In Luo Yin's heart, she could afford to drink the cup of tea that he brewed personally, but she still could not take away the stock dividends from him.
Tao Cen picked up the teacup and took a sip. The sharp aroma of the tea was still in her lips, but she could already taste the bitterness on the tip of her tongue. This situation was subtly similar to her current situation.
She doesn't like drinking tea. Compared to the endless aftertaste of tea, she prefers coffee because of its rich and mellow flavor.
"I remember the last time I drank tea with you like this was more than seven years ago."
She put down the teacup and Luo Yin smiled.
Both of them knew the reason why Tao Cen came here.
Century Galaxy Jiang Se's development momentum is unstoppable, and Tao Cen has obviously fallen far behind her.
With the release of "God's Redemption", Jiang Se debuted many years later than Tao Cen, but it is very likely that he will catch up with the gap in total box office with the new movie.
Once Jiang Se's total box office is no less than Tao Cen's, Tao Cen's advantages in movie box office and debut age will be shortened by Jiang Se.
Even because Jiang Se is good friends with Cesare and a movie she starred in was selected as the best film of the "Century Filmmakers", her future development trend is much more promising than Tao Cen.
In this situation, whether everyone admits it or not, it is an indisputable fact that Jiang Se's development prospects are better than Tao Cen's.
"Yes."
Luo Yin nodded. Tao Cen was talking about more than seven years ago when they discussed the issue of Tao Cen’s contract renewal.
"When you first signed with the company, I was particularly fond of you." Luo Yin also put down his teacup. Even though he had guessed Tao Cen's intention, he had no intention of turning hostile:
"You were still young then, but your eyes were already full of brilliance." He spoke excitedly, leaning forward, slightly bending his right index and middle fingers, and tapping the table twice:
"I have a feeling that the future of Chinese film may be waiting for you to conquer."
Talking about the scene back then, Luo Yin still had some emotion, "Before that, I had never seen a pair of eyes like that, full of confidence in themselves, with ambition written in their eyes."
Most importantly, she succeeded in the end.
When opening an agency, he signs handsome men and beautiful women. In fact, Luo Yin has seen too many people with outstanding appearance. If you take a look at the stars signed by Century Galaxy, they all look good, but not all of them are worthy of Luo Yin's attention.
Luo Yin knew very well what kind of people had what kind of value. Tao Cen was still young and immature at that time, but one could already foresee her extraordinary future.
Luo Yin's work depended on his sharp eyes, so he discovered Tao Cen from among a group of newcomers.
"The artists of our company sign contracts for at least ten or fifteen years, but I am different for you. I will allow you to sign an eight-year contract for the first time."
Tao Cen nodded when he heard him talk about the past:
"Yes, it was because of your appreciation back then that after the contract was over, when you talked to me about renewal, I renewed it for another ten years. I never thought of leaving the company." Tao Cen's cheek muscles twitched slightly when he mentioned the ten-year renewal.
"But Mr. Luo, I think you are being unfair."
She said this with a smile, which many people considered to be "treasonous". Facing this old man who could cause a shock to Century Galaxy with just a stomp of his foot, she did not beat around the bush:
"After Chaoqun's contract expires and it's time to renew it, you will find her in person, discuss the renewal terms, and reward her with 0.1% of Century Galaxy's shares to entice her to stay at Century Galaxy."
The special assistant beside Luo Yin's expression moved slightly. With such a position, he could follow Luo Yin and handle all the chores for him. In terms of character and will, he was more adept at hiding his emotions than ordinary employees.
But when he heard Tao Cen's words, he still couldn't help but change his expression.
Luo Yin smiled, and it seemed that not even his eyebrows moved. He just listened quietly to Tao Cen speaking:
"When I sign the contract, you said," she paused, raised her head, and grinned, revealing a faint smile:
"It's too early."
When she said these three words, she was filled with mixed emotions, as if all the ups and downs of life were mixed into them.
“It’s too early!”
She thought about this sentence for a long time. How could it be too early? Was she not worthy of Century Galaxy's shares? How was she inferior to Xia Chaoqun? Was it because of their different backgrounds and status
In the early years of the uprising, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang once said, "Are kings, princes, generals, and ministers of different species?"
Tao Cen agreed with this statement.
She did not have the same Hong Kong celebrity background as Xia Chaoqun, nor did she have her early resources, but her later efforts were no less than Xia Chaoqun's, and in some cases even more.
From her debut to the present, her fan group covers all walks of life, even noble people like Mrs. Zhou from Jingtai Real Estate. She has been waiting for Luo Yin to take the initiative to talk to her about renewing the contract, but it never happened since then.
In recent years, the ten-year agreement between her and Century Galaxy has been getting shorter and shorter, but there is still not much movement in the company.
Those who were loyal to her were gradually excluded from the core members, and Luo Ao's attitude towards her changed from closeness at the beginning to submissiveness now - to distance.
"It's okay if it's Chaoqun, but why is it Jiang Se?"
It's not that she couldn't figure out those problems, but she just couldn't swallow some of the anger. Some things can only be obtained by fighting. If you don't fight for them, they may always be neglected.
"You should have waited."
After Tao Cen finished speaking, Luo Yin did not get angry, but just shook his head.
"Still waiting? How? When my contract is up and you let me renew it, will the profit-sharing agreement between the company and me be adjusted from the current 8:0 to 10:0?"
She said this angrily, and then she couldn't help laughing.
Luo Yin also laughed, and Tao Cen said:
"Or are you willing to keep me by offering stocks?"
"Why do you think I won't use stock to keep you after the ten-year contract is up?"
Luo Yin asked her back, and Tao Cen was stunned:
"Can you?"
"Why not?" Luo Yin let out a long breath, and the corners of his mouth moved. He seemed to be a little tired from sitting. He leaned back and leaned against the back of the sofa:
"The company will never be stingy with people who have made great contributions or are capable in the past, present, and future. This is true for Chaoqun, Jiang Se, and you too!"
The inside information revealed by Luo Yin made the special assistant beside him look horrified. Even if it was just a tiny bit of the stocks released by the chairman, it would be a considerable amount.
Tao Cen was not as ecstatic as he had imagined, but rather calm and almost indifferent.
After hearing these words, she was silent for a while, and finally smiled bitterly:
"If Chaoqun's shares at that time represented the present, and Jiang Se's shares represented the future, then am I the past that you mentioned?"
Luo Yin's eyes flashed, and then he looked up at her. She stood straight and looked into his eyes without any retreat.
"Mr. Luo, do I represent the past?"
She was determined to get this answer. Luo Yin's cheeks showed the marks of teeth biting. After a while:
"No matter how I view the future, at least the achievements of the past cannot be denied."
He didn't say it explicitly, but the meaning was obvious.
Tao Cen couldn't help but laugh:
"Mr. Luo, thank you very much."
She sighed with emotion and sighed several times:
"I know that you are willing to say such things and to sell your stocks to keep me. This is a great affirmation of me. I am also very grateful that you did not hide it from me or deceive me with high-sounding and nice words." Her eyes seemed to be brighter than before:
"But I can't do that."
Tao Cen's choice was beyond the expectations of the special assistant standing next to her. He was hesitant to speak and looked at Tao Cen as if she was crazy.
"oh?"
It is unclear whether Luo Yin's answer to Tao Cen was beyond his expectations or within his expectations.
"If the company wants to keep me because they are optimistic about my future development and believe that I will still be the only one representing Century Galaxy in the future, then I will ask for these stocks myself without you having to give them to me."
She shook her head. “Some things cannot be obtained by charity.”
She had longed for these stocks and these promises for many years. Now Luo Yin finally gave in and agreed to give them to her. But strangely, Tao Cen found it difficult for her to be happy when she heard these words, and she even felt a sense of loss.
She also has her pride. She would rather be unique than bow her head and beg.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Luo, I want to talk to you about the termination of the contract."
She brought up the issues she wanted to discuss with Luo Yin.
There is no room for two tigers in one mountain. She will not stay in Century Galaxy any longer. It is destined that she and Jiang Se cannot live peacefully under the same roof.
"I will entrust the matter of breach of contract to a lawyer later."
Just out of friendship and courtesy after years of cooperation, she greeted Luo Yin privately first.
She thought Luo Yin would be furious. She thought Luo Yin would turn hostile and scold her when he saw her being so ungrateful. But in the end, Luo Yin just sighed and asked her:
"Have you thought it through?"
"Think it through."
Tao Cen's success today is not due to luck. She makes every decision after careful consideration.
"What are you going to do next?"
Luo Yin asked, "In this industry, you have been in the company for many years and have been in contact with some of the company's upper-level business. You know that the company has the most resources and opportunities. The best scripts and endorsements are given priority to the company's artists."
After leaving Century Galaxy, relying on Tao Cen's solo efforts, the road ahead may be more difficult than it is now.
"I know." She smiled. After leaving Century Galaxy, she would still follow her old path. Although she no longer had the protection of the company, Tao Cen might not necessarily admit defeat if she fought alone.
"I think my new journey may still be waiting for me in the future." Her ambition was written in her eyes, "I will wait for you to win me over with stocks then."
These words made Luo Yin couldn't help laughing. Although some interests were involved, Luo Yin had no intention of making things difficult for her. After knowing that she was leaving the company and decided to go solo, he did not suppress or threaten her.
This conversation was really relaxing for Tao Cen. After "God's Redemption" starring Jiang Se won the "100 Years Filmmaker" Best Film Award, the heavy haze that weighed on her heart disappeared with her meeting with Luo Yin today.
What followed was a reshuffle of power in the company. Zhou Sheng and others who followed Tao Cen would naturally leave the company and go solo with her.
She also needed to take away her agent and some of the teams she was used to. Luo Yin didn't mean to make things difficult for her, but she still had to pay the penalty for breach of contract.
With her current net worth, that figure might be a sky-high price, but what made Tao Cen feel relieved was that Luo Yin did not make things difficult for her. At least, her journey to solo pursuit was not further bumpy.
When she came out of Luo Yin's mansion, her agent Song Yi was waiting for her in the car. When he saw her, Song Yi breathed a sigh of relief and asked impatiently:
"Sister Tao, how was your conversation with Mr. Luo?"
She was full of energy, as if she was remembering herself many years ago when she had just entered the entertainment industry:
"It's almost done." She stroked her hair, remembering that Jiang Se and "God's Redemption" had dominated the headlines and topics for a long time recently. Under such circumstances, many stars did not dare to easily take advantage of her, and some movies released at the same time could not compete with Jiang Se in terms of topicality.
But Tao Cen smiled confidently at this time:
"Jiang Se has been on the headlines of Chinese media long enough, it's my turn now!"
No one could get a page in the newspaper under Jiang Se's brilliance at this time, but Tao Cen could.
Even though many people, including Luo Yin, think that she is already weak, but in this situation, the one who can compete with Jiang Se is still herself. Luo Yin must see clearly!
On December 29th, "Salvation" will be released simultaneously around the world. After four days of release in North America, the box office soared to 380 million US dollars, breaking the historical box office record and shocking industry insiders.
"God's Redemption" was also gaining momentum in China, and the crew's first stop for promotion in China was set in the imperial capital. Invitations to the premiere that evening were received to the point where people from all walks of life privately tried their best to get a ticket.
As the reputation of "God's Redemption" grew, the box office also soared. With only a few hours left before the film was released, the pre-sale tickets in the cinemas in the capital were sold out long ago.
Even though the theaters showing the film have repeatedly increased their screening schedules, movie tickets are still hard to come by.
Jiang Se’s major social media accounts, the official website of “God’s Redemption”, Weibo, and major movie-related forums are filled with messages from fans asking for tickets at high prices.
As almost everyone is enthusiastically discussing topics related to "God's Redemption" and Jiang Se, Tao Tao is very busy. She returned to China one day earlier than Jiang Se, but because "God's Redemption" won a big award, she, as a media person who witnessed it personally, has been immersed in organizing the manuscripts of her trip to the United States.
Nowadays, people like to read news about Jiang Se. Even if it is an old topic, they like to talk about it again and again. Posting a dynamic about Jiang Se can attract a large number of readings and comments.
She was so busy that she treated the company as her home in recent days. She wrote several articles about Jiang Se, which were very popular among netizens and praised by her boss. Before she could breathe a sigh of relief, she heard her colleagues say:
"On the British CB gambling website, I don't know how many netizens who placed bets recently lost money!"
"Sister Su, do you remember that last time on that website, someone bet 500,000 yuan on the least popular movie that could win an award at the time, 'God's Redemption'?"
One of my colleagues was very excited: "I sneaked in to watch it, and a group of netizens said it was a gift from God! Will I make a fortune later?"
Tao Tao was busy, and when she heard her colleague's words, she gasped and remembered this incident! (To be continued)