Chapter 223: The First Show Of The Couple Workshop

Chu Ge did provide a description of Chu Tiange’s appearance in the novel, but to be frank, there are hundreds if not thousands of online fiction protagonists like that. Even within the same book, other supporting characters might have similar descriptions. Without distinctive physical features, portraying an ordinary person’s appearance through words alone can be incredibly difficult.

Xie Wenyuan didn’t know why he immediately recognized this as Chu Tiange, but he could only attribute it to the fact that they were discussing this particular book. Naturally, the subconscious response would be Chu Tiange, which was understandable.

Of course, he didn’t know that this was actually a depiction based on Daoist painting, representing his divine aspect, which was Chu Tiange. Using intention to express the divine, it was only natural that anyone could sense that it was Chu Tiange.

But regardless, it proved that the portrayal aligned with the image of Chu Tiange in the readers’ minds. Whether the comic itself would be popular was another matter, but at least the original fans would be satisfied.

Wasn’t this the initial purpose?

And as for this art style and technique, there was no need to worry about the quality of the drawings. With the original author overseeing the adaptation, what studio could be more suitable than they themselves?

Xie Wenyuan hadn’t even considered that this couple, who were practically novices in the realm of comic and even storyboarding, had just begun learning through online courses. They hadn’t even graduated yet! How could anyone have guessed this?

He immediately made a decision, “Then, later, you two can sign the comic contract with us.”

“Um…” Chu Ge cautiously asked, “Do we really need to sign a contract? Can’t we just register a studio on the spot?”

Xie Wenyuan: “?”

Old Zhu: “…You can also sign it in your personal names. The tax implications would be different, though.”

“Tax… so you mean you’re going to pay us?” Chu Ge’s expression was a bit strange, “We’ll draw our own book, and then you’ll give us money?”

Xie Wenyuan’s expression twitched, “Exactly, we’re hiring you as creators for our project, so we’ll pay you.”

Qiu Wuji also confirmed, “You’ve already given us three million for the book, helped us with the comic promotion, and now you’re going to pay us for drawing?”

Xie Wenyuan couldn’t help but chuckle, “That’s right, I’m going to pay you… and if the comic makes a profit, you’ll also get a share.”

Qiu Wuji cautiously asked, “How much?”

Xie Wenyuan finally burst into hearty laughter, “Originally, that’s something we should negotiate, but I don’t want to bother now. Let’s just go with the market price and offer you whatever a top-level studio would get. This is too amusing, hahaha…”

Old Zhu also laughed, “You weren’t even responsible for negotiating this stuff originally. Besides, compared to your overall budget, this is just a drop in the bucket. What are you pretending to be so generous for?”

Xie Wenyuan chuckled, “Hahaha… Old Zhu, your cross-generational friendship is so cute.”

What’s so funny? We’re not well-off, you know? The couple exchanged a glance, both secretly thinking, We’re drawing our own book, and someone is giving us money. This situation is really weird!

But no matter what, this was making money. Their moods improved; this is starting off with a bang!

Xie Wenyuan continued to pour tea for the two of them with a smile, and said, “We have a preliminary agreement with your company. If the comic gains a certain level of popularity – it doesn’t necessarily have to be a sensation, just generally above a baseline – we will use the comic as a foundation and collaborate with their animation platform to produce an anime. Are you familiar with this?”

Ahem… Chu Ge cleared his throat, “We’re not familiar with this.”

“Alright… but we’ll still seek Mr. Chu’s opinion on the script.” Xie Wenyuan raised his teacup like a toast, “I hope the comic will be successful. That would be a great way to kick things off.”

Both of them raised their cups, “We hope so.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Xie Wenyuan continued, “Actually, what I really wanted to discuss with the author isn’t all of this. It’s the author’s perspective on the adaptation. I’ve read the work, and there are stylistic differences between the beginning and the end, though it hasn’t reached the point of being disconnected… But for an adaptation, we need a benchmark. For example, what we’re really aiming for is to emphasize the plot and the characters. If Mr. Chu’s preference is more towards action-packed battles and popcorn entertainment, then we might need to adjust our approach.”

Chu Ge asked, “Can’t we find a balance?”

“The so-called balance still requires emphasis. Mr. Chu, as the creator, should have a clear understanding of what the selling points are and what serves as a balance. The cultural and aesthetic aspects of the xianxia genre, the mindset behind the characters, what would make it more accessible and comprehensible to foreign audiences – how to express these aspects. We hope Mr. Chu has some insights, rather than just following the original text blindly. Otherwise, our team will make the decisions.”

What is professionalism? This is professionalism.

Many things are not as simple as the author saying, “This is my storyline, it should be done my way.” Moreover, what the original fans want to see may not necessarily align with the author’s vision.

There are more and deeper considerations.

The reason for respecting the author’s opinions is that the author understands the original fans the best and can most effectively integrate their desires without going overboard.

Chu Ge cautiously responded, “Popcorn entertainment is easy to please the audience, but what truly spreads is the plot and the characters. We have a foundation for ensemble acting and can refer to the ‘Game of Thrones’ model…”

He glanced at Xie Wenyuan with caution, unsure if the latter would find it presumptuous. Seeing Xie Wenyuan smiling without indicating anything, Chu Ge followed suit and, like Qiu Wuji, dipped his fingers in tea and began sketching on the table:

“I have a complete world in the later parts, involving overseas Western elements, incorporating their magical worldview and medieval kingdom systems, along with various underground dungeon monsters that fall within their realm. When combined with our xianxia genre, it’s a form of cultural interaction… In the initial plot, we can steer it towards a school setting, and we can design it like this…”

Chu Ge rambled on for more than a dozen minutes, becoming more animated as he spoke. His enthusiasm was evident, and he barely took a breath.

Qiu Wuji smiled as she watched his profile from the side. He was quite the talker, especially when discussing his area of expertise. His confident demeanor was captivating.

Xie Wenyuan was also smiling.

His intention to discuss with the author wasn’t as eloquent as what had been said on the surface. Essentially, it was about a lack of trust.

He didn’t fully trust an online literature author to have an all-encompassing, long-term perspective on these matters. He was concerned that the author might stubbornly insist on “not allowing any changes to my storyline,” leading to unpleasant conflicts.

Asking these questions wasn’t a test, but more of a way of “retracting from difficulty.” If the author couldn’t handle it, they shouldn’t delay everyone’s plans. They could just keep the author as a mascot, respecting their opinions at most while making minimal adjustments.

Unexpectedly, there was a positive outcome. The author had considered many intricate details, harbored a deep emotional connection to his work, and possessed an all-encompassing understanding of the entire world, as if he had wandered through that world himself. He could approach the world from any perspective or cultural angle, and there would be no need for external adaptations.

As for the author’s “self-assured” belief that they could be like “Game of Thrones”… well, that was a good thing.

If they want to make a mark overseas, and they don’t even have this self-positioning, what’s the point of trying?

They’ve struck gold here…

Speaking of which, this young couple is quite profound. They aren’t just relying on their handsome and beautiful looks to become internet celebrities. This husband-and-wife team might truly shine in the future. It’s quite different from what Xie Wenyuan originally imagined.

No wonder Old Zhu willingly invested in them. It’s not just a face investment; there’s genuine anticipation.

Xie Wenyuan fell into contemplation.

After talking for a solid ten minutes or so, Chu Ge finally concluded a segment and took a sip of tea, feeling somewhat parched. With no one interrupting, he felt a bit awkward.

Seeing him sipping his tea in a contemplative manner, Xie Wenyuan finally snapped out of his thoughts and extended his hand with a smile, “Welcome, Mr. Chu, to join our project team as a special consultant for the project and a consultant for the screenwriting team.”

Chu Ge blinked, his expression turning peculiar, “Don’t tell me even this requires you to pay me.”

Xie Wenyuan clapped his hands and laughed heartily, “You’re absolutely right, it does require paying you.”

Seeing the atmosphere of camaraderie, Old Zhu interjected at the right moment, “These matters can’t all be discussed over tea in a tea room. This is just a simple exchange of opinions. There will be more meetings ahead. I also have some investment meetings to attend; I’m not here to keep you company. Let’s call it a day for now. Since you’ve traveled a long way, you should head to the hotel first to settle in. We can meet again in the afternoon, draft some agreements, and have dinner in the evening.”

Xie Wenyuan added, “I’ve already arranged accommodations for you. Go and get settled. We’ll have a meeting in the afternoon, draft some agreements, and then have dinner in the evening.”