Luo Zheng understood very clearly why Roy Disney was being so absurdly enthusiastic today. It definitely wasn't because the two of them had suddenly developed some deep brotherhood overnight.
Businessmen like Roy valued benefits first.
Friendship came after.
And right now, the thing Roy wanted most wasn't Luo Zheng himself—it was the animated project that had practically shaken everyone around Steve Jobs.
A few days earlier, on a whim, Luo Zheng had opened the animation grand prize package rewarded by the system. After looking through it, he directly selected one of Pixar's future masterpieces:
"WALL-E."
Then, without hesitation, he sent the complete script and a large portion of storyboard sketches to Jobs.
At first, Jobs thought Luo Zheng was just sharing an idea.
Maybe a rough concept.
Maybe a few pages of draft material.
That alone would already have been impressive.
But after opening the files, Jobs nearly lost his composure.
A complete screenplay.
Character concepts.
Scene sketches.
Visual storyboards.
Even emotional cues and thematic details had already been laid out.
It wasn't a concept anymore.
It looked like the pre-production work for a movie that had already spent years in development.
Jobs had been stunned.
Then excited.
Then speechless.
He repeatedly called it unbelievable.
According to him, the script wasn't just an animated movie. It was more like a visual poem disguised as entertainment.
Loneliness.
Love.
Humanity.
Civilization.
Even environmental reflection.
All hidden beneath a seemingly simple story.
Jobs even claimed that if Pixar truly produced the film according to Luo Zheng's standards, it absolutely had the potential to compete for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Of course...
The problem with excited people was that they couldn't keep secrets.
So Jobs immediately told Roy Disney.
And then...
Roy lost his mind.
Now, standing at Los Angeles Airport personally leading a fleet of Audi S8s to welcome Luo Zheng, Roy looked less like Disney's top executive and more like an eager fanboy waiting for answers.
The moment Luo Zheng walked out with Liu Xiaoli and Liu Yifei behind him, Roy immediately spread his arms and rushed over.
"William! Finally! I've been waiting forever!"
Luo Zheng's eyelids twitched.
Without hesitation he extended a hand and blocked Roy's incoming hug.
"Roy, control yourself."
"I don't want people misunderstanding and thinking I have unusual hobbies."
Roy froze.
Then his expression darkened.
"...You little brat."
Nearby, Liu Xiaoli covered her mouth and smiled.
Even Liu Yifei nearly laughed.
Roy could only awkwardly switch to a handshake.
After greeting Liu Xiaoli and Sissi, he impatiently dragged Luo Zheng toward the convoy.
Clearly, he was dying of curiosity.
But before Roy could ask anything—
Luo Zheng struck first.
"How many actresses came for the Pirates auditions?"
Roy paused.
Then rolled his eyes.
He had been preparing questions about WALL-E for days.
Yet this guy came over and immediately asked about women.
Typical.
Still, he tossed a thick stack of folders over.
"Look yourself."
Inside the moving car, Luo Zheng opened the files.
The first section was the female lead candidates.
And instantly—
his eyes lit up.
Natalie Portman
Seeing the first name, Luo Zheng raised an eyebrow.
This little queen had already become famous years ago with Léon: The Professional.
Back then, that cool little-girl role had made countless audiences remember her.
Afterward, her development had only gotten stronger.
Star Wars.
Awards films.
The top-student label.
Beauty and brains.
She had almost everything.
Luo Zheng looked at her photos carefully.
Elegant face.
Sharp eyes.
Good figure.
Strong temperament.
Very appealing.
Unfortunately...
Her peak years weren't very long.
Future Natalie gradually shifted toward more serious acting paths.
Short-term investment.
Not suitable for long-term planning.
Luo Zheng silently categorized her.
Jessica Alba
When Luo Zheng saw the second file, his eyes brightened again.
This one he knew too well.
The future Invisible Woman.
Though Fantastic Four hadn't started yet, Jessica Alba currently hadn't fully exploded in popularity.
Still...
The photos were enough.
Distinct mixed-race facial features.
Wheat-colored skin.
Perfect body proportions.
Wild and healthy beauty.
Pure visual impact.
Most importantly—
long peak period.
Extremely long.
Luo Zheng looked twice.
Then three times.
Finally nodded seriously.
Long-term development candidate.
Anne Hathaway
The moment he saw her photo—
even Luo Zheng subconsciously sat straighter.
Princess Anne.
Future Catwoman.
Future Hollywood goddess.
At present she had only just started rising.
But even now—
her beauty was already outrageous.
Slender body.
Graceful figure.
Three-dimensional features.
And those lips...
Luo Zheng stared for several seconds.
Very red.
Very full.
Very large.
"..."
He silently evaluated.
Excellent compatibility.
Potential extremely high.
Peak period absurdly long.
Especially future Catwoman Anne—
that mature, dangerous charm could kill men instantly.
Even in his previous life, Luo Zheng had dreamed about her more than once.
Long-term candidate.
No debate.
Amanda Seyfried
Luo Zheng frowned.
Name familiar.
Face familiar.
But memory wasn't very deep.
After studying her appearance—
he quickly lost interest.
Not his type.
Skip.
Keira Knightley
And finally—
the target appeared.
The moment Luo Zheng saw the profile picture, he smiled.
British temperament.
Natural nobility.
Elegant posture.
Sharp beauty.
If anyone fit Elizabeth Swann from Pirates of the Caribbean...
it was her.
No one else.
Luo Zheng remembered clearly.
In his previous life, Keira had practically become synonymous with the role.
No replacement could compare.
Only...
there was one problem.
Too young.
Scarlett had this issue.
Keira too.
Luo Zheng rubbed his forehead.
Fortunately, filming schedules would solve that eventually.
Still...
Looking at the stack of profiles beside him—
Natalie.
Jessica.
Anne.
Keira.
He suddenly sighed.
What a difficult world.
Why did reality always force people into painful choices?
Why couldn't everyone just be happy?
Why choose one?
Children made choices.
Adults wanted everything.
Fish and bear's paw...
couldn't both be had?
Seeing Luo Zheng staring at actress photos with increasingly troubled expressions, Roy suddenly grinned.
He looked like an old fox.
"William."
"I know what you're thinking."
Luo Zheng looked over suspiciously.
Roy leaned closer.
"Wanna make a deal?"
"Speak."
Roy immediately pointed toward the photos.
"Tell me everything about WALL-E."
"Then I'll help you..."
He paused.
Looked through the pictures.
Hesitated.
Then pointed confidently.
"Jessica."
"I'll help you handle Jessica."
Silence.
Luo Zheng stared at him.
Then looked at Jessica's photo.
Then looked back.
"..."
A moment later he said with complete disdain:
"Handle her?"
"I need your help for that?"
Roy almost exploded.
Jessica Alba was still basically a newcomer.
With Luo Zheng's current fame in Hollywood, plus his status as Disney's partner and famous young director—
it wasn't difficult.
But the others?
Different story.
Natalie already had reputation.
Anne had momentum.
Keira had attention.
Those required opportunities.
Connections.
Timing.
Hollywood itself was the world's biggest Vanity Fair.
Everything had a price.
Everything had rules.
Everything could happen.
But hearing Luo Zheng reject his help so casually—
Roy became annoyed.
"Fine."
"You pick."
Luo Zheng pretended to think deeply.
Several seconds later:
"Forget it."
"I won't make things difficult for you."
"Jessica works."
Roy stared blankly.
Then realized—
this little bastard had been acting from beginning to end.
"You little thief!"
Luo Zheng smiled shamelessly.
As the convoy headed toward Disney headquarters, Roy finally got what he wanted.
Luo Zheng briefly described WALL-E's world.
Human civilization.
Abandoned Earth.
The lonely robot.
Love.
Hope.
The future.
As Luo Zheng spoke, Roy's expression slowly changed.
From curiosity—
to surprise—
to shock—
to disbelief.
By the end, Roy sat there completely stunned.
After several seconds:
"...God."
"If Pixar really makes this properly..."
"It absolutely can win an Oscar."
Luo Zheng smiled.
That sentence alone was enough.
Because his real target had never just been making an animated film.
It was paving the road for Pixar.
If WALL-E won awards...
then Pixar's future value would skyrocket.
And when Disney eventually wanted acquisition talks—
Luo Zheng wouldn't merely possess one masterpiece.
He had nine more.
Nine.
Thinking of that future scene—
even Luo Zheng almost laughed.
Soon, the convoy arrived at Disney headquarters.
Liu Xiaoli and Liu Yifei prepared to return first and rest.
But before leaving—
Liu Yifei suddenly ran back.
Like a little deer.
Without warning she wrapped her arms around Luo Zheng.
Then tiptoed.
Soft lips touched his cheek lightly.
"Come back early."
Then—
before Luo Zheng could react—
Liu Xiaoli's face darkened.
She immediately pulled her daughter away.
"Sissi!"
"Mom!"
Watching the mother-daughter pair leave, Roy slowly turned his head.
Then looked at Luo Zheng.
Then looked at the disappearing figures.
Silence.
Several seconds later—
Roy grinned wickedly.
"William..."
"I didn't expect you to be quite the ladies' man."
Then he walked away laughing.
Luo Zheng stared at his back.
Veins bulged on his forehead.
"Damn shameless old man..."