Leslie Cheung felt like he had been led astray. He rushed here upon receiving the news, and it wasn't to have Laila take a photo of him.
"Laila, don't you think I need to speak up about this?"
Having watched some scenes from the movie, he felt that he could seamlessly blend into it. He believed his acting was worthy of this potentially great film. If his presence as an Easterner caused any objections, it was something he couldn't accept.
He wasn't a person who couldn't handle criticism, but it had to be constructive and relevant to his performance, not unfounded accusations based on factors beyond his acting ability. Discrimination based on skin color and ethnicity was absurd.
Of course, he could choose not to care about this. Even if the movie faced a boycott, it wouldn't affect him much. He played his role, received his payment, and whether the film got released or not didn't concern him.
But if he truly felt that way, he wouldn't be himself!
Laila continued to wear her carefree smile, not bothered by anything. "If you want to speak up, I'll give you the stage to do so. But if you're worried about the movie and want to help me deflect the attention, that's entirely unnecessary. Haven't you noticed I'm quite enjoying the boycott?"
Leslie Cheung was a bit puzzled. It was the first time he heard someone say they were "enjoying a boycott." Was he getting too old and out of touch with societal progress, or had Hollywood movies evolved to a point where he couldn't comprehend them as an Easterner?
However, he had to admit that he couldn't see any signs of distress on Laila's face. Instead, she seemed to be enjoying the situation, smiling calmly with a strategizing commander's demeanor.
It might sound a bit fantastical, but that was his current impression.
If the current situation were likened to a battle, on one side were thousands of fierce warriors brandishing weapons, and on the other side was Laila, holding a long spear and standing as if facing not a charging army but a group of ants. It seemed like a vast difference in strength, but she stood impervious.
Leslie Cheung looked at Laila, momentarily speechless. Suddenly, he felt that this girl was somewhat cool.
"Well, if you need me to speak up, just let me know at any time." He wasn't rigid and, if she didn't need him to do anything, he would quietly focus on what he could contribute. "I'll fully cooperate with the promotion in the East. When do you think it's best to start the publicity?"
Laila was glad he finally moved away from the boring topic and addressed something she cared more about. "We'll start the promotion during the summer blockbuster season. By then, we might need you to travel to a few neighboring countries and attend some events. Of course, our other main cast members will also engage in a promotional tour, and eventually, you'll meet up in Asia."
"No problem." On his home turf, Leslie Cheung was confident.
After thinking for a moment, Laila added, "If the boycott gains momentum here, you should also be prepared to reassure fans on that side. I think they might be more concerned about what's happening here."
Leslie Cheung nodded in understanding. It was quite evident. If the movie faced a boycott in the West due to the presence of Eastern elements, fans and cinephiles from the East would undoubtedly be displeased. Handling their reactions might become troublesome.
However, what he didn't realize was that his understanding and what Laila meant had a slight difference.
He hoped that both sides wouldn't escalate the situation, but Laila wanted things to escalate. She believed that if there wasn't some commotion, how would the topic be sensationalized? As long as it didn't go too far, uncontrollable events were welcome. A war of words was just what she wanted.
She couldn't say this out loud, though, to avoid tarnishing her image in his eyes. When the time came, she would know how to handle things for the good of the movie.
After discussing the promotion strategy for Asia for a while, Laila escorted Leslie Cheung out. He mentioned that he would be staying in the United States for a while and could be summoned whenever needed. He was willing to do anything to help her and the movie.
Laila knew he felt guilty, thinking that the situation had something to do with him. Only she knew that even without his involvement, someone behind the scenes would find other ways to cause trouble for her.
Although she didn't know who that person was yet, she could only passively accept it for now. But who was she? Trouble in the eyes of others was a way to make money in her eyes.
Looking at various incidents in the past, every time something happened, no matter how difficult it seemed in the middle, she always ended up benefiting. As long as she could be the one laughing in the end, why complain about someone trying to trip her up in the background?
If the person causing trouble for her knew her current mood, they would probably be very annoyed.
In their imagination, knowing that their movie was about to be boycotted would surely make her very angry or anxious.
"With a budget of four to five hundred million, shooting the entire trilogy at once. I really want to see what expression she'll have when the first part is boycotted and nobody watches it!" Cooper laughed sinisterly towards the direction of Laila's Dragon Soul Company.
This was one of the reasons he chose this location for his office initially, apart from being lively. The area was bustling not just because of the large population but also due to the presence of many film production companies and people associated with the film industry. Conducting investment activities in the vicinity was more convenient.
"Cooper, when do you think it's best to kick off the boycott?" Faaris entered his office early in the morning, eager to discuss their plans.
This boycott was a conspiracy they had been brewing for two years. Cooper had placed the plan on his desk since the beginning of the movie's production, along with the subsequent strategies to gradually lead Laila into a pit. The plan was detailed, and Faaris immediately approved it after reviewing it.
No matter how much money it took, he would ensure this plan was executed! Every time he saw Laila dominating the headlines of various media outlets, Faaris's heart felt like it was being devoured by a venomous snake. He wished he could stab two holes in that woman's tender neck, mix her still-warm blood into wine, and savor the taste of success.