Half an hour later.
Liu Weiqiang left the conference room holding a manuscript half a centimeter thick, completely immersed in the new novel.
Even Jin Qiqi, who had just entered to greet him, was ignored as he poured all his attention into the novel.
“Boss, what is Director Liu looking at? He seems possessed.”
“It’s nothing else but the novel you, a top agent, leaked.”
Jin Qiqi chuckled awkwardly and quickly changed the subject, “Right, didn’t you ask me to keep an eye on current affairs news, both domestic and international? There’s been new developments today.”
“Tell me.”
“It’s pretty much as you guessed. The United States, the UK, Japan, Pakistan, and other countries friendly with the United States have not only imposed trade restrictions on our Dragon Country but also visa restrictions.
The news didn’t hit the trending topics, you’ll need to check the latest post on Channel One.”
Jin Qiqi briefly explained the news she had been following, then continued, “You were in a meeting just now, and I received a private call from Secretary Ye.
He asked me to relay to you that those countries, including the United States, will likely introduce new policies to restrict cultural exports in industries such as film and television, and music from our Dragon Country.
And Boss, you are likely to be a key target.”
Gao Fei nodded, unsurprised.
These restrictions were all within his expectations.
Now, he was not only an actor, author, and singer, but also the chief engineer of a civilian navigation system, a role that was most sensitive.
If Dragon Country did not agree to share the program code for the civilian navigation system, these restrictions would continue for a long time.
Such tactics were standard operating procedure for the United States.
“Boss, with so many restrictions imposed by these countries, do you really have a solution?”
“Yes! But I’ll need Hank’s help!”
“Then how do you plan to meet him?
Hank is under surveillance right now. Even making a phone call to arrange a meeting is being monitored, and those people are waiting for him to meet you.
Given Hank’s personality, if you bring up anything even remotely political, he’s unlikely to agree to a meeting.”
Jin Qiqi learned about Hank’s current situation from a relative.
In essence, if Hank met with Gao Fei and did not act according to the commands of certain foreign high-ranking officials, his career would be ruined.
Therefore, in his recent interviews, Hank had been avoiding questions about meeting Gao Fei.
“Sister Jin, this is Dragon Country. What kind of storm can a few small fry stir up?”
“You have a plan?”
“Don’t worry, you’ll have news soon.”
Gao Fei smiled mysteriously and did not dwell on the topic of meeting Hank.
Instead, he began discussing the recruitment of new directors for the film and television company with Jin Qiqi.
…
Eight o’clock in the evening, Kyoto Taicheng Hotel.
After attending a banquet, Hank, Lyons, and Kevir entered the hotel, their bodies weary.
Upon reaching the sixteenth floor, the three of them entered room 1608.
Originally, they each had their own rooms.
However, starting from the second day Hank arrived in Dragon Country, a bodyguard team composed entirely of French nationals suddenly arrived in Dragon Country and appeared by his side.
Under the guise of protecting Hank’s safety, they were, in reality, monitoring him, waiting for him to meet Gao Fei.
After all, they were a professional bodyguard team, and the Dragon Country security department could not interfere too much.
This was why Hank, who wanted to collaborate with Gao Fei on a film, had been avoiding the topic of meeting Gao Fei.
As soon as the three entered the room, two tall bodyguards immediately appeared at the hotel entrance, guarding the door.
Inside the room.
The student Kevir leaned against the sofa with a crestfallen expression and said helplessly, “Teacher, I really don’t understand these people who are monitoring you.
Even if you meet Mr. Gao, he won’t tell you the core information about the civilian navigation system, as it’s a core secret of his Dragon Country.
Don’t the people monitoring you realize this?”
“Shut up!”
Hank frowned and hissed, not allowing his student to discuss the matter.
He had indeed received a request from a high-ranking official, but that VIP was not asking him to pry into the secrets of the civilian navigation system.
Instead, he was asked to convey to Gao Fei that if Gao Fei was willing to contact the high-ranking officials of Dragon Country and share the source code of the civilian navigation system, all restrictions on Dragon Country could be lifted.
Furthermore, Gao Fei’s future films, novels, music, and so on could receive various preferential treatment.
However, Hank’s personality was such that the more you pressured him, the less he would comply.
Now, Hank was deliberately not meeting Gao Fei, and he was still in a standoff with that high-ranking official.
Ding! Dong! Ding!
A knock came at the door.
The helpless trio remained motionless, leaning on the sofa and looking at their phones.
The bodyguards outside directly opened the door, and a waiter pushing a trolley entered the room.
Hank required some red wine and dessert after his banquets every night.
After being inspected by the bodyguards, the waiter and trolley were allowed in without issue.
Once the red wine and dessert were all placed on the dining table, the waiter, with his back to the bodyguards, picked up a slip and handed it to Hank.
Hank, who had just received the slip, was momentarily taken aback. He signed it expressionlessly and handed it back to the waiter.
Seeing that everything was normal, the bodyguards escorted the waiter out.
After everyone had left, Hank, his students, and his assistant ate, then Hank got up to go to the bathroom to wash up.
He turned on the shower, and the sound of water immediately filled the entire bathroom.
Hank sat on the toilet and took out a touchscreen phone with a keyboard from his pocket.
It was the same one the waiter had quietly slipped to him while he was signing the slip earlier.
He lit up the screen, which displayed a penguin logo – a very unfamiliar chat software.
Upon opening the software, there was only one contact.
The next second, three or four messages popped up from that contact.
An hour later.
Hank walked out of the bathroom, wiping his hair, and said to his assistant and student, who were sitting on the sofa, “Being constantly monitored isn’t ideal. Help me arrange a meeting with Gao Fei tomorrow.
Also, book our flight tickets, we’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow!”
Seeing their boss suddenly change his mind, Lyons and Kevir were both stunned.
It was only after Hank reminded them again that they snapped back to reality.
Lyons immediately picked up his phone to notify Jin Qiqi that his boss wanted to meet Gao Fei tomorrow.
Upon receiving the message, Jin Qiqi was stunned on the other end of the phone. Had Hank caved?
At the same time, in the suite next door.
The leader of the bodyguard team, upon hearing from the monitor that Hank wanted to meet Gao Fei, let out a sigh of relief and immediately reported the news.
…
The next day.
News of Hank wanting to meet Gao Fei last night somehow spread.
By that evening, several media reporters had received the information.
Learning that Hank’s scheduled meeting time was nine o’clock in the morning, more than twenty media reporters gathered at the Taicheng Hotel early this morning, waiting for the meeting between the two that tens of thousands of netizens had been anticipating.
Hotel reception lounge.
Ten invited reporters sat at the front, adjusting their equipment.
Hank sat on the sofa directly in front, his legs crossed, drinking coffee, and holding an English newspaper.
Behind him, in addition to his assistant Lyons, were four bodyguards dressed in black attire.
Hank had been waiting for Gao Fei to arrive since eight-thirty.
However, when the clock on the wall reached nine-thirty, there was still no sign of Gao Fei outside the reception lounge.
It wasn't until ten o'clock that there was finally movement outside.
Click!
The door to the reception lounge opened, and a man walked in with his entourage.
Upon seeing who it was, everyone present gasped in astonishment.