Chapter 34

"Frankly, this contract isn't very good," said Fukuda Ayumi.

"I think it's still decent. After all, Lin Jian is just a small shareholder. Getting 20% of the shares through him is already quite good."

"Why does he have the right of first refusal?"

"Perhaps he also has the idea of controlling Asia, but he doesn't have the money now, so he's keeping this possibility open."

"Do you really trust him?" Fukuda Ayumi rolled her eyes and glanced at Shen Zhenghui.

"Without a doubt." He spread his hands, "He can't go back to real estate; he's already had a setback there."

"Whatever, it's not much money anyway." Fukuda Ayumi put the contract aside.

"You really are rich and powerful." Shen Zhenghui was somewhat dejected, "I really hope I can be as generous one day."

"Let's talk about the real issues!" Fukuda Ayumi looked at Shen Zhenghui and said.

"Sure," Shen Zhenghui straightened his posture and looked at Fukuda Ayumi, thinking about the scheduling of his upcoming movie.

Fukuda Ayumi coughed and then said seriously, "I heard you had dinner with a female celebrity in Hong Kong?"

"Is that what you consider important?" Shen Zhenghui almost jumped up, "It was just a dinner. Liu Xin was there too, and it was Lin Jian who paid, so I didn't have to spend any money!"

Fukuda Ayumi propped her cheek with her hand and looked at the somewhat angry Shen Zhenghui.

Shen Zhenghui was frustrated by her calm gaze and sat back down, "I was doing it for work. If we want to cooperate with Hong Kong in the future, shouldn't I get to know some people early?"

Fukuda Ayumi nodded but didn't say anything.

"The two actors I saw performed very well. I think Japan can also introduce them. What do you think?" Shen Zhenghui continued, "Considering that Japan doesn't have many female actors skilled in action, I think one of them is very suitable for kung fu movies. The other one is very intellectual, which is also a good choice. If we co-produce movies in the future..."

Fukuda Ayumi kept nodding.

"Are you even listening to me?" Shen Zhenghui frowned and asked.

Fukuda Ayumi looked up, "You can keep making it up."

"What do you mean by 'making it up'?" Shen Zhenghui's lips twitched, "I have several scripts ready for filming, and I need a lot of actresses."

"A lot of actresses?" Fukuda Ayumi touched her chin.

"Actresses with excellent acting skills and good looks." Shen Zhenghui pursed his lips, "Japanese actresses are too exaggerated in their performances, making it hard to meet my needs. So this trip to Hong Kong is a scouting mission. Unfortunately, there are very few people we can scout besides Hong Kong. Taiwan and the mainland should also be included in the scope. There's a lot to do!" Shen Zhenghui seemed to be explaining or talking to himself, "So can we really talk about some serious matters?" He glared at Fukuda Ayumi, "And my movie is about to be released, and I don't even know how to arrange the promotion yet?"

Fukuda Ayumi seemed to be going along with it, "For the early promotion, just showing up is enough. People don't know you well. After the movie is released, you'll either be praised or criticized. Are you prepared for that?"

Shen Zhenghui took a deep breath, "I'm quite prepared. If the box office is too low, I even have a lot of free movie tickets ready!"

Fukuda Ayumi smirked at this joke, "Also, since you need a lot of actresses, give me a list, and I'll help you sign them." Fukuda Ayumi tilted her head and said.

"Sign them?"

"Yes, even if you don't use them, they can be used elsewhere, like in other TV dramas. I still trust your judgment." As she spoke, Fukuda Ayumi placed a newspaper in front of Shen Zhenghui.

The most prominent on the newspaper was a large, beautiful photo of Aizawa Tomoaki, but the Japanese headline read "AV Actress Upgrades to Official Actress," with a photo of Nakamura Masahiro beside it.

"What is this?" Seeing Aizawa Tomoaki's photo, Shen Zhenghui felt a surge of heat inside him. He swallowed and looked at Fukuda Ayumi.

"You can consider it free publicity for our movie." Fukuda Ayumi seemed nonchalant.

"Free publicity?" Shen Zhenghui read the article again carefully. Besides revealing that the female lead of "Cruel History of North High School" was once an AV actress, Shen Zhenghui, with his sensitivity, couldn't detect the Japanese editor's attitude. It seemed he wrote it with a certain curiosity.

"What is this guy trying to say?" Shen Zhenghui blinked, "I don't get it. Is he envious of our female lead? Disdainful? Or does he think it's inspiring?"

"Your sensitivity is indeed impressive!" Fukuda Ayumi's eyes were sharp, "He envies Tomoaki's luck from the perspective of a loser, looks down on her background from the perspective of a scoundrel, and finds it inspiring from his own experience."

"Isn't that a case of split personality?"

"That's how Japanese people are."

"I'll take that as self-deprecation."

"I just want to spark your greater interest in the movie you're shooting. You know, once you enter this industry, you have to keep moving forward. I was going to mention it myself," she raised the newspaper and showed Aizawa Tomoaki's photo to Shen Zhenghui, "to maintain the stable position of our own stars." Fukuda Ayumi put down the newspaper, "But then I heard someone say they have several scripts ready for filming and need a lot of actresses. Suddenly, I'm not so worried about my investment." Fukuda Ayumi stared intently at Shen Zhenghui.

Shen Zhenghui fully realized what it meant to be hoisted by his own petard and hung his head in dejection.

"Don't be like that, let me tell you some good news," Fukuda Ayumi said.

"What good news?" Shen Zhenghui asked listlessly.

"We've secured the animation production rights for 'The Case Files of药师寺凉子' by Tanaka Yoshiki."

"Uh... I don't think that's great news. Who knows if he'll finish the series in his lifetime?"

"The better if he doesn't. The pressure isn't on our side." Fukuda Ayumi spread her hands, "A work with flaws is always worth remembering, isn't it?"

"Uh, that's true, though I don't wish for Tanaka to fail. How did you convince him?"

"I bought the movie rights for 'Legend of the Galactic Heroes.'"

"Damn! You're really rich!" Shen Zhenghui stood up.

"Ha, there's more good news!"

"What more good news?"

"We also got the co-production rights for 'Eva'!"

"Huh? What!" Shen Zhenghui's eyes widened! "Did you sign some unequal treaty with Anno? How did he authorize you?"

"It's us!"

"I know, but..." Shen Zhenghui squinted, "Did you win the lottery?"

"I just believe that you, my partner, can make it happen." Fukuda Ayumi smiled slightly.

"Do you really see me as Doraemon?" Shen Zhenghui couldn't help but comment, but the rights to 'Eva' were a gold mine. He held his head, "The technology for a live-action version isn't mature yet, so animation and animated movies." Shen Zhenghui suddenly looked up, seeing Fukuda Ayumi's half-smile, "You have such good luck!" Shen Zhenghui said, "To meet me! It's hard not to get rich in this life!"

'Eva,' as a very classic animation (a gold mine that Anno has been living off for over a decade), has an extraordinary charm that inspires the love of all its loyal fans. This love is expressed through words or pictures, known as fan works. Although Shen Zhenghui liked 'Eva' in his previous life, he wasn't obsessed to the point of madness, so he had only seen some 'Eva' fan works, the most memorable being 'Re-take'—the victory of the Shogun party.

Anime merchandise is a powerful money-making tool, and in a certain sense, high-quality fan works are also a powerful money-making tool, capable of even surpassing the original work. Although Anno and his team are incredibly talented in making 'Eva,' their limited wisdom may not match the creativity of the fans. Talents are always found among the people.

Since they now had the rights to 'Eva,' it was necessary to make the story sell again. Shen Zhenghui began to recall the plot of 'Re-take' and felt his fingers start to itch.

"I need to go back and write the script," he said as he stood up.

Fukuda Ayumi had an expected look on her face.

"Also, please tell President Murahama that I need an animation director. Yes, have Liu Xin find me some artists, Chinese artists, preferably those who have seen the original 'Eva.'"

"Then the premiere?"

"Didn't you say I'm not important?" Shen Zhenghui's eyes widened, "I just realized, we've found a gold mine, and we can't let it slip away!"

He stood up and started to walk out, "Oh, right," he stopped at the door, "Please tell Liu Xin that once the people are found, they should come directly to my place." He sighed, "Looks like I'll be up all night again."

Fukuda Ayumi pursed her lips and watched Shen Zhenghui's back disappear down the corridor. She picked up the phone and started making calls.

"Mr. Anno? Yes, it's me. We have a lead on the co-production of the new animation. We hope you can send someone to check it out. Yes, we're very confident, don't worry..."

"President Murahama? Yes, I need an animation production team. Yes, there's a new animation project. Chinese, yes, that's fine, don't interfere with your production of 'Snow Wind'..."

"Xin? I have a good news and a bad news, which one do you want to hear first?"

---

For me, writing is like eating shit, and publishing is like having diarrhea! Please add to favorites...

Previous page AD starts

Previous page AD ends