That night, filming wrapped.
Zhong Chuhong took off her makeup, changed into her most comfortable denim clothes and sneakers, and headed out with her bag in hand.
Clear Water Bay Studio was situated in a remote spot, and minibuses stopped running if it got too late. There were living quarters on the studio grounds, but conditions were rudimentary, provided mainly for crew working night shoots. Those without cars of their own usually stayed overnight there or hitched a ride back.
Zhong Chuhong had someone looking out for her, so a car was arranged for her whenever she shot night scenes.
Today was no exception. Her usual driver pulled up in high spirits. Over the past month or so, he had enjoyed quite a perk—frequently driving such a stunning beauty home from work. Even if she never gave him a warm smile, she was still a top-tier beauty.
"Miss Zhong!" the driver called out, attentively pulling the door open. He expected Zhong Chuhong to get in as usual, but to his surprise, she didn't budge.
"No need to trouble yourself today," she said. "I'll make my own way back."
"Did you call a cab?"
"In any case, you don't need to worry about me. Thanks for everything these past few weeks."
"..."
The driver felt a twinge of sorrow, like he'd just been cuckolded, but had no choice but to drive off alone.
Zhong Chuhong stood waiting at the studio, watching one colleague after another depart. Before she knew it, half an hour had slipped by. An annoyance was just starting to simmer when two horn honks sounded—beep-beep—and a familiar Honda Accord rolled slowly into view.
"Huh? How come you haven't left yet?"
"I'm waiting for someone!"
Carrying her bag in one hand, Zhong Chuhong didn't even look at him, marching forward on her own while the Accord crept along beside her.
"Who are you waiting for this late?"
"Waiting for Huazai, of course!"
"Huazai and Ka-fai hitched a ride and left already."
"Then I'm waiting for Director Tsui!"
"Director Tsui drove off ages ago."
"Then can't I just stay overnight? What's wrong with wanting to experience the Left's dorms for myself?"
Clear Water Bay was quiet and deserted, headlights swaying against the darkness. Chen Qi smiled and pointed toward the front gate. "If you don't get in now, Xiao Geng's going to step on the gas and drive right through."
The car came to a stop, and he opened the rear door.
Zhong Chuhong stopped too, peering into the back seat. "You're offering to take me home?"
"Yeah. Give a guy a chance."
"If I must!"
She climbed in with a smile, immediately chiming in, "Hey, you stood me up! Sneaking off that day without a single word?"
"Even I didn't expect things to be so rushed. Booked a flight the very same day and had to leave. Didn't I arrange someone to take you home, anyway?"
"So are you done with your business on the mainland?"
"For now. I'll have to head back again in a little while."
"What exactly do you do over there anyway? You're always so busy and mysterious," Zhong Chuhong asked, brimming with curiosity.
Beep-beep!
Xiao Geng honked the horn twice at just the right moment, and Xiao Mo glanced into the rearview mirror. The car navigated smoothly along the familiar route toward Tsim Sha Tsui, but in Xiao Mo's head, an entire spy thriller was already playing out.
There was a line between the two regions, and Zhong Chuhong was Shaw Brothers personnel; sensitive information couldn't just be shared willy-nilly.
Chen Qi knew this was a reminder, though he had plenty of discretion himself. "If I tell you, you mustn't tell a soul."
"Mm-hmm! I swear I'll keep it a secret!"
Zhong Chuhong's eyes widened, thoroughly intrigued.
"Have you heard the rumors claiming I can divine the future, that I have paranormal powers or something?"
"I have! Even Director Tsui mentioned it."
"Well, let me tell you—it's all true!"
"Whoa—"
Zhong Chuhong covered her mouth.
After all, the qigong and paranormal-power crazes were already sweeping the mainland, and the mystical buzz had drifted down to Hong Kong as well. In Hong Kong cinema, many mainland characters would later be written with this exact trope—like Stephen Chow's character in All for the Winner, who was from the mainland.
Or Dajun in God of Gamblers II, and Zhang Baocheng in God of Gamblers Returns...
"I belong to China's Dragon Division, specializing in handling supernatural incidents. My special power is precognition, and I came to Hong Kong to battle evil aliens, stop them from invading Earth, and safeguard world peace!"
Xiao Mo had been somewhat tense, but hearing this, he relaxed, muttering inwardly: Bullshit! Though 'China's Dragon Division' does sound pretty cool—way cooler than Bureau 749.
Zhong Chuhong had listened intently at first, but then let out a scoff. "Fine, don't tell me then. Liar!"
"I told you, but you didn't believe me."
"Do you take me for an idiot? I'm a Form Five graduate, you know!"
Zhong Chuhong could tell he was dodging the question and didn't want to nag, but deep down, her curiosity only deepened.
Because she knew nothing about the mainland, that natural gulf left Chen Qi shrouded in a thin veil of mystery. Even though they had grown quite familiar by now, she still couldn't see through him.
"Since you're so interested, why not take a trip to the mainland yourself? I'll be your tour guide," Chen Qi said with a smile.
"Stop! Don't start with that!"
She crossed her arms in an X gesture. "I read your newspapers recently, and I know what you're doing is called 'united front work'... I've told you, I'm not considering it right now, and I don't understand any of it anyway. When filming wraps, I'm going back to Shaw Brothers. All I want is to earn a living in peace."
"Shaw Brothers? They might not even want you!"
"I have a multi-year contract with them! My doing this movie for you was approved by Manager Fang. She only said it was just for this one film; she never said she was kicking me out."
"Fine, believe what you like."
Chen Qi curled his lip.
Hong Kong's capitalists didn't treat movie stars like human beings, let alone an up-and-coming starlet whose value was even lower and could be discarded at any moment. But telling her that wouldn't make her believe it; she would have to run into that brick wall herself before she understood.
Zhong Chuhong was delighted by his return, yet evasive about joining the Left.
Ghost would wrap at the end of May, at which point she would return to Shaw Brothers, but with her easygoing nature, she felt no sadness. In her view, so long as Chen Qi visited Hong Kong often, they could still see each other—factions had nothing to do with it.
The car pulled up outside Chungking Mansions.
Zhong Chuhong got out and smiled. "Thanks for the ride today! And to the driver, thanks for your hard work! And to the bodyguard here—wow, you're still as cool as ever..."
She greeted Xiao Mo and Xiao Geng warmly.
Both men gave cool, stone-faced nods.
She waved, turned around with her bag in hand, and Chen Qi teased her again, calling out, "Hey! I really can tell the future! You're going to hit the big time this year, and you're going to join us!"
"Stop trying to recruit me into your united front!"
Zhong Chuhong stamped her foot. "I'm going!"
...
Back at the Great Wall dormitory.
It was already very late, but Chen Qi was not the least bit sleepy.
Ghost was nearing its wrap, the Cannes Film Festival was fast approaching, and he had so much to prepare.
He took a shower and sat down at his desk to write a report. It was the Eastern Depot's mid-year work summary; he jotted down bits and pieces for now, intending to submit it to higher authorities together with Fu Chi's petition once he returned from Cannes.
Fu Chi's petition still concerned the merger of the Leftist studios. The general managers of Great Wall, Feng Huang, Sun Luen, and the cinema circuit had reached a consensus, agreeing that they could no longer remain fractured and that uniting as a single force would be far better.
This petition had been submitted several times already, yet higher-ups had never approved it.
As for Chen Qi's work summary, the opening sections were routine reporting, but the crux lay at the very end.
Chen Qi put forward three demands:
First, the Eastern Depot needed formal office premises; they couldn't just muddle along with some makeshift room at Beijing Film Studio—they needed a proper compound of their own.
Second, they needed a larger headcount quota—the Eastern Depot had to expand its ranks!
Third, he wanted to establish a branch office in Hong Kong, along with a more flexible operating environment—such as the freedom to invest in projects and establish a music division.
He was earning foreign exchange for the state; once the money rolled in, of course he deserved perks. In the first pioneering year, things could be rough and rudimentary, but if it stayed that way in the second and third years, that would be unacceptable.
Chapter 317