Chapter 169

The Spring Festival slot required a reunion and festive atmosphere, so the budget for the actors' salaries alone in the project was a very high budget.

And this film was a large-scale road film. Except for China, the other filming locations were all in Europe, spanning four major countries. One could imagine the cost.

Investors all scanned the plot summary at a glance, because it was useless. After the few hundred words of plot statement were expanded into a two-hour film, it would actually become very rich content.

What they cared about most was the actors, the production team, and the final profit they could get.

It was the Spring Festival slot, after all. As long as the cast was luxurious enough and it was a pleasing comedy subject, the audience would definitely buy it, because "Jin Xiao" and "Liyang" had done Spring Festival projects before.

They invested 50,000 and finally got a box office of 360,000. That was definitely making a fortune.

After about fifteen minutes, everyone closed the materials one after another. Their expressions were different, but they were all waiting for the person in the main seat to speak first.

After a while, Yan Wenxi was about to speak, but was preempted by Boss Yang: "It's the Spring Festival slot, after all. It's a sure profit."

Lu Jinzhao and Hui Yang smiled at the same time, but heard Yan Wenxi snort and say: "Brother Yang, what you said—is there any business in this world that is a sure profit without loss?"

"Then does that mean Brother Yan doesn't intend to invest?"

"Brother Yang is joking again. I'm already sitting here, so I can't just drink people's wine for nothing, right? Whether to invest or not, I have to show some intention."

This was the first direct conversation between the two at this party, but one could hear the smell of gunpowder in just a few words.

Everyone just accompanied with a smile, while Shen Ci watched with great interest.

Lu Jinzhao said: "Everyone also knows that Hui Yang and I have cooperated on a Spring Festival slot before, and the effect was very good. As long as everyone is willing to invest this time, we will definitely give everyone a generous return."

"Lu Zong, no need to say this. If we weren't interested, we wouldn't have come. It's just a matter of how much to invest," someone said.

Lu Jinzhao nodded with a smile, and then heard Sister Kuan speak at the right time: "The heroine is our Ji Chuhe; the box office is definitely guaranteed."

Ji Chuhe, the top actress of "Jin Xiao."

"Then fine, shall I take the lead?" Boss Yang straightened his body, showing a wealthy and imposing appearance: "I'll invest 10,000. Little Lu, is that enough intention?"

10,000—that would certainly be a huge investment in an ordinary project.

But in this comedy film with a powerful lineup for the Spring Festival, it wasn't enough to look at.

Not to mention anything else, Ji Chuhe's market quote for a film was 7,500. Even if the company's own project appropriately suppressed the price, it would definitely not be lower than 6,000.

Boss Yang's investment wasn't even enough for the salaries of the male and female leads.

Lu Jinzhao could only laugh dryly, looking at Boss Yang and saying: "Boss Yang, add a bit more. The cost of this project is really high, burning more money than any of our company's previous projects."

Boss Yang laughed upon hearing this: "Your appetite is getting bigger and bigger now. 10,000 is too little?"

Lu Jinzhao wasn't complaining that it was too little; it was that if Boss Yang took the lead, it was impossible for others to report a price higher than Boss Yang's, otherwise wouldn't it be overstepping?

"Fine, money—whatever you want, I have." Boss Yang said, suddenly looking at Shen Ci with a giggle: "But Little Lu, I think the little beauty you brought today is a bit too quiet, right?"

Lu Jinzhao was startled. Before he could explain, Boss Yang had already laughed and said: "How about this, you let this little beauty toast me a glass of wine, and I'll add money!"

"No, Boss Yang..." Lu Jinzhao hurriedly stood up and said with a serious face: "You might have misunderstood. Miss Shen is not from our company. She is also an investor I invited to participate in the project."

Shen Ci sat calmly in her chair, looked at Boss Yang, and smiled slightly: "Boss Yang, hello. My name is Shen Ci."

Hearing that Shen Ci was also an investor, the expressions of everyone present changed slightly.

Such a young investor?

And the interest in Boss Yang's eyes became even more obvious: "Regardless of what identity, in Longcheng, it's not too much to toast me a glass of wine, right?"

"That's natural." Shen Ci didn't let Lu Jinzhao continue to block things for her but took the initiative to explain: "I am a junior, and I should toast everyone present. But I am indeed not feeling well today and cannot drink. If Boss Yang doesn't mind, can I substitute fruit juice for wine?"

The scene was silent as a ghost, and everyone subconsciously held their breath.

Only Dai Sirong hesitated for a moment, then suddenly picked up her wine glass and stood up with a smile: "Boss Yang, the girl is on her period; drinking wine will hurt her body. I'll toast you for her, and I'll punish myself with an extra glass."

The atmosphere was very dry. They saw Dai Sirong drink a glass of red wine and pour another, then drink it down in big gulps.

Shen Ci turned her head to look at her, her brows slightly furrowed.

But Boss Yang didn't buy it and didn't look at Dai Sirong at all. His gaze was still fixed on Shen Ci.

Clearly, it seemed Shen Ci couldn't get away without drinking this wine.

Just at this moment, an abrupt sneer sounded suddenly—it was Yan Wenxi.

He shook his head with a smile and said in a full-voiced tone: "Old brother, at your age, why are you making things difficult for a little girl? Your Xiangxiang is about the same age as her, right? Is this appropriate?"

This sounded like advice, but in reality, the mockery in his tone couldn't be concealed.

And Yan Wenxi was also the only person at this party who dared to speak to Boss Yang like this.

Everyone didn't know what kind of expression to put on for a while, and didn't know what to say, because opening their mouths clearly meant taking sides.

Taking either side would offend the other.

"Haha..." Boss Yang suddenly laughed out loud: "Isn't this just a joke? Little Lu said he wanted me to add money, so I thought about having a drink with the little beauty. Wouldn't the matter of adding money then be a matter of course?"

Yan Wenxi snorted: "The little girl is also an investor. You invest in Little Lu; what does it have to do with her?"

Boss Yang shrugged: "Then what else is there to say? Then I won't add it, right? Let this little sister invest a bit more."

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Yan Wenxi: "Brother, you standing up for a little girl—I find it fresh. Don't tell me you've taken a fancy to her because she's good-looking?"

Yan Wenxi turned his head to look at him, the look under his lenses turning cold: "I don't have that kind of hobby."

Lu Jinzhao's face didn't look very good. He wanted to speak for Miss Shen, but he really didn't dare to offend Boss Yang.

He was even less likely to let Miss Shen toast just to make Boss Yang add investment.

"I'll also invest 10,000," Yan Wenxi said to Lu Jinzhao.

Others saw that it had returned to the topic, so they followed suit: "Then I'll do 5,000."

"I'll do 5,000 too!"

"I'll invest 7,000, but I have to stuff someone in!"

"I'll invest 4,000, and I have to stuff someone in, a small role will do."

Everyone quoted their prices one after another. The project was a good project. As long as there were no moths, it would definitely make money, so these people weren't worried in their hearts.

Finally, Lu Jinzhao and Hui Yang calculated it—it was a total investment of 68,000.

It was still a full 32,000 short of the 100,000 budget.

And Shen Ci hadn't quoted yet.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Shen Ci. Boss Yang smiled and looked at Shen Ci, raising his eyebrows and asking: "Is the little beauty still considering? Why haven't you quoted?"

Shen Ci smiled slightly and said slowly: "I was just waiting for everyone to quote first. It's 32,000 short. I'll make up this hole for Lu Zong. We can't let the project fall through, right?"

After finishing, Shen Ci straightened her expression, and her aura instantly arrived: "But Lu Zong and President Hui have to agree to a few conditions for me."

What day is it tomorrow?

(End of chapter)