Chapter 405 Encouragement

Hu Xiaoxiao leaned back on the sofa, holding an orange juice with a smile, and said, "Actually, it's okay. It's mainly because I don't like to play supporting roles. I like to be the master of my own business, so I make movies with strong female protagonists. Because I work hard and am dedicated enough, the audience likes to watch it, so the box office is getting higher and higher.

Whether you're making movies, acting, or starting a business, isn't it all about making money? If the box office is high and there's money to be made, the market for female stars will naturally improve."

Only when you have value can you have a say. This is the biggest lesson Hu Xiaoxiao has learned since entering the industry.

"Making money is easy to say, but how many people can actually make it, really make a lot of money? Xiaoxiao, you're so amazing! You've gone from nothing to becoming the highest-paid actress in Hong Kong, and the richest female boss in the film and television industry. You're the only one in the whole of Hong Kong. Being your friend, even I feel honored and proud."

"You're not bad either. You've come this far step by step and won the Best Actress award. Wanwen, you're also amazing." Hu Xiaoxiao also praised Zhu Wanwen sincerely.

Zhu Wanwen does not have a high acting talent and is not the most beautiful, but she was able to win the Best Actress award and gain recognition from the audience. The effort she put in is beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Zhu Wanwen nodded, acknowledging Hu Xiaoxiao's praise. When she first joined the TV station, no one had high hopes for her. Her success today was entirely due to her willingness to learn, her dedication to hard work, and her relentless pursuit of opportunities. She never let down a single one of the opportunities she seized.

Hu Xiaoxiao and Zhu Wanwen praised each other sincerely, which made both of them feel happy both physically and mentally, and even their appetites improved a lot.

Their friendship has lasted for so many years, and they have both seen how difficult it has been for each other. They have always understood and appreciated each other.

After talking about the good side, Zhu Wanwen also said to Hu Xiaoxiao: "A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. If you are glorious in front of others, you will inevitably be envied by others behind your back.

Xiaoxiao, the more successful Shengshi Entertainment becomes and the more money it makes, the greater the threat it poses to other companies. The market is so small, if you grab a large piece, there won't be enough left for them to share. From ancient times to the present, matters involving profit have always been tainted. The three major cinema chains' united boycott of Shengshi Entertainment's films is a tactic of behind-the-scenes manipulation."

Zhu Wanwen added, "But don't worry. Ji's Cinema Line's partnership with them doesn't represent Ji Sheng's intention. Ji Sheng has been focusing on television in recent years. As for the film industry, I've heard from Achi that Ji's Cinema will be closed or sold in the next year or two."

In other words, Ji Sheng is no longer making movies and has officially withdrawn. From now on, the only thing related to the film industry will be theaters.

"I've noticed," Hu Xiaoxiao said. "During this year's Spring Festival, Ji's film was a low-budget production with a limited schedule. Actually, there were signs of this a few years ago. The TV station is making a ton of money. Not to mention the revenue from Baogang, just selling the TV rights overseas alone makes Ji's company a fortune every year."

Zhu Wanwen smiled and said, "So the suppression of your new movie has nothing to do with Ji Sheng. It was done by the general manager of the theater chain. When you come to my wedding, I will introduce you."

Hu Xiaoxiao understood what Zhu Wanwen meant and tried to scare the general manager of the cinema chain into believing that this was her friend and that he should be more restrained.

With Zhu Wanwen's support, the general manager of Ji's Cinema Line would have to think twice before joining forces with the two major cinema chains to boycott the film. No matter how powerful he is, he is still just a high-ranking employee.

"You are indeed my good friend, Wanwen. I have no ties to you as my friend. You are helping me so much, aren't you afraid that the Ji family will be dissatisfied with you?"

"I've read about the film market. The films you've made have all been very successful at the box office, each one more successful than the last. They've brought huge profits to theaters, and they can make a lot of money from your films. Ji's Cinema Line is in business, and of course, profit is a key factor in any business. Without 'The Princess Diaries 2' during the Spring Festival, I don't know how much money the theaters have lost. Xiaoxiao, helping you is a win-win situation, right?"

"I'm very happy that you are willing to help me. But this matter is complicated. It's not just a simple matter of a cinema chain." Hu Xiaoxiao was very touched by Zhu Wanwen's kindness, but still refused Zhu Wanwen's help.

Zhu Wanwen put down the cup and listened to Hu Xiaoxiao patiently.

Hu Xiaoxiao said, "Rather than being boycotted, it's more accurate to say that Shengshi Entertainment has grown and reached a bottleneck. When a company reaches a certain size, it will face a dilemma. If it can overcome this dilemma, it can scale up to a higher level and enter a broader world.

If we can't break through, we'll be confined to this level for the rest of our lives. Shengshi Entertainment faces a challenge from the entire Baogang industry. Even if Ji's Cinema Line is friendly with us and schedules our films, the other two major cinema chains are boycotting us, and relying solely on Ji's Cinema Line's schedule won't be enough. Therefore, if something needs to be faced, we must confront it and resolve it.

"Wanwen, I plan to open a big company and do big business. Maybe in the future my business will be bigger than the Ji family's. The current predicament is just a small problem in my future grand career. If I can't solve this small problem, how can I solve bigger problems in the future?

Life is like passing a level, one level after another. Looking back on the levels I’ve passed in the past is quite interesting.”

Zhu Wanwen looked at Hu Xiaoxiao's confident, vibrant expression and couldn't help but smile. "Xiaoxiao, I've made a lot of friends since I started this industry. Many of them change over time. But you, alone, have remained the same. You're still you, the stunning you on the Miss Hong Kong stage, and the courageous you on TV."

Hu Xiaoxiao thought for a moment and said, "Maybe it's because what I've always pursued hasn't changed."

"Well, I wish you in advance that you can pass this hurdle smoothly and embark on the road to a bright future in your career. Xiaoxiao, when the great roc soars into the sky with the wind, it can soar up to 90,000 miles!" Zhu Wanwen picked up the coffee cup and gestured to Hu Xiaoxiao.

Hu Xiaoxiao picked up the orange juice and clinked it with Zhu Wanwen's coffee cup. "There will always be a time to ride on the wind and waves, and set sail to cross the vast ocean. Wanwen, let's encourage each other!"

“Cheers!”

The two women clinked their glasses and drank it down in one gulp.

What they drank was not only their ambitions, but also their friendship.

In order to acquire Ji's Cinema Line, Hu Xiaoxiao held a meeting with the Marketing and Information Departments after returning to the company, asking them to put aside their current tasks and conduct an in-depth investigation into the operations of each cinema under Ji's Cinema Line, including any problems with the cinema's operations.

In addition, you also need to understand the overall situation of the Ji Group, its development direction in recent years, recent financial reports, etc., especially the recent movements of Ji Sheng.

Hu Xiaoxiao had hardly interacted with Ji Sheng over the years, except at some large banquets. Banquets weren't the right place for detailed discussions, so she needed to get to know Ji Sheng again and his rules and regulations.