Chapter 158: Who Needs Old Wang Next Door? My Damn Surname Is Wang! (Part Three)

The dinner party concluded with everyone thoroughly satisfied and full of fine food and wine.

Yet, the group still felt reluctant to call it a night.

Eventually, Orange suggested going to karaoke.

Su Mu found a high-end club KTV, and everyone went there to have a blast together.

To Su Mu's surprise, however, the studio was truly a place crouching tigers and hidden dragons.

Little Li and Little Zhang actually knew how to sing, and what was more, they sang remarkably well.

It was a pity that their aspirations did not lie in the entertainment industry; all they thought about day in and day out was digging up gossip about others.

Their thought processes were truly bizarre.

…

Returning to his residence.

Su Mu tidied up briefly.

Having been away for so long, he felt his own bed seemed a bit unfamiliar.

Su Mu thought that once he earned a bit more money, it would be best to buy a property.

It did not need to be exceptionally expensive—something in the tens of millions would suffice.

At least he would have a nest of his own, allowing him to sleep a bit more soundly.

Currently, his personal savings stood at roughly fifty million.

Meanwhile, the balance in the studio's account was currently one hundred and thirty million.

Adding the seventy million acting fee and over one hundred and fifty million in box office revenue shares.

Once all the funds were fully credited.

The studio would possess over three hundred million in cash.

To the capital players in the entertainment industry, this sum of money was certainly not worth mentioning.

However, Su Mu's current studio was inherently modest in scale.

Having such a massive sum of capital meant he wouldn't need to worry about anything for a short while.

For a moment, Su Mu felt a touch of emotional resonance.

His initial target had been thirty million.

Yet now it had become three hundred million.

It didn't feel particularly difficult either.

As expected, money in the entertainment industry was truly damn easy to make.

Su Mu felt that he still needed to step up his efforts.

After all, if he didn't make this money, someone else would.

And compared to others making it, how could it ever taste as sweet as making it himself?

If I don't go to hell, who goes to hell? Peace and love, I can only wish the world peace.

Time for sleep.

…

Early the next morning.

Su Mu enjoyed a rare, natural awakening.

He had intended to comfortably browse his phone in bed and then head to the studio around noon.

Instead, a trending search topic popped up that made it hard for him to stay lying down.

The trending topic wasn't about box office figures.

Nor was it about another conflict erupting between his fans and Lin Haoming's camp.

In fact, it wasn't about him at all.

Yet it was intimately connected to him.

Trending Topic 1: …

Trending Topic 7: Grave Raider Notes Concluded!

Yes.

It was finished.

Su Mu: "…"

Looking at this trending search, Su Mu didn't need to check the official account.

He could roughly guess what kind of scene it was.

Master Zhu must have gone on another damn explosive update spree.

Originally, Su Mu had intended to have Sun Liaojun's side handle the publication.

However, it coincided exactly with the premiere and box office run of *Goodbye Mr. Loser*.

Therefore, the operations team naturally had to remain on standby at all times to prevent any issues; in truth, the trivial tasks were extremely demanding.

Moreover, Su Mu and Qian Jida were both in Beijing and had little spare time to manage this.

So, in the end, the task of daily updates was handed over to Master Zhu.

According to the projected update rhythm.

It should have waited at least another two months.

Although it wasn't a major issue, the matter of selling the IP copyright might have to be brought forward slightly.

Su Mu got up and tidied up.

Then he gave Master Zhu a call.

Before long, the recreational vehicle parked downstairs to pick him up.

Once Su Mu boarded the vehicle, he directly questioned Master Zhu about the conclusion of *Grave Raider Notes*.

After receiving the answers.

He could only describe his reaction as between tears and laughter.

Master Zhu had indeed been updating according to the instructed rhythm at first.

As it turned out later, he noticed that too many people were leaving comments on the official account.

Not only were they commenting, but they were also voting and tipping.

Over time, seeing the comment section urging for updates every day, Master Zhu couldn't bear it anymore.

And so he began his massive update spree.

Continuing all the way until dawn yesterday, when the final chapter was published.

One could only say it was awesome.

Su Mu didn't blame Master Zhu either; fundamentally, it wasn't a big deal.

It was nothing more than having to wait a few days, just doing it ahead of schedule.

…

Arriving at the studio.

Su Mu opened his computer.

Unsurprisingly, there was a whole page of unread emails.

All of them were from various platform companies preparing to negotiate with him to buy out all copyrights.

They wanted to develop the IP.

Naturally, they needed to buy out all the content categories that could be included beforehand.

Audio books, traditional Chinese editions, overseas editions, games, anime, film and television adaptations, and electronic copyrights.

Generally speaking, these were all the items one could think of.

Only by securing all of these could they proceed to the next stage of development.

Currently, *Grave Raider Notes* had swept across the entire internet.

It was truly at its peak moment, and having been verified by the reader market, there was absolutely no problem with the content.

In fact, it wasn't that Su Mu hadn't considered developing the grave-raiding theme IP himself previously.

However, he later decided to temporarily abandon this idea.

There were three reasons.

First, the current scale of the studio was still too small. If the work was merely centered around himself, there would be no problem, but operating an IP required department structures he didn't even know he needed.

Second, IP operation required a sufficiently complete industrial chain and channel network, and to maximize its potential, one even needed the ability to create a closed loop.

Yet Su Mu was merely a celebrity; he was completely unfamiliar with other industries such as anime and gaming, making him an absolute layman.

In his impression, the only one in his past life capable of achieving a complete closed loop was Tencent, which owned its own anime industry, gaming industry, video and film sector, and media company, allowing its own platform to produce content and feed it directly into the chain without any barriers.

Third, many themes were time-sensitive; what was popular today might be replaced by something else tomorrow, causing prices to vary wildly across different time periods.

Right now, the grave-raiding series was scorching hot, so prices naturally rose with the tide.

But a year or two from now, once the craze for grave-raiding passed and the industry slumped, the value of the copyright would plummet.

Thus, Su Mu concluded that since he couldn't manage it himself, it was better to sell it while prices were high and make a quick fortune.

[Kiwi Video: Congratulations to Senior Driver for the grand conclusion! Can we discuss a buyout? We are willing to offer double the price of the neighbor next door!]

[Penguin Literature: Mr. Senior Driver, Penguin Literature Website sincerely invites you to settle on our platform! Everything the neighbor cannot provide, we can offer!]

[Youku: Author-dada, throwing flowers on the completion! I am the Executive CEO of Youku, replying to your email personally. I believe this shows true sincerity; regardless of what price the neighbor bids, I am willing to pay ten million more than them!]

After spending over half an hour filtering through them.

As expected, the ones capable of offering high prices were still those video giants.

[Aolai Pictures: May I ask, which company is the neighbor you mentioned?]

[……]

Doubting me?

To be honest, if Aolai could have said anything else.

Su Mu wouldn't have thought this dignified major film investment company was so petty.

And they called this negotiating cooperation?

Not a shred of sincerity.

Not selling, not selling at any price!

[Su Mu replies to Aolai: Old Wang next door, go find him.]

After writing the reply.

Su Mu returned to the top three emails.

He knew that after this period of grappling, the prices offered by the top three were already the maximum amounts their respective companies could muster.

Looking at it that way, choosing became much easier.

Naturally, it would go to the one offering the most money.

Without a doubt.

When it came to bidding, it still had to be Zheng Quan.

The man who was terrifyingly generous with his money achieved ultimate victory.

Kiwi Video won the bid.

…

At this moment.

Beijing, Aolai Film Investment.

Inside the office.

Huang Wenshan and Lin Haoming had come to pay a visit to Wang Taiming once again.

They were still looking to secure a cooperative partnership on popular-themed film and television projects for this year and the next.

As they spoke, however, they noticed Wang Taiming staring at his phone with a face as dark as the bottom of a wok.
The two exchanged glances, somewhat bewildered.

Why did it feel like President Wang was about to start cursing again?

Meanwhile, Wang Taiming was speechlessly staring at the email reply on his screen.

Old Wang next door…?

My last name is literally Wang, dammit.

After a long silence.

Huang Wenshan cautiously asked, "President Wang, about the grave-raiding film and television project…"

Wang Taiming suddenly shook his head. "It's dead in the water."

Huang Wenshan: "Ah?"

Lin Haoming: "!!!"

…

…

In the afternoon.

Xu Jiang sought out Su Mu, saying he wanted to discuss the idol drama.

During this period.

He had been pondering the idol drama script Su Mu gave him.

And he had gained a modest understanding…

(End of Chapter)