Chapter 13: Investing in the Cinema!

The summer breeze brushed the streets of Yanjing City.

A familiar, gentle melody accompanied the sunlight, streaming through the newly opened door to shine on Zhou Yang's refined face.

After entering the café, Zhou Yang greeted everyone with grace and elegance, never losing propriety...

An Xiaoshi, wearing a mask and walking ahead, subconsciously turned her head to look at Zhou Yang behind her, who was holding a script.

Under the sunlight, Zhou Yang trailing behind possessed a unique aura; in every word and action, he looked like a social elite, a celebrity gentleman, a noble young master... like all the noble and elegant refined men in TV dramas, but absolutely not like a big scammer who could stuff bricks into a briefcase.

This man seemed to carry an unmaskable aura of confidence by nature.

Even in a cheap suit, shoes with an unidentifiable label, and non-prescription plain glasses, he could dress to look full of nobility.

"2003..."

"This is a very special year."

"Hollywood films swept the globe; the once glorious Island of Cinema saw Hong Kong films gradually fade, while mainland films began to emerge. Under the intentional integration of capital by countless small and medium-sized cinemas, cinema chains began to form. The great era of struggle for cinema chains is about to unfold..."

"In this special era, to master the right to speak in the film industry in the future, one must start with cinema chains..."

"And cinema chains are composed of individual cinemas. Actually, what I have been doing before has always been to integrate those cinemas that big capital has not yet seen but which hold great potential..."

"And the Feihe Cinema is one of them..."

"This is Zhang Muxue, the manager of the Feihe Cinema."

"Manager Zhang, this is An Xiaoshi, the director of 'Love Ferris Wheel', Director An, and also one of the directors for our copyright cooperation this time."

"..."

The private room door opened.

Zhang Muxue saw Zhou Yang following behind a young, pretty girl, introducing the situation of their Feihe Cinema.

Zhou Yang's voice was very gentle, a gentleness, patience, and meticulousness Zhang Muxue had never heard before, making one feel as if bathed in spring breeze.

The words in his voice were also full of persuasiveness; in just a few short sentences, although not spoken directly to her, they still made her, who had originally lost all hope, gain a bit of hope.

She subconsciously stood up and shook hands with An Xiaoshi.

After shaking hands, she sized up An Xiaoshi.

An Xiaoshi was too young, only in her early twenties, wearing a mask that only revealed her eyes...

Although she looked a bit inexperienced, her figure was taller than in the photos online, and after taking off the mask, she was even more beautiful.

An Xiaoshi was also sizing up Zhang Muxue, looking at this woman whose complexion looked slightly cold but whose appearance was extremely beautiful; she couldn't help but look a few more times, especially when she saw the area in front of the other's chest, lingering for a moment, then subconsciously looking at Zhou Yang, who was ordering food from the waiter, and unconsciously recalling a few days ago when Zhou Yang leaned against his Audi A6 at the entrance of Yan Ying, remaining aloof and unmoved despite countless girls hitting on him...

Good heavens, so the female boss of the cooperation is this beautiful; no wonder this guy!

Pretending to be aloof!

"Thank you..."

After finishing his order, Zhou Yang turned his head to look at the two, finding that both were looking at him.

"Manager Zhang, I have already told Director An the specific situation of the Feihe Cinema; Director An is quite interested in our Feihe Cinema... Today, I invited Director An over for two reasons: first, to see if our cinema and 'Love Ferris Wheel' can reach a strategic cooperation agreement; second, as one of the actors in 'Love Ferris Wheel', I sincerely hope that the work I starred in, 'Love Ferris Wheel', can be shown at our Feihe Cinema and be seen by more and more people..."

After a brief silence, Zhou Yang smiled and looked at Zhang Muxue.

After listening, Zhang Muxue nodded and looked at An Xiaoshi: "Director An, I heard news about the movie 'Love Ferris Wheel' a long time ago and am very much looking forward to this film. Manager Zhou should have conveyed my meaning. If possible, I hope that this time, our Feihe Cinema can obtain the premiere rights for 'Love Ferris Wheel'..."

The funding problem for the Feihe Cinema has become imminent.

But more serious than the capital problem is that the Feihe Cinema can no longer produce decent film copyrights for screening in this competition for cinema chain capital.

Without good movies, there are no audiences; without audiences, it is even harder for cinemas to recoup costs, they will be less likely to be favored by capital, and they cannot be sold for a good price.

If, at this critical moment, they can obtain a movie that attracts audiences, although it cannot revitalize the cinema, it can at least bring the cinema more popularity and more income.

Blockbusters are completely out of their league; compared to blockbusters, medium and small-scale productions like 'Love Ferris Wheel', which have a certain influence on a small scale, are indeed Zhang Muxue's best choice.

After Zhang Muxue finished speaking, she looked at An Xiaoshi and handed over a cooperation agreement.

"Director An, you also know that for general cinemas, the revenue split with film production companies is around 50-50, sometimes 60-40, with the cinema taking 60% and the production company 40%... Manager Zhou called me yesterday; he said you are a very straightforward director and producer who also controls the distribution rights of the film. If cooperation can be reached, our cinema chain will concede profit on 'Love Ferris Wheel': 40-60, with your income taking 60% and mine 40%..."

After An Xiaoshi took the contract, she silently read the terms on it.

60%, for a cinema that has to cover water, electricity, and rent, is actually giving up profits to the limit.

An Xiaoshi looked at the contract for a long time and found no problems; finally, she turned her gaze to Zhou Yang, who was leisurely eating the most expensive steak.

Her peripheral vision glanced at the briefcase next to Zhou Yang, which was often carried with him and bulging full.

Thinking of the prop bricks stuffed inside this bag, An Xiaoshi for a moment felt unable to look directly at this guy who was everywhere trying to mooch!

"Manager Zhou... stop eating."

"Hmm?"

"What do you think of this agreement?"

"I have seen the agreement; it can be signed..."

How could there be a problem with the agreement?

It was all drafted together with Zhou Yang...

"Oh."

An Xiaoshi nodded, flipped through the agreement again, and when she finally confirmed there were no problems, she signed her name.

When Zhang Muxue saw An Xiaoshi sign the agreement, the stone in her heart finally fell slightly.

The process was much simpler than she had imagined.

Just as everything was signed and both sides checked again and felt there were no problems, Zhou Yang pushed his glasses, a grin spreading across his face: "Manager Zhang, shall we sign another one?"

"Another one?"

"Yes, Director An shoots movies, and I shoot movies too..."

"..."

Zhang Muxue stared blankly at the contract Zhou Yang handed over.

Upon seeing the words "Sun Wukong Battles Superman 2," she stared at Zhou Yang in utter shock.

"You..."

"Sign together then; the contract terms haven't changed..."

"..."

…………………………

The afternoon sun was somewhat scorching.

After walking out of the café, Zhou Yang felt a wave of heat strike his face, burning his skin hot for a moment.

An Xiaoshi, carrying the contract, silently boarded the Audi A6; when she sat in the passenger seat, Zhou Yang coughed lightly and suddenly became somewhat shy.

"Director An..."

"Speak..."

"Can you lend me some money?" An Xiaoshi stared, stunned, at the shy-faced Zhou Yang: "Aren't you not short of money? What do you need the loan for?"

"I'm not short of money, but, as you know, making a movie requires a lot, lot of money..."

"Zhou Yang, I've read the 'Production Team Strategic Cooperation Agreement' you signed with me yesterday; your production team has only three people: you, Director Shen Long, and Chen Jianfeng; everything else, including the cameras and even the boxed lunches, has to be mooched off our 'Love Ferris Wheel'... I just can't figure it out, what money exactly do you need to make a movie?" An Xiaoshi took a deep breath and stared at Zhou Yang.

"Cough, cough, Director An, what do you mean by 'mooched'? We are in strategic cooperation, exchanging resources; besides, I feel quite aggrieved; I'm not refusing my acting fee, appearing for free, actually I've sacrificed quite a bit..."

"Enough, enough, Zhou Yang, tell me, how much do you want to borrow!" An Xiaoshi looked at Zhou Yang's serious expression, finally shook her head, fearing this shameless fellow would come up with some messy nonsense.

"Not much, just borrow thirty thousand..."

"Thirty thousand!" An Xiaoshi was deeply stunned: "Thirty thousand is not much? What do you need it for?"

"Director An, to be honest, I personally am not short of money, but, as you know, I am recently integrating cinema chains and dealing with various brand merchants, so funds are naturally somewhat tight... Here, borrow thirty thousand, in two months I'll return you thirty-five thousand! Director An, looking at how beautiful you are, with your broad mind, and such talent, the moment I first saw you, I felt you were like a ray of light in my dark life..." Zhou Yang clutched his briefcase, and flattery poured forth endlessly, costing him nothing.

"No thirty thousand!" An Xiaoshi was rendered speechless by Zhou Yang's shameless demeanor.

"Twenty thousand?"

"At most fifteen thousand!" An Xiaoshi stared at Zhou Yang.

"Fine, fifteen thousand it is, do you have cash now?"

"So urgent?"

"Yes."

"Alright, I'll withdraw it for you! But, Zhou Yang, don't think about taking the money and running; I have your ID card and documents here..."

"Director An, do I look like a scammer who takes money and runs? I am an actor in our 'Love Ferris Wheel'; you picked me out of countless people at first glance; isn't fifteen thousand worth that?"

"..."

…………………………

Inside the café.

Zhang Muxue drank her coffee, silently looking at the two contracts.

Upon seeing the "Sun Wukong Battles Superman 2" contract, she still found it hard to look directly at it.

This movie title was simply too explosive!

What on earth is this...

If such a movie were released...

Could it have a box office?

Just at that moment, a knocking sound came from the private room.

"Come in, President Zhou?"

Zhang Muxue looked at Zhou Yang returning, somewhat puzzled.

"President Zhang... after much thought, to achieve deeper cooperation in the future, I have decided to take a share in our 【Feihe Cinema】!"

"Hmm?"

"This is fifteen thousand; according to the valuation and agreement, I am investing for a ten percent share!"

"..."