Chapter 618: Believe It or Not, I'm Still Working Overtime

Lu Yan He asked: "However, Sister Ziyan, why would Hong Qi tell me these things at this time? Isn't he afraid that I will tell these messages to Li Zhibai and Yan Liang, and let Lin Suyang and Zhou Ping'an know?"

Chen Ziyan asked with a smile: "Then why don't you think that he just wants to pass these words to Zhou Ping'an and Lin Suyang through you?"

Lu Yan He was stunned.

Chen Ziyan: "This is an open conspiracy, the kind that plays with cards on the table. Why has this matter been talked about for so long and only now has there been real action? Because Li Zhibai and Yan Liang have just renewed their contracts with the company, and the negative impact of this matter can be minimized."

Lu Yan He suddenly realized.

"If Zhou Ping'an and Lin Suyang don't accept it, then they leave the company. Anyway, they can't take Li Zhibai and Yan Liang away," Chen Ziyan said. "The timing is very critical at this time. So, in this way, in order to keep what they have in their hands, this kind of open conspiracy is not unacceptable by comparison."

"Sister Ziyan, what if I don't tell Li Zhibai and Yan Liang?" Lu Yan He asked. "Since I already know that Hong Qi wants to tell them through my mouth, and then let Zhou Ping'an and Yan Liang know, if I don't want to get involved, I just won't say it."

"If you don't say it, these words will still be passed to their ears openly and honestly. It's just that if these words come out of Li Zhibai and Yan Liang's mouths, it will save a lot of effort," Chen Ziyan said bluntly. "Hong Qi, this person, he is invisible most of the time and will not participate in the company's specific business. However, once he starts to take action, there are few times when he doesn't achieve his goal. He will calculate everything clearly, leaving people with nowhere to escape."

Lu Yan He was surprised and puzzled.

"This seems different from the image of him I heard at Star Entertainment before."

"He might enjoy being a lion that sleeps usually and can rule for a period of time when he roars at a critical moment," Chen Ziyan smiled.

"Okay," Lu Yan He asked. "Then if this is an open conspiracy for Zhou Ping'an and Lin Suyang, what about Ma Zhongquan and the others? They are vice presidents. Can't they see that this is an open conspiracy to divide them, and they don't have the ability to change such a situation?"

"Who is willing to refuse the opportunity to be the number one, and who is willing to change?" Chen Ziyan smiled slightly. "As for the company being weakened, who in his position would think that he couldn't rebuild the company after taking over? What's more, Star Entertainment's transformation itself is to open up territory for the peripheral development of idol artists in the future. Even if Hong Qi doesn't transfer other businesses to Woodpecker company, Ma Zhongquan will do the liquidation. As long as the actor business is not linked to him for a day, no matter how important this business is to the company, it has nothing to do with him personally."

Lu Yan He nodded.

Chen Ziyan: "These internal things at Star Entertainment really have nothing to do with you. This time Hong Qi must see you and tell you these things, asking you to be a consultant is secondary. He wants to see where the space for further cooperation with you is. Simply put, he wants to see you in person, not know you from the past or from my mouth."

"What kind of cooperation does he want to develop with me?" Lu Yan He asked in confusion.

"It's not just Star Entertainment that needs to transform. Woodpecker, this company whose main business is actor management, what kind of cooperation do you think he wants to develop with you?" Chen Ziyan said. "Don't say you won't cooperate with them. Li Zhibai and Yan Liang's actor contracts are both at Woodpecker. You will inevitably deal with them in the future. Plus Liu Zhiyin and Cheng Hai who have a good relationship with you... didn't you also arrange guest roles for them in *Chinese Paladin* later?"

Lu Yan He suddenly realized.

"Okay," he shrugged. "I didn't expect Mr. Hong to suddenly become interested in me."

"He has always been interested in you, but he didn't look at you from the level of a strategic partner before," Chen Ziyan said. "He has always felt that your various actions in the company, including *Jump Up*, were all relying on me behind the scenes, with my guidance, and didn't count these achievements on your heads."

Lu Yan He laughed.

"Sister Ziyan, is your relationship with Hong Qi good?"

"It's okay, at least better than the relationship with Ma Zhongquan and those few people," Chen Ziyan said. "Anyway, we have known each other for so many years. Work is work, and we still talk about the righteousness of the world, and our private friendship is good."

Being able to let Chen Ziyan say such words, it seems that the relationship is indeed good.

Of course, it is. When Chen Ziyan left Star Entertainment and established Shi Huo, Hong Qi still had shares in it. When Chen Ziyan was at Star Entertainment, she didn't have any executive position, but she had invisible, unshakable privileges at Star Entertainment. This must have been instructed and acquiesced by Hong Qi.

Lu Yan He actually didn't have any special impression of Hong Qi. The few times he dealt with him before were when he received the commendation for his bravery. Most of the time, as Chen Ziyan said, he was in a state of invisibility at Star Entertainment.

Instead, before the contract with Star Entertainment expired, Lu Yan He originally thought that Star Entertainment would entangle for a while, but he didn't expect that nothing happened, it was calm, and it ended very smoothly.

Chen Ziyan's evaluation was: "That's because your impression of Star Entertainment's top management mainly comes from Zhou Ping'an and Ma Zhongquan. They are the kind of people who have no posture and can use any means, but not everyone is like that."

Li Zhibai and Yan Liang's reactions were surprisingly consistent.

"Then just tell them," Li Zhibai said. "It's already said to be playing cards on the table, an open conspiracy."

Lu Yan He: "Will this affect your relationship with your agents? If this matter comes out of your mouths, then you have to express your attitude to them clearly."

Li Zhibai: "Brother Suyang won't let me make this kind of choice. He is a very smart person. Moreover, even if I am willing to support him unconditionally, my contract is at Star Entertainment. If it really reaches the worst point, he breaks up with the company, and I can't leave either. He knows this very well."

Yan Liang: "Zhou Ping'an is actually joining forces with Lin Suyang, wanting to put pressure on the company together to retain their power to manage artists across companies within the group. According to what you told us, the company is actually not forcing them to choose sides, but just wanting to divide their power. Then it depends on what they think themselves. In fact, the company doing this is actually a good thing for us. In the past, one person managed all our business, but now different businesses have more professional people to manage. Telling them this matter is an attitude in itself."

Indeed, Star Entertainment's approach is definitely more beneficial to artists.

There will be a more professional team to serve them.

"However, the three of us have dramas coming out next, so you guys should pay attention and don't let this matter affect your drama promotion," Lu Yan He reminded.

As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Liang sighed.

"What's wrong?" Lu Yan He asked.

"Don't mention it, I've already been affected. Zhou Ping'an asked Ma Zhongquan for a marketing budget for my drama promotion before, but was rejected by Ma Zhongquan," Yan Liang said. "However, no one knows who will be the CEO of Woodpecker company now."

"Then is there someone in charge of this business? Is there no one in charge?"

"It's temporarily managed by Vice President Xu Zhouji, but he used to be in charge of finance and doesn't understand our business, so he doesn't dare to sign casually," Yan Liang said. "Zhou Ping'an said he would definitely get this done before the drama promotion starts, but judging from the current situation, Zhou Ping'an might not even be able to take care of his own affairs."

Lu Yan He: "*Flowing Light* is a drama starring you and Zhang Lan. Didn't Zhang Lan's side get the promotion budget approved either?"

"I don't know about that, but Zhang Lan shouldn't have such troubles. Her agent only manages her," Yan Liang said. "The company's adjustment doesn't have a substantial impact on them. Her promotion budget won't be lacking."

Lu Yan He: "She won't be lacking, and you shouldn't be lacking either. If Ma Zhongquan doesn't approve, Xu Zhouji doesn't sign, and Zhou Ping'an can't manage it, then you go to Hong Qi yourself. Now whether it's Star Entertainment or Woodpecker, he is in charge. You are a client who can bring tens of millions of revenue to the company every year. If they can't even provide support during your drama promotion, according to your renewal contract with them, haven't they breached the contract?"

Yan Liang nodded.

Li Zhibai also said: "That's what it means. If you are embarrassed to go, I will help you go. My *Even Death Won't Do* is also about to be released. If they don't provide the necessary support according to the contract, then just break the contract."

Li Zhibai's temper came up again.

Lu Yan He nodded, "No matter how they want to adjust their own management, it cannot affect your affairs."

"It's really ridiculous. They want to divide the agent's power and cut the treatment we should have. Then what the hell are we cooperating for?" Li Zhibai said speechlessly. As he talked, he got angry, his face full of anger.

"Don't get excited while talking," Yan Liang patted Li Zhibai on the shoulder.

Lu Yan He: "Don't be angry."

Li Zhibai took a long breath.

"Right, don't be angry," Li Zhibai nodded, really couldn't help it, and slowly exhaled a breath, "I suddenly regret it very much now. Why did I renew my contract with Star Entertainment?"

Lu Yan He: "The management companies in this world are all the same, unless you go out to work alone. But if you go out to work alone, you have to worry about everything yourself, which is not a good thing. Do you know how many things Linghe has found for me to do and worry about now?"

Yan Liang: "But the initiative is still in your own hands. I envy this point. If I hadn't accumulated enough, and I couldn't write scripts and do projects like Yan He, I would want to open a studio myself. Even if it's hard, I don't have to be just a second party like now."

Lu Yan He: "It's okay, if you are willing, you can accumulate for a few more years, and you can definitely open a studio yourself."

Yan Liang nodded.

Li Zhibai said: "If you are willing to do it, take me with you. I don't want to do it myself, but it's okay to be your assistant."

Yan Liang nodded with a smile.

Yuming, Lingyang.

Chen Siqi was holding a tablet, sitting in the conference room, listening to the report on the International Film Critics Film Festival to be held at the end of the month.

"The itinerary and related arrangements have been adjusted and modified according to the last opinion. The Yuxi Hot Spring Hotel in Hangu has agreed to our quotation, a total of 42 rooms."

Chen Siqi nodded.

Everyone went through the details of the itinerary together, including some small details of airport pickup and drop-off. Chen Siqi didn't let go of any of them, requiring these invited film critics to receive "warm, enthusiastic but not luxurious" service.

This is a perception.

"Everyone must remember the positioning of our film festival this time. It is a gathering of a small private circle, a warm, comfortable, and relaxing film festival."

Everyone nodded.

"In terms of movies, Director Peter Umrich's *Homeland* trilogy has not been negotiated," He Sui, who is in charge of the movies screened at the film festival, reported. "Except for this trilogy, other target films have obtained authorization and can be commercially screened. We have to open pre-sales at the latest next week, otherwise it will be difficult to estimate the situation later. For every movie, we have a public discussion after the screening."

Chen Siqi said: "If Peter Umrich's *Homeland* trilogy really can't be negotiated, then give it up. What are our alternative films?"

"We want to try to fight for *Paradise*, which won an award at the Hexi Film Festival this year. It is one of the most watched movies at the Hexi Film Festival this year. If it can be screened at our film festival and discussed by film critics, it will make our film festival more valuable," He Sui said. "But this may require you and Little Brother Lu to go out. This movie has not been publicly screened yet, and they should be more cautious about screening at our film festival."

Chen Siqi nodded: "The distribution rights of *Paradise* in China have been taken by Long Yan Film Industry. Let's communicate and try our best to win it. If it really can't be won, are there any alternatives?"

He Sui said: "There are a few alternatives, but those are old movies. Although they are classic, the movies we screen this time already have half of classic old movies. I think there are a few fresh movies that are concerned by current audiences and have topics and discussions, which can better reflect the diversity of our film festival's selection."

Chen Siqi nodded.

She highly recognized He Sui's point of view.

Since we want to highlight the essence of "discussion" and "research" at this film festival, the object of discussion should first have "discussability." Classic is a kind of "discussability," and "topic" is certainly also one.

After the meeting, Linyu pulled Bai Yu and Zhou Mukai to stop Chen Siqi.

Chen Siqi was stunned.

At present, the main content editors of *Jump Up* magazine are the three of them. Chen Siqi didn't know what Linyu was calling her for suddenly.

"Is there any emergency with the magazine?" she asked.

"No," Linyu shook her head with a smile. "We have an idea, an idea about this film festival. We want to make a *Jump Up* special issue, specifically for the content of this film festival."

"Hmm?" Chen Siqi was stunned.

"The theme of our film festival this time is to discuss movies. Although film critics have many opportunities to express their comments on a movie in public, there must be more content that cannot be displayed in front of the camera one by one," Linyu said. "Of course, the reason why I want to make this book is not that I want to make a supplementary record for the film festival, but I think this topic can make this book be published and sold in countries all over the world. Famous film critics from all over the world sit together, express their opinions on some movies, and start discussions. People who truly love movies will definitely not miss this book." ===== CHAPTER 619 =====