Chapter 63: Gift

Lu Zheng was very enthusiastic and invited Ning Hao and his wife and Lin Nan to have dinner together.

Lin Nan did not refuse.

Through this dinner, everyone could be considered to have gotten to know each other.

Miss Jing Tian Tian took the initiative to exchange contact information with Lin Nan, including QQ.

After knowing that the two were fellow townsmen, the atmosphere became even more harmonious, and the topics of conversation became more numerous, especially after a few sentences in their hometown dialect, the relationship became much closer.

A beautiful girl opening her mouth to speak in a northwestern dialect—that scene was simply unbearable to look at.

There was no cliché drinking table culture; everyone chatted about local customs and excellent film and television works, and the experience was very good.

After the banquet, Lin Nan and Ning Hao and his wife got into a car, and Lu Zheng and Miss Jing Tian Tian left together.

"I really didn't expect that you guys were actually fellow townsmen."

Xing Aina thought of the two of them talking in dialect and found it funny.

"Yeah, it's quite interesting." Lin Nan thought of the scene just now and also felt it was interesting.

In the other car, the driver was driving steadily.

"The harvest today was not bad. You can be considered to have gotten to know Lin Nan.

This relationship of being fellow townsmen might just be fellow townsmen to ordinary people, but to people in this industry, it is a bond."

Lu Zheng glanced at Miss Jing Tian Tian, who was lost in thought.

"That place in the Northwest is not bad. Many big directors started from the Western Film Studio—the fourth generation, the fifth generation...

Maintain this relationship well. Sometimes, even with money, you might not be able to squeeze into these core circles."

Miss Jing Tian Tian glanced at Lu Zheng. "I know, Uncle Lu."

Actually, she didn't want to maintain relationships so utilitarianly in her heart. She liked to get along purely as friends; that would be more relaxed and sincere. But what Lu Zheng and the others said was always different from what she thought.

Lin Nan inexplicably thought of a sentence: a girl from a good family has a simpler mind because her family protects her well, always avoiding letting her see some bad things.

Lin Nan looked at the exquisite card in his hand. This was a birthday invitation card handwritten by Liu Yifei.

He opened the office cabinet and took out a gift that had been prepared long ago.

During this period, the entertainment industry was very lively, and all kinds of news were dazzling.

The matter of Wang Jinghua had just shown signs of calming down, and here the Little Dragon Maiden was going to hold a birthday banquet. In the words of Chen Jinfei and Mother Liu, this was called a coming-of-age ceremony.

*The Story of a Noble Family*, *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*, *Chinese Paladin*, plus *The Return of the Condor Heroes*, which hadn't been released yet but already had stills leaked—Liu Yifei was undoubtedly the new-generation actress with the highest popularity and the most fans.

According to the plan of Mother Liu and Chen Jinfei, this banquet would invite many filmmakers, playwrights, media people, and big names they could invite in the industry, thereby paving the way for Liu Yifei's future career.

This was the best method they could think of. Lin Nan had to admit that this method was indeed the most direct and effective.

A portion of the invitation cards were sent out by Liu Mu and the others, and only a small portion were handwritten and made by Liu Yifei herself. The targets were the small group she was very close to: Lin Nan, Watching Shu Chang, Zhu Yawen, Jiang Yiyan, and others, as well as girls like Jiang Xin whom she met while filming.

The media had been warming up the report for a few days in advance. The theme "Crystal Princess, Fei Over Eighteen" had a very fairy-tale atmosphere.

The Fangfei Garden of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse was directly booked as the venue for this banquet.

Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen agreed to go together that day.

Watching Shu Chang was convenient; as a best friend, she set off directly from Liu Yifei's home.

In the QQ group of the 2002 Acting Class, they were also chatting about this matter. Liu Yifei was very thoughtful and sent invitation cards to all her classmates, but most couldn't go. There were too few people with a smooth star path, and most were busy on film sets and locations.

Many people in the group sent blessings, almost all of whom couldn't come, and Liu Yifei replied to them one by one.

This year, the school's start date was at the end of August, and many freshmen from afar arrived a few days or even a week or two early. Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen saw many new faces.

After that day, Lin Nan had one more Miss Jing Tian Tian in his QQ friends, and they chatted a few times.

Regarding her future plans, she was very clear: she wanted to be an actress. While releasing an EP, she had already signed for a movie.

Lin Nan asked curiously what movie it was. Miss Jing Tian Tian replied after a long time with a few words: *Anaconda*, from Hong Kong.

Hearing this name, Lin Nan had a bad feeling. He just hoped she would have good luck.

On the 25th, the weather was nice and not very hot.

Early in the morning, Zhu Yawen drove to the school to pick up Lin Nan.

"I've become your full-time driver."

Looking at Lin Nan who was washing up, Zhu Yawen said indignantly.

"Wait for me a bit, I'll be ready soon," Lin Nan said.

Men are much more effortless than women when it comes to grooming and dressing.

For such a formal occasion, a suit was more appropriate. Lin Nan had prepared his clothes two days in advance.

In terms of physique, Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen were both standard, and their heights were about the same. The two of them were dressed in formal wear, walking on campus, and the head-turning rate was still quite high.

"That's Director Lin Nan and Senior Zhu Yawen. What are they going to do? So formal."

Some students were very curious.

"They should be going to attend Liu Yifei's birthday banquet. It's been said on the internet for the past two days, it seems like it's today."

"The people going should all be famous, right?"

"That's for sure. There should be many film and television companies."

If one had to say, Chen Jinfei's move this time was really not small. The media broke the news that the budget for this banquet was nearly two million.

Just speaking of the venue, the specifications of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse were very high-class, and the layout was also high.

Many domestic blockbusters didn't have this scale for their premieres. If one really had to compare, perhaps only the premiere of *Hero* could firmly suppress it, because it was at the Great Hall of the People in the capital.

Starting from the main hall entrance and extending outwards, the red carpet was dozens of meters long.

Flowers were dotted everywhere, and luxury cars gathered. A large number of media reporters arrived early. Outside the main hall, cameras flashed. Today's news material would definitely not be lacking.

Zhu Yawen drove, Lin Nan sat in the passenger seat, and there were two gifts in the back seat, neither of the boxes was large.

It was called a birthday banquet, a coming-of-age ceremony, but perhaps only these friends of Liu Yifei had prepared gifts with real heart. For others, socializing and networking were the main purposes.

After parking the car, Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen picked up their respective gifts and set off for the destination.

From afar, they saw the place where the crowd gathered, with reception etiquette guiding guests onto the red carpet.

"Is that Director Yu in front?" Zhu Yawen said uncertainly.

"It's Director Yu Min." Lin Nan took a look.

"Wow, that's Teacher Zhu Shimao, that seems to be Teacher Yu Junjian, and..."

Zhu Yawen recognized them one by one, becoming more excited as he spoke.

Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen walked onto the red carpet. Reporters on both sides called out to Lin Nan. He turned his head to look; it was Sina, an acquaintance, and he smiled and cooperated for a photo.

"Please sign."

The etiquette lady handed over two pens. Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen left their names in the guest book. Many people had already arrived in front, and looking at the signatures, they were all people in the circle.

Entering the main hall, the view was wide, and guests in groups of three or five were holding glasses, chatting and laughing together.

"Director Lin Nan."

Chen Jinfei's appearance was not the kind that was kind-hearted. At this time, he greeted Lin Nan with a smile, which made the latter a bit uncomfortable.

"President Chen, hello."

"Haha, no need to be so polite. Yifei was just talking about you and Yawen. They are in the back right now."

Lin Nan exchanged a few polite words and walked towards the back with Zhu Yawen.

Many people saw Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen. The ones who came from Huayi were still the younger Wang Zong, and on the side were Big Beard Zhang, Yu Min, and Wang Jinghua and Orange Sky's people, who were on both sides of the hall, giving a feeling of not interacting with each other.

"Director Lin, come over and gather," the younger Wang Zong shouted.

"Wang Zong, I'll come over in a while," he said, shaking the gift box in his hand.

Chen Jinfei looked at the hall entrance from time to time. At this time, it was clear that some people hadn't arrived yet.

Passing through the hall and arriving at the backstage, it was very lively with many women.

Liu Mu stood on the side, looking at her daughter sitting in front of the dressing mirror, in a princess dress, generous and decent, with a makeup artist applying makeup on the side.

Watching Shu Chang, Jiang Yiyan, Zhou Yang, and Jiang Xin were all dressed up, chatting about something on the side.

Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen walked closer and were seen by the sharp-eyed Jiang Yiyan: "Our big Director Lin and Zhu Yawen are here."

A group of people looked over immediately. Liu Mu smiled: "You're here."

"Auntie standing here is like Yifei's older sister." Zhu Yawen had a sweet mouth, which made Lin Nan stunned. Had this guy been taking extra lessons behind his back?

"How can it be as exaggerated as you say."

Liu Mu said it was exaggerated, but her face was already full of smiles.

Liu Yifei wanted to turn her head, but couldn't, as the makeup artist was applying makeup.

"Let me see what the gifts are."

Watching Shu Chang took two steps over, took the gifts from Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen's hands, and retreated to the side of a group of girls.

"How can you be like this?" Zhu Yawen said.

The few girls didn't care about this.

"Qianqian, these are the gifts they gave you. Can we open them now?"

Watching Shu Chang made a face at Lin Nan and the two, then asked Liu Yifei.

"Open them."

Liu Yifei couldn't say too much, fearing that facial movements would affect the makeup artist.

"This child."

Liu Mu smiled at Watching Shu Chang's behavior. Isn't a child's personality just like that?

"Wow, a crystal kitten, so beautiful! No wonder it's so heavy. Zhu Yawen is quite good at picking."

A few girls chattered and commented.

The better the relationship, the less suitable it is to give expensive gifts. It's best not to mix other things into friendship.

"Why is Lin Nan's thing so light?" Zhou Yang mocked.

"You didn't just write a greeting card and put it in, did you?" Jiang Yiyan covered her mouth and laughed.

Lin Nan shrugged: "You can't deny its weight just because it's light."

"Open it and see what it is."

Watching Shu Chang did it herself, tore open the packaging, opened the flat box the thickness of a notebook, revealing the cowhide-colored file bag inside.

"What is this? It's wrapped layer after layer."

Watching Shu Chang pouted and glanced at Lin Nan.

Opening the file bag, Watching Shu Chang pulled out a stack of documents, purely in English.

"Ah!"

Watching Shu Chang let out a scream and held the stack of documents to her chest. Before the few girls could see clearly, they were startled by Watching Shu Chang's scream.

"Haha."

Lin Nan was amused by Watching Shu Chang's appearance.

The makeup artist relied on her experienced experience, so the eyebrow pencil in her hand didn't get drawn crooked from being startled.

Watching Shu Chang said weakly amidst the puzzled gazes.

"Qianqian, actually my birthday is also today, do you believe it?"

"Isn't it three months later?" Lin Nan joked maliciously.

"Hmph, I'm jealous," Watching Shu Chang pouted.

"Auntie, Lin Nan has prepared an unexpected big gift for Qianqian."

Watching Shu Chang said, handing the documents to Liu Mu.

"What is it?"

Liu Mu took it and asked. ===== CHAPTER 64 =====