Operation A

"...So I wanted to wait until the show aired, then give Lu Heng one percent of the profits as a bonus. It's a reward he deserves."

This was also an important reason Wei Linxuan had insisted on dragging Lu Heng back for dinner.

Lu Heng, who had been gnawing on a rib with his head lowered, froze. Once he came back to his senses, he immediately waved his hands in refusal. "That won't do. I didn't do anything—I just said a few things casually. How could I take a share of the show's profits?"

At most, the suggestions he had offered were common industry knowledge that everyone tacitly understood. Even if he did not mention them now, Huaxia Imperial Entertainment would gradually discover and refine them while developing its talent show. They were not especially professional suggestions, so how could he accept money for them?

Lu Heng's attitude was very firm.

Hearing his grandson's words, Old Master Wei gave Lu Heng a rather surprised look and said with a smile, "I didn't expect Xiao Heng to have such a talent for business as well."

These suggestions were not things some inexperienced youngster would notice. Even his old eyes could not help lighting up at some of them.

Old Master Wei's thoughts were much the same as his grandson's. He also believed that money could never be completely earned, while talented people ought to be properly won over. If Lu Heng's suggestions could truly benefit everyone, then one percent of the profits was nothing.

As for why Lu Heng, at such a young age, could offer such steady and seasoned suggestions... that was not particularly important. What mattered most was that Lu Heng was a contracted artist of Huaxia Imperial Entertainment, and his talent could bring profits to the company.

Grandfather and grandson exchanged smiles. Wei Linxuan patted Lu Heng on the shoulder. "Stop refusing! Don't think that one percent will be so easy to earn. I'll need your help polishing my proposal. As for how much you receive, that will depend on how much work you do."

Wei Hongxuan truly could not stand seeing Old Master Wei and Wei Linxuan so perfectly in sync. He turned to glance at his father and said, "Grandpa, I also have some progress on the educational charity project that I'd like to report to you..."

Wei Linxuan's reality show, Exchanging Lives, had not only changed Huaxia TV's awkward situation of plummeting ratings, but also expanded the social influence of Huaxia Imperial Entertainment and the Wei family. The subsequently launched Under the Same Blue Sky educational charity initiative had also allowed Huaxia Imperial Entertainment and the Wei family to broaden their domestic connections while building an image as charitable, socially responsible enterprises.

The educational charity initiative consisted of two parts. Huaxia Imperial Entertainment and the Exchanging Lives production crew were responsible for exposing the gap between urban and rural education before the media cameras, purchasing teaching materials, textbooks, and cultural supplies, calling on teachers of every subject to teach locally, and even helping the area uncover business opportunities. The concrete work of building schools, libraries, gymnasiums, and other infrastructure, as well as constructing roads, fell to the real estate company managed by the Wei family's eldest uncle.

For various reasons, the Wei family's eldest uncle had handed the charity project over to Wei Hongxuan. After taking over the project, Wei Hongxuan had indeed racked his brains and prepared diligently. Based on Wei Linxuan's plan, he put forward many excellent ideas to fill in the gaps and tried every possible way to maximize the benefits.

Old Master Wei nodded repeatedly and said with a smile, "I'm at ease leaving this matter to you."

After receiving his grandfather's praise, Wei Hongxuan immediately cast Wei Linxuan a smug glance.

Wei Linxuan, however, paid no attention to Wei Hongxuan's conversation with their grandfather. He was busy putting ribs and guobaorou onto Lu Heng's plate and peeling braised prawns for him, intending to fill him up before exploiting child labor.

After all, having offered one percent of the profits, Wei Linxuan felt that he had been a very generous boss. Thus, he kept Lu Heng at the Wei family home to work overtime with a clear conscience.

After dinner, Father Wei, Wei Linxuan, and Lu Heng plunged into the study and began combing through Wei Linxuan's proposal, sifting for omissions from every angle.

Given Lu Heng's "breadth of experience," he naturally became the primary person Father Wei and Wei Linxuan consulted. Father and son were like the harshest interviewers, throwing every difficult question they could think of at Lu Heng.

Lu Heng had "standard answers" tested by practice for most issues concerning the show's operations and publicity. He trimmed and revised the answers he remembered, discarded the parts that did not suit the times, then presented everything with wording appropriate for his age. For matters with no "standard answer," his many years of professional experience from his previous life, combined with the collective efforts of the other two professionals, still allowed them to work out a fairly complete solution in the end.

Lu Heng's thoughts were simple: he absolutely could not let down that one percent commission.

But Father Wei, who had originally asked his questions to test him, became more astonished with every question. He had thought Lu Heng was merely a little prodigy with some talent. Now, it seemed this child was far more than merely talented!

Though some ideas sounded wildly imaginative, upon careful consideration, they might not be impossible to achieve.

Huaxia Imperial Entertainment had truly found a treasure!

Just as Lu Heng was being exploited for child labor by the Wei father and son working together, a phone call came into Huaxia Imperial Entertainment, bringing Lu Heng a second audition opportunity.

Speaking of which, this opportunity had been secured for him by Best Actor Liu Jiawei.

Author's note:

Mini scene--

Lu Heng: I finally have work! I can escape these evil capitalists who exploit child labor!

Wei Xiaogong: I just wanted to spend a few more days with my wife

Best Actor Liu: Is this my fault? →_→

Operation A

Around the year 2000, film fans who enjoyed Hong Kong films could probably remember the names of several well-known directors. For example, Mai Chengliang, who excelled at police-and-gangster films; Yun Feng, who specialized in gunfights and explosions; Xu Mengxin, who excelled at artistic films...

The film Lu Heng was going to audition for was director Mai Chengliang's new work, Operation A.

Eighteen years ago, Hong Kong police officer Li Guorui met his informant, Sister Red, while investigating a drug case.

Sister Red was the top courtesan of the red-light district, an extraordinarily charming woman—seductive, alluring, and glamorous. Every man liked her, including Brother Ming, the drug lord Li Guorui was investigating.

Li Guorui deliberately approached Sister Red because he wanted to gain her trust, gradually obtain evidence from her, and find a way to persuade her to become his informant.