Chapter 136: The Third Kiss

Leonardo DiCaprio has quite a bit of pull; quite a few stars came to the red carpet for *The 11th Hour*.

In Cannes, every film premiere can become a red carpet show. Depending on the financial strength of the film's side, it can be big or small.

*The 11th Hour* was undoubtedly the one with deep pockets, although it wasn't a commercial film at all, not even an art film, just an environmental documentary; losing money was its destiny.

But unfortunately, they had good fate.

Under Leonardo's calling, there were no less than 3 super-rich people who invested in this film, so he could hold its premiere ceremony in the second-largest theater in the Palais des Festivals, second only to the Lumière Theater, and invited almost all the superstars who came to Cannes.

Chen Nuo and Fan Fan Binbing entered the venue in the middle-front section; in front of them were Martin Scorsese and his wife.

On the red carpet, Chen Nuo had his arm around Fan Fan Binbing's waist. Facing the numerous flashbulbs, he felt that Fan Fan Binbing was even closer to climax than she had been in the car just now.

Especially since the spotlights that lit up for them were actually more numerous than those for Martin Scorsese.

Seeing Chen Nuo, there were no shortage of cameramen who immediately moved their long lenses away from the face of the big Hollywood director.

Because no matter how the media published film reviews from different angles according to their respective positions, political leanings, or the countries they were in.

But here and now in Cannes, no one would disagree with this one thing—this young male actor from China had already become a strong candidate for this year's Cannes Best Actor.

Fan Fan Binbing's heart was thumping. When had she ever enjoyed this kind of treatment when she used to crash red carpets? It was almost always media hired with money that would aim their lenses at her.

Unlike now.

The whole world before her eyes was snow-white.

After accompanying Fan Fan Binbing to be baptized by the flashbulbs for a while, Chen Nuo didn't forget the main business.

Fan Fan Binbing clearly hadn't had enough photos taken, but when Chen Nuo told her to go, she could only obey obediently.

The two of them walked to a female reporter with black hair and black eyes. Qi Yuntian was standing not far behind her, and there was also a cameraman who had been filming them the whole time.

Lu Shang felt like a pie had truly fallen from the sky, almost knocking her dizzy.

She was just an ordinary reporter for Sina Entertainment in Cannes. The only thing that might be different from other reporters was that she used to cover the domestic line, and she had a relative who was a teacher at the Film Academy.

Lu Shang never expected that such a connection would one day allow her to hook such a big fish.

When she saw Chen Nuo and Fan Fan Binbing really walking toward her as promised, Lu Shang was so excited she almost fainted, as if she saw a golden avenue to promotion and a raise beckoning to her.

The next moment, Lu Shang didn't even look at Fan Fan Binbing and poked the microphone directly at Chen Nuo's chin.

Heaven knows how long it had been since this actor had accepted an interview with domestic media again.

Thinking carefully, the last time seemed to be just after he won the Berlin Best Actor award, an exclusive interview specifically done by CCTV-6.

That was the only time.

And she was the second.

Lu Shang desperately reminded herself not to be impulsive, not to be excited, and to forget about Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü—that was all in the past. But her identity as a fan of *The Return of the Condor Heroes* made her first question still: "Hello Chen Nuo, may I ask what you think about Liu Yifei saying that you have always been her best friend?"

This question truly caught Chen Nuo off guard, leaving him dumbfounded for a moment. "Huh?"

Seeing that Chen Nuo seemed not to know, Lu Shang quickly added: "Last month, Liu Yifei attended the *Return of the Condor Heroes* celebration party hosted by director Zhang Jizhong. When a reporter asked her about her relationship with you, that's what she said. May I ask if this is true? Did you two really not date before?"

*Damn it, didn't I tell you to come ask about Fan Fan Binbing? Why ask about Liu Yifei? * Chen Nuo was a bit dissatisfied, but had no choice but to answer patiently: "We are indeed good friends; she wasn't wrong. We really haven't dated; that was all media nonsense."

Lu Shang sighed inwardly. Sure enough, the sweetness in the drama was all fake; there was no such thing as fake acting becoming real.

After her hope was shattered, Lu Shang returned to her identity as a professional reporter. She took the money and did the job, so the next question returned to the main topic: "May I ask, Chen Nuo, are you and Miss Fan Fan Binbing currently dating?"

Chen Nuo laughed: "Of course not. Miss Fan Fan Binbing is an artist newly signed to my studio; everyone misunderstood. Coming to Cannes this time is also a normal work arrangement for our studio."

Lu Shang was truly shocked this time and immediately asked Fan Fan Binbing: "Bingbing, is it true? May I ask, aren't you at Huayi? Why did you suddenly come to Chen Nuo's studio?"

Fan Fan Binbing put on a standard smile and said according to the script: "It's true. My first meeting with Chen Nuo was actually when I went to director Zhang Yiyi's place for an audition. During the audition process, he taught me a lot of things. I was particularly hoping at the time that I could continue to learn from him one day. As it turned out, the opportunity came just like that, and I'm quite happy."

Lu Shang asked again: "But Bingbing, your contract with Huayi shouldn't have expired yet, right?"

Fan Fan Binbing said: "Yes, it hasn't expired yet; there's still about half a year left. But the two Wang bosses at Huayi also expressed support for my decision. I am also particularly grateful to them."

Lu Shang turned the microphone to Chen Nuo: "Chen Nuo, may I ask why you decided to sign Bingbing?"

Chen Nuo smiled slightly: "It was also because of the audition. Sometimes people are just like that; it's love at first sight. Alright, thank you. The guests behind have arrived, we should enter the venue."

Chen Nuo felt these few answers should be about right—not too much, not too little. He had explained it clearly, but hadn't clarified it 100%, still leaving some room for imagination. Quite good.

Just in time to see Julia Roberts behind already taking photos, so he slipped away with Fan Fan Binbing.

Walking up the steps, Leonardo was waiting in the signature area with the host, dressed in a suit. Seeing Chen Nuo, he came over to hug him again, and then performed a hand-kissing ceremony for Fan Fan Binbing.

In front of the Cannes Palais des Festivals, with Chen Nuo on the left and Leonardo DiCaprio on the right, facing the lighting of countless flashbulbs, at this moment, Fan Fan Binbing had a trance-like feeling as if she were in a dream, as if her destiny had embarked on another path from this day on.

Although many big-name stars came, the 1,000 viewing seats for *The 11th Hour* were still not full. Chen Nuo and Fan Fan Binbing honestly watched the whole film.

To tell the truth, it was quite good. What does the name of this film mean? It means that if the history of the Earth's existence is compared to 12 hours, we are now at 11 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds, and it is possible that humanity will not be able to survive to the 12th hour.

Thus, it calls on everyone to protect the environment and prevent global warming.

Chen Nuo felt this made sense; protecting the environment is indeed everyone's responsibility, but certain environmentalists going crazy more than a decade later—that didn't make sense.

After watching this environmental film, Chen Nuo said goodbye to Leonardo.

After coming out, he originally planned to let Fan Fan Binbing go back first; after all, there was no red carpet to walk on Li Yang's side.

Unexpectedly, Fan Fan Binbing actually said she wanted to go along.

Fine, then let's go together. Might as well go back to the villa to change clothes, then call Wen Yushan and Xia Yehe, and everyone go watch it together.

As a result, as soon as they returned to the villa, they saw Xia Yehe and Wen Yushan sitting on the sofa flipping through a few magazines.

"What are you looking at?" Chen Nuo walked over and asked.

It was an English trade magazine from Cannes called *Today's Film*, which would release a new issue every day during the film festival, commenting on and scoring the films shown the previous day.

It was different from *Screen*; it didn't ask people to count Palme d'Ors, nor was it media scoring. It directly interviewed the audience leaving the theater and asked the audience to score, very nakedly—the highest score was 4, the lowest was 1.

Xia Yehe held up the trade magazine and said: "Look, many people gave you guys 3 points, 3.5 points, and even 4 points. Averaging it out, the average score is 3.4. It is said that *In the Mood for Love* only had 3.2 back then."

"Darling, and look, you're also the cover person." Wen Yushan stood on the sofa all of a sudden, took the magazine from Xia Yehe's hand, and shoved the cover in front of Chen Nuo.

Indeed, today's Cannes trade magazine actually used a still from *My Blueberry Nights* as the cover. Chen Nuo's figure in the restaurant window was like an illusory ghost, while Emma Stone was sitting on the steps, staring blankly.

I don't know if the editor did it on purpose, but his figure occupied the center of the frame, while Emma Stone was only in the bottom right corner.

Chen Nuo laughed: "You model, you just like being on the cover, right?"

Wen Yushan hummed dissatisfiedly: "Darling, do you think being a model is easy? You can't eat anything every day, you have to practice yoga and exercise, and you feel guilty even if you eat a little bit. Being able to get on a cover is a stroke of great luck."

Xia Yehe gave an "eh" and said: "But I didn't see you eat less this time you came."

Wen Yushan's face changed slightly, and she pounced on Xia Yehe, tickling her armpits. "I'll let you talk nonsense..."

Chen Nuo watched them play around happily for a while before telling them the news about going to watch a movie together in the afternoon. The two women jumped up, complaining about why he didn't say so earlier.

Don't you know that girls take a lot of time to go out?

Compared to the star-studded and infinitely glamorous *The 11th Hour*, Li Yang was too pitiful.

The theater was arranged by the officials. Although *Blind Mountain* was shortlisted for the "Un Certain Regard" side unit competition film, the Cannes officials didn't value it at all. They didn't even let them into the Palais des Festivals, arranging a theater for about 300 people outside the Palais.

The promotional means were just hanging a few pitiful promotional posters on the street, which were blown around by the wind, and you couldn't even see the name of the movie clearly.

As for reporters?

Anyway, when Chen Nuo and the others went over in batches, they didn't see a single reporter.

When they met Li Yang and the others, they found out after asking that at this time, the Coen brothers' *No Country for Old Men* was premiering at the Palais des Festivals.

*Blind Mountain* happened to clash with it.

Then it was definitely dead as a doornail.

Only then did Chen Nuo know what movie Leonardo had invited him to watch before. It turned out to be this high-scoring god-tier film that would win four major awards—Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor—at next year's Oscar ceremony.

Li Yang was a gentle, refined middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and big eyes. He was over 40, and his long hair was already a bit gray. Although there were many wrinkles on his face, he still looked a bit handsome.

Li Yang studied film in Germany for 13 years when he was young, so he had very Western etiquette, coming up to hug Chen Nuo immediately.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you for coming to support. I'm really so grateful."

Li Dao, who had filmed *Blind Shaft* and could be said to have written a heavy, colorful stroke in the history of Chinese art films, was full of sighs at this moment.

After the hug, he held Chen Nuo's hand and wouldn't let go. "When we contacted your agent, we were really just holding onto a one-in-a-million hope. I really didn't expect you to be willing to come. Really, when your agent replied to us, I simply couldn't believe my ears."

Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit heavy, Chen Nuo immediately made a joke: "Li Dao, I'm just going to Hollywood to film, I'm not preparing to immigrate. You and I are both Chinese; I definitely have to come over to support."

Li Yang said with a sigh: "We are all Chinese; it's easy to say, but how many can actually do it? To tell you the truth, we also contacted other actors in Cannes, but except for you, not even one replied. Maybe it's because they are afraid that poor brothers like us will lose face for them, hehe."

These words of Li Yang were truly... tragic.

Chen Nuo felt a bit sour in his heart and quickly changed the subject: "Li Dao, come, let me introduce you. This is Fan Fan Binbing, do you know her? She is an artist in my studio now."

If it were someone else introducing, although Li Yang was poor, he really wouldn't look down on someone like Fan Fan Binbing who was mired in scandal. But now, he showed 120% enthusiasm, shaking hands with Fan Fan Binbing.

It made Fan Fan Binbing feel a bit flattered.

Afterward, Qi Yuntian, Wen Yushan, and Xia Yehe also arrived, and there was another round of introductions between the two sides. Chen Nuo said the two girls were his friends, and Li Yang didn't ask much, happily inviting several people to enter the venue together.

When everyone walked in together, they found that the entire theater was at most 1/10th full.

Li Yang sighed, shook his head and said: "Although I didn't film this movie to make money, seeing it like this now, I still feel a bit uncomfortable in my heart."

Chen Nuo didn't know what to say, so he asked: "I heard from my agent, Li Dao, that you put up the capital for this movie yourself?"

Li Yang laughed, with a hint of pride on his face, and nodded: "Yes, I mortgaged my house, scraped together 4 million, and finished the film."

Fan Fan Binbing interjected and asked: "Can you earn it back?"

Li Yang chuckled: "Heaven knows. But starting last year, a group in France sponsored Cannes. As long as we win an award in this unit, no matter what award, there is 30,000 Euros. At that time, whether it sells or not, at least the travel expenses to Croatia will be there."

Fan Fan Binbing asked in surprise: "You are still going to Croatia?"

Li Yang said: "Yes, to participate in the Motovun Film Festival, also known as the Heaven Film Festival. We'll go at the end of July. We'll try our luck then. See if we can have some harvest, let me lose a little less."

Fan Fan Binbing shook her head in disbelief, looking very unable to understand.

To tell the truth, Chen Nuo also couldn't understand. Just like he couldn't understand Zhang Yiyi back then, he also couldn't understand Li Yang.

He was essentially a realist. Although he occasionally had moments where his brain cramped, such as going incognito for three months to be a clown, he really wasn't some kind of literary youth.

However, this didn't prevent him from appreciating people like Li Yang.

Idealists, you can call them idiots, but there aren't many people who truly hate them.

After chatting in the theater for a while, the movie started.

The whole movie, like *Blind Shaft*, was a film exposing the dark side of society. Generally, those with weak psychological endurance, like Wen Yushan, couldn't take it after watching half of it.

It wasn't that she wanted to cry, but it was depressing.

But the other few people had been tested by *The House of the Dumb*, and all said it was fine.

After watching the movie, Li Yang sent the audience away first, and then came back to politely ask them to sit for a while longer, because the reporter he invited hadn't arrived yet.

Fan Fan Binbing got a bit excited when she heard about a reporter and asked: "Li Dao, what reporter?"

Li Yang introduced them.

It turned out he spent 2,000 Euros to buy a small tofu-block advertisement in *Today's Film*, and a reporter would come over later to interview him. In other words, he would come over to ask him for promotional words.

2,000 Euros, this was all of Li Yang's promotional expenses, all invested in this.

The poor Xia Yehe exclaimed: "This *Today's Film* actually charges money?"

Li Yang was also quite surprised. "Doesn't the Cannes trade magazine charge money? It's all advertisements inside. The one I bought is considered the cheapest. If you want to buy the first few editions, it costs tens of thousands of Euros, very expensive."

Wen Yushan couldn't help asking: "Then what about the cover?"

Li Yang laughed and said: "I didn't dare to ask about the cover. I guess, at least 100,000 or 200,000 Euros."

Wen Yushan gave an "ah" and said to Chen Nuo: "Darling, how much money did that cover of yours cost Director Wong Kar-wai?"

Only then did Li Yang understand what the two girls were asking, and couldn't help laughing: "The cover for *My Blueberry Nights* today definitely didn't charge money."

Xia Yehe asked suspiciously: "Is it because it's Director Wong's film, so they don't charge?"

Li Yang was stunned: "One of the reasons... I say, don't you guys know?"

Several people looked at each other blankly and shook their heads in unison.

Know what?

No matter what, they didn't know.

Because including Chen Nuo, several people were all newcomers to the Cannes Film Festival. Every day, besides watching media news, and it had to be the English version, other news could be said to be completely blocked.

Especially what Li Yang was talking about were some things in the bottom circle of Cannes.

Every year, there are an average of more than 500 exhibitors coming to Cannes from all over the world. Among them, except for the dozen or so films that squeezed into the main competition unit, other films can be said to be more miserable than Li Yang.

Selling a movie is no different from selling vegetables in a vegetable market. They all try their best to shout loudly, attract suckers to come to the door, and sell immediately if the price is right.

They don't exist in the newspapers, they don't exist in the TV news, and they don't even exist in people's impressions.

But in fact, these people are the silent majority. In a sense, the ones who truly represent the Cannes Film Festival can only be them, not those glamorous international superstars.

Yesterday's public screening of *My Blueberry Nights*, these people were all qualified to get complimentary tickets, and many went to watch it.

Chen Nuo was sitting in the high-and-mighty box in the middle yesterday, seeing that half of the audience in the auditorium below were applauding...

That was them.

The others who didn't applaud were ordinary audience members.

Li Yang shook his head and said: "No matter how the films they filmed are, they all understand film. These people's evaluation of you is really good. Of course, that Emma who played opposite you is also not bad."

"When I went to our film booth this morning, I heard those directors and producers talking about your performance. I thought you were Marlon Brando. Later, when I talked about this with a few Arab directors, they said the texture of your acting was like a gold nugget in the desert."

This metaphor made everyone laugh.

Chen Nuo laughed: "Li Dao, you are too exaggerated."

Li Yang laughed and said: "It's really not exaggerated. Let's put it this way, have you read the news newspapers today? *Le Monde* is still okay, but that *Libération* was scolded miserably by those directors, saying that if you didn't know, you would think Darius Khondji was the male lead. After looking carefully, oh, I realized he was just a cinematographer. In the words of a German director, the editor of *Libération* is simply a fascist. If they could, they would definitely send everyone except the Gauls to a concentration camp."

The experienced Li Yang was very good at blowing water, his language was witty and humorous, and he made everyone laugh again.

Li Yang also laughed for a while, and then said: "And that *The Hollywood Reporter* in the United States, hi, don't mention it. When I was eating lunch, I heard a table of Americans next to me scolding, saying that the eating style of this issue of *The Hollywood Reporter* was really too ugly, simply losing all the face of their Hollywood, completely a gathering place for the KKK. However, *Time* magazine was quite friendly to you this time..."

As he spoke, Li Yang's expression became a little serious. He looked at Chen Nuo and said quite seriously: "I actually often come to Cannes to stroll around. After so many years, this is the first time I've heard a Chinese male actor being so hyped by these people. Ge You and Jiang Wen were too early, I don't know, but at least when Tony Leung held up the Best Actor trophy, there wasn't."

"I heard what they said in my ears all day today, and now I say it to you, it's as if it's all a joke. However, every time I hear it, I really can't tell what kind of taste it is in my heart. To summarize, it might still be two very vulgar words: moved."

"How many years has it been. On the Riviera, in Cannes, I have heard them fascinated by Sean Penn's performance in *She's So Lovely*, and I have also heard them applaud for Yagira Yuya's wonderful interpretation in *Nobody Knows*, and Tommy Lee Jones, they once loved him like God. In addition, there are Olivier Gourmet, Müzaffer Özdemir, and so on."

"Such people, maybe not every session, but once such a one appears, I especially hope he is a Chinese person, really."

Li Yang was completely moved, and his eye sockets were a little red. "Directors like me, others say I worship foreign things and fawn on foreign powers, only filming the bad side of our country, specifically to show it to foreigners. No, it's really not. How can there be a son who doesn't hope his mother is healthy and graceful..."

"Hi, don't say it anymore."

Li Yang wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and squeezed out a smile full of skin folds: "Chen Nuo, to speak from the heart. Actually, no matter what the foreign media says, and no matter what these foreigners say, I want you to know, at least this year, you made a Chinese director like me straighten my back and lift my head in Cannes."

"I'm no longer afraid of those peers asking me what good movies China has to participate in this year, or if there are any good actors appearing."

"Because when they ask me, I can tell them that the Chen Nuo you are talking about is a Chinese person."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 137 =====