Chapter 47: The Excited Da Mi Mi
After three weeks of release, new world's box office has exceeded 63 million yuan, and its Hong Kong box office has reached 51 million yuan.
Surpassing 2002's infernal affairs is just around the corner.
Seeing both infernal affairs and new world achieve critical and commercial success,
China Star in Hong Kong couldn't sit still and wanted to come from behind.
It announced an investment of 50 million yuan to produce a Godfather-level film that would surpass infernal affairs and rival new world.
Li Chen guessed that Johnnie To's film Election was about to debut.
Yang Shoucheng called, asking Li Chen for his opinion.
Li Chen chuckled, “Yang Dong, not everyone who's been in a triad can make a good gangster film!”
“The core of a film is the script. Don't you have confidence in new world?”
Yang Shoucheng laughed heartily, “Director Li is right.”
Yang Shoucheng's admiration for Li Chen grew; he truly dared to say anything.
Xu Zheng was also full of confidence in nightclub, a script also penned by Li Chen.
On its opening day, nightclub grossed 2.91 million yuan.
Old Wang helped a lot with Xu Zheng's early promotions.
Capable people will eventually rise, just like Xu Zheng.
Old Wang called Li Chen, saying that Xu Zheng left a very good impression on him.
Ambitious yet knowing when to advance and retreat.
Upon returning to the city, everyone felt like they were back in civilization.
The desert's large temperature difference between day and night was unbearable for both actors and crew members.
After a short day of rest, the painted skin crew moved to Hengdian World Studios the next day.
Upon arriving at Hengdian World Studios, Yang Siwei picked them up, and everyone returned to the hotel.
Li Chen called Liu Yifei, but Liu Xiaoli answered.
Yang Siwei had received a call from Li Chen the day before.
Today, he would visit Liu Yifei with him, and Luo Jin would also come along.
The three drove to the Condor Heroes crew at Xiangshan Global Studios.
Li Chen called Liu Xiaoli, who then came out to greet them.
“Li Chen, you're here,” Liu Xiaoli said with a smile, greeting the three.
Li Chen and the other two greeted Liu Xiaoli, then followed her inside.
Entering the set, it looked like they were filming the Beggar's Clan Assembly scene.
Miss Liu was wearing a brown down jacket.
Seeing Li Chen and the two, she came forward with a beaming smile, “You've come at a bad time; my scenes for today just finished.”
Yang Siwei finally confirmed it from the side.
Just by looking at the way Liu Yifei gazed at her boss, she knew what their relationship was.
Li Chen chuckled, “Sorry, we're here to watch the show, not to see you.”
Luo Jin added from the side, “Yifei, I'm accompanying Director Li to watch the show, not to see you either.”
It was Yang Siwei who knew how to talk; she stepped forward, familiar and smiling.
“Yifei, I'm Yang Siwei. I'm different from these two; I'm here just to see you.”
Liu Yifei knew Yang Siwei was from Li Chen's company.
She smiled and said, “Never mind them, let's go sit and talk over there, and let those two watch the show.”
Liu Xiaoli listened to the young people bicker, shaking her head with a smile, “Alright, Xixi, let's go to Director Zhang's side together.”
“Director Zhang just said that when Li Chen arrives, we should bring him over directly.”
Li Chen spotted Huang Xiaoming hanging from a wire from afar.
Hmm, and Yang Mi too, but Yang Mi had encountered Miss Liu, who was beautiful from childhood and peaked upon her debut.
In terms of looks, the youthful Yang Mi seemed rather ordinary at this point.
At least for now, Yang Mi still needed time to mature before transforming into Da Mi Mi.
An assistant whispered to Bearded Zhang, “Director Zhang, Director Li and his group have arrived.”
Bearded Zhang turned his head and saw the young man in the distance slightly raise his hand in greeting.
Bearded Zhang smiled, then greeted Director Yu Min, who was beside him.
Seeing Bearded Zhang get up and walk over, Li Chen took a few steps forward.
He extended his hand proactively and smiled, “Director Zhang, sorry to bother you.”
Bearded Zhang laughed, “What bother? We're more than happy to have you.”
Luo Jin and Yang Siwei greeted Bearded Zhang and then tactfully moved aside.
Liu Xiaoli also smiled, “I'll go to Xixi's side; Director Zhang, you two chat.”
Bearded Zhang nodded, then smiled, “Director Li is young and promising, with unique insight.”
“Those few directors and screenwriters at Daylight Entertainment, outsiders may not know, but we insiders are very clear.”
Li Chen humbly said, “Director Zhang, you flatter me. Today I just came to learn from you.”
“In the realm of martial arts dramas, Director Zhang has the most authority.”
Bearded Zhang thoroughly enjoyed the flattery: “Then Director Li, feel free to look around. Later, I'll introduce the main creative team to Director Li.”
Liu Yifei and Yang Siwei stood together, frowning, “How can your Director Li get along with everyone?”
“Look how capable he is; Director Zhang is smiling so much his mouth won't close.”
Yang Siwei chuckled, “Yifei, you underestimate the boss too much.”
“I've known the boss for over a year, and I've never seen anyone get even a tiny verbal advantage over him.”
Yang Siwei had originally wanted to tell Liu Yifei about Li Chen's confrontation with Wang Zhonglei that day.
After thinking about it, she held back; Luo Jin was still nearby.
Liu Yifei hadn't spoken yet.
Luo Jin laughed, “Siwei, then you'll soon see your boss get stumped today.”
“I'm the exact opposite of you; I've never seen Director Li get even a tiny verbal advantage over Yifei.”
After speaking, Luo Jin started laughing himself.
Yang Siwei immediately realized, lightly slapping her forehead and chuckling, “Oh, my brain! No matter how powerful the boss is, he's still afraid of the boss's wife…”
Liu Yifei's face flushed, and she retorted, “Don't talk nonsense! How old am I? I don't even want to manage myself, so who would manage his affairs?”
Yang Siwei immediately leaned in, linking arms with Liu Yifei, winking and smiling, “If you don't manage him, I'll help you keep an eye on him, guaranteed foolproof.”
Liu Yifei's heart stirred, but she remained silent.
In the distance, Li Chen and Bearded Zhang were chatting happily.
Li Chen nodded in praise, “Excellent fighting, beautiful visuals. Director Yu truly lives up to his background in cinematography.”
It is said that Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils and The Legend of the Condor Heroes were filmed by Bearded Zhang, but in fact, Bearded Zhang was only the producer.
The director was Bearded Zhang's apprentice, Yu Min.
This point coincided with Li Chen's idea: the producer controls the entire production from beginning to end.
The director is merely an executor; the producer is the creator.
Huang Xiaoming had spotted Li Chen and his group while hanging on the wire; the higher you hang, the farther you see, right?
When this scene ended, Yang Mi only then noticed a most familiar stranger standing beside Director Zhang.
She had thought about it before when she went to school for an exam.
It would be great if she could coincidentally run into this popular senior from school.
But when she went, she found out that this senior had already moved out of the school.
Yang Mi thought about it too; who would live in a school when they could buy an office building for over 100 million yuan?
Soon after, starting from the end of the year, discussions about this senior never ceased.
Unexpectedly, he came to the set today, and Yang Mi was excited.
“Brother Xiao Ming, isn't that Director Li standing next to Director Zhang?”
“It must be him; otherwise, I can't imagine Director Zhang chatting and laughing with a young man for so long,” Huang Xiaoming said.
“You mean you discovered them a long time ago?” Yang Mi chuckled.
“Yes, once you hang on a wire, you'll experience the feeling of seeing everything clearly.”
Everyone on the crew gathered around, and Bearded Zhang smiled, “Let me introduce everyone to Director Li Chen. He came to visit the set today at my invitation.”
“Hello everyone, I came too hastily, so I only brought some specialties from Silver River. Please don't mind,” Li Chen said with a smile.
“Thank you, Director Li.”
“Thank you.”
Li Chen looked around, and except for Yang Mi, whose eyes seemed to be looking at a ginseng fruit when she looked at him,
Everyone else seemed normal.
Seeing Bearded Zhang about to introduce them one by one,
Li Chen quickly said, “Director Zhang, you don't need to introduce them to me. Your chosen actors, who in the industry doesn't know them?”
Bearded Zhang stroked his beard and laughed heartily, “Director Li is right. Then let's take a group photo.”
“Those who want to volunteer themselves, come down and ask Director Li for his number.”
Li Chen secretly cursed Bearded Zhang for always creating trouble for him.
A photo was taken, with Li Chen and the two others, along with Bearded Zhang, standing at the back, and the main cast and crew of Condor Heroes in front.
Alas, Bearded Zhang still latched onto him.
As everyone dispersed, Bearded Zhang insisted on treating him to dinner.
Li Chen stated directly that he had to rush back to Hengdian World Studios tonight, so maybe next time.
Huang Xiaoming and Yang Mi didn't leave, and Liu Yifei felt a little uncomfortable.
It was fine that Huang Xiaoming didn't leave, but why did Yang Mi look so wide-eyed and eager?
However, Liu Yifei still stepped forward and said with a smile, “Finally got to talk to Director Li, it really wasn't easy.”
Li Chen gave Miss Liu a sidelong glance. With so many outsiders present, she didn't know how to be more discreet.
There weren't many fools in the entertainment industry.
Huang Xiaoming stepped forward, extended his hand, and smiled, “I've wanted to meet Director Li for a long time, and today I finally have the chance. I'm Huang Xiaoming from the '96 class.”
Li Chen was holding Huang Xiaoming's hand and hadn't spoken yet when Yang Mi stepped forward, excitedly saying,
“And me, and me! I'm Yang Mi from the '05 class.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Luo Jin and Yang Siwei on the side were amused.
Even Liu Yifei's lips curved slightly; this girl was too excited, wasn't she?
Yang Mi smiled awkwardly, her hand suspended in mid-air, unsure whether to withdraw it.
Li Chen, however, didn't mind and proactively held Yang Mi's hand, smiling, “Then I wish you successful admission to the school.”
Yang Mi's heart filled with joy, and she seized the opportunity, “Thank you, Senior!”
Li Chen thought to himself, indeed it's Da Mi Mi, who desperately completed the 300 million gambling agreement, not letting go of any opportunity.
But why did he feel a prickling sensation behind his back?
Thank you all for your votes and support. I've raised the comment threshold a bit; I just want to quietly write. Some comments are too upsetting.
