Chapter 1275 An Unexpected Encounter

Different people naturally warrant different attitudes.

Sun Beihe and Li Xiaoran understood this truth equally well.

As soon as Zhao Baogang finished speaking, Sun Beihe realized that this time he might have provoked someone he shouldn't have.

As a businessman who made his fortune running coal mines, Sun Beihe was certainly no saint. In the Shannan region, anyone in the coal industry who didn't have a few ruthless individuals with blood on their hands would have been devoured whole, bones and all, long ago.

This was no joke. Before the national crackdown, the coal industry in Shannan was truly chaotic. Even municipal leaders, let alone the provincial party committee and government, faced immense difficulties in trying to bring order, because the tangled web of relationships was far too extensive.

Of course, the enormous interests involved and the layers of scandal eventually caught the attention of the central government. Once the top leadership resolved to overhaul Shannan's coal industry, the coal barons had no choice but to start considering转型 (transformation).

Sun Beihe was one of them.

He was an extremely shrewd man—or rather, the kind of person who knew how to do business. Sensing that Shannan's coal industry might run into trouble, Sun Beihe quickly cut his losses, decisively exited the market, and brought a large amount of capital to the capital city.

At first, Sun Beihe had planned to sponsor actresses and indulge in some behind-the-scenes privileges. But now, he suddenly realized that the film and television industry seemed like a promising development channel.

Originally, he intended to use Xinbaoyuan's connections to make a name for himself in the industry, and then surely someone would be willing to accept his investment.

As for sleeping with a few actresses, he considered that a minor matter. After all, once he had the status of an investor, those actresses would be like carp crossing the river—he could pick any one he wanted.

So, thinking this over, Sun Beihe looked at Zhao Fusheng and had already decided to admit defeat.

The reason was simple: he was no longer a thug. Profit was paramount—Sun Beihe understood this principle all too well.

Thugs, on the other hand, were different. Sometimes, if they were unhappy, they were just unhappy. If they took a disliking to you and felt you had offended their dignity as thugs, they would fight you to the death, even at the cost of their own lives.

This might sound ridiculous, but the reason those thugs got into the game was actually for a sense of recognition and fear—simply put, they wanted others to be afraid of them and respect them, which was all about face. So to save face, they sometimes acted really stupid.

Sun Beihe wasn't a thug. He knew very well that no matter how important face was, it wasn't as important as cold, hard cash, because if you lost face, you still had a chance to get it back. But if you lost the cash, no one was going to return it to you out of honesty.

"Chairman Zhao, I'm really sorry. I failed to recognize your eminence. I didn't expect you to be friends with President Zhao. What happened today was my fault and Xiao Ran's. I'll definitely come to your place to apologize another day." Sun Beihe walked up to Zhao Fusheng and said very politely, as if he hadn't been the one spouting nonsense just moments ago.

Li Xiaoran was stunned by Sun Beihe's words. She looked at him in surprise, never expecting that Sun Beihe would bow his head to Zhao Fusheng.

Even though she herself now knew Zhao Fusheng's identity and was planning to apologize, seeing Sun Beihe, who had been so arrogant and smug in front of her, lower his proud head still gave her a strange feeling.

While she was feeling puzzled, Zhao Baogang didn't have the patience to watch her reminisce. He glared at Li Xiaoran and said sternly, "Xiao Ran, apologize!"

Originally, he had thought that Li Xiaoran had decent acting skills and a good image. If there was a chance, he could give her a few roles to try out, and maybe she could become popular.

But now, Zhao Baogang quickly dismissed that idea.

Are you kidding? Given what happened today, Li Xiaoran would definitely not get any resources in advertising. As for film and television, TV dramas might be okay—with him around, she could still get a role in the company's TV drama investments.

As for movies, well, Jiang Wen's reaction just now said it all.

Zhao Baogang knew very well that although he had a good relationship with Jiang Wen, compared to Zhao Fusheng, Jiang Wen and Zhao Fusheng's relationship was definitely closer. Not to mention that the little girl was Fan Baobao's sister, and Fan Baobao was best friends with Jiang Wen's wife Zhou Yun—that was no secret in the industry.

After today's mess, at the very least, everyone associated with Future Film and Television would have a deep impression of Li Xiaoran. Her future path was destined to be cut off from the film circle.

Of course, it was possible that if she latched onto a big boss, she might make Zhao Fusheng bow his head.

But in Zhao Baogang's view, Zhao Fusheng, who was not yet thirty, had already amassed a fortune of several billion. His future was undoubtedly limitless. For Li Xiaoran to find someone who could make him bow his head would be very difficult.

"Chairman Zhao, I'm sorry. I just spoke out of turn." Although Li Xiaoran was extremely unwilling, she dared not show any expression on her face. She walked respectfully to Zhao Fusheng and apologized.

Zhao Fusheng looked coldly at the two people in front of him. In fact, if it weren't for the news he had seen in his previous life, he wouldn't have had any impression of them.

But since he did have an impression, he naturally knew that they were definitely not convinced in their hearts.

These days, some people are like that. They always think their lack of success is due to bad luck, but they never consider whether they dodged quickly when opportunities rained down on them.

"Boss Sun, right? There's no need for you to come and apologize in person. We're not familiar, and I don't plan to get familiar with you. You go your way, and I'll go mine. Boss Sun, you do your coal business; I won't get involved with you." Zhao Fusheng glanced at Sun Beihe and said flatly, "Although I don't know what cooperation project you have with Xinbaoyuan, I'm sorry, but recently, whether it's Future Film or the Future Group, we've been very cautious about investment projects. We really don't have a chance to cooperate."

Sun Beihe shuddered and looked at Zhao Fusheng in surprise. He didn't understand what gave Zhao Fusheng the right to think that because of this one incident, he could block him?

But Zhao Fusheng didn't care about that at all. He turned and walked back into the private room, indicating that he didn't intend to continue the conversation.

He had already made his stance clear. What to do next was Zhao Baogang's problem.

After all, one of these two was an artist under his management, and the other was one of his partners at Xinbaoyuan.

To be honest, this was a sad story.

For Zhao Baogang, if Zhao Fusheng hadn't said those words just now, perhaps this matter could have passed. But since Zhao Fusheng had said it in front of everyone, it meant that he needed to make a decision.

Should he protect Li Xiaoran and continue cooperating with Sun Beihe, or decisively abandon these two and gain Zhao Fusheng's friendship?

Was it intentional?

At that moment, several people were wondering whether Zhao Fusheng's words just now were deliberately said.

Of course, Zhao Fusheng hadn't said them intentionally. He had only spoken based on his knowledge of the future developments of Li Xiaoran and Sun Beihe.

As for the subsequent issue, he only realized it after he had spoken.

How Zhao Baogang would choose was his problem. Zhao Fusheng didn't bother to ask or think about it.

Sometimes, people in different positions view problems from different angles. Now, Zhao Fusheng no longer cared much about the scheming and infighting in the film industry.

"Ah..." After a long silence, Zhao Baogang slowly raised his head, glanced at Li Xiaoran, then at Sun Beihe, shook his head, and said, "Xiao Ran, I'll have someone send your contract to you later. As for Boss Sun, let's temporarily terminate our cooperation."

After saying that, he turned and chased after Zhao Fusheng in the direction he had disappeared.

Multiple-choice questions are sometimes not that difficult. As long as you know what you want, you can make the most correct choice. Of course, this correctness is relative to yourself.

Just like when Qin Hui killed Yue Fei back then, it certainly left a lasting infamy, but in fact, anyone in his position would have had no other choice. After all, Yue Fei was a war advocate who intended to bring back the two emperors, Hui and Qin, and restore the country. But for Emperor Gaozong of Song, Zhao Gou, who sat on the throne, and Prime Minister Qin Hui, if Yue Fei didn't die, their wealth and honor would be at risk.

With different stances, what one considers the correct choice naturally differs.

Li Xiaoran watched Zhao Baogang's retreating figure with a pale face. She hadn't expected that because of that person's words, Zhao Baogang would decisively abandon her and even terminate the contract so bluntly.

And Sun Beihe was even more shocked. How much influence did this man named Zhao have, that he could force Zhao Baogang to make a choice right away, decisively give up their cooperation, and cling to his coattails?

To be honest, if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Sun Beihe would have thought he was dreaming. It was simply unbelievable.

Just then, a commotion suddenly came from behind: "Hey, hey, hey, so many celebrities! What are you all doing here? Having a meeting?"

With these words, several figures walked out from behind the crowd. The two at the front, both around thirty years old, had cynical expressions, but behind them followed two burly men with stern faces.

Sun Beihe, who had long dealt with ruthless men under his command, frowned the moment he saw the two obviously bodyguard-like men. He could sense that these two were men who had seen blood.

In other words, they had killed people.

Parading through the most upscale restaurant in the capital with two big men who had blood on their hands—who were these two people?