Chapter 488

"What were you and Chairman La whispering about over there just now?"

Wang Changtian leaned over to Lin Nan and asked curiously.

"Hmm, how about you just ask Chairman La directly?"

Lin Nan opened his mouth and gave a non-committal answer.

As an old fox, Wang Changtian instantly heard the meaning in those words.

"Does China Film have a project calling you?"

"Chairman Wang, I didn't say anything, don't just guess blindly here."

Lin Nan picked up a piece of cake and took a bite; he hadn't had dinner yet. The buffet at this banquet was quite good.

"Fine, I get it. In the end, there's a difference between close and distant!" Wang Changtian smacked his lips and said with a sigh.

"Eat something, we'll pull out in a bit."

"Yeah, okay."

At the banquet, Huayi was the absolute protagonist.

Wang Zhongjun and Wang Zhonglei stood in the center, surrounded by a group of industry insiders, confidently describing Huayi's future.

Things like market value breaking 35 billion within half a month, hitting 50 billion by year-end, and striving to double in two years.

Although it sounded very unreasonable, reality is just that unreasonable.

In the morning, Huayi's market value was still over 29 billion.

By this evening, the market value had forcefully broken through 30 billion, approaching 31 billion.

From the current perspective, Huayi's path of "de-film-singularization" was going very "successfully"!

At the very least, the real estate sector had greatly stimulated Huayi's stock price.

And this was just one cultural tourism project; Huayi had three or four others under construction, none of which were smaller in area than this one.

Lin Nan and Wang Changtian were eating and chatting over here, preparing to leave in a few minutes.

But at this moment, as luck would have it, Alibaba's Zhang Qiang ran over.

"Lin Dao and Chairman Wang have such elegant interests."

"Zhang Dong, care to sit down and join us?" Lin Nan said politely.

"Haha, no thanks."

"Zhang Dong, is something up?" Wang Changtian wiped the corner of his mouth and picked up his wine glass.

"Lin Dao, Chairman Wang, I won't beat around the bush."

"Zhang Dong, please speak."

"If Tudou is preparing for financing, Alibaba can provide quite a bit of help. Besides capital, there are also connections and channels in the financial circle……"

Wang Changtian looked at Lin Nan playfully, letting the latter handle it.

"When Tudou does financing, it will be made public to the outside world, and then we will choose suitable partners," Lin Nan said ambiguously.

"Haha, good. Alibaba looks forward to Tudou's invitation. Lin Dao and Chairman Wang can believe that we can provide more than Tencent!"

After speaking, Zhang Qiang nodded to signal and stopped bothering the two while they ate.

"He seems to think you promised to invite Alibaba?" Wang Changtian teased with a smile.

"I didn't. Perhaps they are used to hearing compliance, and their brain circuits automatically assumed so."

Lin Nan put down his chopsticks; he had finished the whole steak.

"Chairman Wang, are you going to the meeting with Tencent?"

"You are the major shareholder, you just go; Enlight will follow your lead," Wang Changtian stood up and said.

"Then I'll trouble Chairman Wang to notify Wanda later about the fact that I will be meeting with Tencent's people."

"No problem."

Under the gaze of many, Lin Nan and Wang Changtian left the Huayi banquet.

Everyone was not surprised; after all, several state-owned enterprise bosses had also left not long ago.

When they returned to the hotel, Liu Yifei was video chatting with Watching Shu Chang.

"Hmm? Don't you think you've forgotten something?"

Miss Liu sat on the bed, pouting, her eyes looking unkind.

"Forgotten what?" Lin Nan was a bit confused.

"Hahaha, Xixi, I won. I guessed that Lin Nan definitely didn't bring you any snacks."

Hearing Watching Shu Chang's voice, Lin Dao finally reacted. Oh dear, he forgot.

"Listen to my explanation, it's all Chairman La and Chairman Wang's fault!

One talked to me about some serious business, the other called me to eat something, and then I forgot about this……" Lin Nan laughed, shifting the blame.

"Hmph, you made me lose."

Liu Yifei had just been showing off to Watching Shu Chang, and now she had no face.

"Next time, double."

Lin Nan changed the subject, "Watching Shu Chang, aren't you going to rest? No work tomorrow?"

"Tsk, Director Lu said we can wrap up within half a month. I know what you mean, I won't disturb you two's good deeds, really!"

As she spoke, Watching Shu Chang hung up, leaving only Liu Yifei looking at Lin Nan with shame and anger; in her embarrassment, she grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

"Hahaha……"

"Still laughing? Go take a shower!"

…………

After one night passed, the male compatriots online had gained a public enemy; at least that's what the Weibo trending topics said.

"Gao Yuanyuan and Zhao Youting publicly register their marriage. Netizens shout: The hatred of stealing one's wife is irreconcilable!"

"The two bonded through 'Caught in the Web', and Director Chen Kaige, acting as the matchmaker, specially sent his blessings, stating he had already seen the signs while on set!"

The internet was incredibly lively, with industry insiders leaving messages of blessing and asking for wedding invitations.

And the netizens' emotions were somewhat agitated.

"Sigh, the last time I felt this heartbroken was when Lin Dao Nan publicly confessed to Liu Yifei in Venice, but they are really a perfect match, aren't they."

"Lin Dao is capable; he is worthy of Liu Yifei."

"What do you mean worthy? Lin Dao is already one in ten thousand, okay? He's a unique gem! The youngest international great director!"

"Let's not talk about Lin Dao. Who can tell me, what the hell is Zhao Youting? Is there no one in the mainland? Letting someone from Taiwan steal my wife?"

"Director Chen Kaige is simply aiding the evildoer, not a good person!"

"+1."

"+1."

"The hatred of stealing one's wife!"

"Irreconcilable!"

"+1."

"+1."

……

Past eight in the morning, Lin Nan forced himself to leave Liu Yifei's warm and soft embrace.

After washing up and eating something, he set off for the hotel where the China Film people were staying.

Browsing the news online in the car, Lin Nan couldn't help but want to laugh.

When he and Liu Yifei went public, he had also been "denounced" by netizens like this.

But what they said was that he wasn't worthy of the "Fairy Sister," "Little Dragon Maiden," and "Zhao Linger" types.

Thinking about it now, this portion of netizens was actually a bit cute.

"Hmm, another portion of wedding gift money is reserved," Lin Nan said softly with a smile.

Gao Yuanyuan had acted in his films, so an invitation was definitely inevitable.

Nearly an hour later, he reached the destination.

Lin Nan was led by China Film staff directly to the conference room. In high-end hotels, conference rooms are essential.

"Alright, he's here."

As soon as he entered, La Peikang waved at Lin Nan, and Lin Nan also saw clearly the people in this conference room.

There weren't many people; counting him and the assistant he brought, there were exactly eight. However, only four were actually discussing business.

"Chairman La, Chairman Ren, Director Zhou."

Ren Zhonglun was also there; he glanced at Lin Nan, his expression somewhat complex.

Stephen Chow, on the other hand, took the initiative to stand up and welcome him.

He spoke in relatively standard Mandarin, "Lin Dao, nice to meet you, I've wanted to know you for a long time."

"Director Zhou is too kind."

Stephen Chow seemed very satisfied with Lin Nan's address for him:

"Not being kind, this is as it should be. Lin Dao is a director who has won international awards, and your reputation in the industry is also very good; you are a trustworthy partner."

This last sentence made Lin Nan inexplicably think of Huayi. Stephen Chow was truly bitten by a snake once and feared the rope for ten years.

"You two don't need to be polite with each other, hurry and sit. Let's talk about business," La Peikang urged with a smile.

At a large round table, Lin Nan sat between La Peikang and Ren Zhonglun.

Two state-owned enterprise bosses facing each other, two directors facing each other.

Lin Nan didn't expect that after several years, he would cooperate with Shanghai Film again under these circumstances, and he felt a bit emotional.

Stephen Chow reached behind him, and his assistant handed over a file folder.

"I'm not afraid of you all laughing, everyone knows about my previous business with Huayi, so this time if we reach a cooperation, the contract must be meticulous."

Stephen Chow spoke very seriously; Lin Nan looked at him, also seeing Stephen Chow, dubbed "Master Xing," face-to-face for the first time.

The weathered face and gray-white hair gave a clear sense of twilight. He was clearly a year younger than Andy Lau, but looked much older.

"That goes without saying, it's not the first time Mr. Chow and China Film have cooperated."

"Shanghai Film has always had a good reputation."

"It seems my reputation in the industry is also not bad," Lin Nan smiled.

Stephen Chow nodded, having a bit of a smile, "Everyone can take a look at this project first."

The documents were distributed to the three, and Lin Nan saw the project summary and the script title—'The Mermaid'.

"This time it can be considered a fantasy-type romance and comedy.

I personally support environmental protection and marine conservation, and this film also has the moral of protecting the marine environment and animals……"

As Stephen Chow spoke, he looked at Lin Nan: "Lin Dao, we are both directors, so there are some things I need to make clear in advance."

"Director Zhou, please speak," Lin Nan made a gesture of invitation.

"If Lin Nan Film participates in the investment, Lin Dao cannot interfere with the crew. In my crew, only I have the final say."

These words made La Peikang and Ren Zhonglun pause; so direct!

Lin Nan nodded with a smile; it was indeed the personality of the legendary "set tyrant."

"Of course, in my crew, I also have the final say. I respect Director Zhou."

"Thank you for understanding, Lin Dao."

At this time, La Peikang flipped through the materials, "Is the budget already set?"

This question seemed to put Stephen Chow in a difficult spot; he hesitated.

Ren Zhonglun also realized the problem, looked up at Stephen Chow, waiting for an answer.

Only Lin Nan continued to flip through the script as if nothing happened; he wasn't in a hurry.

"The budget for this film is a bit high," Stephen Chow said.

"Haha, how high can it be? Higher than 'The Crossing'?" La Peikang chuckled.

Ren Zhonglun echoed with a nod, but his expression was unpleasant.

Because Shanghai Film wasn't involved in 'The Crossing'; Han Sanping was too overbearing at the time.

However, in the eyes of the two state-owned enterprise bosses, no matter how high the cost of a comedy is, how high can it go? It definitely couldn't compare to the epic blockbuster 'The Crossing'.

"The preliminary budget is 300 million!"

"How much?"

Hearing Stephen Chow's answer, La Peikang and Ren Zhonglun exclaimed in unison.

Lin Nan looked up at Stephen Chow, who looked serious, and then smiled and confirmed to the two on his sides:

"Director Zhou said, the preliminary budget is 300 million!"

……

(End of Chapter)