Chapter One Hundred: A Woman Who Worries Too Much Will Age Prematurely

The news brought by Miss Park clearly left especially Daquan Ge and Peinian Zhang both delighted and astonished. They understood perfectly well that the reason the MCC headquarters valued Liu Qingshan was nothing more than their approval of the high-tech projects Yuxue Studio was about to undertake.

It should be remembered that the entertainment industry in the Land of Han was far more advanced than that of the Land of Hua. Anything that could catch the eye of a professional company like MCC was bound to conceal astonishing profits.

If Zhang Peinian’s External Liaison Office could secure the overseas distribution rights for films and television productions created by Liu Qingshan, the matter would not be as simple as bringing in a little foreign capital.

For if Yuxue Studio truly managed to develop advanced special effects achievements, then the works it produced would certainly be of exceptional quality; otherwise, why would MCC headquarters have taken such an early interest?

Xishan Jin temporarily took on the role of interpreter, and as soon as she finished speaking, Daquan Ge grew somewhat impatient.

“Shanzi, can you guarantee your research results for now?”

“The people I recruited are all highly experienced professionals. What we can already bring to the table is top-tier technology by Bollywood standards, and if taken to Hollywood, it would still count as intermediate level!”

Within his Star-Making Device, Liu Qingshan had access to high-tech information from many years in the future. He believed that merely producing a small portion of it would be enough for the studio to achieve results quickly.

So he felt no psychological burden at all over the boast he had just made; on the contrary, he thought he was being rather conservative.

Daquan Ge suddenly stroked his chin and fell into thought. After a long while, he said, “How about this, Shanzi? When the time comes, let me confirm the exact opening date. I’ll do my best to invite a few senior leaders to attend.”

Liu Qingshan was overjoyed. He knew that the “senior leaders” in Daquan Ge’s mouth were not the leaders of National Television, but those of the State Radio and Television Administration.

That was the ultimate supervisory authority responsible for radio, film, television, and online audio-visual services across the entire country, the true keeper of final interpretive power for any kind of publication.

If his project could be noticed by such a department, it would mean the road ahead would be far easier.

Looking at the issue from another angle, if Yuxue Studio were to achieve some degree of high-tech success, it would represent an overall improvement in the nation’s special effects standards. Both public and private, it would be a remarkable contribution to society.

If Yuxue Studio could have such a behemoth shielding it, then even if its future development did not amount to a monopolistic advantage, it would still be a presence that other entertainment companies would not dare to provoke lightly.

“Remember this, boy. Once the opening date is confirmed, I’ll personally come to your door with the invitation!”

Liu Qingshan did not dare show the slightest disrespect. Such an opportunity came only once in a lifetime, and he needed to seize it tightly.

“The key still lies in the research results speaking for themselves. Otherwise, no matter how much I help you, it will all be wasted. After the opening, you must hurry and produce your first report card!”

Daquan Ge’s expression was very serious.

“No problem! In fact, I’m currently conceptualizing a film called Kung Fu. I plan to use it as the foundational work of Yuxue Studio, and I’ll do my best to present all of the research results in that film!”

At present, Stephen Chow’s works remained hugely popular. Although Shaolin Soccer had not been released in the domestic market in 2001, it still had enormous fame worldwide.

Shaolin Soccer had not produced epic-level special effects, but it at least succeeded in being full of imagination and unforgettable at a glance.

Within the Star-Making Device, Liu Qingshan had thought of this man, and he also discovered that a work that should have been produced by Stephen Chow, Kung Fu, had actually appeared in the film-and-television section.

This showed that, at least so far, Stephen Chow had not yet had even a shadow of Kung Fu in his mind, nor any related creative idea.

Because in the present world, once an idea for an existing work had already appeared outside, the Star-Making Device would no longer include it in its calculations.

He intended to rush out the creative script for Kung Fu that very night and send it to Stephen Chow in Hong Kong as soon as possible.

Liu Qingshan had considered appearing in it himself, but he would never believe that with his current level of fame, he could achieve the box-office results that Kung Fu ought to have.

So he decided it was still best to invite Stephen Chow to take the lead, while the film’s special effects production would be handled specifically by Yuxue Studio.

The Star-Making Device not only contained the complete scripts for future films, but also a content-rendering function for related works.

In other words, once he exchanged for it, the original film’s visual effects would appear directly in his mind.

“Good, that’s good!” Daquan Ge said, clenching a fist across the table toward Liu Qingshan. “Once your first work is recognized by the market, I have confidence I can bring you even more business.”

He had only said half of what he meant. If the market accepted it, Yuxue Studio would receive contracts until its hands went numb; why would it still need others to introduce business?

So the implication in Daquan Ge’s words was that, once tangible results were achieved, they could consider bringing Liu Qingshan’s research project into the national spotlight, or even under state support.

Only those top-tier projects in various industries would receive state support; they would need not only a high-tech future but also to be leaders within their field.

For such matters, even when no outsiders were present, Daquan Ge would not dare to speak carelessly. A hint was far more reliable than a tacit promise.

Thus Liu Qingshan did not press further. Instead, he carried his cup over to the other man, tilted his head back and drained the liquor, then courteously refilled Daquan Ge’s glass.

At times, action was far more effective than words, and indeed, Daquan Ge spoke again soon after.

“Director Zhang, you should get closer to Shanzi from now on. He may well be someone who can bring you overseas business.”

The same kind of veiled meaning only caused Xishan Jin’s brows to twitch repeatedly.

After the dinner concluded, on the way back while sending her home, Liu Qingshan smiled and explained, “This is how things are here. Official figures with status and reputation all speak this way.”

Xishan Jin laughed. “No wonder Director Kan and the others entrusted the task of escorting me to you. So they had already seen that I wasn’t used to the banquet atmosphere.”

“Not just you, Kunal and the others too. I think this is probably a local custom of the Land of Hua.”

“Still, the atmosphere earlier was quite pleasant. I just didn’t know how to answer.”

“You’ll get used to it after a while, but I don’t intend for you to have to deal with this kind of occasion often.”

“What? I’m not even yours yet, and you’re already thinking of how to keep me in line, are you, sister?”

A half-smiling, half-not smile flickered across Xishan Jin’s eyes.

Liu Qingshan chuckled. “How could that be? If women worry too much, they age early. From now on, you only need to act in films and sing songs. Leave this kind of bargaining with people to me.”

“Save your nonsense. Saying that you’re a petty man would be far more believable.”

“Since when can you say ‘save your nonsense’ too? Who taught you that?”

“Who else but you? Don’t you remember saying it at the press conference? When you have time, look through the newspapers; there are lots of words you invented in them!”

Liu Qingshan believed this to about ninety percent. There were still many reports about him these days, and among them were no few gossip pieces that plucked out his own words and used them as headlines.

For example, phrases such as “constant reflection on virtue matching one’s station” and “cutting away festering sores” were often mentioned repeatedly by some newspapers.