Chapter 371

To keep someone, you must first figure out why they are leaving.

Just like when a boyfriend wants to break up, the girlfriend always has to figure out if it's because she asked for too much bride price, or because they agreed not to go all the way but he still wanted to rub a little.

But for Chen Nuo, because there are really many reasons for his immigration, everyone really can't sort it out for a while.

It's like when *Mother* won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, someone on the Naver forum started a petition post, saying they wanted to let Chen Nuo-xi immigrate to Korea and become a person of the Republic of Korea.

In just a day or two, there were really thousands of Korean netizens leaving messages, saying things like "The Republic of Korea welcomes you." It's as if Chen Nuo would really not pick his feet when he was free, and would go look at their Naver.

On this point, this time, the Chinese netizens on Weibo were much more sober and rational.

When everyone was looking for reasons, they all expressed that, according to their understanding, Chen Nuo was really not a person who would be manipulated by public opinion.

Don't look at them discussing his illegitimate child problem hotly on Weibo and major forums; actually, how many relevant messages he has read and how much he cares about the problems they are discussing is hard to say.

If he really cared about public opinion, he wouldn't have risked universal condemnation to openly date Liu Qi Yifei in the first place.

So, if there really is an incentive, it definitely can't be blamed on the melon-eating masses.

Then besides this, what other reason is there?

Money? Movies? Or people?

When many people were confused.

At this time, a gossip blogger suddenly broke a piece of news.

It said that from an insider, after the Hundred Flowers Awards, the China Film Association had originally prepared to invite Chen Nuo to join, and the National Theatre of China had also thrown an olive branch to him.

Several parties had negotiated, and after Chen Nuo finished filming *Twilight 3* and returned to China, he would take up a position in the association and the National Theatre, becoming a person in the system with a red root and a red seedling.

As a result, in these two days, the leaders of the association and the National Theatre actually believed malicious rumors and changed their minds!

"Everyone's messages Chen Nuo might not see, but the leaders' words Chen Nuo can definitely hear, so, is it possible that this is the real reason?"

When this news, named "Sina's First Gossip Sister," broke, the surging public opinion on the internet instantly had a target.

Then, starting from the morning of November 17th, the phone of Vice Chairman Kang of the Film Association almost never stopped.

Kang Kang Jianmin was truly exhausted.

Especially after receiving a bunch of interviews from reporters, he was also very angry because of a sudden questioning call.

In his office, he said to the phone with a gloomy face: "Dean Zhou! You have to know, it's not that you suffered this unprovoked disaster. I am the same... Where did I!!! Nonsense, messing around, these are all rumors, it's slander!"

The words on the phone weren't finished before being interrupted, and Kang Kang Jianmin said angrily: "When did I tell Chen Nuo to leave? I didn't at all! I just, I didn't believe those messy rumors at all!"

The voice in the receiver chuckled: "Hehe, whether you did or not, you know in your heart. Old Kang, I want to say that I am the one who is truly wronged; I haven't even met him, yet I'm carrying the black pot of scaring people away. Seriously, if Chen Nuo could really come to our National Theatre, I would welcome him with open arms. I've already thought about it; when the time comes, I'll dig a hole for him, and the recruitment announcement will just write: position: actor, gender: male, age: under 25, must have won two or more Best Actor trophies from the three major European awards, and have achieved gains at the American Oscar awards ceremony, the starring movie created a box office performance of over 10 billion RMB, those who meet the above conditions can be exempted from the written test..."

Kang Kang Jianmin heard the veins on his forehead jump: "Stop, stop, stop! Old Zhou, you're joking with me, right?"

"Haha, Old Kang, don't be angry, just a joke. To tell the truth, I am upright and not afraid of shadows. If the higher-ups really ask, I'm not afraid. You, haha. The more the internet makes a fuss, it will reach the ears of the higher-ups sooner or later, think carefully about how to say it. Goodbye."

Kang Kang Jianmin's brain was truly buzzing at this time.

He really had a feeling of not being able to keep up with the times.

Is this the internet era?

One day he was like a rat crossing the street that everyone shouted to beat, and he was just following public opinion, but as a result, today it became his fault instead?

Judging from the current situation, Zhou Zhiqiang is right; it's only a matter of time before the higher-ups ask.

For example, Deputy Director Zhang, this matter is still being pushed by him; when he asks later, what will he answer?

After hesitating again and again, Kang Kang Jianmin finally picked up his phone.

"Hello, Old Zheng... are you busy?"

"Just finished the meeting, what's the matter? Old Kang, tell me."

"Cough, Old Zheng, hehe, it's like this, can you help me ask little Chen over there..."

Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted, "Old Kang, I said yesterday, we shouldn't question this matter, we should believe; if you want me to ask, I won't ask..."

Hearing the voice on the other end of the phone, Kang Kang Jianmin, as an old literary and artistic worker with thin skin, was truly blushing.

But he still had to bite the bullet and continue.

"Old Zheng, you misunderstood. It's not asking me to ask; yesterday, I was indeed impulsive and was bewitched by bad people. Now it seems, you are right, and I am the one who is wrong."

Kang Kang Jianmin swallowed his saliva and asked humbly: "Old Zheng, tell me, you didn't pass on those impulsive words I said to that side, did you?"

"Ah? Which side? Chen Nuo's side? I made a call..."

Kang Kang Jianmin's heart suddenly jumped to his throat.

"... but it didn't go through."

This heavy panting.

Kang Kang Jianmin choked; he really felt that the people calling him today were all playing with him. It was truly almost scared to death. If Chen Nuo really immigrated out of anger because of him, he dared to say that the position under his butt would definitely not be guaranteed.

"What's wrong?" Zheng Zheng Zhongjian asked.

"It's like this..."

Kang Kang Jianmin endured his temper and said what was currently spreading like wildfire on the internet.

Zheng Zheng Zhongjian immediately laughed: "There's such a rumor? Now these people on the internet are truly becoming more and more absurd. Old Kang, I can guarantee that this matter is absolutely impossible."

"You... guarantee?"

"Hmm, I know my student; he was recruited into the Film Academy by me personally, how could I not know him? To say... it is indeed possible. Immigrating? Hehe, Old Kang, impossible."

Kang Kang Jianmin breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good... Old Zheng, can you contact him and ask when he's returning to China? Let's settle the previous matter as soon as possible. If the higher-ups ask, I'll have an explanation."

"It's 8 or 9 PM in Toronto now, a bit late, right?"

Kang Kang Jianmin said with suppressed anger: "Old Zheng, just make one."

"... Sigh, Old Kang, you, did you tell others what you said before? Now you're afraid it's been passed on, afraid?"

"Yes, yes, yes, I was wrong, Old Zheng, don't tease me anymore, I know I was wrong. I'll serve you tea to apologize another day." Kang Kang Jianmin's face burned even more severely, "And I guarantee, as for Zhang Zhang Guoli, I will completely draw a line with him in the future."

"Haha, since that's the case... fine, I'll try?"

"Good, good, good, I'll wait for your reply. Old Zheng, you're still a good friend."

"Haha, OK, wait for my call."

After hanging up the phone, Kang Kang Jianmin's mood eased slightly.

This deputy chairman of the Film Association, on the surface, didn't count for anything, after all, there were more than ten deputy chairmen. But he, who held real power, was worlds apart from a mascot like Zheng Zheng Zhongjian.

The association's responsibility is to support film theory research, foster and recommend new film talents and works, and commend and reward excellent achievements every year.

However, the association's annual membership fees, sponsorship fees, and state appropriations are only so much; in a situation where there are many monks and little gruel, who should be recommended, who should be fostered, and who should be commended and rewarded?

That's up to the chairman.

And after Chairman Li couldn't manage affairs, for more than a year, it was up to him, Vice Chairman Kang, to decide.

Including some awards, such as the ownership of the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards, etc., it was also necessary for the leaders of the Film Association to give important opinions.

Able to set awards above, able to control wealth below, one person below ten thousand people above; for this old artist, this position was a throne.

It was precisely because of this that he was even more afraid of taking risks in some irrelevant matters and being criticized, so he listened to Zhang Zhang Guoli's slander.

"Sigh." Thinking of this, Kang Kang Jianmin sighed faintly.

At the 9th Representative Congress of the Film Association two years later, he still wanted to go further.

If it spread this time that he forced Chen Nuo to immigrate, the masses' dissatisfaction was a small matter; he was afraid that the leaders would be dissatisfied.

Fortunately, it hadn't reached that point yet.

Now, as long as Chen Nuo nodded, he would immediately announce the news of joining the association and bind this matter to himself. When the time came, not only would he not have forced Chen Nuo away, but instead, because of him, Chen Nuo stayed.

Isn't this ready-made political achievement?

Then invite some water armies to create momentum, reverse public opinion, the position of deputy chairman would be stable, and going up another level would also be promising.

Thinking of this, the corners of Kang Kang Jianmin's mouth curled up, and his mood improved.

But his good mood didn't last long.

After a while, Zheng Zheng Zhongjian's call came back.

"Old Kang, the call went through. However..."

Listening to this tone, Kang Kang Jianmin's heart suddenly sank, "However what?"

In the following conversation, Kang Kang Jianmin's heart was sometimes low and sometimes high.

After finally hanging up the phone, he couldn't help but feel lost.

He sat in his chair and was in a daze for a long time, finally sighing faintly.

This hurdle is considered passed now, but two years later...

It's hanging!

At 9:00 AM Beijing time on November 19, Chen Nuo's long-silent Weibo finally had movement, and he posted a blog post regarding the recent storm, clarifying the rumors about his immigration.

"Regarding the immigration rumors circulating on the internet recently, I, Chen Nuo, hereby declare the following:

I have never had, and will never have, the thought of immigrating. My home and roots are in China, and no matter where I am, I am Chinese. This point will never change, no matter how time passes.

My purchase of real estate is only for reasonable investment and work needs; please do not over-interpret it.

In addition, regarding the invitation from leaders to join the Performing Artists Association and the National Theatre, it is indeed true.

However, after careful consideration, I have decided to give up this opportunity. Because as a public figure, I have already occupied too many resources. The establishment is limited, and I hope to leave it to those who need it more. Here, I thank the association leaders and theatre leaders for their appreciation, and I hope there will be an opportunity to cooperate in another way in the future.

Finally, I want to tell everyone.

I understand your attention to my private life.

However, just as I said in an interview before—

I hope you will pay more attention to your exams, your work, your health, your parents, your lover, and your friends.

I hope you will take the energy you spend on me and use it on yourselves and everything around you.

Because the person who is truly related to you, the person who marries you, the person who has children with you, and the person who spends a lifetime with you through thick and thin, will not be me.

All the love I have for you, and all the words I want to say, are all only in my works.

Other than that, no more words.

Best wishes."

It is very difficult to describe in short words how much this statement by Chen Nuo, which was called the "Second Fan Manifesto" by the vast number of "Nuo Rice," had an impact on his personal image and his fan base.

Because after the *Daily* forwarded and commented on it, its influence was bound to be far-reaching and heavy.

But the clamor and discussion caused at the moment were also not to be underestimated.

Some said Chen Nuo was angry, and some said this was his consistent style, which was not surprising.

There were also more people who, after analyzing word by word, announced that it was really over this time. It is foreseeable that interaction with this person will probably be even more difficult in the future.

People have already said that the words are all in the works.

What does that mean?

Naturally, it means not speaking in daily life.

At the moment, countless "Nuo Rice" were truly hateful and anxious, including many passersby who also felt very uncomfortable, and they had another big battle with those haters on Weibo, including Old Hu, who also suffered a lot of unprovoked disasters, not to mention his ancestors being greeted many times.

Such confusion, anyway, allowed Sina Weibo's traffic and heat to get a large amount.

Making many Sina executives smile from ear to ear.

Including Wang Wang Gaofei, who had objections at the beginning, now felt that introducing Chen Nuo with 10% of the shares was not a loss.

After all, topics were constant every three days, and as a result, so far, more than a year later, the competition between several portal Weibo platforms actually felt like their team, which had no money and no people, was winning?

How could this not make people overjoyed.

Up to this point, the entire Sina operation team recognized Chen Nuo's contribution to Sina Weibo.

Sina CEO Cao Cao Guowei immediately sent a thank-you text message to Chen Nuo, and in the text message, he took the initiative to mention that an important meeting of the Sina board of directors would be held soon, which would discuss some issues between Weibo and the Sina parent company, and asked Chen Nuo, one of the directors, to please attend.

Chen Nuo did receive the text message.

But he wouldn't go to this meeting.

Because he didn't have time.

Not only because of the child,

But also because his new personal PR consultant, Ms. Alison Graham, who would specifically provide him with crisis management and PR services in Europe and America in the future, had arranged a series of itineraries for him at the end of November and the beginning of December.

And before the premiere of *Let the Bullets Fly* on December 16, he couldn't return to China.

Actually, looking back, the two paragraphs of Chen Nuo's fan manifesto both had reasons for what was said.

The second half, telling fans not to pay attention to his life.

It was because he had an extra role as a father, and he needed more private time and private space. Putting the words out, whether useful or not, at least showed his attitude.

And the first half, regarding the decision not to join the system for the time being, was inseparable from the advice of his itinerary planner—Ms. Alison Graham.

"November 29, guest star in CBS's *The Big Bang Theory*; December 3, attend the Los Angeles Children's Hospital winter charity fundraiser and donate; evening of the 8th, attend NBC's *Saturday Night Live*; 9th, attend the New York Film Critics Circle winter forum; then wait until the party after the Golden Globe nominations are announced on the 10th, and you can return to China to handle your affairs."

"Until two months later, return before the Oscars on February 27."

"You weren't nominated this time, but I will try my best to help you strive for the position of presenter for an important award. I have checked your Oscar attendance records for the past few sessions; the time slots where you appeared all had good increases in viewership, not to mention your huge influence in the Asian region. So, I believe this is a win-win for the Academy and us; they have no reason to disagree."

"Actually, I hope more that you will be a performance guest, singing a song or something, this is more... hey, don't look at me like that, as far as I know, you have sung on the Spring Festival Gala with the highest viewership in China, so it should be no problem at the Oscars, right?"

Alison said with a smile, "Chen, this is all to improve your awareness among the American public. You are very popular among teenagers now, and there are quite a few fans who like you. However, you must remember that more than half of the people in the United States only watch TV. In the eyes of these people, perhaps more than 80% don't know who you are at all. This is why there were so many voices questioning you on the internet when your salary storm came out a while ago."

"Would this happen if it were Tang Mu Cruise? No. Because everyone knows him. And you, they don't know. So, improving your popularity among non-fan groups is your top priority right now. It can not only help you rush for awards in the future but also enhance your commercial value."

"As for not being in a hurry to join your country's official organization, it's also to make it more convenient to go on shows. You know, American TV shows will check backgrounds, right?"

"I know, Alison, you've already explained it very clearly before."

Chen Nuo felt that although this woman's salary was expensive, it was indeed expensive for a reason.

An annual salary of 1 million US dollars, plus various award bonuses—100,000 for a Golden Globe nomination, 300,000 for an Oscar nomination, and another 1 million if he wins an Oscar, and so on; speaking of it, converted into RMB, it's an eight-figure sum.

This is definitely considered a fixed salary for a PR manager.

However, Alison's connections in the entertainment and political circles, as well as the resources she could mobilize, were exactly what he urgently needed.

Qi Yuntian, this older alumnus who resigned and returned to Canada to take care of his family because his daughter was sick, was picked up by him without any effort; for their team, it was truly like sending a pillow when they were sleepy.

This also all relied on his reputation for being rich in Europe and America, having the effect of "peaches and plums do not speak, yet a path is formed beneath them."

However, Chen Nuo knew that if it weren't for the lack of money, Alison could completely find a better way out.

After all, this woman is not only extremely smart but also particularly good at seizing opportunities.

As she said, from his salary storm a while ago, she saw her own stage. Chen Nuo urgently needed a high-end PR talent, so she found Qi Yuntian's phone number through the Georgetown Alumni Association. And the fact that Qi Yuntian was his manager was information provided by her own resources.

In the end, her judgment was indeed not wrong.

Previously in Hollywood, there was Lori Esner at Warner helping him keep an eye on corresponding matters. But now, Lori jumped ship to Netflix, chasing higher positions and family prospects, and had no time or energy to manage his affairs anymore.

Without manpower, his wanting to rush for the Oscars was basically a pipe dream.

As a result, Alison came, not only filling this vacancy but even being more professional than Lori Esner.

Lori was a half-way monk, while she had been mixing in the American PR circle for nearly twenty years, having broken through in the entertainment, business, and political circles, and had also served many big figures.

Just after getting started, she arranged his recent plans and long-term vision in an orderly manner, analyzed the pros and cons thoroughly, cleared up his thinking, and pushed him to take on James Pritzker's new movie next.

"I don't understand movies, but no matter how strange, absurd, or even pornographic the script is, I don't think it's a problem."

"Even if those two paparazzi were really high on drugs, although I don't believe it, James did help us a lot."

"So, no matter what, take it."

"Even if it's a bad movie, it doesn't matter. Which superstar hasn't filmed a bad movie? Tang Mu Cruise has *Eyes Wide Shut*, Tang Mu Hanks has *Ladykillers*. You cooperate with James Pritzker, this famous playboy of the Pritzker family; filming it badly won't ruin your reputation in Hollywood."

"But what if it becomes a success..."

"I can only say, Obama is at least in office for two terms; these years, the United States is clearly dominated by the Democratic Party."

"If you use this movie to build a relationship with the Pritzker family, the benefits will be huge."

"With this Democratic gold-master family standing by your side, Hollywood will truly treat you as one of their own. You know, in the United States, everyone must have a political inclination, and you are mixing in Hollywood; besides the Democratic Party, you have no second choice."

"With Pritzker endorsing you, you can even resolve part of the prejudice against your skin color and nationality in the hearts of some stubborn members of the Actors Guild."

"Sorry, I'm speaking a bit bluntly, but the fact is like this. Your skin color and nationality are the mountains on your road to becoming an Oscar Best Actor; we need to work very hard to get over them."

"I know, Alison. This is also the reason I hired you as a consultant. Keep your style; I like people who speak bluntly."

"Thank you, Chen. In short, for you, winning an Oscar is a hundred times harder than for others, but I just happen to like this kind of challenge."

"And that 1 million dollar reward."

"Haha, that's right, well said. However, turning the impossible into the possible also gives me a huge sense of achievement."

"Impossible... hehe, thank you for thinking so highly of me."

"Haha, Chen, that's not what I meant. However, you are very humorous; I like that point. I have more confidence in our future now. I believe God favors people with a sense of humor. Alright, I won't disturb you. We'll set off for LA in a few days; you should go see your daughter now."

"And keep her company."

(End of chapter)