Chapter 51

The three entered a private room, closed the door, and Park Min-jung sat down to seriously read the script that Xia Hou Zhongying had given her.

"Interesting," Park Min-jung muttered to herself after reading a section.

"Wow, it's really good," Park Min-jung said, looking up at Xia Hou Zhongying after about ten minutes.

"Right, I told you it was good, this script," Lee Hyo-ri, who had also been reading the script by Park Min-jung's side, said with a smile, seeing her friend's approval.

"Hmm," Park Min-jung responded and continued reading.

After that, the two women didn't speak again, seemingly absorbed by the plot, leaving only the occasional sound of pages turning. The private room was unusually quiet.

Xia Hou Zhongying, with nothing to do, lay on another sofa and closed his eyes to rest, falling asleep soon after. He had been extremely tired lately, with insufficient sleep every day, and the stress and effort of maintaining a smile. The alcohol he had just consumed made his tense nerves gradually relax, and drowsiness quickly overcame him.

After an unknown amount of time, Park Min-jung and Lee Hyo-ri finished the last page and closed the script. They looked at each other, and seeing that the other was still immersed in the story, they couldn't help but laugh.

"What do you think?" Lee Hyo-ri asked.

"It's indeed a very good script," Park Min-jung sighed. "I swear, those who refused to sponsor it must not have read this script at all."

Lee Hyo-ri nodded in agreement and then said with a smile, "It's not surprising. Who would dare to invest or sponsor a script written by a 15-year-old boy who plans to direct it himself? You were the same at first, weren't you?"

"Indeed," Park Min-jung laughed. At first, she didn't believe Xia Hou Zhongying at all, so when she heard that Lee Hyo-ri was joining the production, she felt as if the world had been turned upside down.

"Still, I have the best eye, don't I?" Lee Hyo-ri asked smugly.

"You just got lucky," Park Min-jung, used to their playful banter, said with a hint of annoyance, seeing Lee Hyo-ri's smug expression.

"But Hyo-ri, are you really going to participate in this script?" Park Min-jung lowered her voice and asked, glancing at Xia Hou Zhongying, who was sleeping on the opposite sofa. "Do you know how much of a sensation your decision will cause?"

"I really like this script. After reading it all, I want to participate even more," Lee Hyo-ri said in a low voice. "I don't think it will have a significant impact on my reputation. Once this movie is made, it might cause a sensation in Korea."

"But he's still a child," Park Min-jung said. "A child who hasn't studied directing. Will your company agree?"

"If I join, our company will definitely send people to participate in the production," Lee Hyo-ri said with a smile.

"I think it's a bit of a waste to just put this script online. As long as we get some good actors, it can be produced as a commercial film," Park Min-jung nodded and continued after a moment. "We should ask the young man, the script is his, and he's the director."

"But I think he won't agree. This kid is very stubborn," Lee Hyo-ri said with a smile. "And this is a script he wrote for a few girls. If we change the actors, do you think he will agree? He's not short of money."

"Who is he, anyway?" Park Min-jung, who still didn't know Xia Hou Zhongying's identity, asked curiously.

"I don't know either," Lee Hyo-ri said with a laugh. "I just met him today."

"You just met him today?" Park Min-jung looked at Lee Hyo-ri in surprise. "But it seems like you two are very close."

"Ha ha," Lee Hyo-ri couldn't help but laugh. They got along well because they had played a trick on that Cheng Shao together, and Lee Hyo-ri found Xia Hou Zhongying to be quite interesting.

Lee Hyo-ri then told Park Min-jung about how they met and what happened, making Park Min-jung giggle.

"That SJSJ's young master," Park Min-jung said with a sneer after laughing. "He's not only petty but also has a high opinion of himself, so narcissistic that it makes me sick. What? He's trying to make a move on you? He should look at himself first."

Lee Hyo-ri chuckled but didn't respond. Park Min-jung's family's E-Land Group was a competitor to SJSJ, and Park Min-jung had always disliked that Cheng Shao. She didn't like him either, but there was no need to speak ill of him behind his back.

The two women's conversation woke Xia Hou Zhongying. He got up from the sofa, shook his head, yawned, and asked the two women, "Are you done?"

"Done, it's really good," Park Min-jung said with a smile. "By the way, do you have any plans to make it a commercial film?"

"Commercial film?" Xia Hou Zhongying looked at Park Min-jung in confusion and then shook his head. "I've already made a deal with the school. Because this isn't a commercial film, the school agreed to support us for free."

"That's not a problem. We can pay the usage fee. If not, we can change schools. I can invest. What do you think?" Park Min-jung asked.

"Still, no," Xia Hou Zhongying said, shaking his head. "The school has supported us so much. We can't do something so dishonorable as to leave them out."

"I told you, this kid is very stubborn and won't agree," Lee Hyo-ri said with a smile.

"Then how about I buy your script?" Park Min-jung, who genuinely believed in the script, and knowing that Lee Hyo-ri wanted to participate, which would make the film a surefire hit, asked with some reluctance.

"I don't need the money," Xia Hou Zhongying rejected without hesitation. His main purpose in writing the script wasn't to make money. He didn't want to say more, stood up, and walked over to the two women, taking his script from Park Min-jung and putting it back in his clothes.

Seeing Xia Hou Zhongying's odd action of putting the script back in his clothes, Park Min-jung couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated. No wonder Lee Hyo-ri got along so well with him; they were both unique and independent.

"Since you don't need the money, why are you still looking for sponsors? Why not fund it yourself?" Park Min-jung asked.

Why did this woman ask the same question? Xia Hou Zhongying rolled his eyes in exasperation. "This is a movie that only costs money and doesn't make money. My dad said I can't use the family's money to play around. If I want to play, I have to find sponsors myself."

"How about it? Min-jung, will you sponsor us?" Lee Hyo-ri asked with a smile.

"Sure, with you joining, how could this movie not be a hit? I can't miss such a good opportunity," Park Min-jung said, though she was a bit regretful for not getting the script. However, sponsoring the film would help the E-Land Group's positive image, and with her friend Lee Hyo-ri asking, she couldn't refuse.

"Big sister, how much will you sponsor?" Xia Hou Zhongying's attitude changed immediately upon hearing Park Min-jung's agreement, and he asked with a beaming smile.

"I'll cover the remaining shortfall. If it's not enough, I'll add more," Park Min-jung said, finding Xia Hou Zhongying's ingratiating expression amusing. This boy was truly unique, willing to go to any lengths to achieve his goals, not at all like a rich second generation.

Xia Hou Zhongying was overjoyed, the weight on his heart finally lifted after the past few days of stress.

Xia Hou Zhongying picked up the glasses on the table and handed them to the two women, then raised his own glass and said happily, "Here, let's toast to our cooperation."

"To our cooperation," the two women echoed, clinking their glasses with Xia Hou Zhongying.

"Big sister, since you've agreed to join, do you have time tomorrow to meet the cast?" Xia Hou Zhongying asked Lee Hyo-ri after finishing his drink.

"Sure," Lee Hyo-ri said, wanting to see the other actors' skills to have a better idea. After all, although she believed in the script, if the other actors were too bad, it could affect her performance.

After a moment, Lee Hyo-ri said, "Zhongying, don't blame me for saying this, but if the actors' performances are really bad, some of them will need to be replaced, or I'll have to quit."

"No problem," Xia Hou Zhongying understood Lee Hyo-ri's concern. She was different from the others, being a well-known star who couldn't afford to take risks.

Moreover, this movie was mainly for the seven girls from S.M. They were trainees who had learned a lot about acting, so even if they weren't great, they would still be passable. As for the other four, except for Lee Yisoo, who was a bit problematic, the three others weren't on his must-keep list, so whether they stayed or not was up to them.

Although the details weren't finalized, a general agreement had been reached, and Xia Hou Zhongying felt relieved. He walked out of the private room with the two women, and as they passed a waiter, he took another glass of wine and drank it happily.

"Zhongying, can you drink a little less?" Lee Hyo-ri saw Xia Hou Zhongying take another glass and couldn't help but scold him.

"Happy, I'm happy today," Xia Hou Zhongying said with a chuckle.

"I don't know how your parents raised you, letting you drink before you're old enough. I'll have to ask them when I see them," Lee Hyo-ri couldn't help but comment.

"Oh, Miss Lee, what do you want to say?" Just as Lee Hyo-ri finished speaking, someone nearby asked with a smile.

Xia Hou Shang was chatting with someone when he suddenly saw his son, Lee Hyo-ri, and Park Min-jung, the daughter of the E-Land Group's chairman, chatting and laughing as they came out of a private room. He couldn't help but feel puzzled. How did the three of them end up together?

Suddenly, Xia Hou Shang felt a jolt. He had been closely monitoring his son's activities, and knowing that he had been running around to clothing companies for sponsorship, and since Park Min-jung's family was in the clothing business, he thought this brat might have come to the party to seek sponsorship. Given his son's character, he could very well do such a thing, which would be a huge embarrassment for him. He broke out in a cold sweat.

Thinking about this, Xia Hou Shang quickly excused himself from the person he was talking to and walked over to the three, wanting to see what was going on.

Before he got close, Xia Hou Shang heard Lee Hyo-ri scolding his son. He, of course, knew Lee Hyo-ri, as he was the head of a branch company and couldn't be as ignorant of the entertainment industry as his son, since they needed to deal with these stars for endorsements and such.

Xia Hou Shang was well aware of Lee Hyo-ri's fame in Korea and even throughout Asia. Seeing her seemingly familiar with his son, he couldn't help but feel puzzled and asked with a smile.