Chapter 136 Saturday, January 22nd

Pei Qian was in a good mood last night, and he had a few drinks with Cui Geng at Mingfu Family Banquet, so he slept soundly.

He woke up naturally at 9:30 this morning.

After waking up, he glanced at his phone, where a memo read: Go to the Universal Sky Street to check on the shared phone booths.

Pei Qian strolled downstairs, planning to grab a breakfast at the steamed bun shop before heading over.

Just as the steamed buns were served, Pei Qian received a new message.

Huang Sibo: "Boss Pei, the rough cut of the film is out. Would you like to come and take a look?"

Hmm? Rough cut?

Director Zhu Xiaoce seemed to have mentioned this matter before at the wrap-up dinner at Ming Yun Private Kitchen.

The so-called rough cut is just a product of simple editing using the footage that was shot. The editing isn't very sophisticated, there are no special effects, and a lot of the content requires imagination.

However, it's still a finished product of sorts, and you can get a general idea of what it's going to be like.

Pei Qian considered it for a moment. This seemed more important. He could check the phone booths in the afternoon, so he replied: "Okay, I'll be over in a bit."

He was about to put away his phone when he suddenly realized something was wrong.

"It's Saturday today. Are you guys working overtime?"

Huang Sibo quickly replied: "Uh, Boss Pei, we got overtime pay."

Pei Qian's attitude was firm: "Just because you got overtime pay doesn't mean you can work overtime so confidently! Don't do it again. Try to avoid it in the future!"

Huang Sibo: "Okay, Boss Pei."

Feihuang Studio is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tengda, not a department of Tengda, so Pei Qian couldn't be too strict about overtime. He could only scold Huang Sibo a few times and let him fend for himself.

Although Pei Qian hadn't paid much attention to Feihuang Studio, since the rough cut was out, he definitely had to make a trip to reassure himself.

...

At the same time, Moyu Internet Cafe, Handong University branch.

Lin Chang ordered a hot coffee, warming his hands while drinking, still looking a bit travel-worn.

He had rushed over from the airport, and his butt wasn't even warm on the seat yet.

After arriving in Jingzhou, he immediately came to the Moyu Internet Cafe near Handong University, wanting to meet with Boss Pei and discuss the progress of the previous plan.

However, he was out of luck. He sent a message and found out that Boss Pei was already at Feihuang Studio, watching the newly rough-cut footage.

Watching the footage, plus travel time, would take nearly three hours.

Moreover, Boss Pei said that he had something he had been putting off for a long time to take care of in the afternoon, which might take another hour or so.

Lin Chang did some quick math and realized that he might not be able to see Boss Pei until three or four in the afternoon.

This was a bit awkward.

Lin Chang knew that Boss Pei was busy and expressed his full understanding, but he didn't plan to just wait around.

He decided to call Lin Wan out first and observe the progress.

Previously, Lin Chang and Boss Pei had secretly plotted to have Lin Wan be in charge of both Shang Yang Games' horror game project and the mobile phone business.

With so many things to do on both sides, the probability of Lin Wan's project failing would be greatly increased.

Originally, the two had even considered a backup plan.

To better undermine the mobile phone business, they considered waiting until the mobile phone came out, then having Lin Yu's Shenhua mobile phone department release a mobile phone with comparable features, slightly better quality, slightly lower price, and better marketing.

This direct head-to-head competition would eliminate any potential threats and ensure their success.

But halfway through the mobile phone's development, Boss Pei sent Lin Chang a message: this backup plan was no longer needed.

This phone was going to sell for 8000, and Shenhua's flagship phone already met the requirements of "slightly better quality, slightly lower price, and better marketing", so there was no need to make another targeted phone.

So, the backup plan was naturally abandoned.

Just as he was thinking about this, Lin Wan arrived.

She sat down opposite Lin Chang, ordered a coffee as well, and then frowned and asked: "Brother, why are you here again?"

Lin Chang's mouth twitched: "What do you mean 'again'? Can't I come see my own sister?"

Lin Wan looked disbelieving: "I always feel like you've been running around a lot lately. Do you have some ulterior motive?"

"How could I! I just simply like the livable environment of Jingzhou!" Lin Chang smiled rather unconvincingly. "Besides, I have to come and see you often, right? How's work been going lately?"

Lin Wan swirled her coffee cup: "It's alright, so-so."

Seeing Lin Wan's lackluster appearance, Lin Chang couldn't help but feel secretly delighted.

Looks like it's working!

If these two projects were progressing well, with Lin Wan's personality, she would definitely be showing off to him by now.

Since Lin Wan wasn't showing off, it meant that neither of the current projects were making much progress!

Although he was happy inside, he couldn't show it on his face.

Lin Chang looked concerned: "What's wrong? Are you encountering any difficulties? Is there anything I can help you with? Just tell me!"

Lin Wan glanced at him: "Give me a break. One of my current projects is a horror game, and the other is a mobile phone. What can you help me with?"

"The current state of these two projects can only be described as so-so. Although there's been some progress, I'm still not confident."

"The horror game project has a solid framework, but there are still many small details that need to be modified. And even if these small details are modified, it's hard to be sure whether players will accept this new type of horror game. So, I'm a little worried."

"Fortunately, a very talented art director has been helping us adjust the game's art style and enrich the game's details. Recently, it finally looks like something."

"As for the mobile phone... sigh, to be honest, I really can't manage it."

"I'm already overwhelmed with just the horror game, so I basically haven't touched the mobile phone side. Last time I went, the people there gave me a sample machine that was as heavy as a brick. I felt like there was a big problem at the time, but the sample machine was already made, and I hadn't been involved in the mobile phone's development, so there was no way I could ask them to scrap it and start over."

"I can only wait until the mobile phone is made and ask for some benefits from other departments of Tengda, which can be considered a contribution."

"But even so, I think this mobile phone is probably doomed."

Lin Wan and Lin Chang had always had a good relationship, so she didn't think too much about it during this meeting and revealed her recent confusion and troubles.

Lin Chang looked worried and furrowed his brow, pretending to be very concerned for Lin Wan, but inside he was overjoyed.

"Not bad, Boss Pei. This plan is indeed flawless!"

"A Wan hasn't noticed anything yet."

"If we continue to maintain the current situation, when the horror game and the mobile phone both flop, the blow to A Wan will definitely be significant!"

Thinking of this, Lin Chang couldn't help but get a little carried away and said softly: "Looks like I really need to think of a way to thank Boss Pei properly."

Lin Wan frowned: "Huh? What did you say? Why thank Boss Pei?"

Lin Chang was shocked. You heard me even though I was mumbling so quietly?

Seeing that Lin Wan's eyes contained a hint of suspicion, Lin Chang quickly said: "I mean, Boss Pei trusts you so much and entrusts you with important tasks, of course I, as your brother, have to find an opportunity to thank Boss Pei properly!"

Lin Wan's expression softened slightly: "That's true."

Lin Chang thought for a moment: "But Boss Pei doesn't seem to lack anything."

"Should I ask Second Brother to give him another rent reduction?"

"Or should I go and patronize Moyu Internet Cafe more often?"

Lin Wan shook her head: "It doesn't feel very sincere. Boss Pei doesn't care about such small amounts of money."

Lin Chang deeply agreed: "Yeah, that's right. These small favors are not enough to repay Boss Pei's sincerity. Then... does Boss Pei have anything he urgently needs? Preferably something I can help with."

Lin Wan frowned and thought for two minutes.

"Got it!"

"You know that Feihuang Studio is currently preparing to shoot a movie, and filming has already wrapped up, right?"

Lin Chang thought about it. Boss Pei had indeed said before that he was going to see the rough cut, so he nodded.

Lin Wan continued: "This movie is Boss Pei's idea, including the entire story outline. It's all written by Boss Pei, so it's clear that he attaches great importance to this movie, because it's the culmination of his hard work."

Lin Chang was a little puzzled: "So? If you had told me earlier, I could have helped find a good director and a few actor-level actors, but isn't filming already wrapped up?"

He paused for a moment and then realized: "Oh, I see! You want me to help contact distributors and theater chains?"

Lin Wan nodded: "Yes, it's very simple for you, but it's something Boss Pei urgently needs."

Even good wine is afraid of being hidden in a deep alley. (Good products need marketing to be successful.)

Lin Chang thought about it. That was indeed the case.

Although Boss Pei's Tengda Group was large and powerful, this was the first time that Feihuang Studio had officially entered the film industry, so it probably didn't have similar resources and connections.

But Lin Chang was different. He was responsible for Shenhua Group's entertainment and film and television media business, and he had a lot of resources in his hands.

"Okay, it's a piece of cake!"

"I'll tell Boss Pei right away!" Lin Chang was very happy, feeling that this gift should be quite sincere.

Lin Wan waved her hand: "Uh... I don't think it's necessary to tell Boss Pei."

"Boss Pei is busy with official duties these days. It seems inappropriate to bother him with such a small matter. Besides, what's the point of giving a gift if you notify the person in advance? They'll definitely decline."

"I'll just give you the phone number of the person in charge of Feihuang Studio. You can contact them."

"Wouldn't it be better to give Boss Pei a surprise when the movie is released?"

Lin Chang thought about it. That seemed right.

Boss Pei had at least three places to go today, and he had a piece of work he had been putting off for a long time to take care of, so his schedule must be very full.

Thinking about it this way, things like finding a distributor and talking to theater chains about screenings must be handled by someone at Feihuang Studio. Boss Pei couldn't possibly have to do everything himself, right?

In that case, it would be better to talk to the people at Feihuang Studio directly and handle this matter properly, so that Boss Pei would get a surprise when he went to the premiere. Wouldn't that be even better?

Thinking of this, Lin Chang nodded: "Okay, then give me the contact information of the person in charge of Feihuang Studio. I'll talk to him."