"Zero Degree Pictures, have you investigated this company's background?"
"I had someone look into it. The domestic partner seems to be Yang Yue, the legal representative of an engineering company called Mutou Construction, reportedly based in Guangcheng. The foreign investment partner is a company called Lingyuan Trading, based in Great Britain, with Tony David as its legal representative."
After learning that Hank had been taken in by Zero Degree Pictures, Jin Qiqi immediately used her connections in the industry to inquire. However, the information she gathered was only what was publicly available.
Gao Fei shook his head and chuckled, "Do you think these two company representatives alone could invite Hank?"
"Definitely not. Hank is eccentric, but he doesn't meet just anyone. It's obvious to anyone with eyes that Yang Yue and Tony are just figureheads."
As a top agent in the industry, Jin Qiqi was sensitive to the operations of film and television companies. It was evident to anyone that two companies with no overlapping business investing in the film industry were merely puppets in the public eye. Only the true owner behind Zero Degree Pictures could have invited Hank.
"Sister Jin, who do you think is the actual controller of Zero Degree Pictures? And why are they hiding so deeply?" Gao Fei mused, stroking his chin, his mind sifting through various domestic film and music companies, trying to identify a prominent figure in the industry. His hacking skills were undoubtedly top-notch, but facing Zero Degree Pictures, which deliberately operated with figureheads and wished to remain unseen, even if he hacked into their company's systems, it would be difficult to find the true identity of the person behind it. Anyone wishing to operate from the shadows would have surely made thorough preparations.
Jin Qiqi pondered for a moment, then frowned, "A boss who hides in the shadows and fears the light often either has an enemy among the big players in the industry or has suffered suppression from higher authorities. Otherwise, why set up two puppets on stage while remaining hidden themselves?"
"There's no need to dig too deep. No matter how deeply they hide, they will eventually show themselves." Gao Fei waved his hand, changing the topic away from Zero Degree Pictures' actual controller. "By the way, Sister Jin, has Hank sent any message about when he plans to meet me?"
"Since arriving in Longguo, his assistant hasn't contacted me again."
"If his assistant contacts you, just give Hank my phone number."
"Alright!"
...
In a private room at a clubhouse in the northern suburbs of Kyoto City, Hank was leaning back in the main seat on the sofa, resting his eyes. To his left sat his assistant, Lyons, who appeared to be in his thirties. To his right was his student, Kervell, who was around twenty years old. Around the three of them sat six scantily clad, beautiful young women, all around nineteen or twenty years old.
Perhaps due to the language barrier, or perhaps because Hank was too stern, the atmosphere in the room was somewhat subdued and awkward. The six hostesses, seated on the sofa, exchanged glances with each other, looking bored and drinking their wine in silence.
Student Kervell’s gaze swept over the bare legs beside him, and he swallowed hard, quickly diverting his eyes. He spoke in a foreign language, "Teacher, who exactly invited you? Why haven't we seen anyone for so long?"
At the same time, his assistant, Lyons, spoke up, "Sir, Zero Degree Pictures was only established three months ago and has no works or recognition in the Longguo industry. The companies that met us at the airport just now are among the top in the Longguo industry. Yet, why did you choose Zero Degree Pictures? Does this company have great potential?"
As his words fell, student Kervell also looked puzzled, waiting for his teacher's explanation.
"I accepted Zero Degree Pictures' invitation not because I value their strength, but because a certain high-ranking official from our country called me and asked me to meet with Zero Degree Pictures." Hank closed his eyes and snorted, a mocking smile on his face.
His assistant and student exchanged glances and fell silent. They were well aware that their teacher detested the high-ranking officials of Gallia interfering with him. For someone to specifically call today to instruct Hank on whom to meet, their teacher was likely seething with anger inwardly.
Hank took a deep breath, opened his eyes, and looked at his two students. "It's fine. You two go ahead and have fun. I, on the other hand, want to see who exactly owns Zero Degree Pictures that the Gallian upper echelons would call me." He wasn't rigid, and his assistant and student were young; there was no need for them to be as reserved as he was.
Upon receiving their teacher's nod, Lyons and Kervell began to interact with the hostesses beside them. Not long after, the two of them were having a lively time with the six young women. The suppressed and awkward atmosphere in the room dissipated amidst the laughter and chatter, despite the language barrier.
About half an hour later.
Hank glanced impatiently at his watch, which had been set to Longguo time, and a look of annoyance began to appear on his face. Noticing their teacher's changing demeanor, Lyons and Kervell also quieted their drinking.
Ten minutes later, there was finally movement outside the private room. *Clack!* The door to the room was pushed open. A man in a white suit, appearing to be around thirty years old, walked in, followed by two women dressed as secretaries.
"Welcome, Mr. Hank, to Longguo." The man strode to Hank, extended his hand, and said in fluent foreign language, "Hello, Mr. Hank, I am Joe Zheng, a director of Zero Degree Pictures."
Hank did not stand up, nor did he shake hands. He merely glanced at the slender Joe Zheng and nodded slightly. Joe Zheng, standing there, gave an awkward smile, showing no displeasure. He gestured to the six hostesses in the room and said in somewhat stiff Longguo, "You may leave for now. You can come back in after I've finished my business with our guest!" The six hostesses, who had been there for company, quickly gathered their bags and departed.
After they left, Joe Zheng sat down beside them, picked up a glass of foreign liquor, and said, "Mr. Hank, there was an urgent meeting at the company just now, which I had to attend. Please forgive any lack of hospitality. I offer this drink to apologize for my impolite behavior. My apologies!" With that, he downed the entire glass of pure liquor. After finishing the glass, he refilled it and continued, "Mr. Hank, there is a custom in Longguo. To atone for an offense, one must drink three rounds. This is the second round."
After consuming three consecutive glasses of pure liquor, the alcohol quickly dissipated in his body, and Joe Zheng's face turned visibly red. However, his method of atoning with alcohol did not move Hank at all. He remained with his face stern, leaning back on the sofa in the same posture as before he entered.
Lyons, as his assistant, understood his boss very well and spoke on his behalf, "Mr. Joe, it seems you've misunderstood. Our Mr. Hank is not upset by your lateness. He is very easygoing with everyone..."
Before his assistant could finish, Hank frowned slightly and directly interrupted, "Mr. Joe Zheng, I have been on a plane for over ten hours and need to rest immediately. Since your boss pulled strings to arrange this meeting with me, please get straight to the point. There's no need for the customs of Longguo's drinking culture; I don't require it."
Joe Zheng nodded with a fawning smile, took five script outlines from his secretary, and placed them one by one on the cleared marble table. "Mr. Hank, my boss sent me to meet you, and the purpose is certainly for film collaboration. I have five script outlines here, all meticulously selected by elite screenwriters in the industry. Please take a look. As long as you are satisfied with any one of these script outlines, Zero Degree Pictures has two hundred million in film investment funds, which you can arrange as you see fit."
Mentioning film, Hank's spirits immediately lifted. He straightened up from the sofa and began to examine the five script outlines on the table. Opening the first page, the content was not in Longguo characters but translated into foreign languages for Hank's convenience. His student, Kervell, picked up a copy and sat beside him to read it carefully.
After reading two pages of the outline, Hank's brow furrowed slightly, and the hopeful expression on his face gradually faded. Even Kervell, standing by his side, looked displeased with the outline he was reading.
Forty minutes later.
The five script outlines were tossed onto the table. Hank pointed to the first one he had read and said, "Joe Zheng, I have serious doubts about the skill of your company's elite screenwriters. This outline tells a love triangle story, the content is dull and lifeless, with no outstanding points, and such a theme is already outdated. The second outline is science fiction. I admit the person who wrote it has solid physics knowledge, but movies also need plot development. If they want to showcase their physics knowledge to the audience, they should just open a professional course. The third film outline is composed of three suspenseful stories. Each case is indeed very compelling. However, the plots are disjointed and lack coherence. This outline would be better suited for shooting three low-budget micro-films rather than one big movie. The fourth script outline is a supernatural theme. It's not outstanding, nor is it dull, and it does cater to some audiences who like ghosts and monsters. But the ending you provided, where it's all revealed to be the fantasy of a mental patient, will only lower the quality of the film. Such a poorly executed ending will only lower the quality of the film. As for the last script outline, Hank sneered with a cold smile, mockingly saying, "Among the five scripts, this one is indeed of high quality. No matter which angle you approach it from, it has great potential. However, isn't it utterly shameful that you plagiarized Mr. Gao Fei's movie 'Black and White Edge'? The entire story only changed the place names, the names of the male and female leads, and the supporting characters. The entire outline content is a direct copy of Mr. Gao Fei's movie. From now on, I have no expectations of your company, and there is no need to contact me again."
With that, Hank picked up his portable bag and, with a cold face, walked directly out of the private room. His assistant, Lyons, and his student, Kervell, followed him with equally stern expressions.
"Mr. Hank! If you're not satisfied, we can revise... Mr. Hank..." Joe Zheng hurriedly chased after them. He wanted to stop Hank, but he was blocked by Kervell and Lyons, unable to get close. It was only when they reached the clubhouse parking lot that Joe Zheng slowed his pace. He looked at the middle-aged man in front of him, who had a smiling face and an imposing aura, and dared not take another step forward.