I'm conquering Hong Kong entertainment with two billion US dollars.

Chapter 76 Xiang Yeqiang Regrets It

7 month 1 number.

At the entrance of the Cultural Center Grand Theater, a red carpet stretched from the entrance all the way down the steps.

The media's telephoto lenses were already set up three or four times over, and paparazzi squatted on plastic stools behind the fence, chewing gum and staring at every car that stopped.

The camera shutter started clicking as soon as the black Mercedes came to a complete stop.

Awei opened the back door, and Lin Dong bent down to get out of the car, stood up straight, and straightened his suit cuffs.

Navy blue Zegna shirt, white shirt, no tie, buttons undone up to the second button.

He turned around and reached his hand into the car.

Li Jiaxin's hand came up, her fingertips first, then her entire arm, and then her whole body.

She wore a bright red strapless gown with a hem that reached her feet, and her waist was extremely narrow. The string of pearls around her neck was something she had previously bought back from Christie's at a high price.

As she stood up straight, the setting sun shone directly on her face, making her mixed Chinese and Portuguese features appear almost unreal in that light.

The flashbulbs went off like crazy. The paparazzi were yelling her name, Lin Dong's name, and shouting, "Look over here! Look over here!"

Xiang Yeqiang was already waiting at the end of the red carpet. He wore a black Zhongshan suit and his leather shoes were polished to a shine. He looked noticeably thinner than when they last met, but he seemed to be in good spirits. Xiang Tai stood beside him, wearing a navy blue cheongsam and smiling politely.

"Lin Sheng." Xiang Yeqiang reached out his hand, grasped it, and didn't immediately let go. "I've heard about what happened in the capital. It's remarkable."

,

When he said those four words, he looked directly at Lin Dong, without any unnecessary pleasantries or mention of stocks.

Jiang Zhiqiang walked over from behind, wearing a dark gray suit. "Mr. Lin, all the promotional materials from Japan arrived yesterday."

Starting today, posters for "Prince Charming" are being displayed at Ginza subway station. The trailer will be airing during prime time on TBS and Fuji TV.

He spoke with more confidence than when he last watched the film. Pre-sale figures don't lie.

Lin Dong nodded to him, then looked past his shoulder at the two people walking towards them.

Yang Shoucheng and Zou Wenhuai.

"Mr. Lin, it's a pleasure to meet you." Yang Shoucheng shook Lin Dong's hand with just the right amount of pressure. "I've been following your story in Hong Kong every day in the newspapers. We must cooperate if we have the chance."

"Mr. Yang, you're too kind." Lin Dong nodded.

Raymond Chow's handshake was firmer. "Mr. Lam, I'm a pretty straightforward person. I wasn't optimistic about your approach to investing in films at first. But now," he smiled, "I think there's still hope for Hong Kong films."

The group stood and chatted for a while. Yang Shoucheng said that Emperor Entertainment planned to officially enter the film market, Zou Wenhuai said that Golden Harvest's cinemas were always ready to welcome Tenda's projects, and Jiang Zhiqiang mentioned that Sony wanted to enter the mainland market next year.

Xiang Yeqiang didn't say much, only nodding occasionally, but his gaze would occasionally drift towards Lin Dong.

Mrs. Xiang gently patted the back of his hand from the side.

Lin Dong and his group were seated in the middle of row F.

To Lin Dong's right was Li Jiaxin, and to his left was Xiang Yeqiang. Xiang Tai was next to Xiang Yeqiang, and further to his right was Jiang Zhiqiang. Zou Wenhuai and Yang Shoucheng sat on the left side of the same row.

From row F forward, rows A through E are the media area.

The reporters had already set up their notebooks and recorders. Some were looking through the video materials they had received in advance, while others were whispering among themselves, discussing things in hushed tones but at a rapid pace.

The G-ranking members are the film's main creative team, including Wang Jing, Liu Deye, Zhang Jiahui, and Guan Xiumei.

The area after row G is the area for invited guests.

The main attendees were celebrities such as Li Ming and Zhang Guorong, and of course, Zhang Baizhi, Wu Yanzu, and Fan Binbin from Tengda Company also came.

Further back were movie fans and film school students who had obtained premiere tickets through various channels, sitting densely packed together, with even the extra seats against the wall filled.

The lights dimmed. The curtain lit up.

After the Yong Sheng logo flashes by, the first shot is the morning light on the Bund in Shanghai.

In the media area, some people had already opened their notebooks, their pens scribbling across the pages.

A film critic sitting in row B pushed his glasses up, tilted his head and said something to his colleague next to him. His voice was muffled, but you could see that his expression was one of surprise, not the bad kind of surprise, but the kind of surprise that he "didn't expect."

He initially thought this would be a pretty face film where Lin Dong spends money to promote women, but after watching a few clips, he realized something was wrong.

Wang Jing wasn't fooling around this time.

During this time, someone muttered, "How come she looks so good in everything?" and was tugged at by her companion.

Of course, some people were surprised that Andy Lau had really been relegated to a supporting role.

Some people frowned, feeling that this film was just a large-scale personal fashion show by Li Jiaxin. While seemingly beautiful and domineering to the extreme, it lacked a true core.

However, these are not the main focus tonight, and they won't have much impact on the box office, because the film's target audience is not them.

The real target audience, white-collar women, were already showing admiration on their faces, and their excitement gradually increased as the plot unfolded.

When the last note of the piano fell and the lights came back on, the entire venue was silent for about two seconds.

Then Xiang Yeqiang stood up. He turned around, faced Lin Dong, and was the first to clap his hands.

Mrs. Heung then stood up, followed by Raymond Chow, then Yang Shoucheng, and then Jiang Zhiqiang.

Then there were rows and rows of people.

Several reporters in the media area stood up. They were not only clapping, but also exchanging knowing glances that said, "We'll have something to write about in tomorrow's pages."

Li Jiaxin sat next to Lin Dong, her arm linked with his. Her face showed pride and a sense of accomplishment.

Amid the applause, she suddenly turned her head and brought her lips close to Lin Dong's ear.

"Ah Dong. Thank you."

Lin Dong didn't say anything, he just patted the back of her hand.

As the applause gradually subsided, Wang Jing peeked out from his seat in row G, his chubby face beaming.

"Mr. Lin! Tonight was a huge success! I've reserved a table at Fook Lam Moon, let's..."

"Don't rush to celebrate." Lin Dong waved his hand. "Let's talk about it when the box office reaches 30 million. There will be a big bonus then."

Wang Jing paused for a moment, then nodded.

He certainly knew what Lin Dong meant by 30 million – it wasn't the total box office, but the box office in Hong Kong alone, meaning the top three box office results in Hong Kong that year.

Only with this achievement do we have the right to celebrate.

"Alright. Then we'll do as Mr. Lin says." Wang Jing's excitement faded, replaced by a serious tone. "I'll go see them off at the door. Andy Lau is over there too."

Lin Dong nodded. Wang Jing got up and walked out.

The crowd poured out of the theater as the screening ended. Some were discussing the plot, some were on the phone, and some were chatting with acquaintances at the door.

Lin Dong leaned back in his chair, not in a hurry to leave. Li Jiaxin, holding his arm, also remained still. Xiang Yeqiang and his mother sat beside them, not moving either.

There were fewer and fewer people left. Only the four of them remained near row F.

Xiang Yeqiang stood up, tugged at the hem of his Zhongshan suit, and then turned around to face Lin Dong.

Lin Dong also stood up.

"Lin Sheng," Xiang Yeqiang finally spoke, his voice lower than usual, "I was short-sighted."

He said those words with a wry smile on his lips.

After Amazon split its stock, it rose back to 110, more than doubling in value.

He didn't lose money; he earned less. He earned tens of millions of US dollars less.

But looking into Lin Dong's eyes, he suddenly realized that those tens of millions of US dollars weren't what bothered him the most.

Lin Dong looked at him, shook his head, and smiled. "It's just a choice. Xiang Sheng, we're still excellent partners."

Xiang Yeqiang's bitter smile deepened.

He understood. Lin Dong said "partner," not "friend." The difference between those two words was greater than those tens of millions of US dollars.

He recalled the first time he met Lin Dong at the Peninsula Hotel a few months ago, when he patted Lin Dong on the shoulder and said, "Mr. Lin, you're one of us from Hong Kong now."

At that time, he was looking down on Lin Dong; he was paving the way for him.

Now, when Lin Dong says "partner," his tone is polite and the measure is just right, but that measure itself is a distance.

He suddenly realized something—Lin Dong would have other opportunities in the future, but would he tell him about them again?

"Lin Sheng is right." Xiang Yeqiang reached out and grasped Lin Dong's hand, his grip much lighter than when he entered. "We'll have many opportunities to collaborate in the future. I'll be going now."

He released his grip, turned around, and walked towards the end of the corridor. Mrs. Xiang stood up and followed behind him.

As she reached the door, Mrs. Xiang turned around and glanced in the direction of Lin Dong and Li Jiaxin.

Her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just nodded slightly, turned around, and took Xiang Yeqiang's arm and walked out.

Li Jiaxin lifted her head from Lin Dong's shoulder, watching the figures of Xiang Yeqiang and his wife disappear at the exit, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

"Let's go." Lin Dong patted the back of her hand.

"Mmm." Li Jiaxin stood up and took his arm.

PS: Requesting monthly votes for the latest update!