Chapter 753: Locked In

Before Lu Yan He, whether Chen Ziyan was managing Shang Yongzhou or Chen Bige, she would choose to "part on good terms" as soon as they reached the top.

But that was a long process, and Chen Ziyan could make various plans and preparations early on.

With Lu Yan He, Chen Ziyan encountered a problem. Lu Yan He's rate of ascent far exceeded her imagination. She didn't even find an opportunity to "part on good terms" before realizing, in the face of the "vacuum" caused by Lu Yan He's rocket-like ascent, that if she didn't catch up with team support quickly, the higher Lu Yan He climbed in the future, the more miserably he might fall.

Just as Lu Qingzhen said, in order to make up for this shortcoming for Lu Yan He, Chen Ziyan could be said to have been rolled to the point of starting to be "uncomposed."

After all, under normal circumstances, the connections and resources Chen Ziyan had accumulated in the past were enough to help Lu Yan He reach the top of the domestic entertainment industry and then gracefully "part on good terms" with him.

Now, Chen Ziyan is not only a major shareholder of Linghe, participating in Linghe's "top-level design" and strategic layout, but also the helmsman of Shi Huo. Only by combining the power of the two companies could she manage to eat up the platforms, opportunities, and resources created by Lu Yan He and provide support where Lu Yan He needed it.

This is a situation completely inconsistent with Chen Ziyan's expectations.

"Locked in," Chen Ziyan sighed.

Lu Qingzhen, however, said: "This is very good."

Chen Ziyan: "It's really a situation I never expected. Fortunately, there is the Jump Up Theater, with dozens of plays every year, at least ensuring that Shi Huo's actors have opportunities to act every year. Honestly, I feel shocked thinking about it now. Several people without any capital background, in the current environment, have achieved this scale, all relying on mutual exchange."

"Both strength and luck, of course, the most critical thing, I think, is that you are all very broad-minded and have a big pattern," Lu Qingzhen said, "The biggest taboo for a boss is a small pattern and a small vessel. I still admire that Xin Zixing returned to Ye Mai Net, saying she would return, and you not only didn't make any stumbling blocks but also stood for her and helped her in various ways. Whatever cooperation was needed, it was prioritized. Tsk tsk, anyway, if it were me, I would feel a bit awkward no matter what, and I know that my awkwardness is wrong, but I still can't help it. This is what I think is the most amazing thing about you."

Chen Ziyan smiled.

"I'll forget it. Look at Yan He. He should be young and vigorous, but he is really not vague at all. The one who truly supported Xin Zixing's return to Ye Mai Net was him. He wasn't doing it to have a more powerful ally in the future; he just simply hoped Xin Zixing could do what she liked. In fact, this is his personality charm. Look at the people around him—high school classmates, college classmates, people in the entertainment industry—all willing to be by his side, from nothing to something, from something to good. Gathered, they are a fire; scattered, they are stars in the sky."

Lu Qingzhen: "So, people are really very different."

At this time, the assistant knocked on the door and said that Lu Yan He had arrived.

At the same time, Zhou Ping'an and Meng Li were also sitting in a car.

He asked: "Lili, are you really not considering going to Shijin with me?"

Meng Li shook her head: "Not considering. Brother Ping'an, Shijin is a big group, but it is a novice in the entertainment industry. I won't put myself in such a conspicuous capital camp and sink or swim with it."

"But with its support, you can become a top female star in China," Zhou Ping'an said, "This is also what I can promise you."

"If it hadn't succeeded, I would have lost even what I have now," Meng Li smiled, "And, after fighting for so many years, I feel that I should open a studio myself. Brother Ping'an, you are a very capable agent. If you weren't going to Shijin immediately, I would actually be willing to continue working with you."

"Although I didn't start managing you from your debut, you are one of the artists I cherish the most."

"Really?" Meng Li laughed, "However, I believe that even if you are no longer my agent, we can definitely continue to cooperate."

Zhou Ping'an nodded.

"Of course."

Meng Li: "In the past two years, I have been able to stand firm, and you have done a lot. I know it in my heart."

"Lili, since you said so, I will say one more thing to you," Zhou Ping'an said, "Although I won't manage you later, you can follow Jiang Yuqian's path. Your acting talent is better than hers, and you can go further than her."

Meng Li: "Hmm."

"Restrain your temper. Forget about others; you must not offend those who cannot be offended," Zhou Ping'an exhorted again.

"I will," Meng Li said.

Zhou Ping'an didn't know how much she listened to, nor did he know how much she could do, but since the words were said, the obligations he should fulfill had been fulfilled.

Zhou Ping'an nodded to Meng Li, "Then I'm getting off."

"Bye-bye."

Zhou Ping'an walked into the elevator and came to the door of Vice President Ma's office in a familiar way.

After so many years, I don't know how many times I have come, only this time, I felt relieved, and there was no pressure or restraint in my heart.

Seeing him come in, Vice President Ma didn't say much, just asked: "It seems you have already made a decision?"

Zhou Ping'an nodded, took out his resignation, and put it on Vice President Ma's desk.

Between the two, what should be said had already been said. At this moment, they were silent instead.

Vice President Ma nodded.

Zhou Ping'an also nodded.

Finally, Zhou Ping'an said: "Then I'll go first."

He nodded and turned to leave.

This time, Vice President Ma's secretary was a bit surprised, because long after Zhou Ping'an left, there was no sound of smashing things in Vice President Ma's office.

It was as quiet as a deep pool.

Time never returns, and different intersections always change the trajectory under people's feet.

Lu Yan He never expected that Cheng Hai would come to him.

"I encountered a matter that I couldn't make up my mind about, and I wanted to ask you to help me look at it," Cheng Hai said.

Lu Yan He naturally nodded and then made an appointment with him at Ziyuan Bridge.

After Cheng Hai entered the door, he asked in surprise: "Do the three of you still live together now?"

Lu Yan He nodded and said: "Yes, still living together, it's more convenient here."

Cheng Hai: "I thought you were already living with your girlfriend."

"Also living together," Lu Yan He touched his nose, a bit embarrassed, "In the next building."

Cheng Hai: "..."

In the past few years, Cheng Hai has had some contact with Lu Yan He, but not much.

Privately gathering, almost never happened.

However, Lu Yan He didn't feel that he was very distant from Cheng Hai. Mainly because they weren't particularly familiar at the beginning. They lived together, visited each other, made an appointment for a meal, and later the team disbanded, people moved away, and only likes on social media remained. But looking back, the feelings of knowing each other in the micro-end are indeed different.

This time Cheng Hai came to Lu Yan He to ask for his opinion—

Should he follow Zhou Ping'an.

"Go to Shijin?" Lu Yan He thought for a while and said: "What is Zhou Ping'an doing at Shijin?"

"Artist Director," Cheng Hai said, "All artists signed by Shijin are managed by him."

Lu Yan He: "That power is still quite big."

"Hmm."

Lu Yan He: "Shijin's advantages don't need to be said. You must know, and Zhou Ping'an must have made it clear to you. As for the problems that may arise... you may have to undertake many strategic tasks of Shijin in the next few years and cannot work according to your own ideas and wishes."

Cheng Hai nodded.

"Brother Ping'an also told me directly."

"So, this still depends on your own ideas," Lu Yan He said, "If you can accept that your autonomy in work is smaller, then you follow Zhou Ping'an to Shijin, and you will definitely usher in an explosion of resources."

Cheng Hai: "I am also very moved because of this."

Cheng Hai was willing to tell the truth, which made Lu Yan He breathe a sigh of relief.

Lu Yan He said: "If you go to Shijin, you will definitely not lack resources. With Zhou Ping'an there, all of Shijin's resources will be prioritized for you to choose." Cheng Hai said: "However, there is one thing I have been hesitating about."

"Hmm?"

"You, Zhibai, Yan Liang... including Meng Li, all parted ways with Zhou Ping'an without exception. Although I don't know why this is, I—" Cheng Hai scratched his head a bit embarrassedly, "It's too hypocritical to say so. In fact, I know more or less. Now he is actually quite good to me, but I don't know what he will be like in the future."

Lu Yan He pondered for a moment and said: "The future is a matter of the future. Now he is good to you, so grasp the present. Not to mention me, others, including Zhibai and Yan Liang, have gained a lot of development in the process of cooperating with him. This is indisputable. He is a capable person."

Cheng Hai looked at Lu Yan He in surprise.

"Why look at me so surprised?" Lu Yan He asked.

Cheng Hai stopped talking.

Lu Yan He reacted and smiled: "Didn't expect me to speak well of Zhou Ping'an?"

Cheng Hai said: "I didn't expect that you would say Zhou Ping'an himself is very capable."

Lu Yan He: "This is a fact, undeniable. Of course, this does not affect the fact that the rift between me and him always exists, and I will not forgive him for what he did to me before because of this."

Cheng Hai nodded, looking at Lu Yan He, seemingly having something else to say, but didn't say it.

Lu Yan He suddenly thought of Cheng Hai's concerns in an instant.

Is Cheng Hai worried that he will mind if he continues to follow Zhou Ping'an? Or does Cheng Hai want to ask if he can come to Shi Huo?

"Anyway, no matter where you are in the future, we are all from Fengzhi," Lu Yan He said with a smile, "You are our captain, recognized by us."

As soon as this sentence was said, something in the depths of Cheng Hai's eyes smiled with relief.

Lu Yan He also felt it.

He asked: "Are you free later? If you have time, I will ask Li Zhibai and Tu Song to see if they are there. We haven't made an appointment for a long time, let's have dinner together."

Cheng Hai nodded and said okay.

May 1st, the May Day file officially kicked off.

The film *Buried* also finally had its screening divided, and it almost came to an end with a box office of 479 million.

*Hit the Nail on the Head* starring Huang Kai showed a trend of competing for the box office champion in the May Day file, fighting evenly with other two films. On the first day, the box office of the three films was in the range of 80 million to 90 million.

This is the second film starring Huang Kai released in theaters after starring in *Rouge*.

In the past few years, his main works are *My Own Swordsman*, then guest-starred in *Burning Fire*, and other films.

This time *Hit the Nail on the Head* brought him back to the film field.

The discussion is very large.

Genre film, black humor, each actor's performance has a madness that is very different from the past image. These factors make *Hit the Nail on the Head* highly discussed on social platforms.

Lu Yan He also watched this movie with Chen Siqi for the first time.

The picture imagined when he read the script was still a bit different from the movie.

The picture he imagined would be darker and crazier.

However, this kind of film is like *Phone* and *The House I Haven't Returned to for a Long Time*. Once the setting is established and it doesn't collapse too badly, it will definitely attract the attention of some audiences who like this kind of film.

The most critical thing is that this kind of film is not many in the domestic market, and the ones made are often not grounded.

Huang Kai's performance in the movie is still very wonderful.

After *Rouge*, his performance quality has completely gone up a level.

For the control of characters, especially how to act with eyes, in Lu Yan He's view, it is a qualitative leap.

Huang Kai's eye drama now has a very different texture.

To put it in a popular way, he is better at using his eyes to act than before.

After watching *Hit the Nail on the Head*, Chen Siqi curiously asked Lu Yan He: "Do you think *Hit the Nail on the Head* can win the box office champion of the May Day file?"

"Difficult," Lu Yan He said truthfully, "Although I haven't watched other movies yet, the story of *Hit the Nail on the Head* is still too genre-based and too black humor. Those who like it like it very much, and those who don't eat this set probably won't like it either. It's not popular enough."

Chen Siqi: "However, isn't it said that as long as a movie can make its audience like it very much, it is enough to make money?"

"Of course, *Hit the Nail on the Head* is definitely making money, but the box office champion of the May Day file is generally in the 1 billion range, right?" Lu Yan He said, "*Hit the Nail on the Head*... maybe I am narrow-minded, but I don't think it can get so much box office. The number of genre film audiences willing to buy into the cinema in China is not that many."

Chen Siqi: "Is this the meaning of the box office ceiling of genre films?"

"The box office ceiling of this type at present," Lu Yan He said, "And maybe my judgment is wrong. Maybe the audience likes this movie very much and formed a word-of-mouth, then the box office ceiling is inestimable."

Chen Siqi: "However, I found that your judgment on movies is usually quite accurate."

"No, I really just said it casually many times. *Hit the Nail on the Head* belongs to the movie that did everything right in my heart. The script is good, interesting, creative, not routine, the actors are chosen well, this combination is put together, making people want to watch, instead of making people feel no freshness. Finally, the movie itself is filmed well, without playing that set of sentimentality—genre film, the thing I hate most personally is the ending coming to give you a sentimentality."

Chen Siqi smiled, "Me too."

However, this time Lu Yan He judged correctly again.

From the second day, another police and gangster gunfight film with a bit of main melody meaning had a higher box office, leaving *Hit the Nail on the Head* and another plot film with a strong star lineup behind.

Moreover, this police and gangster gunfight film is not a movie big star recognized by everyone who carries the box office. The first lead is a powerful male actor, and other actors also belong to those who are a bit famous and have familiar faces but are definitely not very popular.

However, this movie left two movies with stronger star lineups behind.

On the third day, the director of this movie said at the roadshow: "We are all movies filmed with real guns and live ammunition. We don't rely on inviting popular stars to attract attention. Facts have proved that good movies don't need big stars."

For a time, these words caused an uproar.

However, the box office is there, so many people are saying that *Hit the Nail on the Head* starring Huang Kai and another plot film starring Jiang Mingzheng did not beat this *Cloud Dragon Action* without any big stars. The facts have already explained that content is king.

When Lu Yan He saw this controversy, his first reaction was: "Did this controversial topic appear not long ago?"

Chen Siqi: "Yes."

"Sigh," Lu Yan He sighed.

Chen Siqi smiled and asked: "What do you want to say?"

"Nothing," Lu Yan He shook his head, "No matter how much you say, it's not as good as shooting a play steadily. Anyway, whoever succeeds is reasonable."

Chen Siqi: "But I really didn't expect *Cloud Dragon Action* to be able to win the box office champion. I went to watch this movie. To be honest, I think it's very routine and very average. I don't say it's filmed badly, but the content is relatively... not fresh."

Lu Yan He: "Police and gangster gunfight, big scenes, special effects, filmed not rotten, even if it is a bit routine, those who like it still like it. To put it bluntly, police and gangster films are genre films that have already opened the market for many years, with their own audience, and it is such a schedule suitable for it."

"Do you think the schedule of *Hit the Nail on the Head* was wrong?"

"Please, this movie broke even and started to make a profit on the third day of release. It just didn't get the first box office. How can you say the schedule was wrong?" Lu Yan He said, "The box office volume ceiling of police and gangster films is higher than this type of film..."

Talking about box office apart from genre is hooliganism.

If you really want to say that stars are useless, then don't use stars.

This director should never use stars for the rest of his life, and see if every movie he makes can achieve the success of *Cloud Dragon Action*. ===== CHAPTER 754 =====