Chapter 78: Various Forms of Collaboration

Student Zhu left, bowing and nodding, carrying four million in cash. Inside, he was bursting with excitement—a joy so wild it was almost beyond words.

Gao Ning, however, was rather indifferent. He simply instructed Liu Shanshan to quickly assign the supervising staff and send them to the film crew.

The "Ghost Hunter Inventor" film had props that were both magical and practical; if one day they could truly be used, Gao Ning would have struck gold. But for now, this was just a casual move—a piece placed on the board in passing. Whether it would prove useful remained to be seen.

There were plenty of similar scripts to be found. Gao Ning’s current plan was to invest in three online films as a test, to see how things would go. Of course, the results would be long-term; it was hard to predict which mission worlds they might encounter. After all, tens of thousands of good films are produced worldwide each year, and if you add in TV dramas and short videos, the number probably reaches into the millions.

In such a vast sea of possibilities, the chance of landing in a film world that he himself had invested in was about the same as winning the lottery.

So Gao Ning remained calm, not in the least anxious. He continued flipping through the materials, hoping to find two more suitable scripts.

At that moment, Liu Shanshan knocked and entered. “Mr. Gao, the front desk just called. Someone named Minotaur is here for an appointment with you.”

“Oh, he’s here already? Send him up, and have someone prepare a pot of tea as well. My mouth is parched from talking so much!”

“Yes, Mr. Gao. I’ll see to it right away.”

A few minutes later, a thin young man pushed open the door and came in.

He wore a fitted suit, but even the smallest size seemed a bit too loose on his frame, as if he’d snuck into his neighbor’s house at night and stolen their clothes. He wasn’t particularly tall—just a little over 1.6 meters. His face was youthful, but he had deliberately grown a beard on his chin, leaving a two-finger-wide strip of scruffy facial hair, meticulously trimmed, all brushed in one direction, looking rather amusing.

As soon as he entered, the young man extended his hand to Gao Ning with a smile. “Mr. Gao, it’s great to finally meet you!”

Gao Ning was a bit curious. “So you’re Minotaur? The popular online video commentator?”

The young man laughed heartily. “Don’t I look nothing like you expected? You’re not the first to say that—plenty of others have said the same. But what can I do? I was born with a body that never puts on weight no matter how much meat I eat. Plus, my surname is Niu, so I figured I’d just go with the nickname Minotaur.”

“I see! Sorry to trouble you to come all this way, please have a seat.”

Gao Ning gestured for Minotaur to sit first before continuing, “My secretary should have explained the basics, but I'll go into more detail. I’ve just started a new online media company—it’s still just an experiment, and we don’t have any works yet. This year, I plan to invest in three online movies. While aiming for theatrical release, I also want them to be promoted online, so I’m looking to build up some buzz ahead of time. That’s why I had someone look into the most popular bloggers recently, and your style seems a good fit. I wanted to discuss a potential collaboration with you.”

Minotaur pressed his palms together. “Mr. Gao, you’re too kind. To be honest, I’m just a solo video creator. I do run a tiny studio, but it’s just me, top to bottom. I have had some ad revenue before, but most of it isn’t worth mentioning. A commission like yours—a series of custom movie recap and analysis videos—is exactly what I’ve been dreaming of! I have no other demands. As long as the price is reasonable, you have my word—I’ll make sure you’re satisfied!”

Gao Ning couldn’t help but smile wryly.

He himself had never participated in a formal business negotiation, but as a supervisor, he’d followed the boss to a few as an observer. Those negotiations were razor-sharp, with both sides unwilling to budge an inch until the contract was signed. Before the ink was dry, anything went—even underhanded tactics like lacing the other party’s drink with laxatives so they’d have to negotiate from the restroom weren’t out of the question.

But Minotaur, on the other hand, had laid all his cards on the table from the start.

Still, his sincerity did move Gao Ning.

Gao Ning shook his head. “Here’s what I propose: I’ll commission twelve episodes. Each should review and compare films across genres, integrating them for both horizontal and vertical comparisons. I want you to clearly explain the background, details, and all the hidden elements in each film. In short, dig up every Easter egg and hidden treasure, and lay them all out. Each episode should be no less than sixty minutes, with at least one episode released every week. All should be completed within three months.

As for payment, it will be in two stages. The first is a fixed base of one hundred thousand. As long as you meet my requirements, that sum is guaranteed.

The second stage depends on views and online ratings. Based on a ten-point scale, you’ll get a percentage of the base as a bonus. For example, if your video scores seven out of ten, you’ll get an extra seventy thousand. So, each video could earn you up to one hundred and seventy thousand.”

Minotaur stood in stunned silence for a moment, then jumped up with a shout, thumping his thin chest. “Mr. Gao, you’re so generous! I have nothing else to say—just watch what I can do! I promise you’ll be satisfied!”

Gao Ning nodded. “This is just a trial collaboration. If things go well, there will be more custom videos, and we’ll increase payment based on the depth of your analysis. On that front, I’m sure you know more than I do—you’re a film school graduate, after all, and you understand directing and storytelling far better than I ever could.”

“No problem—just wait and see!”

One man was so excited he could barely contain himself; the other didn’t care about the money at all—he just wanted someone to help organize movie information.

So, before they’d even finished a cup of tea, the deal was struck.

Qi Shan slid a check for half a million across the table as a deposit, nearly making Minotaur tremble with joy.

It was obvious—though he’d stuck with video production, convinced his breakthrough would come someday, he was still languishing in obscurity. Gao Ning’s arrival was like a talent scout spotting a thoroughbred.

And really, who could resist a genuine five hundred thousand in cash?

The two shook hands, and Gao Ning saw Minotaur out, his face beaming with joy.

Then Liu Shanshan arrived with another guest.

“Mr. Gao, this is Zhang Fugui, executive planner from the Chinese Web Fiction Network. He says you have an appointment.”

Gao Ning nodded. “That’s right. I’m interested in hosting a contest for movie-themed web fiction on your site. I’d already asked my staff to reach out, but I didn’t expect you to arrive so promptly, Mr. Zhang.”

“Mr. Gao, you’re a god of wealth—I wouldn’t dare keep you waiting!”

Gao Ning laughed heartily and gestured invitingly, “I’m flattered. Please, come in!”