noveldepot Chapter 132 The Defected Director and the Deadly Bait
Chapter 132 The Defected Director and the Deadly Bait
The red ink dried on the photographic paper.
Chen Yan threw the marker into the drawer.
The plastic casing struck the base plate, making a sound.
Conference room on the third floor of Yanying Culture.
Zhao Ming pushed a bank draft to the middle of the table.
The paper slid across the solid wood table and came to a stop in front of Su Wan.
"Three hundred thousand yuan in breach of contract penalty."
Zhao Ming said.
Su Wan grabbed the draft.
She crumpled the paper into a ball.
The crumpled paper hit Zhao Ming in the chest and bounced onto the carpet.
"Take the script of 'The Mist' with you."
Su Wan said.
"You have violated the non-compete agreement."
Su Wan added.
"The script copyright is in my name."
Zhao Ming said.
"I've checked the contract law. Yanying only has the right of first refusal."
Zhao Ming said.
"I paid the penalty for breach of contract. The cooperation is terminated."
Zhao Ming said.
Zhao Ming stood up.
He straightened the hem of his suit jacket.
"President Gu invested 30 million."
Zhao Ming said.
"He gave me the right to be credited independently. Yan Ying couldn't offer that."
Zhao Ming said.
Zhao Ming turned and walked towards the conference room door.
The door hinge rotates.
He walked into the corridor.
Su Wan picked up the glass of water on the table.
The water glass smashed against the door.
Glass shards were scattered on the carpet.
The water stains spread.
Where are the people from the Ministry of Justice?
Su Wan shouted.
"Sue him."
Su Wan said.
Several employees in the corridor stopped in their tracks.
They looked into the conference room.
Su Wan walked over.
She closed the meeting room door.
The door lock clicked.
The slats of the venetian blinds are closed.
The light dimmed.
Su Wan turned around.
She walked to Chen Yan's side.
Pull out a chair and sit down.
She took a stack of newspapers out of her briefcase.
The newspaper is on the table.
Chen Yan picked up the top copy of "Southwest Weekend".
The date was printed in the masthead.
October 15th.
There is a column in the bottom right corner of the page.
The title was printed in four bold characters.
Liangshan Diary.
The signature is Lin Qingqiu.
"Zhao Ming took the fourth draft."
Chen Yan said.
"The core trick was finalized in the third draft."
Su Wan said.
"He took all the cards."
Su Wan said.
Chen Yan opened the newspaper.
The paper made a rubbing sound.
"Lin Qingqiu is filming in Liangshan."
Chen Yan said.
"I had her rewrite the core plot of 'The Mist' into a diary. It was serialized for half a month."
Chen Yan said.
"Publications in newspapers and periodicals have priority copyright protection."
Su Wan said.
"Zhao Ming's script will be registered in early November."
Su Wan said.
Chen Yan put down the newspaper.
"Gu Changchuan spent 30 million to buy an infringing product."
Chen Yan said.
The penthouse suite at Haihe Hotel.
Gu Changchuan sat on the leather sofa.
He was holding a copy of the "Beijing Entertainment News".
The headline on the front page was printed in large letters.
Yanying Culture is experiencing a major personnel upheaval, with a promising director leaving with his script.
Li Dong stood beside the coffee table.
He poured Gu Changchuan a cup of tea.
"Zhao Ming has already signed the contract."
Li Dong said.
"Thirty million yuan was deposited into Jinghai Film and Television's corporate account."
Li Dong said.
"The project application will be submitted to the General Administration tomorrow."
Li Dong said.
Gu Changchuan put down the newspaper.
Pick up the teacup.
"Chen Yan has no bargaining chips."
Gu Changchuan said.
"He's out of options. There are no new films in theaters. His funding has dried up."
Gu Changchuan said.
"He can't even retain a single new employee."
Gu Changchuan said.
"The shareholders' meeting of Jinghai Film & Television is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon."
Li Dong said.
"The stock price will rise as soon as the 'Mist' project is announced."
Li Dong said.
"Zhang Haifeng will transfer those 45% of the shares to you."
Li Dong said.
Gu Changchuan took a sip of tea.
Adam's apple bobbed.
What time is the press conference scheduled?
Gu Changchuan asked.
"Tomorrow morning at 10:00."
Li Dong replied.
China World Hotel.
Li Dong added.
"Make a big splash."
Gu Changchuan said.
"I want the whole industry to see clearly who sets the rules."
Gu Changchuan said.
The following morning.
China World Hotel Banquet Hall.
The flash illuminates the backdrop.
The backdrop reads "The Mist Launch Press Conference".
Gu Changchuan stood in front of the microphone.
Zhao Ming stood to his right.
Dozens of reporters were sitting in the audience.
The camera lens was pointed at the podium.
"Jinghai Film & Television will invest 30 million yuan."
Gu Changchuan said.
"To create the first suspense blockbuster in China."
Gu Changchuan said.
Zhao Ming took the microphone.
He adjusted the height of the support frame.
"The Mist is the culmination of three years of hard work and planning."
Zhao Ming said.
"Thank you, Mr. Gu, for giving me this opportunity."
Zhao Ming said.
The sound of camera shutters clicking was continuous.
A reporter in the front row raised a recording pen.
"Director Zhao, there are rumors that you left Yanying Film Studio because Director Chen Yan severely exploited newcomers."
reporter asked.
"Is this true?"
reporter asked.
Zhao Ming straightened the microphone.
"Director Chen is an excellent photographer."
Zhao Ming said.
"But he was too autocratic in scriptwriting."
Zhao Ming said.
"He tried to modify the core structure of The Mist. I need to protect my work."
Zhao Ming said.
"President Gu gave me complete creative freedom."
Zhao Ming said.
Gu Changchuan took the microphone.
"Jinghai Film & Television welcomes all talented young people."
Gu Changchuan said.
"We provide the best platform and funding. We don't operate under a one-man rule."
Gu Changchuan said.
The western part of the capital city.
A traditional courtyard house.
A black Audi was parked at the entrance of the alley.
Chen Yan pushed open the car door and got out.
Su Wan followed behind him.
She was carrying a black briefcase.
The two walked to the vermilion wooden door.
Chen Yan raised his hand.
Knock on the door knocker.
The metal struck the wooden board, making a sound.
The wooden door opened from the inside.
A middle-aged man in a gray long gown stood behind the threshold.
"Director Chen."
The man said.
"Mr. Zhou is waiting for you in the tea room."
The man said.
Chen Yan stepped over the threshold.
He walked along the bluestone path.
The door to the tea room was open.
An elderly man with a full head of white hair sat in a wicker chair.
A set of purple clay teaware is placed in front of me.
Steam rises from the spout of the kettle.
The elderly man is the second largest shareholder of Jinghai Film & Television.
Zhou Jianming.
He holds 30 percent of the shares.
Chen Yan walked to the tea table.
He sat down opposite Zhou Jianming.
Su Wan took a document out of her briefcase.
The document was placed on the tea table.
The cover of the document is printed with "Letter of Intent for Equity Acquisition".
Zhou Jianming picked up the purple clay teapot.
He poured tea into the teacup in front of Chen Yan.
The tea has an amber color.
"Gu Changchuan at the press conference of the State Council Information Office."
Zhou Jianming said.
"He wants to use 'The Mist' as a pledge of allegiance."
Zhou Jianming said.
"Zhang Haifeng has already agreed to sell the shares to him."
Zhou Jianming said.
Chen Yan picked up his teacup.
He blew on the tea leaves on the surface of the water to disperse them.
"The Mist will not be approved as a project."
Chen Yan said.
Zhou Jianming stopped what he was doing.
He looked at Chen Yan.
"Script copyright infringement."
Chen Yan said.
Su Wan took out the stack of clippings from Southwest Weekly.
The clipping was pushed in front of Zhou Jianming.
"The 30 million that Gu Changchuan invested."
Chen Yan took a sip of tea.
"It will all become court damages."
Chen Yan said.
Zhou Jianming picked up the newspaper clipping.
His gaze moved across the paper.
"Jinghai Film & Television's stock price will fall below its issue price."
Chen Yan put down his teacup.
"Zhang Haifeng's shares will become worthless."
Chen Yan said.
Chen Yan pointed to the letter of intent on the table.
I'll offer 20% of the market price.
Chen Yan said.
"I'll buy your 30% stake."
Chen Yan said.
Zhou Jianming put down the newspaper clipping.
He picked up his teacup.
"Zhang Haifeng offered 1.5 times the price."
Zhou Jianming said.
"He promised to help me pay off my bank loan."
Zhou Jianming said.
"Director Chen, you're offering a 20% discount. I have no reason to sell to you."
Zhou Jianming said.
Chen Yan took out a second document.
The file was pushed across the desktop.
"This is the court's application for property preservation."
Chen Yan said.
"Tomorrow at 2 PM, the Chaoyang District Court will freeze all of Jinghai Film & Television's corporate accounts."
Chen Yan said.
Zhou Jianming opened the application form.
The paper made a soft rustling sound.
"Zhao Ming signed a dual contract."
Chen Yan said.
"He took money from Jinghai Film and Television without paying taxes."
Chen Yan said.
"The complaint letter to the tax bureau has already been sent out."
Chen Yan said.
Zhou Jianming closed the document.
He pushed the document back in front of Chen Yan.
"You flipped the table."
Zhou Jianming said.
"I only take what I'm entitled to."
Chen Yan said.
"Sign this agreement. Yan Ying will pay off your bank loan."
Chen Yan said.
"I won't sign. By tomorrow afternoon, your shares will be worthless."
Chen Yan said.
Zhou Jianming looked at Chen Yan.
The only sound in the tea room was the boiling water.
He picked up the pen on the table.
Remove the pen cap.
The pen tip landed on the signature section of the letter of intent.
China World Hotel Banquet Hall.
The waiter pushed the champagne tower to the front of the table.
Gu Changchuan picked up a bottle of champagne.
He pulled out the cork.
White foam overflowed from the bottle opening.
The wine is poured into the top glass.
Zhao Ming stood aside and clapped.
Reporters in the audience pressed the shutter.
Gu Changchuan raised his champagne glass.
The red wine swirls in the glass.
Zhao Ming raised his glass.
The two cups collided.
The flash went off.
The white light engulfed Gu Changchuan's face.