Chapter 124: Don't Be Like Hua Zai, Giving Up on Yourself
After leaving the Hong Kong Chinese University, Yang Siwei leaned in and said, "Boss, Huo Wenxi just called me."
"She asked if you had Time. She was hosting a dinner to welcome the crew of 'those years,' and I politely declined on your behalf."
Li Chen nodded, "Well done."
Tomorrow is the Premiere of "buried."
The day after tomorrow, "buried" will be released simultaneously in over twenty countries and regions, including North America.
The day after that is the Golden Horse Awards ceremony.
How could Li Chen have Time to socialize with Huo Wenxi and her boss?
As soon as Zhou Xun got off the plane, she was surrounded by reporters outside the airport.
She didn't know that Li Chen had refuted Guan Jinpeng before she boarded the plane.
She looked confused when reporters asked her about it.
The reporters were very efficient; in less than an hour, Li Chen's response at the Hong Kong Chinese University was online.
"Li Chen Strikes Back at Guan Jinpeng: Zhou Xun Not Being Best Actress Is Even More Like a Fix!"
"'those years' Crew Arrives in Hong Kong for Promotion; Liu Yifei and Tang Yan Chased by Fans."
Upon arriving at the hotel, Zhou Xun quickly freshened up and came to Li Chen's room.
She knocked and entered, seeing only Liu Yifei there, and felt no awkwardness.
"Yifei is even more beautiful."
Liu Yifei stepped aside and let Zhou Xun in, "Sister Xun is even more dashing."
Zhou Xun pursed her lips and smiled, then, upon seeing Li Chen, couldn't help but say, "My Director Li, can't you at least consider the fragile psychological endurance of your employee, me?"
"You enjoyed rebutting people, but I'm under immense pressure. If I don't win an award, how will I face my folks back home!"
"As soon as I got off the plane, I was surrounded by reporters, asking me, 'Your boss is strongly supporting you for Best Actress, what do you think!'"
"My head was full of question marks; I didn't even know what was happening!"
Li Chen laughed, "Alright, next Time I make a statement, I'll specifically inform you beforehand!"
"Hey, that's more like it!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhou Xun couldn't help but laugh first.
Li Chen shook his head with a light laugh, continuing to look at the publication in his hand.
Zhou Xun then noticed several Gucci dresses hanging in the room, all incredibly beautiful.
But it seemed she hadn't seen these styles at fashion weeks or Gucci's new product launches.
Liu Yifei, holding Zhou Xun's arm, smiled and explained to her.
These were all custom-made for her by Li Chen, with design sketches drawn by Li Chen himself.
Each piece's price was beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Zhou Xun looked envious.
"Director Li, when will I be lucky enough to bask in your glory?"
Li Chen looked up and glanced at her, "Your husband is a professional. Don't think I don't know; the Golden Horse Awards dress this Time was custom-made for you by him."
Zhou Xun smiled brightly, linking arms with Liu Yifei, "Ah, although our Da Qi is professional, his caliber is far inferior to yours."
Li Chen thought to himself, isn't that obvious!
Miss Liu's dresses were all designed by him based on his memories from his previous life, sketching them frame by frame like drawing storyboards.
He contacted Gucci for custom orders half a year in advance.
He could be considered the patriarch of Gucci couture.
Although Gucci's haute couture would still be several years away.
However, for super VICs (VIP customers with continuous spending power as assessed by the brand) like Li Chen, there was a private customization service.
This is also why, at some top banquets, some family heirs clearly wear luxury brand dresses, but you've never seen them circulated on the market.
This kind of service generally targets only one type of person: those who are so rich they only have money left.
For example, oil tycoons in the Middle East, Arab sheikhs, or heirs of multinational corporate families.
Since Li Chen settled in Hollywood and spent a fortune emptying a Gucci store.
After an investigation by Gucci, he was also classified as one of these individuals.
Although Li Chen himself never wore Gucci or other luxury brands.
He could completely use their people to design Miss Liu's dresses.
With his twenty-year lead in perspective, looking at domestic artists now.
Even first-tier artists walking the red carpet, each one looked incredibly unfashionable.
This style would only improve after 2010.
With the surge in acting fees and more and more Chinese stars connecting with the international scene.
A more prominent turning point was Fan Xiaopang's appearance at Cannes in 2010 wearing the dragon robe.
It is still preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK.
If celebrities want to avoid wearing the same outfit, there are only two choices.
One is brand couture, and the other is private customization.
Miss Liu's pieces could barely be considered the former.
And Li Chen, who wore no visible brands, belonged to the latter.
Regarding Li Chen's comments to the media, Wang Zhonglei was definitely one of the happiest.
He was happy to sit back and watch the tigers fight, seeing Li Chen and Orange Sky Entertainment go to war.
He would even throw a celebration party for Li Chen if he could bring Orange Sky Entertainment down.
Wang Jinghua of Orange Sky Entertainment frowned when she saw the online report.
She could manage artists, but directors had a lot more freedom.
Feng Xiaogang of Huayi Brothers also spoke his mind, never considering the two big bosses of Huayi Brothers.
And this Guan Jinpeng was the same; she had warned him when he first involved Zhou Xun.
But Guan Jinpeng continued to act as he pleased, and now he had even dragged Li Chen into it.
She didn't want to get into a dispute with Li Chen; most of her artists were relying on Rongchen Film and Television to make a living.
Mei Ting, who was currently filming "parents love."
Tony Leung Ka-fai and Liu Jialing, who were about to film "the thieves."
And Song Jia, whose "crossing the guandong" was about to be released.
She was busy trying to curry favor with Rongchen Film and Television, but Guan Jinpeng kept sabotaging her efforts.
Wang Jinghua first called Wu Kebo.
Since her words were ineffective, she could only ask Wu Kebo to speak.
Immediately after, she called Yang Siwei back.
"Sister Hua, don't worry, my boss didn't take it to heart. He was just annoyed by the media's questions and only replied with one sentence."
"He didn't mention Guan Jinpeng or anyone else, did he?"
Wang Jinghua's mood lightened, "That's good then."
After hanging up the phone, Wang Jinghua issued a gag order to her artists, forbidding them from responding to the dispute between Director Li and Director Guan!
Even if Wang Jinghua didn't say anything, the artists below were all well aware.
With two directors at odds, which artist would be so foolish as to rush in and become cannon fodder?
Look at how Director Li and Director Chen exchanged insults from afar; Zhou Xun, as an artist of Rongchen Film and Television, also played deaf and dumb, didn't she?
At the same Time, Sammi Cheng was also trembling with fear, afraid that Li Chen would mention anything about "Red Bean."
That would inevitably drag her into it again, and she was even more afraid of entertainment reporters asking Li Chen what he thought of her acting in "Red Bean."
In fact, her worries were superfluous; Li Chen never intended to implicate innocent parties from beginning to end.
The next day, the cast of "those years" went together to support Andy Lau's "buried" Premiere.
The Premiere was held at Times Square in Causeway Bay.
In addition to Andy Lau's fans, many big names from the industry also came.
Shen Teng and several members of "those years" crew sat in the middle, completely unrestrained: "Hua Ge's popularity, I envy it!"
Qiao Shan smiled charmingly, "Brother Teng, your popularity is also good. So many of us accompanied you to see Brokeback Mountain yesterday!"
Liu Yifei and Tang Yan couldn't help but secretly laugh.
Shen Teng laughed, "I asked you to accompany me to see Brokeback Mountain, not to act out Brokeback Mountain with me! Yifei, let's switch seats!"
After a few jokes, Andy Lau began to speak.
In front of dozens of media outlets present, Andy Lau publicly announced.
Rongchen Film and Television will support his New Asian Shooting Stars program.
One person will be selected from each round of the program, with Rongchen Film and Television providing the script and Yingyi Entertainment co-investing in the production.
The first round's selection was Taiwan Director Li Yunchan.
Rongchen Film and Television and Yingyi Entertainment will jointly invest 20 million, and the script will be adapted from Li Chen's other best-selling novel, "so young."
The entertainment reporters from mainland China and Hong Kong and Taiwan immediately erupted.
"those years" had been marketed extensively by Yang Siwei for over half a month, under the theme of "Beautiful First Love."
It was virally marketed through video websites, blogs, forums, TV commercials, and other methods, covering all bases.
Now, there might be young people who haven't heard of "those years," but certainly not many.
The entertainment reporters all eagerly asked questions.
Li Chen and Andy Lau stood calmly on stage.
Andy Lau laughed, "Don't try to stir up trouble for me again. I'll state upfront, I'm not bankrupt. I made a lot from 'buried'!"
The media present burst into laughter.
"Hua Zai, can you now disclose the copyright transaction amount for 'buried'?" a Sina reporter from mainland China asked.
Andy Lau looked at Li Chen and smiled, "18.45 million!"
The media was in an uproar; that was nearly 150 million RMB.
With Andy Lau's 20% share, even after taxes, he still had over 20 million.
No wonder Andy Lau said he made a lot.
Many of Andy Lau's good friends attended, including Xiang Huaqiang and his wife, who also came prepared.
Today was destined to be a sensational day for Hong Kong.
Just as the entertainment reporters hadn't fully recovered.
Xiang Tai walked onto the stage, stood beside Andy Lau, took the microphone, and smiled radiantly.
The media were all a bit stunned, not knowing what Xiang Tai was doing on stage.
"Taking advantage of Hua Zai's Premiere, our China Star also has an announcement."
Xiang Tai glanced at Xiang Huaqiang below the stage.
"Our China Star will co-invest 50 million with Rongchen Film and Television and Yingyi Entertainment to produce the youth campus drama 'genius gunner,' written and directed by Director Li Chen!"
The scene was again in an uproar, with media members whispering to each other.
Andy Lau's close friends in the industry, Sammi Cheng, Rosamund Kwan, Felix Wong, Karen Mok, Lam Ka-tung (Dongguan Zai), all felt happy for Andy Lau.
Everyone wasn't stupid; they could see that Li Chen was pulling Andy Lau up.
Otherwise, although Andy Lau worked like a model worker every year, he earned a lot, but he lost even more!
In addition to Andy Lau's friends, many artists and directors close to China Star also came.
Chen Jiasheng, Wong Jing, Cecilia Cheung, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Cherrie Ying, Julian Cheung, and so on.
Li Chen stood on the stage, his mind clear; most of these people were probably brought by Xiang Tai to create momentum.
The entertainment reporters could no longer hold back.
"Director Li, does choosing China Star mean you will give up your cooperation with Emperor Entertainment?"
"Director Li, is Hua Zai the matchmaker between you and China Star?"
Li Chen strongly suspected that these two Hong Kong Island reporters were from Emperor Entertainment.
Xiang Tai could still maintain a smile on stage, but Xiang Huaqiang's face below had already darkened.
Below the stage, Zhou Xun leaned into Liu Yifei's ear and said, "Your Director Li is in trouble again."
Liu Yifei smiled cleverly, "His troubles have never been few!"
Zhou Xun laughed rather uncharitably, "True, alas, Director Li, it's not easy!"
Yang Siwei, beside them, deeply agreed, "Sister Xun, you finally said something heartfelt!"
"After this Premiere today, I'll be busy again. I expect Huo Wenxi will call me soon."
Zhou Xun patted Yang Siwei's shoulder and nodded, "You're not easy either!"
Yang Siwei, acting like a child, hugged Zhou Xun, "So touched!"
Li Chen on stage curled his lips, "Rongchen Film and Television has many partners, and China Star and Emperor Entertainment are also among them."
"We are not the only partners for each other. Today is the Premiere of 'buried,' so let's get back to the main topic."
Andy Lau laughed, "That's right, don't forget about me, the main host."
The media still wanted to press further, but Andy Lau was no longer giving them the opportunity.
After watching "buried," the industry insiders who hadn't seen it were completely stunned.
Indeed, with just a coffin, one person, and a few props, they had filmed a movie that sold for over 18 million US dollars.
After the screening, Xiang Huaqiang specifically hosted a cocktail party.
Many more artists from Hong Kong Island rushed to attend.
This was entirely a show of force for Li Chen, clearly telling him about Xiang Huaqiang's influence.
With a single word, more than half of the artists in Hong Kong would come to show their support.
"Director Li, don't mind those two rascals just now. I guarantee that tomorrow's news will be absolutely free of any dissenting voices."
Xiang Huaqiang's demeanor and tone were more 'gangster' than a gangster.
No wonder Wong Jing looked more like a subordinate next to him just now.
This sentence reminded him of the trick Boss Yang played on him last Time.
He also used some means to silence the reporters.
"General Manager Xiang, there's no need to make such a big fuss next Time; it's too noisy." Li Chen didn't take his bait.
Xiang Tai, arm in arm with Xiang Huaqiang, smiled, "Director Li, all of this was arranged by me. My husband actually doesn't like crowds either."
"But it's our first Time cooperating with Director Li, so we couldn't be impolite."
As the three were talking, Andy Lau came over with Sammi Cheng.
Sammi Cheng had a bob haircut and a black dress, looking like a thin bamboo pole.
Tang Yan would probably weigh more than her.
"Xiang Sheng, Xiang Tai, Director Li." Sammi Cheng greeted them one by one.
Li Chen nodded slightly.
Andy Lau laughed, "Sammi wanted to thank Li Chen in person, so I brought her over."
Xiang Huaqiang and his wife were still a bit puzzled.
Sammi Cheng, speaking with a Hong Kong accent, forced a smile, "Thank you, Director Li."
Li Chen glanced at Andy Lau, then looked at Sammi Cheng, "No need to thank me, I didn't do anything."
"'Red Bean' being criticized is inevitable. It has little to do with who played the role. The script adaptation was too weak, and the characters were completely unrecognizable compared to the original novel."
"So you absolutely don't need to limit yourself. Among artists who sing well and then act, you are considered to have good acting skills."
Andy Lau and the others were completely unprepared for Li Chen to say so much.
It was too out of character; he couldn't possibly be interested in Sammi.
Even Sammi Cheng herself hadn't expected Li Chen to say such words.
Suddenly, she felt a deep sense of closeness, and her eyes even became a little red.
"Thank you, Director Li." The slightly nasal voice surprised Andy Lau and the other two again; Sammi was actually moved to tears by Li Chen's words.
Li Chen's scalp tingled; quite a few people were looking over, including Miss Liu.
Sammi Cheng's action of wiping her eyes couldn't escape the notice of observant people.
Li Chen quickly changed the subject, "Miss Zheng, there's no need for this. Next Time you take a role, choose your scripts carefully. Don't be like Hua Ge, who took on the label of a box office poison and then just gave up!"
"Hahaha" Andy Lau burst out laughing.
Sammi Cheng and Xiang Huaqiang's couple were also amused by Li Chen's humor.