Chapter 15: Heading to Hengdian

"You two are really selfish, running so fast and not waiting for me and Yang Yang." Jiang Yiyan and the other were very jealous that Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen could take a photo with the Heavenly King Liu.

"I just thought of it suddenly at that moment," Lin Nan argued.

After resting for a night, they had to go back the next morning.

Five came, four returned; Lin Nan refused Shanghai Film Group's offer to send someone to see them off.

The flight time wasn't disclosed; the four of them took a taxi after getting off the plane and headed straight for the school.

"Ouch, the class monitor's call," Zhu Yawen's phone rang.

"Teacher Zhou, we've already gotten off the plane and are rushing to the school. Okay, okay."

Zhu Yawen hung up the phone. "Lin Zi, the class monitor wants you to bring the trophy to the Chen Yanxi."

Lin Nan remained unmoved; his phone was still turned off, just afraid of many calls coming in at once.

After getting out of the taxi, the driver even shouted, "Looking forward to you becoming the next Zhang Yimou."

Lin Nan gave a bitter smile. Thank you, driver.

Since he was at school, he might as well turn it on. Good heavens, so many text messages again.

The messages from the Directing Department teachers were the most concentrated.

They must have sent texts only because they couldn't get through on the phone.

"Ah, Lin Dao..."

The classmates were really well-informed, surrounding Lin Nan to see the trophy.

The Chen Yanxi teachers were all there. "Teachers, what's the matter calling me over?"

"Don't be cheeky, hurry up and take out the trophy; we need to take photos." Whether it was *Blind Shaft* or *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind*, they were both filmed when Lin Nan was in the Chen Yanxi.

The Chen Yanxi wouldn't let go of this teaching achievement no matter what, fearing the Directing Department would snatch it away. The teachers were having a hard time too.

Individual photos of the trophy, Lin Nan holding the trophy alone, the four of them holding the trophy—it took half an hour to finish.

"Alright, you can go," Teacher Zhou said, waving her hand.

"You're killing the donkey the moment it leaves the mill," Lin Nan said while running.

Back at the Directing Department, he had to take the trophy out again.

"Keep working hard, bring back more awards, and I'll guarantee your postgraduate recommendation then."

They actually started drawing a big pie for Lin Nan; they really knew how to judge people.

Lin Nan took the time to accept interviews from several media outlets, including traditional official media and emerging internet portal websites.

He had even said he would go see *Cell Phone* in two days, but a scandal broke out here.

At the gate of the neighboring school, a boy beat a girl. Zhang Guoli's son, Zhang Mo, beat his girlfriend until she was covered in bruises.

Lin Nan remembered that the girl looked very much like Zhang Ziyi.

The tabloids had already vaguely spread that the girl had something going on with a teacher.

*Cell Phone*'s promotion was in full swing, and it was releasing in two days; Zhang Guoli had to hold a press conference to apologize.

Lin Nan understood; they were all hot-blooded young people, who could stand being cuckolded?

The Lotus Lantern crew contacted Lin Nan, telling him to be prepared; filming would start in Hengdian on February 9th after the New Year.

And coincidentally, Chinese Paladin had also finalized its roles and would also start filming in Hengdian on February 7th.

*Cell Phone* wasn't affected by the Zhang Mo incident; Director Feng's appeal was still formidable.

Even with *Infernal Affairs 1* leading the way, *Infernal Affairs 3* was released six days earlier, but its box office was still cut down by *Cell Phone*.

By the 28th, *Cell Phone* and *Infernal Affairs 3* both refreshed the record held by *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind* for half a year.

The former was 33 million, the latter 32 million; newspapers and online media reported it one after another, and *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind* was used as a background board.

"Damn, stepping on me like this, don't bully the young because they're poor! Hmm? Why is this line so familiar?"

The first semester of sophomore year was over; the exams that had to be taken still had to be taken. Lin Nan strove to pass with 80 points; this was the passing line the teacher gave him individually.

Lin Nan's father wasn't surprised that Lin Nan wouldn't be going home for the winter break, just telling him to pay attention to keeping warm and staying safe.

Lin Nan joked, "Why don't you find a partner? Just don't be younger than me, haha."

"Get lost, you little brat," one could tell Old Lin was laughing very happily.

Lin Nan packed his luggage at school, put the trophy in the company, and gave the two finance staff the promised double bonus, plus a month of paid leave for the New Year.

He had to rush to meet up with the crew. Before the second semester even started, he had already signed the leave slip; the two-month vacation was approved very readily by the teachers.

"Hengdian!"

"Lin Dao hasn't been here before?" Traveling with Lin Nan were some crew members; seeing Lin Nan standing there motionless, they asked.

"Ah? First time here," Lin Nan said, coming back to his senses.

The tens of thousands of acres of Hengdian World Studios was the most successful film studio in the country.

"Let's go, the crew must have been waiting for a long time," Lin Nan said.

Following his memory, the few restaurants in that location were still there; in this life, you will have one less competitor.

The crew's budget was quite generous, and they booked a hotel that was neither too big nor too small.

From afar, he saw Shu Chang, who played Xiaoyu, making a call there. Seeing Lin Nan and his group coming, she smiled at Lin Nan, covered her phone, and ran far away.

"Finally waited for you," Director Zhao pulled Lin Nan's arm and patted it.

"Director Zhao, Director Yu.

Brother Jiao, Teacher Xie..."

There were so many familiar faces; Lin Nan greeted them one by one.

"Lin Dao is too kind."

"Lin Dao, hello."

Zhu Yawen and his unrequited love interest in the play, a Singaporean actress, were watching TV there. The latter greeted Lin Nan, and Zhu Yawen told her not to mind Lin Nan.

Looking closer, it was *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*.

"It's already released?" Lin Nan hadn't paid attention to this matter recently; thinking carefully, it seemed he hadn't heard Liu Yifei tell him about this.

Zhu Yawen gave a chuckle. "This is already the second broadcast; you're dead."

It turned out Zhu Yawen and the others had all sent congratulatory messages to Liu Yifei; Miss Wang was too beautiful.

Zhu Yawen looked at Lin Nan with ill intent; the latter realized that this group of people had deliberately not told him.

"A reminder for you, *Chinese Paladin* officially starts filming tomorrow, right in the hotel next door. Want to go take a look?"

Zhu Yawen raised his eyebrows; he was someone who liked to join in the fun.

"No, I want to look at the workflow, what I need to film," Lin Nan said stubbornly.

Actually, he felt a bit guilty; how could he have forgotten this?

In the hotel next door, Shu Chang sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, throwing a sunflower seed into her mouth every now and then. "Didn't lie to you, Lin Dao entered the crew, less than half an hour before I came to you."

Liu Yifei sat next to her reading a foreign classic; hearing this, she paused. "What does it have to do with me?"

She said it like that, but it was clear she was a bit angry.

"Dead wood, he's the only one who didn't send me a message, and I even congratulated him on winning the award," Liu Yifei said suddenly, angry.

"Hee hee, you look really cute when you're angry," Shu Chang said, reaching out to pinch Liu Yifei's face.

"Ah, you female hooligan," the two girls fought into a ball, laughter constant.

Lin Nan snuck out in the morning; he wanted to go to the filming site of *Chinese Paladin* to take a look.

"Ouch, not preparing for work properly, where is Lin Dao going?"

Lin Nan was startled by the unexpected voice, only to see Zhu Yawen flash out of the room with a look of disdain.

"You talk too much, want to go take a look together?"

"Let's go," the two set off sneakily.

There were quite a lot of people at the *Chinese Paladin* filming site. *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils* was a hit, and Liu Yifei's popularity was very high right now; there were many onlookers and extras, and many reporters too.

"Is that the boss of Tang Ren? Looks alright," Zhu Yawen commented.

"Talk less, this mouth will ruin things sooner or later," Lin Nan retorted.

The two tried hard to squeeze to the front. Lin Nan lowered his hat, only to hear Zhu Yawen say again, "Is this the male lead? I think I could do it too."

Lin Nan glanced at him without speaking, letting Zhu Yawen figure it out himself.

Liu Yifei sensed something and looked at the onlookers behind her.

"Not good," Lin Nan was shocked in his heart; before he could react, he met the gaze that swept over. He couldn't hide anymore.

He might as well smile, only to see Liu Yifei happy at first, but instantly she pulled a long face, glared at Lin Nan, and turned her head away.

"Did she glare at you or me?"

Zhu Yawen didn't react for a moment.

"Glaring at you, you lightbulb."

The two turned and walked back; before they had walked a few steps, someone chased after them—it was someone from Tang Ren.

"Lin Dao, our President Cai wants to invite you to a meal, is it convenient for you?"

Lin Nan looked at Zhu Yawen, and the two exchanged glances.

"Should I go?"

"Why are you asking me if you should go? They didn't call me."

"Mr. Zhu is also invited," the person added in time.

After a warm and hospitable invitation, Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen went along with it; it was almost noon anyway.

Tang Ren's Cai Yinong could be considered a woman who didn't yield to men.

He thought there were only a few people, but only found out when he arrived.

Besides Cai Yinong, there was Director Li Guoli, and several leads from the *Chinese Paladin* crew: Liu Yifei, Hu Ge, Peng Yuyan.

Liu Yifei glared at Lin Nan again, and the latter felt bitter.

"President Cai is too kind," Lin Nan said politely.

The key was that this was the first time they met, and she invited him to a meal; he always felt there was nothing good about it.

"Lin Dao and Yawen are still classmates with Xixi. I'm also familiar with Ren Zong. Since we met, I must play the host."

Lin Nan was smiling on the outside, but complaining on the inside: "Excuses really come to her lips."

He didn't know if Ren Zong was a big mouth; Cai Yinong asked one thing after another, just trying to find out about Lin Nan's next film plan, whether he was short of people—Tang Ren had many actors.

Mainly, she just wanted to push some people.

Lin Nan had a tight mouth, only saying it was still in preparation and hadn't reached that step yet.

"Believe me, I really forgot because I was busy," as soon as the meal ended, Lin Nan found an opportunity to apologize to Miss Wang, acting so well, blah blah, his attitude was quite sincere.

"Considering you're so sincere, I forgive you. But you have to tell me what the film you're preparing is called, and if there's a role I can play?"

"Can't tell you the name yet, but I can tell you the general content: it's about a protagonist regaining youth and beauty."

It probably couldn't be hidden for long; Lin Nan was already going through the filing process.

Speaking of which, *Cell Phone* was truly strong; the box office rushed to over 50 million, and Huayi made a fortune.

Zhu Yawen went back first; Lin Nan and Liu Yifei walked in the scenic area, talking and laughing, very happy. At one moment, Lin Nan thought of the four words: "Years are quiet and good."

Until, they bumped into Liu Mu.

"Lin Dao, Xixi hasn't caused you any trouble, has she?" Liu Mu's smile looked warmer than before; Lin Nan was a bit uncomfortable, feeling like he had been caught doing something wrong.

Liu Yifei walked behind Liu Mu, stuck her tongue out at Lin Nan, and blinked.

"Auntie is joking, just call me by my name; you're an elder." Liu Mu took Liu Yifei back; they would officially start filming tomorrow.

"Why did you run out alone? How dangerous, following Lin Nan won't do either, you're a girl..."

Liu Mu lectured, Liu Yifei nodded mechanically, just smiling all the time.

Finally, Liu Mu was amused too. "You're just stubborn, every time you only know how to nod, never listening."

Qianqian Novels ===== CHAPTER 16 =====