Now was definitely not the time to respond with that trademark Eastern humility. What if people actually believed him? So, Leslie simply gave a calm smile and said, "If I hadn't met her expectations, there's no way the film would've been finished on time."
Jimmy followed up, "It's said you're a hugely famous superstar in Asia, with numerous awards and honors to your name. Taking on Director Laila's film must've meant stepping away from your usual projects for quite a while. If the film were to fail, it could even leave a blemish on your otherwise shining career. So I'd like to ask—what made you decide to take on this role?"
This was another question Jimmy had agreed to ask after discussing it with Laila beforehand. He hadn't known why she wanted it included, but he went along with it anyway.
Leslie replied, "It was the script. After I received it, I read it over and over again, immersing myself in the character. As I reread it, it felt like I was living another life, deeply experiencing everything he went through, seeing into his soul. It was as if my own spirit had merged with the character's. It truly is a story worth savoring."
Jimmy asked again, "If other Hollywood directors invite you in the future, would you consider taking those roles?"
"Whether I accept a role doesn't depend on the person offering it. It always comes down to the script. For a good script, a good story—I'd be very happy to take the part."
Leslie's tone was soft but never unclear. And his answer drew a long round of applause from the audience. Whether they were movie buffs or fans of actors and directors, their ultimate wish was the same—to see an excellent film.
Unfortunately, many actors forget their original aspirations once they become famous. They end up taking on any role they're paid for, churning out trashy films and gaining a reputation as "Kings of Bad Movies." That's why Leslie's words struck such a chord. In the eyes of the audience, this was exactly the kind of quality that made a true actor.
This was precisely why Laila had told Jimmy to include that question during their backstage talk. She knew he'd give a sincere and likable answer. On the surface, the question didn't seem to contain any traps or sharp edges—but if answered poorly, it could easily turn the audience off. But with risk comes reward: answer it well, and it could earn a big wave of goodwill.
And sure enough, his answer was pitch-perfect, instantly winning the respect and affection of the audience.
That made Laila reflect: no one's success is accidental. Maybe luck could bring a moment of fame, but if there was no substance behind it, all that hype would eventually vanish like soap bubbles in the sun.
Just look at all the people who'd gone viral online for one reason or another. They blew up in popularity—"some guy," "some girl," "some sister"—drawing massive attention for a short time. But in the end? When the hype faded, how many people still remembered their names? At most, people might bring them up as jokes now and then.
But the stars who could stay famous for ten, twenty years or more—they had real staying power. Be it through music, TV, film, or variety shows, they had the talent and the work to keep their names alive.
Leslie was one of those stars. He had real skills, real credibility, and it was no surprise that he could so easily win people over.
Just this one talk show had helped him win over a huge number of fans in the U.S. Some were already fans from his previous roles, some were drawn in by his charm on the show, and others fell for his talent after digging up more info on him—fascinated by how versatile and multi-talented he was.
And as his popularity grew, his new American fans began to feel unsatisfied. They wanted more of him—more movies, more music. So naturally, hordes of new fans started flocking to Eastern platforms, hunting down anything related to him.
During that time, netizens in the East were amused to find that Leslie's Weibo page was suddenly flooded with English comments. At first, they thought it was just a bunch of kids showing off their English—but after looking closer, they realized these were actual foreign fans from across the Atlantic!
That absolutely delighted his massive fanbase in the East.
See? That's our idol. Even overseas fans are traveling halfway across the globe just to stan him!
And hey, guests are guests—they couldn't let them come all this way and leave empty-handed! So the elite fan clubs jumped into action, posting tons of informational threads in English to help those clueless international fans understand what made "Gege" (Big Brother) such a legend in Asia.
They made sure to highlight his most iconic works, and soon resource threads were plastered all over the place, letting the foreign fans truly experience Eastern passion and hospitality.
Their shared love of Leslie Cheung brought together fans from both ends of the Earth. They discussed his TV shows and films, they dove into his music—it was a cultural exchange so warm and lively, it could practically rival the legendary "Panda Diplomacy."
Laila didn't hear about all this until a week after the show aired. When she did, she couldn't stop grinning.
High popularity? Great! That meant her film was getting even more free publicity. And she wasn't about to let this wave go to waste—she'd take every ounce of buzz and add fuel to the fire!
"Demi, check what good programs or interviews are coming up soon."
"Yes, BOSS," Demi answered professionally.
In truth, even if the boss hadn't asked, she already had everything lined up. After working with her for over a decade, how could she not know Laila's rhythm by now?
When there were no films to promote, they stayed far away from the media. But the moment a release date was locked in, she'd pull out every media contact they had—ones they'd practically forgotten existed.
And the media outlets? They couldn't do anything about it. They knew full well that Laila only played ball when it suited her. But they had no backbone to say no.
Why?
Because she brought the heat. Anything with her name in it—be it print, ratings, or sales—would instantly skyrocket for no logical reason. So even if the media were bitter about it, they still had to treat her like royalty.
As for regular interviews? They didn't expect much. They just hoped she'd remember them during promo season.
Laila, of course, was aware of her reputation with the press... well, truthfully, she didn't really have a "good" reputation. That's why, when she did do interviews, she always tried to cooperate a bit more—just to avoid burning bridges that could mess with her future publicity.