Chapter 194: The Lonely Man

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In the 2005 Spring Festival Gala, Cheng Chen, having appeared three times before, was far more composed than the newcomers.

What big-name actors, what legendary singers, what trending idols—I don't care about any of them!

I am one myself!

After entering the backstage area of the Spring Festival Gala, everyone was nervously making final adjustments.

For some, stepping onto the Spring Festival Gala stage was a lifetime's honor.

So since the day they received the invitation to perform, they had been training at high intensity.

All for this moment!

……

New Year's Eve, eight o'clock sharp.

"China Central Television."

"China Central Television."

"Dear viewers, Happy Lunar New Year."

Amid a sea of gold, the four main hosts of CCTV made their grand entrance.

To many viewers, the Spring Festival Gala each year felt almost like a mechanized assembly line.

There must be songs, dances, crosstalk, skits, opera, pop music, acrobatics, and magic.

From "national celebration" to "national mockery," this New Year's Eve dinner had been served for over twenty years.

It seemed every Chinese person carried their own personal "menu" for the Spring Festival Gala.

A thousand viewers saw a thousand Hamlets; a thousand viewers saw a thousand Spring Festival Galas.

The expectations and meanings bestowed upon the Spring Festival Gala had long surpassed the gala itself.

Because it embodied the symbols of familial affection and homesickness for the children of China, and had evolved into an unshakable New Year tradition.

Just like the train ticket home for the New Year, or the reunion dinner on New Year's Eve—it was indispensable.

Around eight-thirty, after the previous act ended, Cheng Chen took the stage.

He appeared slowly in a light beige suit:

"The world has so many people.

Among the crowd, a door stands open.

In my hazy eyes, it remains.

Our first meeting, in that blue morning…"

This song had no sharp rises or falls in volume, only a continuous, tense emotional ebb and flow.

It was like listening to a story, its plot and imagery perfectly matching our own lives.

The audience below occasionally waved their arms in rhythm with Cheng Chen.

The entire Spring Festival Gala stage dimmed and brightened with the music's rhythm, creating a strong atmosphere…

E Province, Jing City, Zeng Li's Home.

Zeng Li's parents were both ordinary workers; they divorced early.

Zeng Li and her younger sister lived with their mother, while their father lived alone.

Though their income was modest, Zeng Li's father doted on his daughter.

From childhood, he sent her to the Youth Palace to learn arts, giving Zeng Li the chance to engage with art.

That was why she later passed the entrance exam for the Opera School and entered the Central Academy of Drama.

"Sis, are you close to him?"

Her younger sister, Ceng Yu, rolled her eyes and pointed at Cheng Chen on TV, whispering softly into her sister's ear.

"Hmm, not very close."

Zeng Li paused for a moment, then said.

"If you're not very close, why were you invited to his concert? I saw online that you two look incredibly well-matched.

You're beautiful, he's handsome and talented—if he were my brother-in-law, I'd be so proud!"

Ceng Yu said mischievously.

Compared to her sister's quiet demeanor, Ceng Yu was far more lively and outgoing.

"What nonsense are you talking?"

Zeng Li glanced at her sister; whether from the heating being too high or from blushing, her face was unusually flushed.

Since being invited to Cheng Chen's concert, dressed in her opera costume, she had won countless fans.

With more exposure, online comments came crashing in like waves.

Many claimed they looked perfectly suited and supported them being together.

Some even created the "Cheng-Zeng" couple fanbase; sometimes she saw it and thought it was surreal.

She was six years older than Cheng Chen!

People say a woman five years older is like a mother—she's six years older!

"I'm not making it up—go check online, it's gone wild.

And don't think I don't know you sneak out to the balcony at night to call him,

laughing so brightly.

I even heard him say he's coming to our home for New Year's greetings—I know you two aren't together, but I won't… mmmph!"

Before Ceng Yu finished speaking, Zeng Li clamped her hand over her mouth, and the two sisters wrestled on the sofa.

"You're both grown women—still playing around? Can't you just sit quietly and watch TV?"

Watching the two sisters playfully squabble, their mother walked over and scolded them.

"Mom, what do you think of this boy?"

"Xiaoyu!"

Ceng Li quickly called out.

Ceng's mother glanced at them both strangely, put on the glasses in her hand, looked at the TV, and exclaimed:

"Isn't that the one named Cheng… Cheng what's-his-name? Didn't your sister just sing opera at his concert a while back?"

"Mom, what do you mean 'sing opera'? That's operatic-style singing—it's nothing like traditional opera."

Ceng Li chided.

"Isn't it all the same? This boy's pretty good—clean-cut, refined, sings beautifully, and he's tall too."

"Then Mom, what about him and our sister…"

"Ceng Yu!"

Ceng Li glared with angry almond eyes; seeing her sister furious, Ceng Yu instantly fell silent.

"Your sister…"

Ceng's mother glanced at Ceng Li and said:

"Your sister's just a quiet little thing—no one would ever notice her, and besides, she's years older than him. Don't even think about it.

By the way, speaking of which, you'll be thirty after the New Year.

When are you going to find someone? Our neighbor Fat Aunt is already about to hold her grandson. I'm the one who's panicking, not you."

Hearing her mother's assessment, Ceng Li puffed out her cheeks in anger; just as she was about to protest,

she heard her mother press her again about marriage, and instantly deflated like a punctured balloon, slumping and muttering:

"Mom, I'm not in a rush. Look at any female star in the entertainment industry—who got married this early? I'm still young!"

"Don't talk to me about the entertainment industry—no matter how much you're in it, you still need to find someone.

Even heavenly kings and queens have secret relationships. Just bring home a boyfriend already!"

Ceng's mother grew angry hearing Ceng Li say this.

Previously, Ceng's mother had been very lenient and indulgent toward Ceng Li.

After Ceng Li began acting, her mother studied and reflected on her daughter's roles.

She offered suggestions to help her daughter portray characters better.

But ever since Ceng Li casually mentioned she had no intention of marrying, her once doting mother immediately scolded her severely.

As she grew older, her mother seemed increasingly worried her daughter's aversion to marriage would deepen, so she joined the annual army of marriage-pushers.

"Yeah, sis, I think Mom's right, and…"

Ceng Yu rolled her eyes and said:

"I think this Cheng Chen is perfect—just give in to him already!"

"Ceng Yu, do you still want your allowance after school starts…"

In Ceng Li's home, there was a food chain: Mom was on top, the older sister controlled the younger sister's allowance,

and the younger sister? The lowest rung.

"You always resort to that trick, hmph."

Ceng Yu pouted in dissatisfaction.

…

"Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Cheng."

"Hard work."

"That's Cheng Chen—he's even more handsome in person than in photos!"

"Cheng Chen's already on the Spring Festival Gala for the third time this year. Sigh, I still don't know when I'll get on it—I'm jealous."

After stepping down from the stage, Cheng Chen greeted everyone and left the CCTV Building.

With experience from the past two years, Cheng Chen no longer got caught by media reporters waiting outside the CCTV Building.

He slipped quietly to the Underground Parking from behind and got into the car.

"Let's go, Qiang Ge."

Cheng Chen said wearily.

Though he seemed relaxed on stage, he'd been tense inside all along—even someone who'd held two concerts still felt nerves facing the live broadcast of the Spring Festival Gala.

Hundreds of millions of overseas Chinese were watching; few could remain calm on stage knowing that.

That's why the Spring Festival Gala rehearses dozens of times and takes so long.

Shi Qiang waited until Cheng Chen was seated securely before starting the car.

In the car, as soon as Cheng Chen turned on his phone, text messages kept pinging.

But he ignored them all and began calling family members to wish them a Happy New Year.

"Hey Mom, you saw it, right? Yeah, I'm fine—just left CCTV.

I'll eat as soon as I get home, don't worry. Say hello to Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Uncle Xiao, and Aunt Xiao for me.

Okay, don't worry—I won't be going back after the New Year. Yeah, yeah, I already told you.

Grandpa and Grandma are going to the cinema to watch my movie? Got it, understood.

Don't worry—I'm not playing a gang boss this time. Yeah, that's all fake—it's acting, right, right…"

After hanging up with family, Cheng Chen began replying to texts and sending New Year greetings to his girlfriends.

Yan Danchen, Gao Yuanyuan.

Liu Tianxian… ah, no, that's not her—but thinking about it, after this New Year, Liu Tianxian will be about eighteen, right…

"President Cheng, we're at the company."

Shi Qiang parked the car and said.

"Mm… that fast already?"

Putting away his phone, Cheng Chen got out of the car and said with a smile:

"Qiang Ge, the New Year gifts I prepared for your wife and your kid are all in the trunk—remember to take them out when you get home.

Also, please pass along my regards to your wife—Happy New Year."

"President Cheng, you really…"

Shi Qiang hesitated. In the two years he'd been Cheng Chen's driver, every New Year he'd received gifts Cheng Chen had arranged.

Not to mention Cheng Chen looked after him in plenty of other ways the rest of the time.

"Alright, that's that for now. I'm heading up. Drive back carefully, and don't keep your wife waiting too long."

Cheng Chen patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile.

"Mm."

Shi Qiang nodded heavily. This inarticulate fellow could never come up with flowery, pretty words…

"Let's go, old buddies—let's head out for our New Year's Eve dinner!"

Cheng Chen walked into the office, where Huang Bo and Ning Hao were waiting.

Those two buddies hadn't gone home, insisting on waiting at the company for Cheng Chen to return.

Like Cheng Chen, they hadn't gone home for New Year this year, in their own words—

Their own film was about to hit theaters, right at the critical juncture. Why go home?

Actually Cheng Chen understood the two of them—single young men, all three of them huddling together for warmth on New Year's Eve.

Originally Cheng Chen didn't belong in their ranks, but Gao Yuanyuan was traveling out of town with her parents for New Year this year.

Which really threw Cheng Chen for a loop.

"Bo Ge, can you drive? I've already booked the restaurant. Tonight we drink till we drop."

Cheng Chen tossed a car key to Huang Bo as he spoke.

"You got it."

……

"President Cheng, do you think our film will be a hit?"

Three rounds in, Ning Hao asked, slightly drunk.

Hearing this, Huang Bo also set down his chopsticks and quietly waited for Cheng Chen to continue.

Cheng Chen shook his head and said with a smile:

"You—these past few days you've been restless. That's what you've been worrying about, right?"

As the release date drew closer, Cheng Chen had noticed Ning Hao was off his game. Although there had already been advance screenings, and the earlier offline screenings had all gone very well,

Ning Hao still had no confidence. He always felt those two small-scale results weren't enough to represent the general public.

Ning Hao nodded, tacitly admitting Cheng Chen was right.

"I understand your worry. Ning Hao, are you satisfied with this film, 'Crazy Stone'?"

Cheng Chen looked at Ning Hao and asked seriously.

The moment the topic turned professional, Ning Hao immediately thumped his chest and said:

"Satisfied, absolutely satisfied! 'Stone' is my first commercial film, and also the one I'm most satisfied with so far!"

Hearing Ning Hao's words, Cheng Chen smiled and nodded, saying:

"Not only are you satisfied, I'm very satisfied too. Even if this film of yours flops so badly you lose everything, I'll still keep investing in your next one. Now tell me—what are you worried about?"

Cheng Chen said this looking straight into Ning Hao's eyes, solemn and serious.

Hearing Cheng Chen's words, Ning Hao suddenly saw the light.

Right—was there anything that could move him more than making films?

If 'Crazy Stone' flopped, he'd still get another chance to make a film!

So what he actually feared wasn't 'Stone' underperforming, but that in the future there wouldn't be chances for a big production like this!

As a director, he was absolutely responsible for every film, but not every director gets the chance to make films. Those colleagues who spent years hustling on set as Assistant Directors were doing it all for the day they could command the "battlefield."

"I understand."

Ning Hao nodded and said.

Cheng Chen looked at Ning Hao with satisfaction and said:

"What I just said was only the worst-case scenario. Stepping back, that's just our worst plan. 'Crazy Stone' has done pretty well—we're not at our lowest yet."

"Understood!"

Ning Hao nodded and said.

"Come on, let's keep drinking. When we're drinking, we don't talk work."

After getting a definite answer, Huang Bo figured it out too. Whether the film succeeded or failed, they were all tied to Cheng Chen's big ship.

Whether this film succeeded or not no longer mattered—what mattered was the next one.

As long as there were films to make, then make them!

Acting and directing—both are people who live off films.

"Oh right, just so you two know—after New Year I'm planning to start prepping another new film."

Cheng Chen looked at the two of them and said cheerfully.

"A new film!"

The two stared fixedly at Cheng Chen and said in unison.

Cheng Chen took a bite of food and said slowly:

"What do you all think of the name 'I Am Not A Medicine God'?"

'I Am Not A Medicine God' moved up its release date by one day and premiered in Mainland China. After its release, the film's word-of-mouth exploded, with a first-day box office of 159 million yuan.

Its first-week box office was 1.238 billion, and it ultimately claimed the third-place spot for 2018's annual box office with a cumulative 3.1 billion, as well as ninth place on the all-time China film box office chart.

Beyond its extremely high box office, its reputation was even more explosive, with a Douban rating of 9.0, ranking eighth in the history of Chinese-language cinema.

Cheng Chen had wanted to make this film ever since his rebirth.

Ning Hao and Huang Bo exchanged glances.

'I Am Not A Medicine God'?

What kind of name is that!