Link pondered for a moment, then agreed.

If all goes smoothly, the Boxing King Challenge Tournament will be held in July. After the competition, he plans to take a break for a period of about twenty days. Filming a movie during that time shouldn't be a problem.

Seeing him agree, Director Zhang laughed heartily, immediately gesturing for his assistant to bring over the documents for Link to sign, almost as if afraid he would change his mind.

Link shook his head and made it clear to Director Zhang before signing that the timing of several of his matches was still uncertain. By July, August, or September, he might not have time, so the production team should have measures in place to handle this.

Director Zhang assured him that it was fine, saying that his competitions abroad were bringing glory to the country, and everything would go according to his schedule. They wouldn't drag him down over such matters.

Link took a look at the document and signed his name, thinking this would be both the first and last time.

Director Zhang put away the contract and handed the script back to him, urging him to find time to go through it. He also encouraged him to train hard and continue winning in the boxing matches.

After sending off Director Zhang, Link returned to the arena to continue his training.

——

Outside the gates of Sports University, after getting into the car, Director Zhang took out the document and glanced at it again, unable to resist smiling.

"Uncle Zhang, it's not like Link absolutely had to play this role. There are plenty of actors available in the industry. If we spread the word that we're casting for the male lead of your new film, actors in the circle would race to the opportunity. Does a big director like you really need to personally come and sweet-talk Link?"

The assistant couldn't help but ask when he saw Director Zhang grinning.

"What do you know? Our team of directors has considered this carefully. Casting Link is the most cost-effective choice. First of all, his appearance perfectly fits the character of the second prince—handsome, tall, brave, and with a natural aura of dominance. No one in the industry compares.

Moreover, this film is aimed at the international market, breaking into the global film scene. Among the current young stars in the country, who has more overseas fame than Link? Maybe Jelun has some name recognition in Southeast Asia, but he falls short in Europe and the United States.

Link, on the other hand, is different. I've heard from friends in the United States that Link is already quite famous there. His news frequently appears in newspapers. If he wins two more matches and clinches that championship belt or whatever it's called, his fame will undoubtedly soar.

And domestically, his popularity would only skyrocket further. Calling him the number one young star of his generation wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Spending 20 million RMB to sign him is absolutely worth it."

Director Zhang patted his knee as he spoke.

The assistant nodded thoughtfully. Hearing it this way, it did seem like signing Link was indeed a smart move.

"Uncle Zhang, you're right. It's just that Link is a singer and an athlete. He doesn't act."

"Who said he can't act? Look closely at his music videos. His performances in them are more natural and captivating than many professional actors. His expressions are genuine and instinctive, a gift that comes effortlessly. I heard that when Link shoots music videos, he doesn't even rehearse much—most shots are completed in one take. This proves his innate talent for acting."

Director Zhang spoke with confidence.

The assistant, hearing this, stopped questioning him.

——

After taking on the role offered by Director Zhang, Link's schedule for the year expanded further, leaving him with less time to train.

To avoid disrupting his preparation, he worked extra hard during his downtime to train.

Where he once trained six hours a day, it now stretched to over eight, nearly living in the boxing gym and on the track field.

On weekends, he would take a brief break, accompanying Zhang Zilin for a little shopping.

In late March, Lin Zhilin came over from Taiwan Island to report on some work matters.

At the end of last year, Link used Golden Shell funds to acquire an established film studio in Taiwan Island, New World Film and Television. Using the old company as a framework, he poached five managers from other film companies to build a new operation.

The new company's main business included film investment, production, distribution, artist management, modeling, and advertising.

Lin Zhilin, as the company's president, oversaw operations, while specific tasks were delegated to departmental heads.

After three to four busy months, Lin Zhilin gradually got the hang of things, and operations began running smoothly.

Lin Zhilin informed him that the company had recently signed two new actors and invested in a low-budget arthouse film directed by a young, aspiring filmmaker from Taiwan Island, Chen Zhengdao. Last year, Chen's debut film, "Home Transformation," was selected for the International Critics' Week at the Venice Film Festival and was seen as promising.

New World Film and Television's production team, after reviewing the script and proposal, decided to invest in this film titled "A Bright Summer."

Link reviewed the project's proposal and budget report submitted by the team. The production cost was 12 million Taiwan Dollars, just under 3 million RMB.

While the investment wasn't large, the provided documents were sloppy and unprofessional.

Lionsgate Films' production department would routinely submit piles of detailed reports and proposals for every project, sometimes exceeding 1,000 pages, covering every detail meticulously.

Although overwhelming at times, such a thorough approach minimized errors.

In contrast, New World Film and Television's team submitted a mere 12-page report, with many important aspects glossed over.

The budget report also contained vague and poorly calculated entries, offering only broad estimates.

Such work might lead to problems during production, potentially requiring additional funding midway.

Link grabbed a pen and made annotations on the documents, instructing Lin Zhilin to have the production team redo a professional proposal and budget report. If the current team couldn't handle it, they could be replaced.

"Darling, how are you so skilled? You even understand film production planning. I've read this report twice, and I can barely make sense of it. I couldn't spot any issues at all."

In the study, Lin Zhilin leaned against his shoulder, her voice soft and sweet.

"Take your time. I'll find a few more professional film project proposals and budget reports for you to study later. The more you see, the better you'll be at spotting gaps. That way, no one can take advantage of you."

Link said as he continued reviewing documents.

Film project proposals and budget reports serve as the blueprint for movie production. A well-prepared blueprint ensures everything else proceeds smoothly.

Compared to Hollywood's rigorous approach, domestic film studios often overlooked such preparations. This stemmed from differences in investment scales and industry professionalism.

Hollywood projects often cost hundreds of millions, sometimes billions of US Dollars—more expensive than building skyscrapers or seabridges—forcing them to exercise extreme caution.

Domestically, the highest-budgeted films barely crossed billions in RMB. Furthermore, unclear roles and responsibilities among directors, producers, and investors weakened the system.

This sometimes led to directors wielding excessive power, frequently demanding actor changes, additional funding, or new shooting locations partway, leaving companies no choice but to comply.

Therefore, many proposals ended up as mere formalities, receiving little attention.

But under Link's leadership, he required his teams to prepare comprehensive documentation from the company's inception, benchmarking against top-tier film companies.

Such documentation not only protected the boss from being deceived but also helped team members grow more professional over time.

"Darling, can you teach me how to understand this? I don't want to be seen as a brainless vase."

Lin Zhilin said as she sat beside him.

"Okay."

Link began explaining the sections of a professional film proposal to her using the limited materials on hand.

The contents were extensive, and even glossing over finer details, it took him two to three hours just to go through the index, which was more tedious than writing a doctoral dissertation.

After covering part of the content, he started explaining copyright aspects before tossing the documents aside, pulling Lin Zhilin into his arms to flirt. Together, they ventured into their "Mysterious Garden."

Lin Zhilin, being in her prime and not particularly headstrong, always yielded to his desires, accommodating his every need.

As they headed to the bedroom, he recalled that Director Zhang's crew needed numerous beautiful actresses, prioritizing those with larger busts. He told Lin Zhilin that, if interested, she could encourage the company's artists to audition.

Lin Zhilin, her eyes dreamy, replied with a soft "okay."

During her half-month stay in Capital City, Link took time to go on a few dates with her and discuss company management issues.

Afterward, he continued his training regimen in the boxing gym and on the track.

At the end of March, his manager, Shawn Gibbons, called to inform him that the Boxing King challenger qualifier round would be held in early May. Media promotion had already begun, and he was advised to prepare in advance.