EFB Chapter 118: A Stone Stirs Up Waves
Chapter 118: A Stone Stirs Up Waves
Chapter 118 A single stone stirs up a thousand waves
Monday, October 2.
After a weekend of snowfall, Beijing is now covered in a blanket of white, with sunlight shining on the snow.
At 8:30 a.m., in the office building at No. 11 Hepingli East Street, white-collar workers had just walked into their offices with coffee when news from the film and television industry spread like wildfire.
Wang Changtian's office at the headquarters of Enlight Media.
The secretary carefully placed a media briefing on the mahogany desk: "Mr. Wang, this is today's media monitoring report. Page three, regarding the Disney project—"
Wang Changtian put on his gold-rimmed glasses and opened the folder.
The third page is marked in bold: "Exclusive: Raymond Lam, Starlight Entertainment, and Emperor Entertainment acquire Disney's 'Tron: Legacy' share, paying a 10% premium for global revenue sharing rights."
"Quickly enough." Wang Changtian's lips curled up, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. "It's only been a weekend, and the news has already leaked out."
"Since seven o'clock this morning, several companies have called to inquire," the secretary reported in a low voice. "Wang Zhonglei from Huayi Brothers called three times, Yu Dong from Bona Film Group called twice, and Chairman Han from China Film Group also called in person."
Wang Changtian waved his hand: "I won't see him. Just say I'm in a meeting. Also, have the public relations department draft a press release. The wording should be low-key but the information should be clear, confirming participation, emphasizing that it's a normal business collaboration, and not mentioning the details of the premium."
"clear."
At the same time, Lu Zheng, under the bright stars, was smiling apologetically at the phone.
"President Ye, it's really not that I didn't keep it in mind." Lu Zheng stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in his office, looking at the traffic on the West Third Ring Road below. "I only signed the contract last Friday afternoon. The finance department processed the payment over the weekend, so I simply didn't have time to tell anyone. Think about it, if word got out about something this good beforehand, would I even have a chance?"
On the other end of the phone was Ye Ning, whose tone was clearly displeased: "Old Lu, how many years have we known each other? Wanda and Starlight Brilliant have collaborated more than once, haven't they? For a project like Disney, you should at least have informed me."
"Yes, yes, Mr. Ye is right." Lu Zheng nodded repeatedly. "This time, I didn't think things through. But don't worry, Mr. Ye, the team at Zhuiguang said this is just the beginning; there are even bigger projects to come. Next time, next time I'll definitely be the first to inform you!"
The smile on Lu Zheng's face vanished instantly after he hung up the phone.
He walked back to his desk, picked up the intercom: "Have the legal director come over. Also, find out who leaked the details of the Disney project; if you find them, fire them immediately."
At this moment, at the eye of the storm, the Chasing Light Studios in the China World Trade Center is in complete chaos.
Jiang Xuerou's secretary, Li Wen, has been on the phone non-stop since she started work at eight o'clock.
She held a landline receiver in her left hand, a mobile phone in her right, and a Bluetooth headset on her ear, looking like a communications soldier.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Jiang is in a meeting — Yes, the Disney project — I don't know — I'm sorry, I really don't know —"
I had just hung up one call when the landline rang again.
Li Wen took a deep breath and answered the phone: "Hello, this is Light Chaser Pictures."
"I'm looking for General Manager Jiang." The other person's voice was very aggressive.
"May I ask who you are?"
"Huayi, Wang Zhongjun."
Li Wen's heart tightened, but she remained professional: "Hello, Mr. Wang. Ms. Jiang is not in the company today. Regarding the Disney project, you can contact Ms. Jiang Xuerou, the project manager."
"I can't get through to Jiang Xuerou on the phone!" Wang Zhongjun said impatiently. "Tell me where Jiang Yu is, and I'll go find him directly."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Wang, I'm not aware of Ms. Jiang's schedule," Li Wen said, forcing a smile. "How about you leave your contact information so I can have Ms. Jiang call you back after her meeting?"
"No need!" Wang Zhongjun hung up the phone immediately.
Li Wen put down the receiver and let out a long sigh of relief.
The administrative assistant next to her handed her a glass of water: "Sister Wen, have some water. This is the eighteenth call already."
"Thank you." Li Wen took the water glass, and just as she took a sip, her phone rang again. She glanced at the caller ID—Bona Yu Dong.
"Oh my god—" she sighed, but still answered the phone, "Hello, Mr. Yu—"
In the conference room, Jiang Xuerou's condition was no better.
There were three cell phones in front of her: one for work, one for personal use, and one for a specific project.
At that moment, the three cell phones rang in turn, like a symphony.
"President Han, it's really not that I don't want to help—" Jiang Xuerou said to the work phone, while gesturing to her assistant to silence her personal phone. "The quota was allocated last Friday, the contract was signed, and the payment was made. You can't conjure it up now—"
After finally managing to deal with the vice president of Shanghai Film Studio, his private jet started vibrating again.
Jiang Xuerou glanced at it; it was an international call from Shochiku Films in Japan.
She rubbed her temples, answered the phone, and switched to English: "Hi, Tanaka-san—"
At this moment, Jiang Yu, the central figure in the incident, is enjoying a rare moment of leisure in his upscale apartment in Yintai Center.
The snow scene is clearly visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room.
Sunlight streamed in through the glass, making it feel warm and cozy.
Liu Yifei was wearing a light pink loungewear outfit, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, holding a cushion in her arms, watching a TV series rerun.
Jiang Yu sat next to her, with The Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times spread out in front of him, and a half-finished cup of coffee beside him.
He didn't look like someone in the eye of the storm at all; he looked more like a retired senior official.
"Are you really not going to the company?" Liu Yifei took a bite of her apple, her eyes still glued to the TV. "I heard there's a huge uproar outside."
"Let them make a scene." Jiang Yu didn't even look up, turning a page of the newspaper. "Jiang Xuerou can handle it. If I go to the company now, I'll be walking into a trap. A bunch of people will surround me, and I won't be able to get anything done."
"That's true." Liu Yifei smiled and held a half-eaten apple to his lips. "But won't you offend people by avoiding them like this?"
Jiang Yu took a bite of apple from her hand: "How can you do business without offending people? The quota is limited; if you give it to one company, you'll offend another. The key is whether it's worth offending them. Enlight Media, Emperor Entertainment, and Starlight Media—these three companies can bring real value to the project. As for the others, offending them is just that—offending them."
"You're quite optimistic," Liu Yifei said, leaning on his shoulder. "But I heard from Shu Chang that the whole industry is buzzing about you, saying you're a magician who can turn anything into gold, and that following you will get you to sail the seas."
"A deity?" Jiang Yu laughed, put down his newspaper, and put his arm around her shoulder. "I'm just an ordinary person, I just saw things a few steps ahead of them. Now that the ship is built, if they want to board, they have to buy tickets. There are only so many tickets, first come, first served."
Just then, Jiang Yu's phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID, which showed his assistant, Wang Wei.
"Answer it." Liu Yifei sat up straight. "It must be urgent."
Jiang Yu answered, "Go on."
"Mr. Jiang, I'm sorry to bother you." Wang Wei's voice sounded tired. "From seven o'clock this morning until now, the work phone hasn't stopped ringing. Huayi Brothers, Bona Film Group, China Film Group, Shanghai Film Group, Xi'an Film Group—and even CJ from South Korea and Toho from Japan, have all been inquiring about Disney's share. Mr. Ye Ning from Wanda came directly to the company and said he wouldn't leave until he saw you today; he's waiting in the conference room now."
Jiang Yu frowned: "Tell him I'm on a business trip and not in Beijing."
"I told him, but Mr. Ye didn't believe me." Wang Wei lowered her voice. "He said he saw your car in the Yintai parking lot, the Audi A6. He recognized the license plate."
Jiang Yu: "————"
Liu Yifei, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but laugh out loud when she heard this.
Jiang Yu glared at her and said into the phone, "Then just say I'm sick and went to the hospital. Do I have to teach you something like that?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Jiang, I'll take care of it right away," Wang Wei said quickly.
After hanging up the phone, Liu Yifei was already laughing so hard she fell onto the sofa: "Your car is too eye-catching. There's only one custom-made Audi A6 in the entire Yintai garage. Everyone knows it."
"I should have just gotten a regular car," Jiang Yu said helplessly. "But it doesn't matter, let him wait if he wants. He'll leave when he gets off work."
"Is this really okay?" Liu Yifei stopped laughing. "Ye Ning is the CEO of Wanda Pictures, after all. He came to your door in person, and you won't even see him?"
"What would we say if we met?" Jiang Yu countered. "Say the quota is gone? We can say that without meeting. Say there will be another opportunity next time? We can say that over the phone. He came in person to put pressure on me, to make me squeeze out some quota. I haven't offered the right price yet, so I can't squeeze out any. Meeting in person would just be awkward."
He paused, then his tone became more serious: "Yifei, doing business isn't about personal relationships. You need to be considerate when it's appropriate, and you need to follow the rules when it's time to follow them."
Liu Yifei nodded thoughtfully: "You're right. I was too naive, always thinking that I had to save face."
"Being presentable on the surface requires being presentable on the inside." Jiang Yu patted her head. "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. I promised you last week we'd go to the food street next to Communication University of China, but we haven't gone yet. The weather's nice today, shall we go for a stroll?"
Liu Yifei's eyes lit up: "Really? Aren't you afraid of being recognized?"
"Wearing a hat and a mask, who would recognize me?" Jiang Yu laughed. "Besides, Communication University of China is my alma mater, I know it well. If someone does recognize me, I can just say I came back to visit my alma mater, that's perfectly reasonable."
"Then I'll go change my clothes!" Liu Yifei jumped up from the sofa and ran happily towards the bedroom.
Watching her joyful figure disappear into the distance, Jiang Yu smiled.
10:30 a.m., West Street next to the Communication University of China.
This street is a famous snack street. Although it is not as famous as Wangfujing or Nanluoguxiang, it is a holy place in the hearts of students from Communication University of China and Beijing International Studies University.
The street, less than 500 meters long, is packed with hundreds of food stalls and small restaurants, offering everything from south to north: spicy hot pot, barbecue skewers, jianbing guozi (Chinese crepes), milk tea, fried chicken—you name it.
Since it was Monday morning, most students were in class, and there weren't many people on the street.
Couples strolled hand in hand in twos and threes, while occasionally students without classes would hurry by carrying their textbooks.
Liu Yifei wore a white baseball cap and face mask, a light blue down jacket and black jeans, and black-rimmed glasses. She also tied her long hair into a low ponytail, making her look like an ordinary female college student.
Jiang Yu was also dressed casually, in a black down jacket and gray sweatpants. The two walked hand in hand on the street, completely blending into their surroundings.
.
"I miss it so much." Liu Yifei took a deep breath. The air was filled with the sweet aroma of roasted sweet potatoes and the spiciness of hot pot. "When I was in school, there was a snack street like this next to the Normal University, but it wasn't this long. Back then, Wang Jia and I often sneaked out to have late-night snacks."
"The regulations are more relaxed here at Communication University of China," Jiang Yu laughed. "When I was in school, I often sneaked out late at night to eat barbecue. Back then, this street was open all night, and the lights were still on at two or three in the morning."
"You guys are so wild." Liu Yifei rolled her eyes at him. "We girls at Beijing Film Academy wouldn't dare climb over the wall. If we get caught, we'll be publicly criticized."
"So you became the good student, and I became the bad student," Jiang Yu teased her.
"You're not bad at all now," Liu Yifei said, taking his arm. "You're a successful person, an entrepreneur, you're—"
""
"He's your boyfriend," Jiang Yu replied.
Liu Yifei blushed, remained silent, but couldn't hide the smile on her lips.
The two walked up to a jianbing (Chinese crepe) stall.
The stall owner was a woman in her forties. She was very skilled. She scooped a spoonful of batter onto the griddle, cracked two eggs on it, sprinkled on chopped green onions and sesame seeds, flipped it over, brushed on sauce, added crispy crackers and lettuce, rolled it up, cut it into pieces, and packed it into a paper bag in one go.
"I'd like one, plus two eggs and a sausage," Liu Yifei said.
"Okay!" The eldest sister quickly started working.
While waiting, Liu Yifei whispered, "When I was in school, I was particularly envious of the students who lived in the dorms. Unlike me, I've been working on film sets for a long time. I feel that they have a kind of—how should I put it, a carefree temperament."
Jiang Yu said, "I envy the students at Beijing Film Academy. They can study acting and become directors. I wanted to transfer to Beijing Film Academy to study directing, but my family disagreed, saying that Communication University of China was a safer choice."
"If you really go to Beijing Film Academy, we might be classmates," Liu Yifei said, looking at him. "We're in the animation department, class of 02, and maybe we can even be in the same class."
"Then I probably wouldn't have run into you," Jiang Yu laughed. "If I were in the animation department at Beijing Film Academy, I'd be busy making assignments and securing investment all day. How would I have time to meet girls from the acting department?"
"That's true." Liu Yifei thought for a moment, "Fate is something that can't be explained. People who are meant to be met will be met eventually."
The jianbing guozi was ready, and the older sister handed it to me.
Liu Yifei took it, took a bite, and squinted her eyes in satisfaction: "Mmm! This is the taste! It's much better than what they sell in stores!"
"The soul of a roadside stall is its lively, down-to-earth atmosphere." Jiang Yu watched her eat, his eyes full of tenderness. "You can't get that from a fancy restaurant."
The two ate as they walked.
Liu Yifei wanted to try everything, but couldn't eat much. After eating about a third of the jianbing guozi, she handed it to Jiang Yu, saying, "Try it, it's really delicious."
Jiang Yu took it and ate it without any hesitation.
The owner of Light Chaser Capital, a multi-billion dollar company and a future Forbes figure, is now enjoying a leftover jianbing (Chinese crepe) from his girlfriend at a food street near his alma mater.
Liu Yifei stopped in front of a sugar painting stall.
The stall owner was an elderly gentleman with gray hair, who looked to be over seventy years old, and his hands were very steady.
He scooped up the melted syrup with a small spoon and moved it quickly across the cool marble slab. The syrup flowed like silk, and in the blink of an eye, it outlined a phoenix with outstretched wings, lifelike.
Several children gathered around, watching intently.
"Do you want it?" Jiang Yu asked.
"Okay!" Liu Yifei nodded. "I want a rabbit. I was born in the Year of the Rabbit."
Jiang Yu paid, and the old man began to draw.
The syrup flowed on the stone slab, slowly forming a crouching rabbit with long ears, round eyes, and a carrot in its arms—it was incredibly cute.
After finishing the drawing, I stuck it on with a bamboo skewer and handed it to Liu Yifei.
She carefully took it and looked at it in the sunlight. The sugar rabbit was crystal clear and shimmered with an amber light.
"It looks so good," she whispered, reluctant to eat it.
"Want to take a picture?" Jiang Yu took out his phone.
"good!"
The two took a selfie in front of the sugar painting stall.
Liu Yifei is holding a candy rabbit, and Jiang Yu has his arm around her shoulder. The background is a bustling food street, full of lively atmosphere.
After taking the photos, Liu Yifei finally couldn't resist and gently licked the sugar rabbit's ears.
The sweetness melted on her tongue, and she squinted her eyes contentedly.
"Is it sweet?" Jiang Yu asked.
"It's sweet." Liu Yifei held the sugar rabbit to his lips. "Try it."
Jiang Yu also took a lick; it was indeed sweet, sweet to the core.
While they were eating, Jiang Yu's phone rang again.
He glanced at it; it was still Wang Wei.
"Answer it," Liu Yifei said. "It must be something."
Jiang Yu answered the phone: "What is it now?"
"Mr. Jiang, I'm sorry to bother you again." Wang Wei's voice sounded even more tired. "Now it's not just the domestic company, but also Singapore..."
Companies from Malaysia and Thailand also called. And—"
Jiang Yu thought for a moment and said, "Tell them that Chasing Light welcomes cooperation, and we can discuss specific projects on a case-by-case basis. Have them send their project information to the company email address, and someone will evaluate it."
"Okay. Also—" Wang Wei hesitated for a moment, "the media has also exploded on it. Sina, Sohu, and NetEase have all made it their headline, and there's a lot of discussion online right now. There are already tens of thousands of related topics on Tieba and Tianya."
"What are we discussing?"
"The main discussion is about which actress will get the lead role and which actor will get the supporting role."
Wang Wei said, "Netizens have listed more than twenty candidates, including Zhang Ziyi, Li Binbin, Fan Binbin, Zhou Xun—and Jing Tian. As for male actors, Xie Tingfeng, Wu Yanzu, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Liu Dehua, Liang Chaowei—even Teacher Chen Daoming has been listed."
Jiang Yu was both amused and exasperated: "Let them guess. By the way, we need to be careful with public opinion and not let things get out of control. We need to guide things positively and prevent it from turning into cyberbullying."
"Understood, the public relations department is already monitoring it," Wang Wei said with a smile.
After hanging up the phone, Liu Yifei looked at him and asked, "Has something happened again?"
"It's nothing, it's just a bit lively." Jiang Yu took the candy rabbit from her hand and held it for her. "Let's go, there's a milk tea shop up ahead. I used to go there often when I was in school. Their pearl milk tea is the best in all of Beijing, at least that's what I think."
"You still remember?" Liu Yifei smiled.
"I remember everything about Communication University of China." Jiang Yu took her hand. "This is where my youth began."
The two entered a milk tea shop called "Typhoon Shelter".
The shop is small but very clean, with sticky notes and Polaroid photos covering the walls, all of which are messages and photos taken by students.
Some of them have turned yellow, and they look like they've been there for several years.
Jiang Yu ordered two cups of bubble tea, less sugar, no ice.
While waiting, Liu Yifei curiously flipped through the sticky notes on the wall.
"Look at this: 'Wishing you success in the postgraduate entrance exam and to go to Peking University!' — Lofty aspirations."
"This: 'Zhang Wei, I like you, though you'll never know.' — Ah, unrequited love, youth."
"This is even more interesting: 'After graduation, I want to become China's Cameron!' -- Is he a directing major?"
Jiang Yu also came over to take a look, and suddenly his gaze stopped on a yellowed sticky note.
The milk tea is ready.
The two of them walked out of the store with their milk tea in their hands.
The sun was shining brightly, its warmth comforting me.
The streets on West Street gradually became more crowded, with students coming out to find food after class, making the whole street lively.
Liu Yifei suddenly said, "Jiang Yu, thank you for spending time with me today."
She said earnestly, "I know you're incredibly busy, with a ton of things to do. But you put everything aside to come here with me, eat at street stalls, drink milk tea, and stroll around like any ordinary couple. I'm so happy, really."
"Silly girl." Jiang Yu ruffled her hair. "Work will never be finished, but you're the only one. The time I spend with you is more important than anything else. Besides, I'm happy to come back to my alma mater. This is where my roots are."
Liu Yifei's eyes were a little wet, so she quickly lowered her head to drink her milk tea.
The two continued shopping, buying a helium balloon, a string of candied hawthorns, and even finding a rare, out-of-print copy of the magazine "Film Art," the inaugural issue from 1985, in a secondhand bookstore.
Liu Yifei was like a little girl, finding everything fascinating. Jiang Yu followed behind her, watching her antics with a smile.
At 3 p.m., after Jiang Yu dropped Liu Yifei off at home, he still went to Chasing Light Pictures.
You can hide from the first day of junior high school, but you can't hide from the fifteenth day.
Some things, you just have to face eventually.
Sure enough, as soon as I entered the office, Jiang Xuerou came over with a folder, looking exhausted with faint dark circles under her eyes.
"Mr. Jiang, you've finally arrived." She sat down, took the water Jiang Yu handed her, and drank half a glass in one gulp. "Today, I answered thirty-two phone calls and met with eight groups of people. My voice is hoarse, and I didn't even have lunch."
"Thank you for your hard work." Jiang Yu sat down opposite him. "Who are the people here? Tell me in detail."
Jiang Xuerou opened the folder and began to report: "From domestic companies, Wang Zhongjun and Wang Zhonglei from Huayi Brothers are here, as are Yu Dong from Bona Film Group, Han Sanping from China Film Group, Han Xiaoli, the vice president of Shanghai Film Group, Yan Yiyun, the chairman of Xi'an Film Group, Ye Ning from Wanda Group, and Zhao Yifang from Huace Media Group—basically all the well-known film and television companies have sent representatives."
She paused, then continued: "From overseas, Kim Sung-soo, president of CJ Entertainment China, from South Korea, came in person; a representative from Showbo; Ichiro Yamada, head of Toho International Department from Japan; Tanaka, producer from Shochiku Pictures; the CEO of Singapore's Starlink Media; and senior executives from Astro Malaysia—"
Jiang Yu tapped his fingers on the table: "Which bid was the highest?"
"Wanda and CJ," Jiang Xuerou said. "Wanda was willing to pay a 20% premium to take over all the remaining shares, and Ye Ning said he could pay the full amount in one lump sum. CJ was willing to pay a 25% premium and promised to be responsible for distribution in South Korea and Southeast Asia, and was also willing to give the project one of their studios in Seoul for free for three months."
Jiang Yu thought for a moment: "Tell them that you can give up another 15% of your spotlight, leaving only 8%."
Jiang Xuerou was taken aback: "President Jiang, didn't we keep 23%? Why are we giving up 15% now?"
"We'll keep the copyright share, but we can give up the investment share."
Jiang Yu explained, "For this Disney project, our main profits don't come from the return on investment, but from the subsequent development of the copyright. After the movie is released, merchandise, games, and theme park licensing—these are the real money-makers, and the returns are stable. Giving up our investment share in exchange for cash and goodwill, and also securing partnerships with local giants like Wanda and CJ, is a win-win situation."
"Then who should we give it to?" Jiang Xuerou asked. "Wanda and CJ both want it all."
"It's 50/50," Jiang Yu said. "Wanda 7.5%, CJ 7.5%. The premium will be based on their offer: Wanda 20%, CJ 25%. But there's a condition: Wanda must be responsible for supporting the screenings in all IMAX theaters in China, guaranteeing at least 45% of the screenings in the first week; CJ must be responsible for promotion and distribution in other parts of Asia, with a promotion budget of no less than 2 million US dollars."
"Okay, I'll go talk to them." Jiang Xuerou quickly took notes. "But Ms. Jiang, this way we'll only have an 8% investment share left. Isn't that too little?"
"Not too much." Jiang Yu shook his head. "An 8% investment share, plus full copyright rights, is enough. You have to remember, in this project, Light Chaser Animation plays not just a simple investor, but a resource integrator. Our value lies not in that investment share, but in our ability to integrate Chinese capital, the Chinese market, and Chinese actors into the Hollywood industrial system. This capability is the core value."
Jiang Xuerou nodded thoughtfully: "I understand. Then I'll talk to Wanda and CJ this afternoon."
"Also—" Jiang Yu thought for a moment, "Let's spread the word that Light Chaser Animation has more projects coming up. Disney's 'Tron: Legacy' is just an appetizer; there's more to come. Let those companies that missed out catch up next time. Keep it vague, don't specify any projects, maintain the mystery."
"I understand." Jiang Xuerou smiled. "So you're going fishing."
"It's not about fishing, it's about giving them hope," Jiang Yu corrected. "You can't go all the way in business; you have to leave room for maneuver. If the cooperation doesn't work out this time, there will be other opportunities. If you cut off all ties, no one will want to do business with you anymore. When you're giving the gossip, you can privately tell a few key partners that Light Chaser is in talks with Warner Bros. about a much bigger project, with a budget that could reach $2.5 million."
"Really?" Jiang Xuerou's eyes lit up.
"Not now, but it's possible," Jiang Yu laughed. "Warner Bros. had a very pleasant collaboration with us on 'Inception' last year, so continuing the collaboration is a natural progression. I'll have David from the North American division handle the contact; it shouldn't be a problem."
Jiang Xuerou nodded admiringly. Jiang Yu's thinking was always so clear. He thought three steps ahead for every step he took, solving the immediate problem while paving the way for the future.
Jiang Xuerou is back, and her expression is a little strange.
"Mr. Jiang, a group of actors have arrived downstairs."
"An actor?" Jiang Yu frowned. "What kind of actor?"
"There are many," Jiang Xuerou said. "Some came with their agents, and some came on their own. They all said they wanted to see you and talk about the opportunity to work on the Disney project. I had the security guard count them, and there are more than twenty of them—they are all waiting in the lobby now."
Jiang Yu and Jiang Xuerou were both stunned.
An actor came directly to the company? This is truly a first.
"Who are they?" Jiang Yu asked.
"There are both first-tier and second-tier actors." Jiang Xuerou named a few people. "Zhang Ziyi's agent is here, Li Binbin's assistant is here—Zhou Xun's agent, Xiao Yanzi's team, and several young actors, Zhang Jingchu, Huang Shengyi... In short, it's like a vegetable market downstairs now."
Jiang Yu rubbed his temples: "What's going on here?!"
"I'll handle it," Jiang Xuerou said, standing up. "It's not appropriate for you to handle this kind of thing. I'll deal with it. Just say the role has already been decided, but there will be other opportunities in the future."
"Okay." Jiang Yu nodded. "Be nice to them, don't offend anyone. Leave them some hope, just say that Chasing Light has more projects to come, and they're welcome to recommend suitable actors."
After Jiang Xuerou left, Jiang Yu walked to the window and looked downstairs.
Sure enough, several vans were parked in front of the company, with agents and actors waiting.
He sighed. That's just how the entertainment industry is.
An opportunity can attract everyone to flock to it.
Even celebrities who are usually aloof have to lower themselves and personally seek out real resources.
That's how this industry is; there are far more applicants than opportunities, making them rare.
Everyone wants to climb higher, everyone wants to stand out, everyone wants to stand on a bigger stage.
Just then, my phone rang.
It's Liu Yifei.
"Jiang Yu, have you seen the news?" Her voice was a little anxious.
"What news?"
"It's been revealed online that Jing Tian paid $500 million to get the Disney female lead role."
Liu Yifei spoke quickly, "Right now, netizens are all criticizing it, saying it's manipulated by capital, that Jing Tian doesn't deserve it, and that the entertainment industry is dark. The insults are really nasty. Some people have even dug up all of Jing Tian's past resources, saying they were all bought—"
Jiang Yu frowned: "How did the news leak out? Not many people know the exact amount."
"I don't know, the rumors are so detailed," Liu Yifei said. "They even got the payment method right, saying it's some kind of international promotion resource exchange fee." Tian Tian called me, crying, saying she's afraid to go online now and has turned off her phone.
"I understand," Jiang Yu said in a deep voice. "I'll handle this. You comfort Jing Tian and tell her not to worry."
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yu immediately called Jiang Xuerou: "Xuerou, call a meeting in the public relations department right away. Deal with the negative news about Jing Tian online immediately. Find out who leaked the information and punish them severely."
"Understood," Jiang Xuerou said. "I'll take care of it right away. But, Ms. Jiang, once this kind of news gets out, it's very difficult to completely suppress it."
0
"Even if we can't suppress it, we must," Jiang Yu said sternly. "This isn't just simple gossip; it's a leak of trade secrets. Investigate, investigate thoroughly."
An hour later, Light Chaser Animation Studios issued a statement on its official website: "Regarding the recent online rumors of casting deals involving Disney projects, our company solemnly declares:"
All collaborations adhere to the principles of openness, fairness, and impartiality. All actor selections undergo professional evaluation and rigorous processes, with no irregularities whatsoever. Regarding any malicious dissemination of rumors or actions that damage the reputation of our company and partners, we have initiated legal proceedings and will pursue legal action against those responsible.
Meanwhile, several influential accounts that made the most blatant whistleblowing were banned, and related posts were deleted in bulk.
Public opinion has already taken hold and cannot be suppressed.
Netizens continued their discussion in other forums, expressing their dissatisfaction in various subtle ways: "Those who know, know."
"Without a background or capital, no matter how hard you try, it's useless."
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"500 million US dollars, that's a huge investment."
Jiang Yu looked at these comments with a gloomy expression.
He doesn't care what netizens say, he cares about who the information was leaked from and how.
Only senior executives from companies like Chasing Light, Starlight Entertainment, Enlight Media, Sound Entertainment, and Disney know the exact amount.
Disney couldn't possibly say they trusted Light Chaser, so the only option was—
He called Lu Zheng.
When the call connected, Lu Zheng's voice sounded a little weak: "President Jiang—"
"Mr. Lu, you're aware of the news online, right?" Jiang Yu asked directly.
"Yes, I understand," Lu Zheng said. "I'm investigating to see who leaked it—it might be the finance department or the legal department—I didn't expect it to get out—"
"No need to investigate," Jiang Yu said coldly. "Besides those at Starlight Brilliant, who else knows the exact amount? President Lu, if this gets out, it won't benefit Jing Tian, the project, or any of the parties involved."
"President Jiang, I'm so sorry, so very sorry." Lu Zheng quickly apologized, "It's my fault for mismanagement. I will definitely investigate thoroughly and give you an explanation."
"You don't need to give me an explanation," Jiang Yu said. "Give Jing Tian an explanation. Do you know how badly netizens are attacking her? Can a young woman in her early twenties handle this kind of pressure?"
"I know, I know, I'm trying to manage the public relations, I've already contacted several media outlets —"
"This matter ends here," Jiang Yu interrupted him. "I don't want to see any more negative news. If it happens again, Starlight will never be allowed to participate in any of Starlight's projects again. I mean what I say."
"Understood, understood!" Lu Zheng assured him repeatedly, "There will absolutely be no next time!"
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yu leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
Entertainment, Vanity Fair.
Behind the glamorous facade lies countless calculations, transactions, and games.
Everyone wants to climb the ladder, everyone wants a piece of the pie, everyone is carefully protecting their own interests while spying on other people's secrets.