Rebirth 05: From Coal Mine Owner to Mobile Phone Tycoon

The man before me wore a black turtleneck sweater that accentuated his silent silhouette, and a dark gray, unstructured suit jacket draped loosely over his shoulders.

It was as if he had walked straight out of the studio, still carrying the casualness of an unfinished project.

The off-white cropped trousers neatly blocked the view, revealing a section of the ankle, and below were spotless white leather sneakers.

All colors are filtered out, leaving only a trio of black, gray, and off-white.

Lu Yuan turned slightly to the side, revealing the black metal-framed watch on his wrist.

The lines are cold and hard, like a miniature architectural model, and each tick of the pointer is precise and silent.

When Lu Yuan's fingers inadvertently brushed against the hem of his suit jacket, the softness of the knitwear and the texture of the metal achieved a subtle reconciliation on the same body.

The woman grew increasingly satisfied with what she saw. Seeing that Lu Yuan remained silent, she took the initiative to speak.

"Hello, my name is Maggie, and I am Qu Xueer's assistant."

Hello, Lu Yuan.

"Are you an artist with which company, sir?"

Lu Yuan chuckled and shook his head.

Do I look like someone from the entertainment industry?

Meiqi nodded very vigorously

"You have the image and temperament of a mature artist, which is why I asked that question."

"Thank you for your compliment, Miss Meiqi."

"Mr. Lu, are you interested in developing a career in the entertainment industry?"

This really made Lu Yuan laugh.

"As an assistant, do you also work as a talent scout?"

Generally speaking, work assistants are similar to secretaries, while personal assistants need to handle all kinds of daily life matters.

But regardless of the method, it's unlikely that an assistant would be hired as a talent scout.

When Meiqi heard Lu Yuan's question, her face immediately fell.

A desolate scene of urban life.

"Don't even mention it, our boss is driving us crazy."

Oh dear, some workplace gossip! Lu Yuan perked up immediately.

He clinked glasses with Meiqi and said, "Tell me, what happened?"

"Our company got a big order. The client wants to promote a female artist and commissioned us to produce a music video."

"It's just a music video, not a movie or TV series. Even for a newcomer, it shouldn't be too difficult to film."

"But our boss is Qu Xue'er."

"I'm sorry, this name is still a bit unfamiliar to me."

"You don't know Qu Xue'er?"

"Should I know?"

Lu Yuan stroked his chin. He had never heard of this person before or after his rebirth.

"Oh right, you're not in the entertainment industry."

"So Qu Xueer is very famous in the entertainment industry?"

Meiqi gestured with her eyes to a figure who was facing away from them and chatting with pop diva Wang Fei, pop king Li Ming, and singer Xue You.

"That's her! She's Hong Kong's most famous music video director, and also a top creator in GG and documentaries."

"Even superstars have to line up to work with her."

"Moreover, she has excellent interpersonal relationships within the industry, and many people willingly call her Sister Xue'er."

Lu Yuan nodded to indicate that he understood.

"So she's also very strict with you?"

"That's not just strict, that's downright demanding, striving for perfection in every single detail."

"That's why she was able to succeed, isn't it?"

A perfectionist? Lu Yuan thought of another director with the same personality, Stephen Chow.

However, Stephen Chow's popularity is indeed much lower.

Many artists who have worked with Stephen Chow have said that working with him is incredibly stressful.

"But for me, the pressure is immense; I'm really worried sick lately."

"It was just a newcomer's music video, but her agency gave her top-notch resources, and she appeared in music videos for songs by superstars."

"The problem is, there are really no male celebrities who can work with her."

Hearing Meiqi say this, Lu Yuan became curious.

What kind of newcomer could have such power? Even Princess Jing of later generations didn't have this kind of entourage.

"So, who exactly is this girl?"

"That's beyond my level of understanding, and it's not the most important thing."

"That?"

"It's this girl, she's so tall!"

"what?"

"This girl is a former model, she's 180cm tall, 6cm taller than Lin Chi-ling."

Lu Yuan then understood that it was indeed difficult for such a tall girl to find a suitable, tall partner in the entertainment industry.

Most male celebrities who rose to fame around 05 were under 177 cm tall.

If this girl were to wear high heels, it would be a disaster.

"How about we find a male celebrity, and have him wear stilts?"

Meiqi looked at Lu Yuan with a "Are you serious?" expression.

"It's just a music video, not a TV series or movie. There aren't many shots. Just have him stand on a box or something, and that'll solve the problem."

"Other directors might do what you say, but Qu Xue'er would never do that."

"There's nothing we can do about it; even a skilled cook can't make a meal without rice."

"So that's why I found you. Are you really not considering a career in entertainment?"

Lu Yuan shook his head again.

"Putting aside my consideration of whether or not I should go into acting, do you think it's appropriate for you to recruit people in this setting?"

Meiqi thought for a moment. Although this dinner party was a gathering that transcended social circles and classes, it was because Sir Zheng had an extraordinary status and left behind such a tradition.

In reality, everyone who actually gets in has some kind of background or connections. If they really wanted to get into the entertainment industry, they wouldn't need to find their own way.

Moreover, for many people, the entertainment industry is just a glamorous facade, far less comfortable and carefree than their current lives.

Meiqi wanted to say something more, but in the end she didn't say anything and just sighed.

"I'm sorry, I was being presumptuous."

"It's okay, I understand the pressure at work."

"What does Mr. Lu do for a living?"

"I used to work in coal mining in the inland areas. You've heard of coal bosses, right? Now, I'm getting ready to dabble in stocks with my friends in Hong Kong."

"You really have completely changed my impression of coal mine owners in mainland China."

"You flatter me."

After saying that, Wanqi raised her glass and said, "Then I won't bother you any longer. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Lu Yuan smiled but didn't say anything.

"What is it, Mr. Lu?"

"Although I will not pursue a career in the entertainment industry myself, I don't mind becoming friends with people in the industry."

"What do you mean?"

"If it's crucial and my time is right, I'm willing to lend a hand."

"Really, Mr. Lu? Thank you so much."

Hope instantly rekindled in Meiqi's eyes.

Lu Yuan waved his hand. "But I won't be in Hong Kong for long, and I'll be very busy. Besides, this matter also needs your boss's approval, right?"

"It's already very kind of Mr. Lu to be willing to help. Shall I take you to meet the boss? She'll definitely be very satisfied."

Lu Yuan had never intended to personally act in movies or anything like that before, nor in his previous life, but his physical condition wasn't like it is now back then.

Now, if the time is right, taking a gamble can be a very novel experience.