Global Film Emperor

Chapter 289

After parking his car in a nearby parking lot, Lu Ze looked up at the teahouse. It was very large and clearly a place with very high prices.

The antique-style decor and the aroma of tea that greeted him upon entering made Lu Ze instantly fall in love with the place. A waiter from a short distance away came over and showed surprise upon seeing Lu Ze, but he didn't lose his composure. He must have served some high-profile figures before.

"Hello Mr. Lu, are you drinking alone or..."

"Oh, I have an appointment, I should be here first. Mr. Hu, are you a regular here?"

"Mr. Hu? Of course, he's a regular customer. Please follow me."

As I followed the waiter upstairs, I caught a glimpse of a young woman in ancient costume walking up to the center of the lobby. She must have been a young woman; she sat down on the stage and gently began to play the guzheng, instantly creating a beautiful atmosphere.

Upon reaching the second floor, past an antique-style screen depicting the Grand Canal, a young woman used a sharp tool to scrape sandalwood shavings from the tea table. She smoothed out what Lu Ze didn't recognize in the incense burner, then gently placed the sandalwood on top, lit it, and covered the burner with the lid. The fragrance filled the air, and Lu Ze could only marvel at her meticulousness.

When Hu Zhiguang saw Lu Ze arrive, he waved his hand toward the chair. As Lu Ze sat down, the girl got up from the incense burner, walked to the tea table, picked up the small purple clay teapot that was boiling on the fruitwood charcoal stove, and brewed tea with a very professional technique.

"Here, have a smoke of this, Yun Si, it's good stuff."

Hu Zhiguang handed over a small pipe with a copper pot and a wooden stem. It was about four inches long and a new item, so it shouldn't cost much. Lu Ze didn't refuse. He held it in his hand and played with it for a while. Then he opened the small jade box on the table, used pure silver tweezers to pick up a piece of incense and put it into the pot. The girl picked up a piece of sandalwood from another small box, cut it off, leaving only about one centimeter, put it into the charcoal fire, lit one end, and stuck it upright into the pipe in Lu Ze's hand.

One puff in, and you're immediately hit with a rich aroma, followed by the strength of the tobacco. The combination of roasted and sun-dried tobacco creates a strong flavor that's perfect for a seasoned smoker like Lu Ze.

"You can go out now, we'll handle the rest ourselves."

Hu Zhiguang waved to the girl, who nodded, stood up, straightened her cheongsam, pulled back the bamboo curtain, and slowly left with small steps. Hu Zhiguang then reached out to warm the teacup.

Lu Ze stuck his head out of the wooden window and looked out. Cars came and went and pedestrians hurried by. Upstairs, it was very peaceful. People listened to the guzheng, smoked their pipes, and drank good tea. If it weren't for what happened today, this place would probably be Lu Ze's favorite place to relax in the future.

"You just finished filming a movie recently, right? It's your good fortune to have landed such a meaningful role so quickly. Come on, have a taste, the real Tiger Spring tea."

Lu Ze picked up the teacup, which was a little hot to the touch. He held it to his nose and smelled it. It smelled fragrant. He could only be considered a dabbler when it came to tea. He didn't really have a thorough understanding of it. After all, he had only started his business in recent years and didn't have that much experience yet. He knew he would definitely encounter this situation. He was currently trying to learn, but he didn't have that much time to devote to it.

Seeing Hu Zhiguang looking at him, he nodded, took a small sip, and felt that his tongue was a little hot, but even though his tongue was a little numb, he could still feel the aroma of the tea, which was indeed very good.

"It is indeed a blessing, and I guess it's also a stroke of luck. If I hadn't gone to act in the play, I probably wouldn't have had this opportunity. I cherish it very much. Now that filming is finished, I think I acted pretty well."

"That's good. If I can sense that your skills are good, then they are truly excellent. I believe in that. On the day of the release, I'll bring my whole family to support it."

"Not booking the whole place?"

"Now that I'm not working and have no source of income, booking an entire venue might be a bit difficult."

Hu Zhiguang can be poor? That's a complete joke. As long as he doesn't gamble, he could live on that money for a lifetime, even if he spends it extravagantly. The joke was quite funny. The two looked at each other and laughed. The atmosphere became much more relaxed, without the oppressive feeling that Lu Ze had when he first came in.

"I really didn't expect you to get to this point so quickly. No, I should say I didn't expect you to encounter a work that would elevate you to such a high status so quickly. Your luck is beyond words. You've won all the major domestic awards. When we signed you, we never even dared to dream of it."

Lu Ze was still not used to drinking several mouthfuls of such a small cup of tea. He swallowed a little too much and the cup was empty. Hu Zhiguang refilled it, took a puff of his pipe, and exhaled a puff of pale blue smoke before speaking.

"Who knows? I never even dared to dream of it back then. I would have woken up laughing in the middle of the night if I had won just one, let alone all of them. But I never expected that I would actually win so many awards, yet I'm not as excited as I imagined."

"Aren't you happy? You've won so many awards."

"I'm still happy, but not as excited as I imagined. I thought it might be embarrassing to cry on stage, but I didn't expect that my heart wouldn't even beat faster now."

Hu Zhiguang stared at Lu Ze for a long time, noticing that he kept looking out the window and occasionally taking a puff of his cigarette. He compared Lu Ze to when he first met him a few years ago and suddenly felt that Lu Ze was much more melancholy than before.

"I was always in the decision-making position before, and I really didn't consider your feelings much. Now that I think about it, being controlled by others must not feel good, right?"

Unexpectedly, Hu Zhiguang started off with such a sentimental tone. After the tobacco burned out, he gently tapped it in the ashtray, thought for a moment, and then slowly answered.

“I used to be very envious. I would envy what others had and want it to be the same. But now that I have it, I realize that I also have things that others should envy. However, I have lost those things that others envy. But there are gains and losses. At least I have the opportunity to be here, having tea with a billionaire, and to be known by so many people across the country. It's not a loss.” Lu Ze spoke frankly. He had indeed lost a lot along the way, and he was clearly aware of his own changes. But what he really meant was that he wanted Hu Zhiguang to get to the point quickly. After all, over the years, not only Lu Ze but also Hu Zhiguang had lost a lot.

Hu Zhiguang's smile slowly disappeared from his face, and he fell silent for a while, looking at Lu Ze before finally speaking.

"Since you know why I asked you here, I won't beat around the bush. I don't deny my feelings for Qian Shijia, so when I heard that the first movie project was in the works, I was already looking forward to it. It's something I've always wanted to do but never had the chance to do. This movie really needs a pillar to help it, and you are the most suitable person to be that pillar, after all, this is a movie to bring newcomers along."

"But Mr. Hu, the problem isn't with the newcomers. I can mentor them, and I can slow down the filming. I'll make sure the script is polished to a high standard. But this isn't the actors' problem; it's a fundamental, fatal flaw. If the script is bad, what's the point of starting the project? And I really don't think the newly signed director has any real talent or the ability to turn something rotten into something magical."

"Yes, you're right, but the script is only in the initial stage, and there are still many areas that can be improved."

Hu Zhiguang's words hit the nail on the head. He was right. A script is usually drawn out in the early stages and needs to be cut and modified to make the plot fuller and the pace tighter. But the problem is that this movie has already been approved. Does it look like it is in the early stages?
"Mr. Hu, you're right. The script needed revisions in its initial draft, but now that the project is almost approved, isn't it a bit too late to talk about revisions now?"

Lu Ze's question did not stump Hu Zhiguang, nor did it anger him. Instead, Hu Zhiguang calmly took a sip of tea and lit a cigarette.

"That's why I'm willing to swallow my pride and come to you. Lee Sun-kyun made me a promise: you'll revise this script."

"I'll fix it?"

Lu Ze was taken aback. Script revisions are something that directors and screenwriters discuss, though there are exceptions, but those exceptions only happen in the TV drama industry. Only big-name stars can discuss script revisions with TV drama directors.

Movies are ultimately the personal works of directors, and actors are just minor characters. Movie directors usually have a strong possessive desire for their works, and I've never heard of them making the actors move.

“Yes, you can revise it. Lee Sun-kyun is actually not comfortable handing the film over to Baek Hee-kyun completely, which is why he hopes you can join the crew and give it a good review. His promise to me is that you can revise it without much time limit, until you are satisfied. I believe that after so much time, you must have a lot of connections with the screenwriter and director. You can invite them to come and discuss it together. Their remuneration will be paid by the company. As long as you participate, you can change the script to the way you want it to be.”

"But would Bai Xiqun be willing?"

"This is his first film with the company. Does it matter whether he likes it or not?"

Hu Zhiguang's words were very blunt, completely negating Bai Xiqun's abilities. However, that's true. Before you prove your own strength, you are no different from any other unknown director. Bai Xiqun didn't take the desperate path of Zhuang Yu selling his house and car to make his own movie, nor did he have years of experience as an assistant director. Therefore, he should be prepared to be a puppet director.

If it weren't for the fact that Han Chen, the director of "Forensic Doctor Qin Ming," is truly hopeless and can only direct comedy dramas, Bai Xiqun wouldn't have been chosen to direct.

If that's the case, Lu Ze might consider it. After all, he wasn't complaining about the actors being all young and handsome; it was just a script. And now that Li Shanjun has given him this promise, Lu Ze might as well take the job.

"Is this true?"

"of course."

The two didn't say much more, perhaps because Lu Ze didn't know what to say. He neither agreed nor refused. He would go to his friends to discuss the script, but he couldn't give a result until then. He simply went downstairs and placed a few boxes of gifts on the table.

"If you're buying something for your child and don't know what to buy, don't be picky."

After saying that, he got up and left, leaving Hu Zhiguang sitting in the chair with a complicated expression, frowning as he looked at the gifts. He knew that from today onwards, Lu Ze had wiped the slate clean with him, which was considered repayment for the promotion he received back then. The matter was not yet finalized, but it was basically settled.

Silently, he picked up the phone and dialed. The call was answered after a dozen seconds. Hu Zhiguang's throat suddenly tightened, but he still managed to utter the first sentence.

"Chairman, I have already spoken with Lu Ze, but he has not yet agreed. If the script is not revised well, Lu Ze will definitely still refuse. If the newly revised script is good, then there is still a great chance."

"Yes, my son's company is still a long way from going public and doesn't need financing for the time being. Thank you, Chairman. Okay, goodbye."

After hanging up the phone, Hu Zhiguang did not relax his brow after finishing his business. Compared with the young people he had personally promoted, his own son was definitely more important. As for Lu Ze, Hu Zhiguang did not know how big a trap Li Shanjun had set for Lu Ze.

"."

Just got home. I'll update again tonight. The slow train ride was too much for me. Sorry everyone, see you tonight.

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(End of this chapter)