Chapter 236: Actually, They Are All Voluntary

Filming *Twilight* was just a short-term job without any emotion for Chen Nuo.

The purpose was very clear: money. Besides that, nothing else.

Regardless of the movie or the actors in the movie, he held a business-like attitude, and naturally wouldn't have any mood to mess around inside.

However, when he left the crew on May 20th after filming wrapped, he did leave the phone number of the little Black makeup artist Michelle.

Because...

This is fucking definitely a talent!

By the time they filmed later, how could he not understand that regardless of how she was to others, her grasp of his appearance was truly accurate.

Maybe it would be useful somewhere in the future.

Bong Joon-ho's movie was scheduled to start filming on June 15th, and he prepared to fly to Hancheng on June 1st.

From May 20th, there was exactly a gap of about 10 days in between.

He prepared to take this opportunity to fly to New York to shoot the advertisements for Harry Winston and Mattel.

Qi Yuntian flew to New York on May 21st to meet him.

The return of the familiar gay made him feel quite refreshed.

... (Rest of the text follows the same structure)

Likewise, Qi Yuntian's expression held a touch of emotion when they met; it seems that after experiencing certain things, everyone has changed a little.

Chen Nuo smiled and said, "Have you been in the country too long, or do you actually miss me?"

Qi Yuntian laughed, "Yes, Brother Nuo, I miss you super, super much. Sigh, seeing you so confident, I'm relieved. Otherwise, I thought... but 100 million, are you really not regretting it?"

Chen Nuo smiled faintly, "Regret my foot. It's just 100 million, can't I earn it back? Believe it or not, by the end of the year—no, early next year at the latest—I'll go buy a little nest, and it'll just happen to be in time for my graduation ceremony."

Qi Yuntian chuckled, "I believe you, how could I not. I calculated it, we still have fifty or sixty million in the company account. Real estate is sluggish right now, so once the endorsement fees from those two American big-spenders arrive, haha, we can go get a place first."

"But, Brother Nuo, how exactly did this film of yours turn out? Filming it in just over a month, it isn't a trashy film, right? Your salary based on box office share, really... no problem? I've actually finished reading that novel during this time, all three volumes. OMG, do you know how I feel?"

Chen Nuo chuckled, "What do you feel?"

Qi Yuntian said seriously, "I think you should have taken your salary in cash."

Chen Nuo sneered, "Short-sighted!"

"I'd rather have done that. But having said that, you filmed this 'Twilight' to make money, so what are you filming this Korean drama for?"

Chen Nuo said coldly, "What do you think?"

"To win an award?"

"Duh! Isn't Bong Joon-ho going to Cannes? Un Certain Regard? Heh, if I don't take back the Cannes Best Actor title I lost, I won't be able to sleep well for a year!"

"Chinese actor Chen Nuo has concluded his advertising schedule with his manager and appeared at New York Airport. He will arrive in our country on the evening of June 2nd to participate in the filming of Director Bong Joon-ho's new movie. Harry Winston brand executive Susan Friedman and others saw him off at the airport."

"Director Bong Joon-ho stated that the collaboration with Chen Nuo-xi began brewing a year ago and has finally come to fruition today. He is incredibly looking forward to his first collaboration with this Asian superstar."

"Jeon Do-yeon-xi stated in an interview with MBC reporters today that she and Director Li Cangdong will prepare a welcome party for Chen Nuo-xi, hoping to let him feel the warmth and hospitality of our Republic of Korea."

"Kim Tae-hee: During Chen Nuo-xi's time in Korea, there are no plans for private meetings. Both parties are merely ordinary friends."

"CJ Group Representative Director Sohn Kyung-shik stated in an interview today: CJ Entertainment's film division's decision to invest in Director Bong Joon-ho's new film is not only considering the influence of lead actor Chen Nuo-xi in Asia and even the world, but also out of appreciation for Director Bong Joon-ho's own talent. CJ Group looks forward to Director Bong Joon-ho bringing home the first Palme d'Or for the Republic of Korea."

On June 1st, 2008, in a residential building in Gangnam, Hancheng, South Korea, a 21-year-old girl with long hair was sitting at a computer desk, intently reading Korean news on a webpage.

She had been in Korea as a trainee for a year, but Song Qian's Korean was still not good enough; although she could handle daily conversation, the headlines on the webpage were still a bit difficult to read.

Suddenly, she heard a "creak"—it was the sound of the living room door opening.

She immediately dropped the mouse and rushed out of her room.

She saw a girl in a white dress with her head lowered, putting on slippers at the entrance.

She was wearing a simple white dress embroidered with delicate little flowers at the hem, and her hair was long, black, and shiny, draped softly over her shoulders.

The girl had long legs; below the hem of the dress, her slender, fair calves were exposed, and she was wearing a pair of pink socks with cute little bear patterns printed on them.

A look of relief appeared on Song Qian's face, but immediately, a look of annoyance surfaced, and she said loudly in Korean, "Cui Xueli, where on earth have you been? You've been missing for days, do you know..."

Her words were cut short before she could finish.

Because the girl at the door had raised her head.

The girl's skin was very white, white to the point of being almost transparent.

It was also clear that she was very young, much younger than Song Qian; her cheeks were round and full, carrying the baby fat unique to a young girl.

But at this moment, a few strands of hair were stuck to her cheeks, which were covered in tear tracks.

In those particularly cute almond-shaped eyes, tears were still swirling, her eyelashes were wet and curled, and her gaze revealed a heartbreaking sense of despair and helplessness.

"V-Ma."

The girl said in a low voice, her shoulders trembling slightly, as if she were trying hard to suppress her inner emotions.

Song Qian was a bit frightened by the girl's appearance and hurried over, asking, "Cui Xueli, what's wrong? Did someone bully you?"

Hearing the question, the tears in the girl's eyes could no longer be controlled, sliding down from her red, swollen eye sockets and dragging trails of water across her face.

That pitiful look, like a helpless animal, made Song Qian's heart ache immensely.

Choi Cui Xueli, born March 29, 1994. She was one of the youngest girls among their group of SM Entertainment trainees.

She was much younger than Song Qian, who was born in '87, and since her English name was Victoria, Choi Cui Xueli always jokingly called her V-Ma.

She didn't know if it was because she had been called that for so long, but Song Qian had truly developed a special concern for this girl who was like a younger sister. In every aspect of life, she paid constant attention to her.

Song Qian hurried over to hug Choi Cui Xueli, but not knowing what had happened, she could only pat the little girl's back and comfort her softly, "Don't cry, it's okay, it's alright, you can tell me whatever happened. Cui Xueli, did someone bully you? Tell me about it, okay?"

But Choi Cui Xueli didn't say a word, just kept crying. She cried for a long time, until finally, her whole body went limp on the floor, unable to even stand.

There was originally another girl in their dorm named Zheng Xiujing, but she had gone out and wasn't in the dorm. So Song Qian had to use all her strength to hoist the exhausted, crying Choi Cui Xueli onto the sofa.

After comforting her for a long while, she finally got Choi Cui Xueli to slowly stop crying and fall asleep on the sofa.

Song Qian couldn't do anything else, because even in her sleep, Choi Cui Xueli was still gripping her hand very tightly, as if it were the only thing she could hold onto.

Looking at Choi Cui Xueli's tear-stained little face, Song Qian sighed softly, her heart filled with confusion—what on earth could have happened to make this girl, who was always optimistic and a bit carefree, cry like this?

Choi Cui Xueli didn't know how long she hadn't slept, and it wasn't until Zheng Xiujing opened the door and returned that evening that Song Qian and Choi Cui Xueli, who had fallen asleep with her, were woken up.

The scene in the living room undoubtedly gave Zheng Xiujing a shock, and after another round of surprised inquiries, the three trainee friends in the same dorm could finally sit down and talk about what had happened to Choi Cui Xueli.

It must be said that for Song Qian, who had only come to the peninsula last year, everything Choi Cui Xueli said was like some kind of fantasy; having grown up in a socialist country, she had never even dreamed that such things could exist in the world.

"Menu? You mean your mother put your name on it, and then...?" Choi Cui Xueli started sobbing in a low voice again, "Yes, my mother said... she hoped I would earn more money for the family."

Song Qian was almost driven mad with anger and blurted out a Chinese curse: "F*ck." Then she continued in Korean, "Are those people not afraid of going to jail?"

Then another "F*ck," followed by, "Call the police, Cui Xueli, don't worry about anything else, just call the police directly and see if they still dare to force you to do this kind of thing. It's disgusting, they're just a bunch of animals, I'm about to throw up just hearing it, they're really a bunch of bastards."

Song Qian had already taken out her phone, but Choi Cui Xueli was staring blankly at the floor with dead eyes, showing no intention of calling the police.

Even Zheng Xiujing, who had been crying along with her for a while, didn't move, instead glancing cautiously at Cui Xueli and saying in a low voice, "Victoria, it's useless, the police won't handle these things."

Song Qian widened her eyes, incredulous, "Won't handle it? How is that possible!"

However, they really didn't know what kind of game Chen Nuo was playing.

"F*ck." Although Song Qian had heard many people say that the Korean entertainment industry was quite dark before coming to Korea, this was the first time she had felt it personally. Because in SM Entertainment, everyone had been very kind and friendly to her, and she had truly never encountered anything like this.

After cursing, she knew that although Zheng Xiujing was a few months younger than Cui Xueli, she had always been very opinionated and had an older sister who had already debuted, so she had her own insights into the ins and outs of the entertainment industry.

She asked anxiously, "Then what should we do? Krystal, do you have any ideas?"

Zheng Xiujing glanced at Choi Cui Xueli, her voice even lower, saying in a near-whisper, "Actually, it might not necessarily happen... maybe no one will see her name on the 'menu'."

Song Qian widened her eyes and cursed again, "Krystal, what are you saying? How is that possible... Shit, do you know what you're saying?"

Zheng Xiujing lowered her head, "I know. I'm American, you're Chinese, so we won't encounter this kind of thing."

"But... they are really different, we can't help them. Unless their families are willing to protect them. But Cui Xueli's mother... chose money, so we really have no way."

Song Qian looked at Zheng Xiujing, confirming she wasn't joking with her, and then looked at Choi Cui Xueli, who had stopped crying but looked ashen, as if she had already despairingly accepted her fate...

Her Chinese stubbornness, the kind that refuses to believe in defeat, flared up again.

"Impossible!" Song Qian said firmly, running to Choi Cui Xueli's side and hugging the little girl's soft shoulders, "Cui Xueli, don't worry, we will definitely be able to think of a way."

"If that doesn't work, we'll go find President Lee, find those seniors, like Kangta-sunbaenim from H. O. T., or U-Know Yunho and Shim Changmin-sunbaenim from TVXQ—didn't you guys say they were very powerful in Korea before?"

"If they aren't willing, then we'll find even more powerful ones... for example,"

Who those people were, Song Qian couldn't think of for a moment, but seeing Choi Cui Xueli's state, her heart ached terribly. The names from the news she had just seen flashed through her mind, and she blurted out, "For example, Director Li Cangdong, Jeon Do-yeon-sunbaenim, Director Bong Joon-ho..."

Every time she said a name, Zheng Xiujing beside her would smile bitterly.

Zheng Xiujing knew much more and much deeper about many things; she even knew that if she didn't have American citizenship, she wouldn't be able to avoid it either, and it would be almost impossible to escape.

These people in the entertainment industry were powerful, but they were so far, far away from them. How could they possibly step forward for insignificant trainees like them to confront those big figures in the shadows?

Besides, it wouldn't be useful even if they did step forward. Because the power of those people was truly not something an artist could confront.

"Ah! Right!"

As Song Qian was speaking, her voice suddenly grew louder, and she stood up abruptly, not only startling Zheng Xiujing, who was lost in thought, but also making the dazed Choi Cui Xueli look up at her.

Song Qian's voice at this moment became loud and firm, as if it truly contained some kind of power that could change fate.

"Cui Xueli, stop crying, cheer up, I know who to find! He just happened to come to Korea, he can definitely protect you, Cui Xueli. And I guarantee, he definitely won't refuse! I hahahahaha..."

"How did I only just think of it? F*ck!"

Seeing her like this, Zheng Xiujing couldn't help but feel a bit curious, helping the bewildered Choi Cui Xueli ask, "Who? Victoria."

Song Qian chuckled, "Come, I'll teach you a Chinese word now, repeat after me: N, U, O, OK, shout it with me, Nuonuo!"

On the plane from New York to Hancheng, Chen Nuo woke up from his sleep, rubbed his eyes, and checked the time; it was less than an hour until landing.

But Qi Yuntian beside him was still sleeping like a pig.

Linghu was different; Chen Nuo even suspected that this person hadn't closed his eyes at all during these dozen hours, otherwise how could he have turned his face over the moment he opened his eyes.

Chen Nuo asked curiously, "You didn't sleep?"

Linghu shook his head, "I slept."

Fine. Chen Nuo nodded and didn't ask further, because asking was useless, and if he asked too much, this man would become uncomfortable. Chen Nuo even felt that if he treated him like air, Linghu would like that the most.

Chen Nuo looked at Qi Yuntian's dead-pig appearance, feeling slightly annoyed, and pushed him, saying impatiently, "Still sleeping. Your artist is already up, what exactly is the arrangement below? Hurry up and say it, I really don't want to be blocked at the airport."

Don't blame Chen Nuo for acting like a big star.

It was mainly because when they boarded the plane in New York, there were several Korean reporters who didn't know where they found out their itinerary, chased them all the way, and insisted they were flying to Hancheng to film Bong Joon-ho's new movie, wanting to interview them.

Last time he came over to promote "The Message," he felt that his reputation in Korea was even better than in Japan, and he was even more popular.

Maybe it was because he had many good Korean friends; it felt like Koreans really treated him like half a Korean.

He was even mocked by Qi Yuntian before, just because of that picture of him being unintentionally filmed by a TV station last time he came, which was turned into a meme, leading some dog-shit physiognomy master on an SBS program to insist that he had three-Han bloodline in his ancestors.

After Chen Nuo found out, he just wanted to say, "Han your grandmother's three legs."

My little toenail is split in two, I'm a 100% Han Chinese, OK?

The plane landed at Hancheng International Airport after 7 PM.

As expected, the number of entertainment reporters at the airport was not just ordinary; it could be said there were more than the first two times, as if they wanted to regain the face they lost during the promotion of "The Message."

Because Chen Nuo only showed his face at the premiere and then disappeared.

At the time, Korean entertainment reporters thought he had returned to China.

It wasn't until later that they learned from their Japanese counterparts that he had flown from Hancheng to Tokyo.

It caused quite a sensation at the time.

Even those omnipotent entertainment reporters found the barbecue restaurant where he and Qi Yuntian ate in Gangwon-do, and interviewed the uncles and aunties who watched them eat, learning that there were two beautiful women eating barbecue with them, but no photos were left behind.

This news spread back to China, causing another round of hype by domestic media, giving another boost to the box office of "The Message." Otherwise, do you really think the record of "Titanic" is that easy to break?

But this time, Qi Yuntian and Bong Joon-ho arranged everything very properly.

Their new film investor, CJ Entertainment—which Chen Nuo had heard of in his previous life—sent a Bentley and a nanny van, driving directly onto the airport tarmac.

It made Chen Nuo sigh, truly a country where conglomerates run rampant.

CJ Group and the Lee family of Samsung came from the same source; although they seemed to be at odds with each other, who knows if it was just a play for the outside world.

But regardless, still ranked 487th in the Fortune Global 500, CJ was still the biggest thigh to hug in the Korean entertainment industry.

No wonder Director Bong would be so successful in the future.

However, the people sent by CJ Entertainment didn't seem to be doing it just for Bong Joon-ho's sake.

Upon learning that he was truly too tired today and had no heart to attend any welcome banquet, they didn't try to persuade him at all, agreeing directly and even telling him kindly to get some good rest.

Subsequently, the three of them got into the car from the tarmac, passed through the VIP channel, avoided all the reporters, and arrived at a luxury hotel in Hancheng.

(End of chapter)