Ch 122: The World’s Number One Resort

“Alright, I will make the necessary arrangements.” In the Sora office, Tang Huai discussed further details with CC before hanging up. Amanda’s team was set to arrive on the island in three days. Including assistants and staff, there would be a total of 32 people—a small-scale team.

“It’s already six-thirty…”

“Manager Tang, there’s a visitor for you.”

Tang Huai checked the time; it was six-thirty in the evening. He was about to head to the Meimei Restaurant for dinner when his assistant came in and handed him a business card.

Tang Huai took it: Luo Hai Television Station, Treasure Travel Variety Show, Director Liu Ke.

The card clearly stated the visitor’s identity and title. Tang Huai was intrigued. Treasure Travel… the variety show with five pairs of celebrity fathers and their kids?

“Please invite Director Liu in.” Tang Huai thought for a moment and instructed the AI secretary.

The AI secretary complied.

“Manager Tang, I am Liu Ke, the director of Treasure Travel. It’s an honor to meet you.” Three minutes later, the office door opened, and a slightly chubby man in his forties greeted Tang Huai warmly.

“Hello… Photographer Zhang, Reporter Wang?”

Tang Huai shook hands and was slightly surprised to see the two figures behind Liu Ke—a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a woman with a sweet smile. They were none other than Zhang Min and Wang Lu, whom he had met before.

“Manager Tang, we meet again,” Zhang Min and Wang Lu greeted warmly. The two had only interacted with Tang Huai for about half an hour before. They had thought it would be impressive enough if he remembered their faces, but he even recalled their names, which left them pleasantly surprised.

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone took their seats.

The secretary served tea. Tang Huai understood that Zhang Min and Wang Lu were reporters from Luo Hai Television, and since Treasure Travel was Luo Hai’s flagship variety show, it made sense for them to be here together.

“Manager Tang, we plan to film the first episode of the third season of Treasure Travel on Sora Island. We were wondering if Great Tang would be interested in collaborating?” Liu Ke, who was rather straightforward, took two sips of tea and got right to the point.

Tang Huai tapped the table with his right hand. He had already guessed Liu Ke’s intention when he first saw the business card.

Treasure Travel, a reality show focused on celebrity parents and their children, had been a hit since its debut, mainly due to the interactions between the stars and the beautiful filming locations. In the past, the show had mainly filmed in places like Jingdezhen and Daguanlou in China. This would be their first time shooting abroad.

“How does Treasure Travel plan to collaborate?” Tang Huai thought for a moment and looked up.

“This is the proposed cooperation agreement. We will finalize the specific shooting locations after a site assessment…”

Liu Ke handed over a document, which outlined items like security for the celebrity guests, staff accommodations, meals, and exclusive access for filming—spanning over thirty pages.

“Director Liu, the fee seems a bit low.” Tang Huai skimmed through the document. Luo Hai Television offered 200,000 yuan per day. Including food and lodging, the total would amount to 500,000 yuan per day.

While 500,000 yuan sounded like a lot, CC was also a filming partner, and Tang Huai’s charge for them was $10,000 per day, plus additional costs amounting to $20,000 in total. That might sound cheaper than what Baby’s Journey proposed, but CC’s shoot, including Amanda’s personal team, involved only about 30 people and used only a part of Blue Sea Forest.

Treasure Travel, however, was a large-scale team expecting around 200 people. Providing security, food, and lodging for 200 people… 500,000 yuan was a drop in the bucket.

“Too low?” Liu Ke was in the middle of drinking his tea when he froze upon hearing Tang Huai’s words.

Treasure Travel was a top-tier show. In China, venues were usually eager to host them, sometimes even paying out of pocket. For this Great Tang shoot, they planned to film for five days, with transportation and labor costs adding up to nearly ten million yuan—not including the appearance fees for the celebrity guests.

He had previously calculated the cost, and 200,000 yuan seemed reasonable.

“What’s the bottom line for Great Tang?” Liu Ke asked directly after some thought.

“One million, with accommodation and meals billed separately,” Tang Huai replied succinctly.

“That’s quite high…” Liu Ke frowned. This was far beyond their budget.

“Director Liu, you just got off the ship? Why not explore the venue first?” Tang Huai suggested, paying no mind to Liu Ke’s reaction.

The conversation reached an impasse. Liu Ke didn’t press further and instead shifted to discussing domestic trending news.

Both parties had their own concerns.

Half an hour later, Liu Ke, Wang Lu, and Zhang Min left.

Tang Huai put away the cooperation agreement. He wasn’t opposed to a collaboration, but Great Tang wasn’t looking to exhaust itself just to make a name…

“Director Liu, should we inform the station?” Wang Lu asked cautiously as the three stood in the central square of Sora’s Third Avenue, feeling a bit at a loss.

“Let’s check out the site tomorrow,” Liu Ke waved his hand. Treasure Travel had attracted quite a few sponsors this season. While they could afford the one million fee, the best resources should be used wisely. In China, shooting locations for Treasure Travel came at dirt-cheap prices, yet abroad, it was so steep… The more he thought about it, the more it felt off.

After Liu Ke finished speaking, Wang Lu and Zhang Min nodded. They were temporary staff for Treasure Travel, so they just needed to follow Liu Ke’s lead. The three then took a stroll around Sora Town before heading back to Bianjing Ancient City.

Meanwhile, Tang Huai changed his clothes and went to the Delicious Restaurant. With the increase in tourists, the restaurant was booming. For European Union tourists accustomed to pasta, sausages, and pudding, Delicious Restaurant was paradise!

…

While Tang Huai was having dinner, Bus Route 1 slowly entered Blue Sea Forest. The bus stopped, and Nasser and his entourage got off.

They stepped out of the bus and were greeted by a bronze statue of a man.

This was a statue of Tang Wangchun’s hat.

Tang Huai had no particular feelings about his second grand-uncle, but since he was family, and with the growing number of tourists, Tang Huai had added a fence around the statue with dedicated AI monitoring. Thus, the statue of Tang Wangchun became an artwork that could be admired only from a distance, not touched.

“Not bad,” Nasser remarked, taking a serious look at the statue. Raised in high society, he could tell that the craftsmanship and value of the statue were exceptional.

Tang Wangchun, a self-obsessed palm oil magnate, had ensured that his statue was as grand as it could be. Nasser’s evaluation was quite accurate.

After glancing at the statue, Nasser walked toward Blue Sea Lake.

“Mr. Nasser, this is one of the famous sights of Blue Sea Forest. The blue fish here are incredibly delicious,” Abdul, the assistant, explained as he followed Nasser. He had spent the past couple of days gathering information about Great Tang Resort for this trip.

Nasser nodded indifferently.

Half a minute later, the group arrived at Blue Sea Lake. The lake was a vibrant blue, mirroring the sky, with many tourists swimming in it. Framed by the treehouses and the setting sun, the scene looked lively and picturesque.

Nasser revealed a satisfied smile. He had fallen in love with Blue Sea Lake at first sight on Twitter, and now, the view before him met his expectations perfectly.

“Abdul,” Nasser called out to his assistant in a calm tone.

Adoul nodded and took a step forward. The black-clad bodyguards lined up behind him.

It was now 7 p.m., and most tourists, having finished dinner, were relaxing and enjoying themselves around Blue Sea Lake and the nearby town. There were around 500 tourists surrounding the lake, and as Nasser and his entourage appeared, everyone discreetly observed them.

Assistants, bodyguards, a blonde woman… Nasser’s group had a distinct appearance, resembling a classic villain squad from a Hollywood gangster movie. While the crowd maintained a composed exterior, their curiosity was undoubtedly piqued. When Abdul stepped forward, the intrigue among the onlookers reached its peak.

Abdul paid no attention to the onlookers as he took out a backpack.

“Twenty thousand dollars. I need a treehouse.” Under everyone’s gaze, he opened the backpack and pulled out two stacks of cash.

The crowd: ???

Abdul’s voice was loud, and after he spoke, an eerie silence filled Blue Sea Lake.

“Thirty thousand.” Seeing no response, Abdul took out another stack.

The crowd: !!!

They finally understood: Nasir and his entourage hadn’t managed to book a treehouse and were now attempting to use money to secure one.

The atmosphere grew tense. While the onlookers were not short on cash, the idea of trading a few nights’ accommodation for $30,000 was tempting! Whispers spread through the crowd, but despite the quiet murmurs, no one stepped forward.

“Fifty thousand.” Abdul added another $20,000.

The crowd grew even more anxious. Within thirty seconds, Abdul’s offer had jumped from $20,000 to $50,000. Who knew how much more he might offer if they waited another half-minute…

“Forget it.”

One second, two seconds, five seconds… Just when everyone thought Adoul would continue to raise his offer, he started to close the backpack, preparing to put the cash away.

This wasn’t how they imagined things would go!

“Wait, I’ll do it!” Before anyone else could react, a chubby American man quickly crawled out of the lake.

This man had arrived three days ago, initially booking a snow house in Snow Country. He had managed to secure a Blue Sea Treehouse reservation after spending two days refreshing Great Tang website. But now, he had barely moved his luggage in before deciding to give it up…

While the treehouses at Blue Sea Lake were in high demand, their usual price was just $100 per night. But now, trading a treehouse stay for $50,000… totally worth it!

Adoul took the key from the chubby American and went to the treehouse management office to update the booking information. The American man received $50,000 in return. It was a mutually beneficial exchange.

Nasser flashed a satisfied smile as he headed toward the treehouse, his assistants following closely behind. Within moments, he disappeared from sight.

For the Middle Eastern tycoon, spending $50,000 to ensure a comfortable trip was a deal too good to pass up.

From Nasser’s arrival to his departure, only five minutes had passed. The crowd watched him leave, still somewhat dazed. After the initial shock came a tinge of regret. If they had acted faster, they could have had that $50,000. Even $30,000 would have been nice!

Amidst the regret and self-reproach, the crowd began to seriously reconsider the value of Great Tang’s treehouses. Each treehouse was priced at $100 per night and had thirty-five units available year-round. However, as visitor numbers increased, the treehouses were becoming harder to reserve. With the exorbitant transfer fee offered moments ago, people started contemplating the possibility of “subletting” their treehouses…

They didn’t expect $50,000, but even earning an extra $500 would be great.

After thinking it through, they regretfully abandoned the idea. Due to the scarcity of treehouses, only one “transfer” was allowed per booking to maintain the resort’s integrity. They couldn’t get rich off it.

After letting go of that notion, they turned their attention to the lucky American man.

He had already changed clothes and was contentedly preparing to move to a different accommodation.

A truly lucky fellow.

Following this encounter with Nasser, the guests became even more appreciative of their treehouses. A place where a rich man would spend an additional $50,000 to stay, and they got to enjoy it for just $100? What a bargain!

“Mr. Nasser, we’ll be right outside. Just let us know if you need anything.”

As the tourists continued to discuss the earlier incident, Abdul was busy placing Nasser’s luggage in Treehouse No. 26, making sure everything was in order. Since their group was too large to all stay in treehouses, and staying in Bianjing Ancient City was too far away, they decided to set up tents in Blue Sea Forest and take turns keeping watch.

This wasn’t a Hollywood movie; even the bodyguards needed to eat and sleep.

With the increasing number of tourists, Blue Sea Tents had become a notable feature of Blue Sea Forest. These tents were available for rent at the Blue Sea Supermarket and could only be set up in designated camping areas, offering visitors a diversified forest experience.

“Clear out,” said Abdul. Nasser waved his hand dismissively. Soon, the treehouse was left with only Nasser inside. He opened a cabinet and took out a bottle of wine.

The wine and glass were brought by Nasser himself, along with specially prepared bedsheets and pillowcases.

Nasir enjoyed the feeling of being surrounded by his entourage.

He took a sip of wine and pulled open the curtains. The Blue Sea Lake was right in front of Treehouse No. 26. From his vantage point, he could see tourists swimming, some playing on small bamboo rafts, all reflected in the crystal-clear blue water. It was an idyllic, tranquil scene.

It would be wonderful to own such a beautiful place.

Buy it.

The thought brought a smile to Nasser’s face. He wasn’t greedy. He only wished to have a property at Blue Sea Lake, an ice castle, and a house in Bianjing Ancient City.

…

“My god, it’s so high! Filming here might be challenging, but if we pull it off, the ratings will definitely soar.”

“An ice castle? It’s so dreamy; we must include this.”

“It’s an architectural marvel. Sky Forest—definitely a highlight!”

…

While Nasser was enjoying life in Blue Sea Forest, Liu Ke, back at Bianjing Ancient City, grew increasingly restless. After some thought, he gathered his assistants and the scouting team to explore Great Tang Resort’s various terrains.

It was a dark, moonless night, and Liu Ke initially intended to wander casually. However, as he ventured further, he became more astonished by the buildings on Sora Island.

The ice castle perched atop a snowy peak, the thirty-meter giant statues, and the suspended Sky Forest… Leaving aside the ice castle and giant statues for now, the Sky Forest was undoubtedly a marvel straight out of a sci-fi movie.

The more Liu Ke saw, the more excited he became. As the chief director of Treasure Travel, he had spent over twenty years at Luohai Television. As a media professional, he had a strong premonition that Treasure Travel combined with Great Tang Vacation would become an unprecedented miracle in Chinese variety show history.

“Contact the station and adjust the budget for Treasure Travel. We have to sign with Great Tang Resort,” Liu Ke exclaimed excitedly, twirling in place at the Sky Forest entrance.

It was 10 p.m. on Sora Island, during work hours in China. The assistant quickly pulled out their phone upon hearing Liu Ke’s words.

While the assistant made the call, Liu Ke wandered around the elevator entrance with the rest of the team. Visibility was low at night, so they decided to sleep first and prioritize exploring the Sky Forest the next day.

There were so many scenic spots in Great Tang Resort that Liu Ke found it hard to decide which one to feature first.

“Director Liu…” Just as Liu Ke was deep in thought, the assistant approached him with a hesitant expression.

“What’s the matter? Never mind, give me the phone,” Liu Ke said, frowning. The assistant was diligent but often hesitant and indecisive, unable to grasp the key points.

“Pure Cheese pulled out?” Liu Ke casually took the phone, but upon hearing the message from the other end, he froze.

Pure Cheese was a well-known domestic cheese company in China, ranking among the top three. The company had collaborated with Treasure Travel for two seasons and was its main investor. For this third season, Pure Cheese planned to invest 200 million yuan and had already provided a 20 million yuan advance.

Liu Ke had assumed there would be no changes on Pure Cheese’s end. But now, they were withdrawing?

“Damn it!”

After receiving confirmation, Liu Ke was furious.

First, Hu Zongyou backed out, and now Pure Cheese was withdrawing… This was too much!

…

“Mr. Zhao, Treasure Travel has high ratings. Are we sure it’s a good idea to pull out?” In a high-end office in Shenzhen, China, a balding middle-aged man was puffing on a cigarette.

Beside him, a bespectacled staff member hesitated to speak. He couldn’t quite understand why Pure Cheese would withdraw its investment from Treasure Travel, the flagship show of Luohai TV.

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