Sucker

"It really is unfortunate." Fang Jimin threw back his head and sneered.

"If you two aren't leaving, I'll go first." Xue Chen hailed a taxi directly, waved at Fu Hengzhou and Fang Jimin, and left.

"Mr. Fu, I think you can see that Xue Chen is a very simple person. Don't be fooled by how he tears through the stock market—he's genuinely innocent. He and a playboy like you don't belong to the same world." Fang Jimin watched Xue Chen's taxi gradually disappear before turning to Fu Hengzhou.

"Young Master Fang, how do you know we aren't from the same world? If Qin Zhou likes him, he can go after him boldly. It'll come down to whose methods are better." Fu Hengzhou sneered. He did not have the slightest favorable impression of Fang Jimin.

"You—"

Sucker

"Driver, just pull over by the roadside. I'd like to take a walk." Finally enjoying some peace and quiet, Xue Chen had the driver stop halfway there, then walked toward the city center.

"Sure thing." Upon hearing Xue Chen's request, the driver immediately turned the wheel and pulled over. After paying the fare, Xue Chen continued toward the city center on foot.

The bustling, prosperous streets were filled with pedestrians coming and going. At this time, compared to the mainland, this place truly was far more developed. Xue Chen wandered the streets without any particular destination.

"Brother, want to make some money?" A man's voice interrupted Xue Chen's reverie. He turned and saw a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar. In his previous life, this man had been a very famous director. What was his name again? Xue Chen could not remember.

"Is something wrong?" Xue Chen replied coolly.

"Would you be interested in investing in a movie?" the director continued to tempt him.

Xue Chen swept his gaze around before settling it on the director. "Do I look like someone with money?" As he spoke, he straightened his clothes. Though his attire was indeed ordinary, the noble air about him could not be concealed.

"Heh... Mr. Xue, you really know how to joke. If you don't have money, then wouldn't the rest of us all be paupers?" The director smiled without answering. It seemed he had truly found the right person this time.

"You want me to invest in your movie?"

Xue Chen finally understood. The director before him was grasping at straws and wanted him to invest in a movie. At this point in time, the man really was at a low point. Yet in 1985, he would rely on Love in the City to earn a box office total of nearly eight million, surpassing several big-budget films released during the same period.

Most importantly, Xue Chen knew that this director was an ambitious man. If he was willing to invest in the film, the results would definitely be even better.

When the director heard that his purpose had been guessed, he no longer bothered to hide it. "You probably know about the two films I made before. After they were finished, neither made any impact.

"In the end, the company completely abandoned me. Later, I got hold of a very good script, but the company wouldn't support me in filming it. They even said that if I really wanted to make this movie, I should go find investment myself.

"That's why I had the nerve to stand on the street and try to find someone. Actually, when I approached you just now, it was mainly because your temperament seemed different from everyone else's. Only afterward did I realize it was you.

"I know investing in a movie is a very simple matter for you, but please believe me—I won't let you make a losing investment." His voice grew softer and more aggrieved as he spoke, until all that remained was a pair of large, pitiful eyes staring at Xue Chen.

The corner of Xue Chen's mouth twitched. "Director Li, can you tell me the name of the movie you're making?"

Director Li froze. He had not expected Xue Chen to ask about the script so quickly, but he did not hide anything. "My movie is called Love in the City. It mainly tells the story of young men and women, but it isn't like those usual romance films."

Xue Chen nodded. It really was Love in the City.

"Mr. Xue, no matter what, I hope you'll accept my invitation. I guarantee that as long as you participate, you'll gain even more in return." Seeing Xue Chen nod, Director Li hurriedly pitched his case with renewed vigor.

"How much investment do you need?" Now that Xue Chen knew which movie the other party intended to make, he did not ask further questions and went straight to the point.

"Not much, just two hundred thousand. As long as you're willing to invest, I can double this movie's returns." Director Li thought for a moment. A voice in his heart kept repeating, You have to agree.

"Two hundred thousand." Xue Chen pondered for a moment. "Two hundred thousand isn't much to me, but are you sure that will be enough?"

Director Li had not expected him to agree to invest so easily, much less consider increasing the amount. Excitement immediately surged through him. As expected of a big shot—so generous. It seemed his luck was quite good after all.

"No need. This is enough. I have some savings of my own as well," Director Li said.

"Then when do we sign the contract?" Xue Chen asked.

"We can do it now, at the Mandarin Duck House next door?" Director Li was stunned. He had not expected Xue Chen to decide to sign so quickly, but quickly recovered.

Xue Chen: ... He truly suspected that the man had simply been looking for suckers by the roadside, and that he was merely one of them.

"Li Zeng, if you really can't find anyone, we can think of another way. Where would you find a sucker on the main road?" Just as Xue Chen and Director Li reached the second floor of the Mandarin Duck House, they heard a rough male voice.

"Brother Li, that's not right. When have I ever looked for a sucker?" The smile on Director Li's face stiffened. He really had been looking for a sucker, but did the man have to say it so bluntly? How embarrassing.

The man called Brother Li instantly looked awkward after seeing Xue Chen's face. He coughed twice. "Ahem, sir, don't mind him. I'm just loose-tongued. You can't hold it against me because I..."

"It's fine. We're all straightforward people. Weren't we going to sign the contract?" The moment Xue Chen saw Brother Li's face, he recognized him as an important figure from the future, though he too was currently at a low point.

Seeing that Xue Chen was not angry, Brother Li knew he had worried too much and hurriedly greeted him. "Um, sir, please have a seat. I'll make you a cup of tea."