Chapter 661: It

Just as Chen Ziyan had judged, once Parameter heard that Lu Yanhe was interested in this project and took the initiative to extend an olive branch, they responded immediately, expressing their willingness to sit down with Lu Yanhe and discuss the prospects of collaborating on this film.

Chen Ziyan was in no rush to reply, keeping them hanging for about half a day: Yan He happened to be in Los Angeles during this period.

Consequently, both sides agreed to meet the next day.

Chen Ziyan said, "Whether in terms of the schedule or the genre itself, you won't be acting in this film. Therefore, this time, I will ultimately make an offer they cannot possibly accept, forcing them to retreat in the face of difficulty. That way, the problem won't end up on our side."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

"However, if we do this, we cannot lower the salary for the film *Godless* over at Green Valley," Chen Ziyan said. "Otherwise, Parameter will know we are playing them, which would be unfavorable for the subsequent negotiations regarding Jiang Jun's casting."

"Then what kind of salary are you planning to ask for?"

"Ten million." Chen Ziyan had already thought through the salary price in advance and said, "This is a salary level you certainly haven't reached yet, but after so many blockbuster contracts like *The Mist* and its sequel, *Hurricane 2*, and the *Godless* series, this quote won't seem too brainless."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

"Hollywood salaries are still better to earn. Ten million US dollars is over sixty million RMB, and that's not even the top-tier salary in Hollywood," Lu Yanhe remarked with emotion. "Indeed, I need to come and earn more dollars. I should write more scripts like *Buried* and *Source Code*."

Chen Ziyan: "As long as you can write them, writing more is certainly a good thing. Look, you are so respected in the director and actor circles now. Besides your own achievements as an actor, another important reason is that you can write very impressive scripts. Whether it's commercial films or award-winning art films, you can write them all. Who wouldn't want to leave a good impression in front of you and gain an opportunity to act in your films? Your prestige in the industry is built up slowly like this. After all, although actors occupy more dividends and have higher incomes than directors and screenwriters, to everyone, their prestige is, to a certain extent, higher than that of actors. In the industry, the professional status of directors and screenwriters is higher than that of actors at the same level."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

"Lu Yanhe is going to Parameter's company, tomorrow."

At the same time, domestically.

Zhang Yuezhen hung up the phone with an extremely ugly expression and said to Chen Pinhe, who was sitting on the other side.

Chen Pinhe looked up.

"He's going... for the film *Doomsday*?"

"Yes," Zhang Yuezhen said. "He really heard about the film *Doomsday* and wants to go negotiate with Parameter to get this film."

Chen Pinhe's expression became even more serious.

"You told me before that the contract was already signed, so what is he going there for?"

Zhang Yuezhen: "The contract is stuck at Parameter's end and hasn't been signed yet."

Chen Pinhe's hand clenched instantly.

Zhang Yuezhen hesitated for a moment and said, "I need to buy the next available flight to Los Angeles."

Chen Pinhe nodded, his expression softening, and said, "That's the only way. Do you need me to accompany you?"

"Not for now," Zhang Yuezhen said. "You are not Lu Yanhe; your status and fame are set here. You still need to maintain your composure when you should. You are an artist, not a box-office upstart."

Chen Pinhe sat over and hugged Zhang Yuezhen.

"Fortunately, I have you." He looked at Zhang Yuezhen with deep affection in his eyes.

Zhang Yuezhen sighed and said, "I shouldn't have taken the job as your agent in the first place; it's too much of a headache."

Chen Pinhe said, "Without you as my agent, my acting career would have come to an end. I only trust you."

Zhang Yuezhen curled the corners of her mouth.

"Really?"

"Really." Chen Pinhe nodded. "You know, my previous two agents were with me since I had no fame, but they left later, and I had no one I could trust. In this industry, if there isn't someone I trust in charge of my acting work, I can't work at all. I wouldn't know which job is a trap."

Zhang Yuezhen nodded.

"You're just too unwilling to believe in anyone."

"Believing in you is enough," Chen Pinhe said with a smile. "Right?"

"Who told me to fall in love with you the first time I saw you? Then I'll take a loss." Zhang Yuezhen sighed and glared at him with a look of grievance. "But you have to promise me that no matter what happens, you are not allowed to hide anything from me."

"What could I hide from you?" Chen Pinhe smiled. "You know everything about me."

The smile in Zhang Yuezhen's eyes froze slightly.

—Is that so?

—Then when do you plan to confess the matter about Lu Yanhe to me?

The smile in Zhang Yuezhen's eyes began to flow again.

"As long as you know. Let me tell you, there is nothing you can hide from my sharp eyes." Zhang Yuezhen hummed coquettishly and wrapped her arms around Chen Pinhe's neck.

Chen Pinhe's smile reached his eyes.

He kissed her.

Lu Yanhe walked along an avenue covered in golden fallen leaves.

Chen Ziyan took a few photos.

Wan Qingqing stood beside her, looking at the scene before her, and sighed: "The Creator is so unfair. Why can some people grow up to look like Lu Yanhe?"

Chen Ziyan: "Then you're mistaken. Lu Yanhe's looks, if you really analyze them, can only be rated an 8 in the entertainment industry. He doesn't count as a top-tier handsome guy. It's his entire temperament that adds so much to him—sunny, scholarly, clean, generous, and untainted by the habits of those young male stars in the entertainment industry who paint their faces with powder—it's not anything else, they all end up looking the same. But actually, people, especially women, still prefer the original, natural feeling. No matter when you look at him, you feel he is a real person, not a star packaged for display."

"Then that can only mean Brother Lu's own conditions are good. He doesn't need powder, and he's truly handsome—hard-edged handsome. Those stars in the entertainment industry only wear powder when they go out because they are ugly," Wan Qingqing commented very meanly.

Chen Ziyan: "Then you are really mistaken. I don't know what it's like here in Hollywood, but domestically, they wear makeup wherever they go, regardless of gender. If even a little bit of dark skin, poor condition, or dark circles appear, there will be overwhelming negative comments about you. And you can't ignore it, because producers, brands, etc., all care about the public evaluation of the artist they are collaborating with. Yan He can afford not to care because these comments can no longer affect him. Others cannot prevent such influence and can only wear powder. Even if it eventually causes the negative effects I just mentioned, it's still better than being attacked for being ugly, in poor condition, unmanaged, and having a poor image."

Wan Qingqing sighed.

"Deformed."

"Yes, we all know it's deformed, but there's no other way," Chen Ziyan said. "The whole environment is like this. What can we do?"

Lu Yanhe walked back from the front.

"Are you done shooting?"

"Done." Chen Ziyan nodded. "I'll send them to my colleagues later and have them edit the photos."

"What is this for?" Wan Qingqing asked curiously.

"Post it on Weibo," Chen Ziyan smiled.

To announce directly on Weibo that at this very moment, Lu Yanhe is in Los Angeles.

To start spreading the news that Lu Yanhe is negotiating his next film collaboration in Hollywood.

If Jiang Jun really fails to compete against Chen Pinhe and Chen Pinhe ends up winning the film, Chen Ziyan will release the news that this film was originally approached by Lu Yanhe, but because they couldn't agree on the salary, the film ended up in Chen Pinhe's hands—

What matters here is the sequence of consideration and the level of the salary.

That's right, *Doomsday* did approach Lu Yanhe, and both sides entered the negotiation process. That's right, Lu Yanhe didn't end up acting in *Doomsday* because the salary couldn't be agreed upon. In other words, if the salary had been agreed upon, this film would have been Lu Yanhe's. And the fact that they couldn't agree on Lu Yanhe's salary but could agree on Chen Pinhe's shows that Chen Pinhe's asking price is lower than Lu Yanhe's.

The gap between the two is invisibly drawn out.

Then, at this moment, announce the news of Lu Yanhe collaborating with Green Valley Film Company on the *Godless* film series.

Salary?

Sorry, the salary is confidential.

However, having rejected *Doomsday* but accepted *Godless*, guess what that means.

This whole set of tactics was thought up by Chen Ziyan.

Lu Yanhe was amazed.

To summarize, this defensive battle against Chen Pinhe is flexible—it can attack and it can defend.

Chen Ziyan said: "Because, to put it bluntly, this defensive battle is us playing a game of empty-handed white wolf. The item is in his hands; if we succeed, we profit. If we don't, we can still disgust him. He is at a disadvantage from the start. But by the same token, perhaps later when we have something in our hands and he attacks, we will become the defensive side."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

"There will be plenty of fighting later," Chen Ziyan said. "Before, we had no direct conflict with them and mutually ignored each other's existence. Now that we have made the first move, don't expect them to just stand there and let us hit them. They will definitely counterattack later." "Good," Lu Yanhe nodded. "We have thick blood; we can afford to fight."

He added: "At worst, if he steals all my foreign films, it doesn't matter. I'll write the scripts myself; I'll write, direct, and act in them myself."

Chen Ziyan smiled.

"My previous tricks were fake rascality; yours is the real rascality, the kind that has no solution."

"Is that a compliment to me?"

"In this matter, yes." Chen Ziyan nodded seriously, her eyes smiling. "It's quite good. Relying on anyone is not as good as relying on yourself. Things truly in your own hands can never be taken away by anyone."

Under Chen Ziyan's arrangement, Lu Yanhe is in Los Angeles contacting a Hollywood film company to discuss a new film.

News related to Lu Yanhe ferments quickly anyway; after all, he is the only one in the world who has reached his level of stardom internationally.

Under Chen Ziyan's intentional promotion, this matter climbed the hot search list even faster.

Soon, media outlets came to inquire about the situation.

Chen Ziyan and Wang Biao, the two people more recognized by the outside world, also received many calls from the media, wanting to dig for some news they could report exclusively.

Naturally, the two of them used the phrasing most likely to provoke further discussion, throwing out clues bit by bit.

【Content is being read!】

—Yes, we are in contact, but the specific project cannot be revealed for the time being. Please forgive us.

—Of course, it's a project from a top-tier company. Hmm, the role is very challenging, and the screen time is not short.

—It's still just in the contact stage; nothing has been decided yet.

—What type of film? It's not easy to say, but it is indeed a key project.

—Salary? Haha, this is naturally confidential. Can't say, it's a trade secret.

—Actually, this is also a choice for both sides. They want to talk to Yan He further to see the suitability of the collaboration, and we also need more information to further evaluate this project.

—Yan He will still focus on Chinese-language film and television dramas. However, if there are good foreign-language scripts and good production teams, he will certainly accept overseas films. Whether it's a big production or not doesn't matter; we don't value that.

The news that Lu Yanhe's next Hollywood film has new developments was spread far and wide.

So much so that some friends around Lu Yanhe came to ask about the situation.

Including Liu Bige.

Liu Bige called directly and asked: "Are you an animal? You haven't even filmed so many projects yet, and you're already contacting new ones."

"It's just contact," Lu Yanhe smiled helplessly. "Isn't contact very normal? How many actors are contacting over a dozen projects? This is also a very normal thing."

Look at that Leonardo, who was once beautiful as a flower and is now pot-bellied—the projects he is contacting at the same time have never been lower than two digits. *The Devil in the White City* has been tossing and turning for four or five years and has returned to him.

In the real entertainment industry, for any film or television project, before it actually starts filming, you never know where the next variable is, and you never know who the project will end up with.

Just like Lu Yanhe returning to *Friends*.

Liu Bige said: "Can our film *Storm Calmer No. 1* still be filmed as usual next year?"

"The schedule is reserved for you, but you need to decide as soon as possible. There are quite a few projects to be filmed next year," Lu Yanhe said. "Decide on the filming time earlier, and I can confirm my time here."

"It has been preliminarily decided to film this movie next summer. However, Long Yan seems to plan to arrange for *Burning Fire* to be released in the summer. They certainly don't want you to be absent from the promotion," Liu Bige said.

"Even if it's released in the summer, it's not a big problem. In the agreement I signed with Long Yan, I only promised to cooperate with them for five promotional events," Lu Yanhe said. "Of course, if we can avoid this period, that would be best."

"Then from May to June, give me about two months, how about that?"

"Okay," Lu Yanhe said. "I'll tell Wang Biao to reserve the schedule."

Liu Bige asked: "I heard that you have quite a few plays to film next year, including the sequel to *The Mist* which is also starting filming next year?"

"Yes, but that won't be until the end of next year," Lu Yanhe said. "Up until now, they haven't even given me the script."

Liu Bige: "As long as they can be staggered, it's fine."

"Hmm, but I will have a headache because the end of every year is when I film *Friends*. If they insist on filming in December or January, that would be terrible. I hope not; otherwise, I can only give up one of the two plays."

"Actually, I originally thought you should have stopped filming *Friends* long ago. It occupies so much of your time and energy. But this story should have ended long ago, at least your part should have ended. You could completely use this time to do more worthwhile projects," Liu Bige said bluntly from his perspective as a friend.

Although this was the first time Lu Yanhe heard such words, he was not surprised at all.

He had actually felt similar thoughts many times from the hesitant attitudes of friends around him.

*Friends* is very popular, that's true, but for the current Lu Yanhe, it no longer has the necessity to continue filming.

This is a very realistic consideration.

But—

"To me, it is a very worthwhile project," Lu Yanhe said. "In my heart, sitcoms, especially this kind of sitcom that can accompany the audience for many years, I really want to keep doing. Perhaps there will be a time when it has to end, but at least it hasn't reached that time yet."

"I guessed you would say that," Liu Bige's tone sounded a bit helpless.

Lu Yanhe: "Then can you support me?"

"Do you need my support?"

"As a friend, of course," Lu Yanhe said. "Perhaps you think I don't need it, but actually I do. To me, the most important thing is the attitude of the people around me."

"Then you should know that no matter what you do, even if we don't understand, we will definitely support you," Liu Bige said. "Did you say something to Huang Tai before? Recently, she suddenly became extra concerned about the projects I want to do later. The meaning behind her words is that if I really have a project I want to do, she will definitely support me."

Lu Yanhe smiled.

"That's a good thing."

"Thank you," Liu Bige's tone suddenly became serious and very sincere. "If it weren't for you, perhaps no second person would make her realize these problems. To be honest, Yan He, after many people knew about the problems between me and Long Yan, their first reaction was to let me leave Long Yan and end the cooperative relationship with Long Yan. Sigh."

"I know, it's not that easy, I know," Lu Yanhe said "I know" twice in a row. "They would say that to you because you are already a very successful director. No matter where you go, there will be film companies willing to open the green light for your projects. However, conflict and friction are one thing, but Long Yan has also provided you with many things, whether it's the opportunity for your first play or its top-level level in software and hardware as the top film company in China. This is not something any film company can replace."

"Hmm," Liu Bige said. "In the end, I am actually still at a disadvantage in front of them."

"It's okay, you've only filmed two movies, the situation will definitely get better and better because your industry status will get higher and higher, and Long Yan will also respect you more and more," Lu Yanhe said. "You must accept that the current Long Yan still treats you as that young man who needs their support to be a film director. This takes time to slowly change their attitude."

Liu Bige: "You said it very correctly."

"Because I have experienced all of these," Lu Yanhe smiled. "Things are just like this. Except for yourself, no one can understand your situation from your perspective."

Liu Bige: "Actually, I have one more thing to tell you."

"What is it?"

Liu Bige: "The Xitu'er Film Festival contacted me, inviting me to be a judge for the main competition unit next year."

"Yo, that's possible. If you have time, you must go," Lu Yanhe said. "They invited me before, but I really didn't have time, so I refused."

"But you accepted the position of Chairman of the Jury for the Blue Ribbon Drama Awards," Liu Bige said with a smile. "Aren't these two awards around the same time?"

"The judging work for the Blue Ribbon ends in January, which is fine," Lu Yanhe said. "But I have to attend the Spring Festival Gala in February, and I have to film *Friends*. The jury for the Blue Ribbon Drama Awards can be held near the *Friends* set, but the Xitu'er Film Festival cannot."

Liu Bige: "I'll go, the Blue Ribbon agreed to move the judging work for the drama awards to the side of your *Friends* set?"

"Hmm, otherwise I really couldn't participate," Lu Yanhe said. "Mainly... the judging work for the Xitu'er Film Festival, if I go, it's actually mainly helpful to my career, adding glory. But whether I go or not doesn't affect the quality of the results of the Xitu'er Film Festival itself. But the Blue Ribbon, they really convinced me. So, do a little bit if I can. Perhaps in the future, we can really create an award that is truly convincing and has the significance of the Emmys to European and American dramas. If this is really achieved, that is also a credit to me."

"You," Liu Bige smiled and sighed. "Okay, anyway, you are the trend now, push it away if you want. Judging doesn't count for much, strive to win a Best Actor award at the Xitu'er Film Festival in the future."

"Okay, it depends on *Storm Calmer No. 1*," Lu Yanhe said. "The pressure is on you. If I don't win Best Actor at the Xitu'er Film Festival for this play, then it's your problem."

"I—" Liu Bige didn't know what to say for a moment. "The road is long and the responsibility is heavy. Okay, I'll try my best."

"Okay, it's up to you," Lu Yanhe said with a smile and hung up the phone.

Recommending the old entertainment-themed book *I Became the Scandal Protagonist Overnight* (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 662 =====