Hong Kong Entertainment 1979: A Beating Up the Manager at the Start

In a medium-sized private room at the Peninsula Hotel.

The celebration banquet for the film "Chasing Girls" organized by Wong Jing is being held here. He moves between the tables, constantly clinking glasses with people.

He only staggered back to his seat after the round of toasts was finished.

"Mr. Li, thank you so much this time. Without your investment and script, I, Wang Jing, could never have made such a blockbuster film."

Li Jiangbo smiled and replied, "Brother Jing, what are you saying? Although I provided the funding and the script, your direction was still the best. If I were to direct it, it might not be as successful as yours."

Wang Jing felt quite pleased upon hearing this. However, he was a self-aware man; the vast majority of the credit for the box office success of "Chasing Girls" belonged to Li Jiangbo, and no one could take that away.

However, I'll really have to rely on myself for the next movie.

Thinking of this, he asked in a low voice, "Mr. Li, when will my next game, 'The King of Gamblers vs. the King of Gamblers,' begin?"

Li Jiangbo thought for a moment and asked, "Have you already found a candidate?"

"Not yet. To be honest, the idea for this movie script was actually my dad's, but he wanted to make it into a TV series, while I wanted to make it into a movie."

"Oh?! Then I think you should wait until the TV series is released before making the movie. That way, everyone will have seen the TV series and will have some understanding of the characters, so they can immerse themselves in the story more easily. However, if you want to make it, I will definitely support you."

Wang Jing fell silent upon hearing this. He knew Li Jiangbo was right, but he still wanted to give it a try, unless Li Jiangbo would allow him to film "Happy Ghost 2".

Thinking of this, Wang Jing tentatively asked, "Mr. Li, could you let me direct 'Happy Ghost 2'?"

"No problem!"

After receiving Li Jiangbo's affirmative answer, Wang Jing was overjoyed. He quickly raised his glass and said, "Thank you, Mr. Li. I'll start working on the script as soon as I get around to it. I'll drink this one in one go, you can drink as you like." With that, he tossed his head back and emptied his glass.

Li Jiangbo chuckled and downed the wine in his glass in one gulp.

Li Jiangbo chatted with the others for a while, then picked up his wine glass and walked over to Pan Yingzi.

"Ms. Pan, would you mind having a chat for a bit?"

Pan Yingzi was somewhat surprised and quickly stood up, "Mr. Li."

The two left the private room and walked to a relatively quiet corner.

Li Jiangbo swirled the wine in his glass and said softly, "Ms. Pan's performance in 'Chasing Girls' was truly impressive, perfectly capturing the independence and charm of a fashionable woman. I wonder if Ms. Pan would be interested in formally signing with Time Pictures?"

Pan Yingzi's eyes lit up. Last time, she had only mentioned it to Li Jiangbo, wondering if there would be an opportunity to collaborate more. Now that Li Jiangbo wanted to sign her, how could she possibly let such an opportunity slip by?

She said excitedly, "Thank you for your appreciation, Mr. Li, I..."

"Ying Zi!"

A loud shout interrupted their conversation.

A middle-aged man, around forty years old and wearing a leather jacket, strode over.

Before the middle-aged man even got close to the two of them, Li Jiangbo could smell a strong odor of alcohol, clearly indicating that the man had drunk quite a bit.

Pan Yingzi's face turned pale instantly when she saw the drunken middle-aged man; it was none other than her husband, Chen Honglie.

What are you doing here?

"Why can't I come? It's my wife's movie celebration party, of course I have to come to congratulate her!" Chen Honglie said loudly, reaching out to put his arm around Pan Yingzi's shoulder.

Pan Yingzi stepped aside and looked awkwardly at Li Jiangbo, "I'm sorry, Mr. Li, this is my ex-husband. We divorced last year."

Hearing Pan Yingzi's words, Chen Honglie became even more furious. "Divorce? I only signed the papers because you forced me to!!!" Then, his tone softened. "Yingzi, I know I was wrong. Those women were just playing around. You're the only one in my heart. Let's remarry. I promise I'll never do anything like that again!"

The hotel lobby instantly became much quieter, and many people cast strange glances at the three of them.

Pan Yingzi was speechless at Chen Honglie's words. She felt as if she had been stripped naked and exposed to everyone.

Seeing that Pan Yingzi remained silent, Chen Honglie turned to Li Jiangbo beside him and angrily shouted, "Was it you, you pretty boy, who seduced my wife away?!"

Li Jiangbo said calmly, "Mr. Chen, I'm warning you, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. Be careful, or I'll sue you for defamation!!"

Chen Honglie was so angry at Li Jiangbo's words that he laughed. Without saying a word, he threw a punch at Li Jiangbo.

When his fist was still some distance from Li Jiangbo's face, his hand was grabbed tightly by a large hand. The person who came was none other than bodyguard Awei, who had been waiting in the lobby.

"Boss!"

"Who are you? Let go of me!!!"

Li Jiangbo shook his head at Awei, "This gentleman has had too much to drink. Take him to sober up."

Awei hummed in agreement. "Would you like some Ten Mile Fragrance?"

Li Jiangbo was filled with questions. "Can't you be normal for once? These aren't members of a gang, why are you being so rude?"

Awei was a little embarrassed, and hurriedly helped Chen Honglie up with his companions and walked out of the hotel.

Chen Honglie's voice gradually faded into the hotel lobby. Pan Yingzi watched Chen Honglie's departing figure and lowered her head awkwardly. "I'm sorry, Mr. Li, I'm sorry you had to see this."

"It's not your fault. Go touch up your makeup. Don't worry about what others think. Let's talk about the contract tomorrow!"

Pan Yingzi nodded and quickly walked towards the restroom, while Li Jiangbo turned around and went back to the private room.

After a while, when Pan Yingzi returned to her seat, she was noticeably quieter.

Her eyes were red, as if she had been crying, and her close friends Wang Jing and Rosamund Kwan came over to ask her why.

Pan Yingzi remained silent, focusing solely on drinking, accepting every toast offered to her.

Before long, she had finished the whole bottle of red wine.

Li Jiangbo frowned as he looked at Pan Yingzi, who was determined to drown her sorrows in alcohol.

"Brother Jing, keep an eye on Miss Pan, don't let her drink too much."

Wang Jing nodded, and was about to get up and go over to persuade Pan Yingzi to drink less, but she was already lying motionless on the table.

After the celebration banquet ended, everyone else left.

Looking at the unconscious Pan Yingzi, Wang Jing said, "Well... shall I take Miss Pan home?"

Li Jiangbo glanced at his watch; it was almost eleven o'clock. "Do you know where she lives?"

Wang Jing scratched his head, "74 Cumberland Road, Kowloon Tong..."

Li Jiangbo nodded. "I'll deliver it. It wouldn't be good if your sister-in-law found out if you did."

Wang Jing joked, "Aren't you afraid Sister Zhi will find out if you send it to her?"

Li Jiangbo glared at Wang Jing, "You talk too much nonsense!"

Inside Li Jiangbo's Mercedes, Pan Yingzi leaned against the window, muttering to herself in a drunken haze, "Why does everyone treat me like this... I just want to act well..."

Outside the car window, Hong Kong's neon lights flashed by in a dazzling display, and we remained silent the entire way.

Upon arriving at the apartment building, Awei asked, "Boss, should we take her upstairs?"

Li Jiangbo glanced at Pan Yingzi, who was slumped in the back seat, and sighed. "You guys wait downstairs."

He helped Pan Yingzi into the apartment building, found the key in her handbag, and opened the door.

After settling Pan Yingzi onto the bed in the bedroom, Li Jiangbo was about to leave when Pan Yingzi suddenly grabbed his wrist, her eyes half-open and half-closed, "Mr. Li... is the contract... still valid?"

Li Jiangbo gently withdrew his hand. "Of course, you can come to the company to talk anytime you're sober."

"Thank you..." Pan Yingzi murmured, and finally fell into a deep sleep.