Chapter 13: The Machine Was Turned On in the Morning, but the Person Entered in the Afternoon

“Teacher, what’s the situation with Senior Brother Ning Hao?” Chen Mo asked curiously.

“Oh, him? He’s a very talented director, but unfortunately, he’s had a streak of bad luck. A few years ago, he made his first film. Though it didn’t make much money, it was enough to get his name out there. Later, he started another project and finally secured some investment, but right before things got underway, the investor was arrested…” Li Bin’s expression turned a little strange as he spoke.

Chen Mo’s face grew even stranger.

“And then?” Chen Mo asked, intrigued.

“Well, naturally it was a complete mess. With the investor in trouble, his funding dried up, and his project was frozen. It was only recently unlocked, but by then, the circumstances had changed. Although the project was able to restart, no one was willing to invest after such a fiasco. So he’s been scrambling around trying to find funding…” Li Bin explained.

Chen Mo silently mourned for Director Ning for half a second.

That was truly… terribly unlucky!

“But wait, if he’s capable of directing his own movies, why would he be willing to come work as my assistant director?” Chen Mo thought about it. Even if Ning Hao’s project had fallen through and he was scrambling for investment, it wouldn’t seem likely that he would stoop to being an assistant director—especially on an idol drama.

“He had the project up and running at first, but then it collapsed, and he lost a lot of money. He’s been working odd jobs to pay off debts, taking any work that comes his way. But mainly, it depends on you. What’s his biggest motivation right now?” Li Bin asked with a smile.

“Raising investment for the movie?” Chen Mo suddenly understood.

“Exactly! And if you can win him over, you’ll get his entire filming crew on your team. So, what do you say? Confident?” Li Bin teased.

Chen Mo’s eyes lit up immediately.

Using a film crew to shoot a TV drama, especially an idol drama—no matter if it was overqualified or not—it was absolutely reliable!

As for whether he could win Ning Hao over?

That depended on how desperate Ning was for money.

“Yes, absolutely!” Chen Mo said eagerly. Then he looked up and caught Li Bin’s sly gaze, and couldn’t help but smile.

“You and Senior Brother Ning are pretty close?” Chen Mo asked with curiosity.

“Yeah, quite close! He was so unlucky. Just that morning, he was bragging on the phone with me, saying the shoot was finally starting. Who would’ve thought the investor got arrested that very afternoon.” Li Bin sighed, feeling sorry for him.

Talent unrecognized is one thing, but pure bad luck was just cruel.

“Ha!” Chen Mo burst out laughing.

He never imagined that the great director who had smooth sailing in his past life would be so relentlessly unlucky in this one.

The shoot started in the morning, the investor was arrested in the afternoon—it was almost comical.

…

Li Bin arranged to meet Ning Hao at a small restaurant next to the Beijing Film Academy.

Soon, Chen Mo and Li Bin saw a man in his thirties with a weary face appear at the entrance.

Li Bin immediately waved at him, “Mouse, over here!”

Ning Hao looked worn out, obviously rushing over. Hearing Li Bin’s voice, he turned and walked over.

Without hesitation, he plopped down and grabbed the water pot on the table, pouring himself a cup and gulping it down.

“I was so thirsty!” He finished and wiped the water from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve.

“Where have you been? You look like a refugee,” Li Bin teased curiously.

“Don’t even mention it. Too many tears to tell,” Ning Hao replied. Then he suddenly looked at Chen Mo. “Chen Mo? Damn, man, you’re really something—the first internet defamation case, and you actually won? Awesome!” Ning Hao recognized him immediately and greeted him warmly.

“Enough with your nonsense. Chen Mo is my student; he’s the one who wants your help,” Li Bin said irritably.

“How am I bullshitting? I’m telling the truth. That backstabbing guild really disgusted me. Chen Mo’s moves were satisfying. Isn’t that right?” Ning Hao said indignantly.

“By the way, tell me exactly—heard you’re planning to settle with them?” Ning Hao turned to Chen Mo with genuine curiosity.

It was clear he really wanted to know.

Chen Mo smiled. “Their statements are legally ambiguous, so going to court isn’t really necessary. Naturally, any little gain is a bonus.”

Hearing this, Ning Hao’s eyes lit up.

“How much can you get? Spill it.”

“Mouse, enough already. You really are all about the money, huh?” Li Bin gave him a black look.

“So what if I am? I’d sell myself if I could, but unfortunately, I’m not worth much,” Ning Hao said shamelessly.

“Seriously thinking of selling yourself?” Chen Mo suddenly asked.

“Huh?” Li Bin and Ning Hao both looked at Chen Mo in confusion.

“Uh, I just need an assistant director. So if you’re really short on cash, why not come work with me? Then I can invest in you,” Chen Mo quickly explained.

“You’re gonna invest in me? So you really can get a lot?” Ning Hao’s eyes gleamed.

“A few million should be doable,” Chen Mo said, unsure of the exact amount but thinking that even if each person gave around a hundred or two hundred thousand, the total would add up. Except for Fang Xiaoxiao’s side, Chen Mo didn’t want to give that up, or he could make even more.

Ning Hao suddenly looked at Li Bin with a questioning gaze.

“You can think about it!” Li Bin didn’t say much but made his meaning clear.

“How long? What project? Are you directing?” Ning Hao fired off three questions in a row.

“As soon as possible. If all goes smoothly, it should be done in three months. Here’s the script. Yeah, I’m directing,” Chen Mo said, placing the script in front of Ning Hao.

Ning Hao picked up the script and saw the title on the cover. His reaction was much the same as Li Bin’s.

But he didn’t rush to ask questions. Instead, he flipped through the pages and reached the storyboard script inside.

Unlike Li Bin, Ning Hao was a director himself and was very familiar with this. While Li Bin thought Chen Mo’s storyboards were just average, Ning Hao caught some highlights.

“Not bad. Your main approach is just to make everything as beautiful as possible?” Ning Hao couldn’t help but look at him with newfound respect.

“It’s an idol drama, so yeah, the prettier the better,” Chen Mo smiled.

“The script’s called ‘Boys Over Flowers’? ‘Meteor Garden’? Did you buy the rights?” Ning Hao asked.

“Bought them!”

“How much?”

“One million!”

“Worth it!”

Their quick back-and-forth showed remarkable rapport.

Even things left unsaid, Ning Hao could guess.

“This title is interesting! But how do you plan to broadcast the drama?” Ning Hao asked a key question.

“You have connections in that area?” Chen Mo asked, pleasantly surprised.

“I’ve been a workhorse for others these past few years, so I know some people. But probably not enough to be useful. Wait, Li Teacher is right here, so you don’t really need to worry about that,” Ning Hao said, shaking his head before casting a mischievous look at Li Bin.

Chen Mo really didn’t know Li Bin had connections in this area.

He looked at Li Bin.

Actually, Chen Mo wasn’t completely without contacts himself. Back home, his family had some ties in this field. But although it was also a satellite TV station, there was quite a difference between satellite channels. The one back home probably wouldn’t have a big enough budget to buy outside productions.

That, however, was Chen Mo’s last card.

Of course, he wouldn’t take a loss. With a name like ‘Boys Over Flowers,’ which once swept across the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and beyond, this remake wouldn’t fail to sell as long as it wasn’t terrible.

At worst, it would just make a little less profit.

But if Li Bin really had connections, that would be even better.