Chapter 33

"Was being rejected by Jiahe something you expected?" Liu Xin asked Shen Zhenghui cautiously.

"It's not exactly what I expected, but I was mentally prepared for it. What's wrong?" Shen Zhenghui looked at Liu Xin.

"Ha, I thought you would be confident enough to believe you could definitely make a deal!"

"We need to make the best preparations, but we also need to be prepared for the worst. I didn't expect to succeed right away!" Shen Zhenghui turned his head and saw Liu Xin staring at him in a daze, frowning in confusion, "What's wrong with you?"

"I've never seen you like this. Do you not care about Jiahe at all?" Liu Xin asked.

"Damn, you figured it out?" Shen Zhenghui exclaimed exaggeratedly, then pursed his lips, "No, it's just that business operations always have wins and losses."

"I've never seen you lose..." Liu Xin mumbled.

"You just haven't been paying attention." Shen Zhenghui smiled, "So, do you not plan to go back to Pengcheng to visit your parents?"

"Are you going back?"

"Uh, I still have things to do." Shen Zhenghui looked at the sky.

"What things? An excuse?"

"Well, isn't there another target besides Jiahe? We still have negotiation goals. I came to Hong Kong to work, not to play." Shen Zhenghui said seriously.

"Is that so?"

"Of course. Didn't Guangmei tell you? Yama Motoki has already visited the shareholders of Huayi, and I will also participate in the discussions, so I won't have time to play with you. You should go back to Pengcheng to see your parents early!"

Liu Xin smiled at Shen Zhenghui, who was pleased. Suddenly, Liu Xin's expression changed, "Trying to trick me away? What are you staying in Hong Kong for?"

"Huh?" Shen Zhenghui's eyes widened.

"You know what I mean. What are you planning to do by sending me away?" Liu Xin poked Shen Zhenghui's chest with her finger.

Shen Zhenghui's expression stiffened, "Why would you think that?" But then he realized his tone was too weak, "I need to discuss future distribution of our animation and films with Huayi. If possible, both Guangmei and I hope to invest in Huayi."

"Is that so?" Liu Xin asked.

"Of course." Shen Zhenghui nodded firmly, "Then I need to rush back to Japan for the premiere of the film, so I'm not sure if I'll have time..."

"Mr. Yama!" Liu Xin called out. Yama Motoki, who was talking to Inoue May at a distance in the hotel lobby, walked over, somewhat surprised.

"Mr. Shen, Miss Liu, is there something?" Inoue May also walked over. Liu Xin's Japanese wasn't good enough, and Yama Motoki's Chinese was terrible.

"Did you arrange a dinner meeting with Mr. Lin from Huayi for Mr. Shen?" Liu Xin asked directly.

Yama Motoki looked at Shen Zhenghui nervously, who was looking up at the ceiling.

"Uh, yes," Yama Motoki answered reluctantly, "I remember that Chinese business is often discussed over dinner."

"Is that what you mean?" Liu Xin asked succinctly.

Yama Motoki looked at Inoue May and nodded under her prompting, "Yes, I arranged a dinner meeting with Mr. Lin, a shareholder of Huayi."

Shen Zhenghui spread his hands to show his innocence.

"Will only you and Mr. Lin be at the dinner?" Liu Xin continued.

Yama Motoki glanced at Shen Zhenghui again, "We did arrange a dinner with Mr. Lin, but we don't know who he will bring."

Shen Zhenghui shrugged.

Liu Xin's lips curled into a detective-like smile.

Shen Zhenghui felt things were getting a bit out of hand, "We also proposed to meet some of their actors to strengthen our cooperation."

"Oh, female actors!" Liu Xin said with a knowing look.

Yama Motoki couldn't help but look at Shen Zhenghui with a disdainful expression. Yama Motoki naturally assumed Liu Xin was Shen Zhenghui's girlfriend, so he automatically admitted to meeting female actors, which was a mistake men shouldn't make. Yama Motoki looked at his watch—well, it was still early, and he couldn't say they should leave immediately to pull Shen Zhenghui out of the situation. So, Yama Motoki and Inoue May stood aside, acting as if they were just observers.

"This is for cooperation, as you know, Guangmei's company name shows she's only interested in female actors, and Japanese female actors are, frankly, too uniform..." Shen Zhenghui was thinking about how to continue his bluff when Liu Xin interrupted him.

"Which female actors are you planning to meet?" she asked seriously, as if she believed Shen Zhenghui's words.

Women never make things easy, even for a穿越者 (time traveler). Shen Zhenghui cursed himself for being too indulgent with Liu Xin, "Hehe, we are particularly interested in female action stars. Japan doesn't produce many of them, so..."

"Who are they?"

"TVB just released a series called 'My Date with a Zombie.' The actress who plays Ma Xiaoling is quite good." Shen Zhenghui winked, "Although she's a bit old..."

"Is that the only one?" Liu Xin tilted her head.

"Of course not. Since it's a collaboration, we can meet more. I think 'My Date with a Zombie' will be a hit, so we also plan to meet the other female lead."

"Wang Zhenzhen?"

"Have you watched it?" Shen Zhenghui widened his eyes, feigning surprise, "If we can get the adaptation rights, wouldn't it be a great opportunity? Japanese audiences would love it. Hahaha..."

"Are you not also concerned about the production and distribution of domestic animation and films?" Liu Xin turned her head to the side.

"Uh, isn't someone already working on that?" Shen Zhenghui rolled his eyes, "Besides, I might just mess things up if I get involved!"

"Alright," Liu Xin sighed, "If that's the case, then take me to meet these two female stars as well!"

Really? Shen Zhenghui and Yama Motoki exchanged a glance. Yama Motoki quickly looked away, pretending he hadn't heard and continued chatting with Inoue May. Shen Zhenghui twitched the corners of his mouth and smiled, "Of course, no problem."

Lin Jian, a shareholder of Huayi, whose family was also a shareholder of TVB, found it quite normal to bring TVB's female actors to dinner. In 1998, Lin Jian's life was not easy. He had purchased a large amount of real estate at the peak of the market before Hong Kong's return in 1997, and the property prices plummeted during the 1998 financial crisis, leaving his family's company with a huge debt and a sharp drop in stock prices. Lin Jian decided to shift his focus to the entertainment industry, where he was a minor shareholder in Huayi but planned to increase his shares to become the largest shareholder. His family also held a significant amount of shares in TVB, giving him considerable influence in the board. With the support of the TV station and control over the film production and distribution network, Lin Jian was destined to be a major figure in Hong Kong's entertainment industry.

However, even major figures have their low points. 1998 was arguably the lowest point for the Lin family. Despite their financial difficulties, they needed capital assistance, and this was an opportunity to collaborate with Huayi and TVB, which could be seen as a strategic move. Therefore, Yama Motoki and Shen Zhenghui were highly favored by Lin Jian, as their combined Japanese and mainland Chinese backgrounds were valuable.

The three men, from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, were joined by four women, all from the 1970s. Lin Jian was extremely surprised that Shen Zhenghui and Yama Motoki brought women to the dinner, especially after proposing to meet female stars. It felt like bringing a packed lunch to a hotel dinner. However, Lin Jian remained composed, warmly welcoming the Japanese and mainland Chinese guests. Spring Day Films was a small, unknown Japanese film company, but Lin Jian took it seriously due to the relationship between its founder, Fukuda Guangmei, and the Kuroshima family. Asahi Home was a large Japanese corporation, or rather, a conglomerate, with capital comparable to the Lin family, though their business areas did not overlap. However, companies with different backgrounds were now intersecting in a new way.

The actresses, Ma Xiaoling and Wang Zhenzhen, could not refuse the dinner invitation, but they were resistant deep down. When they saw that there were women among the guests, they felt a bit more at ease. Especially when the woman turned out to be a fan of the TV series, politely asking for autographs on prepared photos.

For a moment, Lin Jian found himself at a loss for words after everyone sat down.

Without Inoue May and Liu Xin, such a dinner would have been a good opportunity for men to build relationships and discuss business. Whether through flirtation or flattery, men would find common interests and hobbies, and on this biological basis, business could be discussed freely and openly. The formalities and procedures would be minimized, and the atmosphere would be more relaxed and direct. Finally, a warm reception would break down the barriers, and business would be concluded in a friendly atmosphere.

However, the current atmosphere was very different. Lin Jian glanced at Liu Xin, unsure of her relationship with Shen Zhenghui. Inoue May formally introduced Liu Xin as a partner of Fukuda Guangmei and mentioned that she was the daughter of a major mainland real estate developer. Lin Jian had heard of Liu Dekai, which added to his confusion.

Thus, the entire dinner was unusually formal, with both sides speaking in a formal manner. Yama Motoki and Shen Zhenghui had to formally introduce their companies and express their intentions for cooperation, creating a strangely stiff atmosphere. Despite the efforts of Ma Xiaoling and Wang Zhenzhen, the atmosphere remained dull, reminiscent of a formal banquet with high-ranking officials from the mainland. However, Shen Zhenghui still introduced his upcoming film and expressed his company's desire to strengthen cooperation with Hong Kong, particularly in the area of martial arts stars. He glanced at Ma Xiaoling a few times, but unfortunately, she was not a real martial artist.

"Mr. Shen, do you see potential in the mainland market?"

"Undoubtedly, it is the most promising market in the world and will eventually become the largest." Shen Zhenghui spread his hands, "We are always thinking of ways to enter it and explore various methods."

This double entendre caused a low murmur of laughter.

"So, you see Hong Kong as an important stepping stone?"

"Indeed, it is important, but not the only one. After Hong Kong's return, its economic status will gradually decline. Hong Kong itself is not remarkable, but its economic influence is. The mainland's reform and opening up have gradually reduced and weakened Hong Kong's unique economic influence."

Lin Jian looked thoughtful and then said with a grim expression, "Mr. Shen, you seem quite pessimistic!"

"Mr. Lin, you are mistaken. I am not pessimistic or optimistic; I am not a Hong Kong resident." He spread his hands, "For Hong Kong films, the Southeast Asian and Taiwanese markets have been lost. If the mainland market cannot be captured, how can such a small place support so many stars?"

Lin Jian licked his lips, and Ma Xiaoling and Wang Zhenzhen listened intently with wide eyes.

"So?"

"Mr. Lin, our cooperation would be a win-win for everyone." Finally, they got to the point.