Chapter 83: I Really Have to Hand It to You, You Schemer! (Please Keep Reading)

[Moments (Visible to Everyone)
Status: Mr. Zheng is the most extravagantly generous man I’ve ever met!
Photo: Script guaranteed at ten million, can negotiate higher/jpg]
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Zhao Zhouming commented: I’ll offer eleven million!
Yu Hong: Twelve million!
Zheng Quan replied to Zhao Zhouming: Weren’t you sounding confident on the phone before? Haha!
Zhao Zhouming replied to Zheng Quan: Cut the nonsense, Mr. Yu’s already at twelve—are you brave enough to match that?
Yu Hong replied to Zhao Zhouming: Old Zhao, don’t drag me into this. I’m just here to bid.
Zheng Quan: Fifteen million! Come on! Smash it! I’m throwing so much money I scare myself!
Zhao Zhouming replied to Zheng Quan: Old Zheng, that’s not cool, just shouting out random prices?
Zheng Quan replied to Zhao Zhouming: Do I look like I have the time to joke around?
Yu Hong replied to Zheng Quan: Mr. Zheng, inflating prices isn’t right.
Zheng Quan replied to Yu Hong: If you can pay, pay—if not, just keep quiet.
Zhang Huaimou: Stop arguing, everyone. On behalf of Huayi, I offer twenty million. Thank you.
Zheng Quan replied to Zhang Huaimou: ???
Zhao Zhouming replied to Zhang Huaimou: ???
Yu Hong replied to Zhang Huaimou: Old Zhang, you’re really something.
Su Mu: Eh? Twenty million, first call!
Su Mu: Twenty million, second call!
Zheng Quan replied to Su Mu: I bid twenty-one million! Damn it, who else is left!!!
Zhang Huaimou: Σ(⊙▽⊙“
Zhao Zhouming: …
Yu Hong: Sigh.
Su Mu replied to Zheng Quan: Mr. Zheng, check your private messages!
…
At this moment,
Inside the presidential suite.
Su Mu was looking at the comments on his Moments post.
Everything was proceeding more smoothly than he’d imagined.
And the price of twenty-one million had indeed exceeded expectations.
But then again, with those three old rivals meeting, how could things not get heated?
Ding dong*2!
Two WeChat notifications.
Zhang Huaimou: (乛◡乛).
Su Mu replied: Honestly, I thought a million or two more would be enough—twenty-one million, isn’t that a bit too much?
Zhang Huaimou: You’re underestimating these three companies, aren’t you? Two are publicly listed with market caps of over a hundred billion, and the third is a holding group—how could they lack money? And do you really think they’re buying your script? They’re buying you—the walking, ancient-romance drama traffic package.
Su Mu replied: Understood, thank you, Director Zhang!
Zhang Huaimou: When you’re not busy, treat me to dinner. And remember, this must stay confidential! Otherwise, I’ll lose all face.
By the way, you should pay attention to Qiyiguo’s new drama next year. I heard from friends in the director circle—it’s supposed to be a web movie. Next year, historical hero themes will be the trend, with directives from the Ministry of Culture, so all platforms are getting ready.

Ancient romance dramas aren’t mainstream after all. Though you act well, once an actor’s image is set, it’s hard to change. So you must seize the chance to try different genres.
Su Mu replied: Alright, got it.
…
After chatting with Director Zhang,
Su Mu finally opened Zheng Quan’s WeChat.
Zheng Quan: Su Mu! Did you feel my sincerity? I mean what I say—twenty-one million it is!
Su Mu replied: Thank you, Mr. Zheng! Since you’re so sincere, I’ll be loyal and go through fire and water for you. Let’s set a time to meet.
Zheng Quan: Good, wait for me.
Su Mu: Haha, waiting for you.
…
Everything settled.
Su Mu walked out of the room.
At that moment, Qian Jida was sitting on the living room sofa, staring at his phone in shock.
Su Mu’s Moments post was naturally visible to Qian Jida.
He also had the three men and Zhang Huaimou on WeChat, so he’d witnessed the entire bidding process.
It was simply absurd—absurd enough for Old Wang next door to open the door for absurdity itself.
Su Mu: “Mr. Qian? What’s wrong?”
Qian Jida looked at Su Mu: “You… what exactly did you do? You’re not joking in your Moments post, are you?”
Su Mu: “No joke. I’ve already scheduled to meet with Director Zheng. Twenty-one million for two scripts, plus priority cooperation intention next year.”
Qian Jida was still baffled.
Two scripts plus priority cooperation intention could fetch twenty million?
“So you’re not planning to act in the two scripts you wrote?”
Su Mu shook his head: “No plans.”
One was a horror film, the other a crime web drama—neither fit his current needs.
Qian Jida: “So you plan to work with Qiyiguo on a project next year?”
Su Mu: “Let’s wait and see. Director Zhang says all the major platforms are preparing web movies in response to the Ministry of Culture’s proposal, and next year will focus on historical hero themes.”
Qian Jida: “Web movies? That means they won’t be released in cinemas.”
Su Mu nodded: “That doesn’t matter. I actually think we can use these web movies to dip our toes in the film market, build up some experience and reputation before going bigger.”
Web movies are still movies, and filming is a bit different from TV series.
So it’s not a bad idea to get a feel for it early.
Qian Jida nodded: “Makes sense. And if it’s Qiyiguo’s web movie, production costs won’t be low, so quality shouldn’t be far off.”
Su Mu: “We’ll see. When the time comes, I’ll meet them, look at the script and their team before deciding.”
Qian Jida: “Yes, that’s reasonable.”
…
Oil Depot Video Tower.
Zhao Zhouming was feeling speechless.
He’d had the biggest advantage in working with Su Mu.
Even with the other two companies competing, he was confident.
After all, proximity meant face-to-face communication.
But who could have predicted that Zhang Huaimou would suddenly appear, completely disrupting the pricing plan.

It’s true that some super IPs can fetch tens of millions or even hundreds of millions.
But for scripts alone, unlike original novels that have proven themselves in the market and have fan bases, five million is already considered high in the industry.
Yet Zhang Huaimou just came in and offered twenty million.
There was no way to compete.
That price was far above their entire script acquisition budget for next year.
It’s not that they couldn’t pay, but if they bought these two, they’d have to lower their standards for all other scripts next year.
There was a lot to weigh.
He wasn’t a madman like Zheng Quan from Qiyiguo, who just threw money around regardless.
He looked at Su Mu’s WeChat message to him—expressing regret and comfort.
Zhao Zhouming sighed.
At least they still had a variety show recording, which was some consolation.
Thinking of this, he took out his phone and called Producer Xu Yang.
“Xu Yang, take extra care of Su Mu during the variety show recording. Even if we can’t collaborate, we need to leave him with a good impression.”
Xu Yang: “Don’t worry, Director. I know what to do.”
…
…
Two days passed quickly.
The script sale was temporarily concluded.
All details would be discussed after meeting Zheng Quan.
Next, the variety show recording would officially begin.
Dancers from all over the country, and even some from abroad who came for the reputation, had all arrived these past two days.
The crew had counted the list and numbers, and made special arrangements for a handful of famous dancers.
It was understood by those in the know.
After all, this was a variety show, not a major professional competition. To make the program richer, some behind-the-scenes arrangements were necessary.
Some were specially invited to compete, others were just for entertainment.
The audition venue.
The production team had booked the sports stadium in the capital city.
They’d set up partitioned areas in advance.
Almost a dozen camera crews were ready to follow different groups.
Now, dancers were gathering inside.
“Are all the Five Plus Five from the capital here?”
“Isn’t that Han Liang? Used to be with the Galaxy Caster dance troupe, won several locking championships in domestic KOD competitions, but I think he switched styles.”
“Japan’s ‘Wind God Legs’, Kate-san.”
“Damn, so many masters this season?”
“Yeah, that’s why people online are complaining. So many professionals, but the mentor lineup is a mess, and someone who can’t even dance slipped in.”
“Embarrassment might just go international this time. Really speechless.”
“Su Mu, right…”