Chapter 717

Administration cafeteria.

Lin Nan ordered a portion of hand-pulled noodles and sat down next to Ning Hao. In front of the latter was a large plate of dumplings, hmm, with black vinegar.

"The cafeterias of ministerial-level government units are still delicious; they're more authentic than many high-end hotels. During those days when I was filming 'Operation Mekong' in the capital last year, I especially liked the Ministry of Public Security's cafeteria."

Ning Hao said with a smile, signaling Lin Nan to try his dumplings.

The great Lin Dao didn't stand on ceremony, immediately picking one up, dipping it in vinegar, and stuffing it into his mouth, then nodding with satisfaction: "Mm, it's very authentic, and so is the vinegar."

"Speaking of the big meeting this morning, the tone has been set! Internally, restricting that side is a spontaneous act of the industry; externally, this matter simply doesn't exist, and the higher-ups are completely unaware!"

After popping a dumpling into his mouth, Ning Hao muttered in a low voice.

"'Restriction'? Restricting what? Why don't I know about it?" Lin Nan asked without raising his head, his tone carrying a blank confusion, as he had already started eating on his own.

"Yo-ho, the great Lin Dao really has awareness!" Ning Hao gave a thumbs up.

"Director Ning, you should be free the day after tomorrow, right? Don't miss the premiere of 'Big Fish & Begonia'."

Wang Changtian walked over with a tray, on which was a small bowl of rice and four small side dishes, which were quite well-matched.

"Don't worry, Chairman Wang, I won't be absent."

Ning Hao smiled with a rather helpless expression. Whenever the big animated film was mentioned, he couldn't help but think of the "Year Beast" that Bad Monkey had lost money on at the beginning of the year; it was truly miserable.

While the three of them were eating and chatting, a figure walked over from afar, which also attracted the attention of many people around.

"Lin Dao, Chairman Wang, Director Ning, so the three of you are here; you've made me search hard. But there are indeed quite a lot of people here for the meeting today."

The voice arrived before the person did.

The three looked up and saw that Zhang Qiang from Alibaba Pictures had already walked up with a smile, and sat down, considering himself very "familiar."

The bosses of some film companies on the side, without exception, all gave Zhang Qiang face, actively moving their seats and sitting further away.

Because everyone could see that Zhang Qiang had come over because he had something to do; if they guessed correctly, it was about that film and Zhao Yanzi!

"What is Director Zhang looking for us for? To see what we're eating?"

Wang Changtian was the first to speak, his tone carrying undisguised perfunctoriness and resistance; the meaning that they didn't see eye to eye was displayed very nakedly.

The chopsticks in the hands of Lin Nan and Ning Hao didn't stop; Old Wang's attitude at this moment could completely represent the two of them.

Zhang Qiang didn't get angry, but lowered his voice and smiled to smooth things over:

"Lin Dao might have been feeling irritable for a moment before and posted on Weibo, and Chairman Wang and Director Ning also liked it to support and respond. Actually, it's nothing; after all, this matter is about to pass.

The crew over there won't respond anymore, basically no one in the circle will get involved, and it will be forgotten after a while of online commotion...

I just hope Lin Dao can act as if nothing happened, and we can just turn a big matter into a small one and a small one into nothing. Both sides can be harmonious, and we won't occupy social public resources anymore... give Alibaba some face."

Lin Nan couldn't help but laugh; he put down his chopsticks and pulled out a tissue to wipe the corners of his mouth.

"Is Director Zhang afraid that I'll ruin things, so you came to block my mouth?"

"Haha, Lin Dao, what are you saying? I just want to ask for a favor from Lin Dao, and also ask Chairman Wang and Director Ning to give some face. Alibaba is the main controlling investor in this 'No Other Love'."

Wang Changtian and Ning Hao curled their lips obscurely and continued eating, too lazy to pay attention.

"Alibaba Pictures is a film company with an internet background, talking about big data all day long, so you don't even do background checks on actors? Or are you saying you really don't know what kind of goods are in the crew? If Director Zhang really says you don't know or aren't clear, then you're cursing the three of us as idiots to our faces!"

Before Lin Nan finished speaking, Ning Hao and Wang Changtian started coughing; the two didn't want to interrupt his words, but were laughing so hard that food went into their windpipes.

Looking at Zhang Qiang again, the smile on his face had frozen. Lin Nan was cursing Alibaba Pictures in a roundabout way, cursing them, and had also blocked his follow-up words.

Could Alibaba Pictures not know what kind of people were in the crew? Naturally, they knew. But who would take such things seriously? No one!

"So, what does Lin Dao mean? Do you want to continue to stir up public opinion?"

Zhang Qiang didn't answer any of Lin Nan's questions, but asked back directly, with only a last trace of formulaic smile left on his face.

"No, no, no, I won't get involved in this kind of crap anymore. Director Zhang has seen it too, right? Several days have passed, and I haven't paid any attention to it at all."

"Haha, then thank you, Lin Dao, and thank you, Chairman Wang and Director Ning; we've noted the three of you's favor. I won't disturb the three of you from having lunch; when you have time later, Alibaba will be the host and treat you to a banquet..."

Watching Zhang Qiang, who had done a 180-degree turn and left with a loud laugh, Lin Nan muttered in a low voice: "The favor and the banquet can be spared; we are not people of the same path. I indeed won't get involved anymore, because the higher-ups will take action. Just wait."

"How much longer?"

Amidst Ning Hao's bewildered expression, Wang Changtian asked as if unintentionally.

"Should be soon."

……

After the Administration's big meeting was over, the trending searches online had inexplicably turned into something like "Miss Digital";

It seemed like Liu Tao had exposed it in front of the media, and immediately after, a large group of senior actors in the circle followed up on Weibo to echo and complain.

Everyone was saying that they had also encountered such young actresses, but they just wouldn't name names; since they didn't dare to expose them, why join in the fun? Who are they being cowardly for?

Netizens are always "loving the new and loathing the old," and the topic of the whole internet was just like that, led to this gossip.

Namely: which popular young actress is it that doesn't memorize lines when filming, but only recites numbers?

After leaving the Administration and returning home, Lin Nan discovered that in just this short hour, several more trending searches had appeared on Weibo to divert the pressure of public opinion. Alibaba had really spent a lot of money!

Things like Huo Jianhua and Ziwei Gege announcing their wedding date, Hu Ge going to Qinghai to pick up trash, Xiaolongbao officially announcing their marriage registration... really, any entertainment news with a little bit of weight had to roll around on the trending list.

However, just as Zhang Qiang said, the public opinion storm of "No Other Love" was indeed about to be completely suppressed and forgotten by netizens. In short, this trend was very obvious.

Another day passed, and Lin Nan accompanied Liu Yifei at home with peace of mind. The crew, on the other hand, was busy preparing for the start of filming, and Ning Hao had even gone to the scene.

"I've never seen such an overbearing actress; Master Huang's brain must have crashed to have married such a 'monster'."

Shu Chang walked into the living room muttering, and picked up the Sanhua cat sleeping at the door. The latter saw it was an acquaintance and meowed straight away, very well-behaved.

"Did Yang Ying provoke you?"

Liu Yifei put down the script and asked curiously.

Lin Nan, who was playing on the side, also looked up, "Although she is quite that way, she shouldn't be stupid enough to provoke you, right?"

"The gossip outside has already spread: on the crew of 'General and I', Yang Ying thought the supporting actor was disturbing her rest by working out in his room, and scolded him bloody-headed; I heard the supporting actor was also insisting on working out and shaping up every day for the role's requirements.

Our previous 'Eternal Love' crew group hasn't disbanded yet, and I even obscurely asked Zhong Hanliang about it; it seems to be true. But they should be suppressing the trending search now."

Shu Chang said with quite a bit of disgust. Huang Xiao's wife was truly two extremes compared to him, and she was quite good at acting like a big shot.

"Maybe it's because she's pregnant? Hormonal imbalance leading to emotional influence?" Liu Yifei reacted quite quickly, possibly because she had absorbed a lot of experience from Xing Ai and Xie Nan.

"That still doesn't mean she can't distinguish the occasion." Lin Nan smiled and refuted Liu Yifei. In his view, Yang Ying being able to do that kind of thing was not a surprising matter at all.

Relying on Huang Xiao these past few years, basically no one in the circle dared to offend her; they either went along with her or flattered her. It was normal for her to be occasionally overbearing to actors with smaller status; because those of lower status couldn't afford to offend her at all!

After the two women started chatting away, Lin Nan also continued to bury his head in his own leisure; the rest time before filming started was one day less for every day that passed.

Outside, the sudden arrival of a piece of film news made China Film Group the object of envy in the circle, especially among a group of state-owned enterprises.

"At 9:00 AM this morning, China Film Group issued an announcement to the outside world:

Co-produced by China Film Group and Sony, directed by Director Li An, the first 3D/4K/120-frame war drama blockbuster 'Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk' is confirmed to compete for the 89th Academy Awards..."

"Director Li An said in a telephone interview in Taiwan: 'Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk' has indeed registered for all Oscar awards, including Best Picture. This decision was proposed by China Film Group earlier, and he himself and one of the investors, Sony, fully support it."

China Film Group.

Just as the announcement released outside said, at this very moment, La Peikang was in a great mood, full of ambition.

If a film invested in by China Film Group could win an Oscar, then without a doubt, this would be a political achievement!

And he had full confidence in Li An; after all, the latter was truly a top-tier director for award-chasing films.

"Chairman La?"

The secretary knocked on the door suddenly, and the shouting after walking in brought La Peikang back to his senses. He looked up and asked, "What's wrong?"

"That, the higher-ups notified you to go over there right now..."

La Peikang pushed up his glasses, and only then did he see the secretary's expression clearly. His face was a bit astonished, looking like he hadn't recovered from his state of mind.

"Go where? Who told me to go?"

"That, it was a notification from the higher-ups, telling you to go to the General Political Department, saying they called you by name over there."

"The General Political Department of the People's Liberation Army?" La Peikang subconsciously narrowed his eyes; both his expression and tone became serious in an instant.

"Mm, it's that side. Listening to the meaning, it shouldn't just be you alone; there are also Director Zhang, Han Dong, and the others."

"Didn't say what it was about?"

At this moment, La Peikang only cared about this question. Because being inexplicably "invited" over by the military was a bit scary.

"It should be about that 'No Other Love' matter."

As soon as the secretary's voice fell, La Peikang not only relaxed, but his eyes were also flashing with brilliance;

He remembered the words spoken at that small meeting the day before yesterday: the complaint was successful... the ban would be issued by...

"It is indeed a heavyweight department, heavyweight enough!" La Peikang muttered to himself, as if saying it to himself, and also as if saying it to the secretary.

"Chairman La, then now?"

"Go, let's set off now." While speaking, La Peikang had already sat up and strode out.

……

On the other side, Han Sanping was also anxiously changing his clothes; at least he couldn't go wearing old cloth shoes and short sleeves.

This time it was truly reaching the ears of the heavens; the first to step forward was this kind of "violent" department!

"I'll say a word from my heart, Old Han."

"Speak." Han Sanping ignored Han Jia and replied directly.

"You retired and didn't retire, it seems there's no difference? Still being called to meetings every three days? Very busy."

"About the same, after all, I still hold a position. Besides, as long as I'm here for a day, the connections and network are here for a day. If I count on your temperament, if I'm gone one day, you can just wait to drink the northwest wind."

"Peh peh peh, what kind of unlucky words are you saying. You still have to work hard for another twenty or thirty years... hmm, save up more family assets for me!"

Originally, upon hearing his daughter's first sentence, Han Sanping was still comforted and deeply moved; but as soon as the last sentence came out, this harmonious and warm father-daughter affection was instantly extinguished!

"Hehe... just a joke, don't take it seriously."

Looking at his father's darkened face, Han Jia hurriedly smiled to "remedy" it.

"Hmph, you can go drink the northwest wind at noon today."

With a cold snort, in the end, he still couldn't bear to scold her, and Han Sanping just walked out the door like that.

"Hehe, can I still be starved?"

Han Jia's black eyes rolled around, and she muttered in a low voice. She picked up her phone and immediately made a call.

……

Staying at home, feeding cats and dogs, is also a good way to relax the body and mind.

Just as the great Lin Dao finished packing up and was about to finish work, Liu Yifei's shouting came over.

"Lin Nan, add one more for lunch; Jia is coming over, she said she was scolded by Han Dong."

"That must be something she asked for herself." Lin Nan shouted with a smile; she was just a leaky old cotton-padded jacket.

Returning to the villa, Lin Nan had just picked up his phone, preparing to call the restaurant to order lunch first, when suddenly a landline without a caller ID called in.

He hesitated for a moment, and finally chose to answer.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Is this Lin Dao Nan? This is... we want to do a telephone interview with Lin Dao..."

"Good, good, no problem, now is fine."

Liu Yifei and Shu Chang on the side obviously noticed Lin Nan's abnormality. The two exchanged glances, both very puzzled. Where was this call from that could actually make Lin Nan so serious and attach so much importance to it?

Not long after, they heard Lin Nan talking about the previous matter of "No Other Love," and his Weibo, especially emphasizing the two words "ban."

Nearly an hour later, the call ended; only then did Lin Nan take a few deep breaths and relax.

"Whose call was it, looking at you like that, so cautious?" Liu Yifei asked curiously, and Shu Chang was also nodding.

Looking at the two people in front of him, Lin Nan couldn't help but click his tongue with emotion, with a tone of schadenfreude: "Now there's going to be a good show to watch, it's really a big drama, a big excitement."

"Say it quickly, you're killing me with anxiety."

"Say it quickly, say it quickly."

Liu Yifei took the lead in urging him, puffing out her cheeks and threatening Lin Nan with her eyes.

"The top-tier mouthpiece, Zi..."

After finishing his words, Lin Nan also raised his eyebrows at Liu Yifei, joking: "Is there a big excitement to watch?"

……