Chapter 195: The Prelude to the Big Flower Feud
Zhou Xun felt a strange sensation when she received the script for the message.
As early as five years ago, Dai Sijie's same-sex themed film, “Chinese Professor in a Botanical Garden,” almost led to her collaboration with Maggie Cheung.
Maggie Cheung had even proactively mentioned this film at an event, expressing her anticipation and desire to act alongside Zhou Xun.
However, due to various reasons, it never materialized.
Eventually, even the title was changed to “The Chinese Botanist's Daughter,” and the actress was replaced by Li Bingbing alone.
Unexpectedly, she was now a Venice Film Festival Best Actress.
It was truly fate to 'rekindle their edge' under Director Li's direction with Maggie Cheung.
Thinking about acting opposite a 'god of acting,' Zhou Xun also felt a sense of anticipation.
Li Chen did not plan to hold open auditions for the other roles in the message.
He already had preferred candidates in mind, and for Huang Xiaoming's role, Li Chen replaced him with Zhu Yawen.
Huang Xiaoming had just signed with Huayi Brothers.
Huayi Brothers presented a golden saddle to Huang Xiaoming, dressed in a black English equestrian suit, at a luxurious equestrian club in the suburbs of Beijing.
The Huayi Brothers also gifted precious glazed tiles and golden bricks.
This symbolized Huang Xiaoming as a 'thousand-mile horse' and Huayi Brothers as his 'Bole' (a connoisseur of horses).
A good horse deserves a good saddle, adding bricks and tiles.
Xiao Gang Pao also sent a Cartier watch.
Huang Xiaoming even vowed to become the top male actor in mainland Chinese cinema.
Since Huayi Brothers was promoting him so heavily, Li Chen decided not to join the excitement.
Zhu Yawen and Deng Chao were still waiting for their big break.
Li Chen handed the casting list for the message to Yang Siwei, asking her to make contact.
He then flew abroad with his assistant to coordinate with Warner's publicity plan for the thieves.
Miss Liu went to Shanghai to film kung fu king, so she and Li Chen didn't even meet.
The news of Lin Daiyu's passing in China.
From mid-May, it became the top headline on the entertainment sections of major portal websites.
It stayed there for half a month.
On one side, the Red Chamber Dream People Top 3 competition was in full swing.
On the other side, Lin Daiyu, a classic in the hearts of countless 'Red fans,' had passed away.
No matter how one looked at it, there was a strong sense of incongruity and fragmentation.
Many veteran actors from the 87th edition cast went to bid farewell to Lin Daiyu.
Numerous 'Red fans' who had spontaneously organized nationwide also rushed to the scene to send Lin Daiyu off.
Li Chen sighed that there would be no more Lin Daiyu in this world.
Afterward, he called Yang Siwei in China.
He asked her to send a wreath in the company's name.
The entertainment industry has always been about new faces replacing old; Lin Daiyu passed, and that was that.
The excitement of the entertainment industry continued.
Here, Chow Yun-fat, wanting to restore his reputation and prestige, actively extended an olive branch to the producers of red cliff.
He publicly stated to the media that he and Wu Yusen were still friends.
And he called out across the air, expressing his willingness to make a cameo appearance as Huang Gai in red cliff.
However, he was immediately rebuffed by the producers of red cliff: the role of Huang Gai has already been cast.
It was the actor who played Zhao Yun in the old version of Three Kingdoms.
At the same time, the agent of the Zhao Yun actor also confirmed this news to the outside world.
And presented the contract to the public.
At this, Chow Yun-fat finally fell silent.
But the story of red cliff wasn't over yet.
Without Chow Yun-fat, the American insurance company was unhappy again.
Netizens jokingly ridiculed the beleaguered Wu Yusen.
"Go beg Xiao Li Zi; this security deposit is just pocket money for Xiao Li Zi."
"Wu Yusen needs to be able to pick up and let go."
"As the old saying goes, 'birds of a feather flock together.' Chow Yun-fat is your good friend."
"Whatever kind of person he is, you're not a good person either."
"Xiao Li Zi was absolutely right, they're all cut from the same cloth!"
Li Chen was also amused when he saw the comments online.
When did he ever say something like 'cut from the same cloth'?
Now, whenever there's some buzz in the industry, netizens always drag him into it.
As if it wouldn't be lively without him.
Han Sanping felt somewhat fortunate that he had listened to Li Chen's blunt advice back then.
Otherwise, he would be in a difficult situation right now.
Orange Sky Entertainment and several investors were now in a predicament; replacing Chow Yun-fat left them feeling uncertain.
However, at this point, they could only grit their teeth and continue.
Otherwise, all their previous investments would be wasted.
Several parties pooled the security deposit and handed it over to Han Sanping.
After Han Sanping paid the deposit, Wu Yusen finally had reason to speak.
On the other side, the feud between Fan Bingbing and Xiao Yanzi, these 'plastic sisters,' was intensifying.
More than one third party was also involved in the middle.
This was Yang Siwei's inference when she called Li Chen.
Online rumors here claimed that Fan Bingbing's agent, Mu Xiaoguang, was the mastermind behind leaking information about the Beijing College Student Film Festival.
Xiao Yanzi had paid 500,000 yuan out of her own pocket to buy votes.
Then, on the other side, someone online spread rumors that the collaboration between Fan Bingbing and Mu Xiaoguang was nothing but an illicit affair.
Otherwise, why would Mu Xiaoguang abandon his wife across the sea from Taiwan to the mainland to become Fan Bingbing's agent and even support her in opening a studio?
And right from the start, he offended Rongchen Film and Television, Huayi Brothers, and Orange Sky Entertainment, the three major giants in the industry.
Rongchen Film and Television could remain aloof and not bother with you, even allowing you to custom-order a Lawrence gown.
But Huayi Brothers and Orange Sky Entertainment were not so benevolent.
If Fan Bingbing had joined Rongchen Film and Television, the two companies might have shown some consideration.
But you followed an outsider, Mu Xiaoguang; even if he had some influence in Taiwan.
In the eyes of the 'Big and Little Wangs' and Wu Kebo, he was simply not impressive enough.
Soon, someone online leaked that this feud between Fan Bingbing and Xiao Yanzi.
It was nothing more than a self-directed and self-acted play, a joint publicity stunt by the two of them.
Fan Bingbing needed to further increase her popularity.
Xiao Yanzi, whose exposure had decreased due to schooling, also needed a rebound in popularity.
The two hit it off, using the sensitive topic of "Fan-Zhao relationship," which everyone was interested in, to plan their publicity stunt.
Whether it was true or not, many netizens believed it.
Fan Bingbing was so angry her nose was almost crooked.
She didn't need to think to know who was behind the mischief.
Fan Bingbing proactively stepped forward and offered a lukewarm explanation.
"She and I are quite good; we don't need to stir up hype at all."
"To this day, if you just type 'Fan Bingbing' online, the related news will make your eyes dizzy."
As soon as these words came out, netizens were even more amused.
"Is she implying that Xiao Yanzi is outdated?"
"Jin Suo finally released the resentment she'd held for ten years."
"The maid from back then can now ride her mistress!"
"Back then, Xiao Yanzi scoffed at Fan Bingbing: 'I've never seen a maid become famous!'"
"Fan Bingbing is not to be trifled with either, she openly pointed out to the media that Xiao Yanzi lacked manners."
"No wonder Fan Bingbing is so daring; she was truly impressive in apple!"
"Suddenly, it dawned on me, Madam Rong was truly discerning; her needles never pricked good people!"
Now Fan Bingbing didn't dare to speak casually either.
Xiao Yanzi on the other side completely ignored the 'we're quite good' statement.
It wasn't until yesterday that the two appeared together at the "Digital Film Lily Awards" ceremony.
Fan Bingbing and Xiao Yanzi, serving as presenters, sat at the same table, separated by only one person.
This one person was also interesting: Zuo Shan Diao.
Old Han truly sat like Zuo Shan Diao, unmoving between the two.
It's just unknown if Old Han's inner feelings were as calm as his poker face.
Anyone else would have suffered from 'embarrassment cancer' long ago.
Throughout the event, Fan and Zhao ignored each other but chatted and laughed with Zuo Shan Diao.
The organizers were also ill-intentioned; not only did they arrange for the two to sit in the middle, but they also placed them at the same table.
Between them sat Zuo Shan Diao, the head of Chinese cinema.
Zuo Shan Diao would turn his head to discuss life ideals with Xiao Yanzi for a while.
Then he would turn back to Fan Xiaopang to envision the future.
Enjoying the 'blessing of having two women,' Zuo Shan Diao even suffered from cervical spondylosis.
Finally, he simply looked straight ahead and ignored everyone.
Until Zuo Shan Diao went on stage to present an award.
The two in the middle, in a vacuum, also had no communication, like strangers.
Fan Bingbing's 'we're quite good' was mercilessly ignored by Xiao Yanzi.
Xiao Yanzi, who went on stage to present an award before Fan Bingbing, perhaps fearing questions from the media about their topic of conversation.
Immediately after presenting the award, she quietly got up and left the event venue early with her agent after sitting for only a few minutes.
Not giving the media an opportunity to interview her.
As soon as she got into the car, Xiao Yanzi crossed her arms and spat: "What a thing, seeing her is enough."
"If it weren't for Han Dong's sake, who would want to sit at the same table with her!"
On the other side, Fan Bingbing, who was scheduled to present an award in the latter half of the event, rushed to the backstage lounge immediately after stepping off stage and was reluctant to appear.
Making the media, who had been waiting anxiously outside the door, wait for more than twenty minutes.
Fan Bingbing had no choice but to brace herself and walk out of the lounge.
Just as the media inquired why she and Xiao Yanzi had ignored each other inside the venue.
She was stopped by Fan Bingbing's assistant and Li Chen's mother.
Without saying a word, she lowered her head and slipped into the elevator.
From then on, the animosity between Fan and Zhao was brought into the open, also kicking off the grand curtain of the 'Big Flower' feuds.
Who would have thought that the Jin Suo maid from ten years ago would become the queen of controversy, stirring up trouble in the Chinese entertainment industry for the next decade?
As Fan Bingbing left, Huayi Brothers high-profilely renewed Li Bingbing's contract.
In addition, the talent poaching war between Huayi Brothers and Orange Sky Entertainment also sounded its horn.
super girl and Haonaner (Good Man) were the main battlefields for both agencies.
Fan Bingbing was not to be outdone and set her sights on Haonaner (Good Man).
Only Rongchen Film and Television remained aloof, not participating.
At the end of the month, Li Chen had just returned to China and hadn't even had a chance to catch his breath and ask about the promotion of painted skin.
Miss Liu, who had moved to Hengdian World Studios, called.
"Repost my blog, right now!"
Li Chen was confused, what did she mean by 'repost'?
Besides, aren't my account and password already in your hands?
Unfortunately, Miss Liu hung up before he had a chance to ask.
Li Chen opened his computer and saw that Sina Broadband was now offering free on-demand viewing of Miss Liu's “The Return of the Condor Heroes.”