Chapter 84: Slaying the Woman

Lu Kuan was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected Fan Bingbing to have such a spirit of resistance during this period.

However, considering that she later repeatedly refused the role of the mistress "Wu Yue" in *Cell Phone*, only agreeing after Wang Jinhua turned hostile and pressured her, it was not so strange after all.

The vulnerability of entertainers in the domestic entertainment industry of this era regarding creative work and career development was evident.

Just imagine, if her hype had failed and she hadn't become an overnight sensation, losing her economic value, the talent agency would have discarded her like a worn-out shoe.

This was also her greatest concern at the moment.

But fate is fickle; Boss Lu knew that in the future, the very thing that would truly help her turn her life around was indeed Feng Xiaogang's *Cell Phone*.

With this film, she won the Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actress, shed the title of "vase," broadened her acting range, and entered the world of big-screen cinema.

"You can't even trust Huayi, so why did you think of coming to me?"

"How can I compare to Sammo Hung? He is Jackie Chan's senior fellow apprentice, a big shot in the Hong Kong circle!"

Boss Lu's meaning was also very clear.

If you don't want to be sold by your company to Sammo Hung for scandalous hype, or even forced into 'practical combat' to boost your status, then why would you come to me?

A director who is a complete novice without a single work to his name.

Fan Bingbing wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her voice tinged with timidity.

"I don't know, I just feel that you have more capability than anyone else."

"As soon as you debuted, you could make Zhang Jizhong listen to your every word; if you said change a character, he changed it."

"You said Zhang Tianshuo was going to be in trouble, and in the blink of an eye, he was about to go to jail and face a firing squad."

"When actors from Hong Kong targeted you, you were able to pull together a team to shoot a movie in no time, and you're even preparing to attend the Venice Film Festival."

This string of words was both flattering and aggrieved; hearing it made one feel quite pleased, and naturally, it was impossible to blame her for fishing for information.

"What do I get for helping you?"

Lu Kuan was straightforward; he knew Fan Bingbing's character—she was a natural player in the entertainment industry.

Making a deal with a woman who understands equivalent exchange is very happy and fulfilling, because she knows what she wants and she knows what you want.

He was happy, and she was fulfilled.

Once the conversation reached the meat of the matter, the little demoness on the bed put away her pitiful act and put back on her sexy and charming disguise.

"As long as you want it, as long as I have it."

The sweet, seductive voice pierced his ears, and a beautiful young woman looked at you with such tender affection.

It felt as if a single movement of your little finger would make her tie up her hair and crawl over on her knees to help you vent your frustration.

Damn it, no director could withstand this kind of test!

Boss Lu knew that what she said wasn't necessarily the truth; if she could jump back and forth between Huayi and the Hong Kong circle, couldn't she take a few shots at him just in case?

But he didn't care; it was the same old saying: equivalent exchange.

"My next film can feature you, and I can also tailor a development plan for you."

"Since you mentioned Liu Yifei, I have shares in her agency, and you are a person from Huayi."

Fan Bingbing furrowed her beautiful brows: "Are you asking me to quit Huayi and join your company? Then I..."

"No, stay at Huayi."

"Huh?"

"Stay at Huayi, exchange information, and serve the country."

Huayi was naturally an aircraft carrier in the domestic entertainment industry that would be unshakable for many years to come.

Lu Kuan's films had to compete with their contracted director Feng Xiaogang, and Lu Kuan's agency department had to fight for resources against their massive lineup of actors.

There would even be friction in the public opinion sphere; there were only so many people at the top of the entertainment industry pyramid—if you don't come down, how can I go up?

If one could have an inside agent stirring up trouble within Huayi, it would be a useful move.

As for whether she would act as a double agent, that was not important; Boss Lu was not the type to release the hawk before seeing the rabbit.

"Huayi is currently planning to build a 'black-red' persona for you, a 'mistress' persona; you need to consider this carefully, as it is a point of no return."

"What is a 'persona'?"

"It is the image a star or public figure has in the eyes of the public."

"The power of public opinion is very strong; if it says you are a pure maiden, you are a pure maiden; if it says you are a harlot, you are a harlot."

Lu Kuan lit another cigarette: "You know about blogs, right?"

"Of course, every artist in the company has one now, it's just that no one reads what I post."

Seeing Boss Lu smile without speaking, Fan Bingbing suddenly realized.

"You mean!?"

"Public opinion is a little girl who can be dressed up by anyone; in this regard, I can provide you with some help."

He neither admitted nor denied it; Lu Kuan intended to sign a nominee shareholding agreement with his senior fellow apprentice to move completely behind the scenes, clearly distancing himself from the blog network on the surface.

The blog network would sooner or later face direct confrontation with other internet companies.

His main battlefield was in film and the entertainment industry; if everyone knew he was the boss of the blog network, those internet capitals looking to enter the entertainment industry would definitely throttle the traffic to his works.

The most direct examples were Tencent and Alibaba, which held shares when Huayi went public.

If a film by Huayi's Feng Xiaogang and a film by Lu Kuan were to clash during the New Year period, it would be hard for the internet companies invested in Huayi not to play favorites.

The entry of internet capital into the grand entertainment industry was a trend in the future, but the prophetic Boss Lu had begun his layout at the very start of his venture.

Doing business is all about asking for a high price and negotiating down.

Fan Bingbing had almost made up her mind to defect, but she didn't expect the other party to just tell her to wait and see.

Thinking she had enjoyed a free lunch, Fan Bingbing was full of joy, but she didn't know that Lu Kuan's exploitation of her was yet to come.

The free ones are the most expensive.

She reached out with seductive eyes and pulled the cigarette from Lu Kuan's mouth, her red lips parting as she exhaled a puff of smoke.

The pleasant scent of mint perfume mixed with the ambiguous smoke rushed into his nose and mouth, leaving his whole body tingling...

In a trance, Boss Lu's still-clear eyes glanced at the comprehensive mock exam papers on the table.

Forget it...

After tossing and turning until late at night, he groggily checked his phone; it was already 3:00 AM.

Boss Lu had truly seen it today.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and lit a cigarette.

"Bingbing, take a break?"

"If you can, you can; if you can't, you can't. What does 'take a break' mean?"

Fan Bingbing leaned over him, staring, with a few beads of sweat on her forehead.

Boss Lu saw intense pressure in the eyes of the beautiful woman.

"No, I really gave it my all for this review session!"

Fan Bingbing sneered: "Heh, 'gave it your all'—where did you get the strength if you didn't 'eat'?"

(End of chapter)