Chapter 99: The Film Production Press Conference

Xiao Kaitian had finally drawn the suspicion of the people at the Haidu Martial Arts Bureau. Almost at the same time, another private meeting was taking place inside an upscale members-only club in Shangjing.

“Master Bian, Master Su,” Xiao Zhenglv said with a broad smile, raising the custom Swarovski crystal goblet in his hand. Under the light, it fractured into a shimmer of rainbow hues, and his smile looked faintly unreal. “It is rare for the two of you to grace me with your presence. Allow me to drink first as a token of respect.”

Across from him, at a large round table of rosewood sat two young men. One wore a custom suit in royal blue, his cheekbones sharp and lean, a jade thumb ring on his finger as he lightly turned a crystal glass. He was Bian Cheng, the eldest son of the Bian family, one of the eight great families of Shangjing. The other wore a black jacket with its collar stood high, his expression cold and indifferent. He was Su Jingyao, the eldest son of the Su family, likewise one of the great clans.

Both were leaders among the younger generation of their respective families, and to a great extent, their words and actions represented the stance of their clans.

“Uncle Xiao,” Bian Cheng said, not hurrying to drink. He slowly spun the jade ring on his finger. “Between intelligent people, there is no need for false pleasantries. With our status and position, I don’t think we need to waste each other’s time talking about sentiment. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Straight to the point,” Xiao Zhenglv said, having been waiting for exactly that. Satisfied, he set down the crystal goblet filled with XO. “Then I’ll speak plainly. I believe the two of you already have some idea why I asked to meet. It’s still about my nephew, Xiao Kaitian.”

“Uncle Xiao, your nephew is truly something else. He has recently returned to Haidu and seems to have made quite a stir. Wasn’t he supposed to be a fool? What on earth happened?” Bian Cheng asked directly.

Su Jingyao also turned to look. “I heard he even became a martial cultivator. One of my family’s collateral branch members was injured by him.”

At the mention of this, Xiao Zhenglv was utterly baffled. Xiao Kaitian had clearly been a complete simpleton, pushed all the way to the edge with no road left to take. Yet after a trip to the island nation, he returned transformed. He had become both cultured and formidable, practicing martial arts while also starting a company, and was now thriving in Haidu.

“To put it simply,” Xiao Zhenglv said, knowing some things could not be laid bare, “I suspect the Ogihara family in the island nation is backing him.”

“Then how do you explain the fact that he is a martial cultivator?” Su Jingyao was not easy to deceive.

“If he were truly a martial cultivator, the Haidu Martial Arts Bureau would definitely have reacted by now. But as far as I know, he was never cut out for that path from childhood. Surely you know that too,” Xiao Zhenglv countered.

The two young men were from the same world as Xiao Kaitian. Recalling the many things from his past, both of them fell silent.

“Whatever the case, he has offended me, and he has offended the Bian and Su families. There may be secrets on his person. And if he really has become a martial cultivator...” Xiao Zhenglv understood all too well that one cannot catch a wolf without first staking out a child as bait. He threw out his trump card.

Bian Cheng and Su Jingyao both had some involvement with the martial path. As soon as they heard the implication, their expressions changed.

Bian Cheng asked grimly, “You mean he possesses a fortuitous opportunity. But according to the intelligence, no wanderers have come here in a long time.”

“The Haidu Martial Arts Bureau will certainly verify the facts. We only need to wait. If Xiao Kaitian truly is a martial cultivator, then...”

“The fortuitous opportunity belongs to both our families,” Bian Cheng said, glancing at Su Jingyao. “The first to move will gain the advantage.”

“Deal!” Su Jingyao lifted his crystal goblet in agreement.

“No problem. I have no interest in the martial path. All I want is Xiao Kaitian’s life,” Xiao Zhenglv declared as well. “A toast together?”

Clink.

Three crystal goblets touched lightly, and the alliance among the three families was thus sealed. The force gathered to deal with Xiao Kaitian was formally established.

As Xiao Kaitian attended the Haidu Technology Expo, another press conference was also held in Haidu as scheduled: the promotional event for the film led by Chen Jingming.

Originally, this event had not been part of the plan. In many films nowadays, once the script and cast are in place, there is at most a simple opening ceremony before filming begins behind closed doors.

This is mainly because film production is full of uncertainties. Whether a project can be completed smoothly and on schedule is never guaranteed, unless it is a true mega-production.

Chen Jingming had indeed once possessed that confidence in his early years. But after years of stumbling through setbacks, he had long since lost the vigor of his youth. This time, when he had thought there was no way forward, Xiao Kaitian had somehow produced two hundred million in funding as if by sleight of hand—and that was only the beginning.

A man long accustomed to poverty suddenly felt his back straighten. For this film, he was determined to make it a grand and glorious affair.

Ling Xuan naturally had no objections. A film production launch would only increase her visibility; she had no reason to refuse.

Unfortunately, neither of them were particularly mainstream figures in the current entertainment industry, so the people invited were mostly small and medium-sized media outlets, along with some independent media, freelance writers, and the like. The mix was broad, even chaotic.

There were many people and many cameras, but taken together, the exposure was still not as valuable as a single trending topic from mainstream media.

Chen Jingming was a director; he had never really understood this game of traffic and promotion. Ling Xuan knew a little about it, but seeing Chen Jingming busily running around, she chose to stay silent.

By the time the host announced that the production press conference was beginning, many in the audience were still scrolling on their phones. Some were even chatting; they had merely switched on their camera covers and more or less ignored the stage.

“Apparently the rising star Zhao Siyun landed that hot IP.”

“Is Sun Hao really getting divorced? Has the gossip media confirmed it?”

“Ugh, this Haidu weather is awful. Not cold, not warm...”

“You actually have that kind of contact? Add me on WeChat then. Let’s keep in touch.”

“...”

In short, no one was really listening to Chen Jingming.

Yet Chen Jingming remained completely unaware. “Distinguished guests, first of all, on behalf of the director of Beyond the Dome, I would like to warmly welcome everyone to our production launch conference.”

“This film embodies five years of hard work by screenwriter Shen Cheng. It underwent no fewer than a dozen revisions before the final draft was completed. The early-stage coordination and planning were also extremely arduous, but now we can finally confirm that the opening ceremony will be held on schedule in the near future.”

“Besides myself, the male lead is played by Best Actor Li Lihua, and the female lead by actress Ling Xuan,” Chen Jingming said, gesturing toward Ling Xuan, who was nodding with a smile. “Along with the relevant supporting staff.”

“The initial plan is to invest two hundred million in production costs, including post-production and promotion, with the total budget expected to reach five hundred million. That does not even include the filming budget. Just the props alone come to more than one hundred million U.S. dollars. Some friends may wonder: what kind of props could possibly require so much funding?”

Chen Jingming paused for effect, though, regrettably, no one in the venue was listening. He remained oblivious.

“Next, let me explain. This is a science-fiction film, and all the props are cutting-edge conceptual products ahead of their time.”

“Please look at the screen. The design concepts for the specific props will be explained by Mr. Jameson from Country M’s film industry.”

“OH!” Jameson took the microphone. In brisk American English, he launched into a rapid-fire explanation. With simultaneous translation added over the sound system, the audience only looked even sleepier.

“When is this press conference ever going to end?” someone muttered while crouching down discreetly and lighting a cigarette. “This is so boring.”