Chapter 177

Wang Zhonglei sat in his office chair, his brows slightly furrowed.

"You mean, she just finished the procedures at the company in the morning, and Enlight's news came out in the afternoon?"

"Wang Zong, there's no need to think about it, she definitely got the role beforehand!"

Li Xue said confidently.

If it was a film contract signed before the brokerage contract expired, then Huayi would have every reason to fight for its own interests.

"You go and negotiate with Enlight first, be a bit more formal. See who arranged that, what's her name again?"

"Zhao Liying."

"Right, go ask first, who bridged the connection, and whether Zhao Liying has signed a film contract."

At this moment, Wang Zhonglei already had a plan in his heart.

If the film contract was signed, then they would sue; Huayi's interests could not be diminished by a single cent.

Even if it wasn't signed, he had to know which company did it, and then they would talk about subsequent matters.

"Okay, Wang Zong."

…………

"The Warring States" became the first blockbuster after the millennium with such a disastrous box office.

After reporting 61.64 million in six days, the daily box office dropped directly to 3 million.

This major production with an investment of 150 million and a cast spanning three countries and four regions, its release time was highly unlikely to last more than half a month.

"'The Warring States' is also unbearable to look at over in North America, the distributor has directly given up."

"How much is it over there?" Lin Nan glanced at Yue Jun and asked.

"One week, 68,000 USD."

"How much?"

Yue Jun smiled, "Lin Dao, you heard right, it's 68,000 USD."

This figure really made one want to laugh and cry at the same time.

A blockbuster flopping simultaneously in both the domestic and North American markets, "The Warring States" could be considered unique in that regard.

…………

"Wang Zong, someone from Huayi is here."

Wang Changtian didn't react for a moment.

Although everyone was surnamed Wang, he didn't have any intersection with those two brothers on a daily basis; they weren't on the same path.

"What are they here for?"

"It's Li Xue from Huayi Brokerage, and she brought a legal counsel."

Hearing this, Wang Changtian laughed instantly.

"Sticking green onions in their noses to pretend to be elephants! Bring her over."

Watching the secretary leave the office, Wang Changtian then remembered something, and for a moment, he felt it was even more interesting.

Not long after, Li Xue, dressed in business attire, was brought into the office, followed by a middle-aged man.

Wang Changtian was a big shot in the circle, and Li Xue didn't dare to put on airs.

"Wang Zong, sorry to disturb you."

"Hmm, it doesn't count as a disturbance, just say what you have to say."

Li Xue saw that Wang Changtian didn't want to be overly polite, so she hurriedly spoke.

"Wang Zong, it's like this.

Enlight announced the female lead candidate for 'The Four' yesterday afternoon. But yesterday morning, our contract with her officially terminated.

Wang Zong asked me to come and visit you, wanting to inquire about when that Zhao Liying got the role, because she is highly likely to have breached her contract."

Wang Changtian found it funny; the woman in front of him had even brought out Wang Zhonglei.

"We decided on her last month..."

Before the words were finished, he saw a flash of sharpness in Li Xue's eyes; she glanced at the legal counsel beside her, and the latter nodded.

"Wang Zong, then did Enlight sign a contract with her?"

Li Xue asked impatiently.

"No."

Wang Changtian's answer left Li Xue at a loss for what to do.

How could they not have signed a contract?

Not signing a contract, yet holding the female lead role for a minor actress for over a month? Who are you trying to fool?

"Wang Zong, could you reveal who helped her bridge the connection to get the role."

"Of course I can."

Wang Changtian didn't refuse. At this point, there was no need to deliberately hide it.

"The role was requested by Lin Nan.

Now you understand why there's no need to sign a contract, right? Because it's unnecessary, haha..."

Li Xue and the middle-aged man beside her were instantly stunned.

If things were like this, then they could only go back and report to Wang Zhonglei...

"Thank you, Wang Zong, sorry for the disturbance today."

"I won't see you out."

The secretary led the people out, and Wang Changtian couldn't help but laugh out loud.

He picked up the phone and dialed a number.

"Lin Nan, people from Huayi came to me to fish for information, and they were quite formal, hehe..."

…………

"The Warring States" was completely finished.

There was only one blockbuster left for April, "The Lost Bladesman", and it was only a few days away from release.

The lead actors, headed by Donnie Yen, began to increase their promotional efforts, occasionally stepping on "The Warring States".

"This film has an investment of 150 million. As for the box office target, we don't dare to set it too exaggeratedly, but it won't be conservative either.

Donnie Yen's Guan Yu is worth the anticipation of all viewers! We also have confidence in 'The Lost Bladesman', it can definitely sell 600 million!"

"'The Lost Bladesman' and 'The Warring States' are completely different..."

Many mainland filmmakers were a bit unaccustomed to the character of these people from Hong Kong.

Was it necessary to keep mentioning "The Warring States" like this? It felt like a slap in the face to mainland filmmakers...

…………

Shanhai Media released a new announcement via Weibo to the outside world.

"Welcome actress Zhao Liying to join the Shanhai Media family..."

A simple Weibo post, tagging Zhao Liying, just as simple as when they welcomed Yang Mi and Lei Jiayin back then.

"Very happy to join Shanhai Media, looking forward to working hard and progressing with the company in the future. Thank you Lin Dao, thank you Director Yue, Director Jiang."

Zhao Liying also updated a Weibo post, tagging Shanhai Media.

In less than an hour, it spread throughout the industry.

Shanhai Media had signed another actor, and it was a female actress who previously had no fame.

What left the actresses in the circle most speechless was that the female lead for "The Four" was given to this newly signed actress from Shanhai Media.

There was no need to think about it, it must have been Lin Nan Film Industry that helped her get the role.

Zhang Yi, Lei Jiayin, including Reba, Yang Mi, and others, also received the news quickly.

Several of them politely posted welcoming words on Weibo, saying "see you at the company", or talking about having a meal together, and added a follow.

Yang Mi was frowning a bit at this moment.

Ceng Jia had been on the phone for over ten minutes, currently inquiring about this Zhao Liying.

A moment later, the call ended.

"How is it, what's the situation?" Yang Mi looked at Ceng Jia and asked hurriedly.

"She used to be with Huayi, quite familiar with Director Jiang, and acted in Zhou Yi's 'The Undercover' with Director Xu Zheng..."

Ceng Jia's voice grew quieter as she spoke.

"But this treatment is too good, isn't it?

She just arrived, and they helped her get the female lead for Enlight's 'The Four'?"

Yang Mi felt a bit sour and looked at Ceng Jia again, "Jiajia, what's wrong with you?"

The latter had a helpless smile on her face.

"This girl is the same age as Yifei, one year younger than you. You should know what this means."

Yang Mi nodded unnaturally, "Meaning, there's competition in certain resources?"

"Actually, competition is nothing, after all, the company's resources are really abundant, and the connections are wide, just like this female lead for Enlight, didn't they just get it?"

"Then what do you mean?" Yang Mi was a bit confused.

"Do you know how long she signed for?"

Hearing this, Yang Mi instantly had a bad premonition in her heart.

"Hehe, signed for eight years, ruthless enough! Just like Zhang Yi back then."

Ceng Jia said to herself.

"This is the reason she has a female lead role just after signing?" Yang Mi widened her eyes.

"Maybe so..."

Both of them knew clearly at this moment that for an artist who signed for eight years, the company would definitely give preferential treatment...

…………

"Wang Zong, so we're just going to leave it be now?"

Wang Zhonglei had a dark face.

If it were any other small company, he would definitely stir up trouble, at least taking the initiative in public opinion.

But the other side was Lin Nan, which made things difficult.

For one, the actor and the crew didn't sign a contract, so Huayi couldn't catch any leverage;

For another, Lin Nan's fearless attitude didn't care at all whether Huayi had any objections.

He glanced at Li Xue, "You go back to the brokerage company first."

Li Xue was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "Hmm, then Wang Zong, I'll go back first."

She had faint suspicions that it would likely end up as nothing, after all, Lin Nan Film Industry wasn't a small company.

……

Seeing the caller ID, Lin Nan picked up the phone with a smile.

"Lin Dao, you're a bit underhanded, poaching people from my company in advance..."

On the phone, Wang Zhonglei's voice was neither cold nor warm, sounding like he was joking.

"Wang Zong, you're really wronging me here. Huayi doesn't give resources to artists, so you don't let others actively look for a new home?"

Lin Nan retorted directly.

"Hehe, but Lin Dao should at least tell me, right? She..."

Before Wang Zhonglei could continue, Lin Nan interrupted directly.

"I heard Huayi people went to Enlight with legal counsel?

If this actor had signed a contract with the crew, what Wang Zong should be talking to me about now should be compensation issues or a lawsuit, right?"

Wang Zhonglei chuckled and didn't speak.

If that Zhao Liying had signed a contract with the crew, he definitely wouldn't sue, but he would definitely find a way to take a bite out of Lin Nan...

In Wang Zhonglei's eyes, although Lin Nan and Lin Nan Film Industry were strong, Huayi was the big brother among private enterprises!

"Wang Zong, if there's no serious business, I'm hanging up. I'm still preparing the promotional plan for 'Star Luck' next month."

"Fine..."

…………

After hanging up the phone.

Lin Nan shook his head, "Acting as if everyone has to give you face..."

On the other side, Wang Zhonglei was even more furious; few people in the circle dared to be so perfunctory with him or not take him seriously.

If it were someone else being so presumptuous with him, Wang Zhonglei would either use a film in the same release slot to block the other party's film, or use his influence to suppress and squeeze them out... there were plenty of ways to deal with you.

But thinking that the person on the other side was Lin Nan, Wang Zhonglei felt a bit helpless; Huayi couldn't handle him at all!

In the end, he could only sigh lightly, "We'll see as we go..."

……

"The Lost Bladesman" held its premiere under the anticipation of the masses.

Although the crew politely sent an invitation to Lin Nan Film Industry, he didn't go.

Ning Hao returned from the premiere and called Lin Nan immediately.

"Haha, you don't know, it simply laughed me to death.

And this is what they used to mock 'The Warring States', at least 'The Warring States' special effects killed it..."

Lin Nan didn't even know what this guy was talking about.

"That group of people from Hong Kong are simply idiots! Guan Yu is nine feet tall, over two meters!

With Donnie Yen's height of 1.7 meters, they actually used quite a few wide shots when filming.

Afraid that everyone wouldn't see that he looks like a monkey..."

Ning Hao rambled on, complaining while laughing.

Lin Nan finally understood; it turned out he was mocking "The Lost Bladesman".