Chapter 12: I Am That Fool

Jiang Ye straightened up in his seat. His uncle rarely spoke in such a tone.

“First,” Lin Jianjun raised a finger, “fun is fun, but always leave some reserve. Remember last year with that young actor from Huayi? He got caught in bed photos by a fan manager, and now he’s still paying breach of contract fees.”

He poured a glass of ice-cold beer and pushed it over. “Second, it’s better to sleep with internet celebrities than fans. Fans tend to go to extremes; internet celebrities at least understand the rules of the game.”

Jiang Ye nearly spat out his drink. “Uncle! I’m only a freshman, and you’re saying this…”

“Stop pretending to be innocent!” Lin Jianjun laughed and scolded him. “Your dad was barely older than you when he chased my sister. His tactics were even more elaborate than in In the Mood for Love. I don’t think you’re any better!”

Suddenly, he grew serious. “But remember, never trade resources for your body! That’s just low.”

“If there’s no real feeling, just avoid getting involved!”

“And what if there is feeling?” Jiang Ye asked cautiously.

“What do you mean? You planning to get involved with several girls?”

“No! Just asking casually!”

Several? Then why did he come back to life!

“Dinner’s ready!” Aunt Lin emerged from the kitchen carrying a steaming plate of spicy boiled fish. She spotted two empty beer bottles on the coffee table, raised her brow, and said, “Wow, you two seem to be having a lively chat.”

As Jiang Ye helped set the tableware, he suddenly said, “Uncle, after school starts, I want to shoot a web series.”

Lin Jianjun dropped a piece of tripe back into the dipping oil with a slap. “What’s the budget?”

“Five million.”

The dining table fell silent instantly.

Aunt Lin’s soup ladle froze mid-air, and Lin Xiaoman’s eyes widened.

“Where’s the money coming from?” Uncle squinted. “Does your dad know you’re this spendthrift?”

Jiang Ye smiled mysteriously. “I have connections.”

“Hah,” Lin Jianjun took a swig of beer. “Five million to practice isn’t impossible…”

He suddenly slammed the table. “But you just got into Beijing Film Academy! Can’t you just study quietly for two years?”

“Not even learned to walk, and you want to start running? Who taught you this?”

“Or did you hang around the Left Ear crew for a month, and Su Youpeng gave you a few scenes, so now you’re full of yourself?”

“I’ve been running around sets with you since I was little…”

“And now you’re blaming me?” Uncle laughed angrily.

Jiang Ye seized the moment. “So… if the funds are ready, will you be the producer?”

“Sure!” Lin Jianjun sneered, “If some sucker really invests five million in a freshman, I’ll work for you for free!”

Suddenly alert, he added, “Wait, you’re not asking your mom…”

“Your mom’s beauty salons in Hangzhou net only two or three million a year, right?”

Jiang Ye poured his uncle a glass of ice beer. “The family can afford it, but I want to handle it myself.”

“Nonsense!” Lin Jianjun slammed his cup down hard. “If you lose money, wouldn’t that ruin your mom’s ten years of hard work?”

“I absolutely won’t touch family money.” Jiang Ye raised a hand in oath. “But you have to tell me, which platform offers the most profitable revenue split for web series nowadays?”

“Since you’re more familiar than I am!”

Lin Jianjun stared at him for a few seconds, then sighed. “You really want to hear it?”

“Yeah.”

He set down his beer, pulled out a tablet from his briefcase, and brought up a report. “This is the latest data from Q2 2014. It’s good for you to understand the revenue sharing models of the major platforms.”

He tapped the screen. “LeTV, under Jia Yueting, just proposed an ‘eco-reversal’ concept this year, paying the highest prices for web series.”

He highlighted a set of numbers. “Thirty thousand yuan guaranteed per episode, but you have to tie in with their mobile membership package. However…”

He lowered his voice. “Their finance department is currently auditing accounts, so settlements might be delayed up to six months.”

“Then there’s Youku Tudou, Alibaba’s Sunshine Theater,” Lin Jianjun enlarged a bar chart. “Eight yuan per thousand valid clicks, but they require a 48-hour exclusive window. Last month, the show ‘Surprise’ hit over 20 million views per episode and made a killing.”

“And then Sohu Video. Zhang Chaoyang personally oversees content this year.” He opened an email. “Their Youth Plan supports new directors best: 15,000 yuan guaranteed per episode plus 3 yuan per thousand views, and multi-platform distribution is allowed.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Also, their purchasing director went to the Central Academy of Drama with me.”

“As for iQIYI, Gong Yu is running the Yunteng Plan this year.”

“They only accept literary IP adaptations, with a 20,000 yuan guaranteed price per episode, but you must use their PGC team.”

“However, they’re negotiating a takeover by Baidu, so policies might change.”

“Penguin Video just set up its film and TV department this year.” Lin Jianjun pulled up internal pricing: “They offer 25,000 to 30,000 yuan per episode but require three months of exclusive online streaming.”

He tapped a supplementary clause. “But you must bind their WeChat promotional resources.”

Jiang Ye quickly jotted down key data. “LeTV’s settlement risk…”

“So, the safest bet is still single-platform exclusivity plus non-exclusive distribution elsewhere!”

“That’s where an experienced producer is needed to coordinate.”

“By the way, some things I have to warn you about, Xiaoye.”

“The new rules in 2014 say the same show must have at least seven days between releases on different platforms, or it counts as a breach.”

Jiang Ye quickly noted the key points. “What about copyright registration…”

“The newly established China Network Audiovisual Program Service Association under the ZX Department requires prior registration, or you won’t get the distribution license.”

“This year is really a war over copyrights.” Lin Jianjun closed the laptop, a sharp gleam in his eyes. “If your script is solid, I can contact Sun Zhonghuai at Tencent right now. He asked me just last week if we had any youth-themed projects.”

Jiang Ye raised an eyebrow. “Uncle, weren’t you against me making a web series?”

“You brat!” Lin Jianjun slapped his back, but his voice softened. “Your mom only has you. If someone takes advantage of you, won’t she come after me?”

“The producer has to be me, or I won’t feel at ease!”

“Then no salary for you!”

“…”

After dinner, Jiang Ye collapsed onto the sofa, wrestling with Lin Xiaoman for the remote.

The girl pressed her whole body against him, furiously pressing the channel buttons. “I want to watch The Legend of Sword and Fairy!”

“What’s so good about Yang Mi’s show…” Jiang Ye twisted her wrist. “Beiping No War is about to start…”

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it!” Lin Xiaoman jumped up and dashed to the door.

From the foyer came the cheerful chatter of a young girl:

“Xiaoman! Look what I brought you!” Tian Xiwei’s energetic voice cut through the living room. “Strawberry mousse from Qinyuan! I told you it’s super delicious, right?”

“I bought some after hearing you rave about it…”

“Ah!” Tian Xiwei exclaimed in frustration. “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have brought it over!”

“But I have a funny story to tell you!”

“What is it?”

“Today at the cake shop, I ran into an idiot. I fooled him a bit, and he ended up treating me!”

“Hahaha… Are there really such stupid people? What does he look like?”

“He looks…”

Her voice abruptly stopped.

Jiang Ye lazily propped himself up and saw Tian Xiwei frozen at the living room entrance, mouth agape wide enough to fit the entire mousse cake.

She had changed into a light blue dress for the evening, with a strawberry hairpin on her ponytail, adding a playful touch compared to earlier.

“He looks… he looks…” she stammered, pointing at Jiang Ye.

Jiang Ye slowly stood, hands in his pockets, and walked up to her. “An idiot like me, huh?”