My Life with Narration

Chapter 527 - 518: Let Me Down This Shot!

What disagreement could Wang Fan possibly have? He completely agrees. He’s been pushed to the brink. He’s sold his house, his car, anything he could. Not only him, even the assistant director by his side has started taking money out from home to fill the gap.

Hundreds of thousands, even millions, may seem like a lot, but when it comes to making a film, it’s just a drop in the bucket. And that’s not mentioning the fact that they’ve been shamelessly asking industry friends to cameo for free.

Otherwise, they would have given up long ago.

At this point, whoever is willing to invest would be welcomed. Even if they are a nobody, it doesn’t matter. After all, how much is face really worth?

But Su Qing’s words quickly rekindled a fierce desire in his eyes, like a shot of adrenaline.

"Well, President Su, let me toast to you!"

"Please... I can’t drink that well!"

"Then have some juice, I’ll drink up, you do as you please."

Saying this, more than half a glass of liquor went down his throat, leaving me dumbfounded. My goodness, what a good drinker this one is.

"Congratulations, Brother Wang, on securing the investment!"

"Indeed, Old Wang, congratulations!"

"Come, come, everyone, let’s toast Brother Su, what a generous boss!"

The matter was settled. Although the initial cooperation hadn’t worked out, there was finally some good news. Even if it had nothing to do with everyone else, they had to show an attitude.

After all, in this room, an investment of a small target amount was just agreed upon.

At this time, the looks that Xu Jing, Xia Wanning, and other young actresses gave Su Qing were different. Young, wealthy, and generous — the way he threw money around was impressively handsome.

Those male artists in the entertainment industry, called male gods and puppy dogs by the young girls, drew countless fans with their singing and dancing on stage but were still far behind this man who casually tossed out a hundred million.

Wealthy men are attractive, and those who spend money are even more so. Those who spend it handsomely are rare indeed.

Even the more mature Li Ranran and Ding Sheng had bright eyes at this moment, though the oldest Gao Yuan remained calm but was still surprised.

Although they all secretly doubted Wang Fan’s film, since Su Qing had invested, they naturally wouldn’t undermine it.

It’s like looking at a house that doesn’t appeal to you and your friend buys it anyway. You may opt not to buy it yourself, but you wouldn’t badmouth it in front of them, it’s the same principle.

Since it was confirmed that he was investing, the conversation naturally shifted to this topic within the private room.

Wang Fan, as the director, naturally knew what story he was trying to film. After a brief introduction, he explained his current difficulties, which essentially boiled down to money.

"Well, President Su..."

"Just call me by my name, no need to be so formal. How about this: you’re older than me, so I’ll just call you Brother Wang, okay?" Su Qing waved his hand dismissively.

Being respectfully called President Su by a man in his forties was something he wasn’t used to. Even though he was indeed in a high position as an investor, they would need to work with each other down the line, so building a good relationship was important.

"Alright then, I’ll take the liberty. Brother Su it is, hehe."

Su Qing didn’t think there was anything inappropriate about it. He doesn’t own a company, so what’s with the President title? After all, it’s just a cooperative relationship between them; one provides the funds, the other the effort, and then they split the profits. It’s not like one’s supporting the other.

"Uh... actually, I did a rough calculation in my head just now. If we keep it tight, we probably won’t need a full hundred million, maybe sixty or seventy million should do. Of course, I’m not entirely certain, given that it’s science fiction; too many parts are costly. You see..."

As he spoke, Wang Fan felt a bit embarrassed. Initially, he had secured some investment and thought he could go ahead with filming, only to find the money run out halfway, giving him a firsthand look at the so-called money pit that is filmmaking, thus shaking his confidence.

"No worries. If the money runs short, I can always add more. Just make sure it’s spent wisely," Su Qing laughed.

Although he can provide funding, it doesn’t mean letting someone squander it recklessly. Artists have a common flaw — the relentless pursuit of perfection.

This can lead to endless spending, so a word of caution early on was necessary.

"Rest assured, I can promise that I’ll spend every penny where it counts. Honestly, not much was spent on actors’ fees; some were even my friends who worked for free. The money is best spent on props and special effects," Wang Fan assured, patting his chest.

Through narration, Su Qing knew the other party was sincere and had no suspicions. Such an experience ensured there would be no primadonnas or those bathing in mineral water in this crew.

"Alright then. By the way, Brother Nan, are you interested in investing a little?" Su Qing asked after nodding.

Hearing this, everyone present felt a bit awkward, but it soon passed.

"With you as the big boss, there’s really no need for me to get involved. Wouldn’t want you saying I’m stealing your business," Gao Yuan laughed.

The other four women playfully bantered as they politely declined, though Tang Nan seemed a bit tempted.

Of course, she wasn’t really thinking of investing; rather, she had noticed some extraordinary qualities in Su Qing, like during the last stock market surge.

Before it happened, he had borrowed money from Shen Yi, and right before her eyes, the stock prices did skyrocket, making him a fortune.

Though she profited a bit from it, that money amounted to less than a sip of soup. It left her feeling she didn’t catch the hot trend.

This time, Su Qing extended another olive branch, and she began to waver. Could this film really be a hit?

The more she thought about it, the more she believed it possible. However, after careful deliberation, she decided to give up.

"Go ahead, they say your stock predictions are impressive, you’ve become a Stock God. This time, let’s see how good your eye is for film investments," Tang Nan said.

To this, Su Qing chuckled and shook his head. He didn’t expect them to be optimistic, then said with a grin, "If this film turns out to be a hit, don’t say I didn’t invite you all to join in. After all, I think investments in films and stocks are quite similar, and I have high hopes for Director Wang’s film."

Upon hearing this, everyone present naturally didn’t take it seriously. Even Tang Nan thought of him as a kid who had suddenly struck it rich but had nowhere to spend it, just showing off.

But everyone here was unrelated, and while Tang Nan, as a friend, could offer a reminder, that was the extent of it. None of the others would give any warning, as there were no ties between them.

After the dinner, no one was happier than Wang Fan. Finally, someone was willing to invest; his crew could continue filming, and he was most grateful to Su Qing for extending a helping hand.

At the table, toasts were continuous, leading to quite the buzz from drinking.

"Well, Su... Brother, it’s embarrassing to admit, but I’m almost out of money... perhaps you could..."

With everything mostly discussed, he naturally wanted to finalize it quickly and get the funds in hand. Otherwise, there might be a change of heart after a night’s sleep.

The main issue was he truly had no money left. Without new funds coming in, the financing would break down this week, leaving not even enough for wages or even food for the crew.

Seeing this, Su Qing couldn’t help but chuckle. He understood what the other party was thinking but didn’t mind. Since he already decided to invest, he wouldn’t do things halfway.

"How about this, Brother, tomorrow, prepare the necessary materials and come to my girlfriend’s company. We’ll get things done. I’ll have Brother Nan send you the address, how’s that?"

Though he had plenty of money, he wasn’t foolish. How could such a large sum just be given away without reason? It was essential to follow proper procedures.

Although he didn’t understand these things, Shen Yi, as a company owner, definitely knew what to do. With Tang Nan, someone from the circle, there too, it wouldn’t be a problem.

He’s a loner, true, but he had people who understood the industry around him. He couldn’t be easily fooled, and that was enough.

"Alright then, let me toast you again, no, I’ll spin for you!"

"No, no, that’s liquor!"

Everyone: ...

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