Chapter One Hundred and Two

To be frank, they were hardly central figures in their original Hollywood professional crew, but if that had not been the case, they would not have gone to India to build their careers. Besides, in Bollywood they were quite well known and had taken part in many major productions.

Liu Qingshan held firmly to his view, knowing that this was no time to give an inch.

“I was only mentioning it offhand. Since you are that confident, I’ll help you secure them. After all, the fact that you thought of your Uncle Yang first means a great deal to me.”

After a few more rounds of persuasion failed to change his mind, Yang Wancheng on the other end clearly gave up.

“Uncle Yang, to be honest, I brought out this script for my own team. Otherwise I would have kept it in my hands and waited until I had the ability to think about filming it.”

“I understand what you mean, and I’ll pass it on to Zhongyi as well. If they won’t give you the film’s visual effects work, you’ll take the script back.”

“That’s right, you really do understand me. I won’t say thank you just yet.”

“还有 one more thing—haven’t you considered playing a role in the film yourself? It would be a shame to waste those deep skills of yours without showing them off.”

“I have thought about it, but there isn’t a suitable role.”

“As long as you want to act, there will be one. When the time comes, I’ll mention it to Stephen Chow again.”

Liu Qingshan understood perfectly well. The role he had in mind, Stephen Chow would absolutely not agree to give him. If he wanted to show off his abilities, what was the leading man supposed to do? If the spotlight might all be stolen by a supporting role, he himself would never have agreed either.

As for Yang Wancheng’s intentions, he could understand those as well. The man was also drawn to the tremendous social influence Liu Qingshan currently enjoyed.

The reason he wanted to bring in a mainland entertainment company was simple enough. No matter how professional and well-funded Qinghuang Pictures and the entire Hong Kong entertainment circle might be, they were still an outside force.

If they wanted to truly capture the mainland market, they needed a local team with formidable roots to guarantee the box office.

Twenty million U.S. dollars was a genuine mountain of money. If the film were banned on the mainland like Stephen Chow’s previous Shaolin Soccer, then there would be no point crying over it later.

For the time being, there was nothing more for Liu Qingshan to do. Presumably Yang Wancheng went off in the middle of the night to talk things over with Wang Zhongjun.

He knew the man a little: once work was involved, he became like Stephen Chow on a film set, utterly and wholly absorbed. It was impossible for him to go to sleep with that many worries on his mind.

The main reason, of course, was still that script. The money-making prospects of Kung Fu were obvious, not to mention that Stephen Chow himself—the so-called film maniac—had shown even greater enthusiasm.

Early the next morning, while Liu Qingshan was still eating a breakfast crepe, Yang Wancheng’s call came chasing after him.

“Today I’m flying to Beijing. Wang Zhongjun or Wang Zhonglei should call you sometime this morning.”

His call at dawn was clearly not just to announce his itinerary. The real point was the reminder in the second half.

After thinking it over carefully, Liu Qingshan immediately understood.

Zhongyi had probably realized that he was still a free agent and meant to take this chance to poach him.

The reason was easy enough to understand. Even without counting his Snowland Studio, Liu Qingshan’s martial skills alone were enough for Zhongyi to offer him a very sincere contract.

And as this same newcomer also had the ability to write high-quality film scripts, no matter who was running Zhongyi, they would not want to let such a promising figure slip away.

Sure enough, after several shots had been filmed, Shih Hui handed him her phone.

“Brother Qingshan, this is Wang Zhongjun.”

The voice on the other end sounded full of confidence. Those few brief words carried far too much meaning.

Who was Wang Zhongjun? He controlled nearly two hundred stars of all sizes, among them not a few Best Actor and Best Actress winners, and there were dozens of first-tier film and television talents alone.

As the chief boss of the largest entertainment company on the mainland, he had never once personally gone out to recruit an actor.

Perhaps in his mind, as long as he applied enough pressure, Liu Qingshan would surely bow his head obediently and submit.

Unexpectedly, Liu Qingshan only replied coolly, “Big Boss Wang? Sorry, I’m in the middle of filming right now. If you have something to say, just say it directly. I’m listening.”

His response was polite enough, but carried little warmth, and there was none of the flustered honor Wang Zhongjun had imagined.

For a moment, the great Boss Wang was actually stunned for a full half minute.

Liu Qingshan had no patience to wait. “Boss Wang? Was this about the script from last night? You’re a major figure in the industry, so just decide how you want to handle it. I’m busy here and really don’t have any better ideas.”

So that was how it was. The head of Zhongyi himself came looking for me in such a hurry, and this is the treatment I get?

Wang Zhongjun was, unsurprisingly, somewhat angered. In his eyes, Liu Qingshan was at most a newcomer who liked stirring things up and had a little cleverness.

His tone cooled at once, though he still held back and stated his purpose. “Qingshan, I wanted to ask whether you’ve signed with an agency. Zhongyi can prepare a major contract for you.”

Liu Qingshan smiled apologetically. “I’m very sorry, Mr. Wang. I have a visual-effects studio, and I’m not that interested in the acting business. I’m also afraid work would tie me down and delay more important matters.”

“Heh heh heh, is that so? As far as I know, you’ve been quite close to Park Hye-jin from MCC, and Jin Xi-shan is also with their company. Are you planning to move there?”

“Mr. Wang, I don’t know where you heard that, but it’s true that we get along well. Still, signing with a Korean company? Do you think I don’t want to keep working here in my own country?”

“Let me be blunt. Come to Zhongyi, and I guarantee your career will be smooth from here on. If you don’t want to, I won’t force you. But your Kung Fu probably won’t be released in the mainland.”

This time, Liu Qingshan’s anger surged.

“So that’s Zhongyi for you. And that’s Mr. Big Boss Wang! Fine, then let me tell you clearly: I will not join Zhongyi, and I’m not worried about Kung Fu being released. You had better think carefully yourself, and don’t offend a whole crowd of people just because of a moment of temper.”

There was no longer any honorific in his words. The blunt refusal was the equivalent of a hard slap across the other man’s face.

“You’re just a small-time young actor. You’ve got a few tricks, and you think you can threaten me? I, Wang Zhongjun, started with fifty thousand yuan and built a fortune worth tens of billions. I’m not afraid of your threats. I’d like to see who exactly I’d be offending!”

“Hahaha,” Liu Qingshan laughed in fury, “who is threatening whom? Don’t think that just because you’re Zhongyi you can cover the sky with one hand. And you, Wang Zhongjun, may think you’re a tiger, but I’ll still have to pluck a few whiskers from your muzzle!”

With that, he cut the call cleanly and immediately dialed Yang Wancheng’s mobile.

A moment later, the line connected, and Liu Qingshan’s anger poured out at once. “Uncle Yang, I suggest we suspend cooperation with Zhongyi on the film.”

After a long pause, Yang Wancheng finally said, “Just as I expected. Wang Zhongjun is hot-tempered, and you are determined. At last, something has happened between two young men who could not see eye to eye.”

Liu Qingshan did not waste words. In just a few sentences, he explained what had happened.

Then he added, “Uncle Yang, I’m sorry to have dragged you into this muddy water, but I, Mountain Boy, am not a lamb for anyone to slaughter. Here is the number for Director Ge at National Television. If it’s convenient, you can contact him directly.”