Chapter Fourteen: A Xue Plays the Qiongyao, Encountering Gao Yuanyuan on the Road

“From now on, I am your Ashue.”

“Alright, since you enjoy acting so much.”

“This isn’t acting.”

“Fine, it’s not.”

“Then, what orders does Your Highness have?”

“Looks like I have to give you a little incentive.”

“Really? Then you’re much better than the Sixth Prince.”

“I told you, I’m not him.”

“Yes, Your Highness, you’re definitely not him.”

Returning from the park, they were still in that red sedan.

Perhaps because they had grown familiar, Ye Quan spoke with a playful tone.

Ma Xun found it amusing and went along with her.

As for the games between the Sixth Prince and Ashue… the films were quite explicit, after all.

Ma Xun wasn’t in a hurry.

There were more serious matters at hand.

“There’s actually a simple way to break free from their control.”

“What?”

“Just announce your retirement.”

“Be serious!”

Even Ashue had to protest.

Ma Xun deliberately pressed on, “The truth is, they only control you because you have value. If you had none, they wouldn’t bother.”

Ye Quan didn’t look pleased. “It’s not that simple.”

Ma Xun nodded. “Of course, I know they’re the Zhulian Gang. You can’t just stop acting because you don’t want to.”

Ye Quan nodded vigorously.

Ma Xun continued, “But they’re only the Zhulian Gang on that island. Do you think they dare come to the mainland?”

“This…” Ye Quan was confused.

Ma Xun smiled, “The mainstream in today’s film industry is ‘co-productions.’

That means collaboration among the two sides of the strait and the three regions.

But the filming locations are usually on the mainland. You know that, right?”

Ye Quan nodded again.

This was true—the trend in the entertainment world at present.

When it comes to cross-strait and three-region film cooperation,

the main exchange is personnel.

We must thank Mr. Wu Siyuan for this.

He’s responsible for the personnel exchange among the two sides of the strait and three regions.

He is quite a remarkable figure.

He made stars out of Brother Long, Dehua, and Axing.

Truly impressive.

But no one expected someone like Li Yuanba to appear.

Putting Mr. Wu aside,

the exchange in our film industry mainly involves personnel.

Especially on the other side.

They only allow their people to come to the mainland for filming; our people cannot go over there.

And when it comes to the finished works, they basically ban whatever they can.

They even blacklist whoever displeases them.

For example, Brother Jiahui, who fishes without a helmet.

Fishing without a helmet? Impossible!

Ma Xun’s idea comes from this.

“Just film more on our mainland, or find some ‘co-production’ projects. That way, you’ll have plenty of reasons to work and live here. Understand?”

Ye Quan was startled. “But, but…”

Her mind was spinning.

Ma Xun smiled and gave her a gentle nudge. “You’re not that dumb, right? Wu Dun is the chief protector of the Zhulian Gang, true, but does he dare come to the mainland? Here, you’re basically free. As for that Hong Kong Fifth Brother,

aren’t you still with me now?”

By this point, even the slowest would understand.

Simply put, Ma Xun’s method is ‘freedom in practice.’

Ye Quan doesn’t have to negotiate with the Zhulian Gang there; as long as she has an excuse to be on the mainland,

those Zhulian Gang people can’t touch her.

The good news is, cross-strait and three-region co-productions mainly film here on the mainland.

Especially martial arts dramas.

There’s a special figure here:

Aunt Ximen.

Indeed, Aunt Ximen, along with Enjun and Dekai, left an indelible, incredibly cringe-worthy mark on our domestic entertainment.

But Aunt Ximen is also a person with upright values and a very successful businesswoman.

Wuxi Film Studio originally rose to prominence because of “Three Kingdoms.”

But it needed funding afterward.

Aunt Ximen invested over thirty million.

She made a great contribution to the development of China’s film industry.

From this perspective, isn’t there a possibility—

That Dekai and Enjun, when sharing that tub with Aunt Ximen,

were actually happy inside?

That tub—

The wealthy lady’s happiness tub?

Aunt Ximen is just a regular rich woman.

What’s wrong with her liking to act in romance films with handsome men?!

Let’s not dwell on this.

If Ye Quan comes to the mainland, finding a reason is easy.

Moreover, the mainland is very open to Taiwanese compatriots.

You can stay here as long as you want.

So, Ye Quan was tempted.

“Your Highness, you’re truly brilliant.”

Ma Xun just smiled.

The method was simple.

But Ye Quan, having always been in that environment,

couldn’t think of it.

Partly due to her hometown sentiments,

and partly because many there have been brainwashed for a long time,

they harbor enmity.

It’s truly like that.

Now that her thoughts were clear,

Ye Quan raised another question, “Your Highness, there must be other arrangements, right?”

Her attitude earned Ma Xun’s approving nod.

“You’re smart. I do need you to do some things.”

“Please tell me.”

“The hottest thing on the mainland right now is Qiong Yao dramas.”

“I understand, but it’s really difficult.”

“In business, if you don’t try, how do you know you can’t?”

Ma Xun was revealing his true purpose.

Qiong Yao dramas are unbeatable here.

And soon, which Qiong Yao drama?

To be honest, Ma Xun didn’t like Qiong Yao dramas nor that literary old lady.

But he liked money!

The upcoming princess drama will be a phenomenal TV series!

Imagine the profits.

Conservatively, this drama could bring in returns for decades.

Ma Xun knew his current capability.

He probably couldn’t take on the whole production.

But as a time traveler, how could he not get involved?

Even if he couldn’t claim all the benefits,

just ten percent would be a huge success!

Plus, Ye Quan was Taiwanese.

We had this advantage.

Might as well try.

Besides, she called me Your Highness, didn’t she?

I, Ma Xun, Lord Ma, am now sending Ashue back to Taiwan to help me contact the Qiong Yao drama team.

Compared to the Sixth Prince in the movies…

I’m kind!

Right? I didn’t send Ashue to kill anyone.

Ye Quan fully understood the whole ‘method.’

She liked it.

At that moment, the red sedan stopped in a secluded spot.

Ma Xun wondered: Where am I being taken now?

Then Ye Quan began to talk about her ‘psychological issue.’

“Ah? You mean…”

“After filming ‘Snow is Burning,’ it’s been like this.”

“So…”

“Outwardly normal, but I know my inner state.”

Ma Xun understood and couldn’t help recalling that night in the car.

That heavy rain… no, it was when he tried to touch her, and her state then???

So that was it.

He thought of a strange question: “Was ‘Snow is Burning’ real?”

Ye Quan’s face instantly flushed crimson.

“Of course not!”

What are you thinking?

She added, “I was too young back then, that’s why.”

That made sense.

Ma Xun decided to help her thoroughly—after all, she had a heavy mission ahead.

“What do you want me to do?”

Ye Quan didn’t dare look at him and whispered softly,

“Touch me.”

Huh?

Such a request?

Ma Xun was about to transform into Bao Longxing, but Ye Quan still avoided his gaze.

Yet her hand opened her collar.

This…

As a lord, do I have to treat my own female assassin’s psychological issues?

Indeed.

I’m kind!

…

Several days later.

“Mr. Ma, the rights have been secured.”

“Good. We’ve also negotiated with the CCTV Film Channel.”

“Wonderful! Truly wonderful!”

Long Wu’s side went smoothly.

Ma Xun’s side had no problems either.

Ye Quan returned to Taiwan.

Between the lord and Ashue, nothing explicit happened.

After all, Ma Xun was not a man driven by lust.

Next came the performance of “A Chinese Odyssey” on the film channel.

That would take some time.

At least two or three months.

During that time, they could film “Seventeen, Don’t Cry.”

That production was still in preparation.

Filming would start in the summer vacation.

It’s easier to arrange with schools then.

After finishing the call with Long Wu, Ma Xun headed outside Fuxingmen.

He was meeting Sun Donghai.

On the way, he saw a young girl.

She wore a red jacket and jeans.

Her short hair reached her ears; she had an oval face, a high nose bridge, and large eyes.

Gao Yuanyuan?

It was really her, exactly the same as thirty years later.

No, that wasn’t right.

She was much younger now, in the prime of youth…