Chapter 94

Only four people from Red Star Dock and the party-crashing Liu Zeyu remained at the main table.

The little Yanei leisurely picked up his cup and took a sip of hot tea, enjoying this moment of victory.

He finally understood the satisfaction Lu Kuan felt when he caused a scene at the Yinghuang press conference in front of so many reporters; showing off really is addictive!

He glanced gleefully at the motionless Lu Kuan. Sweating, are you? Still putting on an act!

"Director Lu, don't force yourself to stay calm. *Chinese Paladin* has already been bought by me. I know you are also a shareholder of Red Star Dock; why don't we sit down and talk about cooperation?"

Immediately after, he smiled at Liu Yifei, who was glaring at him, with what he thought was a dashing look: "After all, it's all for Yifei's acting career, right, Liu Nushi?"

Liu Xiaoli wasn't completely oblivious; she could certainly see that Lu Kuan's expression was unfriendly, but for the sake of her daughter, she had to try to smooth things over.

"Director Lu, perhaps there are some misunderstandings between you and Young Master Liu. Why don't we lay everything out on the table today? It's all for the good of the company."

Everyone is a shareholder of Red Star Dock; surely Lu Kuan came to invest and provide resources to make money, right?

Boss Lu: Yes, but not entirely...

Lu Kuan shook his head with a calm expression: "President Cheng, Liu Nushi, next time you look for partners, keep your eyes open. Don't just recruit anyone."

"The last time our film couldn't be shot and someone was hired to cause a scene on set, it was this Young Master Liu."

"You didn't know before, but now I'm telling you. Do you still want to continue working with him?"

Liu Zeyu retorted angrily: "Lu Kuan, this is getting boring, isn't it? In business, all is fair in love and war; it's better to stick to the facts!"

Cheng Jingfei's expression was uncertain. He felt that Lu Kuan was indeed talented and had some mysterious, indescribable aura about him, but he was still too immature.

For a businessman, profit is the primary goal.

Now, Liu Zeyu was holding a project and a Huayi film contract to invest in the company's artists. No matter what grudges you had before, you should put them aside first.

By rashly poking at these old grievances, you neither achieve your goal nor save face for the shareholders of Red Star Dock.

He somewhat regretted agreeing to let Lu Kuan buy in; clearly, Liu Zeyu was a more suitable candidate.

"Little Lu, this concerns the development of Xixi and Red Star Dock. Let's prioritize the big picture!"

Lu Kuan smiled at him with contempt, not taking this mainland tycoon on the rich list seriously at all.

"The big picture? What is the big picture?"

The young director stood up and approached Liu Zeyu, saying bluntly: "I've said it before, 'Despicable is the epitaph of the despicable.' You think you've successfully intercepted my project, right?"

The little Yanei was shaken by his aggressive aura and glared: "What do you mean?"

Lu Kuan couldn't be bothered to look at his petty triumph and called out to Ning Hao: "Go to the private room where I was just offering toasts, call Wang Yongle over, and bring the *Chinese Paladin* contract documents."

Sun Wenwen, Zhuang Xu, and Wang Yongle had arrived at the wrap party hotel earlier than the crew. Lu Kuan had already officially met with him and signed the contract; now he was just waiting for the cash sent by Huang Pi from Xiangjiang.

Checking his watch, the flight took off at 5:30, and the flight was less than 3 hours; he should have already left the international airport by now.

Cheng Jingfei and Liu Xiaoli were both suspicious and uneasy. They certainly didn't know the inside story, but seeing Liu Zeyu looking ugly while making a phone call to the side, they knew there must be a change in the situation.

Zhuang Xu didn't show his face; Sun Wenwen, with her short hair, brought Wang Yongle to the main table.

"Wang Zong, let me introduce you. These two are shareholders of my company. The female lead for your *Chinese Paladin* is tentatively set as this Liu Nushi's daughter."

Wang Yongle was in high spirits and had drunk quite a bit of alcohol that night.

The adaptation rights bought for a few hundred thousand were sold for 2.5 million, a four or five-fold increase. Isn't this just another way for a gambler to turn things around!

"Heh heh, hello to you both. So this is the young lady! Suitable! Very suitable!"

He blinked at Lu Kuan: "Boss Lu is still the capable one, spending millions just to support his little girlfri..."

Boss Lu hurriedly cut him off. Liu Xiaoli was still here; don't blurt out the damn truth!

"Wang Zong, go back and have a drink first. I'll come over after the wrap party ends."

"Alright, alright! Everyone, eat and drink well!"

Liu Zeyu had also returned from his phone call. Zhang Jian had naturally received the news long ago, but Wang Yongle had already been arranged by Lu Kuan to be brought to the hotel by Zhuang Xu and Sun Wenwen.

When his secretary rushed over with a huge sum of money, the Wang family was already empty.

The little Yanei's face was livid, like a frosted eggplant. After whispering a few words to Cheng Jingfei and Liu Xiaoli, he fled.

Rushing like a stray dog, panicked like a fish escaping the net.

Ning Hao wouldn't miss the chance to beat a drowning dog and rushed forward.

"President Liu, tonight is our crew's wrap party. This restaurant charges 300 per person. Do you think you could settle the bill?"

"You!"

The little Yanei pointed his finger at him fiercely, signaling "you just wait," threw down a few banknotes, and pushed open the hotel door, followed by a burst of laughter from the onlookers in the crew.

Liu Yifei looked at Lu Kuan with bright, sparkling eyes, feeling nothing but pure satisfaction in her heart.

She felt that Lu Kuan was like the chivalrous hero in the poem who "kills a man every ten steps," slapping faces on the spot and taking revenge without waiting until the next day!

Cheng Jingfei had always been able to bend and stretch; he smiled, filled his glass with wine, and walked to Lu Kuan's side.

"Director Lu, congratulations on having another excellent TV project. This glass of wine, I..."

Boss Lu raised an eyebrow: "President Cheng, there's no rush to drink; we need to get things clear first."

The young director swept a calm glance at him and Liu Xiaoli: "I heard that President Cheng has always admired the old man the most and even has his portrait in the office. Then there's a line of poetry you must know."

"'One should take a long-term view of the scenery.'"

"But during this period, your actions seem to be somewhat contrary to this line of poetry, don't they?"

Liu Xiaoli was somewhat embarrassed and at a loss; after all, her skin wasn't as thick as Cheng Jingfei's when it came to being a businessman.

Cheng Jingfei paused at just the right moment: "Brother, what are you saying? Is there some misunderstanding?"

Boss Lu slammed the table at the right moment: "Misunderstanding?!"

"The *Whiplash* shoot had only just resumed for a few days when the equity change procedures for Red Star Dock were completed. I can treat that as a coincidence."

"Just now, I clearly told you that this Liu Zeyu was the mastermind behind the filming delays. What was your attitude?"

"Did you ever respect the opinion of me, a shareholder of Red Star Dock?"

Liu Xiaoli was so anxious that tears were about to fall; she stammered, wanting to explain but not knowing where to start.

She didn't know that her own daughter had already defected out of a sense of justice while on set...

There is a saying: "Familiarity breeds contempt." Usually, Lu Kuan was used to joking around with everyone, and in Liu Xiaoli's impression, she only thought of him as a twenty-year-old youth.

She didn't expect this sudden, table-slamming interrogation to be so imposing, shaking even a slick businessman like Cheng Jingfei into stammering.

(End of chapter)