Chapter 92: The Young Yamen Official Crashes the Wrap Party at Night

The film crew members shouted to the heavens, embracing one another.

During the less than one month of filming, they encountered all sorts of difficulties, especially the several long NG takes by the young pop king Zhou Jielun, which kept everyone on edge.

This was not Ning Hao’s first time participating in a shoot, yet he was still won over by the coordination, scheduling, and meticulous professional ability displayed by Lu Kuan, truly and wholeheartedly beginning to follow this young director to realize his own artistic ideals.

Zhou Jielun’s eyes were slightly red; perhaps ever since he started learning piano as a child, he had not encountered such physically and mentally exhausting torture in a long time. He silently wiped away his sweat and hugged Lu Kuan tightly.

Proprietor Lu could understand his feelings; he had originally been forced into the role of the male lead by him, and at one point had nearly collapsed because he couldn't reach the passing grade for his performance.

After countless times of psychological preparation and countless times of practicing and reviewing, he had finally brought the character Xu Huan to life!

While the revelry was still going on over there, Sun Wenwen and Zhuang Xu were already pulling their hair out at Wang Yongle’s villa in Changping...

"Still not answering the phone?"

Sun Wenwen picked up her phone again to confirm: "No."

Zhuang Xu was furious: "That son of a bitch!"

He turned his head to look at Wang Yongle, who was drinking red wine with composure, the investment banking elite who had been ruthlessly exploited by Proprietor Lu putting on a smiling face once again.

"Mr. Wang, the craftsmanship of this root carving in your home is truly excellent, where did you pick it up?"

"2.5 million, I want cash, not a cent less."

"You can use delaying tactics here, I don't mind; Zhang Jian’s people reported 2.2 million over the phone and are already on their way."

The deadbeat Wang Yongle was now in a position where he had nothing to lose; he had been on the verge of bankruptcy and liquidation when he suddenly discovered that the adaptation rights for the *Legend of Sword and Fairy* game in his hands had become a treasure.

The scramble was lively indeed; it was truly a case of finding a new path through the dark willows and bright flowers!

Zhuang Xu’s face darkened; the situation was tricky, and if it weren't for Lu Kuan, he would have already wanted to cut and run.

"It’s through, it’s through!" Sun Wenwen waved excitedly at Zhuang Xu.

Zhuang Xu, filled with pent-up anger, picked up the phone ready to curse, but didn't expect to be shut down by a single sentence from his junior fellow apprentice.

"Immediately! Right now! At once! Use money to crush that deadbeat for me; sign the contract directly if it’s under 3 million!"

Power is an aphrodisiac for men, and wealth is a tonic for men; Proprietor Lu had been limp all afternoon, but right now he was rock hard!

June 22nd, 4:23 PM, 6 minutes of stoppage time ended, the Koreans tied Spain, and relying on the traditional skills of a scoundrel, they successfully cheated their way into the penalty shootout!

This was the only time in Lu Kuan’s past and present lives that he hoped the Koreans wouldn't lose, all for the sake of his massive gambling stake!

Zhuang Xu and Wang Yongle consulted urgently for a while, but still gave his junior fellow apprentice a call.

"1.5 million deposit, he wants the balance within 24 hours; this clause must be written into the contract, otherwise he won't sell."

Proprietor Lu frowned; the deadbeat sure had a lot of demands.

"Senior brother, wait for my word."

He took out his phone and dialed Huang Pi; as soon as it connected, he was met with a barrage of flattery.

"Mr. Lu! So impressive! I have never seen a client as capable as you!"

Proprietor Lu ignored the slick-looking gangster: "You said last time that payment would be made in a week; how soon is the fastest?"

Huang Pi was stunned: "Mr. Lu, it’s not that easy to launder, you wait patiently for a bit; by the way, do you want to keep betting..."

Damn it! I’m a junket agent, not a money launderer!

Proprietor Lu rudely interrupted his usual seductive tactics for gambling addicts: "It’s 4:30 now, there are still many flights to Beiping; can you have someone send 2 million to me first?" (Note 1)

Scrubbing the black money clean was Lu Kuan’s requirement; originally, going to Xiangjiang to place the bet was to avoid future risks, so naturally, he couldn't leave behind any transaction records.

The PR company boss who had helped countless major stars clean up their scandals in his past life was very concerned about this matter and didn't want to leave even a trace of evidence.

"The 5 percent commission we discussed is void; a flat fee of 500,000, delivered to my hands before 12:00 midnight, no matter what method you use."

Proprietor Lu’s voice at this moment was like the temptation of a devil: "Brother, if you want to make money, you have to take risks; the bigger the waves, the more expensive the fish!"

Huang Pi hung up the phone, weighed the risks and opportunities of the 300,000 extra profit, and hardened his heart to call his most trusted subordinate into the office.

On the evening of June 22nd, the film crew members were singing and dancing at the wrap party restaurant, nearly blowing the roof off.

"Director, say a few words!"

Xiao Qian, the camera assistant from the Youth Film Studio, picked up the microphone to stir things up, and soon received strong support from everyone.

A smile also appeared on Tian Zhuangzhuang’s calm, lake-like face.

This was a talent for leadership; a student who hadn't even entered the Beijing Film Academy yet could knit a film crew together—professional ability, intelligence, and emotional intelligence were all indispensable.

Even veteran actors like Feng Yuanzheng were convinced; that was not an easy thing to achieve.

Proprietor Lu, already somewhat intoxicated, went up to the stage in high spirits, looking at the seven or eight tables of partners who had fought side-by-side for several weeks, feeling as if he had returned to the annual meeting of his past life.

"Alright, then, I will say a few brief words."

"A thousand sails pass by the shipwreck; ten thousand saplings spring up beyond the withered tree. Using this poem to describe the young and disaster-ridden *Whiplash* crew is just perfect."

"I am a pure novice director, Ning Hao is a semi-novice cinematographer, and among the actors, besides Huang Bo and Mr. Feng, Jielun and little Liu are basically all novices."

"We experienced the obstruction of malicious sit-ins, experienced the backstabbing of Xiangjiang actors, experienced the hardships and obstacles in creation, and finally, today, we have drunk this wrap-party wine!"

Liu Yifei was stirred by Proprietor Lu’s emotional speech; she had accompanied Lu Kuan through this film from start to finish and knew all too well what kind of situation he had faced.

Including the ulterior motives that her mother Liu Xiaoli and her godfather had developed halfway through.

That day when she left Lu Kuan’s room, the sorrow of "Can I still come back?" was flying about; she didn't expect that in the blink of an eye, she would see his stunning counterattack.

Proprietor Lu on stage spoke with great heroism: "That, little Liu, fill up the goblet with half a jin for me!"

"Oh!"

The young girl walked onto the stage tremblingly, holding the goblet, and handed it to Lu Kuan, watching him down it in one breath, which ignited the climax of the whole event!

"You should drink less..."

Her whisper, which she thought was very quiet, was transmitted right into the microphone and heard by everyone, immediately causing an uproar at the scene.

"She’s heartbroken! She’s heartbroken!"

The young girl spat at the group of old hooligans off-stage and hurriedly jumped off the stage, covering her face with a red cloth.

Liu Xiaoli, however, watched this scene with a smile; everyone was just making good-natured jokes without any malice, and seeing the young girl embarrassed, they restrained themselves in time.

Watching the young director on stage who was in complete control of the scene, she sighed inwardly; this little Lu was good in every way, just a bit too unrestrained.

During that time on set, he was getting hot and heavy with Dong Jie, which she, as someone who had been through it, could see clearly.

As for the later ones like Zhou Xun and Fan Bingbing who came to visit the set, they were all very intimate, and it was hard to say what the relationship was.

But from the way Lu Kuan usually interacted with her daughter, it was still very much within the bounds of propriety; during the morning practice sessions, if there was any physical guidance, he would also invite her to be present.

This was what kept her from worrying about the risk of her daughter being tainted.

Liu Yifei was outputting to the food as usual.

"Mom, why didn't Godfather come?"

Liu Xiaoli was stunned; that’s right, this was the first film for the future star of Red Star Dock, and Lu Kuan had invited him too.

A heroic laugh suddenly came from the entrance of the restaurant: "Director Lu, I’m late!"

Everyone looked over and saw Cheng Jingfei walking in with a young man in a suit and leather shoes, both smiling.

Note 1: The "Interim Measures for the Administration of Carrying Foreign Currency Cash into and out of the Country" stipulates the requirements for carrying it, so it is allowed.

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(End of this chapter)