Internet moguls are being held hostage by the entertainment system!

Chapter 275 Yang Mi: A Life of Drifting Like Honey...

June, graduation season.

After staying at home for a month, Meng Ziyi returned to Beijing before joining the cast of "Ashes of Love" and received her graduation certificate.

Wearing her graduation gown, she rushed home after taking a group photo, eager to share her joy.

As soon as I opened the door, I saw Chen Xiu wearing a mask and fully armed.

Judging from his appearance, he's probably getting ready to go out...

"Brother Xiu, where are you going?"

"Back to the company for a meeting."

Chen Xiu looked Meng Ziyi up and down and said, "Why are you wearing an academic gown?"

"I just finished taking my graduation photos."

Meng Ziyi fanned himself with his graduation certificate, saying with a mix of emotion and complaint, "You have no idea, I almost didn't get my graduation certificate because I failed too many courses."

"Hmm... I can't believe it. I think I failed a lot of courses. In the end, the school sent me my diploma, and I didn't even take graduation photos."

Chen Xiu wasn't saying this in Versailles; he had initially planned to drop out.

As a result, the Beijing Film Academy sent him his graduation certificate directly, allowing him to successfully make it onto the school's list of outstanding graduates.

Looking at Chen Xiu, who had never experienced the hardship of failing a course, Meng Ziyi pursed his lips: "Are you going to a meeting at Douyin again today?"

"I need to go back to the Tang Dynasty. All three film crews I sent out have finished filming and returned. Apart from 'Better Days,' the other two crews are basically my own people. I need to go over and assign them new tasks."

"Won't you take a break?"

"Are you talking about me?"

"No, I mean the director."

"Didn't they already take a break when they were making the post-production of the film?" Chen Xiu said matter-of-factly.

He has never thought that filming would be hard.

Compared to other directors and stars, the artists at Datang Pictures are more like cattle and horses. Considering the higher profit-sharing ratio in their agency contracts compared to their peers, no one has any objections.

After their chat, Chen Xiugang prepared to leave for his car.

But as he brushed past Meng Ziyi at the door, he caught a glimpse of displeasure on Meng's face.

Recalling her excitement when she entered, Chen Xiu stopped and gently put her arm around Meng Ziyi's waist: "You look great in the graduation gown."

"Really?"

"Yes, it makes him seem particularly intelligent."

"Hehe, I think so too."

As she spoke, Meng Ziyi began to recount in detail everything that happened during her graduation photo shoot that day.

Throughout the entire process, she deliberately spoke vividly and engagingly, all in order to share this important moment in her life with her boyfriend.

Chen Xiu pursed her lips and listened attentively, afraid that Meng Ziyi's monologue-style explanation would make her laugh out loud and interrupt her interest.

Seeing that she was getting more and more excited as she talked, Chen Xiu had no choice but to interrupt her helplessly: "Sister Meng, how about you talk to me properly when you get back tonight?"

"...Okay! I'll cook you something delicious when you get back tonight."

"Scrambled eggs again?"

Not only that, I learned a few dishes from Dudu last time, I guarantee you'll be satisfied.

Having gained a lot of emotional value, Meng Ziyi not only understands Chen Xiu's busy schedule, but also tries her best to help him.

Chen Xiu kissed her cheek and said, "Then I'll be waiting for your feast."

"Yeah, let's go!"

Meng Ziyi escorted Chen Xiu to the door, watched him get into the car and leave, before turning around and going inside.

……

Inside the chairman's office of Datang Pictures.

Looking at Chen Sicheng, who seemed a little awkward on the sofa, Chen Xiu turned to look at Wei Feng, who had also just returned from New York. A smile flashed across their eyes.

When Chen Sicheng looked up and was about to ask a question,

Chen Xiu spoke first: "Director Chen, I heard that you did a great job filming overseas this time, and you also worked very hard."

"No, no, everyone worked hard. I was just filming according to the script, so it wasn't hard work at all."

Having already been thoroughly disciplined and witnessed Chen Xiu's ever-increasing wealth over the past two years, Chen Sicheng now appears exceptionally humble, with not a trace of arrogance in him.

Chen Xiu gave him a satisfied look, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly said, "Everyone has seen how hard you've worked, so there's no need to be so polite. We invited you here today because we have a new project and hope to hear your opinion."

"Mr. Chen, hasn't 'Detective Chinatown 2' been released yet?"

"That doesn't prevent you from doing the pre-production work for the next film. If you're interested in this project, you can direct it yourself and also invest in it."

Upon hearing this, Chen Sicheng's casually narrowed eyes suddenly lit up.

He was initially thinking about how to refuse, but he was immediately intrigued by the new project.

"Mr. Chen, may I take a look at the script for this project?"

“Sure! This project is about a movie enthusiast who meticulously crafted a story because his daughter accidentally killed a thug… The original is a movie released in China in 15. Mr. Wei bought the remake rights last year, and the script has already been approved.”

After giving a brief introduction to the film, Chen Xiu took out the approved script and handed it to Chen Sicheng.

Taking the script, Chen Sicheng immediately began to read it. Seeing his serious expression, Chen Xiu thought to herself that this film, "Sheep Without a Shepherd," was produced by Chen Sicheng in her previous life, so it was quite fitting to have him direct it now.

About ten minutes later, Chen Sicheng slowly closed the script, a look of great interest appearing on his face.

He put the script back on the coffee table, looked at Chen Xiu, and tentatively asked, "President Chen, can you really let me direct it alone, and also let my company participate in the investment?"

"I have no doubt about directing it myself, but if you're investing, I can only reserve 20% of the shares for you."

"I understand, that's already a lot."

Chen Sicheng couldn't help but smile. Although he knew this was a gesture of goodwill and an attempt to win him over, he wasn't offended because Chen Xiu was genuinely offering something.

Just as he was pretending to hesitate, Chen Xiu added, "If this movie is successful, your company can also participate in the co-production of the third 'Detective Chinatown' movie."

"Really?"

Chen Sicheng stared blankly as he confirmed the news. He felt dizzy from this sudden barrage of kindness, completely unprepared for it.

Seeing this, Chen Xiu was not surprised at all.

Their first collaboration was far from amicable. Chen Sicheng was completely dominated by him, lacking any authority or autonomy as a director, and was thus dubbed the "blank slate director."

Afterwards, if it weren't for the outstanding box office performance of "Detective Chinatown 1" and the immense appeal of "Detective Chinatown 2", the two probably would never have collaborated again in their lives.

Chen Sicheng didn't have any expectations of Chen Xiu; after all, it was just a business relationship, and nothing else mattered.

Under this psychological influence, when Chen Xiu continuously provided him with tangible benefits, the gratitude stemming from the huge sense of disparity was enough to make Chen Sicheng feel convinced.

"Mr. Chen, are you really willing to let me invest in 'Detective Chinatown 3'?"

Chen Sicheng confirmed with difficulty, still somewhat incredulous.

In response, Chen Xiu simply replied, "My reputation is far more valuable than a small investment in a film."

"clear."

Chen Sicheng gasped, his doubts vanishing.

He glanced at the script on the coffee table and said cautiously, "The script suggests Thailand as the filming location. Based on the resources of 'Detective Chinatown 1,' we can assemble the crew by the end of the year. After the Spring Festival and when 'Detective Chinatown 2' finishes its theatrical run, we can head straight there to start filming."

"You're the director, you have absolute autonomy this time."

Chen Xiu understands how to output emotional value.

Just that one sentence made Chen Sicheng's heart pound, his emotions surged so much that his chest felt like it was being burst open, and all the grievances he had suffered earlier were wiped away in an instant as his face flushed red!
"Mr. Chen, shall I take this script back and study it?"

"Please."

Chen Xiu raised her hand dismissively. The adaptation rights for "Sheep Without a Shepherd" belonged to Datang Pictures, and the script had been registered and approved. As long as Chen Sicheng wasn't out of his mind, he wouldn't leak the script.

Chen Xiu got up and personally saw Chen Sicheng out. When she turned back, she immediately met Wei Feng's eager eyes.

Do you have any thoughts or feelings about this?

“If we had given director Chen Sicheng autonomy from the beginning, he might have asked for investment rights when preparing for ‘Detective Chinatown 2,’ and who knows what demands he would make for ‘Detective Chinatown 3’ in the future. The way we are now, by holding back first and then giving him the rights, will make him grateful and he won’t make any more demands.”

"I didn't think much of it."

"Ok?"

Seeing Wei Feng's incredulous look, Chen Xiu shrugged and walked straight back to the sofa.

"Chen Sicheng is intelligent and capable, so he must be ambitious and have a big appetite. I just know how to deal with people like that."

"understood."

Wei Feng nodded and followed, but as he was about to sit down, he suddenly looked up and said, "Boss, Yang Ming just sent me a few messages."

"What did he say?"

"Yang Mi contacted him first, saying she wanted to switch jobs and come to Datang."

"Has Jiaxing's performance-based agreement been finalized?"

Chen Xiu asked in confusion, "In the previous life, the bet between Jiaxing and the company was indeed completed ahead of schedule because of the popularity of 'Three Lives Three Worlds.' I didn't expect that this time, with the profit-sharing investment from Datang Pictures, it could also be completed ahead of schedule."

"It should be completed. I heard that Jaywalk Studio is currently in talks with Perfect World Pictures about a new round of financing."

"Since they're already negotiating new financing, why would Yang Mi still want to switch jobs?"

"Yang Ming said she had many of her own ideas, but was unwilling to discuss them in detail over the phone."

"So what does she want to do now?"

Wei Feng glanced at Chen Xiu with a strange expression, then raised his hand and touched his nose.

"What Yang Ming conveyed to me was that Yang Mi wants to come and talk to you in person."

"What's so good about her...?"

Chen Xiu noticed the strange expression on Wei Feng's face when she was only halfway through her sentence.

Chen Xiu gave him a speechless glare, took out her phone, found Yang Mi's WeChat, and sent her a message.

"What are you looking for me for?"

The message was sent, and less than ten seconds later, a reply arrived, and it was quite long.

"Mr. Chen, I've been in the entertainment industry for half my life, and I feel like I've only encountered traps. You're much more reliable and honest than I thought, so I'd like to talk to you about a collaboration. I wonder if you're free today? If you are, I'll come over to see you later."

After a long silence, Chen Xiu finally sent the meeting time.

(End of this chapter)