Chapter 463: Premiere and Upscaling (12,000-character update!)

After Yu Qin left, Lu Yan He remained in a state of shock.

Chen Ziyan looked at him, and he looked at Chen Ziyan.

"We both thought she might come to me to film her next movie, but neither of us expected that the movie she wanted to film with you would be based on such an idea." Chen Ziyan shook her head in disbelief. "I'm stunned."

"I'm stunned too," Lu Yan He said.

After these two sentences, the two remained speechless, silent for a moment, before Chen Ziyan said: "However, I am truly surprised that she could come up with such a story so quickly. Just listening to this story, many past events surfaced in my mind."

"Past events?" Lu Yan He was somewhat surprised.

Chen Ziyan nodded. "In the entertainment industry, people as crazy as the female lead in her story are not rare at all."

Lu Yan He immediately thought of Meng Li.

Uh, well, that's true.

"If this movie is really made by Yu Qin, if nothing else, the buzz will definitely explode. It's practically ripping the fig leaf off the entertainment industry," Chen Ziyan said. "Especially that ending—it's a complete satire of this vain vanity fair."

Lu Yan He was silent for a while. "Actually, in my impression, I don't think such a character dynamic has ever appeared in any movie."

⊙￠〇

"It's too crazy and extreme," Chen Ziyan said. "Generally, no director would dare to film such subject matter."

The two looked at each other.

"Why do I feel like you seem to think this story... is good, Ziyan-jie?"

"I didn't say it was good; I just said not many directors would dare to film it."

"Because filming it would inevitably lead to huge controversy?" Lu Yan He asked.

Chen Ziyan said: "The biggest point of controversy in this story is that it creates a very negative female lead. You have to know that the content of movies in recent years has been about condemning male harassment and persecution of women, not the other way around. A story like this is very easily attacked."

Lu Yan He nodded. "That's true too."

Chen Ziyan: "The risk of you acting in this movie is too great; it's truly unnecessary. Why would you take such a risk?"

Lu Yan He nodded. "Mm."

The two looked at each other again.

After a moment of silence, Chen Ziyan asked: "Then, setting aside the fact that Yu Qin wants you to act in it, what do you think of the story itself? If it were made into a movie, following her style in *Happy Hour*, what do you think she would make it look like?"

"I don't know, but I always feel like Director Yu is deliberately shaping the female lead into such a negative image."

"She must have accumulated quite a few conflicts when filming *Happy Hour* with Ning Xiulian."

"I really don't know why she would think Ning Xiulian would agree to star in this film," Lu Yan He said.

Chen Ziyan was silent for two seconds, then said: "Could it be that Ning Xiulian actually agrees to act in this movie in the end?"

Lu Yan He always felt that this couldn't possibly come true, yet deep down, he inexplicably felt a bit of restless anticipation for it to happen.

Is he looking for drama? -

At this time, Fu Kai and Shang Yongzhou arrived at the hotel one after the other.

With the premiere of *Road to Glory* imminent, the creators of this film, which was shortlisted for the Horizons section, finally gathered at Lido Island.

Shang Yongzhou's arrival even received official coverage from the Venice International Film Festival, which specifically posted a message welcoming him.

The official introduction for him was: China's top film actor.

Seeing such an introduction, Lu Yan He felt a bit envious on one hand, and on the other, he silently sighed in his heart that even an old-school art film event like the Venice International Film Festival still cares about an actor's status and a star's popularity.

Those artists who loudly brandish the banner of art and disparage the star system are the ones who most yearn for the film festival, and they are just as eagerly looking forward to the arrival of stars.

When they were eating together, Fu Kai asked about the situation of the movie *Happy Hour*.

"We heard back home that this movie has received great feedback here in Venice. Is that true or false?"

The reason Fu Kai asked if it was true or false was that, many times, news is taken out of context by the media, with snippets cut out.

Lu Yan He said: "The evaluation this movie received from the media is indeed very high, and it is the kind of style that the Venice International Film Festival appreciates."

Fu Kai was thoughtful. "Did you watch the premiere? What do you think?"

"Uh, maybe the box office performance isn't very good, but it is indeed filmed very well," Lu Yan He said. "After all, most audiences' expectation for a movie is still a good story."

Fu Kai understood as soon as he heard this. "Isn't that the same path as our *Road to Glory*?"

"*Road to Glory* still has a complete plot line, while *Happy Hour* has almost none," Lu Yan He said. "If we were to describe it in terms of literary genres, *Road to Glory* is still a novel, but *Happy Hour* is an essay."

"The films Yu Qin shoots seem to have always been in this style."

Shang Yongzhou pondered for a moment and said: "She contacted me yesterday, had a phone call with me, and told me her ideas for her next film."

"Ah?" Lu Yan He looked at Shang Yongzhou in surprise. "It wouldn't be a story set against the backdrop of a film festival, would it?"

Chen Ziyan also looked at Shang Yongzhou in surprise. "She asked you to act in this film?"

Shang Yongzhou nodded and said: "Yes."

Chen Ziyan and Lu Yan He looked at each other.

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Shang Yongzhou realized something and asked: "She asked Yan He too?"

Chen Ziyan nodded.

Lu Yan He immediately added: "But I refused."

Shang Yongzhou said: "Mm, I refused too."

Chen Ziyan asked: "You also think this story is no good?"

"That's not it. Actually, I think the sense of satire in this story is quite sufficient. If it were really filmed, such a character image would definitely leave a mark and be discussed by many people," Shang Yongzhou said bluntly. "But I feel that this story is too theme-driven; everything is laid out on the surface, without much room for interpretation. I don't want to play such a simple character."

Chen Ziyan realized. "Indeed."

Fu Kai asked: "Then why did Yan He refuse at the time?"

Lu Yan He said with a smile: "The main reason is the same as Shixiong's. If the female actor were changed to a male actor, I might have considered it a bit. The female actor's role is truly very good, but the male actor, in my view, is just a tool character, without much space for performance. His existence is just to provide the female actor with an object to act against."

Fu Kai: "You two are both very greedy. You both think it's a pretty good story, yet you both refused because the roles you were offered didn't have enough room for performance."

Of course, Fu Kai was just joking when he said that.

Lu Yan He nodded and said: "As actors, of course, we have to look for the best roles."

Shang Yongzhou: "Anyone can play a tool-like role."

They finished lunch with laughter and sat together in a street-corner cafe to continue chatting.

Chen Ziyan asked Fu Kai if he had any ideas for his next film.

Fu Kai said: "I'm prepared to return to the track I'm good at and film movies about a more relaxed life."

Chen Ziyan said: "The special screening sessions for *Road to Glory* have received quite good reviews from critics. Aren't you going to strike while the iron is hot and continue filming an art film?"

Fu Kai: "By filming *Road to Glory*, I've already finished the story I wanted to tell. I can't just force myself to film if I don't have any ideas. I'm the type of person who doesn't like things with too much speculation and depth. Occasionally, when I've accumulated a few ideas, filming one is enough. If I film another, I won't be able to pull out anything new."

Lu Yan He was very surprised to hear Fu Kai say this.

Fu Kai and Yu Qin seem to be two extremes.

If Yu Qin were here, she would definitely say, "What kind of trash is that you're filming?"

Actually, Director Fu Kai's films have never had high ratings. However, Shang Yongzhou's willingness to work with him again and again was something Lu Yan He couldn't understand before filming *Road to Glory*. But the experience of filming *Road to Glory*, combined with him seriously finding and watching all the movies Fu Kai had directed, made Lu Yan He suddenly understand Shang Yongzhou's choice.

Because Fu Kai is a very authentic director. When he films, he never tries to have it both ways. Whether it's a commercial film or an art film like *Road to Glory*, he doesn't film according to a common routine. He has his own understanding of film. In him, there is a very unique sense of authorship. This authorship makes his film style transcend the simple distinction between commercial films and art films.

In contrast, Director Yu Qin's films, including *Happy Hour*, are indeed filmed well. However, Lu Yan He can see the shadows of many other classic works in this film. Yu Qin is filming this movie from the perspective of "I am filming an art film."

"Hm? Isn't that Chen Ziliang?" Chen Ziyan's gaze suddenly paused diagonally in front.

"It's him." Lu Yan He saw him at the entrance of a small ice cream shop diagonally across.

"What is he doing here?" Chen Ziyan was somewhat puzzled.

Of course, Chen Ziyan wasn't questioning why Chen Ziliang would appear at the Venice International Film Festival. In fact, many stars and artists without works shortlisted for the film festival would also come to the film festival due to invitations from sponsored brands or other reasons. However, this type of star artist usually comes during the opening ceremony. Those who arrive during the film festival are basically actors here to catch the premiere of their own movies.

There had been no news that Chen Ziliang would come to Venice before.

Coming here at this time—

Lu Yan He and Chen Ziyan looked at each other.

They subconsciously looked at Shang Yongzhou.

Shang Yongzhou asked puzzledly: "Why are you looking at me like that? I didn't call him here; I'm not familiar with him."

Chen Ziyan: "That's not what we were thinking."

Shang Yongzhou seemed even more confused. "Then what are you thinking?"

Fu Kai suddenly shook his phone.

"Someone from Ruyi Pictures asked me for an invitation to the *Road to Glory* premiere, helping Chen Ziliang ask for it," Fu Kai said.

Lu Yan He and Chen Ziyan looked at each other.

Chen Ziyan said: "If he wants to come and show his support, let him come."

? c〇

Lu Yan He thought the same.

In any case, Chen Ziliang is a popular big star. Although his reputation isn't great, he is also a walking topic generator.

If he is willing to attend the premiere of *Road to Glory* and help the movie increase exposure and star power, and it's free, why wouldn't they want that?

Lu Yan He's thinking was very pure—

Being able to help promote *Road to Glory*, whether Chen Ziliang feels good or not, can be put aside for now.

"Are you also guessing that Chen Ziliang might have taken the play that you and Shang Yongzhou didn't want to act in?" Chen Ziyan asked.

Lu Yan He nodded. "Yes."

Chen Ziyan sighed slightly and said: "If it's really as we guessed, then it's really... ridiculous."

Lu Yan He: "Actually, whether Chen Ziliang acts or not, I don't care, and I don't think it's important. Both Yongzhou-shixiong and I feel that the male actor's role is not worth acting. At least I'm not the only one who thinks so, which makes me more firm in my thinking. I'm more curious about whether Ning Xiulian will act. Ziyan-jie, to be honest, from an actor's perspective, if it weren't for the fact that the role looks like it was taken from Ning Xiulian's life, it's really a very good role. The performance space is too big, and it's a rare type of role."

"Wouldn't you be worried that this female actor is too selfish and too narcissistic?" Chen Ziyan said with concern. "Acting in such a role, aren't you worried that the audience's disgust for this character will be grafted onto the actor?"

"In the current film and television environment, I actually feel that audiences don't want to see those 'great, glorious, and correct' characters. These kinds of extreme characters are what audiences love," Lu Yan He said. "Audiences increasingly hope to see the selfishness and shortcomings in characters. The more such characters there are, the more they are considered to be close to ordinary people."

"If you were Ning Xiulian, would you act?" Chen Ziyan asked.

Lu Yan He: "Hard to say, but definitely not as decisively as refusing the male actor's role now."

A good, complex role is fatally attractive to an actor.

Chen Ziyan: "Then Ning Xiulian might not refuse."

"Hm?" Lu Yan He was actually a bit surprised and asked why.

"You said it yourself, for an actor, this is a very good role," Chen Ziyan asked Lu Yan He. "Ning Xiulian doesn't care about being scolded by others for 'an old cow eating tender grass,' and publicly holds hands and kisses Gu Zhao on the red carpet. How much do you think she would care about acting in a role that might be scolded? Rather than letting others act in a role based on her, it's better for her to act it herself. If she acts well, it might just be a representative work."

Lu Yan He looked at Chen Ziyan in shock.

What Chen Ziyan said was something he truly hadn't thought of.

However, upon further reflection, he felt it wasn't without reason.

In the evening, Lu Yan He was invited by the brand he endorses, math, to attend a brand event held by math at the Venice International Film Festival.

He ran into Ning Xiulian at this event.

Only her, without Gu Zhao.

As a hot candidate for Best Actress at this year's Venice International Film Festival, Ning Xiulian was warmly sought after at the scene.

Lu Yan He and Ning Xiulian were asked by many people to take photos together.

They didn't even have time to chat for a few more sentences before they started taking photos.

While smiling at everyone's lenses, Ning Xiulian whispered to Lu Yan He: "Did Director Yu Qin tell you about that idea of hers?"

"Mm," Lu Yan He said. "She did. Ning-laoshi, will you act?"

Ning Xiulian: "Act, why wouldn't I act?"

Lu Yan He's heart skipped a beat.

Chen Ziyan is truly as accurate as a god.

She really is acting.

"I heard this story, and I feel that this female lead... the image is quite negative," Lu Yan He carefully chose his words. "Aren't you worried that there will be some voices attacking you?"

Ning Xiulian: "Do you think that if I don't act, those voices attacking me will disappear? If I don't act, Yu Qin will find someone else to act. Who wouldn't think of me when they see this story?"

Lu Yan He: "Uh, that's true."

The two maintained a polite, camera-ready smile.

Ning Xiulian: "It's a pity, if you were the one acting, the rival scenes would be even more exciting."

"Then who did they find to act in the male actor's role in the end?" Lu Yan He asked.

Ning Xiulian said: "Yu Qin asked Ruyi Pictures to invest, and Ruyi Pictures agreed, on the condition that Chen Ziliang acts in the male actor's role."

As expected...

Lu Yan He silently controlled his expression not to change, especially not to show any look of sarcasm.

Otherwise, with so many lenses pointed at him, who knows what would be interpreted from it.

"I thought Director Yu wouldn't ask a film company for investment? I heard that *Happy Hour* was invested by herself?"

"Yes, so now she has no money, so she can only find money from outside," Ning Xiulian said.

Lu Yan He silently gave Ning Xiulian a thumbs up. "Ning-laoshi, you are too strong. Putting myself in your shoes, if I were you, I really wouldn't dare to agree so easily to act in this movie."

Ning Xiulian: "You've collaborated with Yu Qin on a movie, so you'll be like me. Rather than worrying so much, it's better to go crazy with her."

"..." Lu Yan He almost lost his expression management again.

This phrasing.

Going crazy.

So... you also know this is going crazy?

Ning Xiulian: "But sometimes, you have to admit that those people who are good in every aspect might be suitable to be friends in life, but they cannot create good things. And those who are eccentric, extreme, difficult to cooperate with, and have many abnormal behaviors in the eyes of normal people, can eventually create brilliant works. If you knew how many times I argued with her during the filming of *Happy Hour*, you would definitely find the reputation *Happy Hour* has achieved now unbelievable. At that time, I really felt that this play was going to rot, rot like smelly mud that makes people change color at the mention of it. But in the end, it was shortlisted for the Venice International Film Festival, and it also received praise and appreciation from the media. Art, haha, it is just something that cannot be understood by common sense."

Ning Xiulian's words made Lu Yan He thoughtful and quite moved.

After a while, Lu Yan He suddenly reacted.

Okay, okay, just listen to it, don't get brainwashed. The directors he has collaborated with, Luo Yuzhong, Chen Lingling, Wang Zhong, and Liu Bige, aren't they all quite normal?

But then, a question hesitantly emerged from his mind.

Do they also seem to have their own paranoid aspects that are different from ordinary people?

For the premiere of *Road to Glory*, Ning Xiulian and Chen Ziliang were both invited to walk the red carpet to support this Chinese film shortlisted for the Horizons section.

They also invited Yu Qin.

But Yu Qin probably didn't come because both Lu Yan He and Shang Yongzhou refused her invitation for her next play.

Shang Yongzhou invited several other big-name actors who were still in Venice.

The red carpet for *Road to Glory* was star-studded, not inferior to the premiere red carpet of films shortlisted for the main competition section.

Lu Yan He, Shang Yongzhou, and Fu Kai walked the red carpet together.

Because of limited funds, other actors in this movie didn't come. It wasn't that they didn't want to, but it was truly stretched thin, with no money to support it.

Glory is a kind of thing that, without the support of money, is a castle in the air that will disappear at any time.

As the lead actor, Lu Yan He had a strong sense of responsibility to do his best to let this film be seen.

At this time, walking on the red carpet, Lu Yan He had a kind of aura that this was his home field.

This aura, in the eyes of the media, became a kind of star demeanor and halo.

Compared to Shang Yongzhou, who has always been steady outside of movies, stars like Lu Yan He, who are born with a hot-search constitution and entertainment explosive points, are more favored by the media circle.

And Lu Yan He's activity in the international film scene over the past two years has also made many overseas media quite familiar with him.

Therefore, the Chinese media discovered one thing at this moment.

The treatment Lu Yan He received at the premiere of *Road to Glory* was actually not lower than that of the already famous Shang Yongzhou.

In the hearts of Chinese media people, there must still be some gap between Lu Yan He and Shang Yongzhou. Even if Lu Yan He has been very popular and strong in the past few years, there is still a certain distance from Shang Yongzhou. Therefore, this discovery they made at the premiere scene made them feel shocked and unbelievable to some extent.

Artistic Director Bicarochi personally hosted today's premiere.

When he made the introduction, he introduced Shang Yongzhou and Lu Yan He as the best male actors in China today, and also the most famous Chinese actors internationally.

Such an introduction coming from Bicarochi's mouth is far more convincing than coming from the mouths of Chinese people themselves.

There's no way around it; praising oneself versus being praised by others, the latter is always more convincing.

Then, the screening of *Road to Glory* began.

When the lights in the screening hall dimmed, Lu Yan He heard his heartbeat jump nervously twice, but then it calmed down.

He was still nervous, but he had already started to learn to self-regulate.

Lu Yan He always remembered what Chen Ziyan said when she persuaded him to take this movie.

—You now have a very strong eye to pick those non-mainstream movies full of adventure and exploration spirit, but you haven't yet developed an eye to understand classics.

—I read the script of this movie three times seriously, and I had a feeling.

—I haven't seen such an academic, such a neat script in a long time.

The movie started with Shang Yongzhou getting out of the car.

In the passenger seat was the test report he brought out from the hospital.

There was no soundtrack, and no monologue.

The beginning of the movie was Shang Yongzhou driving home expressionlessly, his eyes gloomy, as if containing an ice field eternally surrounded by thick fog.

Until he returned home and opened the door.

Lu Yan He appeared.

He was sitting on the sofa, one foot on the sofa, one foot on the ground, in a slouching posture, holding a game console, passionately playing games.

"Damn it! Do you not have eyes or do you not have a brain? Even a pig's operation is better than yours, big brother, are you sabotaging me!"

Lu Yan He on the screen cursed with a face full of resentment.

He looked up at Shang Yongzhou, didn't speak, and his eyelids drooped again.

In the evening, they ate dinner together.

Lu Yan He kept complaining that the dinner Shang Yongzhou made was too vegetarian, with no meat to eat.

He also wanted to borrow five hundred yuan from Shang Yongzhou, saying that a classmate was coming over in two days and he wanted to go out and play with his classmate.

Shang Yongzhou didn't say a word the whole time.

Lu Yan He kept chattering like a nag.

"No way, brother, you won't even lend me this little money?"

"I promise to pay you back."

Throughout the opening, the characters of the two brothers were established just like that. One moving, one still; one introverted, one extroverted. Through the images, the script, which was evaluated by Chen Ziyan as very neat, indeed showed its goodness at this moment.

For the first full fifteen minutes, which was the stage where Lu Yan He performed very jerkily, there was almost not a single close-up shot of him.

Every shot he appeared in appeared from Shang Yongzhou's perspective, which presented a feeling in the lens picture that his chatter was just background noise.

The tone of the movie was still immersed in the heaviness and gloom of Shang Yongzhou facing a terminal illness.

Lu Yan He's performance was like a shadow play seen from across a river.

The more lively the shadow play on the other side of the river sang, the more obvious the quietness and loneliness on this side of the river were set off.

Until Lu Yan He was coerced and lured by Shang Yongzhou to get into the car, started to accompany Shang Yongzhou on the road, to review his life, to make up for his regrets, and Lu Yan He showed surprise when he knew Shang Yongzhou was going to see the friend who betrayed him back then, he truly had his first close-up shot.

That was also the first time Lu Yan He showed his true inner emotions in this movie after being a jerk for more than ten minutes.

And from Lu Yan He's perspective, Shang Yongzhou's gloomy face was blurred in the lens for the first time, becoming the face of a typhoid patient seen through a mottled dusty window.

Lu Yan He had watched many movies, moved by the director's methods, moved by the actors' performances, and moved by the exquisiteness of the script and the beauty of the photography.

But he almost didn't realize that movies could also present a structural beauty of pictures on the screen.

This movie is about the transformation of two people.

One is a terminally ill patient living towards death, making up for life's regrets.

One is a spiritual journey of someone who looks like a troublemaker on the outside but feels desperate about life on the inside, regaining faith in life.

Such a theme, as Chen Ziyan said, is grand, classic, and cannot be expressed in a playful way, and will even make many people today feel it is outdated.

But it exists, and it has an irreplaceable meaning.

In the movie *Road to Glory*, the importance of actors' performances is far higher than in movies of other subjects.

Because it has no fig leaf, and no auxiliary tools to rely on.

The emotions of the movie need to be pushed inch by inch by the performances of the two actors, pushed to the corresponding scale, before they can strike a bell in the audience's heart.

In the wilderness, it was freezing cold.

They were trapped in the mountains and could only huddle in the car to keep warm.

Lu Yan He lost control of his emotions, and dissatisfied words were scolded out one by one like dumping garbage.

Shang Yongzhou silently took it, not refuting a word.

When Lu Yan He was tired of scolding and finally quieted down for a while, he suddenly heard his puzzled voice again, asking: "I've scolded you for so long, and you haven't beaten me up. What's wrong with you?"

After two seconds, Shang Yongzhou said: "You still have the strength to scold me now, which shows that you still have plenty of energy and can continue to hold on."

Lu Yan He gritted his teeth and cursed "damn."

Being furious and wanting to leave, he almost fell off a cliff. After being saved, he was both ashamed and angry. This was a highlight moment of Lu Yan He's performance.

His grievances, anger, annoyance, and self-loathing were presented in distinct layers.

This surprised Lu Yan He very much.

Fu Kai actually captured all his emotional changes accurately.

When filming at the time, Fu Kai didn't communicate with him about what the picture he wanted for this segment was like.

Therefore, the picture Lu Yan He imagined himself was not even as concrete and detailed as what was presented in the movie.

But as Lu Yan He learned more and more about his cousin's past in the movie, his attitude also changed subtly.

He slowly accepted this arduous journey of memories.

On this journey of memories, he discovered that the excellent cousin in the mouths of his family members also had an unbearable past, had made wrong decisions, and had selfishly hurt others. The more he knew about him, the less he understood why his cousin wanted to start such a journey.

Why did the perfect life that could have been covered up forever suddenly reveal its riddled truth in front of him?

"I've hated you since I was a child, no, I should say I've been annoyed by you," one sleepless night, Lu Yan He suddenly spoke in the dark. "You are the kind of 'other people's child' that is the most annoying. Since I was a child, my mother always said how excellent and capable you were. Every time I did something, she would always take you out as an example to lecture me."

Shang Yongzhou, with his back to Lu Yan He, said in a deep voice: "Then why do you come to my place every time you have a holiday?"

"Only by coming to your place would my mother agree," Lu Yan He smacked his lips. "I really should have let my mother accompany you on this trip, let her see it with her own eyes."

A very unconvinced tone.

Shang Yongzhou said: "It's okay, soon your mother will understand that there are things in life more important than so-called excellence and success."

"Where did you copy this chicken soup for the soul from?"

Shang Yongzhou didn't speak.

"However, brother, are you hiding something from me? I always feel like you've been weird lately. Are you stimulated by something? Were you dumped, or were you fired?"

Shang Yongzhou: "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Why do you deliberately make yourself look like you are unlearned and causing trouble?" Shang Yongzhou asked.

"Deliberately? This is my nature. I was never as excellent as you in the first place, brother. You have to learn to accept a truth: not everyone in this world is as qualified as you to pursue excellence."

"I don't know if others are qualified, but you have always had such qualifications," Shang Yongzhou said.

"Forget it."

"If it weren't for the fact that you were still desperately holding onto the railing and climbing up when you fell off the cliff, I sometimes feel that you are almost giving up on your life in self-abandonment."

Lu Yan He was silent for a long, long time before saying: "Why do you intellectuals always say things that people can't understand?"

Then, on an unexpected afternoon when the long-overcast sky finally cleared, Lu Yan He found his terminal illness notice in Shang Yongzhou's car.

He was stunned, at a loss, stupidly sitting in the seat, not coming back to his senses for a long time.

Fu Kai used a set of switching shots here.

He didn't keep the lens on Lu Yan He all the time, but moved back and forth between Lu Yan He in the car and Shang Yongzhou, who was standing across the road in front of a newsstand buying things.

Lu Yan He, lost and confused in the shadows, and Shang Yongzhou, calm and waveless in the sunlight.

The back-and-forth movement of the three sets of shots formed a transmission of emotions like still water running deep.

At night, in the hotel, Shang Yongzhou woke up in the middle of the night and heard Lu Yan He sobbing in the bathroom, suppressing his voice.

He subconsciously opened his mouth to ask something, then realized something, and closed his mouth again.

A sliver of light leaking from the crack in the bathroom door coldly cut across Shang Yongzhou's eyebrows and eyes.

In his pupils, which seemed to have no emotions, lay a bottomless gloom.

The shadow of death follows like a shadow; all a person can do is let themselves accept the facts step by step, rather than really facing it calmly.

Fear exists eternally.

The holiday ended, Lu Yan He returned to his hometown and said goodbye to Shang Yongzhou.

He didn't mention to Shang Yongzhou that he had seen that terminal illness notice, and Shang Yongzhou didn't mention it either.

The two kept silent by tacit understanding.

In the movie, Lu Yan He's mother came to pick up Lu Yan He, expressing her liking for Shang Yongzhou as always, and couldn't help but complain about Lu Yan He.

Amidst his mother's nagging complaints, Lu Yan He returned to that rebellious, unmanageable state.

Shang Yongzhou saw them off. At the entrance to the station, Shang Yongzhou handed the luggage to Lu Yan He.

"Do you know how to get rid of other people's nagging?" Shang Yongzhou asked Lu Yan He.

Lu Yan He looked annoyed: "I don't know."

"You have two paths. One path is to work hard to climb to a height where you can't hear other people's nagging. The other path is to find a coffin and bury yourself in it, sleeping forever," Shang Yongzhou said. "While you have a choice, choose one well."

Lu Yan He's expression was stunned for a moment, he shook his head, and looked to the side.

"What kind of dark chicken soup successology is this?"

"Don't deliberately break the jar because you look down on successology. Everyone has a time when they want to give up on themselves to resist the secular world," Shang Yongzhou patted Lu Yan He on the shoulder. "But what kind of life you want to have never depends on what you resist, but on what you create."

Lu Yan He was stunned for two seconds, then gave Shang Yongzhou a middle finger.

His mother slapped him on the back of the head, "Put your hand down for me!"

Lu Yan He followed his mother into the station, cursing.

After Shang Yongzhou watched them go in, suddenly, Lu Yan He's hand was raised again.

The middle finger that was raised was particularly conspicuous in the crowd of people.

Three months later, on a rainy day, Lu Yan He attended his funeral.

Schmidt Lawley, the boss of the American Green Valley Film Company, was brought over by Tang Mu White, the head of HP's Asia-Pacific region, to watch this Chinese film.

As the boss of a medium-sized American film company, Schmidt Lawley had always been accustomed to buying films with market potential at major film festivals, buying the distribution rights, and having Green Valley Film Company act as the agent for distribution.

Before coming, Schmidt Lawley muttered to Tang Mu White: "Tang Mu, I know you are very concerned about the Asia-Pacific market now, but in our United States, Asian movies have never sold well at the box office, as you know."

Tang Mu White said: "Schmidt, I'm not here to let you buy a movie, I'm specifically inviting you to come and see Lu Yan He's performance."

"Lu Yan He? Isn't that a Chinese actor you've praised several times?"

"Yes," Tang Mu White said. "Believe me, you will go to watch this film and see his performance, and you will definitely not be disappointed."

Schmidt Lawley walked into the cinema with a skeptical attitude and watched this Chinese movie with everyone.

By the time the movie screening ended, and Schmidt Lawley hadn't quite come back to his senses, many of the surrounding audience had already stood up and started applauding.

"Oh, where were these film festival audiences found? Is there a PR manager giving them money for their enthusiasm in applauding?" Schmidt Lawley couldn't help but complain.

Tang Mu White shook his head with a smile and asked: "Don't you think this movie is filmed very well?"

"Oh, maybe Europeans will like this style of movie, but I've never been interested," Schmidt Lawley said. "Believe me, Tang Mu, this film will definitely not sell more than $500,000 at the box office in our United States."

"I know," Tang Mu White nodded. "But today is the second time I've watched this movie."

"Hm?" Schmidt Lawley was very surprised and asked: "You've already watched this movie once? And you're still willing to watch it a second time?"

Tang Mu White asked: "Schmidt, do you know why I dragged you to watch this movie?"

"Just say it directly, don't keep me in suspense."

"I attended the special screening session—the special screening session open to media and critics, do you know? I heard no less than four or five critics say that this movie should have been put into the main competition section," Tang Mu White said. "And Tang Mu Wayne of *Variety* magazine said that this movie is the kind of film most suitable for chasing awards."

Schmidt Lawley frowned slightly.

"What do you mean?"

Tang Mu White said: "I remember you said that you also want to operate films that can impact the Oscars. I think *Road to Glory*, whether it's the subject matter, style, or its feedback at the Venice International Film Festival, is your best choice at the moment. You can take the distribution rights of this movie at the lowest cost and start your journey to the Oscars."

Schmidt Lawley looked at Tang Mu White in disbelief: "Are you crazy? This is a Chinese film, using it to impact the Oscars?"

"The year before last, a Korean movie received three nominations for Best Picture, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Editing," Tang Mu White said. "It's not the mainstream choice for the Oscars, but you and I both know that in recent years, the Oscars have paid more and more attention to internationalization. If you want to use American movies to impact the Oscars, do you think you can compete with those giant pushers? *Road to Glory* can become a card in your hand that is unconventional and fits the current Oscar options."

Schmidt Lawley fell into deep thought.

"Let's go, I'll make an appointment with Yan He later, and we'll go and chat with the creators of this movie. You don't have to rush to make a decision, let's chat first," Tang Mu White said. "Schmidt, although this movie is not the style you like, you can definitely see how much this movie fits the taste of the Oscars in recent years. Don't miss the opportunity to knock on the door of the Oscars because of your prejudice."

Schmidt Lawley looked at Tang Mu White helplessly.

"You really should be a PR person," he said.

The screening hall was too lively.

Although Lu Yan He also knew that the applause at the scene couldn't explain anything—it was just because thunderous applause was too common at film festival screening scenes. Unless it was a movie so rotten that everyone left halfway and didn't want to finish watching, otherwise, film festival audiences were generally very tolerant and willing to use the most enthusiastic encouragement to praise the creators of these movies.

This is also one of the reasons why film creators are often more likely to feel honored at film festivals.

Despite this, Lu Yan He was still moved and excited by this applause.

From filming a movie to the movie meeting the audience, it actually takes a very long process.

As an actor, his efforts had already been paid on the filming scene.

Then, after several months, or even a year or two, it takes shape and meets the world.

The actor also doesn't know what this film will look like, and also holds a nervous, excited, uneasy, and expectant mood, watching this film with the audience.

If this film is filmed well, the excitement and emotion at that moment is feedback after a long time, the satisfaction of being recognized for the efforts and hard work he has paid.

Lu Yan He proudly said thank you to everyone, and the smile on his face never faded.

Ning Xiulian nodded and applauded appreciatively, leaning over from the third row, and said to Lu Yan He: "Your performance was great!"

Lu Yan He heard her praise and encouragement in the noisy environment and thanked her with a smile.

After the screening, they were taken away by staff and came to the backstage.

"Congratulations to you all, this film has received everyone's praise," the staff all said to them with a smile.

According to the standard process of the film festival, a competition film is not just a premiere session, but also has multiple sessions such as media photo shoots, media meetings, and reporter interviews.

This is also one of the core tasks of film creators at the film festival.

Shang Yongzhou and Lu Yan He were already familiar with the road and were very clear about these processes.

Fu Kai was participating for the first time and was a bit at a loss, asking Lu Yan He and Shang Yongzhou some detailed questions from time to time. But the reaction of the audience at the scene was obviously beyond his expectations, and the corners of his mouth never went down. His emotions remained in a state of excitement after the screening ended, and he had a great interest in talking when accepting reporters' questions, talking endlessly.

Seeing this, Lu Yan He basically didn't take the initiative to answer, only answering a sentence or two when he was named.

Participating in a film festival for the first time, it is basically this state.

Lu Yan He understood very well.

Of course, at the media meeting, the same Yongshan Hesan who deliberately looked for trouble appeared.

Yongshan Hesan asked Lu Yan He: "I heard that you and another lead actor—that is, Mr. Shang Yongzhou, are called the two top male actors in China at present. This time, the two of you top male actors joined hands to film this *Road to Glory*. Why is it shortlisted for the Horizons section instead of the main competition section?"

The provocation was full.

Lu Yan He laughed twice and said: "Mr. Yongshan Hesan really doesn't miss any opportunity to pick on and look for trouble. I can't help but reflect on myself, what excessive things did I do to Mr. Yongshan Hesan to make him target me so persistently."

The fact that Lu Yan He and Yongshan Hesan are not on good terms was known to many media through the battles reported by global media before.

Lu Yan He said it bluntly, which also made everyone burst into laughter.

He said with a smile: "Regarding this question, Mr. Yongshan Hesan asked the wrong person. You should go and ask Mr. Bicarochi. What section each film is shortlisted for is his decision. And for us creators, it doesn't matter which section the film is shortlisted for; what matters is whether it can get positive feedback from everyone after screening. I am very happy that our movie *Road to Glory* did it. This is the first movie that Director Fu Kai, me, and Shang Yongzhou collaborated on, and it can receive such warm praise in Venice. We are full of gratitude, thank you for your encouragement to us, and we will continue to insist on creation in the future, striving to create more good works and meet with everyone more."

He didn't pay attention to Yongshan Hesan's question at all, and used the strength to hit the strength, landing the topic on the movie itself.

His answer also received applause from others.

Such a talented and humble young actor, how can people not like him?

At the scene, Tang Mu White and Schmidt Lawley stood in the back, listening to Lu Yan He responding to Yongshan Hesan's malicious questioning in fluent English, easily and indifferently.

Tang Mu White looked at Schmidt Lawley: "Having a lead actor who is very good at dealing with people is something you can hardly encounter. Talented people are often difficult to get along with, but he is different."

Schmidt Lawley looked at Tang Mu White puzzledly: "Tang Mu, why are you so actively wanting to recommend him and *Road to Glory* to me?"

Tang Mu White said: "Because he has a close cooperative relationship with our HP, his success also means my success. Of course, if you are willing to become his pusher, that will also be your success."

Tang Mu White finished speaking to Schmidt Lawley in a seemingly relaxed but actually firm tone, and smiled slightly.

"In the film and television industry, it is an industry dominated by a very small number of people," Tang Mu White said. "It is an industry of collective creation, but it is even more an industry dominated by key figures. Lu Yan He is such a person. You don't have to believe what I say, but you can definitely try it once. This doesn't require you to pay too high a price."

"Chasing Oscars has never been a competition that can be successful with low-cost investment."

"Chasing Oscars is not a 100-meter sprint, it's a long-distance marathon. If you see no hope, you can give up early," Tang Mu White said. "But if you can see hope, you will naturally continue to upscale." ===== CHAPTER 464 =====