Chapter 65: Teacher, Student

Liu Mu didn't know when she had come to her daughter's side.

"They left?"

"Mm."

Looking at her daughter's appearance, Liu Mu felt a bit lost and reluctant, but still smiled.

"After today, you are eighteen, an adult. You can have a boy you like, but you must be careful. Liking doesn't necessarily mean love, and whether it can last is very important. Don't ever follow my old path..."

"Mom, what are you saying!"

Liu Yifei's face turned red.

"I won't say it, I won't say it. You're still shy."

Liu Mu stroked her daughter's long hair and said lovingly.

"Your father called you regardless of the time difference. Remember to ask about him and care for him when you have time. It's not easy for him either."

At this moment, Liu Xiaoli felt a bit more sadness. After all, she had been young and energetic before, and her heart was too high.

"I know."

Liu Yifei held Liu Mu's arm, ready to go home.

Liu Yifei's birthday banquet contributed enough material to the next day's entertainment news. The venue and the guests present made a group of actresses and female stars envious.

Some news cannot be hidden. The fact that Liu Yifei received a movie invitation on her birthday spread like wildfire.

It didn't matter who revealed it; the key was the content of this movie invitation, which made the media act as if they had taken medicine, all of them like they had been injected with chicken blood.

A female lead in a sci-fi film with a production cost of 60 million USD—a big production that couldn't be seen in the country at all.

No need to ask anymore; everyone knew which movie it was.

"This is what he meant by the role already being decided?"

Wang Zhonglei looked at the news, thinking of Lin Nan's words at the dinner table yesterday.

When Huayi successfully obtained the investment amount from Lin Nan, both Bingbings had fantasized about this female lead role, but at that time, Lin Nan had said there was no such thing.

Such a big production could only be played by Hollywood. Which actress wouldn't be envious?

It was said that Zhang Ziyi had also had ideas, but was similarly told there wasn't one.

Lin Nan was at school when the company's administration called, saying that the media had surrounded the company with guns and cannons.

President Han called and teased Lin Nan for a long time.

Several partners knew about this, and Lin Nan didn't hide it either.

Liu Mu accepted an interview on behalf of her daughter, saying it was true.

"Lin Nan and Yifei are classmates and also good friends. Yifei once joked that she wanted to play the female lead in Lin Nan's movie, but there was no chance for a while. This time, there happened to be a role, so Lin Nan just sent it to Yifei as a birthday gift..."

Liu Mu said it lightly, wanting to emphasize that this was a gift between friends, but she underestimated the media's pens. By the time the report came out, her words had a sense of showing off.

"I'm so envious of her. Not only is she good-looking, but she also has a friend like Senior Lin Nan."

The freshmen of the 05 class had almost all arrived at school, and their ages were about the same as Liu Yifei's, but the gap was between heaven and earth.

"Mimi, you acted in *The Return of the Condor Heroes* with her. What kind of person is she?"

A girl asked Yang Mi, who was also a veteran actress. Recently, it was heard that she had a TV drama contract and would join the crew soon after school started.

Yang Mi was also proud. Among the freshmen, she was the one who was doing the best. At the very least, she had many film contracts, and in a few days, she would join the crew of *Wang Zhaojun* as the female lead.

Mentioning Liu Yifei, Yang Mi's pride was a bit hard to show off.

"I was the supporting role Guo Xiang, and she was the Little Dragon Maiden. We didn't have much contact, but my feeling about her was okay. She is very beautiful, very pretty."

Yang Mi remembered when she was on the crew, everyone revolved around Liu Yifei. At that time, she thought she must be more popular than Liu Yifei in the future.

But with Lin Nan sending out a role, her thought of surpassing Liu Yifei couldn't be raised at all.

Just heard someone on the side say, "I heard Senior Lin Nan seems to live in school often. Doesn't that mean we also have a chance to contact him? That's a big director..."

Yang Mi was stunned. It seemed to be true.

Miss Jing Tian Tian had been looking at the news for a while. On it was Liu Yifei's princess outfit at the birthday banquet. "She is very beautiful, and her luck is also good."

"She can be considered the best developed in your age group, but I believe you won't be worse than her in the future," Lu Zheng comforted.

"Uncle, it's not that easy."

Miss Jing Tian Tian looked up and smiled. "However, I will work hard."

The Film Academy held a welcome for this year's freshmen. Perhaps because the number of people was relatively large, the scene was not small.

Lin Nan, Zhu Yawen, Liu Yifei, and others became seniors in their fourth year.

On the acting department side, many students with achievements in school were called to the welcome party. Lin Nan was an old oil stick in the directing department and decisively refused this time. Zhu Yawen showed up, but Liu Yifei's schedule changed, and she flew to Sony headquarters.

Lin Nan went to see Tian Zhuangzhuang in his private office.

Knocking on the door, a rough but simple voice came from inside: "Come in."

Lin Nan opened the door, closed it casually, and greeted with a smile: "Teacher Tian."

"Hehe, it's you. I thought you wouldn't come."

If one didn't say that the person in front of him was a fifth-generation big director, perhaps everyone would treat him as an authentic old farmer.

A face full of gullies, yellowish skin, obvious stubble—a proper old man who walked out of the yellow land.

"Teacher Tian is joking. Didn't I come to apprentice? In the future, please bring me along more."

Lin Nan looked like a good student.

"Sit."

"Thank you, Teacher."

"Now it's just to meet in advance. Being my student will be next year.

But your situation is special. At a young age, you have already achieved such results. You need an old man to lead you, lest the tree stands out in the forest."

Tian Zhuangzhuang said directly, without the slightest euphemism.

In Lin Nan's impression, this teacher was one of the representatives of the fifth generation. After being banned from directing for ten years, he returned to the Film Academy to teach. Before being banned, he had already competed for the Golden Bear and won a grand prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival. That was before 1992, and he had also made many contributions to the film industry during the intervening period.

It was clear that he thought highly of Lin Nan, which was why he was so blunt.

"Thank you, Teacher."

This sentence from Lin Nan came from the bottom of his heart. Setting the teacher-student relationship a year in advance was a great help to Lin Nan.

"Mm." Tian Zhuangzhuang nodded, very satisfied with Lin Nan's attitude.

"The school will announce it in a few days. Although the relationship can only be transferred next year, in fact, you can already be considered my student. If you have any difficulties, you can find me at any time. As your teacher, I will help with what I can, and I also hope you go further and further on the road of directing..."

Tian Zhuangzhuang's words really moved Lin Nan.

"I know, thank you, Teacher," Lin Nan said gratefully.

After finishing the serious business, Tian Zhuangzhuang chatted with Lin Nan about work and career, warning Lin Nan to take advantage of his youth and energy to film more good movies, so as not to be powerless later.

It turned out that Tian Zhuangzhuang had already given up on the competition for the general director of the Olympics. He was two years younger than Zhang Yimou, but he looked older than Zhang Yimou, and his energy was even less, which was closely related to his personal life experience.

Imagine a director who loves movies and is full of passion for movies, being banned for ten years—what kind of blow would this cause to his body and mind?

Leaving Tian Zhuangzhuang's office, Lin Nan looked at the women on campus, and his mood was indescribably good. In the future, he would be even more upright and honest. Mixing in this circle, fighting alone is very hard.

*Seven Swords* was off the screen because the box office really couldn't run. With an investment of 140 million, the mainland box office stopped early at 83 million.

When it was promoted, the momentum was huge, and big names gathered. When it was off the screen, it left in a hurry, without a sound.

The investors lost to death, and Xu Ke probably didn't feel good either.

"Senior Lin Nan."

A few new faces walked towards him. They were from the 05 class. In a few days, they would have to go for military training.

Lin Nan didn't look closely. The Venice Film Festival opened on the last day of this month. He was thinking about that classic movie by Li An. It seemed to be this session. Anyway, in the country, one could only watch pirated discs. He didn't know if the school would take it for students to analyze.

"Senior, I am Yang Mi."

Seeing Lin Nan in a daze, one of the girls greeted him again.

"Mm, mm?"

Lin Nan looked closely this time. It really was her.

"Hello," Lin Nan responded.

Except for Yang Mi, the other three girls were a bit restrained.

"Senior, I'll recommend myself. If there are any roles in the future, please consider me. I have acted in many plays, and there are movies too."

Yang Mi said generously, with a smile on her face.

Lin Nan was caught off guard and felt it was very interesting. How could someone meet on the road and recommend themselves?

But thinking about who was in front of him, he understood. This was a person with a very clear career plan and a very ambitious person. Currently, she was still single-mindedly wanting to be an excellent actress, just like her self-introduction during the art exam.

"Wait for a suitable opportunity. You're working so hard just after entering school?"

Lin Nan said kindly.

"Senior, have you forgotten? I've been in crews since I was a child."

Yang Mi didn't care about Lin Nan's perfunctory words.

"Also, fame must be early."

Lin Nan could only chat a few sentences before leaving. He still admired this person quite a bit; she was more decisive than he was at the beginning.

"Mimi, you are too strong. You actually dared to stop him and recommend yourself."

A few girls looked at Yang Mi on the side, their eyes full of worship. Just now, they were a bit nervous on the side, but Yang Mi was able to be generous.

"He is only two years older than us. I thought he shouldn't have the temper of those big directors, and this confirms it."

Yang Mi said confidently. In fact, looking back now, her heart was beating a bit fast.

She had signed with an agency long ago. Although she was young these years, she also understood that opportunities need to be fought for. Some directors are not easy to see, but Lin Nan just happened not to be in this category, and there was a chance to meet him at school.

Xinghui announced that it would hide Huang Shengyi, and the latter said directly to see in court. After half a month of silence, this matter returned to the entertainment headlines.

The investment funds for *Journey to the Center of the Earth* were remitted by Lin Nan's side through the channels of relevant departments according to regulations.

New Line Cinema followed closely, announcing the movie's start date and main cast.

In the actor list, the female lead column read: crysatlliu.

Liu Yifei's photo appeared in the cast, before the white female supporting role.

Many Hollywood companies believed that this movie by New Line had a high probability of entering that huge market full of potential.

Lin Nan had previously instructed New Line that the movie needed to prepare a 2D version.

Because the film infrastructure in many countries and regions was not yet perfect, and 3D cinemas were not popular, for the sake of the box office, New Line decisively adopted this suggestion. ===== CHAPTER 66 =====