A grand feast for the Chinese entertainment industry

Chapter 183 Xian

Unsurprisingly, she seemed extremely infatuated.

But unexpectedly, she also possessed an inexplicable and strange allure.

This was completely inconsistent with Lin Jianlu's previous understanding of her, and it also did not match her behavior of trying to control the pace and rules of their interaction earlier—well, it didn't match her appearance at all.

Some say she is pure, some say she is aloof, and some say she exudes arrogance at first glance.

In their previous encounters, even the ambiguous ones, she spoke very little. Not just with Lin Jianlu, but with everyone. She seemed unwilling to talk much and indifferent to everything.

He appeared aloof and arrogant.

If it weren't for those repeated attempts to light her cigarettes—so overly attentive and considerate—and if it weren't for those few eye contact, where the eagerness in her eyes was so unforgettable, Lin Jianlu wouldn't have even considered making a move on her.

In short, from any perspective, she shouldn't be associated with being promiscuous.

But ironically, she would be exceptionally seductive in bed—covering her face and crying, she would soon be sobbing, looking at you pitifully with teary eyes, full of pleading and infatuation.

To be honest, Rosamund Kwan is nowhere near as seductive as her, and Brigitte Lin is far inferior.

If a comparison must be made, perhaps only Xu Qing's fiery passion and Zhou Huimin's humble demeanor can be considered comparable to her—both are so arousing to one's desire.

Yeah, Chen Hong is a bit more shameless than her. It'll be quite exciting too.

So cool.

However, after she gradually recovered, she returned to her indifferent and aloof demeanor. Even when she actively sought out Lin Jianlu's embrace and snuggled into her arms, she seemed to have no sweet words to say.

That's...strange.

Logically speaking, Lin Jianlu liked and enjoyed this direct relationship.

There's no need to say "I love you" or "you love me," or "you want to sleep with me" or "I want to sleep with you." If everyone is already in love, the relationship is straightforward and easy, leaving no psychological burden. The first time he truly let loose was with Brigitte Lin, and that was a typical relationship.

There's a twenty-year age gap between us, so what's the point of talking about love? We were just both a little lustful at first sight, so it's better to be straightforward—the later attachment, entanglement, and pregnancy are all things that come later.

Since transmigrating, Lin Jianlu has slept with more than ten women, but he doesn't feel like he's ever been in a relationship—either before or after sleeping with them. The women did love him; he could feel it. Lust, pleasure-seeking, admiration, infatuation, worship—it doesn't matter, let's just call it love.

How could anyone possibly tell the difference?

But he himself could hardly say that he had fallen completely in love with someone.

If there are exceptions... Yes, there are exceptions. At certain special moments, he did fall in love with those two pregnant women—or perhaps it wasn't love, but rather gratitude.

A man who has never experienced true love in his past life or felt that kind of sincere, wholehearted affection for you is suddenly struck in the soft spot and wounded by the sincerity of two girls—lust is one thing, love is another, and gratitude is yet another.

His feelings for Wang Zuxian were purely lustful.

Logically speaking, he felt he should also like Wang Zuxian to be more straightforward.

But then, after a passionate lovemaking session, she was clearly extremely satisfied, lying there unable to move for a long time. After resting, she gently snuggled into his arms—it was almost perfect. Now, it was time for them to go about their business and he to go about his, until the next time—but her aloofness and indifference made Lin Jianlu feel very uneasy.

There were no sentiments, no sweet words, and not even a hint of emotion.

But then, at a sudden moment, she reached out her hand, just one finger, and finally revealed a hint of the expected worship.

But the next moment, she suddenly looked up and asked, "Are you hungry? I'll go cook you a bowl of noodles."

"what?"

Lin Jianlu was a little stunned.

She smiled and said, "I noticed you were only drinking and barely eating anything. You must be hungry."

"Okay!"

So she got up, went into the bathroom, spent a few minutes cleaning herself, and then put on a bathrobe and went out. A little while later, she heard clanging and banging sounds coming from the kitchen.

So Lin Jianlu got up, took a shower, and walked out of the bedroom naked.

I rode in her car all the way here, and from what I vaguely sensed, her house should be in the Wan Chai area.

The house was small and lacked any of the aura of a top celebrity.

A one-bedroom apartment feels like it's only about 50 or 60 square meters. Not to mention Rosamund Kwan, who lives in a duplex apartment with two floors combined, probably over 150 square meters. Brigitte Lin also lives in a mansion that's over 1,000 square feet, and she seems to have said that it's about 1,200 square feet, which is about 110 square meters.

Logically speaking, Wang Zuxian's period of popularity should have lasted for four or five years. Moreover, during her peak, she was very popular in both Japan and Korea, so her salary was not low.

According to Ge Fuhong, she was once the darling of all advertisers—tall, with top-notch looks. Whether you call her innocent or aloof, she had a face with exceptional quality. Moreover, she became an instant sensation at a young age, becoming the most unique among Hong Kong stars!
It's said that he's been inundated with endorsement offers!
Logically speaking, the Hong Kong market is just like that; it's impossible to make a fortune there. Jackie Chan and Andy Lau, who became incredibly popular last year, were all far ahead of the competition, which is why their incomes seemed exceptionally high. But apart from these two or three people, normal Hong Kong actors, even those as famous as Wong Cho-yin, can't make a fortune.

However, over the years, one should be able to accumulate wealth ranging from ten to twenty million to thirty to fifty million.

I don't know why she lives in such a small house.

It felt so simple, just a few steps to complete the process.

I leaned against the kitchen doorway and watched her busy at work, chopping vegetables.

They are quick and agile, and their movements are skillful.

She suddenly turned around, smiled, glanced down at the lump of flesh below, her face slightly embarrassed, but her tone was very gentle, "We can't just eat a bowl of noodles. I can cook very quickly, it will be ready in a moment."

Lin Jianlu smiled and nodded.

"it is good!"

So he found her cigarettes, sat on the sofa, and smoked while airing the birds.

The kitchen door closed quickly, and the range hood started whirring loudly.

In total, it took less than half an hour, and two side dishes and two bowls of noodles were served on her small table.

"Come eat?"

"it is good!"

The aroma was very enticing. Lin Jianlu quickly got up, went into her bedroom to put on her underwear, and then came out again to sit down and eat. "Hmm! It tastes good!" - Although it was just two simple stir-fried dishes, the taste was surprisingly good. The green vegetables were stir-fried until they were shiny and appealing, and the flavor was refreshing.

This is truly rare!

Chen Shuhua and Rosamund Kwan need no mention; these two are completely unskilled at housework.

Su Huilun can cook, and even stir-fry a few side dishes, but her skill is limited to not burning them, and the taste of her dishes is really hard to describe.

Needless to say, Leung Wing-ki only knows how to eat; she doesn't even know how to cook porridge.

Brigitte Lin can cook. She once volunteered to go to New York to accompany Lin Chien-lu during a recording session, saying she would cook for him. Haha, after tasting her cooking, I politely declined.

In short, Lin Jianlu has almost no expectations for the cooking skills of these female celebrities from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

On the contrary, the mainlanders, especially Chen Hong, are quite good cooks, and their soups are exceptional. Xu Qing is also quite capable of preparing a few simple dishes, especially braised pork ribs and steamed pork belly.

However, Wang Zuxian actually has excellent cooking skills!

"Is it strange? I could cook when I was in junior high school! Later I went to the National Kuo-Kuang Arts School, but I couldn't get any acting jobs in Taiwan, so I watched videotapes at home every day. My parents worked so hard, so I learned to cook myself! Later I came to Hong Kong, but I don't like eating Cantonese food outside, so I still cook for myself!"

"This house? I bought it in 90. At that time, I really disliked having to hire people to do housework. I always felt uncomfortable because I felt like my things had been touched by others. I also really enjoy cleaning the house myself, but the house was too big, and it would be too tiring to clean. I also had to film, so I didn't always have time to do it myself. So I simply bought a smaller one, which would be easier to clean."

"Is it tasty?"

"Yes, my house is a bit small, I know it's a bit small, so I almost never invite friends over, and therefore I don't have the chance to cook for others! I'm just happy with what I think tastes good, so I'm afraid it won't suit your taste. Yeah... it's only 600 square feet, I feel like if someone comes over, there won't be enough places for them to sit. Even Sister Qingxia and the others have never been here..."

A large bowl of noodles—Wang Zuxian probably thought he had made as much as possible. How much could one person eat, no matter how big their appetite? Surely no one would eat such a large bowl of noodles and still not be full—yet Lin Jianlu finished it all with ease.

Just by looking at how they ate, she was already somewhat shocked.

Seeing Lin Jianlu scoop up a handful of noodles with her chopsticks, blow on them, and stuff them directly into her mouth—enough for her to eat five or six mouthfuls—and seeing Lin Jianlu's bowl quickly empty, she almost instinctively scooped up a large mouthful from her own bowl, nearly half of it, and asked, "Want some of mine?"

Lin Jianlu handed the bowl over directly.

The noodles were put into the bowl and slurped up in no time.

The two side dishes on the table were also mostly swept away.

She couldn't help but sigh and marvel, "When I was in junior high, I was always on the basketball team. I've seen those male athletes eat, and they eat really fiercely, but none of them eat as fiercely as you! Seeing you eat reminds me of when I was playing basketball. I used to be a big eater, and I could eat a bowl of noodles like you in one meal. Because I was so hungry. But later, when I came here to film, I had much less physical activity, so I wasn't as hungry anymore, and my appetite gradually decreased."

Lin Jianlu smiled, picked up the noodle bowl, and slurped down the soup in one go.

He put down his bowl, tore off a tissue to wipe his mouth, and asked, "Don't you think I eat rudely?"

She paused for a moment, quite surprised. "How could it be rude? That's how men should eat! I've seen other men... well, anyway, some men eat so delicately and are so picky, it just makes me uncomfortable."

…………

Her small home was decorated in a very cozy and inviting manner.

She likes some pure cotton home furnishings, but they are all in simple and elegant colors. Her home does not have the plush toys and dolls that Rosamund Kwan and Leung Wing-ki love. Instead, she collects Transformers and a lot of comic books.

He picked up the Transformer toy, turned around, and asked her, "Can I play with it?"

Without hesitation, she replied, "Of course!"

Oh my goodness, it really can transform! This reminded Lin Jianlu of a similar gift she received in her past life, but when she tried to transform it, she broke it.

Yes, they were poor; even their toys were counterfeit brands.

So, with great interest, he patiently transformed it into a sports car. "Oh, it really is Bumblebee!"

She walked over and hugged Lin Jianlu's waist, wrapping her head around his shoulder and laughing, looking quite surprised. "You've never played with Transformers before?"

"My family is very poor, how could we afford this!"

She paused for a moment, then leaned her head against Lin Jianlu's back. After a long while, she said, "I've heard them discussing it. Everyone says you're truly a miracle! Born into a very ordinary family in mainland China, as you said, very poor, and with almost no musical education, yet you actually taught yourself to write and sing songs, and even write English songs, just by listening to cassette tapes, and they're all so good..."

“I heard from Sister Qingxia that last year, you couldn’t even have a fluent English conversation, and you didn’t hire an English teacher. Yet you managed to learn English so well purely through self-study!”

"By the way, did you read the newspaper this morning? Oh, wait, your agent must have told you. You're number one on Billboard again! I also saw in the paper that your record company announced that your English album has sold over 22 million copies worldwide. It says it surpassed some Michael Jackson album, I can't remember which one, but anyway, it's the best-selling album of the 1990s! The paper also says that your album has only been on the market for four months and has already sold 22 million copies. At the current sales rate, it's very likely to exceed 30 million copies by the end of the year!"

"The newspapers are all saying you're the second King of Pop in the world!"

"Even many big-name singers and stars in America highly praise your album. It's said that many TV programs have discussed it, and many high-end music magazines have also published articles discussing it, saying that your album will become something that everyone will strive to imitate. It's a feeling of... looking up to a mountain!"

"You really are a... genius!"

Lin Jianlu laughed.

He's heard this kind of praise countless times. To be honest, he was initially very clear-headed, knowing that it wasn't his talent and that he didn't need to take anyone's praise seriously. But recently, he's gradually become numb. If people want to praise him, let them. He'll just accept their worship. It doesn't matter whether he takes it seriously or not. He can just keep copying until he's no longer satisfied with making money. So what if he's a genius?

Anyway, I sold my stocks in 99, waited for the stock market crash, and then bought back Amazon with a large investment. After that, I poured all my money into YouTube, Netflix, Facebook, and even Apple. That would basically be enough to last me a lifetime, enough to support all my women and children, and ensure they would also have a life of plenty. At that point, there would be no need for me to work so hard as a singer anymore.

However... it's quite rare to find someone like Wang Zuxian, with her aloof and taciturn nature, so flattering her is a rare treat.

Do you also think I'm a genius?

"Of course! Of course he's a genius!"

"Am I a genius at music, or at this?"—She paused, a slight chuckle playing on her lips, "Just now!" But quickly, her tone changed, filled with awe, "Wow...you really can..."

Transformers aren't as appealing anymore.

He casually put it down, turned around, grabbed her chin, kissed her, and asked, "Really? What? What did Brigitte Lin tell you?"

Her face suddenly flushed red.

She was no longer embarrassed by being stripped naked, but this topic seemed to be a bit too much for her to handle.

"It's... the kind of topics girls talk about!"

What topic?

She hesitated for a few seconds, then couldn't help but smile shyly.

She laughed for a while, then looked up at Lin Jianlu, her infatuation growing stronger in her eyes. She reached out and touched his face, looking up at him. "Sister Qingxia said you like girls like this the most, right?"

"hiss……"

…………

As she woke up and was about to get out of bed, despite trying to be as quiet as possible, the slightest movement still startled Wang Zuxian. She gasped for breath, then gradually came to her senses, opened her eyes, and in the darkness, she seemed to sense the man's gaze. She smiled, and suddenly a long, slender arm emerged from the thin blanket and wrapped around his neck.

Still half-asleep, her voice tinged with a lazy quality, she said, "You woke up so early!" Lin Jianlu patted her on the shoulder. "Go back to sleep. I'm used to getting up early to run and exercise... You're a light sleeper!"

She was a little confused before she understood what Lin Jianlu meant, and was somewhat surprised, "Are you a light sleeper? I slept so well last night! I haven't slept so soundly in a long time!"

"Really? You woke up as soon as I moved."

"Oh, right, I'm a bit... insecure! I'm more easily startled! But I slept really well last night. I've hardly slept this soundly since I came to Hong Kong to film."

Lin Jianlu suddenly became interested, sensing that she didn't seem to want to continue sleeping and wanted to talk, so she asked her, "Why? Why do you feel insecure?"

She seemed a little dazed, but also generally awake. After thinking for a moment, she said, "It's just... I feel like I have no roots, and I feel like there are so many eyes around me... staring at me like that! You know, in Hong Kong, very few female artists or actresses can make it on their own without relying on a big shot. They all have to rely on someone to some extent... I guess I was lucky? Right after I debuted, I was recommended and met Sister Nan Sheng. Then, Director Tsui Hark didn't really like me at first, but he still used me, and then... I became famous!"

As she spoke, she became increasingly clear-headed. "After becoming famous, I really did have a lot more freedom, and I encountered far fewer nasty people and troubles! I had Sister Nansheng around, so everyone had to give me some face. Later, I also got along very well with Sister Qingxia, and she would shield me from some things. In short, plus... you know, I was dating that person back then. Although we broke up and got back together on and off, it was often in the newspapers. I knew that many people were still watching me, but they still had to be somewhat wary. Everyone knew that I was quite stubborn and had a reputation, so they didn't dare to act recklessly. ... You don't know, here, even a lighting technician would try to threaten a new girl. You have to have a big shot who's willing to protect you so that you won't be bullied."

"In short, over the years... although I was still quite popular back then, with box office success, people watched my movies, and I made money for the investors, so everyone respected me. But personally, I always felt very insecure, so... you know, when I was in junior high school, I was actually very talkative, very talkative, but now, I'm often reluctant to talk. Especially in the last two years, although people still keep asking me to act, I'm actually getting more and more scared. I've passed my peak of popularity. Like Lin Jianyue, as long as I continue to make a living from acting, it's almost impossible for me to refuse him! I could refuse him, but then I'd have to find a big shot of similar stature to rely on for protection! But if I don't take any roles, he can't do anything about it."

She paused here, paused for a moment, then suddenly let go of Lin Jianlu, stretched out her arms, yawned and stretched with great enjoyment, before saying again, "But I slept well last night!"

The next moment, she even seemed unusually emotional. Although it was pitch black, she still reached out and accurately found Lin Jianlu's chest. Her fingers gently caressed him, lightly tracing the edges of the muscles, then reaching down to his lower abdomen to stroke the muscles there. Her tone seemed to be full of endless emotion, "You are really so strong!"

Lin Jianlu couldn't laugh. Instead, he bent down and kissed her on the forehead.

I feel a little sorry for them.

I've never heard Brigitte Lin mention it, nor have I heard Rosamund Kwan mention it.

It was probably because when Brigitte Lin came to Hong Kong in the mid-1980s, she was already very famous, and with the support of Sylvia Chang, who represented the lifeblood of Hong Kong films in the Taiwan market at the time, she was able to play the leading role immediately upon arrival and became an instant star. Her beauty directly conquered Hong Kong.

Therefore, almost no one dared to mess with her, and she encountered relatively few bad people and bad things.

Even if she does have connections or networks, she can manage them relatively easily.

As for Rosamund Kwan... well, she herself said that she was practically kept by a sugar daddy right after her debut!

Joseph Lau doesn't work in the entertainment industry, but as someone who rose from humble beginnings to become one of Hong Kong's richest men, do you think he's ruthless? Do you think he'd dare to kill anyone in the entertainment industry who tries to harm his women?
Although Hong Kong films were considered prosperous in the 1980s, the total market in the local market was only a few hundred million a year, and even with the overseas market, it was less than two billion. In the first few years of Hong Kong films' peak, the total market, including both the local and overseas markets, was only three to four billion – total output value, not profit!

These few turtles in such a small pond wouldn't dare to easily offend Liu Luanxiong, who is worth billions.

By the time she left Joseph Lau, Rosamund Kwan already had box office success and the immense fame of being Hong Kong's number one beauty. You could have a romantic relationship with her, or even be kept by a sugar daddy, but what about the hard stuff? Even Mr. Xiang wouldn't dare to try anything with her!

When you become famous enough, and people are making money for you, you actually become safe amidst all the entanglements of interests.

As for Leung Wing-ki... well, she debuted less than a year ago and was already labeled a big shot—except that big shot is named Lin Chien-lu!

I never imagined that someone as famous as Wang Zuxian would also have to go through such a nerve-wracking experience.

So he couldn't help but kiss her again, "Come live at my house! There, you can sleep soundly every day! No one will dare to covet you! Because you're mine!"

Surprisingly, she answered without hesitation, "Okay!"

Lin Jianlu was surprised. "You agreed so easily? Didn't you say yesterday that you didn't want to go to my house and compete with them?"

She gave a sweet, cloying laugh, then pressed her whole body against Lin Jianlu's, her naked body and thighs pressed directly against him. "But sleeping next to you really makes me feel so safe!"

Lin Jianlu stroked her smooth back with her hand, feeling a surge of emotion, but she didn't want to say anything more. After thinking for a moment, she couldn't help but lower her head and kiss her. "I'm going for a run. You can sleep a little longer!"

However, she said, "No, I want to go running with you! You don't know this area well, I can take you to the beach!"

"Oh, okay! Come on, get up!"

So we got up together and brushed our teeth together, but unfortunately we couldn't use the toilet together.

She laughed heartily, a laugh I'd never seen before, "Go outside! No matter how pretty you are, your poop will still stink!"

…………

It was a little past six o'clock, and the sky was already beginning to lighten. There were quite a few people on the street who had started their morning exercise, but they were mostly busy with their own things. Neither of them wore sunglasses. Lin Jianlu was even wearing the same short-sleeved shirt and trousers she had worn the day before when she went out for drinks. She ran all the way to the beach and back.

She's really healthy!
Although Lin Jianlu deliberately slowed down a lot, she was still able to keep up with her for ten kilometers in one go. Xu Qing, Jiang Qinqin, Zuo Xiaoqian, Chen Hong, and Yu Feihong all tried it on a whim, but after five kilometers, most of them were out of breath and could only complain that Lin Jianlu was running too fast and disrupted their own rhythm.

For Wang Zuxian, Lin Jianlu's slower pace was still considered fast, not her normal pace, but she still managed to keep going.

After finishing her run, she took a leisurely walk to cool off, her face flushed, looking like a vibrant young girl.

It feels so good, so healthy!

She really doesn't look like a thirty-year-old woman.

We went to have breakfast together. Before breakfast, Lin Jianlu made a phone call. After breakfast, the car was already waiting on the street, so we said goodbye at the entrance of the breakfast shop.

We're meeting again this morning; we've arranged to play mahjong at 10:30.

But before playing mahjong, Lin Jianlu had to go to a meeting at Media Asia Films.

After scouting locations in mainland China, Sammo Hung and Stanley Tong have flown to America to film a project for Stanley Tong, which is said to be a pilot episode of an American TV series. So Lin Chien-lu made an appointment with Chuang Cheng-ho and Lu Wei yesterday.

The Myth needs a fourth script.

However, on the way, Lin Jianlu was still busy making phone calls—first to New York to comfort the two pregnant women, whose due dates were only a month or so away, and they were both a little anxious about giving birth. She had to comfort them almost every night before bed.

Then call Yu Feihong.

She has already bought a plane ticket to fly over tomorrow.

The last call was to the pregnant woman currently at home.

"Stop talking nonsense! I'm 100% sure now that you've been bewitching her all along!"

"Pfft...Isn't she good? You slept with her last night, didn't you? Isn't she fun?"

"Don't interrupt, I'm interrogating you! Aren't I?"

"Oh, it wasn't on my intentions, she just likes you anyway! I... at most I just helped things along. What, you don't like her?... I don't believe you don't!"

"..."

"Honey... After I give birth, I'll definitely work out and get back in shape as soon as possible. Ah Xian and I will keep you company then, okay?"

Alas, the true feelings involved are somewhat complex and difficult to describe.

Of all her women, Brigitte Lin has always felt the most insecure – not only because of her age, but also because Chen Shuhua is not much younger than her. However, after Chen Shuhua became pregnant, she always seemed very content and happy. She even didn't want to return to singing.

A woman, without even a marriage contract, and whose man is known to be incredibly promiscuous, yet she can so readily hand over all her assets to him—who else could do such a thing? Lin Jianlu herself couldn't believe it!

But she just did it, and she even convinced the beautiful Su Huilun to do the same!

Lin Qingxia was different. Their relationship started with a fleeting moment of pleasure, then they even broke up. She then chose to back down and desperately cling to him. She begged to have a child, and eventually she even left her hometown to go to the capital just to spend more time with him. For this, she had to get along with Xu Qing, Jiang Qinqin, Zuo Xiaoqian, and even Chen Hong and Yu Feihong, who were much younger than her but also very beautiful. She went from yielding and trying to win them over to finally settling down with the child. After returning to Hong Kong, she finally started to get restless... She almost perfectly demonstrated the experience and maturity of a seasoned veteran.

But it was precisely because of this that Lin Jianlu could feel her insecurity even more.

Especially after she invested 20 million US dollars to acquire a stake in Media Asia Films, and then invested over 100 million Hong Kong dollars to make a blockbuster, and tried to break into the North American market, it felt like she suddenly found a way out and found the right entry point!

Or, to put it another way, after realizing that she was genuinely interested in making movies, she finally found the ultimate way to rival Chen Hong—relying on Xu Qing to support her. She had already tried that, but it didn't work; not every woman is suited to be a manager.

She's probably planning to start her own business.

She has always paid close attention to the script of "The Myth" and the progress of the production.

They don't interfere, but they pay close attention.

She's even already setting up her own agency.

As her belly grew larger and her due date approached, she showed no signs of prenatal anxiety whatsoever. She was oblivious to the myth of pregnancy making her stupid for three years, and was full of energy every day – having gathered various information, she had already won over many people.

Xu Qing, Jiang Qinqin, and Zuo Xiaoqian are all her direct sisters.

Feng Xiaogang, Xu Fan, Jiang Wenli, Chen Xiaoyi, and Liu Bei were all people Xu Qing could easily bring into the game.

She can easily handle Wang Zuxian and Guan Zhilin from Hong Kong.

Moreover, it is said that she is currently trying to invite Leslie Cheung's manager to join her team and work together. A few days ago, I heard her subtly asking about it, and it seemed that she also wanted to win over Yu Feihong and sign her management contract.

Lin Jianlu clearly said to stop, and it was not allowed.

This was what slightly put the brakes on her ambitions.

As for Wang Zuxian... well, Wang Zuxian is clearly not the kind of girl who would be easily fooled. So, if you insist that Lin Qingxia was worried about losing favor and thus lured Wang Zuxian into the scheme, she doesn't have that much power. But as she herself said, she definitely put in a lot of effort to subtly persuade her!

Ugh……

Are you happy? Or are you distressed?
Can't find true love? Have you ever found it? Who has?
Go to hell!

As I always say, let's make ourselves stronger!
…………

Discuss the script.

Zhuang Cheng has been the helmsman of Media Asia Films for the past three years. He is a well-known filmmaker in Hong Kong and is naturally considered an expert in the field. Lu Wei has been in Hong Kong for over a month and has been immersed in the story of "The Myth" for over a month, so he naturally has a lot of insights.

So everyone started dismantling them one by one.

A consensus was reached that the main storyline and character settings would not need to be changed, but the plot and dialogue would be appropriately cut to make the pace faster and more compact, ultimately keeping the movie to about 118 to 120 minutes.

After we finished chatting, I checked the time and, wow, it was already past ten o'clock.

Get out of here quickly.

When we arrived at the teahouse where we usually gathered to play cards, it had already started.

As soon as he entered, he was met with a barrage of complaints from the women. Lin Jianlu had no choice but to beg for forgiveness and readily agreed to treat them to lunch. There were unfamiliar faces today, and the girl greeted him respectfully and introduced herself. Only then did Lin Jianlu recognize her. "Oh, Yuan Yongyi, I know you! Hello!"

Hmm, before I transmigrated in my past life, I watched her variety show, and I felt... she had changed a lot.

She was truly stunning in her youth.

"If Ah-Xian comes up here, we'll definitely lose! That's why I called Yong-Yi. We're determined to beat you!"

"She's an expert?"

"Of course, their family has a special team to crack down on gambling!"

Everyone laughed, except for Lin Jianlu, who was completely bewildered. Wang Zuxian explained with a smile, and Lin Jianlu finally understood what he meant—Yuen Wing-yee's family had many government officials. Macau, so close by, was an international hub for such things, but in Hong Kong, it was actually forbidden, and one of the government officials' duties was to arrest them.

That's actually a pretty good joke.

Wang Zuxian stood up and offered his seat to him. Ye Quanzhen also stood up, wanting to offer her her seat as well, but Wang Zuxian smiled and waved her hand, telling her to sit down and play. He then pulled up a chair and sat behind Lin Jianlu to watch the game.

Hmm, it's another case of the Third Mother disciplining her son.

After two rounds, Zhang Manyu arrived late and also pushed Ye Quanzhen down. Seeing Wang Zuxian sitting behind Lin Jianlu, she ran to sit behind Shi Nansheng and looked at the cards.

"No, I had insomnia last night. Ugh, I don't know, I always have insomnia every now and then. That's why I woke up late this morning. Oh, Lu, you're late too? What's wrong? Insomnia too?"

"He won't have insomnia! ... Please, pay more attention and look at our Ah Xian, doesn't he look especially beautiful today?" — Zhang Manyu belatedly realized, staring at the increasingly embarrassed Wang Zuxian for a few seconds, then smiled, somewhat enlightened, "OK! OK! People who can't sleep alone deserve to have insomnia!"

The closer you are to someone and the more often you meet, the easier it is to see that Wang Zuxian looks absolutely radiant today—her face is fair and delicate, charming even without a smile, and capable of captivating a city with a single glance.

"Hey! Just waiting for it! I won! A self-drawn pure suit! Collect the money, collect the money!"

Lin Jianlu was in high spirits, while Shi Nansheng complained endlessly. The other two people playing cards with him didn't dare to utter a sound.

Wang Zuxian was not shy at all. He stood up straight to take the money, tidied it up, and put it in the drawer under the card table.

Lin Jianlu then suddenly noticed that there was already a stack of money inside—and couldn't help but glance back at Wang Zuxian.

Wow! Another person is willing to pay my gambling debts!
During a casual chat at the card game, Lin Jianlu learned that Anita Yuen had always been a favorite actress of Tsui Hark and Shi Nansheng.

She won the Miss Hong Kong pageant in 1990, which marked her official debut. Starting in 1994, she starred in two films directed by Tsui Hark: "The Chinese Feast" released in January 1995 and "The Big Three" released in February 1996. At that time, Hong Kong films had not yet hit rock bottom, and she won the Best Actress award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 1994 and 1995. She can definitely be considered a beauty with top-notch acting skills!
To be honest, although Lin Jianlu had tried his best to understand the Hong Kong entertainment industry of this era after he traveled through time, there was still this one thing he didn't know.

Upon hearing about Anita Yuen's glorious history, one couldn't help but change one's expression and show her respect.

A girl in her early twenties, known for her looks and figure, actually managed to win Best Actress twice in a row. That's really something—the Hong Kong Film Awards, especially these days, are no joke!
"It's tough making movies lately, and nobody has many opportunities to film. We heard that you, Mr. Lin, have invested in Media Asia Films and are also going to make your own film. Everyone is really looking forward to it and hopes that you will give us more opportunities in the future!"

She's a very eloquent girl with expressive eyes.

Lin Jianlu was always willing to treat people like this, regardless of gender, with friendliness. "You're too kind! You're a Best Actress winner, and I hope we can work together more often in the future!"

***
I still haven't learned how to post pictures in chapters. Could someone please post a photo of Brigitte Lin and Wang Zuxian together, the one where Wang Zuxian's head is tilted on Brigitte Lin's shoulder and neither of them is smiling? Thanks! That's my favorite!
(End of this chapter)