276-280

Chapter 276: How About a Fight

After the meeting, Richard and Gwyneth returned to the office and started reading the script Gwyneth brought, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," a romantic comedy.

It's about a fashion magazine columnist, Andie, who plans to make a man fall in love with her in 10 days and then dump him. Her target is a playboy, Benjamin, who bets his friends he can make a woman fall head over heels for him in 10 days.

In the end, they fall in love. It's a bit like a player meeting a player and hitting it off.

"Richard, what do you think?" Gwyneth asked.

"It's a great script, very humorous. No worse than 'Miss Congeniality,' which I filmed last time," Richard commented fairly.

"Yes, will you take it? Benjamin is perfect for you, handsome and charming, a typical playboy."

"Am I a playboy?" Richard laughed, putting his arm around her.

"Aren't you? Haha." Gwyneth grabbed his hand. "Your image is also perfect for this role, isn't it?"

"When will filming start?"

"In June!"

"Unfortunately, I don't have time in June." Richard explained about the "Fast and Furious" sequels. This year, besides the two "Fast and Furious" films, he also had a supporting role in "X-Men" and a cameo in "The Matrix." He really didn't have time for other roles.

"Oh, that's a pity. This script is perfect for us," Gwyneth said.

"It's not suitable. This film's budget is at most 40 million, and it would be difficult to recoup the investment if it goes higher. Our combined salary alone exceeds 20 million. It's unlikely anyone would be willing to pay a high price for us to play the lead roles."

"You're right. If you're not acting in it, I won't either." Gwyneth threw down the script and leaned against him.

"Why not? The role of Andie is great, and it suits you well."

"I don't want to act anymore. I've made a few films in recent years, and the response has been average. I'm a bit tired," Gwyneth shrugged.

"How about you choose the script, and I'll invest? We can also have the company produce it. Remember, I promised to help you win an Oscar."

"Haha, no. The company is doing well at the moment. If we keep going, it will definitely get better and might even become a major independent production company. If we mess around and affect the company's operations, it would be a huge loss. Don't forget, I also have investments in the company. As long as the company is profitable, I'm happy," Gwyneth laughed.

"So what are your plans? Tell me."

"I plan to temporarily put my acting career on hold and focus on being a producer at the company. When the company develops further in the future and there's a suitable role, I can make a comeback, how about that?"

"That's a good idea. Arnold and Frank are getting older, and their energy can't compare to that of young people. With you at the company, I'll feel more at ease," Richard thought for a moment and said. Initially, their purpose in starting the company was to make it easier for themselves to take on and make films. However, after entering the industry, they realized the waters were deep. They needed to start small and gradually learn and explore. If they recklessly invested money, they would definitely be taken advantage of by those film companies, and they wouldn't even know where the money went.

However, the company's small projects didn't have suitable roles for them, so they temporarily abandoned their previous plans.

"Then I'll come to the company to work from now on. My goal is to become an excellent producer."

"I believe you can do it. If you need any help, just ask."

"Okay, anything?" Gwyneth moved her hand and smiled.

"Of course!" Richard lifted her onto the desk.

---

After working at the company for half a day, Richard went to the Fist Bar training gym in the afternoon to continue his boxing practice.

In January, after he won the WBA gold belt, the heavyweight boxing world was in an uproar.

Many people expressed dissatisfaction with John Ruiz. A heavyweight champion couldn't even defeat a light heavyweight boxer and lost the most prestigious gold belt in the heavyweight division. Many people declared they would step up to defend the honor of heavyweight boxers and send Richard back to where he came from.

Subsequently, the company received numerous challenges from heavyweight boxers: Tyson, Holyfield, David Tua, Hasim Rahman, the Klitschko brothers, Shannon Briggs, Chris Byrd, Nikolai Valuev, James Toney, and more. They were all heavyweight boxing stars, ready to teach him a lesson.

Richard wasn't worried about being ganged up on; instead, he found it exciting and wanted the company to accept all the challenges.

After careful consideration, the company arranged the first fight against James Toney.

The reason was simple: James Toney was famous, having moved up from middleweight to heavyweight, skipping five weight classes. He was ranked 19th on the boxer influence list.

Fighting James Toney could attract more attention.

Bob Wright's idea was that after becoming the heavyweight champion, Richard should first fight second-tier boxing stars to accumulate fame and expand his influence.

Once his fame reached a certain level, he could then face top-tier boxing stars like Tyson and Lewis, which would garner even more attention and higher prize money.

Now that he was a top boxing star, his next goal should be to break the existing PPV and fight purse records to prove his influence.

James Toney was a suitable target. They had previously fought in the light heavyweight semifinals, and Richard easily defeated him.

The second fight was scheduled for around Christmas against former champion Holyfield, with Lewis and Tyson's matches arranged for next year.

If it weren't for their age, the company would have postponed it for two more years because the fights against them had a high chance of setting new records, so they had to seize the opportunity.

Bam bam bam~ Richard rhythmically punched the sandbag.

Compared to before, his training had become somewhat lax recently. He used to train for at least five hours a day, but now it was only two or three hours.

Being busy with filming was one reason, but another important reason was the lack of motivation.

Before entering the heavyweight division, he thought these people were formidable. However, after defeating John Ruiz, he realized they were just average. A WBA champion couldn't even last three rounds against him. It was too boring.

Looking at the heavyweight landscape, only a few big guys could truly pose a threat to him.

As for Tyson and Lewis, if they were in their prime, it would be a fight worth having. But now, both were almost forty years old, and their physical strength had declined significantly. Defeating them wouldn't bring much sense of accomplishment.

Now, Richard was truly experiencing the loneliness of being invincible.

He could only treat himself as his opponent, training every day, striving to become even stronger than before. He wanted to see how powerful he could become after thirty or forty years of dedicated training. Otherwise, it would be a waste of his talent.

"Richard, you're here too!" Paul walked in lazily.

"Why are you here?" Richard stopped. "Didn't you say Venus was about to give birth yesterday, and you were busy taking care of her?"

"Yes, Venus is in the hospital. The doctor said she should give birth within this week. The thought of becoming a father makes me feel complicated, so I came here to train."

Paul put on his boxing gloves.

"How about a sparring session?"

"Okay!" Richard wiped his sweat and stepped into the ring.

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 277: The First Box Office Dark Horse (Happy New Year)

On April 5th, Venus gave birth to a son at the UCLA Affiliated Hospital. Paul became a father, and he was showing off his little guy all day long, as if no one else had a son.

Richard went to see them twice. The baby was a little dark-skinned Giselledle, lying in the cradle and babbling, almost peeing on him. He wasn't as cute as his own son.

"Richard Richard, call me daddy~ daddy~" Paul leaned over the cradle, making faces at the two-day-old baby.

Richard clenched his fists, wanting to punch him.

This jerk named his little dark-skinned son after him, claiming it was out of admiration, hoping the little guy would be as outstanding as him in the future.

Richard couldn't argue. Richard was a very common name, and there were no fewer people named Richard than Jack or Tom.

"Hey, Richard, look at my little Richard. He already has muscles at birth. He'll definitely be a boxing prodigy when he grows up," Paul said, shaking the baby's little hand and smiling.

"Being a boxer is tough. You get beaten up every day. Do you still want your little guy to get beaten up?" Richard asked, leaning against the windowsill.

"It doesn't matter. Aren't you here? In the future, you can be little Richard's coach. Pass on your skills to him and let him inherit your gold belt, how about that?" Paul grinned.

"Okay, as long as he also likes boxing."

"Haha, then it's settled."

After staying for a while, Richard left the hospital. "Crash" was about to be released, and there were many things to do at the company these days: holding test screenings, contacting theaters, and doing promotional activities for the release.

Because it was a niche film and the first film distributed by New Century, they didn't spend much money on promotion. They only arranged a few press releases in newspapers and put up posters outside movie theaters in Los Angeles.

On Friday, April 12th, "Crash" premiered in 4 theaters in Los Angeles. Richard, Sandra Bullock, Gwyneth, and other cast members attended the premiere.

In three days, it earned $98,000 at the box office, with an average daily gross of over $8,200 per theater. The attendance rate reached 75%. Seventeen out of twenty professional film critics gave it an 'A' rating, while the other three gave it one 'A+' and two 'B+'.

The film's critical reception was unexpectedly good, with data comparable to that of blockbuster commercial films.

Newspapers started featuring many reviews about "Crash."

An unforgettable masterpiece, the director's profound understanding of social issues is amazing - Empire

A seemingly dramatic traffic accident reflects the cruel essence of life, an outstanding work that will be recorded in film history - Chicago Times

One of the few meaningful American films, deeply reflecting the undeniable problems existing in today's society, highly recommended - Washington Post

In addition to comments on the film itself, there were also many evaluations of the actors, with the most mentions being Richard and Sandra Bullock.

Because the film's release was low-key, there was no information about their participation in the newspapers, and their images weren't on the movie posters, leading many fans to be unaware that they had acted in such a film.

It wasn't until the film had been released for a week and earned $163,000 at the box office that New Century's distribution department started to make efforts, using labels like "Another Richard's Masterpiece," "Richard and Sandra's Second Collaboration," "After Three Years, Richard Returns to Art Films, with 95% Attendance Rate, Deeply Moving," and "Jointly Recommended by Twenty Famous Film Critics."

Richard was very popular this year. Any news related to him instantly became the focus of public attention, such as the recent purchase of a mansion with Giselledchen, which was a hot topic for several weeks.

This time, with the release of his new film, his fans, boxing fans, and Sandra Bullock's fans all flocked to the cinemas to support their new work.

Many of Richard's friends in the industry also came out to support the film: Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron, newly promoted A-list actress Reese Witherspoon, Angelina Jolie, Drew Barrymore, Jude Law, Naomi Watts, Jessica Alba, Paul Walker, and more, totaling over thirty celebrities.

With the support of so many stars, the film's popularity soared even higher.

In its second week, it was released in 2,619 theaters across the US and earned $38.38 million at the box office, unexpectedly becoming the weekly box office champion.

Compared to the summer blockbuster season in May and June, although there weren't many films released in April, there were still many big productions.

For example, Universal's "The Scorpion King," Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson's "Changing Lanes," Cameron Diaz's "The Sweetest Thing," and so on.

Yet, it was an art film with an investment of less than 7 million, dealing with racial discrimination in American society, that won the box office championship.

Many people in the film industry were surprised. Low-budget films addressing racial discrimination were released every year; they were nothing new. Why could this little film defeat numerous big-budget commercial films and become the champion?

Was there something fishy going on? Was the data fabricated?

This was the first thought of many people. But when they saw Richard and Sandra Bullock's names in the cast list...

Okay, never mind. With these two A-list actors leading the film, winning the championship didn't seem so surprising. The box office gross of over 38 million was somewhat unworthy of their star power.

At the same time, they also noticed the film's production and distribution company information.

The distributor was New Century Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, and Focus Features.

The production company was solely New Century Pictures. After some inquiries, they found out it was Richard's film company. The well-received "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" from last year was also invested in by this company. Suddenly, many industry insiders remembered New Century Pictures.

The small-budget film "Crash" overtaking others and topping the weekly box office charts also caused a media frenzy.

A small production with an investment of less than 7 million became the first box office dark horse of the year?

Richard and Sandra playing a couple? A new film produced by Richard's company? Addressing the issue of racial discrimination?

A Rotten Tomatoes score of 8.9 from 1,580 people, just a hair's breadth away from a 9-point masterpiece?

The attendance rate still remained above 80% after two weeks of release?

Did famous boxer Paul Gilbert cry after watching it?

Shaquille O'Neal invited Lakers teammates to watch "Crash," but Kobe was missing?

Giselle invited her model friends to watch "Crash," booking out the theater?

Paul Walker was speeding and rear-ended someone, reportedly because he had just watched "Crash"?

Entertainment news about "Crash" is blowing up, becoming more and more lively. Thanks to all the gossip, a niche, obscure movie has been forcefully hyped into a hit, surpassing all other movies released at the same time.

In the third week, it grossed another $36.22 million, with a drop of less than 5%, almost negligible.

At the same time, "Crash" grossed $74.79 million in three weeks, while its production cost was only $7 million, a tenfold return. It's expected to break $100 million in domestic box office.

This is not just a box office dark horse; it's a super, super dark horse.

However, during the third week, some discordant voices appeared in the news. There were reports claiming Richard was a racist, accusing him of discriminating against Black people.

The tabloids also listed a lot of evidence, showing Richard brutally beating up Black people.

Picture 1: Richard beating up Roy Jones; Picture 2: Richard beating up Antonio Tarver; Picture 3: Richard beating up Richard Hall; and pictures 4, 5, 6, etc. A total of more than ten photos, all evidence of Richard beating up Black people.

The article even said that in the boxing ring, Richard was harsher on Black people, and this was the proof.

"Whoa~"

Seeing this news, Richard and many readers couldn't help but curse. Is there really such a thing? Over 80% of people in the boxing world have dark skin. If you don't fight them in the ring, are you supposed to defeat them with your thoughts?

"Hahaha~ Richard, no wonder you always go hard on me during practice. Turns out you're discriminating against me."

Paul laughed like a pig.

"Shut up, you!"

If a close Black person were to stand up and accuse him of being a racist at this moment, even if he were a hero, it would be hard to explain.

Fortunately, this news was only reported by a small tabloid with little impact, so neither Richard, his management company, nor his PR team paid any attention to it, to avoid fueling the flames.

Only Richard's fans shared the news online as a joke, and it spread quite widely.

But unexpectedly, two days later, the small news turned into big news. Many newspapers reprinted the article, with no comments, just calmly reprinting it.

As the news spread, many people began to claim that Richard was a racist. In addition to him beating up Black boxers in the ring, there was another piece of evidence: he had never dated a Black girlfriend.

"Hahaha, Richard, could this be true? You really haven't dated a Black girlfriend."

Norman laughed like a pig.

"Get lost!"

Richard said unhappily.

"Mr. Brad, do you think Black girls are sexy?"

A reporter blocked him on the streets of New York and asked.

"Very sexy!"

Richard said helplessly.

"Then why haven't you dated a Black girl?"

The reporter pressed further.

Richard rolled his eyes at the question and pulled Gisele Bündchen over, saying, "Isn't my girlfriend not that white?"

"Hahaha~"

Angela, Anne, and Tyra Banks laughed like pigs.

"Come on, I'm a healthy wheat color," Giselle laughed, playfully hitting him.

"If you were a bit darker, it would be better. Then no one would ask me such stupid questions."

Richard said helplessly.

"Richard, as a superstar idol and hero, such questions will certainly not be few in the future. I suggest you find a Black girl to have some rumors with. That way, you can solve the problem from the root."

Angela said, covering her mouth with a laugh.

"Yes, that makes sense. Richard, should we introduce you to someone?"

Ambrosio asked Tyra Banks, pulling her over.

"I’m willing!"

The Black beauty Tyra Banks stepped forward and said.

"Haha, Richard, Tyra is willing, and you still don't agree. Oh, are you worried about making Bündchen angry?"

"No, as long as Richard agrees, I don't mind him having another rumored girlfriend."

Bündchen laughed.

"Alright, stop joking around. Are we shopping or not? If not, let's go home and decorate. There’s still a lot to do in the yard."

Richard said. The new manor was renovated, and the two moved in a few days ago. They are currently working on the details, and after finishing, he plans to throw a big party at home, to avoid being called stingy.

"What are you going to do about the negative news in the papers?"

Giselle asked.

"Ignore it. This kind of news is completely groundless. Anyone who has read my reports knows that I couldn't possibly be a racist, and if I were, it definitely wouldn't be against Black people.

Susan, who has lived with me for over ten years, is Black. My coach, Alvin, who trained me for nearly ten years, is Black. Paul, who has practiced with me for many years, is Black. My agent, Bob Reut, is also Black. How could I discriminate?"

"Haha, it sounds reasonable. Let’s continue shopping!"

The group continued to stroll the streets.

Richard didn’t care about this matter, but someone did. Several Black actors from the "Crash" cast stated during promotions that Richard had never shown any discriminatory behavior and that the rumors were ridiculous. After all, Richard invested in this movie, which tackles racial discrimination.

When asked about this issue after a game, Shaquille O'Neal rolled his eyes.

Paul was also stopped by reporters while walking on the street with Venus and their child. He directly pointed to his face and said, "Richard is my brother, and he’s promised to be my son’s future boxing coach. Do you think he would discriminate against me?"

Starlight Studios and the Boxing Association of America (BAA) also came forward, stating they would take legal action against such slanderous acts.

Some reporters even went to interview Black neighbors on Jackson Street in the Bronx. Unexpectedly, all of those Black ladies were die-hard fans of Richard. Faced with such questions, they cursed directly. Susan even came out and shared stories from Richard’s childhood.

The next day, these stories were picked up by the New York Times and the New York Post.

The issue of Richard's alleged racism gradually died down.

Just when everyone thought it was over, suddenly a media outlet jumped out, claiming that the whole thing was orchestrated by Richard and his PR team to promote the new movie "Crash."

Their evidence was that since the news broke, "Crash" had grossed over $23.68 million in its fourth week. Even a Tom Hanks movie wouldn’t maintain such high box office numbers in its fourth week.

Also, the total domestic box office of "Crash" was about to break $100 million. A small production with a budget of less than $7 million grossing over $100 million was unbelievable.

The newspaper sarcastically said it was a well-crafted plan, almost accusing him of shamelessly making money.

Richard was speechless at the accusation, feeling worse than if he had swallowed a fly.

"Andy, Anthony, have you found out who is targeting me?"

Richard asked unhappily.

"We don't have direct evidence, but we do have a suspect."

Anthony said.

"Who?"

——

### Chapter 278: Rumors End with the Wise

"Who?"

"Your old rival, Weinstein. He and his brother were involved in producing Changing Lanes and The Best Thing, and your small $7 million production crushed them. How could he not want to take a shot at you?" Anthony shrugged.

Richard turned to Andy, knowing that Andy had more strategies in such matters.

"We traced the first report to a tabloid, bought some information with money, and found that the editor said the report was commissioned by an old client. They never met the person, but the payment arrived on time.

We investigated the tabloid’s history and found many entertainment reports praising Weinstein's movies and slamming his competitors. Here are the details." Andy placed a folder on the table.

The folder contained some data. Over five years, the tabloid published more than 3,000 articles praising Weinstein's films. There were also reports praising other companies' movies, but those were far fewer.

The file also included some briefing notes.

Richard skimmed through the file and then put it down. "Andy, how's that thing I asked you to look into?"

"You paid me, so of course, I took care of it. We’ve currently contacted two victims, and we have their recorded testimonies and related evidence, but they’re hesitant to come forward and testify," Andy said.

Last year, Richard couldn’t let go of investigating Weinstein. Although he wasn’t a qualified investigator, there were people who excelled at this, and he could simply pay them to handle it.

So, he put up a million dollars and asked Andy to take care of it.

"Should we bring it out as a counterattack?" Andy asked.

Richard thought for a moment. "No, the best way to deal with people like that is with a single, decisive blow. Revealing this now would only cause him some minor trouble and wouldn’t put him in jail. Keep an eye on him, continue gathering evidence, and when the time is right, we’ll strike."

"Got it!"

Since they couldn’t counterattack the opponent, they decided to ramp up their publicity efforts. To avoid being accused of continuing to milk the situation, Richard didn’t respond directly.

But his two management companies, the Crash production team, and the distributor all issued rebuttals at various times.

Anthony said in an interview, "Over the past few years, Mr. Brad has consistently proven his influence and box office appeal with talent and high-quality work. He has no need to resort to such low and foolish tactics to gain tens of millions more at the box office. For those individuals and media outlets that are maliciously attacking Mr. Brad, we will be pursuing legal action to protect his reputation and rights."

Crash director Paul Haggis, in an interview with the media, said:

"Today, America is filled with discrimination and the problems that come with it. Politicians preach against discrimination, yet use different slogans to incite racial groups to vote. The media likes to exploit discrimination to gain attention, and they also like to use the issue to target celebrities, such as Mr. Brad.

Let me tell a joke: Mr. Brad defeated a Black boxer in the ring, and that’s discrimination. Mr. Brad hasn’t had rumors with a Black girlfriend, and to some, that’s also racial discrimination.

If this is how we define racial discrimination, then our world will become incredibly frightening.

This situation is eerily similar to certain scenes in Crash, possibly even more extreme and terrifying than anything in the movie.

I don’t want to see this kind of thing happening, and I especially don’t want someone to use such vile tactics for competitive purposes.

These rumors not only damage Mr. Brad's reputation but harm us all. Just think about it—if in the future, White boxers can’t fight Black opponents, or in broader terms, if people of different races can’t compete against each other in any field, what would that look like? If celebrities have to find girlfriends of different races just to be politically correct, what would that be like? That would be terrifying.

The reason I wrote and directed Crash was to use the language of film to explore relationships between people and discuss the problems of racial conflict, encouraging people to rethink the distorted issue of discrimination and treat those around us with fairness and observe the world with a just heart.

I’m not saying this to argue with anyone or to promote my new movie. A film's box office success depends on its quality and the audience’s choice, not just on promotion.

So, let me say one last thing: stop using such despicable tactics for competition; it’s disgusting!"

"Director Haggis, are you referring to a specific competitor?"

"Director Haggis, do you have any suspects?"

"Director Haggis, are you talking about a film that was released at the same time?"

The reporters pressed further.

Director Haggis didn’t respond, just waved them off and left.

### Jane Wilson's Response to Reporters

Jane Wilson, who was in charge of the publicity for Crash, responded to reporters:

"Anyone who has seen Crash knows that this film reflects the complex racial relationships in our society today. Through more than a dozen intertwined stories, it explores the reasons behind this discrimination and the escalation of conflicts, and it tries to encourage people to let go of their differences and find common ground.

This film plays a positive role in resolving societal conflicts, and from the initial project approval to the shooting process, Mr. Brad had a significant role.

First, Crash was greenlit because Mr. Brad decided to invest. He believed that this story had a positive message and could positively influence society.

Secondly, Mr. Brad was fond of the story, and despite preparing for his boxing match, he took the time to participate in the film’s production because he thought it was meaningful.

Lastly, the promotional strategy for Crash was entirely decided by the publicity departments of three companies. We have a professional planning team, and we would never use such childish and ridiculous methods to promote a film, let alone exploit Mr. Brad.

These suspicions are not only an insult to our profession but also an affront to the intelligence of the public. Rumors are dispelled by the wise. Thank you, everyone!"

Jane Wilson then got into a car with a few associates.

After several rounds of publicity, the rumors regarding Richard's alleged racial discrimination and the suggestion that he used these controversies to promote the film gradually faded away.

---

“Are you finally feeling better?” Giselle asked, lowering the TV volume with a smile.

Richard shook his head. “It’s useless. News like this is like someone throwing garbage at you on the street. Even if you change clothes and shower, others will always think you smell bad.

I used to be an idol hero—90% of people thought I was someone worthy of respect, and the other 10% might not have agreed with me, but they didn’t hate me. Now, after this news, I’m no longer pure; I’m no longer perfect.

Sigh, that’s why I never wanted to be a hero. An idol can be controversial, loved and hated in equal measure, but a hero can’t be. A hero who’s loved and hated in equal measure ends up in a tragic place.”

“Don’t overthink it. Imperfect is fine. No one can be perfect, and no one can be loved by everyone. Not even God can achieve that,” Giselle consoled him.

“Alright, you’re right. Maybe it’s not so bad to shed the idol hero image and become an ordinary person again.”

Richard shrugged.

---

“Hey, Richard, is the party starting?” Paul called out as he walked down the estate’s greenway, holding a little one in his arms.

Richard checked his watch. “I said the party starts at 4 PM, and it’s only noon, okay?”

“Haha, I got bored at home, so I came early to check out your new estate. Is that alright?”

“Fine, make yourself at home. Just don’t go into the central green area—I’m worried you’ll get lost.”

“Haha, you underestimate me!” Paul laughed as he carried the little one into the greenery.

---

“Hey, Richard, am I too early?” Norman asked, arriving with his girlfriend.

“Not at all. Welcome!”

Richard and Giselledchen greeted them. Since everyone was eager to start, why not begin the party early?

Today was a good day. Richard was hosting this party at his home to celebrate both his move to the new estate and the fact that Crash had surpassed $100 million at the box office.

“You’re so stingy—two big events should mean two parties, but you only threw one. Am I wrong to call you cheap?” Norman teased.

“...”

---

(End of Chapter)

### Chapter 279: You’re Like One of Us Chinese

Richard and Giselledchen hosted a party at their new estate, inviting all their acquaintances in New York. Guests included neighbors from Bronx Street, Giselledchen's colleagues from the modeling agency, members of the Crash cast and distribution team, heiresses like Ivanka Trump and Paris Hilton, as well as friends from the media and film industry, a few of Ellie's colleagues from Stralem, Anthony and his girlfriend Marshall, among others—a gathering of over a hundred people.

Fortunately, the estate was large enough, with over forty rooms, a botanical garden, a sports court, a home theater, a coffee lounge, and a wine cellar. The estate's staff included more than forty members—originally, the estate had one butler, two chefs, and three servants, but Richard had hired two party planning companies to help with the event.

---

“Richard, you’re living the high life! It feels like Central Park has become part of your backyard!” Anthony exclaimed, holding a glass of red wine as he admired the view of Central Park from the four-story observation deck.

“I always said that when I made enough money, I’d buy a house here. Now, I’ve achieved that small goal,” Richard replied with a smile.

“Small goal? This is the kind of goal most people would work their whole lives to achieve. When I get rich, I’ll buy a smaller estate nearby.”

“Great, we can be neighbors. If you ever need money, just let me know,” Richard laughed, clinking glasses with him.

---

“Richard, do you have a moment?” Ellie knocked on the doorframe and asked.

“Is something up?” Richard walked over to her.

“Yes. Your New Century Pictures has been doing really well and has attracted a lot of attention. Have you considered bringing in outside investment? Our company has a few clients who are interested in investing. The higher-ups assigned me to reach out to you,” Ellie said.

“What valuation has your company given to New Century?” Richard asked with interest.

“The preliminary valuation is around $80 million. The exact figure will depend on further discussions between us,” Ellie explained.

“I, Gwyneth, and Norman have invested close to $45 million in the company. That’s just the financial input, not including our work. Crash is expected to gross at least $150 million worldwide, with New Century’s revenue projected at around $70 million. Our company has no financial deficits or loans. Ellie, if you were to estimate, what would New Century’s market value be?” Richard inquired.

Ellie thought for a moment before responding, “I’d estimate it to be between $120 million and $150 million, with the maximum being $150 million. This is partly because you’re the company’s CEO, and you’re a valuable brand. Investing in your company is also a way for some people to establish a relationship with you. For those who genuinely want to connect with you, they wouldn’t mind spending millions to collaborate.”

Richard nodded slightly. Bringing in external investment is a crucial step for the company’s expansion, and New Century is no exception. After the success of Crash, the company’s top executives had already discussed this issue.

Currently, New Century’s distribution channels are not fully developed. There’s a need to allocate more funds to improve these channels, so the next time they release a film, New Century can handle everything on its own without sharing profits with others.

To build distribution channels as strong as those of top independent production companies, a significant investment is required.

Of course, Richard could provide the money himself, but it’s not practical for a company to rely solely on one person’s continuous financial support. If his personal cash flow were to encounter problems or if he suddenly needed funds, it could have a significant impact on the entire company.

Therefore, bringing in more investors and partners is essential for long-term growth. Even Hollywood’s seven major studios grew into giants through this process.

“Ellie, are you in charge of this matter?” Richard asked.

“No, I’m just the intermediary here to get your opinion,” Ellie replied.

“No problem. You can discuss it with Mr. Frank Marshall, the company’s COO. He’s responsible for this,” Richard said.

“Alright, I’ll report back to the company. If the financing is successful, your net worth will increase by over $100 million. Congratulations in advance,” Ellie said with a smile.

“Thanks!”

---

“I’d like to introduce you to a few friends—they’re all fans of yours,” Ellie added.

“Sure,” Richard replied with a smile and followed her to meet several people. Among them were investors, fund partners, media professionals, and bank executives—mostly young people in their thirties.

In this group, Richard was the youngest, richest, and most famous, quickly becoming the center of attention. After chatting with them for a while, his assistant, Anna, came over and informed him that Ms. Wendi Deng had arrived.

Richard nodded, excused himself from the new acquaintances, and headed to the lawn, where he saw Giselledchen and Wendi Deng deep in conversation. Worried that Giselledchen might be influenced, Richard quickly approached them.

“Wendi, welcome!” Richard greeted her warmly.

“Haha, Richard, congratulations on your triple celebration,” Wendi Deng said as she hugged him with a smile.

“Triple celebration?” Richard asked, puzzled.

"Yes, the movie was a huge success. It was made with an investment of 7 million and earned over 100 million at the box office, shocking everyone. That's the first piece of good news. At just 24 years old, you've already owned your mansion in Central Park, making countless people envious. That's the second piece of good news. The third is congratulations to you and Giselledchen. Congratulations on five years together and settling down here. You must be the most loving couple."

Deng Wendi said with a smile.

"Thank you, indeed, these are three joyous events, especially the last one. She is my greatest achievement," Richard said with a smile, holding Giselledchen's hand.

"I can see that you've found each other."

Deng Wendi smiled as she looked at the two of them.

After a few words, the three of them walked into the villa's main hall together. This was the main venue for the party, with several other venues on the lawn, the tennis court, the outdoor pool, the top-floor observation deck, and the botanical garden.

Seeing Mrs. Murdoch present, many people who knew her came forward to greet her. As a member of New York's upper class, many people knew that this woman was no ordinary person.

In 1999, she came to New York and became Mrs. Murdoch. In less than two years, she became a well-known figure in the upper class, ranked eighth on the list of the top ten super-rich wives globally, and had strong influence in the fashion, finance, media, and political circles. In 2001, she gave birth to twins, further solidifying her status in the Murdoch family. It is said that she is a very strong-willed woman who can even influence Murdoch's decisions.

For example, last year, two Murdoch executives were unhappy with Deng Wendi interfering in News Corp's affairs and had a dispute with her. As a result, those two people packed up and left, which made others even more wary of her.

"Richard, New Century is doing well. Have you thought about making it bigger, like top independent labels such as Miramax, New Line, or Searchlight?"

When the two were alone, Deng Wendi asked.

"Yes, becoming a top label is New Century's goal, and that's also why I entered the film industry. Wendi, you know I'm not good at running a business. I still want to seek your advice in this area," Richard said with a smile.

"You're not good at running a business? Haha, I don't believe it. I've heard that BAA and New Century were both brought together by you, and both companies are doing well now. Isn't that your achievement?"

"I do have some credit, but not much. BAA relies on my friends Anthony and Norman Holliday, and New Century relies on a few partners. I mostly just go to the company to clap and cheer everyone on."

"Haha, Richard, you're so modest. You're very much like us Chinese people."

Deng Wendi said with a smile.

"Really? Maybe I was a Chinese person in my past life," Richard shrugged.

Deng Wendi smiled, "Richard, I'm also not good at running a business. I just work alongside Rupert and learn a bit about the film industry.

To become a top label in Hollywood, you must have backing. Miramax has Walt Disney behind it, New Line has Time Warner, and Searchlight is a subsidiary of Fox.

An independent production company without backing is like a child holding a gold bar at a night market, don't you think?"

"That makes a lot of sense."

Richard nodded, pondering for a moment before saying, "Hmm, Wendi, is Mr. Murdoch interested in New Century? He's a media tycoon, and it would be cool to work with him."

"Do you really think so?"

Deng Wendi smiled.

"Of course, and besides, we're friends. It should be a pleasant collaboration."

Murdoch controls News Corp, which includes dozens of major newspapers and magazines worldwide, Fox TV, Sky TV, Fox News Network, and more.

Every time 20th Century Fox has a new movie release, his promotions are overwhelming, making everyone envious.

The last time we worked with Fox Searchlight on the release of 'Crash,' it was initiated by him and Deng Wendi. The two companies successfully negotiated, and 'Crash' also received support from News Corp, achieving maximum publicity with minimal funds.

If we could collaborate with Murdoch, it would be very beneficial for New Century, but the premise is that New Century must remain our New Century.

"Richard, if you have a good new project in the future, feel free to contact me. I also work at Searchlight, mainly responsible for films in China."

"Sure!"

Deng Wendi did not bring up New Century Films again. New Century had been established for less than three years, having produced only two films, both successful. But maybe the next one would fail.

Such things are common in Hollywood. New Century Films has not yet proven its strength, so it does not qualify to collaborate with big companies.

Deng Wendi likely meant that New Century's development had caught the attention of Murdoch and Fox, and New Century had been placed under observation.

Whether the collaboration could deepen would depend on the company's future development. Deng Wendi was just sending a signal that if New Century really wanted to collaborate with a major production company, Fox could be a priority consideration.

After spending some time at the party, Deng Wendi left early.

Richard's party was relatively straightforward. Apart from the group around Ellie discussing work, others were focused on eating, drinking, and having fun. Deng Wendi, who was used to attending parties where tycoons engage in high-level discussions, found herself out of place here and naturally couldn't stay long.

"Deng Wendi has a very strong woman vibe," Giselle praised.

"Yes, but you'd better not imitate her."

"Why not?"

"She's too smart."

"What's wrong with being smart?"

"Living with someone too smart can be exhausting. I prefer the Eastern philosophy of 'ignorance is bliss.'"

Richard laughed.

"Are you saying I'm dumb?"

Giselle said disapprovingly.

"Haha, no, you're obviously very smart, just in a different way. She's more skilled in socializing and reading people, while you're better at practical things. I prefer someone like you."

Richard said, holding her waist.

"Hmph, you just think I'm dumb."

Giselle punched him.

"I really don't!"

Richard said, holding her hand with a smile.

Chapter 280: You Just Like to Bully Me

Back at the party, Giselle continued chatting and joking with her friends.

Richard sat down next to Copecen Productions, and after a while, Frank Marshall, Jane Wilson, Gwyneth, and Norman were called over.

These individuals were all shareholders in the company. Richard held 76.5% of the shares, Gwyneth 10%, Norman 4.5%, and the remaining three each had 3%.

Richard briefed them on the financing situation and the cooperation intentions with Fox. "What do you all think?"

"No objections, I'm with you!" Norman said with a smile.

"Richard, you take the lead on this," Gwyneth said with a smile.

Richard shook his head, "I don't know enough, that's why I'm asking. You want me to take the lead?"

"Richard, the company doesn't currently need funds. We could actually delay the financing," Frank Marshall suggested.

"Building distribution channels will still require a lot of investment. Relying solely on Richard's investment isn't appropriate," Jane Wilson added.

"Richard, since you've agreed to the financing, what are your thoughts?" Copecen Productions asked.

"Let's proceed with the financing, but we can take it slow, and aim for a higher valuation for the company. Two hundred million is a very reasonable figure. It would be best to wait until next year, after the third film is released. If it does well at the box office or wins an award, New Century's reputation will definitely soar."

The third film was "Lost in Translation," a small project he hadn't paid much attention to before.

But one day, when Scarlett Johansson visited his home, he noticed that she had the role in "Lost in Translation" listed in her resume. Scarlett became hugely popular from this film, winning the BAFTA Award for Best Actress and earning a Golden Globe nomination. This indicated that "Lost in Translation" had great potential.

If "Lost in Translation" achieves even half the success of "Crash," New Century Films would almost reach the top tier in the independent film scene, becoming one of the most influential indie labels, just behind Focus, Miramax, New Line, and Touchstone.

"What if 'Lost in Translation' fails as an investment?" Norman asked.

Richard looked at him, feeling like he wanted to throw him out.

"Sofia Coppola is a great director, and her father, the elder Coppola, will serve as the film's producer. The quality of the movie is guaranteed. As long as it's not a total flop, the box office results shouldn't be too bad.

Even if the box office fails, it doesn't matter. One failure can be considered tuition; we can focus on the next project. New Century can still rise, it would just take an extra year or two, with minimal impact."

"Alright, alright, I already said you should take the lead, but you insisted on asking me," Norman shrugged and walked away. The others also smiled and dispersed.

Richard had a drink, then headed to the tennis court to play two sets with Paul. He dominated the game, winning both sets. Paul, frustrated, immediately called his wife, tennis champion Venus, to join them.

Richard played a set against Venus and unsurprisingly lost—this was the difference between professional and amateur levels.

"Richard, want to play another set?" Paris and Eva came over and asked.

"Sure!" Richard said, jumping back in for a doubles match.

——

After the party, Richard got back to work. In early May, he flew to San Francisco, where "The Matrix Reloaded" was being filmed.

He had previously promised Keanu Reeves that he would cameo in a role, and now he had the time to do it.

"Keanu, what role am I playing? Is it cool enough?" Richard asked.

"Haha, your role is super cool," Keanu laughed.

Richard wasn't convinced, so he went to ask the Wachowski directors.

He was to play one of Agent Smith's clones. During a meeting at the base with Neo, Trinity, Morpheus, and others, one of Smith's clones infiltrates the base, leading to a few rounds of intense fighting with Neo before ultimately being defeated by Neo.

The role had no lines and consisted entirely of action sequences, with just two scenes in total.

Richard glared at Keanu Reeves, feeling annoyed. This guy had been bullied by him a few times before, and now he was trying to get back at him through this role. It was shameless.

"Hey, Richard, isn't the role cool? Fighting in a suit and sunglasses?" Keanu laughed.

"Yeah, but are we really going to fight? I'm worried I might not be able to hold back," Richard said, clenching his fist.

"Hey, Richard, take it easy. We don't have to really fight. Relax," Keanu said, handing him a bottle of water with a smile.

"Scene 249, take one, action!"

The filming began. Neo opened the large iron door, and Richard, dressed in a black suit and wearing sunglasses, kicked his long leg in with a powerful and stylish move.

Neo, suspended on wires, quickly retreated.

Richard pursued him, following the choreography set by the Hong Kong martial arts director, and the two of them engaged in a serious fight.

The scene took an entire day to shoot, and it turned out to be a fantastic action sequence.

Keanu had initially planned to use the filming as an opportunity to get back at Richard, but in the end, he decided against it. It might have been satisfying in the moment, but it would have caused problems later on.

While on set, Richard also met Monica Bellucci, who played a supporting role in the movie. Dressed in a black leather outfit, she looked incredibly sexy and striking. Richard hung out with her for a bit before heading back to Los Angeles the next day.

The sequel to "X-Men" was about to start filming, and Richard's character, Cyclops, couldn't be absent. However, his role was still relatively small, ranking fourth after Wolverine, Professor X, and Magneto, with a total of 43 scenes, many of which used a stunt double.

This role earned Richard a salary of $8 million, and the entire shoot took eighteen days.

"Is the movie finished?" Charlize Theron asked at their hillside villa.

"Yes, there wasn't much to shoot in the first place. The director was worried I might get injured, so they used a lot of stunt doubles, which reduced my screen time. I think the studio might regret casting me as Cyclops," Richard said as he climbed out of the pool, holding onto the handrail.

"Why would they regret it? You bring in a lot of box office revenue," Charlize said, lying on a lounge chair and sipping juice through a straw.

"It's because I'm too famous. My scenes are hard to balance. If I have too many, it overshadows Wolverine's lead role, but if I have too few, it doesn't justify the $8 million salary. If they had cast me as Wolverine or chosen someone else for Cyclops, the film might have gone more smoothly," Richard said, sitting down beside her.

"Using you is clearly worth it. Look at 'Crash,' you were on screen for less than six minutes, but they promoted you as the lead. A film that cost less than $7 million to make ended up grossing over $100 million domestically. That's incredible.

Did you see last week's Vanity Fair? You were ranked as the year's most bankable male actor, beating out Tom Cruise, Keanu Reeves, Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Leonardo DiCaprio, and others," Charlize said, playfully punching his shoulder.

Richard smiled, "Are you impressed?"

"Pfft, in my mind, you'll always be a fraud. I'm not going to admire you," Charlize said with a light snort.

"I'm a fraud? I'll give you a chance to take that back."

"Nope!"

"Really?"

Richard laughed and playfully pinned her down.

"Wait, you jerk! I wanted to talk business. 'Charlie's Angels 2' is wrapped up, and I'm planning to start 'Monster.' What do you think?" Charlize asked, pushing his chin away.

"Didn't we already discuss this? You can start anytime you're ready. I've already sorted things out with Frank. The production team, writing team, casting team—everything's prepared. We're just waiting for you to give the green light. So this isn't really business; the real business comes next. Now, be good and lift your leg."

"Mmm, you jerk, all you do is bully me~"

——

(End of Chapter).