Chapter 39: Travel Itinerary

"Ah! Wait a moment, I'll call him right away..."

Listening to the beeping sound on the phone, Lin Nan was speechless; there was no need to hang up just to call someone.

Before long, the phone began to vibrate; it was a return call from the other side.

Lin Nan answered the phone, "Old Hu?"

"Is it really you? She told me it was Director Lin Nan, and I thought I’d misheard. You’re a proper big-time director now, looking for a small actor like me—are you planning to look after me a bit?"

Hu Ge was quite the talker and even started teasing him.

Lin Nan listened to the lively sounds in the background and asked, "Are you busy?"

"No, it's a company party, just colleagues. You still haven't said what it's about."

"I received an invitation for a film and television exchange from your school. It happens to be two days before I go on a business trip. I'll have you act as my guide then. You don't have any acting gigs lately, do you?"

"Sigh, you’ve come to the right person. As long as it’s the first half of the year, it’s no problem. You know, I’m graduating soon. If it were the second half, we’d both have to register to get in, haha."

"It’s not that long, just next month."

"Next month is no problem. I’ll be in the Magic City during this time, and I still need to prepare my thesis. Just call me when you arrive."

"Mm, then it's settled. You’ll have to play the host and treat me well when the time comes," Lin Nan joked.

"No problem at all..."

"Haha, then I won't disturb your party anymore. See you next month."

"See you next month."

Hanging up the phone, Lin Nan instructed the front desk to reply to the invitation, confirming he would attend on time.

At this moment, in the Magic City, at the Tang Ren party venue.

A group of people were eating and drinking, celebrating the massive success of *Sword Fairy*. The second-run broadcast rights had also sold for a good price, and since everyone was gathered, they held today's party—which was, in reality, a celebration banquet.

Cai Yinong was chatting with several senior company executives, but her eyes kept glancing toward Hu Ge, who was on the phone.

"The strategy remains the same: sign promising talent as early as possible, starting from the schools. We can't just stick to this one-acre-three-fen plot in the Magic City. The Drama Academy, the Film Academy, and even the Dance Academy up north—don't let any of them slip by..."

"Understood, President Cai."

"Understood, we will arrange to do that immediately."

The actors who were also Tang Ren artists were staring over there as well. Almost all the company's staff were present today, and Hu Ge's assistant had just mentioned it was Director Lin Nan on the phone.

Everyone present was in the film and television industry; it was impossible not to know who Lin Nan was: the youngest major director in the mainland, the youngest Berlin Best Director, and one of only three directors in the "100 Million Club."

He had awards, he had box office success, and he had his own film company. He didn't sign artists—he was a solid, thick thigh to cling to.

Hu Ge walked over with a smile on his face. Cai Yinong stopped her conversation with the executives and asked, "What's the matter?"

Everyone looked at Hu Ge, and the scene instantly quieted down a bit.

"Nothing major. Lin Nan received an invitation from our school to attend an exchange meeting next month, and he wants me to be his guide and show him around," Hu Ge said casually.

"Oh, I see."

"You just call him by his name directly?" Yuan Hong asked.

"Yeah, he’s never been one to care about those superficial things. Friends and acquaintances all call him by his name. I remember back at Hengdian, Liu Yifei and Zhu Yawen often called him 'Little Linzi,' haha—don't go repeating that last part."

Yuan Hong felt a bit sour hearing this. Did this mean Hu Ge already had a big-time director as a friend?

Cai Yinong smiled, "Then you should go be his guide. If possible, invite him to come sit at our company."

Hu Ge sat down and took a sip of water, "That might not be convenient. From what he said, it sounds like he's just stopping by for the exchange meeting on his way to a business trip."

"A business trip?"

Cai Yinong was stunned for a moment. If he used that term, it was clearly work-related.

A big director going on a business trip—where would he be going? It was highly unlikely to be domestic!

Every year, many cultural units and institutions hold exchange meetings of one sort or another, and the Film Academy is no exception. Beyond the superficial art discussions, there is also the goal of promoting cooperation and development.

Especially in arts institutions, student achievements are linked to teaching performance, so schools often step in to help students, and film and cultural exchange meetings are a good way to do that.

Generally, those invited are film and television practitioners, cultural workers, including film companies, producers, directors, screenwriters, and some prominent actors.

Lin Nan rarely attended such meetings at his own school. For one, he was often out and about, and for another, he was still a student; if there was anything, those teachers would just call him directly—wasn't that more convenient and faster than an exchange meeting?

After receiving the reply, the Magic City Drama Academy expressed their gratitude for Lin Nan's attendance.

The final results for the '05 class art exams were out; some were happy, some were sad.

Those at the top just needed to make sure their college entrance exam scores weren't too trashy. Those ranked after thirtieth had to hope for admission from other institutions; it was not uncommon for students to take art exams at several schools at once.

If there was no good news from any of them, they would have to prepare for vocational classes—there were more professional choices, more spots, and the threshold was relatively lower, though the fees were a bit high.

But the flaws didn't obscure the virtues: Yang Mi was the first-place finisher in the performance undergraduate class for this year's art exams.

Results were sent out to candidates one after another. It was the same for the Drama Academy; some students were admitted by two or more schools and would struggle over which one to choose.

Generally, they would waver between the Film Academy and the Drama Academy.

Lin Nan thought of Shu Chang again; she had ended up going to the Foreign Studies University. She was enjoying her college life for now, but in two years, she would know regret.

Some people are smooth and sophisticated, handling interpersonal relationships very well, seeing everyone as a friend.

Lin Nan didn't have many true friends. Zhu Yawen counted as one, Shu Chang as one, Yan Danchen and Hu Ge also counted, but they didn't compare to the first two. As for Liu Yifei, he didn't want to think of her as a friend...

*Lotus Lantern* and *Sword Fairy* were filmed at the same time; the latter was already in its second run, while the former was still in previews.

As a production of Central Television, *Lotus Lantern* was destined from the start to have its premiere on Channel One—in this regard, *Sword Fairy* couldn't even catch up.

In mid-March, as one of the directors of *Lotus Lantern*, Lin Nan was invited along with the main cast to the Variety Channel again for a promotional interview.

Backstage, Lin Nan saw Jiao Enjun, Yan Danchen, Shu Chang, Cao Jun, and Zhu Yawen...

No one dared to refuse Central Television's face.

"Long time no see, Director Lin."

It had indeed been a long time since the crew wrapped up. When Lin Nan won his awards, they had only exchanged text messages of congratulations.

Zhu Yawen was not included in that; Shu Chang had actually called at the time.

"It has been a long time. Jiao-ge, is *Wudang* about to air?"

"Yes, in a few months."

Yan Danchen and Shu Chang's *Jingwei Fills the Sea* had also wrapped up, and the two of them were getting along well.

The atmosphere in the studio was harmonious. Lin Nan being pulled in as one of the directors for *Lotus Lantern* was absolutely the most profitable decision the crew ever made. Before it even premiered, he had already achieved success and fame. It was likely the only time in Lin Nan's life he would direct a television series.

"Thinking about it now, I really lost out. Back then, I was just muddled and talked into it by Director Zhao, haha," Lin Nan joked to the host.

"Jiao-ge's Erlang Shen is likely unsurpassed for generations to come..."

"Of course, Danchen-jie's Chang'e is also irreplaceable."

"And Changchang? Isn't my little sister's little fox beautiful? Her acting is so good! The crew's eye for casting was truly sharp."

Lin Nan didn't skimp on praise; he genuinely liked this show from the bottom of his heart.

"As for Zhu Yawen, he was just a bit player, let's not talk about him."

"Go to hell."

When it was Zhu Yawen's turn, Lin Nan started off by teasing him.

Lin Nan handed the microphone to Director Zhao and began to introduce the fight scenes in the show and the costume design for Erlang Shen. On the big screen, the silver armor looked majestic and imposing...

It was a three-hour interview; he didn't know how long it would be after editing.

After leaving the Central Television building, everyone had cars picking them up.

Shu Chang got into Zhu Yawen's car with Lin Nan. "Central Television's cafeteria is just so-so. Let's go grab an extra meal," Zhu Yawen suggested.

"Sure."

After *Jingwei Fills the Sea*, Shu Chang hadn't taken any more scripts, and her relationship with her agent was a bit strained.

She had only come out this time because of the Central Television gig.

"Is the college life you wanted going okay?"

Lin Nan and Shu Chang were sitting in the back row, and he asked.

"It's quite busy, lots of classes. It really isn't as relaxed as an arts school." It seemed Shu Chang also had some feelings about it.

The three of them went to eat mutton hotpot; the March weather was still a bit chilly.

Zhu Yawen dropped the two of them off at their respective schools and left; it looked like he had another announcement.

Shadows of film crews could be seen in the school. Policies were getting better and better, especially regarding television series; quite a few started filming every month.

Actors with even a little bit of fame were very busy, with tight schedules.

Lin Nan had heard that quite a few directing students would team up with literature students and manage to pull in an investment.

The bosses who ran mines had a kind of "beggars can't be choosers" feeling, with money they couldn't spend. There were people who specialized in this business, acting as go-betweens...

Director Tian Zhuangzhuang saw Lin Nan and asked him very kindly if he had chosen his postgraduate advisor yet. The latter shook his head—wasn't that something decided in the senior year?

He then brought up Lin Nan giving up on the competitive hiring process and walked away with a look of "I mourn for his lack of ambition."

"Why did this old man suddenly turn cold?"

Lin Nan was still a bit puzzled. He didn't think he had offended his senior, did he? Just because he wasn't actively responding to the competitive hiring?

He was still pondering why along the way, until he heard a few seniors discussing postgraduate entrance exams, and then he understood.

Although Director Tian Zhuangzhuang had been back at school for so long, he only occasionally taught major lectures. As a master's advisor, he hadn't really recruited many students yet.

He hadn't thought in that direction just now—could it be that he wanted him to apply for his postgraduate program? The more Lin Nan thought about it, the more he felt that was the meaning.

"Oh dear, I messed up. I didn't realize it right away. It's all Zhu Yawen's fault, eating mutton hotpot—all the blood supply went to the stomach."

Lin Nan found an excuse while also finding it funny. This old man was quite concerned about his face; his expression changed just like that. When he had the chance, he would obediently go and pay his respects—Director Tian was a master, after all.

The banners celebrating the end of the art exams had already been put up. Although the newcomers wouldn't arrive until September, on the day the art exams ended, the students already at the school were considered to have moved up a grade.

Taking advantage of a gap, Lin Nan went to the Directing Department office to request leave for the upcoming period.

The teacher on duty looked at the grinning Lin Nan and, with a tacit understanding, took a thin, bound booklet out of the drawer. "Write."

It was a thick leave-of-absence log. "Sorry for the trouble."

Lin Nan took it with a smile, filled out the first page, and handed it back.