Chapter 90: Sniper Plan

At seven in the morning, the conference room at Yongsheng Pictures was wreathed in smoke. Xiang Fei stood before the projection screen, his eyes tracking back and forth across the posters of three films—*Yunnan Worm Valley*, *From Beijing with Love*, and *Lawyer Lawyer*.

"Shaw Brothers' *Ashes of Time* is locked in for New Year's Day," Xiang Fei rapped the table. "Golden Harvest's *Rumble in the Bronx* opens on the second. We're going to sandwich them with our three films."

Xiang Qiang frowned and exhaled a plume of cigar smoke: "Ah Fei, three films in the same window—won't they cannibalize each other?"

"That's exactly the point—leave the audience no choice!" Xiang Fei slammed the table. "*Yunnan Worm Valley* leads with effects and adventure, *From Beijing with Love* is a period comedy, *Lawyer Lawyer* goes family-friendly—three completely different genres. There's bound to be one that suits the audience."

The finance director dabbed at his sweat: "But the promo budget..."

"Throw money at it!" Xiang Fei cut in without hesitation. "TV stations, newspapers, subway stations—blanket them all!"

Lady Xiang suddenly cut in: "Should we line up a few critics..."

"No need!" Xiang Fei laughed coldly. "Just buy out the cover of *Film Biweekly*—three weeks running!"

The meeting dragged on until noon, and the plan was finally set: *Yunnan Worm Valley* would open one day ahead of Shaw Brothers; *From Beijing with Love* and *Lawyer Lawyer* would slot in before and after Golden Harvest respectively. The three films' screening share had to exceed sixty percent of the Spring Festival window's total showings.

After the meeting broke up, Xiang Fei had barely returned to his office when his secretary announced: "President Xiang, Director Wang is here."

Before the words were out, Wang Jing's rotund frame squeezed through the door: "Oh, Brother Fei! At last I get to see you, old man!"

Xiang Fei sorted his papers without looking up: "Fatty Wang, what do you want?"

Wang Jing rubbed his hands together and sidled up to the desk: "What could it be! I'm here on serious business!" He dropped his voice mysteriously. "Brother Fei, any interest in... acting in a film?"

Xiang Fei's hands paused. He raised an eyebrow at the grinning fat man: "What scheme are you cooking up this time?"

"Cross my heart!" Wang Jing held up three plump fingers. "I just feel Brother Fei is so handsome and dashing—his God of Gamblers was brilliant!"

Xiang Fei snorted: "Cut the crap. The script? Let me see it."

The smile on Wang Jing's face froze for an instant, then grew even more fawning: "That... the script, well..."

Xiang Fei narrowed his eyes: "Don't tell me you don't even have a script."

"I do, I do!" Wang Jing said hurriedly. "It's just... not written yet..."

"Wang Pangzi!" Xiang Fei grabbed a folder and looked ready to hurl it. "Are you messing with me?"

Wang Jing nimbly ducked behind the sofa: "Brother Fei, calm down! What I mean is... you're the perfect person to write the script yourself! You write it, I'll direct—box office gold, guaranteed!"

Xiang Fei laughed in spite of his anger: "So you came here to catch a ride on someone else's coattails?"

"Hehe!" Wang Jing grinned foolishly beside him.

"Get lost!" Xiang Fei laughed and cursed. "We'll talk after the Spring Festival window!"

Wang Jing's eyes lit up: "So that's a yes?"

"I'll give you an answer after New Year." Xiang Fei waved impatiently. "Now get out of here—I still need to oversee the promo reel."

Wang Jing ambled toward the door cheerfully, but turned back at the threshold: "Brother Fei, save me a spot for an actress, will you? Preferably the hot-bodied type..."

"Scram!" An ashtray flew through the air.

Wang Jing nimbly pulled the door shut; the ashtray slammed against it with a "bang." Down the corridor came his humming: "I'm laughing smugly, smugly laughing again..."

In the office, Xiang Fei shook his head with a rueful chuckle. He picked up the phone: "Hello, publicity? Add more explosion shots to the *Yunnan Worm Valley* trailer..."

At dusk, when Xiang Fei got home, Zhou Huimin was cooking in the kitchen.

"Why so late today?" she asked without turning around.

Xiang Fei hugged her from behind: "Got held up by Fatty Wang. That guy actually wants me to act."

Zhou Huimin turned, looking at him in surprise: "Act?"

"What, I'm not handsome enough?" Xiang Fei deliberately put on a stern face.

Zhou Huimin laughed and poked his forehead: "Yes, yes, Xiang Shao is the handsomest. But..." She suddenly grew serious. "What are you thinking?"

Xiang Fei shrugged: "Depends on the situation...."

"You're clearly tempted." Zhou Huimin saw right through him. "Ever since *Titanic*, you've always been coaching A-Ho on his acting. Don't you want to act again?"

Xiang Fei didn't deny it, just smiled and kissed her: "The one who truly knows me is my Lady."

After dinner, Xiang Fei sat at his desk and, as if possessed, opened his computer and created a new document. On the screen, the cursor blinked, as if waiting for something.

He thought for a moment, then typed a few words: *Detective Chinatown*.

The phone suddenly rang—it was Xiang Qiang: "Ah Fei, Shaw Brothers is making moves! They've bought up the prime-time ad slots!"

Xiang Fei laughed coldly: "Then we'll go toe-to-toe with them! Cut the trailers of our three films into one special edition—double the runtime!"

After hanging up, Xiang Fei looked at the five big characters *Detective Chinatown* on the screen, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

The gunpowder smoke of the Spring Festival window had already been lit, and a new plan was quietly taking shape in his heart.