After the Divorce, I Could Hear the Voice of the Future-Chapter 127: Ask for the Moon, Settle with What You Have

"Mr. Li, shall we take a look at the web series first?"

Lu Liang showed a smiling expression, exchanged a few simple pleasantries, then waved over Wu Tianzheng to lead them to the screening room.

His purpose today was to help sell the broadcasting rights for the web series; other matters were secondary, to be dealt with later.

"Sure," Li Ni nodded, her smile gradually fading as she followed the group to the screening room.

Before coming, she had gone over the project proposal and had to admit that it matched Bilibili's core style extremely well.

Although her main goal was to meet with Lu Liang, she also entertained the idea of acquiring the web series.

After watching the first few episodes, even though it was Lu Liang's second time, he couldn't help but laugh out loud when the pantomime comedy came on.

Li Ni bit her lip, pinched her thigh, and eventually couldn't hold back her laughter, which solidified her thoughts even further.

An hour later, as they exited the screening room, she asked, "Mr. Lu, I heard that you fully funded this web series?"

Lu Liang smiled and said, "No need to go by hearsay, it's true."

"Admirable," Li Ni remarked with a complex expression, genuinely impressed.

This web series and its post-launch marketing strategies were destined to be profitable.

In the end, notoriety still counted for something. While it was certain they would not lose money, the potential to earn depended significantly on how well the market received it.

Li Ni pondered for a long while, then inquired, "Mr. Lu, what do you think about six hundred thousand per episode?"

Although it was funny and quite outrageous, the current market was dominated by mystery web series.

Even if the production cost was fifteen million, she believed there was fluff to trim, requiring a fifty percent reduction.

With thirty-five episodes in total, she intended to buy the exclusive premiering rights and the copyright for the next three years at six hundred thousand per episode.

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With profits over 200%, Lu Liang should be satisfied.

Wang Xiaocong's eyes widened; he knew that Lu Liang invested just over three million, and selling for twenty-one million wasn't merely a 200% profit, but 600%.

However, to his surprise, Lu Liang was not yet satisfied.

Lu Liang smiled nonchalantly, "Mr. Li, you are so sincere it would be rude to refuse."

He had Wen Chao investigate the web series market. It was challenging for a 'three no's' (no stars, no director, no scriptwriter) web series to sell for over half a million per episode. The fact that Li Ni was willing to offer six hundred thousand per episode showed her extreme sincerity.

But given the final viewership of 2.4 million, selling the series for twenty-one million would be like selling it cheap; he might as well give it to Panda to at least improve Panda's metrics, which would help with raising more money in the next funding round.

Lu Liang paused, then said, "However, I feel like it isn't exactly proper for Bilibili to bear the risks alone."

"Mr. Lu, what better ideas do you have?"

Li Ni sighed inwardly; she really wanted to say that they wouldn't mind losing money and for him not to feel embarrassed or think it improper.

But she knew this was just an excuse for Lu Liang not being satisfied with the price.

"I'll let you broadcast it for free, and let's leave the price per episode to market forces. If the viewership and membership growth aren't satisfactory, Bilibili won't need to bear any unnecessary losses."

Lu Liang was all smiles, generously suggesting that if the web series tanked in viewership, he would just give it to Bilibili for free.

Li Ni frowned deeply, pondering for a moment and quickly grasping Lu Liang's intentions, "Mr. Lu, would it be exclusive broadcasting rights?"

Goods offered to three vendors go to the highest bidder.

Indeed, someone from venture capital would be cranking the numbers shrewdly.

If the web series entered the market with lukewarm reactions, then everyone would be happy.

On the contrary, if it garnered a heated response, then multiple platforms would compete for the broadcasting rights.

"It could be exclusive, or it could be non-exclusive; both could be discussed slowly."

Lu Liang smiled, not at all embarrassed by his intentions being seen through.

After all, negotiating business is much like buying a house, with sky-high asking prices followed by realistic payments.

You take a step back, I take a step back, until we reach a condition acceptable to both parties.

"Exclusive rights, how should we discuss that?"

Li Ni didn't want to compete in follow-up auctions, so it was worth even paying a bit extra now.

"Our final metric will be based on the total viewership at the end and the number of new members compared year over year."

Lu Liang pondered and proposed a tiered gambling agreement, with the final metric being one billion views and ten thousand new members.

If those conditions weren't met, the web drama would be given away for free, and he wouldn't take a penny, including the royalties.

If the requirements were met, the starting point would be one hundred thousand per episode, with two hundred million views and twenty thousand new members doubling to two hundred thousand per episode.

Four hundred million views, forty thousand new members would mean four hundred thousand per episode, doubling each time, and so on.

Li Ni pondered, "I have no objections to the viewership, but we need to adjust the new members metric, and there needs to be a floor."

With thirty-five episodes and one billion views, each episode needed an average viewership of 2.86 million, enough to compete with second-tier web dramas.

As long as viewership didn't exceed eight billion and the price per episode reached eight hundred thousand, they generally wouldn't lose too much.

It was the number of new members that was too low; she wanted to increase the baseline to fifty thousand, given that memberships were more important than viewership.

Lu Liang asked with a smile, "Mr. Li, you have so much confidence in this web drama that you want a cap?"

Li Ni chuckled bitterly and couldn't help but sigh, "Mr. Lu, my confidence isn't in the web drama; it's in you."

When nobody inquired about selling a house for ten years, suddenly with fame, everyone knows.

In just over half a year, Lu Liang went from rags to riches, amassing a fortune in the hundreds of millions.

If there was no cap, she feared that the platform B might change hands because of a single web drama.

Lu Liang laughed, "Then let's set the cap at three point two million per episode, but let's lower the membership to thirty thousand."

He felt that 3.2 billion views and 1.6 million new members were highly unlikely, but 1.6 billion views and 480,000 new members were worth a shot.

And 1.6 million per episode could still bring in a tidy profit of over fifty million.

Li Ni furrowed her brows, hesitating for a long time before agreeing, "Alright."

Since Lu Liang had given ground, she had to compromise as well, and they finalized based on one hundred million views and thirty thousand new members.

As she was the COO and Lu Liang the sole investor, once they reached an agreement, the rest would be delegated to their subordinates.

Lu Liang, learning that tonight was the wrap party for "Crown Princess Consort," casually asked, "Mr. Li, how about joining me for a simple meal?"

Li Ni smiled and tactfully declined, "Mr. Lu, I have work matters to attend to, maybe next time."

If it were just dining with Lu Liang and Wang Xiaocong, she would be interested; but with too many superfluous guests, she preferred not to join the hubbub.

"Then Mr. Wu can escort Mr. Li."

Lu Liang didn't press and called over Wu Tianzheng to convey the results of their negotiation, entrusting them to hammer out the details.

Since Good Dream Production was responsible for early preparations and later promotions, he generously offered a 10% profit share.

After all, Lu Liang had only put in money and hadn't managed anything else; he couldn't expect Wu Tianzheng to work for free.

Though friends, it wouldn't do to take advantage of him.

"The web drama's premiere rights have been sold; let's meet at Jiangpan Restaurant later, my treat."

Lu Liang was in high spirits, so he decided to pay out of his own pocket to treat the drama's creative team to a high-end restaurant in Modu.

He shared a car with Little Wang and Wu Tianzheng, where Wu Tianzheng, grinning from ear to ear, said, "Mr. Lu, young Zhang really admires you."

What he implied was clear: if Lu Liang had his sights set on Zhang Tian'ai, Wu Tianzheng could lend a hand with matchmaking.

Lu Liang looked displeased and said seriously, "Old Wu, can you stop acting like a pimp?"

"Phony." Being in the same business, Wang Xiaocong had no restraint and expressed his contempt for Lu Liang outright.

After all, he had just seen the way Lu Liang looked at Zhang Tian'ai—it was nothing but admiration.

Such a glance could also be interpreted as lecherous.

The message of a man's feelings had been delivered; now it was to see if the woman was interested and whether the young lady wanted to progress further.

Lu Liang's gaze turned unfriendly, "Little Wang, familiarity aside, if you speak out of turn, I'll sue you for defamation just the same."

"Heh—" Wang Xiaocong scoffed coldly.