Chapter Forty-Four: Strange Dishes in the Noble Restaurant

Returning to his room, Aishwarya seemed on the verge of tears again, lips pursed in grievance.

“Qingshan, is it because you don’t like me that you lied about going to the gym? Was it just to avoid being alone together?”

From the earlier phone call, Liu Qingshan already knew she’d come looking for him.

“You’re overthinking it. After I left, I realized I hadn’t changed into proper clothes, so I just took a walk outside instead. Aishwarya, I truly see you as my own younger sister. I’d never avoid you on purpose—if that were the case, I wouldn’t have let you use my bathroom, would I?”

“Do you really mean that?”

“Of course. In fact, if you ever want to study in a different environment, I’d be willing to help pay for you to continue your education in my country. Since you don’t want to be an actress, perhaps it’s time to pick up your studies again.”

“I’d better not. As much as I want to go back to school, life is so different between our two countries. It’s not just the food—it’s everything.”

“Then enroll here. I can help with that too.”

Aishwarya’s eyes reddened. “Now I know you really care about me, brother! Thank you for your kindness. But my cousin has helped my family so much, and I promised my parents I’d look after her. Bollywood is full of intrigue—she truly needs someone she can trust completely by her side.”

“Is that why you don’t want to be an actress?” Liu Qingshan asked, curiosity in his tone.

She shook her head. “No, it’s just my personality. I don’t think a glamorous job like that suits me. Honestly, leaving my studies wasn’t my choice. Otherwise, my family would have arranged my marriage as soon as I graduated—I’d be married by now!”

“There are some things I shouldn’t say, lest I offend your country’s customs. But honestly, the reason I wanted you to study in my country is so you could get away from this environment sooner. At least women are respected there.”

“Thank you, brother. If I’m ever unhappy here, can I call you for help to leave?”

“Anytime. I keep my word.”

After this exchange, Aishwarya’s mood clearly improved. “I’ll remember what you said.”

This conversation was something Liu Qingshan had long wanted to have. The reason was simple—he felt she deserved better. It was also obvious to him that she was gentle and nurturing by nature, entirely unsuited for the cutthroat world of show business.

“Kunal is back and has called ahead. He wants everyone to get ready for the welcome banquet upstairs.”

“You’ve notified both uncles?”

“Yes, they said they’ll meet us here in half an hour.”

It was on the journey here that Lu Huiguang and Yu Rongguang asked Aishwarya to call them “uncle.” At forty-five or forty-six, they were certainly old enough to be her elders.

True to their word, both men arrived on time. Perhaps because Aishwarya had told them about Liu Qingshan’s earlier disappearance, they refrained from any teasing.

But Liu Qingshan quietly told them, “After the banquet, Treasure Films might have other plans. You two do as you please, but you must be back here first thing in the morning. We promised to visit their company, after all!”

Lu Huiguang responded with a knowing look.

“Don’t worry, we won’t neglect official business! But do you really think, like we guessed, that they want our help to form a professional stunt team?”

“Oh, come on. Bollywood is much more developed than our own entertainment industry; their departments are surely well-established. I still believe their real goal is to recruit us,” Yu Rongguang said, dismissively.

Liu Qingshan smiled. “Actually, I agree with Huiguang. Even though Bollywood started much earlier, when it comes to martial arts action films, even Hollywood can’t match Hong Kong’s standards. Recruiting our people isn’t realistic—it’s more likely they want us to help them build a team.”

“See, I told you—Qingshan’s analytical skills are better than ours. Poaching talent isn’t really an option,” Lu Huiguang said, casting a disdainful look at Yu Rongguang.

Yu Rongguang grinned. “Mocking each other won’t solve anything. We’d better come up with a plan for how to handle this.”

As both turned to him, Liu Qingshan realized he had to make a statement. “We’re not on set now, so we can’t rely on Brother Chen Long. We three need to work together and agree on a main direction first.”

His suggestion was necessary. Otherwise, nothing would be accomplished with three people pulling three different ways.

Lu Huiguang laughed heartily. “We already discussed this earlier. Don’t underestimate yourself just because you’re younger—you’re full of good ideas. We’ll follow your lead.”

Seeing Yu Rongguang nodding in agreement, Liu Qingshan finally voiced his plan. “Let me start. My personal view: let’s push everything onto Kunal. That way, our responsibility is completely clean.”

“That’s not a bad idea. We thought of it too, but do you think Kunal is up to it?” Lu Huiguang asked, a trace of doubt on his face.

“In terms of experience, Kunal isn’t quite qualified, but his skills have improved enormously. If we can see that, so can they. My other idea is, if Treasure Films really does make such a request, we can nominate Kunal but also suggest he bring a couple of people to intern with us for a while.”

“You mean, let Kunal gain enough experience and then have him return to Bollywood to form a team?”

“It’s the only way, unless one of you wants to stay here permanently.”

“Right, and why not you? Why must the two of us wade into these muddy waters?”

“I’d actually be willing, but I don’t have the right experience—they wouldn’t want me! And I’m sure if either of you stayed, you’d be paid very well, and it would only be for two or three years at most.”

Yu Rongguang, exasperated, snapped, “Don’t try to sweet-talk us! Are you really trying to drive us crazy?”

Liu Qingshan chuckled. “All right, I’ll stop teasing. I can ask Director Ye to temporarily bring Kunal and his group into the ‘SPL’ crew. But there aren’t really roles for them there—Kunal is an actor, after all. He can’t just keep interning. Huiguang, call Brother Chen and see if his crew has a small part for them?”

“I can ask, but I don’t know if there’s anything suitable. It might fall to you in the end!”

“I don’t have a Chen family team with me, though I’d love to help if I could. But I need the ability first!”

Yu Rongguang interjected, “Qingshan’s right—only the Chen family crew has that capability. And as far as I know, Brother Chen’s next project is supposed to be a modern comedy in Hong Kong, which probably won’t suit Kunal. But you can ask anyway, and explain our position.”

Lu Huiguang was straightforward—he got up, dialing his phone as he walked out. He was back soon, grinning.

“Brother Chen had already thought of this! Qingshan, he said he’ll handle arrangements for the ‘SPL’ crew afterwards. All we need to do is make our suggestions to Treasure Films.”

“Did he have any other instructions? I get it now—he sent the three of us here because he’d already foreseen all this!”

“You guessed right. He’d made up his mind long ago. My guess is, the reason he didn’t tell us beforehand was to test you.”

“Why me, not you two?”

“Guang isn’t part of the Chen family crew—after ‘The Myth,’ he has his own plans. And I’m just a rough-and-ready guy; Brother Chen knows I never worry about anything. So it had to be you.”

“All right, we really can’t outwit Brother Chen. They say age brings cunning, but it doesn’t seem to apply to you two.”

Both were about six or seven years younger than Chen Long, but still of the same generation.

Yu Rongguang laughed. “Neither of us is cunning enough for that title!”

Lu Huiguang agreed, “Exactly. Otherwise, we’d have started our own teams long ago.”

Yu Rongguang shot him a seemingly casual look, as if hinting at something.

Liu Qingshan, always observant, picked up on it and felt a stir of intuition—but he quickly changed the subject.

“Since we’re all clear now, this evening’s banquet should be easy to handle! No matter who’s asked, I think we all know what to say.”

Lu Huiguang nodded. “Go with the flow. We’ve worked hard for months; it’s time to relax a little.”

“But remember, tonight we go our separate ways, but don’t let it affect business tomorrow.”

The banquet hall that evening was truly grand—after all, this was a five-star hotel, and every luxury was in place.

Inside, there was a bar and waiters with trays offering all kinds of drinks, cocktails, and snacks, while the outer hall featured a buffet of hot dishes.

When they arrived, many guests were already there, some standing to drink or eat in small groups.

With introductions from Aishwarya and Kunal, who hurried over, they met Karam Singh as well. He was gracious and smiling as he greeted the three.

After being introduced to the higher-ups of Treasure Films, Liu Qingshan finally had a chance to look around.

Clearly, the restaurant was reserved exclusively for them that night. Even with extra tables and chairs added, there was ample space for two or three hundred diners—obviously to make room for the upcoming song and dance performances.

From a distance, the feast looked sumptuous indeed, though the taste left something to be desired.

Liu Qingshan considered himself very adaptable when it came to food, but after sampling a few bites, he concluded otherwise.