Chapter 347: A Bucket of Cold Water

The largest private investor in Goldman Sachs, the largest individual shareholder of Time Warner, and a major stakeholder in The Weinstein Company...

Let’s not discuss whether these "identities" are true for now; let’s just assume they are.

At first glance, this status is considered quite impressive in the American financial world; at the very least, it proves this person is a fairly successful financial investor.

Perhaps some people don't understand the American financial world well, and upon hearing terms like "largest private investor" or "largest individual shareholder," they take it for granted that this person must be a big shot in these companies.

However, the truth is that for reasons like tax avoidance and inheritance, most shares in large American companies are held by institutions, funds, trusts, or in the name of companies, with individual shares being negligible.

Some individuals might even hold only 0.00X percent of a public company's floating shares and still potentially be the company's largest private investor or largest individual shareholder.

Still, being the largest private investor or individual shareholder of a large company does indicate that the person is quite wealthy; they likely have assets in the tens of millions of dollars.

Conversely, being the largest private investor or individual shareholder of a large company also suggests that this person is just a "lone wolf"; otherwise, they would surely invest in the large company through a fund or trust and install people on the board of directors.

Therefore, even if all the identities of the new boyfriend of International Zhang are true, it only proves that this person is rich and certainly knows or has made many friends in the American business or entertainment circles, but has not truly entered the upper echelons.

In Hollywood, let alone such "lone wolf" financial upstarts, even if a Wall Street giant enters, if you don't pay some "tuition" and spend money to learn some "lessons," do you really think you can develop normally in Hollywood?

This is actually quite similar to the domestic entertainment industry.

Whether it’s coal bosses, real estate developers, or that group of people who played with the internet later on, who hasn't been scammed a few times upon entering the entertainment industry?

It’s just that those who played with the internet eventually managed to break the deadlock.

This is actually related to the development of the times, plus those who played with the internet were rich and had many tricks up their sleeves, bringing more business models and market opportunities to the entertainment industry, which is why they succeeded.

It is the same in Hollywood; they naturally reject outside capital—or rather, they don't reject outside capital, but rather capital that they cannot control. For uncontrollable outside capital, there is no negotiation when it comes to scamming them.

This is also the reason why many rich people in America who want to invest in Hollywood first find a Hollywood female star as a girlfriend.

Then they use the female star's status to invest in some films to ensure they won't be "scammed."

Of course, doing this actually has limitations.

They have no chance at all to participate in truly good projects, such as films by great directors like Spielberg, Cao Yang, or George Lucas; they can only find some small-to-medium investment films, hoping to "pick up scraps."

Of course, there are certainly films that succeed in "picking up scraps" and have decent box office, but there are also no shortage of those that fail or even lose everything.

In Hollywood, great directors and male superstars are the truly scarce resources.

Among female stars, the only one who can truly carry the box office at this stage might be Angelina Jolie; the others just don't cut it.

International Zhang met Vivi Nevo at a private party hosted by Wendi Deng.

Specifically, Vivi Nevo was a boyfriend introduced to International Zhang by Wendi Deng; Wendi Deng is very enthusiastic about introducing people to each other.

Wendi Deng is the third wife of media tycoon Murdoch. After she divorced Murdoch, Murdoch had several more marriages, and his sixth wife was actually introduced to him by Wendi Deng.

Vivi Nevo is also quite mysterious in the American financial world.

He was born into a Jewish family in Romania and grew up in Israel. His father was a chemical engineer and his mother was an anesthesiologist. After his parents divorced, he was raised by his mother.

This kind of family seems to be middle class.

When he went to America to develop, it is said it was because he inherited an estate of about 10 million US dollars; as for whose estate it was, few people know.

His history of making a fortune is also known by very few; in any case, it is quite mysterious.

When Wendi Deng introduced Vivi Nevo's status to International Zhang, she only said that he was the largest private investor in Goldman Sachs, the largest individual shareholder of Time Warner, and had huge shares in The Weinstein Company...

In any case, this status looks quite intimidating.

Actually, what moved International Zhang the most was that he was the largest individual shareholder of Time Warner and had huge shares in The Weinstein Company.

Time Warner is the parent company of Warner Bros., one of the seven major studios in Hollywood.

The Weinstein Company is a film company founded by Harvey Weinstein in 2005 after he left Miramax.

In International Zhang's mind, with Vivi Nevo's status, wouldn't it be very easy to "get" some resources for herself at Warner Bros. and The Weinstein Company?

Vivi Nevo was already the best "resource" International Zhang had come into contact with in Hollywood.

Not long after International Zhang established a romantic relationship with Vivi Nevo, Vivi Nevo did indeed take her to many high-end cocktail parties; for example, tonight's Oscar celebration banquet was where Vivi Nevo brought her.

She is currently immersed in the joy and inflation of having a "big shot" as a boyfriend.

International Zhang never doubted Vivi Nevo's identity; after all, Wendi Deng is Murdoch's current wife, and a boyfriend introduced to her by such a "big shot" dispelled all her concerns.

She also knows that Cao Yang's achievement of five wins out of nine nominations at the Oscars is an extraordinary accomplishment, no matter which director it is.

However, she had previously "humbly" and proactively wanted to have some relationship with Cao Yang countless times, but Cao Yang played dumb every time, which not only dealt a blow to her self-confidence but also made her hold a grudge against Cao Yang.

Damn it, I've already done this much, what else do you want?

I've given you signals once, twice, three times... either overtly or covertly, why didn't you take the bait? Do you need me to strip naked in public, throw myself into your arms, and kneel to beg you?

Therefore, after she found a boyfriend she thought was a big shot, she naturally wanted to show off and strike at Cao Yang—yesterday you ignored me, today I will make you unable to climb high!

Don't think International Zhang is naive; most women have no rationality when it comes to such things.

What's more, she feels she is terrifyingly strong now.

Just think, her good friend Wendi Deng is the boss's wife of News Corporation, and News Corporation owns Twentieth Century Fox, one of the seven major Hollywood studios.

The current Fox was acquired by Murdoch as early as 1985 and integrated into News Corporation; it wouldn't be "married off" and acquired by Disney until 2019.

And her boyfriend is the largest individual shareholder of Time Warner, the parent company of Warner Bros., one of the seven major Hollywood studios, and also a shareholder of The Weinstein Company, founded by the award-chasing Harvey Weinstein.

With such status, who wouldn't be inflated?

She might even have the thought that she could "walk all over" Hollywood.

However, a situation that surprised International Zhang very much occurred.

She didn't see the "embarrassing situation" of Cao Yang having to bow his head under the eaves; instead, she saw her new tycoon boyfriend, with a face full of smiles, reach out his hand first and say extremely enthusiastically:

"Director Cao, hello, it is a great honor to meet you."

International Zhang's smile stuttered for a moment, thinking that this must be her boyfriend's polite gesture; after all, Cao Yang is a great director, so being polite to him is expected.

Another situation that exceeded International Zhang's expectations occurred; who could have imagined that Cao Yang only shook her boyfriend's hand indifferently and said only two words: "Hello."

The plot that followed was a bit magical for International Zhang.

Her boyfriend Vivi Nevo kept proactively looking for topics; even if International Zhang were slower, she could see that her boyfriend was clearly "accommodating" Cao Yang everywhere and proactively striking up a conversation with him.

And Cao Yang always had an indifferent expression, was sparing with his words, and his expression didn't have a hint of "humility," as if he were the true "big shot."

Then, International Zhang saw an old white man carrying a wine glass walk over; this man looked familiar, but she couldn't remember who he was for a moment.

"Vivi."

The old white man nodded at International Zhang's boyfriend, then turned to Cao Yang with a full face of smiles and said very politely: "Director Cao, I'm really sorry, can I take a few minutes of your time?"

Cao Yang thought for a moment and nodded: "Alright."

Then, International Zhang saw Cao Yang nod at her—perhaps nodding at both her and her boyfriend—and followed the old white man's polite guidance to a corner.

And the few actors who were chatting in the corner all stood up and proactively cleared the space.

International Zhang even saw a few famous stars in that group of people who left.

Turning back to look at her boyfriend, he was currently smiling and holding his wine glass, watching Cao Yang and the old white man leave, the smile on his face never changing.

International Zhang was actually very angry; that old white man was too rude and not a gentleman at all. Others were chatting, what did he mean by walking over and taking someone away? This was simply not taking people seriously!

Vivi Nevo too, shouldn't you have used words to mock that old white man?

Why did you still give him a smiling face? Look, look, that old white man looked over, and you actually raised your glass like a gentleman to signal him; your temper is too damn good, isn't it?

"That is Jeff Robinov, the president of Warner Bros. Pictures; he is very powerful at Warner, second only to Warner CEO Barry Meyer."

Vivi Nevo turned around and explained to International Zhang with a smile.

The president of Warner Bros. Pictures, no wonder...

Wait, aren't you the largest individual shareholder of Time Warner, the parent company of Warner Bros.?

Shouldn't the president of Warner Bros. Pictures be polite when he sees you?

Jeff Robinov called you "Vivi," so he clearly knows you; then why did he act as if you didn't exist?

Big brother, you are the largest individual shareholder of Time Warner, where is your prestige?

At this moment, the heart that International Zhang had inflated because of love began to waver a little.

(End of chapter)