Chapter 462: I Thought You Were a Different Kind of Actor (10,000-word Update!)

"Happy Times" premiered on the third day after the film festival opened.

For films in the Main Competition section, the first wave of media reviews arrives immediately after the premiere.

Of course, in reality, many critics and media journalists had already seen the film at special advance screenings before the premiere; they could write their reviews ahead of time and release them the moment the premiere ended.

Lu Yan He did not attend this special advance screening, but Lin Yu did.

Now serving as the chief film critic for "Jump Up" magazine, she had also joined several international film critics' associations.

Lin Yu told Lu Yan He that the film was brilliantly made, especially Ning Xiulian's performance; several critics around her had privately remarked that Ning Xiulian would be a strong contender for Best Actress at this year's Venice International Film Festival.

Therefore, Lu Yan He attended the premiere of "Happy Times" with high expectations.

Neither Fu Kai nor Shang Yongzhou had arrived yet.

Lu Yan He was the sole representative from the "Path to Glory" production team.

Paolo Piccolo, the Artistic Director of the Venice International Film Festival, stood on the steps to welcome the arrivals.

Paolo Piccolo personally descended two steps to greet Lu Yan He.

In such occasions, every gesture carries its own implication.

Lu Yan He smiled and greeted him.

"Mr. Piccolo, hello."

"Welcome." Although Paolo Piccolo had already welcomed Lu Yan He on the opening day, he remained just as enthusiastic as if meeting him for the first time, "I am very glad you can stay so long this time; I hope you enjoy your time here."

Lu Yan He smiled and said, "I am enjoying myself; it's just that tickets for many films are too hard to get. I really want to watch more movies this time."

Paolo Piccolo said, "I believe if you are willing to walk the red carpet a few more times, every competing film will open its arms to you."

"Oh, I just want to quietly watch movies." Lu Yan He shrugged, nodding with a smile at Paolo Piccolo, "Thank you for your hospitality; I will go in now."

Paolo Piccolo suddenly said, "How about we find some time to have afternoon tea together?"

Lu Yan He looked at him with some surprise and astonishment.

During a film festival, who is the busiest? Absolutely the festival's Artistic Director. He must expend his fullest energy and spirit, hosting filmmakers from all over the world from morning till night, moving from screenings to other events without a moment's rest.

For such a person to suddenly invite Lu Yan He for afternoon tea was quite surprising to Lu Yan He.

"Sure, no problem," Lu Yan He said with a nod and a smile.

Paolo Piccolo said, "I will have my assistant contact your agent shortly to arrange a time."

◆c〇

Lu Yan He nodded.

He guessed that Paolo Piccolo might have something to tell him.

Inside the "Happy Times" screening hall, Asian faces were noticeably more numerous than on the opening day.

Lu Yan He found Chen Ziyan inside the Palazzo del Cinema.

Chen Ziyan was chatting with the famous Korean director Jin Zhiyan.

Upon seeing Lu Yan He, Chen Ziyan immediately introduced him to Jin Zhiyan.

Jin Zhiyan could almost be said to be one of the top-tier film directors in Korea; among living Korean directors, regardless of which list one consulted, he firmly occupied a spot in the top three.

Lu Yan He had watched his films and found that his directing style resembled that of a Korean director he knew.

Park Chan-wook.

The aesthetics of violence.

Park Chan-wook was a director Lu Yan He had greatly admired before his transmigration, although he had not finished watching all of his works.

Jin Zhiyan's films also featured an eternal theme: "revenge."

Almost every one of his films contained the concept of "revenge."

Previously, Jin Zhiyan had nearly collaborated with Shang Yongzhou, but because the film's production company was American, they were only willing to offer Shang Yongzhou a salary of eight hundred thousand US dollars, far below his market rate. If the production budget itself had been very small, it might have been acceptable, but Jin Zhiyan was not the kind of pure art-house director who couldn't sell tickets; he had always been regarded in the film industry as an auteur of genre films, possessing high renown and consistently good box office results, even achieving profitability through box office returns alone.

Therefore, Shang Yongzhou later rejected the collaboration on this film, and the role was taken by a Korean actor for an even lower salary.

Lu Yan He introduced himself to Jin Zhiyan.

Jin Zhiyan said, "I know you; I have seen you act in 'Sanshan' and 'Late Spring'."

This was the benefit of having works to one's name.

His works were his calling card.

Lu Yan He said, "Thank you; I have always been a fan of yours as well."

Jin Zhiyan suddenly thought of something and smiled, "When you clashed with Yong Shanhe San, I actually considered contacting you; that was a splendid thing to do."

Lu Yan He looked at him in surprise, "Director, have you also had conflicts with Yong Shanhe San?"

"He is simply a disgrace among film critics," Jin Zhiyan stated directly.

Lu Yan He asked in astonishment, "Has he also maliciously disparaged you?"

Jin Zhiyan said, "That's right; once at the Fushan Film Festival, my film won Best Picture, and when a Japanese director's film did not win, he wrote an article attacking me."

"This person is just like a mad dog," Lu Yan He said, "Moreover, nothing he says comes from an objective perspective; film criticism is merely a tool in his hands."

Lu Yan He had not expected that the first common topic he and Jin Zhiyan would find was their shared dislike for Yong Shanhe San.

At this moment, Yu Qin entered together with Ning Xiulian, Gu Zhao, and other members of the production team.

Their entry meant that everyone had arrived, and they could prepare to watch the film.

Before the screening began, Paolo Piccolo specifically came forward to introduce the film's director.

From Paolo Piccolo's introduction, Lu Yan He learned that this was the third time Yu Qin had brought a work to compete at the Venice International Film Festival.

However, the previous two times were entries in other sections; this was her first time in the Main Competition section.

The underlying meaning of Paolo Piccolo's words was simply one: Yu Qin was a director cultivated by their Venice International Film Festival.

This solemn pre-screening introduction actually possessed quite a sense of ritual.

At this moment, Lu Yan He felt a few degrees more anticipation for the film about to be screened.

Wang Biao and Zou Dong were not staying inside the Film Palace.

The two of them had found a small café outside to sit in, waiting until it was nearly time to go pick up Lu Yan He and the others.

"Brother Dong, do you understand these art films?" Wang Biao asked.

"Are you asking about the two we watched earlier at the film museum here?" Zou Dong shook his head. "I can't even understand English; how could I possibly understand those films?"

"Yet when I woke up halfway through, I saw you still watching the big screen with undiminished spirit," Wang Biao said. "Watching those movies is truly hypnotic."

Zou Dong recalled that Wang Biao had fallen asleep less than twenty minutes after the film began. The very person who had loudly proclaimed his desire to be cultivated by the art of cinema had gone straight into a dreamscape to receive that cultivation instead.

Zou Dong smiled and said, "Although I couldn't understand what the people in the film were saying, by watching their performances, I could guess more or less what was happening. That was quite good; perhaps if I had actually understood, I wouldn't have been able to keep watching. This way, muddling through with guesses, I managed to stay focused and finish them."

"Impressive, Brother Dong," Wang Biao exclaimed with admiration.

Wang Biao asked again, "Brother Dong, do you think all these people who come to attend the film festival truly love watching these films?"

Zou Dong replied, "Certainly, many are just attracted by the halo of such a film festival. If there were really that many people in this world who loved watching them, the box office for these films wouldn't be so low."

"Then tell me, why are so many films still made and then submitted to film festivals?" Wang Biao said. "I've never quite figured this point out. Clearly, many award-winning films ultimately achieve poor box office results, may even incur losses, and there aren't many people who truly love watching them."

Zou Dong said, "I don't know either. For me, I prefer watching those simple, brute-force action films. Don't many people think such films lack substance? But I never sought to gain any substance from movies in the first place."

Wang Biao said, "But Brother Lu seems to genuinely be able to get into those art films. Moreover, he can see many things in them that we cannot."

"Films capable of winning awards certainly possess their own artistic value; it's just that we may not be able to understand them," Zou Dong said. "Many classics are the same way. Books revered worldwide as classics—there are still many among us who cannot bring themselves to read them. Look at the Four Great Classical Novels; how many people have actually finished reading the original texts?"

Wang Biao said, "Now that you mention it, that's true."

Zou Dong said, "I think Yan He made a very correct statement."

"Huh? What did Brother Lu say?"

"Although film is a commodity, some films are not produced as commodities. From the very beginning, the creators never intended to make money from them."

Happy Hours would definitely not sell well at the box office.

After watching half the film, this was Lu Yan He's most immediate impression.

An hour had passed, and the film had focused entirely on Ning Xiulian alone.

After her husband's death, she lived alone. The film depicted her solitary life at home, showcasing her personal routines of buying groceries, cooking, and doing housework. Through this process, her past regarding her childhood, adolescence, and marriage was gradually revealed.

The film's overall tone resembled that of a documentary. Yet, within this film, a great deal of popular music was employed to assist in expressing shifts in emotion.

What impressed Lu Yan He most was a snowy night scene where the female protagonist, portrayed by Ning Xiulian, was amusing herself alone, drinking red wine and dancing. Later that night, she suddenly jolted awake from a dream, her face bleary and bewildered, turning her head to look around in confusion. That profound sense of detachment from reality, that bewilderment, was presented on the screen in a state resembling a mirror image.

He suddenly recalled what Lin Yu had said: many film critics believed Ning Xiulian was a strong contender for Best Actress at this year's Venice International Film Festival.

This film was entirely Ning Xiulian's solo performance.

As a film, it possessed almost no plot and would certainly not appeal to most audiences. However, the loneliness, memories, and reflections on life's past experiences showcased within it were all integrated into the film's everyday details through a narrative approach that handled heavy subjects with a light touch.

Indeed, a film like this could absolutely be produced with eight hundred thousand.

However, while he could appreciate it, Lu Yan He himself would never make such a film.

Perhaps if a good script came his way offering him a role, he would act in it. But to write and produce one himself, like Love Letter, Lu Yan He would not do that.

He could appreciate such films now, but if tasked with making one, his level was far from sufficient.

Films of this kind can truly only be made by those with a certain level of skill; otherwise, it becomes a clumsy imitation, resulting in something as tasteless as chewing wax.

In the concluding part of Happy Hours, Ning Xiulian finally stepped out of her solitary house, no longer indulging in the past, deciding to emerge from her state of self-imposed isolation. She enrolled in a class at a gym, with the character played by Gu Zhao serving as her fitness instructor.

At the very end of the film, there was a sex scene between the two characters.

In the dimly lit room, on the bed, the camera focused on Ning Xiulian's face, framing her through Gu Zhao's solid, sweat-drenched shoulders and back, finally fixing on Ning Xiulian's eyes.

Her face was flushed crimson; sweat streamed down, mingling with the tears on her cheeks.

The rhythm grew increasingly intense, and her tears flowed more and more heavily. Finally, as if breaking some kind of restraint, she suddenly collapsed into loud, unrestrained sobbing.

Gu Zhao's movements stopped.

He paused for a moment, then held her and asked softly, "What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"

Ning Xiulian shook her head, embraced Gu Zhao, buried her face in his chest, and cried until her shoulders heaved.

At this moment, the camera began to pull back, moving farther and farther away.

The two people on the bed gradually receded, becoming blurred.

In the end, only Gu Zhao could be seen gently patting Ning Xiulian's back, as if soothing a child.

Gentle music began to play.

The film thus drew to its conclusion.

Lu Yan He stood up along with everyone else in the audience and applauded.

He felt he might not have truly entered the film's context to experience all of this firsthand. Yet that did not prevent him from applauding the film after watching it.

Yu Qin, Ning Xiulian, Gu Zhao, and the others stood up to accept the audience's applause.

They bowed three times to everyone, offering their respects.

Chen Ziyan asked Lu Yan He in a low voice, "What do you think of how this film was made?"

"Very good," Lu Yan He said. "Perhaps it won't sell many tickets in theaters—though not necessarily. I think Teacher Ning could win an award based on this film; her performance was superb, giving tangible form to the intangible. Moreover, several scenes were so good they made my scalp tingle. If she wins an award, quite a few people should become interested enough to walk into a theater."

Chen Ziyan nodded and said, "I think so too. This film actually isn't obscure; it lacks those dull, long takes. Although most shots contained no dialogue and focused solely on Ning Xiulian, the cinematic language was rich, showcasing various aspects of her life without being tedious. Yu Qin's style has changed somewhat; she used to be very fond of long takes. To be honest, those long takes were too stifling."

The applause in the venue was extremely enthusiastic.

Lu Yan He said, "Sister Ziyan, do you know what my feeling was after finishing this film?"

"Hmm?"

"If you were to ask me now whether I would accept a role if Yu Qin offered me one," Lu Yan He paused for a moment, as if confirming his own thoughts, then said, "I feel I wouldn't say I'd decide after reading the script; I would agree immediately."

Chen Ziyan said, "You..."

Lu Yan He said, "I'm being impulsive again."

Chen Ziyan said, "However, when it comes to films, I increasingly trust your judgment."

"Huh?"

Chen Ziyan: "If you say you want to act in Yu Qin's film, although I would have my doubts, I won't stop you."

Lu Yan He was slightly surprised. "So, in reality, you aren't too willing for me to take it?"

"It's not a matter of being willing or unwilling; Director Yu Qin's works also have an obvious shortcoming, which is that they don't generate box office revenue," Chen Ziyan said. "This shortcoming is a major flaw for you. Right now, your greatest value as an actor isn't how many awards you've won, but that your works receive both critical acclaim and commercial returns. Yu Qin's films have never received widespread critical praise, let alone commercial success. If we go by my standards, her roles could be given to Wen Minglan, but not to you. Minglan's current situation allows her to withstand the failure of one art film; no one will negate her entire career over the failure of a single art film. But you are different; you have already become a certain kind of benchmark. A mistake that, if made by an ordinary actor, would be minor, if it appears on you, its impact will be magnified tenfold, a hundredfold."

Chen Ziyan's words made Lu Yan He calm down slightly.

After watching the film, Lu Yan He walked out with the crowd.

At the exit, they saw Zou Dong and Wang Biao waiting for them.

The surrounding crowd consisted entirely of audience members who had just finished watching "Happy Times."

Lu Yan He heard everyone discussing this film.

This was the atmosphere of a film festival.

Usually, it was rare to hear so many people discussing a film immediately after watching it.

"Hey, Lu Yan He—" Suddenly, someone called his name.

Lu Yan He turned around in surprise and saw a very familiar person.

It was Tom Wine, a film critic for the American column "Variety."

"Hi!" Lu Yan He broke into a delighted smile.

? ￠o

Tom Wine said, "Do you have time? Shall we have a drink?"

Lu Yan He glanced at Chen Ziyan.

Chen Ziyan said, "You two go ahead; I have an appointment to meet someone shortly."

So Lu Yan He took Zou Dong and went with Tom Wine.

Tom Wine said, "I've already watched the special screening of 'Road to Glory' in advance."

Lu Yan He showed a look of surprise.

Usually, before a premiere, film festivals hold a special screening for the media and renowned film critics.

But Lu Yan He hadn't even known that "Road to Glory" had already completed this step.

"It's a real pity; this film should have been entered into the Main Competition. If so, you and the other male lead would be strong contenders for Best Actor this year," Tom Wine said.

This was high praise indeed.

Lu Yan He smiled and said "Thank you," then added, "Is it really that good? I'm still a bit nervous, unsure how everyone will view our film."

Tom Wine said, "It is a good work; there is no doubt about that. Instead, I am quite surprised that the two Chinese-language films selected for this Venice International Film Festival have both changed the style of previous Chinese films, focusing instead on exploring the human inner world. This has always been a characteristic of European films in the past."

"I'm curious, in the eyes of you Americans, what are the characteristics of Chinese-language films?"

"If I speak honestly, you might not be happy."

"It's fine, go ahead and say it."

"The Chinese-language films I've seen over the past few years have all placed great emphasis on spectacle," Tom Wine said. "One almost never sees content like 'Happy Times' and 'Road to Glory' that explores the simplest human hearts. In the last couple of years, Directors Wang Zhong and Liu Bige, who have been relatively active in the international film scene with your Chinese-language films, have both focused heavily on cinematic form in their works. I'm not saying they only have form, but their expressive techniques use a distinctly auteur-stylized form to unify the style of their films. Including last year's Chinese film called 'White Pearl'; it was filmed terribly, with only the actors' performances being superior, yet that film also carried a heavy sense of form, relying somewhat on sensationalistic, melodramatic interpersonal relationships to construct a kind of misplaced character conflict."

Hearing Tom Wine speak this way, Lu Yan He felt that every single word he said made sense.

Indeed, it was so.

Film styles are ever-changing, but in reality, once one's volume of viewed films increases, one discovers that films from different countries and regions also possess obvious stylistic differences. Everyone's cultural and historical background subtly distinguishes their films from others, like moisture nourishing things silently.

The themes of "Happy Times" and "Road to Glory" indeed place greater emphasis on exploring the individual's inner world and expression. This has actually been influenced by modernist thought trends and European-American film culture. In the past, the expression of the individual's inner world was indeed not the focus of Chinese-language films.

Lu Yan He thought for a moment and said, "Because China's social environment is also undergoing changes; people's lifestyles and living conditions are changing as well. In the past, everyone lived together; now, with urban development, many young people have moved into apartments, living alone. We inevitably face such life changes, and these changes are reflected in film creation. Film is actually a form of cultural content; any culture is essentially a reflection of people's lives over a certain period."

Tom Wine nodded thoughtfully.

"Actually, you could also go see a film that was just released in China last month; when it becomes available to watch in your United States, I recommend you see it. It's a martial arts film called 'Nine Yin.' Martial arts films have always been a unique genre of Chinese cinema, but within the grand backdrop of the martial world, it tells the story of a swordsman hiding his identity who must make a difficult choice between his own life and death and the life and death of the nation. This actually embodies a kind of cultural spirit of us Chinese. Film is just like that; it can reflect many changes in lifestyles and ways of thinking, but sometimes it also uses new stories to convey and inherit an enduring cultural spirit. Change and constancy are both contained within the change and constancy of film."

Tom Wine nodded.

"Good, I hope it can be released in American theaters," he said.

"It might not necessarily be released in theaters; give me an address, and when the DVD is out, I'll mail a copy to you," Lu Yan He said.

Tom Wine nodded with a smile. "Good."

They entered a bar.

In the broad daylight, Lu Yan He wasn't accustomed to drinking alcohol at all times like Westerners.

But Tom Wine was obviously accustomed to it.

Lu Yan He ordered only a very low-alcohol cocktail, while Tom Wine directly ordered a Gin and Tonic.

"By the way, I saw that Japanese person came to Venice too; did you run into him?" Tom Wine asked Lu Yan He.

"Which Japanese person?" Lu Yan He didn't understand.

"The one who had a conflict with you." Tom Wine frowned, thinking hard. "But I can't remember his name; Japanese names are truly hard to remember."

Lu Yan He realized. "You mean Eiyama Sanzo?"

"Ah, yes, that's him!" Tom Wine nodded. "After the special screening of 'Road to Glory,' he expressed his dislike for your film to several colleagues."

Lu Yan He said, "He is simply a person with a very strong desire for revenge; I don't understand why a film critic like him can still be so active in the international film scene."

Tom Wine immediately said, "Don't misunderstand; I'm not close with him at all."

Lu Yan He nodded with a smile. "Then we can continue to be friends."

Tom Wine said, "Have you ever considered coming to Hollywood to make films?"

Lu Yan He pondered for a moment and said, "Of course, I wouldn't refuse if there were a good script, but as you know, the good scripts and good roles in your Hollywood aren't left for an Asian actor like me, especially one who hasn't struggled in Hollywood before."

"The situation has changed in recent years; several highly influential film and television dramas starring Asian actors emerge every year," Tom Wine said. "Moreover, nowadays almost every blockbuster arranges for an Asian actor to be in a major role."

"That is to maintain political correctness." Lu Yan He chuckled lightly. "But those roles aren't necessarily valuable or good ones; I don't want to waste time on a role unworthy of my efforts."

Tom Wine nodded. "Lu, you are truly a very proud fellow."

"Thanks for the compliment." Lu Yan He didn't feel this was a bad thing. "I need to protect my reputation as an actor."

Lu Yan He chatted with Tom Wynne for nearly an hour before bidding farewell and parting ways.

He had a very enjoyable conversation with Tom Wynne.

Some film critics are merely impostors with empty reputations, but others truly love the art of cinema, know the masterpieces of history like the back of their hands, and possess genuine, extraordinary insights.

Regarding cinematic aesthetics, Lu Yan He discovered he shared great similarities with Tom Wynne.

This finally allowed him to find someone with whom he shared common topics, enabling him to speak his fill.

Soon, the media scores for "Happy Times" were released, achieving a score of 3.1; amidst average media scores hovering around two-point-something, this rating was considered quite good.

Most crucially, Ning Xiulian's performance received unanimous acclaim. In Variety's predictions for this year's Venice International Film Festival awards, Ning Xiulian ranked first among the candidates for Best Actress.

Lu Yan He sent Ning Xiulian a text message to congratulate her.

Under these circumstances, the controversy surrounding Ning Xiulian within the country grew even louder.

However, Ning Xiulian's agency had already begun conducting public relations work.

Centering on the theme of "Ning Xiulian following her heart and enjoying life," they worked to craft an independent image for her as someone breaking free from traditional mental constraints to pursue her own beautiful life. Coupled with the unanimous praise from foreign media regarding her role in "Happy Times," this further solidified her image as a "low-key powerhouse."

In truth, most people domestically did not actually know Ning Xiulian; she was not a particularly famous actress. Yet, due to her generous hand-holding and kissing with Gu Zhao on the red carpet, along with the boost from "Happy Times'" reputation at the Venice International Film Festival, Ning Xiulian's fame surged abruptly.

At a press conference, one media outlet asked Ning Xiulian whether she had any response to the controversy caused domestically by her hand-holding and kissing with Gu Zhao.

Ning Xiulian said calmly, "I am a woman, he is a man; sparks flew between us, so we got together. It is only natural and right; there is no need to make a fuss over it."

Her response also went viral within the country.

Many women reposted her statement, treating her as an idol.

Setting aside the initial discomfort, Lu Yan He actually quite admired Ning Xiulian's attitude.

Regardless of anything, she openly admitted to her actions without hiding or covering them up, letting everyone say whatever they wished.

It was precisely at this moment that Lu Yan He suddenly received a phone call from Yu Qin.

"Yan He, will you be staying here until the film festival closes?" Yu Qin asked.

Lu Yan He was somewhat surprised but replied, "Mm, yes, I will be staying here continuously this time."

Yu Qin said, "That's excellent; I suddenly have an idea. Are you free now? I'll come find you to chat."

Lu Yan He replied in surprise that he was free, then arranged to meet Yu Qin in Chen Ziyan's room.

Chen Ziyan asked puzzledly, "Didn't she tell you what she wanted to discuss with you?"

Lu Yan He shook his head. "No, she didn't say anything, just mentioned she suddenly had an idea."

"Then perhaps she plans to shoot a film later and wants to recruit you?" Chen Ziyan said with a half-smile, curling the corner of her mouth. "It seems you will soon have to make such a decision."

Lu Yan He said, "Surely not?"

He thought for a moment. "Didn't they say her output is very low? She only films one drama every many years."

"That was because her family held her back," Chen Ziyan said. "Her husband was in poor health, suffering from an illness that dragged on, so she had to devote most of her time to her family."

"Has her husband's illness improved?"

"He passed away," Chen Ziyan said. "Therefore, judging by her passion for filmmaking, her future output should not be low. When she first started as a director, she produced a work every year or two; her pace was very fast."

Lu Yan He waited for Yu Qin in Chen Ziyan's room.

Yu Qin came alone.

Lu Yan He inexplicably felt that the two eyes looking at him were sparkling.

She was in a state of excitement.

"Director, congratulations; the media reception for 'Happy Times' is so good, you should be able to bring an award home this year," Chen Ziyan said with a smile.

Yu Qin replied, "Let's hope it's not a false joy. But I didn't come to talk about that. Yan He, I want to invite you to participate in the filming of my next project."

"Ah?" Lu Yan He froze.

Although he had guessed it, Yu Qin getting straight to the point so quickly and stating her intention still caught Lu Yan He off guard.

Chen Ziyan immediately picked up the thread to give Lu Yan He a moment to react.

"Director, 'Happy Times' hasn't even been released yet; is your next film already coming out so soon?"

"I drew inspiration from the recent turmoil surrounding Ning Xiulian over the past two days," Yu Qin said. "I want to film a movie set against the backdrop of a film festival."

Lu Yan He was completely bewildered.

Chen Ziyan also hesitated for a moment.

"What kind of story is it?" Chen Ziyan asked.

Yu Qin said, "A middle-aged female star, in order to revive her career, participates in the filming of an art-house film and follows this production to the Venice International Film Festival. However, the explicit scenes she performs in the film spark considerable controversy. While this makes her popular again, she also faces pressure and condemnation from friends and family back home. During this process, she meets another popular young male actor from their home country. They meet in a bar; she pours out her loneliness and pain from recent years to the young male actor. The young male actor is a fan of hers and never expected to have the chance to know her up close, so he shows her great care. But when the male actor realizes the female actor is attempting to get close to him, he only then becomes aware that their perceptions of each other are misaligned."

As Yu Qin told this story, Lu Yan He and Chen Ziyan barely managed to control their expressions; they were just short of having the words 'flabbergasted' written all over their faces.

Yu Qin seemed not to notice their expressions and continued speaking.

"The male actor begins to evade the female actor's advances, but under the pressure of media praise and moral condemnation, the female actor gradually loses control. She projects her character's emotions onto herself, and as a result, after drinking, she publicly confesses her love to the male actor at an open film festival event, making a terrible scene. The male actor feels great sympathy for the female actor—this idol in his heart—yet is also troubled by her out-of-control behavior."

Lu Yan He had already guessed that the male actor in the story Yu Qin described was the role she wanted him to play.

Yu Qin said, "After the female actor's repeated extreme behaviors, the male actor shifts from tolerance and retreat to irritation and anger, furiously accusing the female actor of harassing him at a cocktail party. Stimulated by this, the female actor bursts into tears before everyone, appearing as a victim. The male actor is also attacked by the female actor's fans. Caught in an unprovoked disaster, the male actor suffers in silence. In an interview, the female actor expresses her apology to the male actor and states that she misunderstood his intentions. Yet this move makes the public sympathize even more with the female actor and accuse the male actor of lacking grace. At the story's end, the female actor wins the Best Actress award at the Venice International Film Festival and returns home in glory."

Lu Yan He's face was covered with question marks of disbelief.

What kind of thing is this?

Without any prior coordination with Lu Yan He, Chen Ziyan immediately asked, "Director Yu, surely you aren't planning to use Ning Xiulian as the prototype for this female star?"

"I plan to ask her to play the role," Yu Qin said.

Chen Ziyan said, "... Have you talked to her? Will she come?"

In this story, the female protagonist was entirely a negative image, a narcissistic, selfish, and vain figure. Chen Ziyan could not understand on what grounds Yu Qin thought Ning Xiulian would agree to act in it—especially in a film so obviously based on her. If this story were truly filmed, the topic would absolutely explode.

Yu Qin said, "Don't you think this role... is very challenging? Ning Xiulian is an actress; she can see what significance this character holds."

"But from what I hear, the role you want Yan He to play is essentially just a young man who suffered an unprovoked disaster; he's completely a tool character with no room for performance," Chen Ziyan stated bluntly. "Although the female protagonist's image is very negative, I admit she is complex, rich, and offers vast space for acting, but the male actor... couldn't just any male actor play that?"

Yu Qin said, "But the only person who can film this movie here is Lu Yan He."

"You want to film this movie right here?" Chen Ziyan looked at Yu Qin in disbelief. "Director, do you mean you want to shoot it here and now?"

Yu Qin nodded. "This story takes place at a film festival; with such a convenient location available, of course we should shoot it here and now."

Chen Ziyan was speechless. "You haven't even written the script yet, have you?"

"We'll write as we shoot," Yu Qin said. "I've already figured out exactly what kind of movie this will be; the script can be written very quickly."

Lu Yan He was dumbfounded.

Only one thought, which had surfaced a few days prior, remained in his mind: neither of these two women was someone to be trifled with.

Now, Yu Qin had played her trump card.

After a moment's hesitation, Lu Yan He said, "Director, this role... it's too much of a plot device. I don't want to play it."

He rarely refused a role so directly.

Yu Qin frowned. "A plot device? Did you listen carefully to my story? He has ample room for performance. Don't you think such a character is actually a type that has never appeared in film history before? A young male actor harassed without cause. He is not merely a plot device; a former idol of yours harasses you, shattering your illusions, while you shift from passive resistance to active counterattack, only to fall once again into a whirlpool of public opinion. Isn't this kind of capricious absurdity something that frequently happens in the entertainment industry?"

Lu Yan He took a deep breath.

"Many films nowadays like to depict harassment from either a male-chauvinist or feminist perspective; why not return it to the most fundamental relationship between the sexes?" Yu Qin grew more excited as she spoke. "Even to the point where, in the end, this male actor suddenly develops desire for the female actor—"

"Wait, wait." Chen Ziyan could no longer listen. "Director, this idea of yours has truly caught us off guard. Yan He came to Venice this time to rest; we do not wish to arrange any other work for him. With this last-minute proposal to shoot a film, Yan He has no time to make any preparations."

Yu Qin replied, "Those are secondary matters. Yan He, you are a good actor; I believe you can see the value in turning this story into a film."

Lu Yan He said, "Director, the protagonist of this film is not this male actor. You need to persuade Teacher Ning Xiulian to star in this movie first; otherwise, none of this holds water."

"If Ning Xiulian agrees to act, will you?" Yu Qin pressed relentlessly.

Lu Yan He responded, "To be honest, I do not currently find this story particularly appealing."

Disappointment showed on Yu Qin's face.

"I thought you were a different kind of actor."