Chapter 123: If a Life is Created, Let Nature Take Its Course
It wasn't surprising that Yang Siwei posted to support Fan Bingbing, but what was strange was that Li Chen uncharacteristically reposted it.
After Li Chen opened his blog, not counting this repost, he had only posted three times in total, and only reposted once before.
That was the blog post where Yang Siwei spoke out for Liu Yifei.
This was the second time, but the female lead had changed to Fan Bingbing.
Li Chen's brows furrowed as he stared at Miss Liu.
"Why are you looking at me like that? This feeling of being slandered isn't good. I'm just addressing the matter, not the person. Don't get the wrong idea."
Li Chen's brow relaxed, and he felt relieved. Miss Liu was indeed kind-hearted.
She had also been slandered with rumors about her and Chen Jingfei.
However, she never responded, and he hadn't expected her to actually speak up for Fan Xiaopang, with whom she had only an ordinary relationship, today.
Li Chen playfully tapped her delicate nose: "I should have met you sooner."
Miss Liu smiled faintly and leaned into her boyfriend's arms.
She tightly hugged Li Chen's waist, her small head rubbing against his chest, as if drawing warmth.
Li Chen held her tightly, thinking to himself: From now on, with me by your side, I will accompany you through any trials and tribulations!
No one would believe that Yang Siwei and Li Chen's actions weren't representing Rongchen Film and Television.
The vast number of netizens never lacked those who would sing a different tune.
"Oh, wow, the fourth man has come out. I just wonder if there will be a fifth."
"They've already made a full mahjong table; I just wonder who will get a self-draw!"
"Her other rumored boyfriend, Boss Yang, had foresight long ago: Men are never not lustful!"
"Li Chen is just a man too!"
Yang Siwei couldn't help but sigh, only Xiao Fan had this kind of influence.
Even his boss and Emperor Motion Pictures' Boss Yang were dragged into it.
Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.
Fan Bingbing's call came directly.
She had also seen Yang Siwei and Li Chen's actions immediately.
She hadn't expected Siwei to be so loyal, to actually come out so boldly to speak up for her at such a time.
Even Director Li was brought in, and Fan Bingbing was deeply moved.
After ten years in the industry, it was normal for the entertainment circle to fawn over the powerful and trample on the weak.
Now, taking her as an example, everyone wished they could stay far away from her.
Even her own agency, Huayi Brothers, was practically standing by idly.
She hadn't expected that Siwei and Director Li, outsiders, would give her the greatest support.
It was false to say she wasn't touched.
Who wouldn't add flowers to the brocade, but who would send charcoal in the snow?
Fan Bingbing's eyes felt a little sore.
"Siwei, thank you."
Yang Siwei didn't care at all, chuckling: "Thank me for what? I'm just fulfilling what I said before."
"Please apologize to Director Li for me; I didn't expect to drag him into this."
"When this matter calms down, I'll thank Director Li in person."
Yang Siwei laughed heartily: "Alright, you, my boss doesn't care about these things."
"Helping you is also 'convenient,' just like helping Zhang Ziyi retort Wong Jing back then, it's all about righting a wrong."
Yang Siwei couldn't tell Fan Bingbing that Yifei had reposted it for her boss.
Although Fan Bingbing had already guessed the relationship between her boss and Yifei, as long as her boss and Yifei hadn't officially announced it,
she wouldn't respond directly.
"Never mind, I'll call Director Li myself; it's more polite."
After hanging up, Yang Siwei shook his head slightly, hoping Xiao Fan hadn't disturbed his boss and Yifei's good time.
Seeing Fan Bingbing's incoming call, Miss Liu got up from Li Chen's arms and teased: "Go on, answer it, she's definitely thanking you."
Li Chen picked up the phone helplessly: "It's all your doing! If she's going to thank anyone, she should thank you!"
Miss Liu got up and waved her hand, turning back with a rosy face: "No, I don't need her thanks. I'm going upstairs, you take your time chatting!"
Li Chen's eyes lit up: "Don't worry, I'll get rid of her in a minute."
Li Chen was eager to go upstairs and attend to Miss Liu.
He dismissed Fan Bingbing in a few words.
Although it was only a few words, it enlightened Fan Bingbing, who was in the thick of it.
After hanging up, Fan Bingbing looked at the blog post again and indeed found it full of loopholes.
The drama she starred in was called "Turbulent Times Drifting" not "Turbulent Times Floating Willow," which was just the ending song.
Moreover, "Turbulent Times Drifting" was not invested by Jiayun, which could be found online.
As for the rumors about cohabiting with a Hong Kong artist and having a massive abortion, these were yellow rumors.
She told Wang Zhonglei from her company to proceed with legal action as necessary and not to respond too much.
Fan Bingbing felt excited and wanted to call Li Chen back to thank him again, but Li Chen had hung up.
Fan Bingbing didn't mind, thinking that Director Li might be busy.
Director Li was indeed busy, busy toiling over Miss Liu.
In the spacious bedroom, with its warm-toned decor, a yellow crystal chandelier illuminated the intense battle between the man and woman.
The two finally stopped their movements.
The quiet room was left with only their panting. Miss Liu quickly covered herself and went into the bathroom.
Li Chen chuckled, too excited to use protection, and forgot about her cycle; today didn't seem to be her safe period.
Two minutes later, Miss Liu scurried out of the bathroom and onto the bed, burrowing into Li Chen's arms, and fiercely pinched the soft flesh on his waist.
Li Chen endured the sharp pain and laughed heartily: "I forgot, I really forgot. I'll definitely be careful next time."
"But if we really make a life, we'll just let nature take its course."
Miss Liu hadn't immediately understood what "make a life" meant.
After two seconds, she finally realized.
She playfully hit Li Chen and laughed: "Where did you learn these witty remarks!"
After speaking, she hugged Li Chen again, burying her small head in his chest, and resting her fair leg on his lower abdomen.
"I'm not even nineteen yet, what are you thinking! I'm still a child myself!"
Li Chen didn't discuss this issue with her. If there really was a baby, he would never let her abort it.
Rongchen Film and Television's people no longer responded to the various gossip and rumors about Fan Bingbing.
Fan Bingbing, not knowing whose advice she took, actually declared that she would accept an appraisal by a plastic surgeon to prove she hadn't had plastic surgery!
Yang Siwei no longer had the energy to scold her.
If you haven't had surgery, you haven't had surgery, why make such a declaration? What about the tens of thousands of male and female artists in the industry who have had surgery?
Fan Bingbing had been monopolizing the entertainment headlines, and some people were not happy about it.
For example, that Star Girl, who was 'coincidentally' caught by reporters at the airport showing affection with Yang Zi.
In less than a month, the media photographed them together privately three times.
The vast number of netizens then realized, no wonder she had the confidence to sue Starlight.
She dared to take on new dramas one after another even before the lawsuit was settled.
Li Chen didn't pay attention to these rumors. Whether it was Yang Zi or Zhu Zi, it had nothing to do with him.
"ip man" had already wrapped up, and Li Chen couldn't even bother with it.
He left everything to Ning Hao to manage at Rongchen Film and Television.
"crossing the guandong" had also completed its post-production.
Li Chen spent half a day on the second floor with several of the main creators of "Crossing the Guandong," spot-checking a few episodes for review.
In the screening room, the two directors and the screenwriter stood up when they saw Hou Hongliang and Li Chen enter together.
"Director Kong, Director Zhang, please sit, no need to be polite among ourselves," Li Chen gestured as he entered.
"Time is tight, and the task is heavy, let's start, Old Hou."
Hou Hongliang smiled: "Alright, your straightforward style of doing things really doesn't seem like a twenty-three-year-old."
The others in the screening room also laughed.
Li Chen didn't say much and quickly started the screening. Li Chen could no longer remember the bloopers and minor flaws of "crossing the guandong" from his previous life.
These didn't affect the overall picture, but the ending song of each episode left a deep impression on him.
After five episodes, Li Chen called a halt: "No need to continue. In the realm of television dramas, Director Kong and Director Zhang are seniors, so I won't show off my limited skills."
"Just one thing, is the background accompaniment of the ending song a lullaby?"
The few people exchanged glances, not expecting Li Chen, so young, to accurately identify the accompaniment of the ending song "Homeland."
"Indeed, is there a problem?" Hou Hongliang smiled.
"Of course there's a problem. To my knowledge, this 'Lullaby' has an author named Zheng Jianchun."
"Even if he is no longer with us, his descendants are still around. You'd best confirm it clearly. I don't want our first groundbreaking work to get into a lawsuit like 'fearless'!"
The few people were greatly surprised when Li Chen said this.
"We checked at the time, it's a folk song, no author!" Hou Hongliang said.
If it was truly as Li Chen said, and "Lullaby" had an author, then it would involve copyright issues, which certainly couldn't be ignored.
"Go and confirm it again. I understand music theory; I won't be mistaken. You can just ask at any music academy, and you'll know what 'Lullaby' is all about."
Seeing Li Chen speak with such certainty, the others no longer argued.
"Alright, it was my oversight. I'll go now." Hou Hongliang felt his face flush.
If it was really as Li Chen said, he, as the producer, would be largely to blame.
Having resolved the matter of "Crossing the Guandong," Li Chen devoted all his energy to the promotion of "those years."
Capitalizing on the soaring ratings of "The Return of the Condor Heroes," it was the perfect time to promote "those years."
Yang Siwei first contacted various distributors in Asia, simultaneously releasing the theme song and MV of the same name for "those years."
"Recently, the movie theme song 'those years,' a collaboration between singer Harlem Yu and The Golden Palm director Li Chen, is being widely broadcast on various radio stations across Asian countries."
"In just three days, 'those years' soared into the top three of major music charts in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and its accompanying MV topped various charts in terms of click-through rates."
"'those years' is hot before it's even aired."
"Singer Harlem Yu confessed in an interview that he hadn't expected his 'many years' of songwriting to be inferior to Director Li's single 'those years'!"
The stir created by "those years" brought the most joy to Anta, the advertising merchant that placed in-film advertisements in "those years."
There were over fifteen advertising merchants bidding at the time, but Anta had the last laugh.
Their peers all mocked Anta for being a big spender. Although this film starred Li Chen and Liu Yifei,
it was not directed by Li Chen, and secondly, due to its subject matter, the box office couldn't be too high.
But Anta was determined, convinced that Li Chen's "those years" could create a box office miracle for domestic campus romance films.
The vast viewing audience, over 80% of whom were young people, were all their potential customers at Anta, and that was enough.
Facts proved their choice was entirely correct. "those years" was not only released simultaneously in Asia but also exported to Europe and America.
Although some regions in Europe and America might cut out the in-film advertisements, the vast potential market in Asia alone was enough to satisfy Anta, which was preparing for an IPO.
Immediately after, Yang Siwei released the teaser for "those years" and began placing a large number of advertisements in first-tier cities.
In every street and alley, one could hear 'The heavy rain missed in those years, the love missed in those years!'
At this time, Liu Yifei's popularity and buzz reached their peak in her four years since debut.
Her blog's click-through rate even surpassed twenty million, creating a gap of nearly seven million with the second-place Xu Cai Nv.
Her personal commercial value ranked among the top three in the entertainment industry on the Forbes Celebrity list, alongside Zhou Xun and Zhang Ziyi.
At the same time, Xue Xiaolu also began leading the "those years" crew on a nationwide promotional tour and roadshow.
The first stops were various art academies across the country.
In Hong Kong, they chose Hong Kong Chinese University for their roadshow.
Hong Kong Island's paparazzi are professionals; they latched onto Li Chen and Liu Yifei and didn't let go.
They asked sharp questions about everything, covering all of Li Chen's rumored girlfriends and the upcoming Golden Horse Awards ceremony.
"Director Li, regarding Guan Jinpeng's statement a few days ago that the Best Screenplay has already been decided for 'father's love is like a mountain,' what are your thoughts?"
Li Chen really didn't want to answer questions unrelated to "those years."
But Hong Kong Island seemed determined to build momentum for the Golden Horse Awards, relentlessly pursuing him.
"If it's decided, would I not know?"
"Don't keep talking about 'decided'! Zhou Xun is a Venice Film Festival Best Actress. If she wins the Golden Horse Awards Best Actress, I wouldn't be surprised at all!"
"Wouldn't a Venice Film Festival Best Actress not winning the Golden Horse Awards Best Actress seem more like a fixed outcome?"
The Hong Kong Island media and the mainland media finally saw the light. Li Chen had finally responded.
They were all as excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood, and were about to ask more questions.
Li Chen raised both hands: "To all media friends, if you have questions, please ask about the movie 'those years.' I will answer every question."
"If you ask other questions, I will only remain silent!"
The media and the main creators of the "those years" crew all laughed heartily.
However, they knew when to stop. Students from Hong Kong Chinese University came up to take photos with Liu Yifei and Tang Yan.
The others, including Shen Teng and Qiao Shan, gathered around Li Chen and Xue Xiaolu.
"Director Li, a few of us would like to ask for leave tonight." Shen Teng was a bit hesitant.
Li Chen and Xue Xiaolu exchanged glances and laughed: "What, you're not thinking of going to Lan Kwai Fong, are you?"
Shen Teng and Qiao Shan burst into laughter: "Of course not, we two want to go see 'brokeback mountain'!"
Li Chen was also amused by the expressions of Shen Teng and Qiao Shan.
Li Chen and a few others had seen the premiere of "brokeback mountain" at the Berlin Film Festival, but Qiao Shan and the others hadn't.
The mainland had banned Li An's "brokeback mountain," and these few were truly curious, having decided before coming to Hong Kong Island that they absolutely had to go see it.
Xue Xiaolu smiled: "Alright, we'll all go together tonight."
"Sister Lu, you're not responding to the party's call!" Li Chen joked.
He hadn't expected Xue Xiaolu to also want to see this Brokeback Mountain!
Li Chen mused, it seems everyone has a Brokeback Mountain in their heart!