Chapter 8
Chapter Eight: Negotiations
When he noticed her presence, Yun Zhang glared at Yun Nan before quickly resuming his efforts to comfort Yun Liu. He raised his voice and said, “Don’t worry! Grandpa Yun will be back in a few days. Mom and Dad will bring you along when they visit our grandparents! They’ll make things right!”
After saying that, he lifted his chin defiantly as he looked at Yun Nan.
“Hm,” Yun Liu responded obediently, but her gaze was cold and venomous when she stared at Yun Nan.
“Ahem.” The attorney cleared his throat, calling everyone’s attention to him. “Director Yun, I’m here today to address your breach of contract,” he stated in a businesslike manner.
“You’re saying
I
broke the contract?” Yun Nan raised her eyebrows and looked at Yun Zhang.
“Since you brought up the agreement, then we’ll go by the book!” Yun Zhang said arrogantly.
“You got to where you are currently due to the company’s support and resources; our company had invested in your previous movies! You will be violating our contract if you don’t comply with our request to modify the script now! We’ll resolve this issue through legal means!”
Yun Nan read through the documents she received from the attorney.
Misinterpreting Yun Nan’s silence as she flipped through the documents, Yun Zhang’s tone softened as he said, “However, if you promise to break up with Shi Nian, we’re willing to negotiate! We’re family, after all.”
Yun Nan took out her phone and made a call.
Chang Yuan immediately picked up and greeted her, “Young Madam.”
Yun Nan didn’t waste any time on pleasantries and got straight to the point. “I need a lawyer. My present company wants to sue me for breach of contract.”
“Alright, I’ll have the lawyer contact you right away,” Chang Yuan replied.
“No; tell him to contact Mr. Yun directly. I want the suit canceled, and while he’s at it, help me terminate my contract with the Yun Corporation and get the rights to my script back together with the copyrights to the two movies and five documentaries I produced!”
With her demands made clear, Yun Nan hung up the phone under everyone’s shocked gazes.
“You’ll be hearing from my lawyer. I won’t say any more lest you take my words out of context and use them as evidence in court.” And with that, she stood up and left.
The assistant director chased after her and called out, “Director Yun! Wait up, Director Yun!” Yun Nan only stopped when she reached the lobby.
The assistant director’s huge belly shook as he finally caught up to her. Gasping in exertion, he said, “Come now, Director Yun, let’s talk things out—what do you say?”
Yun Nan looked at the man—well-known for being a peacemaker—and decided to give him some face and hear him out. “What more is there to talk about?”
The assistant director managed to catch his breath and said with a smile, “Director Yun, modifying the script is just a small matter. If you don’t wish to change your story, I can have our two screenwriters write a new piece of work instead. We’ll tell the public that it is your script, is that okay? So calm down; we’ll leave the original script as it is, alright?”
‘
So that’s his angle.
‘ Yun Nan smiled and replied, “Of course not! That’ll be lying! I can’t take credit for others’ work!”
The assistant director’s face turned purple from the effort of holding in his anger. He smiled awkwardly and said, “You can give some pointers and guidance to the screenwriters on the side. At the end of the day, you’ll still be the primary screenwriter and executive producer. What do you think-”
“Stop! Do you have so little confidence in yourself and the screenwriters here? Why must you ride on the coattails of my name?” Yun Nan interrupted the assistant director.
The assistant director had no choice but to tell the truth. “Hehe, well, uh, with your fame, any film with your name on it as producer and screenwriter will gain attention and popularity.”
Yun Nan continued to smile as she said, “I appreciate you being straight with me; I won’t be mad if you come to me upfront. Don’t be like my so-called siblings who hide their intentions behind flowery words.”
“Now, about the script. I’m not the problem here, so it’s useless for you to come to me about it. I’ve already lowered my bottom line again and again; my last and only request is to keep their paws off my script, and that’s final. You can go back in. Since they’ve decided to go the legal route, the lawyers can be the ones to deal with it.”
Yun Nan then strode out of the building, leaving the assistant director stomping his feet on the spot.
‘
It is not easy being the middleman,
‘ he grumbled.
As long as Yun Nan agreed to this film, she wouldn’t have to trouble herself over the script or direct it. All she needed to do was to put her name on it. They just needed to borrow her renown to make Yun Liu famous, even if that fame only lasted for a few months. He would have completed his mission and no longer be called out by Mr. Yun.
Yun Nan was immature; she was self-conceited just because of her talent, and she was stubborn as a mule to boot. What a terrible situation! Why was it so difficult to ride on her popularity?
The production team who worked with her on those documentaries had all become popular due to her influence, so what did they have that he didn’t?
She had already endured the Yun family’s treatment for two years so why couldn’t she endure it a little longer? Just a little longer until the third movie was done. He’s not asking for much, just one movie!
*
sigh
* Even great directors were bound to encounter hardships and make unpleasant decisions. Yun Nan was still so young; she had a lot of time ahead of her to produce better and greater films, so why did she have to be so hard on herself and everyone else around her?