Among all of Laila's company policies, the most popular one was undoubtedly the employee benefits.
When other companies were still hovering around monthly salaries of one or two thousand, her company's base salary had already surpassed three thousand. For mid- and upper-level employees, the pay was even more enviable, not to mention the variety of perks and internal discounts. Every single benefit she offered would make outsiders green with envy. In simple terms, she was exactly the kind of boss people dreamed of working for.
Truth be told, even Laila felt a bit guilty about how "generous" her salaries were. While they seemed impressive domestically, compared to what companies paid in the U.S., they still lagged. Sure, this had to do with the cost of living and differing economic standards between the two countries, but Laila still did her best to ensure that those working hard to make her money were well taken care of.
Even among foreign enterprises, Laila's salary levels were considered top-tier. Unlike certain investors from other Asian countries who were notorious for squeezing every last drop of effort out of their workers, Laila was the opposite.
Because of all this, she became the most beloved international friend in the East. The support and preferential treatment her company received were things most other foreign enterprises couldn't dream of.
The officials in the East weren't fools either. Faced with two kinds of businesspeople—those friendly and cooperative, and those simply here to exploit—it was obvious which type they'd want to form good relationships with. As for the latter? Once their technology had been learned, it wouldn't take long before newer methods replaced them and they were squeezed out.
The reason many countries disliked the East was precisely because of their unparalleled learning ability and knack for innovation. Something that was once incredibly profitable could plummet in value the moment the East learned how to mass produce it.
Laila's cinema chain was no exception. As box office revenues steadily increased over the past couple of years, many started eyeing the sector, hoping to get a piece of the pie. But to match Laila's scale? That would still take considerable time and effort. More importantly, the growth over these years had significantly increased the value of the land she held. Anyone hoping to replicate her success would have to invest at least double what she did at the outset.
And then there was the most critical factor: Laila had already built a brand around her theaters. When people thought of going to the movies, the first name that came to mind—whether it was for the best environment, the most delicious popcorn, the creamiest ice cream, the coldest drinks, or the widest selection of official merchandise—was always Laila's chain.
Laila knew she couldn't monopolize the entire Eastern film market by herself. In cities third-tier and above, there would always be competition. But in terms of size and reputation, none could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with her.
So, those who liked her weren't limited to the officials hoping she'd continue investing or her loyal fans. People in the film industry also wanted to stay on good terms with her—after all, having your movie shown on just one extra big screen in every theater across the country could lead to a significant boost in box office revenue.
The interview with National TV went very smoothly, and the public response was overwhelmingly positive. Through that episode, Eastern viewers learned that Laila Moran, this foreign super-director, had not only invested heavily in the local market but had even played a part in boosting the domestic film industry.
Such a foreigner was lovable! From now on, everyone decided, if they were going to the movies, it had to be her theaters. And frankly, none of the others compared.
Most moviegoers thought that way, but some were more focused on the sheer amount she'd invested. Over $15 billion—converted into local currency, that was more than 100 billion! If one person could invest that much, how much must she be worth herself? Wasn't this director too rich?
Naturally, there were always people ready to fill in the blanks. Soon, details about Laila herself started circulating: her two film companies, and the enormous wealth of the Moran family.
Ten years was enough for a whole generation to turn over. Those who had once known every detail about Laila were now adults, while the new generation was still unfamiliar with her story. Thanks to internet influencers and fact-sharers, more and more people started to understand what the name "Laila Moran" truly represented.
It stood for unimaginable wealth, a living legend of Hollywood, and a symbol of what a young person could achieve at the absolute pinnacle of success. Because everything she had built was the result of her own hands. If she had any kind of "head start," it was the bankrupt, on-the-brink-of-collapse film company her father left behind.
Some might say, "If I inherited a film company, maybe I could've done the same."
Sure, that's possible. But producing films doesn't guarantee success or profits. Even big-budget productions with investments in the hundreds of millions could still tank horribly. Small-budget films? Even riskier.
Looking at the miracles Laila created over the past ten years—who dared claim they could do better? Even the most elite directors today wouldn't dare say they could surpass her achievements.
In just a short time, the internet was flooded with her name: Laila Moran. Some envied her talent, some envied her wealth, and others envied the fact that she had the world's most handsome man as her boyfriend. She was, without a doubt, a golden child born to be admired.
At the same time, online web novels were starting to gain popularity. Many writers began incorporating her story into their plots. Some replaced the protagonist with a male lead storming through Hollywood in a power fantasy, like Hollywood: One Man Against the World. Others had her become part of a harem, where she earned money for the male lead to spend—titles like The Great Director's Personal Bodyguard or Living With a Legendary Director. Still others had protagonists transmigrate into her body and take over her life, like Reborn in Hollywood: I Am the Great Director.
Within just a few days, novels of this type began popping up everywhere on the Qidian platform. And surprisingly, there was a sizable audience for them. Especially readers who liked to imagine themselves as the protagonist—it was so satisfying. If they couldn't experience the life of a filthy-rich second-generation heir in real life, at least they could enjoy the face-slapping fun through fiction.
Laila only found out about this trend because she had long known that in the future, many web novels would be adapted into TV series and films. But in the early days, the way this process was handled was far from ideal—many good stories were scooped up by opportunists looking to make a quick buck.
These people had no intention of actually turning the novels into screenplays. They just wanted to lock up the rights to popular titles. When big production companies came knocking, they'd then sell the rights for a premium.
But due to various complications, negotiations didn't always go smoothly. And since there was no shortage of stories online, if the asking price was too high or unreasonable, producers would simply move on to something else.
In such a system, many brilliant novels risked being buried forever.
Having produced so many TV dramas, Laila was intimately familiar with how the industry worked. So when she set up her company in the East, one of her earliest instructions was to keep an eye on web novel rights. Some titles she remembered especially well, and she made sure to acquire the rights to those early on.