Chapter 91

Another middle-aged man sat down in front of Shen Zhenghui. Shen Zhenghui looked up and was surprised to see a familiar face.

Usually, at such gatherings, people in the corner are rarely disturbed unless you are particularly close. Shen Zhenghui didn't know what kind of aura he had that attracted this powerful figure, who could be considered a top actor, to come and talk to him.

"Mr. Shen, hello, I'm Li Liqun." The other person's smile made it impossible for Shen Zhenghui to refuse, so he smiled and shook hands with him.

"Mr. Li, I really enjoyed your performance in the film from two years ago. In my mind, the corrupt officials of the KMT are just like you." Shen Zhenghui said a flattering word.

"Thank you, Mr. Shen." The other person was polite in words but not in actions, "I saw you sitting here alone, so I came over to chat a bit." He turned and pointed to the bustling dance floor and the groups of stars, "You don't like this kind of scene?"

"I just arrived in Taiwan today, a bit tired." Shen Zhenghui replied.

"Is that so? Oh, right, you were in Hong Kong recently. I read about it in the newspaper, and the Taiwanese entertainment news also reported it." Li Liqun said.

Shen Zhenghui was not quite used to the state of being known wherever he went. He forced a smile and didn't know what to say.

Li Liqun touched his ear, as if asking casually, "By the way, I wonder what the relationship is between you and Mr. Shen, the CEO of Xinghui Culture and Media in mainland China?"

Shen Zhenghui was taken aback, as if struck by lightning. He had always felt like he was playing the role of a Japanese person, but he never expected to be exposed by someone in the entertainment industry in Taiwan, not a journalist. This made him feel a bit uneasy, "He is my father."

"I knew it!" Li Liqun slapped the table, "I thought you looked so much like him."

Shen Zhenghui looked puzzled.

Fortunately, Li Liqun didn't like to keep people in suspense, "This year, in the first half, I shot a film in mainland China, which was funded by your father's Xinghui. I met Chairman Shen, and he told me his son is an actor in Japan. I've been thinking that you might be the one."

Shen Zhenghui felt relieved, "What a coincidence!"

"Indeed!" Li Liqun also smiled, "Mr. Shen, have you seen that film? I heard it was broadcast on CCTV in mainland China and had good ratings."

"Oh, what's the name?"

"It's called 'Homeland,' about Hong Kong people and overseas Chinese. I played a Taiwanese person, which was a natural role for me." Li Liqun said.

This connection brought Li Liqun and Shen Zhenghui closer. Shen Zhenghui even joked, "I think your performance in 'Black Gold' might be your true self."

"I hope so." Li Liqun smiled. He started in crosstalk and stage plays, with excellent acting skills, but Taiwan was a place where idol dramas were rampant, and looks were everything. Talented actors didn't get much exposure.

Li Liqun was very reserved, like someone with an artist's title, and didn't show any eagerness to build connections. However, he was friendly to Shen Zhenghui, knowing he was unfamiliar with the Taiwanese entertainment industry, and introduced him to some gossip.

"That's the top beauty in Taiwan. Her TV dramas have been very popular recently, especially 'Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain' and 'The Two Greats' in the past two years. But it's not easy for her to reach the next level. The Taiwanese film industry is not doing well, and she is already thirty. In the future, she will probably only go downhill."

"That girl won the Best Newcomer at the 1997 Golden Bell Awards. She has good acting skills and has studied in mainland China. Her TV dramas are also very popular. She is looking to develop in mainland China, and she is still young, so she has a wide path ahead."

"To be honest, Mr. Shen, the path for Taiwanese stars is to go to Hong Kong to make films or to mainland China. Now, even Hong Kong is going to mainland China. In the future, Taiwan will only have one path. Places like Japan are not even worth considering. I think if people knew your identity in mainland China, they might try to curry favor with you."

Hearing this, Shen Zhenghui could only smile, "Mr. Li, can you give me your contact information?" he said, "I think we might have a chance to collaborate in the future."

"Of course, it would be an honor." Li Liqun took out a business card and handed it to Shen Zhenghui. Shen Zhenghui took it and gave his own card to Li Liqun, "I spend most of my time in Japan. You know my father, so if you can't find me, you can contact him. Please don't share the contact information on this card."

"Of course." Li Liqun took the card and saw a simple name—Sun Yu, along with a Japanese name, Sasaki, and a phone number, with almost no other information. He smiled and asked Shen Zhenghui, "Do you want me to introduce you to a few friends? They are all old guys."

Today, Shen Zhenghui really had no interest, "Next time, when I meet Mr. Li alone, please bring your friends. This kind of scene is not suitable today."

Li Liqun nodded understandingly, "Then I'll go around and browse. You can relax."

Shen Zhenghui nodded, took his empty plate to the recycling area, and someone came to clean the table.

Shen Zhenghui held a glass of wine, planning to make a quick round and leave. He looked around but couldn't see Yanshan Yuan or Chairman Chai. He wondered where they had gone to talk business or life. Just as he took a few steps, he met Cai Linlin, who had been pulled over by Yanshan Yuan earlier.

Cai Linlin's cheeks were flushed, and it seemed she had been drinking a lot. She only noticed Shen Zhenghui when she got very close, and her face turned even redder.

"Hello!" Shen Zhenghui raised his glass.

Cai Linlin hesitated for a moment but still picked up a glass of champagne from a nearby table, "Hello!"

"Oh, no need to be so formal." Shen Zhenghui stopped her from gulping down the wine, "I just wanted to say hello, not to get you drunk."

Cai Linlin breathed a sigh of relief. She covered her mouth and looked at Shen Zhenghui with wide eyes. After a while, she suddenly said, "Mr. Shen, Mr. Yanshan was just talking nonsense. I am not that kind of girl."

Why are you telling me this? I'm not Jay Chou. But he still wanted to comfort the girl who was momentarily confused by fame, "I know, Japanese people always talk nonsense."

Cai Linlin almost shed tears of gratitude, "Mr. Shen," she asked, "Are you here to shoot a film in Taiwan?"

How could I be so unsuccessful that I would come to Taiwan to shoot a film? I'm not Taiwanese. He pursed his lips, "I have a co-production with Taiwan, and the lead actress is from our company. I came to check on the shooting progress."

"Oh," Cai Linlin nodded and sighed, "I want to shoot films too!"

"Of course, shooting films is every girl's dream." Shen Zhenghui responded.

"Mr. Shen, do you like Taiwan?"

Hearing this question, Shen Zhenghui couldn't help but roll his eyes, but Taiwan had not yet shown its future harsh face of ruthless capitalists and incompetent politicians. The Taiwanese people still had a deep sense of pride.

"Um, it's not bad," Shen Zhenghui answered perfunctorily, "At least, in my impression, it's better than Hong Kong."

Cai Linlin could tell from Shen Zhenghui's tone that he was being perfunctory. Being a newcomer, she was too thin-skinned and said, "I'm sorry to bother you," and turned to leave.

Shen Zhenghui also felt a bit dispirited. Seeing Cai Linlin reminded him of Jay Chou. He scanned the hall again, confirming that the young man was not there, and couldn't help but find it a bit amusing. His scanning caught the attention of Chai Zhiyi, who spoke to the young man beside her and quickly walked over.

"Mr. Shen, Mr. Yanshan seems to have left," Chai Zhiyi said.

"Um, I noticed, but I wasn't looking for him." Shen Zhenghui pursed his lips, thinking about how to report to Fukuda Mitsumi.

"Oh, were you looking for me?" Chai Zhiyi's tone had a hint of flirtation.

"I was just looking around to see if I knew anyone."

Chai Zhiyi didn't press the issue, "I saw Li Liqun talking to you. Do you know each other?"

"Just met," Shen Zhenghui replied, seeing Chai Zhiyi's puzzled expression, he added, "He knows my father, so we chatted a bit."

"Oh..." Chai Zhiyi really wanted to ask what his father did, but it wasn't appropriate at the moment, so she laughed it off, "Old Feng brought his niece to find you?"

"I just met him too. If he hadn't introduced himself as your partner, I wouldn't have known who he was." Shen Zhenghui replied, "His niece is quite interesting, a national taekwondo champion."

"She's just okay in appearance." Shen Zhenghui couldn't tell what emotion was in Chai Zhiyi's tone.

"Being a taekwondo champion is already quite impressive. I'm interested in her because there are too few top female stars now." Shen Zhenghui rubbed his nose, "Anyway, if she's professionally trained, she should be good for action films."

Chai Zhiyi looked enlightened but then said, "I think girls who practice dance can also handle action films. After all, they are prettier."

"That's one of the many considerations." Shen Zhenghui shrugged.

"Are you not going to stay in Taiwan to explore more?" Chai Zhiyi's tone was full of expectation, "Actually, there are few male action stars now too."

Shen Zhenghui was thinking about how to politely decline Chai Zhiyi's suggestion. He didn't want to stay out any longer and just wanted to get back to Japan to start working. Spending time with these so-called insiders was exhausting. So he smiled and said ambiguously, "Maybe," then continued, "How is Kawanishi and Tsubasa? Did she come tonight? Can you arrange for me to meet her tomorrow?"

Chairman Chai smiled awkwardly, "Miss Kawanishi has been busy learning languages recently. I'll arrange the meeting for tomorrow."

"Thank you." Shen Zhenghui nodded.

"It's my pleasure." Chai Zhiyi replied, "We didn't entertain you well, please forgive us, Mr. Shen."

"No problem." Shen Zhenghui said, holding a glass of apple wine, "Chairman Chai, could you call me when we leave? I don't know the way."

"Of course," Chai Zhiyi nodded quickly.

Shen Zhenghui stayed for a while longer, fending off numerous girls who tried to chat with him, some of whom he even remembered by name. Seeing him look bored, Chai Zhiyi hurried over to say they could leave and apologized for his boredom. After a while, when he got into the car, he found a girl already sitting inside.

"Hello, I'm Xu Shujuan." The girl nodded politely.

"Oh, hello," Shen Zhenghui shook her hand, "I know you, I've seen your movies. You were in 'The Kid with the Golden Kite,' right?"

The girl looked pleasantly surprised.

"Didn't you also stay in Japan?"

Before she could answer, Chai Zhiyi got into the car, "Miss Xu is coming with us," she said.

"Yes, I just came back from Japan and plan to develop in Taiwan in the future."

"Oh, that's a bit of a pity!" Shen Zhenghui said, though he didn't really mean it. Taiwanese female stars generally lacked presence, mostly relying on their sex appeal, beauty, and gentleness. Sister Qingxia's aura was shaped by Hong Kong films. If she had always acted in Taiwanese dramas and art films, who knows what she would have become. Overall, there were no actors in Taiwan that Shen Zhenghui liked. Of course, from an appearance standpoint, another Miss Lin was also quite good, but she needed more training.