Chapter 61: Friendship

Xiang Qian sat at the desk in his apartment, before him spread out the Shaw Brothers contract terms he shared with Zhou Zhou Huimin and a table calculating the breach-of-contract penalty.

This figure pressed against his chest like a massive boulder. He rubbed his temples, picked up his phone, and dialed several investors.

"Hello, President Chen, it's me, Xiang Qian."

"Oh my! Director Wu!" President Chen's voice on the other end was warm. "What brings you to call? Do you have a new project?"

"Indeed, there is a collaboration I wish to discuss," Xiang Qian said calmly. "But it is not a film; it is a personal investment."

"Oh?" asked President Chen. "Go on."

"I need a sum of capital for liquidity, with interest calculated at the market's highest rate," Xiang Qian paused. "If all goes well, principal and interest will be repaid in full within half a year."

Silence fell on the other end of the line for a few seconds.

"Director Wu, you wouldn't be planning to..."

"Buy out my contract," Xiang Qian admitted bluntly and cleanly. "Regarding the contract between Zhou Zhou Huimin and myself, Shaw Brothers refuses to release us."

President Chen sounded awkward: "160 million is no small sum, Director Wu. Recently, all my available funds have been poured into projects. I'm sorry."

Xiang Qian exhaled in relief: "It's fine."

Just as he hung up, the phone rang again.

The caller ID read: "Wang Jing."

"Hello, Fatty," Xiang Qian answered, his tone relaxed.

"Qian-zi!" Wang Jing's booming voice forced Xiang Qian to hold the phone farther away. "Are you preparing to terminate your contract?"

Xiang Qian was startled: "How do you know?"

"Nonsense!" Wang Jing shouted. "Ah Min already told me and Rong-zi!"

Xiang Qian fell silent for a moment, then finally admitted: "Yes, I am preparing to leave."

The other end of the line suddenly went quiet.

A few seconds later, Wang Jing's voice dropped much lower: "Damn it. Rong-zi and I will terminate our contracts too and follow you."

Xiang Qian sat up straight abruptly: "What did you say?"

"Rong-zi and I have discussed it," Wang Jing said firmly. "If you leave, we leave too."

Xiang Qian's heart shook; he hadn't expected Wang Jing and Liu Liu Furong to be so loyal to friendship. But he quickly calmed down: "Fatty, don't be impulsive."

"Impulsive my ass!" Wang Jing cursed. "Shaw Brothers treats us like livestock now. If we stay any longer, we'll be worked to death sooner or later!"

"Listen to me," Xiang Qian said after a silence. "Finish filming 'Longling Micang' first and hand in our deliverables to Shaw Brothers before leaving. If you terminate your contract now, your penalty will be even higher than mine."

Wang Jing fell silent for a while, then finally sighed: "Alright, I'll listen to you. But let's be clear: when you go, you must take Rong-zi and me with you!"

"Absolutely," Xiang Qian promised solemnly.

After hanging up, Xiang Qian leaned back on the sofa, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

The phone rang again; this time it was Zhou Xingxing.

"Hello, Xing-zi."

"Qian... Brother Qian..." Zhou Xingxing's voice sounded somewhat nervous. "I... I heard..."

"Heard what?"

"That you're terminating your contract..." Zhou Xingxing's voice grew quieter. "I... I want to go with you too..."

Xiang Qian paused, then smiled: "Xing-zi, how much time is left on your contract?"

"One month..."

Xiang Qian rubbed the space between his brows: "Xing-zi, you are currently the person Shaw Brothers plans to promote heavily. I don't think they will easily let you go."

"But... but..." Zhou Xingxing's voice suddenly turned firm. "I don't want to film those... those TVB productions anymore..."

Xiang Qian fell silent for a moment, then finally said: "Very well. If you truly want to leave, I will find a way."

"Th... thank you, Director Xiang..." Zhou Xingxing's voice carried gratitude.

Just as he hung up with Zhou Xingxing, a call from Sun Li pushed through immediately.

"Hello, Sister Sun."

"Qian-zi," Sun Li said in a crisp, decisive tone. "My team and I have discussed it. If you leave, we leave too."

Xiang Qian felt warmth in his heart: "Sister Sun, there's no need for you all to..."

"Cut the nonsense," Sun Li interrupted him. "After following you all these years, we've long had enough of Shaw Brothers' exploitation. Wherever you go, we'll work with you."

Xiang Qian took a deep breath: "Good."

Late at night, Xiang Qian stood on the balcony, gazing at the distant Shaw Brothers building.