1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 522 Red Maiden's Rest
Dragon Palace Resort Hotel is built by the sea.

Outside the window, waves crash against the shore, and the sea meets the sky.
Inside the window, their love was deep and sweet, like rain after a long drought.

At thirty, Chung Chu-hung is at an age where elegance and youth intertwine.

In 1984, she was tricked by Zhai Yuan into going to the film crew of "The Peerless". At that time, in order to drive away the suitors around the female lead, Boss Zhai brushed his teeth and rinsed his mouth on the sixth floor of her Bashu Building, which directly scared away Zhu Jiading, who was driving a luxury car.

Now, six years after they met, Zhai Yuan has become the top star in Hong Kong's entertainment industry, and Zhong Chuhong has been promoted to the highest-paid actress in Hong Kong.

Similar to water flowing into a channel,

In the past six years, Sister Hong has become Aunt Hong, with a constant stream of film offers. She's either on set or on her way to a film set.
She had learned a lot of theoretical knowledge, but when it came to practice, she became helpless. In the end, it was General Manager Zhai who taught her little by little and helped her figure it out.

Half-heartedly resisting, half-yielding, her warm, red lips seemed to melt away.
The master bedroom of the hotel suite features an oversized round bed with a rock wall inlaid with dinosaur fangs on the headboard, paired with soft ambient lighting, creating a look that is both wild and romantic.

When Zhong Chuhong woke up, her back and legs were sore, and she could still feel the dense rain and wind from the previous night.

Looking up, I saw that Zhai Yuan had already opened his eyes and was leaning against the headboard, flipping through a hotel picture book, "The Dinosaur Encyclopedia".

"what time is it?"

"It's past nine o'clock, still early."

As he spoke, Zhai Yuan casually tossed the book aside, then pulled Hong Jie closer to him by the back of her neck.
Zhong Chuhong let out a lazy hum, snuggled into Zhai Yuan's arms, and rested for a while with her eyes half-closed. Suddenly, she frowned and slapped away Zhai Yuan's hand that was reaching into her arms.

"do not move!"

"It was uncontrollable~"

"...Isn't it a little small?"

"It's cute even though it's small."

Zhong Chuhong angrily kicked Zhai Yuan under the covers: "You're going to die!"

"Don't always talk about death, it's very unlucky!"

Zhai Yuan said something earnestly, then lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers.

Zhong Chuhong squinted and hummed twice, then suddenly struggled to push her hands against Zhai Yuan's chest.

Eyes facing each other.

Zhong Chu blushed and scolded, "Are you a dog? Your mind is full of these things first thing in the morning."

Zhai Yuan flexibly grabbed her wrist and pressed it against the pillow, pressing his forehead against Zhong Chu's red forehead, and said, "We've known each other for six years, and I've tolerated it for six years. Now I'm just asking for some interest back."

"...I knew you had ulterior motives all along."

"Why didn't you run away?"

"Damn...utterly shameless!"

On the bed, two figures, one pressing down and the other pushing outwards, gradually rolled together again...

10:30
Zhong Chuhong rested her head lazily on Zhai Yuan's arm, her temples slightly damp, a few strands of hair sticking to her forehead.

"I want to discuss something with you."

Once their breathing had evened out, Zhong Chuhong spoke softly, breaking the romantic atmosphere.

Zhai Yuan put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a curious look.

Chung Chu-hung hesitated slightly, then whispered tentatively, "I've earned quite a bit over the past few years, and I plan to retire from acting and leave the industry."

Upon hearing this, Zhai Yuan raised an eyebrow, looked down at Zhong Chuhong, and saw the serious expression on her face, realizing that the other party was not just acting on a whim.

In a parallel universe, Chung Chu-hung worked until 1991, when she was 31 years old and at the height of her popularity, ending her acting career with "Once a Thief".

Now that his career is booming, he's brought forward the idea of ​​retirement by a year.

"If the company really needs me to make a cameo appearance, I will still step up."

Chung Chu-hung was clearly worried that Zhai Yuan would disagree, so she quickly added, "Of course, if you want to promote newcomers as a transition, I can wait another year or two."

Today, Chung Chu-hung is the top star of 91 Entertainment. She can earn hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong dollars from every movie she takes on, and millions from lucrative projects. With advertising and other activities, her commercial value far surpasses that of others, making her a veritable cash cow among actresses.

She was naturally aware that her request was somewhat excessive.

That's really going too far...

Zhai Yuan smiled dismissively and teased, "Thinking about retirement so early?"

Chung Chu-hung ran her fingertips across his chest and sighed, "I'm so tired. Almost my entire life is confined to the film set. I want to do something else and experience a different life."

There's no reasoning with them here; those who aren't famous desperately try to climb the ladder, while those who are already famous voluntarily step down.

Zhai Yuan then asked, "If you're not filming, what do you plan to do?"

Chung Chu-hung's eyes gleamed with anticipation as she said, "I want to go back to my old profession in jewelry. But I used to be an appraiser. Now I want to be my own boss and open a jewelry store... I never dared to dream of such a thing before, but now I've made enough money!"

As expected, Sister Hong still loves jewelry the most. As far as I remember, although she disappeared from the entertainment industry after retiring from acting, she still frequently appeared at various jewelry exhibitions and press conferences.

With a teasing expression, Zhai Yuan continued, "Rich lady, what kind of shop are you planning to open?"

Chung Chu-hung immediately perked up and began recounting her experiences with great familiarity: "Land prices in prime commercial areas like Causeway Bay are too high, with rents reaching US$700 per square foot. I've calculated it; if you open a shop near Tsim Sha Tsui, the rent would be at least a third cheaper. A 10-square-meter shop like that would cost around HK$40 in rent annually." "As for inventory, I'll start by stocking low- to mid-range items. Gold is a necessity, but diamonds require careful selection. D to F color with VVS clarity is the safest bet—you won't be stuck with unsold stock, and the price is stable. As for jade, colored gemstones, rubies, and sapphires, that depends on luck. The premiums are too high, so I won't stockpile too much initially; a dozen or so pieces to represent the shop will suffice."

"Based on this calculation, the first batch of goods will cost two to three million Hong Kong dollars, which will be enough to maintain a decent appearance and storefront. With labor and utilities included, the total cost will be at most four million to open the store."

Chung Chu-hung spoke and gestured, her speech a beat faster than usual. When she got excited, she even raised her hand to sketch the layout of the shop window in the air, as if she could already imagine herself smiling and greeting customers in the shop during the day, and taking out various beads, diamonds, and colored gemstones from the counter to admire alone at night.

Four million is probably more than half of Chung Chu-hung's wealth accumulated since she entered the film industry. Judging from this, she plans to invest it into the business world without hesitation...

It's no wonder that many celebrities in the Hong Kong and Taiwan entertainment industry still have to frequently appear in public to make money even in their later years. Looking at the bigger picture, most celebrities make unplanned investments during the peak of their careers, easily swayed by others, and spend real money to try and make a fortune. No matter how much they earn, they can't make up for the losses.

Zhai Yuan watched with great interest as Zhong Chuhong sketched out a jewelry blueprint, half admiring and half teasing, saying, "So acting is just a side job, jewelry is your real profession, Sister Hong. You're definitely going to be a jewelry queen someday!"

"Then would you agree to let me retire from acting?"

Zhong Chuhong pouted her full red lips and stretched out her small feet under the quilt. This time, instead of kicking, she gently rubbed Zhai Yuan's calf with a hint of ingratiation.

"When you need someone's help, the treatment is definitely different."

Zhai Yuan sighed leisurely, then pinched Zhong Chuhong's chin and said with a smile, "So I hope you'll always need my help, Sister Hong."

Zhong Chuhong frowned, her eyes filled with displeasure. "So you're not going to release them? I've already been..."

"What can I do to you?" Zhai Yuan chuckled, then pulled her close, saying slowly, "What I mean is, if you're going to do it, do it big. How can four million be enough for you, the future jewelry queen, to establish your reputation? Four million, I'll take out forty million and build a shop each in Causeway Bay, Hua En Department Store, and on this island of mine. Once your jewelry store is up and running, Sister Hong, ask me to be the major shareholder. If I'm not satisfied in the future, I can just close the shops down. That way, you'll always be asking for my help!"

Zhong Chuhong was stunned at first, then realized what she meant, her eyes growing brighter and brighter: "Really?"

Zhai Yuan flicked her forehead and chuckled, "Of course it's true, but whether it's retiring from acting or opening a jewelry store, it'll have to wait a bit. I need to take care of some small matters. Don't worry, it'll be quick, about three months from now..."

…………

"Jurassic Park" became Chung Chu-hung's final work.

Zhai Yuan first mentioned Cherie Chung's intention to retire from acting to the company's management.
Shi Nansheng and the others couldn't hold back any longer.

“Mr. Zhai, Ah Hong signed a 20-year contract after filming ‘Project Gutenberg.’ Now she’s at the peak of her career, and we’re even planning to use ‘Jurassic Park’ to push her into Hollywood. How can you let her do whatever she wants?”

At Jiu Yi Entertainment, the housekeeper Shi Nansheng, unusually stern-faced, began to berate her boss.

Zhai Yuan slowly put a Double Happiness cigarette in his mouth, leaned back on the sofa, snapped his fingers, and Secretary Li obediently offered him a copper-cased Dupont cigarette.

The firelight shone,

Zhai Yuan exhaled a smoke ring and said in a deliberately profound tone, "We must respect women's wishes..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Shi Nansheng slammed his hand on the table and stood up angrily, saying, "Then I won't do it either!"

Seeing that Sister Nan was really angry this time, Zhai Yuan quickly put on a smiling face: "Sorry, Sister Nan, I've been too caught up in the feminist movement lately... Listen to me, although Sister Hong is very popular, her willingness to step down does not mean that the company will lose profits. On the contrary, it will give up its ecological niche and allow the company to promote more young newcomers."

"I'd be a fool to believe you, that's completely irrelevant!"

A look of unwilling anxiety crossed Shi Nansheng's face, and he felt a tightness in his chest.

She took a few deep breaths to calm herself, then suddenly gave Zhai Yuan a strange look and tentatively asked, "Are you also with her...?"

Zhai Yuan naturally understood what Sister Nan meant, smiled sheepishly, and nodded, saying, "I couldn't help myself."

"Then it seems I don't need to call her anymore."

Shi Nansheng gave a knowing look, sighed, and then began to mutter: "Mr. Zhai, even though you're so successful, you should think about us working people. When have you ever seen Jiahe push Chen Shilong out the door? It's not easy to promote a female star these days... Ah Hong, you should have said you wanted to retire from acting sooner! Otherwise, I would have definitely replaced her with someone else to direct 'Jurassic Park.' Now her fame is known all over the world, and film companies in Taiwan offered her 300 million to make a movie. She suddenly said she wouldn't do it? Boss, do you know what level a female star is at with 300 million? She'd definitely break into Hollywood! I can't take it anymore, I need to open the window for some fresh air."

Shi Nansheng, as if possessed by Xianglin's Wife, pushed open the window with a belly full of resentment.

Zhai Yuan shrugged and gave Li Zhi a helpless look.

Lizhi also understood the relationship between Zhai Yuan and Zhong Chuhong, and gave him a resentful glare in return.

Three people in the office, three different thoughts.

"Alright! Anyway, I've already promised Sister Hong that I'd let her terminate the contract. I always keep my word, so why would I go back on my word?"

After Zhai Yuan and Shi Nansheng finished chanting, they finally offered a word of comfort, saying, "Let's continue promoting new talent! I'll personally mentor them, okay? Maggie Cheung and Joey Wong's 'Green Snake' is coming out soon, and Girls' Generation's 'High School Musical 2' is also scheduled for release this summer. Right now, the company's actresses range from the older Josephine Siao to nine-year-old Cecilia Cheung, including Li Jiaxin, Chingmy Yau, and Zhang Min, who are currently filming short dramas. We definitely won't be short-handed!"

Shi Nansheng covered his face and said, "I'm afraid that someone like Zhong Chuhong will be trained and then you'll steal another one away."

"Don't worry, don't worry, there definitely won't be a next time." Zhai Yuan patted his chest and promised, then continued, "Ah! I remember now, Sister Hong has a younger sister named Zhong Chuyi. I've seen her picture, and she looks quite similar to Sister Hong. She previously filmed 'Ghost War' and was sidelined. Now she's switched to art design. I think we should wait until Sister Hong retires from acting, then bring her sister in to take her place. We should insist that this is Zhong Chuhong and give the Taiwanese film companies a discount, asking for 150 million per film."

Shi Nansheng: "..."

"Okay, okay, just telling a joke, have a laugh."

Zhai Yuan soothed the housekeeper gently and said again, "In short, let Sister Hong rest for a while and don't assign her any more work. As for the news of her retirement from acting, don't release it for now. Also, please compile the overseas box office data for 'Jurassic Park' as soon as possible and publish it in the newspapers so that everyone can see it."

After Zhai Yuan finished speaking, he looked at Li Zhi beside him: "Zhi Zhi, the same goes for the other companies. Have them promote the anime comics and the singers from The Voice of China as much as possible, and release all the good news. If there's no news, create it. Also, spread the word that the Jurassic Park Resort project will be merged into the 91 Entertainment Group, and the Governor of Hong Kong will personally preside over the opening ceremony. It will definitely be a pillar industry of Hong Kong's tourism industry in the future..."

Zhai Yuan issued several instructions, all of which revolved around the Jiu Yi Entertainment Group.

Shi Nansheng's attitude gradually shifted from resentment to curiosity. She frowned and looked at him, asking, "What trick are you up to now?"

Zhai Yuan smoothed his hair, recalling the Taiwanese figures, both official and unofficial, who had proactively sought his help during the New Territories Ding Quan dispute.
Liu Huangfa certainly didn't die unjustly; various forces were attacking him alone.
However, Taiwanese people who contributed to the effort have repeatedly mentioned urging Zhai Yuan to launch the Nanjing City project this year.

He exhaled deeply, narrowing his eyes to reveal a smile: "Boost the stock price, prepare to sell and recoup some funds, then we'll need the money..."

(End of this chapter)