Big Explosion

"Goose Factory launched the phenomenal hit Kuala Lumpur Affairs, which surpassed 2 billion yuan at the box office in just 20 days."

"Goose Factory's comeback battle in film and television. With Kuala Lumpur Affairs, it secured its position as the king of the summer box office!"

"Another work proving Guo Fan's talent. Netizens joked that the door to domestic sci-fi, which Shanghai Fortress had shut, had been reopened."

"Kuala Lumpur Affairs became a massive hit, triggering another frenzy to acquire the rights to domestic sci-fi works."

The success of Kuala Lumpur Affairs was Goose Factory's comeback victory in film production and distribution. It had proven its capabilities.

Major self-media outlets rushed to report on the success of Kuala Lumpur Affairs, and even Kuala Lumpur's tourism industry had been boosted. Spring Airlines showed that searches for flights to Kuala Lumpur had risen by 500%.

The number of Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia had also increased by 50%.

Malaysia was even hoping to invite the film's lead actors to serve as its tourism ambassadors.

Because the movie had become such a sensation, media outlets in Singapore had even lodged protests, objecting to Singapore being depicted as a chaotic place in the future.

In Chen Yuanguang's depiction, the Kra Canal had been opened under AI leadership, while Singapore and the Strait of Malacca had gradually declined.

The movie's explosive success had also proven the value of Chen Yuanguang's work. Goose Factory sent Jenny to negotiate with Chen Yuanguang, hoping to sign a long-term contract with him.

Meanwhile, Science Fiction World regretted missing out on yet another phenomenal IP. Anyone with eyes could see that Kuala Lumpur Affairs could absolutely be made into a series centered around its setting, much like Detective Chinatown.

Of course, it had gotten a share of the profits as well. The explosive success of Kuala Lumpur Affairs led film and television companies to sign rights deals for all the other winning works from the tenth Science Fiction New Star Competition.

Everyone was taking a gamble. If Kuala Lumpur Affairs could earn 2 billion yuan in twenty days, surely the second- and Third-Class prize winners from the Science Fiction New Star Competition could make over 100 million at the box office?

Science Fiction World signed rights agreements with two of the works, and the profit from reselling those rights exceeded what it made from selling magazines over an entire year.

Its staff had been sighing internally ever since. No wonder everyone was rushing into the IP business.

"Ms. Lin, congratulations." Jenny had arranged an in-person meeting with Chen Yuanguang, only to find that Lin Jia had come instead. Her heart sank.

Jenny had hoped to meet Chen Yuanguang alone and sweet-talk him into signing the contract.

Lin Jia was not so easy to fool. Or rather, Jenny had no confidence at all that she could fool Lin Jia.

Lin Jia wore a professionally fake smile. "Jenny, it's been a long time. You look well. It seems the movie's huge success was a much-needed shot in the arm for you.

"The people higher up the chain should have regained confidence in Goose Factory Pictures. They must no longer think you're a bunch of hopeless idiots."

When negotiating, once you knew the other side needed you rather than the other way around, all you had to do was overwhelm them with momentum.

Lin Jia knew that no matter how much she mocked Jenny, Jenny would not dare show even the slightest dissatisfaction. Lin Jia could turn around at any time and sign with Alibaba, Enlight Media, or Wanda.

Their business representatives had already come knocking.

Wherever there was profit, capital had a sharper nose than a dog.

As expected, Jenny did not get angry. Her lashes merely lowered for a moment before she quickly smiled. "It is all thanks to Mr. Chen's work, which laid the foundation for our success this time.

"We very much hope to maintain a long-term partnership with Mr. Chen."

Lin Jia said, "No problem. Our collaboration this time was very pleasant. But whether we can continue such a pleasant partnership in the future depends on Goose Factory's sincerity."

Jenny took out a contract from her bag and handed it over. "Ms. Lin, this is our sincerity."

She had prepared two contracts in her bag. She had decided from the start that if Chen Yuanguang came, she would give him the first one; if Lin Jia came, she would give her the second.

Lin Jia picked up the contract and quickly flipped to the important clauses. "It's too long. We cannot accept twenty years. That would practically tie up a writer's entire career.

"Five years at most. We sign once every five years.

"Also, you cannot demand all of his works. Our authorization only covers works related to the story setting of Kuala Lumpur Affairs."

Lin Jia picked apart every clause in the contract. She greatly enjoyed the feeling of using a dull knife to slowly carve away at the other party during negotiations.

Lin Jia knew Goose Factory would not agree to her demands so easily. They would need many rounds of negotiation before reaching a result.

This back-and-forth probing of the other side's limits, the feeling of achieving her goals, was exactly what Lin Jia enjoyed.

While Lin Jia negotiated with Goose Factory, Chen Yuanguang returned home.

He had only come back to China for four months. Two months had already passed, and in another two months, he would be leaving for America. He wanted to spend some time with his mother.

"Yuanguang, I never expected you to truly have talent for writing. Mom went to see the movie you made and bought the original novel too.

"I couldn't get through the novel, but the movie was wonderfully made. I even invited all my coworkers to watch it." Mother Chen smiled happily.

After divorcing Chen Yuanguang's father, she had given up on the idea of pushing her child to succeed. She felt that instead of pushing her child, she might as well push herself, and so she embarked on the path of becoming a formidable career woman.

Because of that, Chen Yuanguang had enjoyed a very free childhood and adolescence. During puberty, he had been unable to understand why neither of his parents had time to spend with him.

Only after entering university did he gradually come to understand his mother, and gain a new understanding of his father's carefree ways as well.

"I'm glad you like it. Once the movie's accounts are settled, I should receive around 50 million yuan this time. I'll transfer half to you then, so you won't have to work so hard.

"I can already make enough to support you, Grandpa, and Grandma. You can retire early now," Chen Yuanguang said.

Mother Chen replied calmly, "Do I look like someone who can sit idle?

"If I retired, I wouldn't even know what to do. Honestly, I work so my life will not feel so empty.

"Keep the money you earn yourself. I can support myself.

"Yuanguang, have you thought about what path you want to take in the future?

"More precisely, have you planned out your career?"

Chen Yuanguang had a headache. One reason he did not want to come home was this. He did not want to come home only to talk about work, the future, and such serious subjects.

He had no idea which direction his future would take. Moreover, what he could affect was not merely himself, but the entire Earth and all of human society.

The subject was far too vast. He needed enough time to think and deduce.

"I haven't figured it out yet. There are too many choices, and I need time to choose slowly. I plan to do everything. When my energy is no longer enough and I have no choice but to give something up, I'll gradually simplify things," Chen Yuanguang said.

Mother Chen frowned, then relaxed after a while. "That makes sense. Whether in scientific research or writing, you have enough capital to be willful.

"Your foundation is already very solid. You won't be like ordinary people, who fall permanently behind after one wrong step. In that case, you really can take your time to think it through."