Chapter 460: Acquisition of Amuse Cinemas

At the Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, in the top-floor private room at Harbour City in Kowloon, Xia Yu sat across from Jiang Zhijiang. The table between them was adorned with a variety of exquisite dim sum, and each had a cup of hot tea in front of them.

Seeing Xia Yu smiling at him, Jiang Zhijiang felt somewhat uneasy. 

Although Xia Yu was much younger, his power and social standing far surpassed Jiang Zhijiang's, which made him feel pressured. 

"Mr. Jiang, since I invited you here tonight, you must have some guesses as to why," Xia Yu said directly, his tone calm as he guided the conversation toward the topic.

Jiang Zhijiang nodded and replied, "I do have some guesses, but I'm not sure if they're correct." 

In truth, ever since receiving Xia Yu's invitation, Jiang Zhijiang had been pondering over the possibilities. 

As the saying goes, "No one does something for nothing!" After much thought, Jiang Zhijiang concluded that the only things that could catch Xia Yu's eye were his Amuse Film Company and Amuse Cinemas. 

Other than those, there was nothing else about him that could possibly interest Xia Yu.

Having made this guess, Jiang Zhijiang thought a lot and struggled with his decision, eventually deciding to attend the meeting with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. 

Xia Yu nodded slightly and said, "Then I won't beat around the bush."

Hearing this, Jiang Zhijiang was caught off guard, but he immediately straightened his posture and focused intently on Xia Yu, awaiting his direct approach.

"I want to buy Amuse Cinemas and Amuse Films," Xia Yu said calmly, but the words sent shockwaves through Jiang Zhijiang's heart.

Jiang Zhijiang took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay composed. After a long pause, he smiled bitterly and asked, "Mr. Xia, it's an honor that you've taken an interest in my company, but I'm a bit puzzled. Could I ask you a few questions?"

Seeing that Jiang Zhijiang didn't reject him outright, Xia Yu smiled and nodded, "Go ahead!"

"Mr. Xia, the film industry is a small sector. You're one of Hong Kong's top tycoons, so it's hard to imagine you'd be interested in such modest profits. Why do you want to enter the film industry?"

After speaking, Jiang Zhijiang gazed intently at Xia Yu, eager to understand his true intentions.

As he said, the film industry was relatively small; the most prominent figure was the Shaw family, but even they were minor players compared to Xia Yu.

The real elite families had little interest in the film and entertainment industries, often looking down on them. While these families might invest in television due to its media influence and the control it provided, the film industry was seen mainly as entertainment, with negligible media impact.

Thus, Xia Yu's sudden interest in the film industry was bound to cause a massive shake-up. If Xia Yu was determined to enter, the entire Hong Kong film industry would be reshuffled, and even Shaw would struggle to compete.

Because of this, Jiang Zhijiang didn't dare refuse Xia Yu outright. He needed to grasp Xia Yu's true motives to decide the best course of action.

Noticing Jiang Zhijiang's thoughts, Xia Yu's lips curled into a subtle smile as he explained, "Compared to the financial sector, the film industry is indeed small, but my goal isn't to make money from films. It's about integrating it into my cultural media and entertainment chain. Look at my current companies, and you'll understand its importance."

Hearing this, Jiang Zhijiang was stunned. As he pondered Xia Yu's words, his heart sank further with each thought.

From these few simple sentences, he sensed Xia Yu's unwavering determination. If it was a matter of industry strategy, then Xia Yu's decision was set in stone—no one could stop him from entering the film industry.

This was bad news! The film industry had caught the eye of a real mogul, and Xia Yu's focus on cinemas was a fittingly grand gesture. Jiang Zhijiang couldn't help but smile bitterly.

He took another deep breath to calm himself, thanked Xia Yu for his explanation, and then asked once more, "Mr. Xia, why are you interested in my company?"

Under Jiang Zhijiang's scrutinizing gaze, Xia Yu shook his head with a smile, saying something that left Jiang Zhijiang momentarily dumbfounded.

"It's not your company I'm interested in."

"I'm interested in you, the talent!"

"Me?"

At first, Jiang Zhijiang didn't quite grasp what Xia Yu meant, but upon seeing Xia Yu's affirmative look, he felt overwhelmed with surprise.

"Mr. Xia, you're too kind. I'm not worthy of being called a talent," Jiang Zhijiang said quickly, though inwardly he was pleased. Being highly regarded by a prominent figure felt like a huge honor.

"I don't compliment people lightly. You truly are a rare talent in the film industry."

"If it were just about cinemas, do you think I couldn't buy all the independent theaters and create the largest cinema chain in Hong Kong?"

Xia Yu spoke lightly, but Jiang Zhijiang couldn't help but agree—he knew Xia Yu could easily achieve that.

At this point, it all seemed to make sense to Jiang Zhijiang; Xia Yu's reasoning was the only one that fit. After all, Amuse Cinemas only had four theaters. Although it was one of the top five cinema chains, it was still the smallest. Xia Yu could easily create a chain bigger than his.

"Mr. Jiang, I'm planning to build a cinema chain that will rival Shaw and Golden Harvest, and I hope you'll manage it for me. Sell your Amuse Cinemas and Amuse Films to me."

"This will help you realize your dreams even more."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhijiang's expression turned serious. After much contemplation, he realized that agreeing to Xia Yu's acquisition was the best option.

Whether he agreed or not, Xia Yu's entry into the film industry was inevitable.

It was like a giant crocodile entering a small pond—everyone would be affected, including him. He was no match for the impact of such a powerful force.

Furthermore, Jiang Zhijiang was genuinely passionate about film, more so than making money. He ran Amuse Cinemas and Films to support his dreams. When his mother had asked him last year how long he planned to make movies, he had replied, "Until I run out of money."

In his mind, making money was secondary. What mattered was the applause from the audience—it was enough to make life joyful.

With Xia Yu's backing, Jiang Zhijiang knew he could pursue his passion more effectively. 

Considering his feelings, the reality of the situation, and his commitment to his dreams, Jiang Zhijiang knew that agreeing was the best choice.

With this realization, Jiang Zhijiang nodded at Xia Yu, who was smiling at him, and said, "Mr. Xia, thank you for your appreciation. I'm willing to sell my company to you!"

"Then let's proceed with the negotiations!"

With that, Xia Yu and Jiang Zhijiang began discussing the specific details of acquiring Amuse Cinemas and Amuse Films. 

Jiang Zhijiang's attitude was cooperative, and since Xia Yu needed him to manage the chain, Xia Yu wasn't stingy and offered him a price that exceeded expectations, sealing the deal for Amuse Cinemas and Amuse Films. Jiang Zhijiang was also appointed as the general manager of the cinema chain.