Traffic Star Development Program

Chapter 61, First Shot

Zeng Hao put away the script frame on the table, "Relieved."

She wrote it down, put the notebook in her bag, stood up, and pushed her chair back a step. "Okay, I understand."

She went out, her footsteps echoing in the corridor for a while, then the sound of the stairwell door opening and closing came through, and then it was quiet.

Zeng Hao placed the folded script outline on the table. Fang Qing needed two updates: add a scene before their reunion where she had to hold on alone, and revise the dialogue in the library scene. Of the three questions she asked, the first two were technical, but the last one wasn't.

That last question reminded him of the scene Fang Qing hadn't figured out yesterday either.

He took out his phone and sent Fang Qing a message: In the final scene, Yu Wanyin was relieved, not accepted. Let's go over the emotional logic again.

The business representative from iQiyi, surnamed Chen, was in his early forties. He wore a dark gray suit, his hair combed back, and straightened his tie at the door before entering. He was the kind of person who had seen many negotiations. Before sitting down, he first arranged for his legal representative to sit down next to him before sitting down himself. He put his bag on his lap, unzipped it, and took out a document. His movements were neither fast nor slow, exuding a calmness that showed he had time under his control.

Xu Wen poured water for the two of them, then left and closed the door behind him.

"Mr. Zeng," Chen, the business manager, placed the document on the table without pushing it over, keeping it for himself first. "This time, we mainly want to discuss two points: the revenue sharing structure after the launch of 'Diamond Lover,' and the issue of the exclusive window period."

"Speak," Zeng Hao glanced at his watch, "I have a phone call at five o'clock."

Chen, the business manager, calculated the time in his mind: 4:03 PM, less than an hour later. He picked up the document, turned to the second page, and moved a little faster than when he came in. "Regarding the revenue sharing, we want to adjust the current 30% to 25%. Correspondingly, we can settle the prepayment in advance, and transfer it as soon as it's signed, even before it goes live."

Zeng Hao didn't speak immediately, but turned the water glass in front of him around. "It's an exclusive period."

"We hope to extend the exclusivity period from six months to twelve months," Chen said. "This will make it easier for us to make internal budgets and also make it easier for you to plan your subsequent promotions."

"Show me the data from your backend," Zeng Hao said, "the data after the behind-the-scenes footage was released."

Chen, the business manager, paused for a moment. "That data is generally not released to the public—"

"We have our own version too," Zeng Hao said. "I want to see your version."

Chen, the business manager, exchanged a glance with the legal counsel next to him, took out his phone, opened the backend, turned the screen around, and pushed it to the middle of the table.

Zeng Hao looked at the data for about twenty seconds, then pushed a piece of paper over from the side. It contained third-party monitoring data compiled by Xu Wen. The two sets of numbers were put together, the one from the platform's backend and the one from the third party, and the difference was less than 5%.

"The numbers match up," Zeng Hao said. "So what's the basis for dividing it into 25%?"

Chen, the business manager, took the paper, glanced at it, and put it down. "Mr. Zeng, advance payment and settlement offer better liquidity for you. This condition—"

"Article 9 of the contract appendix," Zeng Hao said, "must be adjusted accordingly for any extension of the exclusive period; we cannot only discuss advance payments."

Chen Shangwu's fingers paused on the table for a moment, then he turned his gaze to the legal counsel beside him. The legal counsel lowered his head, took out his tablet, and flipped through it for a while. His expression did not change, but the speed at which he flipped through the tablet slowed down.

"This is in the original contract," the legal counsel said, putting down the tablet. "Appendix 9 states that for each episode of the extended exclusivity period, the guaranteed revenue share must be increased by no less than 15 percent of the original percentage."

Chen, the business manager, flipped the document back to the first page, glanced at it, then flipped back to the second page, crossed out the previous number with a pen, wrote a new number next to it, and pushed the document over. "Then, according to Article 9 of the Attachment, this is the upper limit we can offer."

Zeng Hao glanced at the number; it was almost a whole level lower than he had estimated. He pushed the document back a bit. "The exclusivity period remains at six months, the revenue sharing will be the same as before, and the advance payment will be settled in advance and transferred within this week."

Chen, the business manager, took the documents that were pushed back to him. He didn't speak immediately, but picked up the water glass beside him, took a sip, and put it down. "President Zeng, a twelve-month exclusivity period is valuable to us. We'll discuss this internally—"

"I have a phone call at five o'clock," Zeng Hao said. "You guys go back and discuss it internally, and send the conclusion to Xu Wen. That's all for today."

Chen, the business manager, folded the documents, put them in his bag, stood up, and held out his hand. "Okay, we'll get back to you as soon as possible."

The two shook hands, and Chen, the business manager, and the legal representative walked towards the door. At the door, Chen turned back and said, "By the way, we have a strategic investor who has always been very interested in high-quality content companies. If Mr. Zeng is interested, we can arrange it—"

"Have them contact Xu Wen," Zeng Hao said. "Xu Wen will arrange a time."

Chen Shangwu responded and went out.

Xu Wen escorted the two to the elevator. When he returned, he had something on his face and stood at the door for a moment. "President Zeng, that legal counsel looked pretty bad when he left."

"Um."

"No," Xu Wen thought for a moment, then rephrased, "I mean, did you manage to reach an agreement?"

"Wait for their reply," Zeng Hao said. "Have Sister Liu prepare to receive payment, within this week."

Xu Wen noted this down and was about to leave when his phone vibrated. It was a message from Sister Liu. Xu Wen glanced at it, turned the phone screen back, and read, "President Zeng, the monthly settlement for 'Back to 20' is due this month. Plus, with the countdown for the third batch of 'Diamond Lover' events, Sister Liu said it will be by next week at the latest—"

"Have her keep an eye on it," Zeng Hao said. "Let me know when the money arrives."

Xu Wen responded and went out.

Zeng Hao took the script for "Three Lives Three Worlds" and turned to scene thirty-three. The light from outside the window slanted in and fell on the table, making the paper appear very light.

My phone vibrated; it was a message from Sister Liu: the advance payment for iQiyi has been confirmed and will arrive in my account today. With the monthly settlement, the total amount in my account is 3368.5 million yuan.

But not everything went smoothly.

The following day, Zeng Hao was hit with his first blow from the entertainment industry.

When Dilireba pushed the quotation sheet over, Zeng Hao first looked at the signature in the lower right corner.

Dingsheng Media, Business Cooperation Department. The official seal is newly stamped, and the ink is still a bit dark.

He didn't look at the numbers immediately. He flipped the paper over; the back was blank. He flipped it back and then scanned it from top to bottom. Double the pay, after tax, plus priority replacement rights for subsequent projects, with a small note: "Looking forward to establishing a long-term, in-depth cooperative relationship with Ms. Di."

When did I contact you?

"Last night," Dilraba said, who was wearing a long black trench coat today, with the belt draped over her shoulders and her hands on the armrests of a chair, "it all happened through a contact from my former agency."

The fact that they went around in circles shows that they knew direct contact would be blocked.

Zeng Hao pushed the quote aside. "Three projects—Diamond Lover, Eternal Love, and the variety show slot in the second phase of the appendix. Can they include these three in the contract?"

She didn't speak immediately.

"Double the pay is negotiable," Zeng Hao said. "Resources can't be written into the contract." He picked up a document from the table, opened it, and pushed it over. "This is your resource plan for the next two years. Each item corresponds to a specific clause in the contract appendix, and the numbers are on the left."

She took the planning document, looked at it from the beginning, paused on the second page, then flipped to the next two pages without saying a word.

Zeng Hao didn't urge her. He took the script for "Three Lives Three Worlds," turned to scene thirty-three, and the light from the window slanted in, making the paper appear very light. He read two lines and felt something was wrong, so he folded a corner of that page and waited for her to finish reading.

About five minutes.

She put down the planning document but didn't pick up the quotation again. "What's the penalty for breach of contract? How much would it be if I left now?"