The sudden shift in leadership at The Walt Disney Company didn't just ripple through Hollywood—it detonated like a quiet bomb.
For years, industry insiders had watched the internal struggle between Roy Disney and Michael Eisner unfold behind closed doors. It had been messy, political, and at times almost theatrical. But no one—absolutely no one—expected Roy to actually win.
And yet, here he was.
Sitting in the CEO's chair.
The media, naturally, went into a frenzy.
Reporters dug, analysts speculated, insiders whispered—but strangely, no one could find a solid explanation. The transition had been too fast, too clean, and too… quiet.
Just as the major outlets were about to move on, something surfaced.
A leak.
Not official. Not confirmed. But explosive enough to reignite everything.
According to internal sources, Roy Disney hadn't risen alone. There was a benefactor behind him—a young, powerful figure who had quietly tipped the balance.
And that name?
Luo Zheng.
The chairman of Marvel Entertainment.
At first, the reaction across newsrooms was identical: disbelief.
It sounded absurd. Unreal. Almost like a fabricated rumor designed to grab attention.
But in entertainment media, "absurd" was often the most valuable kind of news.
So they ran with it.
And once they started, the speculation spiraled completely out of control.
One headline claimed Luo Zheng had secretly negotiated with Roy Disney, helping him seize power in exchange for selling Marvel at a discounted price.
Another went even further, spinning a ridiculous narrative that Luo Zheng had hidden Disney family blood—an "illegitimate heir" whose identity had finally influenced internal power struggles.
The stories became more outrageous with each iteration.
None of them were true.
And none of them mattered.
Because the effect was immediate.
Luo Zheng was trending again.
—
Late at night, in a dimly lit bedroom, Angelina Jolie leaned close, her voice low and teasing.
"Honey… you don't actually have Disney blood, do you?"
Her breath brushed lightly against his ear, playful, provocative.
Luo Zheng rolled his eyes.
"You believe gossip like that?"
He turned slightly, a faint smirk forming. "Besides, only pure Chinese blood can produce someone as strong as me."
Jolie laughed softly.
Half an hour later, the conversation had long since lost its original topic.
—
Eventually, Luo Zheng lost interest.
He had never enjoyed dealing with opponents who had already lost their will to fight. Whether in business or elsewhere, once the challenge disappeared, so did his attention.
He picked up his phone, which had been vibrating for quite some time, and stepped out of bed.
"Hello, Director Feng."
On the other end was Feng Xiaogang, his tone polite but probing.
"President Luo, I heard you returned to China recently?"
Luo Zheng wasn't surprised. His trip with Han Sanping had clearly not gone unnoticed.
"I had urgent matters that required Chairman Han's help," he replied calmly. "I didn't stay long."
There was a brief pause.
"Then when will you return?" Feng Xiaogang asked.
"In a couple of days," Luo Zheng said. "Tell President Wang we'll meet after I'm back in Beijing."
"Understood."
The call ended quickly.
—
Meanwhile, inside the office of Huayi Brothers, the atmosphere was far less calm.
Wang Zhonglei slammed his hand on the desk, frustration evident.
"This Luo guy really thinks highly of himself! Director Feng invited him multiple times and he still won't give a clear answer?"
His tone was half complaint, half mockery.
Before anyone else could respond, Wang Zhongjun exploded.
"Shut up!"
The sharpness in his voice froze the room.
"Do you even know where he went this time?" he continued, eyes cold.
Wang Zhonglei scoffed. "Where? Some club?"
Feng Xiaogang quickly intervened before things escalated further.
"They went to Yiwu," he said carefully. "And the city's second-in-command received them personally."
Silence.
Then disbelief.
"That's impossible!" Wang Zhonglei snapped. "He's just running a comic company and made one low-budget film. How could he have that kind of influence?"
Before he could finish, something dark flew across the room.
Thud.
Pain shot through his head.
He looked up—and met his brother's gaze.
Cold. Dangerous.
"If I hear you say something that stupid again," Wang Zhongjun said quietly, "you can forget your position."
The message was clear.
Wang Zhonglei didn't argue further. He turned and left, face flushed, pride wounded.
—
Back in the United States, Luo Zheng had already moved on to his next step.
If there was one thing he never wasted, it was momentum.
After finalizing the cooperation agreement with Disney, he immediately fed the news to the media.
He wasn't just making deals.
He was shaping perception.
And perception moved markets.
Within hours, headlines exploded across Hollywood.
"Marvel and Disney Reach Strategic Partnership!"
"'Pirates of the Caribbean' Set for Big-Screen Adaptation!"
"Hundreds of Millions Invested in New Fantasy Franchise!"
The buzz spread fast—faster than even Luo Zheng expected.
By the next morning, the news had reached China, dominating newspapers and industry discussions alike.
And naturally, certain people couldn't sit still.
Both Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett called almost immediately.
When Luo Zheng confirmed the news, their reactions were identical.
Excitement.
Because they understood exactly what this meant.
A project backed by Disney, with a budget in the hundreds of millions, wasn't just another film.
It was a career-defining opportunity.
And more importantly—
Luo Zheng casually revealed one crucial detail.
He would be the executive producer.
Which meant one thing.
He had influence over casting.
For Jolie, that was manageable. Their relationship gave her confidence.
But for Cate Blanchett?
It was different.
She had no advantage.
No leverage.
Just a brief acquaintance.
And when she learned that Luo Zheng was about to leave the U.S., she didn't hesitate.
That night, she got in her car.
And drove straight to his residence.
—
Inside the apartment, Liu Yan had just settled into bed.
The noise from the master bedroom had finally quieted, and she was ready to sleep.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
Her brows furrowed.
"Who would come at this hour?" she muttered.
For a brief moment, an absurd thought crossed her mind.
Could it be… another woman?
She shook it off and walked to the door, peering through the peephole.
A tall, elegant woman stood outside.
Not suspicious.
Not threatening.
Just… stunning.
Liu Yan exhaled quietly and opened the door.
"Who are you looking for?"
"Is Mr. William here?" the woman asked.
Her tone was calm, but there was something beneath it—determination.
Liu Yan stepped aside, letting her in.
"The boss is asleep. If you have business, come back tomorrow."
For a moment, disappointment flickered across the woman's face.
This was her chance.
And it was slipping away.
She forced a polite smile, exchanged a few words, and turned to leave.
Then—
The bedroom door opened.
Luo Zheng stepped out, slightly surprised.
"Cate? What are you doing here?"
Cate Blanchett met his gaze directly.
"I'm here to compete for a role."
No hesitation.
No pretense.
Just honesty.
Her voice was steady, but her flushed cheeks betrayed her nerves.
Luo Zheng understood immediately.
Of course he did.
But he still chose to play along.
"The director hasn't even been decided yet," he said casually. "Isn't it a bit early?"
"You're the executive producer," she replied without missing a beat.
That was the truth.
And they both knew it.
Luo Zheng scratched his head lightly, glancing toward the bedroom behind him.
There was a hint of embarrassment.
Then he leaned closer, voice low.
"Keep it quiet… she'll understand."
Standing nearby, Liu Yan froze.
Her mind went blank for a second.
What is happening?
This woman came here… in the middle of the night… for a role?
Or something else?
And the boss—
He's actually considering it?
Her grip tightened unconsciously.
For the first time, she truly understood something.
Hollywood wasn't just about talent.
It was about choices.
And tonight—
Someone had come to make one.