Soul Returns to Hong Kong: From Tailor Shop to Richest Woman

Looking at Su Zhihao's "I didn't say anything" expression, Lin Ying already had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on.

She didn't ask any further questions. The more someone is unwilling to talk about something, the closer the answer is to the answer.

Lin Ying closed the first volume of "Night Taboo" and asked, "Second Uncle, how much money did you bet on her?"

Hearing this, Su Zhihao, who had been pretending to be deep, immediately said smugly, "If someone in the know were to buy out the film and television adaptation rights to her three books, someone would definitely be willing to pay HK$280,000. I bet HK$130,000."

Lin Ying: "..." Even a shrew like Zhou Bapi has met his end.

She didn't come up with the nickname; it was the class monitor, Liang Jiamin, who first called her that.

During the first month of school, Zhou Yawen would quiz students on English vocabulary every morning during self-study. Anyone who got more than three words wrong had to stay after lunch break to do a dictation test. She would also record names for being even a minute late, and names for having a crooked school uniform tie...

One day, Liang Jiamin returned from the office carrying the attendance list and complained, "Teacher Zhou is simply a skinflint."

The nickname spread throughout Class 1 of Grade 1 that very day.

Of course, no one dared to call out to Zhou Yawen in front of her.

Looking back now, it's amazing that a teacher like Mr. Zhou, who treated his students so harshly in school, ended up having 150,000 yuan cut off by Su Zhihao at the copyright table.

Lin Ying had mixed feelings.

Su Zhihao was still smugly shaking his head: "130,000, that's not low! She herself didn't expect it to sell for so much at first. Those writers just take whatever fee the newspaper pays them; how could they understand that film and television adaptations could generate income?"

Lin Ying spoke up to remind him, "Second Uncle, don't treat her like an ordinary scholar."

"Of course I didn't act like an ordinary writer." Su Zhihao sat up straight. "If I really acted like an ordinary writer, I could have easily gotten rid of her for thirty or fifty thousand. Thirty thousand is my sincere offer."

"How was the contract signed?"

"The television adaptation rights, the first-run production rights in Hong Kong, are for a five-year term," said Su Zhihao. "If filming doesn't begin within five years, the rights automatically revert to hers. That's what she insists on."

"Zhou Bapi really does have some skills," Lin Ying said. "She's very knowledgeable."

Su Zhihao clicked his tongue: "That's why I said this woman is difficult to talk to. She sits there wearing a hat and mask, not saying a word, relying entirely on her agent to speak. But every time I try to tuck something into the contract, the agent stops, glances at her, and if she shakes her head, we can't get another word out."

Lin Ying asked, "Did you get the sequel rights?"

"Right of first refusal," Su Zhihao said. "If she continues to write the same series in the future, I have the right of first refusal for film and television adaptations at the same price."

"Where's the videotape?"

"We also discussed the videotape distribution rights after the TV series aired, but that would be split separately and wasn't included in the 130,000 yuan package."

"Don't worry," Su Zhihao said. "I had Attorney Zhang review the contract this time, and there were no irregularities. The author's real name is kept confidential. Unless she chooses to disclose it herself, we cannot reveal her identity."

Lin Ying looked at him: "Then why did you come here today to hint at something to me?"

Su Zhihao choked.

He then said matter-of-factly, "I only trust your ability to keep your mouth shut. Besides, I didn't say who she is. I only said that the author is a teacher at your Boya Academy."

"Second Uncle."

"Alright, alright, I won't say anything more." Su Zhihao waved his hand. "Anyway, you know the answer yourself."

Lin Ying reopened the first volume.

She had only read the first dozen or so pages, but now she calmed down and flipped through the rest. The title was ambiguous and the cover was deliberately made to be gaudy, but the story itself wasn't the kind that relied on the gimmick of a man and woman pulling each other together.

The first chapter begins with an old case.

On a rainy night in an old-fashioned Western-style building, a young female secretary falls from the third floor. Everyone says she committed suicide because of a broken heart. But while sorting through her belongings, the female protagonist finds a theater ticket torn in half in the deceased's drawer.

There was only one time left on the theater ticket.

On that day, the deceased should have been at the theater, but instead appeared at the Western-style building.

Lin Ying read very quickly.

Su Zhihao originally wanted to say something, but seeing that she was busy reading, he wisely kept quiet and just sat down to drink tea.

About half an hour later, Lin Ying stopped.

Su Zhihao leaned closer and asked, "How is it?"

"It can be modified," Lin Ying said, "but it can't be filmed exactly like the original book."

"Why?" Su Zhihao asked, somewhat puzzled. "I just think the original book is good; it's exciting and captivating."

"It's one thing to be thrilled, but whether the TV station can broadcast it is another matter." Lin Ying turned to a page in the book and pointed to it. "Here, the relationship between men and women is described too explicitly. It's fine for novel readers to read it at home, but when the TV series is on, with the whole family sitting in the living room, the level of explicitness goes too far."

Su Zhihao stroked his chin: "Then delete it?"

"We can't just cut things out," Lin Ying said. "If we cut too much, the characters' motivations will be cut off. We need to change explicit things into subtle plots, leaving traces through eye contact, dialogue, props, and scenes. The audience will understand, but the TV station won't be able to find too much fault with it."

Su Zhihao listened attentively: "Continue."

"Also, the most valuable part of this book isn't the romance, it's the cases." Lin Ying flipped back to the beginning. "Each volume has a main case, and under the main case are old cases. You can't completely believe everything the characters say. This structure is perfect for a TV series. Each episode has a small hook, every three to five episodes reveal a layer of truth, and finally all the threads are brought back to the main case."

Su Zhihao slapped his thigh: "I knew it was good!"

"But you need to hire a director who can make suspense films," Lin Ying reminded her. "You can't hire someone who can only make action films. The camera work needs to be steady, the pacing needs to be slow, and the actors' eyes need to be expressive. If it's made into a typical melodramatic soap opera, the book will be ruined."

Su Zhihao nodded: "I understand. This isn't a gambling movie, nor is it a zombie movie; it can't rely on hype to make it work."

After he finished speaking, he seemed troubled again: "But I haven't worked much in the television drama field before. The people in television stations are not the same as those in the film industry; they all have terrible tempers."

"So don't rush to launch the project." Lin Ying closed the book. "First, find someone to make an episode outline. Don't release the news to the public, and especially don't let anyone know that the author is at Boya Academy. Once the outline is ready, then you can talk to the TV station."

Su Zhihao looked at her: "You'll make it for me?"

Lin Ying rolled her eyes.

Su Zhihao realized what was happening and changed his tune: "I know you've stopped writing for a year and aren't writing scripts."

Lin Ying hummed in agreement.

"But you can at least offer your opinion, right?" Su Zhihao compromised. "I won't make you write the entire script, nor will I interfere with your studies. After you finish reading, can you list some points for me: whether it's suitable for filming, where to avoid certain plot points, and where to add scenes? That should be fine, right?"

Lin Ying thought for a moment and said, "Okay. But I'll only offer my opinion, I won't be named, and I won't participate in the contract."

Su Zhihao readily agreed: "Okay!"

Lin Ying continued, "Also, I won't test Teacher Zhou at school, nor will I pry into any of her private affairs for you."

Su Zhihao nodded: "I understand. If the author's identity leaks out from you, you'll be in trouble at school."