Chapter 208: Launching a Training Class

The social atmosphere in 1980s Hong Kong was actually very, very open; newspapers talked at length about gay culture and feminism, and the entertainment gossip tabloids were filled with tales of romance every day. The atmosphere in both the entertainment circle and the circle of the wealthy was extremely chaotic, each more chaotic than the last...

It is said that Hongxing Film has an unwritten rule: for any film produced by the company, the lead actors and actresses are not allowed to have kissing scenes, let alone scenes that are too revealing, because the Big Boss loves to play with female stars.

She had been in Hong Kong for over half a year now, so she naturally knew what Dalao Jun was going to talk to her about regarding the script. She nodded, blushing, and said, "Mm..."

In fact, Zhu Baoyi could have refused; she knew Dalao Jun had several women, but Zhu Baoyi still couldn't help but lose her heart to him.

Dalao Jun was the most talented man Zhu Baoyi had ever met. This man could wield a blade to conquer the world, sing in a way that made most composers and lyricists who called themselves geniuses cover their faces in shame, and when he made a movie, he would inadvertently set a ceiling for the Hong Kong film and television industry...

Where else could one find such a talented underworld emperor?

Zhu Baoyi was only eighteen years old this year.

What young girl does not dream of love?

The celebration banquet ended around nine o'clock. Everyone stood at the hotel entrance, expressing their sentiments and saying their goodbyes. Chen Jiajun hadn't actually drunk much alcohol tonight.

He was just planning to find an excuse to let his girlfriend, Guan Jiahui, go home first.

Zhou Runfa brought a flushed Zhao Yazhi over to find Chen Jiajun: "Big Brother, could I invite you for a cup of coffee to discuss something?"

"Does it have to do with Zhao Yazhi?" Chen Jiajun looked at the two of them.

Zhou Runfa smiled and nodded, saying, "Mm."

"Alright. Jiahui, you two go back first." Dalao Jun looked at Guan Jiahui.

"Brother Jun, don't be too late," Guan Jiahui urged.

Arriving at the coffee shop, several young demon slaves sat at the table next to them, keeping a certain distance from Big Brother without being too far away.

Sitting opposite Chen Jiajun were Zhou Runfa and Zhao Yazhi.

Wearing a black evening gown tonight, Zhao Yazhi revealed her shoulders slightly; the black dress straps set off her fair skin, and the intense color contrast invited infinite reverie.

Zhao Yazhi was a Miss Hong Kong contestant, and her biggest scandal was the "Battle of the Two Huangs" of later years. The two Huangs referred to the actor who played "Huo Yuanjia," the martial arts star Huang Yuanshen, and her husband, Huang Hanwei.

Since filming 【Shang X Tan】 with Zhou Runfa last year, Zhao Yazhi's career had fallen into a bottleneck.

One must know that the 1980s Hong Kong film and television circle was the world of martial arts films. Zhao Yazhi's image was too gentle and delicate; it really didn't fit the "tough girl" archetype.

Yet the appearance of 【A Better Tomorrow】 made people's eyes light up, creating the feeling that movies could actually be filmed this way.

Seeking a breakthrough in her career, Zhao Yazhi contacted her friend in the industry, Zhou Runfa.

Chen Jiajun tapped the tabletop twice and got straight to the point: "Miss Zhao, are you interested in developing in the film industry now?"

As long as the hoe is swung well, there is no corner that cannot be dug.

With that suspicious husband of Zhao Yazhi's and their crumbling family, Chen Jiajun only needed to apply a little pressure to make the couple turn against each other and the family fall apart.

"Yes, yes, yes," Zhou Runfa nodded repeatedly.

"That's right," Zhao Yazhi also replied.

Chen Jiajun took a puff of his Cigar and laughed self-deprecatingly: "I wonder if Miss Zhao is aware of some of the bad rumors about our company."

Pausing, Chen Jiajun continued: "I wonder if it will affect your family?"

Chen Jiajun was referring to the rumor that "the Big Boss of Hongxing Film loves to play with female stars." As someone in the entertainment industry, Zhao Yazhi had naturally heard of this, but she had asked Zhou Runfa, and Zhou Runfa had righteously declared it complete nonsense.

Just kidding, Dalao Jun was busy with his career every day, busy with gang fights—where would he find the time to have scandals with female stars in the entertainment industry?

But the entertainment magazines had already written about it in great detail.

Dalao Jun naturally had no time to clarify, and he was too lazy to let his brothers burn down people's newspapers over such trivial matters. In any case, as a triad leader, he didn't care about these gossip stories at all.

As for those female stars caught in the vortex of rumors, they wouldn't clarify anything either; after all, Dalao Jun was one of the top five richest men in Hong Kong, and these scandals could actually raise their market value.

Zhao Yazhi replied with slight nervousness: "Mr. Chen, those are all rumors. The innocent remain innocent."

The beautiful Zhao's thinking was still too simple and naive; she happened to forget the saying, "Public opinion can melt metal, and repeated slander can destroy a person."

"I like the phrase 'the innocent remain innocent.' By the way, don't call me Mr. Chen; just call me A Jun."

Dalao Jun nodded with satisfaction: "Miss Zhao, could you tell me about your past experiences and which well-known film and television works you have filmed?"

"I graduated from the Hong Kong Chong Tak English College in '71. That year, Japan Airlines was recruiting flight attendants in Hong Kong..."

"In '73, I participated in the first Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant hosted by TVB. My results weren't very ideal; I only got fourth place..."

Zhao Yazhi spoke eloquently about her past experiences.

Chen Jiajun interrupted: "With Miss Zhao's beauty, how could you only get fourth place? Were the judges blind at the time?"

"Mr. Chen..." Zhao Yazhi had just started to speak.

"Call me A Jun; I don't really like having a sense of distance," Chen Jiajun immediately interrupted.

"Alright, then you shouldn't call me Miss Zhao either; call me A Zhi," Zhao Yazhi followed his lead and then explained:

"The situation at the time was like this: the emcee asked me a fashion question, and I was too nervous to answer it well.

After getting fourth place, I chose to continue being a flight attendant. Two years later, TVB asked me to be a program host, and from that time on, I officially developed into the entertainment industry..."

Dalao Jun was very approachable; chatting with him wasn't nervous at all. Zhao Yazhi felt very relaxed, and Dalao Jun nodded from time to time, signaling that he was listening.

The atmosphere between the two became more and more lively and congenial as they talked. Zhao Yazhi enjoyed herself more and more, and when they talked about some funny things, they would laugh out loud together. In Zhao Yazhi's view, Chen Jiajun didn't have any airs at all.

By the end of the chat, the two were even addressing each other as sister and brother.

It was right at this moment that a voice clearly suppressing anger suddenly came: "It's so late, why aren't you back to sleep yet?"

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a man standing there with a gloomy face; this person was none other than Zhao Yazhi's husband—Huang Hanwei.

"Why are you here?" Zhao Yazhi was slightly surprised to see her husband.

"Why can't I be here? What are you nervous about?"

Huang Hanwei clenched his fists, his eyes looking as if they could spit fire.

Dalao Jun was a well-known wealthy man in Hong Kong. As Zhao Yazhi's husband, he naturally knew about Dalao Jun in the entertainment circle—he was notorious and famous for playing with female stars.

"I'm not nervous about anything; I'm just discussing work matters with Mr. Chen," Zhao Yazhi explained hurriedly.

"Discussing work? At this hour, what kind of work are you discussing?" Huang Hanwei could no longer suppress his anger and roared.

"Mr. Huang, please don't misunderstand."

Zhou Runfa hurriedly stood up, blocking the way in front of Chen Jiajun, and several young demon slaves, including Dumu, also stood up at the same time.

At this moment, Dalao Jun naturally had to maintain the appearance of family harmony for others; he smiled and said to Zhao Yazhi: "Sister Zhi, it is indeed getting a bit late. Mr. Huang, I apologize, but our company is planning to shoot a film with an investment of over ten million. Afa recommended Sister Zhi to me, so I invited you over to chat for a bit."

"Sister Zhi, let's leave it at that for now. This is the script; feel free to look it over when you have time, and someone will invite you for an audition later."

As Chen Jiajun spoke, he placed the script for 【Papa, Can You Hear Me Sing】 on the table.

A film and television company must shoot both commercial films that catch the eye and artistic films that have depth and thought.

The script for 【Papa, Can You Hear Me Sing】 was completed within two days by Huang Baiming of the "Yicheng Seven Freaks" and several Taiwan screenwriters, yet this script had been sitting with Chen Jiajun for at least three or four months.

The relevant actors, details, and theme songs had long been determined, but regarding the choice of the female lead, Chen Jiajun let Huang Baiming deliberate again and again.

Why?

Because this film is a classic, later remade three times, and the theme song 【Wine Dried, I'm Selling Nothing】 has a very high level of popularity.

The key is that it was very, very successful at the box office; it was re-screened eight times within five months in the Taiwan region, and it also played continuously for three months in the Mainland, with almost every screening sold out, winning unanimous praise from audiences and the industry alike, with box office earnings reaching over 40 million.

The film received 11 nominations at the 20th Golden Horse Award and ultimately won four major awards, including Best Actor, Best Original Music, Best Interlude, and Best Sound Recording.

Relying on this film, Chen Jiajun could break Hongxing Film into the Mainland market, which is why Chen Jiajun valued it so much.

Leaving the coffee shop, Chen Jiajun arrived at the presidential suite of the Shangri-La Hotel.

As soon as she entered, Zhu Baoyi, who had been waiting there for a long time, stepped forward as if she had a guilty conscience and closed the door, took Chen Jiajun's coat and hung it on the rack, then lowered her head and said: "I'll go boil a pot of water for you."

"No need, get me a bottle of soda or mineral water." Chen Jiajun had just finished drinking hot coffee.

"You shouldn't drink cold things at night; wait a moment, it will be ready soon." Zhu Baoyi picked up the teapot.

"That works too, put some tea leaves in for me." Chen Jiajun stopped insisting.

That night, the two discussed the reproduction of humanity and the cultivation methods for seeking the Dao in 【Shushan Jianxia Zhuan】, chatting until very late, until two in the morning when the two realized a thing or two together, and the two engaged in an in-depth exchange like dry wood meeting a raging fire.

Chen Jiajun's profound cultivation left a deep impression on Zhu Baoyi, and Chen Jiajun was also deeply impressed by Zhu Baoyi's insatiable thirst for knowledge.

Early the next morning, he returned to Repulse Bay Manor.

【Guojun Group Chairman Chen Jiajun, affair with Guan Shan's daughter confirmed, the two have been cohabiting for two years】

A copy of 【Sing Tao Daily】 lay on the table, and the entertainment headline was a photo of Chen Jiajun in a suit and tie and Guan Jiahui in a mink coat and evening gown.

Further down the report was a group photo from the celebration banquet, with the large characters 【Heroic Essence Celebration Banquet】 being very eye-catching.

Another 【Oriental Daily News】 contained similar content, but it added an article titled 【Hong Kong Top Ten Financial Magnates—Chen Jiajun, a Self-Made Young Billionaire】.

This article was full of positive energy, starting with a count of Chen Jiajun's series of operations in the stock market, followed by an inventory of Chen Jiajun's assets—Zhongba Group, Bar Group, and Guojun Group—finally calculating that Chen Jiajun's net worth was at least 4 billion.

A net worth of 4 billion ranked sixth among Hong Kong's financial magnates, though the report also pointed out that Chen Jiajun's industries were all high-quality, and because the shareholding of 【Guojun Group】 was not very clear, Chen Jiajun's net worth was actually underestimated.

In this article in 【Oriental Daily News】, Mr. Chen Jiajun is an inspirational young man full of enterprise, talent, noble character, and indomitability.

The social section of 【Oriental Daily News】 reported on the court records of New Kee Dragon Head Xu Huayan, his son Xu Zhancheng, his son-in-law Zhang Liangsheng, and others.

The two sides formed a sharp contrast.

After reading 【Oriental Daily News】, Chen Jiajun admired the sycophantic skills of the 【Oriental Daily News】 Zha FIT Ren—Oriental Ma—even more.

"Chairman, coffee."

At Hongxing Film and Television, the company receptionist handed Dalao Jun a cup of coffee, her eyes brimming with moisture.

"Thank you."

Unfortunately, the woman was willing but the man was not; Chen Jiajun just nodded slightly and withdrew his gaze.

"Mr. Chen, are you busy?" At this moment, Ceng Ziwei entered the office with a file folder.

"Come in and sit." Chen Jiajun smiled and stood up, walking around the desk.

The two sat on the sofa, and Ceng Ziwei handed over the file folder: "These are the registration forms for the training class recently received by Hongxing Film and Television; please take a look."

"Oh?"

Taking the file folder, Chen Jiajun opened the cigar box and handed Ceng Ziwei a Cohiba cigar.

Since its founding last year, Hongxing Film and Television had always thought about opening an artist training class, but the results were not very good before; now, Hongxing Film is a golden signboard in Hong Kong and also an overlord.

Therefore, there were an endless number of artists coming to sign up.

Chen Jiajun had to look through these new recruit registration forms personally, lest some good seedlings be excluded.

The materials were divided into two stacks: one stack had already passed the preliminary assessment, and one stack had been eliminated.

Chen Jiajun chose the eliminated stack and quickly saw a good seedling among the applicants: the future comedy superstar Zhou Xingci.

He emphatically drew a circle with a red pen and said to Ceng Ziwei: "This artist's resume says he is a special actor for Rediffusion Television and has acting experience; why didn't he pass the preliminary selection?"

"I had him act in a tragic scene, but he ended up acting the tragedy as a comedy, so he naturally failed. Besides, I checked his background; it seems he is registered with New Kee, and I was afraid of causing trouble for you, Boss."

Ceng Ziwei shook his head helplessly; he also had a deep impression of this person, Zhou Xingci.

Chen Jiajun smiled and shook his head, saying: "Being able to act a tragic scene as a comedy is also a skill; he has a natural talent for comedy. Give him a ten-year contract first and tell him that if he joins our company, he must sign a long-term contract."

"In addition, during his time at the company, if he performs excellently, the company will re-sign the contract with him."

"Cultivate him well; he is a good seedling. As for whether he is in a triad or not, it doesn't matter; Hongxing Film and Television is not the same as Hung Hing."

"Yes, Dalao." Ceng Ziwei immediately wrote down the name Zhou Xingci.

Immediately after, Chen Jiajun saw another file that made him feel surprised: Wen Biyu.

Born on July 30, 1966, home address: Tiaojingling, Hong Kong.

Initial screening, the score was zero.

Chen Jiajun looked at Ceng Ziwei and said: "Why is her score zero?"

"A little hoodlum, no acting talent at all, and the key is that she is still a minor."

Ceng Ziwei pointed to the comments below.

Chen Jiajun looked at the photo carefully; isn't this the future star "Wen Bixia"?

(End of chapter)