Chapter 138: Is This Something a Human Would Do? If I Have No Money, I'm Not Going At All! I Don't Have Time!

Half an hour later.

Wang Jun's expression shifted in deep emotion. "Is what you said true?"

Su Mu wore an expression of utmost sincerity. "Of course. There has always been one principle I live by: speak the truest words, do the truest deeds, and earn the truest money!"

[Public Speaking +1]
[Skill Point +0.01...]

Wang Jun was getting carried away. "Alright! Su Mu, and I truly don't mean to underestimate you, but if you can pull in one billion, I'll give you a forty percent cut. No, half! Even a fifty-fifty split, I'll gladly accept it!"

Su Mu's eyes grew moist as he poured his heart out with tears in his voice, "Director Wang! Then it's a deal. You must keep your word!"

Qian Jida: "..."

Zhang Huaimou let out a sigh.

It's over...

...

Su Mu was farming proficiency for his skills, but the content of his speech had nonetheless dealt a heavy blow to Wang Jun.

Actually, he understood that when all was said and done, it was simply a matter of money.

If the box office of this film turned out to be exceptionally high—far exceeding Wang Jun's expectations—then giving away a percentage might not matter much.

However, at present, perhaps no one except Su Mu himself could foresee how it would perform once released.

Therefore, the reason Wang Jun wanted was essentially for Su Mu to give him an 'acceptable condition.'

And Su Mu was extremely direct.

After stirring up emotions with a deeply passionate and vivid delivery, he directly administered a heavy dose to Wang Jun.

If the box office hits one billion, he takes a cut; if it falls short of one billion, he takes nothing.

He put it quite bluntly!

It completely stunned Wang Jun.

It wasn't because one billion in box office revenue was an astronomical figure, but rather because it far exceeded his inner expectations.

At any given moment, as long as something surpasses one's internal expectations, a person will experience emotional fluctuation.

Wang Jun had never imagined this film could reach one billion.

In his opinion, for a low-cost comedy, six or seven hundred million would already be the absolute ceiling.

Even Zhang Huaimou was left somewhat speechless.

Despite holding a very high opinion of the script for *Goodbye Mr. Loser*, he still wouldn't dare guarantee a definitive victory over Dong Xuefei’s *Requiem for Love*.

Although five hundred million might not be considered exceptionally high in the box office market, for a low-budget production to reach that scale was already a remarkably good result.

Su Mu's script was likewise projected to have a relatively low budget.

Furthermore, the risks associated with comedies were simply too massive.

A high ceiling simultaneously meant an even greater probability of completely bombing at the box office.

Zhang Huaimou figured that if it were well-made, surpassing five hundred million would already count as a sweeping victory.

Yet he never expected Su Mu to open his mouth and start at one billion.

This was simply far too confident.

You have to realize that this meant achieving double the box office of *Requiem for Love*.

Wasn't that equivalent to rubbing Lin Haoming's face in the dirt?

The thought was nice enough.

Whether it could actually be pulled off was an entirely different question.

After all, filming hadn't even begun, and he had no idea what kind of comedic effect Su Mu would deliver; this was far too reckless.

Of course, looking at Wang Jun's side, he wasn't doing much better.

The other party casually threw out a ten-billion-yuan box office target, and you bastards got so carried away you agreed to a fifty-fifty split.

For a moment, Zhang Huaimou didn't even know who he should worry about.

Being caught right in the middle was truly a dilemma.

Could you all just be a bit reliable, or would that kill you?

...

The conversation ended, and the partnership was finalized.

Su Mu walked out of the reception room and bid farewell to Wang Jun.

Shortly after, he was led by Zhang Huaimou over to the latter's office.

As soon as he stepped inside, Zhang Huaimou looked straight at him. "Su Mu, your script is good, but are you certain about one billion? Aren't you being a bit too arrogant? What happens if you fall short?"

Su Mu replied with a blank face, "If we fall short, I just won't take a percentage. You can just pay me a bit more for my acting fee."

Zhang Huaimou: "Huh?"

Qian Jida: "..."

Only at this exact moment did Zhang Huaimou suddenly realize.

No wonder he always felt something was a bit off.

He had been led around in circles the entire time.

Whether there was a percentage cut or not, Su Mu seemed to have nothing to lose.

With Huayi and the streaming platforms making up a three-way investment, the funds would definitely exceed the production costs by a wide margin.

According to what was previously discussed—iQiyi offering double, Youku triple, and Tencent quadruple—the total would easily reach sixty or seventy million.

And where would the money actually be spent in this comedy?

Wasn't it precisely on this kid's acting fee!

Damn it, he had been waiting right here the whole time!

Zhang Huaimou: "How much do you want for your acting fee?"

Su Mu: "Sixty million last year. Of course, if the box office hits one billion, the standard changes. I'll need a raise—let's make it seventy million."

Zhang Huaimou: "..."

So you had already planned to pocket the money invested by those three companies as your own acting fee, right?

And the money put up by Huayi here was the actual, true cost of making this film.

Here I was thinking he was playing some grand empty-gloved wolf game.

This is a comedy being made for you, big brother.

And yet you're turning around to demand money from us—is this something a human being would do...

Zhang Huaimou suddenly felt his heart grow immensely weary. "Su Mu, give me an honest bottom line. Is this movie... going to work or not?"

Su Mu looked at Zhang Huaimou and answered calmly, "Undefeated for six years since my debut, I've truly never lost, and it's even more impossible for me to lose to Lin Haoming."

Gazing into Su Mu's eyes, Zhang Huaimou's heart suddenly settled back into place. "Alright! Since you've put it that way, let's go all out and make a fantastic New Year comedy!"

Su Mu: "Good."

[Expression Proficiency +1]
[Emotional Proficiency +1]

Zhang Huaimou: "By the way, there's something you might not know. This Lin Haoming seems to have a bit of a grudge against you, mostly because you might compete with him for a role in a mega-production two years from now."

Su Mu was momentarily stunned, looking somewhat bewildered. "Two years from now? What the hell?"

Zhang Huaimou: "It's a film that Director Dong Xuefei started preparing for several years ago. She has brought in numerous investors with massive funding; current estimates project the investment might exceed one billion."

Su Mu: "Good grief, a blockbuster?"

Zhang Huaimou nodded. "Yes, it's Dong Xuefei's own sci-fi project. In the past, domestic sci-fi works of this genre have had a very hard time going far. Industrial equipment and post-production are only one aspect; more importantly, the content is usually not solid enough.

However, Dong Xuefei probably harbors a bit of a dream regarding this, and has always wanted to shoot a sci-fi film belonging to China itself, ideally one that can break into the international market. So this time, she's pulling out all the stops.

It's still in preparation, though it will definitely take another two years, and they are still continuously adding to the investment—the equipment required is immense.

Of course, that's not the main point. Actually, some investors recommended you to her, and Dong Xuefei thinks you're quite good as well, so it's very likely you and Lin Haoming will be competing for that role."

Su Mu chuckled. "What, does she think that just because she says so, I'll definitely take the role?"

Zhang Huaimou: "Why wouldn't you? When an opportunity arises, of course you have to seize it. This is your chance to go international."

Su Mu: "What's the pay?"

Zhang Huaimou: "Um... it won't be too high. Don't let the huge investment fool you; the majority of the money is being poured into post-production. Special effects are extremely expensive."

Su Mu: "Then forget it. Thank Director Dong for her kind offer, but if the pay is low, she should just go find Lin Haoming. He's cheap, I'm too expensive, and I don't have the time."

Zhang Huaimou: "..."

Damn it.

Zhang Huaimou felt like he had absorbed way too many non-human levels of absurdity today.

This was a super blockbuster!

Unprecedented in the domestic industry, and you're passing on it?

Are you an idiot, or am I?

At that moment, Su Mu could clearly read the inner thoughts written across Zhang Huaimou's eyes.

However, he had no intention of explaining himself.

Are you kidding me? To put it bluntly, if there's no money, what the hell am I going there for...

Is sci-fi so amazing?

Can't I just draw one out myself?

If I pull out *The Three-Body Problem* someday, walking onto the international stage will be a matter of minutes, won't it?

Su Mu: "Alright, Director Zhang, all of that is two years away. Let's first talk about our New Year release. The profit-sharing is already settled, so next up is all on you to build the crew and select the cast—we need to arrange everything properly."

Zhang Huaimou nodded. "Mm, for this film... do we want big names?"

Su Mu: "Yes, we definitely need them for the role of Qiu Ya."

Zhang Huaimou: "Oh, understood."

PS: Sorry... just finished writing... it's two in the morning again... pushing out ten thousand words a day is a bit intense, apologies if the quality fluctuates slightly. Once I adapt to this workload, the pacing and content will improve immediately, and I'll do my best to make it more entertaining! Thank you for the support, big bosses!
(End of this chapter)