Chapter 430: Box Office
Chapter 430: Box Office
Su Heyuan and Miss Bai had broken up. Since there were no prior signs, Lu Jiaxin was very surprised when she received the news.
Recalling the joke she had made to Su Heyuan previously, Lu Jiaxin broke into a cold sweat. She quickly called Su Heyuan, "Why did you break up with Miss Bai? Don't tell me you really consulted a fortune teller and found that your compatibility was bad?"
Su Heyuan laughed and said, "How is that possible? Before our engagement, my father had already taken our birthdates and zodiac signs to a fortune teller, and there were no issues."
"Really?"
"Of course, it's true. The main reason Miss Bai and I broke up is because our personalities clashed. Don't overthink it; we parted ways amicably."
They broke up not long after she made that comment; it was hard not to connect the two.
Seeing her furrowed brows, Gu Wenfeng smiled and said, "Boss, if you want to know the real reason for their breakup, you can just hire someone to investigate."
Lu Jiaxin thought it was a bad idea. "We're friends, not enemies. Why would I investigate him? Forget it, he and Miss Bai parted ways peacefully, and it probably has nothing to do with me."
Hearing this, Gu Wenfeng was the one who became puzzled. "Mr. Su and Miss Bai had been together for so long, and they were even discussing marriage. Now, they suddenly decide to part ways, and she readily agrees without any fuss. It's a bit unusual."
Lu Jiaxin argued, "How do you know she didn't cry? Some people don't like to show their vulnerable side. Even if she's hurting inside, she might put on a front and act as if nothing's wrong in front of others."
Alright, Gu Wenfeng had no response to that.
Nie Zhan had just returned from his overseas trip when he heard about Su Heyuan and Miss Bai's breakup, and the reason given was still the clash of personalities. He also found it strange and asked Lu Jiaxin about it.
Lu Jiaxin didn't tell him about her own gaffe and simply said, "Matters of the heart are unpredictable. They might be deeply in love today, but tomorrow they might decide they're incompatible and part ways."
Nie Zhan shook his head. "If you're talking about Feng Qinglei, that's possible. He treats relationships like changing clothes—he's with one person today and someone else tomorrow. But Su Heyuan isn't like that. He takes relationships seriously, and it took him a long time to move on from his previous relationship. As for Miss Bai, they were already discussing marriage, and a sudden breakup definitely suggests there's something more to it."
Lu Jiaxin knew that there was more to their breakup than met the eye, but she couldn't tell how heartbroken Su Heyuan truly was. Perhaps this was the difference between someone who genuinely loved and someone motivated by self-interest.
"Didn't he tell you?"
"No, he just said it was an amicable breakup."
Nie Zhan didn't pry further, and he changed the subject to share the outcomes of his overseas trip. He had set his sights on a large hotel in America and had already sent people to negotiate. If all went well, they should be able to acquire it.
Lu Jiaxin asked for the name of the hotel but had never heard of it. It was probably one that had been overtaken by the market later on.
Nie Zhan told Lu Jiaxin about the rapid development of telecommunications overseas, and he intended to invest in this area after witnessing its potential during his trip.
Lu Jiaxin knew that the future belonged to the internet, and Nie Zhan's keen awareness and willingness to invest demonstrated his foresight. "The telecommunications industry is indeed developing rapidly, and we should invest in it. However, we don't have much expertise in this area, so let's take it step by step."
The internet would boom in the mid-1990s, but they could start laying the groundwork now. Opportunities favored the prepared, and this adage held in the business world as well. If they waited until the industry became popular before entering, they might be lucky to get a small piece of the pie, or they could end up losing everything. But with her "cheat" ability, they were guaranteed to profit. Of course, she didn't understand the internet, so she would leave the specifics to professionals. She would focus on investing and not get involved in the operations, content with just receiving dividends.
Seeing her support, Nie Zhan was delighted. "My grandfather said I'm too impulsive and doesn't approve of me getting involved in so many projects at once. But if I don't speed up, how can I catch up to those ahead of me?"
"I hold sixty percent of the shares in Wufu Jewelry, and though Qirui is under your name, it's actually my company. Your grandfather probably knows about all this, right?" Lu Jiaxin asked.
Nie Zhan didn't hide the truth. "Yes, he knows, and he was furious about it. But I believe that since I'm so good to you, you definitely won't want to break up with me."
Lu Jiaxin smiled and asked, "Then tell me, what's so good about you?"
Nie Zhan actually started listing his strengths. "I'm handsome, devoted, and I can make money for you to spend. Wouldn't you be crazy to give up a boyfriend like me?"
Lu Jiaxin burst out laughing. "A boyfriend like you is as rare as a needle in a haystack. Anyone with a sound mind wouldn't want to let go."
With Nie Zhan allowing her to hold sixty percent of the shares in Wufu Jewelry and offering her the chance to invest in Wansheng Real Estate, Lu Jiaxin suspected that he intended to tie her to him in this way. The marriage laws in Hong Kong were different from those in mainland China. Whether before or after marriage, assets were calculated separately and not split evenly. So, by doing this, Nie Zhan was truly showing his sincerity.
As long as Nie Zhan didn't change his heart and continued to treat her this well, Lu Jiaxin intended to stay with him for the long haul.
The May box office results were out, totaling more than 23.9 million. The top three New Year films all surpassed 30 million, so her movie couldn't compare. But Lu Jiaxin was already very satisfied with these results. With a cost of 5.8 million, and the cinema chain taking forty percent of the box office revenue, they still managed to profit by about 1.5 times their investment, which was a great outcome.
Nie Zhan smiled and said, "Jingting made nine films and lost over 10 million in total. I didn't expect you to make an 8 million profit with just one film."
Back then, he thought that breaking even would be a good outcome, never expecting such a substantial profit. And then, he suddenly realized something—every project Jiaxin had invested in so far had turned a profit. It made sense that she would excel in the fashion industry, but movies were a different story, and he hadn't been optimistic about this venture.
Lu Jiaxin corrected him, "The 8 million profit is just from Hong Kong. The general manager of Jiahe wants to buy the film for overseas distribution, and I've already agreed."
Nie Zhan didn't know about this. "When did this happen?"
"We finalized it today."
"How much did they offer?"
Hearing that they had sold the overseas distribution rights for 1.5 million, Nie Zhan's first thought was of Nie Jingting. "It's a pity that your fourth brother went to the mainland. Otherwise, I would have dragged him over to learn from you properly."
Lu Jiaxin dared not teach that young master. She waved her hands and said, "Don't even think about it. I made this movie to earn money and promote our company's clothing line. Your brother is pursuing art, and I, a mere mortal, can't compare to that."
Nie Zhan couldn't help but laugh when he heard this. "What art? He's just spending money to entertain himself. But forget about it in the future. When he returns from the mainland, my grandfather won't give him money to make movies anymore. If he really likes it, he can start from the bottom as an extra."
Lu Jiaxin was delighted. Her influence had made Nie Jingting out to be a spendthrift in Nie Zhan's eyes.
(End of Chapter)
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