Guobin Hotel.
"Boss, look at the Hong Kong entertainment news. Over a hundred thousand fans of Hao Yacheng, Wang Anyu, and Dili Reba went to the cinema to watch our movie. A thousand people were hospitalized, and eight were given emergency treatment on the spot."
Jin Qiqi exclaimed in surprise upon seeing the reports from Hong Kong gossip media.
Hearing the news, Gao Fei, who was calculating accounts nearby, raised an eyebrow.
His focus wasn't on the box office, but he was inwardly surprised that the three celebrities traveling with Wang He in Hong Kong could attract over a hundred thousand fans.
Gao Fei opened his computer and logged into the Hong Kong social platform.
Soon, he saw the hottest news on the trending topics list.
"Mainland stars attract over a hundred thousand fans, causing a surge in tourist numbers in Hong Kong during the off-season."
The news included photos taken by media of fans lining up in cars to enter Hong Kong.
There were also photos of fans crowding outside the resort, hoping to meet the trio.
These news items had already garnered significant attention online a few hours ago.
However, Gao Fei had been on conference calls all day, arranging Wang He and Qiao Sisi's schedule.
Therefore, he hadn't noticed the trending news online.
It wasn't until Jin Qiqi mentioned that mainland fans were hospitalized after watching the movie that he opened his computer to read the news seriously.
A moment later, Gao Fei closed the trending news webpage and looked at Jin Qiqi, who was still surfing the internet.
"Sister Jin, are Dili Reba, Hao Yacheng, and Wang Anyu that popular? They've only just arrived in Hong Kong and have already attracted over a hundred thousand fans."
"Dili Reba aside, she's the nation's girlfriend and is highly popular among male fans.
Hao Yacheng debuted as a trainee and already had a fan base. With packaging and promotion from his agency, he attracted tens of millions of female fans.
As for Wang Anyu, he's an original singer, a master lyricist and composer, who has written hit songs for many celebrities, resulting in high fan loyalty."
Jin Qiqi knew that although Gao Fei was involved in the entertainment industry, he didn't know much about the celebrities within it.
After briefly introducing the identities of the three, she continued, "The main reason these three can attract over a hundred thousand fans is that mainland agencies have been promoting 'fan circle culture.'
If you, Boss, wanted to engage in this fan circle aspect, I estimate that with a little effort, you alone could attract over a hundred thousand fans."
Fan circle culture!
Gao Fei frowned slightly and waved his hand, directly rejecting Jin Qiqi's suggestion.
Whether in his past life or in present-day Long Guo, the fan circle was a form of pathological existence.
If used well, celebrities could remain popular indefinitely.
However, if handled carelessly, fan circle culture was often the reason many celebrities were banned.
Nevertheless, the fact that mainland celebrities could attract fans to Hong Kong was something that could be utilized.
Gao Fei pondered for a moment and then asked, "Is the arrangement for Old Wang and Sister Si to stay at the resort the whole time?"
"Yes, the resort has complete facilities, including a cinema, a small amusement park, and off-road areas, which can directly satisfy all the fans' needs.
Furthermore, the owner behind this resort is the son of a big figure from the Beijing circle, with no significant ties to the upper echelons of Hong Kong. If Old Wang and the others stay at the resort, those 'white gloves' won't dare to bother them."
Jin Qiqi gave a general overview of the resort's background and connections.
Although she didn't explicitly state who it was, it was likely someone from the powerful "red circle."
Gao Fei hadn't expected the resort's owner to be from the Beijing circle and continued to ask, "Did Old Wang contact him, or did Sister Si contact him?"
"Their status is not yet sufficient to contact that person directly; the resort's owner personally contacted them."
The owner personally contacted them?
Gao Fei's eyes widened in surprise. What was going on?
Jin Qiqi further explained, "That person initially called you, wanting to help arrange fans for you in Hong Kong. But your phone was constantly busy. In the end, his assistant contacted me to explain the intention.
I was planning to discuss with you whether to accept the offer. But you, being so busy with endless calls, I accepted it on your behalf for safety reasons."
After hearing the reason, Gao Fei didn't blame Jin Qiqi.
Given his sensitive current status, the owner's offer to help arrange fans was likely related to Zhang Ziheng.
"Boss, should we arrange a private meeting with the fans? After all, they came all this way for you."
"Let's have a meeting. Ask Brother Yu to arrange it for me."
"Okay!"
Jin Qiqi nodded and immediately called Qin Yu.
Just as Gao Fei was about to log into the mainland social platform to see what trending news there was for the day, Huo Dongcheng's call suddenly came in.
Looking at the caller ID, Gao Fei hesitated for a moment before answering the phone.
"Mr. Gao, you finally answered. I thought you'd abandoned me, your business partner."
As soon as the call connected, Huo Dongcheng's sad and helpless voice came from the other end.
"Alright, alright, we're both old hands in business. You're overacting a bit."
"As expected, nothing can be hidden from you, Mr. Gao."
Hearing Huo Dongcheng's sudden dramatic laughter, Gao Fei asked helplessly, "Tell me, Mr. Huo, what do you want? If it's about the change of leadership, you can hang up now."
"No, no, no, it's not about the change of leadership. I've already been warned by the higher-ups not to approach you about this matter again. Don't worry, I won't mention it again."
Huo Dongcheng quickly explained, and then got to the point: "Mr. Gao, the production company for the movie 'The Old Corpse in the Mountain' is your Feihe Pictures. Although the copyright has been sold to Hong Kong's Gaoyue Film and Television, this company still carries the character 'Gao.' Do you have any connection with this company?"
In fact, Gao Fei had already guessed the purpose of this call.
With 'The Old Corpse in the Mountain' already creating a buzz in the mainland, and Gaoyue Film and Television bearing the character 'Gao,' it was difficult not to associate him with the company.
Gao Fei chuckled and retorted, "Old Huo, just because it has the character 'Gao' makes it my company? Does soy sauce with the character 'oil' in it mean it's oil?"
"Then what does Mr. Gao mean?"
"I've exclusively sold the copyright for this movie, but I still have a five percent share of the box office revenue.
As for Gaoyue Film and Television carrying the character 'Gao,' it's purely coincidental. I have absolutely no connection with this company.
If you don't believe me, you can use your connections to investigate and see if I have any involvement with Gaoyue Film and Television."
Gao Fei didn't waste time and directly clarified that his relationship with Gaoyue Film and Television was purely transactional.
On the other end of the line, Huo Dongcheng chuckled, trying hard to conceal his embarrassment during the conversation.
In fact, after it was revealed that Feihe Pictures was the production company, Huo Dongcheng had already investigated covertly.
Gaoyue Film and Television was based in the mainland's Magic City, and its branch company was registered in Hong Kong in September.
Because this company primarily filmed subjects that couldn't pass censorship in the mainland, they shifted their operations to Hong Kong.
As for the legal representative of the Hong Kong branch, Xu Yuejin.
Huo Dongcheng had also investigated his background.
Neither Gaoyue Film and Television nor the branch company's legal representative had any connection to Gao Fei.
He was calling today to confirm personally.
"I apologize, Mr. Gao. I was being overly suspicious.
Since Mr. Gao has no connection with this company and only has a five percent share of the box office revenue, the preparations I made before calling were in vain."
Before calling, Huo Dongcheng had intended to use his shares in the cinema company to help boost the movie's box office.
But now that Gao Fei had clarified, his preparations were all for naught.
Regarding the five percent box office share.
Huo Dongcheng felt that Gaoyue Film and Television likely wanted to curry favor with Gao Fei, hence the seemingly low offer.
After all, as a new company entering Hong Kong, it was necessary to find some protection.
"Mr. Huo, if there's nothing else, I'll hang up now. I have a few more conference calls to attend."
Gao Fei understood Huo Dongcheng's intentions and didn't want to prolong the conversation.
But just as he was about to hang up, Huo Dongcheng quickly interrupted, "Mr. Gao, since you have a five percent share of the revenue from this movie, I've just received some information. There's something you need to be aware of, and you could also sell this information to Gaoyue Film and Television."
"What information?"
"The psychological impact of the movie 'The Old Corpse in the Mountain' on the audience has been too great, affecting over a hundred thousand people. The authorities might ban this movie.
You can sell this news to Gaoyue Film and Television, urging them to shift their focus and release the movie abroad as soon as possible."
After relaying the information he had gathered from the authorities, Huo Dongcheng continued, "Furthermore, Gaoyue Film and Television's sudden entry into Hong Kong has attracted the attention of some film and television companies with triad backgrounds.
However, it is currently a critical period of major leadership transition, and the triads dare not make too much noise.
Once the transition is over, Gaoyue Film and Television will likely face significant opposition from within the industry. You can also sell this information to them."
Gao Fei thanked him with a smile after listening, but his gaze turned cold.
The news about the ban was manageable; as long as they shifted to overseas markets, the movie would still generate revenue.
But Huo Dongcheng's mention of triads targeting Gaoyue Film and Television.
Gao Fei suddenly realized that Xu Yuejin hadn't contacted him since their meeting.
With the triads already making moves, had Xu Yuejin been thrown into the sea to feed the fish?
Thinking of this, Gao Fei immediately asked Jin Qiqi about Xu Yuejin's recent situation.
"Sister Jin, has Old Xu contacted you recently?"
Jin Qiqi, who had just finished a phone call, paused slightly and nodded, indicating that they had been in contact.
Knowing that the person was still alive, Gao Fei breathed a sigh of relief and then asked, "Has Old Xu been approached by the triads?"
"Yes, three triads have approached him."
"Tell me the specifics."
"The objective of those three triads was the same: they wanted to get forty percent of the box office revenue for free, but Xu Yuejin refused to agree.
Because he disagreed, the three triads have either besieged the company with people or resorted to intimidation, using all sorts of despicable tactics.
You previously said not to confront the triads directly for now, so he has now taken his people back to the mainland to hide."
"As long as he's safe!"
Gao Fei's heart finally settled.
He then inquired about which three triads were threatening Xu Yuejin.
At the same time.
At the Censorship Division of the Hong Kong Entertainment Affairs Management Office.
A group of senior officials sat around a conference table, engaged in a heated discussion about whether to ban 'The Old Corpse in the Mountain.'