Bab 173: Chapter 173: Money Is Not the Measure of Everything
Early the next morning, Wen Zifan knocked on Chen Jianhai's office door and placed a thick stack of documents on his desk.
"Boss, I've communicated the specifics with the film crew as you instructed. Someone will come to coordinate with the hotel in a few days. Here's some information about the crew and the recent guests staying at the hotel."
Chen Jianhai looked at Wen Zifan's sleepy demeanor with satisfaction, pretending to show concern, "Good job, the work was efficient, and the information is comprehensive."
"You don't look well. If there's nothing urgent at the hotel today, go home and rest."
Wen Zifan replied, "It's fine, boss. If there's any work, just let me know."
"Okay," Chen Jianhai said. "Privately, ask the staff to keep an eye out for guests who are fluent in both English and Chinese but prefer to communicate in English. Let me know immediately if there are any."
He mimed making a phone call with his right hand.
"Got it, boss."
Watching Wen Zifan leave, Chen Jianhai's eyes gleamed with satisfaction at avenging himself.
He wasn't deliberately making Wen Zifan work overtime. Last night, Su Jie had replied. Although Su Jie couldn't disclose the exact time or names of the senior assessment team members, he provided several key pieces of information.
They were proficient in both English and Chinese but preferred English, were from Southeast Asia, booked through the official website, confirmed by phone, and experienced almost all the hotel services.
Using this information, they could effectively identify the target guests.
Chen Jianhai glanced briefly at the film crew information but focused on the thick stack of guest information, flipping through it quickly.
...
From 8:30 in the morning until 11:00, he found nothing. Although two guests matched the criteria, their ages didn't fit—a seven-year-old and a ten-year-old, siblings on vacation with their grandparents.
"Sophisticated assessment team, indeed..." Chen Jianhai sighed. With no leads on the assessment team, he opened his computer and searched for "Kou Cen."
A long list of movies and TV shows appeared.
Scrolling through, Chen Jianhai noted the wildly fluctuating ratings, the highest being the semi-sci-fi "The Strongest Alien" with a score of 8.8, and the lowest "The Running Years" with a mere 2.1.
"Let's see what made this one so bad..." Chen Jianhai's curiosity was piqued by the abysmally low rating.
He found "The Running Years" on a streaming service and started watching.
Forty minutes later, he decisively clicked the red X in the upper right corner and left an anonymous comment, "It's quite well made. Just don't make another one!!!"
...
In the following days, the "Sweetheart" crew finalized their cast. The leads were a famous actress from Chunyang Province's "Unexpected" film company and a new male actor from the same company. Other supporting actors were familiar faces, though their names might not be widely known. Even an actor like Wu Kai was specially invited to play the male lead's father.
When this news spread through gossip accounts and was confirmed online, it caused a small stir among the fan circles, creating a wave of buzz on social media.
Meanwhile, the "Sweetheart" crew also finalized their contract with Lang Ai Hotel, awaiting the crew's arrival for filming.
The hotel staff were thrilled at the prospect of a film crew arriving. They were excited at the chance to see TV stars in person rather than on screen. Their professional conduct, however, ensured they prioritized guest privacy and security, strictly adhering to industry standards.
...
On November 18th, following the crew's opening ceremony, the main team moved in with their cameras and equipment, settling into Lang Ai Hotel.
"Director Kou, welcome, welcome! We're delighted to have the crew here!" Chen Jianhai stood at the hotel entrance with the reception team, warmly welcoming the film crew.
"Thank you, Boss Chen, for supporting our crew. Sorry for any inconvenience." Kou Cen extended his hand and shook Chen Jianhai's.
"I've heard that you single-handedly revived a failing hotel, earning a five-star rating and becoming a historical and cultural showcase for Nanjing. It's truly admirable!" Kou Cen's words were appreciative, but his eyes lacked genuine respect. To him, a five-star hotel owner wasn't particularly noteworthy.
Chen Jianhai noted Kou Cen's reaction but remained unfazed. He had faced plenty of condescending attitudes before.
At this moment, the best approach was to acknowledge his position, recognize the difference between them, and play the role of a humble, sincere young man before someone of higher status.
Chen Jianhai's expression held a hint of embarrassment, "Director Kou, please don't tease me. Having such a renowned director choose our hotel for filming is beyond our wildest dreams and a great honor for our hotel!"
"I'm a big fan of your work, especially 'The Running Years.' I really enjoyed it," he said sincerely.
The atmosphere instantly turned awkward.
Song Mishan and Wen Zifan's expressions grew tense. Even the crew members nearby looked uneasy, some even amused at the situation.
"Oh dear, why bring that up!" Song Mishan shivered internally.
Kou Cen was notorious for his temper and wouldn't hesitate to lash out if provoked. "The Running Years" was a significant stain on his career, something no one dared mention for fear of angering him.
If he couldn't control his temper and retaliated, the filming at the hotel might not go smoothly.
What was this hotel owner thinking!
"Boss Chen, you're teasing me. That film's box office performance was worse than some mutual funds," Kou Cen replied, his tone seemingly playful but devoid of real emotion.
Chen Jianhai said earnestly, "Director Kou, I'm a businessman, and my knowledge and vision don't compare to yours. But I do know one thing: money is not the measure of everything."
"Although the box office for 'The Running Years' wasn't ideal, I love the film's atmosphere and its spirit of defiance. I can watch it endlessly!"
Chen Jianhai, perhaps out of excitement, gripped Kou Cen's hand a bit tighter. Initially, Kou Cen's eyes held a mocking smile, but upon hearing "spirit of defiance," a gleam of light flashed in his sharp gaze.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
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