Chapter 123: with translation of chapter title

Chen Jinfei is in the real estate business, and he has no dealings with Jiang Heng.

But he knows Jiang Heng secured a plot of land at Wudaokou to build the Outstanding Rising Film Company building, so he now has a pretext for contact.

First he called a friend to ask if they had Jiang Heng's number.

The latter laughed: "You're not eyeing that plot of land in his hands, are you? Many companies are mulling it over!"

Chen Jinfei smiled: "I do have a bit of interest; his main business is making movies, building a skyscraper isn't his forte, so someone needs to help him with it."

"That may be so, but I heard many companies have put their connections through Han Sanping, and you know the relationship between the two families—this isn't easy to pull off!"

Chen Jinfei laughed: "In business, you always have to give it a try!"

The friend then stopped advising and gave him a number.

After Chen Jinfei hung up, he hurriedly called back, but it was the assistant who answered—no surprise there.

Who has time to meet and chat idly? The Outstanding Rising Film Company building project doesn't even have time to be handled; it's truly not a case of sitting on land without developing it.

Liu Xiaoli thanked profusely, then hung up and exclaimed delightedly: "Xi Xi, you'll get to see Director Jiang soon!"

Jiang Heng thought for a moment, recalled who this person was, and could roughly guess the purpose of the invitation.

Only then did he call Liu Xiaoli, saying he had made contact, but Jiang Heng was busy filming and couldn't set a time yet.

"Of course, Mom will first take you out for something tasty, then we'll wait for word—who knows, before long you might see your movie released worldwide!"

Having come to this point, Jiang Heng found it hard to refuse and reluctantly said: "Well, okay then!"

Given his current wealth and reputation, Jiang Heng would certainly not turn down cooperation with him.

The proper courtesies will still be observed, rather than lightly giving offense.

"Really?"

Liu Xiaoli, having struggled half her life, understands these things all too well.

Yet one does not realize that the clique that holds power and wealth in a given place, even if they usually have little interaction, will still extend mutual courtesy as long as there is no conflict of interest.

Chen Jinfei couldn't wait months, so he hurriedly said: "This way, Director Jiang, I happen to be nearby; my foster daughter also admires you greatly—the kid's got ambition, she got into the Beijing Film Academy, and she's always been curious about big special-effects films, so I'll bring her to have a look; I promise not to trouble you."

Liu Xiaoli encouraged her daughter, and Liu Tianxian couldn't help but start daydreaming.

After thinking it over, she finally called Chen Jinfei, saying she's been swamped lately and will invite the boss to dinner after the production wraps in a few months.

On Jiang Heng's side, naturally he was filming on set.

Attending the premiere of *Saving Mother by Splitting the Mountain* only took half a day—how could it possibly delay his work?

When there's news, I'll tell her again.

Liu Tianxian still doesn't quite grasp the rules of the adult world, and since her foster father and Director Jiang don't know each other, can she really get to meet him?

After stating his name and company and the purpose of the call, he then hung up.

The assistant said there was a man named Chen Jinfei who claimed to be the boss of Tongchan Group and wanted to invite him to dinner.

Filming *The Matrix* 2 and 3 back-to-back would at least keep him busy on set for over half a year, plus arranging for the already-shot footage to be sent to VFX companies, and adding the promotion for *Saving Mother by Splitting the Mountain* premiere, Jiang Heng's schedule is truly packed to the brim.

After hanging up, he pondered: How old is Liu Tianxian this year?

But speaking of Chen Jinfei, he hurriedly called Liu Xiaoli, saying he would soon bring her mother and daughter to visit the *Matrix* sequel set, which made the two of them exclaim with joy.

Seeing the people in the restaurant staring at them in surprise, they hastily tidied up, got up, left, and drove to meet Chen Jinfei.

The latter was arranging manpower, sweeping through many milk tea shops in Jingcheng, and also moving many boxes of cold drinks.

As a billionaire with over two billion in assets, Chen Jinfei certainly couldn't show up empty-handed for the set visit.

It wouldn't be appropriate to splash cash on a first meeting, and besides, Jiang Heng's current net worth is likely greater than his, so it's not something he could afford to throw around.

Rather, in the name of his foster daughter, he would buy milk tea and cold drinks for the whole crew, thereby letting everyone in the circle know that the young lady has arrived and they should make way.

After they met up, they got into Chen Jinfei's Mercedes S600, with several small trucks following behind, all loaded with milk tea.

He had only heard that the *Matrix* sequel set employed several hundred people, so he directly ordered a thousand servings.

"Xi Xi, when you meet Director Jiang later, you don't need to be nervous—just be yourself; everything will be arranged by your foster father!"

"Mm, thanks, foster dad!"

Chen Jinfei gazed fondly at his foster daughter before him and told Liu Xiaoli: "Xi Xi is so pretty and well-behaved, there's definitely no problem!"

Liu Xiaoli's eyes grew a little moist: "Old Chen, you really are putting yourself out!"

Chen Jinfei said generously: "Hey, between us, there's no need to talk about that!"

The China Film Digital Photography Base is in Huairou, nearly a hundred li away; the party arrived only after 2 p. m., right in the hottest part of the day.

Chen Jinfei's motorcade arrived, and Outstanding Rising Film Company's vice president Li Xiaoping came out to greet him: "Hello, Mr. Chen, I'm Li Xiaoping, vice president of Outstanding Rising Film Company; our Director Jiang is busy filming and really can't spare any time!"

Chen Jinfei hastily said: "Hey, it was my impertinence to disturb the shoot's progress; mainly it's because my daughter greatly admires Director Jiang and wants to see how those super spectacular shots are filmed, so I boldly brought her and her mother along."

He then pointed to the several small trucks behind: "The weather's too hot—I brought some milk tea and cold drinks for everyone, just a little token, just a little token!"

Li Xiaoping quickly laughed: "Mr. Chen, you're being too polite; there's no need to go to such expense!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries, he ordered people to move the drinks inside, ready to hand out milk tea and cold drinks during the break.

He then glanced at the pretty, well-behaved Liu Tianxian and thought: "This girl has fine looks and a serene demeanor, she carries an otherworldly air—she's definitely a promising prospect!"

Actually, when she first heard that a real estate developer wanted to bring his foster daughter for a set visit, Li Xiaoping felt somewhat dismissive.

Many girls admire Jiang Heng and want to visit the set—what makes you special?

But now, taking another look, she really does feel that the girl before her truly has those qualifications.

After a moment's thought, she said: "Let's head inside first, stay quiet; when this shot wraps, we'll have a fifteen- to thirty-minute break, and Director Jiang will be free then!"

Chen Jinfei and his party had no objections and followed Li Xiaoping into the set.

Along the way, it was quite an eye-opener.

They found the equipment here to be full of a high-tech feel, with not a trace of being outdated.

Upon arriving at the set, they saw the male lead Neo and Agent Smith filming a fight scene, which looked rather dull.

Constant NG retakes took nearly an hour before this shot was finally finished.

Li Xiaoping walked a few steps ahead to explain the situation, and only then did Jiang Heng turn his head sideways from behind the monitor, seeing a man about forty with a strong presence, beside him a beautiful woman of similar age.

In front of them was a pretty little girl with a youthful face and an ethereal aura—indeed, the future superstar Liu Tianxian.

Jiang Heng stood up, smiling: "Director Chen, I've long admired you!"

Chen Jinfei hurried forward to shake Jiang Heng's hand, "Ah, we should be the ones saying we've long admired you—Director Jiang's great reputation truly resounds like thunder in our ears!"

(End of chapter)