"I hope you'll be careful." The policeman smiled at me. "My son is also a big fan of yours and is looking forward to seeing your company's new movie."
He paused for a moment, looked around, and then pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to me: "Hey, if you could, could you sign this for me? You see, if I get your signature, this autograph book will be full."
I took it and looked at it. Sure enough, the book was covered with countless signatures, all of them Hollywood stars!
Seeing my somewhat surprised look, the policeman winked at me: "Look, this is Hollywood, and all the people living here are celebrities. These celebrities usually have a habit of speeding, so my job becomes quite interesting."
I immediately signed his autograph and then said goodbye to the policeman who had been very polite to me.
Because of the previous incident, I have a very good relationship with the Los Angeles police.
Distracted by this incident, I calmed down considerably. After restarting the car, I didn't drive recklessly. Instead, I checked my direction and turned around to head towards my home.
At this moment, Hammer cautiously spoke up: "Fifth Brother, what's wrong with you tonight? Is that old mafia boss trying to get us?" Then, a murderous glint appeared on Hammer's face: "I'm taking some men to raze his mansion to the ground!"
I didn't say anything. A minute after the car drove away, I finally managed a slight twitch of my lips and chuckled, "Stop talking nonsense, damn it. This is America, not Vancouver."
After calming myself down and temporarily suppressing my anger, I began to carefully consider the situation...
Judging from the balance of power, there is no doubt that I am at a significant disadvantage! The Gambino family is the most legendary Mafia family in the United States, and even the world! This organization is definitely not something I can challenge with my current strength... And in fact, the fact that Goch dared to use such humiliating tactics against me tonight clearly and objectively illustrates the balance of power between us.
In terms of strength, we are far behind by more than one level!
If I were just a typical "Fifth Master of Vancouver," then given Gao Qi's status, he wouldn't even need to give me a second glance!
If it weren't for the fact that I'm a famous celebrity in the United States right now, he could have easily taken me out with a single shot tonight!
The reason he didn't touch me tonight was definitely not because I'm the leader of the Big Circle—or rather, the identity of the leader of the Big Circle doesn't carry much weight in the eyes of the godfather of the Gambino family. Even with Thorin's alliance and the Clover family's alliance, it probably wouldn't make that old guy Gao Qi have any reservations.
In short, tonight I'm probably facing the king of the American underworld!
Although Thorin is a major figure in the Canadian underworld, Canada is far inferior to the United States. In fact, Thorin is probably a whole level below Gooch!
In this situation, what do I have to compete with Gao Qi? What do I have to fight him with?
The stark contrast in strength left me somewhat frustrated, but also subtly fueled my anger.
However, I still managed to restrain myself rationally. After all, I've only been in North America for a little over two years, while the Gambino family has been around for more than half a century! I'm not so arrogant as to think that my efforts in two or three years can surpass those of a deeply rooted and legendary family.
So, what can I rely on?
Fortunately, in my rage, the policeman who gave me the ticket reminded me! My greatest asset is my reputation!
Yes, fame!
Perhaps my current strength is far inferior to Gao Qi's, but my fame is at least a hundred times greater! In my current state, I am constantly under the spotlight of most of the American media. This intense exposure has brought almost every detail around me to light! Under these circumstances, anyone who wants to deal with me should be prepared to be exposed by the mass media!
Would a Mafia godfather like Gooch want to be exposed?
Of course not! It's safer for a leader of a dark force to live in the shadows. Gao Qi surely understands this.
Having figured all this out, I felt a glimmer of hope. Then I shook my head and muttered to myself, "I need to talk to someone about this now."
***************
That night, I didn't get any rest; I talked on the phone with Yang Wei almost all night long. Yang Wei also felt somewhat troubled by Robert Gouche's threats.
“This is a very peculiar problem,” Yang Wei sighed. “Well, we probably don’t have many effective solutions in this matter… Hmm, you’ve basically made connections with all the bigwigs you need to know in Hollywood. You also built your network during the last hostage incident. The problem is, you haven’t bothered to get to know Gao Qi, that man-eating tiger. And yet, he’s actively provoking us… Hmm… Chen Yang…” Yang Wei considered for a moment on the phone, then cautiously pointed out, “I have to say, you were a bit reckless this time. Gao Qi is not someone to be trifled with. Although I haven’t dealt with him directly, my uncle has. This man is extremely dangerous. Sigh, actually, in this situation, you could choose to compromise a bit temporarily. Even giving him some benefits might not be a bad thing. No one will laugh at you for compromising with the Gambino family; we’re not his match yet.”
I sat on the sofa, the phone right next to me, already on speakerphone. A cigarette dangled from my fingertips as I stared at the ceiling and said in a low voice, "Yang Wei, this time, I can say you were wrong!"
"I was wrong?" Yang Wei sounded surprised on the phone. I replied firmly, "Yes, you're wrong! The reason I refused to compromise with Gao Qi wasn't because I was unwilling to give up some benefits... but because I could sense that this guy's purpose wasn't to 'share' with me at all!"
Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter 169: Countermeasures
"From the moment I saw Gao Qi, I clearly sensed danger!" I remained leaning back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling...
Yes, no one understands that feeling better than myself.
It was like two ferocious beasts clashing in the jungle! In that instant, my keen senses, honed from countless brushes with death, clearly detected something in Gao Qi—his expression, especially in his eyes, that aura that forced me to confront him…
Deal with it as soon as possible!
I don't know how to describe this feeling. I even have this absurd thought: what if I were just an ordinary investor, a traditional businessman, a film company boss with no underworld connections? Then, Gao Qi wouldn't have bothered with me this time!
While a movie might rake in hundreds of millions of dollars, it's really not worth the Gambino family bothering with a popular American idol like me for such a small amount of money. If they were smart, even if they wanted to cause trouble, they should wait until the controversy surrounding me had died down!
I deeply feel that the reason Robert Goch is targeting me so much, leaving me no room to maneuver and forcing me to make a statement, is fundamentally a case of "like repels like"!
There's only one reason why he was in such a hurry to cause me trouble:
Me and him are the same! We're both in the underworld!
Everyone knows that Hollywood's film industry isn't clean; there's money laundering involved. There are also people raising political donations here, and various organizations coming here to make money…
However, there's one exception! Before I came here, the only organization with a mafia background that controlled a film company in Hollywood was the Mafia!!
My guess is that it's not that other American organized crime groups don't know the film industry is profitable, or that they aren't envious of this business... but rather, under the Mafia's tyranny, no one dares to come here and seize territory!
But now, I've broken that rule.
I, an outsider, a Chinese man, and also a Canadian gang leader, arrived here with powerful connections and a large sum of money! I've stormed into the film industry…
Can the Mafia allow other underworld forces besides themselves to interfere in their private domain?
This question is easy to answer. Because I've already thought it through, even if it were me, I would absolutely not allow anyone to stick their claws into my plate!
"Yang Wei, I suddenly feel like we've been played by Old Sorin." I smiled bitterly, tossing away my cigarette butt. I held my head in my hands. "Didn't Old Sorin know that film companies could make money? But look, he so easily dumped this film company on us. What does that mean? So, I guess Old Sorin didn't not want to make money or launder money through movies. He probably suffered some losses at the hands of the Mafia after buying the company, then swallowed his anger, and finally, after weighing the options, passed this burden to us. Heh heh!"
Yang Wei remained silent for a long time on the other end of the phone, seemingly reflecting on her own actions.
Yang Wei is indeed intelligent, and possesses a mind that surpasses that of ordinary people—but she is not omnipotent, and she can make mistakes. This time, old Thorin so easily threw this film company at me as a bargaining chip, and we didn't think about it more deeply.
Finally, Yang Wei's voice came through again: "When did you figure this out?"
“Before going to Gao Qi’s estate,” I said calmly, expressionless, “after receiving Gao Qi’s invitation, I started to feel a bit lost. Then I thought about it for a long time in my office, and finally I made a bold assumption that… Gao Qi has taken over from us, and he doesn’t just want to get a share of the profits, but he wants to swallow us up or drive us out of Hollywood. It’s actually quite simple to come to this conclusion. I asked myself two questions.”
"oh?"
"Yes, the first question: Suppose I've already infiltrated a very lucrative industry, even if I only control a small portion of it. In that case, would I allow someone with a similar background to come in and share the pie?" I smiled and said, "The answer is no! What does Gao Qi rely on to make it in Hollywood? Not technology, not talent, and certainly not abundant capital… He relies on one thing: 'gangsterism'! Because he's a Mafia godfather! He's the head of a gang! These are his biggest advantages! Moreover, through his painstaking efforts, he owns the only gangster film company in Hollywood! In other words, his advantage is unique! But once he lets me in, his 'gangster' advantage will no longer be unique! Because I also have a gangster background, and I've even caused such a huge stir in Hollywood! I have so many connections… If I'm allowed to develop further, Gao Qi will undoubtedly feel threatened! His goal is simple: he wants to be the only gangster godfather in Hollywood!"
“…Anything else?” Yang Wei’s voice sounded complicated.
"And... I asked myself a second question: With Gao Qi's current power, even if we didn't get involved, he couldn't possibly monopolize Hollywood; he could only have a small piece of the pie. Under such circumstances, would he really be so vehemently opposed to me? And my answer is: Yes! Because if I were eating a piece of cake, even if I was only eating a small piece while there was a large piece in front of me, I could at least eat it slowly, a little today, a little tomorrow. Although I know I could never finish it... I still wouldn't want to have the whole cake right in front of me, within my own control! And I would absolutely not let someone else's claws reach into my hands!"
Then I gave a wry smile: "Essentially, Gao Qi and I are actually the same kind of people. If our positions were reversed today, and I were already established in Hollywood while Gao Qi was a newcomer, I would also find a way to kick him out!"
Yang Wei said in a low voice, "So, your conflict is not about sharing benefits... but rather, one side wants to completely drive the other out! Such a conflict is irreconcilable and cannot be resolved through compromise."
“Yes!” I nodded. “Unless I’m willing to give up everything I’ve fought for here right now, pack my bags and go back to Vancouver, because that’s what Gao Qi wants.”
When a male lion establishes a territory, its territory contains antelope, zebras, and all sorts of food. Even if it can't finish eating, it will continue to guard its territory and eat slowly! But when another young and slightly weaker lion enters its territory, will it tolerate it?
no way!
"That's why you acted so tough when facing Gao Qi," Yang Wei seemed to sigh.
I gave a wry smile: "Otherwise, what do you think I'm doing this for? Gao Qi's power is much stronger than Thorin's and your uncle's! But when facing Thorin and your uncle, I could swallow my anger and compromise. Why should I have to confront Gao Qi head-on? Am I out of my mind? Hehe! It's just that Thorin and your uncle only asked for a portion of the benefits, which were within my acceptable range. But Gao Qi is different."
"...It seems you've thought it through very well. So, what's next? Do you have any plans?"
"No." I said bluntly, "There are many things I can figure out, but I'm not the kind of person who can offer advice. Weiwei, that's why I called you; I need your wisdom."
******************************
After a long phone conversation that lasted all night, Yang Wei and I decided to immediately adjust our previous strategy!
Because of Yang Wei's miscalculation—she didn't consider or rather overlooked the issue of the Mafia—our current strategy of making me keep a low profile needs to be adjusted!
The only thing I can rely on is my fame! If I didn't have my current fame, if I were just a small film company owner, then even if Gao Qi sent someone to beat me to death in the street, it would only make me a news item in the newspaper.
My only protection is my fame! With my current level of notoriety, if I suddenly died or something happened to me, it would probably cause a sensation throughout the entire United States! At that point, no amount of suppression would be able to cover it up!
Therefore, the more high-profile I am, the safer I am!
A day later, after another business event, I attended the opening of Billy Hill Company's first movie merchandise store on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Thanks to my connections, six Hollywood stars were present, attracting a considerable number of reporters. What no one knew was that I had deliberately moved the event forward! Originally, the store was supposed to open two weeks later.
Later, I attended a film guild event, where, in front of dozens of media outlets, I left my handprint on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Accompanying me was Lei Xiaohu, the widely recognized future action star.
Then, on behalf of Billy Hill Films, I donated one million dollars to the Los Angeles Police Department, ostensibly to thank them for their outstanding performance during the hostage crisis. Several Hollywood stars subsequently echoed my sentiments, donating varying amounts of money.
A series of media exposures kept my profile at a very high level. I continued to appear in various media outlets, and for a time, I was extremely popular.
Meanwhile, Gao Qi was finally busy behind the scenes.
Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter 170: Driving Away Wolves and Devouring Tigers
This guy has been in Hollywood for years, and he's definitely got some skills! Once he started making his moves, he caused me a few minor but significant problems.
First, my company was inspected by the official tax authorities. I wasn't worried about that. Although it caused some inefficiency in my company's operations, my previous good performance and my dazzling public image made the tax authorities afraid to set any traps for me. Moreover, I learned through some channels that this was all driven by Gao Qi.
Then, several agents and management companies that were responsible for organizing ordinary actors on set started to deliberately distance themselves from me! At first, we didn't pay much attention, but until one day before filming started, two of the management companies that had signed with us suddenly called, saying they would break their contracts to terminate the cooperation. That's when director James Cameron became famous!
A movie can't just have a few big-name stars and main actors! There are countless supporting actors and extras! As a result, on that day, the set was empty, with only a few stars present. All the dozens of extras who were originally scheduled to appear did not show up, which directly forced the filming schedule to be suspended!
Things started to deteriorate the next day! People on the film crew began to resign.
A renowned director naturally has his own team. For example, for important positions such as cinematographer and assistant director, director Cameron naturally chose his most trusted old partners to take on these roles.
The problem is that all those who resigned this time were insignificant nobodys!
For example, three makeup artists in the makeup team suddenly resigned. Then, people in the props team took leave at the last minute... The sudden large-scale absence of these seemingly insignificant people, who were originally just cogs in the machine, immediately caused a lot of trouble for the production team!
What I learned was that the heads of several entertainment companies, as well as the crew members who had temporarily resigned, received a letter containing bullets almost simultaneously the night before!
On the third day, a prop that was supposed to be made of sugared glass was accidentally discovered to be real glass! This shocked everyone! It was discovered by a special effects worker while inspecting the props! Afterwards, a thorough investigation couldn't determine who switched it or when!
Imagine the consequences: if we had actually used this real glass during filming... and the actor thought it was glazed glass and crashed into it, they would probably be seriously injured by now!
Given this situation, I decisively gave the order: Stop filming!
Director James Cameron also sensed something amiss. This time, the "tyrant" didn't unleash a furious attack, but instead approached me directly that very night: "Someone's got their eye on you."
"I know." I met him at the dinner table, holding a glass of red wine and taking a small sip.
Having wielded considerable influence in Hollywood for so many years, director Cameron was naturally a powerful figure in the city. After a moment's thought, he said, "If you need, I can have an agency send actors tomorrow, and I can guarantee that any missing personnel will be in place within two days... But regarding things like swapping props or replacing fake glass with real glass, I think you should call the police... or find out what's going on! I don't want my people working in situations where their personal safety cannot be guaranteed."
His words were both a reminder and a gesture of goodwill. They also subtly indicated his willingness to help.
I know that an Oscar-caliber director like James Cameron has an extraordinary network of connections in Hollywood! However, I don't want to rely on him for this matter... because I understand that this is not something he can solve.