Chapter 538: A Rant and Liu Yifei

At Beijing Airport, Wei Jin was blocked once again, as expected.

Looking at the microphones that were practically being shoved into his mouth, Wei Jin felt extremely fortunate that he hadn't brought Gao Yuanyuan and their child back with him this time.

Otherwise, even if he had managed to hide the child, Gao Yuanyuan's bloated face and transformed figure would have likely caused the entertainment industry to explode.

"I've just spent over ten hours on a plane, so I won't chat for too long. I'll answer three questions."

The group of reporters beamed. "Director Wei is generous. Could you introduce *Nomadland*? Everyone has been really curious about this film lately."

"Sorry, I really can't do that. If there's a chance for a domestic release, everyone can go to the cinema to watch it."

Hearing this, the reporters grew excited. "Is it being imported?"

"Does that count as the second question?"

"..."

Watching the reporters freeze, Wei Jin found it quite amusing and explained, "It's hard to say right now, but it should be under consideration."

Honestly, this film depicts the living conditions of the lower class after the North American financial crisis; domestic audiences might not necessarily like it.

However, if it truly achieves great results at Venice and the Oscars, it would certainly be unjustifiable not to release it.

Wei Jin hadn't yet decided whether to sell the copyright to China Film Group or release it as a flat-fee or imported film; he would wait until after Venice to decide.

At this moment, the reporters' third question came, and it was a hot topic.

"Director Wei, what is your take on the results of the recently concluded Hong Kong Film Awards?"

Honestly, Wei Jin didn't pay much attention to the Hong Kong Film Awards, but for this year's edition, Zhou Xun had two films nominated for Best Actress, so he had looked into it a little.

The result, however, was not surprising; the Hong Kong Film Awards had completely degenerated into a product of the Hong Kong circle's self-indulgence.

Although *The Silent War* and *The Great Magician* didn't have great box office performances, Zhou Xun's acting was absolutely beyond reproach—how could it be worse than *Love in the Buff*? Yet, the organizers insisted on using Zhou Xun as a stepping stone to promote Miriam Yeung, who started as a singer.

If it were another director, they might worry about the repercussions, but Wei Jin had no such qualms and answered bluntly:

"Since the Hong Kong Film Awards cannot be fair and impartial, I suggest that mainland actors have no need to participate..."

As soon as Wei Jin finished speaking, the reporters were ecstatic. Good heavens, a top director blasting the Hong Kong Film Awards for being unfair—wasn't this headline guaranteed? Because he had rested well on the plane and had his little assistant to warm his bed, Wei Jin didn't suffer from jet lag. After leaving the airport, he headed straight to the Beijing Film Academy.

On one hand, Huang Mengying's graduation play was already in rehearsal; on the other, Wei Jin also had to take a replica of his Oscar statuette to the school exhibition room, which had become a tradition.

Of course, most importantly, his mentor Tian Zhuangzhuang's new film had finished post-production. The old man cared deeply about this script and wanted Wei Jin, the screenwriter, to offer some advice.

As graduation season approached, scattered talent agencies and film companies were already wandering around the Beijing Film Academy campus.

The students wore expressions of anxiety, and the atmosphere on campus was noisy.

This was because the entire environment of the entertainment industry was completely different from before.

In the past, when students from professional programs graduated, even if they couldn't sign with a good company, they could find a film crew to take them in; even as extras, they started with special roles.

But now, the film and entertainment industry was severely saturated. The consequence of expanding enrollment was a pile-up of handsome men and beautiful women. Although money was easier to earn, the competition was also quite fierce.

These graduates didn't just have to compete with their peers; they had to compete with those from previous years who hadn't made it, and then compete with the underclassmen who had just enrolled. Wasn't it brutal?

Even those without a background, special skills, or the spirit to sacrifice for art basically had to run around all day, anxious about their future.

Therefore, for the companies that could come to the school, even if they offered the slightest opportunity or hope, the students would break their heads trying to get in.

Watching these classmates, Huang Mengying felt deeply moved. Having followed Wei Jin for so long, she understood the rules of the circle all too well. Those coming to the school now were basically small companies.

True top-tier companies had their own channels and signed those with connections, backgrounds, or those who had already achieved success.

The best opportunities often came during the art exams. If one wasn't discovered then, one had to diligently cultivate connections during the four years of university.

Whether it was within the circle or inside the school, one had to occupy one side; otherwise, graduation basically equaled unemployment.

"Alright, go find your classmates yourself. I'm going to the Directing Department."

"Understood, Boss."

Huang Mengying waved, got out of the car, and left. Wei Jin didn't linger and instructed the driver to head straight to the Directing Department.

"Teacher Jiang, this isn't the first one, can you wipe the drool from the corner of your mouth?"

Inside the Directing Department faculty office, Old Jiang was playing with the Oscar statuette, unable to put it down. Wei Jin couldn't help but tease him.

"What do you know, kid? I waited a full three years just to be able to get my hands on it and play with it up close. Do you think that was easy for me?"

"Hmm? They don't even let you touch the one in the school history museum?"

Jiang Wei rolled his eyes at Wei Jin and said huffily, "Do you think this is some cheap street-corner item? Touch it? In the words of the school leadership, what if the gold paint flakes off? Over the years, it's only been taken out of the display case when leaders from the ministries came to inspect; the rest of the time, everyone just looks at it through tempered glass..."

"..."

Fine, the school was treating the trophy like an ancestor to be worshipped.

"Fine, fine. Play with it a bit more then, and bring it over to me later. I'm going to go wander over to my mentor's side first."

"Hey, you kid are actually ordering your teacher around? Is this rebellion against the heavens?"

Jiang Wei had a very fun personality, and Wei Jin was happy to joke with him.

"Comrade Old Jiang, just tell me if you can do it or not?"

Weighing the Oscar in his hand, Old Jiang laughed and scolded, "Get lost quickly."

"Fine, fine, fine, I won't disturb you. There's North Xinjiang black goji berries at the bottom of the box, brought specially for you. Remember to soak them in water to drink."

"You brat..."

In the small screening room at the Beijing Film Academy, after watching the finished film of *The Distinguished Citizen*, Wei Jin nodded in satisfaction.

Mentor Tian Zhuangzhuang's style was as consistent as ever. Under his direction, this absurd, heavy, yet humorous film—though slightly different from the original—revealed the vanity, greed, and narrow-mindedness in human nature even more effectively.

It had a bit of a dark version feel to it, which was also the traditional skill of the Fifth Generation directors: just lean everything toward the cruel side and that's it.

"Teacher, I think there's no problem. At this year's Venice, the two of us, master and apprentice, should be able to go together."

"Hehe, hearing you say that, I'm relieved. I was just afraid of ruining your good script."

The wrinkles on Tian Zhuangzhuang's face smoothed out, and then he brought up another matter.

"By the way, Wei Jin, a student submitted a script to me earlier. I think it's quite good. See if you can help if you can..."

Wei Jin was a bit surprised. "Doesn't the school have a fund? Did it exceed the limit?"

"That's not it. He has already graduated and doesn't meet the fund application criteria..."

Following Tian Zhuangzhuang's introduction, Wei Jin basically understood the situation. He didn't reject his teacher's request and nodded, saying, "Alright, Teacher, tell him to come directly to the company tomorrow."

"Good, I think he will be very happy." As expected, while Wei Jin was still at the Beijing Film Academy, his remarks at the airport had already hit the headlines.

Many old guys in the Hong Kong circle jumped out to protest, saying that Wei Jin was affecting unity.

However, there is a saying: when one achieves success and fame, there will naturally be great scholars to debate the classics on one's behalf.

As the number one person in Chinese-language cinema, Wei Jin's remarks seemed to have stirred up emotions that had been suppressed in the mainland for many years.

Many peers in the industry took a clear stand, supporting Wei Jin's remarks and criticizing the Hong Kong Film Awards for being insular and self-indulgent.

They even brought up the incident at the Hong Kong International Film Festival last month again. Some with fierce rhetoric started blasting them directly.

"They are all people who have forgotten their roots. As one of the three major film festivals in Asia, the Tokyo International Film Festival absolutely cannot do without Japanese, and the Busan International Film Festival also cannot do without Korean. On one hand, it is to let the domestic audience understand, and on the other, it is to highlight the linguistic charm and cultural heritage of their own country."

"But when it comes to the Hong Kong International Film Festival, at an awards ceremony held in our own country, from the staff to the hosts, not a single one spoke Chinese. They showed off English the whole time, and the live broadcast didn't even have Chinese subtitles. What are they trying to do? Who is really affecting unity? Huh? You bootlicking dogs."

Netizens also took this opportunity to mock them in various ways.

"Director Wei only suggested that mainland actors shouldn't participate. What? Are you into forced buying and selling? Or is it that Hong Kong relies on the sea, so they have a wide reach?"

"Laughing to death, not participating in the Hong Kong Film Awards is affecting unity? What kind of logic is that?"

"..."

Perhaps knowing they were in the wrong, after just half a day, there was no sound from the Hong Kong circle, which gave the mainland circle a rare moment to feel proud and elated.

However, there were also mainland filmmakers sighing, wondering if the Hong Kong circle would still be so arrogant if their own Golden Rooster Awards were a bit more capable.

In the end, it was still a lack of strength in terms of awards.

Wei Jin ignored the disturbances on the internet; the Hong Kong circle was setting with the sun, and all that was left was barking, making it hard to become a climate.

After leaving the Beijing Film Academy, he instructed the driver to head to Liu Yifei's place.

Since the Golden Globes, he hadn't seen the little girl for nearly three months, and he actually missed her quite a bit.

Arriving at the place, he saw Liu Yifei holding a laptop, sitting cross-legged on the sofa with red eyes, pulling out a tissue from time to time.

Wei Jin knew that the little girl was probably watching documentaries about terminal illnesses again.

Ever since she got the script for *The Fault in Our Stars*, the little girl had followed Wei Jin's advice and watched plenty of these films.

It was just that compared to a man's rationality, women were undoubtedly more emotional. Almost every time she watched, she would be teary-eyed and heartbroken.

At this moment, Wei Jin felt both heartache and gratification, so he walked quickly to the sofa in two or three steps and embraced the girl in his arms.

"Yifei, if it's not working, let's slow down. The start date is still early, and watching too much will make you feel uncomfortable..."

"No, Brother, these documentaries are very helpful for my understanding of the script..."

Liu Yifei shook her head with red eyes. "My experiences are too simple. Illness, pain, anxiety, fear of death, attachment to life—only in these documentaries can I resonate with these emotions. I want to act well, I want to act well with you..."

Since she had said as much, Wei Jin couldn't persuade her anymore. After all, having initiative was a good thing, so he nodded and said, "Then Yifei, I'll watch with you..."

"Hmm."

After watching the documentary, the little girl's emotions couldn't be detached. Wei Jin, being a good person to the end, could only inject happy factors into her.

Sure enough, the little girl soon became happy, interacting with Wei Jin while singing.

After being entangled in intimacy several times, Liu Yifei finally returned to normal, nestling in Wei Jin's chest with a flushed face.

Playing with the little girl's slender and full thighs, Wei Jin felt a bit strange.

"By the way, Yifei, why haven't I seen Auntie?"

"Sigh..."

Mentioning this, Liu Yifei let out a sigh.

"What's wrong?"

"Brother, some time ago, the Godfather came to find Mom. He plans to open another film company and wanted me to invest. Mom didn't agree, they had a fight, and she went out to clear her head."

"I see..."

Wei Jin wondered what the matter was. Chen Jinfei must have seen that the film industry was becoming more and more profitable and couldn't help but want to come back and make a profit.

But the entertainment industry was only so big; who would share the cake with a newcomer?

Especially this President Chen, who, when he was in his prime, believed in money leading the way and didn't care about sentiments, having no friendship with major companies in the circle.

Even if there were some connections, after these years, they had long since gone cold.

And now, Liu Yifei couldn't say she had completely become capital, but as long as she was there, there was no need to worry about investors for projects, and she could even pull the tiger skin of Shanhe Media. She couldn't say she was like a fish in water, but at least she could avoid a lot of trouble.

However, although Liu Xiaoli's professional ability wasn't strong, she was very clear about the situation in the circle and couldn't possibly agree to such a thing.

Because once she agreed, it would mean Liu Yifei would have to support a new company that was penniless, and it might even involve Wei Jin, which was too unwise.

"Yifei, since Auntie has refused, she probably has a way to handle it. Don't worry about it."

Wei Jin didn't take this matter to heart, comforted her with a smile, and then held the girl's pretty face in his hands.

"Yifei, I remember you said before that you were very interested in voice acting for animated films, is that right?"

Although she didn't know why the man's thinking jumped so much, Liu Yifei nodded. "Hmm, I feel it's quite interesting."

"That's good. This time in North America, Disney sent a gift."

Hearing the name Disney, Liu Yifei's eyes lit up slightly, but she still confirmed, "What gift?"

"Disney is adapting *The Snow Queen*. I recommended you to voice Princess Elsa. The invitation was sent to Summit Entertainment a few days ago, just waiting for your consent..."

As soon as Wei Jin finished speaking, Liu Yifei turned over and pounced on him.

"Ah, really? Brother, I love you to death, mua!"

After accepting the girl's fragrant kiss, Wei Jin's mouth curled into a smile.

"Yifei, just this level can't express your sincerity~~"

Liu Yifei bit her red lips and gave a charming look. "Bad person, you only know how to bully me~~~"

After speaking, her fair swan-like neck slowly lowered, making Wei Jin stand tall without containing it.

"Hiss~~~"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 539 =====