My Virtual Girlfriend-Chapter 184: He Gave You 80 Million for Pocket Money?

Chapter 184: Chapter 184: He Gave You 80 Million for Pocket Money?

At that moment, Chen Yan was still looking over the documents brought by Yang Nuannuan.

The content of the document was simple: the total expenditures of the film crew from the start until now.

Generally speaking, this kind of document only needed the signature of Yang Rou for confirmation. But after all, this was the company’s first project, so Yang Rou showed Chen Yan the utmost respect and specifically sent Yang Nuannuan to have Chen Yan review it.

Picking up the pen on the desk, Chen Yan signed his name on the document. That’s when he heard Yang Nuannuan’s question, "Chen Yan, are you... trading stocks?"

Chen Yan looked up, following Yang Nuannuan’s gaze to his mobile phone.

He glanced at the stock market display on his phone, which lay on the table, and then said with a smile, "Not really... just messing around with it."

Yang Nuannuan nodded gently without much concern.

After all, everyone knew that stock trading had become known as one of the ways to get rich overnight during the bull market years ago. So now, many young people had dived into this pit of fire.

Given Chen Yan’s age, it was quite normal for him to be interested in stock trading.

Yang Nuannuan had no prejudice against stock trading, but she did not aspire to it. So, she only glanced at the screen of Chen Yan’s phone, which was a sea of green, and remembered the name of the stock "Demaos Industry" before she stopped paying much attention to it.

After Chen Yan finished signing, he handed the document back to Yang Nuannuan and casually asked, "Are you now in charge of film distribution at the company?"

Yang Nuannuan shook her head gently and explained, "Not in charge, just assisting some seniors with it."

Chen Yan asked, "How’s the situation now?"

Upon hearing the question, Yang Nuannuan furrowed her brows slightly, then said somewhat helplessly, "Not very ideal. It seems that the conditions offered by several major distribution companies are quite poor."

"We are still in talks with them and also looking for other distribution companies."

Chen Yan didn’t take it too seriously and just encouraged her, "Hang in there. Do your best."

Yang Nuannuan nodded and gave a soft "Mhm" in response. After chatting with Chen Yan for a bit longer, she carried the documents and left to report back to her mother.

After Yang Nuannuan left, Chen Yan went to the next door to check on Yu Qiao Qiao.

Yu Qiao Qiao was still there pinching clay figurines, looking obedient and cute.

As Chen Yan had nothing in particular to do, he joined Boss Qiao Qiao in shaping the clay figures.

The plans for the new game were already complete.

Just waiting for the next week, once the "Happiness Value" refreshed and after purchasing "Xiao Ha’s Instant Film," he could test the potential of this game.

Chen Yan also decided that once he finished dealing with the movie "Love Loses in 23 Days," he would start working on the new game full force.

Of course, the premise was... that the game truly had potential...

...

The following few days were uneventful.

The only thing worth mentioning was that the crew of "Love Loses in 23 Days" had wrapped up shooting!

Lu Man, after experiencing a sudden regression in her acting skills, cherished the feeling of acting that Chen Yan had helped her rediscover.

So even though Chen Yan had given her double the money for the watch, she still forcefully forgot about the incident according to what Chen Yan said, maintaining that "heartbroken" feeling.

Her deep immersion sped up the filming process of the crew by several times.

In some sense: Perhaps the reason why the crew’s progress had been so slow before was because of her, the dead weight...

And after the film was completed, Chen Yan, Yang Rou, and several other company executives all watched the raw footage and rough edit together, forming a rough judgment of the movie’s quality: a masterpiece among masterpieces!

Afterward, Chen Yan even took a special look at the current potential of the film.

Then he was surprised to discover that the movie’s box office range had changed from 100 million - 520 million to 300 million - 520 million.

This indicated that Lu Man’s outstanding performance had raised the movie’s lower limit by about 200 million!

Aside from Chen Yan’s recognition of the movie,

the other executives in the company also gave the film lots of positive feedback.

Even Yang Rou, after watching the raw materials, was convinced that it would surely be a classic!

After seeing the film’s brilliant visuals and sense of frame, they all no longer doubted Chen Yan’s judgment!

With such control over the camera and visual expression, Teng Yufei really was the best choice to direct this movie.

The executives compared Teng Yufei with Director Yuan, the director they preferred, and found that he simply couldn’t compete with Teng Yufei!

This also once again raised Chen Yan’s prestige within the company.

Now that the film had been shot, what was left was the most crucial part: distribution.

So, after handing over the raw materials to the production department for post-production editing, the company’s entire force was then devoted to matters of distribution and publicity.

Even Yang Rou and Sister Mei Li personally got involved, following up on the distribution work...

...

Meanwhile, in Tiandu, at Director Zhang’s house,

Director Zhang was once again sitting in the garden, having tea with Xu Zhaoqing.

While sipping tea, Director Zhang curiously asked, "How’s it going? Is everything settled?"

Xu Zhaoqing’s face revealed a smug expression, "Of course. With my brother stepping in, how could the major distribution companies not show face!"

"After all, they are dealing with Xu Brothers Film Company. On the other side, there’s just a small film company making a small-budget chick flick."

"Such movies [chick flick], the best historical results, are just over a hundred million."

"Even if these companies undertake the distribution, they wouldn’t get much benefit from it. So they all prefer to give us face."

Hearing Xu Zhaoqing’s words, Director Zhang nodded and said, "That’s good."

"As long as this matter is resolved from the root, I can relax."

He then curiously asked, "But, how do these distribution companies plan to face Yang Rou?"

"Over the years, Yang Rou made them quite a bit of money with those few successful movies. Are they going to bluntly refuse?"

Xu Zhaoqing shook his head with a smile, "How could they."

"Everyone knows Yang Rou’s capabilities. Who would want to offend her? So they all shifted the blame to company policy, saying that such films have a high risk of not recouping their costs if distributed, and then offered several distribution terms that are hard to accept. Isn’t that the way to do it?"

"And with Yang Rou’s pride, there’s no way she would accept such humiliating distribution terms."

At this, the two of them couldn’t help but "haha" and laugh.

After laughing, Director Zhang shook his head slightly and said, "It’s a pity. If it wasn’t for that incident back then, we wouldn’t be at such odds with Yang Rou."

Hearing about that incident made Xu Zhaoqing also look slightly uncomfortable as he said, "It’s all in the past. Let’s not talk about it."

"After all, nobody expected her to have such good judgment and ability."

Director Zhang took a sip of tea, then mumbled a profound "Hmm"...

...

At night, in Chen Yan’s villa. Lu Man and Sister Mei Li each held a wine glass, sitting on the patio’s cushion with a low atmosphere. They sipped the wine and chatted.

Sister Mei Li said, "Man Man. You’ve heard about the situation, right?"

Lu Man nodded, her voice tinged with distress, "Yes, I’ve heard. Our distribution channels have been blocked."

She took a sip of red wine, her tone disheartened, "How am I going to explain this to Chen Yan?"

"He invested in the movie with so much hope for me, thinking that I will be a future superstar."

"He invested so much money. The movie is even finished."

"But now... there’s no way to distribute it."

Sister Mei Li also sighed.

She said, "This isn’t your fault."

Lu Man folded her legs in her arms.

Being at home, she was dressed in a black robe, which highlighted her exquisite figure and those long, fair legs that could drive people insane.

Hugging her legs, it was as if she curled up the whole world inside.

She appeared so fragile and helpless at that moment.

Even with dreams as big as the sky, the realization of facing the brutal beatdown of capital showed her how fragile dreams could be at times.

Sensing Lu Man’s vulnerability, Sister Mei Li put an arm around her shoulders and said, "It’s okay. I believe Chen Yan will understand you."

Lu Man didn’t feel at ease with what Sister Mei Li said.

After being silent for a while, she suddenly said, "Sister. What do you think... if a man casually transfers you over a million in cash. What does he want?"

Sister Mei Li replied nonchalantly, "He’s probably trying to please you."

Lu Man said, "What if he casually gives you gifts worth several million?"

Sister Mei Li said, "Then he definitely wants to sleep with you."

Lu Man looked at Sister Mei Li.

Then she saw Sister Mei Li say seriously, "Man Man, don’t be fooled by the sweet talk of men."

Lu Man: ...

Lu Man said, "What if a man spends billions to set up a company for you, invests tens of millions in making a movie for you, and also gives you eighty million in spending money for you to spend however you like. What does he want?"

Hearing Lu Man’s words, Sister Mei Li looked at her in surprise.

"You’re talking about Chen Yan?"

Lu Man looked toward the villa complex’s garden, quietly nodding.

Sister Mei Li, picking up on the crucial point, asked again in astonishment, "He gave you eighty million in spending money?"

Sister Mei Li said, "Then he definitely wants to sleep with you."

Lu Man looked at Sister Mei Li.

Then she saw Sister Mei Li say seriously, "Man Man, don’t be fooled by the sweet talk of men."

Lu Man: ...

Lu Man said, "What if a man spends billions to set up a company for you, invests tens of millions in making a movie for you, and also gives you eighty million in spending money for you to spend however you like. What does he want?"

Hearing Lu Man’s words, Sister Mei Li looked at her in surprise.

"You’re talking about Chen Yan?"

Lu Man looked toward the villa complex’s garden, quietly nodding.

Sister Mei Li, keenly seizing the point, asked again in astonishment, "He gave you eighty million in spending money?"