Chapter 111: Love Waits

Beiyingchang, 7:30 in the morning.

When Xiang Fei pushed open the door to Han Han Han Shanping's office, he was surprised to find Han Han Han Shanping had already brewed two cups of tea.

"So early?" Xiang Fei raised an eyebrow, closing the door behind him.

Han Han Han Shanping pointed to the chair opposite: "Sit." He pushed a cup of tea forward, "Freshly arrived Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao."

Xiang Fei took a sip, the tea's aroma blooming on his tongue: "Good tea."

Han Han Han Shanping took a document from his drawer and gently pushed it in front of Xiang Fei.

"'Shoplifters' has been entered into the main competition at the Berlin Film Festival." Han Han Han Shanping's tone was flat, as if discussing the day's weather.

Xiang Fei's fingers paused on the teacup: "So fast?"

"When the film is good, the process naturally moves quickly." Han Han Han Shanping smiled, "The jury president is Claire Denis; she favors this kind of subject matter."

Xiang Fei opened the document, seeing the official seals of the China Film Administration and the Berlin Film Festival on the entry form: "You prepared this long ago?"

"Since the day I first read the script." Han Han Han Shanping leaned back in his chair, "If selected, who do you plan to take with you?"

"Bring the entire main creative team." Xiang Fei closed the document. Han Han Han Shanping suddenly changed the subject: "Any moves planned for this period?"

Xiang Fei looked out the window as the morning mist over Beijing dispersed: "Returning to Xiangjiang."

"So urgent?" Han Han Han Shanping frowned, "There's still a pile of matters waiting for you here."

Xiang Fei rotated the teacup in his hand: "Ah Min is waiting for me in Xiangjiang."

Han Han Han Shanping snorted: "Just for that?"

"Not only that." Xiang Fei raised his eyes, "To shoot a patriotic film."

Han Han Han Shanping's teacup landed heavily on the desk: "A political subject? Are you crazy?"

"Not a political film." Xiang Fei shook his head, "It's a story about soldiers."

"Shoot it in Xiangjiang?" Han Han Han Shanping narrowed his eyes, "Given the current situation?"

Xiang Fei's tone remained calm: "Precisely the right time."

The two stared at each other for a moment before Han Han Han Shanping suddenly laughed: "You kid, your guts are getting bigger."

Han Han Han Shanping opened his drawer and took out a check: "Beiyingchang can invest."

Xiang Fei did not take it: "I want to use capital from Xiangjiang."

"Why?" Han Han Han Shanping's expression darkened.

"A matter of stance." Xiang Fei looked straight at the old man, "This film needs to maintain neutrality."

Han Han Han Shanping's fingers tapped against the desktop: "Do you know what that means?"

"I know." Xiang Fei nodded, "Pleasing neither side."

Han Han Han Shanping suddenly pushed over a business card: "Lin Lin Jianyue of Media Asia in Xiangjiang; he's an old friend of mine."

Xiang Fei took the card: "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet." Han Han Han Shanping held up one finger, "Beiyingchang must be listed as a co-producer."

Xiang Fei smiled: "Agreed, but with no interference in the creative process."

"You rascal!" Han Han Han Shanping laughed and scolded, "After you return from Berlin, bring your fiancée to my home for dinner."

As Xiang Fei rose to take his leave, Han Han Han Shanping suddenly called out to him: "Wait."

The old man retrieved a long, rectangular box from behind his bookshelf: "A gift for you."

Xiang Fei opened the box to reveal an old-fashioned fountain pen: "Montblanc?"

"A 1949 limited edition." Han Han Han Shanping said meaningfully.

As the plane landed, Xiang Fei's phone rang the moment he turned it on.

"Have you arrived?" Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Huimin's voice came through the receiver.

Xiang Fei gazed out the window at Weiduoliyagang: "We're taxiing."

"I'm waiting at the exit." Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Huimin paused, "My father is here too."

Xiang Fei tightened his grip on the box of tea leaves: "Perfect; I have a gift for him."

In the arrivals hall, Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Huimin stood among the crowd in a white dress. Beside her was a middle-aged man.

Xiang Fei walked over quickly, bowing first to the middle-aged man: "Hello, Uncle."

Zhou's father sized up Xiang Fei: "You've lost weight." He took the box of tea leaves, and upon opening it, his pupils contracted slightly, "Not bad; you still remember..."

Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Huimin looked curiously at the two men: "What riddle are you two speaking?"

Xiang Fei took her hand: "Let's talk when we get home."

The three walked toward the parking lot, the setting sun stretching their shadows long. In the distance, the neon lights of Xiangjiang began to illuminate one by one.