Chapter 429 April Story (14,000 words updated!)

Such a commotion was something Lu Yanhe hadn't expected. Then, thinking back to the Weibo post he made last night, he slapped his forehead, sighed, and thought to himself, "With my limited alcohol tolerance, I was drinking alone. My head was slightly buzzed, and I did something like this."

"..."

Lu Yanhe first sent a message to Chen Siqi, asking: Did I cause you any trouble?

Chen Siqi sent three "bloody knife" emojis at you.

Lu Yanhe immediately replied with a "kneel down right now" emoji.

Chen Siqi: Have you been drinking?

Lu Yanhe: ? ? ? How did you know?

Chen Siqi: You would never say something like that normally.

Lu Yanhe: No, not really.

Chen Siqi: So tell me now, do you want to call me in your dreams? I want you to send a voice message, not a text message.

Lu Yanhe picked up his phone to speak, but he opened his mouth and opened it again, unable to utter a word for a long time.

Chen Siqi waited for a while, but didn't hear Lu Yanhe's voice. She chuckled and thought to herself, "Don't I know you?"

Lu Yanhe took a deep breath and said: Focus on your class and don't chat with me during class time!

Chen Siqi: Dog.

Lu Yanhe: Look, you're still replying to my messages. You don't pay any attention in class.

Chen Siqi was so angry she laughed.

It's a real dog.

-

Lu Yanhe rubbed his face and then called Chen Ziyan again.

"Sister Ziyan." Lu Yanhe's voice betrayed his guilt.

He estimated that his Weibo post had significantly increased Chen Ziyan's workload.

Sure enough, Chen Ziyan gave a sarcastic sneer and asked, "So you've finally woken up?"

Lu Yanhe grunted, chuckled, and said, "Sister Ziyan, you've had a hard time. Did I cause you any trouble?"

"It's not so much trouble as it is, but the phone calls are quite annoying," Chen Ziyan said. "Which script have you finished writing? Or have you finished both?"

Lu Yanhe said, "I just finished writing 'Love Letters,' and there are still some parts of 'Those Years' that I haven't finished writing."

"You only finished one?" Chen Ziyan teased. "I thought you were going to tell me you finished both scripts in one night. That's more like your speed."

Lu Yanhe laughed and said, "I'm not a tentacle monster."

Chen Ziyan: "Many companies have inquired about the script you wrote. What are your plans? Do you have any ideas?"

Lu Yanhe said, "This script doesn't require a high production budget. In fact, any film company with a certain level of strength can do it. Let's see everyone's sincerity. I'll register the copyright for the script first and then send it to various companies to see what they think."

Chen Ziyan said, "That works too, but we should still keep control of this film, right?"

“Hmm,” Lu Yanhe said, “This movie could easily be turned into a melodramatic teen film, so we need to keep the control in our own hands.”

“In that case, there might not be as many film companies willing to be the main investors,” Chen Ziyan said. “Generally, film companies still want to keep the final editing rights in their own hands.”

Lu Yanhe: "If all else fails, we'll just find someone to do it ourselves. Actually, I'd really like to do it myself."

"Huh?" Chen Ziyan was somewhat surprised.

Lu Yanhe said, "I never dared to do it myself before, but now, at least in the production process, I have a lot of experience and I'm not so scared anymore."

Chen Ziyan: "If you're planning to assemble your own team to make this movie, then you'll have to put in a lot of effort."

"Of course I don't plan to build my own team. We can find a producer and a director, and as long as they are suitable, we can leave the rest to them."

Chen Ziyan: "You're thinking too simply and taking it for granted. Send me the script first, and I'll take a look at it to see what kind of story it is."

Lu Yanhe immediately sent the script to Chen Ziyan via email.

-

Who wrote this story?

Jiang Yuqian held up the story "The Telephone," which was currently only five pages long and presented in the form of a short story, and asked her agent about it.

He Heng said, "A friend gave it to me, saying it was written specifically based on your image. He asked if I would be willing to act in it. If I was, he would write the story into a script."

Jiang Yuqian was somewhat conflicted.

“The story is very engaging and offers a lot of room for performance,” she said. “However, I’m worried that this subject matter won’t get high box office returns in China. It’s not an art film, and it’s normal for art films to not do well at the box office. If this movie doesn’t do well at the box office, will it make my acting career even more difficult?”

He Heng looked at Jiang Yuqian helplessly.

Why do you think this movie won't get high box office returns?

"It's a time-travel story, a suspense thriller, and a bit of horror. I feel like there's no precedent in the domestic market for a similar genre to achieve good box office results," Jiang Yuqian said. "If it were during my prime, I would definitely be willing to act in it, but now... can my influence alone carry this movie's box office?"

He Heng looked at Jiang Yuqian, hesitated for two seconds, and said, "Then should I refuse?"

Jiang Yuqian bit her lip, shook her head, and said, "No, I'll go ask Yan He for his opinion."

"Huh?" He Heng was taken aback.

Jiang Yuqian said, "I've lost confidence in judging scripts. I'm asking Yan He to take a look and decide whether I should accept this script."

He Heng hesitated for a moment, then said, "Okay, then go ask him. But didn't he just finish writing a script? You can also ask him if there's a suitable role for you in that script. It doesn't matter if it's not the female lead, as long as it's an important role, you can play it."

Jiang Yuqian didn't want to cause Lu Yanhe any trouble.

Jiang Yuqian was too embarrassed to even ask Lu Yanhe for script suggestions. To directly ask him if there were any roles for her in his scripts was beyond her comprehension.

Jiang Yuqian gave a noncommittal "hmm" and went to contact Lu Yanhe.

-

He Heng texted Chen Ziyan: Who wrote the story you gave me? You're being so mysterious. You won't tell me even when I ask. Yuqian said she wanted to ask Lu Yanhe for his opinion.

Chen Ziyan was stunned for a moment when she saw the message He Heng sent her.

ha?

This was something she hadn't expected at all. Was Jiang Yuqian going to ask Lu Yanhe for his opinion?

Did Jiang Yuqian guess that Lu Yanhe wrote this story?

Thinking about it again, it's unlikely. An actress of Jiang Yuqian's caliber, while her career may not be at its peak right now, simply doesn't have access to top-tier productions. She still receives many offers regularly. She wouldn't be so quick to assume Lu Yanhe wrote a story based solely on a synopsis.

Chen Ziyan then asked He Heng what Jiang Yuqian's attitude was towards the story outline. After He Heng answered, Chen Ziyan sighed.

How should I put it?

To say that Jiang Yuqian can't read scripts is an overstatement; she actually knows very well what kind of scripts can move her. But to say that she can read scripts is an overstatement; she doesn't have a comprehensive understanding of the industry and the market, so when she makes judgments, she finds it difficult to predict what kind of market response a script is expected to receive.

In Chen Ziyan's view, the film's selling points are almost obvious. It may not become a critically acclaimed and commercially successful classic, but it will definitely be a highly anticipated and talked-about film. The story focuses on mutual help among women, involves psychological abnormalities and controlling family relationships, and also incorporates the concept of dual timelines. Both its structure and themes destined it to be a captivating and topical work.

What Jiang Yuqian needs most right now is a work that can help her return to the public eye.

Chen Ziyan muttered these words to herself, but she wouldn't tell He Heng.

Agents should never interfere in each other's work; this is a major taboo in the workplace.

-

Lu Yanhe was also surprised when he received the message from Jiang Yuqian.

This is really...

They came to his house.

Jiang Yuqian didn't hide anything and directly expressed her thoughts.

“From my own perspective, I really like this story, and while reading it, many ideas for acting came to mind,” Jiang Yuqian said. “However, I’m not sure about the market response to this script; it seems to be a niche market.”

Lu Yanhe was completely baffled by what he heard.

It was at this moment that Lu Yanhe intuitively realized why Chen Ziyan said Jiang Yuqian's taste in choosing films was no good.

Lu Yanhe originally thought that Jiang Yuqian would not want to choose the film because it was too commercial, but unexpectedly, Jiang Yuqian was worried that the film would not be well received in the market.

He hesitated for a moment, then said to Jiang Yuqian, "Sister Yuqian, this book was designed for the market from the beginning, so it shouldn't be too niche."

"Really? It seems like we haven't seen any similar films in the past few years?"

“Yes, it’s fresh precisely because it hasn’t appeared before,” Lu Yanhe said. “Its core elements are all rare in the current film market, and the combination of them is itself an attraction.”

Jiang Yuqian was surprised and asked, "You think this notebook is so highly of you?"

"Yes." Lu Yanhe confessed helplessly, "Because I wrote this notebook."

"Huh?" Jiang Yuqian was shocked.

Lu Yanhe said, "I was worried that if I gave it to you directly, you would accept it without even reading the content, so I went through a roundabout way to see your most genuine feelings about the story. If you want to act in it, I will write it into a script."

Jiang Yuqian: "Did you tailor-make this script for me?"

“Hmm,” Lu Yanhe said, “Actually, it’s not that. I read ‘My Home That I Haven’t Been Back To for a Long Time’ and got the inspiration to write this story. At the time, I needed the image of a woman who had been working hard outside for several years, and the person I knew best who was in this stage was you, so I wrote it based on your image.”

Jiang Yuqian was astonished, "You read 'My Home That I Haven't Been Back For a Long Time,' and you wrote this story so quickly?"

"Hmm." Lu Yanhe smiled. "Sister Yuqian, so you want to act in it, right?"

"I wanted to act, and after finding out it was you who wrote it, I wanted to act even more. Just pretend all my previous concerns were nonsense."

“Sister Yuqian, when you choose a script, you should listen to your inner voice more. Don’t just think about the market reaction to the film. Nobody knows what the market reaction will be, but only stories that touch our hearts can touch the audience.” Lu Yanhe couldn’t help but remind her, “Before the release of the film ‘My Home That I Haven’t Been Back For a Long Time,’ nobody expected it to gross more than 700 million yuan. At this rate, 800 million yuan is a sure thing.”

Jiang Yuqian sighed.

"Okay, I've realized that too. My taste in choosing roles is really not good."

Lu Yanhe laughed.

"Sister Yuqian, as long as you act well, that's all that matters," Lu Yanhe said. "Even the best actor at choosing roles will be wasted if they don't act well. But if you act well, you'll eventually get good roles."

Lu Yanhe thought for a moment and said, "Sister Yuqian, I'll start writing the script for the movie 'Telephone'."

“Okay,” Jiang Yuqian said. “Tell me in advance when you plan to shoot this movie, and I’ll make sure to reserve my schedule.”

"Well, I want to get started as soon as possible." Lu Yanhe wanted to get started quickly, so that it wouldn't drag on like "Lost in Thailand" or "Rouge."

-

However, sometimes, every film may have its own destiny and its own path to take.

Lu Yanhe has accepted this. All he can do is try his best to push things forward.

When "Burning Fire" came to us again, it was already mid-April.

Mrs. Huang offered Chen Ziyan a salary of 12 million yuan, plus 15% of the revenue from derivative copyrights related to the character.

As for other dividends, Mrs. Wong refused to agree to them.

Of course, this is indeed normal. After all, Shang Yongzhou has already received a portion of the profits, and if Lu Yanhe were to take a little more, the pressure on Longyan would become enormous.

Chen Ziyan didn't mince words, saying, "If Yan He can't enjoy a share of the film's revenue, then he must receive at least 25% of the revenue from the character's derivative copyrights."

Why did Mrs. Wong ultimately compromise?

It's actually quite simple. Lu Yanhe's momentum is too strong; there's no one else like him. Not only were "Rouge" and "Lost in Thailand" shortlisted for the Jose Film Festival, but the moment news of his new script came out, actors in the industry were all eager to inquire, hoping to see if there were any suitable roles for them.

This momentum and trend made Huang Tai realize something.

Lu Yanhe is capable of writing screenplays, and his screenplays are just as captivating.

At the same time, it also reminded Huang Tai that Longyan Film Industry wanted to collaborate with Lu Yanhe on more than just the film "Burning Fire".

After a final round of negotiations, the salary was finally agreed upon.

Lu Yanhe received a salary of 12 million yuan and a 23% share of the character's copyright revenue. If the film's box office exceeds 2 billion yuan, Lu Yanhe will receive an additional 5 million yuan bonus. At the same time, Lu Yanhe retains the right to further increase his salary for the sequel.

In a surprising turn of events, Lu Yanhe, who thought he would have no chance of starring in "Burning Fire," unexpectedly signed the contract again.

"So, are I still going to make these movies?" Lu Yanhe asked Chen Ziyan.

“Shoot it! Why don’t you shoot it?” Chen Ziyan said. “Filming for ‘Burning Fire’ won’t start until the end of the year. There’s still more than half a year to go. Are you just going to leave it empty like this?”

Lu Yanhe nodded and said, "Alright, let's film it then."

He said, "I want to film 'Love Letter' in two seasons, summer and winter, both on location, and then release it on Valentine's Day next year."

“That’s fine,” Chen Ziyan nodded. “However, right now we only have a script and you as the lead actor. We don’t have anything else. Have you thought about who you want to cast as the female lead?”

Lu Yanhe said, "For the adult female Huaijing Shu, I want an actress who is about 28 or 29 years old, has a strong sense of life, and has a simple and artistic temperament. I wonder if Sister Bi Ge can play the role. For the high school female Huaijing Shu, I want to find an actress whose face is not very familiar to the audience."

"Why?"

"Because this role represents the most naive stage of all the viewers, only an unfamiliar newcomer can allow them to identify with the character without any burden," Lu Yanhe said frankly.

Chen Ziyan nodded: "Okay, then we'll have to organize a large-scale audition."

"Yes." Lu Yanhe nodded.

"Actually, there aren't many characters in this movie, just a few main characters. However, the family members of Kawai Itsuki are quite important. I think this movie has a very important foundation, which is that only a family environment like Kawai Itsuki's can make such a pure and beautiful story, which is almost like a novel, feel real. It needs to have warm details, but it can't be trivial."

“Hmm.” Lu Yanhe nodded. “It’s a pity that the actors I’ve acted in, and the actors who have played my parents, are all the more extroverted types. None of them are quite suitable for the characters here.”

Chen Ziyan said, "Let's have a serious talk with a few film companies first. The actors aren't in such a hurry. As long as Bige is willing to act, then the main actors will be settled, and the other actors will be easy to talk to."

Lu Yanhe hummed in agreement.

Chen Ziyan said, "Why don't you try directing this movie yourself?"

"Me, a director?"

“Yes,” Chen Ziyan said. “I feel that only someone who can clearly capture the emotions in this movie can make it well; otherwise, it will be as bland as plain water.”

Lu Yanhe was stunned for a moment.

"To be honest, the story in this script isn't particularly dramatic; it's not a story-driven one," Chen Ziyan said. "If you had started filming this summer, it's almost the end of April now. If you had just found a director, they might not be as familiar with the story and the characters as you are, and they might not have been able to film it well."

Lu Yanhe fell into deep thought.

Directing my own film?

This was something he had never thought about before.

However, this time, he wasn't as resistant to the suggestion of directing as he had been before.

Perhaps it's because he's acted in so many films and TV series that he's gradually gained more confidence.

Lu Yanhe said, "I'll think about it carefully. The main problem is that there are too many things to worry about as a director, and I'm afraid I won't be able to handle them all."

Chen Ziyan said, "You wrote and starred in the film, and you also invested in and produced it yourself. Even if you don't direct it, you still have to worry about it. You can't get away from this film."

What Chen Ziyan said makes a lot of sense.

-

"You want to direct it yourself?" Chen Siqi said. "It doesn't seem like a bad idea. I feel that the film 'Love Letter' isn't too difficult to shoot. There are few characters and not many big scenes."

Lu Yanhe said, "Yes, that's what I think too, so I'm a little eager to try, but I'm also a little afraid... of messing it up."

Chen Siqi said, "If you're afraid of messing things up, you can find a senior you know to mentor you, act as your producer, and help you. But if you want to be a director, I think the movie 'Love Letter' is a very suitable film for your debut. To be honest, Yan He, if I didn't know about your high school situation, I would have thought that this was something that happened during your high school years. It's like someone's diary."

Lu Yanhe was both amused and exasperated by Chen Siqi's words.

However, what Chen Siqi said actually makes a lot of sense.

The movie "Love Letter" is so much like someone reminiscing about their past.

It is a story about memory.

He understood what Chen Siqi meant; it revealed a very private emotion, like the emotion written in a diary.

-

"Teacher, I wouldn't dare to do this if you hadn't come."

Lu Yanhe said on the phone.

Luo Yuzhong on the other end of the phone was both amused and exasperated.

"I've never made a movie before, and you want me to be your film producer? Isn't that ridiculous?"

“Teacher, I need someone to guide me on set,” Lu Yanhe said. “You’ve never been a film producer, but you’re very familiar with film sets.”

Luo Yuzhong said, "How come you're so restless? Suddenly you've started directing your own shows."

"Directing, writing, and starring myself," Lu Yanhe laughed. "Let's give it a try."

Luo Yuzhong: "Send me the script first, let me take a look. If it's beyond my experience, I won't agree to it. Agreeing to it would only harm you."

Lu Yanhe said, "You can definitely handle this."

He immediately sent the script to Luo Yuzhong.

-

"Sister Zixing, how's 'China in Culture' coming along?" Lu Yanhe asked.

Xin Zixing said, "I'm recording Zhao Dezhong's segment next week. You just called, and I was just about to contact you. For Li Qun's part, there's a short story to act out. Could you help me with that?"

“Okay, no problem.” Lu Yanhe immediately agreed.

Xin Zixing: "Alright, I'm busy here. What do you need me for? Hurry up and tell me, I have to get back to work."

“Come and help me be a producer,” Lu Yanhe said.

"What?" Xin Zixing frowned. "What producer?"

"I'm planning to direct a movie myself, Sister Zixing, I need your help."

"What the hell?" Xin Zixing's voice was full of shock and astonishment.

“You’ve produced so many shows, you know best how to manage a production team,” Lu Yanhe said. “I have absolutely no idea how to manage different departments, and I can’t multitask. You’re the only one I can do this, and I only trust you.”

Xin Zixing remained silent for a long time.

"Do you know how busy I am right now?"

"Know."

"Do you know that I've signed a contract with your agent Chen Ziyan's company?"

"Know."

"Do you know how much work I still haven't finished?"

"Know."

Another silence followed.

"Okay, I got it. Tell me when you want to film, and I'll see what I can do to help." Xin Zixing sighed, as if resigned to her fate.

Lu Yanhe immediately let out a cheer.

-

This is April, when spring is in full bloom.

The third person Lu Yanhe sought out was Liu Bige.

Liu Bige and Miao Yue looked at each other in bewilderment.

They were stopped on the road by Lu Yanhe ten minutes ago, and then brought to this coffee shop.

Lu Yanhe's ingratiating smile made the two of them feel uneasy.

"Speak, what exactly do you want?" Liu Bige looked at Lu Yanhe with suspicion, his arms crossed in a defensive posture.

Lu Yanhe said, "If I said that I was going to direct a movie myself, would you support me?"

"What?" Liu Bige and Miao Yue both looked surprised.

Lu Yanhe: "You heard me right."

"Is it... the one you said you just finished writing the script for?"

"right."

Liu Bige asked suspiciously, "What kind of support do you need from us?"

“I need you to be my photography director,” Lu Yanhe said bluntly.

During the filming of "Late Spring" with Liu Bige, Lu Yanhe discovered that Liu Bige's sensitivity and aesthetic sense regarding the camera and the visuals were top-notch.

His cinematic aesthetics are, to some extent, very similar to the film style of "Love Letter".

They are all about capturing the most touching details in everyday, simple life.

Liu Bige: "...I'm also going to direct a movie myself in the second half of the year."

“I shot this movie in the summer and winter,” Lu Yanhe said. “You don’t need to be on set the whole time. You just need to help me set the basic style of the cinematography. I really don’t understand these technical things. You are the most knowledgeable and the best person I have.”

Liu Bige's lips curled up slightly when he heard Lu Yanhe's flattery.

“I can’t guarantee how much time I’ll have to do this for you,” Liu Bige said. “Right now I’m just waiting for Li Zhibai to start filming, so I’m only a little free now, but that doesn’t mean I have nothing to do.”

"Um."

"Besides, I'm not a professional photographer. If you ask me to be a photography instructor, will the photographer you find recognize me?"

“You directed ‘Late Spring,’ and everyone can see how good your cinematography is in this film.”

"Are you serious about directing a movie? Being a director isn't that easy."

"Yes, it's very difficult. I don't know how to do it either. I can only ask you all to come and help. That way, I'll have fewer headaches."

Liu Bige: "You certainly know how to order people around."

Lu Yanhe: "So you've agreed?"

"If I don't agree, does that mean you won't act in my movies anymore?"

"Not necessarily, but I'm the kind of person who holds grudges," Lu Yanhe said seriously.

Liu Bige: "Heh."

Lu Yanhe turned to Miao Yue and said, "Miao Yue, I also need your help."

"ah?"

"I'd like to ask you to play a cameo role for me."

"What?" Miao Yue shook her head in a panic. "I'm not an actress, how can I play a cameo role?"

Lu Yanhe said, "To be precise, I would like to invite you, Mingyin, and another young female writer to play the role of a high school student."

"ah?"

"They discovered the biggest secret of this movie in the library," Lu Yanhe said. "I wanted to hide an Easter egg in this movie: the girls who liked to read in the library all grew up to become female writers."

Miao Yue was taken aback.

"So, please," Lu Yanhe said, "there's nothing difficult about the performance, just play yourself."

Miao Yue's cheeks flushed slightly, and she seemed somewhat embarrassed, but because of Lu Yanhe's words, her attitude began to soften.

Lu Yanhe then pointed at Liu Bige and said, "Besides, this guy will be more attentive and helpful if you make a cameo appearance. He can't possibly make the scenes look bad in a movie where his girlfriend is in it, can he?"

Liu Bige glanced at him sideways: "You bastard."

Miao Yue laughed.

-

The film "Love Letter" has been kept secret, and no information has been released to the public.

Because Lu Yanhe and Chen Ziyan had not yet begun contacting other film companies, the outside world was unaware that Lu Yanhe was preparing for his first directorial work.

Until news about the audition was revealed.

All the major companies know that Lu Yanhe's film, which he wrote, is preparing to hold open auditions for the female lead.

-

"Requirement: 16-18 years old?"

Xu Yiren, who was riding high on the popularity of "My Home That I Haven't Been Back For a Long Time," was stunned for a moment when she saw the requirements for the female lead in Lu Yanhe's film project, and then rolled her eyes speechlessly.

"What's the point of fighting for this? Do you think I can reduce my age by ten years?" Xu Yiren said, somewhat frustrated.

The agent said, "I heard that Lu Yanhe himself is the lead actor in this movie. The most important thing is that although Lu Yanhe is the male lead, the female lead is the real lead in this movie. Look at the script written by Lu Yanhe. Previously, it was always the actors like Jia Long and Chen Bige who starred in it. If you can get it, it will definitely be a great project for you."

“Then how do we proceed at this age?” Xu Yiren said. “It’s obvious that I’m not suitable.”

"Go talk to them, see if you can change the age. Scripts can be changed, right?" the agent said. "You just had a movie where you starred that grossed over 800 million. Which movie crew wouldn't want you as the lead?"

Hearing his manager say that, Xu Yiren felt a little more confident.

“Then go ask him and see if he’s willing to revise the script for me.” Xu Yiren gently raised his chin, a hint of pride in his lips.

-

When Jiang Yuqian saw the selection criteria for the female lead, she smiled with relief.

Fortunately, I didn't listen to He Heng at the time and went to ask Lu Yanhe about the female lead in his new drama.

This is completely inappropriate in terms of age.

After seeing the message, Jiang Yuqian was able to openly message Lu Yanhe, saying: "If there are any roles that need me to play, just let me know."

Lu Yanhe replied to her: Sister Yuqian, you're too famous. This movie isn't a very commercial one. Why don't you do a cameo role in another movie?

Jiang Yuqian smiled.

See, even if she offered to make a cameo appearance, Lu Yanhe wouldn't need her.

However, Jiang Yuqian was actually happy. Lu Yanhe's ability to speak so frankly proved that they were truly familiar with each other and that he considered her one of his own.

Jiang Yuqian readily agreed, replying with a simple "Okay".

A movie is just a movie.

Never let personal feelings influence your selection criteria.

Otherwise, you might prioritize personal relationships but lose sight of the pure sentimentality of the god of cinema.

-

Mrs. Huang sat opposite Chen Ziyan and gently stirred the coffee in front of her with a silver spoon.

"Which film company are you planning to collaborate with on Yan He's film?" she asked.

Chen Ziyan smiled and said, "We haven't contacted any film companies yet. We can handle the pre-production and production ourselves, and we don't need a lot of money."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wong was somewhat surprised and asked, "Is it because no film company is willing to invest?"

“Of course not. We haven’t even contacted any film companies yet, so how could there be any question of whether they are willing to invest?” Chen Ziyan knew what Mrs. Huang was thinking. “Our film is really just a low-budget film. It doesn’t need to cost much money. We can make it ourselves.”

Mrs. Huang: "You know, Longyan is very willing to cooperate with Xiao Lu, so why don't you come to us?"

Chen Ziyan said, "Xiao Lu wrote, directed, and starred in this movie."

Mrs. Huang looked at Chen Ziyan in surprise.

"He wrote, directed, and starred in it? He plans to direct this movie himself?"

“Yes.” Chen Ziyan nodded. “So, to ensure that the film’s ideas can be completely in line with his, we did the initial preparation and production ourselves.”

Mrs. Huang found it unbelievable.

"I'm not trying to be mean, Ziyan, but isn't what you're doing a bit too risky?"

"There is a little bit," Chen Ziyan said. "However, I think it's because I've seen too many miracles in Lu Yanhe. So, whatever he wants to do now, I think we should let him do it. For someone like me who can only achieve success through my own experience and hard work, there's no need to do anything else but support a genius like him."

Chen Ziyan made no mention of Lu Yanhe becoming the director; it was her suggestion.

"How much was the production budget for your movie?" Mrs. Wong asked.

Chen Ziyan smiled and said, "There really isn't much. It's still a mess, we haven't settled it yet."

Mrs. Huang knew that Chen Ziyan was not planning to tell her.

But the more Chen Ziyan acted this way, the more Huang Tai became curious and wanted to know.

"So how much box office revenue do you expect for this movie?"

"I don't know either. Actually, the box office doesn't matter. Our costs are very low, and we can break even without high box office returns," Chen Ziyan said. "This movie is just for Yan He to practice and figure out what it's like to be a director. It's not a big production."

Huang Tai was half-believing and half-doubting when he heard this.

However, when she tried to find out more information, she discovered that she really couldn't find out much more.

It seemed like nobody knew.

This greatly surprised Mrs. Huang. Given her position in the industry, she could usually easily obtain information, even the smallest details. But this drama about Lu Yanhe, despite the considerable buzz outside, was shrouded in secrecy; its genre and production details were kept tightly under wraps. This situation naturally puzzled Mrs. Huang.

-

"We haven't looked for investors yet. Me, Sister Bige, Sister Ziyan, Siqi, and I have all taken a little. Director Luo and Liu Bige also said they would invest a little when they heard that I was going to make my own movie."

During a video call with Li Zhibai and Yan Liang, Lu Yanhe briefly explained the current progress of "Love Letter".

"The most expensive part of this movie is actually my and Bige's salaries. I'm not taking any money, just a share of the profits. Bige only took a symbolic two million yuan salary, and she also takes a share of the profits," Lu Yanhe said. "So, conservatively speaking, this movie can be made for ten million yuan."

Lu Yanhe can choose not to take any money, and Chen Bige can also take less money, but for the other crew members, including the other actors, Lu Yanhe does not intend to let them only take a friendly price; they will be paid according to the market rate.

On the one hand, neither he nor Chen Bige were short of money, but many people depend on this kind of income to support their families. On the other hand, Lu Yanhe didn't want to make a film that was so financially strained. If it came to this, it wasn't that they couldn't find investors, so they might as well just find someone to invest directly. It wasn't like "Love Letter" was destined to fail to recoup its costs at the box office.

Li Zhibai said, "If you don't have enough money, I'll invest some too. If the movie makes money, I'll make some money too."

“Well, if you don’t have enough money, I can contribute some,” Yan Liang said.

Lu Yanhe: "I don't know if this movie will make money. You weren't involved in this movie, so you don't need to take the risk with me. I'll ask you to invest in a movie with good prospects and returns later."

Li Zhibai: "Alright, stop dawdling. Anyway, I usually invest in some film and television dramas. It doesn't matter who I invest in. I feel more at ease investing in you. The risk is also smaller. I know that you are at least doing projects seriously, not one of those scammers."

Yan Liang chimed in, "Exactly."

For an artist like Li Zhibai who has already become famous and made money, his income certainly cannot be just kept in the bank and used for stable funds or profitable projects.

Li Zhibai started making some investments quite early on, though the amounts were small, just for fun and to test the waters. Film and television projects were something he was very familiar with, so he naturally invested a little there to earn some money.

Yan Liang hasn't started down this path yet. He's only recently become famous, so he's not earning much money yet. However, it's definitely much better than two years ago; at least he can support his team and give back to his family.

Yan Liang had long been tempted to invest a small portion of his earnings. However, he was unfamiliar with these things and feared being misled or tricked because of his lack of knowledge, so he hadn't dared to take the first step.

This time, Lu Yanhe plans to direct his own film. Yan Liang is naturally happy to take out a sum of money from his savings to invest.

No investment is guaranteed to make a profit, but this project was personally directed by Lu Yanhe, meaning it was at least a project done by someone he knew, not a scam or a fraud. Moreover, based on Yan Liang's understanding of Lu Yanhe, he had succeeded in everything he did over the years; there was no way this film could possibly lose money. With a budget of over ten million, surely the two leads, Chen Bige and Lu Yanhe, could recoup at least thirty million at the box office?

The prospect of profitability is clearly a sure thing.

-

After deducting the salaries of Lu Yanhe and Chen Bige, the production cost of this film was only around ten million.

Including subsequent marketing and distribution costs, the production cost of this film is at most a little over 20 million, less than 30 million.

It's safe to say that if this film performs normally and its box office revenue is no less than 50 million, it will definitely be profitable. After all, it won't lose money on television broadcasting rights, domestic video platform broadcasting rights, overseas streaming rights, and other copyright revenues, big and small.

This is the advantage of having stars. With Lu Yanhe and Chen Bige as the two leading actors, even an art film can fetch a good price, not to mention that Lu Yanhe didn't intend to make it as an art film.

Lu Yanhe held auditions, collecting self-introductions and one-minute performance videos from across the country. This was a huge project, requiring collaboration with a third-party organization, and the collaboration alone cost over 100,000 yuan.

Watching videos and casting choices, Lu Yanhe's mind was filled with the face of Sakai Miki from the original work. When he watched the movie, he felt a sudden flutter in his heart. If he had to describe the place that face held in his memory in one sentence, Lu Yanhe would say it was a face that, no matter when he thought of it, would bring back memories of his student days. In every boy's youth, there must be such a sweet-smiling, gentle, and shy girl.

Among the girls who came for the interview, there were quite a few who were very beautiful, and there were even some who caught Chen Ziyan's eye at first glance, making her want to sign them as artists. However, Lu Yanhe never saw a girl like Sakai Miki.

She had regular features, not strikingly beautiful, but with eyes that seemed to hold unspoken words, as if they wanted to speak to you. She was beautiful, the kind of beauty where the sunlight, as you walked past her in the classroom, would unfairly cast a soft glow on her, making her so lovely that she seemed capable of capturing the hearts of every boy in the room. Yet she was also fresh, pure, and harmless; when she looked at you, she was like a young fawn, gazing at you innocently from across a mountain stream, under the shade of a tree.

Lu Yanhe thought to himself that only a girl like her could make the boy who entered the hearts of thousands of girls secretly love her in a movie like "Love Letter" a matter of course, and something that no girl would be jealous of.

Lu Yanhe had seen many girls, but none of them gave him this feeling.

Even Chen Ziyan said that his requirements for choosing female leads were comparable to those of those rumored perverted directors.

Lu Yanhe said, "Sister Ziyan, my requirements are not high. I just want to find the one that fits."

Chen Ziyan rolled her eyes and said, "That's what those perverted directors say too. It's not that they have high standards, they just want something accurate that perfectly matches their imagination. Please, you're not Nuwa, you can't just sculpt something according to your own wishes."

Lu Yanhe looked embarrassed after being teased by Chen Ziyan.

Despite her complaints, Chen Ziyan didn't give up and continued searching for the female lead based on Lu Yanhe's description.

Almost all the female students in art schools across the country watched it.

-

Lu Yanhe's large-scale search for a female lead for his new film has attracted attention within the industry.

In everyone's impression, going to such great lengths to find a female lead is something that only top directors would do.

Because only they have the ability and the confidence to demand this.

But Lu Yanhe did just that, it took time and effort, but he didn't compromise on anything. Because it was his movie, no one would have a problem with it.

Of course, it's unavoidable that many people will gossip behind your back.

Lu Yanhe suddenly understood why the imperial advisor had always made such a grand spectacle of choosing the female lead before he transmigrated. The most soulful and cinematic element of some films lies in the female lead. In the film industry, it's common for the media to refer to a particular actress as a male actor's muse, and that's not an exaggeration.

Lu Yanhe wasn't saying he wanted to find such a muse, but rather that he knew very well what kind of leading lady he should find. Because he knew such a good one existed, everything else was just a compromise, nothing more.

Perhaps if Lu Yanhe hadn't read the original "Love Letter," he wouldn't have had a preconceived notion. He could have approached it entirely from the perspective of a script and his own imagination, which would have made things much easier. However, because he had read it, he couldn't compromise.

The hardest person to deceive is themselves.

Everyone else can be fooled by your superb acting skills, but you yourself cannot.

Finding the female lead turned out to be the most difficult thing for this movie.

In other aspects, Lu Yanhe found familiar and trusted people for each position. Everyone said they weren't very capable, were too busy, and were in a difficult situation, but afterward, they all became more and more helpful than the last.

Lu Yanhe originally wanted to film scenes at his own high school, the place he knew best. However, the current campus of No. 13 Middle School was too modern and didn't match the school's appearance from over a decade ago in the drama. Finding a high school like that in Yuming was extremely difficult, almost impossible.

Xin Zixing's team could only help Lu Yanhe search for schools across the country that met his requirements.

Lu Yanhe, on the other hand, only needs to select from photos and videos.

If the team is reliable, you can save a lot of effort.

While Lu Yanhe was focused on finding the female lead for "Love Letter," the Tongfu Inn for "My Own Swordsman" was also completed in Jiangzhi.

He Yunlan sent a message to Lu Yanhe, inviting him to come and take a look.

-

Lu Yanhe hasn't been to Jiangzhi for a long time.

On the way here, I met quite a few people who wanted to come to Jiangzhi.

They're all tourists.

Lu Yanhe, wearing sunglasses and a fisherman's hat, sat between Zou Dong and Wang Biao, and no one recognized him.

As soon as he got off the high-speed train and exited the station, he saw He Yunlan waiting for him at the exit.

"Brother He!" Lu Yanhe waved happily and called out.

He Yunlan immediately gave him a warm hug and patted him on the shoulder.

"You seem to have grown a little taller?"

"Really? I don't know, I didn't measure, but I probably haven't grown much taller. My clothes are still the same size as before," Lu Yanhe said.

He Yunlan nodded, his sun-darkened face beaming with a bright smile, a kind of cheerfulness rarely seen in Yuming.

"Come on, your sister-in-law has already prepared a meal at home and is waiting for you to come over."

Lu Yanhe agreed.

It would take some time to get to Jiangzhi. After getting on the bus, He Yunlan asked, "Are you tired? Do you want to take a nap?"

"I'm not tired, I'm fine," Lu Yanhe said. "On the high-speed train I just took, I heard several people saying they were coming to Jiangzhi for tourism. Is Jiangzhi that popular now? Is it a hot tourist city?"

“It’s much more popular than before, but it’s still far behind popular tourist cities in China,” He Yunlan said. “But it’s good as it is now. Our tourism industry is still in its early stages, and many infrastructure facilities are not yet in place. The current number of tourists is just what we can handle. If there were more, Jiangzhi is only so big, and it would be quite crowded, and the experience of visiting Jiangzhi would not be as good.”

Lu Yanhe knew that one of the important reasons why He Yunlan had always wanted to develop Jiangzhi's tourism industry was that Jiangzhi's geographical location was too remote and its transportation was inconvenient. Judging from Jiangzhi's current situation, either the country would invest a large sum of money to develop Jiangzhi, or they would have to find a way to build up the infrastructure themselves first.

Now, Jiangzhi's per capita income has increased due to tourism. Urban development and transportation connections with the outside world have also improved significantly thanks to the influx of tourists. What used to be just two bus trips a day now runs once an hour. With more people, demand increases in all aspects, and this increased demand naturally drives market growth.

This is why many less developed areas choose tourism as their first option for development. It's not that they don't want to pursue other industries, but rather that other industries require initial investment, while the tourism industry relies on existing local resources.

Along the way, Lu Yanhe listened to He Yunlan introduce the changes in Jiangzhi over the past two years, including the emergence of more than a dozen new inns for tourists to stay in.

Lu Yanhe remembered that there weren't many hotels and inns in Jiangzhi before.

He Yunlan said, "We made overall plans. While preserving a certain number of hotels and inns, most of the new buildings we built were guesthouses, built according to our local customs and traditions. The guesthouse you stayed at during the 'City Travelogue' series made many tourists want to stay in the same place when they come here."

Lu Yanhe smiled and nodded, "After Tongfu Inn is built, can it be put into use as soon as the drama is finished filming?"

He Yunlan said, "We have considered this, but Tongfu Inn is a completely antique-style building without electricity, which poses a significant safety hazard. If tourists were to stay there, it would be difficult to prevent some from bringing lighters or other items. If a fire were to start accidentally, it would be a major incident. Therefore, we think it would be better to develop Tongfu Inn into a tourist attraction and arrange live performances there. Tourists could then see the actors performing scenes from plays up close inside the inn. Of course, this requires your authorization."

Lu Yanhe laughed, nodded, and said, "That's a good idea. Are you planning to hire some professional actors to perform this role? Or what?"

He Yunlan said, "We hope to find suitable locals in Jiangzhi to perform, which would be convenient. If we really can't find any, we'll have to hire people from outside."

“That’s great, Brother He, your idea is quite interesting,” Lu Yanhe said. “We’re going to film many episodes of ‘My Own Swordsman.’ You can recreate the plot of the TV series, and you can also solicit fan fiction online. You can offer rewards to netizens for creating fan fiction based on these characters and backgrounds. If it’s well-written, you can develop it into a new show, which will only be performed at the Tongfu Inn in Jiangzhi. This can also attract a lot of attention online. This can become your most unique attraction. It’s not just about the Tongfu Inn in the TV series. Most importantly, even though the TV series has ended, the story of the Tongfu Inn hasn’t ended. It continues to unfold in Jiangzhi.”

He Yunlan became more and more excited as she listened.

"This is a great idea, really great!" He Yunlan said. "Yan He, you, you've really done us a huge favor."

Lu Yanhe said, "I was just saying it casually. If you find it useful, then use it. If you don't, then just pretend I didn't say anything."

He Yunlan: "Are you kidding me? Just hearing what you just said makes my blood boil. I can almost see thousands of people pouring into Jiangzhi."

Lu Yanhe laughed.

"If it can really have such an effect, that would be great."

-

Upon returning to Jiangzhi, Lu Yanhe discovered that Jiangzhi had indeed changed a lot. However, its basic character remained the same, still simple and full of life. But many dilapidated and somewhat dirty places had been cleaned up and disappeared.

He went directly to He Yunlan's house without getting out of the car to revisit the old place.

After all, it was already evening when we arrived, which was dinnertime.

Liu Yiyi, wearing an apron, was cooking in the kitchen.

Their son, Xiaohu, was doing his homework in his room. He's eight years old now and has grown quite a bit since the last time I saw him.

When Xiao Hu saw Lu Yanhe, he wasn't as fearless and enthusiastic as before. He smiled shyly, revealing dimples.

"Little Tiger, do you still remember me?" Lu Yanhe asked.

Xiao Hu nodded. "I remember."

Lu Yanhe smiled and handed the gift he had brought to Xiao Hu.

"Then my gift wasn't a waste. I bought you a backpack. When I bought it, I was thinking, what if you forget about me? Wouldn't I have lost out by giving you a backpack?" Lu Yanhe joked.

Xiao Hu took it and politely thanked him, saying, "Thank you, Uncle Lu."

He glanced at Lu Yanhe again with his dark eyes, his smile becoming even more shy.

"I will never forget you."

Lu Yanhe laughed loudly and picked up Xiao Hu.

"So, should I prepare more gifts next time?"

Xiao Hu said seriously, "One is enough, I don't need too many, I'm not greedy at all."

When Lu Yanhe heard Xiao Hu speaking in such a serious, adult-like tone, he couldn't hide the smile on his face.

-

This dinner consisted of He Yunlan, Liu Yiyi's family, and Lu Yanhe and his group.

Six people sat at the dining table, eight dishes, steaming hot and fragrant.

Lu Yanhe raised his glass first, "Thank you, sister-in-law. It's so kind of you to prepare such a feast. I wanted to say a few polite words, but I'm just so hungry for your cooking that I can't bear to tell you to make a few less dishes."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yiyi laughed heartily and picked up her wine glass.

“Then come here often. When you’re filming ‘My Own Swordsman,’ come anytime,” she said.

Lu Yanhe laughed and said, "That won't do. There are countless people from the film crew coming over. I can eat by myself, but if they all come and try to take my food, I won't be happy."

Everyone chatted and laughed as they drank the first cup.

Liu Yiyi asked, "Is Siqi coming tomorrow?"

“Yes,” Lu Yanhe said. “She originally said she would arrive today, but she was held up by an important task at the last minute.”

Liu Yiyi nodded, "Oh my, looking at you two young people, it's truly enviable."

Lu Yanhe: "I envy you and Brother He. You share the same ideals and support each other through thick and thin."

Liu Yiyi smiled and said, "Looking at you all reminds me of when I was young. I envy your youth."

“Sister-in-law, you are young too, why are you envious of our youth?” Lu Yanhe said. “I just feel bad that I’m only twenty-one. If I could jump straight to twenty-eight or twenty-nine, I wouldn’t be so limited in my acting. It’s too difficult to find a suitable role for myself now. There are very few male leads suitable for my age.”

He Yunlan shook his head and said, "People are less likely to cherish their youth when they are young. You'll understand when you're almost thirty."

Lu Yanhe chuckled and said, "Anyway, looking at you guys right now, I really look forward to my own thirties."

(End of this chapter)