I'm not a drama freak, I can really see through the script

Chapter 311 A True Gentleman, The Torn Betting Agreement

At this time, on this side of the Hong Kong River.

Yingyi Entertainment is also going through the publicity and distribution process in a very proper and orderly manner.

Even though there was a bet with Li Xuan involved, Andy Lau tried his best to find the optimal solution. Even when he was helping Li Xuan, he still made sure to do it in a respectable way.
This convinced Li Xuan completely.

Now, this bet seems a bit too weak.

He has witnessed Li Xuan's achievements in mainland China step by step. It seems that "Buried Alive" is being used to coerce him.

That won't work anymore.

Even if there is a betting agreement involved.

Andy Lau can still use this to his advantage—in this industry, integrity is a very important thing.

Once a contract has been signed, there is absolutely no reason to arbitrarily modify it.
A contract is such a sacred thing.

But greed and temptation still lingered in Liu Dehua's mind.

Li Xuan, what talent he possesses.

And it has charm.

At this moment, Xiang Huaqiang was standing next to him, and they also came to talk about "Buried Alive".

"Head of the House, thank you for your trouble. Please don't tell Li Xuan about what happened next."

"Don't worry, since it's Mr. Xiang's arrangement, I will definitely comply."

"Then I'm relieved."

"I just want to know," Andy Lau paused, then said, "I'm very curious about your unconditional help."

This time, the publicity and distribution channels for "Buried Alive" are from the Xiang family.

Not Focus Entertainment.

To be honest, as an actor and a superstar, Andy Lau is indeed at the very top of the industry.

But it was also the peak of his personal strength.

The operating company is different; Focus Entertainment is at best a second-rate company.

Besides "A World Without Thieves" and "Crazy Stone", there was also another film.

There were no other critically acclaimed works.

It's still missing something.
However, this time, Xiang Huaqiang arranged resources for Li Xuan's "Buried Alive".

He even specifically requested that we not tell Li Xuan.

“I don’t want him to know about my help. After all, unconditional gifts can easily corrupt friendships and feelings. Helping him without letting him know is enough,” Xiang Huaqiang said. “Of course, you can’t shortchange me on the money I owe you, and I won’t give you any discounts.”

"That's for sure."

The resources that General Manager Xiang possesses cannot be bought with money.

It's already very cheap when converted to cash.

At this moment, Xiang Huaqiang sighed with emotion.

"As for the reason, I don't know. Actually, I'm not a kind person. In this life, I've been deceitful and cunning, but in the process, I've also made many friends. It's just that some of them are old, some have died, and some I'll never see again."

Looking back on the past, I think of my friends.

When people become emotional, they become impulsive.

Even though Xiang Huaqiang knew it was an impulsive act, he didn't care and had no regrets.

I just wanted to help.

That's the charm.

at this time.

Andy Lau murmured.

What Li Xuan used was pure 'charm'.

Resource permissions obtained through charm.

If I had such a person in charge, would my company still need to be subservient to others? Would my Yingyi Entertainment still be second-rate?
This feeling spread within Andy Lau's heart, spreading without any reason.

To be honest, he wasn't very optimistic about "Buried".

There are too many monsters that siphon box office revenue.

Before "The Warlords," "Lust, Caution," and "Protégé," there was also the mainland Chinese film "Assembly."

There have been so many great works this year.

There are simply too many great works in Chinese alone.

So many masterpieces
They all gathered here.

Achieving results will be more difficult than ever before.

Li Xuan's current identity is no longer that of a student.

Rather, he is a 'seventh-generation director' and a rising star among actors.

Fortunately, this year's arts and culture scene is brimming with great works, making it a veritable feast for the audience.

Unfortunately, as an artist, my debut film encountered such formidable opponents.

The betting agreement failed, but with this contract, he could make many demands on Li Xuan.

Use his talent to help yourself.

This time, I really made a lot of money.

Buried Alive lost money.

Li Xuan returned to himself, this person who possessed both talent and charm.

at this time.

Andy Lau made a decision.

really
At this time, Li Xuan arrived in Hong Kong to attend the premiere.

This premiere was quite a big production.

Liu Yifei and Gao Yuanyuan both came along.

They claimed they came to shop and then casually watched a movie.

Actually, I came here for the movie itself.

"I want to see how good you are at directing movies!"

Gao Yuanyuan was very serious, her eyes full of businesslike intent.

Indeed, movies and television are different mediums.

The requirements for the director's rhythm and camera shots are different.

Regardless of which generation of directors they are, most of them either direct television shows or film movies.

Actually, from her own perspective, Gao Yuanyuan hoped that Li Xuan would continue to make TV dramas—movies, as a medium, are too difficult to adapt to.

Moreover, Gao Yuanyuan has some resources in the film industry and has some connections with Lu Chuan, the leading figure of the current seventh generation of directors.

Li Xuan is on TV.

There are these seventh-generation directors in the film industry.

It would allow her, a girl with limited resources, to...

Push it to a higher position.

"Me too!" Liu Yifei, standing next to her, seemed a little guilty. Her reason for being there was actually much simpler.

I just came to see Brother Li, there's no other reason.
Because Li Xuan is here.

It's that simple.
She was actually confident in Li Xuan's abilities!
Different carriers? What a load of nonsense.

Anyway, it's my brother Li's show, so it's awesome!
However, after arriving in Hong Kong, the two girls' shopping instincts were indeed triggered. Both girls from the north complained that it was so hot in Guangdong.

It got even hotter after the rain.
"I recently learned how to make some small desserts."

Liu Yifei whispered in Li Xuan's ear, "I'm trying to control my weight and can't eat much lately, so I'll have to trouble you to eat it for me!"

Li Xuan hasn't replied yet.

Liu Yifei then ran off, heading straight for the vegetable market.

The goddess's private life is nothing like a goddess at all.

However, it wasn't so bad to leave them behind; Li Xuan went directly to Yingyi Entertainment to find Andy Lau.

in business.

At the same time, the performance-based agreement was finally confirmed.

"The Mad Stone" fulfilled the bet.

Even Li Xuan was somewhat dazed when he saw the news that three million had been deposited into his account.

It became popular very quietly.

It even outperformed the box office of "Crazy Stone" in its previous life.

After all, this time it has the full support of Yingyi.

The tension when it bursts open is even stronger.

Andy Lau's character has stood the test of time, and he truly supports the work wholeheartedly, without resorting to any underhanded tactics to please himself.

This time, all that's missing is "Buried".

Andy Lau still has a chance.

Li Xuan didn't care about this betting agreement, or rather, he didn't care about his own abilities.

Comprehension.

Output capability.

If you don't believe you can lose, then you don't care what price you pay for the bet.

will win.

of course.

Actually, only Li Xuan was that confident.

Right now, in the revolving cafe on the top floor of the Ginza Building, the atmosphere is surprisingly romantic.

I was talking about Li Xuan, and he complained.

"Wow, this is the setup for dating a goddess."

"I come here often with my wife."

At this moment, Andy Lau smiled slightly, ordered a Lafite red wine steak, and the atmosphere was immediately set.

The gesture was very appropriate.

Li Xuan thought about it and realized it made sense, since the other party was betting against him with 100% confidence.

A bet under these circumstances.

Naturally, they appeared very confident.

With such absolute self-confidence, one gets the feeling that everything is under control.

The posture of a victor.

“Hey Andy Lau, it’s not that critical yet, so don’t be so confident.”

At this moment, Li Xuan snorted and said, "Don't underestimate me."

"Actually, there is another path you can take for your work."

At this point, Andy Lau brought out the betting agreement and jokingly said, "One way to greatly increase your chances of success is to postpone the release date."

It's not simply a postponement of one or two months.

Instead, it was postponed to the following year.

"As far as I know, Lu Chuan, a director of the same generation as you, postponed his new work 'Nanjing' by a year. In fact, he had already finished filming the work last year."

Otherwise, they would be thinking of deliberately accepting defeat.

The fifth generation of directors are having a battle of titans, so why are the seventh generation directors getting involved?

The new generation should act like the new generation.

But Li Xuan shook his head.

“Backing down means stage fright. I can be cowardly once, but I can’t be cowardly a second time. I can be cowardly a third time. But if I don’t give myself that reason, I will never back down.”

This is a mindset.

A director wants to infuse his work with soul.

That director himself possesses a soul.

If you back down because you lack confidence in your own work.

How can you then infuse your work with soul?

Can't do it.

Andy Lau looked at Li Xuan with such strong confidence that it was not unfounded, but rather a genuine trust in the soul contained in his work.

Liu Dehua sensed it.

That's a strange state of mind.

He has met many people, including directors and actors, and has seen all kinds of people, from unknowns to the Four Heavenly Kings.

There is the genius Wang Jing, and Du Qifeng.

There are Stephen Chow, Jackie Chan, Leslie Cheung, and so on.

Many people.

Even Wang Jing, who became famous at a young age, and their attitudes toward their works are all very different.

There are very few like Li Xuan.

Take your own work.

They see them as children.

That reflects the importance and confidence one has placed in the fruits of their labor.

Everyone else treats it as a commodity... especially Wang Jing, who is the purest example of someone who views his artistic creations as a commodity.

Very pure.

"I knew I hadn't misjudged you."

At this moment, Andy Lau's eyes showed even more admiration: "From the first day I saw you, I knew what kind of person you were, and to this day, I have proven that I was right."

The more they appreciated the performance-based contract, the tighter they held onto it.
The more you do this, the less you want to let go of it.

From his perspective, this was a sure-win betting contract.

In the glow of candlelight, Andy Lau's eyes flickered.

It flickers on and off.

Finally, Andy Lau smiled.

How about you treat us to this meal?

"piece of cake."

Li Xuan shrugged, indifferent.

Although I don't know why, the host said that someone else should treat them.

But Li Xuan never cared.

Especially Andy Lau, who was the first senior I ever met.

The role he casually gave up back then became a testament to his starting point, for which Li Xuan felt only gratitude.

"To repay your kindness in treating me to this, I'll give you this."

Under Li Xuan's astonished gaze, Andy Lau tore up the gambling contract.

Now nobody owes anyone anything.

"why?"

"This is too unfair to you."

At this moment, Li Xuan pondered.

This is a huge loss for Andy Lau.

Then Andy Lau burst into laughter.

"Actually, I also regret it quite a bit. After all, I was just a little bit short of having someone as talented as you join my company. It was just too tempting. I believe that if the two of us were to join forces, we would definitely be able to turn this second-rate company into a first-rate one."

This reflects the high hopes that Andy Lau has for Li Xuan.

It's just one kind.

The confidence given.

And there's appreciation.

But it was precisely this deep affection that ultimately led to the tearing up of the contract that had bound Li Xuan.

“Your growth rate has exceeded my expectations. This contract should not become a stumbling block for you. If you are really bound to my stage because of failure, that would be too unfair to you.”

Andy Lau smiled slightly, but there was still a hint of hesitation in his expression.

From his perspective, after all.

This time, it's a sure loss.

Having acted in both television dramas and movies, Andy Lau has a deep understanding of the differences between them.

As an actor.

It's not impossible to adapt to both, in fact, it's quite suitable. However, as a director, there's a huge difference in rhythm between the two, so it's impossible to adapt them to each other perfectly.

Either, like Wang Jing, seek rationality within sensibility, deconstruct the work, and be able to commercialize in two directions.

That's extracting formulas from art.

The crooked path that was achieved.

But Li Xuan is like that.

Driven by emotion.

Can the two really be compatible?
It makes one wonder.

If it's for Li Xuan's own good, and for the good of the industry, then letting Li Xuan go free is the best choice.

And there's another very important point.

“You have grown into someone who can talk to me side by side. I believe that if our relationship is one of standing shoulder to shoulder, it will be a good comradeship.”

at this time.

Andy Lau said it.

What he sought was a comradeship.

Comrades-in-arms who can work together side by side.

On equal footing.

After burning the betting agreement.

When the two reach true equality.

Collaborative works are what truly have soul, aren't they?
Li Xuan never expected that Andy Lau's invitation to this romantic restaurant wasn't to show off, but to return the betting contract to him.

To be honest, Li Xuan didn't think he would lose.

But to be honest, Andy Lau's behavior was indeed somewhat shocking.

"He's a true gentleman."

At this moment, Li Xuan felt somewhat emotional.

This old superstar is such a gentleman.

When you are convinced that you will win.

The concessions made.

But Li Xuan also felt that...

We can't owe him anything.

"Tell me, with so many big productions this time, haven't you really considered postponing the release date?"

After returning home, Li Xuan chatted with Gao Yuanyuan, listening to what she had said to him.

She didn't go shopping entirely today.

More time.

I did some research on the current film market and asked a friend who is an entertainment reporter in Hong Kong.

Taking Hong Kong as an example.

For films released during this period, how many viewing warnings are there? And who are they for?

Most people went to see "The Warlords," "Protégé," and "Lust, Caution." At least for most domestic productions, people went to see these three.

It can be said that Li Xuan chose a time slot where the gods were fighting.

And it wasn't postponed.

They didn't move away, but rather moved closer.
Have courage.

But it seems like mere reckless courage.

A newly debuted seventh-generation director has gotten involved in this battle of the titans.

Then Li Xuan smiled.

"So what do you think my outcome will be?"

"I do not know."

"Then let me tell you my prediction."

At this moment, Li Xuan wore a pessimistic expression.

Is the outlook still not optimistic?
Then, Li Xuan said pessimistically.

"I'm not targeting anyone in particular, I'm talking about everyone here, the sixth and fifth generation directors, none of them have works as good as mine."

Gao Yuanyuan: "."

This is not pessimism at all.

That's insane!
(End of this chapter)