New York, United States.
Marvel Headquarters.
Inside Kevin's office, the atmosphere had turned icy.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The desk shook violently under the force of Kevin's fist, the sharp sound echoing through the room.
His forehead was slightly red from anger as he glared coldly at the man sitting across from him.
The visitor, however, looked completely relaxed.
Warner Bros.' Vice President of Production, Jon, leaned back in his chair with a glass of red wine in hand, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
"Why are you so agitated?" he said lazily, taking another sip. "Warner Bros. offering you ten percent of the North American revenue split is already an enormous concession."
He swirled the wine casually.
"Do you know how many production companies beg for terms like this and still don't get them?"
His tone was full of arrogance.
In his eyes, Marvel was still just a small company struggling to stay afloat.
A market value of barely three hundred million dollars.
Nothing more.
Kevin let out a cold laugh.
"Heh."
After spending so much time around Luo Zheng, he had picked up a lot of "new knowledge."
Jon didn't understand the meaning behind the laugh, but the disdain on Kevin's face was impossible to miss.
His expression darkened instantly.
"What is that attitude supposed to mean?" Jon snapped, slamming his wine glass down. "Are you actually refusing cooperation with Warner Bros.?"
Kevin leaned back slowly in his chair.
"Yes."
Then he pointed directly at the office door.
"And don't let the door hit you on the way out."
Jon froze.
For a moment, he simply stared at Kevin as if he had heard something absurd.
No one rejected Warner Bros.
Especially not a company like Marvel.
His fingers trembled slightly from fury.
"You dare refuse us?"
Kevin's expression remained calm, almost amused.
"Goodbye. Door's that way."
Jon's face turned livid.
"Fine. Fine!"
He stood up so abruptly that his chair nearly toppled over.
"Just wait until Marvel goes bankrupt."
With that, he stormed out, stumbling slightly in his anger.
The moment the door shut behind him, Kevin snorted.
"Shabi."
His Chinese pronunciation was surprisingly standard.
After all, this was something Luo Zheng had personally taught him.
A few seconds later, Kevin picked up the phone on his desk and dialed a familiar number.
"Boss, just like you predicted, the Warner Bros. guy really is a shabi."
He listened quietly for a moment.
"Understood. I'll confirm the distribution partner as soon as possible."
Another pause.
"Yes, James Wan has already joined the company, but he's still very inexperienced. He needs time."
"Got it. I'll report again once the crew is ready."
As soon as he hung up, the office landline rang again.
Kevin picked it up.
"President Kevin, Mr. Jones from Lionsgate has arrived. Should I bring him in?"
A faint smile appeared on Kevin's face.
"Please show him in."
In the past, he would have personally gone out to greet them.
Now?
Now he could sit here and drink tea.
He picked up the cup on his desk and took a slow sip.
The bitterness touched his tongue first, followed by a lingering sweetness.
Chinese tea really was excellent.
Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, Wan Chai District.
Luo Zheng had just finished a simple media interview at the branch office.
Ever since The Man from Earth had exploded at the box office and his own reputation soared once more, the address of Marvel's Asia-Pacific branch had somehow been exposed.
For the past few days, reporters had practically been camping outside the building.
It had become extremely troublesome.
Since the film itself wasn't some massive blockbuster, Luo Zheng had no intention of holding a formal press conference.
Instead, he simply accepted exclusive interviews with a few major entertainment papers.
After that, the situation finally improved.
Back in his office, Luo Zheng had only just sat down and taken a sip of tea when his phone rang.
The caller ID made him smile slightly.
"Chairman Han."
He answered immediately.
"Chairman Han, what instructions do you have for me?"
On the other end, Han Sanping's voice carried warmth and laughter.
"President Luo, congratulations on the film's remarkable box office success."
Luo Zheng replied modestly, "You flatter me. It's only a small achievement."
The two exchanged a few polite compliments before Han Sanping finally brought up the real matter.
"The issue you asked Secretary Liu to pass along has already been arranged."
Luo Zheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Xixi's role?"
"Yes," Han Sanping replied. "In a few days, let her report directly to the crew."
Luo Zheng was genuinely surprised.
He had expected help, but he hadn't expected Han Sanping to personally intervene over something this minor.
It seemed the success of the film had truly strengthened their relationship.
After another round of pleasantries, the call ended.
Almost immediately, the system notification sounded in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. Side mission completed: Younger Female Cousin's Trouble]
[Reward: Gacha ×2]
Only two draws.
Luo Zheng decided to save them for later.
Before he could think further, a sharp voice suddenly rang out from beside him.
"Xixi's audition has been settled?"
Liu Xiaoli had somehow already reached his desk.
Her hands were pressed firmly against the table as she leaned forward, her expression full of excitement.
The angle… was dangerous.
Luo Zheng's gaze instinctively drifted downward for a second.
Then he coughed lightly and looked away.
"Are you listening to me?"
Liu Xiaoli's voice rose.
Only then did Luo Zheng return to himself.
"Auntie," he said with a faint smile, "you should pay attention to your image. It's just the two of us in the office. If someone hears you shouting like this, it won't look good."
Liu Xiaoli's eyes widened.
This brat actually dared turn it around on her?
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down.
"Fine. Then tell me properly. Is there news?"
Luo Zheng leaned back in his chair leisurely.
"Auntie, is that how you ask for help?"
Her brows immediately knitted together.
"It's just the two of us here," she said coldly. "Stop calling me that. Your uncle and I are already divorced."
For some reason, hearing him still call her that made her feel strangely uncomfortable.
Especially now.
Luo Zheng stood up slowly and walked over.
Under her stunned gaze, he casually patted her shoulder.
"If I change how I address you now, what happens if I accidentally say it in front of Xixi later?"
His voice was calm.
"Wouldn't that create unnecessary trouble?"
Liu Xiaoli froze.
She had no way to refute him.
Seeing her hesitate, Luo Zheng suddenly reached out and caught her wrist as she turned to leave.
"Auntie, wait."
Her body stiffened instantly.
The next moment, he said seriously,
"Xixi's audition is settled. Chairman Han personally arranged it."
Liu Xiaoli stared at him in shock.
"The Vice Chairman of China Film Group personally handled it?"
Luo Zheng nodded.
"In a few days, you can take her directly to the crew."
At those words, the tension in Liu Xiaoli's heart finally eased.
With Han Sanping personally stepping in, no one in the industry would dare look down on Xixi.
For the first time, she truly understood how capable Luo Zheng had become.
Then—
slap!
A crisp sound rang out.
Luo Zheng immediately withdrew his hand, wincing slightly.
His palm still stung.
He had moved too fast.
Without even thinking, he had placed his hand against her waist while speaking.
Liu Xiaoli's face was flushed with fury.
Her eyes could practically kill.
Yet Luo Zheng still shamelessly said,
"Sorry. My mind got a little heated. I really couldn't help it."
"Shut up!"
Her voice was sharp.
But strangely—
the anger in her eyes slowly began to soften.
That change startled even Luo Zheng.
He instinctively leaned back a little.
At that moment, Liu Xiaoli's thoughts had already shifted elsewhere.
She wasn't even thinking about herself being taken advantage of.
Her first thought was Xixi.
Luo Zheng was young.
Talented.
Successful.
And far too outstanding.
A man like him, especially one who had lost his parents young and risen to fame so early, was far more likely to lose control.
What if one day—
his impulses turned toward Xixi?
That thought sent a chill through her heart.
No.
Absolutely not.
As an elder, she had to guide him.
She had to make sure he never crossed that line.
The anger in her eyes slowly transformed into something more complicated.
A kind of quiet resolve.
Luo Zheng looked at her expression and suddenly felt a strange sense of danger.
Why did it suddenly feel like—
he was the one about to become the victim?