Chapter 141: Copyright

In Jingcheng, at Xiang Fei's home, morning sunlight filtered through the curtains into the bedroom; Xiang Fei was leaning against the headboard reading a newspaper when his phone suddenly rang.

"Hello, Uncle Han." Xiang Fei answered the call.

"Ah Fei," Han Shanpin's voice came through the receiver, "the box office share has been transferred to your account; remember to check it."

Xiang Fei smiled: "So fast?"

"Of course," Han Shanpin said with pride, "when have I ever been slow in handling matters? By the way, Taiwan and Xiangjiang want to buy the copyright for 'Tang Renjie'; Southeast Asia, Japan, and Korea have also sent people to negotiate, and the offers are all high."

Xiang Fei frowned slightly: "What copyright do they want to buy? The remake rights?"

"Yes," Han Shanpin said matter-of-factly, "remake rights fetch the highest price, especially from Korea and Japan; the offers are very tempting."

"Not selling." Xiang Fei refused bluntly and decisively.

Silence fell on the other end of the line for two seconds.

"What?" Han Shanpin thought he had misheard, "Ah Fei, this is all money!"

"Only the broadcast rights will be sold," Xiang Fei said firmly, "remake rights and adaptation rights will not be sold at all."

Han Shanpin grew anxious: "Why? Turning down money?"

"Good works do not need repeated remakes," Xiang Fei said lightly, "one version is enough."

Han Shanpin wanted to persuade him further: "But—"

"Uncle Han," Xiang Fei cut him off, "this matter is not up for discussion."

Silence fell on the other end for a moment, then finally came a sigh: "Alright then; you are the director and screenwriter, so you have the final say."

After hanging up, Zhou Huimin came out of the bathroom, drying her wet hair: "Whose call was that?"

"Uncle Han," Xiang Fei put the phone aside, "he said the box office share has arrived; he asked you to check when you have time."

Zhou Huimin nodded and sat at the dressing table: "What were you two arguing about just now? I heard you say 'not selling'?"

Xiang Fei walked over, took the towel from her hand, and began drying her hair: "Companies from Taiwan, Xiangjiang, and Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia wanted to buy the remake rights for 'Tang Renjie'; I refused."

Zhou Huimin turned her head, looking at him in surprise: "Why? Isn't this a good thing?"

Zhou Huimin paused for a moment, then understood: "You are afraid they will ruin it?"

"Not afraid," Xiang Fei chuckled lightly, "but certain. A good story has its own soul; remaking it ten times may still fail to capture its essence."

Zhou Huimin nodded thoughtfully: "That makes sense."

At that moment, Xiang Fei's phone rang again.

"Uncle Han again?" Zhou Huimin raised an eyebrow.

Xiang Fei glanced at the caller ID and helplessly pressed the answer button: "Uncle Han, is there something else?"

"Ah Fei," Han Shanpin's voice carried a hint of testing, "do you have any ideas for the new project? Strike while the iron is hot!"

Xiang Fei looked at Zhou Huimin; the latter was staring at him with a half-smile.

"I won't be filming recently," Xiang Fei said into the phone, "we'll talk again after Ah Min gives birth."

"What?" Han Shanpin's volume suddenly rose, "the market is hot right now, you—"

"Uncle Han," Xiang Fei cut him off, "the child is more important."

Silence fell on the other end for a few seconds, then came a long sigh: "Sigh... alright then; take good care of Ah Min."

Han Shanpin seemed to want to say something more, but in the end he only sighed again and hung up the phone.

Zhou Huimin couldn't help but laugh: "Uncle Han must be furious."

"Let him be angry," Xiang Fei tossed the phone aside, leaned down, and kissed her forehead; "nothing is more important than you and the child."

A touch of emotion flashed in Zhou Huimin's eyes, but she teased instead: "Director Xiang is going to retire from the screen to become a stay-at-home dad?"

"Temporarily," Xiang Fei pinched her cheek, "once the little one is born, I'll return to the film industry."

Zhou Huimin laughed and pushed him away: "Go wash up quickly; in a while, accompany me to the hospital for the prenatal checkup."

Xiang Fei gave a comical military salute: "Yes, my lady wife!"

Zhou Huimin looked at his goofy expression, shook her head, and laughed. Sunlight fell on the two of them, warm and peaceful.