Chapter 283: Little woman Bingbing, big star Bingbing

Inquiry Realm (USA) has a simple office in Los Angeles, mainly for liaison purposes.

Lu Kuan's three assets in North America, Mytube is set up in Silicon Valley, the film company is in Los Angeles, and the Gunner Fund is in New York.

After ringing the NASDAQ bell, Boss Lu met with Lin Yibin and Emil on Melrose Ave in Los Angeles.

"Oh! I really don't want to film that ghost thing anymore; it just makes me vomit!"

Emil came up with a complaint. The third part of the "Paranormal Activity" series had just been completed.

It is said to be completed, the shooting cycle is less than two months, but the IP has been created, and the next step is to continue to make rotten money.

This kind of series movie, the more it is filmed, the higher the profit margin, because the high marketing expenses of the first and second parts can continue to the last part.

This can be compared to the scale cost diminishing effect in economics.

Boss Lu smiled and patted the shoulder of his USC roommate in his previous life: "Very good, you finally filmed enough. Find the next director candidate, and you go film 'Insidious'!"

Emil smacked his lips, looking at Lin Yibin with envy: "Can I go to 'The Foreign Land 2' to be an assistant director? I'm really tired of horror movies!"

Everyone looked at Emil with a full beard, who was pitiful, helpless, and weak, and full of contrast, and all laughed.

Jokes are jokes, but Boss Lu won't let you go easily!

"Paranormal Activity" and "Insidious" series are good things that can be eaten for many years, one film per year. In later generations, the global box office per film is more than 100 million US dollars, and the marketing cost is decreasing year by year.

"By the way, you can make good use of Mytube's promotional function and cut some wonderful clips on it."

Lin Yibin smiled: "I am looking forward to the promotion of 'The Foreign Land 2'. Can I ask Crystal to post it to her account directly?"

"Even my girlfriend is leaving messages under her account every day to urge updates."

"Especially the elderly in our Chinese community, who will show off the Chinese tea art brought by Crystal whenever they see someone. It's simply beautiful!"

Boss Lu sighed secretly in his heart. "The Foreign Land 2" will start filming in September or October. I don't know if there will be any moths then.

Huh?

The young director remembered the matter of asking Luc Besson to order a car, and gave Sun Wenwen a call, asking her to urge and follow up.

A top sports car, and then get an exclusive engraving of Liu Yifei or something.

This time it's not rubbing off the two letters after "Leo"! It's serious!

Although she doesn't seem to care much about money, this is what she sent herself!

It should be able to make the eighteen-year-old Little Liu have a slight intracranial orgasm, right?

Although he doesn't understand Liu Yifei very well now, especially the recent abnormality, there is a feeling that he cannot control.

From the age of 15, it can be said that what she thinks in her heart and her daily actions have traces to follow, even the several outbursts against men and women are predictable normal reactions.

Except for this time, it seems a bit...

The light and breezy indifference to the world?

"Lu! I'm here."

The three Inquiry Realm people were blowing in the house. Nolan was invited to arrive, standing at the door panting.

There is no elevator, he climbed four floors of stairs.

"Lu, I saw the news of you on NASDAQ. You are already a big rich man. Why don't you change to an office with better conditions?"

"Ride a bicycle to the bar, save what should be saved, spend what should be spent."

"What?"

Boss Lu smiled: "Please sit."

Today is to formally communicate with Nolan about director cooperation and dividend details.

"Nolan, the box office of 'Batman Begins' in the mainland is very average, I am very sorry."

Nolan spread his hands helplessly. The Hollywood blockbuster that had already been taken down only achieved a box office of 20 million in the mainland. There are many reasons for the street.

For example, "Initial D" in the same period in the country is more popular, domestic stars are more grounded, for example, it didn't catch up with the best summer file and was released in advance.

Business negotiation, first give the opponent a shuttle to kill his spirit.

Nolan in 2005 indeed didn't have very bright commercial film achievements, but in the eyes of the hanging force, it was a gold mine.

Today Boss Lu is to buy a mining license that is permanent, and long-term is also okay.

"In China, I mentioned to you that I intend to invest in your private film company. Have you considered it?"

Nolan shook his head: "I'm sorry, my wife and I both think that Syncopy should remain independent. This is every director's dream."

Lu Kuan nodded clearly, no longer forcing, and instead put forward other cooperation models.

"Give you two choices. One is a long-term contract. Inquiry Realm promises to provide you with a certain amount of funds to film in a number of years, but your commission and incentives will not be too high. Please understand."

This is the conventional contract model between big directors and the six major studios. Spielberg and Universal Pictures have a long-term cooperative relationship.

The contract will detail the basic requirements such as the production cycle and delivery time of each movie.

For directors, this kind of contract provides relatively stable job opportunities and financial support, while film companies can ensure that excellent directors create high-quality films for them.

Nolan nodded silently, although he didn't know where this Eastern director's confidence in him came from.

Asking him to be a mentor for the Pan-Asian Film Academy, and providing a long-term contract that is standard for Hollywood big directors.

Under this situation, he could accept the low proportion of director commission and incentives. After all, he could get stable filming funds, which is too important for a director.

Hollywood has many poor people who can't get investment if one movie flops.

Boss Lu continued to throw out olive branches: "Or a single-film contract, maybe the commission will be slightly higher, but we have to consider the next cooperation based on the final comprehensive profit situation."

The treacherous businessman Lu Kuan actually just grasped that Nolan didn't have enough confidence in himself now. After all, his first commercial film hadn't been released in North America yet.

There were not many options for Nolan to choose from, and he didn't have the qualifications to put forward the big director customized contracts of Spielberg, Cameron, and others for the time being, so he could only get one bird in hand first.

The basic policy was set, and the rest was for the professional managers of Inquiry Realm (USA) to communicate the details with Nolan's wife, who was also his agent.

The details were very complex, even more important than simple profit commission and director incentives.

This is determined by the profit source of Hollywood movies.

The back-end profit of a popular IP, that is, the profit brought by peripheral products including toys, clothing, prop models, etc., might be higher than the sum of the film's theater profit and DVD revenue.

After handling the many affairs of the film company of Inquiry Realm (USA), Boss Lu inspected the Mytube company in Silicon Valley accompanied by Huang Anna.

Huang Anna just received Lu Kuan at the airport and handed him a message that was beyond his expectation.

Fellow villager appointment.

"Wendi Deng?"

Lu Kuan frowned and was puzzled. Why did people who couldn't be hit by eight poles want to see themselves?

"You go ahead and contact first."

Huang Anna smiled: "President Lu, it was a phone call directly from the president's office of MySpace, wanting to meet the mainland boss of Mytube."

"She knows your identity and has already named you."

Boss Lu laughed.

He naturally didn't need to hide his head and tail in the United States, but the identity of the boss of Mytube was just unwilling to be known, and the name used for registration was just Lu.

He was not surprised that Wendi Deng could find his real identity, but what was worth pondering was the hidden situation behind this.

This female hunter would only intervene in mainland film investment around 2008 of later generations.

Finding himself at this time could only have one reason, which was that she was interested in Mytube, which was competing with MySpace in the video track.

Silicon Valley, Four Seasons Hotel, East Palo Alto.

Boss Lu was in a casual suit, looking around the hotel water bar, and easily found Wendi Deng among a group of plaid-shirt programmers.

He raised his wrist and looked at the time. It was two minutes away from the agreed time, so he sat on a high stool and asked for a glass of lemonade, observing this legendary woman with ease.

Wendi Deng was four years younger than Zhang Manyu.

In 1990, she intercepted her first husband, settled a green card after the war, and divorced seven months later;

In 1993, she entered Yale School of Management with the sponsorship of her boyfriend Wolf, and in 1996, she settled an MBA degree after the war, and then broke up;

In 1997, she met Murdoch, visited Shanghai and Beiping in 1998, and married in June of the same year. She has two daughters so far and has not yet settled after the war.

Boss Lu deliberately delayed for two minutes, then walked to the side of the female hunter who was sipping coffee, and took off his sunglasses.

"Ms. Deng, are you looking for me?"

"You watched me for a long time from afar just now, Lu Kuan."

Wendi Deng's words were amazing, neither having the enthusiastic exaggeration of Americans nor the humble introversion of Chinese people.

"Oh, your back is very beautiful, I couldn't help but appreciate it for a while, excuse me."

Wendi Deng didn't have a trace of expression fluctuation on her face. She was wearing a dark gray workplace female suit, but the inner lining was a layered interlaced printed shirt, and the chest was a jellyfish-style thin lace design.

"How? Is my dress inappropriate? Big director?"

Boss Lu smiled: "Your temperament is unique. This is the first time I have seen this kind of mix and match on one person so harmoniously."

"I know you have a close relationship with Galliano and Anna Wintour. I accept your praise with an aesthetic eye."

"Let's get to the point. I am the boss of Mytube. Is there any fortune-making thing to communicate with each other?"

Wendi Deng ignored the self-familiarity in the young director's words. Having lived in North America for nearly ten years, she gradually developed her own style.

"No, I made an appointment with you, which has nothing to do with your video website. I am interested in you as a person."

"Oh?"

Boss Lu laughed. Murdoch hasn't settled after the war yet, so why did he stare at himself.

Wendi Deng smiled indifferently: "Born in October 1982, orphan."

"Entered the 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' crew in 2001, met Mei Yanfang in the same year, and got the first bucket of gold for filming."

The female hunter, whose facial lines seemed to be more resolute than Boss Lu, paused and smiled: "Actually through fortune-telling?"

Ignoring the slightly changing young director, she told the story as if telling a story: "Three years, four movies, Golden Lion, Golden Bear, Oscar Best Foreign Language Film."

"President of two listed companies, boss of the largest entertainment company in the mainland, covering the industrial chain closed loop from film production, distribution, screening to derivatives."

Wendi Deng smiled with her eyes narrowed, her expression was slightly stiff, it should be that the corners of her mouth were not often bent to this extent: "The key is that you are still a commoner, starting from scratch."

"Lu Kuan, you are simply the protagonist of the standard American dream."

"So what? What do you want to express?"

Boss Lu was a bit unclear about her intention.

"I've inquired, Quentin and Harvey both said you have some mystery in your body. Do you really know fortune-telling?"

"No."

The young director denied it sincerely and without hesitation.

This is the tricky means of the early stage of capital accumulation, which cannot be on the elegant hall.

Even people like Mei Yanfang, Liu Xiaoli, Fan Bingbing, etc., who were induced by his mysterious means in the early stage of development, now deliberately avoid talking about it.

For him, walking in this world already has enough capital and power, so it is better not to touch too much of this kind of thing that is easy to commit taboos.

Unless the situation is urgent enough and the interests are too tempting.

Wendi Deng stared at him with gloomy eyes for a few seconds, and the latter just looked back calmly, without a trace of timidity or guilty conscience.

"Alright, it seems I didn't get enough of your trust to unfold these private conversations."

Lu Kuan spread his hands lazily: "Rumors in the streets, how can Ms. Deng believe it?"

"Don't you think of today when you studied volleyball at the Xuzhou Amateur Sports School in Jiangsu Province, retired due to injury, were obsessed with 'The Sound of Music' during the Guangzhou Medical College, and met your teacher and first husband Mr. Cherry, that you would sit here as the Asia-Pacific President of MySpace?"

Wendi Deng's face sank instantly. It was not that the young director's attitude was impolite.

It was that these life details would not be spoken so smoothly by people who had not been deliberately investigated.

Even the preemptive interrogation she had just delivered was only remembered because she had spent all of yesterday evening flipping through Lu Kuan's background investigation materials.

In 2005, it was not very realistic to capture these past events through search engines, especially the acquisition of detailed events, not to mention that Wendi Deng was far from being a household name in the country at this time.

Her circle was the gathering of political and business celebrities attending with Murdoch. Where did the common people hear these things?

Wendi Deng was secretly puzzled in her heart. What does he mean?

Both denied it and seemed to be hinting at something to herself, which was really unpredictable.

Boss Lu looked at her frowning eyebrows and sneered in his heart. This is the effect he wanted. The fear brought by the unknown is the deepest.

"Alright, we can be considered to have understood each other."

The excellence of the female hunter lies in calmness and decisiveness. Seeing that Lu Kuan was cunning and thorny, she didn't entangle too much on this topic.

"Let's talk about your company Mytube, how about it?"

"Can."

This topic is what Boss Lu likes most.

As mentioned earlier, Mytube in this life is an accelerated development model. To this day, it has taken shape, otherwise it would not have alerted Wendi Deng.

Core management including Chen Shijun and Huang Anna actually knew his plan to sell out. To be honest, facing such a development trend of cooking oil with fire, everyone was a bit reluctant.

After all, it was made brick by brick.

But it is impossible to let Lu Kuan continue to throw money into the bottomless pit of the video track, following the footsteps of Google in later generations.

YouTube around 2015 still consumed the patience of the holder Google with a loss of more than 100 million US dollars every year. This core shackle of video websites on copyright issues, even the hanging force, cannot be solved.

Examples of copyright parties suing media websites, leading to the collapse of the latter or a significant increase in transmission costs, are common in North America.

In 99, the five major record companies in the United States sued Napster, involving millions of infringing songs, and demanded compensation of 100,000 US dollars for each pirated song;

In 01, MGM and others sued Grokster, pointing out that it provided users with music sharing services based on P2P technology, and the latter had to cut off one arm helplessly;

And what Jamie Thomas case, Suno and Udio case, countless.

Wendi Deng's business negotiation went straight to the theme, unlike the previous beating around the bush to inquire about personal privacy.

"Is Mytube considering selling? Your spending on copyright purchases seems to have exceeded the acceptable range."

Boss Lu was shocked and denied without hesitation: "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"Mytube is a great internet product we worked hard to make, it is our hard work, it hasn't even been established for a year, how can we talk about selling?"

The young director seemed to have been stepped on the pain point by Wendi Deng, looking at the other party vigilantly.

The female hunter sighed in her heart, still too young.

There is no ability to move the heart and endure the nature at all. It seems that he is just an artist with talent, and his business ability is slightly poor.

Boss Lu seemed to be a bit angry and turned his head to the side, scanning Wendi Deng with his peripheral vision.

Damn, don't act too much, scare her away and don't have the idea of acquisition anymore?

"Cooperating with News Corporation, your Mytube can get better development, and you will also have long-term gains in personal financial rewards. Why not do it?"

Wendi Deng obviously had studied for a long time, and the negotiation talk came out:

"News Corporation's funds, technology, market channels, media influence, etc. are not mentioned, which can provide Mytube with broader development space and strong backing support."

"MySpace is now the world's largest comprehensive user community. The combination with Mytube can create the world's largest video entertainment platform and realize content sharing and user traffic guidance."

"In addition, I will give you a satisfactory reward. Believe me, what you get is definitely more than what you lose."

The female hunter saw the hesitant eyes of the man opposite without any surprise, which was no different from the white men she had captured before.

Loyalty and persistence are just because the chips for betrayal and abandonment are not enough.

"What can I get?"

"You can choose cash or MySpace shares."

Wendi Deng paused: "In addition, there is Murdoch's friendship. I heard that you have a small conflict with Eisner. It is a coincidence that Murdoch and Eisner have a good relationship."

"Eisner has lost control of Disney, and his influence on me is minimal."

"No, you are wrong, Lu Kuan. Eisner has been in charge of Disney for more than ten years, and his connections and influence are far beyond your imagination."

"If you are a white Jewish man like Harvey, maybe Eisner is not a threat to you, but a Chinese person who has offended such a big shot, you still have to think about the consequences."

Boss Lu had an expression of deep thought: "I need to think about it, maybe I will give you an answer later."

He prepared to notify potential buyers such as Yahoo and Google to see if there was any possibility of raising the price.

Raise while doing, let Mytube continue to gallop, and the number of users and daily playback volume will go up to a level, and it can also be sold for a good price.

However, the shares of MySpace proposed by Wendi Deng are a big pit, even if it looks like a fragrant bun now.

The reason why Murdoch acquiesced to Wendi Deng to talk about the acquisition is mainly because the valuation given by investment banks for MySpace, which was obtained last year, has risen sharply.

The valuation given by JPMorgan's chief market strategist Kalanovic is as high as 12 billion US dollars.

This greatly stimulated and strengthened his determination to make MySpace bigger and stronger, so Mytube, the king of the video track that emerged, appeared, and he instructed Wendi Deng to negotiate quickly.

Wendi Deng felt that such conditions were very tempting for the young director in front of her.

It is just that the hanging force not only knows the future of Mytube, but also knows the future of MySpace.

The latter once exceeded Google in visits in 2008, and the traffic was the first in the world, but it quickly declined under Murdoch's wrong decision and was sold for 35 million US dollars in 2011.

"Sorry, it seems we can only stop here today." Boss Lu looked at the text message on his mobile phone pretendingly.

"I still have to communicate with the team about movie special effects, so I won't accompany you."

Deng Wendi also knew that negotiations could not be accomplished overnight, but as long as he had the willingness to sell, whether through normal commercial negotiations or by force, News Corporation was determined to get it.

Among them, she also had her own selfishness.

Before marrying Murdoch, both sides signed a property agreement. If it was not changed halfway, she would not get a penny after Murdoch passed away.

Therefore, MySpace, which is currently serving as the Asia-Pacific President, is her basic disk. She wants to take root in this base and save enough results for her settlement after the war.

The big heroine in the United States is busy for her pension, and the big heroine in China has begun to "retire."

Beiping, Xicheng District, Zhonglangxia Hutong. Here is a courtyard house donated by Bingbing to Shuimo Town for 2 million, which was accepted from the gift of Washing Machine.

The geographical location is close to the West Second Ring Road. The north is 3 kilometers away from the high-speed railway North Station of later generations, and it is about 4 kilometers away from the Gongjian Hutong where Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei live.

This courtyard house covers an area of less than 500 square meters. After Lu Kuan bought it, he had already let Xu Kai renovate it. It was originally used as a stronghold for cunning rabbits and three caves.

After the transfer, Bingbing came once, but her mother brought her younger brother to live in Beiping, and she considered it again and again and arranged her family here.

There is no need to mention the public security under the imperial city root. The south is the Children's Hospital, and the nearby Shichahai, Jingshan Park, and Beihai Park can be used for walking and walking the baby.

Beiping started school district reform from Dongcheng District around 2003. Younger brother Fan Chengcheng is 5 years old now. Moving the household registration to Xicheng can also be prepared for a rainy day.

In mid-July, Bingbing's Bi Yao died in "Zhu Xian 2," temporarily left the crew and returned to Beiping, and had to enter the "Protégé" crew after resting for a few days.

"Mom, Mom?"

The big star walked inside with joy, passing by the shadow wall and rubbing it with her hand to see if the cleaning work was in place.

Zhang Chuanmei in the kitchen poked her head out and looked at the big daughter with joy: "Man'er, back?"

Man'er is Qingdao dialect. Bingbing's ancestral home is Yantai, and she was born and raised in Qingdao.

"Oh, don't be busy, isn't there Auntie Li!"

Fan Bingbing used a tissue to wipe Zhang Chuanmei's hands clean; the latter responded with a smile, then worriedly gave two more instructions on how the nanny should handle the seafood brought from their hometown.

"Sister Li, the oysters must be brushed clean, and the sea cucumber must remove the sand mouth, and rinse it a few more times."

"Oh, by the way! If you don't know how to handle the octopus, put it here and I'll handle it later. The head and body must be separated first, and don't break the ink sac."

Auntie Li is a person from the old hometown, brought here to serve the days. Hearing this, she pretended to be angry: "Bingbing's mother, I don't even know this, just go back to Qingdao!"

"Hehe, you handle it, you handle it."

Zhang Chuanmei then turned back to look at her daughter carefully: "Bingbing, thin again. Mom brought a lot of food this time, and a batch is frozen in the refrigerator. You should make up for it."

"Where do actresses have that blessing? Just satisfy the gluttonous worm."

Since she was 15, she has been wandering outside alone. Bingbing is especially grateful for the warmth of her family, even if there are sometimes some unreasonable requirements, she tries her best to satisfy them.

Father Fan Tao was a singer in the Navy Aviation Art Troupe, and mother Zhang Chuanmei was a dancer. They also provided some help in the early stage of her career development.

However, seeing the daughter flying higher and higher, the whole family is honored.

Even if they don't quite understand this magazine, that magazine, and what kind of Paris fashion show and Italian fashion show.

But they understand endorsement advertisements!

Pantene, Longrich, and what Panasonic Jia Lishi, the endorsement fee is like a rocket!

It really took a rocket.

Took Boss Lu's big rocket, and pushed Bingbing, who was a chosen entertainment circle player, to a high position with a chaotic shot.

"Where is the younger brother?"

"Sleeping inside."

Zhang Chuanmei hadn't seen her daughter for a few months, so she relieved some of the lovesickness of licking the calf. Taking advantage of Bingbing's inquiry, she talked about this late precious son.

"That's it, no matter how I think about it, it's this reason. Still have to come to Beiping, education, environment, etc. are all different."

"You are less than thirty this year, and you have achieved such a great achievement in the performing arts circle. It is easy to bring your younger brother in the future, right?"

Fan Bingbing said seriously: "I will definitely create conditions for him, but how to educate and whether to fight is your business. I don't have time to manage."

"By the way, why didn't Dad come?"

"Gathering with his comrades, coming next month."

Zhang Chuanmei was interrupted, and didn't forget her core appeal: "Why don't you have time to manage? You manage your own younger brother, who manages?"

She personally felt the revenue brought by Bingbing to the family in the past two years.

Just looking at the courtyard under the imperial city root, that was the residence of the princes and nobles of the old Beiping!

Zhang Chuanmei made up her mind to let her son take this road, preferably starting from understanding the cultivation of artistic roads, don't be like her daughter, who was sent to Shanghai at 15 to learn acting, and took a few detours.

Bingbing is not Fan Shengmei. Except for someone, she will not be easily pinched by others, even if it is her own mother.

"Why do you have to enter the entertainment circle? Is the entertainment circle so easy to mix?"

She got up and turned out the tea cake from the cabinet: "Don't just look at the glory in front of people, don't know the suffering behind people. Is this line so glamorous?"

"When I terminated the contract with Qiong Yao, I had to pay 1 million in liquidated damages. Have you forgotten your crying and howling?"

"Go, this child, just expose your old mother's shortcomings!"

Zhang Chuanmei reached out and patted her: "Then you say, what road will your younger brother take in the future?"

"Boys, of course..."

Bingbing sipped the hot tea, and a figure suddenly appeared in her mind, and she smiled unconsciously.

"Men, of course, have to break through on their own, and it is good to do their own career. What is the ability to rely on women?"

"Being able to let women rely on him, that is called prestige!"

Zhang Chuanmei frowned and looked at her daughter, not knowing which tendon she was twitching, and then remembered something, and carefully pulled Bingbing to sit down.

"Are you in love?"

"No? I am busy every day, do you think I have time?"

"Hehe, then where did the men's underwear and razors in your wardrobe come from? Not even opened yet."

Bingbing's face was indifferent.

That was the object she had prepared here early, to prevent Lu Kuan from being able to use it one day.

"Mom, don't worry about it."

"What don't I worry about? I am your mother!"

Zhang Chuanmei blamed: "It is your freedom to talk or not, but you can always tell us! I am just afraid that you will find those little white faces, which are unreliable!"

"Oh, rest assured, do you think I am such a stupid person?"

"Then tell Mom, what is my son-in-law like?"

The big star turned her back to her mother to make tea, and her face was a bit depressed when she heard this.

If one day, she could really let her mother say this word upright, how good it would be.

It's a pity that now even seeing him once has to be careful.

"Mom, go see how the dishes burned by Auntie Li are? I am hungry."

Zhang Chuanmei gave her daughter a white eye, but she had no good way to take her, and turned to the kitchen.

Family is a small society. Emotional ties are one aspect, but economic strength determines family status is not empty words.

At least the current Bingbing is the master who says one thing in the family. Let Zhang Chuanmei bring Fan Chengcheng to school, and the latter can only follow orders.

Perhaps it was Zhang Chuanmei's words that made Bingbing's heart

After the meal, the big star drove herself to the Yanda Huayi headquarters for a meeting, and on the way, she dialed Boss Lu's phone number.

"Hmm?"

"Hey, have you arrived in Beiping?"

"Ah, I just arrived."

Lu Kuan, who had just landed after a dozen hours of long-haul flight, greeted Jiang Beichun and the others accompanying him, then went straight through the VIP channel and followed Hu Zi toward the underground garage.

As for the financial reporters swarming them, let Jiang Beichun deal with them; he had been interviewed so much these past few days that he felt physically nauseated.

"I... have something I'd like to ask for your help with."

"Heh, why are you being so polite? Go ahead."

Fan Bingbing's tone was a bit bashful: "Um... my mother brought my younger brother to Beiping to live. My brother is 5 years old, and I want to find a better kindergarten."

"Kindergarten? I really don't know much about that."

In Boss Lu's mind, the image of that talent-show boy who would later join the entertainment industry to "serve in the army for his sister" after Fan Bingbing's downfall drifted by.

"I'll ask someone to look into it for you."

Seeing that he didn't seem to have any repulsion toward topics related to her family, Fan Bingbing felt deeply comforted, and she couldn't help but press down on the gas pedal a bit harder.

"Do you have any social engagements tonight?"

"I don't think so. Wait for me at the Huabin Golf Club."

"Got it. I'm going to Yanda Huayi for a meeting now; it seems there's some important news to announce."

Boss Lu understood as he sat in the car; he had already learned some details through Zhou Xun: "Regarding the matter of Wang Jinhua, go and listen to what they have to say."

"Alright, then I'll go back early tonight. My mom brought a lot of seafood, and I'll cook it for you."

"Haha, sure."

Fan Bingbing, the "devil" who had dominated the fashion scene and topped every style list for the past year, hung up and immediately dialed another number.

"Hey? Auntie Li, please help me take the sea fish and shrimp out of the freezer at 4 o'clock, and also help me prepare the oysters..."

"Oh, right, please send them to the Huabin Golf villa. I'll text you the address; you can take a taxi over."

She gave detailed instructions for everything, and only then did she hang up the phone with satisfaction.

To anyone watching from the side, this Fan Bingbing, driving a sapphire blue BMW Z4 and full of joy as she envisioned her "family life" with Boss Lu, was just a little woman in love.

Xinyuan South Road, Chaoyang District, Beiping. Yanda Huayi headquarters building.

The office was filled with Yanda Huayi's male and female stars, assistants, and agents, but judging by the composition of the people present, everyone had already keenly sensed that something was wrong.

It was one thing that artists under Wang Jinhua, such as Liu Jialing and Guan Zhilin, were not there.

Hu Jun, Chen Daoming, Xia Yu, and Tong Dawei were also absent.

Not to mention Wang Jinhua herself; her exclusive spot in the Yanda Huayi headquarters office was also empty.

Zhou Jun walked into the conference room in a suit and tie; his refined and elegant demeanor made many minor stars glance at him.

Even though the Zhang Nara incident from not long ago was still fresh in everyone's memory, no one could deny that he had contributed a great deal to Yanda Huayi over the past year, from its marriage with internet capital to the establishment of the Zhonghua Heng Film and Television Company.

Wang Xiaolei stood up: "Brother Jun, I went to see Uncle Zhou last week. He's in good health, haha."

"You're very thoughtful, Xiaolei. When I went back yesterday and saw that pile of cigarettes and alcohol, I knew it was you, kid!" Zhou Jun laughed and patted his shoulder: "Did your aunt scold you?"

"You bet! She said Uncle Zhou had finally managed to quit smoking and drinking, and I went and hooked his cravings again, haha!"

The two exchanged a few pleasantries and sat in their respective seats; a flash of hesitation flickered before Wang Xiaolei's eyes.

The scent of perfume on Zhou Jun...

"Young Master Wang, Zhou Zong."

Li Bingbing sat down gracefully beside them, followed by her younger sister, Li Xue.

"What's going on?" Li Bingbing covered her mouth and laughed as she looked at Wang Xiaolei's thoughtful expression.

"Nothing, you've gotten even prettier!"

Wang Xiaolei was used to being a playboy, and his nose could tell that these two were up to something.

Heh, this Zhou Jun really couldn't stay idle, and he wasn't even afraid of his wife at home giving him trouble.

Wang Dajun walked in with some documents and looked around: "Everyone who should be here, is here, right?"

Well, with just that one sentence, everyone present knew in their hearts that today's business had to do with Wang Jinhua.

"Wang Zong? We haven't started yet, right?"

Fan Bingbing pushed the door open, panting; she had taken a wrong turn in her excitement and had gone around in circles for quite a while.

"Haha, hurry over and sit down. We were just waiting for you, our big star."

Li Bingbing and her sister Li Xue exchanged a calm look, both flashing a hint of gloom.

Once upon a time, this kind of polite remark—which couldn't be called flattery but clearly showed the importance placed on someone by a superior—was reserved for her, the "First Sister" of Yanda Huayi.

But ever since her "intimate video" with Zhu Xiaotian was exposed last year, and Fan Bingbing overtook her by relying on fashion resources, the "West Wind" had now overwhelmed the "East Wind."

Li Xue hatched a plan; taking advantage of Fan Bingbing turning around to close the door, she had already walked to the other side of the conference table and sat down right next to Zhou Jun.

Li Xue's position in the company was joint general manager, so her sitting there was perfectly justifiable.

The less senior artists, assistants, agents, and department managers present all had slight changes in their expressions. Was this a naked provocation?

Office politics exist not only in government agencies but even more so within entertainment companies, and the atmosphere is often even more intense.

Because the entertainment industry is the place that cares most about status; sometimes you can afford to lose a meal, but you cannot lose your dignity.

This wasn't just a matter of face; it involved a whole series of subsequent treatments and the degree of importance the company placed on you!

At the highest-level internal meeting, Wang Dajun sat at the center of the long table, with Zhou Jun and Wang Xiaolei sitting on either side, and Li Bingbing sitting next to Wang Xiaolei.

Today, male artists like Chen Daoming, Ren Quan, Hu Jun, and Xia Yu were all absent.

That meant the seat next to Zhou Jun should have been occupied by the highest-status female star present.

Furthermore, that position Li Bingbing was in was originally Wang Jinhua's; now you have usurped it, and you even made your sister Li Xue sit in the second seat of the other row...

This was clearly an attempt to give Fan Bingbing a "soft nail" to step on.

To get angry or throw a tantrum on the spot would seem to be making a mountain out of a molehill, right? They were all in the same company.

If she swallowed her pride, considering the widening gap in status between the two, Fan Bingbing settling for the second seat would be seen as cowardly and submissive, which was also not a good look.

A hint of triumph flashed in Li Bingbing's eyes, and she winked at her sister.

Zhou Jun, sitting beside them, glanced over and said indifferently: "Bingbing, sit down. We're about to start the meeting."

Fan Bingbing turned around; as her gaze swept across the room, her expression darkened, and she understood everything.

She walked in her high heels, *tap-tap-tap-tap*, unhurriedly toward the end of the conference table.

Li Bingbing pulled out a chair for her considerately: "Bingbing, sit here."

Li Xue secretly thought her sister was sharp; this gave her even less reason to make a scene, otherwise, it would look like she was bullying others by relying on her status.

The big star stood gracefully for two seconds, then, with a rather domineering air, picked up the chair with one hand and, amidst the surprised gazes of everyone, walked gracefully to Wang Dajun's side.

"Wang Zong, I've been at Yanda Huayi for two years, but I've never sat here for a meeting."

"Can I sit at this end with you today? I want to see what the view is like from here."

Wang Dajun had been flipping through the materials in his hand and was startled upon hearing this.

He looked up to see Fan Bingbing's eyes sparkling like the moon reflecting on a cold river, her whole body radiating confidence and charisma.

"Haha, of course you can. You are a meritorious contributor to the company."

Wang Dajun took the initiative to stand up and set the chair for her: "Come, please sit. Let's start the meeting."

Everyone present looked at each other, watching as Fan Bingbing really leaned over slightly and sat down beside Wang Dajun without a moment's hesitation.

They looked back at the gloomy-faced Li Bingbing, who was burying her head to one side, looking exactly like a concubine in the cold palace who had fallen out of favor in ancient times, who, after playing some petty tricks, was now too timid to look her mistress in the eye.

Fan Bingbing wore a smile, her eyes wandering between the sisters Li Xue and Li Bingbing, her intention self-evident.

The little woman who had been on the phone with Boss Lu in the car only needed to change the battlefield to become a sharp-witted, imposing big star.

Stunningly beautiful and possessing an air that was hard to ignore.

"Alright, I'll announce something first."

Wang Dajun looked around leisurely, wanting to see everyone's immediate reaction after he broke the news.

"Wang Zong Jinhua, because her contract with the company has expired and both sides have communicated that it will not be renewed, therefore... she will be leaving Yanda Huayi."

The room was silent; the news had indeed already been spreading like wildfire.

"Although Wang Zong didn't come today, we still want to thank her for the contributions she has made to the company over the years."

"Next, I will announce some adjustment decisions and the company's latest developments."

"In view of the fact that Miss Zhang Nara has officially terminated her contract with the company, the casting for 'Xianjian 3' will restart today."

"The filing for the film 'Red Cliff' has been approved by the Film Bureau. It will be jointly invested in by Yanda Huayi, China Film Group, Japan's Avex Entertainment, and others, and casting will begin soon."

There was a buzz of discussion in the room; everyone knew clearly that this was bait thrown out by Yanda Huayi's management to stabilize the artists under them.

There were also artists present who were planning to leave with Wang Jinhua; upon hearing this, they all frowned in thought, secretly weighing the pros and cons.

"In addition, the board of directors has communicated and decided to launch a star stock-option plan next year, in 2006."

"At the same time, with the support of the company's shareholder and Morgan Stanley investment manager Zhou Zong, the company is officially starting to establish its listing plan!"

In later years, there was a 5-year listing guidance period requirement for company IPOs; at this time, it was still only one year.

"Wow!"

"That's great!"

If the previous casting temptations had still left the actors hesitant, these two sentences were almost a fatal blow.

Fan Bingbing, the leading lady, looked up and glanced at the people in the conference room who were beaming with joy, including the radiant Li Bingbing, and thought to herself that it was no wonder she hadn't left with Wang Jinhua.

She must have known the news in advance, perhaps from her sister Li Xue.

The latter also glanced triumphantly at Fan Bingbing, who had just stunned the whole room, thinking she had gained the upper hand in this round.

The big star sighed silently.

A man had told her about such a speculation a long time ago.

What was even more bizarre was that this was even before Zhou Jun entered Yanda Huayi, and before Yanda Huayi had established its listing plan!

So, what did you have to celebrate so prematurely?

Fan Bingbing suddenly felt that these low-end intrigues were boring; she felt a sense of detachment and indifference, and she idly fiddled with her newly done nails.

I wonder if he prefers the turbot tonight steamed or braised...

(End of chapter)