Chapter 70: Covert Struggle Without Swords and Shadows
Director Li Chen did not rush to refuse Xiang Huaqiang's invitation.
When Yang Siwei and Tangtang were dining with Director Li Chen, Yang Siwei said, "Boss, if you don't want to go to Xiang Huaqiang's invitation, I'll decline them."
Director Li Chen smiled and said, "No need, Xiang Huaqiang is, after all, the Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Association."
"I can't afford to not give him that much face."
Yang Siwei smiled and said, "Boss, I heard that family has a dark background, aren't you afraid..."
Director Li Chen raised an eyebrow and glanced at Yang Siwei: "You've been with me for two years now."
"Why are you still so naive?"
Yang Siwei was stunned, not knowing what she had said wrong.
She glanced at Tangtang beside her, and Tang Yan also didn't understand what the boss meant.
Director Li Chen put down his chopsticks and wiped the corners of his mouth.
He then said, "Which of these people in Hong Kong doesn't have a dark background?"
"Does Emperor Entertainment Group not? What does the Yu family, a senior executive at Emperor Entertainment Group, do?"
"Do you think Yang Dong is just Hello Kitty?"
"As long as the overall situation is not affected, Emperor Entertainment Group and China Star can both be our partners."
Yang Siwei and Tang Yan heard the boss say these things for the first Time and suddenly felt like they were in a different world.
Indeed, due to special reasons, the big shots in Hong Kong's entertainment industry rarely are purely businessmen.
Director Li Chen did not explain further.
Whether it was Yang Dong or Xiang Huaqiang, for him, they were at most business partners.
He could replace them at any Time; he didn't want Yang Dong to feel that Emperor Entertainment Group was his only option.
Moreover, he was not the only partner in Yang Dong's eyes either.
After dinner, Director Li Chen declined Emperor Entertainment Group's people accompanying him.
He, Yang Siwei, and Tang Yan strolled through the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui.
Hong Kong is much better than mainland China in this respect; you don't need to wear a mask when you go out.
Don't think of yourself as a star, because in Hong Kong, stars are too common.
On the other side, after Yang Dong learned that Director Li Chen and the two women had gone out alone.
He thought for a long Time and made a phone call.
Director Li Chen and the two women also went to Lan Kwai Fong, a famous check-in spot in Hong Kong.
Tang Yan was a little excited; she and Yang Siwei had been here for several days but had never been to Lan Kwai Fong.
She heard that Hong Kong stars are frequent visitors to Lan Kwai Fong and wondered if she would run into one or two.
As they walked, Yang Siwei waved to someone not far away and said with a smile, "Boss, there are paparazzi following us."
"I've been recognized, I'm sorry, I've dragged you into this, Boss."
Tang Yan couldn't help but cover her mouth and snicker.
Oh my, Siwei is so confident, 'I've been recognized'!
How do you know the other party didn't recognize the boss?
Director Li Chen looked across the street and indeed saw someone secretly taking pictures.
However, as long as they didn't come closer, Director Li Chen didn't react.
After wandering around, Director Li Chen didn't plan to go into a bar.
Just as he was about to return to the hotel, Yang Siwei tugged at Director Li Chen's sleeve and whispered, "Boss, look ahead..."
Director Li Chen turned his head and saw three young men in brightly colored Hawaiian shirts with tattoos on their arms walking towards them.
Director Li Chen frowned slightly, and Yang Siwei and Tang Yan instinctively moved closer to Director Li Chen.
The three men approached.
The short-haired man in the middle wearing a Hawaiian shirt spoke in broken Mandarin.
"Are you Director Li Chen from the mainland?"
Director Li Chen didn't answer him, but instead asked, "Who are you?"
"Xiang Sheng..."
Before he could finish speaking, someone nearby had already rushed up and started shoving the three of them.
Director Li Chen saw that it was several bodyguards Yang Dong had arranged at the hotel earlier.
Each wearing a uniform shirt, they started fighting with the men in Hawaiian shirts.
While fighting, they shouted, "You brats, how dare you disturb Mr. Yang's distinguished guest..."
Director Li Chen breathed a sigh of relief and only said, "Let's go."
Then he, Yang Siwei, and Tang Yan walked around them and left.
It wasn't until they got into the car, with Director Li Chen and Tang Yan sitting in the back.
Tang Yan was still a little shaken; she had only seen triad members on TV before, and today she had experienced it firsthand.
Director Li Chen's face was grim, and he didn't say a word. Although the man in the Hawaiian shirt hadn't finished speaking earlier.
But he heard the word 'Xiang' clearly. Xiang, Xiang Sheng?
How many 'Xiang Shengs' are there in Hong Kong?
He didn't expect Xiang Huaqiang to play this kind of trick.
It made Director Li Chen not know what to say.
Win's Entertainment transformed into China Star, and then with great effort, it was listed in Hong Kong.
The intention of submission was self-evident.
Director Li Chen had thought Xiang Huaqiang was a sensible person who knew how to adapt to the Times.
Today, it seemed he had thought too much.
"Boss, you said, just now, the 'Xiang' those three people said, was it...?"
Yang Siwei turned her head and saw that the boss was looking out the car window and ignored her.
So she wisely shut up.
Just then, Director Li Chen's phone rang.
Director Li Chen looked and saw it was Yang Dong.
"Director Li, I apologize for frightening you."
"Mr. Yang, you're too kind. Thanks to your people just now."
Yang Dong hung up the phone, a smile on his lips.
Xiang Huaqiang's hands were reaching too far, digging at his foundation right in front of him.
If Mani hadn't told him about China Star contacting Yang Siwei.
They might have succeeded.
Yang Dong made another call, hearing that his godson's romance was in full swing.
He smiled even more happily.
You play dirty tricks on me, and I'll pull the rug out from under you.
Let's see who has the last laugh.
At the welcome dinner that evening, Yang Dong also brought his godson and Joey Yung.
The two sides finalized the matters regarding ip man.
Director Li Chen, as the producer, would have Rongchen Film and Television handle the selection of the director and casting.
Yang Dong raised an objection to the 20% share.
Director Li Chen did not budge.
Then, the two sides finalized the shares for father's love is like a mountain.
This Time, Director Li Chen was not so insistent.
Except for Tony Leung Ka-fai being the first choice for the male lead and Tang Yan being set for the eldest daughter, other roles could be chosen by Emperor Entertainment Group.
However, Director Li Chen would still need to approve them in the end, and Emperor Entertainment Group would hold a 35% share.
Director Li Chen also handed Yang Dong a list of TV series he had prepared.
It included classic TV series from Asia Television (ATV) and TVB.
For example, Time, Return of the Condor Heroes '95, Legend of the Condor Heroes '83, and so on.
Although Yang Dong didn't understand why Director Li Chen wanted to buy the exclusive online broadcasting rights for these TV series.
He still agreed without hesitation.
With rampant piracy now, what's the point of buying these?
On the way back for Director Li Chen and the two women.
Tang Yan had witnessed the boss's strong side.
She said with a smile, "Boss, I finally know why Siwei is your number one fan."
"Sitting across from us was Mr. Yang from Emperor Entertainment Group, but it felt like the boss was more like the host."
Yang Siwei turned around and said with a smile, "Tangtang, I'll answer that question for the boss."
"I have to say you're naive."
"Although Emperor Entertainment Group is a leader in Hong Kong, that's for Hong Kong stars and artists."
"Who is the boss?"
"Think about it carefully, strength determines status."
Director Li Chen interrupted the two: "Stop talking nonsense, you stay in Hong Kong with Tangtang."
"Hong Kong people are very efficient; perhaps father's love is like a mountain will be finished in less than a month."
"You can come back when the filming starts. Just leave a few assistants with Tangtang."
After seeing Yang Dong earlier, Director Li Chen felt something was off.
That's right, when Yang Dong brought up the incident at Lan Kwai Fong today.
Director Li Chen felt that he didn't show much apology.
Then he remembered that those men in Hawaiian shirts today were interrupted after only saying one word, 'Xiang'.
Everything seemed too coincidental, and Director Li Chen grew more suspicious.
Now that he thought about it, he hadn't refused Xiang Huaqiang's invitation.
There was no need for the other party to 'invite people' in this way.