Huayu: Reborn in 97, transferring to the Central Academy of Drama's star-studded class

"How many?!"

"Uh...maybe a few hundred billion, in US dollars."

Jiang's father was so angry he laughed. He put the teacup on the table and stared at his son sideways.

"Don't I look like I'm worth tens of billions!"

"No, no, Dad, let me finish." Jiang Lai quickly waved his hand. "It's not right now, it's in stages. We don't need too much in the early stages, and we can add more later depending on the situation."

Jiang's father didn't say anything, picked up the cigarette case, took out another cigarette, and lit it.

Tell me more details.

Jiang Lai roughly explained the plan he had discussed with Sister Ying: shorting the Nasdaq index, acquiring the American company through a shell company, and then acquiring cinema chains and Hollywood film companies.

"You mean, like the Thai baht incident a couple of years ago, we'll make a fortune from this bubble and then use the profits to acquire other assets?" Jiang's father flicked his cigarette ash.

"Yes, it's like a snowball rolling downhill, getting bigger and bigger." Jiang Lai nodded.

Jiang's father was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Are you sure this bubble will burst?"

"Sure."

"When?"

"It peaked in March 2000, then began to decline, bottoming out in October 2002, lasting for more than two years."

Jiang's father stared at him for a long while. "You even know the exact time?"

Jiang Lai then realized that he had blurted it out in his excitement, "Ahem, well, I had someone analyze it, and there's data to support it."

Jiang's father chuckled lightly, "How come my men didn't figure it out?"

However, he didn't ask any further questions and stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.

"Okay, sure."

"Huh? You agreed just like that?"

Jiang Lai was taken aback. Everyone said that the second generation might suddenly have a brilliant idea. He thought he would have to do a lot of persuasion, but he didn't expect his father to agree so readily.

Jiang's father glanced at him. "Otherwise what?"

Jiang Lai chuckled, "Alright, thanks, Dad."

"Don't thank me yet," Jiang's father waved his hand. "Let's get this straight: what if we lose money?"

"Don't worry! You won't lose money. If you do, it's on me!" Jiang Lai patted his chest vigorously.

Jiang's father glared at him, "Get out! Get out of my way!"

Despite saying that, Jiang's father was still quite pleased. Compared to his son who used to be indifferent to everything, he preferred the current Jiang Lai.

"Yes, sir!"

Jiang Lai stood up, saluted, took two steps, then turned back. "Dad, about the domestic cinemas..."

"Keep it done, it won't delay anything." Jiang's father didn't even look up.

......

new York.

In an old townhouse, James Schamus sat at his desk, holding a phone, his expression somewhat complicated.

He turned to look at the dawning sky outside the window, took a deep breath, and dialed a transoceanic number.

"Hello, it's me, James Schamus, Jiang. I just have a question for you."

"What?"

"You did this for the movie, right?"

He called Jiang Lai, whose voice was very calm on the other end of the phone.

"certainly!"

LeBron James closed his eyes and remained silent for a few seconds.

"Okay, I agree."

After hanging up the phone, Lao Zhan leaned back in his chair and stared blankly at the ceiling.

Good Machine Company was founded by him and his friend, but it has been barely surviving for years and is now basically only being kept going by his own hard work.

He had considered having Jiang invest in him, but ultimately gave up. He never expected that the other party would bring it up now, only his good machine had become a shell.

He couldn't refuse the conditions offered by that assertive woman, nor did he have any reason to refuse; he had to make a living, after all.

Fortunately, that person was Jiang Lai, and he said it was for the movie.

LeBron is willing to believe it.

Meanwhile, Jiang Lai, who was at home, was just about to go to sleep when the phone rang again. It was Sister Ying.

"James agreed."

"Oh, I know, he just called me." Jiang Lai lay down lazily.

"Okay, and your dad agreed too?" Yingjie's voice carried a hint of surprise.

"Agreed."

"Okay, I understand the follow-up plan." Sister Ying paused for a moment, "There's one more thing I forgot to tell you. The six movies you invested in before all made a profit, just not a lot."

"Which six?" Jiang Lai didn't react for a moment.

"Zhang Yuan, Wang Xiaoshuai, and their group, you've forgotten them?"

"Oh, I remember now, you made a profit?"

"They all made money, just not much. Most importantly, they all won awards. I really underestimated these people."

Yingjie's tone was slightly teasing, "With your eye for talent, you're good at it, but you earn less than you would have made in the bank. Yet, you're not so good at it either, because those people haven't lost money."

Jiang Lai smiled but didn't say anything.

"By the way, a few of them want to invest in you."

"Then let's invest," Jiang Lai said decisively. "The same old rule applies: we won't invest in any film that loses money."

"Okay," Yingjie suddenly asked, "Aren't you afraid they'll team up and try to fool you?"

"No," Jiang Lai replied calmly. "These people may not have any other skills, but at least at this moment, their desire to make a movie is genuine."

"Oh, right," Jiang Lai suddenly remembered something, "could you keep an eye on a company for me?"

"What company?"

"Marvel."

Yingjie was taken aback for a moment, "A comic book company?"

"Yes." Jiang Lai sat up straight. "Use Lao Zhan's good machines to acquire it and buy it."

Are you sure?

"OK, it's super cheap right now, grab it while you can."

"Okay." Sister Ying raised an eyebrow and wrote it down.

"Also, after you acquire Marvel, go to Sony Columbia."

"what?"

"Take back the Spider-Man IP, even if it costs more than the original price."

Yingjie was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "What are you plotting?"

Jiang Lai smiled and said, "You'll find out later."

......

In mid-January, the Central Academy of Drama held its final exams.

Jiang Lai and Zhang Ziyi stood in the waiting area chatting and laughing. Behind them, several lower-grade students huddled together and whispered, their voices neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for him to hear.

"Hey, have you heard? Stephen Chow has been blacklisted!"

"Where? That's impossible!"

"It's true, I read it in a magazine. Win's Entertainment has said that anyone who invests in Stephen Chow is going against Win's Entertainment."

"Holy crap! Does that mean Stephen Chow is finished?"

"Who knows? Anyway, nobody dares to invest money in him right now."

Jiang Lai overheard this and glanced back.

"Jiang'er! It's our turn." Liu Ye rushed over in a flurry.

Jiang Lai calmed down and followed Zhang Ziyi onto the stage. Now, the bottom three had honed their skills and could easily rehearse a scene.

After the performance, the trio went to the audience area to watch the remaining students.

Zhang Ziyi fidgeted with her small hands, head down, and mustered her courage to say, "We're graduating soon, let's move in together, okay?"

After speaking, she looked up at Jiang Lai, her eyes full of expectation.

Holy crap! Living together?

Jiang Lai was used to being free and unrestrained, and instinctively wanted to refuse, but he swallowed the words back.

"Um...we'll talk about it later, there's no rush."

Zhang Ziyi's smile froze for a moment, then she lowered her head, said "Oh," and didn't say anything more.

In the evening, the students gathered again for boiled fish.

Niu Qingfeng raised his glass, "Our Class of '96 reunion is one of the last times we'll have. Come on! Let's drink to this!"

"Cheers!" Everyone raised their glasses.

Liu Ye picked up a piece of fish and stuffed it into his mouth, saying indistinctly, "It's been so long since we've all gotten together. Hai Lu isn't here this time."

"That's Chen Guo's new film! A big director's film," Dang Hao chimed in.

"If you ask me, our class is truly amazing! Take Jiang'er and Ziyi, for example, they've even made it onto the international stage!"

"So, Ziyi, how was it working with Chow Yun-fat?"

"It's great, Brother Fa is a very nice person." Zhang Ziyi smiled and didn't say anything more.

Hu Jing blinked her big eyes, and sensing the awkward atmosphere, quickly changed the subject, "By the way, have you heard? So-and-so and so-and-so broke up!"

"Who is it?" Zeng Lai immediately cooperated.

"That one..."

The students gathered together and started gossiping excitedly.

Liu Ye leaned closer to Jiang Lai and lowered his voice, "Jiang'er, are you and Ziyi alright?"

"I'm fine, what's wrong?"

"She seems a bit off today."

Jiang Lai glanced at Zhang Ziyi, who was chatting and laughing with Zeng Lai, and there was nothing unusual about her.

"That's not true." Jiang Lai shook his head.

Liu Ye patted him on the shoulder, "Speak up if you have something to say, don't bear it all by yourself."

"I understand." Jiang Lai smiled.

The end of the semester is over, and only one semester remains in university.

After that day, Jiang Lai and Zhang Ziyi acted as if nothing had happened, continuing to go shopping and chat on the phone as usual, so Jiang Lai didn't take it seriously.

After that, Jiang Lai received many phone calls, the first one being from Jia Kezhang.

"Hey, Lao Jia, what's up?"

"President Jiang..." The voice on the other end of the phone sounded a little guilty, "Um, I'm filming 'Platform' right now, you know?"

"Yes, I know. What's wrong?"

"Well... as we were filming, I had a new idea."

Jiang Lai laughed. "Are you short of money?"

Jia Kezhang coughed awkwardly, "A little."

"Okay, no problem, I'll transfer it to you in the next couple of days."

"Thank you, President Jiang!" Jia Kezhang's voice immediately perked up.

"Alright, don't be shy." Jiang Lai suddenly asked, "By the way, what has Lou Ye been up to lately?"

"Him? He's having a great time right now, patting guys on the back, giving some pointers on TV shows, and revising his scripts."

"What script?"

"It's supposed to be a war-themed film, no wonder he wants to go ashore."

Jiang Lai nodded. "Okay, I understand."

The two chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up.

Then came a second call, from Andy Lau.

"Lai Zai, did I disturb your rest?" Andy Lau's voice was filled with laughter.

"No, no, I'm quite free this holiday."

"That's good."

After considering for a moment, Andy Lau said, "I'm planning to hold an event in Hong Kong at the end of January called 'The Sky Rises Again.' As an investor, Lai Zai, shouldn't you come and support it?"

"Sure, no problem," Jiang Lai readily agreed. "Who's coming?"

Andy Lau mentioned several names, including directors and actors, all of whom are well-known figures in the Hong Kong entertainment industry.

Jiang Lai listened, recalling the rumors he'd heard on the day of the exam, and asked, "Isn't Stephen Chow going?"

After a moment of silence, Andy Lau said vaguely, "I didn't invite him."

"Oh," Jiang Lai responded, "Then let's invite him."

Another brief silence followed.

"Okay! I'll send him an invitation."

Jiang Lai thought for a moment and said, "If anyone has any objections, tell them to come and find me."