029 Boss Yang's Family Banquet

"Cough, cough! What the hell!"

Cheng Jie’s eyes glowed with malice.

Oh, very well, very well! Just because he’s finally shed the label of a "hack director," he thinks he can start acting all high and mighty? Trying to play hard to get? Fine, then wait and see what’s coming for you! Don't think that just because you've made one decent film, you're safe. Even if you were a genius, I could still make you sink into the mud and vanish without a trace.

Cheng Jie sneered repeatedly. He pulled out his phone and sent a message.

...

Elsewhere, the Alpha sped along.

Jackie Fong and Qian Lang had reached a preliminary agreement: Jackie would play the lead in *Little Big Soldier*, and Lu Guang would also have a supporting role. Both of them had achieved what they wanted.

Jackie was thrilled. He felt he had finally found a turning point in his career. However, the thought of his own company struggling left him feeling inexplicably melancholy. As one of the few remaining veteran film companies in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Entertainment had once been a powerhouse, producing many critically acclaimed and commercially successful films. But the awkward reality was that the local film market had been shrinking, and because it was small to begin with, even minor shocks were devastating.

Under these circumstances, Hong Kong Entertainment’s business had withered rapidly. Last year, the Beijing-based young director Wu Ping’s film, *Night Lovers*, stormed into the top three of the annual Hong Kong box office, dealing a crushing blow to Hong Kong Entertainment.

And that was actually a good outcome! At least Hong Kong Entertainment was still surviving. Other local companies hadn't been so lucky; one after another, they had folded under the relentless pressure. Many directors were desperate to develop their careers in the mainland, but few soared—most simply crashed and burned.

Hong Kong Entertainment had been indecisive about its future, and now, it had reached the point of layoffs. It was safe to say that if the company didn’t change, it would likely close its doors for good.

However, today brought a glimmer of hope. Pei Duoduo’s performance earlier had allowed Jackie to keenly perceive the extraordinary strength of Galaxy Film. Imagine if Hong Kong Entertainment could sign a strategic agreement with Galaxy Film. If the two companies could share resources and play to their respective strengths, their market share would surely reach new heights.

Moreover, the soul of a film is its director; often, one successful director can prop up an entire film company. Wasn't Qian Lang exactly that kind of director? He and Galaxy Film were a perfect match. If Hong Kong Entertainment became part of that family, wouldn't they also be perfectly matched with Director Qian?

Talented directors were the scarcest resource of all! Hadn't Xingyao sent Cheng Jie to beg Qian Lang to return? Of course, Pei Duoduo would never let Qian Lang go.

Thinking of this, he immediately sent a message to his boss. The reply came in seconds, requesting that Director Qian and his team be invited to the manor for a small gathering to discuss a major partnership.

"Director Qian, President Pei, you're not in a rush to return to Beijing, are you?" Jackie asked with a smile, relaying his boss's invitation in concise terms.

"What kind of banquet is it?" Qian Lang asked, curious. They weren't in a hurry to return to Beijing. The pre-production for *Little Big Soldier* would take quite some time; costumes and props for historical dramas required meticulous attention. Without sufficient time, rushed work would look incredibly crude. Nowadays, unlike in the past, cameras shot in 6K resolution. The high-definition lenses would reveal even the slightest flaw.

"Just a casual family dinner. Our boss is very interested in you both and would like to get to know you, while also playing the role of a proper host," Jackie replied, feeling honored to play matchmaker between his company and Qian Lang. After all, his boss had given him his big break, and he had always felt unable to repay that kindness—this was his small way of contributing.

"President Pei, you should be the one to decide," Qian Lang said, deferring the choice. It was better not to overstep in front of his boss.

"Let's go, then," Pei Duoduo said nonchalantly. The casting was already settled; the rest was out of her hands, and it made no difference to her whether they went sooner or later. Besides, the Spring Festival release was still months away, and they hadn't intended to target the National Day slot anyway. While a tight schedule wasn't good for film quality, it also wasn't good for managing investment costs.

The next day, as night fell and the city lights began to twinkle, Qian Lang’s group drove to the Hailan Manor atop Victoria Peak.

The Alpha stopped at the gate. Jackie rushed up to greet them. "Director Qian, President Pei, please don't mind! Our boss wanted to welcome you personally, but he’s not very mobile, so I kept him from coming out," he said apologetically.

"It's no trouble at all," Qian Lang replied calmly.

The night was as dark as ink, and the manor looked rustic and elegant under the lights.

"Please, this way." Jackie led the way through the gates. Soon, a magnificent fountain appeared in their field of vision.

In the center of the fountain stood a graceful fairy, clutching a magic wand, her head tilted slightly upward, her eyes filled with longing for the sky. The water spraying from the tip of her wand transformed into brilliant rainbows under the lights, splashing into the pool below and creating layers of crystal-clear spray.

"That's magnificent!" Wang Bo’s jaw nearly dropped. No wonder people said being a boss was a life of luxury. It was true! He wiped away a bit of drool, feeling like a country bumpkin entering a grand garden.

Qian Lang and Pei Duoduo, however, appeared much more composed. It wasn't as if they hadn't seen such things on television. Qian Lang chuckled, thinking, *A bit less impressive than my own place.* Pei Duoduo gave a slight pout.

"Welcome, welcome!"

Just as they were admiring the scenery, an elderly man with gray hair, dressed in a plaid suit and leaning on a walking stick, slowly emerged from the main building.

"Boss, Director Qian and President Pei have arrived!" Jackie introduced them enthusiastically, then turned to whisper to the others: "This is my boss, Mr. Yang Jianghao!"

"Mr. Yang, hello! Sorry to intrude tonight," Qian Lang and the others said politely, though they didn't appear overly eager.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Yang Jianghao affectionately held Qian Lang’s arm, looking him over, and smiled. "A hero indeed! You, sir, have truly made an astonishing impact."

"Mr. Yang, you flatter me! Thanks to President Pei’s support, I’ve just been lucky," Qian Lang replied with humility.

"You are too modest, sir! A budget of ten million and a box office of nearly five hundred million—such a feat of turning a small investment into a massive success, both critically and commercially, cannot be explained by mere luck!" Yang Jianghao shook his head repeatedly, then looked at Pei Duoduo with undisguised envy. "President Pei, you have a keen eye for talent to have secured someone like him. I am truly envious!"

"Mr. Yang is too kind. It was just my luck as well," Pei Duoduo replied with a smile, though alarm bells were ringing in her head. *Hehe, another one trying to poach my talent!*

*Gratuitous kindness is always suspicious!* Still, considering he was Jackie Fong’s boss and was being so courteous, she wouldn't lower herself to his level.

"Oh, and this must be the award-winning actor, Wang Bo?" Yang Jianghao turned his gaze toward him.

"Hello, Mr. Yang!" Wang Bo replied, managing to avoid acting like a sycophant. He wouldn't embarrass Qian Lang. *Hehe, I'm not blind.* Wang Bo had noticed the flicker of caution in Pei Duoduo’s eyes.