The only sun in Huayu

Chapter 117 Don't Keep My Boss Waiting Too Long (24)

Jiang Zhiqiang hinted to Shen Shandeng that Tang Wei could be taken away.

Fan Bingbing leaned closer and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "The bet you made with me before."

She blinked her big eyes, reminding someone that they had a date that evening.

Shen Shandeng certainly didn't think much of Tang Wei.

He doesn't drive unlicensed taxis!

Jiang Zhiqiang, lost in thought, took Tang Wei, whose face was ashen, to chase after Marco Müller.

What's worse than being given away is not being able to give away at all.

Shen Shandeng and his entourage did not leave immediately, but stayed in the private room to rest for a while.

The waiter quietly came in, cleared away the leftovers, and brewed a new pot of hot tea.

Zhou Qifeng and Wu Jing looked at each other, still somewhat bewildered; tonight had been far too exciting.

Shen Shandeng's methods were unpredictable, yet they instilled fear in Mark Müller.

It's like a battle of gods; I don't understand it.

Fan Bingbing asked coquettishly, "Who said Marco Müller shouldn't have come, because once he came, he couldn't leave? But now it seems he was scared away, but I didn't see you do anything to him, right? Does that mean you lost?"
Shen Shandeng chuckled lightly: "Run? He was just fleeing in panic. Look at how he acted at the end, did he achieve his goal? This is just the beginning, what's the rush?"

Fan Bingbing's heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

Zhou Qifeng couldn't help but ask, "Senior brother, when you suddenly talked about 'Dark Surge' just now, I almost thought you were really going to switch to making those kinds of films. What exactly do you mean? I saw that Marco Müller's face turn pale."

Ma Youde was more cautious and whispered, "Boss, did they secretly record that scene just now? If your words are taken out of context and spread, it could damage your reputation."

Shen Shandeng scoffed, “Record it? Spread it out? Ha, Qifeng, Youde, you need to understand one thing. Western society, especially their circle, is far less free than they claim.”

"There are some red lines that must absolutely not be crossed. Crossing them will lead to utter disgrace and irreparable ruin."

"My words were half true and half false. Even if they were passed on verbatim, they would have had limited impact on me. I could say that I was engaged in artistic discussion and was inspired by them."

"But think about it, if the outside world knew that the artistic director of the Venice Film Festival privately inspired a Chinese director to make a film that might involve a blurred narrative of Isaac victims and sympathize with German officers, who do you think would be the first to be ruined?"

Fan Bingbing said incredulously, "No, really? Doesn't the West value creative freedom the most?"

"free?"

Shen Shandeng scoffed: "That's freedom for the upper class; the lower class can only be freed."

Wu Jing breathed a sigh of relief: "So that's how it is! You scared me to death, Director Shen. I thought you'd really been fooled by that foreigner and were going to make one of those pretentious art films!"

Shen Shandeng smiled and didn't explain further.

He put down his teacup and said to Zhou Qifeng and Wu Jing, "Qifeng, Jing-ge, you've worked hard today. You should go back and rest first. Keep a close eye on the progress of the 'Jiajing' project."

Shen Shandeng took out his phone, fiddled with it for a few moments, and then gave Ma Youde a room number: "Youde, go and invite that shaken Mr. Muller to this room. Be polite to him."

"Ah, me?" Upon hearing this, Ma Youde believed Shen Shandeng, but not his own abilities.

He glanced instinctively at Wu Jing, who hadn't left yet, and said, "Boss, inviting him is no problem. But if he refuses to come, or acts tough, should I call Brother Jing along?"

Wu Jing paused involuntarily.

Seeing that there was some excitement, Zhou Qifeng packed his bag more quietly.

Shen Shandeng waved his hand, beckoning Ma Youde to come closer, and whispered a few words to him.

As Ma Youde listened, his eyes grew brighter and brighter, and finally he nodded vigorously: "Understood, boss! Just you wait and see!"

He immediately turned around and left.

Although Wu Jing and Zhou Qifeng were still curious, they didn't ask too many questions and got up to leave the private room.

Only Shen Shandeng and Fan Bingbing remained in the private room.

When no one was around, Fan Bingbing stopped pretending. She couldn't resist the urge and hugged Shen Shandeng's arm, rubbing against him.

"What exactly did you say to Youde? Can you really make that arrogant art director obey you just by talking?"

Shen Shandeng gently lifted her chin with his fingers: "What? Can't wait to know? Why don't you think about how to bark at me later? You're going to lose tonight." Fan Bingbing's face instantly turned red, and she playfully punched him.

"Let's go to the room and wait."

Shen Shandeng put his arm around her and left the private room, heading towards the elevator.

at the same time.

hall.

Marco Müller rushed out almost unsteadily, wanting nothing more than to flag down a car immediately and get to the airport to leave Beijing and China as quickly as possible.

I was cursing the Americans in my heart; they were such a rip-off, I almost died here.

Fortunately, Shen Shandeng only had a superficial understanding of Western society; otherwise, he would have been in real danger.

Tian Lili tried to maintain her composure, pleading with a hint of dissatisfaction and confusion, "Mr. Muller, why are you in such a hurry to leave? You've come all this way to China, and I've arranged some cultural exchange activities. Many people in the industry would like to meet you."

Marco Müller abruptly stopped, turned around, and his previous elegance and politeness vanished from his face.

"Director Tian! I want you to completely forget everything discussed at today's dinner! Absolutely, absolutely not a single word must be leaked! Otherwise, not only Venice, but the entire European film festival system, and the entire West, will no longer welcome you or any of the works you recommend! Understand?"

His sudden assertiveness startled Tian Lili, who instinctively shrank back.

The frustration he felt when facing Shen Shandeng's team surged up again, but he ultimately softened in front of international friends.

He stammered, "Of course, Mr. Muller, rest assured, we know what we're doing."

Jiang Zhiqiang caught up, more concerned about his own life or death, and leaned closer to Tian Lili: "Director Tian, ​​we need you to pass on a message to Shen Shandeng again."

“I’ve already booked a room upstairs. Do you think we should have Tang Wei go up and wait for him? Director Shen is young and hot-tempered, so let’s help him calm down.”

He put it mildly, but his meaning couldn't be clearer.

Upon hearing this, Tang Wei's face turned deathly pale, and her body trembled slightly.

Give it away?
However, a complex emotion flashed deep in his eyes, a mixture of humiliation and a hint of expectation.

If that could win Shen Shandeng's favor and get her a role in "Dark Surge," which sounds very international, it would be worth it!

Upon hearing this, Tian Lili felt deeply insulted.

Moreover, deep down, a feeling of jealousy towards Shen Shandeng welled up inside him, like a cat scratching at his heart.

"Jiang Zhiqiang! What do you take me for? A pimp?! Ridiculous! Utterly absurd!"

Looking at the two people in front of him who were completely clueless and still preoccupied with petty interests and matters between men and women, Marco Müller felt an overwhelming sense of powerlessness and absurdity that nearly drove him to the brink of collapse.

He couldn't be bothered with them anymore, turned around and strode towards the hotel entrance, wanting only to escape as soon as possible.

Watching Marco Müller's almost rude departure, Tian Lili, in an effort to save face, could only boast to Jiang Zhiqiang: "Look! This is an international-level artistic director! Traveling light and simple, avoiding all those clichéd welcoming and farewell ceremonies, focusing solely on art! This is the true demeanor of a master! So simple! So very simple!"

Jiang Zhiqiang looked at Tian Lili with a strange expression, opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

Marco Müller walked quickly to the driveway outside the hotel, anxiously looking for a taxi.

The cold evening wind blew on his face, but it couldn't dispel the fear in his heart.

Sudden.

A voice sounded almost right behind him, soft yet carrying a chill:
"If I were you, I wouldn't just leave like that."

Marco Müller was startled and turned around abruptly, only to see Ma Youde standing behind him like a ghost.

"Hi, Mr. Ma?"

Marco Müller forced a smile: "You're taking a taxi too? What a coincidence."

Ma Youde simply looked him up and down and said slowly, "Mr. Muller, you are our friend, and you have inspired the boss's artistic vision."

"He really wants to make the movie 'Dark Surge' that you support, so he asked me to invite you up for another chat."

Ma Youde stared into Marco Müller's terrified eyes, as if stating a simple fact: "Don't keep my boss waiting too long, okay?"

(End of this chapter)