radicalducati Chapter 72 At Least Like You
Chapter 72 At Least Like You
Chapter 71 At Least Like You (Seeking First Subscription, 1 Update)
On Wednesday, August 13, the morning sun streamed through the huge glass curtain wall into the airport hall of Terminal 3 at Beijing Capital International Airport.
The summer vacation and the lingering effects of the Olympics made the international departure hall exceptionally busy, with tour group flags fluttering everywhere and announcements in various languages mingling together.
Jiang Yu and Yang Siwei stood near the security checkpoint, facing the team that was about to depart for Los Angeles.
David, Wu Na, Liu Yifei and her assistant, agent and other group of seven or eight people.
The luggage cart was piled with boxes of all sizes, among which several boxes covered with dance supplies labels stood out.
"My God, Crystal, are you going to move half a wardrobe over there?" David stared at the several oversized suitcases, gesturing exaggeratedly. "I thought bringing two suitcases was exaggerated enough—"
Liu Yifei smiled a little shyly: "There are a lot of things needed for training, and we'll be staying there for half a year."
Wu Na adjusted her glasses and calmly checked the baggage tag: "It's okay, the studio in Los Angeles has a dedicated storage area. I've already arranged for a pick-up vehicle."
Today she was dressed in a sharp black jacket and cargo pants, inside which was the latest graphics workstation laptop that Zhou Mu had delivered overnight, as well as a test version of the dream rendering algorithm from Inception.
"Wu Na, test this algorithm first when we arrive." Zhou Mu also came to see us off, sporting his signature dark circles. "If you have any questions, feel free to video chat. I'm online 24/7."
"I understand," Wu Na replied succinctly, then turned to Jiang Yu, "Mr. Jiang, the Los Angeles studio is ready. I will be overseeing the visual effects previews for 'Black Swan' for the next three months, while also advancing the pre-production design for 'Inception'."
"Thank you for your hard work." Jiang Yu nodded. "Remember to balance work and rest."
"I won't break down." Wu Na rarely smiled slightly. "Making money isn't hard work, haha."
David wore a brightly colored Hawaiian shirt, khaki shorts, and sandals today, with a straw hat perched askew on his head, looking every bit the vacationer.
"Jiang, leave Los Angeles to me!" David patted his chest confidently. "I've arranged a professional training team and logistical support! I guarantee Crystal will experience Hollywood-level professional service!"
"Including parties?" Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow.
"Uh—" David scratched his head awkwardly, "Well—the size can be adjusted to ensure it doesn't affect training!"
Everyone laughed.
Yang Siwei was finalizing the details with Liu Yifei's agent, Sister Li: "This is the complete schedule, accommodation information, and emergency contact list. The contact information for the Los Angeles production office is also included; please contact us anytime if needed."
"Thank you, Mr. Yang, for your trouble." Sister Li took the folder and thanked him sincerely.
Jiang Yu walked up to Liu Yifei.
The girl was wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans today, with no makeup, and her long hair was tied into a neat ponytail. She looked clean and bright.
"Be careful on the road," Jiang Yu said. "Let me know when you arrive safely."
"Hmm." Liu Yifei nodded, her gaze falling on Jiang Yu's face, hesitant to speak.
David was making faces at the side when Wu Na slapped him on the back: "Quiet."
Yang Siwei glanced at her watch: "It's about time to go through security."
The group began moving their luggage.
David and Wu Na headed towards the security checkpoint first, followed by Liu Yifei's team.
Sister Li followed, leaving Liu Yifei and Jiang Yu standing face to face.
The noise of the airport seemed to fade away at that moment, and a subtle silence fell between the two of them.
"President Jiang—" Liu Yifei suddenly spoke, her voice soft.
"Um?"
"You—" she pursed her lips, as if gathering her courage, "Do you have a girlfriend?"
Jiang Yu was slightly taken aback, then smiled: "What, are you going to introduce me to someone?"
A faint blush instantly rose to Liu Yifei's cheeks. She nodded, trying to appear calm, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible: "Um—if—there's a suitable one."
After saying this, she felt her heart beating incredibly fast.
This was a decision she made after tossing and turning all night. If she didn't find out the truth, she feared she would be restless for the next six months in the United States.
Jiang Yu looked at her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, and understood perfectly.
He simply smiled gently, his tone casual and natural: "No. I haven't met anyone I'm particularly attracted to yet."
Liu Yifei's eyes lit up for a moment, and although she quickly lowered her eyes, that fleeting joy did not escape Jiang Yu's notice.
She gave a soft "oh," her voice carrying a relaxed tone she herself didn't realize.
"Well—" she looked up, feigning nonchalance, and said, "Let me see if I can introduce you to any suitable ones?"
"Okay," Jiang Yu smiled, "but I have high standards."
How tall is it?
"At least you have to be as serious and hardworking as I am."
This statement was both natural and frank, acknowledging her while cleverly keeping the relationship within a controllable range.
Liu Yifei felt a sweet warmth in her heart, yet also a hint of disappointment; he remained as impeccable as ever.
"I should go," she said.
"Go ahead." Jiang Yu nodded, then called out to David and Wu Na, who had already walked away, "David! Wu Na!"
The two turned around.
"Take good care of Crystal," Jiang Yu said. "Her training needs to be professional, and her living conditions need to be guaranteed. If she loses weight or gets injured, I'll contact you."
David immediately stood at attention and saluted: "Mission accomplished!"
Wu Na adjusted her glasses: "President Jiang, rest assured, the training plan is scientific, and the nutritionist and medical team are all in place."
Liu Yifei felt a warm glow in her heart.
She turned around, pulling her suitcase, took a few steps, then turned back: "Mr. Jiang, you said you'd be coming to the US next month?"
"Yes, the production meeting for 'Inception' and the opening ceremony for 'Black Swan'," Jiang Yu said. "Around mid to late September."
"Well then—see you then."
See you then.
Liu Yifei finally turned around and walked towards the security checkpoint.
Before going through security, she looked back one last time. Jiang Yu was still standing there, waving at her.
She smiled, waved in response, and then disappeared into the security checkpoint.
After seeing the group off, Jiang Yu, Yang Siwei, and Zhou Mu headed towards the parking lot.
Zhou Mu rubbed his dark circles and said, "President Jiang, if the algorithm Wu Na brought is successfully tested, it can save at least 20% of the rendering time for 'Inception.' That means a cost saving of several million US dollars."
"You're fully responsible for the technical aspects," Jiang Yu said. "Just let me know what you need."
"clear."
Yang Siwei then said, "President Jiang, Miss Liu just now—"
"She's the leading lady in an important company project," Jiang Yu interrupted calmly. "Taking care of her is our duty."
Yang Si nodded slightly and said no more.
On the bus, Jiang Yu looked out the window at the airport expressway rushing past, and the image of Liu Yifei's nervous yet expectant expression when she asked him the question just now came to mind.
He let out a soft breath.
"President Jiang?" Yang Siwei noticed.
"It's nothing." Jiang Yu looked away. "Back to the company, there's still a lot to do today."
On Friday evening, August 15th, at 8 PM, the aroma of official cuisine filled the private rooms of the Tan Family Hall at the Beijing Hotel.
When Jiang Yu entered the private room, Master Han and Yu Dong from Bona Film Group had already arrived.
The two were enjoying tea when they saw Jiang Yu enter, and they both stood up at the same time.
"Mr. Jiang, you're here!" Third Master Han greeted him with a hearty smile. "Friday night, Chang'an Avenue must be difficult to navigate, right?"
"I left early." Jiang Yu smiled. "Third Master, President Yu, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
Yu Dong was more than ten years older than Jiang Yu, and he maintained a respectful attitude in front of Master Han.
He proactively shook hands with Jiang Yu: "Mr. Jiang, long time no see. Congratulations on the great success of 'The Witch'!"
"Mr. Yu, you're too kind. It was just luck."
The three of them took their seats.
Third Master Han sat in the main seat, with Jiang Yu and Yu Dong sitting on either side.
The waiter began serving the dishes: braised shark fin, clear soup bird's nest, braised abalone, and Tan family braised deer tendon—each dish a classic of Tan family cuisine.
"There are no outsiders today, just the three of us." Third Master Han picked up his teacup. "Let's start with tea instead of wine to congratulate President Jiang on the success of 'The Witch,' which has brought honor to Chinese cinema!"
The three clinked glasses.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Third Master Han got down to business: "President Jiang, the main reason I invited you here today is to talk about Inception."
Jiang Yu put down his chopsticks, knowing that the main event was about to begin.
"China Film Group is very interested in this project," Han Sanye said bluntly. "Directed by Nolan, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, 1.6..."
A multi-billion dollar investment—this is a top-tier global production. China Film Group wants to participate, even with a small stake; it would be a gesture to show that Chinese film companies can invest in Hollywood A-list blockbusters.
Yu Dong chimed in, "Bona also has this intention. We have distribution networks in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, and are quite familiar with the Asian market."
Jiang Yu took a leisurely sip of tea, then said, "Third Master, President Yu, investment is negotiable, but there are conditions."
"you say."
"First, the share is limited," Jiang Yu said. "Warner Bros. takes the lion's share, and we, Light Chaser Pictures, are the lead investor, so the remaining share is already small. If China Film Group and Bona Film Group want to come in, they can only take the remaining portion."
Third Master Han nodded: "I understand. Even 5% or 10% is fine, the main thing is to participate."
"Secondly, a premium is needed," Jiang Yu continued. "The Dark Knight has grossed over $9.5 million worldwide, and Nolan's value has skyrocketed. Now, you two aren't the only ones interested in investing in Inception. Warner Bros. has already received multiple inquiries."
Yu Dong asked, "How much of a premium?"
"At least 30%," Jiang Yu said. "And we can only participate in the box office revenue sharing in a portion of Asia; we don't participate in the revenue sharing from other regions around the world."
Upon hearing this, both Master Han and Yu Dong fell silent.
A 30% premium, and only a portion of the Asian region—the conditions are indeed harsh.
"President Jiang, this condition—" Yu Dong carefully chose his words, "is it a bit—"
"Mr. Yu thinks it's too high?" Jiang Yu smiled. "Then let me do the math for you two. *Inception* had a budget of $1.6 million. Based on the average return on investment for Hollywood blockbusters, it needs at least $4.8 million in global box office revenue to break even. Nolan's first two films, *The Batman*..."
"Beginner's Meter" grossed $3.7 million worldwide, and "The Dark Knight" is currently at $9.5 million and still rising. How much do you think "Inception" will reach?
Master Han pondered for a moment: "With Nolan's current momentum, 5 million should be no problem."
"Conservatively, it will gross 5 million; optimistically, it could reach 6 million or 7 million," Jiang Yu said. "The Asian market is accounting for an increasingly larger share of the global market. The Dark Knight grossed nearly 1.5 million in Asia. If Inception can reach that level, its Asian market share will be very impressive."
He paused, then added, "And it's not just about money. China Film Group and Bona Film Group participated in Nolan's films; isn't that brand value and industry influence worth a 30% premium?"
Yu Dong frowned, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.
After a long pause, he shook his head with a wry smile: "President Jiang, to be honest, a 30% premium plus the fact that we can only distribute a portion to the Asian region—this is a calculation that Bona Film Group can't make. Film investment is inherently risky, and this clause doesn't offer an ideal risk-reward ratio for us."
Third Master Han glanced at Yu Dong but didn't say anything.
Jiang Yu nodded: "I understand. So, what does President Yu mean?"
"This investment—we'll put it on hold for now." Yu Dong readily agreed. "But Mr. Jiang, I've heard about *Inception*..."
Are the two Asian characters in the film handled by Light Chaser Animation Studios?
The topic suddenly shifted, and Jiang Yu immediately understood Yu Dong's true intention: if the investment risk was too high to accept, then they should try to secure acting opportunities.
"There are two important Asian characters," Jiang Yu said, "a dream architect and a businessman. Director Nolan will be casting globally."
Yu Dong's eyes lit up: "The Dream Builder—this role is perfect for a young actress. Bona Film Group has recently signed several promising newcomers, all with formal training and good English. Mr. Jiang, could you give them an audition opportunity?"
Han Sanye chimed in, "China Film Audio-Visual also has a few promising talents, like Zhao Bafei, who has a very good audience base."
Jiang Yu slowly sipped his tea, thought for a moment, and then spoke: "Director Nolan is personally in charge of casting. He will be coming to Asia for auditions in October. I can only guarantee that all talented actors will have a fair chance to audition."
He looked at Yu Dong: "Mr. Yu, you can send the actor information to Yang Siwei, and we will compile it and forward it to Nolan's team. The final decision rests with the director, and I must make that clear."
"Understood, understood!" Yu Dong quickly replied, "Any audition opportunity would be great! Fair competition, everyone should rely on their own abilities!"
Third Master Han nodded, "This arrangement is reasonable. President Jiang, China Film Group will also recommend a few actors; please pass them on."
"No problem," Jiang Yu said. "But Third Master, you just said that China Film Group is interested in investing, so what about the premium—"
Master Han laughed: "China Film Group is different from Bona Film Group. Our considerations are not just commercial, but also strategic. We can negotiate a 30% premium; China Film Group can exchange some of its resources for it."
"What resources?"
"Policy support, expedited approval process, and also—"
Third Master Han lowered his voice, "China Film Group can take the lead in coordinating land and supporting policies for your film production base project. President Jiang should know how much money and time this can save you."
Jiang Yu narrowed his eyes slightly; as expected, Third Master Han's information channels were quite well-connected.
"Third Master knows quite a bit about this project."
"It's hard not to know about something this big," Han Sanye laughed. "A billion yuan investment to build China's own film industry base. China Film Group must support this kind of project."
Jiang Yu pondered for a moment: "If China Film Group can provide substantial support in terms of land and policies, the premium can be reduced to 25%."
"15%," Han Sanye countered.
"18%, that's the bottom line," Jiang Yu said. "And China Film Group can only give us a maximum of 8%."
"Okay." Master Han readily agreed. "It's settled then. China Film Group will take 8%, with an 18% premium, partly through resource exchange. The specific details will be handled by the team below."
"it is good."
With the important matters settled, the atmosphere became much more relaxed.
The three of them began to eat seriously and chatted about the latest developments in the industry.
"President Jiang, Director Zhang Yimou mentioned to me that he wants to collaborate on a project with you," Han Sanye suddenly said.
"Hmm, I heard they're making a film about the resistance against Japan in Nanjing..." Yu Dong chimed in.
"He wants to make a historical epic, but Zhang Weiping is too individualistic." Master Han put down his chopsticks. "The current technology in China can't do it; special effects are the biggest problem. He watched the special effects preview for the Olympic opening ceremony and was very impressed with your team."
Jiang Yu's heart stirred.
"Director Zhang, do you have a script?"
"I heard it's still in the conceptual stage, but the intention is clear," said Han Sanye.
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