Chapter 028

After everyone returned to their seats, Director Xu began the next process.

"Next you will receive a list of directors. Each group can choose one director. We will then send the interest forms to the four directors for them to choose from."

"And this time, the director has the right to refuse." Director Xu spoke slowly, but his words hit everyone hard on the head, "In other words, if he is not satisfied with the person he invites to collaborate with and the script, you may fail to invite him."

Regarding this blind selection mechanism, the faces of the other groups except Yan Xun's group were not very happy.

Everyone realized belatedly the embarrassing situation on the field - the lottery mode that seemed to be randomly shuffled for the entertainment of the audience happened to make them get the script information of other groups, and they knew nothing about their own group.

But since the director knew the script, they were in a more disadvantageous situation.

"Of course, if the director rejects you, you can still try to persuade or invite other directors after the live broadcast. It all depends on your efforts."

"Damn, this is too unfair!" Xiang Yuan muttered from below, "This means that the directors have full control over the initiative, and for us... it all depends on luck, right?"

Ning Qingzhuo, who was assigned to the weekend group, was calm: "What's unfair about this? When you audition, don't you also consider the director and screenwriter's considerations?"

His words made Xiang Yuan stunned: "It seems to be true."

"Then why worry about it." Ning Qingzhuo raised the corners of his lips, "Besides, my luck has always been good."

The staff distributed four expression of interest forms to the guests. As expected, Fang Shu's name appeared. Yan Xun checked it without hesitation and handed it in.

The other three groups are still deliberating.

"Sister Zhou Zhou will probably choose Director Jiang. He is good at filming scenes with women. He is the best choice for them." Xu Jingning began to discuss the situations of the other groups. "Senior Xie will probably choose Director Wen. They have been partners for many years. This is also a result that the public would like to see. As for Senior Xing Yu, it doesn't matter who he chooses."

Xing Yu is a good actor and a kind person. He has always had a good reputation in the industry. Even if he just cooperates with the program crew, no one will offend him.

But this is just the best option Xu Jingning had envisioned.

"But directors don't just work with mentors, they also consider the students, right?" Chu Xinrou rejected his point of view. "Based on what you said, it is indeed best to choose Director Jiang to work with Zhou Zhou's film, but don't forget that they also have Ning Qingzhuo in their group."

What a coincidence, just a few months ago, Director Jiang publicly scolded Ning Qingzhuo for having a bad temper and being too opinionated, which made him very anxious and exhausted to work with him.

So much so that before the movie was even released, countless people had already gone to the promotion section to mock him.

As for the situation of the other two groups, it is even more difficult to say because the script is not clear.

A few minutes later, the remaining three groups submitted their intention forms one after another, and Director Xu sent the results to the directors. There was no live broadcast content in this section, so they just played advertisements. When they came back, half an hour had passed.

As everyone waited eagerly, Director Xu finally announced: "Weekend Group has reached a cooperation agreement with Director Jiang Chonghua."

Xiang Yuan shouted excitedly: "Okay!"

"Xing Yu's team has reached a cooperation agreement with Director Wan Shan."

"Xie Yinlan's team has reached a cooperation agreement with Director Wen Han."

Just as Xu Jingning had guessed, a most satisfactory scene actually took place on the field.

And then...

Director Xu paused before continuing, "The above three groups are all the results. Unfortunately, Yan Xun's group was not invited successfully. Please find a director within three days to complete the second round of performance team formation."

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole audience was in an uproar.

No one had guessed that in the end, Yan Xun's group failed to invite the director.

After all, the three students in their group are all very famous, and with the addition of Yan Xun, it can be said to be a top-notch configuration. What kind of director would reject them?

Just as netizens were puzzled, Director Xu continued: "But this director left a message for Yan Xun's team. Please look at the big screen."

Then, the big screen in the studio lit up, revealing Fang Shu's half-bald, shiny forehead and his stubborn expression that refused to admit his age: "Hey, Yan Xun, you're here to ask me to direct a play again after not seeing you for a few days?"

"I'm not picky in my life, but I will never reshoot a scene I've filmed. For me, the success of a scene depends on the right time, right place, and right people. So, after that time, if all the conditions are not right, it can't be replicated."

"You probably can't find a reason to persuade me, so don't waste your time coming to me. Ask someone else for help!"

[Fuck, I was still wondering who it was, but if this person is Fang Shu, then everything makes sense? ]

[Ahhhh, is there a work that Director Fang and Teacher Yan have collaborated on? Is there anyone who can guess which one it is? ]

[How do you guess? They have worked together in at least ten films, right?]

Director Xu is a bit of a jerk. As soon as the video was finished, he immediately finished talking about many things and announced that today's live broadcast was over.

The others looked at him with sympathy.

Because there was no live broadcast, Shen Luo even ignored the people present and laughed out loud, "Hey, Xu Jingning, Director Fang doesn't want to cooperate with you?"

"Hey! Didn't you hear what Director Fang just said?" Before the main person said anything, Xiang Yuan was already furious. "If your ears are not working, go get treatment!"

But these had no harm to Shen Luo. He said goodbye to everyone in a good mood and left the studio first.

Others basically just gave them comforting looks from afar.

Ning Qingzhuo walked directly to the stage where their group was and said, "If you need anything, I can help you invite Director Fang."

He knew the script of Yan Xun's group, and Director Fang was definitely the most suitable director.

But Xu Jingning just smiled and shook his head: "I appreciate your kindness, but it's really not necessary."

Let’s not talk about what the result will be if Ning Qingzhuo uses his background to put pressure on Fang Shu. Fang Shu has never been tough. He is just playing around now. If he really annoys him, he might refuse to give in.

Anyway, the message had been delivered, and since the person didn't need it, Ning Qingzhuo didn't force it. He nodded and encouraged: "Come on, I think you can succeed."

"I think so too!" Seeing Ning Qingzhuo was about to finish his words, Xiang Yuan immediately followed, looking at Xu Jingning pitifully like a puppy ignored by its owner, "Ningning, don't worry! Your team is so strong that you will definitely be able to convince Director Fang! I'm still waiting to see your wonderful show!"

Xu Jingning smiled: "Thank you."

Seeing that the atmosphere was gradually becoming sentimental, Xin Yao coughed twice to interrupt in time: "Hey, hey, hey, why are you all here to cry to Ningning? Don't we need encouragement and comfort?"

Hearing this, Xiang Yuan looked a little embarrassed: "Isn't it that... I am not familiar with you guys?"

Everyone present couldn't help laughing.

Today's live broadcast ended, and everyone left one after another. Xu Jingning followed Yan Xun into the car as usual. They were silent all the way until they got off the car at the gate of the community. Yan Xun asked, "I'm going to see Fang Shu tomorrow. Do you want to come with me?"

"What time tomorrow?" Xu Jingning immediately took out his cell phone to check his schedule.

He slowly breathed a sigh of relief when he realized he had the whole day free.

"Well, it doesn't matter. It depends on your time. He's been very free lately anyway." Seeing that he looked nervous, Yan Xun smiled and said, "Director Fang is actually very easy to get along with. You met him last time, so you should know."

Perhaps because the night was getting darker, Yan Xun unconsciously lowered his voice, and his tone became even softer and gentler, which made Xu Jingning's ears itch.

He forced himself to remain calm and said, "I know. But work matters...are still a little different."

After all, if a director of Fang's level could change after just one meeting, he wouldn't have such a bad reputation.

What's more, from the perspective of an actor, Xu Jingning still has great respect for Fang Shu.

"Well, good night."

"Good night, be careful on your way."

After parting with Yan Xun, Xu Jingning returned to the apartment building alone. Walking all the way to his doorstep, he suddenly heard some abnormal noises coming from around him.

Following the sound, I saw that the door of another house opposite was open, as if they were not afraid of anyone breaking in at all.

There are only two families living on this floor, and that's Zhong Yue's house.

People who usually go out early and come back late rarely come back earlier than Xu Jingning. When Xu Jingning thought of how hurried he looked when he left the TV station, thinking that he was going to come back for a "night show", she felt a little disgusted.

Since the other person himself is not afraid, there is no need for him, an unrelated neighbor, to meddle in his affairs.

Xu Jingning quickly opened the door and went back home.

The next morning, he got up early, quickly took care of everything, and sent his detailed address to Yan Xun.

Yan Xun arrived on time and brought a breakfast: "Good morning, did you get enough rest last night? Why are you up so early?"

He looked up at Xu Jingning. Although she was dressed simply, even the slight curl of her hair was just right, obviously she had been carefully groomed.

Yan Xun suddenly felt a little unhappy.

Why, do you need to be so concerned about meeting Fang Shu?

"It's fine." Xu Jingning touched his nose embarrassedly, "After all, it's for work, so it should be more formal."

The only drawback was that because she woke Xu Xingcheng up early in the morning to find the makeup artist, she and the makeup artist's sister caught him and gave him a severe scolding.

Yan Xun silently admired Xu Jingning's current appearance and nodded, "Get in the car."

When they were leaving, they happened to bump into Zhong Yue who was standing opposite them. He was carrying a bag of garbage and made eye contact with them, his eyes full of shock.

But before Xu Jingning could think of the words to explain, Zhong Yue turned around and gave up waiting for the elevator and left the corridor.

"Is he like this all the time?" Yan Xun glanced in the direction where Zhong Yue left and asked.

"I don't know." Xu Jingning shook his head. "We haven't talked since we moved in."

He pretended to be quite enthusiastic in front of the camera.

Because he was paying extra attention to Zhong Yue's abnormal behavior, it was not until they left the community and the car started moving slowly that Xu Jingning suddenly realized that there were only him and Yan Xun in the car.

"Huh? Aren't you going to invite Chu Xinrou and the others?"

"I asked, but they are busy and can't come today."

2874 immediately shouted in Xu Jingning's mind: "No! I checked! My goddess and her bestie have no schedule today! This man is lying to you!"

Last night, 2874 was bored and read a fan fiction, which was the latest "magic article" in the CP fan circle of the two of them. Having long been accustomed to the little system's behavior, Xu Jingning has become numb. Whatever happens, as long as he doesn't keep nagging him, he can barely tolerate it.

Before reading the article, 2874 asked what the wife-chasing crematorium was. Xu Jingning was too sleepy to explain, but the system didn't disturb him the whole night, so he didn't take it seriously.

Judging from his current reaction, he was deeply hurt by Wen.

Xu Jingning silently turned off the screaming system and replied to Yan Xun: "Really? What a coincidence."

The driver parked the car in a wealthy area in the city, surrounded by overly beautiful green facilities. If Xu Jingning remembered correctly, the people living in this area seemed to be locals from Pingjiang, and the previous generation was particularly fond of this kind of community...

"Fang Shu's wife was from Pingjiang and died of illness a few years ago." Seeing Xu Jingning's puzzled expression, Yan Xun slowly explained, "Director Fang worked very hard in his early years, but he started to slow down after that, only making one movie a year, saying that he wanted to spend more time with his children. But after his son got married last year, he was the only one left here."

After hearing this, Xu Jingning sighed: "Director Fang usually seems to be quite optimistic and heroic."

"No matter how open-minded a person is, he is still a human being and will always experience the ups and downs of human nature." For some reason, Yan Xun's tone was very indifferent when he spoke of this. He was clearly talking about something touching, but it sounded as if there was a layer of incomprehensible gauze between him and him.

It's like he has no empathy at all.

"What about you?" Xu Jingning asked curiously, "Teacher Yan, have you ever thought about how to get along with your family in the future?"

Yan Xun smiled and shook his head, giving an unexpected answer.

“I don’t have any family anymore.”