Chapter 160: Miss Liu's Clarity
Although Wang Zhonglei and Feng Xiaogang left, others would not.
When two tigers fight, one must be injured.
Rongchen Film and Television and Huayi Brothers had a falling out.
Orange Sky Entertainment, Bona Film Group, and Starlight International Media were happy to watch the show.
The Premiere was still ongoing.
Han Sanping glanced at Li Chen: “You deliberately did this today, didn't you?”
Li Chen chuckled: “Han Dong, don't you think the unhealthy trends in our film industry are getting worse and worse?”
“If this continues, who will still make films with dedication? Everyone will just chase money.”
“They'll cast whoever has the most fans, regardless of whether they can act.”
“That little heavenly king from the music industry, do you really think Zhang Weiping valued his acting skills?”
“This is very unfriendly to the development of new talent. Today, I just want to curb the arrogance of these two.”
Han Sanping said no more.
Upon reflection, Li Chen's words were not without reason.
Although a large number of investors and coal bosses poured into the film and television industry, how many of them were truly passionate about film?
Even those who were pillars of mainland cinema, like Chen Kaige, Feng Xiaogang, and Zhang Yimou, all flocked to so-called blockbusters with big productions and star-studded casts.
They didn't care if the reputation was terrible, as long as they made money.
This indeed offered no benefit to the cultivation of talent in the film and television industry.
If it was truly as Li Chen said, and everyone pursued these big productions, selecting actors based solely on box office appeal and not on acting skills, then China's film industry would likely become increasingly mediocre.
Logically, these were things he should have considered, but he didn't expect Li Chen to be ahead of him.
After the Premiere, the subsequent cocktail party was a great Time for all parties to mingle and socialize.
Wu Kebo and Wang Jinghua both walked forward.
Wang Jinghua smiled: “Director Li, the film is excellent.”
Li Chen guessed that Wang Jinghua's unspoken thought at the moment was: Li Chen, well done for standing up to them.
Since Wang Jinghua left Huayi Brothers, this top agent in Beijing had essentially become estranged from the Wang brothers.
Li Chen exchanged a few words with Wang Jinghua.
Zhang Ziyi seized the opportunity and walked up, holding a glass of wine, and smiled: “Director Li, I haven't thanked you yet for speaking up for me last Time.”
“I wonder if Director Li would do me the honor of letting me host a dinner tomorrow as a small token of my gratitude.”
Li Chen chuckled: “I can help you once, twice, but I can't keep helping you.”
“You still need to be strong yourself. You're already International Zhang now.”
“Don't let just anyone from the Hong Kong circle say a few words about you, and then you dare not speak up.”
“As long as you're not the one starting trouble, you should push back when necessary.”
“By now, whether in terms of market or film talent, the mainland is long past what those from Hong Kong can compare to.”
“Be more confident; live up to your title of International Zhang.”
Zhang Ziyi was a little embarrassed.
Although she was lectured, for some reason, she didn't feel any resentment at all.
Instead, she felt very warm inside: “Thank you, Director Li, I'll remember that.”
“There's no need for dinner. Next Time there's a suitable role and I find you, just don't decline.”
Zhang Ziyi was happy and chuckled: “It's my honor if Director Li finds me, how could I decline?”
As the two were talking, Yang Siwei walked up from the side.
She nodded to Zhang Ziyi.
Zhang Ziyi was perceptive and, after greeting Li Chen, excused herself and walked to the side.
“Boss, your speech just now is already online. Zhang Yimou and those two from Huayi Brothers probably won't let this go.”
Li Chen laughed heartily: “Siwei, remember this: as long as our Rongchen Film and Television doesn't fall, any enemy is a paper tiger.”
“Go ahead and do it; if the sky breaks, I'll hold it up.”
“Isn't Zhang Yimou known as a marketing expert? Go head-to-head with him.”
“Let's see who's more formidable: you, the top student from a professional background, or him, the self-taught wild card.”
“I understand, Boss, don't worry.”
“Director Li, Brother Li, my Boss Li, next Time can you please not make me sit with Huayi Brothers?”
“I'd rather not sit in the first row. I'd sit in the second row with Siwei.”
“I'd be more comfortable sitting with them than with Brother Jun and Director Feng.”
Zhou Xun walked over and complained to Li Chen.
Yang Siwei held back a laugh: “Sister Xun, I'm not even qualified to sit in the first row!”
“And you, you're downgrading your status to sit with us.”
The lights flickered at the cocktail party.
Most people's gazes, intentionally or unintentionally, were on Li Chen.
Who doesn't want to run rampant in the entertainment industry?
Who doesn't want to be like Li Chen?
To say whatever he wants, to be unrestrained and fearless.
But besides Li Chen, who had this kind of power?
If anyone else had dared to speak about Zhang Yimou and Feng Xiaogang like that today, they would probably have to withdraw from the entertainment industry the very next day.
Yang Mi, Tang Yan, and Zhu Yawen also gathered around.
Yang Mi leaned close to Li Chen: “Senior, you've really offended the Beijing Circle people.”
“Will we be blacklisted by the Beijing Circle in the future?”
“Mi Mi, are you being silly? If anyone should worry, it should be the Huayi Brothers artists.”
“They should be worried about whether Director Li will blacklist them. What do we have to worry about?”
Zhu Yawen said, amused.
Li Chen scoffed: “What Beijing Circle? What Beijing Circle?”
“It's the internet age now; why are we still playing these old-fashioned clique games?”
“Isn't it ridiculous? What kind of things do you fill your head with all day?”
“I don't see you thinking this much when you're filming, but you're worrying about everything else.”
Everyone looked at Yang Mi and laughed.
Yang Mi was greatly embarrassed, but upon reflection, Zhu Yawen's words were not wrong.
Senior's words were even more correct.
It was the 21st century; it was no longer the era when the Beijing Circle ran rampant.
It was replaced by new elites like her senior, who held a lot of resources.
She was really worrying for nothing.
After Wang Zhonglei and Feng Xiaogang left, they got into the car, their faces growing gloomier by the minute.
Neither of them spoke.
Feng Xiaogang had truly lost face tonight.
Wang Zhonglei was in a similar state.
He actually wanted to scold Feng Xiaogang a few Times, but he knew in his heart that at this Time, their own people couldn't be in disarray.
He thought, at this moment tonight, even if you have a conflict with Li Chen, don't say bad things about his film at his Premiere.
With Li Chen's personality, would he put up with you?
Wasn't this just asking for humiliation?
But Li Chen also gave them, Huayi Brothers, too little face.
As the general manager of Huayi Brothers, he brought Huayi Brothers artists to support your Premiere.
Even if you didn't consider Feng Xiaogang's face, you should consider the face of me, Wang Zhonglei, and my brother, Brother Jun.
It shouldn't have been so humiliating.
The two returned to Huayi Brothers headquarters and entered Wang Zhonglei's office.
Wang Zhonglei immediately called his brother: “Brother, come to the company; there's something to discuss.”
After hanging up, Wang Zhongjun arrived in less than half an hour.
On the way, he had already seen the news online.
Sina's live text and photo broadcast had already put the live situation of the Premiere online.
The internet was now in an uproar.
Wang Zhongjun entered the office.
Seeing his brother and Feng Xiaogang both with dark expressions, Wang Zhongjun didn't spare their feelings: “I told you two not to go, not to go, but you insisted on going!”
“Xiaogang, you too. If you were going to go, why did you deliberately embarrass Li Chen on the spot?”
“Brother, is it still useful to say all this now? Today, we've completely fallen out with Li Chen.”
“Let's think about how to deal with it,” Wang Zhonglei quickly said.
“Now you remember to ask me? Why didn't you listen to me when I told you two not to go?”
Wang Zhonglei also sighed and remained silent.
Feng Xiaogang was indignant: “Brother Jun, Brother Lei, if you think I've caused trouble for you, I'll withdraw from Huayi Brothers.”
Wang Zhongjun felt disgusted.
Although he genuinely looked down on Feng Xiaogang, Feng Xiaogang had indeed made a lot of money for Huayi Brothers.
He was considered a barometer of Huayi Brothers' profits.
At this Time, there was no way they could let Feng Xiaogang leave.
Wang Zhongjun gave his brother a look.
Wang Zhonglei immediately changed into a smiling face, walked to Feng Xiaogang, and pressed him to sit down.
“Look at you, why are you getting so agitated talking about this? We're family, not outsiders.”
“The most urgent task now is to unite against the outside; we can't have infighting among ourselves.”
After comforting Feng Xiaogang for a few words, Wang Zhonglei changed the subject: “Brother, we have to find a way; we can't always be so passive.”
Wang Zhongjun said meaningfully: “Let's wait a little longer; the Time is not yet ripe.”
Li Chen returned to the villa.
Liu Yifei and Shu Chang were still there.
For these 10 days, the two had been training archery at Li Chen's villa during the day.
In the evenings, they stayed at Liu Yifei's villa.
Anyway, the two houses were not far apart.
As soon as Li Chen entered the door, Shu Chang happily exclaimed: “My Brother Chen is back!”
The two stood up simultaneously. Liu Yifei's face was joyful; she came up and linked arms with Li Chen, affectionately pointing to his mouth.
“How can your mouth be so good at talking?”
Li Chen hadn't reacted yet and looked at the two girls, smiling: “What did I say?”
Shu Chang giggled beside him: “Brother Chen, what you said is all over the internet.”
“Xixi saw you say that even without you as her boyfriend, with her hard work and drive, she would still achieve remarkable results.”
“She was overjoyed immediately, happily praising you to the skies in my ear.”
“She kept saying that everything you said was from the bottom of your heart, true insight! You have such thick skin!”
Shu Chang remembered their conversation from half an hour ago, her eyes flickering with an indescribable emotion.
Time rewound to half an hour ago.
After practicing archery on the lawn, the two changed clothes and sat in the living room, where they saw the online reports.
Shu Chang immediately exclaimed: “My Brother Chen is indeed formidable and invincible; there's no one he dares not confront.”
“Xixi, why do I feel like Fan Bingbing's words sound like she's interested in my Brother Chen?”
“You have to be careful. My Brother Chen is like Tang Sanzang now, and these female demons, who wouldn't want a piece of him?”
“If you don't guard against them, you'll suffer sooner or later.”
Shu Chang chattered on for a long Time.
Liu Yifei lay on the sofa, cross-legged, holding a book, and didn't pay her any attention, letting her perform a monologue for a long Time.
Shu Chang couldn't help but lean over and put her arm around her best friend: “Did you hear what I said?”
Liu Yifei still didn't look at Shu Chang: “I heard you. Why think so much?”
“Who can say what will happen in the future? At least for now, Li Chen is very good to me and hasn't had any other intentions.”
“Besides, I have Siwei as a helper to keep an eye on things for me.”
“When I was with him, I understood one principle.”
“With his current status in the film and television industry, if he were to have other intentions, there's nothing I could do to stop him. If that day ever comes, then we'll part amicably.”
“At least we were happy once. But for some reason, I still choose to believe him.”
Shu Chang was a little stunned.
She thought her best friend was just naive, but she didn't expect her to see everything so clearly.
After a long while, Shu Chang finally said: “I've noticed that ever since you got together with my Brother Chen, you seem to have undergone a baptism of holy light, becoming wise and open-minded.”
Liu Yifei found it amusing and put down her book.
She rubbed her best friend's cheeks with both hands: “Are you implying that I used to be very stupid?”
Shu Chang slapped Liu Yifei's hands: “Let go, quickly! Why do you always like to pinch my cheeks? I'm practically drooling.”
Liu Yifei released her hands.
Shu Chang sighed: “Oh! My Brother Chen's charm is truly devastating. You know, he's not even that handsome.”
“Why does he always become the center of attention wherever he goes? Maybe it's innate.”
“Actually, I also really like my Brother Chen.”
Liu Yifei frowned: “What did you say?”
Seeing her best friend about to act, Shu Chang quickly begged for mercy: “Hey, hey, hey, don't misunderstand. I mean the kind of liking a younger sister has for an older brother.”
Liu Yifei smiled slightly and put down her raised hands.
Shu Chang continued: “Do you still remember last Time when I got into a lawsuit, Brother Chen scolded me and then helped me come up with an idea?”
“Actually, I felt so warm inside at the Time. You know my family situation. How many years has it been? No one has ever scolded me like that.”
“At that moment, I truly regarded Brother Chen as my own older brother.”
Liu Yifei knew her best friend's background very well.
She didn't want to make the atmosphere so heavy, so she changed the subject.
“Li Chen is your older brother? Then I'm your sister-in-law.”
Shu Chang chuckled: “Aren't you shameless? Say that after you and my Brother Chen get your marriage certificate.”
At this moment, the grand occasion of the Premiere of 'father's love is like a mountain 2' had quickly topped the entertainment section of major portal websites.
Netizens were divided into two factions: pro-Li and anti-Li.
Logically, the two factions shouldn't have been evenly matched, but because Li Chen dragged Jay Chou into it, the little heavenly king's fans immediately sided with the anti-Li faction, verbally attacking and criticizing Li Chen to defend their idol.
“Is this person sick? What did Jay Chou do to you to drag him into this?”
“Exactly, it's not like our Jay Chou wanted to act in your 'curse of the golden flower,' is it?”
“Besides, our Jay Chou at least won the Best New Performer award at the Hong Kong Golden Horse Awards, which means his acting skills are online.”
“What's wrong with choosing Jay Chou? We're willing to spend money, what's it to you, Li Chen?”
“Right, right, right, your Jay Chou won the Golden Horse Awards Best New Performer, and your Jay Chou is going to win an Oscar too!”
“How dare you say that? Did you even look at how few films there were at last year's Golden Horse Awards?”
“Your Jay Chou's poker face, that's acting?”
“Oh my goodness, he acts like Jay Chou no matter who he plays!”
“Li Chen is right, did Zhang Yimou choose your Jay Chou because of his acting skills?”
“Feng Xiaogang's 'the banquet,' please don't take it abroad to embarrass us again. Its Douban score is already as low as 6-point-something, and you still have the nerve to bring it out; it's an embarrassment to us Chinese people.”
“Zhang Yimou's works in recent years are like having a cold, hot and cold.”
“Besides 'riding alone for thousands of miles,' what other presentable works has Zhang Yimou had in recent years?”
“'curse of the golden flower,' the name itself is hilarious. Which soldier with golden armor would still be a soldier?!”
“China has never seen soldiers wearing golden armor since ancient times; they haven't even had silver armor, let alone golden armor.”
Yang Siwei and her four main assistants were still working overtime at the company, dealing with the online public opinion.
“General Manager Yang, Jay Chou's fans are very crazy. Should we change our strategy?”
Yang Siwei, like a general commanding a battle, gave orders: “Change what? The boss's style has always been to be tough.”
“Who cares if he's a little heavenly king or a big heavenly king? The boss didn't say anything wrong. Continue!”
“Yes!”
Unexpectedly, the next day, before Zhang Dapao could speak, many people from Hong Kong and Taiwan jumped out.
Among them was the little heavenly king's godfather: Huang Qiusheng.