Chapter 536: Standing in Line, Stating a Position

The film and television circle and the entertainment circle could be described as "lively" to the extreme.

The news about the Golden Bear director was still hanging on Weibo hot searches and portal website headlines;

While Zhou Xingchi and *The Mermaid* were also "bloody," pushed to the forefront by the media over there.

Two major pieces of news in the circle had rarely formed a tacit understanding.

They yielded to each other for entertainment headlines and Weibo hot searches. One moment it was you, the next it was me, completely giving no chance to other industry information.

Even the multiple films that were in the midst of intense promotion and preparation for release in the second half of September and the National Day slot were overshadowed, suppressed by more than one level!

"This Weibo post is quite interesting!"

In the morning, Lin Nan was eating while browsing entertainment information on his phone.

Miss Zhang's Weibo had already been filled with comments by netizens who loved to watch the fun.

Especially under that selfie Weibo post "Have I been discovered? My little 'love'!", the taste had changed.

"Tell you some unfortunate news, Old Wang's thing has been caught... and he was playing double..."

"Today, we are all your husbands, don't cry, don't cry, hold on! Keep it up!"

"Tell you a secret, don't tell others that I told you:

Old Wang often plays like this, he was just caught and taken in, the location is in the capital. You have to thank me for telling you this news."

"Sister-in-law, Brother Wang has fallen this time! You should come back quickly to handle it, I'll go pick you up... my shoulder can be lent to you..."

Facing the ridicule of many netizens, Miss Zhang was quite calm; she posted a Weibo post last night and then closed the comments:

"My mood is very complicated, I believe the law enforcement departments will have a fair handling, we will bear the impact of this incident on the family together, thank you all for your concern."

It could be seen that this was not a small woman!

"Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Zhou Xingchi insisted on using her? Her own personality fits the role very well!" Lin Nan muttered in approval.

At this time, the assistant ran over:

"Lin Dao, the car is ready. China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group are also ready to set off. Director Zhou Xingchi is with Chairman Ren."

"Hmm, then let's go. Although it officially starts in the afternoon, the press conference at noon... is also very important, isn't it." Lin Nan smiled, implying something.

When the group of people and several sedans set off from the hotel, the area outside the audition finals venue for *The Mermaid* was already overcrowded.

Media reporters from the mainland and Hong Kong flocked here, waiting early.

The biggest gossip news in the film and entertainment circle these past two days could all be related to *The Mermaid*; how could the reporters and paparazzi not be excited?

It was simply that their excitement was overflowing! Everyone was waiting for the press conference for the female lead audition finals at noon today.

Outside the Overseas Chinese Town Creative Park, Han Jia was in a lady's casual suit, looking quite heroic, with two assistants following her.

"Director Han, all the contestants are already in the dressing room. Should we let the media in early?"

Han Jia shook her head and said indifferently: "No need to be early, these people will definitely wait outside for Director Zhou Xingchi and Senior Brother Lin Nan and the others."

The two assistants then realized belatedly that the important guest this time was Lin Dao Nan?!

Looking at the watch on her wrist, Han Jia walked towards the main entrance of the venue: "Let's go, they are arriving."

Before long, the area outside the venue became restless.

A motorcade consisting of several black Mercedes-Benz slowly drove over from a distance, and a large group of security personnel hurriedly surrounded them.

Reporters were firmly defended by a human wall formed by other staff. The media channel had been opened, but no one went in.

The rear door of the first car opened first.

Wearing a black formal suit, black-rimmed glasses, and gray-white hair, Zhou Xingchi stepped down.

He smiled somewhat awkwardly at the dozens of media outlets, waved his hand, and then turned back to wait for the remaining cars.

"Holy crap! There really is an important guest? To make Star Master have this attitude..."

"This formation is not small!"

"So that's it, it's Chairman Ren from China Film Group, no wonder."

"And Chairman Ren from Shanghai Film Group..."

"Lin Dao Nan!"

The moment the people in the cars behind stepped out, the lenses of the media on the scene were instantly busy.

Today there really was an "important guest"! The bosses of the three major producers—China Film Group, Shanghai Film Group, and Lin Nan Film Industry—had all come.

"Let's go in first."

Although Ren Zhonglun had a smile on his face, his tone didn't carry a hint of emotion.

Because the media were already scrambling to shout:

"Star Master, industry rumors say Miss Zhang will star in *The Mermaid*, will she be distracted because of her family's affairs... affecting the filming..."

"Chairman Ren, *The Mermaid* is about to start filming, will this 'Anti-Zhou Incident' affect the film... is it..."

"... regarding the ultimatum for you to publicly apologize and explain the situation within 10 days, are you prepared... or are you still not responding?"

"Director Johnnie To... publicly bombarded... low character... selfish..."

"Lin Dao, what do you think..."

Zhou Xingchi lowered his head slightly, wanting to walk faster to get in, but considering the three people including Ren Zhonglun on the side, he was even more awkward.

At this moment, not only did Ren Zhonglun not have a good mood, but Ren Zhonglun was the same, but both kept smiling.

Only Lin Nan trailed behind, listening with interest to those questions; one sharper than the other!

"Senior Brother, here."

Han Jia waved not far away, coming up happily.

"Uncle Ren, Uncle Ren, Director Zhou."

The relationship between the elders didn't affect Han Jia calling Ren Zhonglun uncle at all, and the latter also nodded with a smile, "Grown a lot, not bad."

Following Lin Nan, Han Jia revealed her carefree nature again.

"This period of time has tired me to death, after getting it done today... Senior Brother, will you treat me to a meal?"

This sharp turn almost flashed Lin Nan's waist.

"Let's talk after we go in, there are so many people." He complained angrily.

"The key is that the salary hasn't arrived yet, so I'm counting on you to treat me to a big meal... hmm, I've already told Yifei, she's willing to treat, saying let you pay the bill, hehe."

Inside the venue, it looked like a T-stage.

A large army of media reporters filed in and took their seats.

Lin Nan didn't know what Zhou Xingchi and Ren Zhonglun specifically talked about in the morning, only knowing that the two talked in the room for nearly an hour.

And looking at this situation, Chairman Ren seemed to be about to make a move!

At 10:30 in the morning, the press conference for *The Mermaid* female lead audition finals officially began.

13 young girls, neatly dressed in white tube tops, shorts, swallow-tail gauze skirts, with long hair draped, stepping on white high-top shoes, with bare legs, lined up and walked onto the stage, divided into two sides.

Don't say, the scene was instantly filled with a youthful atmosphere; after all, they were all 17 or 18 years old.

The media didn't think about "showing mercy," Zhou Xingchi, Ren Zhonglun, Ren Zhonglun, and Lin Nan, and even Han Jia knew it in their hearts.

A perfectly good press conference had no questions about *The Mermaid* auditions.

Either it was that family taking the Hong Kong circle to shout for Zhou Xingchi's head, "turning over old accounts" from beginning to end to denounce him; or it was Miss Zhang's affair.

They couldn't hide even if they wanted to, because today's press conference arrangement was set last month.

Lin Nan was distracted, and Han Jia suddenly touched him.

Only then did he notice that following the reporters' questions, Zhou Xingchi's face was already very ugly, stuttering... unable to say a sentence clearly.

Ren Zhonglun's eyes on the side seemed to be... hinting at him?

Alright, Lin Nan understood.

As a state-owned enterprise, they couldn't take the initiative to provoke things or fire cannons, so this start had to be made by him.

"Alright, Director Zhou Xingchi is not good with words. Let me, an outsider, talk about an outsider's view."

As Lin Nan's voice sounded, dozens of media outlets and nearly a hundred reporters on the scene immediately aimed their lenses over, everyone's face filled with excitement.

Because everyone knew that Lin Nan generally wouldn't express his position on anything, but if he took the initiative to speak, there would definitely be a "surprise"!

Zhou Xingchi also cast a grateful look, very obscurely.

"How to put it? Both sides have police and laws. That wife isn't ignorant of the law, right? Someone posted that their family is involved in... why not call the police?"

After saying this, Lin Nan paused, and it could be seen that many people were already thinking.

"Public figures being named and called out like this for being involved in... their way of handling it makes me very puzzled."

"Why don't they seek legal help, but instead form cliques in the circle, occupy a large amount of public resources in groups of three or five, and scold directly... what are they thinking? Are they afraid to call the police...?"

Lin Nan's words were sharp. Yes, why not call the police to catch the person who posted?

Han Jia raised her hand lightly on the side and gave a thumbs up, making the corners of many reporters' mouths tremble; worthy of being the daughter of Mountain Eagle... truly daring!

The scene was silent, all waiting for Lin Nan to continue; today everyone had made a profit, their performance depended on Lin Dao!

Lin Nan felt that this group of people wanted to eat shit! He would at most start it and set the rhythm, and then Ren Zhonglun and Ren Zhonglun would finish it.

He smiled and continued to add:

"Think carefully, that side has been chasing and scolding for so many years, Director Zhou Xingchi doesn't seem to have talked back, right? Is this a bit like picking a soft persimmon to pinch?"

While talking, Lin Nan also looked at Zhou Xingchi: "Director Zhou, I'm thinking, you shouldn't have dug up someone else's ancestral grave, right?"

After this sentence was spoken, the scene instantly burst into laughter.

"Lin Dao is joking, hehe..." Zhou Xingchi hurriedly waved his hand, also amused.

"China Film Group, Shanghai Film Group, and Lin Nan Film Industry invested in *The Mermaid*, with a production cost of 300 million!

Seeing that the auditions are about to end and filming is about to start, they are doing this. Chairman Ren, Chairman Ren, and I find it very difficult not to suspect that this is aimed at our three companies!"

After Lin Nan finished speaking, he looked at Ren Zhonglun, the meaning was very clear: Chairman Ren, I've done this much, the rest is up to you.

The media were already excited to the extreme; Lin Nan actually dragged the war to China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group!

"What Lin Nan said is what I think in my heart.

You are the media, you can tell them, it's been so many years, don't you wonder why others are determined to break off cooperation with them... also, don't always talk about a few bottles of red wine, there's no evidence, if it really doesn't work, just send the bill over..."

Ren Zhonglun's words were already considered harsh, and the scene was a bit dead silent.

"The bill should still be sent to the crew, it can be deducted from *The Mermaid*'s production cost... just treat it as celebrating the big box office in advance... inflation can be calculated..."

"If you want wine, that's fine too, the same year, the same cellar batch, can also be sent to her... this little thing can still be easily found."

Ren Zhonglun's follow-up sentence was simply a kill shot, it was his style.

"A few bottles of red wine that I don't know if they exist, can be nagged for so many years, a bit of that, right?"

Han Jia muttered in a low voice, but the scene was too quiet, so the voice was clearly audible.

At the morning press conference, the tone for the "Anti-Zhou Movement" was set.

China Film Group, Shanghai Film Group, and Lin Nan Film Industry personally stood on Zhou Xingchi's side, also for the sake of *The Mermaid*!

The media reporters had already rushed out the drafts in this short while.

They only wanted to know now, after today, how that family and the Hong Kong circle would respond.

Would they choose to admit defeat? Or continue to "speak without restraint"?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 537 =====