Chapter 67: Counter-Kill

Zhang Jianting urgently notified the lawyers to arrive; the contract issue with the *Whiplash* crew had to be resolved first, otherwise today's press conference would become a laughingstock.

The group of reporters at the entrance who refused to leave were still craning their necks in anticipation; with Lu Kuan, an uninvited and unwelcome guest, present, things had become even more complicated.

Liu Zeyu sauntered into the negotiation venue and, without ceremony, plopped himself down opposite Lu Kuan.

"It seems you have some tricks up your sleeve; I underestimated you."

Boss Lu looked at him with a puzzled expression: "Who are you? I'm talking to the people from Emperor Group, what does this have to do with you?"

After a long pause, he pretended to have a sudden realization and laughed: "Oh! So it's you, the guy who smelled my fart during the exam and even wanted the formula!"

Liu Zeyu instantly recalled the humiliating memory from the fourth round of the Beijing Film Academy auditions; his anger flared up and he was just about to lash out when a group of agents, lawyers, and Emperor Group staff filed in.

The first to speak was the Hong Kong lawyer representing the three artists.

"Mr. Lu, our side has already clearly issued a request to your crew to terminate the performance contract; based on the previous contract terms, this is completely legal and compliant."

"Furthermore, your side must pay the relevant remuneration for our artists during the period they have already filmed, as stipulated."

Boss Lu toyed with his phone and said dismissively: "Don't stall for time. I sent a letter this morning formally notifying your side that the crew's operations have resumed."

"According to the contract terms, if you do not respond or resume work within 48 hours, I can unilaterally terminate the contract and demand liquidated damages equal to three times your salary."

The white-haired lawyer exchanged a glance with Zhang Jianting, then took out a document and said in a stern tone: "Mr. Lu, we have also noted that your crew's financial situation is not very ideal; do you admit this?"

Boss Lu ignored his trap: "Say what you have to say."

The old lawyer’s expression was gentle, his tone sincere: "Our artists currently have quite a few endorsement contracts. If we sign some preliminary agreements for mobile phones, coffee shops, and other brands that have non-compete clauses, I'm afraid they won't be able to continue participating in the product placement filming for your movie."

"If these endorsements are gone, your financial situation will also become very delicate. Instead of both sides suffering, why don't we each take a step back?"

One knows one's own affairs best; Lu Kuan currently had only 4 million in hand, and still had to pay the 1 million for the *Blind Shaft* crew, plus the 600,000 he borrowed from Zhuang Xu that he hadn't repaid yet.

There was still a significant gap from the 6-million budget. Aside from high endorsement fees, a large portion was intended to be mined from the World Cup opening this month.

"How do we step back?"

Zhang Jianting smiled: "A peaceful termination, a clean break. You agree to terminate, and we won't ask for a single cent of the salary."

He added a threat: "Mr. Lu, the film world isn't just about fighting and killing; it's better for young people not to be too overbearing."

What a pity, why didn't you say young people shouldn't be too arrogant! The "acting cool" combo couldn't be triggered.

Boss Lu started acting like a rogue: "I really don't have enough money right now, but I don't care. If you want to play, I'll play with you to the end."

"I'd rather spend money every day accompanying the three popular Hong Kong stars to film until the money runs out. If the movie doesn't get finished, that's my own damn fault!"

"You can also have the Hong Kong theater chains blacklist me, do whatever you want!"

He was going to trade himself for the three Hong Kong stars; this was an upgraded version of Tian Ji's horse racing strategy.

Xie Tingfeng and Chen Guanxi both had fiery tempers and immediately started shouting while slapping the table.

Lu Kuan was only 20 years old; he had just entered the Beijing Film Academy this year after passing the cultural exams and had plenty of time to do what he wanted.

But for the batch of Hong Kong stars currently in the limelight like Xie Tingfeng and Chen Guanxi, even disappearing for a month would cause their popularity to plummet.

The entertainment industry lacks resources and works, but it never lacks people.

No matter how popular they were for a moment, if they were dragged along by Lu Kuan using the contract for several months, they risked being washed away by the next wave.

Seeing the situation becoming tense, Huo Wenxi had no choice but to step in to mediate: "There's a misunderstanding here, everyone. Mr. Lu, just say it straight: what will it take for you to let them terminate the contract?"

The group opposite had nervous expressions, while Boss Lu, who was sitting comfortably on this side, started cracking jokes instead.

He didn't hide his lewd gaze as he swept it over the beautiful agent's sexy, curvy hips under her skirt: "Mani, you look so beautiful today!"

"For the sake of a beauty, let's just go by the contract: pay the triple liquidated damages, and I won't say another word—you can leave immediately!"

Seeing that Boss Lu was impervious to reason, Zhang Jianting tore off his refined mask: "Mr. Lu, your film's filing is as a co-production, and it has a large number of violent scenes; it also involves the suspected defamation of the image of teachers."

"If you agree to a peaceful termination, *Whiplash* will still receive the friendship of Emperor Group. I can even introduce you to other Hong Kong actors."

"If you insist on going your own way and must have this triple termination fee, I think your future films won't be very welcome in Hong Kong, and no Hong Kong theater chains or actors will be willing to cooperate with you."

Before it was a subtle threat; now, the ugly face was put directly on the table.

If Lu Kuan was determined to fight to the death, even if he got the liquidated damages, with Emperor Group's influence, no Hong Kong actors would be willing to work with him again, and anything he filmed would be boycotted by Hong Kong theaters.

This would cause the co-production status filing for *Whiplash* to become invalid, and the film would also fall into a deadlock during censorship due to the controversy over the teacher's image.

Zhang Jianting watched the young director lost in thought and smiled, thinking to himself that he was still too green.

Liu Zeyu also chimed in with an assist at the right time: "Lu Kuan, I've already had people contact your three endorsements. If you're willing to give up the triple liquidated damages, I can choose not to intervene in this matter."

"If you insist on making things look bad for everyone, then you can forget about those endorsement fees too."

Xie Tingfeng, Chen Guanxi, and the others all cast eager gazes, highly appreciating this "killing blow" from the young master, and Zhang Jianting patted his shoulder to show his appreciation.

The young master was extremely excited; he felt that at this moment he possessed some of his father's methods and style in officialdom, a sense of pleasure in seeing the enemy's defenses crumble while chatting and laughing!

I, the young master, play "Knight to rank 5," and you, Lu Kuan, play "General to rank 5."

Now I'll play "Cannon to rank 5," how will you respond to that?

This move is called: Checkmate!

Xie Tingfeng and the others all looked relaxed. Liu Zeyu regretted smashing his Nokia 7650 just a moment ago; otherwise, he could have perfectly recorded the expression on Lu Kuan's face when he sheepishly accepted the termination.

The white-haired lawyer also shrugged easily; such things were not surprising. Eighty percent of business negotiations reached agreements through underhanded tactics; how many actually followed the contract?

"You people!"

Lu Kuan sighed heavily.

Everyone looked up at the young man who spoke, but unexpectedly, they didn't see a hint of defeat on his face.

"You people, you're just used to being bandits."

"You're no good at doing things, but you're full of tricks when it comes to screwing people over."

Boss Lu inexplicably thought of his past life, thought of himself as that young man who had just graduated from USC and was full of longing for film art...

Thought of how he had fallen time and again before the iron hooves of capital, under the oppression of bureaucracy...

"As long as it's something you've set your eyes on, you'll use any means to seize it. You have no ability to create a situation yourselves, only knowing how to plunder weaker peers."

Zhang Jianting curled his lip in disdain; he had thought Lu Kuan was someone, but he was actually saying such childish things.

"The law of the jungle is survival of the fittest. Do you think you're a student in an ivory tower? Only knowing how to wail when you've been wronged."

Boss Lu stood up and walked toward Liu Zeyu and the others, taking a folded paper contract out of his pocket.

"This is a memorandum of understanding between Wenjie Culture Media and Taiwan singer Zhou Jielun regarding the filming of *Whiplash*."

"As you said, the law of the jungle is survival of the fittest. Now let me ask you, who is strong? Who is weak?!"

Lu Kuan suddenly raised his voice, flung the few sheets of paper manuscript, still smelling of ink, into Zhang Jianting's face, and approached him with a ferocious expression.

"Who told you that a co-production must involve you Hong Kong people?"

"Can't Taiwan and the Mainland co-produce? Huh? Can't they, you lunatic? Eat shit!"

The first step by the likes of Liu Zeyu and Zhang Jianting to obstruct the crew's normal resumption of work had failed, and they had immediately tried to force him to give up the triple-salary termination fee by using the co-production restrictions as an excuse.

But they hadn't expected that while they were busy fooling around with young models, Lu Kuan had already pulled the rug out from under them by contacting Zhou Jielun, who was in Hong Kong warming up for his *The Eight Dimensions* album.

Aside from CEPA, Taiwan and the Mainland had long had a series of cultural and economic mutual assistance agreements during harmonious periods.

Throughout the 80s and 90s, relations between the two sides were relatively stable, until 1999 when the Mainland issued regulations that the number of creative staff from Taiwan in TV dramas and variety shows could not exceed five, and for variety shows, no more than three.

Zhou Jielun's addition allowed the nature of the co-production to be preserved, the hidden dangers for censorship were gone, and Lu Kuan, having received the triple compensation, could still continue his project.

And his popularity in the Asian region would only make several advertising sponsors offer even bigger contracts.

Xie Tingfeng, Chen Guanxi, and Liu Zeyu all looked at Zhang Jianting, who was holding the memorandum of understanding, in stunned silence.

Zhang Jianting couldn't even care about the humiliation he had just received from Lu Kuan, whom he had just belittled; he looked at his lawyer with a livid face, while the latter stammered, unable to speak, and could only shake his head helplessly.

"Mr. Lu, good move! I'll remember you!" Zhang Jianting dropped the threat, turned, and left with Xie Tingfeng and Chen Guanxi, while the lawyer in his suit and leather shoes hurriedly gathered the documents and chased after them.

"Why aren't you leaving?" Lu Kuan looked at Yu Wenle in the corner with a blank expression.

"I... Director Lu, I want to continue acting in *Whiplash*."

Yu Wenle was not a second-generation star like Xie Tingfeng and Chen Guanxi; his family had fallen on hard times during the 1997 financial crisis, and his younger sister's tuition had been paid by selling cars and watches.

He didn't want to, and it would be very difficult for him to pay the triple-salary termination fee.

Boss Lu sneered: "You can continue, but your salary will be cut in half."

"Yes..."

Yu Wenle felt as if all his strength had been drained; after a painful internal struggle, he stammered his agreement.

Lu Kuan raised his eyebrows and tossed him a cigarette: "Very good."

Liu Zeyu glared at Yu Wenle, wanting to curse him for being a traitor, but he didn't know what position he had to do so.

If it weren't for his instigation, why would Yu Wenle have suddenly lowered his salary?

"Lu Kuan, you're bluffing, right? How could you possibly convince Zhou Jielun to act in your movie?"

Liu Zeyu felt as if he had been dreaming of strategizing in a tent and winning a thousand miles away, only to be ruthlessly pierced by Boss Lu's counterattack in the next second.

He didn't know how Lu Kuan, a nobody with no works to his name, had convinced the new Asian superstar to cross over and act in his low-budget film.

Boss Lu showed a victor's smile and leisurely exhaled a puff of smoke: "Yeah, how did I do it?"

"Young Master Liu, 500,000 to buy some clarity, how about it?"

(End of chapter)