Huayu 02: The Days of Extreme Pulling and Rolling with the Fairy

Ever since the company was registered, Gu Renlong has been giving himself a pep talk every day.

Xie Jin even wondered if she had brainwashed him too much that day.

This guy keeps saying he'll one day make a triumphant return to Hollywood.

In his own words, he is not good at making big decisions, but he has an exceptional ability to execute them.

Once he had a direction, he started setting KPIs for himself.

.......

Xie Jin thought so too. This guy was simply a chosen senior manager. Before she could even make any promises, he had already delivered.

This guy booked a budget hotel next to the Haiding District government and went there as soon as he started work, desperately trying to get support policies.

Fortunately, Haiding District does have preferential policies and support for high-tech and cultural enterprises.

Finally, in a remote area outside the Fifth Ring Road, we rented a small section of a former state-owned factory.

The district government reduced or waived most of the rent.

It's very remote, but the rent is cheap and the space is sufficient.

Xie Jin looked at the factory building in front of her. The ground was indeed dilapidated, but the buildings of state-owned factories were sturdy.

The factory building has extremely high ceilings, so with a little tidying up, it can be used for indoor set design.

"That's it? You're not going to sell your ass, are you?"

Old Gu no longer has the air of a domineering CEO male lead he had at the beginning; his leather shoes are covered in dust, and he looks much darker.

  

"Isn't this enough? There's a workshop for making physical effects models, a studio for motion capture and green screen, a studio for live-action set design, a prop workshop, a color grading room, and living quarters—that's more than enough."

"The renovation will be completed in at most half a month, we just need more people." Gu Renlong wiped the sweat from his forehead, raised his white helmet, and looked at the factory area under renovation like a farmer looking at his fields.

"Although we don't know how to use it yet and will have to wait a while, in terms of size alone, it's definitely not much smaller than the production bases of the five major Hollywood studios."

Old Gu glanced at Xie Jin's shapely buttocks.

"As for the hooks, if I were to sell one, it would be to you. Believe me or not, the way Guo Xiaosi looked at you that day, he would have been willing to pay five hundred for one."

"I stood on tiptoe, but he couldn't reach me."

"I'll put a stool under him. Your gold hook is our last ballast. Once we can't afford to burn through the special effects, I'll introduce you to a rich woman."

"roll!"

.........

Gu Renlong took out a file folder. "By the way, I've looked at the information of the people you mentioned. The contracts aren't exploitative, but they're not particularly generous either. I'll contact them soon."

"Don't interfere with the matter of managing celebrities."

"I have my own methods; raising artists is like raising wolves."

"If you're too full, you lose motivation to hunt; if you're not fed, you lose the energy to hunt. You need to go hungry for a few meals and smell some blood to get the urge to hunt."

Tsk tsk tsk, one set after another... Wait a minute, I'm one of his artists too?

"I won't get involved even if you beg me. School starts soon, so I'll go back to school in the next few days. I can turn on the computer in a month."

Gu Renlong was taken aback: "I almost forgot, you're still a student..."

"That's not some frivolous, sexy male celebrity. You can arrange any kind of commercial performances or gigs you want for the next month; I'll take them all."

Gu Renlong rarely saw this guy so diligent; it was like the sun had risen in the west. "Tsk tsk tsk, I really didn't expect to see you so dedicated to your work in my lifetime. Alright, I'll make the arrangements."

.........

.........

"I have good news for you, Xie Jin. The timing of your decision to enter the special effects industry is perfect! It seems like God is in a good mood."

"Things aren't going well for them in the US this year. The visual effects industry is undergoing a major shake-up, with many companies going out of business. I'm planning to go there and see if I can find any suitable ones."

This truly touched upon Xie Jin's blind spot: "Tell me what happened?"

Gu Renlong looked extremely smug. "I told you long ago, my only problem is that I'm expensive. Did you think I just spend my days acting like a scoundrel in the district government?"

"I've already asked my friends at various companies."

"Disney's secret lab, 'Lilo & Stitch,' lost money, and the entire visual effects department was laid off. The entire visual effects department of the British tech giant, The Mill, was also laid off."

Kodak laid off 70 people from its visual effects division, and Warner Bros.' entire "Superstar Showdown" department was laid off.

"The worst off is DreamWorks. Sinbad lost money and is now on the verge of bankruptcy. I heard their live-action division has $4 million in debt and might be sold to Paramount."

Xie Jin's mouth dropped open in astonishment. Holy crap! So, you're the system all along...

Looking back now, I realize I made the right choice in finding this guy. He's like a high-IQ, nuclear-powered beast.

"Husband Gu, you're amazing!"

Gu Renlong's expression changed, and he protectively grabbed the hook. "......."

Xie Jin coughed slightly. "I meant to say I wanted to call him Lao Gu, but I misspoke and called him the wrong name. Can you believe me?"

"Stop giving me this obedience test, I'm starting to have serious doubts about you."

"roll!"

A few jokes

Gu Renlong looked at Xie Jin very seriously. "Xie Jin, once they catch their breath, it will be difficult for us to leech off them again."

"I can say this: the Hollywood special effects industry is laying off staff everywhere right now. People in the industry can't even find jobs, and there are even more people defaulting on their mortgages. Headhunters in South Korea and Japan have already started snapping up talent."

"I've already contacted several highly skilled individuals. They're facing loan defaults and are about to fall below middle-class status and into poverty."

"I'll make the initial contact, then you can make the decision. Remember to handle the business negotiations yourself."

"Oh... I understand, system."

"??"

........

School starts in early September, and it's time to go back to school again.

As is customary, Xie Jin went to Wang Jinsong's place first.

Report your recent events to the teacher and inquire about their well-being.

It's not that I need to ask for instructions, but mainly I want my mentor to be able to show off to his colleagues and satisfy his vanity.

I'll chat with Lao Wang for a bit and then ask for my creative leave.

He's currently in school, and as long as he applies for leave for creative work normally, the school generally doesn't deduct it from his leave.

The department is eager for him to go out and do things, to bring good results to the school. He can act and direct, so the department can now stand on its own two feet.

"Are you preparing to make another movie?"

"No, we're planning to make a TV series, and the show will be popular."

Xie Jin poured her teacher a glass of water, saying, "I still have to thank my mentor. You helped me connect with President Yu, and this time it was President Yu who voted for me."

Old Wang was somewhat surprised, "Bona is making dramas now?"

"Hey, Brother Yu is rolling in money now. Bao Li's in, he's got plenty of cash, he'll do whatever makes money."

"Wow!"

Listening to Old Wang and his beloved apprentice talking, a young man in the corner pursed his lips and looked rather displeased.

"It's not easy to make a drama series, Xiao Xie. You should focus on your studies. Don't take too big a step. You might not be able to graduate if the drama series isn't done well."

Xie Jin was stunned for a moment. Who the hell is this? Is he looking for trouble?

Looking up, I saw Huang Lei, the king of green beans and the manager of the Midnight Diner.

Wang Jinsong looked displeased. He and Huang Lei had never gotten along in the acting department.

The struggles within universities can sometimes be more intense than those within government agencies; the two individuals simply cannot stand each other.

Wang Jinsong simply felt that this guy was a hypocrite, pretending to be a scholar all day long. He wasn't a very good actor, but he was very good at packaging himself.

They preach morality and righteousness, but harbor wicked and immoral thoughts.

I'm still here, who gave you the right to lecture my apprentice?

Huang Lei also disliked Xie Jin, not only because Xie Jin was Wang Jinsong's favorite disciple, but also for other reasons.

The two of them are not from the same circle. He comes from a prestigious family, his father is a national first-class actor, so naturally he associates with people in the industry. His acting career was also brought into the picture by Chen Kai.

Xie Jin, however, was different. He and Ning Hao's group were all from humble backgrounds, and they didn't belong to the same circle.

Second come

Their routes overlapped in some places and were exactly opposite in others.

People always compare them.

Both of them achieved fame at a young age.

Huang Lei entered the industry as a child star at the age of 6. In 1995, at the age of 24, he gained some fame for his film "Midnight Song" and stayed on at the school for two years.

After staying at the university, he switched careers to become a singer, director, and screenwriter.

"The Orange is Red" made him popular again, and it can be said that his success was incredibly smooth.

But the problem was that Xie Jin had it even better than him.

I went to Berlin in my first semester of freshman year, and in the second semester, four of my ringtones sold out, one album went platinum, and I also had the box office hit "When a Man Falls in Love".

You can still see his endorsement of Erdos when you go shopping!

It can be said that within a year, he was outmaneuvered in every aspect.

This caused the artsy heartthrob, Bean Brother, to lose his composure.

Huang Lei added, "The teacher didn't mean anything by it, but I'm just worried that you might act impulsively and make a mistake, which would also affect the school."

"Each of you represents the school when you're out there, so you need to be more careful."

Xie Jin listened to Huang Lei's condescending and disgusting tone, but she wasn't angry.

"Television dramas are tough to produce, Brother Huang. How were the ratings for your 'Like Water Flowing Through the Years'? I heard it broke records? And I heard you've made another drama, right?"

That one sentence made Huang Lei's face turn purple. "You!"

"Me? What about me? How did you know my movie grossed over 4000 million?"

Huang Lei's throat sounded like it was being choked. "Me!"

Xie Jin spread her hands and started spitting out her lips, ready to retort.

"What? I'm very obedient to my brother, you don't need to worry about me."

There's no other reason why Brother Bean broke down.

Huang Lei's first TV series, "Like Water Flowing Through the Years," which he wrote, directed, and starred in, premiered on CCTV-8 two months ago.

He plays the male lead himself, and Liu Ruoying plays the female lead; the cast is truly top-notch.

Before the broadcast, they held autograph sessions, album release events, and press conferences, making a huge fuss.

As soon as it started airing, it caused a huge uproar.

It broke CCTV's record for the lowest viewership rating in years, at 0.05%!

It really opened everyone's eyes; they never knew TV dramas could be this bad.

Acorn International's GG probably had higher ratings than this.

The major newspapers summed it up in one sentence: "Empty content, chaotic narrative, and self-indulgent."

Ironically, no sooner had his project flopped than Huang Lei secured investment from Huayi Brothers and launched a new project... which even started filming simultaneously with Xie Jin's...

Wang Jinsong felt incredibly satisfied, like drinking an ice-cold beer on a sweltering summer day. He coughed and said, "Xiao Jin, how can you talk like that? You're just pointing fingers wherever it hurts. No manners! Don't do that again next time!"

"Yes, Master. I'm sorry, Brother Huang. I didn't know this matter would hurt you so much. You're right, we all represent the school. You've truly brought honor to the department."

Huang Lei was so angry that he trembled on the stool. He was a man who cared a lot about his reputation, so how could he tolerate this?

"Fine, fine, let's see what you can film!" With that, she slammed the door and left.

Xie Jin ignored him completely. Huang Lei was helpless against her now, as he was a professional teacher, not an administrative teacher, and besides, he wasn't teaching her.

I don't understand. Just do your job properly, why pretend?

"Dear teacher, for my new drama, I'm thinking of using more people from our department. Could you please grant me leave, or would you be willing to take on a role?"

Wang Jinsong stood at the door, watching Bean Brother's retreating figure, and shouted excitedly, deliberately saying it for Bean Brother to hear, "It's nothing! It's just a role! Use other teachers' students more often, treat everyone equally! Xiao Jin, do your best in filming!"

Brother Bean's legs went weak, and he became even more disheveled.

Wang Jinsong downed a pot of strong liquor and said, "That's great! What kind of moral gentleman are you pretending to be? I find him annoying. You better film me and give me a boost."

"That bastard's just trying to outdo me on my professional title; he acts so terribly, how dare he!"

"It's alright, Master, calm down."