Reborn in Russia as a Big Shot

45. Proposing

Zhang Baizhi is a top celebrity in Hong Kong, and his endorsement fee is usually between HK$150 million and HK$200 million per year, but Zhang Renyong slashed it down to HK$85.

But words alone are not enough; Zhang Baizhi's agency is China Star, and his endorsement agreement must be signed with the Xiang family.

Zhang Renyong patted his chest and assured everyone that he could handle it.

-

Zhang Renyong returned to Hong Kong overnight.

Sha Tin, Kau To Shan, Hong Lok Yuen.

"Dad, what happened to you?" Zhang Baizhi was half asleep when he received a call from his gambling father, which startled him awake.

"Good news." Zhang Renyong was eager to see his daughter. After getting out of the taxi, he ran all the way, his head covered in sweat.

Looking at his father's expression, Zhang Baizhi muttered, "Why am I a little scared?"

"Get me something to drink, something cold." Zhang Renyong sat down on the sofa, caught his breath, took a Sprite, gulped it down, and said, "Xiao Zhi, I've connected you with a guy from overseas."

"What brand is it?" Zhang Baizhi breathed a sigh of relief; it really was a good thing.

"I didn't ask."

Zhang Baizhi said with a wry smile, "So what are you talking about? You reek of alcohol, were you drinking and bragging with your friends?"

"I'm not bragging, it's true," Zhang Renyong said, downplaying the issue. "My friend owns a company called GG in Russia, and he asked me to help him find a director in Hong Kong. We were talking about spokespeople, and that's how we ended up talking about you. We were originally going to use Fan Bingbing, but I strongly recommended you, and that's why we chose you. The date is already set."

"Get ready, I'm flying to Russia with you next week."

"I don't have time next week," Zhang Baizhi said.

"No availability? Can't you postpone it? I'm in a hurry," Zhang Renyong threatened. "I've already received the deposit; if I don't go, I'll have to pay them back."

"What right do you have to accept a deposit? Endorsement deals need to be discussed with China Star."

"I'll negotiate. Why wouldn't they make money if they have the chance? You just need to free up your time. It won't take long, just two weeks."

China Star definitely couldn't agree to the 85 yuan endorsement fee. Zhang Renyong was prepared to give all 85 yuan to the Xiang family and not want Zhang Baizhi's share.

We have to keep this from Zhang Baizhi; we can't tell her.

Although doing this is a bit like being generous with other people's money, as long as I can master micro-expressions, I can gradually accumulate wealth by going to various casinos and eventually pay back my daughter double the losses.

Zhang Baizhi said with a troubled expression, "Tingfeng made an appointment with me three months in advance to go on vacation to the Philippines next Wednesday."

"Is vacation more important or work? You can go on vacation anytime, but work opportunities are gone if you miss them." Zhang Renyong was still a little unhappy when talking about Nicholas Tse, "I really look down on that kid, he's so stingy when I borrow money from him."

"You even borrowed money from someone?" Zhang Baizhi bared his teeth in anger.

Zhang Renyong argued, "I didn't really want to borrow it. I just wanted to test him. Is 50,000 yuan a lot to him? It's just the cost of a few meals. He even threatened to call me and say he would only lend me the money if I agreed."

Zhang Baizhi chimed in, "This is what I gave up."

"Fine, he has your imperial decree, and he didn't lend it to me, so he's got it over with," Zhang Renyong said, rolling his eyes. "Besides being good-looking, what else is good about him? If Wang Fei hadn't gotten married last year, would he have stayed with you out of spite?"

Zhang Baizhi's expression changed instantly, his eyes widening, "What are you saying?"

Zhang Renyong pressed further, "Did he ever say he would marry you?"

Zhang Baizhi pouted and said, "Not yet."

Zhang Renyong urged impatiently, "Call him right away and postpone the vacation. Put yourself in his shoes; if he suddenly has work, could you at least be a little more flexible with your schedule?"

Zhang Baizhi said, "It's too late, let's talk about it tomorrow."

"He definitely didn't sleep tonight in Liverpool. Call him and I'll talk to him."

Zhang Renyong downed the remaining half bottle of Sprite in one gulp and said arrogantly, "Zhang Baizhi, I've never been satisfied with him. Whether it's work or vacation, if he can't even tell the difference between what's important and what's not, even if you two really get married in the future, don't come to see me. I can't stand it."

Zhang Baizhi was still a little reluctant: "Let's wait until the contract is signed before we talk about it. It's not like we can even reach an agreement."

Zhang Renyong ordered, "Say it first. If you two don't reach an agreement, then you can go."

"Annoying." Zhang Baizhi handed the phone to his father. "You tell them yourself, and speak to them properly. I'm going to sleep."

-

Tonight is the Champions League group stage match between PSV Eindhoven and Liverpool. Nicholas Tse isn't at home; he's at his father's place, and the two are watching the game together.

"He was quite happy before answering the phone, but why did his head droop after going out for a while?" Xie Xian could tell at a glance that his son was in a bad mood.

Nicholas Tse said with a worried look, "Pak is going to Russia next week to film GG."

Xie Xian looked bewildered. "You're not proposing?"

"I'm having the same problem," Nicholas Tse sighed. "If I tell her I'm going to propose to her in the Philippines, she'll definitely go, but then there won't be any surprise."

"If I don't tell her and postpone the proposal to accommodate her schedule, it wouldn't be good to change things up so suddenly, since all the relatives and friends have already been notified."

"Is that all?" Xie Xian smiled and said, "You have to be patient with women. The more you indulge her, the more touched she will be."

"It's easy to talk to relatives and friends. I'll make the calls for you. They'll understand that this is a major life event. Just make sure the surprise doesn't turn into a shock, and you don't propose and they don't say yes. That would be incredibly embarrassing."

"Thank you, Dad. I'll let you know about the rescheduling myself." With his father's support, Nicholas Tse immediately felt much more relaxed.

"Sit down and watch the game," Xie Xian said, grumbling as he watched TV. "His feet are really stinky. Why don't you try to get past him?"

-

Following Li Xiang's instructions, Han Jiayin registered a brand new cosmetics brand, YUREMI, on the Japanese island. The transliteration of YUREMI in Chinese is 优乐美.

Then, for $26, they acquired a small cosmetics company in the Kansai region and obtained the right to use its formula.

These recipes don't have much commercial value, but they can save time.

Japan has very strict regulations on cosmetics. If you want to develop your own products and apply for them one by one, it would take two or three years to even complete the process.

With Yong Ge's coordination, YUREMI finalized a one-year endorsement agreement with China Star for Zhang Baizhi at a price of HK$85.

The agreement stipulates that the portion of the fees that Zhang Baizhi should receive will be separately agreed upon by Yuremi and Zhang Baizhi, and China Star will not participate in the profit sharing.

Yong Ge also has to be responsible for finding Director GG.

Li Xiang did not wait for them to leave together. After finalizing the endorsement contract, he and his aunt Dalia transited through Tokyo Haneda Airport and flew to Vladivostok.

To access the Ivanov family's underground assets, Natasha needs the approval of both her aunt and stepmother; not a single vote is sufficient.

After spending these days together, Dalia was basically satisfied with Li Xiang, her niece's husband, and getting her vote wouldn't be a problem.

Elena, Natasha's stepmother, made a strict requirement that Natasha and Li Xiang must have a child, and it must be a boy, so that they could be considered family.

Although Natasha was not yet due to give birth, she already knew the baby's gender.

The hard requirements have been met.

The Ivanov family had more than $1500 million in hidden assets, and Li Xiang wanted to use this to his advantage, just like before, while helping them launder money.

Dalia became an "accomplice" because she wanted to wait until Qian Run was out of the company, then take a portion of the family funds to create a fully enclosed eel industry chain.

They handle everything themselves, from catching fish fry and raising and fattening them to processing and exporting the fish.

Dalia views the eel business as a family revival plan.

In his previous life, Li Xiang couldn't remember exactly when the EU started banning eel exports.

However, after Brexit, the EU stopped buying British eel larvae, and large quantities of British eel larvae were smuggled into Asian markets by Hong Kong triads.

Fish fry bought for 300 euros in the UK can be smuggled to Asia, farmed and fattened, processed and exported, and eventually sold for 30,000 euros!

The reason why it is so difficult to eradicate is because the sentences are too lenient. For gangsters, being arrested for two or three years is like taking a vacation. After they come out, they can go back to having fun and dancing.

Li Xiang and Dalia flew to Vladivostok together with a clear purpose: to work together to persuade Elena.