Chapter 862 I Will Remember This Night (15,400 words updated!)

Huang Zhongjing and his wife also attended tonight's awards ceremony.

The film "Dingfeng No. 1" has brought great attention to Longyan from its release to the awards season.

After "Late Spring" brought Longyan, a company primarily focused on commercial films, into the mainstream spotlight, it has now been replaced by "The Wind Rises".

Both films were directed by Liu Bige and starred Lu Yanhe.

However, after this film, Liu Bige started his own studio. Although Longyan still had shares in the company, he was no longer a director under Longyan. He decided what projects to undertake next. After Liu Bige left Longyan, Lu Yanhe's collaboration with Longyan was limited to only one film, "Burning Fire 3".

Today, the performance of "The Wind Rises" has completely exceeded Longyan's expectations. From winning the Venice Film Festival award to its box office performance at home and abroad, and then to being selected by China to apply for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film...

Everything was just as Chen Ziyan had said when she came to persuade Huang Tai: even if "Dingfeng No. 1" were made as a commercial film, the commercial returns might not be as high as if it were made according to Liu Bige's ideas.

Auteur directors like Liu Bige are rare finds. It would be a huge waste for a film company to encounter one and not nurture him properly, helping him build his personal brand. Directors who can make commercial films are not uncommon, but auteur directors who can achieve box office success are extremely rare.

If "Late Spring" had an element of luck, the fact that he could make such an unconventional film as "Even Faking Death Is Not an Option" stand out with its unique style and box office success is enough to prove that Liu Bige's talent is not just self-admiration, but also that he has fans willing to support him.

After his third film, "Dragon Inn," Liu Bige's fourth film, "Dingfeng No. 1," surprised everyone. It turned out that Liu Bige was a director who explored all kinds of subjects.

The four films featured no repetition of the same subject matter or theme.

But every film was a success.

Liu Bige has now firmly established himself as a leading director.

If Huang Zhongjing hadn't made the decisive move to help Liu Bige establish his own film production company in advance, Liu Bige and Long Yan probably wouldn't have collaborated at all after "Dingfeng No. 1".

At least Liu Bige's company still has investment from Longyan and shares in it; in other words, there is still a connection.

Therefore, Longyan is currently giving strong support to "Dingfeng No. 1" in its bid for an Oscar in North America, and has even provided a lot of public relations funding, all in an effort to ease the tension in its working relationship with Liu Bige.

During this period, Huang Zhongjing met with Liu Bige almost every day.

It can be said that Huang Zhongjing has gone to great lengths these days to win over this young director, who can be said to have been nurtured by him. He talked about film art, the behind-the-scenes production of each of his previous films, and when discussing Liu Bige's upcoming film, he generously stated that Longyan would fully support whatever Liu Bige wanted to do.

In fact, Liu Bige had already discussed this matter with Lu Yanhe.

Liu Bige did not intend to sever all ties with Longyan from that point on.

Lu Yanhe had reminded him that even with Liu Bige's current status and influence, countless companies across China would be willing to support him in filming a project if he wanted to. However, all crows are black, but at least the corruption in Longyan is visible to everyone; there are no underhanded tactics. Whatever projects Liu Bige undertakes, he will need company investment, including post-production and distribution, which his current company lacks. Rather than collaborating with strangers, Longyan is already one of the top companies in China. As long as they don't interfere with his creative process and exacerbate this major conflict, they can continue their collaboration.

Therefore, Liu Bige did not really intend to sever ties with Longyan. And Liu Bige was happy that Huang Zhongjing was willing to mend relations at this time.

Lu Yanhe was well aware that although Liu Bige had directed four films, all of which had achieved considerable success, Liu Bige faced the same problem as him: no matter how outstanding their achievements, it couldn't change the fact that their foundations were still shallow.

If Liu Bige really holds a grudge and cuts ties with Longyan, never to have anything to do with them again, then no matter how amicable or even obsequious Huang Zhongjing is now in trying to mend things, the more intense Longyan's retaliation and attacks will be. Not to mention anything else, the film's release date, theater scheduling, and promotional materials—there are too many areas Longyan can manipulate.

Furthermore, in the eyes of outsiders, Liu Bige is, after all, a director trained by Longyan. At that point, it's not certain that the majority of people in the industry will support him. You say Longyan interferes with Liu Bige's creative direction? To be fair, which film company doesn't interfere with a director's creative direction? Even the biggest directors are subject to the constraints of their film companies.

It's impossible to explain logically or emotionally.

To reiterate, Liu Bige's foundation is still shallow, and there is no need for him to have taken this step.

-

But Lu Yanhe is different.

His collaboration with Longyan was purely as an actor.

Moreover, Lu Yanhe's connections and influence in the entertainment industry far surpass those of Liu Bige.

He didn't need to maintain a harmonious relationship with Longyan. Especially after he single-handedly "saved" the overseas box office of the "Burning Fire" series, his previous accusations against Longyan for being "shortsighted" in front of Huang Zhongjing and Huang Tai became "assertive" and "targeted."

Huang Zhongjing always treated Lu Yanhe with great respect.

Huang Tai still looked a little awkward, as if she was unwilling to just bow down and admit defeat to Lu Yanhe.

The conflict between the two of them gradually came to light, and gradually grew bigger and bigger.

Huang Zhongjing wished Lu Yanhe success in winning the prize tonight. Turning his head, he saw Wen Shengming and immediately added, "It would be best if, like in Venice, another double yolk is drawn."

Lu Yanhe smiled and said, "It seems that the Flying Goose Award has never had two winners in its history, right?"

"Not yet," Huang Zhongjing said. "Maybe you will be the first to do so, making history."

Wen Shengming: "The Fei Hong Award does not award prizes to two winners."

Huang Zhongjing: "No matter who wins the award, the award belongs to us. We are all one family, so we don't need to speak like outsiders."

Lu Yanhe laughed, inwardly thinking: Who's family with you?

Speak human language to humans, and ghost language to ghosts.

This principle applies to everyone in this situation.

Lu Yanhe glanced at Huang Tai's expression out of the corner of his eye and saw that she seemed to really want to speak, but for some reason, she didn't say anything and maintained a forced smile.

He wondered if Huang Zhongjing was afraid she would say something unpleasant, so he specifically instructed her not to speak in front of him.

Lu Yanhe felt that it wasn't impossible.

He didn't understand why, when he first met Mrs. Wong, he thought she was a capable and efficient businesswoman, but later she showed signs of being short-sighted and petty.

Especially regarding his affairs. Lu Yanhe couldn't understand it no matter how hard he thought about it. How could someone who starred in blockbuster movies like "Late Spring," "The Wind Rises," and the "Burning Fire" series, and even wrote "Dragon Inn" for them to adapt into a best-selling film, be seen by her as a "thorn in her side" who needed to be eliminated?

It can only be said that absolute benefits cannot absolutely sway people.

Lu Yanhe felt that he had not been able to win over Huang Tai.

His value only moved Huang Zhongjing.

-

Zhang Yuezhen stayed by Chen Pinhe's side, chatting and laughing with everyone along the way.

In these social situations, she always stayed by Chen Pinhe's side, playing a role that was "not to assert sovereignty, but sovereignty was on my shoulders."

She glanced at Lu Yanhe out of the corner of her eye and said to Chen Pinhe, "The crew of 'Dingfeng No. 1' is over there. Should we go and say hello to them later?"

Chen Pinhe said, "Wen Shengming is over there, of course we should go."

Zhang Yuezhen nodded.

"We should go and say hello to our senior."

Just as the two were about to go over, Zhang Yuezhen suddenly saw a figure.

She immediately tugged at Chen Pinhe.

Chen Pinhe looked over and was equally taken aback.

It turned out to be Zheng Ximo.

Zheng Ximo was not nominated for Best Director today, and he had a falling out with them. So when the Fei Hong Awards invited the cast and crew of "The Pianist" to attend the awards ceremony and submit their names, Zhang Yuezhen did not include Zheng Ximo's name in the cast and crew list.

Why would he come?

Zheng Ximo's appearance can be described as an "uninvited guest".

Zhang Yuezhen and Chen Pinhe exchanged a glance.

Chen Pinhe: "Who invited him?"

"I don't know," Zhang Yuezhen said. "Maybe it's from the Northern Lights movie."

Chen Pinhe's brow was slightly dark.

"Won't he say something inappropriate later?"

"It's alright. He's already said everything he wanted to say and could say. Anything else he says would just be repeating the same old tune. As long as we don't argue back or say anything, the wind is on our side." Zhang Yuezhen's handling of the dispute with Zheng Ximo was indeed a case of single-handedly turning the tide and helping Chen Pinhe regain the upper hand in public opinion.

Chen Pinhe was well aware of this. He nodded and said, "Zheng Ximo's signing with Aurora Films must have been facilitated by Lu Yanhe. If Lu Yanhe made some kind of deal with Zheng Ximo behind the scenes, and Zheng Ximo keeps coming out to attack me, then it will be very difficult to deal with him."

“As difficult as he may be, there’s only so much Zheng Ximo can do, unless he fabricates facts and spreads rumors later,” Zhang Yuezhen said. “We’ll see what happens when it really comes to that.”

Chen Pinhe frowned slightly.

He understood what Zhang Yuezhen meant.

—Unless he fabricates facts or spreads rumors later.

What's the meaning?

Does this mean that when he worked with Zheng Ximo, he was indeed a "tyrant on set"?

Zhang Yuezhen had never said anything like that to him before, nor had she ever hinted at such a meaning. Chen Pinhe was truly at a loss for words. He subconsciously pondered, had he gone too far? However, why hadn't anyone on set pointed out that what he had done was wrong? He had merely offered some opinions on the film as the lead actor, and neither Zheng Ximo nor Zhang Yuezhen had said anything on the spot.

Even if Zheng Ximo, you refute it on the spot and say that this is wrong?

Chen Pinhe genuinely didn't think much of Zheng Ximo. It wasn't for any particular reason; during their collaboration, Chen Pinhe didn't find Zheng Ximo to be a particularly talented director. On set, he was rather timid and lacked assertiveness. Often, Chen Pinhe had to make the decisions.

Of course, Chen Pinhe also admitted that he had a lot of ideas and designs for his role.

In the end, the film was edited into a one-man show for him, preserving his most complete character arc, which was indeed his request.

But isn't that what an actor should do?

Which actor doesn't protect their role?

Chen Pinhe breathed a sigh of relief.

Even today, he still feels that even if his behavior objectively constitutes "tyranny on set," he did it for the good of the show.

In the end, his performance was indeed the most well-received.

-

Zheng Ximo also saw them.

Their gazes met and intertwined in the crowd.

Chen Pinhe and Zhang Yuezhen did not nod or greet each other, and Zheng Ximo simply looked away and went to the other side.

Zhang Yuezhen was somewhat annoyed: "No matter what, we invested in this movie, which gave him the opportunity to make it, and we even took it to Venice and won an award. What kind of attitude is this?"

Chen Pinhe: "Forget it, let's ignore him."

Zhang Yuezhen said, "When we film again in the future, we should really take a good look at the people and their character."

-

"Director Zheng Ximo's film, The Pianist, is one of his works."

Wang Xiao appeared inside, dressed in a suit and tie, looking spirited and tall. At first glance, he looked like a young actor, not inferior at all. However, when everyone heard that he was the person in charge of the Aurora Movie, they all showed surprise.

It's rare to see someone so young at the helm.

In the film industry, behind-the-scenes managers often have resumes built on experience.

Wang Xiao is clearly a young man who is not yet thirty years old, and probably hasn't been out of college for more than a few years.

Everyone's first reaction was, how did someone so young get to this position?

Of course, soon people who knew the inside story whispered that the young man was the son-in-law of Lin Desheng, the owner of Northern Lights.

Those who heard this immediately looked enlightened.

Wang Xiao could naturally see the changes in everyone's expressions.

He was already used to such scenes.

Wang Xiao couldn't say he didn't mind, but since the facts were what they were, he couldn't very well hang a sign around his neck that said "rely on yourself."

Having connections makes all the difference; after all, he served as the president of the Youth Association at Zhenhua University for so long.

While his mindset certainly reflects his status as a "chosen one," it has also been forged through experience.

Wang Xiao remained expressionless as he accompanied Zheng Ximo in exchanging pleasantries and dealings with the various bigwigs present.

On this occasion, his task is clear: to build connections and, through Zheng Ximo, to project an image of respect for filmmakers in the Northern Lights Cinema, sending a clear signal.

The Northern Lights have a big reputation, but the film about the Northern Lights is still a newcomer and needs the help of those present to "help it grow".

-

"Senior!" Lu Yanhe hugged Wang Xiao with a big smile. "After all the twists and turns, we've ended up in the same industry."

Wang Xiao laughed and said, "You're the big shot."

Lu Yanhe: "If I had known you were willing to do this, I would have recruited you to Linghe."

This was a joke, and also a polite remark.

Wang Xiao said, "It's okay. We must find projects to cooperate on in the future. I'll still work for you."

Lu Yanhe nodded and said, "That's a good idea."

These words were spoken very politely, as if the two of them had not spoken for a long time before.

This was, of course, also meant for those around him to hear.

His communication with Wang Xiao has never stopped.

Linghe has invested in many film and television projects, including the film "Aurora Borealis".

The reason they were able to keep the share was twofold: firstly, the long-standing cooperative relationship between the two parties, and secondly, Wang Xiao's personal relationship with Lu Yanhe as the head of Aurora Films was far superior to that of anyone else at Aurora Films.

Li Zhibai accepted the role in Zheng Ximo's art film "The Journey of Man," which was facilitated by Lu Yanhe, Chen Ziyan, and others.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy to invite Li Zhibai.

If you examine the projects that several actors have participated in closely, you will find that, although many of the projects they have participated in seem to come from different producers and directors, they actually all belong to the same capital camp that is intricately connected to each other.

Lu Yanhe, Li Zhibai, and Wang Xiao, Linghe and Beijiguang—these may not belong to the same capital camp, but because of the connections between them, they absolutely belong to the same interest camp.

The entertainment industry is also a society based on personal relationships.

Human relationships are not always a negative term; to some extent, they signify "credibility."

Li Zhibai trusted Lu Yanhe, and Lu Yanhe trusted Wang Xiao. Because of his trust in Lu Yanhe, Wang Xiao signed Zheng Ximo on Chen Ziyan's advice, and then made Li Zhibai the male lead in Zheng Ximo's new film.

This is a social circle based on personal connections.

Is it necessarily bad?

not necessarily.

Wang Xiao pulled Lu Yanhe aside and whispered, "I read the email you replied to me before. Do you really think the future of making online movies is uncertain?"

“It’s very unclear right now,” Lu Yanhe said. “However, if it’s about building a team, I think it’s worth doing.”

Wang Xiao said, "The positioning of Aurora Films is indeed a bit unclear right now. I have also communicated with President Lin about whether to make Aurora Films a traditional film production company or a supplementary business segment of Aurora. President Lin has not yet decided."

“Because Aurora Films started too late,” Lu Yanhe said. “Actually, every video platform is developing a film section. Although the net profit of the film section is not eye-catching, as you know, film itself has a broader strategic significance for any large media company, especially for financial reports and the market economy of the entire group. It is the lever that can move the earth. It’s not that President Lin didn’t have a clear positioning, but the film industry itself is one that requires a lot of money and has very little return. For Aurora, if Aurora Films cannot challenge traditional film companies and truly conquer the film market and take a share of the pie, then it’s better to just keep it as a business segment, hang it here for now, see how the market goes, and wait for the right moment to go.”

Wang Xiao nodded: "What you said is the same as what I was thinking, but I still want to make something out of it."

“Actually, you have the best platform resources backed by Aurora Video.” Lu Yanhe smiled. “Ma Zhiyuan’s ‘Caught in Scandal’ is a good example. Movies don’t necessarily need high investment to get big returns. As long as resources are used wisely, you can still attract attention by using buzz. But if I were to make ‘Caught in Scandal,’ I wouldn’t just make this quick money. Just like Jumping Theater, each of its films may not make more than a million in profit, but it produces more than forty films every year. All in all, the profit is still considerable. The key is that the brand is built and the audience is retained.”

Wang Xiao: "You mean, it's not that I can't make online movies, but that I can't do it the way I used to?"

Lu Yanhe nodded: "Online movies have already left an impression of being poorly made in the minds of the audience, which is a fundamental problem. 'Caught in Scandal' gained huge attention because of Ma Zhiyuan, a former top star, and a subject matter that suited him, making people want to join in the fun. If you could create a brand, a program, or a series for Aurora Cinema's online movies, for example, a thriller like 'Seventeen Floors,' to attract audiences who like a certain genre, it might not be impossible. Aren't online movies on video platforms basically focused on the thriller and horror genre now? Because through natural selection, this genre has found a stable audience base in lower-tier markets, and there's always money to be made. But the problem is that no one wants to make these movies better; the upper limit is limited, and it hasn't taken off. Therefore, the audience's impression of them remains stuck in the stage of being poorly made."

Wang Xiao nodded.

"I understand what you mean. I'll think about it."

Lu Yanhe added, "Also, although you currently have limited resources and not enough funds to make many films, like Zheng Ximo's new film, if Aurora Films can really make a breakthrough in the low-budget art film sector, then Li Zhibai could be a starting point. I believe many idol actors hope to enter the film industry. Other film companies have such high barriers to entry, but Aurora Films can completely connect them and assemble teams. As for filming funds, many idol actors have capital support behind them. In short, you may have limited resources, but the resources you can mobilize and exchange on the Aurora platform are, in my opinion, enormous."

Wang Xiao understood and nodded.

"Furthermore, since Jumping Theater has been successful in the TV series field, why can't it be successful in the film field?" Lu Yanhe smiled.

-

“I do subscribe to Jump Up magazine now, but the novels in your magazine are just too popular.”

After meeting Lu Yanhe, Huang Beng, the director of "Upstairs", complained to Lu Yanhe.

"I had my eye on several novels and wanted to buy the film adaptation rights, but they were all snapped up by others."

Lu Yanhe said, "Director, I'm sorry, but it's true that the novel 'Jump Up' is quite sought after right now. Many companies, producers, directors, and screenwriters are eyeing it, especially many authors. Their new works are basically sent to people who are interested in them before they are even published, and the adaptation rights are secured in advance. Director Huang, if you have any authors you particularly like or are interested in, you can tell us, and we will send them to you as soon as they have a new work. You don't have to wait until the day it is published in the magazine to see it."

Huang Beng: "No wonder every novel I liked was snatched up so quickly. So that's how it works."

He said, "Then I won't stand on ceremony with you. There are a few authors whose stories I find to my liking."

Huang Beng, a director who seemed too "ethereal and otherworldly," didn't stand on ceremony with Lu Yanhe and immediately told him the names of several people.

Lu Yanhe immediately sent it to Chen Siqi.

Huang Beng: "You stole my favorite actor, Teacher Liu Teli, to film 'Home Alone,' which means Teacher Liu Teli doesn't have time to act in my movies anymore. Don't you want to compensate me with an actor?"

"Huh?" Lu Yanhe was taken aback.

"I have a role, how about you play it as a guest star?" He winked at Lu Yanhe.

This director, who dresses like a Taoist priest every day, has no demeanor of a famous director at all; instead, he looks like a charlatan fortune teller.

Lu Yanhe couldn't help but laugh.

"Director Huang, what kind of cameo role?"

Huang Beng said, "Hehe, a hidden master."

"Huh?" Lu Yanhe was taken aback.

Huang Beng: "How about it? Just a cameo role, three days will be enough."

Lu Yanhe was both amused and exasperated.

“I have to look at the script first,” he said. “I don’t even know what kind of character the Sweeping Monk is.”

Huang Beng: "A reclusive master."

"A martial arts theme?"

“Yes, it’s a martial arts film set in the Republican era.” Huang Beng nodded. “Because all the main characters are newcomers, we had no choice but to ask you to come and support the film, so that theaters won’t refuse to screen it when it’s released.”

Lu Yanhe actually quite likes director Huang Beng.

His film "Upstairs" earned Liu Teli the Best Actor award, and after many years of acting, he finally rose to the top tier of the market.

This director's style is characterized by a strong local flavor and authenticity.

However, Lu Yanhe really doesn't dare to make cameo appearances nowadays.

He said to Huang Beng, "Director, let me take a look at the script first. If the role is suitable, I will take the role. I'm just afraid that I can't play the role. I'm still young, and I can't play just any role."

Huang Beng: "If you say that, how are the other actors supposed to make a living?"

"Just let me live first," Lu Yanhe said helplessly. "How am I supposed to survive if you keep praising me like this?"

Huang Beng patted his mouth.

"I guess I've lost my tongue," he said. "I'll send you the script later."

“Okay.” Lu Yanhe nodded.

Huang Beng suddenly seemed to remember something and said, "By the way, I heard you and Chen Pinhe don't get along?"

"Huh? What's wrong?" Lu Yanhe asked.

Huang Beng said, "I wanted to ask him to make a cameo appearance in one of my movies, but I don't know if he'll agree. Do you mind?"

Lu Yanhe pondered for a moment and said, "He's a troublesome person, and I don't want to get involved with him."

Huang Beng: "Okay, I understand. You can read the script first. Let me know if you're willing to come, then I won't contact him again."

-

After exchanging pleasantries with old friends and getting to know new ones, it was already twenty minutes later before Lu Yanhe finally sat down.

To Lu Yanhe's surprise, his seat was separated from Chen Pinhe's seat by only one person: Wen Shengming.

They're way too close.

Lu Yanhe's team never confirms seating arrangements or order with the event organizers.

It's nothing.

Lu Yanhe used to think this was one of his virtues.

He suddenly realized that sometimes, confirming your seat in advance isn't a bad thing.

I hope they don't end up pairing him with Chen Pinhe someday.

When Lu Yanhe sat down, Chen Pinhe had already sat down.

Wen Shengming had not yet arrived, and the space between the two of them was empty.

So, as soon as Lu Yanhe sat down, he turned to his left and started chatting enthusiastically with Liu Bige, who was sitting to his left.

Liu Bige was surprised by Lu Yanhe's sudden enthusiasm—they were old friends, and such sudden enthusiasm only made him feel a little flustered.

However, Liu Bige caught a glimpse of Chen Pinhe behind Lu Yanhe's head out of the corner of his eye and realized what was going on.

Liu Bige raised an eyebrow at Lu Yanhe.

Lu Yanhe said, "Actually, Miao Yue should have come today."

Liu Bige said, "Miao Yue's mother is having surgery today, and she has to be with her."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yanhe was immediately taken aback and asked, "What kind of surgery?"

“It’s a small tumor, benign, don’t worry,” Liu Bige said.

Lu Yanhe breathed a sigh of relief.

Liu Bige said, "Actually, I've been thinking about a story recently."

"What story?" Lu Yanhe asked.

“Your story,” Liu Bige said.

"Huh?" Lu Yanhe raised an eyebrow.

"I always felt that your story would be perfect for a movie; it's so legendary."

"Forget it." Lu Yanhe shook his head. "What's so special about my story that it's suitable to be made into a movie? Everything went smoothly, and I didn't encounter any setbacks. It's just a great, satisfying story."

"Huh!" Liu Bige stared wide-eyed in surprise. "I've never seen anything like this before. This is the first time I've heard someone say that their life is like a super exciting novel."

“Otherwise?” Lu Yanhe said, “Which actor is like me, who, right from the start of his acting career, encountered a director whose debut film won the Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival? ‘Late Spring’ was my first starring film, and it received such a great honor. Don’t you think I’ve had a smooth and successful career?”

Liu Bige: "...I originally wanted to call you shameless, but if I did, I feel like I would be dragging myself into it too."

Lu Yanhe nodded, "You're right."

Liu Bige: "But do you really think you've had it all? Everyone sees you as an inspirational legend."

“I just didn’t start from a high point, but I’ve basically been rewarded for all my efforts. If that’s not considered smooth sailing, then I think I’m being too greedy,” Lu Yanhe said. “Does it have to be a silver spoon in your mouth from birth to be considered smooth sailing?”

Liu Bige: "Look at what you're saying, it sounds like a line from a movie."

“I don’t mind if you write these lines into your script,” Lu Yanhe said, “but don’t adapt my story into a movie.”

"Alright then." Liu Bige sighed. "After finishing filming 'Dingfeng No. 1,' I suddenly didn't have any good ideas left."

"Take a break first. Once you're rested, you'll naturally have ideas," Lu Yanhe said. "You've been working non-stop for the past few years, without taking a break between several projects. You're bound to encounter creative difficulties."

"Then why didn't you run into him?" Liu Bige asked suspiciously.

Lu Yanhe laughed, "Because I'm a genius, many stories come to mind every day, so I don't need to put in any effort to find them."

Liu Bige nodded and said, "That's true."

They actually agreed with it.

Lu Yanhe: "For you to suddenly say 'that' at this moment in such a serious manner makes me seem like a really arrogant person."

“If I were to say you’re shameless at this moment, I would really be shameless.” Liu Bige also laughed. “I suddenly feel that you and Siqi are pretty amazing to have created the magazine ‘Jump Up’. Is it foresight? As the best-selling magazine in China right now, so many people are looking for stories in this magazine, and I subscribe to every issue.”

Lu Yanhe: "It was just an unexpected success. We had just graduated from high school at that time, and I hadn't even started acting yet. How could I have such long-term plans?"

“I can only say that God is on your side when it comes to being an actress,” Liu Bige said. “It’s enviable,” Miao Yue said. “Now, every month, companies bring her novels published in ‘Jump Up’ to adapt into screenplays. Nearly a third of the projects are stories found in ‘Jump Up’.”

“There’s no other way. Right now, ‘Jump Up’ is practically the only platform that can reliably produce short stories and novellas. The only other option is traditional literary magazines, but the stories in traditional literary magazines aren’t commercially viable enough. This is a void in the story market. Although online novels are popular, they’re all long novels, which can’t keep up with the demand from various platforms to develop high-quality short dramas, let alone the needs of film companies for movie stories,” Lu Yanhe said. “We didn’t expect ‘Jump Up’ to have achieved this.”

Liu Bige: "Most importantly, it has also gathered a group of the best story writers in China."

“Because there are no other platforms,” Lu Yanhe said. “When print media was thriving, countless short stories emerged; now, the number is only one or two out of ten.”

The two chatted idly while watching the awards ceremony.

Time flew by as the awards were presented one by one.

The Best Director award is presented before the Best Actor award.

As the award ceremony approached, Liu Bige suddenly fell silent.

He got nervous.

Liu Bige has directed so many films, yet he has never received recognition from the Fei Hong Award.

In a way, he is a director whose talent is appreciated both domestically and internationally.

The recognition he receives from domestic awards is far less than that from international awards.

This is partly due to his lack of experience, and partly due to his bad luck each time.

In recent years, to be fair, the domestic film industry has seen a remarkable boom. Whether it's art films, commercial films, or films like "Ding Feng No. 1" that have achieved success in both, there are many. Liu Bige's failure to win awards isn't because he's been underestimated, but because the competition is incredibly fierce.

This time, Liu Bige's biggest competitors are Yu Qin, director of "Life and Breathing", Hua Yun, director of "Muddy", and Zou Yunzhi, director of "Neon".

Of these three films, the former was nominated for the Venice International Film Festival along with "Calm Wind No. 1," while the latter two were award-winning works at the Jose Film Festival.

Of the five nominees, four come from the four major international film festivals, and the last one is Shen Yi, the director of the patriotic film "Red Sun," which was a box office hit and received excellent audience reviews this year.

Similarly, it's a nomination pattern where anyone could win the award.

To be honest, this situation wouldn't have happened five years ago. When will Chinese films be able to make so many appearances at international film festivals every year? Even one or two a year would be considered good.

Overall, Lu Yanhe felt that Liu Bige had the best chance.

On the one hand, Liu Bige has been nominated several times and has accumulated experience. On the other hand, "Dingfeng No. 1" is the best film in terms of both artistic achievement and box office and critical acclaim among all the nominated films.

Lu Yanhe also held his breath, listening intently as the presenter read out the names of the award recipients.

"Dingfeng No. 1, by Liu Bige!"

Lu Yanhe was the first to clench his fist in surprise.

He turned to look at Liu Bige, who felt completely relaxed and let out a long sigh of relief.

"You won an award!" Lu Yanhe smiled and squeezed Liu Bige's arm. "Hurry up and go on stage to receive your award."

Liu Bige grabbed Lu Yanhe, hugged him, stood up, hugged Wen Shengming, and walked towards the stage. Throughout the whole process, he clenched his right fist.

-

"This award definitely belongs to Liu Bige, without a doubt." On the other side of the stage, someone was comforting Yu Qin, "This year, 'Dingfeng No. 1' represents Chinese films in the competition for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. The situation is very good, and it is impossible for domestic films to hold back at this time."

Yu Qin pursed her lips.

"Forget it, how can we compare to the mainstream ideology?"

“It’s alright, director. Those who know, know. Last year at the Venice International Film Festival, you won the Best Director award, not him.”

Yu Qin said, "The next Best Film award will probably go to 'Calm Wind No. 1'."

"It should be."

"It's really boring. They dragged a bunch of us here to put on a show for them. I shouldn't have come."

"Director, be careful what you say."

"What's there to be cautious about? I don't rely on them for a living." Yu Qin had always had an eccentric temper, and no one dared to say anything when she said that.

Yu Qin suddenly thought of something and turned to look at Wei Xue.

"It's okay, you still have a chance to win the award."

The actress she found in the theater starred in her first film, "Breath".

Wei Xue smiled and waved her hand, saying, "Being nominated is already very good."

Yu Qin said, "You spent so much time with me making this movie, you deserve a Best Actress award."

Wei Xue: "Director, I'm already very grateful that you were able to provide me with a job when I was unemployed."

"Haven't you signed with a talent agency yet?"

"Not yet," Wei Xue shook her head. "No one has come looking for me."

Yu Qin looked at the dress Wei Xue was wearing today; it wasn't even a formal dress.

The film "Life and Death" did not bring Wei Xue much fame.

With a domestic box office of only 4.7 million yuan, the Best Director Award at the Venice International Film Festival did not bring the film better box office results.

Yu Qin said, "I'll introduce you to Lu Yanhe later. His agent, Chen Ziyan, runs a talent agency. It would be good for you if you could sign with them."

Wei Xue showed a hint of surprise.

Seeing her expression, Yu Qin asked, "What's wrong? Do you think I don't get along with Lu Yanhe?"

Wei Xue wanted to say, "Isn't that right?", after all, she had just seemed quite dissatisfied with Liu Bige winning the award for "Dingfeng No. 1".

“I just can’t stand the trend of these awards,” Yu Qin said. “Lu Yanhe is a decent person. I’ve dealt with him many times and have known him for many years. He is a fairly upright person, although he is not pure.”

"Not pure?" Wei Xue was taken aback.

“He could have been a great actor, but he acted in too many roles that weren’t worth it, wasting his talent.” Yu Qin said calmly, “You don’t need to worry about these things; they have nothing to do with you.”

Wei Xue remained silent, mainly because she didn't know what to say about these words.

-

After Best Director, it's time for Best Actress.

Although Wei Xue said she was "content with being nominated," she was actually nervous.

She wasn't lying about being content. Her appearance wasn't good enough, and her acting skills weren't outstanding. Otherwise, she wouldn't have stayed in the theater acting until her troupe went bankrupt.

What was thought to be a hurdle in his life turned into a chance encounter with Yu Qin at this crucial moment. He was chosen by the renowned director to star in "Life and Breath," and suddenly burst onto the international stage.

Now, it has been nominated for the Fei Hong Award.

It's like a dream.

Even though no agency signed her, and she attended an awards ceremony wearing a dress she bought herself that looked like an evening gown, making her stand out from the crowd and appear somewhat "shabby," she still felt that she was lucky enough.

But this did not diminish the faint hope she still held deep inside, the hope that she might be able to win that award from Yu Mengling and the others.

The winner is—

Wei Xue felt a breath stuck in her throat, as if she couldn't breathe.

If she didn't speak up soon, she would suffocate.

"A Hesitant View of Life," by Yu Mengling!

He let out a long sigh.

The dust has settled.

The miracle did not happen.

When Wei Xue came to her senses, she realized that she hadn't even noticed when she started clapping.

Applaud for others.

-

Lu Yanhe turned and smiled at Wen Shengming.

"Teacher Wen, it's our turn to win the next award."

Wen Shengming grasped Lu Yanhe's hand, patted it gently, and said, "Take things as they come."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

He looked at Yu Mengling on the stage. With this film, she won the Best Actress Award at the Picardo Film Festival at the end of the year before last. Now, she has won the Fei Hong Award for Best Actress for the first time. As a goddess of domestic art films, her popularity has been growing in recent years.

He applauded the actress wholeheartedly.

Lu Yanhe admires actresses like Jiang Yuqian who work tirelessly, and also admires actresses like Yu Mengling who stay true to themselves.

In this era of internet traffic, Yu Mengling truly embodies the spirit of remaining unmoved by profit and only making the films he wants to make.

After "Rouge," her public profile skyrocketed overnight, but instead of participating in variety shows or taking on other roles, she opted for a low-budget art film, "Hesitation on Life."

No buzz, low pay.

To use a cliché, Yu Mengling truly embodies the phrase "as serene as a chrysanthemum."

Apart from what she herself cared about, she remained unmoved by fame and fortune.

-

The presenter for the Best Actor award was Ning Xiulian.

She gracefully walked onto the stage and introduced each of the nominated male actors.

Lu Yanhe silently took a few deep breaths to calm himself down.

At this moment, Liu Bige, who had just finished his interview with the media, came over with the trophy.

"The winner is—" Ning Xiulian opened the envelope and took out the card.

Liu Bige bent down to sit down, his eyes fixed on Ning Xiulian.

"Dingfeng No. 1"—

Liu Bige stood up again instantly.

Lu Yanhe had already turned to look at Wen Shengming.

Wen Shengming also turned his head to look over.

"Lu Yanhe!"

Liu Bige raised his hands, holding the trophy and certificate, and let out a cheer.

Lu Yanhe also opened his mouth wide in surprise.

Wen Shengming smiled and patted him on the back, saying, "Congratulations, go and claim your prize!"

Lu Yanhe suddenly hugged Wen Shengming.

A smile appeared in Wen Shengming's eyes. He patted Lu Yanhe's back as if coaxing a child, "Alright, hurry up and get on stage."

Lu Yanhe took a deep breath, raised his head, and met the gaze of Chen Pinhe, who was sitting next to Wen Shengming.

Chen Pinhe sat gracefully and calmly in his seat, clapping gently with a smile on his face.

The moment Lu Yanhe's eyes met his, he instantly lowered them, concealing the sharpness that seemed to come from him almost as a physiological reaction.

He got up, hugged Liu Bige again, and ran up to the stage.

"The first acting award I ever received was from the Fei Hong Award. It was my first time acting in a movie, and the Fei Hong Award gave me a huge encouragement. Now, it has given me another encouragement."

Lu Yanhe accepted the trophy and certificate from Ning Xiulian, faced the audience, his gaze falling on everyone, and smiled triumphantly.

“But I originally thought that I wouldn’t be the one to receive the award tonight.” Lu Yanhe took a deep breath. “I believe that everyone who has acted with Teacher Wen Shengming understands what I’m talking about. When I thought I was really a genius in acting, I encountered such a great mountain. I was like Sun Wukong who sprang out of a stone and encountered the Five Finger Mountain that I could never get over. His performance was like the ocean, which made me feel my own insignificance.”

Wen Shengming waved his hand from below the stage.

A round of applause erupted from the audience.

"Of course, I'm not saying my performance was inferior to Teacher Wen's, and Teacher Wen wouldn't allow me to say that, because good acting is always a mutual achievement between the two actors," Lu Yanhe said. "In 'Dingfeng No. 1,' I completed a transformation in my acting techniques, and it also gave me a new understanding of acting. Teacher Wen gave me more than just guidance; he gave me a kind of inclusiveness that allowed me to completely let go and try things out. No matter how I acted, I didn't have to worry that he wouldn't be able to handle it. So, in the movie, a different version of me appeared."

“This requires trust, tolerance, affirmation, and support.” Lu Yanhe turned to look at Liu Bige. “I also have to thank you for this, Liu Bige. After acting for so many years, only you would still use criticism, accusations, provocation, and even humiliation to provoke me on set. Only you understand what kind of destination I want to reach with each change. So, in this movie, I was not calm at all. I felt like Sun Wukong trapped in the alchemy furnace, suffering a lot of mental torment in every scene. Fortunately, in the end, I also developed my fiery eyes.”

"As an actor who is always called a genius, I always feel embarrassed at the same time. Fortunately, there are always some companions on this road who truly walk beside me and remind me that I am not standing on a sacred mountain, but walking on the road. No matter what, I must keep my feet on the ground."

“Teacher Wen, on the day filming wrapped, you told me that you would always be watching over me. For a long time, I didn’t understand what that meant.”

Lu Yanhe caught a glimpse of Chen Pinhe's face out of the corner of his eye, and a sudden, inexplicable pang of pain shot through his heart. He paused abruptly, forcibly suppressing the pain, but tears welled up in his eyes.

"Fortunately, I didn't wait that long to understand." Lu Yanhe smiled. "Thank you for appearing in my cinematic life."

Lu Yanhe bowed deeply and stepped down from the stage.

-

This is an acceptance speech with a very high "warmth".

No one expected it.

Lu Yanhe rarely uses such a long acceptance speech to thank one of his co-stars in the drama.

Or rather, there had been almost none before this.

Today, at this moment, Lu Yanhe, having already left behind his "newcomer period" and become one of the most representative Chinese actors internationally, suddenly delivered a moving and emotional speech that is comparable to that of a "newcomer," which is quite surprising.

But at the same time, he spoke so frankly and openly.

He calmly expressed his pride and arrogance, and clearly told everyone that he had not lost his way.

He didn't mind expressing his gratitude to Wen Shengming in such a humble manner.

He also did not officially thank the other nominees.

At Lu Yanhe's level, of course no one would point out his mistakes in this regard.

Those who know him well, however, discerned many hidden meanings in these words.

Chen Ziyan sat in the back row, her gaze fixed on the man in the distance.

Zhang Yuezhen is in the same boat as her.

Both of them wanted to know what Chen Pinhe was feeling at this moment.

Is there even the slightest bit of regret?

Zhang Yue's fingernails were already embedded in her palms.

On the surface, she still had to maintain a smile as if nothing was wrong.

-

The final award for Best Film also went to "Calm Wind No. 1".

"Dingfeng No. 1" can be said to be the biggest winner tonight.

Indeed, as some have said, when "Calm Windsor No. 1" was making a strong push toward the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in North America, it certainly wouldn't hold it back in China.

Huang Zhongjing took the stage to give a speech, talking about the hardships behind the filming of this movie and the perseverance of the creators.

Lu Yanhe was being interviewed by the media backstage at the time.

Upon hearing the news that "Dingfeng No. 1" had won an award, Lu Yanhe cheered happily during the media interview.

As for Huang Zhongjing's speech, Lu Yanhe did not listen to it—even though there was a live broadcast of it.

The awards ceremony has ended.

Lu Yanhe was stopped by Yu Qin backstage.

Yu Qin introduced Wei Xue to Lu Yanhe.

As Yu Qin said, there was no conflict between Lu Yanhe and Yu Qin. Moreover, since they were both filmmakers who frequently met, they had disagreements, but also mutual respect.

Yu Qin said, "She is a good actress, but she lacks opportunities. If there are suitable roles in the future, give her more opportunities. She will not let you down."

Lu Yanhe did not expect Yu Qin to say such a thing to him.

He had witnessed the process of Yu Qin and Ning Xiulian going from working together to "breaking up".

Yu Qin is not a person with a good temper or a good personality.

Lu Yanhe was surprised that she would say such things to someone he didn't have a personal relationship with, but this also left a real impression on him.

He felt that either Wei Xue was such a good actress that Yu Qin appreciated her talent, or Wei Xue was such a good person that Yu Qin developed genuine feelings for her.

“Sure, no problem, Sister Xue. Send me your agent’s contact information later, and I’ll pass it on to the people at Linghe. If there are any suitable roles in the future, we can work together.”

Wei Xue said somewhat awkwardly, "I'm sorry, I don't have a management company yet."

Lu Yanhe was taken aback.

Yu Qin said, "She used to be a stage actress in a theater troupe. I found her to act in movies. She doesn't know anything about the film industry, and I don't associate with that circle. You know, I only make independent films. You...you see—"

Yu Qin paused here, seemingly unsure how to continue.

Lu Yanhe suddenly realized, and then understood.

He smiled and nodded: "It's okay, it's the same. As long as we have each other's contact information, that's fine. Sister Xue, when you have time, I'll invite you to visit Linghe."

Wei Xue said okay, and then thanked her.

At this moment, Yu Qin suddenly smiled and asked, "You've always invested in art films and art movies. I wonder if you would invest in my next film?"

“I’ll invest.” Lu Yanhe nodded without hesitation. “I’ll invest in your film as long as it needs me.”

Yu Qin was slightly surprised by Lu Yanhe's unwavering attitude.

"So readily agreed?"

“Your film must be straightforward,” Lu Yanhe said. “If you only need funding, or if you are short of money, feel free to contact me anytime. But if you need other support, Aurora Films is currently making an art film, and the person in charge is my senior from university, Wang Xiao. I can introduce you to him.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Qin waved her hand and said, "I don't like anyone interfering in my film or pointing fingers at me. I really dislike it."

Lu Yanhe smiled and said, "I understand. You asked me for help, and you trust me. I won't introduce just anyone to you. The people I introduce will definitely be reliable."

Upon hearing this, Yu Qin finally showed a skeptical expression.

Lu Yanhe asked, "Do you have any other plans?"

"No, what's wrong?" Yu Qin asked.

Lu Yanhe said, "My senior is organizing a small party, not a big or lively one. Why don't you and Sister Xue come with me to meet him?"

Yu Qin hesitated.

“Sister Ziyan is here too,” Lu Yanhe said. “Sister Xue hasn’t signed with a management company yet, right? Let’s introduce her to someone later and see if Shi Huo has the chance to work with Sister Xue in the future.”

Yu Qin glanced at Wei Xue, then at Lu Yanhe, and said, "Then go."

Yu Qin is a director who has been nominated for the main competition of the Venice International Film Festival four times.

Her works have won her one Best Actress award and one Best Director award.

She herself is a director who makes films without the support of any mainstream film companies.

As she said, she initially received funding from various film fund projects to make movies. Later, after earning some money, she began to make her own movies with her own money. In order to avoid any influence, her movies rarely receive funding from other film companies or foundations, making them truly independent films.

Although Lu Yanhe felt that this director's films were very "tricky" for actors—they would be filming for six months to a year without being able to take on any other work, and the pay was extremely low—he also admired her to some extent, just as he admired Yu Mengling. In this kind of world, Lu Yanhe respected people who could be true to themselves and act in accordance with their words.

Therefore, Lu Yanhe was genuinely willing to help Yu Qin make a movie.

Coincidentally, Wang Xiao's Northern Lights Films wanted to make a splash by using art films, a genre with a smaller budget, so Lu Yanhe naturally wanted to introduce Yu Qin to Wang Xiao.

As for the Spirit River—

Yu Qin's value to Linghe is not something Linghe needs in any aspect.

-

Wang Xiao's party was indeed a small party, held in a villa near the awards ceremony venue.

It was decorated in a very cozy and private style, with security guards all around to prevent paparazzi from sneaking in.

When Lu Yanhe appeared with the trophy, the entire audience applauded and cheered.

Li Zhibai and Yan Liang, who did not attend the awards ceremony, came directly here.

Two people, each holding a bottle of champagne, "fired" at him.

Chen Siqi also brought the core members of the "Jump Up" team.

Mainly the copyright editors—

This is also their main battlefield.

Wen Shengming arrived earlier than him and was chatting with Chen Bige when Lu Yanhe arrived. He smiled and walked over to give Lu Yanhe a warm and solid hug.

Over the years, as a senior, countless juniors have expressed their gratitude to him. But there are very few like Lu Yanhe, who, having reached this position, is still willing to humble himself and respect him as a teacher in every way, from words and deeds to practical benefits.

Wen Shengming is a senior figure, a performing artist, and also a human being. How could he not be moved by Lu Yanhe's sincerity?

In particular, during Lu Yanhe's acceptance speech, he repeated what he had said before in front of everyone at the end—

A senior figure who has achieved great success said something that a junior cherished so much. Who wouldn't be moved by that tenderness?

"You little rascal!" Wen Shengming only said this one sentence.

Lu Yanhe laughed.

"Will I win the Lingyun Award again next month, Professor Wen?"

Wen Shengming: "So what if you won an award? Your teacher won these awards decades ago."

Lu Yanhe: "...Sigh, what am I showing off in front of you? It's like trying to teach Guan Yu how to use his axe in front of a master."

Wen Shengming laughed loudly.

After that, Lu Yanhe spent the whole night acting as a middleman, introducing one person to another.

He also has to drink with people during breaks.

If it weren't for filming the next day, this would have been a night of celebration that would have lasted all night.

At two o'clock in the morning, Lu Yanhe and Chen Siqi embraced in a corner and cuddled for a moment.

"I'm leaving soon." Lu Yanhe rested his head on Chen Siqi's shoulder. "We have to start work at ten o'clock tomorrow morning, so we can't be too late."

Chen Siqi touched his face and said, "Okay, I'll wait for you to come back tomorrow night."

Lu Yanhe laughed.

"Want to have dinner together?"

“Sure, what would you like to eat?” Chen Siqi asked.

Lu Yanhe asked warily, "Are you going to cook yourself?"

Chen Siqi rolled her eyes at him, annoyed, and said, "I'll go to the restaurant and bring it back!"

Lu Yanhe laughed.

"Forget it, let's not work so hard. Let's just eat out and then go back."

Chen Siqi: "When do you finish work tomorrow? You must be a little tired after filming. Are you sure you want to eat out? Actually, I've been practicing my cooking skills recently, and I have a few signature dishes."

Lu Yanhe: "You know I love you very much, right?"

"I know." Chen Siqi touched his face again. "Are you drunk? Why are you suddenly asking me this?"

Lu Yanhe: "So, we can tell each other the truth, it's okay, right?"

A dangerous look appeared on Chen Siqi's face.

"uh-huh?"

Lu Yanhe: "How about we eat out and then come back?"

Chen Siqi gritted her teeth: "...If it weren't for the fact that tonight is a happy time for you... fine, let's go out to eat and then come back."

Lu Yanhe buried his head in Chen Siqi's shoulder and chuckled softly.

"Never mind, let's try the cooking you've practiced. Just kidding."

-

Having just recovered from a serious illness and feeling better, I frantically typed all day under the supervision of a live streamer.

Give me a compliment.

(End of this chapter)