[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hong-kong-1984":3,"chapter-hong-kong-1984-hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-74":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},2224058,4066,"Chapter 74: The Master","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-74",74,"\u003Cp>In the makeup room, the stylist was crafting Gao Yi's look for Xiang Sheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"More oil on the hair!\" Xiang Sheng directed. \"He's a villain; he needs to look sufficiently treacherous!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The makeup artist, trembling with fear, slathered half a bottle of hair oil onto his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first scene to be filmed was Gao Yi secretly plotting against Gao Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Action!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Sheng skulked over to the gambling table, sneering sinisterly at thin air: \"Hehe, Gao Jin, you're dead meat...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cut!\" Xiang Fei pressed his forehead. \"Uncle Sheng, Gao Yi is insidious, not lecherous...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dissatisfied, Xiang Sheng retorted, \"Am I not portraying his cunning? Again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the second take, Xiang Sheng suddenly pulled a toy gun from his bosom: \"Gao Jin! Die!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cut!\" Xiang Fei was on the verge of collapse. \"That's not in the script!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Sheng spoke with righteous indignation: \"I feel this adds more drama!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the filming hit a deadlock, Zhang Min approached gracefully: \"Mr. Xiang, would you like to try a different approach to the acting?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Sheng's eyes lit up. \"Does Miss Zhang have some brilliant insight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Min's red lips curved slightly upward. \"The character of Gao Yi should embody a wickedness that remains outwardly calm.\" She leaned in close, whispering in Xiang Sheng's ear, \"For instance... looking at Gao Jin while plotting his demise in your heart, yet wearing a smile on your face.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Sheng, dizzy from her orchid-like breath and fragrance, agreed eagerly: \"Yes, yes, yes! Miss Zhang is absolutely right!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the remainder of the filming, Zhang Min 'guided' Xiang Sheng throughout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Xiang, at this moment you should slowly walk up behind Gao Jin,\" Zhang Min gestured. \"Your eyes must be cold, but the corners of your mouth should carry a smile.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Obediently following her instructions as if bewitched, Xiang Sheng surprisingly managed to convey a hint of insidiousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the monitor, Xiang Fei stared in dumbfounded amazement. \"Ah Min, how did you manage that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Min offered a cunning smile. \"It's a secret.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When filming the scene where Gao Yi harasses Gao Jin's wife, Xiang Sheng suddenly added lines: \"Director! I think we should add a forced kiss here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The set instantly fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei jumped up abruptly. \"No!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qiang slammed the script down. \"Ah Sheng!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Min, however, remained unperturbed. \"Mr. Xiang, in the script, Gao Yi only uses verbal harassment; getting physical is too low-class.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unwilling to give up, Xiang Sheng stammered, \"But...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Min suddenly leaned in close and whispered in his ear, \"How about this: you gently trace your finger across my face; that would be far more seductive...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Sheng's bones instantly turned to jelly. \"Good, good, good! Let's film it exactly as Miss Zhang says!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the actual take, following Zhang Min's guidance, Xiang Sheng lightly caressed her cheek with his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he made contact, his hand shook like that of a Parkinson's patient. \"M-Miss Zhang, your skin is so smooth...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing her laughter, Zhang Min continued acting: \"Gao Yi, please have some self-respect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I have plenty of self-respect!\" Xiang Sheng stuttered, having completely forgotten his lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone on set struggled to hold back their laughter until their insides ached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helplessly, Xiang Fei called, \"Cut! Uncle Sheng, at least say your lines!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Sheng's old face flushed red. \"Again, again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After more than a dozen takes, they finally secured one barely usable shot. Xiang Sheng was drenched in sweat, while Zhang Min remained elegant and composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That evening at the wrap party, Xiang Sheng, drunk and red-faced, stumbled with a wine glass in hand toward Zhang Min.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"M-Miss Zhang!\" he slurred, his tongue thick. \"In all my years, Xiang Sheng has never encountered a woman as perfect as you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire room instantly fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qiang's face turned iron-green, while Xiang Fei prepared to rush forward and intercept him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Min, however, smiled beautifully, raising her glass to lightly clink against Xiang Sheng's. \"Mr. Xiang's portrayal of Gao Yi was also quite unique.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Sheng immediately became giddy. \"Th-then do you think there's any possibility for us...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Min elegantly sipped her wine. \"Mr. Xiang, in the drama, you are Gao Yi, and I am Gao Jin's wife.\" She winked. \"As for outside the drama...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She suddenly linked arms with Liu Liu Furong standing beside her. \"Rongzai and I have already agreed to play a couple in our next film.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Liu Furong looked utterly bewildered. \"Huh? Me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Sheng looked as if struck by lightning, while Xiang Fei and Xiang Qiang couldn't help but burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, before Xiang Sheng slunk away from Macau, he didn't forget to instruct Xiang Fei: \"Ah Fei, whenever there are scenes with Miss Zhang in the future, you must call me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei replied helplessly, \"Uncle Sheng, you'd better just focus on the work you already have on your plate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Xiang Sheng's retreating figure, Zhang Min walked over. \"Young Master Xiang, I hope I didn't cause you any trouble?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei said sincerely, \"Ah Min, you are simply a fairy who tamed my uncle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Min covered her mouth and laughed lightly. \"To deal with men like that, one must know how to maneuver.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two exchanged a smile, and the filming of *God of Gamblers* finally returned to the right track.\u003C\u002Fp>",888,"2026-06-17T20:39:14.290Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","509bcadf6a68b73579e260dd88b903fa2890c4c119847f4f88c85fc8dfa67f66","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-75","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-73",152,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhong-kong-1984-cover.jpg"]