Chapter 69: Fancy routines, taking down the copyright of

A restaurant in Beijing.

Gao Qunshu sent off the guests and returned to the private room, his face gloomy enough to scare people to death, cursing in his mouth.

"***, robbery, ****..."

Liu Zhou Weiwei knew he was in a bad mood and patiently coaxed: "If it doesn't work, let's find that xx company."

Gao Qunshu rubbed his hair anxiously: "3.5 million is too low. If it's sold at this price, I'll lose more than 700,000, not counting the time and energy I put into it."

Liu Zhou Weiwei was silent. As someone close to Gao Qunshu, she knew Gao Qunshu's pressure.

"Conquest" initially had investors, but later someone withdrew their capital. Helplessly, Gao Qunshu had to pay for it himself.

Don't look at Gao Qunshu as having been a director for several plays, but they were all low-cost dramas. The only one with slight influence was "Thirteen Cases of Murder," and most of the time, he, the director, was just working for money.

Therefore, Gao Qunshu's savings weren't much. The total cost of "Conquest" was 4.2 million, and he bore more than half of it himself.

Gao Qunshu didn't have that much money, not only borrowing a lot of foreign debt but also mortgaging his house.

"Conquest" was currently unfavorable for distribution. If he lost money, Gao Qunshu wouldn't just go bankrupt, he would also be severely injured.

In fact, by now, Gao Qunshu had long given up on the idea of making money from "Conquest." He just hoped to break even, at least not lose too much.

"4 million, at least 3.8 million."

Gao Qunshu stated his bottom line and smiled bitterly: "I admit the loss, but at least I need to have money to pay off debts and redeem the house."

Watching Gao Qunshu smoke one cigarette after another in worry, Liu Zhou Weiwei had no good solution and could only accompany him in silence.

The two stayed in the private room for more than half an hour until the waiter reminded them tactfully, and they got up to leave. As soon as they reached the lobby, they heard a shout.

"Director Gao, Sister Wei?"

Gao Qunshu and Liu Zhou Weiwei looked over, both a bit surprised: "Little Yan, why are you here?"

"Just met a client, passing by to eat a quick meal. What a coincidence. Haven't seen you for a long time, I've missed you two to death."

Yan Li, dressed in bright clothes, enthusiastically greeted Gao Qunshu and the two, dragging them to his table and calling the waiter to add dishes and so on.

Liu Zhou Weiwei said they had just finished eating, stopped the addition of dishes, and then looked at Yan Li with curiosity.

"Little Yan, you're doing well. What are you doing now? Not acting anymore?"

"Acting, but also doing some behind-the-scenes work."

Gao Qunshu remembered someone asking him about Yan Li before, and his mind moved: "Did you go to Huayi?"

"No."

Yan Li shook his head. He knew what Gao Qunshu meant and smiled: "Sister Hua wanted me to be an agent, and later wanted to sign me as an artist. I'm used to being free, so I didn't agree. I set up a small stall myself, just for freedom."

"So you're a boss now."

Liu Zhou Weiwei praised him, and Yan Li waved his hand: "Can't afford to be, just earning some hard-earned money."

Gao Qunshu asked casually: "What is the main business?"

Yan Li had been waiting for this sentence and answered with a smile: "TV drama distribution."

TV drama... distribution?!

Gao Qunshu and Liu Zhou Weiwei looked at each other, closing their eyes and eyelashes—this was too coincidental.

If it weren't for the fact that they felt they had nothing to be missed, both would have suspected that Yan Li was specifically here to block them.

Gao Qunshu was older and relatively steady, so he didn't say anything. Liu Zhou Weiwei didn't care so much, treating a dead horse as a living horse doctor—asking a few questions wouldn't tire her out.

"How did you start doing this?"

"Hey, it's a long story."

Yan Li began to tell his prepared rhetoric, roughly that he was lucky, met a few good brothers, helped run errands, established a relationship from then on, received some scattered work one after another, and slowly accumulated some funds and connections in TV stations.

When you go out, your identity and resume are all given by yourself!

Yan Li had used the trick of pulling the tiger's skin to hold the banner several times, but he wasn't completely deceiving Gao Qunshu.

Appropriate processing and exaggeration were definitely there, but on the whole, it was half true and half false. After all, Gao Qunshu wasn't a fledgling, and it was hard to guarantee he wouldn't verify it.

Therefore, most of Yan Li's statements could find some basis!

The good brothers were all real: Li Peng, the producer of "Snow Flower Goddess Dragon"; Cheng Cheng Lidong, the producer of "Cornucopia"; and Meng Ji, the director of "Spring Light Brilliant Pig Eight Precepts."

No matter which one Gao Qunshu asked about, they would all indicate that their relationship with Yan Li was quite good.

The connections in TV stations weren't fake either. During these days, Yan Li had been managing them quite a bit.

Even if they were basically all drinking buddies, eating and drinking together was fine, and it might not be useful to do things, but they still had the face to say a few beautiful words for him.

As for not being able to find out what projects these people had collaborated with Yan Li on or what scattered work they had done.

That's right, Yan Li is a young man, why should he have connections? Some things can only be understood and cannot be stated clearly.

True and false, virtual and real!

Unless Gao Qunshu also had an intelligence system, otherwise, after understanding the circle, he would definitely believe Yan Li's words deeply.

This was also the most fatal point in Yan Li's plan.

His rhetoric definitely had flaws, but Gao Qunshu was in a difficult situation. As long as there was a few percent hope, he would ignore those doubts and mistakes, like grabbing a life-saving straw, and would never let go.

High-level routines don't lie in how perfect and exquisite the structural details are designed, but in grasping the weaknesses of human nature.

Tsk!

Yan Li found that he had developed a new profession by relying on the system. If he went to engage in fraud, he could fool Old Gao to the point where even Liu Zhou Weiwei would be mortgaged to him.

In fact, Yan Li is now also called a liar, or empty-handed white wolf.

However, others run away after cheating, but Yan Li's purpose, although it is for his own benefit, didn't intend to treat Old Gao badly.

Yan Li would rather call it mutual need and win-win cooperation...

After Liu Zhou Weiwei learned about Yan Li's situation, she wanted to tell the whole story, but was quietly stopped by Gao Qunshu.

Just as Yan Li had anticipated beforehand, Gao Qunshu, this kind of old oil, had heavy vigilance and couldn't believe it just because of his few words, so he planned to go back and scout the bottom before talking.

Yan Li wasn't in a hurry, waiting patiently.

Sure enough, within three days, Gao Qunshu took the initiative to make an appointment with him for a meal, and then talked about the distribution of "Conquest."

"Director Gao, others don't know, but I know the quality of our play. It's definitely a good play."

Yan Li frantically put a high hat on Gao Qunshu, making Old Gao's eyes a little red.

You know, during this period, he had suffered quite a few blows. Distribution was unfavorable, he was disliked by TV stations, and some so-called "friends" were hindsight, criticizing "Conquest" in various ways.

What's more, Gao Qunshu also heard that some people privately mocked him as a documentary director, not at all the material for filming TV dramas, and that he would be honest after losing everything this time, and so on.

With all these, Gao Qunshu's mood could be imagined.

Therefore, Yan Li's affirmation at the moment was like sweet rain after a long drought to Gao Qunshu, who was currently suffering from blows. Just for this, he was willing to cooperate even if he lost a bit more.

However, Yan Li didn't intend to let Gao Qunshu lose money, and the cooperation terms he gave were quite generous.

Gao Qunshu transferred all the copyrights of "Conquest" to Yi'an Film and Television under Yan Li's name for a price of 4.5 million.

This price exceeded Gao Qunshu's expectations.

He had intended to sell it directly for 3.8 to 4 million. Giving Yan Li's understanding of him, the price range of 3.6 to 3.8 million wasn't impossible to discuss.

Yan Li offered 4.5 million, which not only allowed him to break even but also earned 300,000.

However, Gao Qunshu didn't stay happy for long. Yan Li quickly proposed additional terms.

This 4.5 million was paid in batches. The first payment was only a deposit of 500,000, and the subsequent money would be settled within two years.

"This..."

Gao Qunshu was a bit numb. He had thought about paying in batches; this was also the norm in the film and television circle. Even if he sold it to others, it might not be paid in full at once.

But he didn't expect Yan Li to give so little for the first payment, and the time to drag it out was so long.

He still had to pay off debts and redeem the house!

"Director Gao, you also know that I just started my business not long ago, and my funds are limited. I really can't take out too much, but I guarantee that once the project is promoted, I will definitely settle the payment for you as soon as possible. If you have any difficulties, you can say it, and we will discuss it slowly."

Yan Li had long understood Gao Qunshu's situation, asking for a sky-high price and paying back the money on the ground. The previous conditions left enough room for negotiation.

The hope of breaking even, the affirmation of him personally, and Yan Li's good negotiation held Gao Qunshu, and he began to negotiate with Yan Li back and forth.

After back and forth pulling, Yan Li made quite a few "concessions."

The first payment was still 500,000, but the total price was raised from 4.5 million to 5 million, and the second payment must be settled within half a year, with the amount not less than 1 million.

Most importantly, within two years, if the 5 million wasn't settled, the copyright of "Conquest" would be jointly held by Yan Li and Gao Qunshu.

Liu Zhou Weiwei looked at the final terms and looked at Gao Qunshu with some dissatisfaction, speaking up for Yan Li.

"Little Yan does the work, you wait at home to collect money, and the risk is still someone else's. It's too unparticular."

Yan Li smiled honestly: "It's okay, Sister Wei. In business, who doesn't take risks? Director Gao has already taken good care of me. I believe this play will definitely make money. By then, maybe you two will have to envy me."

"Envy you for what? Whatever you earn is what you deserve."

Liu Zhou Weiwei felt that Yan Li was too honest, and Gao Qunshu also expressed: "The contract is signed. Whether it loses or earns is fate, we all have to recognize it."

"Exactly."

Yan Li raised his thumb high: "Director Gao is transparent."

Ugly words were said in front, and he "suffered a loss" himself, blocking the mouth first. When "Conquest" makes a big profit in the future, it can also avoid some unnecessary disputes...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 70 =====