Against the Current Hong Kong 1979

Shaw Studios.

Li Shuisheng followed Boss Shao's secretary to Boss Shao's office with a blank expression.

He used to be a bamboo shed builder, and only recently started working as a prop master at Shaw Brothers Studio.

He had naturally heard of Boss Shao's name before, but he never thought he would have any connection with him.

So when Boss Shao's secretary came to the studio to call him, he was completely bewildered and had no idea what was going on.

Director Liu Jialiang even specifically asked him if he was related to Boss Shao.

Heaven knows, if he were related to Boss Shao, he wouldn't be living such a miserable life at the bottom of society.

"If they're not relatives, then they must be enemies?" Director Liu Jialiang muttered to himself.

When Li Shuisheng heard this, he almost went limp with fright. If he offended Boss Shao, he would be out of business in this industry.

At his age, and with his back injury, if he loses this job, he really doesn't know what he'll do or how he'll support his family.

With this feeling of unease, Li Shuisheng followed the secretary all the way to the door of Boss Shao's office.

"Boss, Mr. Li has already arrived," Boss Shao's secretary replied softly.

Shao Yifu's calm and steady voice rang out from inside: "Come in."

The secretary immediately opened the door and said to Li Shuisheng, "Mr. Li, please."

Li Shuisheng trembled slightly, but in the end he still gritted his teeth and went inside.

Fortunately, there weren't many people in the office. Besides Boss Shao, there was only Manager Fang Yihua and two fat men, one big and one small.

There was a meeting going on inside, but it's over now. Shao Yifu asked Wang Tianlin and his son to stay behind, while everyone else went back to work.

"You're Li Shuisheng?" Shao Yifu looked up at the man who came in. He looked to be in his forties or fifties, with an honest and unassuming appearance. He didn't seem like the kind of person who could make a living by writing.

"Yes, I am Li Shuisheng."

Li Shuisheng replied somewhat nervously, "I wonder why Mr. Shao called me here?"

Shao Yifu didn't keep them in suspense any longer, simply tossing the manuscript he was holding lightly onto the table: "Is this manuscript yours?"

Fatty Wang casually picked up the manuscript and handed it to Li Shuisheng: "Did you write this novel, 'Young Detective Bao Qingtian'?"

Li Shuisheng looked puzzled, took the manuscript, glanced at it, and hurriedly said, "I brought it. If it violated company rules, I apologize now. Please, Boss Shao, don't fire me. I still have a wife and children to support. I can't..."

"Stop," Fatty Wang quickly interrupted Li Shuisheng. "Nobody wants to fire you. We just want to know who wrote this manuscript. Was it you, or someone else?"

Li Shuisheng snapped out of his daze, his mood improving slightly: "It was written by a friend of my wife's cousin. They just came from the mainland and are staying at my house temporarily."

Shao Yifu frowned slightly: "Your wife's cousin's friend?"

Fatty Wang, speaking on behalf of Boss Shao, continued, "Just tell me directly, is he still at your house right now?"

"His name is Zhang Shuai'an, and he's still staying at my house," Li Shuisheng quickly explained. "He's been looking for work these past few days, but hasn't found anything yet. He usually stays home writing novels, saying he wants to submit them to manuscripts to earn some living expenses. I accidentally brought this manuscript here this morning."

Shao Yifu nodded and didn't say anything more, but he gave Wang Pangzi a look.

That's right.

Wang Pangzi immediately understood and said to Li Shuisheng, "Mr. Li, the boss really likes this novel by your wife's nephew's friend and would like to meet this talented young man. I wonder if it would be convenient to ask him to come over?"

Li Shuisheng looked troubled. Although Zhang Shuai'an was staying at his house, he knew that the other man was a very independent person and might not necessarily listen to him. Moreover, he had taken the manuscript without permission, and he felt a little embarrassed to bring it up.

"This is a good thing." Seeing Li Shuisheng's expression, Fatty Wang immediately increased his bet: "Our Shao Corporation has always valued talent. Calling him over is giving him an interview opportunity. If the boss takes a liking to him, he can come directly to work at Shao Corporation, which is much better than randomly looking for a job outside."

"Really?" Li Shuisheng was genuinely happy for Zhang Shuai'an. "I'll tell him when we get back tonight!"

"No need for tonight." Shao Yifu, being a decisive and efficient man, didn't tolerate delays and said directly, "I'll grant you half a day off. Go back now. By the way, Jingzai, you go with him. Make sure you persuade that young man, do you understand what I mean?"

"I know how to do it." Fatty Wang understood perfectly; he and his son were always good at figuring out Boss Shao's thoughts.

Boss Shao's meaning was clear: if Zhang Shuai'an could sign, great; if not, there was no need to force him. The important thing was to secure the novel. Even if they couldn't, they couldn't let Li's side notice it. As for what Fatty Wang did, that was none of his concern.

……

After submitting his manuscript, Zhang Shuai'an didn't wander around outside. Instead, he planned to come back and copy the lost manuscript again.

More than an hour later, he returned to Aunt He's house in Chungking Mansions.

"Brother An, you're back?"

As soon as he entered the door, he heard He Jiatong's voice.

Zhang Shuai'an noticed that He Jiatong was wearing a mask of pain and was lying on the sofa, struggling to turn over: "Didn't you go to the shop with your aunt? What's going on?"

"I got beaten up." He Jiatong gave a bitter smile. "My aunt asked me to watch the stall when she went to the toilet. A woman came in for a fortune telling, and I wanted to help my aunt attract customers, so I praised her as much as I could and made her very happy. Who knew she had a boyfriend and accused me of hooking up with her girlfriend? Without asking any questions, she beat me up. My aunt told me to come back and rest."

"I think you just want to pick up girls." Zhang Shuai'an was speechless for a moment, then shook his head: "You're really wasting your tall frame."

"I'm weak, so why don't you treat me to abalone and lobster, Brother An? I heard they're very nourishing." He Jiatong was a little embarrassed. "If I could eat my way up and have more strength, I definitely wouldn't be afraid of anyone."

"Eat my ass!" Zhang Shuai'an rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Do you want salted fish or dead shrimp?"

He Jiatong said with a long face, "The day before you were smuggled into Hong Kong, you promised me you'd treat me to abalone and lobster. You didn't keep your word."

Zhang Shuai'an ignored him, thinking to himself: What does it have to do with me that the original owner promised you?

"Clap clap clap!"

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Zhang Shuai'an stood up, opened the door, and found that it was Chung Chu-hung who had come: "Cheung, what brings you here?"

"Are you busy right now?" Chung Chu-hung asked him softly, her expression somewhat hesitant.

Zhang Shuai'an smiled and said, "I just got back from submitting my manuscript, so I don't have anything to do for now."

"Then, could you do me a favor?" Chung Chu-hung tugged at his hand.

Zhang Shuai'an immediately nodded: "Of course, no problem."

"Okay, come with me!" Chung Chu-hung said, taking his hand and leading him outside.

A notification sound appeared in Zhang Shuai'an's mind: "Slight physical contact with Cherie Chung has earned 10 Star Points, activating [Acting Talent]."

I previously spent 50 Star Points redeeming the works "Young Justice Bao" and "Shattered Void", and now I've replenished a small portion of them.

Seeing this, He Jiatong was overcome with grief. He clearly didn't want to flirt with girls, yet he was completely outmatched by her boyfriend, while Zhang Shuai'an did nothing but have a fairy-like girl throwing herself at him. This world is too unfair.

Zhang Shuai'an followed Chung Chu-hung to the fifth floor in the elevator and headed straight for her door.

Chung Chu-hung blushed slightly and whispered to Zhang Shuai-an, "Later, you'll pretend to be my boyfriend. You're a novelist, you should know how to improvise, right?"

Zhang Shuai'an asked, "Are your family pressuring you to get married?"

"It's an old friend of my dad's surnamed Kuang. He brought his son over, insisting that they had arranged a marriage between their children and now they're here to fulfill that promise."

Chung Chu-hung frowned slightly, looking troubled, and said, "My dad is very proud and doesn't want to refuse me directly, so I lied and said I have a boyfriend. That family absolutely refuses to believe me and insists that I bring my boyfriend over so they can see him. Where am I supposed to find a boyfriend? I can only ask you for help for now."

As she said this, she looked up at Zhang Shuai'an with some expectation.

Who could blame her? Zhang Shuai'an has a face that's like a combination of Louis Koo and Daniel Wu, making him incredibly attractive to women. That's why Cherie Chung immediately thought of him.

"No problem," Zhang Shuai'an nodded. "But afterwards, Sister Hong, you have to treat me to a big meal."

Chung Chor-hung laughed and said, "As long as you can help me resolve this matter, I'll eat anything, let alone a fancy meal!"

"Really anything is fine?" Zhang Shuai'an immediately recalled He Jiatong's words and said, "How about abalone? I grew up inland and have never eaten seafood before."

Chung Chu-hung stared at Zhang Shuai-an with a strange look for a few seconds, then said in embarrassment and annoyance, "Let's get through this first."

Immediately, she pushed open the door, pulled Zhang Shuai'an inside, and said to the people inside, "This is my boyfriend, Zhang Shuai'an."