Chapter 41: Jingxing Film and Television

To be honest, Liu Jing was not at all surprised by the breakup.

In his view, it was a matter of sooner or later, and the signs had been there for a long time. A year ago, the teahouse was attacked, and the investigation ultimately yielded no results. Such matters did not even require a conclusion; the boss ran the New Yee Lok, and there was no telling who might strike. There were simply too many enemies, both in the open and in the shadows, making it impossible to trace. Perhaps they had already found out and simply kept it quiet, but the incident eventually faded into oblivion.

Not long after that happened, rumors began to circulate in the underworld, claiming that someone harbored deep admiration for Chang Min, which led to this and that. To Liu Jing, this was pure nonsense, but people always loved such gossip. He heard that the boss had consulted another master—the renowned White Dragon King. A single sentence from the master, "She does not bring prosperity to you," had already sealed the fate of the two.

He had even placed a bet with his aunt, and looking at it now, his aunt had won. The bet was made around National Day, and the breakup happened today. He had bet they would break up within a year, while his aunt had bet they would break up before the new year...

"Wait! No, was I played by that woman Zhou Wenqiong? Chang Min broke up before National Day, which means that woman must have known all along and then came to me to place a bet." Liu Jing suddenly realized. Chang Min and his aunt were best friends, so this was entirely possible.

The stake was simple enough: if his aunt won, he would have to go ask Anita Mui for an autograph album. As for signed photos, Liu Jing still had plenty of those. Whenever he helped take photos of the older sisters, once the prints were developed, he would ask them to sign their names while taking the opportunity to visit the set and collect aura bubbles. If he won, his aunt would wash his clothes for a year and take him on a trip to the United States.

"Oh my god! How could you break up? You two were so deeply in love. I thought you would grow old together and have a bunch of kids," Liu Jing exclaimed, sounding as genuine as he possibly could.

Chang Min took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. "I'm such a fool for telling you all this."

Liu Jing nodded silently. Indeed, it was foolish. If I were ten years older, I would certainly be dying for you to break up early and even figure out a way to make you split up sooner. But now? I am powerless to help you, and you are of no use to me.

"Don't keep your sorrows bottled up inside; it's bad for your endocrine system. At your age, you're almost thirty..."

"Twenty-seven," Chang Min corrected him promptly. When it came to age, not a single error was tolerated. You could round it down, but you must never exaggerate.

"Whatever you say." Liu Jing did not argue.

"I'm planning to invest in a movie. I received the script a long time ago and have been hesitating, but now that we've broken up, I'm going to make it. Whatever he can do, I can do too." Chang Min lifted her chin, looking quite proud and aloof.

"You still haven't let go," Liu Jing shook his head.

"I just want to prove myself, to show I'm not just a pretty face," Chang Min defended herself.

"Alright! Hand me the script later, and I'll help you look it over," Liu Jing sighed. Having spent so many years in the industry, he still had a reliable method for judging the quality of a script. Besides, if his naked eye couldn't tell, didn't he still have the Daily Appraisal? Although the appraisal descriptions were often vague and misty, they were sometimes quite reliable—at least more reliable than that master. If it were Wong Jing's script, he wouldn't even bother reading it; he would just shoot it however he was told. Whether it made money or lost money had little to do with him, other than gaining a bit less entertainment aura. But this was a film invested in by Chang Min; he could not just turn a blind eye. Over the past few years, Chang Min's help and care for him had surpassed anyone else's. Even biological siblings could hardly do more.

"There's a copy of the script in the car. Do you want to read it now?" Chang Min asked.

"Lead the way," Liu Jing said, putting his hands behind his back with quite an air.

"Such a show-off," Chang Min muttered under her breath, then issued a warning, "Don't tell anyone about our breakup, or I'll make you pay."

"Rest assured! You know me; I'm always tight-lipped when it comes to secrets." Liu Jing patted his chest with loud thuds.

"I'm planning to go back to Shanghai to develop my career and open a few stores. When the time comes, I'll invite you to show your support."

"Alright."

"Little block of wood, work hard. Sister is still waiting for you to protect me."

"There will be such a day."

...

Chatting back and forth, they unconsciously reached the entrance of the residential compound, where Chang Min's car was parked not far away. The two got in and turned on the interior light. Chang Min handed the script to Liu Jing. "I've already registered a film company. I had the idea of shooting this film at the beginning of the year, but then I got busy buying a house, so it got delayed."

"A Thousand and One Nights: Dream Lover? Without even reading the content, just looking at the title, it's a piece of crap." Liu Jing was bluntly honest, thinking it was an even worse title than the ones Wong Jing came up with.

"You haven't even read it yet; how do you know it's a bad movie?" Chang Min was somewhat displeased.

Liu Jing flipped through the script very quickly, going from front to back in no time. Then, he used the Daily Appraisal.

[Description: This is a script, and the handwriting is quite good.]

Fine! For Chang Min's sake, he could afford to spend a hundred points of entertainment aura. After all, he didn't know how much he had earned off her.

[Description: It can be made into a movie.]

Liu Jing fell silent, wanting to curse out loud. "Sister, let's leave the script aside for a moment and talk about the macro environment. Ever since Taiwan withdrew its capital and opened up the foreign film market, Hong Kong films have been going downhill. This year looks prosperous, but in reality, it's water without a source and will soon dry up. Coupled with the handover in two years, Hong Kong has its own issues. I don't suggest you invest in filmmaking right now; you'd be better off waiting until the situation stabilizes before investing in movies. I feel that the mainland market in the future will be far vaster than that of Hong Kong and Taiwan."

"I want to try. I don't want everyone to regard me merely as a pretty face," Chang Min emphasized once again.

"In my eyes, Sister, you have never been just a pretty face," Liu Jing said solemnly.

Chang Min bit her lower lip slightly, suddenly feeling very touched and warmed within. "Then when do you say we should shoot?"

"Wait, wait a little longer." Liu Jing gazed out into the night, his eyes deep and profound.

"Alright! I've registered a company in the mainland and plan to build bridges for Hong Kong and Taiwan artists. Many of them are still very interested in the mainland market." Chang Min was very willing to listen to advice this time.

"What do you mean?" Liu Jing asked in surprise; this sister really knew how to stir things up.

"I also feel that the mainland market will only get better in the future, so Wenqiong and I are planning to establish a film and television company in the mainland. Filming in the mainland is not as free as in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Initially, this company will mainly act as a bridge for Hong Kong and Taiwan artists. Many of them also want to come to the mainland, but cannot make the trip for various reasons. I've already talked to some people, and their business operations in the mainland will be signed under this new company. The company will act as their agent, taking a certain commission to help them connect with business, scripts, and endorsements, as well as help package and promote them." Chang Min took out a document and handed it to Liu Jing.

"Jinghang Film and Television?" Liu Jing opened the first page and grew astonished.

*A high mountain to look up to, a great road to walk on*—was that what it meant?

"That's right! Didn't the master say you are a person of great fortune? So young and yet so capable, how extraordinary will you be when you grow up? Of course, taking advantage of your youth, I have to tie you to my carriage first." Chang Min chuckled and pinched Liu Jing's cheek, finally shocking the little guy.

Liu Jing was utterly speechless, muttering inwardly, *No wonder you and that person could stay together for nine years; you're both so superstitious.*

"You're too young, and your contract with Win's hasn't expired yet. You have a share in the company too, but the shares are held in trust by Sister Li," Chang Min explained.

"Why is my name involved in this?" Liu Jing was puzzled. With the situation unclear, he didn't want to do anything right now except hang around major film sets to collect aura bubbles and rake in money under the banner of Win's.

Before the autumn wind blows, the cicada senses it first; the boss had already detected the signs, and recent investments in film and television had decreased.

"Little block of wood, you've gotten to know quite a few older brothers and sisters over the years. I'm giving you a mission: get them to sign their mainland contracts with our company. Nobody is paying attention to this area yet, but after Hong Kong's return, there will definitely be a lot of competition." Chang Min secretly found it amusing, as the little guy acted just like an old man.

"Who have you already talked to?" Liu Jing asked lazily.

"Vivian Chow, Athena Chu, and Joey Wong—just those three."

"Then your popularity index must be pretty terrible."

"This has nothing to do with popularity; I just haven't had time to talk to the others yet. But there are three people you'll have to handle yourself; it's not convenient for me to step in."

"Who?"

"Sharla Cheung, Michelle Reis, and Anita Mui."

"Forget about Anita Mui; she's been banned on the mainland."

...