After Transmigrated as a Black-Hearted Entertainment Boss [Transmigration] - Chapter 24
The moment he entered the soundstage, Gu Nan, much like Tao Zui before him, was utterly stunned by the sight.
The bizarrely designed architecture stretched out endlessly before his eyes, its unique atmosphere captivating all his senses. It left him temporarily speechless, and he could only passively follow Zhou Fanghong further inside.
“Spectacular, isn’t it? This will be our main filming set for the first phase. Aside from these, there are several rooms in the very back. Want to go take a look?”
Gu Nan’s eyes lit up, and he nodded hurriedly. Seeing this, Zhou Fanghong let out a loud laugh, turning to Wang Dafa. “Old Wang, bring a cart over. I’m taking our male lead for a spin!”
Before long, Gu Nan and Zhou Fanghong drove off in the golf cart, leaving Tao Zui and Wang Dafa to head back to the spot where they had sat last time. They were still surrounded by computers, with the model tables and architectures serving as their backdrop. The only difference was that the sleeping bags and people sprawled out horizontally and vertically on the floor were gone.
Seeing Tao Zui glance at the floor, Wang Dafa smiled. “They’re staying at a nearby hotel. Originally, they were supposed to stay there all along, but because funds were tight, they had to make do in the soundstage…”
At this point, as if remembering something, he added hurriedly, “But their work is mostly finished anyway. When the time comes, the model group will only keep full-time employees, and the interns will head back to school, so the accommodation fees won’t be that high… haha…”
Tao Zui listened quietly. Amid Wang Dafa’s awkward laughter, he waved his hand. “Standard room and board expenses are perfectly normal; no need to explain. But you mentioned before that several hundred people work the afternoon shift. Where do they stay?”
Wang Dafa let out a sigh of relief. “They’re basically local residents of Qing City, so they stay in their own homes. The crew only handles their three meals a day. Once the indoor shooting concludes and we head to Chongqing for location filming, most of them will settle their wages and leave the crew.”
Tao Zui nodded, feeling somewhat amazed. “It seems your production model is quite different from other crews. Just the sheer number of personnel is over a dozen times higher.”
“Naturally. We are an industrialized production crew, unlike those small crews with just a few dozen people!” Wang Dafa said with a trace of pride.
Tao Zui went on to ask about the arrival dates of the rest of the main crew, as well as the casting status of the major roles, finally pinning down the exact date for the opening ceremony.
“June 21. That day is completely clear of taboos, and all matters are favorable—perfect for the opening ceremony!” Wang Dafa rubbed his hands together with excitement, clearly having checked the almanac beforehand.
June 21? Tao Zui raised an eyebrow. If he remembered correctly, The Case Files of Dali Temple was also set to begin filming on that exact day. Wouldn’t that mean Gu Nan and Su Jiqiu would be joining their respective crews at the same time? He still hadn’t found a suitable execution agent yet!
If all else failed, he would accompany Su Jiqiu to his crew first to check out the situation. As an investor in The Afterlife, Zhou Fanghong and Wang Dafa would look after Gu Nan to some extent regardless, so he shouldn’t have to worry too much.
Having made up his mind, Tao Zui chatted casually with Wang Dafa for a bit more before bringing up the Xincan investment matter as if it were an afterthought. “But speaking of which, I really didn’t expect Director Zhou to have such resolve—turning down a one-hundred-million-yuan investment just like that.”
Wang Dafa let out a “ha.” “Old Zhou is just that kind of person. To put it nicely, he’s an artist; to put it bluntly, he’s stubborn! If he could be a bit more tactful, why would we ever be short on cash… Ahem, plus, You Hui really isn’t suitable. Everyone in the circle knows what his looks are like without filters, even if his fans blow smoke about his ‘peerless beauty’ all day until they believe it themselves. Granted, an actor’s skill is more important than their face, but his acting is just mediocre—it sounds better when hyped than when performed. If Old Zhou actually used him, it would leave a bad taste in his mouth for the rest of his life.”
Tao Zui wasn’t surprised by Wang Dafa’s words; that was exactly how You Hui was described in the novel. Relying on an early start in the industry as a former child star with high public recognition, coupled with backing from capital, his looks and acting skills were heavily over-hyped. He climbed his way up by playing supporting roles to industry veterans—if the box office was high, it was due to his drawing power; if the box office flopped, it was blamed on the veterans. In short, he remained a pristine white lotus, forever the beloved “youngest son” in the hearts of the public.
“If that’s the case, did You Hui take a liking to The Afterlife and proactively seek a collaboration?” Tao Zui asked, feigning curiosity.
“Probably? But the person who contacted Old Zhou wasn’t You Hui’s agent; it was Xincan’s General Manager, Lu Junhao. I have no idea when You Hui jumped ship to Xincan either. It’s surprising that his family-run workshop would actually agree to let him sign with another agency…”
Listening to Wang Dafa’s continuous rambling, a sharp light glinted in Tao Zui’s eyes.
Lu Junhao. This was the second time he had heard this name. Previously, he couldn’t be certain exactly who within Xincan was targeting Gu Nan, since it could easily be an agent rather than the boss. But now, he felt that even if Lu Junhao wasn’t targeting Gu Nan personally, he was definitely involved. As for the reason, it remained a mystery.
I have to find a way to check into this Lu Junhao’s background… Tao Zui exchanged pleasantries with Wang Dafa while his mind raced with calculations. He hadn’t been able to find any useful information online before, only that Xincan was a wholly-owned company under Lu’s name, with no other associated shareholders or legal entities… It seemed his only option was to find another opportunity to ask Zhou Fanghong.
After another ten minutes or so, Gu Nan and Zhou Fanghong finally returned in the golf cart. Both men stepped down with faces full of excitement—Gu Nan because he had witnessed such a breathtaking set design, and Zhou Fanghong because of Gu Nan’s comprehension of the script and character.
The moment he hopped off the cart, Zhou Fanghong rushed toward Tao Zui, grabbing his hand and shaking it vigorously. “CEO Tao, you are truly my benefactor! Not only did you inject fifty million in capital, but you also found a near-perfect male lead for my movie! I really don’t know how to thank you!”
Hearing Zhou Fanghong mention the capital injection, Tao Zui reflexively glanced at Gu Nan, finding the youth’s heavy gaze fixed intently upon him. Clearly, the boy had figured out the full story.
This kid is just too sharp… hard to fool! Tao Zui muttered internally, before putting on a nonchalant front. “Director Zhou’s movie has to be worth it first. After all, I am a businessman; every single cent I put in undergoes careful consideration, and I won’t make hasty decisions.”
Hearing this, Zhou Fanghong grew even more delighted, nearly shaking their hands into a spinning firewheel. After scratching his head for a moment, a spark of inspiration finally struck his overly excited brain. “Why don’t we have lunch together? It’s almost that time anyway. Let’s grab a bite; consider it a welcome meal for you guys!”
Tao Zui was just worrying about not having an opportunity to inquire about Lu Junhao from Zhou Fanghong, so he accepted immediately. “Sure.”
Thus, the four of them left the film and television industrial park in the golf cart, heading straight for a nearby… small eatery.
Inside the modest restaurant, which spanned less than twenty square meters, the yellowed walls and greasy dining tables set the tone for this kind of roadside hole-in-the-wall. The aroma of food heavy in oil and salt made it clear to every patron that while the establishment lacked class and the food might not be artisanal, it was absolutely cheap.
Zhou Fanghong didn’t see anything wrong with hosting a meal here, instead extended a warm invitation. “Let me tell you, the spicy stir-fried clams at this place are divine! You absolutely must try them!”
Tao Zui flashed a smile at him while cursing a storm internally. The three of you are wearing t-shirts, shorts, and jeans, so of course it’s fine for you. I’m wearing a damn dress shirt and dress trousers! And it’s the original owner’s custom-tailored piece, the kind that costs over a hundred thousand a suit! One seat down on this, and the trousers are ruined!
If I’d known, I wouldn’t have bothered with manners. This group of people isn’t worth dressing up for!
Just as Tao Zui was caught in a dilemma, Gu Nan suddenly stood up, grabbed a plastic stool, and pulled a pack of tissues from his bag. He unfolded a few, laid them neatly over the surface of the stool, and placed it behind Tao Zui, replacing the restaurant’s original wooden stool that was completely saturated with grease.
Looking at the plastic stool behind him, Tao Zui froze completely. The plastic stools were used by the restaurant for extra seating, usually stacked together. The ones near the bottom looked as good as new due to infrequent use, and with a few tissues laid over them, they perfectly blocked out any stains.
Not only Tao Zui, but Zhou Fanghong and Wang Dafa were also stunned by the display. They had seen assistants look after artists before, but they had never seen an artist take care of someone else with such meticulous attention to detail.
After a brief moment of daze, Tao Zui flashed a smile at Gu Nan, offered his thanks, and sat down. While Gu Nan’s unexpected consideration surprised him slightly, he felt perfectly at ease with it upon recalling recent events.
The kid probably thinks I invested in the movie strictly for his sake, so his conscience is feeling guilty. Well, look at that—those words I said earlier were completely in vain. But feeling guilty is always better than feeling panicked; pressure breeds motivation after all.
Applying a perfect explanation to Gu Nan’s behavior, the slight stirring in Tao Zui’s heart vanished into thin air. On the other hand, Zhou Fanghong, who only reacted after seeing Tao Zui sit down, looked a bit embarrassed.
Before the director could organize his words to speak, Tao Zui smiled and said, “Whatever else you can say about these roadside eateries, the flavor is bound to be authentic. If you want to try a city’s authentic local cuisine, this is the place to be.”
“Right, right! And the prices are fair, cheap, and the portions are huge—so much more practical than those flashy, insubstantial hotels!” Zhou Fanghong felt a weight lift from his mind, the smile returning to his face as he hurriedly called the owner over to order.
Before long, the small square table was piled high with dishes rich in color, aroma, and flavor. Because Qing City sits by the sea, most of these dishes consisted of seafood. Even if the small shop lacked class, the total was bound to run up to several hundred yuan, showing that Zhou Fanghong’s hospitality was sincere.
Since they still had work in the afternoon, Zhou Fanghong didn’t order any alcohol, so the four of them substituted tea for wine to chat while eating, making for a pleasant time.
Seeing that they were mostly finished eating, Tao Zui lifted his teacup, subtly steering the topic back toward Xincan. “I was just chatting with Old Wang about the Xincan matter earlier. Director Zhou, if for nothing else, I must toast you for your candor.”
Zhou Fanghong hurriedly lifted his teacup. “You flatter me, CEO Tao. We had a contract first, so no matter what, I should let you know. If a person loses even basic integrity, how can they call themselves human!”
The two formally clinked their tecups together and took a sip, appearing as if they weren’t drinking the restaurant’s bitter buckwheat tea, but rather the oath-sealing wine of brotherhood.
Tao Zui set down his cup, picked up his chopsticks to grab a clam, and said, “That being said, how many people can actually achieve it? Still, the fact that Xincan had the vision to spot The Afterlife proves their boss has some capability.”
“The boss? You mean Lu Junhao?” Zhou Fanghong let out a scoff, tossing a peanut into his mouth. “Whether he has any capability is beyond me, but it’s a fact that he has an excellent father.”
Tao Zui raised an eyebrow. “Oh? How so?”
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I wonder why Lu Junhao hates Gu Nan, is he also a transmigrator