In the hospital room, the male lead lay on the bed. The doctor had already treated his wounds, especially the one on his face.
Now it was covered with gauze and cotton. No one knew what the situation underneath was like, but the doctor had also told him that there was a high probability it would leave a scar.
The male lead lay on the hospital bed looking at the ceiling, his mind a blank. He knew he was finished.
He would have to be like his father or uncle, find an ordinary job, and then waste away his life on the lowest level of an assembly line.
No spotlight, no limelight, nothing, just a gray, desperate life.
He didn’t want any of this, but the shining new life seemed to have closed its doors to him.
Of course, if he didn’t mind more people going through his back door, perhaps some special clubs would also welcome him. But as soon as he thought of this, he felt a bit cold and shivered.
He didn’t quite understand. Since Gerald had… a gangster background, why didn’t he show it from the beginning?
Isn’t this f—king setting people up?
And at this very moment, outside the hospital room, a “old man” who looked to be in his fifties and was very well-built stood with the doctor.
He was the investor, and also the “patron” who had promoted the protagonist.
“Is there no way at all?” This guy was named Seric, a director of Triumphant Pictures.
This movie was actually one of the many investment projects of Triumphant Pictures. The reason it was said to be “many” was because no one was quite sure about the development trend of sound films now.
Just like for a period of time, audiences particularly liked cult films, so a cult trend swept through the Federation and even the whole world.
The more absurd and terrifying, the better. Those non-cult films were met with a cold shoulder, and many couldn’t even recover their costs.
Sound films were equivalent to a new “version.” No one knew whether audiences liked to watch those lovey-dovey stories, or war films, or what, so they invested in many.
Seric was a very charming character. Although he was not young, he had always maintained his very fit figure, and his social status and success gave him a different kind of charm.
His slightly graying hair was also considered one of his unique charms by many girls.
But they didn’t know that he was actually a pervert.
In the Federation, it seemed that perverts were always prevalent among those with high social status. Seric’s perversion was that he liked to watch his young wife be satisfied by others, and then he would satisfy the person who had satisfied his wife.
He had had many marriages. Even for the sake of money, his children could not accept his actions.
The male lead lying in the hospital bed this time was one of his favorites because the male lead also had a strong body. He liked that young, strong body, which allowed him to recall his own youth.
He even had an indescribable fanaticism for this kind of thing. He felt… every time he did this, he would become younger, become stronger!
He was like a male wizard, absorbing the strength and youth of these young people!
If Gerald hadn’t appeared, perhaps nothing would have changed. But Gerald’s appearance produced a desire that was difficult to suppress.
He used a little trick, but that young man didn’t fall for it, so he could only arrange for the male lead to deal with Gerald and make him bow his head.
A young man who seemed to have no background would soon become delicious food on his plate.
Until this moment.
“Sir, I’m very sorry, but I know some laboratories might have some new products, but those products can only make his scar look not so…”
The doctor flipped his wrist, “You know, it won’t look too obvious. Many scars are raised and bright red. Those new products will make it less raised, and the color will be lighter.”
Just hearing this made Seric feel a little nauseous. He had a bit of a cleanliness obsession that wasn’t quite mysophobia. He couldn’t stand this.
He raised his hand to stop the doctor from continuing, “Alright, I already know.”
The doctor originally wanted to say that if he wanted, the doctor could try to contact those laboratories. They would definitely like someone to spend money to help them test their products.
But it seemed it wasn’t necessary.
“Alright, sir, if you have any needs, feel free to have the nurse come find me. I’ll be in the duty room.” The doctor quickly left.
Seric stood at the door, having never gone in. He didn’t want to see that ugly face.
If he himself had become like this, he might have committed suicide!
But if it was someone else, then it was best for him not to see this person.
“Who did it?” He walked outside. As for the male lead inside?
An imperfect toy had been abandoned by him, a perfectionist. It was that simple.
As for taking another look?
He wanted toys, not emotions!
The assistant trotting behind him said, “I inquired at the police station. It seems to be someone from Golden Port.”
Hearing the name Golden Port, Seric obviously frowned.
Because Golden Port was too big. Whether it was the scale of the city, its scope, or the economic effect and political influence it produced, it was all too big.
If it was a power from Golden Port, it would be a bit tricky, but… he thought of Gerald’s appearance and still decided to test the waters.
“We have partners in Golden Port. Go and find out clearly. Now take me to the police station.”
Soon, Seric arrived at the police station. The company’s lawyer was already here. This was a very serious case.
Their lawyer was banging on the table with the police department because the police department had not sent anyone to arrest Lance and his group. He believed this was negligence on the part of the police department and said he reserved the right to sue the police department!
Seeing the boss arrive, the lawyer seemed to rein in his somewhat exaggerated performance, stood to the side, and briefly introduced the situation.
“I want to see Gerald.” He had an impulse from a deeper place, and he was enduring this impulse.
Logically, this was not allowed, but the lawyer pulled a sergeant into a corner, and soon they got permission.
In the interrogation room, Seric saw Gerald.
Seeing that face again, which made it hard for him to distinguish between male and female and was as beautiful as a work of art, he sat on the other side of the table. Gerald looked very calm.
“You and your friends have caused trouble. The board of directors has already taken notice of the situation here.”
“Now tell me about their situation, and I can help you plead with the board.”
“You know, we’re not those small film crews. Even if your friends have a little ability, they are no match for us.”
Triumphant Pictures was not just Triumphant Pictures. Its parent company, “Triumphant Group,” held controlling stakes in multiple companies, with a market value in the hundreds of millions!
Even Triumphant Pictures itself had a market value of over three million, and they believed that with the release of a series of sound films, the market value would continue to increase and might exceed ten million!
He wanted this young man to know this.
He tried to slow down his speech as much as possible, so as not to seem so eager.
Gerald rolled his eyes, “I don’t know anything.”
Seric looked at the door. There were no guards. He moved forward a little, leaning his body forward, “Gerald, you are one of the few talented actors I have ever seen. You can go far in this field.”
“We are all very optimistic about the development of movies, you know?”
“Did you know?”
“That movie hailed as changing the film industry, its total box office in the Federation has now exceeded four million!”
“One movie!”
Seric revealed some of his fanaticism, a fanaticism for art, for perfection. He even wanted to reach out and touch Gerald’s hand, but Gerald dodged it.
“You have unparalleled physical conditions. After our training and guidance, you will become the most popular male movie star in the Federation!”
“You might even one day be on par with those opera stars!”
“You will earn countless money and have all the life you desire but cannot get on your own.”
“You will wear expensive clothes, drive the most luxurious cars, enter the highest-class venues in the Federation, and you will be surrounded by high-society stars and political figures, not those street gangsters!”
Gerald interrupted him, “Hey, those are my brothers!”
Seric looked down on these people, “That’s still a gang. Do you think people respect a gang member, or a glamorous big star?”
“Come on, Gerald, give us your hand. I guarantee your future will be a smooth path!”
Gerald looked at him and couldn’t help but laugh, “I don’t like perverts.”
This sentence made the expectant smile on Seric’s face gradually fade. He also withdrew his hand and then stood up.
He looked down at Gerald from above, adjusted the shoulder of his clothes that had shifted because he had reached out, twisted his neck, and his eyes became not as gentle as before, but rather somewhat cold and sinister.
“You will eventually find that you can’t escape!”
After he said these words, he took one last look at Gerald, turned, and left the room.
Just as he left the room, he happened to see someone else coming to handle bail procedures. Without a doubt, it must be for Gerald.
He walked to the lawyer’s side, “You’re just going to let him leave like this?”
“Shouldn’t you do something?”
The lawyer looked at Seric with a speechless expression, “The law allows them to do this, and Gerald is not the perpetrator. As long as he doesn’t leave Valley City, he can go wherever he wants.”
“What a hassle!” Seric was somewhat dissatisfied. The so-called not being able to leave Valley City was a joke for those who were not very obedient.
They were like Dr. Mundo, going wherever they pleased!
As for being arrested by the police?
God!
They had already left Valley City, who the hell was afraid of the Valley City police arresting them?
Seric cursed a few times, then left the police station with the lawyer and his assistant, but he believed they would meet again.
Gerald was brought out by the lawyer. This lawyer was said to be an alumnus of Roben’s law school.
The reason he didn’t go to Golden Port for development but stayed in this city was because the competition in the legal profession in Golden Port was too great.
Almost all of the Federation’s well-known law firms had very important branches in Golden Port. They took on both ordinary cases and cases for the rich.
If one didn’t want to be attached to a large law firm and be exploited by it, then the final result would most likely be like Roben, specializing in some work that not many people were willing to touch.
So he stayed in Valley City. The competition here was not great, and it was suitable for an early retirement life.
“Mr. Lance did not ask me to leave with you, so my work ends the moment we leave the police station.”
“Please thank Mr. Lance for his generosity on my behalf. He is the most generous employer I have ever met!”
The young lawyer shook hands with Gerald, then drove away.
In just a short while, he had driven over, obtained the legal documents, paid the bail, and then brought Gerald out of the police station, and he received a hundred dollars in remuneration.
Damn it to hell, where did Roben find such a high-quality client?
This also made him start to seriously consider whether to go to Golden Port and work with Roben.
These gangsters were really f—king rich, and they really didn’t treat money as money!
Gerald knew where Lance was staying and soon arrived outside the room where Lance was living. He knocked on the door and was welcomed in.
“Did they beat you?” Lance asked casually as he sat on the sofa.
Gerald shook his head, “There was only me and another little kid inside, about fourteen or fifteen?”
“He was caught for stealing bread from the bakery and was locked up inside.”
“I might not be a match for those big guys, but dealing with a little kid…” he made a few boxing gestures with a chuckle, “should be no problem.”
Lance motioned for him to sit down, “I’ve spoken with the director. The shooting schedule will not change. I’m investing now, and you will be the star.”
“I see the actresses all quite like you?” Lance teased him.
Gerald blushed a little, “They are all very nice people.”
The young men in the room couldn’t help but laugh. Hiram even deliberately sat next to Gerald, “Have you slept with them?”
Gerald’s face turned even redder, “Hell, how could I do such a thing?”
This made Hiram feel very disappointed, “I thought you had already slept with them, that’s why you said they were very nice.”
“If someone… you know, I would also think they are very nice.”
Some harmless jokes. Lance raised his hand, ending these topics, “If they want to continue acting, you can talk to them.”
“Anyway, everyone thinks this is an opportunity, so we can also give it a try.”
This made Gerald very moved, because he knew that Lance’s decision must be for his sake!
Ever since the “battle to defend his butt” broke out on the ship, Lance had been helping him. This time, he also had to repay Lance and must act well in this movie.
He told Lance the news he had heard at the police station. When he said that the box office of that movie had exceeded four million, everyone was stunned.
Including Lance, who couldn’t help but hold his breath.
“Four… million?” Lawn, standing in the corner, directly cursed, “What the f—k is this?”
“What kind of bullsh—t can sell four million at the box office?”
“F—k!”
He didn’t know why he said f—k, nor did he know who he was f—king, but he just wanted to say it to calm the fluctuating emotions in his heart!
“That Seric said he would find trouble with us.”
Lance shook his head slightly, “Don’t mind him. He will soon realize the gap between us.”
Gerald was a little curious, “Because we are stronger than him?”
Lance laughed out loud after hearing this, “No, because we have fewer scruples than him!”
The next morning, Ennio brought a group of people from Golden Port. One of the cars was full of pistols and submachine guns, and even two potatoes!
Lance found a villa here and rented it temporarily. Gerald was going to film a movie here, and he also planned to set up a company here.
The four million box office Gerald mentioned last night had indeed tempted him.
Indeed, his current business of selling illegal liquor was actually not inferior to this, but this four million brought not only economic income, but also a change in social status!
He also needed more legal income to obscure his more illegal income.
Today he had an appointment with West because he still owed West three thousand dollars. Last night, West had already given him all the information Lance wanted.
Including the filming permits Triumphant Pictures had applied for in Valley City, and some of their specific situations.
Now it was his time to feel Lance’s generosity.
When he arrived here, seeing a room full of people, he was obviously a little reluctant to enter.
After he went back, he had also inquired again about the situation of Lance and the Lance Family. If he had inquired some time ago, he might have thought that they might not be able to say anything about their impressive achievements.
But just a few days ago, they had executed an informant and hung him on a streetlight at the entrance of the Bureau of Hazardous Materials, making the Golden Port Bureau of Hazardous Materials lose face in the entire Federation.
And, there was nothing they could do about it.
Then people delved deeper and found out that the Lance Family had actually already unified the Empire District, and there were also rumors that Lance had substantially controlled the order at the docks.
Anyway, there were all kinds of true and false news constantly, which also made West a little more friendly, and of course, a little more scared.
“Why don’t you come in?” Lance sat in the living room, legs crossed, calmly looking at West.
West immediately squeezed out a smile, “I was distracted, sorry.”
He braced himself and walked in. There were many people in the house, some sitting, some standing, and various weapons were placed on the surrounding furniture. He even saw grenades!
These lunatics!
He sat down in a place not so close to Lance. He was suddenly a little uneasy now.
But soon, his uneasiness was dispelled by the three stacks of cash Lance placed on the table. They were all old ten-dollar bills, three stacks, three hundred bills, exuding the unique stench of money.
He swallowed, somewhat not knowing whether to take it or not.
Lance extended his hand and made a “please” gesture. Only then did West bend over, stick out his butt, and take the money into his hands.
It was heavy, but it also made him a little worried.
“Mr. Lance, I actually didn’t do that much. Maybe…” He wanted to return one or two of the stacks.
But Lance stopped him, “We are friends. One should be generous to friends, right?”
“And next, we might have more things to trouble you with.”
“That Seric guy hurt my brother. We have to get justice for him. There might be a little friction then!” Lance made a gesture with his index finger and thumb, indicating how small this friction would be.
But West looked at the people around him and the weapons they had placed, and swallowed.
Perhaps they had different understandings of “a little friction”!