[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hong-kong-1984":3,"chapter-hong-kong-1984-hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-56":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Hong Kong 1984",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2224040,4066,"Chapter 56: Sensation","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-56",56,"\u003Cp>At seven in the morning, just as Xiang Qian pushed open the hotel room door, he took half a step back, startled by the mountain of newspapers piled up in the corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Crash—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stack of Xiangjiang Daily slid down from beside the door; the front-page headline boldly proclaimed: \"Historic Breakthrough for Chinese-Language Cinema! Parasite Wins the Palme d'Or!\" accompanied by a group photo of the entire cast and crew holding the Palme d'Or trophy aloft from the previous night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Qian! Look at this!\" Cheng Long rushed out of the neighboring room with bedhead, waving a copy of The Hollywood Reporter. \"Even Variety gave it a full-page spread!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qian bent down to pick up a copy of Wanwan Times, where the front page bore golden embossed letters: \"Xiangjiang Director Wu Xiangqian Makes History; A New Benchmark for Asian Cinema is Born.\" Inside was also a close-up photo of him toasting Quentin Tarantino at last night's victory banquet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Both the BBC and CNN are running continuous coverage.\" Hui Hui Yinghong approached gracefully with a cup of coffee, her silk nightgown shimmering like pearl in the morning light. \"I just received a call from TVB; they want to schedule an exclusive interview.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the corner, Zhou Xingxing quietly leafed through the newspapers. When he saw his name appear in Ming Pao, his fingers trembled slightly; he then folded the paper neatly and tucked it into his backpack. Lin Lin Qingxia noticed his movement and asked softly, \"Xing, aren't you going to read the reports?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Xingxing shook his head, offering a shy smile. \"I... I'm still not quite used to so much attention.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At ten in the morning, inside the hotel's largest conference room, Fang Fang Yihua was maneuvering among more than twenty international distributors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"North American rights start at three million US dollars,\" she said, sliding the quotation sheet toward the Paramount representative. \"This is the baseline market rate for a Palme d'Or winner.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vice president of Warner Bros. frowned. \"Miss Fang, this price...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But it is fifteen percent cheaper than The Artist,\" Fang Fang Yihua replied calmly, turning to the review section of The Hollywood Reporter. \"Moreover, our Rotten Tomatoes freshness score is ninety-eight percent, and our Metacritic score is ninety-two.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The glass door of the conference room was pushed open. Xiang Qian peeked inside, only to be immediately intercepted by a sharp-eyed representative from Japan's Shochiku Eiga. \"Mr. Wu! We are willing to pay six million US dollars to buy out the Japanese distribution rights!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please direct all business cooperation inquiries to Miss Fang.\" Xiang Qian nodded politely, his gaze sweeping across the room until he spotted Zhou Xingxing sitting alone on a sofa in the corner, head bowed, writing something in a notebook. Xiang Qian walked over and sat down. \"Writing a new script?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled by the sudden voice, Zhou Xingxing instinctively snapped his notebook shut. \"Ah... no... just jotting down some random thoughts...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I hardly saw you during the latter part of last night's victory banquet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... I'm not very comfortable with that kind of occasion...\" Zhou Xingxing's voice grew quieter. \"I returned to my room early...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the hotel rooftop, Xiang Qian finally managed to catch his breath. To his surprise, he found Zhou Xingxing already sitting there, staring blankly at the distant horizon where the sea met the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you mind if I sit here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Xingxing shifted awkwardly to the side. \"Of... of course not...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two sat in silence for a while before Xiang Qian spoke. \"Actually, I've always wanted to ask you: why didn't you refuse to act in Parasite back then? Given your personality...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because the script was too good...\" Zhou Xingxing said softly. \"And... and Brother Qian, you said this role belonged to no one but me...\" His fingers unconsciously rubbed the railing. \"Although I'm not good at dealing with people... when I'm acting... I can become someone else...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qian nodded thoughtfully. \"Last night, Quentin specifically asked about you. He said your performance possessed a special kind of authenticity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Xingxing's ears turned red instantly. \"Re... really? I thought I hadn't acted well enough...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry to interrupt.\" Quentin Tarantino suddenly appeared at the rooftop entrance. \"Aiven, can we talk? Oh, Zhou is here too!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Xingxing immediately stood up. \"I... I'll take my leave...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait!\" Quentin stopped him. \"I was just looking for you! That monologue of yours in the film was magnificent! That restrained explosiveness...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Xingxing stood there at a loss, until Xiang Qian stepped in at the right moment to rescue him. \"Director Quentin wants to discuss the remake rights.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... I'd better not participate in the discussion...\" Zhou Xingxing murmured. \"Miss Fang probably needs more help...\" With that, he hurriedly left the rooftop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quentin watched his retreating figure. \"The contrast between his on-screen and off-screen persona is truly striking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qian smiled. \"That is precisely where his charm lies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That evening, the cast and crew rented out a seaside restaurant to celebrate. Cheng Long raised his wine glass and shouted, \"Qian! Our movie is going to be released globally!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dilon, cigar in mouth, asked, \"I heard it has already passed censorship in the mainland?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Fang Yihua nodded. \"The Mainland Film Bureau personally pushed for it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hui Hui Yinghong mused, \"This time, media outlets from all three regions are reporting simultaneously.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the corner, Zhou Xingxing quietly ate his cake. Lin Lin Qingxia walked over and sat down. \"Aren't you going to celebrate with everyone else?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... I am celebrating...\" Zhou Xingxing pointed at the cake before him. \"In my own way...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Lin Qingxia laughed. \"Xing, did you know? Your quiet temperament actually makes you particularly captivating on camera.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Xingxing lowered his head in embarrassment. \"Th... thank you, Sister Lin Qingxia...\"\u003C\u002Fp>",961,"2026-06-17T20:39:14.290Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","23e0089804c4c011ad03c586f1cdebeadb082c1390e27fcc81798b5141f53d45","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-57","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-55",152,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhong-kong-1984-cover.jpg"]