Chapter 516: Toughness (8,000-character update!)

"Lu Yan He is a very trustworthy collaborator. Unlike most geniuses, he actually respects everyone he works with. I can't imagine any normal collaborator who wouldn't like him."

While accepting an interview with a media outlet, Bai Jingnian was inevitably asked about Lu Yan He.

He also very generously expressed his views on Lu Yan He during the interview.

"You see, after he left the first season of *Friends*, many people actually had quite a few complaints at the time, myself included. I have to admit that. My thought at the time was, although the platform that aired it did indeed do some not-so-good things to you and caused you a lot of negative influence, *Friends* was so popular and so well-received by everyone; the work itself was innocent. Why couldn't you just endure it?"

"Of course, later on, I didn't even need others to say anything; I slapped my own face. After the second season, I left that unit myself." Bai Jingnian gave a self-deprecating smile. "Including the third season, the reputation was smashed to such a state that everyone felt it was a pity, feeling it was beyond saving. However, the person who left the earliest had always been paying attention to our project. I always thought he had long since walked away and didn't need to look back at such a sitcom, but his feelings for it were actually no less than any of ours."

"So, you see, he brought *Friends* back for a reboot—alright, I was wrong. Did we not actually openly admit this before? I messed up. We originally wanted to keep it a secret until it aired." Bai Jingnian had a panicked expression as if he had made a huge mistake. "What should I do?"

The reporter looked at Bai Jingnian as if they had found a treasure.

This was the first time the news of Lu Yan He returning to *Friends* had been openly admitted!

Even if everyone had already felt it was a done deal before!

But after all, it had never been openly admitted!

"Can you not put this sentence in?" Bai Jingnian looked at the camera somewhat innocently and pleadingly.

The camera and the reporter were silent, just like him.

Obviously, that was impossible.

Bai Jingnian hung his head in defeat. "Alright, I'll continue. Actually, what I want to say is, look, when everyone gave up on *Friends*, he stood up, rebooted the show, and let it continue. Moreover, he didn't forget any of us. The original producer, Hu Siwei, he invited back. The director, me, he told me that the director of *Friends* could only be me, and no one else would do, even though he himself could clearly have been the director—I don't know if you can feel how I was respected, recognized, and how I felt a strong, heartfelt excitement of being understood by someone who truly knows me."

He gave a listless smile. "Actually, as a creator, with such trust, even if other aspects are a little lacking, it doesn't matter."

Everyone knew what he was referring to at this moment.

When Bai Jingnian left the Beijing Station back then, many marketing accounts posted messages saying he disliked the low treatment at Beijing Station, which was why he was poached by Polar Light with a high salary, saying he was greedy for money and profit-driven, and so on.

These words of his could actually be considered a counterattack—

Was it a money issue? Not just that; it was also an issue of trust and dignity.

"So, you see, Yan He has always kept it in his heart. As long as it's a collaborator he likes, recognizes, and trusts, he will always keep you in mind and will keep working with you." Bai Jingnian smiled. "Look at the show *My Own Swordsman*; as long as there is a suitable role, he will definitely recommend friends he knows and is familiar with to me. And he won't mess things up for you; he won't recommend people randomly. Everyone knows Liu Zhiyin is an idol artist with no acting experience, so Lu Yan He just invited her to make a guest appearance in a few shots. Her screen time wasn't much, but it was very suitable for her. Appearing together with Xiao Yun, she was the first guest actor to appear in our show."

"I can say that our show will have surprises in every episode." Bai Jingnian said. "Many geniuses, while being gifted, might indeed not be very good at interpersonal relationships. He is a very special existence. The reason he can have so many friends help him and promote his work in every show is inseparable from how he conducts himself. Look at the role of Manager Tong, one of the two female leads in *My Own Swordsman*. When I chose Liu Zi, who had never acted in film or television, I was quite worried. Would Yan He be satisfied? Would Polar Light be satisfied? After all, you know, never having acted in film or television, without any fame, and suddenly playing a female lead in such a big investment."

"Can you believe it? After I told Yan He, Yan He only asked me one question. He asked me if Liu Zi was the most suitable among all the actresses I had seen. I said yes. Yan He immediately took the time to go watch a stage play performance by Liu Zi with me, and then talked to her once. Just once, and he supported my choice and helped me persuade Polar Light. This was truly a huge risk, yet he dared to trust me." Bai Jingnian smiled, looking as if he himself couldn't quite believe it. "Having been a director for so many years, really, I have only been trusted like this by Lu Yan He."

"I think the reason Lu Yan He has had so many collaborations with Polar Light Video is also because Polar Light gave him enough trust. Think about it, *Squid Game*, *My Own Swordsman*, and at the time there were only a few films like *Rouge* and *Lost on Journey*. Both shows were S+ level production budgets, plus some investments in films. Actually, for Polar Light to invest so many projects and so much funding into one person at once, how risky is that? How much pressure is there?" Bai Jingnian said. "But President Lin supported him just because he trusted Lu Yan He. I see many reports saying Polar Light is lucky to have gotten so many of Yan He's projects at once. Actually, there is no such thing as groundless luck; it's all mutual."

"The plan for the future is to finish the parts of *My Own Swordsman* that haven't been filmed yet. Yan He has already completed all the scripts. We are filming in two batches and releasing in five seasons. Currently, the content filmed is only for two seasons." Bai Jingnian said. "The number of episodes for each subsequent season won't be as many as the eighteen episodes of the first season, but everyone doesn't need to worry about waiting for five years. We are doing five seasons out of considerations for filming, business, and many other factors, but it won't be a year between each season."

"As for my next plan—" Bai Jingnian smiled slightly, keeping the suspense. "I just want to say, this is another show that is completely different from *Friends* and *My Own Swordsman*. Wait until I make it, and then I'll share it with everyone."

This interview with Bai Jingnian had too much information content.

Almost every paragraph cut out was at an explosive level.

Bai Jingnian's effect of not naming names was even greater than naming them.

The two characters "Beijing Station" rushed directly to the hot search, were suppressed, removed, and then went up again. The heat was so great it couldn't be suppressed.

This wasn't the first time Bai Jingnian had "backstabbed" Beijing Station so directly—

It could be seen how great his resentment toward Beijing Station was and how much anger he had.

Yet Beijing Station couldn't stand up and say anything. On the project of *Friends*, they could be said to have made one bad move after another from before the broadcast until after the third season ended. Looking back, one doesn't even know how those bad moves were made.

Beijing Station could only play the turtle and not come out to respond.

And Bai Jingnian's long description and evaluation of Lu Yan He also let many people see another side of Lu Yan He.

This was a relatively unfamiliar, private Lu Yan He, outside of the straight-A student Lu Yan He, actor Lu Yan He, and screenwriter Lu Yan He they were familiar with.

What moved the fans of the *Friends* series the most was Bai Jingnian's remark that, in fact, Lu Yan He had never let go of his attention and concern for *Friends*.

Therefore, when everyone gave up on it, he chose to come back and reboot it.

For anyone who has ever liked the show *Friends*, who wouldn't hope that this show could have a better presentation?

Do we really have to end it with the critically panned third season?

No one is willing to see that.

While flowers and applause were flying together, naturally there were also trolls who couldn't stand it, or were picking bones out of an egg from various unimaginable angles, picking faults with *My Own Swordsman*.

But the number of people watching online within one hour, which was higher with each episode, was the best counterattack.

However, when Bai Jingnian, Huang Kai, Liu Zi, Jiang Jun, Xiao Yun, and others appeared one by one in various promotional activities, everyone discovered that Lu Yan He, who had finally become a bit active recently, had disappeared again.

He disappeared again.

Always disappearing when he is at his hottest.

At this time, Lu Yan He had already quietly arrived in Canada, preparing to film the movie *The Mist*.

As soon as he landed, before even leaving the airport, Lu Yan He received a call from Lei Shuangcheng.

Lei Shuangcheng first congratulated him on the phenomenal explosion of *My Own Swordsman* before getting to the point.

"I had a discussion with the director and screenwriter of *Future Life*, and we decided to adopt your suggestion." Lei Shuangcheng said. "I did an estimate; reshooting the last episode will cost at least 800,000."

Lei Shuangcheng mentioned this number because Lu Yan He had said at the time that he was willing to pay for the reshoot of this episode.

Lu Yan He said: "Okay, no problem. I'll have my assistant coordinate later and wire the money to you."

Lei Shuangcheng didn't expect Lu Yan He to have no hesitation at all.

This had nothing to do with whether he was short of money or not, but rather his attitude.

Lu Yan He saying he was willing to pay for the reshoot back then really wasn't just empty talk.

"I'll wire you one million; don't cut corners." Lu Yan He said with a smile. "Lei Zong, *Future Life* will become a niche but highly-rated show."

It might not make a lot of money, but it shouldn't lose money.

After all, adding his one million, its production budget was only about ten million in total, which really wasn't much.

Lu Yan He said again: "Lei Zong, later when the post-production is done, please give me a copy. I think this theme and style are quite suitable for overseas streaming media. I want to promote it to them and see if they are willing to buy it."

Lei Shuangcheng was stunned, not expecting Lu Yan He to take the initiative to mention overseas streaming media.

"For such a low-budget show, would they be willing to take it?"

"This has nothing to do with whether the cost is low or not. There are actually quite a few shows of this type overseas, and every year there are several that come out with high ratings. Similarly, many people don't know about them because these shows didn't explode in popularity and only spread by word of mouth within a small circle. The reputation is good, but despite that, they still achieved commercial success." Lu Yan He said. "Big films can make big money, and small films can also make small money."

Themes like *Future Life* have a fixed audience.

And it's a fixed audience on a global scale. By comparison, it's definitely easier to sell than *My Own Swordsman*, which has a high investment and also exploded in popularity domestically.

Because in the eyes of those foreigners, they can at least understand at a glance what *Future Life* is talking about.

But as for big explosions and popularity, Lu Yan He doesn't have such big dreams either.

Lu Yan He's relationship with streaming media is actually not as close as everyone says.

Just like until now, Zhong Benshuo hasn't come to tell Lu Yan He that they will be remaking the English version of *Friends*.

Lu Yan He recommended *The Gold Rush* to HP, letting HP suddenly have a show in May that was a small hit with good heat. The key was that the procurement cost was low and the cost-performance ratio was extremely high. This matter seemed to make Zhong Benshuo somewhat depressed.

In Zhong Benshuo's view, they were the ones who had just collaborated on a big hit like *Squid Game*.

Even if there were some unpleasantness before, in the face of common interests, they should have let go of past grievances.

Of course, there was another thing: Zhong Benshuo didn't want to buy the show *My Own Swordsman*, even if this show was very popular in China.

He, a Korean, couldn't quite understand it, let alone other countries that weren't so close to Chinese culture.

But every time Zhong Benshuo mentioned a new collaboration to Lu Yan He, Lu Yan He would fob him off by saying *My Own Swordsman* could actually be a new collaboration.

Zhong Benshuo thought to himself, he wasn't a fool. Even HP, with that kind of relationship with you, didn't buy it; you want to trick me into buying it?

However, the success of *The Gold Rush* did indeed make Zhong Benshuo start paying more attention to Chinese-language dramas.

Now there are more and more short dramas with only a dozen episodes in Chinese-language dramas, which are relatively in line with international streaming media broadcast standards in terms of format.

The key is that they are also cheap.

Currently, among Chinese-language dramas, except for Lu Yan He's shows which can command high prices, the prices of other shows can't be raised.

Actually, when he saw HP say they spent 12 million USD to buy *The Gold Rush* at the time, Zhong Benshuo was still very shocked and found it incredible.

For a show like this without globally famous big stars, and not written by Lu Yan He, how much water had entered HP's brain for them to offer such a high price?

Even after it achieved such great success later, Zhong Benshuo always felt that in the market environment at that time, *The Gold Rush* could have been bought even if the price was reduced by a zero.

Perhaps, if one picks carefully, there should actually be other works in Chinese-language dramas that can achieve success like *The Gold Rush*.

Zhong Benshuo then went to China and made appointments to meet with major IP holders.

However, after Zhong Benshuo met and talked with them, he discovered a very terrible thing.

These people knew that *The Gold Rush* sold for 12 million USD, and they all realized that the good works in their hands were actually a gold mine and couldn't be tricked by him into being sold at a low price.

Zhong Benshuo was extremely annoyed.

Previously, only Lu Yan He's shows could sell for high prices. Now, it's good; there's a show unrelated to Lu Yan He that sold for a high price too.

This wasn't a price sold after *The Gold Rush* became a global hit first.

Zhong Benshuo's idea of wanting to buy the overseas streaming distribution rights of a show for one or two million USD was directly frustrated.

After Lu Yan He learned about Zhong Benshuo's recent movements from people in China, he inexplicably found it funny.

A friend in China cursed at him on the phone: "Damn it, he wants to buy my show for a few hundred thousand USD, does he think I'm selling cabbage! I directly gave him a cold shoulder. Does he really think we don't know the market? *The Gold Rush* just sold for 12 million USD; in our line of work, who doesn't know? I'm not saying I want to sell it for the same as *The Gold Rush*, but at least it shouldn't be several orders of magnitude worse, right? I don't need his little bit of money; I just won't sell it, let it rot in my hands, I can't lose this face."

Lu Yan He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He said: "His price is indeed maliciously low. Maybe he thinks our Chinese-language dramas have always been unable to command high prices, so he wants to come and pick up a bargain."

It can only be said that Zhong Benshuo's keenness is still there, but his style of conduct is still the same as what Lu Yan He felt before—

Too stingy.

At the same time, Lu Yan He also felt inexplicably a bit gratified.

Everyone knows how valuable the works in their hands are and won't be tricked by someone like Zhong Benshuo into selling them at cabbage prices.

However, this matter also reminded him again.

Perhaps in the future, a trading market can really be established, allowing more buyers to truly come here and see the value of Chinese-language dramas.

Only when there are more buyers and competition arises will things gradually be calculated by the market at a price they deserve.

Otherwise, the 12 million USD for *The Gold Rush* will only be a miracle of HP's accidental conscience.

Wang Biao walked in carrying two large bags of things.

They weren't staying in a hotel here, but in a proper house.

It was rented for them by the production crew.

Chen Ziyan also used her connections in Canada to find a local guide, who was a Chinese-Canadian and also a local actor, though not very famous.

His name was Alich Lu.

Chen Ziyan was worried that Lu Yan He would film in a foreign land, and if there wasn't someone familiar with the local performing arts industry, Lu Yan He would suffer in silence.

After all, Lu Yan He's overseas agency hadn't been set up yet.

The official filming time for *The Mist* wasn't long, only thirty-six days.

A very precise number.

The producer of D19 Company, Xin Nalin, was a woman, about thirty-five years old.

She had a typical blonde-haired, blue-eyed European and American appearance, with deep features and obvious freckles on her face. She couldn't be called exquisite or beautiful, but she was a woman who left a deep impression at first glance.

Lu Yan He's residence in Canada was arranged by her.

Lu Yan He had dealt with her and met her twice. His impression of her was that she was capable, real, direct, and said whatever problems there were straight out. At the same time, while maintaining such a personality trait, she didn't make people feel sharp.

This was a very likable personality.

As soon as Lu Yan He arrived, Xin Nalin specifically came to see him, even though it was still a few days before filming started. The place where Lu Yan He was staying was independent and not together with others.

Xin Nalin said: "It's an honor to work with you. I'm a fan of yours; I really like *Late Spring*."

"Thank you." Lu Yan He thanked her politely. "I hope our filming of *The Mist* will also go smoothly."

Xin Nalin subsequently specifically coordinated with Alich Lu, asking Lu Yan He's side to provide a list of Lu Yan He's needs, such as what he likes to eat, what he avoids, what he needs in life, etc.

Alich Lu coordinated with Wang Biao.

Wang Biao came to ask Lu Yan He if he should provide it normally.

Domestically, there actually wasn't such a procedure. Generally, if Lu Yan He really had any needs, they would all be written into the contract, and agreements would be made from the contract.

Lu Yan He didn't know how overseas actors signed contracts with production crews.

But because this was his first English-language film, he wasn't very clear about the situation. When signing the contract at the time, the content they agreed upon was mainly focused on acting and ideological content. For accommodation and production life, they only made restrictions on the daily filming duration.

Lu Yan He thought for a moment and said: "Just provide it normally. I don't have any excessive demands. Whether she wants to do it or is just going through the motions, it's fine. We aren't greedy for this bit of convenience."

Wang Biao said okay, and thus, gave a list.

For example, the fruits Lu Yan He likes, the food he likes, and things he doesn't like.

And Lu Yan He was filming from abroad and didn't have any equipment here, from the chairs on set, small fans, etc., to Lu Yan He hoping to get his character image design in advance, etc.

Not polite at all, not subtle, listing four A4 pages.

After Xin Nalin received it, there was no strange look at all, just saying one "okay."

Almost the next day, Lu Yan He received a part of the things he needed.

For example, mosquito and insect repellent medicine.

Wang Biao sprinkled it all around the house.

Before the official start of filming, Xin Nalin also arranged for Lu Yan He to meet with the makeup artist and stylist to communicate his character image in the film.

The moment he saw their design drawings, Lu Yan He was glad he had made such a request.

The character styling they designed was too outrageous.

It was actually an image like a vampire.

Lu Yan He was silent for a moment and said: "Is this styling already decided?"

Hearing Lu Yan He ask this, Xin Nalin guessed that Lu Yan He shouldn't be very satisfied.

"Is there any problem? We can communicate first."

Lu Yan He said: "This styling is cool, but it looks... a bit like a vampire? Is the character set for me in our *The Mist* a vampire?"

Lu Yan He's tone was still relatively tactful, and it wasn't a sharp tone either.

However, this stylist named Wendy seemed to have been insulted or provoked by something, and immediately exploded, saying somewhat angrily: "How does this image look like a vampire? If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense. What do you know about vampires?"

Xin Nalin turned her head to look at Wendy and said: "Wendy, since we are discussing a problem now, let's discuss it properly."

Wendy said very dissatisfiedly: "I spent a long time conceiving this styling, and he just took one look and said it looks like a vampire. He doesn't respect my work!"

Lu Yan He looked at Wendy and said: "Wendy, if you think I don't respect you, I apologize to you, but I'm not targeting you. I'm just stating my true feelings as someone who saw this design for the first time."

Wendy stiffened her face and looked at Xin Nalin.

"Xin Nalin, I have done film styling for Marian Gall and Kishu Yude, and they have never been so unsupportive of my work." Wendy said. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have taken on the styling design for such a low-budget horror film."

Xin Nalin's expression changed, and she glared at Wendy with a stern look.

"Wendy!"

This was a warning.

Wendy looked at Lu Yan He, with a faint arrogance in her eyes.

"You don't understand art at all." Wendy threw down this sentence, turned around, and left. "Since you think the styling I designed looks like a vampire, then design it yourself."

Lu Yan He looked at Wendy quite unexpectedly.

Was this a show of force?

Or was he inherently unprofessional?

But what Lu Yan He found strange was that neither Xin Nalin nor the makeup artist had any intention of stopping her from leaving.

Lu Yan He really couldn't figure out the way things worked.

However, no matter where you are, this kind of thing is a small matter.

Lu Yan He really wasn't worried at all that the stylist would quit and he wouldn't be able to act in this play.

After struggling for a few years, he knew quite a few people both domestically and abroad. If he really needed to, it wouldn't be difficult to find a stylist he could cooperate with.

What Lu Yan He cared more about was the matter itself.

Probably because he had experienced too many similar things, when this kind of unusual "conflict" happened, Lu Yan He couldn't help but think whether there was any other reason behind this "conflict."

Xin Nalin said to Lu Yan He: "Yan He, sorry, Wendy is a person with a very strong personality. I will communicate with her later. If you have any opinions, why don't you communicate with me first, and I will negotiate with her."

"No need." Lu Yan He shook his head. Although he couldn't figure out whether there were any other tricks behind this matter for the time being, Lu Yan He now had the confidence not to care. He said: "Judging from today's situation, it is indeed difficult for me to cooperate with her. I will communicate with the director about my few stylings in the play and see how to solve it."

Lu Yan He was too lazy to coax, deceive, or please anyone to get her back—he had his own resources to complete this work and didn't need to beg anyone.

Furthermore, Lu Yan He also felt that it was of little significance for him to communicate with the producer here.

The one responsible for the film's aesthetics and who understood his character was the director.

The director recognizing him was the key.

After leaving, Lu Yan He noticed that Alich Lu hesitated several times, as if he had something he wanted to say to him, but didn't open his mouth for a long time.

"Alich, what's wrong?" Lu Yan He turned to look at this Chinese-Canadian boy who was actually about the same age as him.

Alich Lu's Chinese was actually very fluent. He was a second-generation immigrant and grew up in China when he was a child. He was actually very familiar with China and wasn't the kind of third- or fourth-generation Chinese-Canadian who didn't know much more about China than other foreigners.

He scratched his head and said: "Yan He, I know you are a very powerful actor in China and very famous, but Wendy is an artist Xin Nalin has worked with for a long time, and she has also won many industry awards. You directly saying her design looks like a vampire is indeed quite insulting to her."

Lu Yan He didn't expect Alich Lu to say this.

He asked: "Perhaps my way of expressing myself really didn't pay attention, but Alich, a lead actor in a film expressing opinions on his own styling, even if it was a way she thought was disrespectful to her, is her response reasonable?"

Alich Lu hesitated for a moment and shook his head. "It's not reasonable either. Her temper is very big, exceeding my expectations."

"Then there is no need to pursue right or wrong. The film is about to start filming. Compared to getting along with her, I care more about coming up with a styling before the film starts that I can accept and the production crew recognizes, so it won't affect filming." Lu Yan He said. "People who are not suitable don't have to be forced to cooperate."

Alich Lu was a bit puzzled.

"But she is the artist for this film."

Lu Yan He smiled. "There isn't only one artist in this world."

When Lu Yan He signed the contract for *The Mist*, he specifically noted a clause that the appearance in the film must be confirmed and agreed upon by Lu Yan He; otherwise, Lu Yan He had the right of veto.

At that time, Lu Yan He made such an agreement in the contract to avoid some ideological problems, but he didn't expect it to be used here.

Lu Yan He sent a message to Chen Ziyan, telling her about his situation.

One was that he needed Chen Ziyan to help him contact a stylist who could redesign his character styling, and the second was that this matter could also be said to be an unhappy incident with the production crew. Lu Yan He and Chen Ziyan had already reached a consensus that such things would definitely be told at the first opportunity.

Chen Ziyan also replied to him at the first opportunity: Don't worry about the stylist; I'll find one for you. As for that Wendy, I'll communicate with the production crew first to see what the situation is before talking.

Chen Ziyan: Have you contacted Director Mukan?

Lu Yan He: Not yet. I'm planning to call him later when I go back.

Chen Ziyan: Okay.

After hanging up the phone, Lu Yan He sent a message to Xin Nalin: Thank you for your hard work today.

Xin Nalin: Sorry, Lu. I will communicate with Wendy. I apologize to you for her attitude.

Lu Yan He: It's okay. You are you, and she is she.

Returning to the house where he was staying, Lu Yan He organized his thoughts and called Mukan Zorge.

He was actually still a bit nervous, not knowing if Mukan Zorge would agree with his ideas.

Unexpectedly, after Mukan Zorge heard him say this, he said very surprisingly: "Lu, your evaluation is exactly the same as my wife's!"

Lu Yan He was stunned.

"If you didn't make this call to me, I was also going to tell them that the image they designed for you is not acceptable." Mukan Zorge said decisively. "Do you have any ideas?"

"Mukan, Wendy couldn't accept the opinions I put forward and we parted on bad terms. I want to find someone to design it myself. Is that okay?" Lu Yan He said. "Of course, I won't be headstrong and will definitely get your consent before adopting it."

"You want to find someone to design it yourself?" Mukan Zorge seemed to hesitate about this.

At this time, Lu Yan He heard a woman's voice on Mukan's phone: "Hey, honey, who are you talking to? Is it Lu? When are you going to invite him over? I can't wait to see him. Did you tell him that my chocolate cake is top-notch?"

This was a woman whose voice sounded very happy.

Lu Yan He guessed that this might be Mukan Zorge's Chinese wife.

Mukan Zorge seemed to have whispered a few words to that side, and the voice on that side lowered and couldn't be heard clearly. ===== CHAPTER 517 =====