457: Chapter 457 Taking the Hook

On one side, Lin Chuyan was still busy recording songs, while on the other, Director Deng was racking his brains.

A full day had passed since Lin Chuyan posted on Weibo, and he still hadn't figured out how to respond.

When the intermediary conveyed the message from Lin Chuyan's side, it had actually been phrased very tactfully.

But such a "tactful refusal" clearly didn't match Lin Chuyan's style. Director Deng pressed for the exact words again and again, only to finally receive a single word: "Scram."

He was almost angered to death.

Since it couldn't be avoided, he had to prepare properly.

Responding immediately would certainly look better, but the stakes were high; one must know oneself and the enemy to be victorious in every battle.

Director Deng began his investigation.

What was he investigating? Production and distribution.

He had no choice but to reach out to Producer Zhang Man personally.

It was clearly a waste of time, as Producer Zhang Man was blunt: "Director Deng, I can't talk about this. There are rules regarding the project."

Director Deng wouldn't give up, assuming this was just the other party making demands: "Xiao Man, help me out this once. We will definitely have opportunities to collaborate in the future."

"Director Deng, if I could help, I certainly would, but I really can't this time." Producer Zhang Man made it even clearer: "Director Lin instructed me to keep it confidential."

She was saying it right to his face.

Confidential? Why keep it confidential? Confidential from whom? It was aimed specifically at him.

Director Deng understood perfectly.

What confidentiality? To hell with that! It was just revealing a piece of "news"; if you don't say anything and I don't say anything, who would know? Producer Zhang Man was just making excuses and siding directly with Lin Chuyan.

Besides, you're a producer. What can Lin Chuyan give you? Isn't it just one film, la la land? What about the future? Don't you want to keep working in this industry?

"Fine, have it your way."

"You too."

Producer Zhang Man wasn't falling for his act. She was loyal to the project and her employer; no one could blame her for this. Furthermore, having struggled and climbed in the entertainment industry for over a decade, binding her future collaborations with Lin Chuyan was a strong alliance that no one could easily manipulate.

Director Deng's thoughts were irrelevant.

Director Deng could only continue preparing on his end. As for the response... the other party had set the stakes, so how should the conditions be laid out?

His team discussed it for a long time.

If you want to talk about Lin Chuyan's box office appeal? Director Deng pondered for a long time, only to find it unfathomable.

He realized that in the last two years, this kid had only released three movies. Apart from a moment of romance, he had basically relied on TV dramas and songs to accumulate countless fans and build up immense popularity.

In the hovering blade, he was only sixth-billed, and his screen time wasn't even that much. But the box office coincided with social hot topics, so he managed to ride the wave.

In pegasus 2, he was the second male lead; surely that box office had more to do with Dong Peng?

But a moment of romance was very metaphysical. It seemed to have hit 3.8 billion in the mainland? And across all of Asia, it hit 5 billion in box office...

How should this be determined?

The most awkward part was that everyone knew Lin Chuyan was being blacklisted. Did these box office numbers still have reference value? How high could you set it? And how high would you dare set it in the face of public opinion?

Right now, he was still completely in the dark about the production and distribution of la la land... He didn't believe Lin Chuyan hadn't made preparations in this area.

It was difficult, truly difficult.

After thinking for a long time... he finally decided on a number.

3.5 billion.

Excluding the mainland, a moment of romance had grossed 1.2 billion.

Director Deng had heard that this kid had even been blacklisted by the government in Taiwan because of the song dragon fist... Even if Lin Chuyan could replicate that box office miracle, where could a musical film with no screenings get another 2.3 billion? Did he think it was like buying cabbage on the street?

The team thought about it for half a day and couldn't figure out where Lin Chuyan could go to get the money.

They asked around to various distributors in the industry, and they all said they were not involved in the la la land project.

Even if someone wasn't telling the truth, it was absolutely impossible to get 2.3 billion! Being optimistic, maybe even 300 million would be a struggle.

In any case, once the number 3.5 billion was released, being scolded was inevitable, but with the 5 billion from a moment of romance as a precedent, surely he wouldn't be scolded too harshly? And the odds of winning were high.

If Lin Chuyan thought it wasn't appropriate? Then that was his problem! Everyone could just part ways! Did he really think this was a vegetable market where he could haggle?

That's how it would be done!

Director Deng posted on Weibo. He didn't waste words; there was only one sentence.

[If la la land hits a global box office of 3.5 billion + a Douban score of 8, I, Director Deng, will retire from the entertainment industry immediately.]

Once this Weibo post went out, the entire internet was in an uproar.

[Holy crap, you are truly shameless!]

[It's his first time directing a feature film, and you can actually say 3.5 billion with a straight face?]

[Old Deng is just trying to use this number to make Lin Chuyan back down, right? Have some shame!]

[But didn't a moment of romance hit 5 billion? It's not that crazy...]

[a moment of romance was an accident! It takes years to get a box office miracle like that, okay?!]

[Isn't Lin Chuyan still being blacklisted by you old guys? The mainland box office is likely shaky, and you have the nerve to say 3.5 billion!]

[And you set a Douban score of 8 for him? Damn it, why didn't you mention Douban scores when you were filming the play? I remember you even said that Douban had competitors buying trolls to smear him.]

Mosquito Brother was even more full of mockery:

[It's obvious that Old Deng is retreating to advance. He deliberately stated a number that is impossible to reach so that Lin Chuyan would give up on the bet, so he wouldn't have to worry about it every day.

What does being scolded by netizens matter? Escaping unscathed is what really matters! What is this tactic called? This is called 'using Ganges water for an IV drip' — fighting poison with poison. It's really hard on Old Deng, being able to come up with such an idea.

Don't think I'm slandering him, because if it's not this, then it's something he thought of with a fermented brain.]

[Opening your mouth and saying 3.5 billion in box office? What? Is there inflation? Or do you think you're holding currency from the afterlife bank? I suggest you burn some paper money for your own grave to boost your performance!]

[Retire if it hits 8 on Douban? Why don't you look at the score of your own film, the play? Playing the 'super multiplier' game here, are we? Or are you admitting that you aren't as good as Lin Chuyan?]

[Setting such conditions with that shameless face, don't you have a shred of self-awareness? Pretending to be the God of Gamblers here? Scram!]

This final word, "Scram," actually coincided perfectly with his idol.

However, the number 3.5 billion was very subtle.

Blacklisted? Those were all things without solid proof, and the Haters would argue back: 'a moment of romance hit 5 billion, and the Douban score was also over 8. Wasn't that a movie you starred in? Can't you do it again? If you can't, who are you to blame?'

In any case, it didn't matter who said what; Director Deng's side was now like a dead pig that wasn't afraid of boiling water: 'Don't dare? Then that's your problem!'

It's just a pity that all these thoughts of his were completely superfluous.

Lin Chuyan had his trump cards and his confidence; he had never intended to haggle.

First, Lin Chuyan understood the principle that even Producer Zhang Nuo understood: right now, it was all about emotional consumption.

Second, Lin Chuyan had given specific instructions to China Film Group, and they had been keeping it hidden; when the time came, he would give Old Deng a big surprise.

Third, the female lead was also still hidden. It was Ruan Xingyu's screen debut, and with his own marriage proposal footage, there was another layer of security in the mainland.

Fourth, the Asian box office was also stable — with Sugiura Ran involved, the screenings in Japan would be even more numerous than for a moment of romance.

Fifth, Director Deng still thought his film would be like other domestic films, with only a small number of screenings in North America? Sorry, this film directly attracted investment from a famous Hollywood film company.

Sixth, it seemed everyone had underestimated la la land; this was a film that had won awards everywhere...

Lin Chuyan directly reposted Director Deng's Weibo.

[Can't be bothered with nonsense, it's a deal.]

Damn, it's been so long, the fish has finally taken the bait.