Chapter 193: Journey to Shanghai
Li Chen’s remarks were a fatal blow to that father and son.
Even a certain big shot who wanted to give them a green light quietly backed down.
This caused "Nanjing, Nanjing," which was about to see the light of day, to plummet directly into the abyss of darkness.
Lu Tailang cursed Li Chen's ancestors for eighteen generations in his heart.
He even publicly stated: “He is a despicable and shameless villain.”
“He uses his influence to hire internet trolls, manipulate public opinion, and attack his opponents.”
“The dominance of Rongchen Film and Television is definitely not a good thing for the film industry.”
Unfortunately, netizens did not buy it.
“That’s right, Rongchen Film and Television indeed does bad things, with over a billion in box office revenue a year, but unfortunately, it has nothing to do with you.”
“Xiao Li Zi, though never forgiving with his words, isn’t as disgusting as you.”
“Either crying to Jiang Wen or plagiarizing someone else’s Kekexili.”
“Now he’s completely gone mad, trying to make an issue out of Nanjing.”
“Do you dare to film this movie in Nanjing?”
“You even ran to a small county in Changchun to build a Nanjing city, which is only because it’s far away, and we can’t reach it.”
“Do you need us to tell you whether there are any good Japanese people?”
“You always want to make big productions like others, but you’re only suitable for assisting Jiang Wen and plagiarizing other people’s works.”
Netizens were truly ruthless.
They dug up every single one of Lu Tailang’s works since his debut and flogged them.
At this point, even China Film Group Corporation and Xinmei didn't dare to speak out easily.
Li Chen's personal influence was once again confirmed in this incident.
It reminded netizens of a few years ago.
Li Chen, by himself, managed to drive the popular dae jang geum out of mainland China.
This time, Lu Chuan’s major project, which he had been planning for several years, was completely shelved.
He gained nothing but the nickname Lu Tailang.
The Cannes Film Festival and the Shanghai Film Festival sent invitations to Li Chen.
They hoped Li Chen could appear at the film festival awards ceremony as an award presenter.
Li Chen politely declined the invitation from the Cannes Film Festival.
But he had no reason to refuse the Shanghai Film Festival.
It wasn't because Ren Zhonglun and Chen Kaige both called.
But because Tian Zhuangzhuang's "The Go Master" was also registered.
Chen Kaige, as the chairman of this year's jury, again trapped Li Chen with his words.
“Lao Tian isn’t easy. You and I, one is his disciple, and the other is his old friend. There’s no reason not to go and support him.”
Look at how beautifully the Poet’s words were spoken.
He is the chairman of the jury for the Shanghai Film Festival.
How could he not go?
Tian Zhuangzhuang did not speak to Li Chen about it.
He probably didn’t want to use their mentor-disciple relationship to influence Li Chen’s decision.
“You don’t need to say anything, Director Chen, I’ll go.”
“Alright, then I’ll see you in Shanghai in June.”
Chen Kaige hung up the phone, a hint of complacent pride on his face.
Everyone said Li Chen was hard to invite, but once he stepped in, wasn't it effortless?
“Hong, wasn’t I right? As long as I step in, even Li Chen has to give me face.”
Chen Hong affectionately pinched her old baby's loose, aged face, knowing full well what was going on.
Li Chen coming was definitely for Tian Zhuangzhuang's sake.
But she was also happy to play dumb and save face for her face-loving old baby.
“I know you’re capable, alright?”
Chen Kaige, embracing his wife’s still slender waist, said dismissively, “In this industry, there aren’t many people who dare to refuse me.”
Chen Kaige and Ren Zhonglun went their separate ways, and after a series of phone calls.
“Jackie Chan, Fan Bingbing, Maggie Cheung, Gong Li, and a host of other big stars have all agreed to come.”
Zhou Xun and Tang Yan also received invitations to the Shanghai Film Festival.
Only Yang Mi and Zhu Yawen did not receive them.
“Why did they only leave me and Xiao Zhu???”
Yang Mi posted a soul-searching question in the QQ group.
“Entertainment industry rule: herbivores are not suitable for survival. You two, one is Xiao Zhu and the other is Xiao Yang, try harder next year.”
“Sister Xun, you can’t be like this! At least we two are from the same sect. You don’t comfort me, but you even attack me.”
Yang Mi put down her cell phone, got up, looked in the mirror, and said to herself, puffing out her chest and bending her leg.
“Curvy, tall with long legs, only my face is a bit worse than Yifei’s, but it shouldn’t be worse than Tangtang’s.”
“If "Wang Zhaojun" still can’t make me famous, then I really have no face.”
Yang Mi pinched her chin again: “How is it like a tender beef five-sided face???”
Li Zhen met with Mr. Yang of Emperor Motion Pictures, with Huo Wenxi acting as a server.
One was a reborn extraordinary person.
The other was an old demon who had cultivated into a spirit.
Neither of them mentioned the previous unpleasantness.
It was just a simple connection, and everything else was understood without words.
For "father's love continued," both parties finalized the investment shares, the same as the first part.
Huo Wenxi was very sensible and said that "father's love continued" would be released in November, avoiding "the thieves."
Since Fan Bingbing returned from Europe, she began to plan the studio matters with Mu Xiaoguang.
Their agreed strategy was to form alliances.
Huayi Brothers and Orange Sky Entertainment were out of the question; Rongchen Film and Television at least wouldn't target her.
That left only Yu Dong and Wang Changtian as the few remaining powerful figures in the industry.
The two analyzed the personalities of Yu Dong and Wang Changtian.
They believed Yu Dong was easier to win over than Wang Changtian.
Moreover, Yu Dong was very diplomatic and on bad terms with both Huayi Brothers and Orange Sky Entertainment, which was a good opportunity to build a relationship.
Most importantly, Bona Film Group was powerful and had close ties with Emperor Entertainment and China Xing in Hong Kong.
Through this, they could also open up the Hong Kong connections, laying a foundation for Fan Bingbing's future.
A few days later, gossip media captured Yu Dong and Fan Bingbing intimately holding hands, appearing at the entrance of a certain restaurant.
Online discussions began again, wondering if Fan Bingbing’s next company would be Bona Film Group.
Although Fan Bingbing did not have a connection with Rongchen Film and Television.
But she did not want her relationship with Yang Siwei to fade.
Fan Bingbing drove specifically to Splendid Diamond downstairs and called Yang Siwei.
“I’m downstairs. Shall we have dinner together tonight?”
Yang Siwei directly replied with two words: “No time!”
Fan Bingbing wasn't angry and still smiled: “What? I didn’t join your company, so you’re going to be estranged from me until we die?”
Yang Siwei smiled: “I really don’t have time!”
“Oh, it won’t take up much of your time. I have good news for you! If we don’t eat, can we at least chat for a bit downstairs?”
Yang Siwei looked at her watch: “Forget it, wait for me at the underground hot pot restaurant next to the company.”
Fan Bingbing’s lips curled up: “Alright.”
Half an hour later, in the private room of the hot pot restaurant, the table was filled with Yang Siwei's favorite dishes.
Fan Bingbing had put a lot of thought into it.
Yang Siwei still had a sour look on her face.
Fan Bingbing shook Yang Siwei and said in a sweet voice.
“Alright, are you still angry? It’s been so long, Chen Ge doesn’t even care, so why are you angry?”
Yang Siwei put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth.
“What good news? Just get to the point. I’m not Yu Pangzi, so don’t try that with me.”
Yang Siwei knew very well that Fan Bingbing's closeness to Yu Pangzi was definitely not about joining Bona Film Group.