$10 million...
That was no small sum. Even in 2024, it would still be an enormous amount of money.
Of course, for some people, it was not even a small goal.
But for Lin Yuan right now, this money was an unimaginably astronomical figure, enough to crush all his dreams.
"So if we don't have this money, we can only give up?" Lin Yuan asked.
"You don't need to worry. We'll find a way to help you solve the funding problem."
As Director Cohen spoke, he handed Lin Yuan a bank card.
"You?" Lin Yuan was somewhat confused.
"There's 5 million USD on the card. Three million is my savings, and the remaining two million was put together by Vin and Paul after they heard about the situation."
"This counts as the first payment, to be injected into the production first. Once the bank loan is approved later, I'll advance the remaining five million for you."
Hearing Director Cohen's words, Lin Yuan felt the weight of their affection, almost too heavy to bear.
What had he done to deserve such wholehearted support from them?
Vin Diesel was not his actual uncle, but Vin had been his father's best friend. Given his father's final request, it was understandable that Vin was willing to help him like this.
But what about Paul Walker?
Lin Yuan had only spoken with Paul a few times after risking his life to perform that action scene in The Fast and the Furious. Why was Paul willing to spend money to help him too?
In any country, at any time, if someone was willing to lend you a large sum of money, then they were surely a friend you should cherish most.
Not to mention Director Cohen. Recently, he had clearly worried himself sick trying to help Lin Yuan.
When Director Cohen saw that Lin Yuan had not taken the bank card, he assumed Lin Yuan still had concerns and reassured him:
"Don't worry about not being able to pay it back if we lose money. This is our investment, not a loan. If it really does lose money, you won't need to repay us."
Looking at the bank card Director Cohen held out to him, Lin Yuan felt as though something had gotten into his eyes.
Today, he had not incurred a monetary debt to everyone, but he had willingly taken on a debt of gratitude.
And a debt of gratitude could not be repaid with money. It could only be repaid with a lifetime of friendship.
But Lin Yuan still pushed the bank card back and gestured for Director Cohen to listen to his explanation.
"Director, I sincerely thank all of you for helping me. But this is my own matter. I can't make you risk all your savings because of me."
"Lin..."
"Director, please let me finish. Not accepting your money doesn't mean I'm giving up. In fact, I anticipated the need for additional investment long ago, and I've already found a solution."
"Tell me how you plan to solve it. If it's not reliable, you have to accept our goodwill," Director Cohen insisted.
"I have an appointment with Mr. Eisen tonight. You know him, right? He'll solve my funding problem."
"Eisen Miller? That old man may be rich, but he's not easy to deal with, especially these past few years. Are you confident you can persuade him to invest?" Director Cohen asked.
"The fact that he agreed to meet me means I'm already more than halfway there. Director, trust me. Just wait for my good news."
"All right, then. I'll head back first. Let me know the good news immediately."
"Take care, Director!"
"Goodbye, Lin. And this beautiful Miss Liu—you are the most beautiful Eastern girl I have ever seen."
After saying goodbye, Director Cohen left the café.
Lin Yuan remained seated, waiting for Eisen Miller to arrive.
Mr. Eisen was sixty-three years old. He had started out running a pastry shop in his youth and was now a famous Hollywood investor.
He owned an investment company with assets exceeding ten billion dollars, specializing in investing across the film industry chain, including film production and upstream and downstream industries.
Over the past thirty years, many successful blockbuster films had received his backing, including Star Wars, Planet of the Apes, Terminator, True Lies...
But in recent years, he had suddenly stopped investing in specific film projects.
No film had managed to win his favor. Even when the great director Cameron wanted to make Titanic, he had failed to persuade Mr. Eisen to invest.
As a result, the entire Hollywood film industry had completely given up on him.
Yet Lin Yuan had successfully arranged a meeting with him tonight. But what could he possibly use to persuade him?
Surely not his good looks?
Before long, a well-dressed elderly man walked in and sat down across from Lin Yuan.
This elderly man was Mr. Eisen.
Mr. Eisen looked like an old-fashioned gentleman straight out of a film. His graying hair was meticulously combed back, his refined clothes were clearly custom-tailored to fit perfectly, and the stern expression on his deeply wrinkled face gave him an imposing aura even without anger.
After sitting down, he neither greeted them nor introduced himself. He merely stared coldly at Lin Yuan without saying a word.
His gaze moved up and down, examining Lin Yuan from head to toe like a wolf that had locked onto its prey, radiating a chilling coldness.
The temperature at the table seemed to drop several degrees at once. Liu Yifei, sitting nearby, could not help worrying as she sensed the atmosphere.
What was with this attitude of disdainful silence?
Could he have some ill intentions toward Lin Yuan?
It was already difficult enough for a Chinese American actor to survive in Hollywood. If someone as powerful as this targeted him too, there would truly be no way forward.
But Lin Yuan did not care in the slightest. He met the other man's gaze directly in response.
Only, Lin Yuan's eyes were clear and held no aggression whatsoever.
The two looked at each other for a long time, but neither spoke.
Then Mr. Eisen rose from his chair, seemingly preparing to turn around and leave.
Just as Liu Yifei thought tonight's meeting was about to fall apart, Mr. Eisen spoke.
"How much are you short?"
"15 million USD."
Without asking another question, he took out a checkbook, quickly signed a check, and handed it to Lin Yuan.
Then he turned around and walked out.
Even then, Liu Yifei was still completely bewildered.
"That settled it?"
"Yeah. Didn't you see it?"
"No, that was 15 million USD. He just gave it to you like that?" Liu Yifei suddenly felt that the world was absurd.
"Because I know witchcraft. I put a curse on him. His brain is under my control," Lin Yuan replied with a smile.
"Do you take me for an idiot? If you had something like that, why would you be an action actor instead of hurrying up and taking over the world?" Celestial Fairy rolled her eyes.
"You want to know the real reason?"
"Yes!"
"Agree to one request, and I'll tell you!"
"It can't violate the law or morality." Celestial Fairy cautiously set up her firewall.
"Deal! My request is that you wear white stockings the next time we meet."
"Ew—you men are really... Hurry up and tell me how you got Mr. Eisen to agree."
A faint blush flashed across Liu Yifei's face, but for now, curiosity overwhelmed everything else.
"Because I gave an old man what he needed most—youth!"
As Lin Yuan gave the answer, Liu Yifei's eyes became even more suspicious!
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