102: A collaboration with Huayi Brothers!

After signing the contract, the three of them gathered together once more.

This time, they went to a roadside stall to eat barbecue and drink beer, prepared to drink until they were drunk to celebrate Lin Jialong joining Morning Star.

"Songwen, I really didn't expect it to go so smoothly!" Lin Jialong said while eating barbecue and drinking, unable to conceal the joy on his face.

"Haha, I was surprised too. I thought they would also put you through some kind of test, but I didn't expect you to pass directly!" Zhang Songwen said with a smile and a nod.

"Now the three of us are together again! That's really great!" Zhou Yiwei was getting a bit tipsy... Meanwhile, elsewhere.

After Lin Jialong and the others left, Chen Le prepared to rest for a while.

Suddenly, his phone screen lit up, displaying a caller ID that was both familiar and slightly unexpected: "Wang Zhonglei."

Seeing this name, Chen Le immediately remembered who it was.

The boss of Huayi Brothers.

After chatting and exchanging contact information at the last film festival, they had had no further contact.

A trace of doubt arose in Chen Le's mind. Why was the boss of Huayi Brothers suddenly calling him? Could it be he had some business to discuss?

Thinking this, he answered the call.

Soon, Wang Zhonglei's voice came through.

"Hello! Is this Director Chen?"

"It's me," Chen Le replied.

Wang Zhonglei's voice carried a hint of a smile: "Are you in Yanjing right now? Do you have time to come out for a meal?"

His tone held no airs at all, speaking very casually.

"A meal?" Chen Le was momentarily taken aback, his voice tinged with some confusion.

"Yes, Director Chen, you surely know them. It's a group of acquaintances, all of us in this line of work. We get together occasionally to share a meal and foster some camaraderie," Wang Zhonglei continued.

Hearing this, Chen Le already understood the situation.

So he nodded, "Sure thing, President Wang! I'm still in Yanjing. Where's the location? I'll head over when the time comes."

Chen Le wasn't averse to this kind of gathering.

After all, having dinner with industry bigwigs was a rare opportunity, whether for expanding personal connections or seeking potential collaborations.

Anyway, he didn't have much going on right now. Going over to meet a few more friends was a good idea.

"Great, I look forward to your arrival, Director Chen!" Wang Zhonglei said, then told him the time and place for the dinner gathering.

The agreed-upon time arrived quickly as night fell.

Inside a certain high-end restaurant in Yanjing, the lighting was soft and the atmosphere elegant.

Chen Le arrived on time, and a restaurant attendant led him to a meticulously decorated private room.

Pushing the door open, Chen Le saw that inside the room, Wang Zhonglei and Wang Zhongjun, the two brothers, had already been waiting for some time.

In addition, there were two other equally heavyweight guests: the famous director Feng Xiaogang and the acting superstar Ge You.

This lineup made Chen Le secretly quite surprised and also a little taken aback. It seemed tonight's dinner was far from a simple, casual meal.

"Ah, Director Chen is here! Please, come in!" Wang Zhonglei warmly stepped forward to greet him, shaking Chen Le's hand and exchanging pleasantries.

Wang Zhongjun also smiled and nodded in greeting, instantly making the atmosphere feel familiar and relaxed.

Feng Xiaogang and Ge You likewise stood up to welcome him.

"Director Chen, I've long heard of your great reputation!" Ge You said with a smile, extending his hand.

Chen Le also smiled and shook his hand, "Hello, Brother Ge You. I've always admired you greatly too!"

"Haha, you're too kind, Director Chen." Hearing Chen Le's words, Ge You felt much more favorable towards this young man.

"Director Feng, we meet again!" Chen Le looked at Feng Xiaogang and said with a smile.

"Haha, the last time we met was during the film festival. It's a pity we were both a bit busy that day and didn't get to chat to our heart's content! Today, we must properly catch up." Feng Xiaogang also returned the smile.

After a few polite exchanges, everyone sat around the round table as the waiters began serving the dishes.

"Haha, hello, Director Chen. I'm Wang Zhongjun. I truly didn't expect you to be so young. I've been hearing from my brother all along about how young and talented you are. Now that I've met you, you really are a person of impressive bearing!" Wang Zhongjun praised.

Although he knew the praise was somewhat exaggerated, who doesn't like hearing nice words?

A smile appeared on Chen Le's face, "You flatter me, Brother Zhongjun. I'm not that capable; it's all just luck."

"Haha, Director Chen, there's no need to be modest. Everyone knows you're a genius director now."

"One film, 'lost in thailand,' is enough to prove your ability. Without real skill, even with the best luck, you couldn't achieve a one billion box office." Wang Zhongjun laughed heartily.

The others, hearing this, also nodded with smiles.

Wang Zhonglei's invitation to Chen Le naturally signified his recognition of Chen Le's ability and status.

After all, three consecutive films achieving box office success—how could that possibly be accomplished by luck alone? He didn't believe it could happen without some genuine skill.

The film industry isn't gambling; you can't take off relying solely on luck.

Moreover, Chen Le had even started his own film and television company. Both his ability and vision far surpassed ordinary people.

Ever since meeting Chen Le last time, Wang Zhonglei had been thinking about building a good relationship with him.

As they ate and chatted, the conversation gradually deepened.

Wang Zhonglei shifted the topic and suddenly said, "Director Chen, actually, besides catching up, we invited you today to discuss some potential cooperation."

"Cooperation?" Hearing Wang Zhonglei's words, Chen Le was a bit puzzled.

But he had guessed before coming that this gathering wouldn't just be about casual chat; there would definitely be talk of cooperation or similar matters.

"Yes, cooperation! Director Chen, look, Huayi has quite a few high-quality scripts and has been looking for suitable partners. Your film box office results are there for all to see, and you also have your own film and television company. We feel there are many areas where our two sides could complement each other."

Hearing this, Chen Le nodded. Wang Zhonglei's proposal stirred some interest in him.

After all, as a top-tier film and television production company in the country, Huayi Brothers possessed abundant resources and deep industry experience, wielding considerable influence in the film and television circle.

If he could cooperate with Huayi Brothers, it would be greatly beneficial for both Morning Star and his future career.

"Brother Zhonglei, Brother Zhongjun, I've always admired Huayi's works and hoped for a chance to collaborate with Huayi's team. If there's truly a suitable project, I'd be very willing to cooperate with Huayi," Chen Le said with a smile.

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Wang Zhonglei's face.

He knew that cooperation with Chen Le had taken the first step. As long as the details could be worked out later, it would be fine.

"Haha, Director Chen, what Huayi doesn't lack are actors and good scripts. What we do lack are enough good directors. If you cooperate with us, Director Chen, we will definitely offer you a cooperation plan you'll be satisfied with!" Wang Zhongjun said with a laugh.

Feng Xiaogang nodded in agreement from the side: "Old Brother's Huayi is indeed a great potential partner. You can rest assured, Director Chen. I, Feng Xiaogang, guarantee it."

Beside him, Ge You also smiled and nodded.

Afterwards, Wang Zhonglei and Chen Le continued discussing the details.