novellhall Chapter 52 Building Your Own Photography Studio
Chapter 52 Building Your Own Photography Studio
After leaving the screening room, Lin Dong checked the time; it was time for dinner. He then took Li Jiaxin, who had caught up from behind and naturally linked her arm with his, to the Fulin Restaurant.
After a satisfying meal, the two returned to Happy Valley under the escort of bodyguards. As soon as the door opened, the unique aroma of five-finger peach chicken soup wafted out.
Then Zhang Baizhi poked half of his body out of the kitchen, wearing a beige pajamas, holding a soup spoon, and wearing a sweet smile.
"Dong-ge, Michelle-jie, you're back. I made chicken soup with five-finger peach, simmered it all afternoon, I guarantee it will be delicious."
Upon seeing her and hearing these words, Li Jiaxin's face immediately darkened.
Lin Dong chuckled and said, "Then I'll give it a try," before changing into slippers and heading to the restaurant.
Lin Dong had just sat down when Zhang Baizhi had already placed three bowls of soup on the table, then turned to go to the kitchen to get a soup ladle, his mouth never stopping:
"Michelle, please have a seat. You don't need to help. I can handle this kind of rough work. You're used to living halfway up the mountain; you're not used to doing this kind of thing."
Li Jiaxin resisted the urge to roll her eyes, took a deep breath, and turned to look at Lin Dong. "Ah Dong, I'm going back to the mountainside first."
Before she could even take a step after speaking, Lin Dong grabbed her wrist.
"I'll sleep here tonight. We can check out the Amazon together."
Lin Dong had a mischievous smile on his face and his tone wasn't harsh, but Li Jiaxin understood—she couldn't refuse.
"Ugh!"
She stood there for a moment, sighed almost imperceptibly, and put her bag on the sofa.
At this moment, Zhang Baizhi walked over with a soup spoon, his smile even sweeter. "Michelle, drink the soup while it's hot. I added jujubes, it's very nourishing."
Li Jiaxin didn't respond. She picked up her bowl, took a sip, and then her gaze fell on Zhang Baizhi.
Zhang Baizhi had already turned around to tidy up the magazines on the coffee table, muttering to himself as he did so: "Dong-ge, I washed the wine glasses you used last night for you. Michelle, you don't usually do these things—it's okay, I can do it."
Li Jiaxin angrily slammed the bowl down on the table.
Zhang Baizhi looked up and blinked. "What's wrong, Sister Michelle? Is the soup not salty enough? I prefer milder flavors, and I'm worried that Brother Dong might eat too much—"
She couldn't take it anymore. Li Jiaxin stood up and rushed towards Zhang Baizhi.
Zhang Baizhi was already prepared, and jumped back like a rabbit, saying, "Michelle, don't be angry."
Lin Dong looked up and saw only Li Jiaxin's exasperation and Zhang Baizhi's smugness.
She did it on purpose.
Lin Dong shook his head, stretched out a hand, and scooped up Li Jiaxin, who was chasing Zhang Baizhi, around the waist.
Seeing this, Zhang Baizhi stopped hiding and instead rushed back excitedly.
"Dong-ge, this time I want to be on top!"
"Ah Dong, no...don't do this, it's so embarrassing."
"Zhang Baizhi, you slut..."
"Michelle, you don't want to disappoint Dong-ge, do you?"
"Bang... Jiaxin, lie down... Baizhi, you're on top."
"Michelle, you smell so good!"
"Disgusting, don't kiss me, you bastard..."
…………
The next morning, when Lin Dong woke up, only Li Jiaxin was beside him. Zhang Baizhi's side was empty; clearly, he had slipped away early that morning.
Li Jiaxin rolled over, opened her eyes, and glanced around the room before her gaze settled on Lin Dong's face. Her eyes held resentment, yet also a strange, inexplicable satisfaction.
"Ah Dong, you just let that brat treat me like this."
"You seemed pretty happy last night too," Lin Dong said, leaning back in his pillow with his hands behind his head and a slight smile on his lips. "Let's do it again next time."
"No more." Li Jiaxin buried her face in his shoulder, her voice muffled, but with a hint of hidden eagerness.
"Alright, it's settled."
Li Jiaxin looked up at him. After a long silence, she finally sighed resignedly.
"Let's take a look at the stocks," Lin Dong said.
Li Jiaxin picked up the stock trading machine from the bedside table and tapped a few keys on the keyboard. The screen lit up.
57.7.
The stock closed up another 1.6 yuan last night. She stared at the number, blinked, and calculated it again.
Last night's surge has resulted in a paper profit of over two million US dollars. Since the initial position was established, the entire account has accumulated profits exceeding 2200 million.
As for herself, she earned $41 last night alone, and her total unrealized profit has reached $600 million, almost double her initial investment.
The resentment on her face vanished instantly.
"Ah Dong." She turned the stock chart over to show Lin Dong, her smile already barely concealed. "I want to buy another sports car."
"It's your own money, spend it however you want."
Li Jiaxin put down the stock trading machine, sat up in bed, and stretched.
The grievances she suffered last night have been completely washed away by her spending impulses—she still has several million yuan in cash in her account, and the unrealized gains from stocks are her biggest source of confidence for large-scale spending.
She wants to buy a Ferrari, the red one, the one she saw at the Causeway Bay showroom last time.
Yes, I'll order it today.
Lin Dong put on a shirt, pushed open the door, and went out.
Over the next few days, everything proceeded smoothly.
Zhang Baizhi appeared at Happy Valley every night without fail. Li Jiaxin went from shame and anger to silence, from silence to resignation. After a few nights, she even got used to it and began to enjoy it to some extent.
On June 9th, the Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Digital Technologies (DLT) early warning teams arrived in Hong Kong.
Xu Ke met with them in Tengda's conference room. The conference table was covered with concept art and storyboards. Shi Nansheng sat next to him, occasionally helping him translate English terms more accurately.
The three-hour meeting finalized all the special effects directions.
Both parties agreed that filming would officially begin next week.
After finalizing these arrangements, the group arrived at Tin Shui Wai in Yuen Long, where a green screen studio was being built at a frantic pace and was nearing completion.
"The investment is about 1000 million yuan, which comes from the funds of the 'Legend of Shushan' production team. It is expected to be completed next week and will not delay filming."
As Chen Xinjian flipped through his notebook, he pointed to the construction site not far away.
Beside him were Xu Ke and his wife, Lin Dong, and Fan Binbin, who happened to be at the company and was brought along by Lin Dong.
"Director Xu, what do you think?" Lin Dong took the water Fan Binbin handed him, took a sip, and then asked Xu Ke on his right.
Xu Ke gave a wry smile and shook his head. "President Lin, I've never seen anything like this before. Shaw Brothers' studios only rent for 2 to 3 yuan a day. Why do we need to build another one ourselves?"
Looking at the bustling scene not far away, Lin Dong pointed to Fu'er and said, "Many of Shaw Brothers' equipment is outdated, and this set is permanent once it's built. After 'The Legend of Zu' is finished filming, it will be handed over to Tengda Illusion for use."
Xu Ke fell silent, unsure whether he was thinking about Lin Dong's wealth or his long-term vision.
Little did he know, this was Lin Dong's test of the system.
If this film studio can be transferred to Tengda Fantasy for free without affecting the settlement, then for the next special effects blockbuster, Lin Dong wants to build the largest studio in all of Asia.
At this moment, Fan Binbin, who had been silent, moved, unscrewed a bottle of water, and handed it over.
"Director Xu, please have some water. It's windy here, and your throat will get dry if you stand for too long."
Xu Ke took it and glanced at her.
The girl had been standing quietly at the back the whole time, without interrupting or pushing forward, but she was very prompt in offering water when needed.
"Your name is Fan Binbin?" Xu Ke took a sip of water.
"Yes. Mr. Lin just signed a new employee who came from the mainland."
Fan Binbin bowed slightly, his tone neither humble nor arrogant, "I've seen Director Xu's 'Green Snake,' and Joey Wong was so beautiful in it."
Xu Ke put down his water bottle and looked her over again. It wasn't the kind of polite look one gives after being praised; it was the kind of look a director gives when scrutinizing an actor's frame and facial proportions.
How tall are you?
"One meter sixty-eight."
Xu Ke turned his head and glanced at Shi Nansheng.
Shi Nansheng had been married to him for decades, and she could tell what he was thinking with just a glance. She nodded slightly.
"There's a role." Xu Ke casually handed a water bottle to Shi Nansheng. "Not many scenes, about five. One of the female sword immortals of Mount Shu, not many lines, but two action scenes, it'll be tough being suspended by wires. Are you interested?"
Fan Binbin didn't answer immediately, nor did she show any joy. Instead, she turned around and looked at Lin Dong obediently, silently asking for his opinion.
Lin Dong smiled and nodded.
Fan Binbin then turned to Xu Ke and bowed. "Thank you, Director Xu. I will definitely act well."