Chapter 212 Adding Fuel to the Fire
When the two women entered the private room, Li Chen's expression remained calm.
But Jiang Wen's face was full of disbelief.
Zhou Yun walked forward and tugged at Jiang Wen: "What are you doing? Can't you talk things over properly?"
Liu Yifei also pulled Li Chen's arm, furrowing her brow slightly, her eyes full of inquiry.
Li Chen shook his head and smiled, signaling to her that it was nothing.
Jiang Wen also realized he had gotten agitated.
Perhaps it really was a case of using softness to overcome hardness, and one thing conquering another.
As soon as Zhou Yun spoke, Jiang Wen softened.
Jiang Wen laughed: "We're fine."
"It's just that he actually said my 'The Sun Also Rises' would struggle to even reach 50 million at the box office!"
"I just don't believe it!"
Li Chen stood up and also laughed: "Believe it or not."
"It's getting late, let's call it a day."
Jiang Wen was startled: "What's wrong? Are you still angry?"
Zhou Yun explained from the side: "Director Li, please don't take it to heart, that's just how old Jiang is."
Li Chen waved his hand: "What are you talking about, what's there to be angry about over such a small matter."
Liu Yifei also smiled from the side: "Yes, Director Jiang, Sister Yun."
"Thank you for your hospitality today, it is indeed getting late, we will have plenty of opportunities in the future."
Jiang Wen smiled: "Yifei knows how to speak, just like my wife, good, I'll see you out."
Jiang Wen put his arm around Li Chen, who subtly broke free: "What are two grown men doing being so lovey-dovey!"
Jiang Wen pointed at Li Chen and laughed heartily, reaching the door.
Li Chen and Liu Yifei got into the car.
Li Chen rolled down the car window and said to Jiang Wen, who was waving: "If your next movie needs investment, come find me."
Jiang Wen was stunned, then immediately reacted: "Haha, you're a hypocrite."
"You say you don't think highly of 'The Sun Also Rises,' but then you want to invest in my next movie!"
Zhou Yun pinched Jiang Wen's arm hard, and smiled at Li Chen: "I'll thank Director Li on behalf of old Jiang."
Then she waved to Liu Yifei: "Yifei, send me a message when you get home."
Li Chen just smiled, not saying anything more.
This Zhou Yun is quite a wonderful person, no wonder she could tame a wild horse like Jiang Wen.
After the car drove away, Zhou Yun started to argue with Jiang Wen: "Why are you so ungrateful? Didn't you understand Director Li's good intentions?"
Jiang Wen's eyes widened: "What good intentions?"
Zhou Yun was too lazy to explain to the man, she turned and walked towards the car: "Figure it out yourself!"
Jiang Wen didn't believe Li Chen's words, but Zhou Yun took them to heart.
For this movie 'The Sun Also Rises,' Jiang Wen not only borrowed money from his younger brother Jiang Wu, but she, his wife, also bled a lot.
If it really lost money, not only would several investors lose everything.
Even those close to them would suffer heavy losses.
It would probably not be so easy to attract investment again later.
Director Li was able to speak to that extent.
Jiang Wen still stubbornly believed that Director Li was being insincere, and actually still thought highly of 'The Sun Also Rises'!
Zhou Yun didn't know how she had become so infatuated with him.
On the way back, Liu Yifei leaned on Li Chen's shoulder and whispered: "Actually, I don't think highly of 'The Sun Also Rises' either!"
Li Chen laughed: "Now that's what you call a husband and wife in harmony."
"Jiang Wen hasn't directed a movie in almost eight years, and eight years is a long time in this world."
"Audience tastes have changed, and there are more diverse choices."
"It's no longer the era of eight years ago when there were at most twenty or thirty domestic films a year."
The next day, Li Chen arrived at the company.
The box office for 'the thieves' was soaring in many places, skyrocketing all the way.
After nearly two weeks of release, the domestic box office had climbed to 270 million, with about 6 million in box office revenue still coming in daily.
The North America box office also soared to 170 million US dollars.
The global box office even reached 390 million US dollars.
The headlines of portal websites these days have been dominated by 'the thieves'.
Everyone knew one outcome.
The first domestic 300 million director was about to be born.
Although this was a co-production between China and the US.
But the director was the double-gold director, unrivaled in the mainland for a time.
"Director Li, Siwei went to Modern City, should the company recruit another publicity director?"
"Or should Assistant Director Yu Miao take over?" Wu Bin knocked on the door and asked.
"Let her act as interim for three months first. Whether she can remove the 'interim' depends on her ability."
Wu Bin smiled: "Then she'll probably have to pull out all the stops."
"There's another matter, three companies in Singapore and Hong Kong."
"Including Milkyway Image, to which Johnnie To belongs, have all taken a liking to 'ghost blows out the light'!"
"They want to buy the copyright for the first part."
"Johnnie To personally called me; he's very interested in 'ghost blows out the light'."
Li Chen sighed: "Time really flies, it's been almost two years since he started serializing the novel, hasn't it?"
Wu Bin was full of admiration for Li Chen.
"Indeed, at first I didn't understand why you insisted on signing a novel of this genre."
"Looking at it now, it's truly foresight."
"Director Li, actually, in my opinion, we definitely won't sell the copyright."
"But we can invite Johnnie To to direct, what do you think?"
Now, Wu Bin's use of 'you' (honorific) was heartfelt and willing.
Li Chen shook his head: "There's no need for that, and they wouldn't agree either."
"I'm also not at ease handing it over to them to film, let's wait a bit longer."
"However, this is also an opportunity, tell Yu Miao one thing."
"'ghost blows out the light' is popular, it's time for us to add some fuel to the fire."
Wu Bin immediately understood: "Adding fuel to the fire? Yu Miao really needs this opportunity to prove herself."
As the two were speaking, the assistant knocked on the door and came in: "Director Li, Cao Dong of Sina is here."
Li Chen stood up: "Please invite him in."
"Then Director Li, I'll go out first." Wu Bin knew the two had something to discuss, so he left first.
Cao Guowei came in and nodded to Wu Bin, then smiled: "Your environment is really nice, it's my first time here."
Li Chen gestured for Cao Guowei to sit down: "You're a busy man, a rare visitor!"
The assistant poured tea for the two and then withdrew.
Cao Guowei glanced at the needle-shaped tea leaves in the glass, raised an eyebrow, and smiled: "White Hair Silver Needle?"
Li Chen nodded: "If you like it, take some with you later. Ten-year-old White Hair Silver Needle is hard to find on the market."
Cao Guowei was also not polite: "Alright, since I'm here today, I didn't plan on being polite with you."
Li Chen was not surprised: "I know you never visit without a reason, have you made up your mind?"
Cao Guowei nodded.
Li Chen smiled: "You, the superman of the poison pill plan, should have done this a long time ago."
Cao Guowei did not answer directly: "Sina can't remain so disorganized anymore."
"A snake without a head won't do. I can't just watch you and Chang Tian soar while I keep spinning in place, can I?"
Li Chen chuckled: "Just tell me what you plan to do, and how you want me to help you. Being so indecisive isn't like your style at all."
Cao Guowei's lips curved slightly: "I plan to carry out a Management Buyout (MBO) to first gain control of Sina."
"You're right, Fanfou is just a passerby, only Sina is Twitter's true destiny."