Chapter 529: When One Has No Trouble, Aid Pours in from All Directions

“I’m sure,” Del Toro said. “I believe he’s serious.”

“Okay,” she said as the screen of her other phone lit up. “Hold on, let me see… Speak of the devil, it’s Howard West calling. I have to go.”

She hung up on Del Toro and answered Howard West’s call.

“So, what have you decided?” Howard West asked. “Is it Depp or Li Wei?”

“I’ll answer you with a classic movie line, my dear Mr. Howard West,” Sarah Kelly said, clearing her throat.

“In case I never see you again, then fuck your mother in the morning, fuck your mother at noon, and fuck your mother at night.”

With that, she hung up the phone before Howard West could even react.

Her assistant stood by, dumbfounded.

“Uh… Ms. Kelly, was that really appropriate?” Her teeth were chattering. “What if we all have to work together again in the future?”

“Oh? We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” said Sarah Kelly. “The important thing is that I feel good right now. If we really have to work together again, I’ll just go blow him. If he can still get it up, that is.”

“This is Hollywood. You’ll get used to it,” she said, snapping her fingers at her assistant. “Go get me the script for *The Last Flying Dragon* and put it with Li Wei’s file. I’ll look at them in a bit.”

Seeing her assistant still frozen in place, she couldn’t help but cough again.

“Go on,” she said.

On the other end of the line, Howard West, who had just been hung up on, was angry. But at his age, he was used to this level of verbal sparring. What truly infuriated him was that Netflix and Del Toro had dared to openly defy his will. That was what really got to him.

“Fine,” he muttered to himself, picking up the phone again. “If you don’t want my money, then you won’t be taking anyone’s money.”

「The next day, in a villa suite at the Bel Air Hotel.」

Li Wei and Don Quixote were having breakfast in the room. An iPad sat on the table in front of Li Wei, with Jin Heon, Arthur, and Mark all online.

“How much do I have in my personal account right now?” Li Wei asked. “…133 million USD? Wow, that went pretty fast.”

“Of course,” Arthur said over the video call. “The villa on Long Island alone cost 43 million USD, not to mention the recent team bonuses and other expenses.”

“Looks like I earn a lot, but I spend a lot too,” Li Wei said with a smile to Don Quixote beside him. “I’ll have to keep working hard to earn more.”

“How much are you planning to invest, Mr. Li Wei?” Mark asked. “50 million?”

“Let’s invest about half of it… 60 million,” Li Wei said after a moment’s thought, looking at Don Quixote. “What do you think? How about we invest it under the name of Horizon Holdings?”

“Sure, let’s give it a shot,” Don Quixote nodded. “I’ll give JPMorgan Chase a heads-up and run it through risk control first. That’ll make the wire transfer easier later.”

Jin Heon suddenly spoke up. “Boss, we haven’t had a chance to spend next month’s advertising budget for LW Beverage yet. I was thinking we could add that to the pool. LW Beverage can contribute another 20 million. What do you think?”

“Isn’t LW Beverage running ad campaigns on TikTok and Facebook?” Li Wei asked, surprised. “How come you haven’t had a chance to spend it yet?”

“Oh,” Jin Heon paused for a second, then said quickly, “I forgot to send it. Sorry, I’ll send it to you separately after this.”

After the short morning meeting ended, Jin Heon called him. Her tone was full of grievance. “Boss, did you even read the briefing I sent you?”

“I read it.”

“No, you didn’t,” Jin Heon said. “I wrote in there that we need time to test the ad campaign methods and find the optimal placement combination. We can’t rush it. The budget for March is enough for our tests, and we don’t expect to start spending for real until May at the earliest. That means the April budget is freed up.”

“Alright,” Li Wei said, taking a sip of coffee to hide his embarrassment. “Then let’s add LW Beverage to the pot. I’ll have the film’s legal team draw up a co-branding and product placement contract.”

“Okay,” Jin Heon said. “Also, the woman from the advertising department said Howard West issued a statement. He publicly announced that he’s pulling all his funding from the production. It looks like he’s declared war on us and doesn’t want any Hollywood money going into this project.”

“That Howard West wants to suck up to Stan Kroenke, so of course he’s against me,” Li Wei scoffed. “These old guys are the most stubborn. He thinks he’s a big shot in his little Hollywood pond and acts like Hollywood is the only place in the world with money.”

“You’re amazing, Boss,” Jin Heon said with a laugh. “He probably thinks that when he speaks, everyone in Hollywood has to listen.”

“Keep me updated if anything happens,” Li Wei said with a smile. “Thanks for your hard work.”

“N-No problem,” Jin Heon suddenly stammered. “It’s what I’m supposed to do.”

After hanging up, Li Wei thought for a moment and contacted Jason Miller, asking him to get the car ready to take him shopping.

Maxfield, known as one of the world’s top high-fashion boutiques.

Its exterior was a block of dark gray concrete, giving off a “no poor people allowed” vibe.

It was morning, so the store was mostly empty, with only one clerk dressed in all black inside.

Li Wei browsed the store with Don Quixote and Jason Miller, looking to buy something to bring back for Anya and Elizabeth.

When the clerk saw Li Wei walk in, he didn’t recognize him at first glance. It was only on the second look that his eyes widened in sudden recognition.

Being very discreet, he didn’t disturb Li Wei. Instead, he picked up a sign, hung it on the door, closed the shop, and followed Li Wei from a distance.

Li Wei picked out a jacket for Anya and a necklace for Elizabeth.

Then he thought for a moment longer and remembered Jin Heon.

So he picked out a bracelet for Jin Heon as well.

Once he started, he decided to go all out, picking out watches for Don Quixote and himself. He even got one for Jason Miller, who was accompanying them.

“Mr. Li Wei, this…” Jason Miller’s eyes went wide as he stared at the Rolex Submariner on his wrist. “This is too much.”

“Just take it,” Li Wei said casually while trying on his own watch. “You’ve been running around with me a lot these past few days.”

Li Wei didn’t stop until his total spending exceeded 300,000 USD.

Just as he was about to pay, a message came in from Anya, which included a link.

Anya: [>]

Anya: [Voice Message]

Anya: [Voice Message]

Li Wei couldn’t be bothered to listen, so he just video-called her directly.

A second later, the call connected. Anya was lying down in a beauty salon, her face covered with a mask and some unidentifiable device.

“Hey,” Anya’s lips barely moved. “Did you see the news? Who’s this old bastard, acting all high and mighty?”

“An old Hollywood guy. I looked him up. He’s friends with the owner of the team I bought out,” Li Wei said with a laugh. “It’s normal for him to not like me.”

“Old coot,” Anya mumbled. “Is your movie short on cash? How much do you need?”

“There was a 50 million shortfall, but I’m planning to invest 80 million, so it’s already taken care of,” Li Wei said, turning the camera. “I’m at Maxfield. Take a look at this jacket, what do you think?”

“Hmm… bring the camera a little closer, let me see the waistline,” Anya said, looking carefully. She nodded in satisfaction. “Nice. Have them wrap it up.”

“Oh, right. I just had Auntie Kaja tell the trust office,” she said after a moment’s thought, adding, “I’m investing 20 million USD in your movie, too.”

“You don’t have to,” Li Wei laughed. “What if you lose money?”

“It’s just 20 million. If I lose it, I lose it,” Anya said coquettishly. “Aiya! Okay, I’ve got to go. My arm is tired from holding up the phone. Love you, bye.”

Li Wei hung up, the smile still on his face, when his phone rang again.

It was Elizabeth.

“What are you up to?” Elizabeth’s voice came through. “Did you see the news?”

“Picking out a gift for you,” Li Wei said. “Want me to start a video call so you can see it?”

“Wait a second…” Elizabeth paused. “Let me change my clothes.”

She hung up, then called back a few dozen seconds later.

On screen, Elizabeth had changed into a shirt and was sitting on her bed, leaning against the headboard.

“They said this is some kind of limited edition,” Li Wei said, aiming the camera at the item. “Do you think it’s pretty?”

“It’s beautiful,” Elizabeth said. “You can put it on me yourself when you get back.”

Don Quixote: ?

Jason Miller: ?

The clerk: ?