love is deeper than the sea

Something happened, so I pressed the speakerphone, and then Stephen's enthusiastic voice spread in the classroom: "Hey baby! I'm so sad when I come to New York and don't say hello to me!"

My back stiffened, and I didn't dare to look into other people's eyes. I quickly pressed the speakerphone and grabbed my phone: "Stephen, what's the matter with you?"

Stephen: "Lee, are you studying at NYU?"

Me: "Yeah, how do you know?"

Stephen: "Of course I came here to inquire! Li, why didn't you tell me the news of your coming to New York? I heard that you cut off contact with everyone afterwards. Why?"

Me: "Save phone bills."

Stephen: "You're kidding!"

Me: "Okay, I've got you right. Stephen, why on earth are you calling me? Let's stop talking, I'm so busy."

Stephen: "Baby, the United States is so big, but we can meet in one city, isn't this the arrangement of Cupid?"

Me: "Qiu your mother."

Stephen: "Do you have something to do in the afternoon, come out for coffee?"

I checked my watch: "04:30 free, where shall we meet?"

Stephen: "You wait at the school gate, I will pick you up."

Me: "OK." I hung up the phone.

Stuart came over at this moment, glanced up and down at me with that extremely strange look, and then asked, "Who is that? How do you call you baby?"

I glanced at him: "Why, check your household registration."

Stuart: "You don't know what it means to call a baby between men, do you?"

I laughed: "Baby, don't be jealous. That guy calls everyone Baby, you can too."

Stuart shut up immediately.But it still looks weird to me.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, I was carrying my bag and stood at the school gate waiting boredly.

Suddenly, a series of roaring motor sounds broke the silence, and a blade fighter in black leather, black helmet, black gloves, and black motorcycle rushed to me and barely stopped a centimeter before my toes.

He took off his helmet, held it high and cheered: "Hey baby, have you been waiting long?"

Me: "Hush!"

Stephen chuckled: "I haven't seen you for a year, I'm so excited. Li, you seem to have lost a lot of weight!"

Me: "The weight loss works."

Stephen: "Oh Lee, you don't have to lose weight, you're in good shape, I promise God!"

Me: "Okay, okay, where shall we go for coffee?"

Stephen smiled and threw me a helmet: "Then, I'll take you there."

I glanced at him suspiciously: "Are you sure you have a driver's license? I won't die because of it, right?"

Stephen laughed: "Honey, trust me!"

It was my first time to ride a motorcycle, and it felt very good, and the air waves felt like I was flying.

About half an hour later, Stephen stopped in front of an apartment building.

I got out of the car and took off my helmet: "What is this place?"

Stephen parked the motorcycle: "Where I live. I invite you to my house for coffee, don't you mind?"

I was taken aback: "Oh, it doesn't matter, as long as the coffee is authentic enough."

Stephen giggled: "Don't worry, my coffee is top-notch, you can't buy it in the store!" After finishing speaking, he hooked my shoulder and went upstairs.

Met his neighbor in the elevator, looked at us and laughed: "Steven, the 'new' boy, huh?"

I quickly waved my hands: "No, I'm not, I'm his past alumni! Stephen, I beg you, don't let me explain every time, okay?"

Stephen: "No, I can't. Baby, you know, I've always wanted to make you my 'new' boy..."

Neighbors are more expressive, I just want to hit the wall.

Stephen's apartment is very nice, except for a little mess, but it's very close to me, and I have no right to despise him.

I've walked around Stephen's living room several times while he's making coffee.

I found some unusual things, like a long row of glass jars on the windowsill, filled not with peanuts or sugar, but with different colored powders.

There is also a piece of equipment on his coffee table.

Ordinary people may not be able to see this device. I am a film student, so I recognized it immediately: "Is this a film camera?"

Stephen came over with coffee: "Yes. Not bad, the new machine I just got!"

I looked at him: "What did you study in college? Film? Directing? Acting?"

Stephen shook his head: "Oh, Lee, I've dropped out of school a long time ago."

I (stay): "Huh?"

Stephen: "I dropped out of school after half a semester. University is so boring. I'm almost bored to death."

Me: "Then what are you doing after dropping out of school?"

Stephen pointed to the jars on the windowsill: "See those? That's my business, I sell sand!"

Me (stay): "Are you kidding me?"

Stephen: "I'm serious! I've made a lot of money selling sand to the Middle East!"

Me: "Isn't that place in the Middle East full of sand?"

Stephen: "This kind of sand is very special. It is specially used to lay the bottom of swimming pools. It is not available in the Middle East."

Stephen and I sat down on the sofa with coffee cups, and Stephen said: "I have been traveling between the United States and Saudi Arabia for half a year. You see, this coffee is also produced there. There is only one small town in the world. I bought it back. Yes. How does it taste?"

I took a sip and said, "It's very fragrant."

Stephen laughed: "Do you know how much this cup of coffee is worth?"

Me: "Hey Stephen, you said you'd buy me a drink and I'm not going to pay for it!"

Stephen: "This cup costs [-] US dollars, and there is no market for it."

I'm speechless.

Me: "I don't know why, I always have an ominous premonition. Give me such a good coffee, do you need my help?"

Stephen: "The Chinese are so smart!"

Me: "Stop flattering, speak quickly."

Stephen put down his coffee and looked at me intently: "Okay, baby, let me confess, I really want to ask you for help when I invite you here this time."

I drink coffee: "Say."

Stephen: "I'm planning to start a small film packaging company. I heard that you are studying film, and I want you to come over and help."

Me: "Be more specific."

Stephen: "I noticed that there are many cutting-edge directors in the United States. Their films are good, but because no one can package them and find theaters for them, they can't succeed. There is a great demand for packaging companies in this area, but there are none in the United States. I Figured it must be a million dollar idea!"

I nodded: "It's a good idea, but have you thought about the feasibility? Do you have the talent and technology to do the packaging, and do you have the contacts to develop the theater?"

Stephen: "Neither."

I:"……"

Stephen: "But I have money."

Me: "... Well, money is enough. Why don't you continue to resell sand, isn't that easier?"

Stephen laughed: "Baby, I like challenges! I don't do easy things!"

I am also a person who likes challenges. Stephen’s idea is really good. I talked with him about more ideas at that time, and the discussion continued until late at night.

At midnight, Stephen drove me home on his motorcycle.When I got home, my dad was still waiting for me at the door.

I was startled, and hurried up: "Dad, why aren't you asleep?"

Dad: "I don't know how to make a phone call when I get home so late!"

Me: "...I forgot."

Then he was beaten by his father.

Dad saw Stephen again, and said to me: "Why do you hang out with this kind of drag racing party? Son, why don't you learn well!"

Stephen: "Honey, is this your daddy? He's so young!"

Dad: "Baby? Son, why did he call you Baby!"

Me: "Come on, let's go back to our respective homes and find our mothers, are you bothered?"

Then he was beaten again by his father.

Later, even though my father already knew that Stephen was my high school alumni, he still looked at him with distrust.Who made Stephen feel like a hooligan all over him, no one would believe that he was a good person.

After several weeks of discussions, Stephen's independent film packaging company was incorporated.

As one of the founders of the company, I accounted for [-]/[-] of the shares.I thought it was too much, but Stephen insisted.

Because I usually still have to go to school, all the company’s fundraising and other matters are outsourced to Stephen. I am responsible for technical work, editing, editing, designing plots, and designing posters. When I am busy, I don’t have time to eat.

The author has something to say: change a BUG...

30. The first pot of gold

Six months later, "Independent Films" (Steven's company name) packaged and released its first low-budget film.

Under the impetus of Stephen's irresistible temptation of money and his superb eloquence, this small film made by an emerging Iranian director was successfully moved to American theaters.

I never imagined that it would cost so much money to spend in American theaters, and I also didn't expect Stephen to have so much money!

My hands trembled when I saw the company's first quarter expense statement.

200 million US dollars, only the first month!

In order to start a business, I put all the money my father gave me into it, and mortgaged the car to the bank.

According to Dad's words: "That kid is crazy, you follow him crazy?"

But I believe that this money can make more money!

Stephen was even worse than me. Not only did he fill in all the first pot of gold he earned from selling sand, but he also borrowed usury and owed a lot of debt.

In his own words: "Baby, you know what? I haven't had a good meal since day one! All the money was spent fueling up the bike! I almost lost my bike !"

However, despite the shortage of funds, Stephen still rented an office in an office building in a prime location in New York, and distributed a large number of advertisements on websites and newspapers to increase the company's exposure.