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

With an unknown force stirring up the hype behind the scenes, Liu Yuehua was naturally happy to see it happen, and he shifted his focus back to Huang Shengyi.

The scheme to lure innocent young girls into evil has been set up; now it's time to lure them into the trap.

Two days later, Huang Shengyi's distant cousin, who was temporarily acting as her personal assistant, received an email in both English and Korean, bearing the official seal of a well-known South Korean media group.

The other party offered a sky-high price of 30 RMB to invite Huang Shengyi to Seoul to shoot the cover of a magazine featuring a sexy new Asian star.

30! Huang Shengyi was shocked when he saw this number at the hotel.

She had been working at Xinghui Company for so long, earning a meager salary each month that wasn't even enough to buy a set of high-end cosmetics. She was constantly pressured by the terms of the contract, and she had been harboring a lot of resentment for a long time.

"Sis, this is a famous Korean magazine. If you get featured, your fame will skyrocket across Asia."

"That stingy Stephen Chow will definitely be begging you to raise your pay then," the assistant chimed in, adding fuel to the fire.

"But Star Shine's contract stipulates that we can't take on outside jobs without permission, especially filming that would damage our innocent image." Huang Shengyi still had some concerns.

"What are you afraid of? We'll go secretly and make an excuse that we're sick and going back to the mainland to recuperate. Star Overseas won't be able to reach us."

"Once the magazine is published and it's out in the open, once the deed is done, can Star Overseas really replace you, the leading lady they've already decided on?"

Greed completely overwhelmed Huang Shengyi's remaining rationality.

Driven by the lure of 30 yuan in cash and the unattainable dream of becoming an international superstar, she decided to take the risk.

In the afternoon, she asked the crew for three days off, citing a family member's illness requiring her to return to mainland China. Then, she and her assistant boarded a flight to Seoul without anyone noticing.

Upon arriving in Seoul, they were indeed greeted by a South Korean photography team.

In the luxurious studio, Huang Shengyi was basked in the spotlight and hailed as an international superstar by the Korean staff, completely letting her guard down.

She changed into a series of revealing, even somewhat provocative, lingerie sets and struck various alluring poses in front of the camera.

On the night the filming ended, the other party left Huang Shengyi's bank account information, claiming that the entire process had to be completed before they could transfer the money.

Huang Shengyi lay on the large bed of the Xingluo Hotel provided by the Korean side, dreaming of becoming Asia's sexiest goddess and fantasizing about her future of fame and fortune.

Unbeknownst to her, the negatives were developed that very night, packaged, and sent to Xiao Li's email address.

In Hong Kong, after receiving the email, Liu Yuehua looked at the explicit photos on the screen that were enough to ruin his innocent image and nodded in satisfaction.

Xiao Li, who was standing next to him, made a phone call to her second sister.

"We can prepare for release."

Shortly after, the day before the kung fu film crew was to hold a press conference, a tsunami of the entertainment industry swept across mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.

A series of sexy covers shot by South Korea's Shinstar Media not only appeared in the women's column of South Korea's Kookmin Ilbo, but were also quickly and simultaneously released to major tabloids in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, thanks to someone's instigation.

"Star Girl's Pure Image Collapses, Underground Private Photoshoot Exposed"

Breaking news: Stephen Chow's leading lady went to South Korea to flaunt her charms for 30 yuan, and Stephen Chow was stabbed.

The front page headlines and online forums were flooded with photos of Huang Shengyi posing seductively in her underwear.

……

In the president's office of Star Shine Company, Stephen Chow slammed a gossip magazine of the day onto the coffee table, trembling with anger.

"Can anyone tell me what's going on?" Zhou Xingxing asked, looking at the photos in the newspaper. His voice was so loud that it could be heard in the hallway outside the door.

"What I wanted was a mute girl, as clean and spotless as a blank sheet of paper. Now that she's like this, what are audiences supposed to see in the theater? Watch her take off her clothes?"

In the office, the publicity manager and assistant director didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

The most damaging thing is not only the collapse of her public image, but also the anger of the investors.

The head of Columbia Pictures' Asia operations just called and launched into a tirade, accusing Stephen Chow of negligence in managing his artists and demanding an immediate explanation, or he would withdraw his investment.

"Mr. Stephen Chow, the legal department has already confirmed it."

"Huang Shengyi has committed a serious unilateral breach of contract. It is clearly stated in our contract that it is strictly forbidden to accept any commercial roles without authorization, especially any behavior that damages the character's image," the publicity and legal manager reported, his face covered in cold sweat.

"Send a lawyer's letter, send it immediately," Zhou Xingxing said through gritted teeth.

"Notify all Hong Kong media that Star Overseas is going to sue him and make him compensate all the production crew for their upfront losses."

Huang Shengyi, who had just flown back to Hong Kong, was dumbfounded.

Her assistant brought her a lawyer's letter from Star Shine Company, along with news that they planned to sideline her.

The production of "Kung Fu" has come to a complete standstill.

The film's opening ceremony and press conference are tomorrow, but the female lead has been embroiled in this scandal.

The entire film set was shrouded in shadow, and no one dared to utter a sound.

Stephen Chow sat behind the monitor, silent, as if he had aged several years overnight.

Just when the whole crew was on edge, Liu Yuehua, carrying two cups of iced milk tea, strolled into the studio like a swindler.

"Mr. Stephen Chow, why are you so irritable on such a hot day? Here, have a cup of milk tea to cool down."

Liu Yuehua put down the milk tea and pulled up a chair to sit down.

Stephen Chow looked up at him, his face full of displeasure.

"Director Liu, are you here to laugh at me?"

"Looking for a joke? Mr. Stephen Chow, you're joking. I'm here to congratulate you."

The assistant director and publicity manager next to him stared wide-eyed at Liu Yuehua as if he were a madman.

The female lead was blacklisted after a scandal broke, the production was halted, and you're here to offer your congratulations amidst the storm of public opinion across Asia?

Seeing that Stephen Chow's face was getting darker and darker and that he was about to kick people out, Liu Yuehua slowly began his sophistry.

"Mr. Stephen Chow, do the math! Because of Huang Shengyi's incident these past few days, hasn't the pre-release buzz for 'Kung Fu Hustle' exploded across Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau?"

"Media outlets across Asia are giving us free headlines. If this were paid for in real money, it would be worth at least several million Hong Kong dollars, right?"

"Now look what's happened, without spending a single penny, they've managed to push the hype to number one in all of Asia." Stephen Chow paused for a moment, his capitalist instincts prompting him to start thinking along this line of reasoning.

"Besides, Huang Shengyi breached the contract without authorization, and it's clearly stated in black and white."

"If Xinghui's legal department sues her, she'll definitely have to pay damages for breach of contract, right?"

"A role as a 'Star Girl' should cost at least 1000 million, right?" Liu Yuehua smiled.

"They got free publicity from all over Asia and can still make at least 1000 million in cash in the end."

"What Colombia is interested in is the buzz and the ultimate profits. Once you explain the math to the foreigners, they'll be overjoyed. It's like a windfall."

This dialectical logic left the executives standing nearby dumbfounded, and even Stephen Chow's gloomy face finally softened slightly.

"That's how the accounts are calculated, that's correct. But the movie still has to be filmed. Now that the female lead is gone, the crew is burning through hundreds of thousands a day. Where am I supposed to conjure up a female lead now?" Stephen Chow sighed.

Wait, that's not right.

That bastard was planning to recommend his sister to the film crew at the dinner table that day.

The news was first released from South Korea. Wasn't the girl sitting next to Liu Yuehua Korean when we were having dinner that day?