Huayu: Starting with Hextech

Teahouse on the street near Shanghai Theatre Academy

Sun Yuyang was very happy to see his disciple return and inquired about his recent situation.

Lin Xiao briefly talked about the filming and wrap-up of "Du Lala's Promotion Diary" and also mentioned the numerous invitations that have been pouring in.

"That's a good thing; it shows your value has been recognized by the market." Sun Yuyang nodded with satisfaction. "However, you need to be careful with your choices. Huayi Brothers and Tangren Media have contacted you again, haven't they?"

"Yes, teacher."

Lin Xiao poured tea for Sun Yuyang, then put down the teapot, sat up straight, and looked at his mentor with clear and firm eyes. "They have offered a new plan, which is very sincere."

"Oh? Tell me about it." Sun Yuyang said with interest.

Lin Xiao explained Wang Jinhua's "studio affiliation" and Cai Yinong's "part-time contract" proposals in detail.

After listening, Sun Yuyang pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "These are all good proposals. Especially Huayi Brothers' 'affiliation' offer, which is a good balance of leverage and autonomy. It seems they really value you. Tangren's 'per-project contract' is also very sincere, using the best projects to attract you. Lin Xiao, what are your thoughts? Which one do you prefer?"

Lin Xiao did not answer immediately.

He picked up his teacup, looked at the clear tea inside, then raised his eyes to meet Sun Yuyang's probing gaze, and said clearly, word by word:

"Teacher, I plan to... not choose either one."

Sun Yuyang paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "You're not choosing any of them? So you mean...?"

"I plan to do it myself." Lin Xiao's voice wasn't loud, but it was unusually steady and powerful. "I'll establish a completely independent personal studio. I won't be affiliated with any company, nor will I sign any full-time or part-time contracts."

Sun Yuyang put down his teacup, his expression turning serious. He carefully examined the disciple before him, as if he were seeing him for the first time.

"Lin Xiao, have you thought this through?" Sun Yuyang's voice also turned serious. "Do you understand what it means to do it yourself?"

"I understand." Lin Xiao nodded. "It means there's no readily available resource pool to rely on, no strong legal and public relations team on standby, I have to fight for and negotiate for every project myself, I have to bear all the risks myself, and all the financial and team management pressures will fall on my shoulders. Starting out will be more difficult, and there may be more detours."

"Since you understand, why do you still do it?" Sun Yuyang asked, puzzled. "Huayi's plan has already given you a lot of autonomy. It's good to have a big tree to lean on, why go the long way around and take the most difficult path? In the entertainment industry, very few people can succeed by going it alone."

Lin Xiao remained silent for a moment.

He couldn't tell the teacher about the "system" and the "prophet".

He needs to find a more reasonable explanation based on real-world logic.

"Teacher," he began slowly, his gaze fixed on the swaying shadows of the trees outside the window, "no matter how good Huayi's plan is, it's still ultimately 'affiliation.' Core resources must be shared, and major decisions must be negotiated. Who ultimately holds the initiative in this negotiation? When my personal plans conflict with the company's overall strategy, who will compromise?"

The same goes for Tangren Media. While *Scarlet Heart* was undoubtedly a good project, what happened after it was filmed? If they wanted me to continue acting in *Xuan-Yuan Sword*, or similar period dramas, should I accept, or refuse again, thus straining our relationship?

He paused, looked at Sun Yuyang, and a clear ambition burned in his eyes:

"I don't want to hand over my future to someone else's chessboard anymore, no matter how glamorous the chessboard is or how much space it offers. What I want is the right to completely control my own development direction, the freedom to choose projects, integrate resources, and even invest in and produce my own works according to my own judgment and plans."

He recalled the film and television projects in his mind that were yet to be released but were destined for greatness, and the enormous changes and opportunities in the entertainment industry in the coming years, and his tone became even more resolute:

"This industry is changing, teacher. I want to try and see what kind of path I can forge on my own. It may be difficult, and I may fail in the end, but at least I will decide how I take each step and where I end up."

Sun Yuyang stared at him for a long time.

The light in the disciple's eyes was not the blind confidence of youthful arrogance, but a resolute determination and ambition to face difficulties head-on after careful consideration and a clear understanding of the pros and cons.

He had seen that look in the eyes of some truly accomplished artists and entrepreneurs.

After a long while, Sun Yuyang let out a long breath, and the serious expression on his face gradually melted away, turning into a complex mix of emotions and a hint of relief.

"Lin Xiao, oh Lin Xiao..."

He shook his head, then nodded. "In all my years of teaching, I've never seen a student like you before. You have talent, luck, and even more... a courage and clarity that are hard to find in ordinary people."

He picked up the now-cold tea, took a sip, as if he had made some kind of decision:

"Since you've thought it through so clearly, there's nothing more I can do to persuade you. You chose this path yourself, so no matter how difficult it is, you have to grit your teeth and keep going. If you need any help, feel free to come to me anytime."

"Thank you, teacher!"

A warm feeling welled up in Lin Xiao's heart. He knew that his mentor's understanding and support were equally important to him.

As I left the tea room, the autumn sun shone on me, warm and bright.

Lin Xiao walked steadily under the sycamore trees.

By rejecting the last offers from Huayi Brothers and Tangren Media, he signifies that he has completely severed the shortcut of relying on giant platforms and has officially announced his ambition for independence to the entire industry.

The road ahead is destined to be bumpy.

But he felt no fear, only a clear and enlightened mind, and a certainty that he was "the chosen one".

Lin Xiao's journey truly begins from this moment.

……

In mid-October, the autumn colors gradually deepened in Shanghai.

Lin Xiao's decision to reject all contract offers and establish his own independent studio caused a small ripple in the industry's small circle.

Surprise, confusion, admiration, amusement... all sorts of reactions were observed.

But Lin Xiao had no time to pay attention to these outside voices. Like a precision machine that had just started up, he devoted all his energy to the preparation of the studio.

With time running out, the final payment for "Du Lala's Promotion Diary" has not yet been settled, "The Myth" is about to be broadcast, and the popularity of "Chinese Paladin 3" has not diminished. He must take advantage of his peak momentum and the highest level of attention to build his personal brand and career framework.

The first step is site selection.

Accompanied by Zhang Wei, Lin Xiao spent three days traveling to several areas in Pudong and Puxi where the cultural and creative industries are relatively concentrated.

He didn't want to choose those top CBDs with high rents and giants, as that didn't fit his current positioning of "low-key pragmatism and accumulating strength".

Ultimately, he settled on a semi-duplex space of about 150 square meters on the top floor of a slightly old five-story office building in the JA district.

The location is good and the transportation is convenient, but the building is relatively old, so the rent is relatively affordable.

Most importantly, the top floor offers a wide view and has a small terrace with excellent natural light.

The interior is in a bare state and you need to decorate it yourself, but this also means that you can build it entirely according to your own ideas.

"This area needs to be partitioned off to include a separate office, an open work area, a small meeting room/reception room, a simple tea room, and a document room."

Lin Xiao stood on the empty concrete ground, pointing in various directions, describing his ideas to Zhang Wei.

"The decorating style should be simple, modern, and sophisticated, but not ostentatious. We're here to get things done, not to show off."