Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 290, Section 288: Jackie Chan's Dream Girl
2000 4 Month 18 Day.

Springtime in Beijing is already warm and inviting, with sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the high-rise conference room in the Jingxin Building, casting bright dappled patterns of light.

Wang Sheng took a day off from filming "My Sassy Girl" to focus on another important project—the first meeting of the main creators and script discussion for the Sino-Korean co-production "Happy Family".

The atmosphere in the meeting room was both formal and tinged with the exploratory excitement of the early stages of a project.

Wang Sheng sat in the main seat, with General Manager Assistant Li Tingting beside him, and a translator.

Several relevant personnel from Shengying Media and Beijing Film Studio sat on either side.

Across the table was the South Korean team led by Jung Tae-won.

Zheng Taiyuan was beaming, full of anticipation and enthusiasm for this collaboration.

Beside him were the main cast members confirmed by the South Korean side.

The male lead, Cha Tae-hyun, appeared somewhat reserved, yet couldn't hide his excitement.

He was wearing a casual suit, his hair was neatly styled, and he wore his signature, slightly naive and sincere smile.

After Jung Tae-won formally introduced Cha Tae-hyun and emphasized that "Cha Tae-hyun is the male lead personally selected and approved by President Wang Sheng," Cha Tae-hyun immediately stood up, bowed almost ninety degrees towards Wang Sheng, and said in his newly learned and still very broken Chinese:
"President Wang Sheng, Kang Sangmidha! Thank you so much for your trust! I will do my best to play this role well!"

His actions and tone were full of sincerity, even a little flattered.

After all, being chosen by this discerning Chinese tycoon, who has already stirred up a wave of "Chinese culture" in South Korea, to star in a film is a great honor and opportunity for him.

Wang Sheng smiled slightly, replied with a simple "Good luck," and then gestured for him to sit down.

He could sense that the young actor's natural affability was a good match for the "unlucky guy" vibe required for the role.

Next, Jung Tae-won introduced the actress who plays the female lead—Kim Hee-sun.

When Kim Hee-sun stood up and gracefully nodded to everyone, the entire conference room seemed to brighten up a bit.

She wore an elegant off-white dress, her makeup was exquisite, her long hair was draped over her shoulders, her features were perfectly sculpted, and her temperament was gentle yet with a hint of unapproachable brilliance.

"President Wang, this is Ms. Kim Hee-sun, one of the most prominent and representative actresses in South Korea right now."

Jung Tae-won said with pride, "She has just finished filming another major Sino-Korean co-production, 'Flying Dance,' which is a major investment of our Tae-won Entertainment. I believe that Chinese audiences will soon be able to appreciate her charm."

Wang Sheng's gaze fell on Kim Hee-sun's face, and he couldn't help but secretly admire her; she was indeed a rare beauty.

Fragments of information about her future flashed through his mind, including the widely circulated claim that she was "Jackie Chan's dream girl."

Seeing it with my own eyes now, I know that what was said was true.

“Ms. Kim Hee-sun, it’s an honor to meet you,” Wang Sheng said in English, his tone calm and unassuming.

Kim Hee-sun was clearly surprised by Wang Sheng's fluent English. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but she quickly smiled and replied in equally fluent English, "President Wang, hello. It's a great honor to meet you. I've heard many legendary stories about you and Shengying Media since I was in Korea."

Her voice was clear and melodious, with a slightly soft Korean accent in her English, but it didn't hinder communication.

The simple English conversation between the two rendered Zheng Taiyuan's prepared translations useless. He paused for a moment, then realized that the big boss was indeed a big boss, and it was better to communicate without any barriers.

Following that, Jung Tae-won introduced the four talented South Korean supporting actors who played the "Four Ghosts"—namely, the chain-smoking uncle, the crybaby aunt, the violent brother, and the gluttonous sister.

They all greeted Wang Sheng respectfully, with a humble attitude.

After the introductions, the meeting moved on to its main topic—script discussion.

As the copyright holder and final reviewer, Wang Sheng set the tone first.

He instructed Li Tingting to distribute the prepared Chinese script outline and key points to the Korean creative team, and then he personally explained them to them.

“The core of Happy Family is not simply a ghost comedy.”

“The core of this project,” Wang Sheng said bluntly, “is a story about loneliness, redemption, and the warmth of family. The protagonist, Shang Wan, is a man who feels incredibly lonely in the world. After several suicide attempts, he discovers that he can see ghosts.”

He glanced around at the Korean production team present, his gaze finally settling on Cha Tae-hyun, who was listening intently.

"These ghosts include: an old man who is addicted to smoking, an old woman who cries a lot, a violent middle-aged man, and a gluttonous little girl. They are bothering Shangwan, demanding that he help them fulfill their unfulfilled wishes, or they will keep haunting him."

"..."

Wang Sheng explained in detail the personality traits and backstory of each "ghost".

“In the process of helping these ghosts fulfill their wishes,” Wang Sheng continued, “Sang Wan gradually developed a familial bond with them. At the same time, he also met Yeon-joo, a nurse played by Kim Hee-sun, and began to feel the warmth of life.”

Wang emphasized, "The essence of this film lies in the fact that, on the surface, it's a ghost comedy, but at its core, it's a profound emotional drama. All the jokes should serve the character development and emotional expression, and the final conclusion must be warm and touching." He looked at Kim Hee-sun: "The character Yeon-joo is the connection between Sang-man and the real world, and also the guide who helps him rediscover the value of life. Her performance needs to be natural and warm, carrying the professionalism of a medical worker and the gentleness of a woman."

Kim Hee-sun nodded earnestly and responded in English: "I understand the importance of this role; she will be a ray of light in Sang-man's dark life."

When discussing the key turning point in the second half of the film, Wang Sheng explained in detail the true meaning of those "unfulfilled wishes":

"When Shangwan finally fulfills all the wishes of the ghosts, he will discover an astonishing truth—these ghosts are actually his deceased family members: his grandfather, mother, father, and sister. They appeared in this way to help Shangwan overcome his loneliness and grief and find the courage to live again."

This concept shocked the Korean production team present.

The director couldn't help but exclaim in Korean, "This is truly an ingenious story structure, with such a profound emotional core hidden beneath the comedic exterior."

Cha Tae-hyun was deeply moved. Through a translator, he said, "I now fully understand the emotional arc of the character Sang-man, from despair to being 'troubled,' and finally to understanding and relief. It's a very rich performance space."

He realized that the role was far more profound than he had initially imagined; it was not just about a passive and unlucky male protagonist, but also about showing a complex psychological transformation from alienation and resistance to understanding and acceptance.

Kim Hee-sun's character undergoes a crucial turning point in the middle of the film, having a secret connection to Chen Mo's past. Although her role is not as prominent as the "Four Ghosts," it is of paramount importance.

She asked Wang Sheng two questions in English about the character's motivations and emotional layers. The questions were quite professional, showing that she was not just a pretty face.

Wang Sheng patiently provided answers and affirmed her thinking.

His answer was clear, precise, and to the point, which made Kim Hee-sun's admiration deepen.

The morning seminar proceeded efficiently under Wang Sheng's leadership.

He not only grasped the overall direction but also made demands on key details, fully demonstrating his professionalism and control as the project's helmsman.

The Korean team, from the director to the actors, may have initially been somewhat polite to the investors and copyright holders, but they gradually came to trust Wang Sheng's professional judgment.

……

At noon, Wang Sheng arranged for a banquet to be held at the Beijing Hotel to entertain the main creative personnel from both sides.

When they sat down, Zheng Taiyuan had clearly made a deliberate arrangement, placing Kim Hee-sun to Wang Sheng's left and himself to Wang Sheng's right for convenience... although he realized that his role as translator seemed to be of little use.

"President Wang and Xishan both speak such good English, it's really easy to communicate with them," Zheng Taiyuan said with a smile, smoothing things over as he personally poured tea for Wang Sheng.

"Just basic communication," Wang Sheng said noncommittally.

The atmosphere at the dinner was much more relaxed than in the conference room.

The two sides discussed the customs and traditions of China and South Korea, as well as the differences and interesting stories in the film and television industry.

Kim Hee-sun was clearly very interested in Wang Sheng. During the filming of "Flying Dance," she heard his name mentioned frequently by the Chinese staff and the Korean investor, Jung Tae-won.

I know he is young and promising, and has great energy and influence in the Chinese film and television industry.

Now that she has seen him in person, she finds that he is not only young and handsome, but also possesses a composure and aura beyond his years. The confidence and control he exudes in his speech and behavior are no less impressive than those of the South Korean chaebols or top directors she has met, and even have a more understated Eastern sharpness.

She took the initiative to speak with Wang Sheng in English, and the conversation gradually expanded from the film itself to a wider range of topics.

"President Wang, you're so busy with work, do you have any hobbies to relax?" Kim Hee-sun asked, turning slightly to the side with just the right amount of curiosity.

"I read books occasionally and exercise a little," Wang Sheng replied succinctly, then asked, "And Miss Jin? Is this your first time in Beijing? What are your impressions?"

"It's a magnificent city, quite different from Seoul." Kim Hee-sun smiled. "It's a pity that the trip was too rushed this time, and I didn't have time to explore it properly. I heard that the night view of Seoul is also very beautiful."

"There are still many opportunities," Wang Sheng said calmly.

The two communicated fluently in English. Occasionally, Zheng Taiyuan tried to interject to translate, but found that he couldn't get a word in edgewise, so he turned to chatting with the other people at the table. However, he kept an eye on Wang Sheng and Kim Hee-sun's interaction out of the corner of his eye, with an imperceptible, pleased smile on his face.

The luncheon ended in an atmosphere where both hosts and guests seemed to be enjoying themselves.

The group said goodbye at the restaurant entrance.

Wang Sheng walked towards his carriage, escorted by Zheng Taiyuan, Che Taixian, and others.

After Wang Sheng left, Li Tingting, who was lagging behind, quickly walked towards Kim Hee-sun, who was about to leave, and said a few words in English.

Kim Hee-sun was clearly somewhat surprised. A hint of hesitation flashed in her beautiful eyes, which then turned into a polite smile.

She glanced at the luxury sedan with its tinted windows that had already driven some distance away, and softly responded to Li Tingting:
"Please tell President Wang that I am honored to accept his invitation."

(End of this chapter)