[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-that-year-in-huayu":3,"chapter-that-year-in-huayu-that-year-in-huayu-chapter-89":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","That Year in Huayu",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2286925,4473,"Chapter 89: Investing in Lu Yang, Xiaoma","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-89",89,"\u003Cp>In the end, *Ip Man* was no match for *If You Are the One* during the Lunar New Year film season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After stumbling to a box office of 120 million, it completely fizzled out and announced its withdrawal from theaters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conversely, *If You Are the One* broke 100 million in five days and continued to charge ahead...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Motion Pictures was already very satisfied with this; for a long time, the movies they had made previously could not compare to the profitability of this one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Lin, we should strike while the iron is hot and prepare the sequel, shouldn't we?\" Yang Shoucheng said over the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With the foundation laid by the first film, the sequel will naturally come with its own audience and fans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The quality of your filming and production must not be inferior to the first one,\" Lin Nan cautioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was exactly what Yang Shoucheng wanted to hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry, Director Lin. The sequel will be more refined than the first in terms of crew and production. What about the script?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have your people go to my company to pick it up; I have already arranged it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few hours later, Emperor Motion Pictures announced the sequel plan for *Ip Man* to the outside world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is the phone still not getting through?\" Donnie Yen asked his agent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mani's line has been busy. Logically, when starting a sequel, they should have contacted us immediately. After all, you are the lead...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The agent felt a bit guilty while saying this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in a film series, it is common to replace the lead actor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Donnie Yen frowned; he had only just stepped into the ranks of A-list stars, and the sequel was very important to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Should we go see Chairman Yang in person and humble ourselves?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Donnie Yen's initial decision to go see Lin Nan had indeed been rash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been intentionally or unintentionally reprimanded over the past few days, and this was another form of that reprimand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, let's head out now,\" Donnie Yen nodded and said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the vast film and television industry, categorized by school, the Beijing Film Academy circle is definitely a major stronghold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since the news broke that Lin Nan was still willing to invest in Cao Baoping after the loss on *The Equation of Love and Death*, the teachers at the academy looked at him with even more complex expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, Teacher Jiang came to find Lin Nan to talk about an investment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Teacher Jiang, you aren't planning to make a movie yourself, are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Me? I don't have that thought in the short term.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's a senior of yours, a 2004-class graduate student from the Directing Department. He's older than you and came back looking for investment, and they thought of you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How many movies has he made? Any representative works?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were a veteran industry professional like Cao Baoping, Lin Nan wouldn't ask these things, but for a student who just graduated, he had to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He hasn't made any movies; this is his first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since graduating, he has been working as an executive director and assistant director. Go take a look; consider it a favor to the other professors. If it really doesn't work, just reject it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Jiang had the air of someone just going through the motions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan didn't mind; he treated it as panning for gold. Who knows what good things he might find.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Teacher Jiang brought the person to the editing room, Lin Nan was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yang, who graduated with a master's degree in 2007, was five years older than Lin Nan and looked quite ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Lin, I remember what you said at the graduation ceremony, haha.\" The visitor smiled and greeted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the promises in Lin Nan's original graduation speech was to invest in films by students from the Directing Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as the script was fine and their own ability wasn't too poor, he would consider it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As long as you remember. Did you bring the script?\" Lin Nan asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course I brought it. Here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I originally planned to work as an assistant director to keep saving money, but it's too slow. I don't know when it will ever end...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan took the script; it was an arthouse-leaning drama. Well, these are usually very cost-effective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"*My Blind Cinema*?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, I wrote the script myself.\" Lu Yang's tone carried confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan quickly flipped through the script. The story was simple, suitable for the film festival circuit to sell distribution rights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you have any actors in mind?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan asked without looking up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Teacher Wang Jinsong has agreed to give me his schedule...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sentence caught Lin Nan's attention. That was true; he was very willing to support students from his own school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, Lu Yang left the academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Jiang ran over curiously, \"Did you invest?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I did.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How much?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Around two million.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yang's original budget was 2.5 million, but Lin Nan gave him 2.6 million and told him to go to the company to find Yue Jun to sign the contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Jiang gave a thumbs up. \"Alright, your reputation is out there now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The news spread first in the school and was subsequently reported by the media.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the second Beijing Film Academy student Lin Nan had invested in from the Directing Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first was Ning Hao, who is now a famous director with a great reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In terms of supporting new directors, Lin Nan does better than many big companies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quite a few companies specifically went to inquire about the news, but after learning it was an arthouse film with a budget of around two million, they instantly lost interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone had thought it would be another *Crazy Stone*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After *Ip Man* was pulled from theaters, *If You Are the One* truly achieved dominance, with daily box office stable at nearly 17 million. Huayi was already preparing for the upcoming celebration banquet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Motion Pictures headquarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Donnie Yen and his agent had been waiting for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the feedback received was that Yang Shoucheng was in a meeting, and the people attending the meeting were the director and production team of *Ip Man*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mani, Donnie is truly very sincere. At the time in the capital, he didn't think too much...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The agent was fawning over Huo Wenxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Some things are about following the rules.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mani is right. What about the sequel?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait a moment. Once Chairman Yang and the others finish their meeting, they will see you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huo Wenxi was very satisfied with the attitude of Donnie Yen's team; after all, the original cast was definitely the best choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, they saw Wilson Yip and the others coming down in the elevator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Yip.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Donnie Yen and the others walked over with smiles on their faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Work starts after the New Year as planned. If we change actors, everyone will have a headache. You talk to Chairman Yang properly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Wilson Yip patted Donnie Yen on the shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his view, Yang Shoucheng wouldn't replace him either; he was just still a bit angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will, thank you Director Yip.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're welcome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to *Ip Man*, Wilson Yip successfully promoted himself to a 100-million-yuan director, and he had been in a very good mood lately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An hour later, Donnie Yen walked out of Yang Shoucheng's office with a smile on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't until he left the Emperor building and got into the car that his expression instantly turned gloomy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Drive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How was it? No problem with the sequel, right?\" The agent asked hurriedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No problem, but the salary won't increase.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still three million?! Isn't that too low?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Donnie Yen kept a cold face and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once he stands firm as an A-lister...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the 22nd, at the press conference for the Starlight TV series.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many first and second-tier stars and media were in attendance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Xiaoming, Zeng Li, Hu Jun, and others were all actors from *The Martian* and were there to show support as acquaintances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan and Ning Hao were at the scene for only an hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a gesture of goodwill, showing up was enough. Lu Zheng personally saw the two of them out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Has the post-production for *The Hunt* been finished?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Almost, just these next two days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao was now just waiting for *Crazy Racer* to be released, and then he could focus on filming *No Man's Land*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A company came to find me two days ago, wanting to sign a first-look investment deal for my future films.\" Ning Hao started showing off again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you agree?\" Lin Nan asked, giving him face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha, if it were before, I definitely would have agreed, but now I certainly won't. In the future, it will at most be a choice of cooperation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao's words made sense; now that he had fame and strength, he could fully manage his own projects without needing to work for others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan was actually quite curious about which company it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Which one? They actually have the nerve to ask you for priority investment rights.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's a company that mainly makes television dramas, Ma Ben Teng.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They want to officially enter the film industry next year, and seeing that my Bad Monkey is a small operation, they threw out an olive branch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Their vice president is quite articulate; she's a powerhouse woman.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao recalled as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan had an impression; at the beginning of the year, this company raised 40 million USD in financing, shocking the entire film and television circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One must know that even for Huayi, which had gone through several rounds of financing, no single time compared to the amount of Ma Ben Teng's first round of financing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having raised so much money, they were bound to enter the film circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After parting ways with Ning Hao, Lin Nan returned to the company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lurking\" had already been airing for several days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"According to the data from the television station, the average viewership rating for these days is at 4.9%, with a peak rating of 7%...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yue Jun reported the data with an excited look on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was obvious that this television drama was a hit, not losing out to the previous \"Soldiers Sortie\" and \"My Chief and My Regiment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, Yue Jun brought up another matter, \"There's been some trouble over at Tudou; not long ago, Wang Wei and his wife filed for divorce...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan's eyes lit up, \"Nothing else?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is. Because the competition between video websites is too fierce, they want to delay the final payment by one month to be prepared for any contingencies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, they also said that if we don't agree, that's fine, and they will make the payment according to the agreed time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan tapped his fingers on the desk and thought for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go and reply to them that I agree.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yue Jun did not ask further; the fact that Lin Nan was a shareholder of Tudou was already known to everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, I'll go notify them now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Yue Jun finished speaking, he left the office and closed the door behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan sat alone thinking about Yue Jun's words just now; Wang Wei had still taken this step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it didn't matter; no matter where it eventually developed, it wouldn't affect Lin Nan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The intention behind investing those 10 million USD back then was not simply to wait for Tudou to go public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whether it goes public or not, I can accept it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan muttered to himself; he would still follow up on subsequent financing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The invitation letters for \"Paladin III\" had already been sent throughout the circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ren was very high-profile this time, not only because Hu Ge was a first-tier young actor, but also because they had the goal of promoting people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did she reply?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yang Mi said her contract still has one year left, so she cannot consider us for the time being.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assistant relayed the original words to Cai Yinong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What a pity. You go and communicate with Rong Xinda about the commercial promotional video for Yang Mi; Perfect World is still waiting for my reply.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood, I'll go right away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Mi had absolutely no interest in Cai Yinong's solicitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her view, Tang Ren could not provide film resources, and signing with this company was no different from retiring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Liu Shishi was already there; even if she went over, she wouldn't get any very good roles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would be better to wait until her contract expired and go find Zeng Jia.\u003C\u002Fp>",2131,"2026-06-20T03:22:09.099Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","a070c976a8cd33cbf2b75ffc1e855bb0c648604588b123f345697d2b0dfa6e6e","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-90","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-88",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-in-huayu-cover.jpg"]