In the following days, Gu Bai enjoyed some much-needed peace, almost like a return to his past life, waking up on schedule in the dorm, attending classes, and having meals with Deng Bo and the others at the cafeteria.
During their free time, he would chat about life with Qi Man on the campus lawn.
As for anything more extravagant, there was nothing of that sort.
Though young, he couldn’t withstand such a high-intensity "sun-chasing" exercise. Nearly two months into his rebirth, Gu Bai had hardly any idle time.
He spent almost every night in the company of these women.
Even an iron man couldn’t handle it, so these past few days of taking it easy made him feel unusually comfortable. His usually reduced body constitution even improved by two points, from 71 to 73.
Deng Bo was intensely chatting with a small online influencer he had met that night via his phone.
Meanwhile, Lou Xun and Wen Cunming were sourly playing games on the side.
It’s worth mentioning that even small online influencers have significant self-interest.
In this regard, Deng Bo’s identity as a small rich second-generation in Shanghai came in handy. Over these days, he became very chummy with that online influencer, and it seemed that he was about to hit it off with her soon.
On the other hand, Lou Xun and Wen Cunming initially added a few WeChats using their status as Shanghai Theatre Academy students, but after a few days, when the influencers found out they were just ordinary students, they immediately turned cold, making it unlikely for them to hit it off.
Guys like them might fool some naive underclassmen or regular girls who blindly worship the entertainment industry, but trying to hook in those seasoned online influencers is too tough. Without a substantial fortune, who would want to play with you?
Gu Bai was lying on the bed watching short videos when the phone rang.
Answering the call, Xiao Qiang’s voice came through the phone.
"President Gu, regarding those projects you mentioned, one is about to be finalized. They’re willing to offer us a 30% investment share?"
Hearing this, Gu Bai sat up from the bed. This update ıs available on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝓷𝓮𝓽
"Which project is it?"
"I Am Not a God of Medicine!"
Upon hearing it was this movie, Gu Bai immediately understood.
As the third-highest-grossing movie of 2018, its release had faced numerous challenges. If guessed correctly, this film should already be in production.
Due to its subject matter, it wasn’t promising initially.
Additionally, because of its sensitive topic, few companies dared to invest, and they even experienced an investor withdrawing funds, halting the production. Timing-wise, it should be around this time.
"Tell me more about it."
Xiao Qiang calmly detailed over the phone.
"After two days of negotiations, this film’s budget is set at 60 million, with Ali Film and Television and Kyoto Cultural Media adding up to increase it to 75 million later on.
But recently, an investor with a 15% share suddenly withdrew, causing the project to halt immediately.
I then contacted Xu Zhen’s Zhenle Dao Culture Communication Company and successfully invested by adding 30 million as a condition. Now the total project budget is 100 million, and we, Black Swan Capital, invest 30 million, occupying a 30% investment share."
Gu Bai praised with a smile.
This film differed from other high-grossing films.
Once released next July, it will explode both in box office and reputation.
The relevant producers’ stock prices in the secondary market reacted with a flourish due to the overwhelming reputation. Among them, one of the producers, Kyoto Cultural Media Company, performed most impressively, with shares soaring by almost 56% in ten trading days, boosting its market value by approximately 4 billion yuan.
Thinking of this, Gu Bai even considered spinning off the film investment department to establish a new company, as making money in the entertainment industry was so profitable. Besides box office revenue sharing, once listed, just investing in a few sure-fire projects would cause the stock price to soar, and then cashing out would earn a fortune.
Such cases abound in the entertainment industry.
For example, a first-line star who rose to fame in ’My Fair Princess’ shed shares during Ali Film and Television’s peak, cashed out 2.3 billion, and directly exited.
Of course, this idea was just a fleeting thought, as he aimed to become a major player in the entertainment circle, not a small-time businessperson who’d flee with a small profit.
As for spinning off the film investment department, it’s doable, after all, a film investment department under a business capital doesn’t sound as legitimate as a proper cultural capital in the film industry.
Upon receiving Gu Bai’s praise, Xiao Qiang also laughed over the phone.
Being able to please Gu Bai brought her one step closer to her goal of independently managing investment funds.
After reporting some basic information, Xiao Qiang continued, "There’s something else I need to consult with you."
"While handling these projects, President Yang from Jiahang Media connected through an intermediary."
"President Yang from Jiahang Media?"
Gu Bai was momentarily confused.
"The big star in the film industry, Yang Function."
Xiao Qiang had also accepted the boss’s nickname for Yang Function.
As soon as ’Da Mimi’ was mentioned, the other three in the dorm all gathered around Gu Bai’s bed, staring intently at him.
That’s Da Mimi after all. If recently Hu Ge was the most popular male celebrity, then Da Mimi was undoubtedly the most popular female celebrity.
After ’Chinese Paladin 3’, multiple hit dramas elevated her to the altars of the four young female stars.
This template was quite similar to Zhai Li’s future path, though Zhai Li went for a chaste goddess style and Da Mimi went for an approachable goddess style, a clear difference.
Gu Bai signaled them to be quiet and continued asking, "Why did she reach out to you?"
"I suspect that our recent investments in the entertainment industry were a point of interest for her, and she wants to inquire if we’re interested in investing in their upcoming project."
"A major female-led TV drama, ’Fuyao’.
In 2018, this was the TV series starring Yang Function, and Gu Bai probably only remembered this one.
Xiao Qiang continued, "President Yang invited us to their ’Fuyao’ project bidding meeting tonight, where some large film studios will be present since there’s a saying in the market.
Yang Function might be a poison at the box office, but she’s a medicine in TV dramas; she never stars in a losing TV show.
However, for this drama, Yang Function gave me a figure over 500 million, which exceeded my authorization, so I had to report it to President Gu. The bidding meeting is in Shanghai; is President Gu planning to attend?"
"Of course, why miss it? Who wouldn’t want to make money?"
"Then shall I arrange it?"
After Gu Bai ended the call, he thought about what Xiao Qiang said. Da Mimi truly is the magic touch in TV dramas; any drama she starred in never lost money. In his past life, he wouldn’t even qualify as a crew member in such a major production. Now, miraculously, he was an invited investor. Why refuse money essentially being handed to him?
"White Pieces, what was that about Da Mimi just now?"
"Nothing much, Da Mimi invited me for dinner tonight."
The fact that he was an investor didn’t just mean an invitation to dinner?
"Defile my goddess, and I’ll strangle you!"
"Your goddess’s child is already a few years old!"
"I don’t care! A goddess is a goddess!"
Indeed, there’s no such thing as a Cao贼 in this world, or rather, everyone is a Cao贼. Gu Bai was starting to understand why Principal Wang would willingly become a Cao贼 for Da Mimi.