Chapter 2105: Wu Jing

Liu Yiming was quite efficient.

Soon, Wu Jing's dossier was placed before Zhao Fusheng.

Looking at the dossier, Zhao Fusheng smiled.

Last year, Wu Jing wrote and directed his first directorial work, but unfortunately, the box office bombed, losing him everything. Although he got a Golden Horse nomination, it was utterly useless.

When Wu Jing left the mainland to develop in Hong Kong, some said it was because there was no market for action actors in the mainland; as an action actor, he couldn't find opportunities.

Others said he had offended some big shot and was blacklisted, forcing him to go to Hong Kong.

Opinions varied on the answer; perhaps no one but Wu Jing himself knew the truth.

But it must be said that in Zhao Fusheng's view, Wu Jing's choice was actually not wrong.

When Wu Jing first went to Hong Kong, he faced a very difficult choice. It took him eight years after his debut to land his second leading role in the film *Drunken Monkey*; his first was his debut film *Kung Fu Kid*.

*Drunken Monkey* was a Hong Kong production, produced by Ms. Fang, wife of TVB boss Sir Run Run Shaw, and directed by renowned Hong Kong director and martial arts master Liu Jialiang.

After finishing that film, he chose to develop in Hong Kong.

"Tell me, why did Wu Jing go to Hong Kong?"

After reading the dossier, Zhao Fusheng suddenly asked Liu Yiming.

Liu Yiming was taken aback; he had naturally read the dossier. Thinking about that period, he said softly, "Maybe he realized that if he wanted to make action films, he had to go there?"

Zhao Fusheng frowned; he really hadn't considered that.

But on second thought, what Liu Yiming said actually made a lot of sense.

Although at that time, with hit TV series like *The Tai Chi Master* and *The Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain*, Wu Jing was considered a popular young actor, and others like the '教主' and '火华社长' were just emerging and didn't overlap with him.

But on the mainland, action films were indeed neglected.

Action actors like Wu Jing basically had no films to shoot and could only act in all sorts of messy martial arts TV dramas.

In the Hong Kong film industry, however, explosion scenes, wire work, and fight scenes were abundant, with rich experience and many talents.

Choosing to go to Hong Kong meant starting from scratch. Before him, mainland actors had gone to Hong Kong to make a name, but only Jacky Li had gained fame. Others, though leading men in mainland films and TV, could only play supporting roles in Hong Kong.

Not to mention other things, the language barrier alone was tough.

A mainland celebrity who had drifted in Hong Kong warned Wu Jing that it would be very hard, requiring many sacrifices and extreme caution and humility in social interactions.

Even so, Wu Jing still went to Hong Kong.

Then, he missed the opportunity of the mainland film and TV industry's explosive growth and market takeoff in recent years.

In recent years, the quantity and quality of mainland films and TV series have risen continuously, and male actors born in the 1970s have successfully transitioned.

In contrast, Hong Kong's film and TV production, due to changes in the economic and political environment, has been in its lowest ebb in thirty years. Local film output has gradually dropped from a peak of over 200 to several dozen. For example, in 2006, Hong Kong produced only 50 films. The majority of films on Hong Kong's box office charts were Hollywood blockbusters.

Even the big names in Hong Kong made their own choices.

Either go to Hollywood, or head north to the mainland; those who stayed either switched careers or faced hardship.

Of course, those who went west to Hollywood and achieved success were few and far between; even Jacky Li and Fat God Fa didn't make a mark with their works and brands.

Ultimately, heading north to the mainland became the lifeline to save the Hong Kong film industry.

During this period, Wu Jing's days became increasingly difficult.

Wu Jing paid homage to all the major film companies, directors, and producers in Hong Kong, waited over a year, and finally got a role in the film *SPL: Sha Po Lang*—a special cameo with only a few lines.

More interestingly, in that film, a certain action star and Wu Jing had a fight scene where four solid wooden sticks were broken on Wu Jing's arm. After this film, rumors spread that the star and Wu Jing were at odds, with the former looking down on the latter, and even news that Wu Jing's poster was banned in Japan.

Wu Jing's experience in Hong Kong could only be described as bleak. The assassin role in *SPL* brought him some fame, but in the declining Hong Kong film market, it never translated into quality film resources.

In those years, he often told the media that he had few friends in Hong Kong and felt lost in life.

He even succinctly summarized his Hong Kong experience: "I really can't talk about it; some things are too dark."

A few years later, relying on his accumulated connections and funds, he wrote, directed, and starred in *Wolf Warrior*.

It failed.

Undoubtedly.

"He's in a pretty tough spot now."

Liu Yiming summarized to Zhao Fusheng: "If you want to sign him, I think it shouldn't be a problem."

He thought Zhao Fusheng was interested in Wu Jing because he planned to sign him for action films, especially since domestic action films seemed to be on the rise recently.

In Liu Yiming's view, everything Zhao Fusheng did had a deeper meaning.

And looking into Wu Jing's background should be preparation for the company's action film development.

"Why sign him?"

Zhao Fusheng smiled, waved his hand, and said to Liu Yiming, "Don't overthink it."

Then, after a moment's thought, he said, "Call President Ye and ask if he can get Wu Jing's phone number."

"Okay."

Liu Yiming nodded.

To be honest, he didn't quite believe what Zhao Fusheng had just said, or rather, he was skeptical, because the boss was always one to plan carefully before acting.

If Zhao Fusheng claimed to be a fan of Wu Jing, Liu Yiming wouldn't believe it.

Zhao Fusheng had no idea what Liu Yiming was thinking; if he did, he'd knock that guy's head.

What kind of person did he take him for!

He really had no intention of signing Wu Jing.

Everyone has their own path. Leaving others aside, Zhao Fusheng actually admired Wu Jing.

Maybe it's a persona, maybe it's just his nature, but this kind of macho artist is rare in China's film and TV industry. With someone like him around, at least the circle won't be completely taken over by those singing, dancing, and basketball types.

…

…

The news of Future Film and Television's upcoming listing soon spread, and financial and media outlets, even film and TV media, reported on it.

Ye Jing even gave several interviews in a row.

"Aren't you envious?"

Sitting in Zhao Fusheng's office, Zheng Yao asked him with a smile.

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "Do you think I'm the type who needs that kind of interview?"

Zheng Yao chuckled; indeed, Zhao Fusheng wasn't that type.

"Do you think the listing will succeed?"

Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and asked Zheng Yao.

"You lack confidence?"

Zheng Yao frowned slightly, looking at Zhao Fusheng with some surprise.

After all, Zhao Fusheng had always seemed confident, never losing faith at any time.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head: "It's not that I lack confidence; I just never thought about going public."

That was his honest thought.

After all, once a company goes public, it faces many issues in the capital market. To be honest, Zhao Fusheng really disliked the feeling of things being out of his control.

That's how people are; they often dislike things slipping from their grasp, especially businessmen.

In the eyes of many business tycoons, being hands-on may not be necessary, but the decision-making power of the enterprise must be firmly in their own hands.

Why was Liu Qiangdong so wary of Zhao Fusheng at Jingdong? Because during the investment, Zhao Fusheng demanded voting rights.

Now, Zhao Fusheng's control over all Future-affiliated companies is even tighter.

Not only is he the major shareholder, but he also firmly holds the voting rights in his own hands.

He certainly didn't want to lose control of his company one day.

Working hard only to make a wedding dress for others is not Zhao Fusheng's style.

"Let alone you."

Zheng Yao said to Zhao Fusheng with a wry smile, "I never thought I'd one day ring the bell at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange."

That was the truth.

Many years ago, Zheng Yao's dream was to get married and have children early, then teach her students well.

Who would have thought that meeting Zhao Fusheng would change her fate so dramatically?

Now, she was managing such a huge enterprise, and its subsidiary was about to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. She would give a speech and ring the bell.

To be honest, for Zheng Yao, it felt like a dream.

Sometimes she even wondered if she was really living in a dream.