Huayu: You were supposed to be a top star, but you've become capital?

After listening, Lin Shen started calculating in his mind.

It may be a bad movie, but it makes money.

With box office revenue of over a billion yuan, the return on investment will not be low, and the box office revenue share is real.

As for the bad reputation? Anyway, everyone is criticizing Da Peng, so what does it have to do with him being an investor?

Lin Shen smiled and looked at Chen Zhixi:

"Since Sister Xi has spoken, I definitely have to support her. After all, this is your last project before joining Forest."

"Don't give me that crap, I haven't even agreed to join yet." Chen Zhixi picked up his teacup and took a sip. "Besides, you're such a sly fox, who knows what you're up to?"

Lin Shen looked completely wronged: "Sister Xi, you've really misunderstood me. I genuinely wanted to help you, but your project is stuck, how can you concentrate on anything else?"

Chen Zhixi stared at him for a while, then suddenly smiled.

"Okay then." She asked tentatively, "Da Peng is always thinking about getting big-name celebrities to make cameo appearances. You've already invested the money, why don't you also have a cameo appearance yourself?"

"don't want."

Lin Shen refused quite readily.

Chen Zhixi raised an eyebrow at him.

Lin Shen quickly tried to smooth things over: "I'm about to go to Changbai Mountain to film a movie. I still have a lot of scenes to film for 'The Lost Tomb,' so I really don't have time. Investing is fine, but I can skip the cameo role."

Chen Zhixi looked at him and smiled meaningfully: "Alright, I know you're a busy person. I'll go back and have someone make a budget, and send it to you later."

Lin Shen nodded.

After finishing their business and drinking tea twice, neither of them rushed to continue the conversation.

Chen Zhixi leaned back in his chair, looked at Lin Shen, and suddenly spoke:

"Lin Shen, are you serious about asking me to be the CEO?"

Lin Shen met her gaze: "I'm serious."

Why?

Lin Shen thought for a moment and said seriously, "Because I've seen your resume. Starting with 'Lost in Thailand,' every project you've participated in, regardless of its size, has ultimately succeeded."

And you're not the kind of producer who just spends money; you understand the market, you understand content, and you know how to turn a project from paper to the big screen.

Lin Shen paused for a moment, then continued, "The Forest has just been established and needs someone who can keep things in check. After thinking it over, you're the most suitable."

Chen Zhixi listened without speaking, his fingers slowly stroking the rim of the teacup.

After a while, she finally spoke: "Then I also have a few questions."

Lin Shen made a "please" gesture.

"First, what is Forest's positioning? Is it content creation or investment?"

"Content is the primary focus, investment is secondary. We organize our own projects and also co-invest in some promising films. But the core is content, not a game of capital."

Chen Zhixi nodded, then asked, "Secondly, what is your relationship with Tencent? They invested money, so how much say do they have?"

"Penguin only holds 20%, and it's a financial investment agreement," Lin Shen replied.

"Project decisions and personnel appointments are all on my side. Some of them may join the board of directors, but the voting rights are in my hands."

Chen Zhixi's eyes lit up, but he didn't show it and continued to ask:

"Third, if I were to come, what level of authority would I have?"

Lin Shen looked at her and smiled: "Except for large sums of money that require my signature, everything else at the project level is up to you. What projects to find, what meetings to organize, who to sign—you decide."

Chen Zhixi raised an eyebrow: "You trust me that much?"

Lin Shen picked up his teacup and said slowly, "I wouldn't be sitting here if I didn't trust someone."

Chen Zhixi looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then smiled.

"Okay, then I'll tell you the truth."

She put down her teacup, sat up straight, and said, "I am indeed interested in the forest, but you have to show me your sincerity."

Lin Shen nodded: "Go ahead."

"First, I don't want a base salary; I want equity and project profit sharing."

Lin Shen raised an eyebrow, but didn't reply, gesturing for her to continue.

"Secondly, I want 10% of the project revenue, which is 10% of the net profit."

"Third, the options must be exercised within three years, and the proportion must be no less than 5%."

After Chen Zhixi finished speaking, he looked at Lin Shen and said, "This is my bottom line."

After listening, Lin Shen didn't rush to answer, but picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Then he put down his teacup and slowly began to speak:

"5% options are acceptable, but the vesting period needs to be extended to five years. Three years is too short; I need you to stay long-term."

Chen Zhixi frowned: "Five years?"

"Five years." Lin Shen nodded. "And I reserve the right of first refusal. If you want to leave in the future, I have the right to buy it back at the market price."

Chen Zhixi thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay."

"A 10% share of the project revenue is no problem," Lin Shen continued, "but only for projects you lead. For other projects, you'll be charged the normal producer fee."

"OK."

Lin Shen paused, then added, "In addition, I can give you an extra 2% of stock options as a signing bonus. But the condition for exercising these 2% options is that you must work for five years and meet the performance targets for the first two years."

Chen Zhixi's eyes lit up for a moment, but she quickly suppressed them and looked at him: "You're pushing the limits."

Lin Shen smiled: "So, will Sister Xi answer?"

Chen Zhixi stared at him for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "Lin Shen, you're quite good at negotiating."

Lin Shen poured her tea: "So, we've reached an agreement?"

Chen Zhixi picked up her teacup and looked at him: "I have one last question."

"explain."

"Why do you insist on having me? There are plenty of people in the industry who could be CEOs, and some with more experience than me."

Lin Shen put down the teapot and looked at her intently:

"Because I don't need an obedient executor, I need someone who can argue with me, slam their fist on the table and say the project is no good, and more importantly, someone who can pull me back when I make a stupid mistake."

"People like that are rare in this industry. You're one of them."

After listening, Chen Zhixi remained silent for a while.

Then she picked up her teacup and held it up: "Okay, that's settled then."

Lin Shen also picked up his teacup and clinked it against hers.

They each took a sip, put down their cups, and smiled at each other.

Just as Chen Zhixi was about to speak, she saw Lin Shen pull a file folder from his bag, place it on the table, and push it towards her.

She looked down and saw the words printed on the cover: Equity Cooperation Agreement (Draft).

Chen Zhixi looked up at him, somewhat speechless.

"So well prepared?"

Lin Shen laughed heartily: "Of course, how can we not prepare for someone of Sister Yue Xi's caliber?"

Chen Zhixi rolled her eyes at him, picked up the document and flipped through it. She quickly found the core terms: 5%+2% stock options, a five-year vesting period, and a 10% share of the project's net profit.

It's exactly the same as what we just talked about.

She closed the file and looked at Lin Shen: "Aren't you afraid that the conditions I just discussed will be different from what you prepared?"

Lin Shen leaned back and smiled frankly: "Then let's change it on the spot."

Chen Zhixi was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Okay, you're good."

She put the documents away in her bag: "I'll keep them for now, and have my lawyer review them before I sign them."

"Of course." Lin Shen nodded.

The waiter started serving the dishes, all of which were light and home-style dishes. The two ate and chatted.

Chen Zhixi picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and suddenly asked, "By the way, Feng Kuzi's side has started again, have you seen it?"

Lin Shen nodded: "I've seen it."

"What are your plans?"

Lin Shen smiled and pointed out the window: "I just came from the broadcasting station. I've been filming for two days."

Chen Zhixi's eyes lit up, and he instantly understood what he meant.

"Well, you're something else," she laughed. "This time, Feng Kuzi is probably going to end up shooting himself in the foot."

Lin Shen waved his hand: "It's nothing, don't worry about it."

Chen Zhixi looked at him: "You don't need to worry about Huayi either?"

Lin Shen knew what she was thinking, put down his chopsticks, and slowly said:

"Sister Xi, the penguins behind our forest are different from those penguins at Huayi, who just invest money but don't care. The penguins here really value us."

"Let them try to ride the wave; it's still uncertain who will ultimately win."

After listening, Chen Zhixi nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

"Okay, as long as you understand."