Reborn in the Chinese Entertainment Industry: You're a Director, But You're a Casanova?

After Leslie Cheung generously paid for and signed autographs for his fans, the group hitched a ride in his car back to his Mid-Levels mansion.

Since Miss Li said she had nowhere to stay, Zhang Guorong didn't mind lending out another room in the villa. Liu Yuehua didn't mind either, since he was also a tenant.

The group chatted amiably on the way, but Miss Li never revealed her true identity.

Upon seeing Liu Yuehua return with Liu Yifei and a strange woman, Liu Shishi and Tang Yan exchanged sarcastic remarks once again.

"Brother Yuehua, we've been working as extras on the film set these past few days to earn our property management fees~"

My face has gotten a bit tanned~

Faced with a new threat, the two surprisingly united and began to complain.

Leslie Cheung smiled to himself, and sensing the awkward atmosphere, immediately made an excuse and left.

Liu Yuehua nodded. "You're right. Everyone is equal and treated the same."

"Starting tomorrow, all four of you will go to work on film sets, playing minor roles to hone your acting skills."

"Don't think that being an extra is beneath you. Even Stephen Chow started out as an extra. Do you really think that studying acting in school makes you an actor?"

"Ms. Li, you'll have to figure it out yourself. Whether you become an agent or an assistant, you can't be idle."

The group looked at each other, about to say something, when Liu Yuehua's phone rang.

Upon closer inspection, it was Liang Chaowei.

"Hey, Chaowei, how are you?"

"Andy is back! I'll introduce you to a friend tomorrow. Make some nice food at home!"

……

The next day, in the mansion, the dining table was unusually laden with elaborate dishes.

It wasn't because Liu Yuehua suddenly became generous, but because Liang Chaowei hinted that he must cook some good dishes.

For this meal, Liu Yuehua, holding his nose, opened his personal savings from when he was the Hans commissioner in Germany, and arranged for several people to go to the seafood market in Central to buy the freshest abalone and lobster.

At 6 p.m., Tony Leung led a man wearing a baseball cap in.

This person was not tall, had a solitary expression, and even a cold indifference that kept strangers at bay.

Stephen Chow, the king of comedy, is a pillar of Hong Kong's comedy scene.

Audiences outside the industry in this era often assume that Stephen Chow is a nonsensical master of humor in real life.

However, those at the top of the circle know that this master of humor is very aloof, cold, and unapproachable in real life.

On set, he's an absolute tyrant; in the business world, he's a top capitalist who can calculate every penny of profit with perfect clarity.

"It's an honor to have Mr. Stephen Chow grace us with his presence," Liu Yuehua greeted him with a genuinely bright smile.

Zhou Xingxing didn't stand on ceremony. He glanced at Liu Yuehua, nodded slightly, said "thank you," put down the two bottles of red wine, and followed Liang Chaowei to the dining table to sit down.

Liu Yuehua gave Xiao Li a wink and gestured with his chin toward the red wine.

Xiao Li walked closer and took a look, then shook his head at Liu Yuehua.

The dinner began, and the atmosphere was unusually quiet.

At the table, Tang Yan and Liu Shishi, who had been struggling with life for two months, deftly poured tea and served dishes.

Li and Liu sat obediently on either side of Liu Yuehua, quietly eating their meals, occasionally glancing between Zhou Xingxing and Liang Chaowei.

After they had eaten almost all of their food, the usually shy Tony Leung forced himself to speak the first words.

"Sing, cheer up! Are you still thinking about the promotion for your 'Kung Fu Hustle'?"

"Don't let Yuehua's youth fool you. This young man's marketing skills are even more ruthless than those Judas capitalists in Hollywood who eat people alive without spitting out the bones."

Stephen Chow raised his eyelids. "Oh? Vivian Dawson rarely compliments people like this."

Tony Leung smiled again and recounted the entire publicity plan that Liu Yuehua had devised for "Perfect Strangers," from the forgery by the Taiwanese shell company and the cleaning staff's secret filming, to the netizens' frenzy and media hype, and finally to the press conferences held by the award-winning actors and actresses, their counterattacks, and their double gain of fame and fortune.

During this process, Stephen Chow slowed down his chopsticks movements and eventually even put them down.

If it were those traditional filmmakers from the academic world, spouting platitudes about morality and ethics, they would probably be furious and cursing at this despicable behavior of treating public trust like fools and using celebrities' reputations as bargaining chips.

Stephen Chow doesn't have it.

A hint of curiosity and appreciation flickered in his eyes.

It's a reaction to smelling the scent of one's own kind.

"Director Liu," Zhou Xingxing looked at Liu Yuehua with unusual respect for the first time, his tone filled with rare admiration.

I'd like to propose a toast to you.

"Your move not only freeloaded media traffic across Asia, but also turned onlookers into victims who willingly paid for tickets."

"A bloodless victory, reaping both fame and fortune—impressive."

"Mr. Stephen Chow, you flatter me," Liu Yuehua said, raising his teacup in return. "I'm just an ordinary person; I only care about the return on investment. If a movie is made and nobody watches it, then it's a waste."

"As long as it's marketed into public opinion, it's a money-printing machine."

"I like the term 'money printing machine'," Stephen Chow said, a rare smile appearing on his face.

"Columbia invested tens of millions of dollars in me to make kung fu. It's not easy to get money from these foreigners. I was just worried about how to make a splash in the publicity and distribution. Your marketing logic has given me a wake-up call."

"Kung Fu Hustle" is the biggest box office hit in the Chinese entertainment industry this year. Even a small portion of the profits from this film would be enough for an ordinary director to live on for a lifetime. It is also considered by movie fans to be Stephen Chow's most highly regarded film, both critically acclaimed and commercially successful.

"Since Stephen Chow is preparing for 'Kung Fu Hustle,' I happen to have a promising talent ready for me."

Liu Yuehua put down his teacup and waved to Liu Shishi, who was peeling shrimp for him beside him.

Liu Shishi quickly wiped her hands clean and stood up awkwardly.

"Mr. Stephen Chow, my sister has been practicing ballet since she was a child, her figure is impeccable." Liu Yuehua got straight to the point.

"Most importantly, her eyes are so clear and pure that she doesn't need a single line of dialogue."

"As soon as he stands in front of the camera, that pitiful yet stubborn temperament is natural." Liu Yuehua looked directly into Zhou Xingxing's eyes and made his point clear.

"I heard there's a female lead selling lollipops in your movie 'Kung Fu Hustle,' but it hasn't been finalized yet. What do you think of her?"

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward after these words were spoken.

Tang Yan's hand trembled, and she almost dropped her chopsticks on the ground.

She felt a surge of jealousy. That was Stephen Chow's leading lady, a title that countless actresses would fight tooth and nail for. Director Liu had actually given such a huge opportunity to this wooden-headed, blond-haired girl.

The fake friendship shattered in that instant.

Liu Yifei on the other side also stopped eating.

Although she already has the aura of being the "Fairy Sister" in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," the film hasn't been released yet.

And that's Stephen Chow! Which young person who grew up watching him wouldn't like him?

This god-sister, who had always been pampered, now felt a sense of crisis.

In a cannibalistic world, resources are limited.

Some people get to sit at the table, while others go hungry.

Stephen Chow leaned back in his chair, sizing up Liu Shishi.

From bone structure to physique, and even those tense eyes.

Stephen Chow slowly withdrew his gaze.

"Director Liu, you certainly have a good eye." Stephen Chow's tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"This girl has a great foundation, and her temperament is also suitable for the role."

"If I had met her two months earlier, I probably would have already committed to her."

Stephen Chow then changed the subject.

"But it's too late. Just a few days ago, our company signed a girl from your school named Huang Shengyi."