Chapter 121: The Warring States

As a fan of Wu Xia films, Lu Yang invited a few people to watch *Su Qi-Er* as a distraction from work.

To be honest, Lin Nan quite appreciated Zhao Wenzhuo.

He is a pure action actor; his roles as the Nine-Gate Commandant and Fahai left a deep impression.

It's just that perhaps his luck has run out, so the roles he receives now are all terrible films.

Even for *Su Qi-Er*, a film with a massive investment of 130 million and a star-studded cast, it remains an indisputably terrible movie.

Logically speaking, a film directed by Yuen Heping, with supporting roles from Jay Chou, Zhou Xun, Feng Xiaogang, Michelle Yeoh, Guo Xiaodong, and others, shouldn't be too bad.

Yet, this *Su Qi-Er* leaves people completely bewildered, with their minds in a muddle.

"I was careless; wasted two hundred yuan," Lu Yang complained.

"Is my skill level not high enough? Why is this movie so bizarre?"

Guo Fan asked in confusion, looking at Lin Nan, hoping for an explanation.

"This is a 'schizo-film'," Lin Nan joked.

"What does that mean?"

"Full name: Schizophrenic Narrative Film. The director should take full responsibility," Lin Nan explained.

As soon as he said this, the other two laughed; it was a very apt description.

"This film is going to lose a fortune, right?" Lu Yang asked.

"Definitely. Let's go; I can't watch any more..."

Lin Nan glanced at Zhao Wenzhuo, who was playing Su Qi-Er on the screen, and stood up.

"Yeah, let's go. But if there's a suitable action film in the future, we could invite Zhao Wenzhuo for an audition..."

Lu Yang nodded and said. Zhao Wenzhuo is indeed quite a pity.

…………

Inside the Lin Nan Film building, another floor had been partitioned off to serve as the agency's office.

Although there were only a few people in the beginning, everything that was needed had to be there.

Lin Nan and Yue Jun had prepared many names for the agency, feeling they were all quite suitable, but they couldn't decide on one for a while.

Finally, Lin Nan called Liu Yifei over.

"These dozen or so paper balls—you pick one, and the name inside will be the agency's name."

Liu Yifei was very excited when she heard this.

"Then I'll pick randomly?"

"Pick."

Liu Yifei closed her eyes, randomly touched a paper ball, and opened it.

"Mountains and Seas?"

"Oh, then that's it."

Lin Nan said with a smile.

Just three days before New Year's Eve, Yue Jun announced the new agency established by Lin Nan Film to the outside world.

Mountains and Seas Media!

Many film and television companies and agencies in the industry turned their attention toward them, especially the agencies.

A production company doing its own artist management business is undoubtedly a nightmare for those pure agencies.

Although everyone had been mentally prepared, the moment Mountains and Seas Media appeared, many still felt it was somewhat unreal.

"It was finally established after all..."

"This model is another Huayi!"

"No signing standards? Are they waiting until after the New Year?"

Shiba Culture Media was holding its annual meeting.

Wang Jinghua sat at Zhu Yawen's table with a glass in her hand.

I don't know when it started, but the latter had already become one of the company's top artists.

"Lin Dao has established an agency over there; do you have any thoughts? If you do, I won't force you to stay."

Wang Jinghua smiled as she looked at Zhu Yawen.

Zhu Yawen understood what this meant. It meant a peaceful termination of the contract without any breach of contract fees.

The others at the table all picked up their glasses and walked away naturally.

"Haha, Sister Hua, you're joking again." Zhu Yawen shook his head.

"Why? Do you think I'm trying to trap you?"

Wang Jinghua scanned the large auditorium, "You have more advantages than them."

"Precisely because of that, I cannot go under Lin Nan's management; Watching Shu Chang thinks the same way."

Zhu Yawen looked at Wang Jinghua with burning eyes and added with a smile:

"That would make our friendship no longer pure..."

Perhaps because she had been in the industry for too long, it took Wang Jinghua a few seconds to react.

"It's indeed rare; you're a smart one."

"Your management contract is no longer suitable. Establish your own personal studio."

"Like Hu Jun or Chen Daoming, you can entrust the company to help you manage it."

Zhu Yawen hesitated for a while; Lin Nan had also told him about this a long time ago. "Let me consider it, and I'll give Sister Hua an answer after the New Year."

…………

Yang Mi and Ceng Jia were having a private dinner.

"Mi Mi, I've finished the resignation procedures; I can go to Mountains and Seas Media to report directly when the time comes."

Zeng Jia was a little excited; Mountains and Seas Media was a startup, and for her, this was the best opportunity.

She looked up at Yang Mi, "I have to thank you."

"If you want to thank me, help me become a top-tier or even super-top-tier star, get me more endorsements and scripts, haha..."

"Can you handle the workload?" Ceng Jia teased.

"No problem. Good works are hard to come by, so let's try everything; there's always a chance for good luck."

Yang Mi had already decided to follow the "hardworking model" path...

This year's New Year's Eve didn't include Watching Shu Chang; I heard that poor kid still had night shoots.

Liu Yifei didn't even ask anymore; she had already assumed Lin Nan would spend New Year's Eve with her.

In the morning, she went to the Lin Nan Film annual meeting, and in the afternoon, she started shopping.

What she bought the most wasn't food for people, but cat and dog food.

"If you keep doing this, you'll lose me."

"Be good, I'll buy for you in a moment; let's make sure they have enough first."

Liu Yifei blinked and comforted him playfully.

When checking out, the cashier was stunned—they saw the real person!

A few hours later, there was news online.

"Lin Dao Nan and Liu Yifei appeared at the mall..."

"Lin Nan and Liu Yifei, big shopping spree..."

"... bought the most cat and dog food..."

The New Year's Eve dinner was still at Liu Yifei's place, delivered by a restaurant.

Just as it was ending, she saw Liu Xiaoli hand the phone to her daughter.

Every year at this time, Liu Yifei's biological father would call.

In that person's heart, there was always a place for his own daughter.

Lin Nan's phone was also flooded with text messages.

But what made him most curious was that Lu Zheng also sent a message, saying he hoped to meet in two days, and that it was "serious business"!

"What kind of serious business could it be?"

…………

Valentine's Day was on the same day as the Spring Festival.

*Hot Summer Days* was very timely, and its attendance rate soared, with a single-day box office breaking 20 million.

Many people thought this film's final box office would break 100 million.

On the first working day, Lu Zheng brought people to Lin Nan Film.

"Lin Dao, I'm here to discuss a collaboration today." Lu Zheng said with a smile.

"Collaboration? Mr. Lu, you're not joking, are you?"

"I haven't said I was starting a new film recently..."

Lu Zheng waved his hand, "It's not what Lin Dao thinks; it's that we are starting a new film."

When this was said, Lin Nan was stunned for a moment.

"Haha, Mr. Lu shouldn't be lacking in inves..."

Halfway through the sentence, Lin Nan stopped. He thought of a possibility—this guy wouldn't be looking for him to be the director, would he?

"We plan to start a blockbuster and would like to invite Lin Dao to direct it."

Lin Nan shook his head directly, "I've told many people that I don't take on outside films."

Lu Zheng smiled and continued speaking.

"Our original investment budget was 150 million; if Lin Dao is willing to direct, the cost can be increased to 200 million."

"In addition, I'm willing to offer a director's fee of 20 million, plus a share of the box office..."

At this moment, Lin Nan was already cursing "rich bastard" in his heart.

Yue Jun, standing on the side, couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

"The conditions are very generous, but let's forget it." Lin Nan still shook his head and refused.

Lu Zheng didn't expect to be refused so decisively.

"Lin Dao, won't you reconsider? The remuneration can be negotiated further."

"For a production of this scale, there aren't many directors in the country who can handle it; you are our best choice..."

Lin Nan felt that Lu Zheng was indeed very sincere today, but unfortunately, he had set his stance very early on.

If he agreed to Lu Zheng today, it wouldn't just be a matter of losing face; it would offend those he had already refused before.

Lin Nan continued to shake his head at Lu Zheng.

"The post-production for *The Thieves* isn't finished yet, and the company will have multiple films released this year; I'll be very busy. Mr. Lu should look for someone else."

Lu Zheng finally saw that Lin Nan's attitude of not taking outside films was very firm, to the point that he hadn't even asked about the film's genre or title from beginning to end.

"I originally thought I could collaborate with Lin Dao on this *The Warring States*, but it seems there's no fate..."

When Lin Nan heard this, his brain buzzed.

Damn it! *The Warring States*!

"Is it Tian Tian playing the female lead again?" Lin Nan couldn't help but ask.

"Yes."

Lu Zheng left Lin Nan Film with a look of regret; he knew the other big directors were all preparing new films.

Now, the choice of director wouldn't be easy.

Lin Nan sat in his office, his mind still on the *The Warring States* Lu Zheng had mentioned.

They had already made a TV series about Sun Wu before, and this time it was a film about Sun Bin!

It was simply too brutal.

"Lin Dao, I have a question."

Lin Nan looked at Yue Jun and signaled him to speak.

"Does the 'no outside films' rule include Director Guo and Director Lu?"

If it weren't for Yue Jun being the chief steward, Lin Nan wouldn't have thought of this.

"It doesn't include them; that's just my personal requirement for myself."

"Good, then I'll pass this word on later, which will save trouble in the future."

"Hmm, tell them both as well."

Lin Nan sighed and instructed.