Chapter 245: Past the Halfway Mark, Parting Ways

The three days of New Year's passed in a flash.

At the box office, *Pacific Rim* ran away with everything, effortlessly crushing every other film.

When Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei walked out of Hong Kong Airport, the enormous movie poster caught their eye at once—impossible to miss.

"You're finally back. Weibo is full of photos of you two wandering around everywhere—looks like you had a blast?"

"Yeah, this trip was really fun."

Faced with Zhu Zhu Yawen and Watching Shu Chang's teasing, Liu Liu Yifei nodded with a brilliant smile.

"She was throwing her weight around at my place—anyone who didn't know would think she was the real daughter and I was the one picked up off the street."

Lin Nan chimed in at just the right moment, making Liu Liu Yifei even more tsundere.

She shot Lin Nan a glance, a little embarrassed, then said with a coquettish complaint, "It's not that exaggerated—just a tiny bit…"

Lin Nan spread his hands with a helpless look, drawing laughter from Zhu Zhu Yawen and Watching Shu Chang.

"Alright, alright. Let's get back to the hotel. There are tons of good snacks in the suitcase—Uncle stuffed them all in when we were leaving."

The moment she heard Liu Liu Yifei mention food, Watching Shu Chang's eyes lit up instantly. Who would still care whether Lin Nan had been "bullied" or not—even if he had, he deserved it!

"Let's go, back to the hotel."

Seeing Watching Shu Chang and Zhu Zhu Yawen bought off by Liu Liu Yifei, Lin Nan could only smile and shake his head. Under Miss Liu's "threatening" gaze, he walked toward the airport pickup car.

…………

No one had expected that Hong Kong's box office record would be broken by a youth romance film.

Zhou Zhou Xingchi's *Kung Fu* was surpassed by *Those Years* in exactly this way, its record wiped clean.

Carrying such an impressive track record, this youth romance film about to be released in the mainland naturally drew widespread attention.

The producers, director, and main creative team had already shouted their slogan during promotion:

"*Those Years* will be like a fierce dark horse, tearing off a chunk from blockbusters like *Pacific Rim* and *The Flowers of War*…"

Lin Nan had zero interest in this kind of promotional hype.

It was just that the matter of him having once sent Yue Jun to buy the rights had gotten out over the past two days.

He didn't need to think hard to guess it was leaked by the *Those Years* side, for the sake of buzz and promotion.

"You really did go buy the rights?"

In the car, the conversation drifted around to this very topic.

Lin Nan didn't deny it. "Yeah, I had Yue Jun go buy them back then. Don't you think the script would suit us just as well to film?"

Lin Nan looked at Liu Liu Yifei, Zhu Zhu Yawen, and Watching Shu Chang in turn. Luo Jin hadn't come—word was he'd gone back to the capital and wouldn't make it back to Hong Kong until the afternoon.

"It does suit us—you and Liu Yifei as the male and female leads, the rest of us as supporting cast. What a shame."

"You probably haven't noticed, but the crew over there has been promoting in the mainland these past two days. One of their selling points is that you, this Golden Lion-winning director, once saw promise in the original and tried to buy it…"

Lin Nan smiled and said nothing. Being used as promotional fodder this time—he really had no comeback, since it was true.

"Don't worry. This film is way too small-scale. Compared to big productions like *Pacific Rim* and *The Flowers of War*, it's like a sesame seed—can't shake them in the slightest.

The theaters know what matters. *Those Years*'s screenings will only be carved out from other money-losing films—the ceiling won't be high…"

After speaking, Lin Nan suddenly realized something.

The turning point of the film market was about to arrive.

It seemed that starting with this *Those Years*, youth films would flood the market like a disaster for a long time to come!

…………

The crew wouldn't start work until tomorrow.

Lin Nan was at the hotel and specifically watched the Weibo Night livestream.

At these kinds of events, the on-site photographers are always swamped.

When an award is announced, the camera is sure to cut to the competing actors.

When the "Most Influential TV Actress of the Year" was announced, the screen showed close-ups of Yang Mi, Liu Liu Shishi, Sun Li, and a few others.

No surprise—it was Yang Mi.

In this circle, there are very few pure souls, especially among actresses.

When the host called out Yang Mi's name, the camera gave Liu Liu Shishi a shot—her face darkened, lips pressed tight.

Cai Yinan beside her "accidentally" bumped her, and only then did Liu Liu Shishi hurriedly, reluctantly manage a smile.

Feng Feng Shaofeng beat Wu Wu Qilong and took home the corresponding "Most Influential TV Actor of the Year."

Just as Cao Cao Guowei and Lin Nan had said, the directing award went to Feng Feng Xiaogang, and the Outstanding Film Actress went to Li Li Bingbing.

As Yang Mi's management company, Yue Jun's side reacted fast—Shanhai Media's Weibo had already posted a congratulatory message. Zhang Yi, Lei Lei Jiayin, and others were quick too.

……

The next morning, the five of them sat down together for breakfast.

"The internet didn't quiet down at all last night. Yang Mi and the Tang Ren side are at it again."

Hearing Zhu Zhu Yawen's words, Lin Nan, Liu Liu Yifei, and the others were a bit dumbfounded.

"What's going on?"

"She won the award, and right after she posted on Weibo: 'All the arguing is in vain—the result says it all,' with a picture of her trophy. Hahaha…"

Lin Nan was speechless. Backed by Shanhai Media, this was exactly the kind of thing Yang Mi would do.

Liu Liu Yifei, Watching Shu Chang, and Luo Jin beside her all looked at Zhu Zhu Yawen curiously. "And then?"

"This time it's not just the fans of the two actresses fighting—the fans of the two TV dramas are going at it too.

Feng Feng Shaofeng and Yang Mi won the awards—doesn't that mean *Palace: The Locked Heart Jade* is better than *Scarlet Heart*?"

The group was a bit dumbstruck. This kind of logic really was the "fans'" way of thinking.

"Even funnier, Tang Ren posted a Weibo that looked like a response: Liu Liu Shishi's starring film *Sad Fairy Tale* will start filming in three days. The road is long—take your time watching."

Lin Nan set down the bowl of plain porridge in his hands, afraid he would spit it out, just like Watching Shu Chang.

"Yang Mi wouldn't have brought up 'Finding Mr. Right in Seattle,' would she?" Lin Nan asked tentatively.

"Hey, you guessed right! Her Weibo post is: 'About to depart for Seattle, filming starts in three days, the box office will definitely surpass 'Love Is Not Blind's' 355 million!'"

"Heh, how utterly boring."

Lin Nan opened his mouth, and in the end only managed to spit out that one line.

"The fans don't find it boring at all — they're already issuing challenges, waiting for these two films' box office results before comparing, and slapping the loser's face!"

"The fans are… kind of… cute, aren't they?"

Watching Shu Chang muttered, and the others nodded in agreement.

Is that cute? Fine then — childishly cute!

…………

'Genius Sniper' resumed filming.

The first scene was the shot of Liang Liang Jiahui 'roaring' at Liu Liu Yifei.

He didn't directly scold Liu Liu Yifei as his daughter, but instead, furious at his own failure, cursed himself for not raising her properly, cursed himself for having no money…

"This is what they call a soft knife grinding a person down, right?"

Zhu Zhu Yawen asked softly. Lin Nan nodded — this method would make the child feel even worse.

"I didn't raise you to be a proper person. How could I have the face to let others pay for your schooling? Return the money you got from cheating. I'll sell my car to cover your tuition.

As for studying abroad — don't even think about it. You're not going anywhere…"

The cameraman gave Liang Liang Jiahui a close-up.

Holding the bankbook containing the money Liu Liu Yifei had earned from cheating for others, his hands trembling, he slammed it hard onto the table. "Return it. Now!"

Only Liu Liu Yifei remained in frame. Lin Nan had to wait for her to cry before he could end the shot.

Her shoulders trembled slightly, tears slid from her eye sockets, a choked sob rose…

"Cut!" Lin Nan shouted hurriedly.

Liu Liu Yifei took the tissue Watching Shu Chang handed her, dabbed at her tears, and walked over.

"Speaking of crying scenes, it reminds me of Boss Huang's girlfriend again."

Zhu Zhu Yawen blurted out, and everyone burst into laughter on the spot.

……

The following scenes were filmed quickly.

Watching Shu Chang once again sought Liu Liu Yifei's help, wanting to ask her to help her and Luo Jin pass the SAT exam.

Because the latter's rich old man had promised to send the two of them abroad to study, covering all expenses.

The poor old man still thought his son's improved grades were the result of hard work — that Watching Shu Chang had helped tutor him — never suspecting that both of them were academic deadweights who copied off others.

"I've already helped you enough," Liu Liu Yifei refused in frame.

"If we had any other way, we wouldn't have come to you. We really have no choice. Here are the study materials…"

Just as Liu Liu Yifei was about to get up and leave, Watching Shu Chang spoke up. "He promised that if it works, he'll give you 200,000."

Liu Liu Yifei's movement stopped.

The first shot after the scene change showed Liu Liu Yifei holding SAT prep books, heading to the hotel run by Luo Jin's family — the latter was there.

She was still preparing to refuse. But just as she slipped the rejection note into the prep book, ready to have the front desk pass it along, a phone call from someone nearby caught her attention. That person was on an international call with their child, saying it was morning on the other end and afternoon here.

At that moment, Liu Liu Yifei happened to notice a row of clocks on the hotel wall — clocks showing the time in major international metropolises around the world, all displaying different times…

A flash of inspiration struck Liu Liu Yifei. "The SAT — unified global exam questions, unified global exam time! Time… difference? Time difference! I, I could go study abroad too…"

At this moment, the female lead Liu Liu Yifei's mind changed. She could pull off one big job, earn enough money, and go abroad to study with Watching Shu Chang and the others…

"Cut!"

"We're past the halfway mark of the film's scenes, but the second half is the most exciting, tense, and thrilling part!" Reading the book.

Lin Nan clapped his hands, and after drawing everyone's attention, announced loudly.

For this film, Lin Nan planned a shooting schedule of just over a month, no more than two.

…………

Five days. 320 million!

'Pacific Rim' remained in a league of its own.

'The Flowers of War,' twenty days into its run, had reached 520 million at the box office — its decline was already obvious.

'Flying Swords of Dragon Gate' had been trailing close behind, with a total box office of 490 million.

It was clear both films had entered their final stretch; the remaining ten days were their last chance.

This week, Zhang Zhang Weiping seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth, and even Zhang Zhang Yimou had no news whatsoever.

……

On the 6th, 'You Are the Apple of My Eye' officially premiered, and the media gave it plenty of pre-release coverage.

At the same time, a piece of news that shocked the domestic film and television industry broke out.

"It is reported that Director Zhang Zhang Yimou's contract with New Pictures has ended, and the two parties will no longer work together in the future…"

"Zhang Zhang Yimou's director studio responded, confirming the news is true. After sixteen years of cooperation, the two Zhangs have decided to part ways…"

"So far, Ni Ni, Zhou Zhou Dongyu, Dou Xiao and others have not yet made any statement."

……

The entire film and television circle was in an uproar — especially the production companies!

This is Zhang Zhang Yimou! It was only because New Pictures had Zhang Zhang Yimou that Zhang Zhang Weiping dared to act like a vicious dog, constantly barking within the industry, slamming this one and cursing that one, with no scruples whatsoever.

Now this is perfect — old grudges and new ones alike can all be settled in one go!

But for the movie companies, the most important thing was still Zhang Zhang Yimou.

Not a single film company wasn't tempted—everyone's first thought was the same: could they recruit Zhang Zhang Yimou and put him to work for themselves? Read for it

…………

(End of chapter)