Chapter 1112: All Because of a Gluttonous Mouth; Summer Blockbuster Season

This year's Shanghai International Film Festival was, without a doubt, absolutely the most aggrieved edition in recent years.

Because from the second half of the awards ceremony onward, all related news about the closing ceremony's red carpet and the awards themselves vanished entirely from the trending search lists, with not a shred of buzz left to speak of.

All news about the Shanghai International Film Festival—no, all news of the film and entertainment industry, indeed all real-time news—was forcefully replaced by the news of a certain Liu Liu Hanhan who also happens to be a foodie.

On every headline and trending list across the entire internet, only her related information sat at the top, dominating the charts, flooding the screens, wantonly seizing everyone's attention and concern…

Heat, traffic, topics… it all started boiling over from the first half of the night, and through the entire night it never cooled down in the slightest, until the morning sun rose… and online it only grew more fervent.

"Last night around eight o'clock, Liu Liu Yifei was spotted fully geared up leaving a hotpot restaurant; unseen for several months, her belly was visibly swollen, with every sign of pregnancy, accompanied throughout by an assistant…"

"Although the candid photo was taken from a distance and the pixels are blurry, multiple senior entertainment reporters in the industry have confirmed that the photo is indeed of Liu Liu Yifei herself—her bearing and temperament are unique and very recognizable…"

"Countless netizens worked their magic, and based on Liu Liu Yifei's pregnancy signs, they deduced that she is roughly six months along—meaning she was already pregnant during the filming of Hua Mulan?!"

"Lin Dao Nan updated his Weibo at around 11:30 last night and tagged Liu Liu Yifei, his tone light and teasing: Oh-ho, greedy mouth, got exposed, didn't you?"

"Since last night, countless film industry figures and actor-celebrities have been tagging Lin Dao Nan and Liu Liu Yifei one after another, rushing to send congratulations and blessings;

As of the time this news flash was sent out, a large wave of artists is still pouring in to join the ranks, reposting Lin Dao's Weibo, eagerly sharing in the joy…"

"Just past 8 this morning, Liu Liu Yifei updated her Weibo, posting a bare-faced selfie of herself standing in front of a full-length mirror, her words playful and cheerful, teasing herself:

Fine, I won't hide it anymore, I admit my belly isn't from eating hotpot. I really couldn't hold back yesterday—I was craving it so badly—so I disguised myself and went out. Hee-hee!

Oh right, here I have to publicly denounce Lin Nan—he didn't fulfill his duty of taking care of me. I got hungry in the wee hours and there was no one to make me food; eating yogurt only made me hungrier…"

……

Is the internet buzzing? That can no longer be described with the simple word "buzzing"!

Just like when Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei went public in Venice, just like the red booklet reveal four years ago and the wedding in the Great Hall…

"Lin Dao is being utterly unreasonable—what's the point of attending some Shanghai International Film Festival? Is that more important than staying home to cook for his wife? Pfft, scumbag…"

"Tsk tsk tsk, no wonder Lin Dao said at The Wandering Earth celebration banquet that he wanted to return to family life—so that's why."

"Nothing wrong with that—only something like this could make Lin Dao resolutely decide to temporarily step away from the spotlight!"

"My moonlight goddess, she's going to be a mother again already?"

"Both of them are enormously wealthy—now they'll finally have an heir. Sincere congratulations…"

"Congratulations to Lin Dao and Liu Liu Yifei. By the way, wouldn't their child be the absolute top-tier star kid in the entire Chinese film and television circle?!"

"Star kid? That term is a bit lowbrow. Their child should be the top predator and capital force in this circle. Of course, that's assuming they follow in the father's footsteps."

"Fair point—Lin Dao has never been purely just a film director; he's also someone who deserves to be nailed to a telephone pole, hahaha."

"Sigh, watching Lin Dao steal my moonlight goddess away step by step… no, no, this question is too hard—snow drifting, the north wind howling…"

"Commenter above, you're really dramatic, but why do I feel it in my bones? Sigh, blessings…"

"Congrats +1"

"Congrats +1"

"Congrats +1"

"Congrats +1"

"I'm really looking forward to what Lin Dao and the celestial fairy couple's son or daughter will look like—after all, the parents' genes are truly at the absolute peak of perfection."

"Exactly, I'm looking forward to it too."

"By the way, if they have a daughter, will Liu Liu Yifei as the mom still be the ugliest one at home?"

"Commenter above, you can go die now, hahaha…"

"+1, let him die!"

"+1, let him die!"

……

On the plane, although it was only a two-hour flight, Lin Nan decisively fell asleep and slept very deeply.

Last night, he had originally not planned to attend the Golden Goblet Awards closing ceremony banquet. But since Miss Liu had gotten exposed, it led to Lin Nan being forcibly kept at the reception by a large group of people, being plied with drinks in a relay-style drinking assault.

The key issue was that this kind of celebratory toasting was truly hard to refuse, so the final result was that Lin Nan got drunk and was escorted all the way back to the hotel by Yue Jun and the others.

"Bro, bro, wake up, we're almost there." Watching Shu Chang shook Lin Nan's shoulder and jostled him awake.

"That fast already?" Lin Nan yawned and muttered—he really hadn't slept well last night.

"You fell asleep the moment you got on the plane, of course it's that fast. We even just recorded a video of you sleeping in your seat for Liu Yifei." Beside them, Han Jianü couldn't help but laugh too.

"She's really done me in—couldn't she have waited until tonight to go eat hotpot? It would've saved me from being chased and blocked by the media and industry people…" Lin Nan's smile was turning a bit bitter.

"Hey, you actually hit the nail on the head. Liu Yifei said, since it's going to be public sooner or later anyway, and it's already public now, she's going to go eat more good stuff tonight—she just made plans with the two of us, heh-heh-heh…"

"Ha, she's really clever!" Lin Nan gave a thumbs-up between tears and laughter.

"Bro, I have to give you a heads-up—after we get off the plane, you might get… you know, there's a whole pack of paparazzi outside the airport lying in wait for you!"

"I'm mentally prepared for that. Who told our Producer Liu to hole up at home and not show her face after getting exposed? Me, who's still out here, naturally became the only target for all the paparazzi, didn't I?"

Lin Nan was chatting and laughing when he clearly felt a wave of weightlessness hit—the plane was adjusting altitude, descending.

Outside the airport, just as Watching Shu Chang had warned, the paparazzi were flying their flags high, eager and ready…

"Wu Jing wasn't just bragging, right? He really drank Lin Dao under the table? I've never seen any report of Lin Dao getting drunk in public before."

"That's because Lin Dao has always known exactly how much he can hold—heard it's a bit weak…"

"There's no point bragging about something like this—Wu Jing can really hold his liquor to begin with!"

"This is the right flight, isn't it?"

"Right, the info we got from inside the airline won't be wrong. Besides, didn't Zhang Yi just say the same thing—this is the one."

"Employees who sell out their boss can't be kept around, haha…"

"Quick, they're coming out—it's him with Han Jianü and Watching Shu Chang."

Lin Nan and his group pushed their luggage and walked out of the airport exit. Even though all three were wearing sunglasses, they couldn't block the paparazzi's sharp eyes at all.

Sure enough, before they'd taken more than a few steps, a group of people came swarming over, even startling plenty of passersby. Well, exposed on the spot—and the scene turned even more chaotic.

"Lin Dao, congratulations to you and Producer Liu—you've kept this hidden too well."

"Thank you." Lin Nan, Watching Shu Chang, and Han Jia_nv's steps didn't slow; several assistants pushed luggage carts around them, keeping reporters at bay.

"Lin Dao, could you hint at the estimated due month?"

"No."

Lin Nan's terse replies left the reporters exasperated—even Han Jia_nv and Watching Shu Chang struggled to suppress their laughter.

As they neared the parking area, the paparazzi grew anxious—why was Lin Dao so unyielding today?

"Lin Dao, recently Luo Jin and Tang Yan were rumored to have gone to the hospital for prenatal checks—do you know about this?"

"They're expecting too? I had no idea."

"It hasn't been confirmed yet, and they've never responded…"

"You're making bold claims without even evidence?" Han Jia_nv couldn't help retorting.

"But speaking of prenatal checks, I'm genuinely relieved. Now, when I accompany our Producer Liu for future checks, I won't have to sneak around or hide from the media anymore—you all know now."

Lin Nan spoke his longest sentence since leaving the airport, then stepped into the company's waiting car amid the reporters' gritted teeth and helplessness.

Han Jia_nv and Watching Shu Chang joined him—they were heading to find Liu Liu Yifei, as they'd arranged to meet for dinner that evening.

Their luggage had already been taken by their respective assistants; the assistants would reunite with them at Lin Da's estate villa that evening.

"Lin Dao was impossible to talk to today—never before has he been this impenetrable."

"That's obvious—do you think Lin Dao is the same as those stars who constantly exploit pregnancy for publicity, chase traffic, and drag their kids onto variety shows?"

"We still have to stake them out—find out which hospital Liu Liu Yifei is going to for her prenatal checks, and later, for delivery…"

"That's probably hopeless. People with money like them get top-tier confidentiality from hospitals—you won't get any useful leaks."

…………

Starting from the evening of the 24th, Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei re-entered "ultra-low-key mode."

No matter how much the industry and online public buzzed about this prospective pair of parents, their stance remained unwavering: pretend not to hear, stay hidden, say nothing, participate in nothing…

Altogether, three days passed until the 28th, when Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei's topic finally cooled online and vanished smoothly from public view.

This was thanks in part to Zhang Zhang Ruoyun and Tang Tang Yixin's wedding on the 27th, and the simultaneous premiere of the two major IP TV dramas, "Chang'an Twelve Hours" and "The Untamed."

Undoubtedly, these three generated massive online traffic.

Especially "The Untamed"—for the first time, a "danmei" IP appeared before countless viewers in the form of a TV drama.

As is well known, when a new genre or genre drama emerges, it always stirs up the industry. "The Untamed" was unquestionably one such case, as if carrying a seductive poison.

Even though the vast majority of male viewers felt deep discomfort and goosebumps upon learning the meaning of "danmei," and firmly refused to support it… this did not stop vast numbers of young women from going mad over it, nor change the fact that the drama exploded upon premiere!

Correct—the entire industry tacitly accepted this drama's top-tier traffic and unparalleled momentum; it became the pioneer of a new TV drama niche, the first to venture into uncharted territory.

And the two young idols had officially and completely stepped into the spotlight, poised to explode into fame!

On the morning of the 29th, Lin Nan made his final review of "Hua Mulan" at Tiangong Color, finally feeling at ease.

Meanwhile, facing Yue Jun's praise of "The Untamed"'s data and his optimism toward the danmei IP, Lin Dao gave him a rare cold shower.

"Don't even think about touching this kind of IP—you know full well its core ideology completely contradicts our public order and good customs.

The authorities haven't reacted yet, or haven't seen the negative social impact such dramas could bring once they become widespread—but when they do, they will definitely cut it down!"

"Male-male CP? I simply can't accept it. Just thinking about it makes me sick—I'm a real man," Director Lu Yang added disdainfully beside him.

"More importantly, this kind of drama is different from gay-themed films like 'Blue Gate Crossing' or 'Brokeback Mountain.'

This drama is purely selling male beauty—selling male-male male beauty—yet its audience is purely female…" As Lin Nan spoke, even he felt a wave of revulsion.

"Alright, I was just thinking—I won't buy the copyright for this kind of IP." Hearing both big directors express disgust and revulsion, Yue Jun naturally abandoned his idea.

"By the way, keep an eye on the Disney team's flight—go pick them up tomorrow morning."

"No problem."

"Lin Dao, the post-production of my 'Assassin' will also be temporarily concluded in two or three days. Once all the visual effects shots are done, I'll return for the final editing…"

As Director Lu Yang discussed "Assassin" with Lin Nan, a group at the Film Bureau were also sighing over the film's rejection.

"This is the third official rejection?"

"Didn't it become inevitable the moment you cut the line the second time?"

"The more urgently you want to release it in the summer slot, the less likely you are to release it—because you've never seriously cut anything, never put real effort into revisions…"

"This time we won't even make it public—not out of respect for them, but because we, this group, have our dignity! Who will deliver the message?"

"Don't look at me—I'll do it." In the end, the one with some connection to Wang Wang Zhonglei took the task upon himself.

"There's a first, a second, but no third or fourth. Give them a warning—don't send it again."

"Understood." The man nodded and walked straight out of the office.

He was going out now to make a call—to give them a proper warning… their friendship ends here; don't ask again.

At Huayi, Ye Ning and his group had just left the General Manager's office when the phone on the desk rang.

Wang Wang Zhonglei answered immediately, his tone shifting instantly from gloomy to cheerful: "Calling now—good news?"

"Good news—congratulations, Wang Zong—third rejection!" The voice on the other end dripped with sarcasm.

"How is that possible?" Wang Wang Zhonglei sat bolt upright, his face turning icy in an instant.

"I can give you a few pointers, but our friendship ends here."

Hearing this blunt statement, Wang Wang Zhonglei immediately understood the man's meaning. "Fine. Thank you for helping me cut the line twice—I'm listening."

"Some shots clearly contain problems. Also, why do I get the feeling your film carries an implication? For instance, implying Huayi shouldn't be under the Wang name—or never should have been under the Wang name?"

The question struck Wang Wang Zhonglei like a sledgehammer to the chest; his lips turned pale and trembled. "I understand. Truly, thank you…"

After hanging up, Wang Wang Zhonglei, seated in his chair, could not stop his hands from shaking.

But he forced down the dread in his heart, forgot to rage at someone, and immediately called the other party.

"Wang Zong? Has there been news from the film bureau?"

"Are you really looking for death? Delete all those shots you shouldn't have, and make sure they're gone!"

Hearing this, the person on the other end of the phone instantly understood that the third attempt had also been rejected.

"Then this time..." After a long silence, the voice on the other end spoke again, directly skipping over what Wang Wang Zhonglei had just said.

"Don't even think about it. Even if you delete them all, it's best not to indulge in wishful thinking for the time being!"

In the brightly lit conference room, a group of core executives were gathered.

"Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters has stalled at 937 million, Our Best Summer stopped at 417 million, and The White Storm 2: Dr. No was the worst, with only 309 million..."

"The film released yesterday, Spider-Man: Far From Home, had a first-day box office of 226 million. The reception is quite good, so it will likely be another imported film reaching the 1 billion-plus level..."

Li Li Xiaoping was briefing everyone on the film market, and everyone was listening intently.

"The summer season can now be said to have officially begun. Keep a close eye on things and don't let anything go wrong," Wang Wang Changtian said, nodding as he gave his instructions.

The bigger the season, the busier and more profitable Light's distribution business becomes;

As the core profit-generating business of their own group, Light's distribution capability is beyond doubt, making it the undisputed number one among all distribution companies in the industry.

"Rest assured, Chairman Wang. The arrangements for the several films in the summer season are very proper;

especially for Ne Zha: The Demon Child's Destiny under Lin Nan Pictures' Shiyue Culture. Its comprehensive first-day screening rate will not be lower than 30%.

For an animated blockbuster to secure such a high first-day screening rate, we really put in a lot of effort this time!" an executive immediately responded, introducing the details.

"Hmm, acceptable." After nodding, Wang Wang Changtian lifted the teacup before him and took a sip;

when he set it down again, his entire aura instantly sharpened. "Alright, now let's discuss the main business of today's meeting."

Upon hearing this, all the executives immediately perked up, staring fixedly at the chairman.

"What I can say right now is only part of it: I gained some inspiration from Lin Nan—Light will likely get involved in the cinema business in the future.

Regarding my decision on this, let's discuss it. Raise your hands if you oppose."

The phrase "Raise your hands if you oppose" nearly made half the executives faint. Their hands, already halfway raised, hurriedly dropped back down.

In the end, all dozen or so people present agreed. Yes, no opposition means agreement.

As for whether to hold another shareholders' meeting? What a joke; Chairman Wang has absolute authority in the group!

"Then this matter is settled. Additionally, I require everyone to keep strict confidentiality... Anyone who violates this will be dealt with according to the regulations."

"Understood."

"No problem, Chairman Wang."

"Rest assured, this is, after all, the group's development strategy..."

(End of this chapter)