Chapter 112: Liu Yifei has come to LA

After Chen Nuo and Qi Yuntian were excited, they huddled together to discuss the subsequent matters.

"After you go back, ask for leave from school. The schedule for this film is 4 months, from April to September of this year. That is to say, you can attend at most one month of classes next semester."

Chen Nuo wasn't being coy at this moment, so he nodded and said: "Okay."

Qi Yuntian said: "Tomorrow I will go to bargain with Warner. At that time, I plan to ask the lawyers from Omni Law P. C. to go with me. That is a top law firm that has been open in Hollywood for over 20 years. Besides being expensive, everything else is good. But to deal with these Hollywood bigwigs who eat people without spitting out the bones, this money must be spent, otherwise, you won't even know how you were cheated."

Chen Nuo completely agreed with this.

The rule of Hollywood is big fish eat small fish, and small fish eat shrimp. Warner Bros. is undoubtedly a giant whale; swallowing shrimp like them sometimes isn't even intentional, it's just incidental. If they don't raise their vigilance to the highest level, then even God can't save them.

Seeing him agree, Qi Yuntian said again: "Let's talk about the salary. How much do you think is appropriate?"

Chen Nuo didn't speak, but was thinking desperately in his mind, recalling every bit of information about the film *The Dark Knight* from his previous life.

*The Dark Knight* was the film that established Nolan's status as an international director. Although he didn't remember the specific final box office results, there was no doubt it was a huge success.

Seeing him silent, Qi Yuntian said again: "I think at least over $1 million. Although I don't know how much screen time the Joker character has in the film, in any case, $1 million should be a bottom line. What do you think?"

Chen Nuo said: "I think so, but... I want a share of the box office more. Do you think there's a chance?"

As soon as Qi Yuntian heard this, he started to smile bitterly. "Brother Nuo, other things are fine, but a box office share? I feel the chance isn't big, right? This is Hollywood, this is Warner. Brother Nuo, you are of course a rising star in the domestic scene, but here... *cough*, how about we find a place to practice some martial arts?"

Practice your sister!

Chen Nuo knew Qi Yuntian was telling the truth.

In the eyes of outsiders, he is a fledgling Chinese actor who wants to get a box office share in his first Hollywood film. This is like a novice fisherman who wants to catch a Chinese sturgeon on his first cast.

It belongs to daydreaming.

But... but he just happened to remember an exclusive interview with Nolan he read during the promotional season before *Interstellar* was released in his previous life. In it, the already successful director talked about the various difficulties of just entering Hollywood, such as the various pressures encountered within Warner before filming *The Dark Knight*.

It mentioned that because the first film, *Batman Begins*, was critically acclaimed but not commercially successful, *The Dark Knight* wasn't actually favored within Warner. And because Warner was facing a budget crunch due to the box office failure of high-cost films like *Superman Returns* in the previous few years, they encountered a cash flow crisis, so they overcame many difficulties, and so on.

Look, not being favored plus cash flow problems—wouldn't this force them to be more flexible with contracts for new actors?

Of course, saying you want a ten-digit or hundred-digit share isn't realistic, but what about striving for a small box office share, at the thousandth level, like 0.1%-0.5%?

Chen Nuo said: "I think we don't need to practice, just go and try. What if? Isn't there a saying that newborn calves aren't afraid of tigers, and chaotic punches can beat a master? We don't need a lot, just match the salary. If they are determined, then forget it. How about it?"

Qi Yuntian thought for a moment, shrugged, and said: "Alright then, I'll go see them and talk. *Phew*, okay, let's stop here for now. Regardless, today we should celebrate properly."

Chen Nuo actually agreed with this too.

However, how can one celebrate with Chief Manager Qi? He goes to a strip club, the other goes to a gay bar. This is a fundamental contradiction that cannot be reconciled.

He shook his head and said: "Forget it, let's wait until the contract is negotiated and talk about it when we return to the country."

When he received Liu Yifei's call, Chen Nuo was sleeping in the hotel.

This was the second day. Just like when filming *My Blueberry Nights*, he wouldn't show his face directly when negotiating the contract with Warner; he would leave it entirely to Qi Yuntian to negotiate, and finally sign it himself.

So, Qi Yuntian went out early in the morning to find a lawyer, and then they went to the Warner company together. He, on the other hand, didn't even leave the hotel room, ordered room service, finished breakfast in bed, and turned over to continue sleeping.

Although *My Blueberry Nights* was only filmed for two weeks, for him, the psychological fatigue was ten times greater than filming *The Return of the Condor Heroes* for half a year. So he had been a bit sleepy these past two days.

When he saw the incoming phone number was from the US, Chen Nuo actually didn't want to answer it. Later, worried that Qi Yuntian's phone was out of battery and he had borrowed someone else's, he answered it.

He lazily said "Hello," and the crisp, clean voice on the other end instantly woke him from his daze.

"Chen Nuo, I'm in the US. Are you in New York right now?"

Chen Nuo couldn't help but look at the number in his hand. Well, she has American citizenship, so it's not strange at all to have a number here.

He told the truth: "No, I'm in LA right now. Why did you come back to the US? Are you here for the New Year?"

Liu Yifei said in surprise, "You're in LA?"

"Yeah."

"... Where are you?" An hour later, when Chen Nuo went down to the hotel lobby, Liu Yifei was actually one step ahead of him and was already waiting there.

She was dressed exceptionally beautifully today, in a simple and elegant white dress. The neckline of the dress perfectly displayed her delicate collarbones, and her long hair draped softly over her shoulders. There were no extra decorations, only a few strands of hair gently hanging by her ears.

She wasn't wearing sunglasses or a mask either. She just sat naturally on a chair in the lobby. Seeing him come over, Liu Yifei stood up, a brilliant smile blooming on her face, revealing a row of neat, white teeth. Her eyes curved like crescent moons, and two shallow indentations appeared on her cheeks, like dimples.

Seeing her so happy, Chen Nuo's already good mood became even more elevated. He walked up, actually imitating the way foreigners do, and gave Liu Yifei a shallow hug, even pressing against her delicate and tender cheeks.

After doing it, he realized what he had done and looked around with some lingering fear, saying: "Your mom didn't come, did she?"

Liu Yifei seemed a bit shy, but just smiled and said generously: "No, she's sleeping; she hasn't adjusted to the jet lag yet. Besides, we didn't do anything."

Chen Nuo nodded in agreement, "Right, I was just doing as the locals do. When did you arrive?"

"Just today."

"Ah?" Chen Nuo looked her up and down, always feeling that this girl in front of him had undergone quite a change in both temperament and speech. "Aren't you tired?"

Liu Yifei said: "I am tired, but didn't you say you might leave tomorrow?"

Chen Nuo felt a faint touch of emotion in his heart.

Regarding Liu Yifei as a person, his psychology had actually undergone several transformations.

From the initial keeping at a distance, to later being colleagues who needed to cooperate at work, to now, he regarded Liu Yifei as a friend who was easy to get along with and occasionally a bit childish. It seemed Liu Yifei was the same.

Chen Nuo suggested: "Then let's not go out shopping; it's sunny, and walking is tiring. Let's find a place to sit, and I'll treat you to a meal?"

"No, I'll treat you."

"No, I'll treat you. Otherwise, I won't eat."

"Then I won't eat either."

Two actors who were considered somewhat famous in China were actually arguing like children, one sentence after another. Chen Nuo felt Liu Yifei seemed quite persistent, so he finally softened and gave the right to host to the other party, and asked curiously: "Why do you want to treat?"

Liu Yifei wouldn't say: "Don't worry about it, anyway, I'm treating you to this meal. What do you want to eat? Say it quickly."

"... Diving Frog."

I don't know if there's Diving Frog in LA, but in the end, the two of them went to a Western restaurant recommended by Liu Yifei.

Liu Yifei actually drove herself; it was a Mini, and her driving skills were not bad. Although she had the caution unique to girls driving, holding the steering wheel tightly with both hands, and her eyes darting around like a thief, she stepped on the gas and brake quite gently.

Chen Nuo flicked the Doraemon bobblehead on the center console and asked: "When did you get your driver's license?"

Liu Yifei looked at the rearview mirror and said: "After filming *The Return of the Condor Heroes*, before going to Japan, we came to the US once. My mom originally didn't agree, but she couldn't beat me."

After chatting for a while in the car, the two arrived at a Western restaurant nearby that looked like it had been there for some years.

This was clearly a place Liu Yifei often came to, because not only did she not have a reservation, but the white-bearded waiter at the door clearly recognized her. Seeing them from afar, he revealed a smile and arranged for the two to sit in a corner seat.

After the waiter put down the menu and left, Chen Nuo couldn't help but ask: "Do you often come here to eat?"

Liu Yifei's tone became a bit flat: "When I first came to the US as a child, I lived in New York State at first, then moved to LA and lived nearby. My mom often brought me here to eat. That waiter just now is named Mike; he was working here when I was a child, it's been many years."

No wonder that waiter's look at me just now was so ambiguous.

Chen Nuo looked at the menu and found that every dish on it wasn't cheap. The person opposite him had been coming to this kind of restaurant since she was ten; her family background was truly good... Chen Nuo looked and finally ordered a T-bone steak.

After ordering, Liu Yifei asked: "How have you been lately? Is everything going smoothly?"

Hearing her calm voice and looking at Liu Yifei's expression, Chen Nuo didn't know if it was his illusion, but he felt this girl seemed to have matured quite a bit, so he couldn't help but ask: "I'm doing quite smoothly, how about you? Is there something going on lately?"

Liu Yifei shook her head and said: "Nothing, it's quite good. However, after this album is released, I want to take a break for a while."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 113 =====