1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 199 Zhai Yuan's Little Fangirl
"...struggling in the crowd every day, I sigh in my heart that time flies by like flowing water. I cannot keep yesterday, leaving only longings, which are entangled forever. In the vast sea of smoke, I miss, miss the past years..."

Under the pretext of work, Zhai Yuan approached Zhou Huimin again after many days and sang a song "Like Water Flowing Time" in the recording studio.

Through the glass, Zhou Huimin saw Zhai Yuan holding the microphone inside.

He winked at himself and sang in a deep voice.

She couldn't help but smile, but then she remembered that the last incident was not over yet, and her face immediately tightened again.

The song is over.

Zhai Yuan walked out of the recording studio and said, "How is it?"

Zhou Huimin said hypocritically: "It's OK, just average."

Although she said this, her heart was filled with envy and jealousy. She felt that the gap between people was too big. She had not created a complete song in such a long time, but Zhai Yuan easily came up with a high-quality song.

Zhou Huimin asked unwillingly, "Did you really write it?"

Zhai Yuan smiled and said, "You want it? I'll sign it for you."

Zhou Huimin's eyes sparkled: "Will you sing this song for me?"

Although he said that he was just average, now he starts to act upright.

Zhai Yuan thought for a moment, shook his head and said, "I can't sing it for you yet. This is a movie theme song, and your voice is not suitable for it."

Xia Meng helped him a lot. Zhai Yuan didn't dare to make any changes to the song "Like Water Flowing Time" and decided to give it to the original singer Mei Yanfang.

In terms of mature and artistic voice, even if we are conservative, Anita Mui's mezzo-soprano should be considered among the top tier of Chinese female stars. It is obviously inappropriate to let Chow Hui Man sing this theme song with her sweet voice.

When Zhou Huimin heard this, a look of disappointment flashed across her face and she uttered a low "oh".

Seeing this, Zhai Yuan smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. You can still release an album after the movie is over. This song is still yours."

But then I thought again and felt that it was inappropriate.

Asking Zhou Huimin to cover Anita Mui's songs is like putting her on the spot.

Zhou Huimin raised her face and asked aggrievedly, "Am I not suitable for this line of work?"

Zhai Yuan thought about it seriously in his heart.

Well, as a singer, she only has one song, "Self-love", which is barely acceptable. As an actor, she only has one Jewish role that is popular among the people...

Seeing her looking at him eagerly, Zhai Yuan hissed, "Let's eat first."

…………

It took only two days for the ordinary Zhou Huimin to compose the accompaniment of "Like Water Flowing Time" on the piano.

After listening to it, Zhai Yuan thought it was okay. The melody of the music by Japanese composer Kitaro is very simple, and this song does not have any showy elements. It all depends on the singer's performance.

"Mr. Ye, I have finished the theme song that Sister Meng wanted. Would you like to come and get it or should I deliver it to you?"

Sitting in Jiuyi's office, Zhai Yuan turned the recorded vinyl record on the table and called Ye Zhiming.

"So fast?" Ye Zhiming asked in surprise, and then said, "Wait for me to ask."

Not long after, Ye Zhiming called again: "Sister Meng is visiting Mr. Ma Jiaohe's house now. She asked if you are free around 8 o'clock tonight? She will rush back to Hong Kong as soon as possible to appreciate your work."

Zhai Yuan said that he could do it anytime, and Ye Zhiming then turned the topic to the gambling boat.

Ye Zhiming said, "I have asked a few friends about cruise ships. There are three that I am interested in. You should listen to them briefly first."

He had been in the yacht rental business, so naturally he knew a few friends in the shipping industry. Of the three cruise ships he was interested in, one was owned by a Chinese businessman in Singapore, and the other two were owned by Hong Kong businessmen.

The first two medium-sized cruise ships did not arouse Zhai Yuan’s interest, so he set his sights on the third giant cruise ship mentioned by Ye Zhiming.

"Hailongxing, formerly known as Yaohua, was a giant cruise ship purchased from France in the 1960s when the mainland assisted in the construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway in Africa. It was purchased to facilitate the transportation of personnel and equipment. It is 150 meters long, 21 meters wide, and has a displacement of more than 10,000 tons."

Ye Zhiming introduced the situation of the Sea Dragon Star Cruise and said: "This cruise ship is currently in the hands of shipping magnate Zhao Congyan, who converted it into a luxury passenger ship."

Zhai Yuan held the receiver and smiled, "Mr. Ye's network is really wide. He even knows the shipping tycoon."

Ye Zhiming said, "I am not qualified to know that shipping tycoon, but the shipping industry has been in a downturn in the past two years. His Huaguang Shipping Company owes more than 10 billion in debt, so he chose to sell off some of his assets. I contacted the middleman to find this giant ship."

Zhai Yuan didn't know much about this shipping tycoon Zhao. He only knew that he, Bao and Dong were once known as the three largest shipping tycoons in the world.

If I were you, I would not pay back the debt of more than 10 billion yuan.

Zhai Yuan muttered to himself and asked Ye Zhiming: "How much did the other party from Hailongxing offer?"

Ye Zhiming said, "The captain and the sailors are all included for six million. I've calculated that it will cost another two or three million to buy it back and renovate it."

Just like that, less than 10 million yuan was gone, and the already poor economic situation became even worse.

Zhai Yuan felt a sharp pain in his heart, but he couldn't let Ye Zhiming hear it.

So he said casually with a smile: "It's cheap, I want this ship. I'll have a lawyer go through the formalities with you tomorrow."

"You have guts." Ye Zhiming praised him, and chatted with him briefly for a few more words, then suddenly changed the subject: "Ayuan, are you nineteen years old this year?"

Zhai Yuan said: "That's right."

Ye Zhiming asked again: "Do you have a girlfriend?"

Zhai Yuan said, "No way, why are you asking such a personal question for no reason?"

Ye Zhiming laughed heartily through the receiver, and said, "No, I have a sister who is about your age. You young people usually get together, so you have common topics to discuss."

I treat you as a tool, and you actually want to be my brother-in-law?
Zhai Yuan frowned and said dissatisfiedly: "Mr. Ye, if you remember correctly, you are forty years old this year? Then your sister must be at least thirty-something? Don't tease me!"

Ye Zhiming smiled and said, "I am the eldest brother in the family. I have nine younger brothers and sisters. The youngest sister just turned seventeen this year."

Zhai Yuan was stunned: "Are they all brothers from the same mother?"

Ye Zhiming said: "Of course."

Zhai Yuan murmured, "Uncle and aunt are in good health."

Ye Zhiming: "..."

Zhai Yuan had no idea that in the mid-1990s, Ye Zhiming's parents gave birth to a younger brother for him, making a total of eleven brothers and sisters, just enough to form a football team.

In a villa by the sea in Repulse Bay, Hong Kong Island.

Ye Zhiming hung up the phone with a smile and curse.

He turned his head and glanced at the little girl who was squatting on the sofa, listening to music with headphones on. At the age of seventeen, she had grown into a graceful young lady, not inferior to the star actresses outside.

"Pick! You don't know what's good for you!"

Ye Zhiming muttered that he wanted to introduce his sister to Zhai Yuan, but the other party was picky and not interested.

"Ah Qing, Ah Qing!"

He turned around and shouted to his younger sister twice, but she was so immersed in the world of music that she ignored him.

Ye Zhiming frowned and raised his voice a little: "Ye Yuqing!"

Seventeen-year-old Ye Yuqing looked up blankly, met Ye Zhiming's eyes, clicked her tongue as if she disliked him, and reluctantly took off her headphones.

She smoothed her curly hair, looking half dead: "What's the matter, boss?" Ye Zhiming's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly felt that Zhai Yuan had good taste. This little sister of his was indeed spoiled by his family.

He took a deep breath and forced a smile: "I heard from your third sister yesterday that you told her that you were going to work part-time in a nightclub?"

"Why does Third Sister tell you everything?"

Ye Yuqing grumbled in dissatisfaction, then raised her pretty face and said to Ye Zhiming as a matter of course: "Yes, you make so much money but you are unwilling to open a record company for me, so I have no choice but to go somewhere else to be a singer."

Ye Zhiming persuaded him in a gentle voice: "Nightclubs are very chaotic. Listen to me. When the boss makes money in a while, he will definitely open a record company for you to play with."

Ye Yuqing sneered: "You always say that, you are just trying to trick people!"

Ye Zhiming didn't know whether to laugh or cry. His younger sister was currently in her rebellious period. She refused to continue studying after graduating from high school and was determined to play music. Not long after learning from her music teacher, she started clamoring to debut as a singer.

In the past, it would not be a big deal for Ye Zhiming to open a record company to give her a try, but now most of his assets are tied up in the Qiaozui Island Resort, and he is no longer as generous as he was in the past few years.

Ye Zhiming said carefully, "Boss, I've just made a new acquaintance in the film industry. Why don't you try going to his place instead of going to the nightclub first?"

Ye Yuqing asked: "Can I be the heroine if I go there?"

Ye Zhiming thought to himself: Did they ask you to go to Zhai Yuan's company to make a movie? They wanted to find you a rich husband!

He said, "We can discuss this."

Ye Yuqing immediately shook her head and said, "Then I won't go! Last time you asked me to go to Colorful Pictures, which was your former company, but the director asked me to play a role with only two lines. Now I'm working at your friend's company, so won't the treatment be even worse?"

At this time, Ye Yuqing was still a rich girl, proud and arrogant, and had not experienced the harsh treatment of society.

Ye Zhiming patiently persuaded: "This friend is my business partner, and he can also compose songs."

Ye Yuqing looked suspicious: "Who is it?"

Ye Zhiming said: "He is the boss of 1024 and Entertainment."

Ye Yuqing's eyes suddenly widened, and her voice rose eight degrees: "Zhai Yuan?!"

Ye Zhiming was surprised and asked, "Do you know him?"

"Of course I know him! I'm a loyal viewer of 1024! Boss Zhai is my idol!"

Ye Yuqing suddenly screamed excitedly, jumped off the sofa barefoot, and stuffed the earphones into Ye Zhiming's ears.

"Listen, the songs Zhang Guorong sang were all written by my idol. I became interested in music after listening to his songs. Why didn't you tell me you knew him earlier? Hurry up and bring me an autograph!"

Ye Yuqing spoke rapidly like a machine gun.

Ye Zhiming listened to the song "Secretly Obsessed" in his headphones. Zhang Guorong's voice was full of magnetism.

He asked doubtfully, "Then shouldn't you like Zhang Guorong?"

Ye Yuqing looked at him with disdain: "Do you know what a creator is? Without my idol writing a song to praise him, who knows Zhang Guorong and Zhang Guoyi?"

Ye Zhiming thought to himself that that might not be the case. When I was making movies, Zhang Guorong was already a well-known figure in the circle.

But he didn't say that.

Upon learning that Ye Yuqing was actually a fan of Zhai Yuan, Ye Zhiming inexplicably felt a strange emotion in his heart.

I originally wanted my sister to catch a big golden turtle, but now I am a little hesitant.

After all, in Ye Zhiming's previous impression, Ye Yuqing had always been willful and unreasonable, and would not suffer any loss when facing Zhai Yuan.

But looking at her current appearance as a fanatical fan, putting aside whether she will suffer a loss or not, the possibility of her being taken advantage of and still being cared for is obviously greater.

"Actually, I'm not that familiar with Zhai Yuan."

Ye Zhiming took off his headphones and said seriously. Seeing Ye Yuqing frowning, he quickly added, "But I can get an autograph for you."

Ye Yuqing's expression brightened when she heard this, and she said excitedly, "Then wait a minute!"

After saying that, he ran up to the second floor and went back to his room.

Not long after, Ye Yuqing rushed down again, holding a cardboard box in her arms: "Please let my idol work hard. There are many things in here that need to be signed."

Ye Zhiming took the paper box with a puzzled look. After opening it and seeing what was inside, he was immediately speechless.

The box contained videotapes of films in which Zhai Yuan had signed his name as the screenwriter and director, including "While You Were Sleeping", "The Man From Earth" and "A Better Tomorrow".

In addition, there is a 1024 diamond membership card, a Mark Hsu T-shirt, a collectible movie poster, and a can of God of Gamblers chocolate.

The most outrageous thing are some photos of Zhai Yuan.

Ye Zhiming asked: "Where did you get the photos?"

"Oh, right! There are photos too! Ask my idol to take a signed photo for me, and I'll enlarge it and hang it in my room as a poster!"

After Ye Yuqing made her request, she pointed at the photos in the box and said, "I cut these interview photos of him from the newspaper and had them scanned and printed. He is indeed an idol. The poor ink on the newspaper does not affect his handsomeness."

Ye Zhiming: "...Put your things away first, and I'll talk to him when I have time."

Ye Yuqing's face fell again: "Are you lying to me again?"

Ye Zhiming smiled sincerely: "How could that be? The boss is indeed not very familiar with him. After all, I am much older than him."

Ye Yuqing said with a bad face: "But you just said that you are a business partner with him and you want to introduce me to Jiuyi Entertainment."

Ye Zhiming asked: "Then will you still go to the nightclub to work part-time?"

Ye Yuqing said: "If I don't go, when will you take me to see my idol?"

Ye Zhiming said: "I will definitely take you there if I have the chance."

Ye Yuqing stared at him for a while, as if trying to determine whether it was true or not, and finally nodded and said, "Okay! If you dare to lie to me, I will beat your son Ah Ren!"

The age gap between the siblings is too big. Ye Zhiming's son Ye Chongren is only four years younger than his aunt Ye Yuqing, and they grew up playing together.

Ye Zhiming didn't know whether to laugh or cry when hearing this weird threat: "Tonight... cough! Next time I see Zhai Yuan, I must invite him to my house, okay?"

Ye Yuqing keenly noticed that he had swallowed back half of the words, narrowed her eyes but did not open them, and smiled obediently: "Okay, thank you, big boss."

…………

At around seven o'clock that evening, Ye Zhiming picked up Xia Meng who had just returned from Ma Kau at the Sheung Wan Ferry Terminal.

He took the initiative to help Xia Meng open the car door and get into his Rolls-Royce.

"Sister Meng, I made an appointment with Zhai Yuan at the Peninsula Restaurant. He should be here by now."

"Thank you for your hard work, Amin."

"It should be done. I'll take you there first."

The car sped away and headed straight for the Peninsula Hotel in Central.

Behind the Rolls-Royce, a taxi that had followed all the way from Repulse Bay started up.

In the car, Ye Yuqing stared at the boss's car in front of him, grabbing a handful of money and urging the driver: "Hurry up, hurry up, or I'll deduct all your wages!"

(End of this chapter)