Chapter 682

Beyond those within the company, many couldn't fathom the Principal's true standing—that's the advantage of not going public.

Precisely because no one could fathom it, the buzz was generated.

But insiders know their own situation: the current Chang'e Yutu simply cannot muster 10 billion dollars—not even the down payment.

How could one possibly run a non-profit Artificial Intelligence?

"What's going on?" Gao Zhun was baffled.

"I can't explain too much about this. Just focus on your work and manage your own affairs. Yifei Xianju will exist as a separate entity—you provide resources and data, and leave the rest for now." Fang Hong said.

This reassured the two; all this sudden activity, demanding so much money, had terrified them.

Even selling themselves wouldn't fetch this much!

"You don't need to be alarmed. This benefits both sides—whether it's the internet or content creation, this will give them wings." Fang Hong explained.

"I understand—it's just that our strength doesn't allow it." Gao Zhun also knew; after all, it's cutting-edge technology, but one must assess one's own capacity.

"I have my limits. I'll just start by building a framework first, and worry about funding later." Fang Hong reassured them again.

He was just testing the waters, but he still had to do it—if he didn't, he'd fall behind, and falling behind meant being beaten.

The times have changed; you can no longer understand film, cinema, or content platforms through traditional thinking and methods.

Just like if he didn't embrace the internet, he'd now be an employee, working for internet giants—if he didn't work, his content would get no exposure under algorithmic suppression.

ByteDance, Alibaba, Tencent can build monopolies over recommendation algorithms; if they don't want your content exposed, no matter what you shoot, it won't be seen—this is how powerful they are, no exaggeration.

This is why traditional film has zero resistance against the internet.

Later, "Tangrenjie Tangan 3" didn't accept Alibaba's investment and was suppressed by the algorithm, causing some theaters to show "sold out" on screen while actually being empty.

"Li Huan Ying" had such high box office precisely because the algorithm played a decisive role—the ticketing system showed sold out, but surveillance footage confirmed zero viewers.

Tao Piao Piao prioritized high-frequency buyers with limited 9.9-dollar tickets for "Li Huan Ying"; while "Tang Tan 3" coupons were only available to newly registered users, directly fragmenting its core fanbase.

Previously, people stole or bought box office numbers; now the algorithm simply fills your screenings and redirects users—this is how extreme it is.

Fortunately, Lao Wang Zong had his own channels and theater chains, so he didn't lose too badly.

They were fighting each other, killing each other—Chen Sicheng eventually had no choice but to ally with Alibaba; "The Lost She" was fully controlled by Alibaba.

Later, nine out of the top ten box office films had Alibaba's involvement; the remaining one was audience protest—like "Nezha 2!"

And the main production company behind that film still had Alibaba as its backer.

Are their films really that good? It's the algorithm, it's Artificial Intelligence controlling everything.

If Fang Hong doesn't embrace the internet and Artificial Intelligence, he won't even know how he'll die—his opponent will be invisible.

You simply cannot escape the algorithm's all-encompassing suppression!

Times are changing—you can't judge the present with the eyes of the past, nor with the eyes of the future.

WeChat is still in development; though its user base is growing exponentially, it hasn't saturated yet; Alibaba is still expanding; though now is their peak, it's also an era of fierce competition—everything is still possible.

After explaining clearly to them, both Gao Zhun and Chen Zhixi were reassured: as long as the Principal didn't wildly drain funds, the company had no problems.

Fang Hong's plan to establish "Yifei Xianju" for Artificial Intelligence research also sparked gossip within Chang'e Technology.

"I told you—the Principal would establish Yifei Xianju. When we founded Swan Castle, I already guessed it." An employee with a name tag bragged.

"Looks like the Principal truly loves the boss's wife!"

"Who says otherwise? Ten billion dollars—with a man naming something after me with that kind of money, I'd be moved to tears."

"Hey, do you think the Principal really has that much money? Five years, ten billion dollars?"

"Who knows? Doesn't concern me."

"."

Not only Chang'e Technology was gossiping—Yutu was too, and online discussions were the liveliest.

People debated that the Principal naming it "Yifei Xianju" was a love declaration to Liu Tianxian, making young girls envious and idolizing him as a prince charming.

At this moment, Fang Hong was in the Oval Office, wheedling money from Liu Tianxian.

"You're really something—not taking money from your own company, coming to me." Liu Tianxian was speechless.

Not drawing funds from your company, coming to me for Artificial Intelligence nonsense?

"You're a rich woman—whom else would I ask?" Fang Hong smiled apologetically.

"Rich woman has no money!"

Liu Tianxian turned her face away, gazing upward.

"But it's named after you—it's your fanbase. You can't refuse to chip in. Just give a little bit of the Zhong family's money?" Fang Hong pinched his fingers.

Last year, the Zhong family released "The Purge 5" and "Halloween."

In February, "Fifty Shades Darker," the second film, already shot and waiting for Valentine's Day, is about to premiere.

"The Purge 5" earned $76.83 million; audiences are tired of the franchise, but the performance remains stable—just make it, and you make money.

The TV series isn't doing well, and merchandise isn't great either, but it still nets a few million dollars.

Combined movie revenue and royalties total around $23 million.

"Halloween" earned $159 million in North America and $96 million internationally.

Total box office: $255 million, netting $63.75 million; adding digital streaming, TV rights, and merchandise licensing, another $12.25 million.

Total share: $76 million.

"The Conjuring Series" is more stable—"The Purge Series" is being bled dry.

Combined, they total nearly $99 million; after giving Yu Xian his cut, there won't be much left.

Liu Tianxian already had about one billion on hand—she herself claimed ten billion, and Tesla's money hadn't fully settled.

Still, this is enough to launch "Yifei Xianju"—initially, you don't need that much money; you need time to organize personnel and procure equipment.

Liu Tianxian just needs three or five hundred million to start—then invest more later.

DeepSeek started with tens of millions; Baidu invested more—no startup begins with hundreds of millions.

"Yifei Fairy Residence"—starting out, it's already considered a rich young master's place.

"I didn't ask you to name it after my fan name. Couldn't you have thought of another name?" Liu Tianxian was acting tsundere.

"Think about it—if this thing is done well and breaks new ground, when people in the future think of the greatness of Artificial Intelligence, won't they think of you?" Fang Hong leaned in and coaxed.

"Pfft." Liu Tianxian wouldn't listen to his nonsense.

"Look at how vulgar your words are—if people heard that, wouldn't it ruin your image?" Fang Hong said with a smile.

"I'm just in a bad mood. I even had a fight with Xiao Wang recently." Liu Tianxian wore an annoyed look.

"What's going on?" Fang Hong was surprised.

"Xiao Wang, he's cursing you on Weibo again. He says you have no manners, that he's standing up for his old man, and that you're just bragging. If you really have 10 billion US dollars, he'll livestream eating shit." Liu Tianxian said.

"He really said that?" Fang Hong found it a bit hard to believe—a rich young master eating shit, he was still from a wealthy family after all.

"Really, look." Liu Tianxian took out her phone and pulled up Xiao Wang's Weibo.

Fang Hong sat on the coffee table in front of her and saw that Xiao Wang had posted two Weibo posts in a row. The first one read verbatim: "The Principal is a stupid dick, an uncultured country bumpkin."

The second one was: "Do you know what 10 billion dollars means? If he really has 10 billion dollars, I'll livestream eating shit."

The onlooking melon-eating crowd was lively though, all shouting for the Principal to go for it and for Xiao Wang to eat shit.

"What did you say to him?" Fang Hong asked.

"See for yourself." Liu Tianxian handed the phone to him.

Fang Hong took it and saw she had also posted two Weibo posts. One was: "Some people carry something the rest of humanity is missing—it's called breeding."

The second was: "Don't make things hard for yourself. It doesn't taste good."

And under these two Weibo posts, it was all fans and melon-eating onlookers from Wangyi, and their comments were lively too.

"Hahaha, Sister Fei is domineering!"

"Wow! Xixi defending her husband, so cool!"

"Xiao Wang is just an uncultured person. Our Fei shouldn't stoop to his level."

"Great, Xixi can curse people too."

"Bullying the Principal is bullying Feifei."

"."

Every comment had tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of likes. The onlookers were numerous, and it even made it onto the trending searches.

But most of the netizens still sided with Liu Tianxian, because Liu Tianxian didn't just curse eloquently—her comebacks had artistry, and the viewing experience was much better.

Xiao Wang, on the other hand, didn't bother with manners or not—he just went straight to cursing eloquently.

"Why stoop to his level?" Fang Hong handed the phone back.

He'd been busy lately and hadn't been paying attention to public opinion. It seemed Xiao Wang was just that kind of person.

"I just can't stand him cursing you. I'm furious. Once or twice would be fine, but he's cursed you so many times already." Liu Tianxian huffed, slapped the sofa, and could stand it no longer.

"Don't be angry, don't be angry. Getting too angry isn't good for the baby." Fang Hong patted her back.

Recently Liu Tianxian had been like this—her temper was bigger, her emotions unstable. If it were before, when she wasn't pregnant, even if she was angry inside, she wouldn't bother with Xiao Wang, feeling it wasn't necessary.

Better to use that spare time to do something else.

"Knock knock knock!"

Just as the two were chatting, the door was suddenly knocked on.

"Come in!" Fang Hong looked toward the door.

"General Manager Fang, Zhou Xiansheng wants to see you." A secretary pushed open the door.

"Let him in!" Fang Hong gestured.

Liu Tianxian, hearing who the visitor was, switched faces, tidied her clothes, and put on a faint smile.

Soon Xing Ye appeared at the door. With his hair a mix of black and white, he looked somewhat aged. He laughed: "Principal, Tianxian, I hope I'm not disturbing you two!"

"No, no, please come in."

Fang Hong stood up and welcomed him in, still quite enthusiastic, and added: "Haven't you been busy lately? How do you have time to look for me?"

It was about ten days or so until "The Mermaid" was released, so by rights he should have been very busy.

"I'm here recording songs, the movie's theme song, so I just dropped by." Xing Ye found a seat and sat down.

Yutu Film and Television Base had a recording studio. A lot of scoring, recording, and song production could all be done here in one stop.

"Oh, is there anything I can help with?" Fang Hong's words were just polite small talk.

"There is indeed something I need your help with. I wrote a song, and I'd like to invite you to sing it." Xing Ye spoke with a bit of shyness and embarrassment.

Fang Hong and Liu Tianxian exchanged a glance, a bit of surprise in their eyes. What kind of train of thought did this person have?

"You can write songs too?" Fang Hong asked.

"Just a little, not much." Xing Ye laughed.

"To be honest, I sing terribly." Fang Hong said tactfully.

"Right, I can testify—he can't sing." Liu Tianxian also chimed in to help.

"It's fine, it doesn't need to sound that good. What's needed is just the kind of feeling the Principal has, that confidence, that spirit of being able to take on anyone." Xing Ye explained.

"The way you put it makes it sound like I fear nothing on heaven or earth. I—" Fang Hong said, and at this point, glanced at Liu Tianxian.

Liu Tianxian kicked him under the table.

"I just watched the Principal's conversation with Jack Ma, saw how fearless you were with all those bigwigs—it really fits my song." Xing Ye was dead serious as he spun his pitch.

He had originally wanted Shen Teng to sing it—Shen Teng was the lead of "The Mermaid"—but after watching the Principal's live speech and his discussions with the bigwigs, he decided to ask the Principal to sing.

He felt the Principal had that kind of presence, and mainly, it was a great gimmick!

"What's the name of the song you wrote?" Fang Hong asked.

"Invincible!"

Xing Ye pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and said, "These are the lyrics. Take a look."

Fang Hong took it, saw the familiar lyrics on it, and covered his mouth, unable to stop laughing "heh heh heh."

Of course he had heard this song before — in his past life it had been sung by Deng Chao. He never expected that, by a twist of fate in this life, it had landed in his hands for him to sing, and he found it hilarious.

"Is there something wrong with the lyrics?" Xing Ye asked, somewhat puzzled by his nonstop laughing.

Liu Tianxian was also confused, watching her man just standing there laughing foolishly — was it really that funny?

"No, no, I just thought of something happy," Fang Hong said.

Hearing this, Xing Ye's face twitched, holding back as hard as he could not to laugh out loud.

Liu Tianxian was completely baffled — why was this man laughing again?

"Xixi, I'll sing it for you, ha."

Fang Hong gave a light cough: "How lonely, how lonely it is to be invincible, how empty, how empty it is to be invincible."

(End of chapter)