[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-that-year-in-huayu":3,"chapter-that-year-in-huayu-that-year-in-huayu-chapter-44":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","That Year in Huayu",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2286880,4473,"Chapter 44: Airport Pickup","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-44",44,"\u003Cp>The Return of the Condor Heroes is considered wrapped, though it hasn't been officially announced yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei has sharp ears and immediately heard that Lin Nan was sleeping in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What time is it? You're still not up?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've been running on fumes lately, traveling to so many places for promotions; I'm just exhausted. Do you want me to pick you up at the airport, Dragon Maiden?\" Lin Nan asked softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm, okay. I'll arrive the day after tomorrow morning.\" Liu Yifei’s voice turned gentle again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With your mother?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course. Mom and I are coming back together. When we get there, let's call Changchang and Xiao Zhu, and we'll go have a big meal...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan lay in bed chatting with Liu Yifei for half an hour. She was very satisfied with life on set and shared many interesting stories from filming, including the fact that she had gotten slightly injured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan had warned her more than once not to push herself too hard, but she had treated it all as wind past her ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The doctor said just to take care of it from now on, you don't need to worry,\" Liu Yifei comforted Lin Nan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My godfather and mom are planning to have me practice singing and then release an album. You guys can come watch my rehearsals then.\" Liu Yifei changed the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good, I'll definitely come. Let's pick you up at the airport the day after tomorrow first. The film I produced, Stone, is having its premiere, you have to come too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That goes without saying, I want a front-row seat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll save one for you.\" Lin Nan smiled unconsciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the May Day release, Lin Nan and Enlight Media planned to hold the premiere on the 29th of this month. The scale didn't need to be too large; just inviting companies, media, and artists with closer ties would suffice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Lin Nan and Ning Hao were students of the Film Academy. For both professional and personal reasons, they had to invite some teachers and leaders from the school to the premiere. The venue was arranged by Enlight Media, and the invitations were sent out in the name of Lin Nan's company, but Lin Nan went to deliver the ones for the Film Academy in person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Tian Zhuangzhuang was very pleased that Lin Nan had taken the initiative to deliver the invitation in person. He had already forgotten the last time he asked Lin Nan if he had chosen a mentor, but he still said he might not be able to make it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His team had been very busy lately, making a final decision on whether to withdraw from the competition for the general director of the Olympic opening ceremony, because they truly couldn't come up with a design that satisfied or amazed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some teachers from the Directing, Cinematography, and Acting departments were quite happy to attend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The invitations for film companies were sent out uniformly, and phone calls would be made as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige were busy with the competition and politely declined; Feng Xiaogang was busy with a new script and finding actors, so he couldn't come either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were quite a few film and television companies willing to show their support, but there weren't many invitations. Lin Nan also specially invited some people from the Drama Academy, and they all indicated they would be there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He contacted Zhu Yawen, had him pass on several invitations to Wang Jinghua, and told him he would be picking up Liu Yifei at the airport the day after tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overall, this premiere was not large in scale, but it received a lot of media attention because the organizer was Lin Nan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the morning of the 22nd, Zhu Yawen drove Lin Nan and Shu Chang straight to the airport. They were mainly there to pick up Liu Yifei, and they heard that others would be going to the airport as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yawen would be joining a crew soon. Wang Jinghua had signed him for quite a few television dramas; film resources were scarce, but good film crews were rare to begin with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shu Chang sat alone in the back, looking like a good student, as if she had already gotten used to the life of an ordinary university student; her agent was no longer taking gigs for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yifei's godfather should also be going to pick up Auntie Liu and the others,\" Shu Chang said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It doesn't conflict with us. We'll just take Xixi with us to have a big meal,\" Lin Nan replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Jinfei and the Liu family were family friends, and he had also known Liu Yifei's biological father; he had known her since she was a few years old. Both Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils and The Return of the Condor Heroes were projects he had bankrolled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you aren't an insider, this is the only way to get resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After waiting outside the airport for over an hour, they finally waited for that flight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the crowd surged out, all three of them sharpened their eyes, striving to be the first to see Liu Yifei, her mother, and their assistant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei, in sportswear, followed beside her mother, her aura feeling somewhat overshadowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her mother was in a simple, slim-fitting black outfit, wearing a fascinator, looking very imposing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shu Chang ran over quickly, with Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen following behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They saw a young man and woman arrive at her mother's side first, exchange a few words, and take the luggage. By this time, Shu Chang had also reached them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen watched as Shu Chang and the two of them hugged, and she pointed in their direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group went to a less crowded area before Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen greeted Liu Xiaoli.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, Auntie.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xiao Lin, Yawen, are you taking Xixi out to play? Then go ahead, Auntie has to go home first,\" Liu Xiaoli said with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan was very surprised. He remembered that back in Hengdian, her mother had been very unwilling to let Liu Yifei go out with him and the others to explore Hengdian City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go. Mom, don't worry, go home, I'll be back early,\" Liu Yifei said, pulling Shu Chang's hand and urging Lin Nan and the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, have fun, stay safe.\" Liu Xiaoli waved her hand and followed that man and woman to another car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four of them also walked toward Zhu Yawen's car. In this short moment, they were photographed by reporters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yawen drove, Lin Nan sat in the passenger seat, and the two girls sat in the back chatting non-stop; the scene was very heartwarming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan suddenly thought of the word \"friendship\" and sincerely hoped that the friendship between the four of them could last forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eating, drinking, and having fun was the theme for the afternoon. The places they went to were relatively high-end with good privacy, so they wouldn't be disturbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both girls sang very well. Zhu Yawen put on a show and sang \"A Snow\" from 2002, and he was actually quite convincing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the microphone was passed to Lin Nan, he refused to take it, but in the end, he had no choice and sang one line. As a result, the mineral water Shu Chang had just taken a sip of sprayed right out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha, are you tone-deaf?\" Shu Chang laughed wantonly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yawen knew about this; he now had the look of a successful schemer, while Liu Yifei hugged her stomach and laughed while curled up on the sofa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not singing anymore, not singing anymore. Old Zhu set me up,\" Lin Nan started to give up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He listens to music normally, and humming a tune is fine. As long as he doesn't open his mouth, everything is good, haha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yawen took the opportunity to land another blow. He had discovered this shortcoming of Lin Nan's by accident during their freshman year, and Lin Nan had hidden it very well ever since, until today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two girls sang with gusto, and Zhu Yawen would also sing a song from time to time, while Lin Nan became the professional song-switcher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After singing, they went to eat. The four of them chose a private kitchen restaurant. Girls are quite picky; they wouldn't eat this or that, but when ordering, they wanted everything. Fortunately, Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen had foresight; the two of them didn't order anything and left it all to Liu Yifei and Shu Chang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eyes bigger than their stomachs\" is exactly what describes these two women. It's not good to waste too much, and packing it up is a hassle, so the two men had to suffer and eat until they were stuffed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm an actor, I have to watch my figure. Let this be the only time,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yawen complained. He was ninety percent full, and it was only early evening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's fine, I'm a director, I don't need to worry about that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan's one sentence earned him an eye-roll from Zhu Yawen and giggles from the two girls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go walk off the food,\" Zhu Yawen suggested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay,\" the three agreed unanimously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cities have no night, only day and the glitz and glamour, especially in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several of them wore hats, and the girls also wore masks, strolling down the street. The crowd was surging, and they felt very at ease without attracting anyone's attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I rarely go shopping like this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei and Shu Chang held hands, very happy. As two beautiful and recognizable actresses, it was indeed impossible to go shopping like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wandering along, looking here and there, it was soon past eight o'clock in the evening, and Auntie Liu had already called once to urge them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's stop here for today. Let's send Xixi back; Auntie Liu is already urging us. Changchang is at the Foreign Languages Academy, so it can't be too late either,\" Lin Nan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei looked unhappy, but she didn't say anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group hurried back to where they parked. Zhu Yawen acted as a full-time driver today, first dropping off Liu Yifei and Shu Chang, then driving Lin Nan back to the Film Academy. It was already ten o'clock when they reached the dormitory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll stay in the dorm today. Linzi, let's have breakfast together tomorrow,\" Zhu Yawen shouted before returning to his dorm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan lay in bed, and before long, he heard a knock on the door. Zhu Yawen came in carrying his bedding and placed it directly on the other lower bunk in Lin Nan's dorm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Junior year is almost over, the dorms are empty as hell. I might as well move in with you; we can chat a bit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan smiled and didn't speak. If they wanted to chat, they could chat, but who knew that after only a few minutes, their eyelids would start fighting, and before long, snoring could be heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the morning, Lin Nan was the first to get up and called Zhu Yawen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having lived in the dorm alone for nearly two years, he wasn't quite used to having a roommate again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The bed board in the dorm is still so hard,\" Zhu Yawen said, stretching his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yawen washed up, moved his bedding back, packed it up, and put it in the cabinet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were quite a few students doing morning drills, but certainly not as many as in the neighboring academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen walked toward the cafeteria. On the way, many underclassmen would greet them affectionately, \"Good morning, Senior Lin, good morning, Senior Yawen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two got their food and sat down to eat together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the blink of an eye, so many people are calling me senior. In two more months, I'll be a senior,\" Zhu Yawen sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn't this Director Lin and Yawen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, a voice approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two turned their heads to see it was Wang Luodan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's rare to see you in the cafeteria, Senior,\" Lin Nan said, making room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luodan sat down, \"You'll see me often in the next week or two. The class of '01 all have to come back to participate in the defense and graduation ceremony.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, today's news features you two,\" Wang Luodan said with a smile, then took a sip of soy milk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What news?\" Zhu Yawen didn't react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Return of the Condor Heroes crew wraps up; Little Dragon Maiden returns to Beijing yesterday; classmates and best friends greet her at the airport.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are also photos of you guys shopping yesterday. The two girls were wrapped up tight, but you two didn't wear masks,\" Wang Luodan added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that all it is?\" Zhu Yawen instantly lost interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan nodded while eating a steamed bun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You guys have a good relationship. Our class doesn't have that kind of camaraderie; we're all competitors,\" Wang Luodan complained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way to respond to that. The three major art schools were all like this; classmates could become rivals at any time, all because of resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most popular person from the class of '01 is still that \"Star Girl,\" who relied on the name Zhou Xingchi to leave a bunch of '01 acting students several lengths behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from Huang Shengyi, Wang Luodan was actually considered quite well-off among the class of '01; signed under Chang Jihong and having already acted in two television dramas, there were not a few in her class who envied her.\u003C\u002Fp>",2270,"2026-06-20T03:22:09.099Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","f3f719da3557eee3b50811b04bf697626541a826e1a89f5c82afc02f2184be18","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-45","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-43",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-in-huayu-cover.jpg"]