Chapter 618: The Unexpected Million-Dollar Mandarin Song

「Cheers! 」

「Cheers~」

「Congratulations on wrapping! Congratulations on wrapping! 」

「……」

That evening, at the Victoria Hotel in Hong Kong, Cheng Long hosted a wrap party for Zhou Yi and Jiang Wen —

To be precise, it was funded by Ying Huang.

Yang Shoucheng, the CEO of Ying Huang, personally attended, making many realize Zhou Yi's connections.

This guy has been extremely busy this year.

「I'm just a guest actor, at most a special appearance — why go to such lengths for a wrap party, Mr. Yang? 」

「That's not how it works, Ah Yi — you're a world superstar; I can't possibly shortchange you on treatment. 」

After clinking glasses, Yang Shoucheng shrugged: 「Besides, this is your first time on the big screen — it must be treated seriously, to give you a beautiful memory. Who knows? If you fall in love with this feeling, you'll think of us first next time. 」

As the largest investor in A New Police Story and the one who pushed Cheng Long to return to the mainland to make this film, Yang Shoucheng's words weren't unreasonable.

After he increased his investment, there haven't been any more reports of budget overruns on this film.

Zhou Yi smiled ambiguously and glanced toward Jiang Wen, who was chatting with Chen Musheng and others nearby: 「Mr. Yang, are you not drinking to get drunk, but to fish for something else? 」

This man is preparing a new film.

Yang Shoucheng, who has always wanted to draw closer to the mainland, naturally wouldn't miss this rare opportunity — honoring Jiang Wen at the wrap party was perfectly normal.

Many assumed Jiang Wen, from Beijing's circle, had nothing to do with Hong Kong's scene — but in reality, his ties to Hong Kong were far from shallow.

His directorial debut, To Live and Die in Tsim Sha Tsui, originally sought funding from Hong Kong's circle.

It bled money badly, causing several major Hong Kong investors to abandon this mainland genius.

They thought he was insane — making films not to make money, but to satisfy his own literary pretensions.

His second film, Devils on the Doorstep, targeted mainland companies like Zhongbo Pictures and Huayi — and as expected, after its completion, Jiang Wen was blacklisted by them too.

Although Jiang Wen remains in a state of suspended directorial ban, with 2004 approaching, he's already preparing his first film after the ban is lifted — but this time, the new film is stuck in the awkward stage of 「no money. 」

Many investment firms are terrified of Jiang Wen's slow, meticulous pace and his money-losing reputation.

Yang Shoucheng clearly understood the difference between offering help in snow and adding flowers to brocade.

He wanted to invest in Jiang Wen's new film.

Whether the film lost money or not didn't matter — he cared only for the talent.

Besides, tens of millions? That's not money — if it vanishes, let it vanish; compared to future prospects, it's nothing.

But he didn't know Jiang Wen.

「Haha, Ah Yi, your insight is still razor-sharp. To be honest, next year, apart from releasing several Cantonese albums, our goal is to produce a refined Mandarin album to enter the mainland market in 2005. 」

「I know Huo Wenxi has already spoken with your agent, but you know — I've always treated them like my own daughters. 」

Yang Shoucheng smiled with unusual tenderness, as if he truly saw Twins as his own children: 「Since my daughters are preparing to enter the high-pressure mainland market, how could their father sit idly by, right? 」

「I know you're busy — Warner gives you heavy workloads every year. So I'm risking my old face to ask you: when you have time, write a song for Ah Sa and the others. Don't worry — I'll pay you a generous fee. 」

He didn't mention buying out copyright or purchasing songs outright — only spoke of a writing fee.

One raised finger made Zhou Yi's eyes narrow slightly; he smiled and met Yang's gaze: 「Mr. Yang, aren't you afraid my song won't meet your expectations? 」

「Ah Yi, you're joking — I absolutely, one hundred percent believe in your talent. 」

Yang Shoucheng laughed heartily, as if hearing a hilarious joke, and sincerely remarked: 「Progress in this industry ultimately comes from talents like you — people like me only get to provide the money. 」

「Since Mr. Yang holds me in such high regard, I can only grit my teeth and give it a try. 」

Zhou Yi's words brought a more genuine smile to Yang's eyes.

Since it was a guest role, their conversation naturally turned to scenes, and then — inevitably — to Jiang Wen, whom Zhou Yi had bumped into six times.

With Zhou Yi as the intermediary, Jiang Wen finally met Yang Shoucheng, the elusive Hong Kong magnate.

Precisely because Zhou Yi was the intermediary, Jiang Wen viewed Yang's appearance with new respect.

Approaching Jiang Wen yourself, versus being introduced to him by Zhou Yi — these are two entirely different things.

「How much did you sell me for? 」

Yang Shoucheng, having exchanged contact details with Jiang Wen, departed, leaving the two alone — Jiang Wen grabbed Zhou Yi and whispered:

Zhou Yi chuckled, sipped champagne: 「Not much — ten million. 」

…………………………………

「Ten million?! 」

Ying Huang Building.

After finishing her workday and returning to the office to remove her makeup, rest, and wait for her boyfriend Chen Guanxi, A Jiao's eyes widened: "Ten million Hong Kong dollars for one pop song?! Is Zhou Yi's pen made of gold??"

No, it's not just the pen that's gold-plated — it's a thousand gold per character.

In 2003, the Hong Kong dollar was still slightly more valuable than the RMB — roughly 1:1.0612.

Even if Zhou Yi is popular internationally, what they're buying isn't an English song meant for global sales.

The Chinese song market is this small — and it's not even a custom theme song for the film — why so expensive?

Jay Chou writes fifteen Chinese songs and still earns less than Zhou Yi's one song — when did the music industry inflate so badly?

Didn't Zhou Yi write for Sun Yanzi and Xiao Yaxuan at market rates? Why is it different for us?

「Just be grateful — even at this price, plenty want to pay him and still can't get him. 」

Huo Wenxi shook her head: 「There's definitely a premium — this price also includes Zhou Yi's endorsement. But regardless, it'll be a promotional point. 」

「Endorsement? 」

「Cheng Long is polishing his son's image; he's already done enough in Lee Jung-seng's circle — it's time to arrange his entry into Ying Huang next year. 」

Speaking of the Crown Prince, Huo Wenxi couldn't help sounding disappointed.

Cheng Long was not as neglectful of his son as his words suggested.

When his son wanted to study music, he immediately used his past connections with Rolling Stone to place him as a student under the already semi-retired Lee Jong-sung.

Unfortunately, this student's performance was truly not very good.

Wanting to act in films, this year he directly inserted him into the sequel "Twilight of the Warriors 2," which was also quite mediocre.

"The boss has high hopes for that genius director from the mainland, Jiang Wen, and plans to invest to build a relationship. Cheng Long is very shrewd and also wants to send his own son in to act in a role to镀镀金."

"To ensure stability, they decided to ask Zhou Yi to speak up at the time, because Zhou Yi will participate in the entire score work for Jiang Wen's new film and will have long-term communication with Jiang Wen."

Cheng Long was quite aware of his son's acting skills.

Usually, others would praise him greatly out of respect for his face, but if they truly encountered a director like Jiang Wen who carves out acting, it would be truly unbearable.

However, Jiang Wen, who is obviously good at the slow-work-yields-fine-results method and the art of wearing people down, is evident from the music film "In the Name of the Father," where Zhou Yi was trained in acting and atmosphere.

If Zhou Yi could be ground out, then grinding out a Crown Prince should not be a problem.

"My son is ungrateful and useless; I have no choice, but I cannot ignore him, after all, he is my son."

Hotel, private kitchen.

After the banquet ended, Cheng Long pulled Zhou Yi aside and sincerely complained about his son: "When I didn't manage him when he was young, he already had many complaints against me. Now that he has grown up and wants to enter the industry, I will definitely help him if I can."

"Ah Yi, asking you for this help is not meant to put you in a difficult position. Old Yang will talk to Director Jiang Wen later; if he asks for your opinion, please trouble you to say a word for me. If he doesn't ask, then you don't need to say anything."

Zhou Yi, drinking the specially prepared hangover soup, immediately agreed: "Uncle Long, you say that, but I will definitely help you with your request."

"I owe you a favor, Ah Yi. Thanks."

Cheng Long was very happy.

If Zhou Yi could give him face, that meant he truly had that face, and he did not ignore him, a "former" star whose reputation had declined, just because he had become an international superstar.

That was how he thought.

As for Zhou Yi...

He almost laughed out loud.

In fact, after Ying Huang invested in "The Sun Also Rises," the Crown Prince joined the crew not long after.

Jiang Wen was not ignorant of the human relations and worldly wisdom of the entertainment industry; on the contrary, he understood them very well. It was just that currently, Cheng Long and Yang Shoucheng thought he didn't understand because of the "glorious track record" of his first two films.

This was equivalent to picking up a favor for free and earning ten million.

"Opening the God's Eye View cheat is truly satisfying."