Chapter 30: High-End Goods

"Lu Kuan, hurry up and change the contact information for the 'Ask the World' service. People are calling my phone every single day!"

"That's all business, Senior Brother. Just going to look at some feng shui or cut a ribbon is 100,000 yuan. How else am I supposed to pay you back those 500,000?"

Whenever Zhuang Xu mentioned this, he would get so angry he couldn't even speak: "What did you say before you came here? That you wouldn't do any of that superstitious scamming stuff! If something goes wrong, I'll be the first one to call the police and have you arrested!"

It had been two weeks since returning from Xiangjiang. Thanks to the bearded man in the mainland and the three dead ghosts—the mother and her two children—in Xiangjiang, the reputation of the "Little Immortal" had been thoroughly spread abroad.

No matter how much he tried to hide his identity, it was like getting yellow mud in his trousers; he couldn't wash away his connection to the reputation of a charlatan.

Boss Lu had already become so puffed up that he wouldn't take jobs under 100,000; you can imagine how it was!

"Are you really not coming back with me?" Zhuang Xu finished packing his luggage. He was going home for a blind date this year and had already submitted a report to his unit to take leave early.

With less than two weeks until the Spring Festival, Lu Kuan was happy to be left in peace and quiet, unwilling to go through the trouble of returning to Maoshan.

Lu Kuan was writing a script on his computer until his head was spinning when suddenly his phone rang—a Beiping number.

"Hello? Is this Mr. Lu?"

The voice was sweet and coquettish, very familiar.

"Who is this?"

"It's Bingbing! We met in Xiangjiang, remember?"

Whoa! Chatting with a "cannon rack" like her, I'm not sleepy anymore!

"Hello, Miss Fan. What can I do for you?"

"Mr. Lu, don't be so formal. Just call me Bingbing."

"It's like this: I've opened a school in Beiping and invited many celebrities and big names to help out. Would Mr. Lu be free to come take a look at the feng shui and offer a few pointers?"

"Oh, I see. I don't provide that kind of service. If it's business..."

Fan Bingbing giggled and interrupted him: "Oh, I misspoke. It's business consulting, business consulting. I'll be waiting for you at the school this afternoon."

"Alright, send me the address!" Lu Kuan checked the time; he had an appointment with Zhang Jizhong in the evening, so he should have enough time.

Surely she wouldn't jump straight to "seize the day" on the first meeting...

"Mr. Lu is so straightforward! I've already had my assistant contact Manager Zhuang at 'Ask the World'. You don't need to worry about the compensation."

Lu Kuan glanced at his Senior Brother's missed calls, exchanged a few more words with her, and hung up.

It had been months since his one-night stand with Sister Jiang, and he hadn't tasted meat since. The little Daoist priest was now regretting why he had broken things off with his soulmate so early.

It seemed a new co-star had appeared for Boss Lu. An old Audi A6 is still an Audi A6! Besides, Apple is only twenty years old now—she's fresh!

At two in the afternoon, Lu Kuan took a taxi to the shores of Yanqi Lake in the "countryside" of Huairou County. The school looked like a small courtyard with a simple four-story building.

The storefront, which originally might have been a restaurant or something else, had been renovated and decorated, and now prominently displayed a plaque that read "Fan Bingbing Film and Television Art Training School."

At the turn of the millennium, celebrities running schools and entering the education system was a craze. Everyone is familiar with Lv Liping's Beiping Qunxing Art School, Hu Bing and Qu Ying's modeling school, and others that were products of this period.

More high-end players were like Zhang Guoli, who became the dean of the School of Fine Arts at a secondary college of Chongqing University, or Director Xie Jin, who served as a dean at a secondary college of Shanghai Normal University.

"Mr. Lu!"

A stunningly beautiful woman walked out from the gate. She wore a stylish and elegant long white down jacket, the fur at the collar gently embracing her slender neck, while the black turtleneck sweater underneath was easily pushed out by her twin peaks.

With her long, straight legs and black over-the-knee boots, Boss Lu sighed inwardly: this is the high-end stuff.

"Hello, Bingbing, we meet again!"

Fan Bingbing took the initiative to reach out and shake her guest's hand. Lu Kuan felt her fingernails brush against him intentionally or otherwise, yet when he glanced at her expression, it looked so innocent.

When experts trade blows, every move draws blood.

The two of them went through the motions of touring the school. The little Daoist priest offered a few pointers on small issues like the placement of bonsai trees and the orientation of the desks and chairs, and personally wrote a "Human Relations Harmony Talisman" to press behind the plaque at the entrance before preparing to go to the office for tea and a rest.

Passing by the conference room, the interview process seemed to have just ended, and a dozen or so applicants for teaching positions filed out.

The last man with short hair was suddenly stopped as he reached the door.

"Sir, what is this..." The short-haired man looked at the young man in front of him, completely bewildered. Was he being asked to stay for a meal?

Lu Kuan handed over a business card: "Hello, my production crew is short on people. Contact me later."

Leaving the bewildered Zhang Songwen standing in the wind, Lu Kuan—who had just picked up an NPC on the road—and a puzzled Fan Bingbing entered the office.

Everyone knew perfectly well that the 200,000 Fan Bingbing paid for this ribbon-cutting was, firstly, to buy peace of mind regarding metaphysics.

Secondly, it was all an exchange of interests, especially since Fan Bingbing had been eyeing him for a while after learning about Lu Kuan's relationship with Mei Yanfang.

"Mr. Lu, please have some tea."

"Thank you, Miss Fan."

Fan Bingbing gave him a coquettish roll of her eyes: "I already said just call me Bingbing. What, does Mr. Lu think I'm climbing the social ladder?"

"Not at all. You call me Mr. Lu too, after all. Principle of reciprocity, haha."

"Alright then, Boss Lu, Brother Lu, is that okay?" Fan Bingbing suddenly leaned in close, and a faint fragrance wafted over.

A girl from Shandong province acting spoiled in such a soft, sweet tone was no less effective; the little Daoist priest was being teased to the point of distraction.

This isn't Jin Suo (Golden Lock); this is "Sperm Lock"!

"Bingbing, just call me by my name." Lu Kuan crossed his legs to hide his reaction, picked up the hot tea, and took a sip to steady his Daoist heart.

"How could I dare?" Fan Bingbing said charmingly: "Boss Lu, I actually have a matter I'd like to ask for your help with."

"Please, go ahead."

"Sister Mei has a record company. I want to see if there's a chance..."

Lu Kuan was stunned by this woman's train of thought. She was already neck-deep in the Xiangjiang circle with her life and death uncertain, and now she was plotting to enter the music industry.

This was a case of being desperate and seeking any doctor. For a female star to still be lukewarm at the prime age of 20, it was no wonder that with her strong personality, she was like a headless fly bumping into everything.

As a veteran PR company boss in his past life, Lu Kuan had the most say in her development path; he had even tailored a comeback plan for her after her tax scandal.

Those who follow the domestic entertainment industry will find that Fan Bingbing's life path is remarkably similar to that of another "Big Heroine," Liu Xiaoqing!

Liu Xiaoqing was the first female star in the country to publicly state she didn't fear rumors, rising to fame amidst a chorus of curses and loud debates over her black-and-red reputation; Fan was the same.

Liu Xiaoqing once shouted, "I am a wealthy family," completely breaking free from the shackles of men in her career; Fan was the same.

The most critical step in Liu Xiaoqing's business operations was establishing a commercial company after the Reform and Opening-up, and Fan Bingbing was the first artist in the mainland to establish a personal studio.

Liu Xiaoqing pushed her boyfriend Jiang Wen to transition from actor to director, accompanying him to choose scripts, find capital, and build a team; Fan Bingbing and her "Big Black Bull" were the same.

As for Liu Xiaoqing later being struck down by the iron fist of the people, she unfortunately followed in her predecessor's footsteps.

(End of chapter)