After much back and forth, Manager Guan and Director Fan reached an agreement.
Manager Guan’s company calculated the production budget for “Crown of Thorns” at 30 million yuan. Hunan TV would chip in a symbolic 5 million, with the remaining 25 million coming from Manager Guan himself.
As for how much copyright fee the TV station would pay after the series was produced, Director Fan offered Manager Guan another option.
“We can pay based on viewership ratings. The higher the ratings, the higher the fee. At worst, it will cover your production costs.”
Director Fan was full of sincerity, and the other station leaders were also very pleased.
Securing this hot drama, claimed to be on par with “The Galaxy and You”, without the station shelling out much money. It was a win-win!
Manager Guan vaguely felt something was off.
When had Director Fan ever been this accommodating? Could it be… an attempt to win over him and his wife?
Director Fan did not give Manager Guan time to overthink. With a mix of coaxing and persuasion, he urged Manager Guan to sign the contract. After signing, he shook hands warmly with Manager Guan. “Move quickly, the station’s winter break slot is still open!”
There was nothing to pick at in Director Fan’s words or actions, and the contract itself had no issues.
If “Crown of Thorns” achieved a peak viewership rating over 6 percent, Hunan TV was willing to pay 80 million yuan for the exclusive broadcast rights!
With production costs at 30 million and copyright fees at 80 million, on paper alone, it was a massive profit.
For the first time, Manager Guan thought Director Fan was a good man.
Liang Dan reviewed the contract and found no problems either. After pondering for a while, she told Manager Guan to focus on producing “Crown of Thorns” well.
“The Love Cruise” had gone wrong last time. He could not mess this up again. Only if he produced “Crown of Thorns” successfully could she regain her voice at the station.
Manager Guan patted his chest, assuring his wife.
Liang Dan had little faith in this man and nagged him like a nanny. “The previous team is unusable. Go poach ready-made ones. Others can poach our contestants, so you can poach their people too!”
Manager Guan got the hint.
He had a vendetta with Yuan Fenghui. First Li Mengjiao, then Zhang Yangning, then Xu Mei. All three debuted from talent shows and had been poached by Yuan Fenghui… If Yuan Fenghui could poach his people, why could not he poach back?
The “team” Liang Dan mentioned was not Tianjiao artists, but Tianjiao’s usual production crew.
From director to set manager, from makeup artist to lighting technician, they were all potential poaching targets for Manager Guan!
Manager Guan rolled up his sleeves for a big push, but Cao Bo had been watching his moves closely. Hearing that Manager Guan had signed with the station and secured a guaranteed contract up to 80 million, Cao Bo said he and Manager Guan were old friends. How could he leave out such a money-making opportunity?
Manager Guan did not want Cao Bo involved, but Cao Bo had some connections, and Manager Guan did not want to burn bridges completely. In the end, he agreed to let Cao Bo invest 5 million.
After breaking off his engagement with Xu Mei, Cao Bo had not dated anyone new and focused solely on his career. He was both scouting suitable projects to invest in and learning how to be a proper producer.
After Manager Guan agreed to his investment, Cao Bo had someone buy a copy of “Crown of Thorns”.
After reading it, Cao Bo was dumbfounded.
This was the IP benchmarked against “The Galaxy and You”?
This was just “The Galaxy and You” with a new skin!
Thinking of investing 5 million in the “Crown of Thorns” project, Cao Bo sensed trouble.
Back out now, and he would offend Manager Guan. Cao Bo was shrewd and did not want to fall out with him, so he thought of finding someone to take the fall.
Cao Bo first thought of Mr Jin, the coal boss.
Mr Jin had money!
Though “The Love Cruise” was halted midway, Mr Jin’s investment had not lost money. They had history.
Cao Bo wanted to “rekindle old ties” with Mr Jin. He called, but Mr Jin did not even pick up, having his secretary brush him off.
Mr Jin had been ridiculed mercilessly by friends over his “The Love Cruise” investment.
Having learned his lesson, Mr Jin had turned to Xie Qian’s Jiashi Film and TV company, becoming an investor in their new drama. Jiashi’s new drama was slated for April broadcast. When the rough cut was ready, they invited Mr Jin to a test screening in Modu. Mr Jin did not understand if a drama was good or not, so he specially paid a famous critic to watch with him.
At the screening, Mr Jin felt Jiashi’s new drama was decent. At least he could follow it.
The paid critic quietly told Mr Jin that this investment was worthwhile. The drama could win awards.
The money would not be lost.
And it came with awards as a bonus.
This was high praise for Mr Jin’s investment eye.
Mr Jin felt instantly fulfilled.
With his sense of self elevated, Mr Jin swore to use entertainment circle awards to wash away his nouveau riche coal boss label. He was convinced Jiashi produced only quality work and wanted to collaborate with Xie Qian again. He had no time for Cao Bo.
Cao Bo did not get discouraged after hitting a wall with Mr Jin.
He thought of another person.
When Cao Bo called Hu Man, she refused.
Hu Man had been dragged by Manager Guan and Liang Dan into schemes against Tianjiao. Liang Dan’s idea to have Hu Man stir rumours with Yu Tianlin had ruined her.
After Yu Tianlin’s persona collapsed, Manager Guan and Liang Dan gained no advantage. Manager Guan even paid a fortune to silence paparazzi, letting them take the lawsuit heat, while Liang Dan’s station status suffered… Even so, the couple fared better than Hu Man.
Yu Tianlin clung to Hu Man like a plaster. She had paid him a “hush money” once, making second and third times inevitable.
Yu Tianlin saw Hu Man as a long-term meal ticket. Each demand was an amount she could bear.
Money aside, Yu Tianlin’s behaviour made Hu Man miserable. She had debuted years ago with smooth sailing. When had she ever been blackmailed like this?
Cao Bo leaked that Manager Guan had a surefire profitable new project. Hu Man immediately rushed to Hunan Province demanding a stake.
This was what Manager Guan and Liang Dan owed her. She had to collect some interest!
Manager Guan did not want Hu Man investing. She gritted her teeth. “Yu Tianlin is a mad dog now. I am shielding you lot. He has no time for you. If I go all out, you face him yourselves!”
Manager Guan disliked the threat, but Cao Bo stepped in to smooth things. “How about this. I give my share to Sister Man. I will just be producer. We are all friends. No need to sour relations over this.”
That was a solution.
Manager Guan’s interests stayed intact, and Hu Man got her cut.
Everyone was pleased except Cao Bo, who could no longer profit from “Crown of Thorns”.
Selfish people never consider others’ stands. Manager Guan saw nothing wrong with Cao Bo’s move. He thought his little brother was sensible and easy to work with, even patting his shoulder.
“Do not worry. Plenty more collaborations ahead. You will not lose out.”
Cao Bo nodded along outwardly, inwardly sighing with relief.
He had finally offloaded this hot potato!
Thus, “Crown of Thorns” was officially greenlit. Manager Guan’s company invested 20 million, Hu Man 5 million, and Hunan TV 5 million.
Director Fan passed the news to Wen Ying. She slowly typed a question mark.
“He was only meant to trap Manager Guan. Now Hu Man eagerly jumped in too?”
What could Wen Ying do?
She could only silently light a candle for the diva.
Queen Hu’s luck had been truly rotten these past two years.
