Hollywood, I became a legend with special effects.

Chapter 116 Xiao Liu's Peak Acting Skills

On the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, just two days after the Lantern Festival, there were still scattered snowflakes falling in Beijing. They landed on the glass curtain wall of the China World Trade Center and melted into watermarks in an instant.

Before nine o'clock in the morning, the office area on the 12th floor of Light Chaser Pictures was already bustling with activity.

As the main creators, actors, and investors from the three production teams arrived one after another, the coffee machine in the break room kept running, bubbling and steaming.

"Sister Shu, over here!" Zhu Yilong waved from the conference room door, holding two freshly brewed lattes.

Shu Chang wore a beige cashmere coat today, with a light pink turtleneck sweater underneath, looking gentle and refreshing.

She took the coffee and asked softly, "Has President Jiang arrived?"

"Not yet, they said they'd arrive at 9:30." Zhu Yilong glanced at his watch. "I heard Liu Yifei is coming today too?"

'

"Yeah, Sister Xue Rou said she'll be there too." Shu Chang took a sip of coffee. "She's probably here to discuss a collaboration, since she just finished filming a Hollywood blockbuster."

As the two were talking, a hearty laugh came from the other end of the corridor.

Lu Yang and Zhang Jin walked over side by side, followed by Wang Zhi and Yuan Heping.

Lu Yang was still dressed in his signature outfit: a black jacket, jeans, and a baseball cap pulled low, with a storyboard in his hand.

"Where's Director Shen?" Lu Yang looked around.

"They're rehearsing their lines with Teacher Tian inside," Shu Chang said, pointing to the conference room.

As we were chatting, the elevator dinged and the doors opened.

Wallace Chung and Fan Binbin walked out together.

Wallace Chung wore a dark gray suit, looking almost unreal; Fan Binbin wore a simple black dress with a camel coat over it, exuding superstar aura.

Following them were Zu Feng and Jing Tian, ​​as well as Liang Guoguan, Li Dachao, and Wen Muye from the Zhou Yi team.

"Wow, this lineup—" Zhu Yilong muttered to himself.

"That's for sure," Shu Chang laughed. "Chasing Light is going to unleash its biggest move this year."

At 9:15, the bigwigs from the investors arrived.

Wang Changtian from Enlight Media was the first to arrive with his assistant. This film and television mogul in his fifties was wearing a traditional Chinese jacket and had a warm smile like a friendly old man next door.

Next up was the dazzling Lu Zheng, in his early forties, dressed in a suit and tie, with a Patek Philippe Starry Night watch on his wrist—clearly someone who wasn't short of money.

Finally, there's Huo Wenxi from Yinhuang, dressed as a strong woman in a white suit, her high heels clicking loudly.

The atmosphere in the conference room instantly became awkward as soon as the three bigwigs appeared.

Everyone knows perfectly well that today's commotion is definitely not just a simple preparatory meeting for the film crew.

At 9:25, Jiang Xuerou came out of the office and clapped her hands: "Everyone, President Jiang will be here soon, please get ready."

The meeting room quickly fell silent.

The group of about thirty people sat in three groups: the director and lead actors in the front row, the staff in the back row, and the investors' representatives at the end of the conference table.

At exactly 9:30, the conference room door was pushed open.

Jiang Yu walked in.

He was wearing a light gray casual suit with a white shirt underneath, and a gentle but aloof smile on his face.

Following behind him was Liu Yifei.

She wore a short pink down jacket over a simple white sweater and jeans, had no makeup on, long hair down her shoulders, and wore glasses and a baseball cap.

She was carrying a bag and looked clean and tidy, like a college student who had just finished class.

The meeting room fell silent for a moment.

Everyone knows that Liu Yifei starred in Hollywood's "Black Swan" last year, and that she has a close relationship with Light Chaser Animation Studios. No one expected her to appear at this kind of internal meeting.

A chorus of greetings filled the conference room.

Everyone stood up, their gazes subtly shifting between Jiang Yu and Liu Yifei. President Jiang brought Liu Yifei to the meeting? What signal does this send?

Jiang Xuerou stepped forward, her expression perfectly controlled: "President Jiang, Miss Liu, everyone has arrived."

Liu Yifei smiled and nodded in agreement: "Hello, directors and teachers, excuse me."

As she spoke, her gaze swept across the entire room, lingering a second longer on Shu Chang. The two best friends exchanged a knowing wink.

He smiled at Jing Tian again. Last year, when Jing Tian visited the set in Hollywood, she brought a box of snacks. The two squatted in the lounge, eating and chatting, and became friends.

The whole process was so natural, as if it had been rehearsed a hundred times. Jiang Yu gave Liu Yifei's acting skills a perfect score in his mind.

Jiang Yu sat down in the main seat, Jiang Xuerou sat to his left, and Liu Yifei naturally walked to the empty seat next to Shu Chang.

That position was perfectly positioned between the crews of "Bouquet" and "Why", without any bias.

"Hello, Mr. Jiang!" everyone greeted in unison.

"Hello everyone, please have a seat." Jiang Yu waved his hand and sat down in the main seat. "It's been right after the Spring Festival, and I've already gathered everyone together. Thank you for your hard work. Today's meeting is mainly a preparatory meeting for the three film crews. Let's briefly review the progress."

He paused, then looked at Liu Yifei: "Oh right, let me introduce you. Ms. Liu Yifei starred in 'Black Swan,' a film invested in by Light Chaser Animation Studios North America last year, and just returned from Hollywood. She's here today to check out the project and hopes to have more opportunities to collaborate in the future."

Liu Yifei stood up, smiled and nodded to everyone: "It's a pleasure to meet all the teachers. I hope we'll have the opportunity to work together in the future."

His tone was professional, and his posture was appropriate; it was exactly the standard procedure for actors meeting with production companies.

Shu Chang secretly pinched her hand under the table, a secret signal between best friends.

Liu Yifei remained expressionless and pinched him back.

Wang Changtian, Lu Zheng, and Huo Wenxi exchanged glances, all seeing doubt in each other's eyes;

But no one spoke.

Those who have reached their level in the entertainment industry have no shortage of keen insight and patience.

The meeting officially began.

Hosted by Jiang Xuerou, the first thing to do was to invite the cast and crew of the TV series "Love Like a Bouquet" to speak.

Shen Ao stood up nervously and opened the PowerPoint presentation: "President Jiang, everyone—the script for 'Bouquet' is finalized, and Producer Tian revised it seven times. The budget is 1500 million yuan, the filming period is 85 days, and the filming locations are Yantai and Qingdao. The lead actors, Shu Chang and Zhu Yilong, have been rehearsing for two weeks—"

He explained it in great detail, from scene design to costumes and props, from shooting plans to promotional strategies.

Tian Zhuangzhuang occasionally added a few words, his tone gentle but every sentence hitting the nail on the head.

Jiang Yu listened and nodded.

He remembered this project; in his previous life, it was a well-received niche romance film.

He brought it out ahead of time in this life so that it could be made into a masterpiece.

After Shen Ao finished speaking, Jiang Yu looked at Shu Chang and Zhu Yilong: "The two lead actors, do you have anything to say?"

Shu Chang stood up, her ponytail swaying gently with the movement: "President Jiang, I especially love this script. It's not about a dramatic, passionate love story, but rather the mutual understanding and companionship between two souls. Yi Long and I often talked until late at night during rehearsals, hoping to portray that kind of tacit understanding."

Zhu Yilong continued, "Thank you, President Jiang, for giving me this opportunity. I will do my best to play this role well and not let everyone down."

"Okay." Jiang Yu nodded in satisfaction. "For the project 'Bouquet,' I don't expect high box office returns, but we must build a good reputation. The current market lacks this kind of delicate work."

After the first film crew finished, it was time for "The Man from Nowhere".

Lu Yang stood up and directly pasted the concept art onto the whiteboard: "President Jiang, this is the concept art for the art team."

The film is positioned as hardcore action, with a style inspired by "Taken" and "The Bourne Identity," but more localized. Zhang Pu plays a retired special agent, and Wang Zhi plays a female reporter being hunted; the two flee between Hong Kong and Thailand.

The concept art is sharp and dynamic.

Yuen Woo-ping stood up to add to the action design, gesturing as he spoke; despite being over sixty, he was still agile.

Zhang Jin demonstrated several moves, the short stick moving with great force in his hands.

Wang Zhi also demonstrated her designed "reporter-style fight," using a camera to smash, a backpack to block, and a recorder to poke someone's eyes (of course, it was fake).

Jiang Yu watched with great interest: "Not bad, this kind of localized design is very innovative. What's the budget?"

"Fifty million," Jiang Xuerou said. "The cost of the lighting and sound effects is 73, and the publicity and distribution costs are separate."

Huo Wenxi then spoke up: "President Jiang, in addition to investing, Yinhuang will fully cooperate with the filming in Hong Kong. Nicholas Tse and Charlene Choi have agreed to make cameo appearances. Although their roles are small, they will add some appeal to the film."

"Okay." Jiang Yu nodded. "Then I'll leave the coordination between Hong Kong and Thailand to Yin Huang."

Finally, there's "My Sunshine".

Liang Guoguan and Li Dachao introduced the project together, while Wen Muye added details about its implementation.

Wallace Chung, Fan Binbin, Zu Feng, and Jing Tian each shared their understanding of their roles.

Wallace Chung said, "The character He Yichen is cold on the surface but deeply affectionate on the inside. This contrast is very charming. I will try my best to portray the changes in him over the past seven years."

Fan Binbin said, "Zhao Mosheng waited for seven years, and such persistence is rare in this day and age. I will portray her resilience and gentleness."

Jiang Yu listened and understood.

This cast is already top-tier for a TV series, and with the professional expertise of the Zhouyi team, it has every potential to be a hit.

After the three film crews finished their reports, it was already 11:30.

Seeing that it was almost time, Jiang Xuerou said, "President Jiang, why don't you rest first? Lunch is ready in the restaurant downstairs."

"Okay." Jiang Yu stood up. "Everyone, go eat first, we'll continue this afternoon."

The crowd gradually left.

Liu Yifei naturally followed Shu Chang and Jing Tian, ​​and the actresses chatted and laughed, completely blending in.

Jiang Yu deliberately lagged behind a few steps and walked with Wang Changtian, Lu Zheng, and Huo Wenxi.

"Thank you for coming all this way, three CEOs," he said with a smile.

"Mr. Jiang, you're too kind," Wang Changtian said with a smile. "Chasing Light is now the industry benchmark, and it's an honor for Light Media to cooperate with us."

Lu Zheng was even more direct: "President Jiang, I heard about your project with Disney—how far along is it?"

Huo Wenxi also looked at Jiang Yu, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Jiang Yu chuckled inwardly. Sure enough, they were all here for Disney.

"We're still in talks," he said vaguely. "Disney's process is lengthy and their requirements are high. But—they definitely need some Chinese elements."

Upon hearing this, all three of them lit up.

Jiang Yu knew exactly what was going on.

The fact that these three bigwigs are here today isn't for those few low-budget projects; they're all here for the lucrative Disney prize.

Four large round tables, with exquisite dishes: Longjing shrimp, Dongpo pork, steamed shad, and crab meat lion's head meatballs —

Considering that there were colleagues from Hong Kong, we also added roast goose from Sham Tseng and honey-glazed char siu.

Jiang Yu was invited to the main table, where he was joined by Wang Changtian, Lu Zheng, Huo Wenxi, Tian Zhuangzhuang, and Jiang Xuerou.

After three dishes and a round of drinks, the conversation gradually got back on track.

Wang Changtian spoke first, his words as understated as the art films he invests in: "President Jiang, Enlight Media has been doing quite well these past few years, mainly focusing on the domestic market. We also want to go global and see a bigger world. That Disney project—I wonder if we have any opportunities to learn from it?"

Lu Zheng was much more direct: "President Jiang, although Starlight Brilliant has only been established for a short time, you can rest assured of its financial strength. Jing Tian just filmed your company's '2012' in Hollywood, so she has some international experience. If the project needs Chinese faces, we will fully support it."

Huo Wenxi approached the issue from a resource perspective: "Yinhuang has deep roots in Southeast Asia, and Hong Kong is practically their home turf. If they need filming locations in Asia or Asian actors, we can cooperate. Nicholas Tse acted in 'New Police Story' in Hollywood, so he has no problem with English and action scenes."

After the three finished speaking, they all looked at Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu put down his chopsticks, picked up a hot towel and wiped his hands slowly and deliberately.

Once the three men were fully intrigued, he slowly began to speak: "I understand the intentions of the three CEOs. The Disney project, with an investment of 2 million US dollars, is indeed a major undertaking."

As a Chinese partner, Light Chaser certainly has some say, but—Disney is ultimately the dominant party, with more rules and higher requirements.

He paused, took a sip of tea, and continued, "However, since it's a Sino-US co-production, it definitely needs Chinese elements. We've had several rounds of talks with Disney, and the final cooperation framework is that Chinese investors can participate in global box office revenue sharing and can be credited as co-producers, but each company can hold no more than 5% of the shares, and—"

He looked at the three of them and uttered the key information: "You need to pay a 10% premium to buy the shares."

The meeting room fell silent instantly.

Wang Changtian's chopsticks stopped in mid-air, Lu Zheng raised his wine glass to his lips but forgot to drink, and Huo Wenxi paused in his act of picking up food.

溢价10%？那就是说，如果5%的份额价值1000万美金，实际要花1100万买？而且每家最多只能买5%？

"This—" Wang Changtian carefully chose his words, "the conditions are a bit harsh."

"It's standard practice in Hollywood," Jiang Yu said helplessly, spreading his hands. "A giant like Disney doesn't lack money; what it lacks is resources and risk diversification. The fact that they're allowing Chinese companies to participate in revenue sharing and credit is already an exception. The premium is basically—buying tickets."

Wang Changtian looked constipated; this price was indeed quite high: "5% is 10 million US dollars, a 1000% premium."

That's $1100 million, nearly 9000 million RMB — Mr. Jiang, these tickets aren't cheap.

"It's not cheap," Jiang Yu nodded. "So I won't insist. The three of you can go back and think about it; there's no rush."

This seemingly strategic retreat only made the three of them more anxious.

Huo Wenxi was the first to react: "President Jiang, how many companies are vying for this 5% share?"

Jiang Yu smiled and said casually, "Mr. Wang from Huayi Brothers invited me to dinner last week and gave me his offer. Mr. Yu from Bona Film Group also made an offer. There are also several Japanese and Korean companies—oh, by the way, there's a real estate boss who offered a 30% premium."

The meeting room fell silent again, and this time even Tian Zhuangzhuang put down his chopsticks.

Liu Yifei sipped her soup beside her, secretly amused; Jiang Yu was quite the actor.

Where did this real estate tycoon come from? He clearly made it up himself.

But this was a clever move; it directly raised the price.

Sure enough, Lu Zhengxian couldn't sit still any longer: "President Jiang, we want 5% of the share! A 10% premium is no problem, $1100 million USD, to be in our account within a week!"

He spoke with absolute certainty, implying that behind the glitz and glamour, there was no shortage of cash.

Moreover, Lu Zheng had calculated that buying a co-production credit for a Disney A-list production for 9000 million RMB, and also participating in global revenue sharing, was a worthwhile deal.

Not to mention, it can also promote Jing Tian —

Wang Changtian pushed up his glasses, his mind racing.

While Enlight Media's cash flow isn't as abundant as Starlight Entertainment's, it can still handle a 5% market share.

The key point is that if we don't follow this time, we might not get a chance to pursue good projects in the future.

"We also need 5% for the light source," Wang Changtian stated. "Funding is not a problem."

Huo Wenxi hesitated. Yinhuang's cash reserves after the financial crisis were not that strong, but the Hong Kong company had a foreign exchange advantage.

"Yin Huang should also get 5%." She finally made the decision.

"Don't worry, you three executives." He waved his hand. "The share issue is easy to discuss. However, Disney has some requirements for the actors."

He looked at Lu Zheng: "President Lu, regarding the female lead, Disney wants an actress with some international recognition who is fluent in English. We recommended a few candidates, including Jing Tian. However—Disney has set a price."

"What's the price?" Lu Zheng leaned forward.

"Five million US dollars," Jiang Yu said. "How should I put it? It's a resource exchange fee. Disney can use this money to promote this actor globally, giving him ample exposure."

US$500 million, RMB3500 million.

Lu Zheng didn't even frown: "No problem! A Hollywood leading lady is worth the price!"

Jiang Yu sighed inwardly: As expected of a "resource-backed star," the capital behind him is really willing to spend money.

He then looked at Huo Wenxi: "Mr. Huo, regarding the supporting male role, there's an Asian technician with a significant amount of screen time. Disney is asking for $200 million."

Huo Wenxi's eyes lit up: "Tingfeng is good! 200 million US dollars, Yinhuang is willing!"

Wang Changtian was a little anxious: "President Jiang, then our Lighting—"

"Don't worry, Mr. Wang," Jiang Yu smiled. "When the movie still needs some post-production promotion, Enlight Media can dominate the domestic market. Besides, Enlight Media only has two hosts who are somewhat famous."

1

Wang Changtian finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although he didn't get a major role, being able to participate in the production and promotion was still a gain.

In the time it takes to eat a meal, a deal worth hundreds of millions was finalized: each of the three parties would invest 5%, at a premium of 10%, totaling $3300 million; Jing Tian would "exchange" $500 million for the lead role; Nicholas Tse would pay $200 million.

$10,000 to "exchange" male supporting role resources.

They sold it for $40 million, and Light Chaser Animation still holds a 23% stake. Light Chaser contributed a total of $60 million, of which $50 million was for visual effects. They even make a profit from the visual effects. Tsk tsk tsk, Jiang Yu felt that these middlemen were really making money!

Moreover, these three families were extremely grateful, feeling that Jiang Yu had given them a valuable share.

"The three bosses are very agreeable." Jiang Yu raised his glass. "Then it's settled. I'll have the legal department draft the agreement, and we'll sign it as soon as possible."

"To President Jiang!" The three raised their glasses at the same time, all smiles.

Tian Zhuangzhuang watched from the sidelines, secretly sighing with admiration.

This Jiang Yu, so young, has really impressive skills.

It's clearly a seller's market, yet the buyers feel like they're getting a bargain and are even vying to pay high prices. That's some brilliant negotiation art.

After lunch, the meeting continued in the afternoon.

This time, the details were discussed by different production teams. Jiang Yu first went to the small conference room of "Love Like a Bouquet".

The room only contained Shen Ao, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Shu Chang, and Zhu Yilong.

The Olympic bid is much more relaxed now, and he is discussing the lighting design for a certain scene with Tian Zhuangzhuang.

"President Jiang." Shen Ao saw him and quickly stood up.

"Please sit down, don't be shy." Jiang Yu sat down on the sofa. "Director Shen, let's talk about something more specific this afternoon. What are your thoughts on the filming locations in Yantai and Qingdao?"

Shen Ao took out a tablet and showed photos: "In Yantai, I chose the coastal area, which has old villas and the sea."

The boardwalk is perfect for taking artistic photos. In Qingdao, I chose Badaguan, with its red-tiled roofs, green trees, and azure sea and sky – the photos will turn out beautifully.

"Is the budget sufficient?"

"That's enough." Shen Ao nodded. "Teacher Tian helped me optimize the shooting plan. Some scenes can be combined into one shoot, which saves a lot of money."

Tian Zhuangzhuang added, "Xiao Shen is very good at managing money. Out of a budget of 1500 million, he managed to squeeze out 200 million for post-production color grading and music. The atmosphere of a romance film is very important, and this amount of money cannot be skimped on."

Jiang Yu was satisfied.

The biggest fear for new directors is being all talk and no action. It's a good thing that Shen Ao is being pragmatic.

He also chatted with Shu Chang and Zhu Yilong about the role.

The two did their homework; Shu Chang even wrote a 10,000-word biography of the character, while Zhu Yilong worked at a coffee shop for a week to experience the life of an "ordinary office worker."

"Very good." Jiang Yu said finally, "Director Shen, I trust you with this film. I only have one request: make it feel real. Film how young people date these days, and don't use those pretentious romantic tropes."

"Understood!" Shen Ao nodded vigorously.

After leaving the "Bouquet" conference room, Jiang Yu went to the "Lone Agent" area.

The atmosphere here is much more lively.

Lu Yang, Yuen Woo-ping, Zhang Jin, and Wang Zhi were arguing about a map of Hong Kong.

A pile of weapons lay on the ground: nunchucks, short knives, and even a prop pistol.

"Mr. Jiang, you've come at the perfect time!" Lu Yang's eyes lit up. "So, do we need to use guns in that scene on Chaomiao Street?"

Eighth Master thinks using cold weapons is more exciting, but I think we could add a gun to increase the tension.

Yuen Woo-ping shook his head: "Using guns is too common. Why are Jackie Chan's movies so good? It's because they use everyday objects to fight. There are so many stalls in Temple Street, and pots and pans are all weapons. That's what makes them interesting."

Zhang Jin picked up a frying pan and gestured, "This can be used to block a knife, and also to hit someone." He then picked up a clothesline pole, "This can be used as a long spear."

Wang Zhi timidly raised his hand: "Then what should I use? Reporters should have interview cameras and recorders—"

"A voice recorder can be used to poke eyes!" Lu Yang suddenly had a whimsical idea.

"That's too cruel—" Wang Zhi said, both amused and exasperated.

Jiang Yu couldn't help but laugh as he watched this scene.

This is what makes a good team. They can argue heatedly over a small detail because everyone wants to do things to the best of their ability.

"Okay," he decided, "we can use environmental props as the main weapon. We can design a scene where the villain pulls out a gun, the protagonist snatches it but finds he's out of bullets, and then grabs a frozen fish from a stall as a weapon—"

"Frozen fish?!" The four people were stunned at the same time.

"Exactly," Jiang Yu gestured. "A frozen, rock-hard yellow croaker, swung around and smashed at someone—it's both comedic and makes sense to use what's available. After you've smashed it, the fish falls to the ground, and a cat runs and snatches it away—how funny!"

The meeting room was silent for three seconds, then burst into laughter.

"Incredible!" Lu Yang slapped his thigh. "President Jiang, your imagination is good enough to be a screenwriter!"

Yuen Woo-ping chuckled: "Frozen fish hitting someone—okay, I'll design the action!"

Zhang Jin was already thinking about how to snatch frozen fish in a way that was both visually appealing and hilarious.

Wang Zhi laughed until tears streamed down his face: "Then can I use a bunch of green onions as a weapon?"

"Great! Great!" Lu Yang exclaimed enthusiastically, "Smoke people with scallions, sprinkle chili powder in their eyes, use pepper powder as a smoke bomb—"

The atmosphere became completely lively. Looking at this group of people, Jiang Yu felt at ease; with such creative enthusiasm, the film couldn't be bad.

Finally, we went to the conference room of "My Sunshine".

They're rehearsing here.

Wallace Chung and Fan Binbin are rehearsing a scene, the one where they reunite after seven years.

Wen Muye was giving instructions from the side, while Liang Guoguan and Li Dachao were discussing in hushed tones.

Everyone stopped when they saw Jiang Yu come in.

"Continue, as if I'm not here." Jiang Yu sat down in the corner.

Wallace Chung and Fan Binbin adjusted their mindset and started afresh.

The challenge of this scene lies in the "restraint"—seven years of longing, resentment, and regret must be hidden beneath a calm expression and simple lines.

If you overact, it becomes pretentious; if you underact, it loses its flavor.

Wallace Chung asked, "How have you been these past seven years?"

The voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing something.

The knuckles of the hand holding the cup were slightly white.

Fan Binbin's silence is not a silence required by the script, but a pause needed by the character.

She lowered her head, and when she looked up again, her eyes were slightly red, but she didn't let the tears fall.

"I'm fine," she said, then asked very softly, "How about you?"

"I'm fine too."

Two "not bad"s convey a thousand words.

After the performance, the entire audience was silent for a few seconds.

Then Jiang Yu led the applause.

"That's fantastic," he said sincerely. "Wallace, Bingbing, you two perfectly captured that feeling of having seen it all, yet still unable to speak. That's what high-level acting is all about."

Wallace Chung humbly replied, "It's because the script for 'Light Chaser' is well-written."

Fan Binbin said, "This scene reminded me of a saying: the deepest emotions are often the quietest."

Jiang Yu then discussed the filming plan with Wen Muye.

This young man has a clear mind and a unique understanding of camera language. Although he lacks experience, he has great potential.

By the time all three film crews had finished, it was already 4:30 PM.

When Jiang Yu returned to the main conference room, Wang Changtian and the other two had already left.

Having agreed on the share, they were eager to go back and raise the money.

Liu Yifei was still there, chatting with Jiang Xuerou, Shu Chang, and Jing Tian.

"President Jiang," Jiang Xuerou walked over, "Wang Kai has been waiting next door all day. I told him to go back first, but he..."

I insisted on waiting for you.

Jiang Yu felt a warmth in his heart: "Let him come over."

A few minutes later, Wang Kai knocked on the door and came in.

He was wearing a faded denim jacket today, his hair was a little messy, but his eyes were bright.

"President Jiang." He bowed respectfully.

"Call me by my name in private." Jiang Yu gestured for him to sit down. "How's your audition preparation going?"

Wang Kai pulled the script out of his bag, which was covered with notes: "I've memorized the script, and I've written character analyses for every scene. This supporting character may have few scenes, but he's the conscience of the whole team," he said, adding that his choices at crucial moments would affect the main plot.

He spoke with great enthusiasm, and would even stand up and gesture when he got excited.

Jiang Yu listened quietly, feeling a sense of感慨 (gan3kai3, deep emotion) that this old classmate truly loved acting.

"Oh, right," Wang Kai suddenly remembered something, "I also learned some Korean. Although I don't have many lines, I want to act with my own voice and not need dubbing."

"It's good that you have the intention." Jiang Yu nodded. "Don't be nervous at the audition. President Jiang will go with you. Just act out your understanding of the character."

"Yes!" Wang Kai nodded vigorously, then hesitated for a moment, "Jiang Yu—thank you. I know this opportunity is very rare, I—"

"Stop." Jiang Yu waved his hand. "Old classmates don't talk about these things. You got the role based on your own merit; I just gave you a chance. Performing well is the best way to thank me."

"must!"

After seeing Wang Kai and Jing Tian off, only our own people remained in the conference room.

Jiang Xuerou finally breathed a sigh of relief: "President Jiang, today's meeting was truly exciting. The three companies were vying for market share and even raising their prices. My heart was racing as I watched."

Liu Yifei laughed, "The most amazing thing is that the real estate tycoon offered $500 million for an audition opportunity. Mr. Jiang, your storytelling skills are good enough to write a script!"

Jiang Yu shrugged: "Business negotiations sometimes require a bit of—artistic embellishment."

All three of them laughed.

"Oh, right," Jiang Xuerou suddenly remembered something, "did they really give them the 15% share of the Disney project?"

"Here you go." Jiang Yu nodded. "Guangming has distribution capabilities, Yinhuang has overseas resources, and Starlight Media—they have money. Getting them involved will benefit the project. Besides, they've paid a premium, so they'll be more dedicated."

"What about the remaining share?"

"Wait," Jiang Yu said. "There might be other partners."

Just then, Jiang Yu's phone rang; it was Chen Jingming calling.

"Mr. Jiang, I've sent you the draft cooperation agreement with Tencent. Also, Mr. Shen from Sequoia Capital has arranged to meet with you tomorrow afternoon."

"Okay, I understand."

Outside the window, it was already dark.

The lights in the China World Trade Center lit up one by one; night always comes quickly in Beijing.

"Let's go," Jiang Yu stood up. "We've had a busy day, it's time to treat ourselves. What do you want to eat? It's on me."

Liu Yifei blinked: "I want to eat—mala tang! I want the kind from a roadside stall, the more down-to-earth the better."

Jiang Yu laughed: "Miss Liu's taste is very down-to-earth."

"I've been eating salads every day in Hollywood, and I've been craving strong flavors for so long," Liu Yifei said, sticking out her tongue.

Jiang Yu chuckled, "Okay, then let's have mala tang. I know a really authentic one near the Workers' Stadium; the owner is from Chongqing."

The elevator arrived at the first floor.

The door opened, revealing a brightly lit lobby.

Stepping out of the office building, the early spring evening breeze was still a bit chilly.

Liu Yifei wrapped her down jacket tighter, and Jiang Yu naturally put his arm around her shoulder.

Liu Yifei relaxed and leaned against Jiang Yu: "Phew—I'm exhausted after acting all day."

"You acted very well," Jiang Yu laughed. "The Hong Kong Film Awards owe you a trophy."

"Stop it." Liu Yifei pinched him.

The two walked slowly along the sidewalk. The streetlights cast long shadows. In Beijing, the night was usually bustling with traffic, but this time it was quiet.

"Jiang Yu," Liu Yifei suddenly said, "you were completely different when you were discussing business today compared to usual."

"Why is it different?"

"Normally you're like—like the boy next door, gentle and always smiling." She thought for a moment, "But when you're doing business, there's a sharp light in your eyes. It's like you have the whole world under your control."

Jiang Yu laughed: "That was an act. Actually, I was also insecure."

"I don't believe it." Liu Yifei leaned closer to him. "But—I like you just the way you are."

"You like them all?"

"Yes, I like them both."

The two looked at each other and smiled. Steam rose from the mala tang stall on the street corner, and the proprietress was calling out, "Mala tang!"

Authentic Chongqing flavor!

Ordinary life, grand dreams. At this moment, all melt into the lively atmosphere of an early spring night.