Chapter 31: The Most Difficult Beauty Meal to Digest.
Zeng Jia took Zhou Xun home and then called Li Shaohong to tell her about it.
Li Shaohong was also very happy on the phone and naturally had no reason to disagree.
She didn't expect that young man Li Chen to be unable to sit still for a moment.
She hadn't seen him mention this at the Premiere, his lips were truly sealed.
After four months of hype, the Little Dragon Girl role finally went to Liu Yifei.
The Condor Heroes was scheduled to start filming on October 11th in Jiuzhaigou.
Miss Liu joked on the phone, saying that in order to make Li Chen's name stay unchanged, she had to try her best to get this role, and asked him how he would repay her.
Li Chen thought to himself, what 'trying her best', it's either human connections or money power.
Soon it was time for the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival.
The day before leaving Beijing, Miss Liu called.
She invited him to her home as a guest, saying it was a farewell dinner for him.
Li Chen only found out the real reason when he arrived.
Liu Xiaoli greeted Li Chen: “Sit down quickly, Li Chen, don't just stand there.”
The nanny brought the dishes one by one.
Li Chen looked at the table full of dishes, one of which was clearly 'different'.
“Mom, let's toast to Li Chen's double success at the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers.”
She said, looking at Li Chen opposite her with a smile.
Liu Xiaoli, who was sitting at the head of the table, also smiled and raised her glass.
“Xixi, not only are you beautiful, but your thoughts are even more beautiful!” Li Chen praised her sincerely.
“Of course.” Miss Liu raised an eyebrow, smiling even more happily.
She completely ignored the fact that the second half of the sentence was sarcasm.
“Thank you for thinking so highly of me!”
“And thank you and Auntie for your hospitality today.”
Liu Yifei put down her cup: “If you really want to thank me, remember to visit the set of The Condor Heroes.”
After all that, this sentence was the main point today.
When Li Chen heard her mention 'The Condor Heroes', he was inexplicably startled and remembered something.
“As long as I have time, I will definitely come.” Li Chen nodded.
Then, ignoring Miss Liu, he turned to Liu Xiaoli and said: “Auntie, there's something you must pay attention to.”
Liu Xiaoli saw Li Chen suddenly become serious and, unconsciously, felt a little nervous, which was truly strange.
Liu Yifei also noticed.
“Tell me, Li Chen.” Liu Xiaoli put down her chopsticks and said.
Li Chen said seriously: “I've been to Jiuzhaigou.”
“Especially the Pearl Shoal Waterfall, it's quite dangerous, and there have been accidents before.”
“When Xixi is filming there, especially action scenes,”
“You must make sure the crew takes good safety precautions.”
That was all Li Chen could remind them of, hoping the incident of falling into the water never happened.
Liu Xiaoli didn't expect him to say such a thing and was a little slow to react.
Li Chen then turned to Liu Yifei and said sternly: “And you, you must also be extra careful.”
“Don't be reckless, safety first!”
Liu Yifei felt a warmth in her heart.
A mist welled up in her clear eyes, and her pretty face bloomed like peach blossoms in March.
Liu Xiaoli nodded: “I've noted it, Li Chen, thank you for your reminder.”
Liu Yifei smiled and picked up a chopstick full of the frighteningly colored and even more frightening-looking dish for Li Chen.
Li Chen couldn't even tell what it was, it was like fog, like rain, and like wind.
Liu Xiaoli suppressed a laugh, and Liu Yifei pouted: “Hurry and taste it, see if it's good.”
Li Chen glanced at Liu Xiaoli as if asking for help, but Liu Xiaoli just ate her food, pretending not to see.
Li Chen noticed that Liu Xiaoli hadn't touched that dish at all.
Facing Miss Liu's hopeful expression,
Li Chen resigned himself and swallowed it in one gulp.
“Hmm, this braised pork is really delicious!”
Liu Yifei's eyebrows knitted, and she instantly bristled: “What braised pork! That's eggplant!”
Liu Xiaoli could no longer hold back and turned her head, covering her mouth with laughter.
Liu Yifei said angrily: “Mom, you're laughing too…”
Seeing Liu Yifei puff out her cheeks and glare at him,
Li Chen quickly tried to make amends: “It's eggplant, it's eggplant, I was just wondering why this braised pork tasted like eggplant.”
It would have been better if he hadn't explained; the more he explained, the worse it got.
When Li Chen left, Liu Xiaoli, for once, saw him out.
On the way, Li Chen felt she had something to say.
“Li Chen, thank you for your reminder today. I can tell you truly care about Xixi.”
Liu Xiaoli said sincerely.
Li Chen thought it was something else.
He said indifferently: “Auntie, don't say that, it was Xixi mentioning The Condor Heroes that made me remember.”
Liu Xiaoli nodded: “Come visit the set if you have time, Xixi definitely hopes you'll come.”
When Li Chen left, he was a little confused about Liu's Mother's meaning.
Liu Xiaoli returned home to find Liu Yifei looking utterly despondent.
“What's wrong?”
Liu Yifei said with a mournful face: “Mom, I mistook salt for sugar.”
Liu Xiaoli also became playful and laughed: “It's okay, Mom didn't eat a single bite.”
Liu Yifei immediately protested: “Mom! How can you be like this too? But Li Chen ate half a plate…”
That evening, Liu Yifei called Li Chen.
“It was so salty, how did you eat half a plate? I couldn't even eat one bite.”
Li Chen answered truthfully,
“Thinking it was made by you, it felt sweet in my heart, so I naturally didn't feel the saltiness.”
Liu Yifei felt sweet in her heart.
“Your mouth is so sweet, I don't know whether to believe you or not. You're not allowed to say that to anyone else in the future!”
“Understood, you're definitely not in the category of 'anyone else'!”
“You're smart… I'll make it for you again next time!”
“What did you say…!”
…!
The next day, Li Chen and Xu Zheng went to Silver River together.
He smiled and told them not to have too much hope, just to go and witness history.
He was well aware of how deep the waters of the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival were.
He remembered that this year, Xiao Gang Pao would dominate the Hundred Flowers.
Xu Zheng and Baoqiang were all in good spirits and understood Li Chen's meaning.
In previous film festivals, the “Walk of Fame” was only 50 meters long.
But this year's film festival featured a “Walk of Fame” red carpet that was a full 108 meters long.
Setting a new record in the history of Chinese film festivals.
“Approaching us now is the crew of lost on journey.”
Li Chen, Xu Zheng, and others walked on the red carpet, with a few scattered fans greeting them.
Li Chen smiled: “The treatment on the red carpet is a reflection of the awards stage tonight.”
Xu Zheng laughed heartily: “Director Li explains it thoroughly.”
Li Chen saw many familiar faces.
Fan Bingbing, Liu Ye, and Xu Zheng's wife Tao Hong.
There were even Grandma Liu and A Feng, who had just come out not long ago.
It seemed the rumors were true.
It was said that this year's film festival would invite Grandma Liu, the only person in Chinese cinema to have won the Hundred Flowers Best Actress award three times consecutively, to attend the awards ceremony.
After walking the red carpet, the artists inevitably engaged in socializing, networking, and expanding their connections.
Li Chen and Wang Baoqiang, like outsiders, didn't join the lively crowd.
Xu Zheng, however, was in his element in such a setting.
He even brought his wife to meet Li Chen.
Li Chen smiled: “Baoqiang, aren't you going to mingle?”
Wang Baoqiang shook his head and smiled: “I'm more comfortable with Director Li.”
But soon, Wang Baoqiang became uncomfortable.
Li Chen could treat himself as an outsider, but others couldn't possibly treat him as an outsider.
Many people were seeing the only other billion-dollar director for the first time.
If you can't seize this opportunity, then don't bother being in the entertainment industry.
The first to approach was Fan Xiaopang.
Looking at the exquisite features of the 'Eight Billion Sister' in front of him, dressed in a tight, moon-white, low-cut evening gown, her bosom was already quite substantial.
Her skin was as white as if smeared with cream, and with her fiery red lips, she was undoubtedly the most dazzling girl tonight.
What a pity.
Others might not know about the 'Eight Billion Sister's' situation, but Li Chen knew perfectly well.
“Hello, Director Li, I'm Fan Bingbing.” The other party extended her hand, completely ignoring Baoqiang beside him.
“Hello, Miss Fan is very radiant tonight. I believe we will definitely see Miss Fan on the awards stage.”
Fan Bingbing smiled very happily: “Director Li can call me Bingbing. I'll take Director Li's auspicious words. Please take care of me in the future, Director Li.”
After Fan Bingbing and Wang Baoqiang introduced themselves, she tactfully left.
Fan Bingbing starred in cell phone, and Baoqiang starred in no thief, both works by Xiao Gang Pao.
Next, Jiang Qinqin, Liu Ye, and even Simon Yam from Hong Kong came up to introduce themselves one by one.
Simon Yam played Chief Jiang in new world and highly praised the script.
Those who came to connect with Li Chen were mostly familiar faces from the screen.
But there were exceptions, such as the person in front of him.
In his early thirties, with a square face, he didn't look like an actor.
“Hello, Director Li, my name is Hou Hongliang, and I'm the producer of On the Way to School.”
Li Chen had heard of On the Way to School.
The name Hou Hongliang also sounded somewhat familiar, but Li Chen couldn't quite place it at the moment.
But he still politely extended his hand and smiled: “Hello, Producer Hou.”
Hou Hongliang! Producer Hou! It's him!
The founder of Donghua Noon Sunshine.
Li Chen suppressed the joy in his heart; it was truly like someone bringing a pillow when he was sleepy.
As soon as the futures market was settled and funds were in place, he could begin to expand.
Television dramas were an indispensable part.
But there had always been no suitable person who could take charge independently.
This person in front of him was too timely, but how could he make this person work for him?
Li Chen secretly plotted in his mind.
Hou Hongliang smiled: “Director Li's speech at the Central Academy of Drama really spoke to my heart.”
“It's a pity we haven't met before. If everyone in the industry had the same view as Director Li,”
“Producers wouldn't be subordinate to directors.”
Li Chen nodded: “This is determined by the general environment. After all, there are too few excellent producers like Producer Hou in China.”
“I am also transitioning to a producer, and I believe that one day, there will be more and more producers with ideas like yours and mine.”
Hou Hongliang smiled: “I can see that Director Li isn't just talking; nightclub is a clear example.”
Li Chen also smiled: “nightclub is just the first step, Producer Hou can wait and see.”
Looking at the other party's confident demeanor, Hou Hongliang could feel his ambition.
Thinking about himself, he wondered when he would be able to take the first step.
Li Chen extended his hand and smiled: “To meet a like-minded friend like Producer Hou at the film festival, this trip was not in vain.”
Hou Hongliang also happily extended his hand again and smiled: “Me too.”
The two exchanged contact information; this was the scene of their first meeting.
Years later, Hou Hongliang, this producer, had become a leading figure in the field of Chinese TV dramas.
When interviewed by the media, when the host mentioned that he and Director Li Chen were hailed as milestone figures in China's producer field,
What were his thoughts on this?
Hou Hongliang only said one sentence: If I am a thousand-mile horse, then he is my Bole.
Without him, there would be no Donghua Noon Sunshine today, and certainly no Hou Hongliang today.
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