Chapter 21
After returning to the company, Shen Qianzhan first consulted the legal department about the contract.
Thousand Lights had always been highly efficient, especially around mealtime. The legal officer, eager to grab a bite, provided feedback in less than half an hour: "The client's demands are reasonable. There are three points of contention in this contract. First, regarding the clause we proposed about not involving personal emotions, it's actually not very standard."
The legal officer was a young man. As he gave his feedback, his eyes lingered on Shen Qianzhan’s face—a face whose features perfectly aligned with male aesthetic preferences—and he nodded understandingly: "But I think if the other party has no objections, it’s harmless."
"Second is the issue of remuneration, which can be discussed together with the third point of contention." The legal officer pointed to the contract clause he had circled in red: "Qiao Xin told me this client is quite special, a technically skilled investor. They don’t want remuneration but instead opt for priority control rights. For us, this is a trap clause."
Shen Qianzhan also felt that the clause added by Ji Qinghe’s side had an indescribable sense of strangeness. The wording of the clause seemed similar to the meaning of priority cooperation rights, but upon closer inspection, it didn’t quite feel the same.
Seeing her understanding, the legal officer glanced at his watch and sped up his speech by twofold: "This contract needs to be reviewed alongside the investor’s investment terms. I have a vague feeling that this investor is wealthy and influential, with possessiveness and control desires far beyond the ordinary. He might want to cover all the costs of the entire project, turning the concept of a joint production between us and him into an exclusive investment. You would then become the producer hired by the client, employed by them."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qianzhan clicked her tongue, silently cursing Ji Qinghe’s cunning.
This was one of the conventional cooperation methods between film companies and investors: the investor funds the film company, and the producer, affiliated with the film company, is hired to develop projects, constituting a joint production.
Shen Qianzhan’s cooperation with Jiang Yecheng fell into this category. Shen Qianzhan provided the creative content, while Jiang Yecheng authorized official resources and post-production promotional channels, holding a certain degree of say. Their relationship with Thousand Lights was one of joint production.
Before Jiang Yecheng introduced Shen Qianzhan to Ji Qinghe, Shen Qianzhan’s original plan was for Thousand Lights to fund the project development phase. Once the script was ready, she would seek investment. Most of the investors she sought would be film companies with substantial capital in the industry, collaborating to develop the project and share risks.
If Thousand Lights Entertainment had been strong enough, Shen Qianzhan wouldn’t have even considered sharing the pie with others.
Unfortunately, Thousand Lights lacked sufficient funds and couldn’t bear all the costs of a major tribute drama from development and filming to post-production promotion.
As for what Ji Qinghe had in mind, simply put—he only provided money, not effort, opting for exclusive investment, reaping the benefits by just talking.
His calculations were precise and meticulous, though it was unclear where his confidence came from.
And he called her an ambitious schemer? Truly shameless, standing at the top of the pyramid, oblivious to the hardships of the world, this capital daddy.
Seeing her fluctuating expression, the legal officer feared this ancestor might suddenly decide to drag him along for on-site negotiations. Rubbing his hands together, he tentatively asked: "Sister Zhan, can I go eat now?"
"Go, go, go, go, go." Shen Qianzhan waved impatiently and turned to head to Su Lanyi’s office on the top floor.
This sister usually didn’t eat, only drinking dew. She should still be there to catch.
—
After an hour of confidential talks, Shen Qianzhan returned to her office, packed the necessary documents, and took Qiao Xin to Time Hall.
Familiarity breeds ease. By her fourth visit, Shen Qianzhan was so confident she didn’t even turn on the navigation, speeding all the way to Beijing’s Second Ring Road, pushing the speed limit.
Meng Wangzhou was waiting for her at the shop entrance.
After Shen Qianzhan casually complained last time about the difficulty of parking at Time Hall, Meng Wangzhou had proactively helped her park every time she visited.
How could someone so warm, sincere, and considerate be cousins with that cunning, deceitful, and scheming man Ji Qinghe?
The world was truly baffling.
Shen Qianzhan spent three minutes exchanging pleasantries with Meng Wangzhou. The first minute was spent inquiring about Time Hall’s recent business, while the next two were entirely devoted to probing whether Ji Qinghe was in a good mood and more approachable today.
Meng Wangzhou, who had been so idle he was practically growing moss, was more than willing to chat with Shen Qianzhan, even if it was about Ji Qinghe. He rambled on, stretching the conversation to five minutes before summarizing: "Ji Qinghe’s mood doesn’t really follow any pattern. It’s just that every time you come, he seems to be in a good mood."
Shen Qianzhan felt something odd about that statement.
Ji Qinghe was described by Meng Wangzhou like a prisoner shedding tears behind bars, so did that make her a visitor?
Amused by this bizarre thought, her steps lightened considerably.
When they reached the backyard, Ji Qinghe was sitting in the Clock Collectors Association’s activity room, brewing tea.
Ming Jue sat stiffly on the left, as if waiting for the two of them to arrive.
Shen Qianzhan stepped over the threshold and first glanced at Ji Qinghe.
Unlike the impeccably dressed, dignified Mr. Ji she had seen in the morning, the Ji Qinghe sitting at the long table wore only a thin dark gray sweater, his sleeves rolled up to reveal his distinct, well-defined wrists.
On his wrist was a platinum-colored watch, accentuating the even lines of his bones and the highly appreciable shape of his wrist.
Huh?
This drama focused on clock restoration and manufacturing, so there would likely be many slow-motion shots of hand details. If Ji Qinghe’s hands were chopped off to serve as hand doubles and edited into the promotional trailer...
Tsk!
Who knew how many girls would cry and clamor to place those hands on their chests.
Her mind was filled with indecent thoughts, but on the surface, she remained utterly proper, a true gentleman, sitting down with Qiao Xin in seats near the door.
As soon as Shen Qianzhan sat down, Ji Qinghe looked up, giving her a faint glance: "This humble room is rather simple. Please bear with it, Producer Shen."
Shen Qianzhan glanced around the "humble room," feeling a lingering fear: "A courtyard house in the Second Ring Road, and you call it humble? Qiao Xin." She turned, lightly tapping the long table with her fingers: "Hurry up and revise the electronic version of the contract. That investment amount is practically an insult to Mr. Ji’s worth."
Suddenly called out, Qiao Xin was struck by the word "worth," triggering a memory switch. Her mind was flooded with the lingering echo from last night: "It’s a pity he’s too precious. Who can afford someone studded with diamonds?"
She discreetly pressed her cool hand against her cheek, wisely staying silent.
Due to Su Zan’s betrayal and defection this morning, she had been holding her breath around Shen Qianzhan. Even though she tried her best to appear uninvolved, Sister Zhan still found fault with her everywhere, picking on her all noon.
Finally, when reporting work, Shen Qianzhan rested her chin in her hand, staring at her affectionately without blinking, her voice lowered darkly, a smoky tone asking: "You heard all the nonsense I said last night, didn’t you? Hmm? Little Xinxin."
And so, she had been holding her breath all the way to Time Hall, where she met the male lead from Shen Qianzhan’s spring dream.
Qiao Xin forcibly restrained herself from probing where exactly Mr. Ji was studded with diamonds. She pulled out her laptop, booted it up, and began typing the meeting minutes as quietly as a chicken.
—
Regarding the employment contract for the special consultant, Shen Qianzhan, following the script she had prepared beforehand, directly addressed the key issue.
She didn’t say that Thousand Lights’ legal department considered this clause an appendage to the investment contract, a trap set by the client. Instead, she tactfully stated that the wording for priority cooperation rights wasn’t rigorous enough. She then pushed the revised clause, which she had obtained from the legal department after leaving Su Lanyi’s office, circled in red, toward Ji Qinghe.
Shen Qianzhan had just exchanged a couple of rounds with Ming Jue. This assistant seemed quiet and spoke little, almost unnoticeable when standing behind Ji Qinghe. But when it came to company business, his eyes were exactly like Ji Qinghe’s when he stared someone down—only the words "devour whole" came to mind.
She suddenly felt at a disadvantage. She should have brought along those sharp-tongued girls from the legal department.
The person in question leisurely continued brewing tea. Seeing her pursed lips looking over, he even had the leisure to ask what kind of tea she preferred: "After you visited a few times, Meng Wangzhou specifically bought some flower tea. Do you girls prefer rose, hibiscus, or...?"
Shen Qianzhan replied: "White lotus."
Ji Qinghe paused, giving her a meaningful look, still speaking unhurriedly: "Negotiating business is a process where both sides strive to maximize benefits. To remain calm, it depends on who finds the balance point first."
He scooped some rose petals from the tea canister with a tea spoon, leisurely advising her: "Taking out anger and unnecessary negative emotions is the least effective."
Shen Qianzhan decided not to beat around the bush any longer: "You want exclusive investment, covering all costs from project development and filming to promotion?"
Ji Qinghe countered: "Saving you the trouble of seeking investors after project development, isn’t that good? Hmm?"
For a producer to seek investor cooperation with only a creative concept was a significant test of the partner’s trust.
Backed by Thousand Lights, Shen Qianzhan had the company’s investment for the early project development phase, making it somewhat easier compared to independent producers. Plus, with the connections she had built over the years in the industry, attracting film companies for joint production wasn’t too difficult. But this was contrary to Ji Qinghe’s starting point. He had no interest in joint production; he wanted exclusivity.
Shen Qianzhan had a headache.
She had understood Ji Qinghe’s intention as soon as the legal officer pointed out the clause’s significance.
In the capital market, whoever provided the money was the boss. Ji Qinghe’s exclusive investment essentially meant monopoly, turning her into an emotionless working machine.
Perhaps her expression of despair was too obvious. Ming Jue glanced at Ji Qinghe and, seeing he didn’t stop him, reminded: "Producer Shen, I reminded Planner Qiao yesterday to draft the contract first. Perhaps my hint wasn’t clear enough. Our side trusts Producer Shen’s professional capabilities and, under the premise of not harming our interests, fully respects the producer’s intentions."
Shen Qianzhan blinked, instantly revived from the dead: "No intervention in specific project matters, just being a money-throwing investor daddy?"
Ming Jue glanced at Ji Qinghe again, noticing the faint, almost imperceptible smile at the corner of his eye. Sighing inwardly that if Mr. Ji were in ancient times, he’d have the potential to be a ruler who would light beacon fires for a beauty, he added: "It can’t be that optimistic. Producer Shen’s basic estimate for this project is three hundred million, right? Even if you exchanged three hundred million for cash to throw around for fun, it would take several days."
The implication was: For a three-hundred-million investment, doing nothing and asking no questions—Endless Year was in business, not running a charity to aid the poor.
By now, Shen Qianzhan saw Ji Qinghe almost as a daddy, her eyes and brows filled with sycophantic smiles: "Successful people truly are pillars of strength, yet they know how to employ talent wisely and deeply understand the art of delegation."
Ji Qinghe sipped his tea, teasing her: "Pillars of strength? Have you seen any?"
Shen Qianzhan smiled brightly, her risqué remarks coming effortlessly: "I haven’t seen others, but I’ve had the fortune to witness Mr. Ji’s grand strategies."
She was in an excellent mood now, viewing Ji Qinghe with unprecedented favor.
Ah, who wouldn’t like an investor daddy coming to deliver money!
Beside them, Qiao Xin, typing the meeting minutes, remained expressionless, her fingertips trembling: I suspect you’re driving, but I have no evidence.
Author’s Note: The contract terms mentioned in this chapter might not use the most standardized wording~
Did my best.
See you tomorrow~
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated with nutrient solution between 2020-02-22 18:04:20 and 2020-02-23 18:04:22~
Thank you to the little angels who cast rocket launchers: Super Love Bei’s Junjun, Ye Qianlan, Yue Banban—1 each;
Thank you to the little angels who cast grenades: Doudou in the Pocket—3; Mu Hanhan’s Little Shadow Mio, The Guy Named Time, Wei Yi hhh, 31768895—1 each;
Thank you to the little angels who cast landmines: Nian Ji—7; Cha Yue—7; Qiao Yi Qiao Qiao Qiao Ah Qiao—4; Yue Banban—3; Zi He Shen Tu, ?Timid Clumsy Bear, Pig Spirit Girl, Hidden Skilled Player—2 each; Emotion, Ba Dou Fan Club President, Starry-eyed Meng Sansui, Xi Xia, Bei Rong Qingyan, Luka_Home, 41502443, Zhang Zhang Zhang Zhang Ping, 2b Gege, Fairy Pig Filling Meat Bun, Favorite Bei Qing’s Jing Bai, Cherub0120, Bei Qinqin’s Nongfu Spring Quan, Wang Wang Lift the Quilt!, Wan Yang Chen, Clouds in Green Mountains, Moon in Sky, Yu Sheng, 21 San, Su Xin Tang, Love Drinking Soda’s Miao, Aa Ma, Picking Stars’ Little Ragpicker, Big Bean Love Little Bean, Wei Yi hhh, Ah Gun Gun, Rain~Mo, Sky and Flying Birds, Orezero, Owl, 25363616, Zhang Yixing’s Wife, Lion King Xiu Xiu 007, Zhong Xiao Yao, Qing, Li Gua, Rock Barbie, 42225421, Change Qian, Hu Bei Yi, Little Bunny Be Good, Bei Za’s Little Angel An Sheng!, Want to Meet You Ah·, Where to Attract Dust—1 each;
Thank you to the little angels who irrigated with nutrient solution: Duan Shui Girl—112; Ba Ba I Was Wrong, Love Eating Meat’s Little Meat—30; Vivi—26; 31828638, Qing Qing Zi Jin, Rabbit Loves Carrots—20; Chen Chen, Qin Qi Qi, V, Sunflower, Pa Ji, Stars?, Mouthless’s Miao Wu, Miao Miao, Ye Yu Sheng Fan, Xi Dong, Jia Bao, Sakura, Gloriaaaaaa—10; A Lu—9; 22558168—8; 27284820, Q, Wan Zi, Sua Su, En Heng Kylin, Little Monster, Gu Lin’s Qing Jiu, Qian Qing, San Dan—5; Jia Ruo Yi, Mu Cheng, One Sheep, Xback, Chu Jian, Zhu, Mint, Coral—3; Chen Hao, Sha La La, Meg Nini, Xing Qi Yue, Betty, Okyoyocoo, Little Flower, 1234567—2; If Only Today Were a Holiday～, Su Yi, Dd Ma Ma, Dywj, Daisy?, Chang An, 22605672, Park Jimin’s Little Fairy, Six Yuan’s Wife, Maybe., Amelie, Yu Huan, Xi Xin Bu Guo Q, Liang Gua, Wan, 2333, Li Guan, Happy Xuan Xuan, Pass Pass! Come Back Pick Stars for You, Chu Wu Yan—1 each;
Thank you all very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
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