223: Chapter 223 Four-Party Talks

"How long have you been using it?" Chen Shaoping asked urgently, his grip on Zhang Ying's hand tightening slightly.

"I just started using it after coming back from Kyoto, only two or three days. What's wrong?"

Zhang Ying noticed something was off and answered immediately.

"That's good then!" Chen Shaoping breathed a sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted. "Darling, stop using it immediately. Don't use it anymore."

"This brand's products are 'three-no' products—no production date, no quality certificate, and no manufacturer. Not only are they useless, they're actually toxic."

"Ah!"

Zhang Ying let out a cry of surprise, her face filled with doubt. "Darling, is that true? How do you know?"

"If that's the case, I need to return the ones I just got."

"Don't return them yet; I have a use for them." Chen Shaoping's expression was cold. He then asked, "Is anyone else in the company using it besides you and Xu Yali?"

"I'm not quite sure, but there probably are."

"Darling, go ask around. If there are others, have them all come to see me."

"Alright, I'll go right away."

After Zhang Ying left, Chen Shaoping thought for a moment and called Tian Jun.

The two talked for a long time before hanging up. His mood had improved significantly, and a smile appeared on his face.

Tian Jun told Chen Shaoping that he would be going to Yunnan Province today or tomorrow. If there was anything, he should say it soon; otherwise, once he reached Yunnan Province to carry out his mission, he might not be able to answer the phone.

Just as he hung up, Zhang Ying walked back in, followed by Li Qian and Hua Lin.

"What? You two are also using TST brand skincare products?"

Chen Shaoping was shocked. There weren't that many women in the company, yet so many were using it.

Li Qian quickly replied, "Yes, we're all still using it, and so is Zhou Juan, but she's out with Xinning and can't make it back."

"Did Xu Yali introduce it to all of you? By the way, where is Xu Yali? Why didn't she come?" Chen Shaoping asked.

"Yes, Yali introduced it to everyone. She took the day off today, saying her face was a bit itchy and uncomfortable, so she went to the hospital."

Although Li Qian didn't know why Chen Shaoping was concerned about this, and Zhang Ying hadn't explained clearly either.

But at a time like this, with the meeting about to start, it was strange that he was worried about this instead of the talks.

Hearing this, Chen Shaoping thought to himself that things were bad; Xu Yali had clearly fallen victim to it.

"From this moment on, don't use TST skincare products anymore. Collect them all; I have a use for them."

Chen Shaoping instructed, then added immediately, "Sister Qian, tell Xu Yali to stay in the hospital for a few more days. There's no rush for her to come back to work."

"The itching on her face, if I'm not mistaken, was caused by the skincare products you're using."

"No way! I've been using it for a while too. While I haven't noticed any great effects, I haven't felt any discomfort either."

Hua Lin said in disbelief, "This product was created by the actress Zhang Tingting and her husband. If it's really toxic, then those two must be completely heartless."

"If she wasn't heartless, her friends wouldn't get lost in her mansion," Chen Shaoping quipped. "Sister Qian, Hua Lin, I think you two should find time to see a doctor. You can't afford to be careless."

"Alright, alright!" Li Qian checked her phone. "Da Ping, President Yang has arrived. Let's go welcome her."

"Okay." Chen Shaoping stood up, walked a few steps, then turned back. "Sister Ying, gather all the skincare products."

"Okay," Zhang Ying responded.

Li Qian and Chen Shaoping arrived at the conference room, where Manager Cai was already hosting Yang Mi.

The two of them knew each other from before and were chatting happily.

"Sister Mimi, welcome, welcome!" Chen Shaoping greeted her with a smile.

"Welcome? I'm already at your company and you're nowhere to be seen. Aren't you being a bit insincere?" Yang Mi complained with a sneer.

"President Yang, something came up and delayed us for a few minutes. I'm sorry," Li Qian apologized.

"It's fine, I'm just joking."

While they were chatting happily, Xu Jing and his assistant walked in, followed by two other men.

"Director Xu, welcome!"

"Mr. Chen, CEO Li, this is Hu Shou, the manager of Tudi Cinema City's Business Department, and this is his assistant..."

Xu Jing was about to introduce them, but Chen Shaoping took a step ahead. With a beaming smile, he walked straight toward Si Wodi and proactively extended his hand. "This must be Assistant Si Wodi? Pleased to meet you."

Si Wodi hadn't expected the other party to greet him first. Flattered yet feeling guilty, he quickly shook hands. "Hello, Mr. Chen. Pleased to meet you."

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was looking, Li Qian gave Chen Shaoping a little pinch to show her dissatisfaction.

In her view, Chen Shaoping's behavior was very impolite; he should have greeted Manager Hu Shou first.

However, it seemed that Hu Shou was quite happy and didn't appear upset by this.

"Manager Hu, if I may be so bold as to ask—no matter how long we spend today, we intend to negotiate and sign the contract."

"I just wonder if you have the final say?"

Chen Shaoping asked with a smile, being very direct.

Hu Shou's expression stiffened. He really hadn't expected this Teacher Young Master Ping to do something so impolite and ask such an impolite question right after meeting.

"Was he biased against him, or was he looking down on him?"

Before coming, President Yang had given him instructions: as long as the conditions weren't too excessive and the company wasn't losing money just for the sake of publicity, he could sign.

This bottom line was already very low; if he couldn't sign even with that, he would be truly incompetent.

"Mr. Chen, don't worry. As long as our cinema city makes a profit, I have the authority to sign," he replied with a smile.

"Then let's begin; there's no need to waste time," Chen Shaoping suggested.

"Alright!"

"Once the agreement is signed, I hope to see Mr. Chen's script as soon as possible. I'm really looking forward to it," Yang Mi said with a faint smile.

The group sat down according to the seating arrangement Li Qian had prepared in advance.

As Si Wodi sat down, he stole a glance at Chen Shaoping.

He didn't know why Chen Shaoping was being so warm toward him, but he unexpectedly met Chen Shaoping's sharp gaze.

It gave him a start, and his heart began to race.

The other three parties were Yang Mi and her assistant Hong Ying, Xu Jing and his assistant, and Hu Shou and his assistant Si Wodi.

There weren't many people, but they were all individuals who could make final decisions.

The attendees from Tongxing Entertainment Company were: Chen Shaoping, Li Qian, and Manager Cai.

"Regarding the general framework I proposed earlier, does anyone have anything to add?" Chen Shaoping spoke first.

Hu Shou immediately spoke up, "Mr. Chen, you've mentioned the investors, the script, and the production team. What about us, the cinema side?"

"Alright, then I'll talk about the cinema side first, and then we can discuss it together."

Everyone listened quietly to Chen Shaoping, their ears perked up.

Si Wodi lightly touched his left arm with his right hand, then quickly picked up his pen.

"As the link between our film and the audience, the importance of the cinema side goes without saying."

"It could even be said to be the most critical link. No matter how stunning your film is, if the theaters don't give it screenings, the box office will be a big fat zero."

"Therefore, if Tudi Cinema City joins our Film Alliance..."

"Then for any film produced by the alliance, the cinemas must guarantee that the film's screening share reaches 4% or more during the first week of release."

"After seven days, the number of screenings can be increased or decreased based on the film's box office performance."