Chapter 57

Damn, it's a pure gold business card!

In the hotel elevator, looking at the "Pure Gold 999" inscription in the corner of the back of the card, Xiaoyu was secretly amazed.

This time, I've caught a big fish!

He originally only wanted to solidify a favor with Qianqian Liu, but he didn't expect the fat man to be even more influential!

Zhonghai Hai Lian Cinema Line Co., Ltd., affiliated with the Hai Lian Group in Taiwan, is one of the largest cinema chains in China. The cinema chain spans over a hundred large and medium-sized cities in China, with more than 400 signed cinemas and over 3,000 screens. For three consecutive years, its box office revenue has accounted for more than 8% of the national total.

Since the reform of the cinema chain system, the influence of cinema chains in the film industry has become increasingly significant. Even the Qintian Media of China's Five-Star Entertainment and Media Group has to maintain good relations with large cinema chains in China.

Investors have strong financial backing?

A famous director has won awards?

Big-name actors and actresses?

A large investment of tens of millions?

If the cinema chain doesn't give you a slot, well, tough luck.

Or they might schedule your film for the early morning, when there are hardly any viewers. A movie with only a dozen people in the audience will either bankrupt you or make you cry!

Hai Lian Cinema Line is a listed private company in China with significant influence in the film industry. Connecting with this chain would be a great stroke of luck, but for the budding Mengren Film, it's pretty much useless...

Mengren Film doesn't have the capability to produce films yet, and besides, Chen Xiangxi is the director of the securities department at Hai Lian Cinema Line.

Securities department...

Am I supposed to ask him for insider information to trade stocks?

I might as well just ask him for money directly!

This connection is way off the mark, completely useless for the company at the moment.

Sigh, I'll keep it for now, maybe one day...

When he returned to the room, Jun Ji-hyun was already waiting anxiously. As soon as she saw him, she pounced, "Where were you? So long, I was so scared by myself!"

"Scared too?" Xiaoyu smiled and tried to pat her head, but she dodged and threatened, "If you touch me again, you're dead!"

What a strange relationship, isn't it?

Xiaoyu sighed and said, "Let's get ready to go."

"Have the reporters left?"

Those reporters were after Qianqian Liu, not Jun Ji-hyun.

After Xiaoyu sent Qianqian Liu to the hospital, Chen Xiangxi had arranged for people to secretly escort her to meet her agent, making things much easier afterward.

Qianqian Liu, troubled by the malicious media hype, went shopping with her assistant and was "accidentally" recognized by fans, who she kindly took photos and signed autographs with.

The fans were thrilled to get photos and autographs from their idol and immediately posted them online, proving the authenticity of the encounter. After that, the entertainment reporters went back to their own lives.

A crude scam.

That was Xiaoyu's evaluation. Compared to the schemes he had set up, this one was far from sophisticated.

But it worked.

Learning that all the reporters had left, Jun Ji-hyun let out a long breath, visibly more relaxed, but the worry in her eyes hadn't disappeared.

She's a girl with a story, and avoiding reporters probably isn't just about vanity.

Xiaoyu, with his keen observational skills, shook his head, not interested in probing into Jun Ji-hyun's background. He said, "Pack up, I'll take you back. Where do you live?"

Jun Ji-hyun was staying at the Beijing Hotel, where the Asian Fashion Exhibition was being held. She had been invited to model for a well-known Korean fashion brand at the exhibition.

When they went downstairs to check out, the room's bed sheets were too dirty to clean, so compensation was inevitable. Xiaoyu didn't care; compared to the fifty million he had received today, that amount of money was nothing.

On the way back, Jun Ji-hyun seemed preoccupied, lost in thought. She sat quietly in the passenger seat, not speaking, unlike her usual lively self.

Xiaoyu didn't disturb her and drove the Volvo to the Beijing Hotel. The traffic was stop-and-go, and they didn't arrive until nearly six o'clock, parking in a nearby alley.

"Thinking about something? We're here."

Jun Ji-hyun was taken aback and looked around, "Where is this? This isn't the Beijing Hotel."

"Get out and walk straight. When you exit the alley, turn right and walk 200 meters down the road, and you'll reach the back entrance of the Beijing Hotel. I don't know what trouble you're in, but I think it's better to stop here."

Jun Ji-hyun looked at Xiaoyu strangely and said softly after a moment, "The story you told today was very nice."

"Do you want to hear the rest?"

"Didn't you say that after the birthday night, your friend never met that girl again?"

"Just say if you want to hear it or not."

"Cheater." Jun Ji-hyun mumbled and took out a pen and a notepad, writing down her phone number, "This is my temporary number in Beijing. I'm flying back to Korea in seven days, and my flight is already booked."

Xiaoyu put away the number, "Seven days, plenty of time for a lot to happen."

"Don't call me randomly, and forget about last night, or you're dead!"

"Hey, this is for you."

As Jun Ji-hyun was about to get out of the car, Xiaoyu handed her a large plastic bag containing two boxes of pastries he had bought from Daoxiangcun on the way back from the hospital.

Holding the two boxes of pastries, Jun Ji-hyun's face lit up with a rare smile, "Do Chinese boys all know how to make girls happy like you? This won't work on me, so give up. But thank you anyway."

A gentle breeze blew, dispelling the heat and improving Jun Ji-hyun's mood. She walked back to the Beijing Hotel with a light step, and her female assistant was almost frantic with worry.

If she hadn't called her this morning, the assistant might have called the police.

Where were you?

I was so worried about you.

I heard there are bandits in China. What if you met one? You can't even sing.

Fortunately, you didn't have a rehearsal today, or there would have been trouble.

The company called to ask about you, but I managed to stall them.

...

The assistant rambled on, all out of concern for Jun Ji-hyun. Jun Ji-hyun smiled and explained a bit, but when the assistant kept talking, she took out the pastries and put a small piece in the assistant's mouth.

Mmm...

What did you put in my mouth...

Hmm?

Food?

It's delicious!

Do you have more?

"These are good, right? I'll treat you." Jun Ji-hyun took out a box of pastries and shared them with the assistant.

The assistant enjoyed the pastries, eating while talking, "These must be expensive, right? China is poor, and ordinary people can't afford them."

Expensive?

Thinking about how casually Xiaoyu had handed them over, they didn't feel expensive at all.

The assistant continued, "These are really good. Where did you buy them? Before we leave, can we buy a box to take back? My daughter's birthday is coming up, and I want to give her a few pieces as a birthday gift. She'll love them."

"I don't know, someone gave them to me."

"Someone?" The assistant became wary, "Who?"

"A cheater, yeah, kind of like the bandits you mentioned."

The assistant almost choked, but Jun Ji-hyun was laughing happily.

This trip to China to clear her mind seems to have been the right decision. That unforgettable encounter was beautiful...