Deceiving Chinese Entertainment Industry for Thirty Years 90

Chapter 88: Business War! Victory and Death Intertwined!

January 27, 2025

Chapter 88: Business War! Victory and Death Intertwined!

1998 is almost here.

Nobody wants to spend the New Year with a mountain of lawsuits hanging over their head.

After Liu Bo’s inflated profits scandal broke,

a cascade of problems erupted on his side.

Initially, that inflated profit issue,

they were actually going head-to-head with Capital City Television.

They had to do it.

But, this head-to-head… was just sending cease and desist letters.

In those days, cease and desist letters still carried some weight.

But the television station wasn’t afraid.

The evidence they presented was all above board, all public information.

It was just a matter of accounting.

So what could a cease and desist letter do?

It was naturally useless.

Moreover, other problems immediately surfaced.

Liu Bo’s wild ambition was truly immense.

He didn’t just engage in that book collection scheme.

He was involved in a lot more.

Cheng Cheng was a cultural company, so he dabbled in culture.

This guy got into numerous cultural industries.

Such as magazines.

But… he got into too many.

Currently, print media was already facing problems.

Newspapers couldn’t compete with television.

This was a foregone conclusion.

Anyone in the industry could confirm this.

Television was at its peak.

And magazines?

Overall, magazines were even worse off than newspapers.

But that’s the overall picture.

Looking at it more specifically,

some magazines went high-end, aiming for sophistication.

Like American Vogue, for example.

Extremely high-end, at the forefront of fashion, incredibly classy.

But in reality, it was all advertising, just incredibly high-profile advertising.

Based on this magazine, they later made a film, “The Devil Wears Prada”.

Then there was the extremely low-end, even sleazy variety.

Gossip magazines, lots of them from Hong Kong.

We had them in mainland China too, but when it came to gossip, we couldn’t compete with them.

Hong Kong magazines were so daring; the articles were more salacious than pornography.

The headlines alone were venomous and scathing.

Mainland China’s gossip circles, comparatively, still had some bottom lines.

But only these two types of magazines were really popular.

The others… have you seen “The Story of the Editorial Department”?

Those types of magazines were basically on the verge of collapse.

However, some unique exceptions existed.

“Poisoner,” “Yi Lin,” “Youth Wen Zai.”

These few were truly… in a way, even lower than Hong Kong’s gossip magazines.

They fabricated rumors relentlessly; to put it bluntly, even Americans would blush reading them.

And Liu Bo’s investment in magazines…

Goodness! Over 20 of them!

If they had taken off, that would have been fine.

But not a single one succeeded!

Some initially had decent foundations.

You could see his aim was to follow the Vogue model.

Unfortunately, that required money and access to the top resources in the entertainment industry.

He didn’t have the clout.

These were twenty ticking time bombs!

Once the scandal broke, it was a case of everyone pushing a falling wall.

Liu Bo had no choice but to continue pestering Xu Qing.

This guy, after all, was experienced, as was evident.

Xu Qing was a young lady of means.

Such women are easily swayed.

But the result… is still pending.

But he had to do something.

On New Year’s Eve, Liu Bo returned to the Shangri-La.

He intended to meet some big shots again.

This time…

“Go back, Boss Shi knows your situation.”

He only saw Guan Peng.

Liu Bo’s face was ashen. He had actually queued for a considerable time.

This queue…

Liu Bo knew exactly what was happening in those private rooms.

He felt completely humiliated.

But they still refused to see him.

His last resort was gone.

Liu Bo finally said to Guan Peng,

“I can be Li Gang.”

A final struggle!

But upon hearing this, Guan Peng burst into laughter.

“Kid, look at your face, haha…”

Boss Shi didn’t want just anyone.

Liu Bo’s anger exploded… then subsided.

…

After midnight, it was 1998.

Xu Qing opened her eyes and saw the time.

She hadn’t just slept.

She had passed out earlier.

Unbelievable.

Ma Xun, who was already formidable, was now even more powerful.

She was truly shaken. Xu Qing thought upon entering,

She had loved him before, but couldn’t last long.

Now even more so…

Seeing him, she couldn’t help but blush.

She didn’t know how many times, anyway, she eventually lost consciousness.

“Why are you now…”

The following words were too embarrassing to utter.

Ma Xun let her rest her head on his arm.

“Did you forget something?”

Forgot? Forget what?

Xu Qing’s mind was blank.

Now… oh, she remembered!

Her face reddened even more. Had she been…amnesiac?

That couldn’t be discussed.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to destroy that guy? What’s your plan?”

Yes, you can’t just talk.

Besides.

“By the way, stop saying ‘destroy’ and all that. Aren’t you guys having a business war?”

Hearing this, Ma Xun wanted to laugh.

“The business world is a battlefield; victory and death are intertwined!”

Wow! What a statement.

Xu Qing’s whole demeanor exuded a sweet and adorable charm, and she snuggled up to him again.

To say Ma Xun wasn’t happy would be a lie.

Such a plump and lovely girl, being so close… oh, right, she was a little thinner than before.

But let’s get back to business.

“Anyway, you must treat this as a matter of life and death.”

Ma Xun’s words weren’t wrong, because Liu Bo, after his business failures and various scandals,

ended up seriously ill, fled to Japan, and died there.

The business world is like war; no argument there.

Of course, Ma Xun had no sympathy for such a person.

A criminal!

Sympathize with him? No way!

He’d rather he died by my hands.

Of course, Ma Xun wouldn’t actually do it himself.

Soiling his hands for such a person wouldn’t be worth it.

But he could help Xu Qing now.

“Okay, as a matter of life and death! Then I’ve made up my mind!”

Xu Qing’s expression was serious.

Ma Xun then picked up something from the nightstand.

A camera.

Huh?

“What…what are you doing…” A bit perverted, but strangely exciting.

The subtle shift in Xu Qing’s emotions was truly interesting.

Ma Xun smiled, “Don’t worry, let me finish.

My method can be called: the ultimate test of humanity.

In other words, let’s test this Liu Bo’s humanity.

The specific procedure is, you see this camera?

Take a photo and show it to him.”

“You mean…” Xu Qing pointed at Ma Xun and herself.

Ma Xun nodded, “Of course, it’s us.”

Xu Qing immediately panicked!

“How can you do that! Send him a picture of us like this! This, this is too…”

Too what?

Ma Xun chuckled, “Wow, you wouldn’t think I’d take very explicit photos, right? And then send them to him?

Xu Qing, Xu Qing, I didn’t expect you to be so perverted.”

Turning the tables?

Xu Qing immediately covered her face, “I didn’t think that!”

Actually… fine, she admitted it, she had thought that.

But such things were easily misinterpreted.

Ma Xun couldn’t stop laughing, but still explained.

“We can’t be that perverted.

Seriously, just photograph your head.

But look at your blushing face right now.

And you’re resting your head on my arm, right?

Just a photo like that.

Understood?”

Xu Qing, having acted in many films, immediately understood what kind of photo it would be.

“Tell him I have a boyfriend?”

Yes, such a photo is considered an intimate photo.

And such an intimate photo given to Liu Bo.

Isn’t it telling him to stop pestering her?

But this method…

Xu Qing thought it was problematic, but seemed workable, but she noticed a particular point.

“Are you only showing one arm?”

At her words, Ma Xun’s expression turned serious.

“I’m helping you, and I don’t want to appear in the photo.”

These words were a blow to Xu Qing.

Although they had always said it didn’t matter.

But there’s that saying,

A day as husband and wife is a hundred days of kindness.

How much kindness they shared… right.

But given their relationship, Ma Xun’s words weren’t unreasonable.

Then,

“And there’s another important reason why I don’t want to appear. Listen carefully.

Give him the photo; it’s a test of humanity.

You and he, in terms of public opinion, have already broken up.

But he’s still bothering you.

But publicly, you’re still single.

Note that Liu Bo has many magazines under his control.

If this photo gets into his hands.

And he’s so desperate for money right now.

What do you think he’ll do next?”

After listening, Xu Qing was stunned!

Because she hadn’t considered this angle.

She hadn’t considered the possibility that Liu Bo would use this photo for exposure and make money.

Ma Xun was right.

Xu Qing’s relationship was a big piece of gossip.

Once exposed, there would definitely be money to be made.

Liu Bo is so short of money now; he might actually do it!

So, as Ma Xun said, it’s a test of humanity.

So, Ma Xun indeed had sufficient reason not to appear.

So, how would Xu Qing choose?

“If he exposes this photo, exposing my relationship, what do I do?”

Ma Xun smiled wryly, “Then you’ll definitely give up on him. If he still bothers you, won’t you slap him?”

Yes!

The goal was to stop Liu Bo’s relentless pursuit.

Ma Xun’s method was a surefire cure.

Xu Qing would definitely have no room for leniency.

But it wasn’t over yet. Ma Xun continued, “Then you cry to the media, saying the arm in the photo belongs to Liu Bo.”

This… what a ruthless tactic!

Xu Qing wanted to laugh. Liu Bo would be completely nailed!

But this was entirely Ma Xun framing or shifting blame. His method was unscrupulous.

But, this method was also helping Xu Qing.

Ma Xun seemed to understand something, saying, “You, young lady, are full of princess syndrome.”

Xu Qing was criticized, but she wasn’t angry.

In fact, by now, she had already accepted this method.

But,

“If he doesn’t choose to expose it, doesn’t that mean he’s…”

“I told you, this guy is an economic criminal! What are you sympathizing about!?”

“He made a mistake.” Xu Qing apologized coquettishly.

Good attitude.

Ma Xun then presented another possibility.

“He might also use the photo to ask you for money.”

“That’s not possible. That would make him such a terrible person.”

Xu Qing… still had an air of naiveté.

Ma Xun didn’t argue with her, “Now, make your decision.”

This time Xu Qing was decisive, immediately nodding.

She had figured it out.

This test of humanity, regardless of the outcome, would sever her ties with Liu Bo.

Cleanly and completely.

So, Ma Xun said nothing more.

Click.

Xu Qing’s head and his arm were captured in the photo.

So, just one photo?

“Want to take more?”

“This… might be too perverted?”

“Why are you immediately thinking of that kind of photo?”

“Ma Xun! You’re going too far! You’re definitely thinking it too!”

“Hee hee hee…”

Since it’s come to this, might as well… get a few more.

Click click click…

The Nikon camera in Ma Xun’s hands, the shutter like a machine gun.

The two of them… were increasingly amused.

…

“Let’s meet one last time.”

“This…”

“It’s better to talk face-to-face.”

“Alright.”

Liu Bo didn’t expect to see a glimmer of hope on the first day of 1998.

But that hope quickly ended.

“Don’t bother me again! Understand!?”

Xu Qing was very forceful, and she seemed angry.

She even threw her purse on the table.

To show her anger.

Liu Bo?

He could only be left in chaos.

Huh? This is…

A small object on the floor, probably Xu Qing’s wallet.

And as Liu Bo picked it up, he chased after her.

Couldn’t find her, no choice, he could only return to his place.

Then, when he opened the wallet,

he found the photo.

This photo…

Ah! Oh!!

For some time, he had been under immense pressure.

Now… his anger caused a stroke!

This ‘option’, even Ma Xun hadn’t thought of it.

(End of chapter)

Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter