Chapter 58: Incoming Call

Xiang Qian took out his key, and just as he pushed open the door, the telephone rang.

"Hello?"

"Qian-zi!" Wu Mu's excited voice came through the receiver, "Your father and I saw you on TV! The Palme d'Or! All of Xiangjiang is reporting on it!"

Xiang Qian smiled and tossed his briefcase onto the sofa: "Mom, calm down, calm down."

"Calm down about what!" Wu Fu snatched the phone, his voice booming, "My son is now an internationally renowned director! The neighbors are all asking me for autographs!"

Xiang Qian rubbed his temples: "Dad, don't go selling my posters again."

"How would I dare this time!" Wu Fu laughed heartily, "Your mother has it framed and hanging in the living room!"

Just as he hung up the call from home, his mobile phone rang again.

"Hello?"

"Qian-zi!" Wang Jing's loud voice made Xiang Qian hold the phone farther away, "The Palme d'Or! Take me with you for your next film! I'll even work as your assistant director!"

Xiang Qian smiled teasingly: "Sure, but there's no pay."

"No problem, no problem!" Wang Jing shouted, "I've already thought of a script; let's call it 'Making Money with Xiang'!"

"......"

Just after hanging up on Wang Jing, Zhang Zhang Guorong's number appeared on the screen.

"Qian-zi, congratulations." Zhang Zhang Guorong's voice was warm and smooth as jade, "I saw the news in Paris; I'm truly happy for you."

"Thank you, Brother." Xiang Qian leaned back on the sofa, "What have you been busy with lately?"

"Preparing a new album." Zhang Zhang Guorong chuckled lightly, "But right now, everyone in the port is discussing your film; no one cares about my new songs."

Xiang Qian laughed and scolded playfully: "Stop it, as if a Heavenly King like you lacks attention."

The call had just ended when Mei Mei Yanfang's incoming call cut in.

"Hello, Sister Mei?"

"Qian-zi!" Mei Mei Yanfang's voice brimmed with excitement, "I don't care; you must come be my guest at my next concert!"

"Sure, no problem."

"Things are different now!" Mei Mei Yanfang laughed, "Having a Palme d'Or-winning director at my concert brings so much face!"

Xiang Qian helplessly replied: "You win..."

After dealing with Mei Mei Yanfang, Lin Lin Zhengying's call came through.

"Qian-zi." Lin Lin Zhengying's voice remained steady as ever, "Congratulations."

"Brother Ying!" Xiang Qian sat up straight, "How have you been lately?"

"Just discharged from the hospital; isn't your Brother Hong getting me to start writing 'Mr. Vampire II'?" Lin Lin Zhengying paused, "But after seeing your film, I'm wondering if I should transform my career too."

Xiang Qian laughed: "Brother Ying, your Taoist priest image is deeply ingrained in people's hearts; what transformation are you talking about?"

"Act in an art film?" Lin Lin Zhengying rarely showed humor, "Like... a zombie love story?"

Xiang Qian burst out laughing: "That could work!"

Just as he hung up, Hong Hong Jinbao's call came through.

"Qian-zi!" Hong Hong Jinbao's booming voice was even more exaggerated than Wang Jing's, "You kid are something! Quietly pulling off a Palme d'Or!"

"Brother Hong, stop making fun of me."

"Who's making fun!" Hong Hong Jinbao shouted, "Let me tell you, every director in the port is talking about you; even Xu Ke is asking me for your phone number!"

Xiang Qian raised an eyebrow: "Xu Ke? What does he want?"

"What else? Collaboration, of course!" Hong Hong Jinbao laughed, "But let me say this first: I must be the action choreographer for your next film!"

"Alright, alright, I'll listen to whatever Brother Hong says."

Finally, the phones fell silent for a while. Just as Xiang Qian prepared to take a shower, his mobile phone rang again.

This time it was Zhou Zhou Huimin.

"Hello?" Xiang Qian's voice unconsciously softened.

"Congratulations, international great director~" Zhou Zhou Huimin's voice carried a smile, "Everyone in the port is discussing you; even my colleagues on set are talking about you."

Xiang Qian chuckled lightly: "Did you show off a bit?"

"Of course!" Zhou Zhou Huimin said playfully.

Xiang Qian laughed loudly: "That's my girlfriend."

"Seriously though," Zhou Zhou Huimin's voice softened, "I watched your interview at Cannes; I'm very proud of you."

Xiang Qian leaned against the headboard, gazing at the ceiling: "Actually... it feels a bit unreal."

"Hmm?"

"It feels like a dream," Xiang Qian said softly.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line.

"It's not a dream," Zhou Zhou Huimin said seriously, "This is what you deserve."

Xiang Qian smiled: "Thank you."

"But..." Zhou Zhou Huimin suddenly changed the subject, "Now that you're so famous, will many female stars be approaching you?"

Xiang Qian laughed helplessly: "Jealous?"

"Not at all!" Zhou Zhou Huimin snorted lightly, "I'm just reminding someone not to forget he has an official girlfriend at home~"

"Don't worry," Xiang Qian laughed, "Who would dare steal the girlfriend of a Palme d'Or-winning director?"

Zhou Zhou Huimin laughed out loud: "Glad you know your place!"

The two chatted a while longer until Xiang Qian's eyelids began to droop.

"Sleepy?" Zhou Zhou Huimin asked gently.

"Mmm..." Xiang Qian's voice was already slurred, "I have to go to the company for a meeting tomorrow..."

"Then go to sleep quickly," Zhou Zhou Huimin said softly. "Goodnight, Great Director."

"Goodnight... Ah Min..."

The call ended, and Xiang Qian's mobile phone slipped from his palm; he rolled over and fell into a deep sleep.