[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hong-kong-1984":3,"chapter-hong-kong-1984-hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-61":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},2224045,4066,"Chapter 61: Friendship","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-61",61,"\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This figure pressed against his chest like a massive boulder. He rubbed his temples, picked up his phone, and dialed several investors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, President Chen, it's me, Xiang Qian.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed, there is a collaboration I wish to discuss,\" Xiang Qian said calmly. \"But it is not a film; it is a personal investment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh?\" asked President Chen. \"Go on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell on the other end of the line for a few seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Wu, you wouldn't be planning to...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qian exhaled in relief: \"It's fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he hung up, the phone rang again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The caller ID read: \"Wang Jing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, Fatty,\" Xiang Qian answered, his tone relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Qian-zi!\" Wang Jing's booming voice forced Xiang Qian to hold the phone farther away. \"Are you preparing to terminate your contract?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qian was startled: \"How do you know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nonsense!\" Wang Jing shouted. \"Ah Min already told me and Rong-zi!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qian fell silent for a moment, then finally admitted: \"Yes, I am preparing to leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other end of the line suddenly went quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qian sat up straight abruptly: \"What did you say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rong-zi and I have discussed it,\" Wang Jing said firmly. \"If you leave, we leave too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Absolutely,\" Xiang Qian promised solemnly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hanging up, Xiang Qian leaned back on the sofa, his heart filled with mixed emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phone rang again; this time it was Zhou Xingxing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, Xing-zi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Qian... Brother Qian...\" Zhou Xingxing's voice sounded somewhat nervous. \"I... I heard...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heard what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That you're terminating your contract...\" Zhou Xingxing's voice grew quieter. \"I... I want to go with you too...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qian paused, then smiled: \"Xing-zi, how much time is left on your contract?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One month...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But... but...\" Zhou Xingxing's voice suddenly turned firm. \"I don't want to film those... those TVB productions anymore...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qian fell silent for a moment, then finally said: \"Very well. If you truly want to leave, I will find a way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Th... thank you, Director Xiang...\" Zhou Xingxing's voice carried gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he hung up with Zhou Xingxing, a call from Sun Li pushed through immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, Sister Sun.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Qian-zi,\" Sun Li said in a crisp, decisive tone. \"My team and I have discussed it. If you leave, we leave too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qian felt warmth in his heart: \"Sister Sun, there's no need for you all to...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qian took a deep breath: \"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Late at night, Xiang Qian stood on the balcony, gazing at the distant Shaw Brothers building.\u003C\u002Fp>",753,"2026-06-17T20:39:14.290Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","500a91a89a53c343f63fb1fc869e90cb6754d6f0edbe0ab562fdfabf3ff343e8","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-62","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-60",152,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhong-kong-1984-cover.jpg"]