Beijing International Hotel.
Banquet Hall.
Gong Li didn't expect that the form of address she used to get closer would cause such a big misunderstanding.
But she couldn't explain it at this moment.
Otherwise, it would only backfire further.
She could only smile with slight embarrassment.
Luo Zheng saw that something was off with the few of them, but he didn't care.
He smiled and said, "Since Sister Li personally asked, then I'll give Director Zhang a straight answer."
As he spoke, he looked at Zhang Yimou.
The other man looked up, a hint of anticipation hidden in his solemn gaze.
"I can still purchase the distribution rights for 'Hero' in North America and the Island Nation at the price quoted during the auction."
Hearing this, Zhang Weiping's mouth instantly split into a wide grin.
Luo Zheng's initial quote was 10 million US dollars.
Although it couldn't compare to Harvey's 30 million, it was much better than 5 million.
At least it recovered a third of the costs.
But before Zhang Weiping's smile could fully spread, Luo Zheng suddenly turned his head.
Staring at him, he said playfully, "But, I have one condition!"
Zhang Weiping's expression froze instantly, and he stammered, "Pres... President Luo, whatever condition you have, please just say it."
Though he agreed verbally, he had an ominous feeling in his heart.
Sure enough, Luo Zheng's next words made his face drop instantly.
"Blue Whale Entertainment previously wanted to buy the rights to a novel from the writer Hai Yan, but was rejected.
I've heard that President Zhang and Hairen's boss, Liu Yanming, are good friends, so I'd like to ask you to act as a lobbyist in this matter."
Zhang Yimou and the others were completely confused.
They didn't understand why a discussion about the rights for 'Hero' had suddenly involved Hairen and Liu Yanming.
But Zhang Weiping knew exactly what was going on.
He knew that Luo Zheng must have found out about the two of them teaming up to trip him up.
But how was this matter exposed!
Zhang Weiping was completely baffled.
The previous investor behind 'the story of a noble family' and the boss of Qiangshi Film and Television, You Jianming,
had thoroughly disgusted Luo Zheng.
Zhang Weiping might have forgotten this grudge, but Luo Zheng hadn't!
"Um, President Luo, actually, the owner of Hairen, Liu Yanming, and I are just nodding acquaintances; we aren't that close."
Zhang Weiping looked troubled, constantly shooting glances at Zhang Yimou and Gong Li.
Requesting the two of them to help get him out of this situation.
But the two of them were still in the dark; even if they wanted to help, they couldn't find a reason.
Luo Zheng smiled, simply choosing not to play riddles any longer.
When the media exposed Harvey's breach of contract, he had already thought of this plan to kill two birds with one stone.
Now that the arrow was on the string, he certainly wouldn't shell out the money without achieving his goal.
Therefore, he laid his cards on the table:
"President Zhang, you and I both know the dirty business between you and Liu Yanming."
Hearing this, Zhang Weiping wanted to defend himself, but Luo Zheng raised his hand to interrupt:
"Eh! President Zhang, there's no need to explain; what's past is past.
I can act as if nothing ever happened.
But!
This condition today absolutely cannot be omitted."
As the words fell, Zhang Yimou saw his friend hesitating to take a stand and immediately grew anxious:
"Wei Ping, don't just stay silent. What exactly is the difficulty?
Say it, and Gong Li and I will both help you come up with ideas."
After saying that, he turned back to Luo Zheng: "President Luo, let's stop playing riddles. What novel rights are they exactly that you insist Wei Ping go get?"
Luo Zheng shook his head and smiled, picking up the champagne on the table and taking a small sip.
He didn't answer, his sharp gaze fixed on Zhang Weiping.
With such an attitude, Zhang Yimou knew that if this matter was to be resolved, the key still lay with Zhang Weiping.
He was just about to speak and persuade him again.
Zhang Weiping suddenly sighed and said dejectedly, "President Luo, then I'll give it a try!
May I ask which novel it is?"
With a smile playing on his lips, Luo Zheng said word by word: "'jade goddess of mercy'!"
"Fine!"
Zhang Weiping didn't understand the value of 'jade goddess of mercy' and agreed readily.
In his mind, it was just a novel.
At most, he would spend a few hundred thousand to buy it and then give it to Luo Zheng as a gesture of sincerity.
But how could he know that this novel was practically the darling of Hai Yan and Liu Yanming.
They intended to make it a major production for Hairen.
How could it be sold easily?
Previously, Blue Whale Entertainment's attempt to buy the rights for 'jade goddess of mercy' was rejected.
On one hand, it was because of the rift between Liu Yanming and Luo Zheng.
But more importantly, the other party was well aware of the commercial value of 'jade goddess of mercy'.
Therefore, Luo Zheng knew that if Zhang Weiping went to buy the rights with a thick face, he would definitely hit a wall.
But he didn't care how the other party was made things difficult for; he only wanted the result.
Otherwise, the overseas rights for 'Hero' would just rot away.
With the conditions settled, under the admiring gazes of Fan Bingbing and Gao Yuanyuan,
Luo Zheng beckoned, and a man in a suit and leather shoes, carrying a briefcase, immediately ran over from not far away.
"Lawyer Liu, you must have heard the conversation just now. Please draft a contract on the spot."
"Alright, President Luo, you're too polite."
Seeing this scene, Zhang Weiping and Zhang Yimou were instantly dumbfounded.
After all that fuss, it was all within someone else's calculations.
Even the lawyer was prepared, just waiting for them to come to the door!
Luo Zheng must have predicted long ago that Harvey would breach the contract!
It turned out that Gong Li's previous reminder was not without foundation at all.
Thinking of this, Zhang Yimou's intestines practically turned green with regret.
When Gong Li advised him to be careful, he shouldn't have let the 30 million US dollars blind his heart.
Sigh!
Filming a commercial movie for the first time, he didn't expect to encounter such a distressing situation.
The eyes of Gong Li, Fan Bingbing, and Gao Yuanyuan flashed with light.
If their inner selves were a pool of calm lake water, then the three of them were already experiencing a surging tide.
After signing the contract, Zhang Yimou shook hands with Luo Zheng, thanking him repeatedly.
Zhang Weiping's smile carried a hint of bitterness; he knew he had been played, but he had to accept it.
The contract stated that the North American and Island Nation rights for 'Hero' were sold to Marvel for 10 million US dollars.
However, Luo Zheng would first pay a deposit of 4 million US dollars and only pay the balance after obtaining the film and television rights for 'jade goddess of mercy'.
No matter how unwilling Zhang Weiping was, he could only grit his teeth and sign the agreement.
Otherwise, he would have to obediently let that white man Harvey lead him by the nose.
Relatively speaking, he would rather enter Luo Zheng's game than go for that 5 million.
Because if word of this got out, people in the circle would say he, Zhang Weiping, was an incompetent fool.
If he wanted both reputation and money, he could only admit defeat here with Luo Zheng.
The matter of the 'Hero' rights was just a small interlude in the celebration banquet.
Once the talk here was finished, Luo Zheng stood still in the hall with a wine glass, and immediately, some company bosses brought their artists over to offer a toast.
The ones who left the deepest impression on him were Li Shaohong and Li Xiaowan from Rosat.
Of course, it wasn't because Luo Zheng was lecherous; these two women were completely not to his taste.
Nor was it because of Zhou Xun and Chen Kun behind them.
Rather, it was because he actually had some thoughts about the cooperation they proposed.
The TV series 'Absolute Privacy'.
In Luo Zheng's memory, this was a work adapted from documentary literature.
It told the different emotional experiences of 10 people through 10 different stories.
This TV series not only had very high ratings but also won many major awards both domestically and internationally.
It was a masterpiece with high profitability and a great reputation.
For such an excellent work, Rosat could have completely done it themselves.
But Li Shaohong and the other had specifically sought him out.
If they said they weren't seeking anything, not even a ghost would believe it!