Entertainment: Since 1990

Chapter 209 Monica Bellucci
“I’ve met some friends here. They heard I’m here to film a movie, so they threw a party. Maybe I’ll meet some foreign girls. Do you want to go check it out?”

The filming process was intense, but after a day of shooting, Jackie Chan came over and invited Director Cao to go pick up girls.

"Don't go."

Cao Jian resolutely refused to do something that would waste his energy on outsiders.

"Ah Jian, there's an old saying that goes, if you want to know what a pear tastes like, you have to taste it yourself. Foreigners do have their advantages."

Jackie Chan thought Cao Jian was faking it and laughed, "It's okay, Vivian Chow definitely doesn't know. Men should experience different things from time to time."

"Pear? Li Zi?"

When Cao Jian heard the word "pear," he thought of Li Zi.

This woman played Zhou Zhiruo, a cunning and ruthless one at that. She's also quite beautiful. I'd like to give her a try sometime.

As for foreign girls
He laughed and said, "Actually, I know an American girl, and I plan to go see her."

"So you already had someone in mind. How's the girl?"

"good."

Cao Jian simply made up an excuse not to attend the so-called party; foreign girls are no match for the allure of the Jade Girl Leader.

"Who would complain about knowing a lot of pretty girls? Besides, the people hosting this party are no ordinary people; it'll be good for you."

Without saying a word, Jackie Chan grabbed Cao Jian and left.

"There's really nothing I can do about you."

Cao Jian admires Jackie Chan, believing that he works tirelessly in his films and, following in the footsteps of Bruce Lee, has promoted kung fu to the world.

However, no one is perfect, just as Jin Yong commented on him, he left his mark everywhere.

Moreover, Jackie Chan is said to be one of the four most womanizing men in the Hong Kong entertainment industry.
Just as he thought of this, Cao Jian suddenly realized that he might also be heading in this direction.

Led by Jackie Chan, the two arrived at a luxurious manor.

"Hello, Jackie."

As soon as they entered the manor villa, a middle-aged foreign man came over and hugged Jackie Chan, and they seemed to have a good relationship.

"Hi Richard, how are you? Long time no see."

Jackie Chan greeted the man warmly and then introduced him, saying, "Let me introduce you to a friend. This is Mr. Cao Jian, one of Asia's most popular singers."

"So you're Cao Jian?"

The foreigner had heard of the name before, but he wasn't surprised. He just glanced at him a few times, then extended his hand and introduced himself: "Hello, Mr. Cao, I am the editor-in-chief of Time magazine, my name is Richard Stengel."

"Hello, Mr. Richard."

But Cao Jian was slightly surprised when he heard this introduction.

The unassuming middle-aged man in front of me is actually the editor-in-chief of Time magazine.

Jackie Chan has a wide circle of friends; no wonder he insisted on bringing me along.

After exchanging greetings and becoming acquainted, the group headed towards the villa.

“JACKIE, your Drunken Master II has a good chance of being named one of Time Magazine’s top ten films of 1994.”

The villa was large, and along the long corridor, Richard began to congratulate Jackie Chan.

"Thank you."

Jackie Chan smiled and said, "Richard, I wonder if my friend has a chance to be featured in Time magazine? He's the most popular man among Chinese people right now."

"Hehe, maybe there will be a chance."

Richard knew Cao Jian and had heard some of his English songs.

But it seems there's still a long way to go before these things can get you onto the cover of Time magazine.

Even Jackie Chan was only mentioned briefly in a magazine, mainly because he was good at fighting and Westerners were very curious about Chinese kung fu.

Cao Jian sang a few English songs and now he wants to get into Time magazine?
It’s still very early.

Cao Jian understood that the other party's "there is a chance" was just a polite remark.

"It'll be on the cover sooner or later."

But Mr. Cao was thinking that once he made a few more critically acclaimed and commercially successful movies, and became a big shot in the American entertainment industry, he might even have a chance to appear on the cover.

We soon entered the villa's magnificent hall.

In the lobby, waiters in tuxedos were moving back and forth, and someone was playing the piano.

Of course, most of the guests were invited by the host. The men among the guests were dressed in gentlemanly attire, chatting in small groups with the ladies in beautiful dresses.

"This is a high-end party; you might meet some useful people, but don't forget to meet some foreign girls."

Jackie Chan whispered something to Cao Jian, then led him to greet people they knew.

It has to be said that Jackie Chan is quite famous in the United States, and many people know him.

Cao Jian, on the other hand, was somewhat neglected.

A party is actually a place for people in a certain circle to make friends, and it's also a place for these so-called gentlemen to hunt for women.

Cao Jian, holding a glass of champagne, idly scanned the crowd.

Suddenly, he noticed a beautiful woman surrounded by several people who looked very familiar.

Monica Bellucci?

Cao Jianzhen never expected to run into the woman he had been longing for here.

At this time, Bellucci appeared more radiant and less alluring than in "Malèna".

However, her black dress still accentuated her stunning figure, which explains why she was surrounded by several men.

"This party was definitely worth coming to."

Cao Jian chuckled and strolled over.

"Hello everyone, my name is Cao Jian, and I am a director and film investor."

Cao Jian first revealed his identity; at this point, keeping a low profile was useless.

He then extended his hand to Bellucci and said, "Miss, you are very beautiful. Are you an actress? It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Hello, Mr. Cao."

Bellucci looked at the Chinese man in front of him and subconsciously reached out and lightly touched Cao Jian's fingers.

At this moment, most of the people around him did not recognize Cao Jian.

After all, Cao Jian's songs are only popular with some young people in Europe and America; most of the people present were in their forties or fifties.

Seeing that this Chinese man was trying to take his woman away, one of the foreigners laughed and said, "A director and investor in his twenties? I wonder if that's true? Did you even graduate from university?"

"Everyone says Westerners are gentlemen, what a load of rubbish!"

Cao Jian sensed the sarcasm in the other person's voice, cursed inwardly, and laughed, "I didn't go to university, but I have unique insights into making and investing in movies."

"Ha ha."

These so-called gentlemen all burst into laughter upon hearing this.

How can someone who never went to college make movies?
Investing in movies?
Do you have money?

How much investment is needed?
Guests invited by Time magazine are either wealthy businessmen or prominent and wealthy individuals in the United States.

Sure enough, there was someone who had been eyeing Bellucci and wanted to impress the beautiful woman, so he sarcastically asked, "What movies have you invested in? Tell me about them."

"Mr. Cao, you've come too."

Just as Cao Jian was about to share his investment experience, a man happened to pass by.

"Mr. Alan, you're here too?"

Upon seeing the man, Cao Jian immediately recognized him as Alan Ryder, the owner of 20th Century Fox.

Alan Ryder laughed and said, "Yes, I'm in New York on some business and was invited to come and see what you're doing here."

Many of the other people around recognized this bigwig from the Hollywood film company.

Unexpectedly, this big shot seemed to be acquainted with this young Chinese man.

Could he really be a film investor?
Cao Jian then said, "I'm filming a movie in New York."

"Mr. Cao is indeed very busy."

Alan clinked glasses with Cao Jian: "By the way, the film crew for 'Broken Arrow' is already being assembled. You're the assistant director, don't forget."

This surprised the people around them even more.

In his early twenties, he was able to work as an assistant director on films for 20th Century Fox.

That's pretty impressive, isn't it?
The beautiful Bellucci looked at Cao Jian with surprise. This handsome, incredibly young Chinese man was actually a director.

And he's also a great director.

Was my attitude just now a bit dismissive?
(End of this chapter)