Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  January 21st, Monday…


  “Achoo!’


  Pei Qian sneezed not long after he woke up.

  “Who’s thinking about me again?!”


  After a simple breakfast, Pei Qian arrived at his office as usual. He was prepared to spend as much money as he could for this cycle.

  He had to say that things had not been looking good recently!

  Pei Qian had not expected the three works of the inspiration class to become popular.

  However, on the bright side, the situation with the inspiration class could not be worse. After all, the popularity of Eternal Reincarnation had completely gone down. It was almost sold out. The follow-up sales had stabilized. The ratings and popularity of ‘Successor’ had already reversed on Aili Island’s website. There was no room for further improvement.

  What was more troublesome was ‘Executer Academy’. According to this old sow’s updating speed, a long period of stable updates in the future would provide more stable benefits to Fei Huang Workspace.

  However, no matter what, stable income meant that it was controllable. It could be solved by brainstorming, so it was alright.

  As for Safe and Civilized Driving, he could only say that the situation was worse than Pei Qian had expected. The many dissuasion segments that he had set up previously did not seem to have much effect.

  However, on the whole, it was still acceptable.

  There were still some complaints that should be there. Many people were criticizing “Safe and Civilized Driving” online. This was mainly focused on its excessive collision punishment mechanism, overly strict driver’s license examinations and newbie teaching, slightly monotonous core gameplay, and maliciously discrediting some brand collision effects.

  Based on the current situation, if it was based on ordinary game evaluation standards, ‘Safe and Civilized Driving’ would be considered popular and successful. However, based on Tengda Games’ evaluation standards, ‘Safe and Civilized Driving’ was far from the previous Tengda Games.

  The sales of the safe and civilized driving simulator had also increased because of the release of the game, but the inventory was still piled up like a mountain. That was good news.

  Pei Qian planned to use this opportunity to allow Lu Mingliang to rent a few more warehouses across the country. They were filled with all sorts of products from Otto Technologies, especially the safe and civilized driving simulators.

  This was the most difficult to sell. Of course, they had to pile up the most!

  That would greatly reduce the pressure on settlement for this cycle.

  In addition, Pei Qian had already handed over the matters of charity and the zoo to Assistant Xin. He had to discuss the charity with the relevant departments and the various schools. However, this matter should be very smooth. The zoo required the approval of the relevant departments to let the architect design and to find a qualified gardener.

  He could not rush these. He just had to make some progress in two weeks.

  Of course, this zoo would definitely not be able to expand so much in the beginning. Pei Qian thought that he would find a random plot of land near Thriller Hostel, even if there were only a few animals. He would open the zoo as soon as possible and spend as much money as possible without affecting the settlement.

  After this settlement cycle, he would slowly expand like Thriller Hostel in the future.

  Just as he was thinking about his future plans, he heard a knock on his office door.

  Pei Qian looked up and saw Huang Sibo.

  Huang Sibo’s face was filled with excitement. He was just one step away from writing ‘I have great news’ on his face.

  Pei Qian’s heart nearly dropped.

  This was bad!

  What good news was this?

  Huang Sibo, you’ve just returned from a torturous trip. Don’t force me!

  However, on further thought, Pei Qian realized that something was amiss. Hadn’t the two projects that Fei Huang Workspace had been in charge of this cycle been settled? ‘Successor’ and ‘Executer Academy’ had already signed an agreement with Aili Island. They would be exclusive. They could not sell them to others, right?

  Pei Qian calmed down and asked, “What’s wrong?”


  Huang Sibo raised his thumb, his admiration overflowing. “Boss Pei, the copyright for ‘Successor’ has been sold!”


  Pei Qian was stunned.

  Copyright? Hadn’t it been sold a long time ago? To Aili Island.

  How could he sell a second one?

  Huang Sibo continued, “The overseas copyright of ‘Successor’ was fought over by several overseas streaming platforms and television stations. In the end, we decided to sell the copyright to NLX because they would be in charge of translating ‘Successor’ into 28 languages and broadcast it to viewers in 190 countries and regions around the world!”


  “What’s more, as the largest streaming platform overseas, NLX has the most users and the most influence.”


  “Of course, their bids are not the highest. However, they are not much different from the first bid.”


  Pei Qian looked shocked. Trembling, he asked, “How much?”


  Huang Sibo: “80 million US dollars!”


  Pei Qian lost his expression.

  Only confusion was left.

  Mad, this world has gone mad!

  ‘Successor’ might have gone to the United States to film with the filming company there and had spent money to make some big scenes, but all the investment added up to only about 200 million yuan. That was about 30 million US dollars.

  After all, unlike other series, the remuneration of the main actors in ‘Successor’ was not high. The protagonist, Phil, chose a young actor with superb acting skills from overseas. Lu Zhiyao and the others were guest actors who took the bit-role money. It was not much even if they included the friendship price and the premium of the movie king.

  It could not be compared to movies and dramas where some main actors easily earned more than a hundred million yuan.

  The 30 million US dollars was spent freely, ensuring that the show’s focus reached first-tier standard.

  At first, Pei Qian had thought that it would cost two hundred million yuan. If they could not sell the foreign copyrights, they would only sell the domestic copyrights. How could they recoup their costs?

  The best case scenario would be no loss or profit, right?

  However, he did not expect that the website would use ratings and viewership ratings to split the profits. Soon, he would be able to recoup his costs. In the future, he would be making pure profits. Secondly, he did not expect foreign companies to be willing to buy this thing.

  What’s more, he had doubled it!

  Of course, given the wealthy situation of NLX as a streaming platform, it was not surprising that they spent 80 million US dollars on copyrights. After all, they had bought more expensive things before. They spent 10 billion US dollars on copyright every year.

  However, the key question was why they bought ‘Successor’.

  Pei Qian was very confused. He asked, “What do they think of ‘Successor’?”


  Huang Sibo exclaimed, “It’s exactly as you expected, Boss Pei!”


  Pei Qian: “?”


  What should I have expected!

  I did not think that anyone would buy it!

  Huang Sibo explained, “I remember that before we started filming ‘Successor’, Boss Pei gave us some simple instructions. He said that ‘Successor’ should not have strong emotional tendencies and should not show too much irony. Instead, it should be expressed from a realistic and neutral point of view. The audience’s eyes are sharp. Naturally, they can understand.”


  Pei Qian: “…”


  He wanted to ask if he had really said that before.

  However, too much time had passed. He could no longer remember.

  However, on further thought, this did seem like something he would say.

  The reason was very simple. When ‘Successor’ was first released, Pei Qian did not think that it had any chance of making money overseas. He filmed it for domestic audiences.

  The core of ‘Successor’ was an anti superhero. Pei Qian asked the production team not to show too much irony during the filming process because he wanted to weaken the performance of this core and reduce the possibility of it becoming popular domestically.

  In the end, it turned out to be true!

  The audience’s eyes were really sharp. They could tell at a glance even in such a situation. They forcefully gave a nearly full rating.

  However… what had this got to do with overseas copyright?

  Huang Sibo continued, “At first, I was wondering why. However, after talking to overseas platforms, I realized that Boss Pei, your move is too ruthless!”


  “If we really deliberately express this irony, the foreign audience would definitely not be able to accept it and think that we are defaming them. However, if we use a realistic and neutral perspective to express the entire story, the foreign audience would resonate!”


  “Domestic audiences think that it is the content of irony. Foreign audiences think that this is very in line with the political correct content. Instead, it is a plus point. On the other hand, the conspiracy theories, the media’s control of the public opinion, and the content of the upper echelons mocking the people resonated with foreign audiences!”


  “This series makes the eyes of foreign audiences who are tired of watching superheroes shine. They feel that it is a good drama that reflects social reality!”


  “Of course, there are also many voices of dissent overseas, but the voices of dissent are also popularity! In addition, the film company that the United States filmed with us is pulling the strings. All major media platforms and television stations have a strong interest in ‘Successor’.”


  “That’s why it was sold at such a high price!”


  “No matter what, Boss Pei, your guidance allowed ‘Successor’ to complete its historical assignment beyond its means! It’s unbelievable that a satirical episode can conquer both domestic and foreign audiences at the same time!”


  Pei Qian’s eyes widened.

  How could this be my fault?

  I was not the one who wrote this script. I did not ask about it when we were filming. In the end, it still had something to do with me when it became popular?

  Pei Qian could not accept this!

  That’s eighty million US dollars! Are you trying to kill me on the spot?

  Eh, that’s not right. The money would only be in my account during the next cycle. What’s the rush?

  At the thought that the money would only be transferred to his account during the next cycle, Pei Qian calmed down and felt that things were not that serious anymore.

  “Alright, I understand. Is that why you’re here?” Pei Qian asked.

  Huang Sibo was stunned. “Er… that’s right.”


  He was a little puzzled. Why, did Boss Pei feel that this was not worth reporting?

  80 million US dollars! You’re not even allowing me to report good news?

  Pei Qian nodded. “Alright, if something like that happens again in the future, just send me a message. You don’t have to come all the way here.”


  Pei Qian was doing this for Huang Sibo’s own good. He was afraid that he would not be able to control himself and cause Huang Sibo to suffer on the spot.

  Huang Sibo was stunned and then a little ashamed.

  Everything was within Boss Pei’s expectations. It was indeed making a mountain out of a molehill to specially report the good news!

  He should learn from Boss Pei’s strategizing and calm state!

  Wasn’t it just 80 million US dollars? Looking at Boss Pei’s casual attitude, that was what all Tengda employees should learn!

  Huang Sibo reflected on himself as he turned to leave.