Chapter 61: Small Gathering, Casual Chat

Lin Nan and Zhu Zhu Yawen were eating fruit in Liu Liu Yifei's garden.

"Crystal, you've gotten fat recently, huh."

Zhu Zhu Yawen said teasingly.

"No way?"

Shu Chang said, looking herself up and down, then hurried into the house.

In less than a moment, Shu Chang came back fierce and menacing, her big eyes glaring at Zhu Zhu Yawen.

"I even lost half a jin."

"Haha, you really believe that mouth of his." Lin Nan laughed.

"Stop teasing her."

Liu Liu Yifei held back Shu Chang, who was about to throw her claws around, and said to Lin Nan and Zhu Zhu Yawen.

"Xiao Zhu, you really left Huayi with Wang Wang Jinghua? Didn't she say which company she was going to?"

Liu Liu Yifei soothed Shu Chang and asked Zhu Zhu Yawen.

"Waiting for Sister Hua's news, should be soon."

Zhu Zhu Yawen replied.

"Huayi has approached my mom several times recently."

Lin Nan knew about this. Huayi had been making big moves lately, frequently sending invitations to some artists.

Just the artists they actively revealed wanting to sign included Liu Liu Yifei, Zhou Xun, etc. —either currently popular artists or big-name actors.

This move really drew a lot of attention, especially the news that Huayi wanted to sign Liu Liu Yifei, which attracted the most fans.

"I guess Auntie still hasn't agreed, right."

Lin Nan looked at Liu Liu Yifei.

"Mm."

Liu Liu Yifei smiled and nodded.

Liu's mother's style of not releasing the hawk without seeing the rabbit—sometimes you had to admit it really worked.

"There were a few movie scripts sent over, similar to the ones I acted in before. After you mentioned it last time, mom doesn't consider those anymore either."

Last time Lin Nan said those two movies Liu Liu Yifei acted in couldn't compare to the influence of her TV dramas, and Liu's mother took it to heart.

"So what's Auntie's selection standard now?"

"Big directors, big productions, or movies starring big-name actors."

Liu Liu Yifei said.

"Isn't one sitting right in front of you?"

Shu Chang blurted out.

Lin Nan laughed awkwardly, "Do I look like someone preparing a movie these days?"

"Then you'd better hurry up."

Zhu Zhu Yawen forked a piece of watermelon and said.

Seeing Liu Liu Yifei's expectant eyes, Lin Nan agreed.

"Don't rush, I really might not have one right now, but I can find one for you from another crew."

"Really?"

Liu Liu Yifei asked in surprise—Lin Nan had never made such a promise before.

"Really."

Zhu Zhu Yawen gave Lin Nan a half-smiling look, clearly thinking of something.

Liu Liu Yifei's album songs had been in production for a while. He heard several were already finalized, including Chinese and Japanese songs—Sony was professional in this area.

"Which company's person is Auntie meeting today?"

Liu's mother had just greeted them and went out. Judging by her attire, it looked like business. In terms of presence, Liu Liu Yifei really couldn't compare to her mother.

"It's President Cai. She wants to sign me too. After we collaborated on 'Chinese Paladin,' she often said she wanted to sign me, and these past few days she's brought it up again."

Looks like the news from Huayi stimulated her.

"Tang Ren started with TV dramas after all, they can't help you with movies. Auntie's visit is probably just small talk again."

"President Cai said she could introduce crews from Hong Kong Island to me, so mom agreed to meet her."

"Then wait for Auntie to come back and ask her."

"Liu Yifei, are you really going back to school when the semester starts?"

Zhu Zhu Yawen asked casually. He'd heard the news before and found it strange—over these three years, Liu Liu Yifei had barely spent any time at school.

"Then I'll come find you at the Film Academy when I'm free."

Shu Chang said to Liu Liu Yifei.

"That's the plan. I can't go four years without properly attending classes. Lin Nan also suggested I stay at school for a while, at least one semester."

Lin Nan nodded, "I did say that. If it weren't for your fame, how would the Performance Department teachers agree to you being away from school like this? There must be plenty of people gossiping now."

Over these three years, the Class of 2002 undergraduate Performance cohort had barely seen Liu Liu Yifei. Even when she returned to school, it was a quick visit and she left soon after.

Lin Nan and Zhu Zhu Yawen had seen Liu Liu Yifei more often off-campus than at school.

"I know."

Liu Liu Yifei's tone was a bit low when she said this. She just didn't care about gossip—she wasn't stupid, she could feel it. That subtle sense of distance and rejection from her classmates, she could sense it.

Zhu Zhu Yawen came over today purely to get away from it all.

Little President Wang had tried to win him over several times, but in the end he decided to leave with Wang Wang Jinghua.

Currently, Wang Wang Jinghua had already left Huayi Brothers Agency, taking a large number of artists with her; to make a clean break, she relinquished her half of the equity.

Under Hua Yi, there were still many of their own managers and artists, hurriedly filling the gaps left by Wang Wang Jinghua and her group's departure.

For those artists who decided to leave, Hua Yi was also racing to recover whatever resources it could claw back from them — announcements, endorsements, or film contracts.

"The impact on me right now isn't that big. It's just that until Hua Zhou Jie and Hua Yi are completely cut apart, there might be fewer announcements. All of us who left are in the same boat — because we might have to wrangle with Hua Yi, and a lot of the clients don't want the hassle."

After finishing the matter of Zhu Zhu Yawen, they chatted about the recent gossip.

Just like ordinary people eating melon, people in the circle also gossip.

The matter of Huang Huang Shengyi — everyone could see she was the one who breached contract first, played the villain while being the culprit, bit the hand that fed her. But the other side had a plan, had plotted it out, firmly seizing the initiative in public opinion.

Add to that Zhou Zhou Xingchi's old rival Xiang Tai coming out to stir things up and fan the flames, and Starlight was thoroughly thrust into the eye of the storm by public opinion; the first-impression villain image would be hard to wash off.

"Didn't expect her to be this ruthless. No matter how you look at it, he's someone who lifted her up with a helping hand, and she didn't leave him the slightest bit of room." Watching Shu Chang said.

"Those few days when the Class of '01 took graduation photos, Lin Zi and I saw the person behind her…"

Zhu Zhu Yawen wore a look like he was about to drop a bombshell.

Watching Shu Chang was genuinely hooked. "Spill it, spill it."

"Looks old for his age, face shape a bit like a shoe-horn…"

Zhu Zhu Yawen started chattering away.

During this period, it was none other than that Young Master Yang who shouted the loudest on Huang Huang Shengyi's behalf, crying injustice for her — if not him, then who.

"Haha, there's no way to describe someone like that."

The two girls were amused by Zhu Zhu Yawen.

"If you don't believe me, ask Lin Nan — he saw it too at the time."

Zhu Zhu Yawen dragged Lin Nan out as a witness.

"Don't listen to him. It's not that exaggerated — just that her looks are hard to describe, that's all."

Lin Nan said jokingly.

"You saying that is the same as not saying anything."

"Let's call it an ugly face with character. Pay attention to the media lately — the man speaking up for her is the one."

Lin Nan said to Watching Shu Chang.

"Then I'll have to take a look."

……

Liu's mother wasn't home, so Liu Liu Yifei called in a takeout order before mealtime.

"You're not even going to ask me what I want to eat?"

Zhu Zhu Yawen watched Liu Liu Yifei rattle off a string of dish names, several of which were Lin Nan's favorites.

"Just eat whatever he eats. I can't be bothered asking you."

Liu Liu Yifei said very casually.

"That's not fair, is it?"

Zhu Zhu Yawen looked at Lin Nan.

Lin Nan spread his hands, indicating that's just how it was. Watching Shu Chang was also making faces on the side.

"Fine, whatever makes you guys happy."

Zhu Zhu Yawen leaned back, crossed her arms, ready to eat whatever came.

About half an hour later, the restaurant delivered the food — two young girls, summer workers, who got very excited seeing the four of them.

"Wow, this is quite a feast."

Zhu Zhu Yawen eagerly opened the meal boxes one by one.

"Enough for you two guys."

Liu Liu Yifei knew Lin Nan and Zhu Zhu Yawen's appetites, so she ordered just the right amount.

"So thoughtful!"

Lin Nan and Zhu Zhu Yawen gave a thumbs-up.

"Naturally." Liu Liu Yifei showed a proud smile.

During the meal, they finally heard Liu Liu Yifei mention that Wang Wang Jinghua had also approached Liu's mother recently, trying to sign Liu Liu Yifei's management contract — and right on Hua Yi's heels.

"It was just a chat at home. Hua Zhou Jie said I had a great foundation, that in the future I could develop toward the international stage, like Gong Li or Little Zhang Zhang Ziyi…"

"If Zhang Zhang Yimou said that, maybe. But she wouldn't open her mouth and say she'd develop you like that, would she?"

Lin Nan laughed — Wang Wang Jinghua really dared to spin it.

"That's what Hua Zhou Jie said."

Liu Liu Yifei nodded; she saw the amusement in Lin Nan's eyes.

"Auntie refused very decisively, didn't she?"

"You guessed it again." Liu Liu Yifei shot him a glare.

"The key is the tone was too over the top. Even though Auntie isn't a professional manager, she definitely knows that reaching Gong Li's level isn't something you can just say you'll develop someone into. Besides, what resources does she even have? Is she going to get you Zhang Zhang Yimou?"

Zhu Zhu Yawen felt a bit awkward.

"Don't put it so bluntly. Hua Zhou Jie is still very capable — it's just that going international might indeed be a bit of an exaggeration…"

"Of course, it's precisely because she really wanted to sign Liu Liu Qianqian, really values Liu Liu Qianqian, that she'd spin it like that."

Lin Nan smoothed over Zhu Zhu Yawen's feelings.

Liu Liu Yifei really liked the acting profession, loved performing, and longed even more to become an actress like Gong Li — everyone at the table knew this, so Wang Wang Jinghua's pitch was quite targeted.

"Gong Li — honestly, I like her too."

Lin Nan suddenly said, drawing the attention of the other three.

"I'm talking about her acting. Our directing department often does film analyses, and the actress everyone likes most is her — the way she is under Director Zhang Yimou's lens. Liu Liu Qianqian, if you want to become an actress like her, you have a very, very long road ahead."

Lin Nan glanced at Liu Liu Yifei, a comment he swallowed back — chances were, she'd never reach that level.

Liu Liu Yifei's expression turned solemn, as if mulling something over, then said earnestly, "I'll work hard, just like Teacher Gong Li."

Saying so, she even clenched her fist.

Lin Nan genuinely admired her courage and confidence.

"Lin Zi, you keep at it too," Zhu Zhu Yawen said with ill intent.

"What about me?" Lin Nan asked, surprised.

"To become a film queen like Gong Li, you've got to have a director like Zhang Zhang Yimou backing you, wouldn't you say?" Zhu Zhu Yawen remarked.

It made such good sense that Lin Nan had no way to argue back.

Then he saw Liu Liu Yifei staring fixedly at Lin Nan. "You said you'd cast me as the lead in your film — you can't go back on your word."

Lin Nan shot a glance at Zhu Zhu Yawen — he'd actually been led right into that trap by this guy.

"Of course, how could I forget?"

Liu Liu Yifei beamed like a flower, looking thoroughly satisfied.

……

That afternoon, Liu's mother returned, and from the look of it, the chips Cai Cai Yinong had offered hadn't moved Liu's mother.

What good resources could there possibly be over in Hong Kong Island? Mostly reheated leftovers, and even if there were good ones, they'd certainly be reserved for their own people first — why would they ever give them to Tang Ren?

Besides, Tang Ren's connections only reached the outer fringes; they were still far from the core of Hong Kong Island's film and television circle — otherwise, how could they have only been spinning their wheels in TV dramas all these years?