The grand banquet hall of Harbour Plaza Metropolis was brighter than ever that evening.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling like stars suspended in midair, casting warm golden light across the room. Expensive wine flowed freely, waiters moved through the crowd carrying silver trays, and conversations filled every corner of the hall.
Officially, tonight was a thank-you banquet.
Unofficially, everyone knew it was a celebration.
After all, Hero had just concluded its overseas copyright auction with a headline-grabbing result.
More than thirty million dollars.
Whether it was directors, investors, reporters, or distributors, everyone understood what such a number represented.
At least on the surface.
As long as the final payment actually arrived, Zhang Weiping would become one of the biggest winners in the Chinese film industry this year.
Naturally, he had every reason to celebrate.
Near one of the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Victoria Harbour, Luo Zheng stood casually with a wine glass in hand.
Beside him stood Xue Kaiqi, who looked far more excited than the actual owner of Marvel.
Across from them sat Gong Li.
Unlike the cheerful atmosphere around them, however, Gong Li seemed distracted.
Her beautiful brows were slightly furrowed, and every now and then she glanced toward the center of the banquet hall where Zhang Weiping was enthusiastically entertaining guests.
She looked as though she wanted to say something but couldn't quite decide how to begin.
Luo Zheng naturally noticed.
After taking a sip of wine, he smiled.
"Sister Li, tonight should be a happy occasion. Director Zhang's movie rights sold for a record price."
Xue Kaiqi nodded immediately beside him.
"That's right. Everyone seems really excited."
Gong Li looked at the smiling Luo Zheng.
For some reason, she kept recalling the expression he had worn during the auction.
Especially that faint smile after Harvey made his thirty-million-dollar bid.
The more she thought about it, the stranger it felt.
Finally, she couldn't hold herself back anymore.
"Little brother."
"Hmm?"
"Tell me honestly."
She lowered her voice slightly.
"Do you really think there's something wrong with that thirty-million-dollar deal?"
Without the slightest hesitation, Luo Zheng nodded.
"There definitely is."
His certainty surprised both women.
Even Xue Kaiqi blinked in confusion.
"Really?"
Luo Zheng swirled the wine in his glass.
Then, almost as if discussing celebrity gossip, he said casually,
"Sister Li probably doesn't know this, but Harvey Weinstein's reputation in Hollywood is terrible."
"How terrible?"
Gong Li asked immediately.
Luo Zheng shrugged.
"He has been involved in all kinds of scandals."
"He secretly photographs actresses."
"He pressures young performers."
"He uses resources to manipulate people."
"And there are even rumors involving forced participation in adult productions."
The smile on Gong Li's face instantly vanished.
"What?!"
Her voice rose involuntarily.
Several nearby guests turned to look.
Realizing her mistake, she lowered her voice again.
"That's impossible."
"How could something like that happen in Hollywood?"
"Aren't actors there highly respected?"
"What about the unions?"
"Doesn't the Screen Actors Guild protect them?"
Luo Zheng almost laughed.
The Hollywood filter truly was powerful.
Especially for actors and actresses outside the United States.
To many people, Hollywood looked glamorous.
Powerful.
Professional.
Fair.
But only people truly inside the industry understood how brutal it could be.
The entertainment business had never been a fairy tale.
It was a battlefield.
And resources determined everything.
Looking at Gong Li's shocked expression, Luo Zheng shook his head.
"Sister Li, you're thinking about it completely backwards."
"What do you mean?"
"The stars aren't the ones sitting at the top of the table."
"The people who own the resources are."
"The studios."
"The investors."
"The distributors."
"The people who decide whether a movie gets made."
"Those are the real power holders."
As he spoke, his gaze casually swept across the hall.
Toward the investors.
Toward the executives.
Toward the people whose names audiences rarely remembered.
"Actors look glamorous."
"But unless they become irreplaceable..."
"They're often far more vulnerable than people imagine."
Gong Li fell silent.
For someone who had spent years in the Chinese film industry, those words weren't entirely unfamiliar.
Yet hearing them applied to Hollywood shattered many assumptions she had unconsciously carried.
At that moment, Zhang Weiping happened to glance in their direction.
Seeing Gong Li speaking privately with Luo Zheng immediately made him uncomfortable.
He leaned toward Zhang Yimou and whispered:
"See?"
"I told you back then."
"Breaking up was the right choice."
"Look at them now."
"That kid is practically glued to her side."
"And that Luo Zheng isn't some innocent person either..."
Before he could finish, Zhang Yimou shot him an annoyed glance.
Then he turned and walked away without saying a word.
Zhang Weiping was left standing there awkwardly.
Meanwhile, Luo Zheng was about to continue explaining when several familiar figures approached.
Tony Leung Chiu-wai.
Maggie Cheung.
And Zhang Ziyi.
The three stars immediately attracted attention as they walked across the banquet hall.
Tony Leung arrived first.
His trademark smile appeared before he even spoke.
"President Luo."
"I overheard something interesting."
"If you're preparing another Hollywood project, don't forget your old friends."
Everyone laughed.
The atmosphere instantly lightened.
Unlike Maggie Cheung and Zhang Ziyi, Tony Leung had already worked with Luo Zheng during Infernal Affairs.
Although they weren't particularly close, they were familiar enough to joke with each other.
Luo Zheng raised his glass.
"If Brother Chiu-wai is willing to accept a discount salary, I'll consider it."
Tony Leung immediately played along.
"Forget a discount."
"If I can get into Hollywood, I'll work for free."
The group burst into laughter again.
Luo Zheng shook his head.
"That's too much."
"Your value is much higher than that."
"If the right role appears, we'll definitely work together."
Whether it happened or not was another matter.
But promises cost nothing.
In the entertainment industry, maintaining relationships was often more important than immediate results.
Hearing this, Maggie Cheung finally joined the conversation.
Her smile remained elegant and composed.
"I heard Director Luo is attending the Venice Film Festival this year?"
The way she addressed him was interesting.
Not President Luo.
Director Luo.
Clearly, she was more interested in his creative side.
Luo Zheng noticed immediately.
"That's right."
"My first true awards-season film."
"And honestly..."
A confident smile appeared on his face.
"I'm aiming for the Golden Lion."
The surrounding atmosphere froze slightly.
Tony Leung blinked.
Zhang Ziyi's eyes widened.
Even Maggie Cheung seemed surprised.
The Golden Lion.
The highest honor at Venice.
Most directors would avoid saying such things publicly.
Even if they dreamed about it.
Yet Luo Zheng stated it so naturally that it sounded less like arrogance and more like certainty.
Maggie Cheung studied him carefully.
For a moment, she wondered whether his confidence came from the movie itself.
Or from the fact that Gong Li was currently serving as Jury President.
Then she dismissed the second possibility.
No matter how influential the Jury President was, Venice wasn't controlled by a single person.
Which meant only one explanation remained.
He genuinely believed his film could win.
That realization made him even more interesting.
"I hope we have the chance to collaborate internationally one day."
This time, the invitation was much more direct.
Luo Zheng smiled.
"I'd be honored."
And unlike some of the promises he made tonight, this one wasn't entirely empty.
After all, he knew very well that Maggie Cheung still had one of the most acclaimed performances of her career ahead of her.
If the opportunity appeared, collaborating wouldn't be impossible.
Unfortunately, someone beside her wasn't feeling nearly as calm.
Zhang Ziyi.
Throughout the conversation, she had been waiting for her opportunity.
Watching Maggie Cheung successfully secure a potential future collaboration immediately made her nervous.
Hollywood opportunities were rare.
Every one that went to someone else was one less available for her.
Finally, she stepped forward.
Unlike Maggie Cheung, she chose complete honesty.
"President Luo."
"If your future projects need a supporting actress..."
"I'm willing to participate."
"Even without salary."
The surrounding conversation quieted.
Everyone understood what she was really saying.
She wanted a ticket to Hollywood.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Zhang Ziyi believed her performance in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon had already proven her value internationally.
At the very least, she expected a polite promise.
Some vague assurance about future cooperation.
Instead, Luo Zheng simply shook his head.
"I'm sorry."
"The casts for our upcoming projects have already been finalized."
That was all.
No promises.
No future possibilities.
No diplomatic answer.
Just a straightforward rejection.
For a split second, Zhang Ziyi's smile stiffened.
The atmosphere became awkward.
Even Tony Leung looked slightly surprised.
Most people in the industry would have softened the response.
Luo Zheng didn't.
Because there was no need.
After a few polite words, the trio eventually moved away to greet other guests.
Watching them leave, Gong Li suddenly laughed.
"Little brother."
"Hmm?"
"The way Zhang Ziyi was looking at you just now..."
"She practically had stars in her eyes."
"And yet you rejected her in a single sentence."
Luo Zheng nearly choked on his wine.
Then he looked at Gong Li helplessly.
"Sister Li."
"You're misunderstanding."
"Oh?"
"What exactly am I misunderstanding?"
A mischievous smile appeared on her face.
Luo Zheng sighed dramatically.
"It's simple."
"I just don't fit well with that type."
"What type?"
He answered before thinking.
"I don't really like women with such a small frame."
The words left his mouth.
Then silence followed.
For one second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Gong Li instinctively looked downward.
Then she suddenly realized what comparison his comment implied.
A faint blush spread across her face.
"You little brat."
She lightly swatted his arm.
Yet for some reason, the smile at the corners of her lips became even brighter than before.
And under the glittering lights of the celebration banquet, while laughter and music filled the hall, neither of them noticed that somewhere nearby, several pairs of eyes were quietly observing the scene.
After all, in the entertainment industry, rumors often traveled much faster than movies themselves.