Chapter 10 Foreshadowing
[Foreshadowing: In literary works, it is a hint or suggestion for later plots. It is best if the reader is unaware of it. 】
While Meng Chu was toasting in the restaurant, Fu Guanshan was also in the whirlpool of socializing.
Meng Chu's day ended painfully, and so did Fu Guanshan's.
Of course, this is just Fu Guanshan’s personal opinion. In fact, agent Hai Qiu believes that he is a hundred times more miserable than this crazy person.
The cause of the incident is as follows: their common boss, the CEO of Huasheng Entertainment came to Hong Kong to discuss cooperation and also visited the company's main pillar who was filming a movie there.
Fu Guanshan is Huasheng’s number one cash cow. The boss is courteous to him and has long treated him as a brother. Bole and the steed, the capitalist and the ATM, they all enjoyed their meal happily and joyfully.
Until Fu Guanshan took out a stack of documents. "Mr. Wu," he said solemnly, "I found an extremely good book."
Through his boss's big belly, Hai Qiu seemed to be able to hear the sound of his heart falling.
"I think," Fu Guanshan held up the document, "the audience has been allergic to love, celestial beings and the like in the past two years. They like the reality of ordinary people's lives." He carefully opened the first page and stroked the words from top to bottom, as if it was the handwriting of the calligraphy master. "Look, the plot is so simple, and the lines are so down-to-earth..."
The boss tactically took a sip of water, took the document from him, and scanned the first page with utmost patience. “The disappearance of children from Yongan Street.”
"Yes," Fu Guanshan said, "What a great realistic subject, with both crime and parent-child relationships."
"This is the 'The Child Who Disappeared on Yong'an Street' that you gave me before," the boss looked at him with dead fish eyes, "you changed the name to a synonym."
"Who said that?" Fu Guanshan flipped open the script. "Look, it originally happened in autumn, but now it's happening in spring..."
The boss sighed and closed the notebook: "What on earth do you want to do?"
Like Doraemon, Fu Guanshan took out a film project plan from inside his coat.
The boss had only read three lines when his eyes began to blink irregularly as if they were burned.
"I'm the investor," Fu Guanshan patted his chest, "As for the director, it'd be best if it's Director Shang, he's good at reality-oriented. For editing, go to Chen Qiao, for photography, go to Wang Bin, for art, go to Zhao Leping. If that doesn't work, Chen Xiaojie is also fine. Mr. Wu, I know you have a wide network of contacts in the circle and a lot of face, so please help me put together a team."
The boss's lips twitched, as if he was about to say something with a rich plant vocabulary, but in the end he only said two words full of emotion: "No."
"Why?"
"Because they haven't been kicked in the head by a donkey," the boss picked up the stack of scripts, "What the hell is this? The first two hundred pages are just a daily account, two brothers go to school, go home from school, eat, go to the supermarket to buy things, who wants to read it? And these lines, 'Don't follow me', 'I want to follow me', 'I don't like you', can it be more idiotic? The ending is even more outrageous, what with sunspots, particle storms, and time travel?! What a mess, which lousy screenwriter wrote this?"
Fu Guanshan took the script back from his boss: "Me."
The boss's face was colorful for a while. "It's not that it's badly written," the boss said stubbornly, "it's just that the market is not ready to accept this style. Look, didn't you want a realistic theme? How come there's also a time travel..."
"I want to add some science fiction elements. Isn't science fiction very popular recently?"
"You..." The boss tried to find a euphemism that didn't sound like a personal attack, "You are not suitable for writing science fiction."
"What's wrong? I've loved science fiction since I was a child," Fu Guanshan said. "Harry Potter is the movie of my life."
Hai Qiu couldn't help but interject: "Brother, that's not science fiction, it's fantasy."
"What's the difference?"
Do you dare to tell this to your wife? ! Hai Qiu gave up on popular science and pointed out, "Even if we want to do some science fiction, time travel is too old-fashioned. It might have been interesting 20 years ago, but now... Brother, have you forgotten that you made a romance movie two years ago that had this plot, and the comments were all criticizing it for being a cliché?"
"Really?" Fu Guanshan said, "That was the first time I saw it, and I thought it was quite new."
The boss's face began to twitch in a way that had never been recorded in medical history. "In short, this script still has a lot of room for improvement..."
“So we need a good team.”
"No... where do you get the confidence from? I think I can convince Director Shang to take on this kind of film?!" The boss regretted it after saying this. This question was unnecessary.
"Yes, I am here," Fu Guanshan said, "I will be the lead actor."
"The protagonist is an elementary school student!"
“I look pretty young.”
The boss took a deep breath, and all the words in his mind gathered into one sentence: "No."
"Why?" Fu Guanshan said, "I don't want the company to pay, and I won't cheat investors' money. Didn't I say it? I will pay for all the expenses of this film by myself."
Hai Qiu tried to signal with his eyes, but when he realized it was futile, he changed to reminding in a low voice, but Fu Guanshan still seemed to hear nothing.
"It's not about money," the boss said. "You are an important asset of the company. The company has to consider your image. You are doing so well now. You should be more careful in choosing scripts. You can't just take on any crappy roles."
"Aren't those crappy Valentine's Day movies any better?"
The boss' eyes widened: "Do you know how much that romance film made? Even if the script is bad, at least there is a market for it. You..."
"Can I also compensate for the losses I incurred while making the film?"
Hai Qiu finally couldn't bear it anymore and poked Fu Guanshan's shoulder with his elbow. Fu Guanshan looked back at him in surprise, and there was a brief gap in the conversation.
"No matter what," the boss immediately jumped in, "I can't watch you jump into the fire pit." He patted the documents, "I will never help you with this favor. Favors can't be treated as waste paper. If I let them finish this movie, I will owe them ten blockbuster movies."
Fu Guanshan opened his mouth and was about to say something, but the boss came over with a glass of wine, sat down next to him, and put his arm around his shoulders.
"Guan Shan, we have known each other for so many years. I knew you when you were still playing the heroine's scumbag ex-husband," the boss clinked his glass with his, "You trust my judgment, I am doing this for your own good. So, haven't you always wanted to play a villain? I just saw a suspense script, and it has a policeman who degenerates into a criminal. I think it suits you very well."
With him hanging on him like this, Fu Guanshan had to bend down to make him more comfortable.
"Really?" Fu Guanshan thought for a while in embarrassment, "How about...I should finish this movie first?"
As soon as these words came out, the other two people breathed a sigh of relief.
Fu Guanshan picked up his cup, clinked it with his boss's, and drank it all in one gulp.
After having a good meal and a few drinks, the boss returned to the hotel where he was staying. Fu Guanshan had a scene to perform in the late night and was too lazy to rush back to his room, so he planned to take a nap in the nanny car.
As Haiqiu brought him a blanket, he couldn't help but chatter, "Investing in your own film? What do you think, brother?"
Fu Guanshan rested his head on his arm and casually pulled a blanket over himself: "Aren't many actors like this?"
"They carefully selected the films, but you wrote them yourself, and you..." Hai Qiu rolled his eyes, "Also, brother, do you know how much money you have?"
Fu Guanshan stared at the roof in silence. “I remember quite a lot?”
Haiqiu started to have a headache. This person doesn't even know the status of his assets, yet he dares to make such a thing!
"You did make a lot of money, but it's definitely not enough to make a movie at the rate you're making it!"
"Ah?" Fu Guanshan turned his head suddenly, "I spent so much?"
"It's not flowers, it's a gift," Hai Qiu said, "Last month, you just transferred 300,000 yuan to your great aunt."
"He's been diagnosed with a chronic disease, so he needs money."
"Last year, you donated 1.5 million to the charity foundation."
"Haven't you heard the slogan? Every penny you donate is a brick to pave the way for your child's education."
"Two years ago, you pledged to donate more than a dozen century-old trees!"
“They are victims of urban sprawl!”
"You think you're a money-giving kid?!"
"Why are you so excited?" Fu Guanshan looked at him, "Didn't I lend you 100,000..."
"I just need a wedding house!" Hai Qiu waved his hand, trying to pass on the topic. "Anyway, brother, you can't spend money recklessly in your current situation. If you really want to spend money, can you find a legitimate channel to invest? Don't throw it into the water."
Fu Guanshan glanced at him, turned his head and lay down. "I can spend my own money however I want," he said puzzledly. "Those successful people who want to realize their childhood dreams by racing cars and collecting things are said to be sentimental. Why can't I do the same?"
"Brother, you are not serious, are you?" Hai Qiu said, "Is your children's literature script sentimental?"
Fu Guanshan's expression was pious and yearning.
Haiqiu felt that he had altitude sickness. Given Hong Kong's altitude, the air shouldn't be so thin.
Hai Qiu has been following Fu Guanshan since he was spotted by Huasheng Entertainment. It has been eight years now, and he has a good understanding of his character.
Although this person looks weird, he is actually very tactful in his dealings with others. You can flatter yourself, but you won't destroy yourself.
"Brother," Hai Qiu lowered his voice, "Are you retreating to advance? You are just not satisfied with the romance movies that the company picked for you, so you use this script as a shield to force the boss to make concessions. It's just like before when you didn't want to hype up your CP, you said you were married at the press conference..."
Fu Guanshan turned his head and glared at him: "What nonsense are you talking about? My wife and I fell in love at first sight. We are a match made in heaven. This is great love. Do you understand?!"
People who look cheerful on weekdays can be very scary when they become fierce. Hai Qiu was startled and nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, it is love. Brother, you should go to sleep quickly. We have more than four hours to go to the set."
Fu Guanshan glared at him again, without closing his eyes, but took out his cell phone.
"What's wrong again, brother?" Hai Qiu asked tentatively.
"You reminded me, I haven't received the report today."
Hai Qiu was confused: "A new project? I didn't receive any notification?"
"My aunt reported to my wife," Fu Guanshan said, "see if she mentioned me today."
Hai Qiu opened his mouth and closed it again. The trace of doubt in his heart just now disappeared completely along with these disgusting words.
"University professors are busy, too," Hai Qiu said, "She..."
In his impression, Fu Guanshan's aunt had a distinct personality. If she interfered with work with such an excuse to get a beating, wouldn't she scold her?
Before he could finish his words, Fu Guanshan suddenly sat up.
"He's in Hong Kong now?" He raised his eyebrows. "That's outrageous..."
Suddenly, the cell phone rang.
Hai Qiu watched his expression change from anger to joy and then to reserve. There were traces of quick thinking in his eyes, as if he was hesitating whether to hold the phone for a while or pick it up immediately.
Fu Guanshan's brain actually started working at high speed one day. Hai Qiu took a breath of air and thought he smelled the burning smell of overloaded neurons.
Obviously, he finally chose the latter. However, after answering the call, his brows furrowed more and more, and then he lifted the blanket on his body.
"What's wrong?" Hai Qiu asked.
Fu Guanshan threw out an address: "Go pick someone up."
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Solemn statement: This article does not contain any science fiction, supernatural or amnesia elements.
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