Eight o'clock in the evening.
Chen Nan followed Xu Qingxin and Liang Yun to the hotel's western restaurant.
They arrived at their reserved table.
Close to the floor-to-ceiling windows, it offered a panoramic view of the dreamy Los Angeles nightscape.
After waiting for about ten minutes.
John Steven, accompanied by a young man in his mid-twenties, walked over.
John Steven appeared to be in his early forties.
Dressed in a suit and tie, his every move exuded an air of superiority.
The young man beside him wore a white suit and a costly wristwatch, immediately indicating he was no ordinary person.
Xu Qingxin stood up and smiled, greeting John Steven.
She had previously been a top-tier celebrity in Great Xia, and had met John Steven during overseas events. This meeting felt natural.
There was no excessive formality.
"If I recall correctly, our last meeting was at the Berlin Film Festival three years ago?"
John Steven exclaimed, "I never imagined that after three years, Ms. Xu remains as graceful and captivating as ever. Time has left no trace on your face."
Xu Qingxin replied politely, "Mr. Steven, you are too kind!"
John Steven gestured to the young man beside him and explained, "Ms. Xu, this is Occam Olvis, the boss's son. He's quite the fan of yours."
Xu Qingxin greeted him, "Good evening, Mr. Olvis."
The Occam family were major players in Hollywood.
They controlled over a dozen film and television companies.
And were titans of the Western film industry.
Occam Olvis said, "It is my honor to share dinner with Ms. Xu today."
"Please, have a seat!" Xu Qingxin gestured invitingly.
Chen Nan had followed them.
However, he chose a seat next to Xu Qingxin.
It wasn't due to social anxiety.
He simply preferred not to dine with people he didn't know.
Being by Xu Qingxin's side was enough for him.
After the four were seated.
John Steven got straight to the point: "I've reviewed the contract drafted by your company's Ms. Liang. Hollywood welcomes Eastern-themed films.
"However, the profit-sharing ratio your company is offering is too low."
Xu Qingxin said, "Mr. Steven, the production costs of Eastern Xianxia films are no less than those of Western sci-fi movies. The expenses for special effects and promotion are both astronomically high.
"Given this, our company taking forty percent and your company taking sixty percent already shows considerable sincerity."
John Steven replied, "I've seen some impressive Eastern Xianxia blockbusters online, and they are indeed good. However, Ms. Xu, do you know why Eastern-themed films haven't entered Hollywood?"
Xu Qingxin asked, "Is the Western world resisting the cultural invasion from the East?"
John Steven looked slightly embarrassed. "They say familiarity breeds comfort. We are friends now, so there's no harm in speaking frankly."
"You are right. The Western world has always feared cultural invasion from the East."
"It's not so much cultural invasion as it is a clash of beliefs."
"This is clearly evident in the differences between Eastern and Western films."
"Hollywood released a post-apocalyptic film called 'The Day After Tomorrow' some years ago."
"The core message of the film was simple: the world was ending, and the Western world built an ark to save humanity."
"However, to board the ark, one needed to purchase a ticket."
"And that ticket was only affordable for the truly wealthy, requiring them to liquidate all their assets."
"Ordinary people could only watch the apocalypse unfold, helpless."
He took a sip of water and continued, "Films from your Eastern world are different."
"Your country also produced a critically acclaimed sci-fi film about the apocalypse, called 'The Wandering Earth'."
"Both are post-apocalyptic themes, yet you chose to wander the Earth with it, rather than abandon a single ordinary person."
"This difference highlights the disparity in beliefs between people in the East and the West."
"In your culture, 'When the nation is in trouble, every man is responsible'."
"Whereas in the West, the emphasis is on individual heroism."
"This is the primary reason why Eastern-themed films have struggled to enter Hollywood. While a few have made it in previously, they all underwent post-production by Hollywood film companies."
"Now, your company's production aims to be released in Hollywood and seeks a fifty percent profit share. I don't have the authority to make that decision on my own."
Xu Qingxin asked, "What are your company's conditions?"
John Steven stated, "Seven for me, three for you."
Xu Qingxin shook her head. "I came with sincerity to cooperate with your company, but with this profit-sharing ratio, we won't make much money."
John Steven smiled. "Ms. Xu, Hollywood has never signed a long-term cooperation agreement with any Eastern film company. While a thirty percent share isn't much,"
"We can develop a long-term relationship in the future."
"This isn't a loss for you."
Xu Qingxin's heart leaped with joy.
Her internal negotiation point had been a two-eight split.
After all, simply gaining entry into Hollywood, even at a loss, would bring recognition.
Who would have thought.
A three-seven split.
And the possibility of a long-term cooperative relationship.
This meant that films produced domestically in the future could be released in Hollywood.
It was like a windfall!
However.
She didn't believe he was being so generous.
"May I ask, Mr. Steven, do you have any other conditions?" Xu Qingxin inquired.
John Steven smiled. "I enjoy dealing with intelligent people like you, Ms. Xu. We do have a small condition."
Xu Qingxin replied, "Please, go ahead."
John Steven glanced at Occam Olvis beside him and said, "Olvis is a devoted fan of yours. His greatest dream is to collaborate with you on a film."
Xu Qingxin stated, "I regret to say I have retired from acting."
John Steven smiled. "Who says retirement means you can't appear in a film? If I'm not mistaken, your phone must have many videos of beautiful moments captured on it, correct?"
Xu Qingxin did not deny this.
Her phone contained many videos of her and Chen Nan together.
John Steven continued, "Olvis wishes to film a private production with you. As long as Ms. Xu agrees, we can sign a long-term cooperation contract." He gave her a knowing smile.
Xu Qingxin stood up indignantly and splashed the red wine in her glass onto John Steven's face, exclaiming, "Mr. John Steven, do you truly believe a contract can make me engage in such a sordid act?"
"I would rather not enter Hollywood than do such a thing."
To put it nicely, it was a private production.
To put it bluntly, it was a proposition for escort services.
The difference being.
The entire process would be recorded.
Occam Olvis said with arrogance, "Ms. Xu, do you know how many people in the Western entertainment industry want to film with me?"
Chen Nan walked over with a blank expression. "If you want to film, why don't you go find your mother?"