Chapter 0232: The Bet

When people's positions change, the ensuing shifts can make them uncomfortable. The sense of belonging lingering in their hearts is enough to make them endure the minor discomforts of life, but every decision comes with a price. Everyone deliberately forgets certain things; they cling to what is before them because they know that once something is lost, it will never return.

Zhao Fusheng liked making money because he knew well that money would become the measure of many things in the future. For instance, in a woman's eyes, whether a man loves her is shown by whether he is willing to spend money on her and how much. Another example: whether a person is successful in their career or happy in their family often relates to how much money they make.

Poverty in a couple brings misery in everything. Perhaps many say that love is enough, but when others' wives and children wear gold and silver, eat well and drink well, and their parents travel often, while you are powerless to care for your own family, you will understand that working hard to make money is nothing to be ashamed of.

Moreover, even three-year-old Fan Beibei knew that the happiest thing in the world is having endless money to spend.

The conversation between Liu Dehua and Zhao Fusheng had long become the center of everyone's attention.

When I say everyone, it's actually just three or four assistants, plus Zhou Feifei, Zhou Li, and Wang Jinghua. Oh, and Dong Chenxi, who was completely bewildered. She still didn't understand what Zhao Fusheng was trying to do. That wasn't just a few thousand yuan; it was five hundred thousand.

Not to mention anything else, Dong Chenxi's current monthly salary was just over two thousand, which was already considered a good job. When she called home, her parents were overjoyed, praising her for being lucky to have found a boyfriend like Wang Zhen.

After all, Dong Chenxi hadn't hidden Wang Zhen's situation from her parents; she had only mentioned beforehand that her boyfriend's good buddy had helped introduce her to an advertising company.

The art of conversation often involves first whetting people's appetite, then revealing the real truth.

But now, Zhao Fusheng clearly intended to continue negotiating terms with Liu Dehua. If that person were her boyfriend, Dong Chenxi swore he definitely wouldn't be sleeping in bed tonight.

“Planner Zhao, this makes it hard for me to know how to respond,” Liu Dehua finally spoke after a long pause, a bitter smile on his face. It was clear he was troubled.

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand, knowing his behavior had startled people. He blinked and said to Liu Dehua, “Brother Hua, let's be straightforward. Do you think this script isn't good enough?”

Liu Dehua shook his head: “It's not that it's not good enough; it's too good. That's why I can't guess its ceiling. The Hong Kong film market has been sluggish in recent years. I'd be satisfied with twenty million in box office.”

Hearing this, Zhao Fusheng laughed. He couldn't recall exactly what the box office of *Infernal Affairs* was in Hong Kong historically, but he was sure it was far more than twenty million.

The reason was simple: Zhao Fusheng knew that even in the years when the mainland film market wasn't thriving, *Infernal Affairs* had still earned eight million in box office thanks to the appeal of stars like Andy Lau.

After thinking it over, it shouldn't be too low in Hong Kong.

So Zhao Fusheng smiled and said to Liu Dehua, “Brother Hua, how about this: let's make a bet, shall we?”

“Huh?”

Andy Lau was completely baffled, having no idea what Zhao Fusheng was up to. Betting with him out of the blue?

Zhao Fusheng nodded: “Let's bet on the film's box office. I definitely won't take the five hundred thousand screenwriting fee; just give me the normal two hundred thousand. If the box office doesn't reach twenty million, I'll refund the money. But if it does, for every additional five million in box office, my screenwriting fee increases by one hundred thousand. How about it, dare to bet?”

At the end, he gave Liu Dehua a meaningful look, clearly provocative.

Liu Dehua was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter. He looked at Zhao Fusheng, sizing him up with interest for a long time, and finally said, “Though I'm reluctant to admit it, Planner Zhao is truly accomplished at a young age. At the very least, I wasn't as good as you when I was young.”

This was his honest opinion. When he was young, though he became a star around Zhao Fusheng's age and earned more than Zhao Fusheng, Liu Dehua back then didn't know such strategies. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been shelved by TVB for four hundred days for refusing to renew his contract.

Those days were a time Liu Dehua would never forget.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and waved his hand: “Brother Hua, you flatter me. I'm just confident in my script. To be honest, if you weren't the lead, I might not dare say that.”

With the conversation at this point, he naturally understood that Liu Dehua would agree. After all, Andy Lau was ambitious. With the Hong Kong film market in a slump, making a high-grossing film would be a shot in the arm for the entire Hong Kong film industry. Such a win-win situation of fame and fortune—how could Andy Lau refuse?

“Alright, then we have a bet,” Liu Dehua said with a smile to Zhao Fusheng. “Don't worry, I'll have this written into the contract.”

Zhao Fusheng nodded. He knew that even if the box office didn't reach thirty or forty million, as long as both reviews and earnings were good, Andy Lau, being the people person he was, would definitely give him an extra big red envelope.

On this point, Zhao Fusheng felt he understood Liu Dehua fairly well. He was just like that—shrewd and worldly, especially good at handling people. You could say he wasn't the best at any one thing among the Four Heavenly Kings, but you couldn't say he wasn't the hardest working.

Everyone around was stunned. Was it settled just like that?

Liu Dehua thought for a moment and looked at Wang Jinghua: “Sister Hua, help me contact Miss Yue and ask her to bring people over to sign the contract.”

This was his personal matter, belonging to the business of Tianmu Film Company, so naturally he couldn't trouble Wang Jinghua, his mainland agent, to handle it. Yue Yiling would have to come personally.

Wang Jinghua nodded and stepped aside to call Yue Yiling.

Zhao Fusheng glanced around and then said to Zhou Feifei, “Miss Zhou, if you have availability, I think you could also play a role in this film.”

“Really?” Zhou Feifei was startled, then quickly understood. Since Wang Zhonglei had already mentioned it to her, she could remain calm.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and nodded: “But Miss Zhou, this film is male-dominated. Your role might not be very big. I hope you understand.”

Hearing Zhao Fusheng's words, Zhou Feifei waved her hand and gave a professional smile: “Planner Zhao, no need to be so formal. Just call me Feifei. The size of the role doesn't matter; it's an honor to work with a Heavenly King like Brother Hua.”

In those days, people on the mainland admired actors from Hong Kong. Perhaps Chen Daoming could act superior in front of Liu Dehua, but Zhou Feifei definitely didn't have that privilege.

Having settled the two actors, Zhao Fusheng didn't waste more words. After all, this was an advertising shoot, and he couldn't take up too much of their time. After a few more casual remarks, he stepped aside and watched them film the commercial.

“So it's sold just like that?”

Dong Chenxi stood beside Zhao Fusheng, muttering softly.

Zhao Fusheng chuckled: “What, don't believe it?”

She nodded honestly: “To be honest, it still feels like a dream. But since it's happening to you, I'm not surprised.”

Zhao Fusheng shook his head and said nothing more. He understood what Dong Chenxi meant. After all, since they met, he had given her many surprises.

“By the way, did Wang Zhen mention his idea to you?”

After a while, Zhao Fusheng suddenly remembered something Wang Zhen had told him and casually asked Dong Chenxi.

Dong Chenxi was taken aback: “What idea? You mean the web one?”

“Web game?” Now it was Zhao Fusheng's turn to be surprised. He hadn't expected that Wang Zhen's idea was about web games. As far as he remembered, there were no web games in this era.

Dong Chenxi nodded: “When we were helping you maintain that navigation page, he casually mentioned wanting to create a virtual community where people could date, work, get married…”

Before she could finish, she noticed the expression on Zhao Fusheng's face change.

Zhao Fusheng reacted this way because Dong Chenxi's words reminded him of something.

After all, he was just an ordinary person, not someone with hyperthymesia or a god. Many memories from his previous life were fuzzy. Things like *Father's Prose Poem* and *Infernal Affairs* he remembered because he genuinely liked them and had listened to or watched them many times. As for the advertising ideas, they came from his previous career in the industry, making him familiar with many classic cases.

But for the rest, or most things, Zhao Fusheng's memory was actually blurry. That's why he was so cautious and careful, feeling his way forward. He himself wasn't sure if his memories were correct. If they were wrong, it could really cause problems.

Now, Dong Chenxi's words made Zhao Fusheng suddenly think that he could create an online game community.

Compared to gambling in the stock market, this might be the real way to get his first bucket of gold. After all, the stock market was too risky. He didn't know which stocks would rise by how much; he could only rely on his impression of a bull market and randomly buy a stock. The stock god of Shanghai was surnamed Jiang, not Zhao. Memory was innate; even gods couldn't change that.

But this virtual community had enough appeal to make him one of the first to get rich in this country.