King of Hollywood
Chapter 657 - 65: Observing Words and Expressions

Chapter 657: Chapter 65: Observing Words and Expressions

The car door opened, and a tall Western man stepped out, with an age difficult to discern, roughly between twenty-five and forty years old, his gaze sweeping around, carrying an indistinct yet unmistakable air of superiority.

"Who is he?" A reporter among them muttered, but no one responded, as all the journalists pondered the identity of the Western man who had suddenly appeared on the red carpet, someone familiar yet unplaceable.

It wasn’t until he reached Ang Lee and Lin Zhiling’s side and gave them a warm hug that a seasoned journalist let out a low cry of astonishment, "It’s Adrian Cowell! The chairman of AC Media’s board!"

Suddenly, there was a stir of excitement. Although some doubted—after all, Adrian’s fame as a director was known worldwide, but his appearances in the media were not as frequent as Spielberg’s—they quickly became outnumbered by others confirming that the Western man on the red carpet was indeed that Adrian, especially when a few veteran entertainment reporters chimed in with much more credible accounts.

Soon, journalists at Ang Lee’s side also passed on the news; the director himself had confirmed that the Western man who had come to attend the Taipei premiere of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was none other than Hollywood’s Miracle Director, AC Media’s board chairman Adrian Cowell! This news spread like wildfire along the red carpet, and the reporters turned their cameras toward him, frantically snapping photos—a renowned Hollywood director, a media tycoon from the United States, had come to Taipei to attend the premiere of a Chinese-language film without any fanfare! This was indeed big news.

"I have a keen interest in Chinese culture and have read some poetry, so I invested in this film and invited Mr. Li to direct. Frankly speaking, he is one of the most talented directors in Taiwan," Adrian said to the entertainment reporters in surprisingly fluent Chinese as they handed over microphones of various sizes.

"Do you like martial arts films?" a reporter hurriedly asked, drawing disdainful looks from colleagues for wasting such a valuable opportunity with a foolish question. If he didn’t like martial arts films, why would he invest in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"?

"Yes, I have seen most of the martial arts films produced by Hong Kong and Taiwan. Their style of action is imbued with a beauty unique to the Chinese people, and it’s truly breathtaking," Adrian nodded, maintaining a smile.

"Do you think martial arts films have a market in Hollywood?" another journalist questioned.

"At least for now, the market is quite broad. Not to mention Mr. Jackie Chan and Mr. Jet Li, but even Miss Michelle Yeoh, the leading lady of ’Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,’ gained popularity after ’Tomorrow Never Dies,’ and Mr. Yuan Heping also collaborated with me in ’The Matrix,’ all of which are very positive indicators," Adrian explained with gestures, appearing sincere.

"We noticed that at the end of last month, ’Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ had a week-long limited screening in Los Angeles. Does this imply an Oscar bid?" A few reporters whispered among themselves before seizing the chance to ask.

"Without a doubt, that is indeed the case. This is an outstanding film, and I believe it has every right to contend for the Oscars, especially since it has received much acclaim after the screenings," Adrian raised his hands as Ang Lee stood beside him, his face flush with excitement, clearly already aware of the plan.

The reporters stirred once again. Though the film’s funding came from Taiwan, Mainland China, and the United States, the director and producer were Taiwanese. If the film could participate in the Oscars and possibly bring home one or two Oscar statuettes, that would be an immense honor. However, as they planned to continue their queries, Adrian had already started walking into the hotel with Ang Lee and Lin Zhiling, leaving many disappointed. Only the more observant among them noticed that Lin Zhiling, who had appeared very close to Ang Lee, automatically moved to Adrian’s left side as they walked indoors.

Movie premieres are not exclusive to theaters; hotels are also commonly used venues. Luxury hotels typically have dedicated equipment, and one can simply hang a white curtain in the lobby and set up a projector to proceed. Moreover, holding a premiere at a hotel offers a distinct advantage—providing a convenient and comfortable setting for esteemed guests to socialize, as is the case right now.

Unlike how he dealt with reporters outside, Adrian’s smile was faint in the presence of these celebrities. His conversation was reserved, limited to brief acknowledgments like "Hmm," "Oh," "Is that so?" and his opinions were succinct. However, no one found this problematic. Each person remained respectfully engaged in conversation with him, and even if they ran out of conversation topics, they would still chime in eagerly to please Adrian. This was the difference social status made.

Inside the hotel, Lin Zhiling’s behavior also differed from her public persona. She clung tightly to Adrian’s arm, her sweet smile and demure posture as if signaling to others that she was already taken.

In fact, this was precisely Adrian’s intention. Had it not been for the concern that Taiwan’s tabloid journalists might write recklessly—requiring effort to manage, given this was Taiwan—he would have walked the red carpet with her earlier. Inside the hotel, such concerns were less pressing. Most of the guests invited to the "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" premiere, aside from the distribution company, were informed in advance and had come specifically to forge relationships with the American media mogul. They would hardly go out and blabber.

"Is that Chen Taiming here as well?" Adrian asked Lin Zhiling in a low voice.

"He came, but he left just a few minutes after he saw us," replied Lin Zhiling with a hint of triumph in her voice. There was no doubt that Chen Taiming had left after recognizing her relationship with Adrian.

Although Adrian merely responded noncommittally with a light "Hmm," inside he felt a tinge of regret. After learning about some aspects of Taiwan from Lin Xilei, he had wanted to try out the sort of domineering face-slapping seen in novels from his former life. There was no need to elaborate on the situation of Hong Kong and Taiwan’s entertainment circles; "Resident Evil" had been a hit when it released in Taiwan the previous year, as the game and novels had sold well and amassed a sizable fan base, so the film was also well-received.

Under these circumstances, and with some manipulation, Lin Zhiling became a well-known figure on the island. Fame combined with striking looks—a Hollywood packaged celebrity simply outshone Taiwan’s—and her emerging Hollywood fame inevitably attracted attention. Thus, every time she returned to Taiwan for events, she was inundated with dinner invitations. As her agent, Lin Xilei knew exactly how to handle these, declining all such offers, and anyone who approached personally was unceremoniously rejected or sent away with a scolding.

The discontent from Lin Xilei’s non-cooperation was palpable, and although some caught on to the situation, others, blinded by arrogance, persisted stubbornly, resulting in last October’s incident at the Yuanshan Hotel. Lin Xilei downplayed the episode, recounting how Chen Taiming and several tycoons arrogantly told her to know her place while in their presence, and she calmly informed them that Lin Zhiling was untouchable, backed by powerful support. Following this, they backed off.

However, the information Adrian received was quite different. Having been publicly humiliated by a mere agent, how could Chen Taiming save face if he didn’t teach her a lesson? He used his connections in an attempt to sideline her as a warning, but to no avail. Setting aside the fact that his businesses barely intersected with the entertainment industry—even if they did, it wouldn’t have mattered.

The producers of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," Xu Ligong and William Kong, were well aware of who held the reins of the film. Ang Lee was even more aware of Adrian and Lin Zhiling’s relationship. Hence, they not only rebuffed Chen Taiming but also advised him against causing trouble.

Then came today’s event. It seemed that Mr. Chen, despite being somewhat brash and proud, wasn’t a hothead, choosing to leave early in light of the situation. If Adrian’s prediction was correct, Chen Taiming would soon discreetly offer an apology, and if Adrian accepted it, he might even make a reconciliatory visit to establish rapport.

Thinking about it, Chen Taiming’s fortune of nearly ten billion New Taiwan Dollars might seem substantial, but when converted to US dollars, it was only about one or two hundred million. Even Guo Taiming had to put up a smiling face and flatter Adrian, let alone Chen Taiming. AC Media had no small presence in Taiwan, including Taiwan Yahoo, Victoria’s Secret stores, Universal Music, and the recent launch of a Taiwanese edition of "Maxim." CTS had even partnered with ABC, and considering the US-Taiwan relations, along with AC Media’s ability to influence US elections, their power exceeded the Taiwanese imagination.

With Adrian’s backing, Lin Xilei could scold Chen Taiming without hesitation, and after Xu Ligong’s intervention, Chen Taiming had ceased any further actions, exiting the scene early, presumably after conducting his research. Therefore, Adrian’s fantastical idea was never going to become reality—nobody who has established their own empire is naive.

Adrian’s interest in the premiere had waned somewhat. Having watched the film during its screening in Los Angeles, he found it slightly different from memory, but its composition, color, and pace did not vary much. Ang Lee still had a firm grasp of it. As for reviews by American film critics, most could be taken as jokes, save for those who deeply understood Chinese-language films and the elusive sense of combat—not understanding this was why the film was considered science fiction.

But from another perspective, some reviews were credible. For instance, a critic from "Variety" wrote, "The romance between Jen and Tiger is undoubtedly the highlight of the entire film. Ang Lee controlled the implicit and repressed emotions until the very end, finally releasing them in an outburst that moved everyone."

Ang Lee, having spent time in the United States, knew what Americans wanted to see—freedom and love. No wonder some said "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was a bourgeois-style martial arts film. Regardless, he succeeded. After years influenced by Hong Kong kung fu cinema, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" struck the right chord between Eastern and Western cultures, earning supporters on both sides.

After chatting a bit, and exchanging pleasantries with fellow leads Zhou Runfa, Michelle Yeoh, Chang Chen, producer Xu Ligong, William Kong, and others, Adrian and Lin Zhiling took their seats, waiting for the film to start.

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"I’ll be heading back tomorrow, so I’ll leave the remaining matters here in your hands. I believe that after this time, Taiwan’s environment will suit you even better," said Adrian in pajamas, sitting in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. He flipped through a Taiwanese newspaper, sipped coffee, and enjoyed the winter sun.

"I understand, is there anything else you would like to instruct?" Lin Xilei sat opposite him, dressed formally, taking notes in a ledger.

Hearing this, Adrian suddenly put down his newspaper, looking at her with a half-smile. Lin Xilei stopped as well, sitting upright and waiting for his instructions.

After a few seconds, Adrian burst into laughter, glancing through the open bedroom door. On the large bed, a woman wrapped in a blanket, her shoulders and part of her back exposed, was still fast asleep.

"Remember to send Miss Jia back when the time comes and take care of the loose ends," he said. "Do the same in similar situations in the future."

"I understand," Lin Xilei replied, neither discouraged nor emotional, seemingly expecting this.

Very good, I like such an understanding woman. Adrian praised in his mind, feeling more and more that his previous decision was the right one.

After the Taipei premiere of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," he had taken Lin Zhiling and Lin Xilei around Taiwan to sightsee. This was his first time in Taiwan—how could he not explore properly? Although the local Taiwanese media had praised "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" to the skies, he had declined all sorts of invitations—whether from business figures, government officials, or interviews from various TV stations.

It’s important to note that on the night of the premiere, he had repeatedly spoken about how this and that about China were favorable, displaying an apparent admiration for Chinese culture. The Blue Camp media had seen no issue with this, but the Green Camp media, which was continually promoting de-Sinification, found it unbearably awkward. Their reports the next day mostly skirted around this point. CTS was the most uncomfortable, supporting the Green Camp on one hand and collaborating with ABC on the other, caught in the middle and struggling to take a stance.

If he attended those cocktail parties and interviews, he would inevitably be asked about his impressions of the mainland, and then they would cherry-pick his answers for hype and propaganda. Adrian didn’t want to give them that chance. AC Media had quite a few investments in the mainland, and not long ago, a Hasbro toy factory had relocated there—certain things were bound to happen at a certain stage, so it was right to get a piece of the action early on—he didn’t want to cause trouble with the mainland over some remarks, which could lead to them giving him a hard time. Even if they didn’t do it now, they might note it down and settle scores later.

Therefore, he ultimately decided to simply cancel the inspection of CTS from his itinerary and travel around Taiwan to enjoy the scenery, oh, except for one thing—chatting with Jerry Yang about Yahoo. After the IT bubble, Yahoo was stuck in the mud, unable to extricate itself several times, and the board of directors was somewhat dissatisfied with Jerry, who had also made some mistakes in his decisions before and after the bubble burst. So he wanted to seek the support of major shareholders, that is, AC Media.

Although Adrian had sold most of his Yahoo shares, he had retained a few, and AC Media held even more, having repurchased some afterward, which obviously still made them major shareholders.

Adrian supported Jerry Yang; at least, he wasn’t as arrogant as some other website founders who wouldn’t allow others to meddle in their business. Yes, he was talking about the two from Google; Adrian would never forget about the investment, but Larry Page and Sergey Brin had insisted on not interfering with the website operations when they accepted investments. If it had been any other investor, they might have walked away long ago.

It wasn’t until after the IT bubble burst, when investors were fleeing the IT industry, that Adrian chose to continue investing in Google. Only then did the two founders agree to loosen up a bit of control, and their attitude said a lot. On the topic, it was quite interesting that Page and Brin, once they knew Macromedia was under AC Media and that ADOBE was also controlled by them, suddenly wanted to invite a few excellent programmers who were skilled with flash and Photoshop to redesign the website interface.

Adrian was quite surprised. Upon inquiry, he found out that Google’s interface was so simple because, after its establishment, they did not have a web administrator nor anyone proficient in HTML! It was laughable, but in the end, Adrian persuaded them to stick with it because... wasn’t that Google’s style? Shouldn’t they stick with their own style?!

Alright, the topic has veered off track. Although Jerry Yang was stubborn, he wasn’t close-minded. For instance, Adrian had argued with him more than once about Yahoo China strategy. As someone from a previous life, Adrian knew precisely what Chinese internet users who were just getting to know the internet needed—information, lots of it. People needed a lot of information to enrich their parched souls, regardless of the nature of that information, as long as it could captivate them.

Thus, Adrian consistently advised that Yahoo China should focus on news instead of just replicating US Yahoo, and he also told Jerry that most Chinese websites were burning cash in the early stages. So Yahoo China needed to increase their investments if they wanted to stand firm. Of course, Jerry disagreed. He had his own set of rules, and Yahoo’s model had been successful worldwide, hence the outbreak of their argument.

Initially, it was manageable, but later the exchanges between the two became fiery. Jerry even roared at Adrian: "I understand the Chinese people’s thoughts and needs better than you!"

"But I understand the mainland’s style better; the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are two different societies," Adrian retorted unapologetically.

Alright, AC Media had indeed entered the mainland relatively early. Although their progress was bumpy, it was unquestionably better than most American companies, so his statement wasn’t wrong.

In the end, after sending people to thoroughly inspect the mainland, Jerry chose to compromise. It was the right approach. Although in 1999 he still faced a huge challenge from Sina, it was far less severe than in his previous life, and Yahoo China managed to stand much firmer on the mainland.

So now Jerry Yang was seeking Adrian’s direct support. As a far-sighted media mogul, he believed Adrian would back him up—and indeed he did.

After that matter, Adrian formally began his vacation. This plan had been set before his arrival, or he wouldn’t have brought Ivanka along. Having Lin Xilei handle those trivial matters was enough for now. She was a very meticulous woman and even more observant, so she took the opportunity to ask him quite directly if he wanted to try something new.(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit qidian.com to cast your vote and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)