Chapter 125: Secretive Ambiguity

"A gunfight action movie?" John Woo looked at Yan Xu. Although he was famous for his comedies, and his greatest successes were in that genre, those were merely films he had made at Golden Harvest to cater to the market. When he first entered the Shaw Brothers studio, the mentor he followed was the renowned action director Chang Cheh, and the first film he directed was also an action movie. Before leaving Golden Harvest, the last film he shot there, "Last Hurrah for Chivalry," was a gunfight action film. Although that production was crude, lacked big-name stars, and contained excessive violence, as John Woo's first modern gun-fu style movie, it already possessed the embryonic form of the "Woo style"—romantic sentiment, male friendship, and the aesthetics of violence—while being filled with the extreme, obsessive style of a cult film.

"Yes!" Yan Xu nodded. "Ever since I returned from the airport last time, this story has been in my mind, and such a film is meant for no one but you."

Yan Xu eloquently recounted the general plot of "A Better Tomorrow" to John Woo. He had watched this film many times over the years, and having recently written the script himself, many details were still fresh in his memory.

"Are you really prepared to let me direct this?" John Woo's eyes grew brighter as he listened to the outline. This kind of story was perfectly suited to his tastes.

"Of course. This isn't a genre I excel at, and since our company has just been established, the only directors we have are myself and 'Fatty' Wong. It would be even more unreliable to let him direct this type of film. Besides, we both have our own new projects to prepare. If you, Brother Woo, are willing to join our company, this film is yours."

"Fine, no problem." John Woo agreed immediately without a second thought. Having gone a long time without a project, he was itching for work and eager to prove himself, and this film was exactly what he had always wanted to make.

Seeing the man agree so readily, Yan Xu felt a surge of excitement. He knew the future value of this man and this film. As long as this man was in his company, there would be no doubt about its long-term success.

"Brother Woo is truly decisive. What about Cinema City?" Yan Xu didn't want to drag things out; he wanted to strike while the iron was hot.

"I don't have a binding contract there; I can leave at any time. Given my current situation, Cinema City doesn't pay much attention to me anyway," John Woo replied with a faint smile.

"How much do you intend to invest in this film, and when can we start?" John Woo’s mind was now filled with the plot of "A Better Tomorrow," and he was eager to address the practicalities.

"Since we are a new company, the investment won't be massive. I can give you three million. As for the filming schedule and pre-production, I’ll leave that to you. I have already decided on the cast: I want Ti Lung for Brother Ho, Chow Yun-fat for Mark, and I think Leslie Cheung would be excellent for Kit. As for Shing, I plan to use Ni Xing from our company. He has a background in martial arts stunts; aside from being a bit young, his image fits well—a little makeup will do. I haven't considered the other roles yet; I'll leave that to you."

Yan Xu did not want to make significant changes to the cast. The classic film was legendary precisely because of these actors. Although Waise Lee had likely already signed with Tsui Hark's Film Workshop, making him unavailable, after much thought, Ni Xing was the best fit. Having played the villainous Chang Wei in "Hail the Judge," he was perfect for an antagonistic role.

"This..." John Woo's head throbbed upon hearing the list. It was a formidable lineup, but it felt like a "club for the unlucky."

The director—himself—was struggling. Ti Lung might have been a major star, but he was currently considered washed up; his glory had faded with the decline of Shaw Brothers, and he had only recently become a freelancer. Chow Yun-fat, while handsome, was known for being a "box office poison" whose films never performed well. As for Leslie Cheung, while he was a popular singer, he was still a newcomer in the film industry, having only appeared in small, low-grossing productions. The only potential upside was his fan base. And finally, Ni Xing—someone John Woo had never even heard of. Gathering such a group together, one could easily imagine the lack of public interest. If they had any advantage, it was that they were cheap and wouldn't consume too much of the production budget.

John Woo gritted his teeth. Low actor costs meant more funds could be poured into the actual production. For him, this film was not only perfect for his tastes but also his do-or-die chance for a comeback.

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On the grand opening day, having successfully recruited John Woo—a future legendary figure—Yan Xu’s smile never faded. "A Better Tomorrow" would gross nearly 35 million at the Hong Kong box office, and his company would undoubtedly become an overnight success, tasting the top spot in the Hong Kong film rankings—a position usually reserved for the industry giants.

At the auspicious hour of noon, after the ribbon-cutting and firecrackers, the gongs and drums sounded, and the lion dance troupe began a vibrant performance. The reporters, fans, and onlookers who couldn't fit inside almost completely blocked the street, forcing nearby uniformed police to gather to maintain order.

"Did you miss me?" After seeing off some of the urgent guests and ushering the remaining ones into the prepared banquet hall, Yan Xu followed a signal from Vivian Chow into a room on the other side of the corridor. As soon as they entered, Yan Xu pulled her delicate frame into his arms.

"No," Vivian said with a sweet smile, leaning into his embrace while gently hugging him back.

"If you didn't miss me, why are you holding me so tight?" Yan Xu stroked her hair. They hadn't seen each other for a long time. Vivian was currently promoting her second album, and because it was being released across Southeast Asia, she had been traveling constantly and hadn't been in Hong Kong for a while. She had specifically cut her Singapore promotional tour short to return for the opening of Yan Xu's company, and she would have to fly back the next day for a fan concert.

"Did you miss me, then?" Vivian looked up at him. Although she was already a popular star, she was only eighteen, and in front of her man, she remained a young girl seeking a sense of reliance.

"Of course I did," Yan Xu said, clearly feeling the girl's attachment to him.

"And what parts of me did you miss?"

"I missed everything—here, here, and here..." Yan Xu's hand moved slowly downward