novellhall Chapter 66: It's moistened.
Chapter 66: It's moistened.
Yanjing in March.
Before the willow catkins even started to drift, the sandstorm arrived first.
Wei Yi woke up in the faculty dormitory at Beijing Film Academy.
Looking out at the gray sky, he found for the first time that the sandstorm was more pleasing to the eye than the streetscape of Manhattan.
"You really came all the way back like that?"
Fan Binbin sat on the edge of the bed, his face clearly saying, "Are you crazy?"
Wei Yi sat up in bed, scratching his head: "Aren't we going to run away and get drugged?"
"Who drugged you?"
"That Frenchman," Wei Yi said, putting on his slippers to get some water, "some kind of observer sent by LV. He brought over two glasses of whiskey, and system—no, I saw him put something in the glasses with my own eyes."
Fan Xiaopang, who was initially dissatisfied, was stunned: "You saw it with your own eyes?"
"Um."
Wei Yi took a sip of water, lying without batting an eye, "He flicked the powder into the cup, thinking I hadn't noticed. If I had drunk it, I'd probably be being photographed in some private villa right now."
Fan Binbin looked at him with suspicion: "How can you be sure it's drugs?"
"If it weren't for drugs, why would he be sneaking around? Why not just openly pour me a drink? Besides..."
Wei Yi put down his cup, his voice deepening. "I've inquired about it. Those guys love to do this at parties. They drag you in first, then use this to control you. By then, you won't be able to refuse to work for them."
Fan Binbin remained silent for a while.
"What about Anna Wintour?"
"I told her to film in China. She can film if she wants, or not if she doesn't."
"She agreed?"
"I agreed."
Fan Binbin took a deep breath and stared at him for a long time without saying a word.
"Those foreigners are crazy. They're terrifying." Wei Yi chuckled self-deprecatingly. "That's why I rushed back."
"Have you told anyone about this?"
"I told my teacher, and you too."
Fan Binbin pursed her lips, then suddenly laughed: "What about Chow Yun-fat and Li Jie?"
"They weren't being targeted. They wanted me."
"Tsk tsk." Fan Binbin stood up. "Alright, now that you're back early, shouldn't you take care of your company business?"
Wei Yi picked up his phone and glanced at the text message.
Tian Erzhuang sent this message this morning: "You're back? Han Sanping wants you to go to China Film Group tomorrow to discuss profit sharing."
"Let's go get the money tomorrow," Wei Yi tossed his phone back onto the bedside table, "and then start the company."
The next day.
China Film Group.
The conference room door opened, and Han Sanping was already sitting inside.
Several documents were on the table, with the top one weighed down by a paperweight.
Tian Erzhuang was sitting by the window when he saw Wei Yi come in, and he nodded at him.
"Sit down." Han Sanping moved the paperweight aside, without mentioning why he had returned from the United States ahead of schedule.
He simply pushed the document in front of Wei Yi.
It is a box office revenue sharing statement.
Wei Yi looked down.
Total box office: 3.82 million.
The theaters receive 55% of the revenue, and the distribution fee is 5%.
The production company received approximately 1.38 million yuan.
I personally invested 100 million yuan, accounting for 50% of the shares.
Including the director's share of the profits, screenwriter's fees, and cinematography fees.
The last row of numbers is circled in red.
His personal pre-tax income: approximately 7500 million.
The meeting room was silent for several seconds.
Wei Yi stared at that number for a long time.
In my past life, I was a civil servant in a small county town. Later, I became a top-tier online novelist and then a web series director. All of that combined didn't earn me even a tenth of this amount.
Now a movie costs 75 million.
Tian Erzhuang leaned over for a look, then leaned back, the chair creaking.
"I've been acting for most of my life." He looked at the ceiling, his tone unfocused, "and I haven't earned this much in total."
Han Sanping leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"You now hold the record for the highest-grossing domestic film. The higher-ups are already discussing policy support. I'll keep an eye on the tax refund situation for you, and I'll let you know as soon as there's any news."
Wei Yi snapped out of his daze and looked at Han Sanping: "Third Master, when will the money arrive?"
"What's the rush?"
"Start a company."
Han Sanping laughed: "Remember to invite me to the opening of your Hehuan Film and Television."
"Hey, you even know the name."
Han Sanping looked at Tian Erzhuang.
Tian Erzhuang looked out the window, his expression innocent as if he hadn't said anything.
On the way back to school, the system popped up.
[First stage of tribulation completed; Golden Core condensation progress: 100%]
[Host's cultivation level has been detected to meet the requirements. New feature unlocked - Sect Construction System (Beginner)]
[Requirements for Creating Your Own Sect]
[① Cultivation (funds) threshold: Met]
【②Fixed Dojo: Incomplete】
[③At least three inner disciples: Incomplete]
[④ The Sect's Triumph Incident: The box office record for "One Shot" has been automatically included]
Wei Yi leaned back in his car seat, closed his eyes, and asked the system: What are the standards for inner disciples?
[A core member who shares the fate of the sect.]
Three.
He went through the candidates in his mind.
Li Hua counts. Mu Tingting counts. We're one short.
Fan Binbin?
She is still with Huayi.
The penalty for breach of contract is 50 million, which cannot be redeemed at the moment.
Just then, Tian Erzhuang called.
"Li Hua said you asked him to help you find a house?"
"Um."
"Found it. It's a five-story building next to Chaoyang Park, outside the North Third Ring Road."
"How much?"
"The rent is over a million yuan a year. The original tenant was in IT, but he couldn't keep the business going after six months and was in a hurry to sell. We can negotiate a deal with a deposit of one month's rent and three months' rent in advance."
"Let's go take a look tomorrow."
North Third Ring Road.
Chaoyang Park.
There was a five-story building by the roadside, its exterior walls were dusty and gray, and the door was still sealed off by the previous owner.
Li Hua took out his key and opened the door, turning back as he walked in, saying, "It used to be a game company, but it went bankrupt six months ago. The furniture and everything are still there; we can tidy it up and use it."
Wei Yi stopped in the lobby on the first floor. The floor was made of cement, the walls were white, and two of the fluorescent light tubes were broken.
Li Hua rubbed his hands together beside him: "The location is a bit out of the way, but it's cheap. Once we clean it up, put up a sign, and add a couple of potted plants, it'll look like a proper place in no time."
It's outside the North Third Ring Road but inside the North Fourth Ring Road!
Is this considered remote?
Oh, right.
It's still 2006.
That is indeed a bit remote.
"Okay." Wei Yi nodded. "That's it."
Li Hua was taken aback for a moment: "Not looking at anything else?"
"I'm not watching anymore."
"Okay!"
Li Hua slapped his thigh and pulled a document from his bag. "Then I'm officially resigning. I've already spoken to Director Zhang. Anyway, I was just a lowly assistant director on 'Curse of the Golden Flower.' So, is your offer to make me production supervisor still valid?"
"Calculate."
Li Hua stared at the resignation letter for two seconds, then chuckled and signed his name at the bottom.
"They've upgraded from slingshots to cannons! He's become a director!"
evening.
Huayi Brokerage Department.
Fan Binbin told his agent mother about his desire to terminate his contract.
Zhang Chuanmei remained silent for a long time before pushing a contract in front of her.
"The penalty for breach of contract is fifty million. Can you come up with that now?"
Fan Binbin bit her lip.
She couldn't produce it.
Even if you sell the house and use all your savings, it's still far from enough.
"Besides," Zhang Chuanmei looked at her, "you want to go to Hehuan Film and Television. Right now, all he has is a rented small building, a van, and two and a half employees—himself, Li Hua, and his girlfriend (who counts as half). What can you do there? Start from scratch with him?"
Fan Binbin didn't say anything.
Zhang Chuanmei sighed: "It's not that Mom doesn't support you. You still have a year and a half left on your contract. Just get through this year and a half first, and leave when it expires. No one can stop you. During this year and a half, he wants to use you, and you want to help him. We can just cooperate on a priority basis."
Fan Binbin gritted his teeth, knowing that unless Huayi took the initiative to release him.
Otherwise, this was indeed the only way; his dream of becoming Wei Yi's "founding disciple" was ultimately thwarted.