Chapter 509: 509

Chapter 509: Pomelo

Messages were quickly delivered in the internet age.

The next morning after Yan Yu came and after he was done with two tutoring lessons, he saw a middle aged man in a neat suit standing outside of his office as he was going to lunch.

He wasn’t tall but certainly had the temperament of a person of high position.

“Hello, Teacher Lu, I’m Zhang Shouzheng from Pomelo, nice to meet you!” The man came over and handed his business card with both hands.

Pomelo was a streaming company from Lin’an and the fifth biggest video streaming service in China.

When Yang Feng made his big purchase in the entertainment industry, he also bought this video streaming website which also originated from Lin’an for 1.5 billion US dollars, which was 10.5 billion yuan.

They naturally did quite well for such a high valuation to be possible.

It was just that 80% of the domestic video streaming traffic went to Youyi and Shanhai Streaming while the remaining video streaming platform shared the other 20%, which was a bit hard.

If they wanted to grow further quickly, they couldn’t do so by relying on themselves.

Perhaps it was also one of the key reasons why Zhang Shouzheng and the other executives were willing to sell the company’s shares.

But they were backed by Habao now and with their funds and connection, they were 10 times more confident and would no longer be afraid of the competition’s fierceness as well as burning through funds.

For example, this time when he heard that Chu Liuxiang was making another TV series and had Lu Xiaofeng lead an audition secretly, he could sit still anymore.

Zhang Shouzheng rushed to Virtuous Middle School after asking the opinion of the CEO Sang Cai.

He was a local and through some connection, he was able to quickly get into the school.

While Zhang Shouzheng was getting in, he seemed to see Cui Zhong from Shanhai Streaming getting out of the car.

He then quickly stuffed a few hundred yuan bills to the guard guarding the gate and requested him to do it more via standard procedure and delay the other party as much as possible.

Then Zhang Shouzheng went to Chen Huan’s office and waited for him.

Chen Huan saw Zhang Shouzheng stepping up to him and after hearing him introducing himself, he instantly knew why he came.

‘King of Masked Singer’ was already confirmed to go to Shanhai Streaming so he was probably here for ‘Prison Break’.

They unexpectedly were well informed.

They already showed up to the door after he only contacted 4 actors.

“Mr. Zhang, please come inside!” Chen Huan opened his office door and asked him to come inside.

Zhang Shouzheng’s mind relaxed and knew it was impossible to discuss anything if Chen Huan refused to see him.

At that moment, a bunch of very beautiful girls ran up the stairs excitedly and Zhang Shouzheng couldn’t help but take a look.

Since when high school students were so good looking?

Back at his time, they would be considered as absolute School Flowers!

Just as the girls ran up to where Zhang Shouzheng was while he was in his thoughts, he saw them and had a weird expression on his face.

Could it be…

Before the thought was finished, the girls rushed into Chen Huan’s office.

“I have something to do so you girls can start eating in the next room and just leave a bit for me.” Chen Huan, who just sat down, stood up and said to them,

“Okay…”

Their mood immediately fell as they walked to the office next to them and two of the girls even gave Zhang Shouzheng a stare.

Those were probably the rumored Chen Huan’s School Flowers fans, right?

Zhang Shouzheng let out a sigh and thought that a handsome man was really the weakness of all women.

Su Mo appeared when he was young and now there was Chen Huan, how could ordinary guy like him live?

Only the two of them remained in the office now so Chen Huan made a cup of tea for Zhang Shouzheng and said, “Mr. Zhang, are you here for the new TV series made by Teacher Chu?”

Zhang Shouzheng didn’t expect Chen Huan to be so straightforward and subconsciously answered, “Yes.”

“Your Pomelo wants it?”

“Yes.” Since the negotiation began, Zhang Shouzheng said, “Teacher Lu, as you know, Pomelo is now a subsidiary of Habao Entertainment so the funds won’t be a problem.”

“Shanhai Streaming gave a high price for ‘Princess Returning Pearl’ so we are willing to pay 70 million for the exclusive broadcast right and if the average viewers exceed 100 million, rest assured that we won’t forget what basic decency is.”

“You don’t even know how many episodes are being filmed and you’re already offering 70 million?” Chen Huan laughed, “Wouldn’t you make a loss if we’re filming a 10 episode short series?”

This chapter is scrapped from readlightnovel.org

Zhang Shouzheng also laughed and said, “I believe that Teacher Chu’s talent wouldn’t go against the market’s setting that far.”

“Okay, I can feel your sincerity.” Chen Huan said with a nod.

Shanhai Streaming gave ‘Princess Returning Pearl’ 50 million for the broadcasting fee.

Of course, Shanhai Streaming didn’t know that ‘Princess Returning Pearl’ would be that popular otherwise the price would be much higher.

However, Bu Yiyi was the lead back then.

Chen Huan didn’t believe that Zhang Shouzheng didn’t know which actor he sought.

Although they were very good, they were still weaker than Bu Yiyi in terms of appeal.

And urban thrillers had a different audience than comedy.

So 70 million was a very sincere gesture.

But Chen Huan shook his head and said, “However, ‘Prison Break’ can’t still be given to you.”

Chen Huan’s words made the originally excited Zhang Shouzheng feel like he fell into an ice cave.

“Why? Is it because you think our Pomelo’s platform is too small?” Zhang Shouzheng said, “You can rest assured that our publicity budget will be sufficient and we won’t let ‘Prison Break’ be shelved!”

“No, no, the high offer you’ve given for the broadcast right is more than sincere and would definitely not let it go to waste after spending so much money so I know you guys will give your best for the follow up operations.” Chen Huan shook his head, “But this TV series just isn’t fated to be yours.”

“Fated?” Zhang Shouzheng felt like Chen Huan was joking with him.

“Yes,” Chen Huan explained, “During the filming of ‘Miracle in Cell No.7’, Shanhai Streaming wanted to borrow a prison for it, which would be enough for the scenes, but Teacher Chu asked them to simply build a real prison since it would be used in the future…”

“I didn’t know why back then but now with Teacher Chu’s ‘Prison Break’, I suddenly understood that it wasn’t made for this TV series?”

“If we use this prison that had been built by Shanhai Streaming to film it but then sell it to you Pomelo, how would the people see it? Wouldn’t it be clearly backstabbing Shanhai Streaming?”

Zhang Shouzheng was speechless.

If this was true, Teacher Chu planned to work with Shanhai Streaming from the beginning.

With his personality, it was impossible for him to change his mind just for tens of millions.

He didn’t even care about hundreds of millions as he donated it away casually!

But Zhang Shouzheng still wanted to try, “That was before! The Shanhai Streaming of now doesn’t deserve Teacher Chu and Teacher Lu’s grace! I think it is just doing business and feelings shouldn’t be taken into account. You put importance in it but other don’t.”

His words were a bit harsh but what he was insinuating was that Shanhai Streaming didn’t help Chu Liuxiang much during the incident of ‘The Stingy Chu Liuxiang’.

But it was also true.

Anyone that would think of this point wouldn’t feel comfortable about it.

His words were nothing scandalous or specially setting discord so Zhang Shouzheng spoke uprightly.

Chen Huan laughed lightly, “The past is in the past! But since you came today, I just happen to have a variety show so I want to work with you, are you interested?”