Chapter 458: Returning Home, April

Around eight in the morning, Tang Mu drove personally, taking Lin Nan alone to Los Angeles International Airport.

The two assistants, however, had taken the things and boarded the flight back home the previous afternoon.

"Lin, the company plans to start shooting *Fifty Shades Darker* around mid-year, and also with James on *The Conjuring 2*…"

Tang Mu chatted on and on as he drove, interrupting Lin Nan's little nap.

"Mm, you handle it however you see fit.

Also, be prepared — this year's PR expenses, we'll need to cover them ourselves," Lin Nan instructed.

*Manchester by the Sea* is an awards-bait film, so Leonardo and the others' pay wasn't high, which in effect saved on PR expenses.

"Got it, I understand. The same PR firm as last year?"

"That's right, you can keep working with them."

"Are you really not going to bring in the Weinstein Company? They're really strong in this area," Tang Mu asked to confirm.

"The Weinsteins' reputation is too rotten. Even if the film is excellent and award-worthy, if it actually wins an award through their hands, the award will look completely watered-down."

Lin Nan commented bluntly.

"Alright then, I'll follow your lead."

In the time it took to say all this, the car had arrived at the airport.

Lin Nan pulled a small suitcase, hugged Tang Mu: "See you, Tang Mu."

"Goodbye, Lin. Say hi to Crystal for me."

Tang Mu was better off not saying that — the moment he mentioned Liu Liu Yifei, Lin Nan immediately thought of something.

"You bastard, have you been planted as a spy next to me, reporting my whereabouts to her at any time?"

Tang Mu instantly switched to a grinning, cheeky face. "Lin, Crystal said it's for your own good…"

"Yeah, sure, I'll believe that."

Lin Nan cursed him with a laugh, then turned and walked toward the airport. A few seconds later, he raised his arm and waved it over his head toward Tang Mu behind him.

……

The domestic film and entertainment circles have been very lively these past few days.

A top-tier A-list young actor was "taken down" by Fundexin.

A few days ago, that is, March 28th.

Zhuo Wei posted a "See you on Zhou Yi" Weibo post, pointing directly at the "good man" surnamed Wen male actor and surnamed Yao actress.

Within just a few hours, the parties involved furiously rebutted:

"This is defamation, a completely fabricated 'false report'… we will use legal means to protect our rights."

After a tirade, the male actor even warned the paparazzi to be careful.

Backed by a sugar daddy, and a currently popular A-list young actor, very talented.

Maybe this is the confidence that made him always arrogant and overbearing, looking down on entertainment reporters.

But on Fundexin's side, it's unclear whether they had privately approached surnamed Wen earlier wanting a quiet settlement and were coldly mocked and refused, or whether they were simply settling old grudges.

After only two days, on the 30th, a massive amount of photos exploded online — all of the surnamed Wen male actor and surnamed Yao actress.

This time it was real — a genuine "See you on Zhou Yi," no room for sophistry, a death sentence handed down directly, and the entire internet was cursing him, like a rat scurrying across the street.

The entertainment circle has never lacked people who kick a man when he's down and tear down a wall everyone pushes on.

And the irony is: this is an A-list male actor who carried the persona of "good man," "good husband," "good father."

Taking him down completely didn't seem hard.

When an A-list male star falls, how many resources free up? Everyone behind him gets a chance to move up.

Most importantly, the original wife seems to be pregnant?

Pregnancy — cheating, this can absolutely be beaten to death in one stroke!

The male actor also saw reality clearly. Half a day later, in the early hours of the 31st, he went straight to Weibo to "admit his mistake and beg forgiveness."

But everything was already beyond saving. In just a few days, scandal flew everywhere — reputation, film contracts, endorsements… his career completely collapsed.

The actress had it even worse; what she would face was most likely a ban.

Who told her that the man's original wife had a lot of "power"?

Even the man himself had risen to fame by living off a rich woman; the original wife was no pushover.

……

Lin Nan yawned as he got off the plane and followed the crowd toward the exit.

The early April sunlight was slightly warm, but equally blinding.

He had thought that since he was alone this time, he probably wouldn't be caught, but he had miscalculated.

Entertainment reporters make their living off this — their eyes are definitely sharper than anyone else's.

Having just come out of the tunnel and not having walked a few steps, Lin Nan was still searching for Liu Liu Yifei's car when he was suddenly surrounded.

The reporters were extremely excited — finally caught you.

From late February to now, early April, not only had an Oscars ceremony passed in between, Lin Nan had also shot a film.

Speaking of films, the reporters had plenty they wanted to ask.

Lin Nan finally spotted Liu Liu Yifei's car.

No wonder he couldn't find it at first — it turned out to be the one he had bought for her in January, which had already been delivered.

"Lin Dao, *Manchester by the Sea* wrapped?"

"Yes, wrapped the day before yesterday."

"Will this film still compete at the Oscars?"

Lin Nan paused for a moment. "We'll see when the time comes."

"Lin Dao, congratulations on breaking the domestic film box office record again."

"What do you think of Director Zhang Zhang Yimou's view that all major directors in mainland China have been kidnapped by box office numbers?"

Lin Nan grew serious. To be honest, this question was hard to answer.

"In my view, films are made by directors, but not for themselves; box office is society's way of recognizing a director's film quality, just like film festival awards."

"Although many poor films exploited loopholes to achieve high box office, it remains one of the ways directors gain external validation and motivation to move forward."

"Moreover, films have two attributes: artistic and commercial."

"Box office is the direct manifestation of the commercial attribute—how can you say directors are 'kidnapped' by it? It's clearly positive and constructive."

Lin Nan had just finished speaking when he was immediately pressed again.

"So you mean Director Zhang, on one hand, secretly craves high box office, but on the other, resists this mindset?"

"Or does he still believe the artistic attribute of film should outweigh the commercial one, yet he's betraying his own beliefs by moving toward commercialism?"

Lin Nan internally shouted, "Damn it!"—this was clearly a trap set right in front of him!

"That was merely my personal understanding of 'box office,' not my interpretation of Director Zhang Zhang Yimou. Let's move on—I'm in a hurry."

Lin Nan urged, wondering what else they might ask if they kept going.

"Are you aware of the Wen Zhang incident? Many netizens and industry figures have suggested Director Jiang Wen cut all of Wen Zhang's scenes from 'One Step Away.' What's your take?"

"I've been filming 'Manchester by the Sea.' I haven't paid much attention to events back home."

"It's like this—he was married..."

"Let's stop here. Yi Fei is calling me. Everyone, please make way..."

The reporters followed Lin Nan's gaze and saw Liu Liu Yifei standing beside a brand-new red Ferrari, waving at them.

The crowd chased Lin Nan all the way to his car, yet received not a single further answer.

Beneath heavy makeup, radiant and poised, Liu Liu Yifei fastened her seatbelt, leaned over to Lin Nan in the passenger seat, and said, "Hurry up."

After a light kiss, Miss Liu tilted her chin up, proudly stomped on the accelerator.

With a "Roar!" the car shot forward.

"Slow down, Liu Qianqian."

"Oh come on, just sit still—I'm driving, don't interrupt me."

Liu Liu Yifei shot Lin Nan a "fierce" glance—yeah, kinda cute.

"What did they ask you? It took so long."

"All gossip. But I'm curious—what's Jiang Wen's state of mind these past two days, haha..."

Lin Nan chuckled. He knew Wen Zhang's role in 'One Step Away' was far from minor.

The entire internet is boycotting Wen Zhang, and many insiders are even kicking him while he's down. Jiang Wen must be under huge pressure—after all, it's a 300-million-yuan film.

"If you're so curious, just call him."

Lin Nan shook his head: "No, I won't add to his stress. But knowing him, Director Jiang Da has never been the type to compromise to outside pressure!"

Before Liu Liu Yifei even reached home, news of Lin Nan's return had already spread through the industry.

"Lin Dao Nan landed at the capital airport around 11 a. m. today. 'Manchester by the Sea' has been successfully wrapped."

"Lin Dao Nan refutes Director Zhang Zhang Yimou's 'box office kidnapping' theory using the 'commercial attribute' of film..."

"Finally back."

At the same moment, Wang Wang Changtian, Ye Ning, and others all dialed out—but everyone heard only, "The number you have dialed is currently turned off."

After more than a month's absence, the cats and dogs in the yard, seeing their caretaker Lin Nan, became wildly excited.

The dogs circled him nonstop, while several cats sat at his feet, meowing up at him with lovely voices.

"Lin Nan, Liu Qianqian, come wash up for lunch."

Liu Liu Xiaoli called out to the two as they entered the yard.

Lin Nan looked at Liu Liu Yifei: "No wonder you didn't suggest eating out today."

"Hehe, Mom made dumplings—she hasn't set foot in the kitchen in ten days or more. You're in for a treat."

Liu Liu Yifei giggled, clinging to Lin Nan's arm as they headed toward the villa. This meal was something she'd begged Liu Liu Xiaoli to prepare.

An hour later, Lin Nan sat in the garden, fielding and returning calls—so much to handle.

"Director Wang, China Film Group wants to host the celebration banquet? Fine, let them handle it."

"Jackie Chan's 60th birthday invitation! He's sixty already?"

After finishing the miscellaneous matters, Lin Nan called Wang Wang Changtian.

"I thought I wouldn't be able to reach you today—you were always on another call."

"Why the urgency to find me?" Lin Nan asked with a smile.

"I've reached an agreement with Xu Zheng—'Lost in Hong Kong' has been allocated the company's backup slot..."

Hearing that name, Lin Nan had nothing left to say.

He sighed inwardly. Fine—just take his own 20% share of the box office revenue and leave the rest alone.

Lin Nan remembered another important matter.

"Director Wang, let's schedule a time soon—I'll come to Guangxian."

"Sure. Call ahead—I might not be in the office. What's it about?"

"Business. And in my view, it's significant business."

Hearing Lin Nan say this, Wang Wang Changtian immediately became interested. "Good, we'll talk face to face when the time comes."

……

Lin Nan rushing back at the start of April was the right call, because there really was no shortage of matters.

While dozing off at home in the afternoon, he was woken up by Liu Liu Yifei, because Xie Nan had come over.

"I specifically picked the day Lin Dao got back to come by. Here, this is for you two."

Xie Nan was dressed somewhat loosely, and handed a red invitation envelope to Miss Liu, while the bag of candy went to the dumbfounded Lin Nan.

On the invitation, the big "Double Happiness" character was very eye-catching.

"She's come in person to collect the gift money." Liu Liu Yifei said to Lin Nan with a smile.

"That's right, Liu Yifei and Lin Dao's side, I have to come in person."

Lin Nan took the invitation, glanced at the date, and looked at Xie Nan:

"Tsk tsk tsk, are you two that impatient? There's barely more than a month left until the wedding."

Hearing Lin Nan's teasing, Xie Nan laughed helplessly. "Can't wait any longer. If we don't hurry, my belly won't be able to hide it."

The moment the words landed, Liu Liu Yifei's eyes went wide. She pointed at Xie Nan's belly, looking utterly shocked. "You…"

"That's right, already three months. Wu Jing is already forty, we can't wait any longer."

Suddenly, Xie Nan's gaze turned playful, sweeping back and forth between Liu Liu Yifei and Lin Nan as she teased:

"You two hurry up too, hahaha…"

…………

(End of this chapter)