188: Chapter 188 I still have something on you, Editor-in-Chief Song.

At ten o'clock in the morning, the door to Jiang Fan's office was knocked on.

Zhou Yutong poked half of her head in.

"Brother Fan, two people have arrived, saying they are from Qishi Chinese Network, and they want to see you."

Jiang Fan's typing stopped.

Qishi Chinese Network.

The leader of the Blue Star web novel industry, holding over sixty percent of the market share.

Zhongdian Literature might be called its competitor, but when compared to it, it's just a little brother.

"Show them to the conference room."

Jiang Fan turned off his computer screen, stood up, and left the office.

Pushing open the conference room door, two people were already sitting inside.

The one walking in front was in his early forties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, holding a briefcase, and his suit was pressed without a single wrinkle.

The one behind was slightly older, with his hair combed neatly; one look and you could tell he was a seasoned veteran in the copyright business.

"Mr. Jiang, I am Copyright Director Zhang Hong of Qishi Chinese Network, and this is our Vice President Zhou Ming."

Vice President Zhou Ming stood up and took the initiative to extend his hand.

Jiang Fan shook hands with both of them.

"Sit."

Vice President Zhou Ming sat down, opened his briefcase, pulled out a document, and placed it on the table.

"Mr. Jiang, our team has been reading your 'journey to the west' these past few days." Vice President Zhou Ming got straight to the point, "Frankly speaking, this is the best work I have ever seen since entering the industry. Bar none."

Jiang Fan picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and didn't respond.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Vice President Zhou Ming leaned forward.

"We came this time to discuss a collaboration with Mr. Jiang. Qishi is willing to pay the breach of contract penalty for Zhongdian Literature and transfer the exclusive serialization rights of 'journey to the west' to our platform."

"As for the revenue share, we offer a 9-1 split, which has never been seen in the industry before. Mr. Jiang takes ninety percent."

Copyright Director Zhang Hong pushed the document toward the center of the coffee table.

"Additionally, we are willing to offer fifty million to acquire the film and television adaptation rights."

The conference room fell silent.

Li Cheng had just pushed the door open, carrying two cups of water.

Hearing this figure, his hand holding the tray froze in mid-air.

A 9-1 split. Fifty million for a film and television buyout.

Jiang Fan leaned against the back of his chair and glanced at the document.

"Vice President Zhou, I only signed the contract with Zhongdian half a month ago."

"I know." Vice President Zhou Ming smiled, "We will pay the penalty. You won't have to bear any losses. Whatever needs to be paid to Zhongdian, Qishi will cover it all."

Copyright Director Zhang Hong added, "Qishi's resources are far greater than Zhongdian's. Recommendation slots, channels, IP development teams—we will provide the top-tier configuration for everything. A work with the scale of 'journey to the west' deserves a bigger stage."

Jiang Fan put down the teacup.

"I appreciate your kindness, both of you. But I won't do anything that involves breaching a contract."

Vice President Zhou Ming's smile paused for a moment.

"Mr. Jiang, this isn't a question of breaching a contract or not. Commercial cooperation is inherently a two-way choice—"

"I signed the contract myself." Jiang Fan leaned back against his chair, "I wasn't tied up to sign it, and no one forced me. If I do something like this, who would dare to work with me in the future?"

Vice President Zhou Ming opened his mouth, then swallowed his words.

"What about the film and television adaptation rights?" Vice President Zhou Ming switched his approach, "The price of fifty million, in this industry—"

"I'm not selling."

Vice President Zhou Ming looked at Jiang Fan.

Jiang Fan was leaning in the chair, not even changing his posture.

Vice President Zhou Ming paused for two seconds, then pulled another sheet of paper from the bottom of his briefcase.

"Mr. Jiang, if fifty million isn't enough, we can discuss it further. Eighty million, a one-time payment. We only want the film and television adaptation rights."

Eighty million.

Li Cheng was sitting in the corner, his thigh muscles tensed up tightly.

Jiang Fan glanced at the agreement with the increased offer.

The IP of 'journey to the west'—in his past life, its movie box office alone started at ten billion.

Animation, games, theme parks, peripheral merchandise—added together, it's a market on the scale of hundreds of billions.

Eighty million doesn't even cover the fraction.

"Vice President Zhou, let me be honest." Jiang Fan leaned forward slightly, "I will not sell the film and television adaptation rights to this book, no matter how much money is offered."

Vice President Zhou Ming stared into Jiang Fan's eyes.

In those eyes, there was no greed, nor any evasiveness from feigned composure.

Vice President Zhou Ming smiled and put the documents back into his briefcase.

"Understood. Young people with guts—that's a good thing."

He stood up and took out a business card from his inner suit pocket.

"This is my private number. Whenever Mr. Jiang changes your mind, feel free to contact me."

He placed the business card on the table.

"Sorry for the disturbance. I look forward to Mr. Jiang's good news."

Copyright Director Zhang Hong followed him up, and the two left the conference room.

Li Cheng closed the door, turned around, and walked two steps over to Jiang Fan.

"Brother Fan, a 9-1 split! That's ten percent higher than Zhongdian. Eighty million to buy the film rights—"

Jiang Fan didn't speak; he picked up the business card, looked at it for two seconds, and casually tossed it onto the table.

——

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

Zhongdian Literature headquarters.

The phone in Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping's office rang.

He picked it up, listened for a dozen seconds, and the pen he was twirling in his hand stopped.

"What did you say?"

"Vice President Zhou Ming and Copyright Director Zhang Hong from Qishi went to find Jiang Fan this morning. The two of them stayed inside for half an hour." The Marketing Department Manager's voice came from the other end.

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping slapped his pen onto the desk.

Vice President Zhou Ming personally stepped out; Qishi Network is openly poaching.

"Where is Song Siyi?"

"She should be in the editorial department."

"Tell her to come here immediately."

——

Three minutes later, Song Siyi pushed open the door.

"Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping, what do you need me for?"

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping was standing by the window and turned around.

"Qishi Chinese Network went to find Jiang Fan this morning."

Song Siyi's expression changed.

"Who went?"

"Vice President Zhou Ming. He brought the Copyright Director."

Since Vice President Zhou Ming from Qishi personally stepped out, the terms definitely won't be low.

Her mind raced quickly.

"Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping, we must go find Jiang Fan immediately."

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping had already pulled his jacket off the back of his chair.

"Let's go. We're going now."

——

Three-ten in the afternoon.

The door to Jiang Fan's office knocked again.

Li Cheng poked his head in, his expression a bit complicated.

"Brother Fan, Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping and Song Siyi from Zhongdian Literature are here."

Jiang Fan raised his head and glanced at the time.

They arrived quite quickly.

"Let them in."

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping and Song Siyi walked into the office one after the other.

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping had a smile on his face, but it didn't look very natural.

Song Siyi followed beside him, her fingers tightly gripping her bag strap.

"Mr. Jiang, sorry for the intrusion." Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping spoke first, "I heard Qishi came by this morning?"

Jiang Fan leaned back against his chair.

"You're quite well-informed."

"The industry is just that small." Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping sat down on the sofa, "Is it convenient to say what terms Vice President Zhou Ming offered?"

Jiang Fan poured a cup of water and pushed it in front of the two.

"A 9-1 split, and eighty million to buy the film and television adaptation rights."

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping had just picked up the water cup, and ripples violently shook on the water's surface.

Song Siyi sat beside him, her lips moved twice, but she made no sound.

Eighty million.

This number weighed heavily in the office; none of the three people spoke.

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping set the water cup on the table and took a deep breath.

"Mr. Jiang, I admit, Zhongdian cannot afford this price."

Jiang Fan didn't respond.

"But I want to say, Zhongdian is different from Qishi." Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping leaned forward, "Qishi is a large platform; to them, authors are just a string of numbers. Zhongdian is different. We are treating 'journey to the west' as our core IP to operate."

Jiang Fan glanced at Song Siyi and picked up his water cup to take a sip.

"Are you done, Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping?"

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping was stunned for a moment.

"I'm done."

"Then let me say a few words." Jiang Fan put down the water cup, "I refused Qishi's terms."

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping straightened his back abruptly.

"Really?"

Jiang Fan put down the thermos, his gaze passing over Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping and landing on Song Siyi.

"Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping, I wouldn't dare sign a contract with Qishi."

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping was stunned.

"Why?"

"After all, I still have leverage in the hands of your Song Siyi."

Song Siyi lifted her head abruptly, her ears turning completely red in an instant.

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping looked at Jiang Fan, then turned his head to look at Song Siyi.

"What leverage?"

Song Siyi waved her hands repeatedly, incoherent.

"No, no, Jiang Fan is joking—"