221-225

Chapter 221: Starting a Small Website

"What kind of work do you do, Mr. Chen?"

"I majored in Computer Science, and I’m currently working in web development at PayPal."

At a McDonald’s on Jefferson Street in the Bay Area, Luca and his group were sitting in a booth, chatting while eating.

"So, Mr. Chen is an IT expert?"

"Haha, not really!"

Chen Shijun scratched his cheek with his finger, giving a modest smile, looking a bit nervous.

Luca raised an eyebrow. After some questioning, he was pretty sure that this unassuming guy in front of him was none other than one of the co-founders of YouTube, Chen Shijun.

He was 25 years old, a regular IT technician with a modest income, who spoke slowly. Apart from the earrings he wore, there was nothing remarkable about him. No one would guess he was part of the team that made $13 billion in 20 months.

In Silicon Valley, there were lots of people like him.

"Do you build websites, Mr. Chen?"

"Yes, I’ve worked on many website designs."

Chen Shijun rattled off a long list of websites that Luca wasn’t familiar with.

Luca nodded slightly. It was said that Chen Shijun got the idea for YouTube after being inspired by an event during the 2004 Super Bowl, but right now, it seemed he hadn’t thought of it yet.

"Then you must be quite familiar with websites."

"More or less."

Chen Shijun adjusted his glasses, still unsure why the person in front of him was asking these questions. It felt like an interview, which made him a little nervous.

"Haha, Mr. Chen, please don’t mind me. I’m a model, and I don’t know much about internet technology. Since I’ve run into a professional like you, I wanted to ask a few things. Mr. Li, would you like to listen as well?"

Luca then looked at Director Li.

"Huh?"

Ang Lee just wanted to leave, but since his son wasn’t ready to go, he had no choice but to sit and chat with the younger people.

Luca smiled slightly, "Mr. Li, after you finish filming a movie, you probably have some interesting behind-the-scenes footage. But when it’s released, the audience doesn’t get to see it. Have you ever thought about posting it online?"

"Behind-the-scenes footage? Online?"

Ang Lee shook his head. As a serious director, why would he care about behind-the-scenes footage?

"Yes, on a video-sharing website."

"A video-sharing site?"

Chen Shijun blinked repeatedly. There were pay-per-view video sites where you could watch documentaries, but a site specifically for sharing short videos? There wasn’t one yet.

Luca spread his hands, "I’m a model, and I know a lot of supermodels. I film a lot of work videos—runway walks, practice sessions, workouts. I think these videos are interesting, not worse than some short films.

"I want to post them like a blog, so people can learn more about the modeling industry. But right now, there are only movie-specific sites. There’s no platform for short video sharing. Do you have any suggestions, Mr. Chen?"

"Work videos? A video blog?"

Chen Shijun rested his head on his hand, thinking seriously. It felt like he was on the verge of something.

Ang Lee shook his head, "Professionally made movies are put online for free and no one watches them. Why would anyone watch videos made by amateurs?"

"Of course!"

Luca smiled slightly, picked up the camera on the table, and showed a video to Ang Lee’s son.

"Mr. Li, this is the internet age. As long as you have a camera, everyone can be a director, and everyone can be an actor. Even someone as young as your son could direct."

"I can be a director?"

The kid started recording everyone with the camera.

"Yes, if there were a website for sharing videos, and you posted that video online, I bet at least a million people would watch it."

"Really?"

The kid was curious.

Ang Lee shook his head, unwilling to believe it.

"It’s true."

Luca pointed at himself, then at Ang Lee.

"We’re both famous—one a small-time actor, the other a big-time director. If a video of us eating fried chicken at McDonald’s were posted online, it would stir up a lot of speculation.

"Which McDonald’s are they at? Is the chicken good there? Why are these two eating together? Are they discussing a new movie? Has the lead actor been decided? Is there some hidden agenda?

The media would surely report on it, turning it into news, and more people would be drawn to watch."

"Cool!"

Suddenly, Chen Shijun clapped his hands, "The celebrity effect, plus media coverage, would definitely bring in a lot of traffic. Getting a million views would be easy. This idea is really cool!"

"Exactly."

Luca nodded slightly, "The website would get traffic, I’d gain popularity, and Mr. Li’s new movie would get publicity."

"Everyone’s a director—that sounds cool. But how would the website make money?"

Li Chun, Li’s eldest son, asked curiously.

"Haha, Chun, once a website gains popularity, making money is the easy part. Mr. Kelly’s idea is worth millions!"

Chen Shijun clapped his hands in excitement.

"Is there no such site right now?"

"No, last year Adobe Flash was just introduced as a format for playing online videos, but there’s no video-sharing site like this yet. Your idea is very innovative, Mr. Kelly."

Chen Shijun praised.

"Thank you!"

Luca raised his beer and smiled.

He didn’t really understand this field, nor did he think his idea was anything groundbreaking.

If video websites were such a brilliant idea, companies like Google or Yahoo would have stolen it when YouTube first appeared. They wouldn’t have let it grow so big.

A good idea needs the right person and unwavering execution to succeed. The executor is crucial, and he didn’t have time to manage this.

He just hoped the simple guy in front of him would be a good partner.

"Mr. Chen, would you be interested in helping me build such a website? I can invest, and I can also provide some content—I know a lot of supermodels and big-name stars."

"Britney Spears!" the kid shouted.

Luca ruffled his hair. If the video-sharing site took off, it wouldn’t be impossible to get Britney to shoot a few short videos.

So, he had a big advantage in starting this kind of site.

"Mr. Kelly, why me?"

Chen Shijun was excited but also clear-headed. The idea was groundbreaking, but it wouldn’t be easy to execute. There were technical challenges—network storage, bandwidth—and most importantly, funding. It would burn through cash.

And Luca had only met him once. Why entrust him with such a good idea?

"It’s simple. We just happened to talk about this. You said no one’s doing it, and you think my idea is cool. So why not do it?

I’m not short on money.

I’m glad you agree with my idea, so I want to invite you to join. If you’re not interested, I’ll find someone else to do it. What do you think, Mr. Chen?"

Luca smiled calmly. His meaning was clear: he was just asking. If you’re not in, there are plenty of others. He had money, connections, and ideas. All he needed was someone to execute it.

"Mr. Kelly, I’d like to give it a try!"

After a moment of thought, Chen Shijun spoke slowly.

"Great!"

Luca smiled slightly. He kept his face calm, but inside, there was a bit of excitement.

This guy seemed ordinary, but he had succeeded. That meant there was something in him that could lead to success.

Luca was willing to work with successful people.

"Now, let’s talk about the website."

By 7 p.m., they had agreed on the investment terms, and the group left McDonald’s.

"Dad, it seemed like Luca came specifically to find Brother Shijun, didn’t it?" Li Chun said curiously, watching Luca walk away.

"Yeah, Dad, what do you think?" the little guy chimed in.

"Hmph, what a waste of an afternoon!" Ang Lee grumbled as he got into the car.

Before coming here, he thought Luca was trying to get a role in his movie by using this method. He had looked down on it a bit. If you want a role, fight for it fair and square—using underhanded tactics wasn’t right.

He had been thinking about how to politely refuse.

But to his surprise, Luca hadn’t mentioned Brokeback Mountain even once, which left him feeling quite awkward.

In all his years as a director, he had never felt as awkward as today. If it weren’t for his sons’ interest in their conversation, he would have left long ago.

"Dad, I’ve decided. I’m going to study computer science like Brother Shijun."

"Why? You love design, don’t you?" Ang Lee glanced at Chen Shijun, who was deep in thought.

"Isn’t web design also design?"

"Fine, fine. Do what you want."

Ang Lee shook his head. He didn’t understand young people these days.

"Dad, I want to be a director!" the little one said.

"Okay, okay. If you want to be a director, Dad supports you. Later, Dad will teach you. After all, your Dad is a big-time director!"

Ang Lee was thrilled. The Li family has a successor.

"Great! When I make my little movies, I'll post them on their website."

"…"

Ang Lee shook his head, feeling utterly hopeless.

*Chapter 222: Are You Crazy?*

"Resignation Letter"

That night, after sending the Li family back to their hotel, Chen Shijun returned to his apartment.

Sitting on the living room couch, he silently smoked half a pack of cigarettes, pondering for a long time. Eventually, he opened his computer and started typing out a resignation letter.

He was currently a network engineer at PayPal, the online payment company owned by eBay.

Because of his excellent performance during college, he was hired by eBay during his senior year to work on network maintenance.

Now, he had been with PayPal for two years and three months. The job was stable, the income substantial, and if he continued as is, establishing a life in the U.S. wouldn’t be hard.

But after hearing Luca’s idea today, his mind was blown. The idea was brilliant. More importantly, it gave him a strange sense of déjà vu, like he had thought of it before but somehow forgotten it. Yet, at the same time, he knew he had never had such an idea. This feeling was conflicted, as if he had forgotten something, but also clear, like someone had just awakened him.

In that moment, an unstoppable urge surged within him. He wanted to do this—he had to. If he didn’t, he would regret it.

It was like a small boat drifting on the sea suddenly seeing a lighthouse. His life now had a purpose, and this website was something he had been searching for all along.

“If I’ve made my decision, I shouldn’t regret it!”

Taking a deep breath, he continued typing.

Click—

The apartment door opened, and his roommate, Kan Mingming, walked in.

Kan Mingming was also from the island. He was studying music at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and often performed at bars in Chinatown. His dream was to become a professional musician.

"Resignation letter?"

Kan Mingming came over, bringing with him the strong smell of cigarettes and alcohol, along with his hoarse voice.

"Ajun, are you quitting?"

"Yeah, I’m quitting."

"Why are you quitting?"

". . ."

Chen Shijun wasn’t entirely sure why he wanted to resign.

If someone had suggested this to him before, he would have shaken his head vigorously. If he had thought of quitting, he would have considered himself crazy, needing to calm down.

But after leaving McDonald’s, the first thing that came to his mind was to resign, so he could quickly get the website up and running and manage it seriously.

He had no other thoughts.

"Ajun, say something! Your job is pretty good and stable. Why suddenly quit?"

"I think... I’ve found my purpose," Chen Shijun thought for a moment and said.

"Purpose? What purpose?"

His roommate was confused.

"I want to start a business!"

"Start a business?"

His roommate shook his head, thinking this was crazy. Leaning back on the couch with his feet on the table, beer in hand, he said,

"Ajun, you’re 25, right? You’ve been in the U.S. since middle school, your family’s not well-off, and you struggled a lot during school. You’ve only just stabilized after two years of work. It hasn’t been easy. Why quit now? To start a business? Do you know how hard it is to start a business?

"We’re both from the island. We don’t know anyone here. Starting a business isn’t easy!"

"You’re right," Chen Shijun took a drag of his cigarette. "I just want to take a chance while I’m still young."

"Take a chance?"

His roommate shook his head. "It’s good to have that thought, but there’s no need to quit. You could keep your job and start the business on the side. Even if you fail, you’ll have a backup, right?"

". . ."

Chen Shijun adjusted his glasses. He had considered keeping his job and was confident he could balance both, but he thought, "Only by burning my boats and leaving no retreat can I succeed!"

"Burning your boats?"

His roommate laughed, smoking. "Ajun, I’ve known you for over six months, and you’ve always seemed pretty steady. What’s gotten into you today? Weren’t you out hanging with your fellow townspeople? How did you come back after a day and decide to quit? Did they say something to you?"

"No, my townsman is director Ang Lee, you know him, right? He didn’t say anything. I had advice from someone else."

"Ang Lee? The one who directed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? If I’d known, I would’ve tagged along! He’s a big director! I wanted him to hear my music. Maybe he’d put it in his movie. Wouldn’t that be cool?"

His roommate said excitedly.

"Alright, I’ll take you along next time."

"Haha, thanks, Ajun. But you should really think about the resignation. It’s not easy finding a job these days."

"I know!" Chen Shijun tapped the ash from his cigarette and continued writing his resignation letter.

His roommate shook his head, yawned, and staggered into the bedroom.

Ten minutes later, Chen Shijun finished the resignation letter, double-checked it, and sent it to the company’s HR manager. He didn’t want to leave room for second thoughts.

After completing the resignation letter, he started working on an initial business plan.

He had spent more than an hour at McDonald’s earlier. At Luca’s place, he had heard many innovative ideas, creative concepts, and new marketing strategies.

Those ideas were stunning—simple, yet no one had thought of them yet. They were highly inventive.

If the idea of a "short video website" had pushed him to quit, the subsequent conversation solidified his belief in partnering with Luca.

"Luca is a creative and visionary person."

That was Chen Shijun’s thought at the time, and he still held to it.

Since he had decided to partner up, he needed to come up with a business plan, as well as sort out financial and logistical issues.

Thinking about the management and financial aspects of a company, he sighed, paused, and lit another cigarette.

He had always loved math and science, and after entering university, he studied computer science. He was good at technical issues, but when it came to company management and finances, he knew he wasn’t as capable. Maybe he needed a few partners.

Who should he ask?

"Chad, got a minute? There’s something I want to discuss with you."

Chen Shijun sent a message through MSN.

Chad Hurley was a college friend and now worked with him at PayPal. They had a good relationship. Chad had studied management and marketing in college and now worked in administration at PayPal. He would be a great partner.

"What’s up?"

"I quit!"

"What?"

"I sent my resignation to Mr. Matt’s inbox."

"Are you crazy?"

"I’m perfectly clear-headed!"

"Why?"

"I want to start a website, a really cool one. Want to hear my idea? We can talk over drinks."

"You’re not trying to tempt me to quit with you, are you? Let me be clear, that’s absolutely not happening."

"Of course not. Just come over. I’ve got good drinks here!"

"Alright, but I’m telling you, I’m definitely not quitting!"

(End of this chapter)

*Chapter 223: Devil or Angel*

"A website for short video sharing? Everyone can be a director and an actor? This idea is amazing!"

After a while, the apartment’s living room went from one person to two.

The new arrival was Chen Shijun’s old friend, Chad Hurley, a young white man in his mid-twenties with black hair.

The two sat on the couch, drinking and chatting.

Chen Shijun briefly explained his concept for a short video website.

"Chen, who came up with such a genius idea?" Hurley asked curiously.

Chen Shijun smiled sincerely, "Chad, do you think the idea is great too? Then quit your job. Let’s do it together."

"Quit my job?"

Hurley shook his head repeatedly, "I’m not crazy. Quit just because I heard a good idea? People must have thought of this before, either in academic journals or sci-fi novels, but making it a reality is extremely difficult.

How many internet users are willing to share now?

The technology for video file parsing has just come out. Can short videos even play smoothly on a computer?

And what about the internet speed? It took me three hours to download a movie earlier. Will users spend half an hour loading a boring video?

And there’s the copyright issue. Have you thought about all this?"

"Yes, I’ve thought about it. Don’t forget, I’m in tech development, so I know how hard this is."

Chen Shijun affirmed, "But Chad, there’s one thing you need to understand. Is there anything worth doing that doesn’t come with challenges? Once we start, we tackle these problems, and then they won’t be problems anymore.

But if we don’t do it, these problems will always stay with us, and someone else will solve them eventually. Then they’ll succeed, and we’ll be standing on the sidelines, clapping.

But what if we’re the ones who do it?

Then we’ll be ahead of everyone else.

Chad, do you want to be a trailblazer or a bystander?"

"…"

Chad Hurley frowned and stared at him in surprise, "Chen, since when did you get so persuasive?"

Chen Shijun adjusted his glasses and smiled, "When people are at critical moments, they can unleash potential like never before. Right now, I’m in that state. Chad, have you made up your mind?"

Chad Hurley shook his head, "Chen, your idea is fantastic, and your words are very inspiring. I’m willing to help, but quitting my job…"

Bang!

Suddenly, Chen Shijun slapped a check onto the table.

"One hundred thousand dollars?!"

Chad Hurley was stunned, "Where did you get this money?"

"This is the first round of funding from an investor, and there’s more to come."

Chen Shijun grinned.

"Chen, I have a question."

Chad Hurley blinked.

"Ask away!"

"When did you come up with the short video idea?"

"Today!"

"When did you secure the investment?"

"Today!"

"Oh my god! You might be the fastest person in internet history to get funding."

Chad Hurley exclaimed.

"No, actually, the idea and the investment came from the same person."

"Who?"

"Want to know? Are you willing to join me?"

Chen Shijun tapped the check on the table, "We’ve got the idea and the funding. What are we missing? Just a few like-minded people. That investor gave me five seconds to think it over. Now, Chad, I’m giving you one minute. Are you in or not? In or not? In or not?"

"Oh, Chen, you’re a devil!"

"Chad, are you in? I know you’ve wanted to start something for a long time. Now the chance is here. Are you in or not? In or not?"

"…"

Chad Hurley stared at the check, then suddenly slammed the table.

"I’m in!"

"Haha, welcome, Chad!"

Chen Shijun pushed the computer over, "Come on, write your resignation letter!"

"Huh? Do I have to do it right now?"

Chad hesitated, "I have a girlfriend, you know. I’m not like you, a single guy."

"Is having a girlfriend so great? If you lose her, you can find another one. If you lose your job, you can find another one. But if you miss this opportunity, where will you find it?"

"Chen, are you possessed by the devil?"

"No, not the devil—an evil spirit. I met one today."

Chen Shijun chuckled.

"Evil spirit?"

"Yes!"

Chen Shijun patted his shoulder and laughed, "Chad, we’re friends. I’ll be honest with you—the idea and the investment both come from Mr. Luca Kelly."

"Luca Kelly?"

"Britney’s boyfriend, bestselling author Kate’s brother, the supermodel, Luca Kelly."

"Him?"

Chad blinked, "Isn’t he just a model? What’s he doing investing in Silicon Valley?"

"Yes, he came up with the idea. He said he wanted to post some work videos on a site but couldn’t find one, so he thought of creating one."

"Really?"

"Do you know what the advantage of working with him is?"

Before Hurley could answer, Chen Shijun continued while holding a cigarette, "First, he’s well-funded. He’s an actor and a model, making millions annually. His sister is a bestselling author, and he knows a lot of rich people. So there’s no need to worry about investments."

"Nice, go on!"

Chad nodded. Money was the most important thing.

"Second, he understands the industry. He’s already shared a lot of great ideas with me, and I’ll explain them to you in detail later. He’s aligned with us, so working with him will be a pleasure."

"Well… I haven’t met him yet, so I’ll reserve judgment for now."

"Third, he’s a supermodel. He knows lots of supermodels and big celebrities—his sister Kate, his girlfriend Lima, Ambrosio, and other Brazilian supermodels, as well as stars like Britney, Jennifer Aniston, and Jessica Alba."

"Wow! They’re all stunning. I envy him."

"Stop interrupting. Luca said that once the website is built, he’ll invite the Brazilian model squad to become video bloggers, regularly posting videos about their lives and work."

"Wow! That’s amazing! A bunch of supermodels posting short videos will definitely attract a lot of people."

Chad Hurley said excitedly.

"And it’s not just the supermodels. There’s also Britney, Jennifer, Jessica, and so on. Can you imagine? With so many celebrities involved, will the site lack popularity?"

"Yes, yes! Chen, we have to do this. We must do this!"

Chad Hurley excitedly shook his shoulder.

"Yes, we will. So…"

Chen Shijun opened the document and made an inviting gesture.

"I’m in! I’m quitting!"

Chad Hurley typed furiously on the keyboard and hit send in a flash.

"Oh my god, Chen, what did I just do? I quit my job! I just came here for a drink, and now I’ve quit my job. You really are a devil. No, Luca is the devil. I actually quit my job. This is unbelievable!"

Chad Hurley was stunned. He had just come to find out why his friend had quit, maybe to talk him out of it.

But how did he end up quitting too?

"Chad, welcome aboard!"

Chen Shijun reached out his hand with a grin.

"Thanks, you devil’s accomplice!"

Chad laughed and cursed but still shook his hand excitedly.

"Hahaha!"

"By the way, Karim also wants to start his own business. Should we get him to quit too?"

"He just got married; better not."

"Haha, no worries. We can ask!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 224: The Push Back is Strong*

Nighttime in San Francisco—the Golden Gate Bridge illuminated, casting a dazzling display. From a distance, it looked like a rainbow bridge stretching across the bay, stunningly beautiful.

Ed stopped his car and walked along the sidewalk for over ten minutes before finding Luca at the central viewing platform.

At the time, Luca was leaning against the railing, holding a can of beer in his hand, with a few empty beer cans piled at his feet.

The sea breeze tousled his shirt and his long hair, giving him a relaxed and carefree posture, his lips curling into a comfortable smile—he looked breathtaking.

Just like the first time Ed saw him at the square, though now he seemed even more charming.

“Luca, why did you call me out here this late?”

Ed stepped forward and leaned against the railing, asking.

He had been at the hotel, watching entertainment news and gathering material, when Luca’s phone call pulled him away.

“Ed, you’re here! Come, have a drink with me!”

Luca turned around and patted him on the shoulder.

“Just for a drink?”

“No, and for the view.”

Luca pointed at the vast bay, the cruise ships drifting on the sea, and the neon lights of Silicon Valley in the distance.

“Don’t you think it’s beautiful here?”

Ed glanced at the scenery and shook his head. “Not really. The most beautiful view I’ve ever seen is from my balcony at sunset.

“I’m standing there with a glass of red wine, looking out at Golden Gate Park in the distance, birds chirping and flowers blooming.

“There’s laughter coming from the living room behind me, where Eve is watching cartoons.

“And the smell of something delicious drifts out from the kitchen, where Nina is cooking dinner.

“Compared to the view from my balcony, this doesn’t even come close!”

Luca paused for a moment, then chuckled. “You’re homesick again, huh?”

“No, I’m just reminding you—you haven’t been back to New York in over a month. Are you planning to settle down in Los Angeles?”

Ed took a sip of beer.

Luca shook his head. “No. Back then, wherever Kate was, that was my home. But now Kate has a boyfriend, and it’s awkward for me to go back to New York.”

“Kate has a boyfriend?!”

“You didn’t know?”

Luca looked puzzled. “Right, I forgot to ask—do you know who Kate’s boyfriend is?”

“I don’t know. Hold on, I’ll ask Nina.”

Ed pulled out his phone and called Nina, and the call was quickly connected.

“Nina, has Kate started dating someone? Luca? Yeah, he’s here with me.”

Ed glanced at Luca, then took a few steps away with the phone.

“What’s going on?”

Luca looked confused.

A while later, Ed returned, his expression a bit odd.

“What’s up, Ed? Why’d you take the call so far away?”

Luca sounded a little annoyed.

“Nothing. The signal on the bridge wasn’t great.”

“Alright. So what did Nina say? Who’s Kate’s new boyfriend?”

Luca asked expectantly.

Ed shook his head.

“Nina wouldn’t tell me. She said it’s not something that can be revealed yet and told me not to dig into it.

“It’s company business, so it’s best if I don’t pry.”

“But you two are married! Shouldn’t there be transparency between spouses?” Luca grumbled.

“You and Kate are siblings, so why don’t you just ask her yourself? And what about Lima? Why don’t you ask her? Why make this hard for me?” Ed replied, sounding a little frustrated.

“Alright, alright!”

Luca smirked inwardly. Ed was clearly too whipped by his wife to stand up for himself.

The night deepened, and the wind on the bridge grew cold. After a while, the two headed back to the hotel.

The next morning, the “Honey” film crew boarded a flight back to Los Angeles. The first round of promotion had ended, and whether there’d be a second or third round depended on the box office results.

Before leaving San Francisco, Luca met with Chen Shijun at the airport, along with his two partners, Chad Hurley and Karim.

Seeing the three of them together, Luca was a bit surprised. After proposing the idea for YouTube yesterday, he hadn’t felt too confident about it.

YouTube’s rapid success had a lot to do with the era it emerged in. It was a product of the internet’s technological development at a particular stage, as well as a response to market demand.

If it appeared too early, the supporting infrastructure wouldn’t be there, and the market demand wouldn’t be as urgent. So, he had prepared himself for potential losses.

But seeing these three gave him unexpected confidence.

Throughout history, great achievements required the right timing, location, and people.

While the timing wasn’t quite right, they had Silicon Valley for location, and these three for people.

Even if it failed, it wouldn’t be a complete disaster.

The four of them held a startup meeting at the Starbucks in the airport, discussing the company’s establishment and touching on the division of shares.

Luca contributed the idea and $100,000, taking 49% of the new company.

He could’ve taken more, but he didn’t want to have too much control.

Handing the platform over to these three would unleash their creativity.

Chen Shijun and the others invested $80,000, and they divided the remaining 51% based on their contributions.

When it came to assigning roles, Luca refused to take any position. He didn’t want any titles.

He was an investor, not a co-founder. He could offer ideas and funding, but he wouldn’t be part of the startup team.

After all, if the venture failed, who would take the blame?

Investors care about returns, not about being the general manager, creative director, or content director.

Besides, history shows that groups of three tend to succeed.

Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were three. Google’s founders were three. Facebook started with three, and so did YouTube.

Adding a fourth person could lead to problems.

He made it clear that he wouldn’t interfere in the company’s internal matters. Everything would be handled by the three of them.

If the website turned out well, he’d continue to invest. If not, he’d find someone else to do it. It all depended on their performance.

Finally, he strode onto the plane, leaving behind a cold and distant figure like a domineering CEO.

“Mr. Kelly doesn’t seem to take this collaboration seriously,” Karim, the new addition, remarked, watching the plane take off.

“Yes, he has money and ideas, and Silicon Valley isn’t short of people. Maybe he’s got someone else working on this project too,” Chad Hurley replied somewhat bitterly.

“Isn’t that better?”

Chen Shijun adjusted his glasses. “You were worried about Mr. Kelly meddling too much, with an outsider telling the experts what to do.

“Now he’s not involved at all, leaving everything to us. Isn’t that what you wanted?

“As for whether there’s another team working on this idea, I don’t care. I believe we’re just as good as anyone else.”

“Agreed. Let’s get started!”

“I think we should buy an RV so the three of us can live and work on the road.”

“Great idea!”

“Luca, what were you talking to those three guys about?” Ed asked curiously on the plane.

“You won’t believe it. I made an investment in Silicon Valley yesterday,” Luca replied with a smile, putting down his magazine.

“What did you invest in?”

“A website. A very cool website!” Luca grinned.

Ed shook his head. Nowadays, there were more people creating websites than there were fish in the sea, but only a few ever succeeded.

“Luca, you’re an actor. You should focus more on acting.

“Now that ‘Mean Girls’ is finished, are you planning to take a break before your next role, or keep working? If you wait until the movie is released, your pay might go up.”

Luca thought for a moment. Not only did he still have to pay off his mortgage, but he also had to fund the money-eating beast that was YouTube. His expenses were growing.

He needed to work harder to make money. Only through hardship could one rise to the top.

“Ed, I’m new to the industry, so I need more experience. If possible, help me get a few more roles.”

“Alright,” Ed nodded.

Once the plane landed in Los Angeles, Luca parted ways with the film crew and returned to his long-lost Malibu home.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 225: Untitled*

On September 15th in Malibu, the sun was shining, and a gentle sea breeze blew.

On the coastal highway, a muscular figure was jogging in the morning.

He wore a blue athletic T-shirt and shorts, his strong long legs continuously pounding the pavement at a quick pace, leaving the road sign for Villa District 17 far behind in no time.

Who knows how long he'd been running, but sweat soaked through his back, forming a heart-shaped map on his shirt.

Beep beep~

As he ran, an orange-red sports car approached from behind and slowly stopped beside him.

"Hey, Luca!"

The female driver pushed up her sunglasses, revealing a radiant, sunny face—it was Julie.

"Good morning, Miss Julie!"

His morning run interrupted, Luca had no choice but to stop and exhale lightly.

"Luca, do you go for a run every morning? I’ve seen you from the balcony many times."

Julie leaned against the car door, her sensual red lips slightly curled.

The sea breeze tangled her long hair, adding a bit of temptation to the air.

"Yes, I don't have any work scheduled lately, so I run here every morning."

Recently, he'd been busy with filming and promotion, leaving no time for exercise. Now that he had time, he worked out for at least two to three hours a day.

"You’re fast! No wonder you're like Superman. If I wasn’t in this sports car, I wouldn’t have been able to catch up to you," Julie teased.

"Julie, is this your new car? It’s so cool!"

Julie was driving the latest Lamborghini Murciélago.

The low-profile car, with its streamlined design, looked futuristic and had a price tag of $800,000.

He had thought about buying it but decided against it.

"Yes, it's very powerful. It can reach speeds of 411 km/h with great acceleration. I love it! Want to take it for a spin?"

Julie opened the door and got out of the car.

Luca was momentarily stunned—he had only complimented the car, not intending to test drive it.

"Thanks, it would be my honor!"

Luca couldn’t refuse, so he wiped the sweat from his hands and got into the driver’s seat.

Julie glanced at him, then gracefully stepped into the passenger seat with her long legs.

"Miss Julie, I drive fast. I’ve even been in a car accident before. Are you sure you want to ride with me?" Luca joked as he got familiar with the car.

"Otherwise, are you going to leave me waiting on the side of the road?"

Julie smiled, her lips curling playfully.

"Alright then, I’m taking off!"

Luca shouted, and with a roar, the little sports car transformed into an orange streak, disappearing from the spot.

"Haha, not bad! Faster!" Julie shouted excitedly.

Vroom!!

The coastal road was nearly empty in the morning, so Luca wasn’t worried about crashing. He pushed the car to its limits, reaching top speed in just three minutes.

Normally, he was steady in his actions, but his past life loved thrill-seeking activities like racing and adventures.

That was why he still enjoyed the rush of adrenaline, feeling as if he was flying.

"Luca, not bad! You could be a race car driver!" Julie laughed heartily.

"Thanks!"

Luca skillfully controlled the car.

Buzzing~

A sharp turn appeared ahead. He suddenly pulled the handbrake, fully turned the steering wheel, downshifted, and slammed on the gas again.

Whoosh~ The rear of the car fishtailed as if it had lost control.

"Ah~"

Julie screamed, her hands flailing in the air before grabbing his leg.

Luca gasped, snapping out of the thrill of drifting.

The car smoothly rounded the corner, and Luca straightened the wheel, pulling over to the roadside.

"Miss Julie, your car is amazing!"

Luca slapped the steering wheel, praising loudly.

"You’re not bad yourself, much better than I expected."

Julie smiled seductively, nonchalantly retracting her hand.

"Thanks! Goodbye, Miss Julie!"

Luca opened the car door and stepped out.

"Luca, are you free this afternoon? I’m hosting a private party at my villa."

"Sure, thanks for the invite. I’ll be there on time."

"Great, 3 PM. Wear whatever you like."

Julie waved, and with a roar, the car sped off.

Luca shook his head and resumed his morning run.

But after unintentionally racing for more than 20 kilometers, his morning jog had turned into a marathon.

At around 11 AM, Luca slowly jogged back to the manor gates, legs trembling, panting heavily, and looking like he had just come from a brothel.

He lay on the grass, staring at the sky, zoning out for more than ten minutes before catching his breath.

Returning to the villa, he soaked in a warm bath and then took a nap.

By the time he got dressed and stepped out of the bathroom, it was already past 1 PM.

His phone showed two missed calls, one from Kate and one from Ed.

Ring ring~

Just as he was about to call back, Kate’s call came in again.

"Kate, I was napping. What’s up?"

"Haha, Luca, I’ve got some good news for you," Kate said cheerfully.

"Did you break up with your boyfriend?"

"You—"

Kate’s breathing became rapid.

Luca felt his ears burn and a chill run down his spine.

"Haha, Kate, I was just joking. You’re not mad, right?"

"Mad? Of course not. How could I be mad at you?"

Kate’s tone was unusually calm, devoid of any emotion.

"Anyway, good news—I’m coming to Los Angeles with Lima soon!"

"That’s great! Definitely good news!"

They had planned to come earlier, but a design competition ran into trouble, delaying them for half a week.

"Kate, is the competition over?"

"Yes!"

"How did it go?"

"We got eliminated."

"Really? I bet it was Anna’s doing. If not for her, you would’ve won the gold."

"Stop flattering me. I know how our work was."

"Although our work wasn’t selected, we got an opportunity."

"What kind of opportunity?"

"I’ll tell you when I get there."

"Okay, are you coming today or tomorrow? I can pick you up at the airport."

"Not sure when exactly. We’ll arrive at a time you won’t expect."

"Unexpected?"

Luca glanced outside. "Are you here already? If you’re coming in the afternoon, let me know ahead of time. I have a party to attend later."

"What kind of party?"

"Angelina Jolie’s. I ran into her during my morning jog, and she invited me to her party."

"Go ahead, but make sure to book a room at UCLA’s affiliated hospital."

"For what?"

Luca frowned. "Who’s sick?"

"You!"

"I’m not sick. My cold’s long gone."

"You’ll break a bone," Kate snorted coldly, then hung up.

Luca scratched his head. Why did he have a bad feeling?

"Hey Ed, what’s up?"

He called Ed back.

"Haha, Luca, I’ve got some good news for you."

Ed said over the phone, "I’ve got a script for you. A lot of people are eyeing this project, including Matt Damon, Edward Norton, and Mark Wahlberg.

But this project is controversial, so everyone’s hesitating. That’s where your opportunity comes in."

"Really? What project?"

"Brokeback Mountain, based on the novel. The script’s excellent. I read it and was moved to tears. I think you’d be perfect for the character Jack."

"Ed, I’m a straight man. How am I anything like Jack?" Luca complained.

"You’re both cool, a bit gentle, sometimes cheerful, sometimes melancholic."

"Enough!"

Luca rubbed his arms as goosebumps appeared.

"Luca, have you read the novel?"

"Yeah."

"What did you think?"

"It’s good, but not for me. I can’t do a gay film."

"Why not? Didn’t you say you wanted to be a real actor, willing to sacrifice for a role?

You’ve done nude scenes before. Now there’s a great script and a perfect role—why not try? Are you discriminating against gay people?"

"No, I’m not."

"Are you afraid of how it’ll affect you?"

"I’m straight as steel; why would I worry?"

He wasn’t concerned about being "turned" or even the kissing scenes. He was just worried about not doing the role justice.

Playing a gay character was incredibly challenging, difficult to portray.

But should he give up just because it was hard?

Luca stroked his chin in thought.

This film was pretty good, achieving both box office success and critical acclaim, with a massive impact on the industry.

Ang Lee had secured his place in Hollywood with this film.

The two leads had won many awards because of it.

Should he take it?

"Forget it, Ed. Bring the script over tomorrow, and I'll think about it!"

"Alright!"

(End of this chapter)