"Mr. William… you can state your conditions now."
Roy Disney's tone had changed.
Just minutes ago, he had been cautious, even skeptical. Now there was something else in his voice—urgency, expectation, and a faint, almost reluctant trust.
Off to the side, Johnson, the financial manager, finally pieced things together.
So this outrageous proposal—moving Disney's derivative manufacturing to China—had come from the young man sitting calmly across the table.
What unsettled him even more was not the idea itself, but the fact that Roy Disney actually seemed willing to believe it.
"Mr. Disney, I think this—"
"There's nothing for you to do here."
Roy cut him off sharply, waving his hand without even looking at him.
Then, as if remembering something, he added in a low but firm voice, "This matter is strictly confidential."
Johnson froze for a moment, then nodded quickly.
"Understood."
He turned and left, but inwardly, he couldn't help scoffing.
Confidential? Of course it had to be confidential. If this ridiculous idea got out, people would laugh themselves sick. Chinese factories matching Disney's production standards? It sounded like a joke that didn't even deserve to be told.
As the door closed behind him, the room returned to silence.
Roy looked back at Luo Zheng, his eyes sharp again.
"Now… your conditions."
Luo Zheng didn't answer immediately. Instead, he leaned back slightly, as if organizing his thoughts, then spoke in a completely unexpected direction.
"I heard Disney is interested in acquiring the film rights to my novel."
Roy blinked.
"…Which novel?"
For a brief second, the chairman of Disney's animation division actually looked embarrassed. The company handled too many acquisitions—he genuinely didn't know which one Luo Zheng was referring to.
Luo Zheng smiled faintly.
"Pirates of the Caribbean."
Roy's posture changed instantly.
"You wrote that?"
There was genuine surprise in his voice this time.
"Of course," Luo Zheng replied calmly. "So let's not waste time."
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze steady.
"After you become CEO, I want Marvel Entertainment and The Walt Disney Company to co-produce this film."
Roy stared at him.
"…That's it?"
For a moment, he almost couldn't believe it.
If he truly took the CEO position, approving a co-production deal like this would be trivial.
But Luo Zheng wasn't finished.
"I also want to exchange investment shares with one of Disney's upcoming animated films."
Roy's heart skipped a beat.
A faint unease crept into his chest.
"…Which film?"
Luo Zheng didn't hesitate.
"Finding Nemo."
The name landed like a hammer.
Roy's expression changed instantly.
"That's impossible!"
His reaction was immediate, absolute, and without hesitation.
"Not even negotiable?"
"Absolutely not."
His tone was firm, even harsh.
That project was more than just a film. It was a crucial collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios, a symbol of Disney's future in animation. There was no way he would allow external interference.
Luo Zheng sighed softly, leaning back.
"I see… that's unfortunate."
For a moment, silence lingered in the room.
Then Roy exhaled, rubbing his forehead slightly.
There was guilt there—subtle, but real.
He knew what Luo Zheng was offering. He knew the value of it.
And yet he had refused outright.
"Mr. William," he said finally, "please propose another form of cooperation."
Luo Zheng's lips curved ever so slightly.
The trap had worked exactly as expected.
"Alright," he said. "Then let's switch to a licensing and profit-sharing model."
Roy straightened again.
Luo Zheng spoke calmly, but each word carried weight.
"First—Disney pays an advance of 8 million dollars."
"Second—15% of global box office gross profit, and 20% of merchandise revenue."
"Third—I retain full IP ownership, including sequels, prequels, spin-offs, and television adaptations."
He paused briefly, then added:
"And finally—I will serve as executive producer."
Silence.
Even Liu Yan, standing behind him, couldn't hide her shock.
She had studied enough business to understand what this meant.
This wasn't negotiation.
This was domination.
Disney would invest, produce, and distribute… while Luo Zheng retained control, profits, and long-term ownership.
It was almost absurd.
If anyone else had said it, it would have been laughable.
But Luo Zheng said it calmly, as if it were the most natural arrangement in the world.
Roy, who had spent decades in business, understood it immediately.
"You're asking Disney to fund your project… while you keep everything."
His voice carried a hint of bitterness.
"This isn't a partnership. This is… exploitation."
Luo Zheng didn't deny it.
Instead, he tapped the table lightly.
"Don't forget the derivative profit margin."
Roy fell silent.
That single sentence struck deeper than all the previous conditions combined.
"But even so," Roy said slowly, "the board would never approve this."
"They don't need to approve everything," Luo Zheng replied. "They just need a reason."
Then he dropped another piece on the board.
"I can persuade Pixar to co-produce another animated film with Disney."
Roy's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And ensure that the partnership between Disney and Pixar does not break."
This time, Roy didn't respond immediately.
Because this wasn't just a bargaining chip.
It was… a lifeline.
"But how can you guarantee that?" he asked finally. "You're not the decision-maker at Pixar."
"That's true," Luo Zheng said calmly. "I'm only the second-largest shareholder."
He paused, then added casually:
"But I'm also a shareholder of Apple Inc.."
Roy froze.
"And Steve Jobs… tends to listen when I speak."
The room fell completely silent.
For the first time, Roy truly looked at Luo Zheng—not as a young chairman, not as a negotiator…
But as something else entirely.
"How many companies are you involved in?" he asked slowly.
Luo Zheng smiled but didn't answer.
Behind him, Liu Yan was equally stunned.
She didn't fully understand Pixar or Apple's market power—but she could clearly see Roy Disney's reaction.
Respect.
Shock.
Even a hint of caution.
This was the moment her perception of Luo Zheng began to change.
This man… was far more than what he appeared to be.
"Well?" Luo Zheng asked lightly. "Is my guarantee sufficient?"
Roy exhaled slowly, then nodded.
"If you can't guarantee it… no one can."
That was the answer.
Luo Zheng picked up his coffee, raising it slightly.
"Then… shall we call this a partnership?"
Roy looked at him for a few seconds.
Then, finally, he smiled.
"A partnership."
Their cups touched lightly.
But both men understood—
This wasn't just a deal.
It was the beginning of a shift.
A shift that would ripple through The Walt Disney Company, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and even Marvel Entertainment itself.
And at the center of it all—
Was Luo Zheng.
The man who had quietly stepped into the game…
And begun rewriting its rules.