Chapter 157: The First Shot of the Dragons

December 22, 1985, was a date worthy of remembrance for both Yan Xu and Dragon Pictures.

"The Romancing Star" stood as the debut production of Dragon Pictures, and it had garnered immense attention from within the industry. Long before its premiere, invitations from Dragon had been distributed far and wide across the film circle. Baskets of flowers arrived in an endless stream, and by the time the premiere ceremony commenced, the entire lobby of the Golden Theatre was virtually filled with floral arrangements of every shape and kind.

"Look, it's Joey Wong! Gorgeous, I love you!"

"That's Leslie Cheung. Wow, he really is so handsome."

"Sigh, it's Ti Lung. Why does he look so aged? It's been quite a long time since I last saw him on the big screen. He used to be so dashing."

...

Given that this was the inaugural salvo for Dragon Pictures, nearly everyone associated with the company was in attendance. The crew of "A Better Tomorrow," which was currently in the midst of tense shooting, had even taken a special day off to show their support for Fat Wang.

Yan Xu's car slowly pulled up to the entrance of the theater. From a distance, he caught sight of the massive posters hanging outside the Golden Theatre: five men striking various comical expressions and poses, clutching cardboard signs bearing the film's title, while Vivian Chow stood in the center clad in a beige dress, wearing a sweet smile, exuding pure and adorable charm.

Beyond these, the exterior of the Golden Theatre was densely packed with cheering crowds and media personnel setting up all manner of long lenses and heavy artillery. Gazing at such a lively scene, Yan Xu felt a slight sense of relief. He had truly feared encountering a desolate, freezing atmosphere. After all, this was the release of the very first film since the establishment of Dragon Pictures, and it was a matter of face and reputation.

"Someone else is arriving."

"It's Young Master Yan."

As entertainment reporters, they were thoroughly familiar with the license plate numbers and car models of various celebrities. The moment Yan Xu's car approached, those sharp-eyed reporters recognized it and swarmed forward in a single wave.

The car came to a smooth halt. Yan Xu stepped out wearing a black casual outfit. Amidst the flashing lights of the reporters, he did not walk directly toward the Golden Theatre. Instead, he walked around to the other side of the car and opened the door, instantly drawing the gaze of every reporter toward him.

From within the doorway, the first thing to emerge was a pair of black high-heeled ankle boots. Extending upward from those boots was a pair of long legs that stirred envy in every woman and covetous desire in every man. Though tightly encased in black leggings, the alluring contours of those slender legs were only heightened. A black one-piece dress reached mid-thigh, accented by a red belt that appeared exceptionally bright and vibrant against the all-black attire. Her expression blended pure innocence with a hint of melancholy, evoking an involuntary sense of pity in anyone who beheld her.

"Joey Wong! It's Joey Wong!"

Seeing Joey Wong step out of the car while holding hands with Yan Xu, the reporters' camera flashes erupted once more in rapid succession. The imagery of the two of them walking forward hand in hand could undoubtedly be spun into all manner of colorful stories.

"Young Master Yan, have your injuries from falling off a horse a while ago completely healed?"

"Young Master Yan, did your injuries have any impact on the filming of your new movie?"

"Miss Wong, is it true that Young Master Yan was injured last time because he was saving you?"

"Miss Wong, I heard you and Young Master Yan share quite a few intimate scenes in 'A Chinese Ghost Story'?"

"Young Master Yan, are you and Miss Wong dating?"

Although Yan Xu had made an appearance at the celebratory banquet for "Mr. Vampire" some time ago, he had arrived in a hurry and left in a flash, affording reporters zero opportunity for interviews. This time, however, attending the premiere of his own company's maiden film, there was no escaping them. Once they had traversed the red carpet, a mob of reporters hemmed Yan Xu and Joey Wong into the center, and the ambiguous hand-holding between Yan Xu and Joey Wong made the multitude of reporters feel as though they had struck gold.

Facing the array of microphones thrust before him and the barrage of rapid-fire questions from the journalists, Yan Xu had to maintain a masked smile even if he felt displeased.

"Everyone take it slow, I'm not going to run away. With all of you shouting questions at once like a swarm of bees, I don't even know which one to answer." With one hand holding Joey Wong's petite hand, Yan Xu used his other hand to gesture for quiet among the reporters.

Those kings without crowns knew that such a chaotic line of questioning would get them nowhere. Under Yan Xu's gesture, they gradually quieted down. Operating with what seemed like tacit coordination, those in front asked questions, those behind held digital recorders to capture the audio, and those further back snapped continuous photographs.

"Young Master Yan, you and Miss Wong are attending the premiere together today, and both of you are dressed in black. Is this an intentional matching couple's look?" The first question came from a female reporter. Despite her petite stature, she refused to yield an inch while squeezed among the pack of journalists.

"Do we really look like a couple?" Yan Xu pulled Joey Wong to stand beside him as he faced the press. "If you hadn't mentioned it, I truly wouldn't have known. Look, do we look well-matched together?"

"Of course you're well-matched! Are the two of you actually together?"

"Definitely a match! A talented, wealthy young master and a tall, stunning beauty—it's the epitome of a handsome man and a fair maiden. You couldn't be a better match."

Yan Xu's gesture instantly claimed the sacrifice of numerous photographic frames, and the reporters found themselves unconsciously swept along by his words.

"That gentleman is entirely correct; our appearances are definitely a match." Yan Xu's remark led many reporters to realize that a major news scoop might be in the making. Every journalist's eyes fixed intently on him, and even Joey Wong, whose hand was tightly clasped by his, gave a slight squeeze.

"Otherwise, we wouldn't have been cast as the male and female leads in 'A Chinese Ghost Story.' Although this film of ours is a fantasy movie, romance is also one of its central threads, running through it from beginning to end. It is not only suited for friends who enjoy martial arts and fantasy, but also perfect for couples." Seeing that the reporters' attention had been fully captured, Yan Xu smiled faintly and shifted the conversation to promoting his new film.

As soon as Yan Xu uttered those words, the journalists realized they had been played. Many already harbored resentful thoughts about how to twist his words out of context, while Joey Wong, alongside a wave of relief, felt a tiny, unexpected pang of disappointment.

Naturally, some reporters from mainstream publications remained keenly interested in Yan Xu's remarks. Word had it that the production of "A Chinese Ghost Story" had been kept under strict wraps. Apart from the title and the knowledge that the story was drawn from Xiaoqian, virtually nothing else was known. Even the rumor about the film containing numerous intimate scenes had been intentionally leaked by Yan Xu himself just to stoke public curiosity about the project.

"Young Master Yan, I've heard that this film features a heavy dose of passionate scenes. Will it contain bare skin and explicit shots like your previous movies, and might it be classified as a Category III film due to eroticism?"

"That depends entirely on what you define as exposure. Everyone's definition of nudity differs. In ancient China, for a woman simply to bare her arms or reveal her feet was considered exposure and a loss of virtue. Decades ago in cinema, merely exposing one's back constituted a shocking degree of exposure. By today's standards, people are essentially engaging in exposure every single day: those wearing short-sleeve shirts on the streets are exposing skin, those in bikinis by the pool are exposing skin, and at various banquets, those wearing evening gowns are also exposing skin. Of course, the locations vary—some bare their feet, some their arms, some their thighs, some their shoulders, and there's even that pleasant phrase, 'half-revealing fragrant breasts.' These have all become commonplace. No one calls men and women in swimwear at a pool erotic. Exposure does not necessarily equate to erotica; perhaps it is simply allure."

Yan Xu launched into a lengthy discourse. Although "A Chinese Ghost Story" did contain scenes of Joey Wong alluring various men, along with passionate sequences between himself and Joey Wong that revealed Joey Wong's smooth, delicate back, not a single sensitive area was exposed. Certain moments might send a man's pulse racing, but it never crossed into the realm of erotica. Yan Xu possessed a decidedly traditional streak of male protectiveness; Joey Wong was his woman, and he would never permit her to bare anything gratuitous on camera. Besides, with Joey Wong's acting capability, she had zero need to resort to such tactics to grab eyeballs.

"Young Master Yan, how does this film differ from the genres you've tackled in the past? Will the movie still feature plenty of violent and bloody sequences?"

"I have always believed that a film cannot rely purely on violence and gore to capture people's attention; it must captivate through its story. Without a story, no matter how eye-catching the visual effects are, it remains an empty shell. My past films have contained elements of violence and gore, but those were never gratuitous; they were demands of the plot's development. 'A Chinese Ghost Story' is no different—everything is driven primarily by the requirements of the narrative." Yan Xu's answer was ambiguous, neither confirming nor denying. He could not afford to reveal too much, because appreciation for art varied from person to person; what pleased one might alienate another.

"Miss Wong, how does it feel to collaborate with such a great talent like Young Master Yan? Is he very fierce on set? Does he take good care of you during filming?"

Listening to Yan Xu's seasoned, evasive answers, the reporters recognized that unearthing any genuinely valuable news from him was unlikely, so they swiftly shifted their targets. In their view, Joey Wong was a Taiwanese newcomer who had entered the entertainment industry not long ago, young and lacking in experience; perhaps some surprising revelation could be coaxed from her lips.

"Although Young Master Yan is very easygoing in private, he is absolute perfectionism personified when it comes to shooting. I wouldn't call him fierce; I'd simply say he has very high standards. As for taking care of people, Young Master Yan treats everyone in the crew pretty much the same. Not only does he frequently bring us things like fruit and soda, but he also treats the entire crew to meals on a regular basis. Everyone in the crew says he's a wonderful boss." Although young, Joey Wong was sharp-witted; her replies sailed clear of the reporters' traps, destined to leave them empty-handed.