WIIAD? ### Chapter 54: The Little Big Boss of the Third Line
### Chapter 54: The Little Big Boss of the Third Line
Hong Bao looked at Qi Lin and sighed, “I used to think that young people today aren’t willing to endure the hardships of martial arts training, and that the Hong Kong dragon and tiger stuntmen would soon be lost. But after meeting you, I realize that I was short-sighted. There are still many young people practicing martial arts; I just hadn’t noticed them.”
Qi Lin didn’t know how to respond. He found that both Hong Bao and his own master seemed pessimistic about the future of martial arts. But Qi Lin was different—he was still young, full of drive, and his passion had not yet cooled.
As Hong Tai said, Hong Bao was indeed very straightforward. However, their timing wasn’t great; they had come while a shoot was in progress. Not wanting to delay the filming, they chatted briefly before leaving. Before parting, Qi Lin and Hong Bao exchanged phone numbers. Hong Bao even patted his chest and assured Qi Lin that no matter what happened in Hong Kong, Qi Lin could come to him for help. This promise showed that Hong Bao had taken notice of Qi Lin.
After Qi Lin and his companion left, Hong Bao waved over Lu Changqing and asked, “Changqing, how are you? Are you hurt?”
Lu Changqing shook his head, “It’s nothing, not even a superficial wound.”
“What do you think of Qi Lin’s skills?”
After thinking for a moment, Lu Changqing replied, “He has the feel of the older generation of martial artists. He doesn’t focus much on techniques but has incredibly fast reflexes and stays very calm. He’s more practical in combat than in performance.”
Hong Bao smiled, “Interesting. We should definitely work with this kid sometime.”
Standing up, Hong Bao clapped his hands and called out, “Alright, everyone, back to work!”
…
Back at the hotel, Qi Lin recounted the day's events in detail to Wang Xiaohua. When she heard that Qi Lin had gotten into a fight, her heart tightened. It was only after hearing the whole story that she sighed in relief. She hadn’t expected Hong Tai to introduce Qi Lin to Hong Bao. As a well-known manager in the industry, she knew about Hong Bao and his reputation as a big shot wasn’t for nothing. With Qi Lin catching Hong Bao’s eye, integrating into Hong Kong would be much easier for him.
Still, Wang Xiaohua repeatedly reminded him never to get into fights lightly, even for practice. She knew all too well how dirty the entertainment industry could be. Even under the guise of practice, some might secretly record and maliciously edit the footage.
That evening, the crew had a gathering, and Qi Lin dressed in a striped suit, arriving at the private room early. Wang Xiaohua also wore a red dress, looking elegant like a noblewoman. When they arrived, only Director Zheng Rui and his bodyguard were there.
Seeing them, Director Zheng Rui smiled, “Everyone’s on their way. Traffic in Hong Kong isn’t great. Give it another half an hour.”
Wang Xiaohua laughed, “No rush. My artist is young; it’s good for him to arrive early. We can’t have seniors waiting for him.”
Wang Xiaohua seemed to have a knack for socializing and could chat with anyone, making sure there was never a dull moment when she was around.
“Haha, sorry for being late!” The door opened, and a voice full of energy echoed. Qi Lin looked up to see a robust man stride in. His eyes lit up as he recognized the man—his senior, Wu Zhanlang!
Qi Lin felt a surge of excitement. It was like seeing a character from a textbook come to life. Director Zheng Rui stood to welcome him, “Not late at all. Just on time. We were just talking about you.”
“Oh, what were you saying about me?” Wu Zhanlang walked over, noticing Qi Lin, and smiled in surprise, “Qi Lin?”
“Yes, Mr. Wu, hello.”
“Hey, don’t call me Mr. Wu. I graduated a few years before you. Just call me Senior.”
Wu Zhanlang wasn’t putting on airs, and Qi Lin didn’t hold back, calling him Senior, as they indeed graduated from the same school. Hearing this, Wu Zhanlang’s smile grew even warmer.
“Haha, I heard there was a rising star from our school, and I’ve been wanting to meet you. Today I finally get my wish! Your performance in ‘Erdor’ was excellent!”
“Senior, you’re too kind…”
Finding someone with common ground, Qi Lin and Wu Zhanlang began chatting animatedly, making Director Zheng Rui and Wang Xiaohua laugh heartily. Soon, the other artists started arriving. Besides Qi Lin, the rest were all big names!
Wu Zhanlang was currently the hottest kung fu star. Gu Xiaozhang, a star Qi Lin grew up watching, was also there. Then there was Mr. Ren, known for his significant background in the industry. In those chaotic days of the Hong Kong film industry, many artists were forced to work at gunpoint. But no one dared to cause trouble on a set where Mr. Ren was present, earning him the title of protector of many film crews. The last guest was an actor from Thailand, Tony, known for his impactful Thai boxing that had once made many youngsters’ blood boil. Despite his slight weight gain now, his skill remained impeccable.
This dinner gathering was small, with only these artists and their agents. Technically, Qi Lin’s current status didn’t qualify him to be there, but Director Zheng Rui liked him, and with Wang Xiaohua’s presence, he managed to join the big shots’ dinner as a third-line artist.
The menu was Cantonese cuisine, which Qi Lin wasn’t used to, but he wasn’t there for the food. Listening to the big names share industry gossip made him feel the trip was worth it.
Qi Lin did feel a bit awkward, though, as most conversations were in Cantonese, which he struggled to understand. Fortunately, Wang Xiaohua was by his side, softly translating for him. At first, Qi Lin felt a bit embarrassed, but seeing Tony also relying entirely on a translator, he relaxed. After all, he wasn’t the only one who didn’t understand!
The two exchanged a glance and felt a sense of camaraderie. It was like in school when you didn’t understand the teacher and turned to see another equally confused classmate. Even without speaking, a simple look conveyed everything. What on earth are they talking about?!