Chapter 15: Conflict!

"Hello, Director An, is it true that you and... this 'Sun Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2'—do you have a collaboration with this production?"

"Director An, I'm Xiao Chen, a reporter from 【Yanjing Entertainment】. Is everything this 'President Zhou' said true? You've signed a strategic cooperation agreement with this, ahem, ahem, 'Sun Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2'?"

"Director An... do you think this—what Sun Sun Wukong fighting what, ahem, ahem—this kind of movie... is really a movie?"

"Ahem, ahem, Director An, these guys... is there any chance they're just here to freeload food and drinks from the set?"

"A new chapter in Huaxia cinema history—what bold words! Even Ma Kaige, the leading director of the fifth generation, wouldn't dare say something like that..."

"..."

The morning sunlight was very bright.

So bright it was hard to keep one's eyes open.

The morning set was a hubbub of voices, ears filled with countless noises.

An Xiaoshi stared blankly as wave after wave of media surged over.

In this life...

If one had to pick the most awkward scene.

It was probably today.

Her mind went completely blank in an instant as she watched Zhou Yang in the crowd, being interviewed—Zhou Yang, shamelessly bragging.

What was Zhou Yang saying?

Something about Eastern fantasy, something about a Zhongxi showdown, something about epic, something about breathtaking...

It seemed that, as long as Zhou Yang could think of it, any element related to blockbusters, Zhou Yang was steering it toward their 'Sun Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2,' seizing every chance to grab attention...

Among the crowd there were bewildered looks, doubts, but more often, bursts of grating laughter.

In the sunlight, An Xiaoshi saw people looking at the 'Sun Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2' poster, laughing so hard they couldn't stand up straight...

She also saw people with cameras, interviewing Zhou Yang, who wore a solemn face before the lens, steering the topic toward every possible point of ambiguity, while Zhou Yang continued shamelessly claiming his film rivaled any blockbuster, crushing the entire entertainment industry...

The scene was filled with laughter, as if watching a clown.

Watching more and more people crowd around, even many uninformed passersby joining in...

An Xiaoshi took a deep breath, her face burning hot, utterly overwhelmed by the urge to socially die on the spot!

It's over, it's over!

This is the ultimate embarrassment!

"Zhou Yang, stop talking..."

An Xiaoshi's face flushed crimson. She grabbed the man who was spittle flying everywhere, looking ready to blow his boast to the sky, hurriedly had security pull him aside, and immediately sealed off the scene!

The security personnel nodded and came running in a swarm to block these reporters who kept filming and onlookers enjoying the show, the crowd that kept snapping photos of the poster, to prevent the situation from escalating...

But those reporters who only wanted more drama grew even more fired up, and for a moment the security couldn't hold them back...

Fortunately, at this moment...

Screams came from not far away.

"Zheng Zheng Yichen is here!"

"Wow!"

"He's here, he's here!"

"..."

Countless cameras finally stopped surging this way and instead rushed toward the not-far-distant nanny van of male lead Zheng Zheng Yichen.

Only then did this farce gradually quiet down!

"What's going on?"

"What strategic cooperation agreement, what 'Sun Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2'..."

"What is all this about?!"

"When did our 'Love Ferris Wheel' ever sign a strategic cooperation agreement with this kind of messy production?"

"Also, when did the third male lead suddenly get swapped out? Wasn't it agreed that Chen Liang would play the role? Why was he replaced at the last minute?"

"..."

In the office.

After finishing the interview, Zheng Zheng Yichen walked into the office with a dark expression, staring at An Xiaoshi sitting inside, and Zhang Zhang Jingya, who had just rushed back, looking somewhat bewildered.

An Xiaoshi's expression was flushed red with restraint. She looked at Zheng Zheng Yichen and gave a small cough: "Senior brother, I, I... we were actually going to tell you today that the third male lead had been confirmed, but we didn't expect this to happen suddenly in the morning..."

"Hey, wait, who is this?"

Zheng Zheng Yichen took a deep breath, looking at Zhou Yang standing beside them, dressed in a sharp suit.

"Hello..." Zhou Yang smiled and extended his hand.

But Zheng Zheng Yichen frowned, not only refusing to shake Zhou Yang's hand but also ignoring Zhou Yang's smile as he stared at An Xiaoshi: "Changing actors last minute is a major taboo in filmmaking—do you know that?"

The air in the office suddenly fell into a brief silence.

After a moment, An Xiaoshi took a deep breath and looked seriously at Zheng Zheng Yichen: "I discussed it with Director Zhang, and we both feel that Mr. Zhou better fits the character design in our script. As for Chen Liang, after repeated comparison, we felt their temperament was somewhat lacking..."

"Lacking what?"

"That kind of noble air..." Zhang Zhang Jingya, seeing An Xiaoshi hesitate for a moment, immediately replied.

"Heh, noble air?" Upon hearing this, Zheng Zheng Yichen turned to size up Zhou Yang, who stood not far from him, a gentle smile perpetually on his face.

He saw a cheap suit of some unknown brand...

He also saw a pair of leather shoes without even a label, so cheap it was hard to believe...

And he saw a gentle smile that made him very uncomfortable...

……

"Sorry, judging by his attire and grooming, I can't see any so-called noble air at all..." Zheng Zheng Yichen's face gradually turned cold: "Casting for a film is extremely important; not just anyone can take on any role..."

"But..."

An Xiaoshi was about to say something but was quickly interrupted by Zheng Zheng Yichen: "Before the film was approved, I had already scouted a suitable team for you. I've told you many times: you just need to film well. After it's done, I'll hire a specialized company for editing, review, and distribution. Then, I'll push you for a nomination for Best New Director. These past days, I've poured my heart and soul into planning every step for you to prevent you from taking unnecessary detours on your first film."

"Senior brother, I think he's suitable!" An Xiaoshi bit her lip, feeling somewhat aggrieved, but still stared at Zheng Zheng Yichen: "Senior brother, you can try his acting; his performance skills are no problem..."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Zheng Yichen turned his head to look at Zhou Yang, his gaze growing colder and colder.

Zhou Yang faced Zheng Zheng Yichen very calmly, still wearing a gentlemanly smile, appearing neither humble nor arrogant.

"Sorry, Mr. Zhou, I am a very realistic person; I speak quite directly and won't consider anyone's feelings. After all, you know that in the entertainment industry, everyone speaks with their works and abilities." Zheng Zheng Yichen stared at Zhou Yang's unflappable and elegant demeanor, and for some reason, a sense of discomfort arose in his heart.

After listening, Zhou Yang simply nodded very seriously, smiling as he met Zheng Zheng Yichen's gaze: "We all like to speak with our works."

"Then, Mr. Zhou, may I ask: did you graduate from Shanghai Film Academy, or Beijing Film Academy, or perhaps which art school in Hong Island? Or do you have any overseas study experience?" Zheng Zheng Yichen squinted his eyes.

"None of them..." Zhou Yang stated calmly.

"Then, does Mr. Zhou's family have anyone in the entertainment industry? Any directors, actors, crew members? Or anyone in the arts?"

"Not currently." Zhou Yang continued to shake his head.

"Then, Mr. Zhou, what car do you drive? What car do your parents drive?" Hearing this, Zheng Zheng Yichen pressed another question.

"I don't have a car." Facing the barrage of questioning, Zhou Yang calmly replied with a gentle smile.

"Then you must be very talented? Have you published any books? Appeared on any shows?" Zheng Zheng Yichen's eyes grew colder and colder.

"Not currently."

"Then what blockbusters have you acted in? What was the box office? Tens of millions? Hundreds of millions? Have you directed any films? Participated in any extra roles? If so, give an example?" When Zheng Zheng Yichen said this, he was already looking down from a position of superiority, as if he had seen through everything about Zhou Yang and no longer concealed his disgust.

"None either."

In the office.

Zheng Zheng Yichen asked question after question.

Zhou Yang kept shaking his head, responding calmly to every sentence with a composed expression.

Finally, even An Xiaoshi couldn't bear to listen anymore and grew anxious: "Senior brother, isn't our film about acting skills? These things have nothing to do with acting skills... We can let him perform a scene..."

Zheng Zheng Yichen did not look at An Xiaoshi but continued to stare at Zhou Yang: "I always feel that not just any stray cat or dog can make films or act in films. Sorry, my words are just that direct."

Zhou Yang nodded, his expression very serious, but he smiled exceptionally brightly, sizing Zheng Zheng Yichen up and down: "On this, I agree completely; not just any stray cat or dog can make films."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Zheng Yichen's face suddenly turned extremely gloomy.

But he no longer paid attention to Zhou Yang, staring instead at An Xiaoshi and Zhang Zhang Jingya: "Once the roles are set, do not change them. Otherwise, everything I have done in the industry to help your 'Love Ferris Wheel' will be in vain!"

"But..."

An Xiaoshi's face turned red; she wanted to say something else but was interrupted again. Zheng Zheng Yichen's voice carried an undeniable authority: "Chen Liang's role cannot be changed. In the crew, anyone I have decided cannot be changed. Otherwise, I will not acknowledge it, the distributor will not acknowledge it, and the fans certainly will not acknowledge it..."

"But we are the investors! Do investors not even have this right?" An Xiaoshi trembled, staring fixedly at Zheng Zheng Yichen.

"I am also an investor, and more importantly, the producer. Do you know how many social debts I have incurred for this film over these few months! I have incurred more than you, not less!" Zheng Zheng Yichen's face had turned cold to the extreme: "Remember, I am paving the way for you two, a path that others dream of entering the film industry officially!"

An Xiaoshi lowered her head, her eyes slightly reddening.

Zhang Zhang Jingya sat in the chair, maintaining silence throughout.

After a brief silence, Zheng Zheng Yichen looked at everyone in the room, finally fixing his gaze on Zhou Yang: "Sorry, Mr. Zhou, what we are about to discuss concerns the internal matters of 'Love Ferris Wheel'; you are not suitable to be here. If possible, I hope your crew—well, let's just call it a crew—will stay away from me. I do not want mocking remarks to affect our film..."

Zhou Yang stood the whole time with a gentle smile, as if watching a farce unrelated to himself, and as if treating Zheng Zheng Yichen as air. He no longer responded to any of his words but silently played with a small stone on the office desk.

Zheng Zheng Yichen's face instantly turned iron-green!

Just as he was about to explode, he saw An Xiaoshi suddenly step forward. Although her eyes were red, her gaze was firm: "Senior brother, I invited him! He is a member of our crew! We signed a contract. I just want a role; can't I even decide on a single role!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Zheng Yichen's expression was very ugly, but he finally did not explode. He only stared at An Xiaoshi: "You can decide in the future, but not for this film!"

"But..." An Xiaoshi froze, her eyes filled with bloodshot veins as she gritted her teeth, finally unable to say another word.

Zhang Zhang Jingya silently came to An Xiaoshi's side and grabbed her hand.

The office fell into another brief silence.

In the silence, an invisible sense of oppression lingered in the hearts of the few.

Just then, Zhou Yang's phone rang.

Zhou Yang looked at the number, then at the few people in the room, and finally shook his head: "Director An, perhaps we should cooperate next time..."

"Zhou Yang, you don't have to. Actually, I... we didn't mean that. I..."

"I'll go out to take the call first. I'll wait for you outside to handle the follow-up!"

"..."

Zhou Yang looked at his phone, finally not meeting An Xiaoshi's gaze, turned around, and left the office.

…………………………

Outside the window.

The farce in 'Love Ferris Wheel' finally ended under the maintenance of security personnel.

Shen Long and Chen Chen Jianfeng stood in the corner, guarding their stall and staring at each other, both somewhat at a loss.

After finishing his call, Zhou Yang sat on the chair outside the office door, waiting silently.

About ten-plus minutes later.

The office door opened.

An Xiaoshi walked out. Seeing Zhou Yang, her eyes were red; she silently lowered her head and sat down beside Zhou Yang.