Huayu: This director is so eager to improve.

Chapter 42 Two Pieces of Good News

The wrap-up ceremony was simple yet enthusiastic.

Flowers, champagne, photos, tears, and laughter intertwined.

As the commotion gradually subsided, Qi Yue walked to the side alone and lit a cigarette.

Amidst the bustling scene of people finishing work, a capable figure walked through the crowd and went straight to his side.

It's Xu Wei.

She wore her usual shrewd smile.

"Director Qi, congratulations on wrapping up filming." Xu Wei handed over a glass of champagne.

"Thank you, Sister Xu." Qi Yue accepted the glass and clinked glasses with her.

"There are two pieces of news that I think you'd like to hear now."

Xu Wei lowered her voice, but her brows betrayed her excitement.

"First, iQiyi, Youku, and Tencent Video have all expressed their intention to purchase the copyright of 'White Night,' especially Youku Video, which is willing to make concessions on revenue sharing and subsequent IP development, in addition to the guaranteed minimum price."

Qi Yue's eyelids twitched slightly. This was expected, but the scene of three families joining forces was still slightly beyond his expectations.

The quality of "White Night" and the attention garnered by the cast, including Pan Yueming, clearly made these platforms sense the potential for a blockbuster.

"Secondly," Xu Wei's smile deepened, even taking on a hint of amusement.

"A second-tier provincial satellite TV station contacted me through connections and expressed their intention to purchase the show, hoping that 'Day and Night' could have its first-run broadcast on their platform. Although the price may not be as high as those first-tier satellite TV stations, but... Qi Yue, I believe you should also understand the symbolic significance of satellite broadcasting."

This was an unexpected surprise. Web series supporting TV stations? This was still a novel concept in 2012.

However, it's not too surprising that the hardcore crime drama "Day and Night" and the leaked footage attracted the attention of traditional TV stations, after all, there are always talented people with good eyesight everywhere.

Qi Yue slowly exhaled a smoke ring. The massive funding and future potential of video websites, combined with the authoritative endorsement and broad audience influence of television stations, make this a strategic choice.

"What do you think, Sister Xu?"

He threw the question back at her. Xu Wei was not only an agent, but also an ally who was well-versed in the ways of distribution channels.

Xu Wei was prepared: "My suggestion is to discuss 'online-TV synergy,' or even a new 'online first, TV later' model. Focus on the online platform to maximize revenue and freedom; at the same time, offer relatively favorable conditions to encourage TV stations to broadcast the show. This way, we can gain both tangible benefits and prestige, and reach audiences on both channels."

"Of course, the specific online platform and the terms need to be decided by you yourselves."

Qi Yue nodded.

Xu Wei's thinking coincided with his: greedy but restrained, maximizing profits without hoarding them.

An olive branch from a TV station is an excellent bargaining chip that can be used to negotiate better terms with video websites or to build a more solid partnership.

"Okay." Qi Yue stubbed out his cigarette, the slight sentimentality of wrapping up filming replaced by the cool-headedness of business calculation.

"Then I'll have to trouble Sister Xu to deal with them for now. The bottom line is: the copyright of 'White Night' can be granted, but not bought out. We can discuss the minimum guarantee and revenue sharing."

Xu Wei nodded. Although she had advised Qi Yue not to keep clinging to the copyright, this was true for both "Yu Zui" and "Bai Ye". After all, if the copyright were bought out, they could obviously get a much higher reward.

However, since the other party insisted, she couldn't say anything more.

"clear."

......

Since filming wrapped on "Day and Night," Li Qing hasn't seen Qi Yue for almost half a month.

There were no phone calls or messages.

She knew he was busy with post-production editing, music composition, color grading, and the endless discussions about copyrights and collaborations. These words came from Guo Fan's occasional complaints, but to her they seemed like something through frosted glass—blurred and distant.

Qi Yue also said he would write a new song for her, which would also be an OST for "White Night".

But once those words were spoken, they were like a stone thrown into a deep pool, never to be heard again.

This afternoon, she was practicing a pose in front of the mirror when Guo Fan called.

"Qing'er! Are you in the capital? Quick, do me a favor!" The background noise on the other end of Guo Fan's phone was deafening.

"I'm currently in the Northwest, working on contract details with the TV station, and I can't go back for a while. Could you go check on that kid Qi Yue for me? He's locked himself in his rented room to finish post-production, and he won't go to the office even when I ask him to. I call him eight out of ten times, and when he does answer, he just says 'uh-huh' and hangs up!"

"This guy works like a madman, I'm really afraid he'll collapse in front of the machine one day and nobody will even know! Go, make sure he eats a hot meal, and if that doesn't work, drag him out of his house!"

Li Qing's heart jumped. "Brother Fan, is it...is it appropriate for me to go?"

"What's inappropriate? We're so close, you're practically one of us at 'Tongfan,' hurry up and go, you know the address! The key? There's a spare key under the rug by the door, please, Qing!"

Guo Fan hung up the phone in a hurry after speaking, leaving Li Qing holding the phone in a daze.

Without much hesitation, she immediately took action.

Go? Of course I'll go. But I can't go empty-handed.

She tied on an apron and busied herself in the small kitchen she rented.

Time was limited, so I couldn't do anything too complicated, but I put my heart into it.

I washed and chopped the fresh seasonal vegetables and stir-fried them with a little oil and salt; I pan-fried two tender chicken breasts; I cooked a small pot of rice that was cooked to the perfect consistency, and carefully shaped two small rice balls.

She carefully divided the food into insulated lunch boxes and also filled a thermos with a pot of her homemade rock sugar pear soup.

Autumn is dry, and Qi Yue smokes from time to time, which should be good for his lungs.

Li Qing's heart was pounding as she carried the heavy lunchbox.

She was already very familiar with Qi Yue and Guo Fan's home.

Given their current income level, they could have easily moved to a bigger house, but strangely, they just don't.

I climbed the steps and arrived at the door.

Li Qing was about to raise his hand to knock on the door when he suddenly stopped.

From inside the door, a faint melody could be heard.

It's neither intense rock nor noisy pop.

It is a melodious, slightly melancholic yet resilient piano tune that flows out gently.

Interspersed occasionally are some simple yet captivating guitar strumming.

The melody was unfamiliar, not one of the pop songs she had ever heard, but for some reason, there was something in the tune that made her heart tremble slightly.

She held her breath and listened intently.

After a while, the music inside gradually stopped, and the sounds of chairs being moved and light footsteps could be heard.

Li Qing took a deep breath, finally raised his hand, and gently knocked on the door.

The footsteps inside the door paused, and a few seconds later, the door was pulled open.

Qi Yue stood at the door, wearing a faded gray sweatshirt, his hair was a little messy, and he had a bluish stubble on his chin.

"Li Qing?" He was somewhat surprised, stepping aside to let her in. "What brings you here?"

Just as Guo Fan had said, the room was filled with signs of working late into the night.

The editing screen was still lit, frozen on a dimly lit scene, with a faint smell of coffee and tobacco in the air.

"Brother Fan... called me because he was worried you weren't eating properly." Li Qing held up the lunchbox and thermos in his hand.

"I happened to be free, so... I made some bento boxes and brought them over."

Qi Yue's gaze fell on the lunchbox in her hand. He rubbed his temples, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately just nodded.

"Come in, thank you for your trouble. Coincidentally... I also have something I'd like to tell you."