Chapter 20: Insane! (Second Update! Please Follow for Reading)

"Boss Xu..."

Morning.

The sun shone brightly.

At the entrance of 【Ah Liang Fast Food】.

Xu Xueliang, who was just about to open the door, saw a figure in a suit and leather shoes get out of an Audi A6.

Xu Xueliang instinctively looked up, then saw Zhou Yang, clutching a briefcase, smiling at him and handing him a cigarette.

Xu Xueliang took the cigarette, took a puff, blew out a smoke ring, and smiled at Zhou Yang: "General Manager Zhou, why so early today? We don't serve breakfast..."

Zhou Yang was a regular customer at 【Ah Liang Fast Food】.

Over the past month, Zhou Yang had come to eat here almost every few days.

He ate very slowly, often waiting until 【Ah Liang Fast Food】 was about to close before leisurely finishing his meal...

During this time, Zhou Yang would always take the opportunity to chat with the boss and waiters in the shop.

He was quite talkative, possessed a vast reserve of knowledge, and was very natural in making friends; after a few exchanges, Xu Xueliang gradually grew familiar with Zhou Yang.

"Not eating breakfast, I came specifically while you were free today..."

"Oh?"

"I'm preparing to shoot a movie..."

"A movie?"

Xu Xueliang was stunned upon hearing this, looking Zhou Yang up and down as he clutched his briefcase: "What kind of movie?"

"A fantasy movie, shooting not far from here, but we haven't sorted out lunch for our crew yet, so I thought to come find you... I've eaten here for a long time, the taste is good and it's clean and hygienic, so I was thinking about the boxed lunches for the coming days, maybe order them from you..."

"Sure, I guarantee using the best ingredients, come on, come in!"

Xu Xueliang's eyes lit up upon hearing this, hurriedly inviting Zhou Yang into the room and busily pouring tea for him.

【Ah Liang Fast Food】 is located in the suburbs of Yanjing, near the Yanjiao Industrial Park.

A year ago, the business at this fast food restaurant was quite good; the surrounding area was filled with employees from the industrial park who would come to eat every few days.

But starting this year, after the European Union issued a global pollution policy internationally, China began rectifying factories with large displacement engines across the country.

The factories in the Yanjing area were naturally a key integration project.

Under the leadership of the authorities, a large number of factories in the nearby industrial park began to relocate and rectify in batches, and the business of 【Ah Liang Fast Food】 gradually started to decline.

In June, after the last factory nearby, 【Mingxiang Plastic Factory】, moved more than ten kilometers away, the business of the fast food restaurant could only be described as bleak.

Continuing to operate here would eventually lead to bankruptcy.

Moreover, the landlord had no intention of lowering the rent.

So Xu Xueliang had been pondering these past two days to hold on until the end of July when the rent term ended, then move this shop as well.

"When does the movie start shooting?" Xu Xueliang looked at Zhou Yang.

"Tomorrow."

"So urgent?"

"Yes!"

"How much is the investment?"

"A few million, by the way, Boss Xu, when are you moving this shop?"

"End of next month, the renovation is almost done, what's up?" Xu Xueliang brewed a cup of tea for Zhou Yang, silently looked towards the gradually desolate industrial park in the distance, and sighed: "The general environment is not good..."

"Boss Xu, have you considered building your own brand, opening franchises all over the country in the future like a chain store?" Zhou Yang took a sip of tea and suddenly stared at Xu Xueliang.

"Franchises?"

"Yes, create your own takeout fast food brand..."

"General Manager Zhou, don't joke, my annual turnover was only around two hundred thousand at its highest, and it's mainly for these workers, the profit margin is pitifully thin... barely getting by day to day, where would I get the money to build my own brand? Promotion is too expensive..." After hearing Zhou Yang's words, Xu Xueliang shook his head bitterly.

He had never thought in this direction.

"I can help you promote..."

"You, how will you promote?"

"There are still a few advertising slots left in my movie; if you have the idea, I can help you hang the ad slot..."

"General Manager Zhou, you, don't joke, movie advertising, I don't have the money, opening a new shop, rent, utilities, labor, renovation are all a huge investment..." Xu Xueliang's lips turned even more bitter upon hearing this.

In his eyes, movies were something high-end, grand, and classy.

Product placement ads in movies started at tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands.

He, who was currently opening a new shop, where would he get the money for this?

After saying this, Zhou Yang silently scanned the furnishings of the fast food restaurant, then finally stared at Xu Xueliang again: "Boss Xu... you are a good person, these past days I've eaten quite a lot here, how about this, my movie will help you place a takeout shop ad for free!"

Xu Xueliang's eyes widened upon hearing this: "Free? General Manager Zhang, did I hear wrong? Free!"

"No..." Zhou Yang's gaze, however, remained firmly fixed on Xu Xueliang: "Not only free, I can also let a celebrity come to your new shop to eat, helping your new shop build popularity..."

Xu Xueliang was stunned.

How could this be possible?

He stared at Zhou Yang; he knew well that there was no such thing as a free lunch; after a moment, he shook his head: "General Manager Zhou, I haven't been to school, I don't understand any roundabout ways, just say it straight, what do I need to put up?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yang looked around, and finally smiled: "How much would half a month of boxed lunches cost?"

"How many people are in your crew?"

"Not many, a small crew, about twenty or so."

"Twenty, a normal large set meal averages 5 yuan per person, three meals a day, about 300 yuan a day, half a month is 4500..."

"Are you willing to spend this 4500?"

"..."

Xu Xueliang's eyes widened.

Looking at Zhou Yang, who did not seem to be joking, he was instantly incredulous: "What... 4500 can buy an ad spot in your movie?"

"Not just any ad spot, but a prominent one. Some plot points can be custom-made for your new store." Zhou Yang pushed up his glasses, staring at Xu Xueliang: "Of course, it's not just 4500. There are also late-night snacks for the crew during night shoots..."

When Xu Xueliang heard this, his mind went blank.

He felt as if he were dreaming.

Was this definitely not a tall tale?

He instinctively glanced at the Audi A6 parked not far away, feeling somewhat dazed.

"President Zhou, are you joking?"

"I never joke..."

"Then besides these, what else do I need to do?"

"Nothing. Just ensure food safety..." Zhou Yang took a contract out of his briefcase and handed it to Xu Xueliang: "Boss Xu, in our lives, we will encounter many, many choices. Seize them, and we can soar to the skies!"

Xu Xueliang stared at this contract until this very moment; he still felt as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

He lowered his head and read the contract carefully. After finishing it, he felt somewhat dazed.

"President Zhou, are you saying that after I sign this contract, my fast-food restaurant's ads can appear in the movie?"

"Yes, and they can be custom-made for you!"

"4500, you won't lose out, you won't get scammed..."

Zhou Yang narrowed his eyes. As he finished saying this, he accidentally dropped the Audi A6 car keys.

Afterwards, he picked them up, placed them on the table, and looked at Xu Xueliang with a smile.

Half an hour later.

Xu Xueliang stared blankly as Zhou Yang, carrying the contract, walked out of the fast-food restaurant.

Immediately, he lowered his head and glanced at the contract again.

Damn, it feels like a dream!

He slapped himself.

"Smack!"

Damn it!

That slap actually hurt quite a bit!

I'm not dreaming?

Just as Xu Xueliang stared blankly into the distance.

He saw Zhou Yang not far away, seemingly smiling again, walking into another tool shop...

About half an hour later, Zhou Yang walked out with a smile.

He instinctively walked over to that tool shop.

"Are movies this cheap nowadays?"

"Provide some tools, and you'll custom-make a whole movie for me?"

"??"

"..."

He saw the tool shop owner also staring foolishly at a contract, muttering to himself.

…………………………

"What!"

"President Zhou, you secured over a dozen endorsement contracts all at once?"

Night had deepened.

In the rental room.

Shen Long's eyes widened, staring fixedly at the stack of contracts on the table.

He sucked in a sharp breath!

In his entire life!

He had never seen such a heartless person!

He took a deep breath and carefully flipped through these contracts.

From the crew's tools, to the crew's boxed meals, to the crew's costumes, even some venues, warehouses...

Everything, absolutely everything, was all free!

How could there be such a heartless person?

He swallowed.

And then...

Looking at Zhou Yang under the light.

He saw Zhou Yang looking at him with a smile.

"Tomorrow, can we start filming the movie?"

"Start filming tomorrow?"

"Everything is in place, so we can't film? Like this, if you lack anything, tell me, and I'll continue to get it for you."

"I..."

Shen Long lowered his head, looking at that stack of contracts.

In his mind, the props needed for the movie floated up again...

It seems...

Everything is ready.

It seems...

Can we film it?

But...

"Do all these advertisements need to be integrated?"

Shen Long looked at Zhou Yang in despair.

"All of them integrated. By the way, create a plot for these advertisements... preferably vivid and lively..."

"I... I... all of it..."

Shen Long's hand trembled slightly.

"I, I, I can't do it..."

"You can. Trust your talent!" Zhou Yang patted his shoulder.

"I..."

Shen Long collapsed into the chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.

So many advertisements...

Damn, this is utterly insane!

(Three chapters today, delivered this afternoon. Please follow and recommend; the new book period is very important.)