Chapter 77: Bazaar, A Gift

The news about Lin Nan's graduation film spread very quickly.

Actors and companies familiar with him in the industry all reached out to ask about it.

"It's not a commercial film, so it doesn't need investment."

"Thank you for your kind offer, Chairman Yang, but I don't need actors, and I'm not short on funds either."

China Film Group, Shanghai Film Group, Enlight Media...

With phone call after phone call, Lin Nan repeated the same words over and over again.

Unlike these film companies and groups, the actors were practically going crazy.

Not a commercial film?

Then it must be an award-contender!

Everyone in the industry knows Lin Nan's resume.

He is not just a director of commercial blockbusters; he also has two Silver Bear trophies for Best Director.

Li Baotian and Jiang Wenli in *Return to Dust*, and Ryan Reynolds in *Buried*.

These three people all nearly won Best Actor or Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival.

*Return to Dust* was also nominated for a Golden Rooster Award domestically.

So, if luck isn't bad this time, or is a bit better, or even better still...

"Director Lin, look at our relationship. Although I already have a few Best Actress trophies, who would complain about having more?"

"Haha, you should focus on studying the script for *The Message*."

"Old Zhu, listen to me, there's nothing here for you."

Zhu Yawen also came over to join in the excitement, but was dismissed by Lin Nan in a single sentence.

Lin Nan admitted that he had been negligent.

He had originally intended to submit *The Martian* as his graduation project, just like he did with *Space Cruise* back then.

Who knew the department would block this path for him in advance.

At this point, he could only choose an award-contender; fortunately, he had just handed a script to Tang Mu a while ago.

Liu Yifei hovered expectantly in front of Lin Nan, waiting for her boyfriend to volunteer an explanation.

"I need someone of Leonardo's caliber to handle this script."

A single sentence left the young lady feeling dejected.

"Hmph, you're really annoying."

"Haha, aren't you going to attend the press conference for the Bazaar Charity Night? You should head over."

"You're not going?"

"I'll go on the night of the charity gala."

"Alright, then I'm leaving, but you still owe me a movie..."

This is the sixth year of the Bazaar Charity Night.

It must be said that this event fully leveraged the artists' desire for fame and profit in the industry, and it has been thriving.

Lin Nan had already received a catalog of the auction items.

When he replied that he would attend the event, Su Mang personally called to thank him.

Within two hours, an exquisite auction catalog was delivered to Lin Nan's company; the efficiency was high and extremely realistic.

"Jewelry, accessories, haute couture gowns, handbags, oil paintings, cars, limited-edition commemoratives..."

Lin Nan flipped through it page by page, and truth be told, there were quite a few good items.

At the Bazaar press conference, media from all walks of life were present.

This was because the scale this year was clearly more than double that of last year, which could be seen from the already released guest list.

A-list stars gathered, several big directors were present, and the bosses of companies like Huayi and Bona would also attend.

This year's charity night was destined to be a vanity fair of competition.

"Yifei, I remember this is your first time here, right?"

Huang Xiaoming looked at Liu Yifei beside him and asked.

"Yes, it's my first time."

Liu Yifei smiled, and many people were looking in their direction.

*Inception* was the film taken by this girl.

Nolan's *The Dark Knight* has already grossed over one billion US dollars globally.

Even a fool knows what a huge cake *Inception* is now.

"You should know about Director Lin's new movie, right?"

Huang Xiaoming lowered his voice to ask, as he considered his relationship with Liu Yifei to be quite good.

"He didn't tell me, only that he needs an actor of Leonardo's caliber."

Liu Yifei's words made Huang Xiaoming very awkward; this single sentence could turn away 99% of actors.

"You can ask him in person during the charity gala, haha."

"Better not, I have that much self-awareness." Huang Xiaoming quickly waved his hand.

The press conference ended.

The next day, Liu's mother began selecting a gown for Liu Yifei.

In Liu Xiaoli's eyes, her daughter was the most beautiful.

An orange-yellow, strapless, off-the-shoulder, cinched-waist gown with silver stripes was chosen as Liu Yifei's outfit for the Bazaar Night.

Paired with a pearl necklace and gold high heels, it made her look even more fair-skinned, beautiful, and like a refined young lady.

"Hmm, and the bracelet." Liu Xiaoli nodded, dressing up her daughter.

It looked good, but Lin Nan just felt he was at a bit of a loss.

After a long while, Liu Yifei stood up, the hem of her dress just reaching her knees, which made Lin Nan feel even more uncomfortable.

"Get ready to go."

For this Bazaar Night, they booked a star-rated hotel and refused to let ordinary people get close.

The red carpet was laid from outside the hotel all the way to the third-floor banquet hall, with a dozen meters of stairs in between.

The car stopped at the hotel entrance; Lin Nan got out first and then helped Liu Yifei down.

Outside, there were only Su Mang and the Bazaar staff.

Lin Nan had thought there would be a large number of reporters.

"Director Lin, Yifei, welcome to Bazaar Night. Everyone is inside."

"Thank you."

Other staff members led the way, guiding Lin Nan and his companion inside.

Entering the third-floor banquet hall, it was instantly different from the outside.

A large number of celebrities from the film, television, and sports worlds were gathered here.

Lin Nan and Liu Yifei entered the venue, and quite a few people noticed them.

"Director Lin, you're over here." Huang Xiaoming waved his hand.

The seating arrangement wasn't very good.

Lin Nan was at a table with Wang Zhongjun, Wang Zhonglei, Yu Dong, and others.

Liu Yifei was with A-list actresses like Li Bingbing, Fan Bingbing, Zhao Yanzi, and Zhou Xun.

The two tables were quite far apart.

Huang Xiaoming's table was actually quite close, with Chen Kun, Hu Jun, Lu Yi, Sun Honglei, and others.

Further away were the people from Hong Kong and Taiwan, such as Wu Yusen, Chen Kexin...

Lin Nan scanned the room; the actresses had all put in a lot of effort.

"Director Lin, is that film of yours really not open to outsiders?"

Wang Zhonglei asked as if no one else was around, and this sentence attracted a lot of attention to them.

"No, it's my graduation project; it doesn't need investment from others."

"Haha, well, there will always be opportunities for distribution later." Yu Dong joked.

Lin Nan didn't respond.

The auction segment didn't actually take up much of the time; they started talking about the theme of tonight's charity gala: disaster area reconstruction.

The performance segment was also indispensable.

Zhang Jingying led the way, and many singers went up.

There were also two South Korean groups; well, the most popular ones.

"The first auction item, a Cartier lucky charm..."

Quite a few people raised their paddles; Wang Zhonglei even raised his once, but it was finally won by someone else for 1.2 million.

Deng Wendi was throwing money around quite aggressively, buying an oil painting for 3.5 million.

Afterward, there were many luxury goods: LV, Dior, Hermès, Gucci...

Most of those raising their paddles were actresses and men with female companions.

Huang Xiao and a crowd of male artists were scrambling for a Gucci limited edition commemorative Dongfanghong bicycle.

Wang Zhongjun spent nearly a million to acquire a complete set of Olympic posters.

"Director Lin, is there nothing you like?"

"I'll keep looking; if there's nothing that catches my eye, I'll just donate some money at the end."

Not long after Lin Nan finished speaking, he waited for an item that interested him.

A jade necklace.

With a platinum base, it was inlaid with 127 natural black diamonds and 191 natural white diamonds, with a 56-gram white glass-grade jade cabochon in the center.

It looked graceful and luxurious.

Many actresses' eyes lit up, and several wives of major directors were raising their paddles.

Lin Nan silently raised his own paddle.

"Director Lin Nan, 950,000."

The number of competitors at the scene instantly decreased.

Liu Yifei glanced at Lin Nan from afar; this necklace did not suit her, and if it wasn't a gift for her, then Lin Nan was dead meat.

Only a few directors' wives from Hong Kong had not yet given up, and after a round of bidding, Lin Nan spent 1.2 million to bring it to an end.

"Director Lin likes jewelry?"

Yu Dong asked curiously.

"It's alright."

If many people were fighting for the jade necklace, then the Tiffany pink crystal necklace captivated every young woman present; after all, who would ever think of themselves as old?

Liu Yifei alone placed three bids, and several top-tier actresses had no intention of yielding.

Sometimes money is not the most critical thing.

"Director Lin Nan, 450,000."

A single paddle raise could solve 99 percent of problems, and for the remaining one percent, just raise it again.

In the end, Lin Nan spent 500,000 to acquire this pink crystal necklace.

Lin Nan did not get involved in the subsequent items, though Liu Yifei did manage to win one.

…………

Less than an hour after the Bazaar ended, the amount of funds raised was published online.

Lin Nan remembered roughly, wasn't the amount more than what was published?

Thinking about it, it was nothing more than that; shouting out prices was just a formality in the end.

Over a hundred stars went, but those who actually paid money were probably at most one-third.

Someone was specially assigned to deliver the auction items.

In his own courtyard, Lin Nan looked at the luxurious jade necklace and the Chinese-style pink crystal lantern necklace, feeling very satisfied.

Liu Yifei came over, holding a box in her hand.

"For you."

A men's wristwatch; this was the only item Miss Liu had bid on.

"Thank you."

Lin Nan smiled and pushed the pink crystal necklace over, "Your birthday gift."

Liu Yifei was happy at first, then looked at the jade necklace and instantly became a bit unhappy.

"Is there nothing else?"

"Nothing else."

Lin Nan spread his hands.

"Who is that for?" The girl pointed at the jade necklace on the table, very angry.

"It's not for you." Lin Nan's playful mood began to rise.

"Hmph, say that again."

"It really isn't for you.

Hey, hey, don't come over, don't use force..."

The roles of attacker and defender shifted, changing from using force to using words.

Finally, the girl curled up in Lin Nan's arms, her cheeks flushed, her breathing uneven.

"If you had said earlier it was for my mom, that would have been the end of it; you just had to tease me."

"It's not just for your mom, it's also for my future mother-in-law."

"Shameless, you're really thick-skinned." Although she said that, the smile on Liu Yifei's face could not deceive anyone.

"You should take it back later."

"You aren't giving it to her yourself?"

"No, I'm afraid your mom will think I'm competing with her for her daughter and then refuse to accept it, haha."

This was the first time Lin Nan was giving a gift to Liu Xiaoli, so it was safer to let Liu Yifei take it back.

"Hee hee, I'll put in a good word for you."

"With such a leaky padded jacket, Auntie should already know, right?" Lin Nan teased.