Chapter 45: Campus Days

Several people from the Class of '02 Chen Yanxi had solid starts and impressive résumés, but because Lin Nan came out of their class, he looked after a few of his close friends.

Although he had transferred his major to the Directing Department, his relationship with the Acting class hadn't faded at all—especially Zhu Zhu Yawen, whom everyone knew was Lin Nan's sworn brother; among the girls, it was Liu Liu Yifei and Zhou Yang, though from the looks of it, Zhou Yang was starting to fall behind…

"Junior, when you have a new film, remember to look after your senior me too. I'm off."

Wang Wang Luodan finished her meal, gave Lin Nan a playful wink, and went to put away her tray.

Lin Nan nodded in response. Wang Wang, who was usually whirlwind-tempered and tomboyish, suddenly pulling that move—he really couldn't handle it; even Zhu Zhu Yawen nearly sprayed his food.

"Oh my, did she switch styles?"

Only after watching Wang Wang Luodan walk away did Zhu Zhu Yawen say, incredulous.

"Yeah, it's pretty hard to get used to."

After breakfast, Zhu Zhu Yawen left the school.

Lin Nan opened his computer and checked the news. There were photos of the few of them and Liu's mother at the airport, as well as photos of the four of them shopping—Lin Nan and Zhu Zhu Yawen in particular hadn't deliberately covered up, so the photos were very clear.

The news emphasized within the friendship between the few of them. Looking at the byline, it was still a familiar face—a Sina reporter.

Part of the promotion for "Stone" was carried out through the three portal websites, and the frequency of flooding the screens during this period was very high.

There was one email that had arrived yesterday; Lin Nan opened it and looked—it was from Lionsgate Films.

They were very efficient. The day after Lin Nan left Santa Monica, they had already begun preparing "Dead Silence," and now, after so little time, they were about to start filming, claiming the preparations were very thorough.

Lin Nan could only marvel at Lionsgate's rich experience in B-movie production—not only fast, but high in quality, with a sense of an assembly-line process.

Although horror subjects really didn't require much preparation, wrapping up pre-production in just ten days was something only a major film studio like this could pull off.

In the morning, Lin Nan saw Liu Liu Yifei at school; she had come to cancel her leave and attend class.

"Auntie really wants you to develop on two fronts, huh?"

While Liu's mother was consulting the vocal teacher, Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei chatted on the side.

"Three fronts. Mom says all superstars are like that—just look at those from Hong Kong Island, those from Hollywood."

"Times have changed. Where are the conditions to develop on three fronts these days? Besides, that's too big a step—going straight to an album, skipping over singles.

Logically, you should take it one step at a time: establish your foundation in TV dramas, then move into film. Singing has nothing to do with your major at all."

Liu Liu Yifei felt Lin Nan made sense, but what her mother and godfather said also sounded very reasonable.

"As for movies, Mom and godfather say they're helping me find one. For now, I'll prepare the album first…"

As she spoke, Liu Liu Yifei also glanced at Lin Nan.

"How about next time you start a new film, you save me a role?"

In Liu Liu Yifei's dewy eyes, there was anticipation. The collagen from the "Golden Age Family" days was already gone, replaced by the ethereal air of Little Dragon Girl.

Lin Nan really wanted to agree, but he hadn't yet figured out what his next film would be.

"I don't even know what my next film is yet, but I will definitely make you the leading lady someday." Lin Nan said it with certainty.

Liu Liu Yifei was a little disappointed at first, but hearing the second half, she instantly broke into a radiant smile.

"It's a deal."

"Of course. I've never lied to you."

At that moment, Liu's mother came out of the office. "Lin Nan's here too? What are you chatting about that has you so happy?"

"Hello, Auntie."

"Mom, Lin Nan promised to cast me as the female lead in his film someday." Liu Liu Yifei said with a smile.

"Really?"

Hearing this, Liu's mother was clearly very pleased as well.

The boy in front of her was already a famous director with a reputation beyond these walls. Just the other day, he had even connected with Hollywood's Lionsgate—he was a hot commodity in many people's eyes.

Thinking back to the first time her daughter mentioned this classmate, he was just an ordinary kid from a northwestern city; it's only been about three years until now.

"Yes, I promised Liu Yifei I'd make a film for her someday." Lin Nan admitted.

"That's wonderful. Auntie thanks you on Liu Qianqian's behalf."

"By the way, for a while she'll be going back and forth between school and home, studying with the vocal teacher. You, Zhu Yawen, Changchang—whenever you're free, come find her to hang out. She doesn't have many friends usually, and staying home playing with the cat all the time isn't good either. Young people should get out more…"

Liu's mother was in a good mood, so she said a bit more.

"Mom…"

Liu Liu Yifei tugged at her mother's hand, telling her to stop.

Lin Nan stood to the side with a smile, just watching, not chiming in.

"Alright, alright, I won't say any more."

Liu's mother checked the time. "You'll be attending class with the vocal teacher today. I'll go back and arrange some more teachers for you…"

Liu's mother drove off alone, and Liu Liu Yifei stayed for class.

"Do you have anything going on today?" Liu Liu Yifei asked Lin Nan.

"What's up?" Lin Nan asked.

"Just asking if you're free."

"I have things to do, but I won't be leaving campus."

"Then let's have lunch together this morning." Liu Liu Yifei suggested.

"Sure. Give me a call when the time comes."

……

The post-production of "Stone" was overseen by Ning Hao; Lin Nan hadn't followed it much. He hadn't seen the finished complete cut yet. Today he planned to go through it once so he'd have a sense of where things stood.

Ning Hao would also come over, together with Lin Nan.

Back then, the former had rented the school's equipment to do post-production. The school was very generous on this point—for their own students, they only charged equipment maintenance fees.

Lin Nan and Ning Hao were doing a screening review, occasionally bursting into laughter during it. A few teachers even came over to take a peek.

"How is it?"

Ning Hao looked at Lin Nan and asked expectantly.

"Very good. The audience will definitely enjoy it."

Lin Nan spoke fairly; this version was much more polished than the one in his memory — he had invested several million more into it.

"That's good. Every time I watch the finished cut I feel like I've done everything I should, but then I think about the box office and I still worry." Ning Hao was still haunted by the memory.

"Relax. This film is definitely going to make it."

Near noon, Ning Hao left the Film Academy. It was good to have a family — someone was already calling him to come eat.

Lin Nan wandered alone to the rehearsal room, where Liu Liu Yifei and a few students were practicing with a teacher.

Actors need to work on their lines, learn certain breath control and vocal techniques, but nowhere near the level of opera performers or professional singers.

Liu Liu Yifei needed to study these techniques more deeply right now, making up for it later — because she simply didn't have the natural talent of an opera performer.

Just past twelve, Liu Liu Yifei followed the others out of the rehearsal room and saw Lin Nan over there exchanging greetings with the teacher and classmates.

"How's the practice going?"

"Pretty tiring. What can I do? I only joined the trade halfway through."

"I figured as much. You barely attended any of the Performance Department's classes, and suddenly being held to opera performer standards — of course it's not easy." Lin Nan teased.

"You knew that and you still asked."

Liu Liu Yifei immediately got a little annoyed, glared at Lin Nan — quite adorably.

"Haha, I won't ask anymore. Are we eating outside or at the cafeteria?"

"The cafeteria. I really haven't been there many times."

Even though today wasn't a weekday, that didn't stop some teachers from holding private lessons — like the one Liu Liu Yifei had followed that morning.

The cafeteria might even be busier than on weekdays; some students from other schools and art-exam candidates also took the chance to come in on weekends for "tutoring classes."

Sure enough, the cafeteria was crowded today. When Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei walked in, they drew a lot of attention.

One was the young Berlin director — lately the promotional material for "Stone" was everywhere — and the other was the currently hot descendant of the Nüwa, Zhao Ling'er.

Many people in the cafeteria weren't from this school, and the gasps were loud. Even those who were from the school had barely ever seen Liu Liu Yifei on campus, let alone in the cafeteria.

The two picked a relatively out-of-the-way corner. Liu Liu Yifei sat down, and Lin Nan made three trips to bring back some side dishes.

"Dig in, Young Lady."

Lin Nan handed over a pair of chopsticks and said.

"Don't talk nonsense. What Young Lady? You're the one who told me to just sit here."

Liu Liu Yifei took the chopsticks and pushed back.

"If you'd gone to get the food, they'd all be staring at you. You're too famous."

Lin Nan explained — even now, plenty of people were still looking their way. Most of the talk was about Liu Liu Yifei; a small number of people were speculating about Lin Nan and her eating together.

"None of our classmates are here. I was even saying that when I came back from wrapping this time I'd finally get to see them."

Liu Liu Yifei changed the subject, a little deflated.

From the day she enrolled, she had been the youngest in her class, and the one with the least time spent attending school.

Every time she came back she'd bring gifts, trying her best to blend into the group. The intention was good, but the results were hard to say — human nature, you know. Envy, jealousy, and in the end, more often than not, people drifted further apart.

"You're talking as if Lao Zhu and I don't count as people." Lin Nan deliberately shifted his tone.

"Heh, you two shameless ones don't count." Liu Liu Yifei flashed her pearly teeth — pure mockery.

After lunch, the two took a walk around campus. Lin Nan heard Liu Liu Yifei say that her mother and the others would hire some professional teachers to give her extra lessons, aiming to reach the level of being able to release an album as soon as possible.

Over the next few days, Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei frequently appeared together in the school cafeteria. The rest of the time, one attended classes while the other kept recalling the plot and writing the script. Time seemed to pass faster — in the blink of an eye, the day of the "Stone" premiere had arrived.

As director, Ning Hao and the main creative team arrived at the venue very early. Boss Wang from Enlight Media was also there with his subordinates.

Lin Nan, on the other hand, had even slept in. He only needed to arrive before the premiere; greeting the guests was Ning Hao and the others' job — they were the main characters today.

The premiere ceremony started at noon, but the screening was in the afternoon, followed by an evening banquet.

Liu Liu Yifei went with her mother today; Lin Nan was picked up by a company car, along with Zhu Zhu Yawen and Wang Wang Jinghua.

At eleven in the morning, Lin Nan got in the car and set off for the designated location. Enlight Media had booked out a small cinema and a nearby hotel.

The premiere ceremony wasn't planned to be grand, but plenty of people came. Some industry people didn't have invitations but showed up anyway — Lin Nan and the others had anticipated this and were certainly going to welcome them with open arms.

Arriving at the hotel, the outside was decorated very eye-catching — banners, large posters, and a red carpet.

More than a dozen security guards stood outside, mainly to prevent any incidents.

Lin Nan walked into the hotel and saw Ning Hao chatting animatedly with a group of guests, a constant smile on his face.

Film companies, theater chain executives, actors and stars, media, and quite a few producers…

Everyone who should be there was there; some might still be on the way.

"Lin Dao."

"Lin Dao."

……

Seeing Lin Nan come in, quite a few people greeted him.

Ning Hao strode over in a few steps. "You're finally here. Sleeping in at a time like this — you've got some nerve."

"Had to leave you enough of the spotlight." Lin Nan quipped.