The Trend Master's Reinforcement Team
The cover of this issue of Modes does stand out,
girls from my company all got one.
It's sold out at the convenience store on my block.
I had to go to another one to get it.
Gina has been in the lead in my neighborhood.
Phoebe is Otakus' dream girl.
I bought both. I'm broke.
The circulation report is out today.
Guess which one won?
Modes.
Gina.
Master's diehard fan!
Gina's diehard fan!
Sleeping Beauty for Modes. Sure win for Master!
Hey... Hey!
Lai Chi-chuen, what are you doing?
Aren't you in a circulation war?
I've assembled a support team.
Uncle Wan-hoi bought 20 copies.
Aunt Ha 25, 30 from anonymous.
I forced 4 on kids at a video arcade.
I swept up all available copies.
A few hundred doesn't make a dent in the circulation.
Still, thank you.
You're welcome.
I spent so much on this war of the century.
When are the results out?
The magazine has been out for a week.
The survey company will give us the first print figure today.
The first week is decisive?
But there are three weeks to go.
The first week shows whether a monthly periodical is selling or not.
The last two weeks can be discounted.
So today we'll know how many copies of Modes were sold?
Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Tsimshatsui, Mongkok and Shatin
are the six key sales locations.
Counting the copies sold in these areas can tell us which is the winner.
Let me push the figure up a bit more.
Hello, Tai-fei, Chuen here.
Lai Chi-chuen, Fatso Chuen!
If you consider me your big brother,
go sweep up Yan's magazine, as many as you can find.
Only in Mongkok, OK? Don't go anywhere else
Meg. Morning, Ms. Kei.
Call me Vincy.
What? You've been back for a week.
Why do you still look so down?
I don't know how to tell you.
Yes, my position is the same, I do the same thing.
But people seem to treat me differently.
Like Ada, she says thank you every time she asks me to do something.
She was not this polite before.
You're over-sensitive.
I don't think so.
And Yan. She's quite rude to me now.
She sometimes doesn't even bother to call me by my name.
Hey, pass me the stickers please.
Hey, get me a boxed lunch, please.
I know what she's thinking.
She thinks of herself as my benefactor.
She's forgotten that when I helped her,
I never called her hey.
Don't dwell on it.
It'll only make you more upset.
Don't forget, this is just a transition period.
Once Modes Girl is up and running, you'll be our editor.
Thank you, Ms. Kei.
It's Vincy.
Thank you, Vincy.
We're going to know the result of the circulation war.
What do you think?
Of course I pray Modes will lose big.
The bigger the loss the better.
Vincy, what about you?
Up until yesterday, I still thought Master would win.
But Ivy told me this morning,
Gina's head office wants the book to look good.
They set aside money to sweep up their magazine.
They have to beat Modes.
It's not that easy for Master to win.
That's good.
Since he decided to use Yan's cover,
Let's see how he'll explain it to the board meeting.
What's taking so long?
It's about time.
Yes, go ahead.
Gina, Central, 25,800 copies.
Yes...Wan Chai, 17,200.
Wan Chai, 17,200.
Tsimshatsui, 19,500.
Mongkok, 21,300.
Causeway Bay, 22,800.
Shatin, 17,400.
Total: 124,000.
20,000 copies more than the last issue of Modes.
What about Modes?
What? Come again.
You sure?
OK, thanks.
Martin, what now?
Why hung up without telling us the figures?
What about Modes?
What does that mean?
All 155,000 copies distributed to these six key districts have sold out.
Yeah!
It's alright, don't feel bad about this.
It's an ongoing war.
We have more battles to fight.
Let's focus on the next issue, OK?
It's this free Creamy gift.
There's no other reason why Modes would outsell Gina by 30,000 copies.
You think this gift was the reason Modes won?
It's certainly not because of this blank cover.
Yes, it was.
Modes wouldn't have won were it not for it.
Master does have an eye for spotting talent
Yan has almost no editorial experience.
But she dared to do what veteran editors wouldn't.
She's the kind of talent that Modes Girl needs.
It's just a gimmick. It's a fluke.
I think...
Your thinking is out.
Without such new thinking,
Modes Girl will meet the same fate as four years ago.
Do you want me to talk to Yan?
Can't you see?
Yan is fiercely loyal to Modes,
she's fiercely loyal to Trend Master.
She's our number two target.
Our number one target is the one closest to her.
Who?
Fan.
If adding a night shift still can't meet demand,
tell the printer to go into three shifts.
Our second print run has to hit the streets in two days.
I know what to do.
I'll tell our distributor to put more men on delivery.
OK.
You wanted to see me?
Chief, I came to say thank you.
If it weren't for you,
my cover wouldn't have been used.
Thank you.
Don't thank me.
It's my job to put the best in our magazine
You should thank yourself.
It was terrific. Well done.
Thank you.
Chief, I made some cookies yesterday.
Try some.
Danielle, try some.
Thank you.
Excuse me.
Danielle, yours.
I don't eat sweets.
You enjoy.
Danielle, tell HR I'm going to promote someone.
OK.
Derek, do you remember what you once told me?
You said what counts in our business is not experience or diligence.
It's aptitude and talent.
I didn't believe you before, but I do now.
It seems a natural has come my way.
Here to see Derek?
Telling him how you knocked out Gina in the first round?
You didn't lose.
Your circulation beat our previous record.
Not winning is losing.
We have more money and more staff,
yet we still lost.
It seems, with Modes around, Gina will never be the bride.
I do hope you mean that.
Reality checks are good for you and Gina.
I know you're mad at me.
Long is your good friend,
Modes is your life's work.
But my hands are tied.
The Americans have lost patience.
This war has to be conclusive.
Only one can be left standing.
If we lose, Gina will be sold.
Call me selfish.
Call it betrayal.
Long must be sacrificed.
I can only win when he's no longer at Modes
Hey, check out our intranet.
There's a memo from HR.
Yan's been promoted to editor.
What? What is it?
Look.
We're now equals.
You can no longer say: You're the editor, you decide.
You owe us dinner.
I'll pick the time and place.
OK.
Yan, congrats.
You must have set our fastest promotion record.
Did you know beforehand and not tell us?
No, I didn't know until now.
Yan, congrats.
Actually I should thank you all.
You've helped me so much.
Or I wouldn't have been promoted so quickly
Thank you.
You've all seen it on our intranet, right?
Yan and Fan are now a team.
We'll find you an assistant.
Before that, Meg and Fong-fong, you two have to share their workload.
No problem.
Sure, whenever you need my help, feel free to ask.
Oh, that's very formal of you...
What should we have for dinner?
This is Ip Long. I'm not available to take your call. Please leave a message.
Chief, it's Yan. Thank you!
It's obvious from the first day Yan was hired,
Ip Long was grooming her for success.
It's really a bit too soon, though.
We can all tell Master is partial to her.
But to this extent? It's outrageous.
Her cover was just a fluke.
He used it as an excuse to promote her.
I have 12 issues under my belt, six times that of Yan.
One of my columns was picked for the cover and feature story.
Shouldn't I have priority over Yan?
Vincy, request my transfer now,
I really don't want to stay and be Yan's help.
I totally understand.
I'd be unhappy too if I were in your shoes.
But we're still in the preparatory stage.
Give me some time.
But I'll be at Yan's beck and call from tomorrow on.
I can't accept this, not even for a day.
Don't keep things to yourself.
Whatever you can't stand, spell it out.
No one likes to take orders from someone inferior.
I understand.
Ms. Kei, Meg.
Yan and I decided that sunglasses should be the topic for our next issue.
Here is the information on several sunglasses labels.
Please have a look.
You alright?
Meg just told me, she doesn't like working under Yan.
It's alright to tell Fan about it.
Be frank with me.
Fan, I don't want to be Yan's assistant.
I can't bring myself to do it.
I'm no less capable or experienced.
I'm not blaming her for leapfrogging me.
I just don't have her luck,
I don't have the backing of Trend Master.
I just find it unfair.
Making us to work together means misery for me.
You're thinking too much.
Yan doesn't see it that way.
She won't order you around.
I don't know how she thinks.
It's the way I think.
Call me petty.
I have a thorn in my side.
You don't want us to fall out because of it, right?
OK. I'll tell her you're tied up with Ada's work, so you're not available.
Thank you.
Don't tell Yan about this, alright?
I'll go back to my work.
Fan, are you free this evening?
What is it?
It's not the right time to ask you to write advertorials for me,
but my people may not be able to meet the client's demand.
Do me a favor.
OK. It's not my first advertorial for AM.
The client and I will talk about it this evening.
Join us if you have time.
OK.
What's so urgent?
Record a few lines for me.
Just repeat what I say.
What is this about? Be more specific.
Don't worry about it. Just repeat what I say, OK
Listen.
Fan won't make a comeback. He's already a has-been.
Let him...
What does Fan have to do with this? Why should I say such a thing?
Kei Wan-wan has photos of us.
I want to keep my family intact.
You don't want a scandal.
We have to do whatever she says.
She has us by our jugulars.
What does that woman want?
My mind was on ousting Ip Long,
I overlooked that witch.
Forget about Fan going back to you.
Don't think.
Just repeat what I say.
Listen.
Fan won't make a comeback.
He's already a has-been.
Let him run his course at Modes.
Mr Ip, what do you think about these outfits?
They're OK.
I'll reserve some pages for you.
I'll have an editor contact you.
Thank you, girls. You can go change.
Chief, may I have a word with you alone?
Let me go check the outfits.
What is it? I'm in a hurry.
I want to apologize to you.
I gave you a lot of trouble by doing the cover for Gina.
I'm sorry.
You done?
Martin, call Danielle to pick an editor to feature these outfits.
OK.
Chief, can I model for Modes again?
Whoever has modelled for Gina is not welcome at Modes.
No, you will not appear in Modes again.
Chief...
Believe me, I promise you I won't model for other magazines again,
not even Gina.
I know Zita is investigating your Closet days.
She's digging up dirt on you.
Believe me, I'm on your side.
Chief...
Zita lost the first round.
It seems she's digging dirt for the second.
Don't worry. I've contacted my friend at Closet.
He'll take care of it.
You and James keep an eye on Kei Wan-wan.
I'm sure she's busy pulling strings behind my back.
She has her own turf now.
I'm sure Modes is no longer her concern.
I know very well the pool of magazine talents.
She wants to be my equal.
She will poach talents from me.
OK. I'll keep an eye on her.
You have one message.
Hello, Chief, it's Yan. Thank you.
I want to say...you have my word,
I won't let you down.
From now on,
the name Cheung Yat-ning will always appear alongside Ip Long in Modes.
Fan, come on over.
Let me introduce.
John Chan, Marketing Director of Lumo.
Hello, Mr Chan.
Editor of Modes.
Vincy has told me about you.
Please have a seat.
I have the highest regard for talented young men like you.
Mr Chan, what do you think about the advertorial?
I'm not a good judge of advertisement.
I'll leave it to you, Francis.
I trust you and Vincy.
John was just praising this issue's cover.
He thinks it's very creative.
John, you can rest assured.
After the launch of Modes Girl,
Fan will handle all of Lumo's advertisements.
Me?
Vincy, is there a misunderstanding on Mr Chan's part?
No. Modes and Modes Girl are under one company.
Staff of the two are interchangeable.
I'll talk with your chief later about your formal transfer.
Here's the information on Lumo's latest products.
See if it'll give you some new ideas.
This major client is yours now.
Fan, hear me out.
Yes, I was using you as an editor of Modes.
Stop and hear me out.
It's not easy to get ads for a new magazine
Modes Girl was revived because I promised the board a certain amount of ads.
You may think I'm using you.
Actually, I'm helping you.
I'm giving you a chance to help yourself.
Only with Modes Girl up and running will you be able to do what you like.
Fan will not make a comeback.
He's already a has-been.
It's really not up to me.
I've talked with Ip Long.
I thought the scandal would die out.
I've contacted several labels.
No one has any interest in him.
The best I can do is leave him at Modes and let him find his own way.
How did you get that?
I called Martha this morning to talk about you.
It's my practice to tape all my business conversations.
I thought hard about whether I should let you hear it.
In the end, I thought you had the right to know.
Yan, I downloaded some literature on sunglasses.
You may find it useful.
Great. Thank you.
You're welcome.
Yan, I'm sorry.
Ada has made it clear,
I can't give you a hand before my own work is done.
It's alright.
Every team has two members.
Even with Fong-fong counted as half,
Mine is already the biggest team.
Don't worry, it's just two team,
I could even handle three teams at once.
You're yawning. Three teams?
It's almost midnight.
You guys go.
I'll go once I've tied things up.
OK.
Bye...
Do you know what I used to be when I was a kid?
I was a mediocre student in my studies and on the sports ground.
I had no interests and excelled at nothing.
I never won any praise.
Sometimes I thought I was invisible to other people.
No one ever noticed me.
I thought I would lead a mediocre life to the very end.
By chance I went to work in Martha's company after I graduated.
All eyes were on me when I was on the catwalk.
It never occurred to be to quit the catwalk
I'm just a nobody, an invisible man when I'm not on the catwalk.
Don't worry, I'll help you.
Ip Long and Martha are in cahoots.
They want to leave you in Modes to fend for yourself.
Listen to me. It's not the end for you.
You have a choice.
Come over to Modes Girl and help me.
Ip Long calls the shots at Modes.
Once you come and work for me,
neither he nor Martha can stop you.
You have my word.
I'll help you with your comeback.
This is all you could get in two days?
That's all available online.
That's all in Ip Long's interviews
Do you know what I want?
I tried every source.
I've looked online for what happened in the States.
I've asked lots of reporters.
No one knows about it.
Maybe we should hire a private eye.
Fly over to New York.
I want the truth behind his departure from Closet.
What time is it?
You just got up now?
Do you want me to do your job for you?
You have half an hour to get back here.
Or don't bother.
Zoe, don't be mad with Fong-fong.
She stayed behind to help Yan until midnight last night.
Zoe, I'm sorry.
If you want, you can have Fong-fong wait on you 24 hours a day.
You have Master's ear.
Zoe, I'm sorry.
Fong-fong belongs to your team.
I shouldn't have asked her to help me.
I promise you it won't happen again.
I never said I don't like the arrangement.
That's your proposal.
Just don't go complaining to Master.
OK. No problem.
Yan, excuse me, that's mine. I just dropped it.
Ceci, why is Fan Kwok-bong handling a Modes Girl client?
I don't know. That's what Ms. Kei said.
I just prepared it according to what she said,
Later. I have to get back to my work.
Yan, what?
Fan...
I'm working. Hurry up.
Just reminding you about our dinner date tonight.
Don't be late.
OK.
Fan, looking for me?
Why didn't you call first?
You never meant to let me come back.
You intend to leave me at Modes until my contract ends, right?
Who told you that?
I told you it's not the right time yet.
I heard it with my own ears.
You said I'm already a has-been.
I won't make a comeback.
You want to let me fend for myself at Modes.
I heard every word of it.
I can recite it to you.
Francis, if I were you, I'd pretend I never heard that.
I'd stick with Modes.
You're embarrassing yourself here.
Witch, shut up!
You ruined me!
Girls, take five.
You said it was just for three months.
Then it would be back to normal after my three-month exile.
It was a lie!
I'm sorry. Think of it as a lie if you want.
You can't come back here.
If it'll make you feel better, hit me.
Derek was just given a check-up.
He's physically fine.
He was in a coma for too long.
It'll take time for his mind to get back in gear.
Derek, it's Ip Long. How are you?
He can hear, and he recognizes you.
He still needs to warm up.
Take your time.
I'll go chat with the doctor.
I have two things to tell you.
One, Zita and I had an affair when you were in a coma.
It's over now.
We're enemies now.
Two, I did what I promised you.
This issue of Modes broke 150,000 in circulation.
I wouldn't even have to think if I were you.
Vincy promised to double your pay if you come over.
Ivy, I'm sorry.
Please tell Ms. Kei I won't go over.
Hear me out.
It's not just about money.
We're offering you control as well.
Let's be frank.
Ip Long is the king at Modes.
Everything needs his approval, from cover down to a single word.
It's totally different if you come over.
You'll be given free rein.
You have my word.
You'll run the editorial department.
You just need to debrief me from time to time.
You done? Excuse me.
Danielle, what are you thinking?
You know this is as far as you can go at Modes.
You're at Ip Long's beck and call.
To be honest, it's insane of you to give up this opportunity.
No, you're the insane one.
Yes, I resent playing second fiddle at Modes,
but Ip Long's really got it.
You? What have you got to be my superior?
Fong-fong, this is a great restaurant.
Do you want to eat me into bankruptcy before I've settled into my job?
I was already going easy on your pocketbook.
Or I would have picked one where you can't even afford the wine.
A toast to Yan's promotion.
Thank you.
Fong-fong, don't get drunk, alright?
Zoe will go berserk again if you don't show up tomorrow.
Big deal.
At least she says it to my face.
She's not stabbing me behind my back.
Who's the weasel?
Not a weasel, a close friend.
Fong-fong, stop drinking.
Or you'll say the wrong thing.
Fong-fong, what happened?
You don't mean me, do you?
Not you. It's nobody's fault.
It's my own fault.
I just realized that no good deed goes unpunished.
What do you mean?
Don't beat around the bush.
I've never stabbed you in the back.
Cheung Yat-ning, who was happy for your promotion? Me!
Who couldn't wait to help you out? Me.
I treated you like a close friend.
But how did you treat me?
What did you say to Zoe today?
What? I didn't want Zoe to lash out at you again for helping me.
So I told her you were no longer needed.
That's it.
Stop playing the good guy, alright?
That's what you say.
But Zoe told a different story.
She said you think I'm a burden instead of a help.
Was that what you said?
No. I never said that.
Fong-fong, I don't think that's what she meant.
Zoe might have got it wrong.
I can swear I never said such a thing.
Why would I?
Hey, it's no big deal. Cut it out.
Stay out of it.
Fong-fong, believe me.
Why should I?
Whatever, just apologize to Fong-fong.
Why should I apologize for something I didn't do?
You owe us an apology.
What? For trying to keep the peace between you two?
You were promoted.
But that doesn't make you my superior.
We're equals at Modes.
Fan Kwok-bong, so you still remember you're a Modes man?
Then why did you turn against Modes?
Why write the advertorial for Modes Girl?
Both magazines are under the same company.
What's wrong with that?
Not everyone thinks of your Trend Master as the enemy.
Do you want Modes to be our only magazine?
Do you want Modes to be the only magazine in town?
Kei Wan-wan has been against Chief from the first day she joined Modes.
You know she wants to use the new magazine to fight Modes and Master.
She's poaching Modes staff.
Don't you get it?
I don't. I'm clueless.
You're the know-it-all.
You're becoming more and more like your idol.
You're becoming more and more like your Trend Master.
That's why even your good friend Meg can't stand you.
Fan, you promised you wouldn't tell.
Meg, did you say that?
Be honest with her.
You said you can't bring yourself to wait on her.
Stay out of it.
Meg, we're close friends. You can be honest with me.
You don't want to help? I'm fine with that.
But you were happy about my promotion.
I was acting, alright?
I don't wear my heart on my sleeves. I couldn't say I was upset.
Ask yourself,
how long have you been working at Modes?
How many columns have you done?
Fong-fong and I are no less experienced or capable.
Why were you the one promoted?
Because Master is partial to you.
Luck makes all the difference.
I'm sorry, it never crossed my mind...
Stop it! Stop pretending you're so innocent
I don't buy it anymore.
I'm sorry, dear editor. I don't think I have any appetite for this dinner.
Fong-fong...
I'm not available for your call. Please leave your message after the beep.
Not driving today?
My car is in the shop.
Get in. I'll give you a ride.
We didn't eat dinner tonight.
Let me pay for you, in lieu of the dinner treat.
No way. You're paying next to nothing.
Come on. It's not about what we eat.
It's about having a happy meal.
Thank you, lady boss.
Aren't we short one guy?
You mean Fan?
I wonder if he's gone home already.
Let me call him.
Hello, Meg?
He's paying.
Did you plan this? What a coincidence.
You're late. You're paying.
Red wine...come on...
Why am I paying?
Hey, we've had never had a one-on-one talk like this before.
How is Modes Girl going?
Come to me if you have any problems.
Thanks. I can manage.
I forgot. Kei Wan-wan never asks for help.
To be honest, I can't wait for Modes Girl to hit the streets.
Are you wondering why I'm not content with AM,
why do I insist on grabbing more?
Well, a lot of people are never content with what they've got.
I'm one of them.
They want power.
There's nothing wrong with that, right?
It turns out that you know me the best.
I'll make Modes Girl work.
I won't lose to Modes.
Watch out!
You alright?
Don't worry. Let me call the police.
No. I know him.
You know him?
That was Ben, my husband who's on the run.