Chapter 449: Starting Another Awards-Contender Film

Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei's flight had just taken off when online news outlets reported it almost immediately, and it spread like wildfire.

"With the Oscars ceremony just around the corner, Director Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei were spotted at the capital airport around 11 a. m., departing for Hollywood."

Almost everyone in the film and entertainment circles saw this piece of news.

Everyone knew that in just one more week, the final results would be revealed:

"Will the mainland produce its very first Oscar-winning director? Or will a film directed by a mainland director take home one of the more significant Oscar awards?"

Whether Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei could see it or not, the comment sections under their Weibo posts were already flooded with messages from actors and film industry insiders:

"Director Lin, it's time to work a miracle!"

"Wishing Director Lin Nan instant success!"

"Liu Yifei, tell your Lin Nan to step it up. Once he wins Best Director, I'll be an actress who starred in an Oscar Best Director film!"

"+1, Best Actor!"

"+1, Best Supporting Actor!"

"+1, hoping to collaborate…"

……

A twelve-hour long-haul flight was really no big deal for Miss Liu.

After a good night's sleep, only two or three hours were left.

Then she woke Lin Nan—who had only just dozed off not long ago—to chat with her. In the blink of an eye, they'd already arrived.

It was February, and the weather hadn't warmed up yet.

At eight in the morning, the wind outside Los Angeles International Airport was still bone-chillingly cold.

Luckily, both Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei were wearing down jackets, bundled up snugly.

"Hey, Crystal, Lin, over here."

Tom's outfit gave Lin Nan and his companion quite a shock—it was a green military overcoat!

"Tom, where on earth did you get that outfit?"

Walking up to him, Liu Liu Yifei couldn't help but ask with a laugh.

"Crystal, doesn't it look familiar?

Haha, I bought it on Tang Ren Street. I heard that when you guys film in winter, the directors and actors on set all dress like this!"

Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei exchanged a glance and burst out laughing.

Tom, the half-baked expert, wasn't entirely wrong, but most actresses wouldn't be caught dead in something like that—they think it looks ugly.

"How does it feel to wear?" Lin Nan asked teasingly.

"Mm, very warm, and the key thing is: cool!"

Tom gave a thumbs-up as his verdict. He really did seem to love that military overcoat.

"Hahaha… alright, alright, let's get going back."

Lin Nan supported Liu Liu Yifei, who couldn't stop laughing, and instructed Tom.

"Sure, get in the car."

……

As the car drove into the small town of Hollywood, the Oscar atmosphere was already incredibly thick—giant movie advertisements and celebrity posters could be seen everywhere.

The group didn't head back to Crystal Pictures but went straight to Beverly Hills; Tom had arranged for someone to prepare all sorts of ingredients and daily necessities a day in advance.

"According to Oscar rules, when we submitted the main crew list earlier, I already coordinated with Disney. They agreed that Crystal can walk the red carpet with us, and of course, our seats will be together too."

Once inside the villa, Tom began taking credit.

Frozen was also a nominated work, and Liu Liu Yifei was one of its voice actresses, so she qualified to walk the red carpet.

However, placing Liu Liu Yifei under The Invisible Guest's producers would clearly be better.

After all, on the red carpet, a live-action film crew draws far more attention than an animated film crew.

Not long after, Tom left with a few assistants, leaving only Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei.

"They arrived earlier than us…"

Liu Liu Yifei was browsing Hollywood news—Little Zhang Zhang Ziyi had arrived two days ago, Gong Li the previous afternoon, Ang Lee…

Lin Nan smiled and glanced at Miss Liu, then walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window.

The view outside was quite nice; after all, this was Beverly Hills, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold.

Taking in the scenery, Lin Nan took out his phone and dialed Leonardo's private number.

The other end picked up quickly, the voice tinged with excitement: "Lin, you've arrived in Hollywood?"

"Yes, Leo. Are you treating Crystal and me to dinner tonight? The Invisible Guest did land you a Best Actor nomination, after all."

"Haha, of course. It's not just me—Jessica Chastain is also waiting for your arrival." "Then let's all go together."

"No problem, I'll let her know shortly. See you tonight…"

……

After Lin Nan ended the call with Leonardo, he saw Liu Liu Yifei also on the phone with someone, he didn't know who.

He could only hear Miss Liu saying thanks one moment, then agreeing to grab coffee over the next couple days the next—she sure had a lot going on?

"Who was that?"

He waited until she hung up before asking.

"Little Zhang Zhang Ziyi. She probably saw the news back home and figured out we'd already arrived in Hollywood. She was originally calling you, but you were on a call."

Saying this, a smile spread across Liu Liu Yifei's face:

"She swore up and down that her votes for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actress all went to us, so of course I had to play along."

"I never would have guessed—you've got the makings of a supportive wife?" Lin Nan joked.

"That's only natural… you actually look down on me?"

Liu Liu Yifei's reaction this time was so quick that it was somewhat beyond Lin Nan's expectations!

One second she was still holding her head up high, looking all tsundere; the next second she was gritting her silver teeth, ready to make a move.

……

On the Hollywood side, there was likewise no such thing as keeping secrets.

As a nominee for Best Director at the Oscars, the news of Lin Nan's arrival in Hollywood was quickly reported by the media.

Familiar directors and actors like Nolan, James Wan, Matt, and Ryan Reynolds almost all sent messages over to say hello, arranging to meet at the Oscar banquet.

Not only these people, even the media that had come from back home were reaching out to Lin Nan — the Sixth Princess, Sina, Hong Kong media…

These media's meaning was very simple: they wanted to interview him after the awards, regardless of the outcome. After thinking it over, Lin Nan agreed to two of them.

A little past six in the evening.

Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei went out together to attend the dinner hosted by Leonardo and Jessica Chastain.

In the upscale Western restaurant, Leonardo had been generous, already opening a bottle of red wine costing over ten thousand US dollars.

By the time Lin Nan and the other arrived, the red wine had also "breathed" about enough.

"Oh, Naomi, I'm so sorry."

Seeing that Naomi Watts was also there, Lin Nan instinctively said, his voice very soft.

"Lin, don't say that. Maybe this time, not getting a nomination for me was just fate? Haha…"

"Lin, Crystal, come sit."

Jessica Chastain smiled and beckoned the two of them over. She and Liu Liu Yifei had collaborated on Interstellar, so they could be considered friends.

The main creative team of The Invisible Guest could now be considered all assembled.

"Here's to our sweeping victory at this year's Oscars — cheers!"

Leonardo personally poured the red wine, raising his glass with an excited look.

"Cheers."

"Cheers."

……

All these years, from a fresh-faced youth to a stubble-bearded uncle, god knows what kind of "also-ran" torment Leonardo had endured.

The key thing was, he could really persevere!

This year, his odds of winning really were the biggest they'd ever been. A little excitement was unavoidable — he was even a bit nervously excited.

After clinking glasses and chatting for the better part of half an hour, Lin Nan still couldn't help but speak up:

"After this Oscar ceremony, I'll start another film. Hmm, still an awards-targeting picture…"

Liu Liu Yifei ate her fruit salad, paying no mind to what Lin Nan said — she had known about this matter long ago.

But the reactions of the others were different; they instantly perked up.

Especially Leonardo, whose eyes seemed to be shining.

"Lin…"

……

Today, because of some matters, my condition was very bad — it can only be like this. Tomorrow, the Oscars wrap up.