It's reasonable for me to be a three-time Golden Horse Award-winning director and an all-around

Chapter 272 Fires Again! A truly satisfying moment! Liu Yifei: Get lost... (Seeking monthly votes)
At a recent press conference for the film "The Warlords," director Chen Kexin criticized Chinese period dramas, saying: "Chinese period dramas are too focused on luxury, too fake, and too extravagant. I'm going to do the opposite..."

"Unlike the dazzling scenes of 'Curse of the Golden Flower' and 'The Promise,' the reporters who visited the set of 'The Warlords' said they couldn't understand it at all. There wasn't a single clean or tidy place on the entire set, even the actors' costumes were not sleek, and even the roads were muddy..."

"Chen Kexin is against four types of period drama blockbusters: first, visual spectacle; second, violent aesthetics; third, folk legends; and fourth, Hollywood themes!"

...

A while ago, the film "The Warlords" held a press conference.

After numerous Hong Kong media outlets conducted interviews at the scene, they returned moved to tears, praising Chen Kexin as the most sincere director in Hong Kong!
The report described Chen Kexin's "sincerity" and "dedication" in detail:
He not only publicly criticized period dramas like "Curse of the Golden Flower" and "The Promise" for pursuing luxurious scenes, but also deliberately created a sense of realism for period dramas on set.

In addition to having the actors wear tattered clothes, several tons of mud were transported by truck to the film and television base and laid directly on the road so that the actors could film in the mud, thus fulfilling their pursuit of the realism of period dramas.

As soon as these news broke, industry insiders praised him for being "attitude-driven" and "daring to break through," and even many viewers had higher expectations for "The Warlords."

However, this "sincerity" didn't last long before it was exposed by a film crew's prop purchase order, directly revealing his greedy nature!
An anonymous source has leaked a detailed list of props from the film "The Warlords".

The total investment in costumes reached 3000 million yuan. A seemingly tattered "rag shirt" cost no less than 1000 yuan, while the golden armor worn by the protagonist cost 50 yuan, yet it was never used in the final film...

The emergence of these messages immediately sparked outrage across the internet, with netizens angrily condemning him as shameless!

"Is this how you rip off investors? No wonder Hong Kong cinema is dying. Who would dare invest in you if you keep ripping people off like this?"

“I have plenty of old clothes at home. I don’t want 1000, I’ll pack them all up for 50 each. Come and get them.”

"Damn, you've made me laugh out loud. You say the clothes are old but the collars and cuffs have custom designs? Look at what you're saying, it's all incoherent and you're talking like an idiot."

"Still talking about opposing extravagance? Ha! They dared to spend 3000 million on costumes, more than they did on 'Curse of the Golden Flower'. Where's their shame?"

The outrage from netizens instantly overwhelmed Chen Kexin's image of sincerity, and even the Hong Kong entertainment circle was thrust into the spotlight.

Surprisingly, the Hong Kong entertainment circle almost collectively remained silent.

Those few who spoke out were almost all defending "The Warlords," and no one was willing to admit the greed and mistakes behind the truth.

Amidst the outcry from the outside world, Lu Yang and Rao Xiaozhi brought news from within the Hong Kong entertainment circle to Lu Rui's room:
"Brother Rui, you have no idea, those people are all up to no good."

An industry insider revealed at a gathering that they intend to use mainland resources to promote young people in the Hong Kong film industry, while also using this opportunity to support their production crews and make as much money as possible… So, we mainland investors are here to do charity?

Lu Yang spoke these words with utter disdain.

Although Rao Xiaozhi, who was standing next to him, was a first-timer in the Hong Kong entertainment circle, he had seen quite a bit during the preparation of "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil," and immediately added:

"During this period, Yinghuang fired quite a few behind-the-scenes staff members who were trying to profit from the production. Some wanted to inflate meal expenses, and others wanted to take kickbacks from prop purchases. Fortunately, we were prepared..."

Lu Rui sneered upon hearing this; he had anticipated these events.

From the very beginning, all of Ruishijie's projects have had professional financial and supervisory personnel assigned to manage the accounts.

Every expense, from invoices to receipts, must be meticulously checked, down to the cost of even a single prop needle.

Those who were kicked out of the production team were almost all cases where Ruishijie found evidence against them and then contacted Yinghuang, demanding immediate action.

In situations like this, we must make an example of someone to deter others!
Being allowed to film in Hong Kong is already a "favor," and you still dare to cause trouble? Do you really think mainland investors are all easy targets to be fleeced?
Lu Rui wasn't sure about the situation with other film crews, but for Rui Vision's projects, such a situation was absolutely unacceptable.

This is true not only in Hong Kong, but also in mainland China.

In the early days, when Ruishijie was working on projects, other investors would also send their finance staff to oversee the process.

But as Vision's projects became successful one after another, everyone tacitly agreed to just give money and ignore all the other details.

As long as there is profit to be made, everything else can be ignored.

But "delegating power" does not mean "indulgence"!
If someone like Chen Kexin were to openly rake in money like that, without even bothering to pretend, he wouldn't last a minute at Ruishijie; he'd be kicked out immediately.

"Ignore them. Every cause has its effect." Lü Rui leaned back in his chair, his eyes cold. "He'll get his comeuppance sooner or later for all this trouble. The audience isn't stupid, and neither are the investors."

Rao Xiaozhi and Lu Yang exchanged a glance and nodded in unison.

Afterwards, Lü Rui inquired in detail about the preparation of "Ip Man" and "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil," confirming that there were no problems with the procurement of props and the training of actors before letting the two go back to rest.

Silence returned to the room. Lü Rui looked at the news again, his face full of disdain.

"You're just making money without actually earning it; if you don't die, who will?"

Ultimately, Chen Kexin's scam is nothing more than a microcosm of the greed of certain people in the Hong Kong entertainment circle.

At present, it seems that you can make a lot of money, but when you take a long-term view, you will find that you are completely undermining your own foundation!
...

May 6th, 8:5 AM.

After getting up and having breakfast, Lü Rui went downstairs alone and took a car to the venue for the launch event.

He originally wanted to take Liu Yifei with him, but the girl was used to sleeping in and didn't want to get up, saying she wanted to sleep until 10 o'clock.

Lu Rui could only remind her not to forget to attend the luncheon at noon before setting off ahead.

The launch press conference was held on King's Road, Quarry Bay, Eastern District, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

This is the headquarters of Yinghuang Building, and the stage for today's press conference was set up directly in the center of the square in front of the building.

The press conference was scheduled to start at 9:30. After arriving, Lü Rui did not go directly to the office, but instead went upstairs to Yang Shoucheng's office.

"Director Lü, welcome! Please have a seat. Wenxi, quickly pour some tea for Director Lü."

Upon seeing him, Yang Shoucheng immediately stood up to greet him warmly, his face beaming with smiles, showing none of the aloofness one would expect from a business tycoon.

Lu Rui sat down on the sofa and joked with a smile, "Chairman Yang has really put on quite a show today."

“Haha, of course,” Yang Shoucheng sat down opposite him, his tone sincere. “Yinghuang truly wants to continue its close cooperation with Ruishijie. These two films are our major co-productions, so we naturally have to put on a good show…”

The two exchanged pleasantries when Huo Wenxi came over with a cup of hot tea and respectfully handed it to Lü Rui.

Lu Rui was feeling a bit thirsty and picked up his teacup to drink when Yang Shoucheng suddenly changed the subject: "Oh, by the way, Chairman Lu, I heard some news from Anle that 'Lust, Caution' has been submitted to Venice for review."

Lu Rui paused, holding her teacup, and looked up at him: "Oh? Really? When?"

“It was sent there just two days ago.” Yang Shoucheng suddenly lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of candor. “I heard the finished film didn’t pass censorship in mainland China, so Li An thought he’d try his luck at a film festival first, hoping that winning an award might increase his chances of getting it approved…”

Lü Rui understood.

The man in front of me is a shrewd fellow. He already knew that Li An and I didn't get along, and now he's deliberately revealing this information, clearly to try and get closer to the two of us.

Since collaborating on "New World", Yinghuang has been single-mindedly trying to align itself with Ruishijie, even at the cost of offending half of the Hong Kong entertainment circle.

This boldness impressed Lü Rui.

"Thank you for informing me, Chairman Yang. You've gone to a lot of trouble."

Lu Rui put down his teacup and bowed slightly in thanks.

"Don't mention it," Yang Shoucheng waved his hand casually. "It was nothing, it's what I should do."

He leaned back on the sofa, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes.

In fact, once he decided to cooperate with Ruishijie, he had no intention of turning back.

Those people in the Hong Kong entertainment circle have extremely low standards; all they think about is making money. If you associate with them, Yinghuang will be dragged down sooner or later.

We might as well go all in and follow Lü Rui down a new path!
Even if he is ostracized by the entire Hong Kong entertainment circle, he doesn't care, because time and results will prove him right!

The two then discussed the press conference proceedings and the follow-up promotional plans for "Ip Man" and "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil".

As it approached 9:30, Yang Shoucheng stood up and said, "Chairman Lü, we should go down now. The press conference is about to start."

Lu Rui stood up in response and walked towards the elevator with him.

As the elevator descended, Yang Shoucheng whispered instructions: "During the media Q&A session later, if anyone asks about Hong Kong entertainment circles, you don't need to pay attention. I'll handle it."

Lu Rui's eyes flickered: "Okay, I'll do as Chairman Yang says."

The elevator doors opened, and the noise from the plaza immediately filled the air.

Huo Wenxi came over and reported, "Chairman Yang, Chairman Lü, everything is ready on site, and we are just waiting for the auspicious time."

"okay, I get it."

"Thank you for your hard work, Director Huo."

Then, the group went to the actors' rest area backstage.

"Director Lü."

As soon as Zhao Wenzhuo, Jiang Wu, and Duan Yihong saw Lü Rui, they immediately came up to greet him. The three of them were old acquaintances who had worked together before.

"Director Lü, it's nice to meet you. I hope you'll take good care of me."

This was Li Jianyi's first time participating in a project for Ruishijie. He was brought in by Lu Yang from the National Theatre of China to provide support.

"Hello, Teacher Li."

Lu Rui took the initiative to shake his hand, and when his gaze fell on his face, he couldn't help but think of Cao Zhengchun, the loyal and upright eunuch in "The World's Number One".

Compared to the main characters who are low-class and always swear, he is a villain, but he is very polite.

Unfortunately, Cao Gonggong's retreat in 05 set back martial arts dramas by 20 years.

Upon meeting Li Jianyi in person, Lü Rui couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions.

"Director Lü, it's such an honor to finally meet you today."

Yan Danchen, who had been waiting for an opportunity, seized the chance to step forward and greet him, her voice tinged with excitement.

Lu Rui smiled at her and said, "Hello, Senior Yan."

Upon hearing this form of address, Yan Danchen felt immediately flustered and waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "Director Lü, you can just call me Danchen. I dare not accept the title of senior..."

She graduated from the Beijing Film Academy in 96, in the same class as Chen Kun, Huang Xiaoming, Zhao Yanzi, and others.

When Lü Rui started school, she was already a senior.

Actually, Lu Yang originally intended to cast Liu Tao in this role.

Unfortunately, after Liu Tao became a sensation with the movie "Remote Control," she took on three TV series in a row, and simply couldn't find the time to work.

Yan Danchen happened to come for an audition, and her makeup and styling gave off a "married woman" vibe, which directly hit the role's requirements, leading to her unexpected selection.

Besides actors from mainland China, many Hong Kong actors also greeted Lü Rui.

However, unlike mainland actors who showed respect while also displaying familiarity and closeness, Hong Kong actors seemed to harbor a hint of fear when interacting with him.

Even though many of them were two or even three decades older than him, they still couldn't hide their awe.

The main reason is that Lui Rui went too far in his attacks on the Hong Kong Film Awards!

With just one film and other means, the credibility of the Hong Kong Film Awards plummeted, and all the awards became a complete joke.

This method is absolutely ruthless!
So much so that in many people's eyes, although he looks all smiles and has a very approachable demeanor, he is actually a devil beneath that smile.

"Hello, Director Lü."

"Director Lü is truly a young hero!"

Francis Ng, Hui Siu-hung, and others stepped forward to greet them, placing themselves in the position of subordinates without any airs of seniority.

"Teacher Wu, Teacher Xu."

Lu Rui shook hands with the two men in succession, his gaze lingering on Xu Shaoxiong for a few more seconds.

He recalled that before he was reborn, Brother Fai ultimately became an eternal classic in the hearts of the audience at the age of 76.

There is almost nothing fair in this world, but time is the only thing that is fair to everyone.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are inevitable for everyone; no one can escape them.

Seeing Xu Shaoxiong in his prime now, Lü Rui couldn't help but feel a sense of disorientation about the passage of time.

After he finished greeting everyone, Yang Shoucheng glanced at his watch and whispered, "It's almost time, everyone get ready."

Everyone immediately nodded in agreement.

...

At 9:30 a.m., enthusiastic applause suddenly rang out in the square in front of the Yinghuang Building.

The press conference for the start of filming of "Ip Man" and "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil" has officially begun!

The audience was packed with media reporters, including established local Hong Kong media outlets and mainstream media from the mainland. Their cameras were all pointed at the stage, flashes went off one after another, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

Yang Shoucheng, dressed in a dark suit and all smiles, was the first to walk onto the stage.

Holding the microphone, he spoke in a loud voice: "Today, Yinghuang and Ruishijie join hands to officially launch two major projects, 'Ip Man' and 'The Gangster, the Cop, and the Devil'!"
This is not only a deep collaboration between the two companies, but also a joint effort by film and television forces from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong…

He first briefly introduced the preparation status of the two projects, his words filled with anticipation for the future, and finally announced:
"Hereby I announce that filming for 'Ip Man' and 'The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil' has officially begun!"

Applause erupted again from the audience, pushing the atmosphere to its first minor climax.

Then, the host announced loudly, "Next, let's give a warm round of applause to Mr. Lü Rui, Chairman of Rui Vision and a famous director, to come to the stage and speak."

Backstage, Lü Rui straightened his collar, took the microphone from his assistant, and steadily walked onto the stage.

Standing in the center, he looked around the audience, his gaze gentle yet powerful: "First of all, thank you to all the media friends and guests present..."

I have always believed that people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong are one family, and culture is our common root.

As an important medium for cultural dissemination, film and television should not be limited by geographical boundaries. We should work together to create more works that can move people's hearts and convey positive energy, allowing Chinese-language films and television to reach a wider stage..."

These words demonstrate a broad perspective, aligning with mainstream values ​​and highlighting the core significance of cooperation.

The mainland media in the audience nodded in agreement.

Yang Shoucheng listened intently, silently memorizing every word, and inwardly sighed:
"This person looks so young, yet he speaks so skillfully in this kind of situation. His demeanor, his manner of speaking... Some people are truly born to do this kind of work!"

After the speeches, the main creators of both production teams went on stage together for a grand opening ceremony.

With a loud "bang," colorful ribbons fluttered in the air as the main cast members, holding wooden mallets, struck the gong together to symbolize the start of filming, bringing the atmosphere to its peak!
The media interview session then proceeded smoothly.

Lu Rui had actually anticipated that the reporters would throw very pointed questions at him.

As expected, the first mainland reporter to stand up asked directly, "Director Lü, 'The Warlords' has recently been embroiled in controversy over the cost of props. What are your thoughts on this?"

Yang Shoucheng, who was standing next to him, wanted to remind him, but Lü Rui took the microphone and spoke in a very impolite tone:

"My opinion? I think some directors would be better off focusing their energy on the work itself rather than trying to appear sincere."

They spent 30 million on costumes, yet filmed a scene full of muddy realism, and still touted it as anti-luxury? I just don't understand this approach. Do they think the audience is stupid, or do they think the investors' money is easy to use?

As soon as he finished speaking, the mainland media in the audience were immediately impressed!
coming!

Fire!

This is exactly the feeling I wanted!

Another reporter immediately followed up: "The sudden announcement of the postponement of filming for 'Red Cliff' has been rumored to be due to funding issues. What's your opinion?"

Lu Rui curled his lip: "I don't know the reason for the delay, but I do know that a good movie can't be made by just piling up stars and hyping up gimmicks."

If you can't even do basic production planning well, you should focus on mastering the fundamentals first, instead of rushing to make money.

These words were full of sarcasm, making the faces of the Hong Kong media blush.

In the past, people in the industry valued harmony and making money, so even if they had opinions about the Hong Kong entertainment circle, they would not publicly break off relations.

But Lü Rui showed no mercy and confronted him directly, without any politeness!

This move is indeed quite bold, but at the same time, the online controversy that had just cooled down is likely to start a second round of fermentation.

After the interview, Lü Rui stepped off the stage, silently adding to himself, "I'll have to make Han Sanping treat me when I get back; my words really helped him vent his anger."

After all, Han Sanping had privately complained about the chaos in some projects in the Hong Kong entertainment circle before.

His statement can be seen as indirectly speaking out for mainland investors.

State-owned enterprises are restricted by united front work and privileges, so they can't speak out, but he doesn't care about those things.

If he doesn't like something, he'll argue with it!
If you're so tough, come face to face and let's see who backs down first!
...

Around 11 a.m., the press conference for the launch of "Ip Man" and "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil" finally came to an end after nearly two hours.

The main creative team moved to a banquet hall near the Yinghuang Building for lunch.

As planned, filming for both movies will officially begin this afternoon. This luncheon serves as both a wrap-up for the press conference and a warm-up for the upcoming filming.

Lu Rui and Yang Shoucheng walked side by side at the front of the group, and people came up to greet them from time to time, creating a lively and harmonious atmosphere.

Meanwhile, the news of today's press conference has caused a huge uproar in both mainland China and Hong Kong!

Hong Kong and mainland media outlets released on-site reports almost simultaneously, with several impactful headlines propelling the topic to the top of the news.

Today, the film "Ip Man," co-produced by Ruishijie and Yinghuang, with an investment of HK$7000 million, officially began filming in Hong Kong.

Following "New World," the second crime film in collaboration between Ruishijie and Yinghuang, "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil," officially began filming today. With Jiang Wu and Francis Ng locked in a powerful showdown, it is expected to once again break down the boundaries of genre films…

[Lu Rui directly criticized the production team at the press conference! He subtly mocked the 30 million yuan costume budget of "The Warlords," claiming it was inflated and that director Chen Kexin hadn't put any real effort into her work.]

The delayed filming of the movie "Red Cliff" has sparked controversy. Lü Rui advised Wu Yu to hone his skills first and not rush into making money...

[At the press conference, Lü Rui spoke at length about cultural integration: People across the Taiwan Strait and in Hong Kong are one family; Chinese-language film and television need to work together!]

The news immediately amused netizens.

"As expected of Director Lü! Well said! It's so satisfying!" "That's exactly what we should say. We should give them a good scolding. They don't focus on making movies, they're always up to some dirty tricks behind the scenes, aren't they ashamed?"

"Finally, someone dares to speak the truth. What are we afraid of, Hong Kong's entertainment circle? It's such a small place, what are they so arrogant about?"

“Mainland investors, look at Director Lui. He vents his anger on the spot. Can’t you learn from him?”

"If this industry chaos isn't rectified, they'll only become more and more arrogant. Where the hell do they get all those privileges? They think they're so great?"

In the office of China Film Group, Han Sanping was laughing heartily in front of his computer screen.

The screen was now displaying news reports of the press conference for the start of filming of "Ip Man" and "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil".

He especially enjoyed watching Lu Rui's confrontations with Chen Kexin and his mockery of Wu Yu!
"This kid really hit the nail on the head! It's so satisfying!"

Han Sanping slammed his fist on the table, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

In fact, he had long been fed up with the underhanded tactics of certain people in the Hong Kong entertainment circle, but he couldn't go against the policy and had to lean towards that side, and he couldn't cut off his cooperation with the Hong Kong entertainment circle.

When investing in "The Warlords", Chen Kexin promised to create an authentic period drama, but ended up with a shady deal involving 30 million in costume expenses.

After the "Red Cliff" project was launched, Wu Yu caused the filming to be repeatedly delayed due to the large number of stars, chaotic planning, and film divisions.

If it weren't for the high sunk costs in the early stages, he would have ordered the withdrawal of investment to cut losses long ago.

Now that Lü Rui dares to expose these chaotic phenomena in public, it's even more satisfying than if he took action himself!

"This is the only time. After these two movies are finished, I'll get as far away as possible. Let whoever wants to work with me do so..."

Just as he was complaining, the office door was suddenly pushed open, and the secretary walked in quickly.

"Mr. Han, there's something important I need to tell you."

"what happened?"

"Someone from the association called, saying they wanted you to mediate, and that Director Lü's outspoken personality is severely damaging the reputation of our mainland film industry..."

"Heh!" Han Sanping's smile vanished instantly, his face darkening. "Who farted like that? Tell him to come to me and say it."

Aren't the people of Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong one family? Isn't cultural inheritance and cooperation the direction of future development? Is Lu Rui's concept of a cultural community wrong?

No one who can be a leader's secretary is a fool.

At that moment, the secretary instantly understood Han Sanping's meaning: the focus should be on Lü Rui's positive remarks, and the criticisms should be ignored entirely...

"I understand, Mr. Han. I'll contact the media right away."

"Go."

Han Sanping nodded slightly, watching his secretary's departing figure, and snorted coldly in his heart.

Those who wanted to smooth things over were just afraid of offending the Hong Kong entertainment circle, but he insisted on supporting Lui Rui.

Moreover, we should not only support it, but also make the "cultural community" theme the mainstream!

As a result, within half an hour, multiple mainstream media outlets simultaneously reprinted excerpts of Lü Rui's speech at the press conference, with headlines uniformly revolving around the theme "Cross-Strait and Hong Kong-Macau are one family; Chinese-language film and television need to work together for progress."

State media even published a blog post stating: "This view aligns with the general trend of Chinese-language film and television development and points the way for industry cooperation."

This support instantly sparked a heated online discussion about "cultural community".

Netizens left comments such as, "Support Lü Rui, culture knows no boundaries..."

As for his criticisms and mockery of Chen Kexin and Wu Yu, they were selectively ignored by the authorities, and the controversy was not even suppressed; they were all blatantly displayed.

Those who had previously accused Lü Rui of "ruining his reputation" fell silent as soon as the official stance was set.

Everyone knows that this is an attempt to support Lü Rui.

Anyone who dares to refute this is going against China Film Group and the mainstream direction!

In Hong Kong's entertainment circle, Chen Kexin's face turned pale and then red as she looked at the related news online.

But he didn't dare to say anything, and even instructed his team not to respond to any related topics. He simply hid in the "Warriors" film crew and pretended to be dead.

Because he knew that Lü Rui's words hit the nail on the head!

If he refutes, it will only attract more questions, so it's better for him to remain silent and avoid the limelight.

But Wu Yu on the other side was not so calm.

Upon seeing Lü Rui's statement, "Practice the basics first, don't rush to make money," he slammed his fist on the table, his anger reaching its peak.

"A mere punk dares to tell me what to do? Who does he think he is?"

The delay of "Red Cliff" had already put him under immense pressure, and being publicly ridiculed by Lü Rui hit a nerve.

Enraged, he immediately grabbed his phone and started calling directors and producers he knew in the Hong Kong entertainment circle, trying to rally them together to fight back against Lui Rui.

But the responses he received after making several phone calls gradually chilled his heart.

"Director Wu, take my advice, don't pay any attention to that kid. He's like a leech, once he's on you, you can't get rid of him. We don't need to get angry with him, just focus on making our own film."

"Director Wu, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that we really are in the wrong! The delay and cost overrun of 'Red Cliff' have already caused a lot of discussion. If we go head-to-head with Lü Rui now, we'll only put ourselves in a difficult position. We might as well play the ostrich, make our money, and ignore what he says."

"..."

There are also people who seem enthusiastic, but what they say sounds like they've had a stroke:
"Director Wu, I definitely support you! Isn't he at a banquet? If you want to confront him, I'll arrange for some thugs to beat him up and help you vent your anger..."

Upon hearing this, Wu Yu's face turned ashen.

He wants public support, not street fights.

Besides, this is a society governed by law, who would dare to make a move?

The song "The East Is Red" that he sang on the day of his return, and the warning from his superiors, are still etched in his mind.

After making call after call, not a single person was willing to speak up for him in the media, or even utter a single word of public support.

Wu Yu gripped his phone, his face growing increasingly grim.

He suddenly realized that his influence in Hong Kong's entertainment circle seemed to have vanished overnight.

In the past, as long as he spoke, some people would give him face. But now, people either give him perfunctory answers, avoid him, or talk nonsense.

"Fine! Fine, everyone mind their own business! If you won't help me, don't expect me to help you in the future!"

Wu Yu was so angry that he threw his phone on the sofa, his face turning bright red. With his bald head, he looked just like a hard-boiled egg!
Immediately afterwards, he turned and went into the study, closed the door, and sulked.

He knew in his heart that he was no match for Lü Rui.

Because China Film Group was clearly on Lui Rui's side, and no one in the Hong Kong film industry was there to support him, he had no choice but to swallow his anger.

What he didn't realize was that since the night the Hong Kong Film Awards' credibility plummeted, the so-called "cooperative alliance" in the Hong Kong entertainment circle had long since vanished.

In the past, everyone could unite to fight against the mainland film and television industry, but now, everyone is single-mindedly thinking about making money.

As long as they can secure investment from mainland investors, they quickly finalize projects; as long as they can ride the wave of popularity, they quickly start marketing.

As for the so-called "Hong Kong circle friendship" and "industry dignity," they have long been forgotten.

No one was willing to offend Lü Rui and China Film Group for Wu Yu's sake.

After all, Vision's projects can make money, and China Film Group controls key resources for distribution in mainland China. Offending them is tantamount to cutting off your own source of income!
And all of this is exactly the result that Lü Rui wanted to see.

From targeting the Hong Kong Film Awards and undermining the pride of the Hong Kong entertainment circle, to joining forces with Yinghuang to divide the Hong Kong entertainment circle's power, and now using press conference speeches to further dismantle the Hong Kong entertainment circle alliance...

His step-by-step planning is aimed at turning the Hong Kong entertainment circle from a united front against each other into a battle of individual heroes!

In the study, Wu Yu was still angry that no one was there to help him.

Meanwhile, in other corners of Hong Kong's entertainment circle, some people are figuring out how to connect with Ruishijie, while others are thinking about how to get a share of the mainland market.

The once seemingly united Hong Kong entertainment circle has long been torn apart by the pull of interests.

There are still some veterans holding on, but the generational gap in young actors is an irreversible situation.

They're still trying to prop up this industry, unaware that in a certain hotel, a photographer is happily filming with his camera.

...

At this moment, in Yinghuang's banquet hall.

Lu Rui called Liu Yifei and heard her soft voice say "I'll be there soon," so he hung up the phone with relief and put it back in his pocket.

"Mr. Lü, try this flavor of champagne."

Yang Shoucheng walked over with two glasses of champagne, handing one to Lü Rui with a hint of emotion in his eyes: "When I was young, I was just like you, bold and outspoken, full of vigor."

It's a pity that I didn't have your confidence and ability back then. Many of my ideas couldn't be realized, and I didn't dare to offend many people..."

Lu Rui accepted the champagne, clinked glasses with him, and said with a smile, "Chairman Yang, you're too kind. Under your leadership, Yinghuang is becoming more and more prosperous."

Especially the talent agency they recently established in partnership with China Film Group; its very move has shaken up the mainland talent agency market—something few can achieve.

Just recently, China Film Group and Yinghuang jointly established a brokerage company and held a grand signing ceremony.

Although Lü Rui was abroad and unable to return at the time, he still kept track of the situation.

The first batch of artists signed by this company included many top-tier celebrities and some talent show contestants.

Celebrities like Jackie Chan, Sun Honglei, Nicholas Tse, Joey Yung, and Twins are among them.

Meanwhile, some of the contestants who entered the national finals of the Dream of the Red Chamber talent show, as well as some outstanding contestants from the event's training camp, also became the company's initial contracted artists.

This move directly broke the two-way balance of power between Huayi Brothers and Orange Sky Entertainment in the mainland actor agency business, creating a new "three-way balance".

"This is all thanks to Director Lü," Yang Shoucheng said modestly.

He knew in his heart that it was precisely because of the deep partnership with Ruishijie that Yinghuang was able to rise against the trend and obtain such good resources amidst the overall decline of the Hong Kong entertainment circle.

As the two were chatting, Huo Wenxi suddenly strode over, her tone tinged with helplessness, and said:
"Chairman Lü, Chairman Yang, I just received news that Wang Jiawei said his Ip Man project is also about to start."

"Oh?"

Lu Rui raised an eyebrow and instantly guessed which movie it was.

This guy in sunglasses, he's always trying to ride the wave of popularity, isn't he?

"Didn't his project start moving back in '99? It's '07 now,' eight years have passed, how come it still hasn't been filmed?"

"Ignore him." Yang Shoucheng pursed his lips speechlessly. "That guy is notoriously slow at filming. Even if you give him another 8 years, he might not be able to finish filming."

"Hahahahaha!"

Lu Rui finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Yang Shoucheng was clearly also a victim of fraud.

He had signed a distribution agreement with Wong Ka-wai's Jet Tone Films in his early years, but Wong Ka-wai dragged his feet on making the film, delaying the project again and again, which seriously hampered Yinghuang's distribution plan. This angered Yang Shoucheng so much that he often scolded him for being "slow and indecisive" in private.

...

As it approached midnight, the banquet hall gradually became more crowded.

In addition to the Yinghuang team and the crew of "Ip Man" and "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil", many newcomers to the industry who want to expand their network are also arriving one after another.

Without exception, everyone present was looking, intentionally or unintentionally, in Lü Rui's direction.

For them, getting in touch with Lü Rui could be a crucial step into the mainstream film and television industry!
Just as Lü Rui was about to go find Lu Yang and Rao Xiaozhi after parting ways with Yang Shoucheng to give them some final reminders about the details they needed to pay attention to during the subsequent filming, a figure suddenly rushed up to him, accompanied by a clear and urgent voice:
"Director Lü, I am Wen Yongshan, 19 years old, an actress and model. I admire you very much, especially your film 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,' which has always encouraged me to move forward bravely."

It's a real honor to meet you here today. This is my business card; please accept it..."

As the girl spoke, she bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle and handed her business card to Lü Rui with both hands.

Lu Rui subconsciously stopped in his tracks.

Goodness, that's a really fast speaking speed, like a machine gun, rattling off a whole bunch of stuff in no time.

"Hello."

He offered a slight gesture of support and casually accepted the business card that the other person handed him.

Wen Yongshan?
He did recognize the name.

Zhang Yijun, who played the female assassin in "Helios", later also played Wang Yuyan in the new version of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils".

"Raise your head, let me see?" Lu Rui said casually.

"what?"

Wen Yongshan clearly hadn't expected Lü Rui to suddenly make such a request.

She paused for a moment before realizing what was happening, then quickly looked up, her eyes filled with a nervous blankness.

After scrutinizing her for a moment, Lü Rui came to a conclusion: This face still looks a bit too young, quite different from her later cold and aloof mature woman image, and more importantly... she's not as pretty as Liu Yifei, and is even rather flat-faced...

"I'll accept your business card. Thank you for liking 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty'."

Lu Rui smiled gently at her, and continued walking forward without stopping.

Wen Yongshan stood there, stunned for a few seconds, and then suddenly burst into joy!

The famous director accepted her business card and even looked at her face carefully; he must have remembered her!

"Who knows, there might be a chance for collaboration someday!"

She clutched the hem of her clothes, unable to hide the joy in her eyes, feeling that her act of volunteering this time was really worthwhile.

Meanwhile, Yang Ying, who was not far away, stared at this scene in disbelief, muttering to herself, "Holy crap? You can actually do that?"

Although she came with Wen Yongshan to expand her network, she had different plans in mind.

In Hong Kong, for models who want to become famous and make big money, they either have to hook up with rich second-generation heirs or desperately try to break into the entertainment industry.

This can be considered a career path for girls who started as models in Hong Kong.

She became a model, a Miss Hong Kong, and entered the entertainment industry after gaining fame. Then she was chosen by a wealthy tycoon and became a rich man's wife or socialite.

This is also Yang Ying's goal.

She has no desire to endure hardship and build a career.

Marrying into a wealthy family with her high-fashion face, which has been surgically enhanced and has a mixed-race look, is the shortcut to "rising to the top" in her eyes!

As for plans after entering a wealthy family... who cares, let's figure out how to get in first.

A renowned director like Lü Rui is undoubtedly the ideal wealthy family in her mind!
Young, handsome, talented, rich, and powerful—getting involved with him would be far more worthwhile than marrying into an ordinary wealthy family!

When Wen Yongshan rushed up just now, she thought it was too reckless.

Seeing Lü Rui gently accept the business card, a thought instantly crossed her mind: "How about... I give it a try too?"

The more she thought about it, the more she felt that this opportunity was not to be missed.

So she quickly took out the carefully prepared business card from her bag, took a deep breath, and walked briskly towards Lü Rui.

However, her original intention was to emulate Wen Yongshan's initiative, but because she was too excited, her actions were much more reckless than the former's.

"Director Lü."

As she greeted him, she didn't stop walking and suddenly cut in front of Lü Rui from the side.

This directly resulted in Lu Rui, who was walking forward, bumping into her without noticing.

Seeing this, Yang Ying's eyes lit up. She immediately seized the opportunity, pretending to be unsteady after being bumped, letting out a soft cry as she reached out to grab Lu Rui's suit collar.

Her goal was simple: to use the momentum to bump into Lü Rui and have a wonderful encounter.

However, she miscalculated Lü Rui's reaction.

Just as her fingertips were about to touch the lapel of his suit jacket, Lü Rui instinctively took a step back, causing her to miss her grasp.

However, although Lü Rui avoided physical contact, he still subconsciously reached out and grabbed her arm to prevent her from actually falling to the ground.

This is a bodily instinctive reaction.

A pang of disappointment swept through Yang Ying's heart, but feeling the strength in her arm, she quickly rallied:
“It’s okay. He’s holding my hand right now. As long as I apologize and hand him my business card, I’ll make sure he remembers me.”

She did the same thing when she was trying to hook up with Chen Weiting, deliberately adopting a weak and vulnerable demeanor to gain attention.

However, to her utter surprise, just as she steadied herself, put on a deliberately practiced sweet smile, and was about to start a conversation to build rapport, a figure appeared beside her.

"release!"

With a cold rebuke, a slender yet powerful hand suddenly grabbed her wrist, the force so great that she instantly let go.

Before she could react, the man simply tossed her aside.

She was wearing 10-centimeter high heels, which made her already unsteady. With this sudden movement, she lost her balance and fell heavily onto the carpet, feeling a dull pain in her buttocks.

"Who?"

Yang Ying was both in pain and angry. Her face darkened instantly, and she looked up to rebuke him.

But before she could speak again, that cold voice rang out once more:
"Get away from me! Don't touch my senior!"

(End of this chapter)