Chapter 59: Devil's Exploitation

At nine in the morning, Xiang Qian pushed open the door to the Shaw Brothers Studio conference room and ran straight into more than a dozen burning gazes.

"Director Xiang, congratulations!" Financial Director Chen Zhiqiang was the first to stand up, smiling broadly as he handed over a cup of coffee. "The Palme d'Or winner; now the whole of Asia is talking about Parasite!"

Xiang Qian took the coffee and nodded slightly. "Thank you."

In the main seat, Run Run Shaw was unusually absent; in his place sat several shareholder representatives. Fong Yuk-wah sat in the corner, her brows slightly furrowed, her fingers tapping incessantly on a folder.

"Director Wu," Executive Director Li Guoming cleared his throat. "The company has decided to strike while the iron is hot. This year, we are assigning you three film scripts and the production of two music albums."

The conference room fell silent instantly.

Xiang Qian set down his coffee cup, his voice calm. "Director Li, isn't this workload a bit..."

"Not at all!" Marketing Director Liu Meiqi interjected. "You are now the hottest director in Xiangjiang; audience expectations are off the charts!"

Fong Yuk-wah finally spoke. "Director Wu has just completed an international-level work; he needs time to settle..."

"Young Lady Fong," Li Guoming cut her off. "This is the board's decision."

Xiang Qian's gaze lingered on Fong Yuk-wah's face for a second, seeing a trace of helplessness flash in her eyes.

After the meeting ended, Xiang Qian was left behind alone.

"Director Wu," Li Guoming handed over a contract. "This is the new agreement; the profit-sharing ratio has been increased by five percent."

Xiang Qian opened the contract and found the terms densely packed; one clause read, "The right of priority investment for all works in the next five years belongs to Shaw Brothers."

"Director Li," Xiang Qian closed the document. "I need time to consider."

"Time waits for no one," Li Guoming said with deep meaning. "Audience enthusiasm will fade, and competitors will not wait for you."

Walking out of the conference room, Xiang Qian met Fong Yuk-wah at the corridor corner.

"Come to my office to talk," she said in a low voice.

As soon as the door to Fong Yuk-wah's office closed, she immediately sighed. "Mr. Shaw has been unwell recently; company affairs have all been handed over to the board."

Xiang Qian leaned against the window. "So now Li Guoming is the one in charge?"

"Not just him," Fong Yuk-wah shook her head. "Several major shareholders want to make a huge profit off your award win." She handed over a report. "This is the shooting schedule they plan; they want to use your scripts, one film every three months, completely disregarding quality."

Xiang Qian glanced at it and let out a cold laugh. "Treating me like a money-printing machine?"

"I tried my best to mediate," Fong Yuk-wah said wearily, rubbing her temples. "But in the face of capital, art is not worth mentioning."

After a moment of silence, Xiang Qian suddenly asked. "Sister Fong, if I want to leave..."

Fong Yuk-wah looked up sharply. "Have you decided?"

"Not yet," Xiang Qian looked out at Victoria Harbour. "But some things cannot be forced."

In the following week, Xiang Qian unusually cooperated with all of Shaw Brothers' arrangements.

He attended the new film press conference, accepted countless interviews, and even began preparing a low-budget comedy—on the surface, completely obeying the company's arrangements.

"Has Director Wu changed his ways?" crew members discussed privately. "He actually agreed to write this kind of fast-food movie script."

Only Fong Yuk-wah knew the truth. One late night, Xiang Qian quietly came to her office and handed over a thick file bag.

"This is..."

"The complete scripts and storyboards for The God of Cookery, The Dragon from Russia, and The New Shaolin Temple," Xiang Qian smiled. "Consider it my final gift to Shaw Brothers."

Fong Yuk-wah opened the script and grew more and more shocked as she read. "This standard... why are you bringing this out now?"

Fong Yuk-wah's eyes suddenly turned red. "You planned this long ago?"

"No, I intended to direct these films myself within these two years; it's just that now I have no choice."