Chapter 64: Miss Liu's Tears of Joy
Lying in bed that night, Li Chen's mind was still in a whirl.
At this moment, Li Chen could still enjoy some peace and quiet, but in a few hours, he would probably be restless again.
He checked his cell phone and saw many missed calls, including one from Miss Liu.
Li Chen looked at the time; it must have been four in the morning in China.
He didn't call her back.
Li Chen reviewed his plans in his mind.
His goal was to build a world-class film empire.
Through the experience he accumulated in his previous life and a reserve of scripts twenty years ahead of their time.
He would have multiple projects blooming, allowing films produced by Rongchen Film and Television to go global.
Just like new world, painted skin, and shoplifters.
He would allow more Chinese actors to go abroad through Rongchen Film and Television's films.
Gradually, quantitative change would lead to qualitative change.
He would increase the proportion of Chinese people in the global film industry.
International recognition was now achieved, which would be a good start.
Next, it would be time for his company to produce works in a blowout fashion.
Emperor Entertainment Group, Xu Zheng, Wu Ershan, and even Ning Hao would all be his generals and vanguards in conquering the global film industry.
In the future, more excellent Chinese directors, screenwriters, and producers would join.
One day.
Chinese cinema would occupy a pivotal position in the global film industry due to his arrival.
And this day would not be too far away.
At that time, it would be the beginning of the next step of the plan.
If the West had Hollywood, the East could also have an Imperial Capital.
If Americans had the Oscar, China could also strive in that direction.
Perhaps it would be difficult, but since he had been reborn, Li Chen did not consider himself an ordinary person.
Unconsciously, Li Chen fell asleep.
He was only woken up by Miss Liu's call.
He checked the time; it was not yet twelve, so it was around six in the morning in China.
Li Chen shook his head to clear it and answered the phone.
At this moment, Miss Liu, who had just woken up, was in a state of complete excitement.
She had already seen the messages sent by Yang Siwei and Li Chen.
"Ah! Li Chen!" Miss Liu shrieked.
This time, Li Chen was completely awake, just like last time, still startled by Miss Liu.
"Xixi, calm down, my eardrums are almost shattered by you."
Miss Liu's voice was pleasant: "Aren't I happy for you?"
Li Chen smiled and said: "No! Just be happy for yourself."
Miss Liu felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured on her, her smile freezing on her face: "What do you mean?"
Li Chen smiled and said: "I'm thinking, this 138-gram Golden Palm still has some weight."
"I want to give it to someone."
Miss Liu was stunned, and after a few seconds, she said, both surprised and nervous.
"Give... to whom?"
Li Chen listened to Miss Liu's slightly trembling voice, still smiling.
"To a little imp who asked me for a birthday present a year in advance..."
"As her eighteenth birthday coming-of-age gift."
"Do you think she'll like it, Xixi?"
There was no sound from Miss Liu on the other end of the phone for a long time.
It wasn't until a choked voice came through that Li Chen said uncertainly: "Are you crying? Xixi?"
Miss Liu wiped her tears; now she truly understood what it meant to cry tears of joy.
The birthday gifts Li Chen gave her became more thoughtful each year.
This time, he even gave her the Golden Palm; it would be false to say she wasn't touched.
Her nose tingled, and tears streamed down.
"No way! You're the one who cried." Miss Liu laughed.
"Are you really willing to give it to me?"
Although Miss Liu knew it was a rhetorical question, she couldn't help but ask again.
Li Chen said with amusement: "Anything you want, as long as I have it, when have you ever seen me unwilling to give it up?"
"If there's anything I'm truly unwilling to give up, it's only you..."
Miss Liu's tears couldn't help but flow out again.
"Hmph, you always say sweet nothings you've read somewhere, just to coax me..."
"Xixi, don't forget, Director Li is a top screenwriter." Li Chen replied with a smile.
Miss Liu, covered by her quilt, said happily: "Alright, I'll believe you for now."
"Oh, right, I just saw the message from Yang Siwei."
"You're going to be on Time Magazine?" Miss Liu sat up to confirm.
There was nothing to hide, so Li Chen nodded and said: "Yes, it's a mandatory task given by Han Dong."
"That's great, I knew you were the best."
"When are you coming back?" Miss Liu wished she could see her boyfriend right now.
"I still have some things to handle; I'll call you before I come back."
Li Chen wasn't sure when he would return to China.
After hanging up with Miss Liu, Li Chen fell asleep again shortly after.
Liu Xiaoli heard her daughter's shriek early in the morning.
She rushed to open the door and saw her daughter's eyes were a little red, but she was giggling foolishly.
While relieved, she said impatiently: "What are you shouting about so early in the morning, Xixi?"
Miss Liu kicked off her thin quilt, sat cross-legged on the bed, and laughed excitedly: "Mom, Li Chen won the Golden Palm, the Golden Palm!"
Liu Xiaoli sat by her daughter's bed, still somewhat in disbelief: "He really won it?"
Miss Liu nodded repeatedly and took out her cell phone: "Of course it's true, look, Yang Siwei sent me a message."
"If you don't believe me, I'll open my computer; there should be news online by now."
Saying that, she ran barefoot two steps to sit in front of the computer.
Liu Xiaoli grumbled: "Why are you in such a hurry? I didn't say I didn't believe you, and you're not even wearing shoes."
As she spoke, she placed slippers at her daughter's feet.
The computer quickly opened, and the portal websites already had various news about Li Chen's victory.
The most prominent was the kiss and spontaneous affection from Oscar Best Actress Hillary.
"How could she do that..." Miss Liu instantly became unhappy.
Liu Xiaoli didn't take it to heart; both she and her daughter understood the openness of foreigners.
"Didn't she say it was spontaneous?" Liu Xiaoli teased her daughter.
However, Liu Xiaoli was quite satisfied with Li Chen's expression.
His slightly furrowed brows were very telling.
The front page of the portal websites had been dominated by shoplifters.
"On the centenary of Chinese cinema, Chinese Director Li Chen wins gold as a tribute."
"shoplifters wins Best Actor and the Golden Palm, shining at Cannes."
"Li Xuejian crowned at Cannes, his acting unanimously praised by the jury."
"Oscar Best Actress Hillary presents the Golden Palm, spontaneously kissing the genius director from the mysterious Eastern country."
"Twelve years, a cycle; sixth-generation Director Li Chen takes over from fifth-generation Director Chen Kaige."
"Director Li Chen's acceptance speech demonstrates extremely high emotional intelligence."
While Li Chen was entering his dreams.
Online and in the industry, chaos erupted.
"Early in the morning, I thought I was dreaming, almost bit my tongue off, then realized it was real!"
"I'm even more excited for shoplifters; Director Li has achieved in twenty-two years what others can't achieve in a lifetime?"
"I'm very curious about the king-versus-king meeting between Director Chen and Director Li."
"Director Li has now achieved divinity, with both box office and awards blooming, his status directly rivaling Zhang Yimou."
"In terms of strength, Director Li is not inferior either. Splendid Diamond is still standing there, Huayi Brothers has to step aside."
Li Chen's blog was also bustling with activity.
Tang Yan was the first, mimicking her agent's tone.
"Boss is awesome, I'm proud of you."
As soon as Tang Yan posted, Zhou Xun seemed to be sitting right next to her computer, replying directly.
"Oh no, your boss will be even more domineering on set now, those who follow him prosper... Sister is so hard."
"Congratulations, Director Li, see you at the celebration banquet tonight."
For those in the industry, Li Chen's success meant the rise of another capital power.
Only now did Huayi Brothers, Huace Film & TV, Hairun Media, and other industry peers realize belatedly.
Li Chen's Rongchen Film and Television had unknowingly established itself in the domestic entertainment industry.
Binding with China Film Group Corporation, befriending Enlight Media, partnering with Emperor Entertainment Group, and founding Daylight Entertainment.
Coupled with Li Chen's current Golden Palm title, his momentum was completely unparalleled.
Perhaps the only drawback was the short board in the cinema chain sector.
But as an upstream production company, as long as the domestic cinema chain was not dominated by a single entity or a monolithic block.
Then Li Chen would have the absolute advantage and nothing to fear.