Chapter 128: Borrowing Momentum

The caller was Aishwarya, the cousin of Mallika Sherawat, who played Samantha in "The Myth." Liu Qingshan had already promised to help her study abroad in China; in fact, he had kept this in mind and had long since asked Jaycee Chan to recommend a few institutions for her. He had only been focused on the arrival of Padey, so Aishwarya tagging along was well within his expectations.

The young girl had managed to borrow a phone only with great difficulty; had it not been for Kunal’s intervention, given her status within the Indian team, she would never have found someone to make such a call.

"It’s good that you’ve arrived. I’ve already inquired about a few schools for you; you can make your decision based on your interests once you’re here. By the way, where do you want to stay? A hotel or at my place?"

"I heard that Miss Kim from Korea is staying with you? I think I’d better pass. Let Kunal arrange something for me, okay?"

"That’s fine too. You’ll be living on campus in a few days anyway."

"Mallika asked me to send you her regards. She says when 'The Myth' goes to India for promotions, she’ll take you around Bollywood!"

"I might not be able to make it to the Indian promotions. I didn’t have many scenes in the film anyway, and my schedule doesn't really allow for it."

"Is it Hong Kong? I’d really love to tag along and see it too!"

"Maybe some other time. You’re about to start school—have you decided on a major?"

"Yes, I’ve decided. I’ll study acting. My cousin Mallika says that getting some 'gilding' in China will help me move up the ranks quickly when I go back!"

"Alright then, we’ll talk more in detail when we meet. I’m driving right now."

After hanging up, Kim Seon-sun, who had been listening clearly from the passenger seat, immediately made Liu Qingshan feel a slight chill.

"Who is Aishwarya? How come I’ve never heard you mention her? Is this a romance you left behind in India?"

Liu Qingshan realized the situation and hurriedly explained, "She’s Mallika Sherawat’s cousin. Back then, she was her little assistant—a poor girl from a fallen high-caste family who wants to study here to change her life."

"How did she find you? Isn't big brother Jackie Chan a better choice? Do you have something going on with her cousin..."

"Stop, stop. Mallika has a great relationship with big brother Jackie and Tony Leung, but coming to study was Aishwarya’s own decision. It seems she didn't even discuss it with her cousin beforehand."

Aila was sitting in the car, so he could only drag Tony Leung into the conversation as well.

However, he didn't expect Aila to know some of the details.

"Sister Seon-sun, I know about Aishwarya too. Sister Qiao told me. She really is a girl from a poor family. She’s not even 16 yet; if she doesn't come here to study, she’ll be married off. Brother Qingshan is just trying to help her escape a life of hardship!"

Aila was actually a few months older than Liu Qingshan, but she called him "Brother Qingshan" out of respect, a habit reportedly suggested by Joan Lin.

Once she put it that way, it not only extinguished Kim Seon-sun’s anger but even sparked her sympathy.

"Is that so? That child is so pitiful? Shanzi, why don't you let her work at Sister Hui-zhen’s company during the summer and winter breaks? That way she can earn some extra pocket money!"

Park Hui-zhen gave her a sidelong glance. "A moment ago you were full of jealousy, and now you’re expressing sympathy? People here say a woman’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea, but I think your heart is an ocean—no, a ten-thousand-meter-deep trench!"

Liu Qingshan forced back a laugh. "Aila, among the schools I asked Jaycee to find, Beijing Film Academy is one of them. Do you know anything about it?"

The Beijing Film Academy, or BFA, was China’s only—and Asia’s largest—world-renowned professional film institution, a public arts college supported by the municipal government, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, and the Ministry of Education.

"I actually do know about it. Jaycee is a bit of a playboy, so I was the one who handled the connections. It’s a female professor at BFA, a friend of Sister Qiao!"

As fate would have it, just as she finished speaking, Jaycee Chan called Aila. Aila picked up, spoke a few words, and handed the phone to Liu Qingshan.

"Shanzi, Yu Yi called. He says you should stop at the World Trade Center ahead to pick up Elder Yu. You don't have enough room in your car; should I go instead? Aren't you in a hurry to sign that contract?"

"Then please go pick up the elder for me! By the way, does Yu Yi know Padey’s height and weight?"

"I heard him ask Kunal about it over the phone. Don't you worry about that!"

After ending the call, Liu Qingshan smiled at Aila, "Jaycee has matured quite a bit lately. Don't look at him through the same old lens."

Kim Seon-sun chimed in as well; after all, Aila was a loyal subordinate sent by Sister Qiao, and her title as the "housekeeper" was more than just a name.

"Jaycee told me that he’ll try to stay away from nightclubs and such from now on, and he’s reportedly distancing himself from his old circle of friends!"

Aila felt the same way. "Sister Qiao also mentioned he’s changed a bit. Let’s hope so; his parents have lost plenty of sleep over him."

When they arrived at the hotel, Wang Huansheng immediately walked over. "I’ve already spoken to big brother Jackie. Let’s go to the café on the seventh floor!"

Kim Seon-sun did not go with them, instead temporarily taking over some of Liu Qingshan’s reception duties.

The two men from the website were clearly stunned when they saw Liu Qingshan in person; the first impression was obviously that he looked familiar. Liu Qingshan knew he was far from being a household name, so he quickly introduced himself. After a brief whisper between the two, he knew they had recognized him.

"Lawyer Wang didn't intend to keep it from you before; it was at my specific request. Even the published book I wrote was under a pen name."

"Oh? Mr. Liu has also published a physical book?"

"It’s called 'Those Things About the Ming Dynasty,' and it should be released next month."

"What? 'Those Things About the Ming Dynasty' was written by Mr. Liu? Huayi is a major publisher; we heard long ago that they signed a masterpiece, and it turns out it was written by you!"

The two unexpected pieces of news immediately heated up the atmosphere, and their attitudes became noticeably friendlier. Liu Qingshan didn't stop there; he continued to drop heavyweight news.

"Actually, there was another reason for changing the location at the last minute—to invite you both to tonight's reception. The reception is to welcome our distinguished guests from India. Although the host is Hong Kong’s Qinghuang Pictures, the guests are my business partners—the big boss of Bollywood’s Treasure Pictures!"

The two were clearly unaware of what Treasure Pictures represented, so Wang Huansheng provided some context at the right moment.

"Treasure Pictures has a market value exceeding 20 billion USD. They were taken away by the municipal government for a banquet at noon, so the event here was moved to the evening, which is why our meeting was affected."

The two could not help but gasp. In 2004, 20 billion USD was 180 billion RMB, which would rank in the top three in all of China.

If the previous two pieces of news brought them pleasant surprises, this one was a genuine shock. Regardless of the size of the collaboration between Liu Qingshan and the other party, simply having such connections was already awe-inspiring.

Consequently, the touch of intellectual arrogance they had felt in their hearts vanished completely, which was very evident in their subsequent behavior.