Chapter 120 - Li Tai’s Choice
With Zhang Yunxi to help him with logistics, Ye Lingchen saved himself a lot of trouble.
Zhang Yunxi could cook, clean, and make sure everything was in order. When it came to opening the store, she was also very dedicated and careful. Within that period, she kept an eye on good locations and had meetings with owners to discuss the pricing. Furthermore, she dedicated all her time to learn all she could about cosmetics.
To her, this venture was one of the biggest things in her life. She dared not take it lightly.
On Saturday, Ye Lingchen notified Zhang Yunxi that he was headed to Hengdian Studios by himself.
He preferred to avoid trouble, but that did not mean that he was afraid of it. Since he had promised Shi Lei a movie, he would suppress him with all his might. Otherwise, that would be a mockery to his status as a prodigy.
He felt confident about the Huo Yuanjia movie. Regardless of martial arts, characters, or the action scenes, they were all epic.
Huo Yuanjia, born in a generation of patriotic master martial artists. In recent times where martial arts were trending, it would surely make a great impact!
After getting onto the bus to Hengdian Studios, Ye Lingchen called Li Tai to schedule an appointment.
Just as he arrived at Hengdian Studios, Li Tai was already waiting to greet him at the main gate. Upon seeing Ye Lingchen, Li Tai immediately went forward to welcome him respectfully.
He did not forget how impressive Ye Lingchen was back in Grand Capital Restaurant. This type of person was not one that he could afford to offend.
When the crowd saw Li Tai, they were excited and expectant. They looked around, hoping to be noticed by Li Tai and soar to stardom. When they realized that Li Tai was only there to welcome someone, it shook them to the core. Who was it that was deemed as such an important guest?
The area had long been secured by bodyguards. They pushed the crowd aside, allowing Ye Lingchen at the front to walk inside.
Li Tai had already prepared the lobby in advance. What Ye Lingchen did not expect was that Xiao Feifei waited there too.
“I know you want to make a movie. I had Li Tai notify me,” Xiao Feifei announced, then volunteered herself, “it’s your first movie. Why don’t you just let me play a role in your movie?”
“Sister Feifei, are you that worried about my movie?” Ye Lingchen laughed bitterly. Xiao Feifei was only trying to help him.
“What’s wrong? With our friendship, you wouldn’t be rejecting me a role now, would you?” Xiao Feifei asked mischievously.
“It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just this movie that is not suitable for Sister Feifei.”
“You’ve changed. You’re not the Ye Lingchen that I knew…”
Ye Lingchen was speechless.
While they were chatting, Ye Lingchen suddenly looked over to Li Tai. “Director Li, would you be interested in making a movie?”
Li Tai’s expression changed slightly and asked with uncertainty in his voice, “Young Master Ye, are you trying to…”
Ye Lingchen nodded. “If you’re willing, I plan to leave this movie to you.”
To produce a movie required a lot of attention to details there were too many things to learn. What he needed was not just one person, but instead a whole crew. Ye Lingchen knew that he could not recruit his own crew in such short notice, nor did he have the energy to do so. His plan had always been to find someone to direct the movie.
Li Tai was without a doubt a very good choice.
“M-m-me?” Li Tai stared at Ye Lingchen with a surprised look on his face, at a loss of how to react.
He had always been the director of TV series. That status was far from one of a movie director. Although he had been trying to venture into movies, he was hindered by reality and the lack of good scripts, making it difficult for him to achieve his dream.
However, Ye Lingchen was now offering him the chance to direct a movie?
It would be a lie to say that he was not feeling excited. At the same time, he also felt conflicted. Directing a movie might not be a good thing. If it went well, he would soar to the clouds. If it flopped, then it might ruin his career for good.
As the first movie of his life, its importance was beyond any doubt.
Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, Li Tai looked at Ye Lingchen, “I dare ask Young Master Ye, what do you think of this movie?”
“I have faith in this movie. As long as you agree, I’ll guarantee that you won’t regret it,” Ye Lingchen said confidently, then added, “Apart from that, I will also invest RMB10,000,000 in this movie as an investor!”
Li Tai’s breathing suddenly quickened.
The resources required to produce a movie was much higher than that of a TV series. That was a very big issue for them. However, Ye Lingchen just took out RMB10,000,000 directly!
“Lingchen, be honest with me. Are you just trying to spite Shi Lei?” Xiao Feifei could not hold back her urge to ask and spouted the question with a serious face.
If it’s just to spite him, it was not worth it. It would be a stupid move!
“Sister Feifei, I can guarantee that I’m not.” Ye Lingchen gave Xiao Feifei a sincere look, “I have never thought anything of Shi Lei. He’s not worthy to be my opponent!”
His claims were big, causing everyone’s heart to skip a beat.
“Alright! I’ll take this movie!” Li Tai announced through gritted teeth.
To him, this was a chance. He must venture into the movie industry!
“Director Li, that’s the spirit!” Ye Lingchen smiled gently, “Here’s the script. I guarantee that you won’t regret it.”
“The script is done?” Li Tai was taken aback. The core of movie production was in the script. This… was that too careless?
“With the script, the filming progress will be much faster,” Ye Lingchen said nonchalantly. That was almost sufficient to have a showdown with Shi Lei!
He needed a complete victory!
Li Tai flipped through the script. His crew and Xiao Feifei too huddled over, slowly going through the script.
The dialogues in the script, plot progression, and character expressions were all very detailed. It was not long, only totaling 12 pages.
With that, everyone was immersed in it. Around an hour later, they finally put down the script, savoring the aftertaste of the story. They then stared at Ye Lingchen with an incredulous look.
“Director Li, this script… it’s flawless!” Little Li exclaimed in a trembling voice. He was the chief screenwriter in Li Tai’s crew.
He had been a screenwriter for various TV series. At the same time, he too had done his research on movie screenwriting as he wanted to push towards the movie industry. Seeing Ye Lingchen’s script at that moment shook him to the core. Even he had felt his blood boiling from the action scenes in the script.
Within the script, it was not only about martial arts, but more towards the philosophy of martial arts!
‘What is martial arts? What defines a martial artist?’
“Young Master Ye, are you having me direct such an excellent script?” Li Tai asked skeptically. Even without Little Li’s reminder, Li Tai’s face was already flushed with excitement.
Previously he was worried that the script might be bad. As of now, he felt that the script was too good, to the extent that he could not believe his luck.
Ye Lingchen nodded. “Are you confident in making a good movie?”
“Yes! Of course! A movie from such a script will be a classic!” Li Tai replied excitedly with bright glowing eyes, as though seeing the title of the movie director waving its hands at him.
“Young Master Ye, things will be much easier with the script. Let’s hit the iron while it’s hot. I’ll start recruiting actors and start filming!” Li Tai was even more impatient than Ye Lingchen, filled with fighting spirit…