"Hey, nephew!"
There was a commotion on Wang Long's end, with a lot of background noise that made it sound like he was at a film set.
"Still busy?" Chu Yuxuan asked.
"Of course! My new script finally passed the review. We're doing the opening ceremony now, and filming starts tomorrow," Wang Long replied.
Chu Yuxuan laughed, "Oh, congratulations."
Wang Long's tone was melancholic, "Congratulations? Hmph... A perfectly good script was messed up beyond recognition. I don't even know how to shoot it anymore. D*mn it! If this continues, Chinese cinema will be ruined by these bureaucrats! In the future, everyone should just go watch 'Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf' instead!"
Chu Yuxuan chuckled and said, "Alright, alright, calm down. When are you done? I'll treat you to a meal."
"Huh?" Wang Long was taken aback, "What are you plotting now?"
Chu Yuxuan was straightforward, "Just tell me the time. I'm booking a restaurant. No more nonsense."
Wang Long, speaking in a Beijing accent, said, "You kid! You've hit the jackpot. I've got dinner with your dad tonight at 8:30. If you're free, join us. I can't afford to let him down."
"Okay, send me the location."
After hanging up, and with still some time to spare, Chu Yuxuan went with Lao Si and Lao Wu to a car dealership.
Modifying sports cars is time-consuming. Even after so many days, only half of the new GTR had been modified, despite many of the dealership's top technicians working overtime.
"Mr. Chu, your requirements are really high. We've been working day and night on the shock absorbers for three days just to meet your parameters!" The dealership owner said, looking exhausted.
Chu Yuxuan understood their difficulty. He patted the owner's shoulder and said, "I know it's tough. Keep at it and finish up as soon as possible. I really can't get used to other cars. Help out, and you'll be rewarded."
"Sure!" The owner nodded, knowing how generous Chu Yuxuan was. If it weren't for the money, even the King of Heaven wouldn't get such dedication.
After discussing various modification issues with the dealership owner, the three brothers drove the newly licensed Hummer to the agreed restaurant around eight.
Upon arrival, they were led to a private room by the waiter. Lao Si and Lao Wu didn't enter but took two chairs in the hallway to act as bodyguards.
Chu Yuxuan entered the room expecting only Chu Zhijing and Wang Long, but he was surprised to find four young women, including Jin Shuhan.
Seeing her boss, Jin Shuhan immediately stood up and greeted him shyly, "Mr. Chu."
Wang Long waved with a smile, "Nephew, these are actresses from my film. Since it's the opening ceremony, I thought I'd bring them along for a meal."
Chu Zhijing, seriously, added, "I'm the principal investor of this film. Now that it's finally starting, I'll be the host and encourage everyone."
Chu Yuxuan was speechless. He had come for business discussions, but these old guys were just socializing.
Rich people invest in movies not just for money laundering but also for the pleasure of playing with young female stars. Even someone of Chu Zhijing's status, though not overly charming, could attract numerous starlets.
As a director once said in an interview, "I miss the old days when investors hugged two actresses in a KTV and reminded me to promote positive energy in the film..."
Though Wang Long's new film was starting, and there were things he needed to discuss tonight, Chu Yuxuan didn't want to ruin the mood. He pulled out a chair and sat next to Jin Shuhan, planning to discuss serious matters after dinner.
Wang Long thought Chu Yuxuan wanted to treat him because of the previous incident with Director Lü. As an elder, he assumed Chu Yuxuan felt a bit guilty for not giving him face last time.
So, he picked up a glass of wine and said to Chu Yuxuan, "Nephew, don't worry about what happened at the auction. Let's have a drink. It's been a long time since we drank together."
Chu Yuxuan was momentarily stunned but maintained his composure and picked up his glass.
"Guilty? I already gave you enough face last time!"
"What's the matter?" Chu Zhijing asked curiously.
Wang Long reminisced about the incident where Chu Yuxuan scolded Director Lü, which amused everyone and got them laughing.
Chu Yuxuan rolled his eyes and ignored him, chatting intermittently with Jin Shuhan.
Halfway through the meal, noticing that Wang Long was already tipsy, Chu Yuxuan smiled and said, "Drink less. I've got another plan later. I'll take you somewhere for some fun."
Wang Long's eyes lit up, "Wow! My nephew has finally come around! It was worth all the trouble I went through for you! Alright, I'll follow your lead tonight!"
Chu Zhijing noticed his son had something to say and said, "Everyone, eat up. Drink less. The official shooting starts tomorrow. Don't let it affect the main event."
The atmosphere became tense. Wang Long frowned and said, "It's only a little past nine. It's still early. It won't affect anything... How about this, Shuhan, the place is a bit dull. How about you dance a bit to liven things up?"
Drinking and watching performances is Chu Zhijing's favorite pastime and had naturally become Wang Long's habit.
Jin Shuhan, though shy, nodded. As an actress, she wasn't unfamiliar with dancing, but with her boss present, she felt nervous.
Just as she was about to stand up, Chu Yuxuan stopped her, saying sternly, "You've learned to dance?"
"No, no," Jin Shuhan replied softly, "We were poor, so I couldn't afford lessons. I learned a bit from online videos a few years ago because I needed some dance skills for a small role..."
Her dedication to her acting career was evident. No wonder Zhao Yanan, a workaholic, favored her.
In today's entertainment industry, many so-called stars only lip-sync to lines or use body doubles for the entire performance, editing their faces into the final cut. They easily earn millions in fees. Wang Long complained about the review system ruining the industry, but the current actors are equally at fault.
"Nephew, I should thank you and your wife for finding such a good actress. Shuhan is truly dedicated!" Wang Long said with a big grin, urging Jin Shuhan, "Come on, Shuhan, liven up the place!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Yuxuan's expression darkened, and he said coldly, "Haven't you seen dancing before?"
The actresses exchanged glances, and Jin Shuhan felt a warm glow in her heart. She remembered how Chu Yuxuan had promised to protect the female artists at Qingya when he first took over, and now it seemed he was genuinely protecting them.
Wang Long's expression froze. He instinctively looked at Chu Zhijing, who said sternly, "Yes, Lao Wang, have some decency. We're here for dinner, not for dancing. Who taught you such bad habits?"
Wang Long: "...
I actually have a curse word, but I dare not say it."