I am a Big Player
Chapter 580 - 574. Chen Da’s Thoughts (First Update)_1

Chapter 580: 574. Chen Da’s Thoughts (First Update)_1

"Do you think it can succeed?" Chen Da quietly asked Zhang Ming on the road.

He didn’t specify what should succeed, but Zhang Ming knew what Chen Da was asking about. It was nothing other than Qinghe Film and Television, the company they were collaborating with, and what made him invest himself into the embrace of Qinghe Film and Television.

Now, the media outside was abuzz discussing this matter, but Zhang Ming wasn’t particularly concerned.

The point was, like Ren He, he didn’t care whether it could succeed or not.

"You’re still young," Zhang Ming said, sitting in the car, resting with his eyes closed, mentally reviewing scenes from the movie, pondering how to make Ren He’s script shine.

Now, without any desires or demands, Ren He could invest in him without reservations and also provide a good script, which was exactly what he wanted.

Chen Da was different from him. Chen Da still had too many interests to consider. By now, Chen Da had understood the principle that money can make things difficult for a hero, but Zhang Ming was different. He had long passed the stage of bending his will for mere survival, and his mindset had completely changed as well.

So he uttered to Chen Da this seemingly irrelevant remark about his youth, leaving Chen Da momentarily dumbfounded.

Zhang Ming continued, "But you don’t need to worry too much. What you want, you can get it all at Qinghe Film and Television, maybe even more. And it’s not just stuff within the industry; it goes far beyond that."

Hearing Zhang Ming say this, Chen Da suddenly remembered what Xia Yuting had said. Ren He had merely followed her suggestion to buy a Courtyard House and then nearly made ten times the investment in no time—that was tens of millions we’re talking about.

This fortune was far too tempting for Chen Da, so he was increasingly eager to get even closer to Ren He.

There really are such people in this world, who understand society to a degree that far surpasses the imagination of ordinary people, and so in the eyes of others, they possess the ability to turn stone into gold.

In Chen Da’s eyes, Ren He was such a person.

For Chen Da, there was nothing wrong with loving money. Originally being too straightforward in the industry, he thought he could compete with the big shots, switching companies if one didn’t work out. However, he did not foresee that the rules within this circle were beyond his imagination, leading to a great fall.

He was now 37, had wasted nearly 12 years, and still saw no clear path ahead. His girlfriend from before had now become an influential figure. He had thought she would stay by his side through thick and thin, but after his troubles, they parted ways.

After his girlfriend left, Chen Da realized just how brutally realistic the world was; the hardships of life were not something a naive twenty-something could bear.

Their love had once been so beautiful, so enviable. However, behind his back in a drama crew, among those mocking him was his ex-girlfriend.

Now, his ex is about to marry into a wealthy family. The man she’s marrying is a real estate businessman worth billions—far beyond what he could ever compare to.

At that time, Zhang Ming, drinking with him, had said, "You never know who truly cares about you until you hit rock bottom."

It makes sense when put like that, but who would actually want to be desolate? It’s just consolation when you have no other choice.

Zhang Ming glanced at him and asked, "Haven’t you looked into Qinghe Group?"

Chen Da was stunned for a moment: "I have. They’re rich. Everyone knows Qinghe Group is rich."

"You only know they’re rich," Zhang Ming shook his head. "All these subsidiaries that Qinghe has launched, each of their projects has become a leader in its industry, but you don’t know one thing: the CEOs of these subsidiaries within Qinghe’s faction, they all hold shares like me. What I admire most about Ren He is that he understands the importance of sharing profits. As long as you can align yourself with him, you’ll see returns. This has been proven."

Zhang Ming continued, "This person is generous with his own people and stingy with outsiders. So many want to invest in Qinghe Group, but not one has succeeded. Ren He is now holding out for the best offer, and until he finds the most suitable backing, he won’t easily engage in equity transactions. Following someone who’s shrewd with outsiders but generous with his own people has no downside."

"Okay, I’ll take your advice," Chen Da nodded.

"Xiaowen is now in Chongqing shooting a TV drama. I know you hold deep grudges against her, but this is the time for you to focus on your work and not create any more problems, lest Ren He thinks you’re troublesome," Zhang Ming advised. He was the one who knew most about Chen Da’s grievances, so he offered this warning.

Both of the couple had worked under him on films, and eventually, they went their separate ways. All Zhang Ming could do was stop offering roles to Xiaowen and avoid getting too involved; doing so was already going beyond obligation.

"I understand," Chen Da responded earnestly.

In Chen Da’s view, Zhang Ming was an old fox with integrity and loyalty. Although the old man had become cunning from life’s experiences, he had never forgotten his original aspirations and principles.

What kind of person was Chen Da himself? He wasn’t sure. He dared not call himself a good person, but he wasn’t entirely bad either. Isn’t life meant to be full of flesh and blood, with love and hate?

But just as Zhang Ming said, now was the time to make a good impression on Ren He, to not give the impression of being a troublemaker. If he ever got a chance in the future, he might just find an opportunity to get back at that woman. Someone who could hide out at the Central Academy of Drama for 12 years and always look for a chance to make a comeback was never simple.

Her leaving was something he could understand; after all, she left when the money ran out, and her pursuit of a better life was not wrong. But the act of kicking someone when they’re down was painful.

Once, a director from the Central Academy of Drama, daring to defy the industry’s tacit rules, approached Chen Da for a role as the third male lead in a film. Chen Da was very grateful for the opportunity, but the investors had requested Xiaowen as the female lead. After she joined the crew, she demanded that if Chen Da was in, the film wouldn’t need to be made.

This was beyond Chen Da’s expectations and was the most heart-wrenching thing for him at the time.

Now, he just wanted to make a name for himself at Qinghe Film and Television. This time he had the leading role, and the prospects looked promising. And that wasn’t even the important part. What mattered was that Qinghe Film and Television was like a ferocious dragon crossing the river in the entertainment industry, rendering the unwritten rules of the past ineffective.

Backed by Luohe and Qinghe Group, he would probably not have to pander to others in the domestic scene. Typically, even during the crowded summer movie season, everyone would tacitly stagger their big production releases by a week or two because, after all, it’s a business about relationships. You never know when you’ll cross paths again.

But from what he and Zhang Ming could discern of Ren He’s intentions... it seemed like they weren’t planning to give anyone face. Once the film was released, Luohe Group’s theaters were to allocate over 50% of screens to it, pushing all other films aside...