a business miracle! Lin Yu'an quickly calculated his final earnings in his mind.

Under his top-tier brokerage contract with CAA, he will personally receive 85% of this huge sum.

$1050 million multiplied by 85%...

A clear number came to mind—$8925000.

Nearly nine million US dollars!
This is a number that could drive anyone crazy!
A genuine joy appeared on Lin Yu'an's face. This money was not only the highest recognition of his value, but also the strongest backing for him to pursue his dreams more freely in the future.

He looked out the window at the azure sky over Kunming, took a deep breath, and slowly calmed the excitement in his heart.

“Let’s go, David.” His voice regained its usual calm. “Work is done, now it’s family time.” He didn’t immediately throw himself into the massive preparations. He kept his promise and turned the next few days into a family trip to explore Kunming.

He wanted Arya and Emily, along with the two curious little ones, to personally touch and taste the homeland he had been away from for so long.

Their first stop was the soul of Kunming – Green Lake Park.

As they strolled along the tree-lined path by the lake, pushing the stroller, Arya and Emily were instantly awestruck by the magnificent yet harmonious scene before them.

Thousands upon thousands of snow-white red-billed gulls, like spirits descended from the sky, circled, frolicked, and called out on the rippling blue lake.

Locals and tourists sat leisurely on benches by the lake, tearing their bread into small pieces and tossing them into the air. The seagulls caught them steadily in mid-air with remarkable precision and elegance, eliciting cheers of goodwill.

"My God..." Aria stared in disbelief as a bold seagull snatched food from Lin Yu'an's hand. "They're not afraid of people at all!"

Lin Yu'an smiled and took out a bag of bread from his bag. He tore off a small piece and placed it in Ethan's chubby little hand.

The little guy imitated the people around him, throwing the bread forward with all his might. Although it was thrown less than half a meter, a seagull with quick reflexes immediately swooped down and snatched the gift away accurately.

"Wow!" Ethan clapped his hands excitedly and giggled. Olivia watched intently, her mouth agape in an "O" shape.

This simple and pure joy left an incredibly warm mark on the hearts of Arya and Emily at Emerald Lake under the sunlight.

After bidding farewell to Green Lake, Lin Yu'an led them straight into the true pulse of Kunming: the old streets and alleys, brimming with historical charm, hidden behind modern skyscrapers.

They walked past barbershops with faded signs, passed Chinese medicine shops filled with the rich aroma of herbs, and watched craftsmen repairing old things on the street.

A complex yet comforting scent permeated the air—a unique, everyday fragrance characteristic of Chinese urban life, brimming with the warmth and vibrancy of everyday life.

Lin Yu'an stopped in front of an inconspicuous stall. The stall owner was an elderly woman with gray hair, who was tending a charcoal brazier, on which white rice cakes were being baked.

"These are roasted rice cakes." Lin Yu'an ordered two for his two wives, each brushed with sweet chili sauce and sesame paste.

Arya took the warm, fragrant roasted rice cake, which smelled of rice and sauce, and carefully took a bite. The soft and chewy texture, combined with the salty, sweet, fragrant, and spicy flavors of the sauce, exploded on her taste buds.

"Mmm...delicious!" she exclaimed indistinctly, her emerald eyes lighting up like a little squirrel that had discovered a treasure, and she devoured one in no time.

Emily, on the other hand, preferred the original flavor, which was simply brushed with a layer of fermented bean curd.

The simple combination of fermented soybean and rice aromas gave her a rustic yet lingering taste.

That evening, Sheng Risheng hosted them and took them to a wild mushroom hot pot restaurant hidden in a deep alley without even a sign.

When the waiter brought the amber-colored mushroom soup, made by simmering dozens of rare wild mushrooms over a low flame for several hours, an indescribable, rich, and overpowering aroma instantly captivated everyone's sense of smell.

"Don't touch your chopsticks yet! Drink the soup! You must drink the soup first! This mushroom hot pot has no soul if you don't drink the soup first!!"

He personally served everyone a bowl of clear soup, with only a few bright green scallions floating in it.

Emily picked up the small porcelain bowl and took a small sip.

The next second, her blue eyes, which always held a serene smile, suddenly widened. She felt as if her entire soul had been struck by the exquisite freshness originating from the depths of the mountains.

That's a flavor that no seasoning can replicate; it's the purest essence that has been brewed and settled over a long period of time by the forest, rain, soil, and sunshine.

“God…” She put down her bowl, looked at the various mushrooms in the pot that she had never seen before, and exclaimed sincerely, “I used to think that truffles were the limit of mushroom flavor. But this is something else entirely.”

This incredibly delicious dinner, so exquisite it made their souls tremble, completely changed their understanding of the word "Chinese cuisine."

After a short break, the real work began.

Lin Yu'an, accompanied by a special vehicle arranged by the Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and a team of guides and safety consultants, officially set off towards his final destination for this challenge – the Ailao Mountains.

The convoy traveled southwest along the winding highway, and the scenery outside the windows began a magnificent visual symphony.

Initially, it was the boundless pastoral scenery of the Kunming Basin, with lush green crops exuding abundance and tranquility.

But soon, as the altitude continued to rise, the plains disappeared, replaced by rolling mountains that resembled the spine of a giant dragon.

Lin Yu-an used his DJI Osmo Action 3 to capture the stunning scenery along the way, documenting the breathtaking journey from the civilized world to the pristine wilderness.

After a nearly five-hour drive, when the convoy finally arrived in Jingdong County, located in the heart of the Ailao Mountains, a well-equipped frontline command post had already been set up by the Yunnan TV team.

The atmosphere in the command center was tense yet professional.

On the huge screen, high-precision satellite maps and real-time meteorological data of the Ailao Mountain National Nature Reserve are displayed.

The head of the safety and medical team is giving Lin Yu'an a final safety briefing.

“Mr. Lin, according to the latest weather forecast,” he said, pointing to the constantly changing wind speed and temperature curves on the screen, his tone grave, “the weather in your area will be extremely unstable for the next week.”

"Daytime temperatures can reach 18 degrees Celsius on sunny days, but nighttime lows are expected to drop to around 5 degrees Celsius. If it rains, the wind chill may feel close to freezing. There is a greater than 70% chance of thunderstorms and dense fog in the afternoon. Hypothermia will be your biggest enemy."

Lin Yu'an listened attentively, nodding occasionally, his brain rapidly transforming this data into survival strategies.

In another corner of the room, on a long table, all the equipment he would be carrying for this challenge was neatly arranged.

Unlike the ten treasures in "Living Alone in the Wilderness", this time Lin Yu'an chose the real limit - a "zero equipment" start like Ed Sheeran.

Of course, this is not entirely bare-handed.

To ensure filming quality and cope with extreme risks, some basic items that do not provide direct survival advantages must be carried.

The table is clearly divided into several areas:
Filming and communication equipment: This is the most important part, and also a small window through which he showcased China's technological strength to the world. The entire filming system is centered around DJI's ecosystem products.

Main camera: A DJI Ronin 4D-6K cinema camera. This is the core of the entire shooting system. It integrates a professional-grade cinema camera, a four-axis stabilization system, and wireless image transmission, enabling the capture of stable footage with a highly cinematic quality.

Lin Yu-an will set it up on a tripod to film key narrative shots of himself building a shelter and making tools.

First-person perspective recording: A DJI Osmo Action 3 action camera, with its magnetic quick-release design, can be easily worn on the head or chest to record all the immersive first-person perspective footage.

Multi-camera deployment: Two spare DJI Pocket 2 cameras. They are small and lightweight, with built-in three-axis stabilized gimbals, which Lin Yu-an can cleverly place near traps or streams to capture those wonderful moments that he cannot shoot himself.

Auxiliary equipment: a lightweight but extremely sturdy carbon fiber tripod, dozens of high-capacity spare batteries customized for all equipment, and several CineSSD solid-state drives and memory cards with a total capacity of several TB.

Communication support: A Garmin inReach Mini 2 satellite communicator connected to the Iridium network can not only send preset safety messages, but also send precise distress coordinates to the team behind the lines by pressing the SOS button in the most critical moment.

(End of this chapter)