[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hong-kong-1984":3,"chapter-hong-kong-1984-hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-71":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},2224055,4066,"Chapter 71: God of Gamblers Project Initiated","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-71",71,"\u003Cp>Xiang Fei sat at his desk, the ashtray piled high with cigarette butts, a stack of script drafts spread out before him, the cover boldly displaying two gilded characters—\"God of Gamblers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared into the mirror, slowly adjusting his suit and tie, a wicked, charming smile curling the corners of his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The role of Ko Chun...\" he murmured to himself, \"belongs to no one but me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, as Xiang Xiang Huaqiang was reviewing the budget report for \"Infernal Affairs,\" his office door was suddenly pushed open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uncle Qiang!\" Xiang Fei strode in, slapping the script onto the desk. \"Take a look at this!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang frowned. \"You brat, don't you know to knock before entering?\" Yet he still picked up the script. \"What new trick are you up to now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My second directorial work!\" Xiang Fei pulled out a chair and sat down. \"I plan to direct it myself, and—\" he paused, \"I will play Ko Chun.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang raised an eyebrow. \"God of Gamblers? You're playing him?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly!\" Xiang Fei stood up, performing a classic card-flicking motion. \"I've been studying this role for three months.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Chen Lan walked in carrying coffee. \"Oh, Ah Fei is here?\" She set down the cup and leaned over curiously. \"What script is so mysterious?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang handed her the script. \"This kid wants to direct and star in a gambling film.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan flipped through it quickly, her eyes lighting up. \"The God of Gamblers loses his memory and becomes a fool? That's an interesting premise!\" She looked up at Xiang Fei. \"Are you sure you can handle this role?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei grinned. \"Auntie, want me to perform a scene for you right now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without waiting for an answer, his expression suddenly went blank, his gaze unfocused, his mouth crooked, perfectly mimicking a mentally disabled youth. \"Chocolate... I want chocolate...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. \"That's incredibly realistic!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang couldn't help but nod. \"It has potential. However...\" he tapped the desk, \"being a director isn't that easy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uncle Qiang,\" Xiang Fei turned serious, \"have you forgotten? I'm a Palme d'Or winner.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'd actually forgotten about that,\" Xiang Xiang Huaqiang said with a laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan turned to the cast list. \"Any ideas for the other actors?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei was well prepared. \"For Chan Siu-do, I want Liu Liu Furong; his rogueish handsomeness is perfect for the part.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang frowned. \"Wing is currently filming 'Infernal Affairs'; I'm afraid he won't have time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan spoke up. \"Let Wang Jing film Wing's scenes first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for Lung Ng...\" Xiang Fei looked at Xiang Xiang Huaqiang with a grin. \"Uncle Qiang, how about you play the role?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang was stunned. \"Me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes!\" Xiang Fei said excitedly. \"Lung Ng is Ko Chun's bodyguard, a cold, tough guy. Uncle Qiang, just you standing there, your presence alone would dominate the screen!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed. \"You brat, trying to make me your supporting actor?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not a supporting actor, a golden partner!\" Xiang Fei laughed. \"Besides, haven't you always wanted to try acting?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang snorted. \"Fine, I'll do it. But if the film turns out poorly, beware, I'll deal with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan continued reading down. \"What about Ko Chun's wife?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhang Min,\" Xiang Fei answered without hesitation. \"Her cold, elegant, and noble temperament makes her perfect for the God of Gamblers' woman.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And Chan Siu-do's girlfriend?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wang Wang Zuxian,\" Xiang Fei smiled. \"The romantic subplot between her and Siu-do will be quite compelling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang suddenly interjected. \"What about the villains? Who will play Ko Yee and Chan Kam-shing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei was ready. \"For Ko Yee, let's get Ng Chun-yu; he excels at playing sinister and vicious characters. As for Chan Kam-shing...\" he smiled mysteriously, \"I plan to invite Teacher Pau Fong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pau Fong?\" Chen Lan exclaimed in surprise. \"That veteran actor rarely takes roles anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just tell him this role was tailor-made for him, and he will definitely be interested,\" Xiang Fei said confidently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang stood up and paced around the office. \"What's the budget?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Three million,\" Xiang Fei replied, prepared. \"We'll mainly shoot in Macau; Wynn has already agreed to lend us their casino location.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan added, \"I can contact designers in Italy for the costumes; we must ensure the God of Gamblers' look is sufficiently magnificent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang suddenly turned around. \"Ah Fei, are you sure you want to take the lead yourself? Why not hire a professional director...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uncle Qiang,\" Xiang Fei said seriously, \"I wrote this script word by word; no one understands how to film it better than I do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, Xiang Xiang Huaqiang suddenly laughed loudly. \"Good! You have guts! Then it's settled.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No problem!\" Xiang Fei agreed readily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, the office door was pushed open again, and Xiang Sheng walked in with a cigar in his mouth. \"Oh, such a lively scene?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan handed him the script. \"Ah Fei is going to be a director.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After glancing through it roughly, Xiang Sheng suddenly slammed the table. \"I want to play the role of Ko Yee!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\" all three exclaimed in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm serious!\" Xiang Sheng insisted relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei quickly tried to mediate. \"Uncle Sheng, this role involves a lot of fight scenes; it's very strenuous...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Looking down on me?\" Xiang Sheng glared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Chen Lan resolved the situation. \"Fine, let him do it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then was Xiang Sheng satisfied. \"That's more like it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang picked up the phone. \"Secretary Cai, notify all department heads; we're holding a meeting at 3 PM. The 'God of Gamblers' project officially launches!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hanging up the phone, he patted his nephew's shoulder. \"Ah Fei, don't disappoint me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei nodded solemnly. \"Rest assured, Uncle Qiang, I will make 'God of Gamblers' the flagship title of Wing Sing!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan had already started dialing. \"I'll notify Wang Jing first...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his family offer their full support, a warm current surged through Xiang Fei's heart.\u003C\u002Fp>",1021,"2026-06-17T20:39:14.290Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","43237442f6516a4eb7592309b82faf11ca3e4cb50d0eb8dac7779956cf1ea8a2","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-72","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-70",152,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhong-kong-1984-cover.jpg"]