Chapter 776: It

During the lunch meeting, when his own affairs were brought up again, Lu Yong was no longer as despondent as he had been when recalling those oppressive years to Han Jia.

Today, the Supreme People's Procuratorate had delivered a final verdict on his actions: he was one who carried firewood for the masses!

"Actually, when it comes down to it, isn't it a bit tragic? It was my fellow patients who pushed me into the 'history books,' but how many people know who they are? Many of them have already passed away.

The ones who left in the greatest numbers were the elderly, and there were just as many children. Some parents were even forced by reality to abandon their own flesh and blood—well, they just left, they ran away.

Couples turned against each other, filial piety was worn away, and humanity was extinguished. Many committed suicide, and there were also cases of homicide—perhaps to discard a burden, or perhaps to let their loved ones suffer a little less. So many, so very many."

Lu Yong spoke with a smile on his face, just like that. It was as if he were talking about something mundane. And that was right; he had seen too much. His smile was also for the sake of those who were still alive.

Lin Nan and the others didn't interject much, and everyone tacitly avoided mentioning anything about the film *Dying to Survive*. However, Lu Yong brought it up himself first.

"Lin Dao, Screenwriter Han, Producer Liu, and the two leaders, when the film is finished and the premiere is held, please do me the favor of giving me a call.

I also want to come to the scene to witness it, to witness this film that tells the experiences and current situation of 'us' on behalf of those fellow patients who are no longer with us. Please, I beg of you."

"Of course, no problem. Even if you didn't mention it, the production team would definitely have invited you, and you are the very first person who must be invited."

Lin Nan nodded and promised solemnly. Han Jia, Liu Yifei, Han Sanping, and Ren Zhonglun followed suit, all chiming in.

Around two in the afternoon, Lu Yong was the first to rise and take his leave. Lin Nan and the others saw him out personally. Watching him get into the car, everyone waved, and he gradually disappeared from their sight.

"I could clearly feel the sorrow in his words just now. He was actually able to say it so calmly, as if he had become numb."

Liu Yifei held Lin Nan's hand tightly, her expression somewhat gloomy. Looking at Han Jia, she was even worse off; she seemed to have fallen back into the emotions she felt when she was writing the script.

"You can go to the oncology departments of hospitals in the capital or other major hospitals; that atmosphere is so desperate it makes people feel oppressed and suffocated.

And Lu Yong, all by himself, helped nearly ten thousand terminally ill patients obtain medicine over a long period, which means he has been in long-term contact with nearly ten thousand such patients and their families.

Think about it, one person facing nearly ten thousand such terminally ill patients and their families, seeing countless instances of human fragility, filth, squalor, and depravity under the pressure of a dead end..."

"After nearly ten years, what would his psychology, spirit, and worldview be eroded into? Has he collapsed countless times? This is far more terrifying than the atmosphere felt in an oncology hospital!"

Han Sanping sighed, hitting the nail on the head. Lin Nan and Liu Yifei felt their scalps tingle hearing this, and Ren Zhonglun also shook his head, sighing without a word. As for Han Jia, she was already wiping away tears in silence.

"Alright, everyone go home. Chairman Han, Chairman Ren, I'm waiting for news on *Dying to Survive*."

"Mm, soon, definitely next month!"

…………

For the past two days, Lin Nan had been busy with film promotion, so he hadn't paid much attention to Wang Baoqiang's first court hearing. The latter had fought the first lawsuit against his "ex-wife" the day before yesterday.

In the afternoon, when Lin Nan went to Enlight Pictures to check on the post-production progress of *Buddies in India*, he finally learned the details of the lawsuit, having been informed by Wang Changtian.

"The morning was the divorce case; the woman 'wanted to save face,' so she submitted an application for a closed-door trial and non-appearance. The afternoon was the case against the manager for embezzlement of office, which didn't end until past six in the evening."

"You didn't see the chat screenshots of that pair of dogs submitted here; it's simply a modern version of Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian. Calling each other husband and wife, the specific paths of asset transfers..."

"These were all provided to Baoqiang by the wife of that manager surnamed Song... Oh, right, the entire agent circle in the industry has reached a consensus to completely blacklist that person surnamed Song..."

"When is the next one?"

Lin Nan put down his teacup and asked. Wang Baoqiang's lawsuit was a tough battle; with all the back-and-forth, it wouldn't be settled for a year or two. It was going to be troublesome.

"End of the year." Wang Changtian felt a bit deflated for a moment, looking at Lin Nan:

"The release date for *Buddies in India* is already set, but it just had to collide with this kind of thing. Next, when Baoqiang is promoting the film, it's completely impossible to avoid related topics. He will definitely be hounded by the media!"

"Besides, there are already voices outside questioning whether he will use his 'scandal' to hype the film. You know, once this kind of public opinion is amplified, it's like mud falling into one's pants—even if it's not, it is!"

Lin Nan frowned upon hearing this: "The film's post-production should be finished by the end of this month. After he starts promoting next month, I will give a heads-up to Weibo. When he's promoting, have him try to avoid related topics as much as possible. To put it bluntly, the more he doesn't mention this matter and avoids it, the better people's perception of him will be."

"Just like you said before, Chairman Wang, his public favorability and the public's sympathy for him this time will all be transferred to the box office of his *Buddies in India*. It cannot be denied that this matter is indeed helpful to his film, but he himself cannot think in this direction, nor can he lean on it!"

"I understand, I will remind him."

When Lin Nan left Enlight, the reviews for *Shed Skin Papa*, which had just been released this morning, had already appeared online.

It was the same old cliché: Nicholas Tse couldn't carry the box office, especially not the box office of Hong Kong films, which had long since become a thing of the past.

No one could lead Hong Kong films to nirvana and rebirth; no one could do it. Because everyone was looking forward, while the Hong Kong circle was still missing the glory of the Hong Kong film era, refusing to make progress!

After arriving home, Liu Yifei was on the phone with Tang Yan; the next stop for *Operation Mekong* was Shanghai, and the two were making plans to eat.

"The itinerary has been sent over; we are leaving in the morning. After the promotional press conference, Tang Tang will host."

Liu Yifei shook her phone at Lin Nan, and Tang Yan's crisp laughter came from inside: "That's right, I'm hosting. Please do me the honor of having a meal, Lin Dao."

"Mm, of course. By the way, is the renovation of your large flat finished?"

Lin Nan leaned in and squeezed in beside Liu Yifei. Film promotion activities took at most two or three hours, so there would naturally be time to eat together.

"It's only been three months; it's still early. It'll probably be February or March next year, right?"

Tang Yan replied with a smile. During the Shanghai International Film Festival in the middle of the year, Lin Nan and his group had been guests there.

"That's a pity. Luo Jin will probably have just started filming by then; he won't be able to see it. Haha..."

……

On the 22nd and 23rd, Lin Nan and Liu Yifei didn't go anywhere and just stayed at home. However, things were a bit lively outside.

Huayi continued to announce the casting list for *Youth*. Sure enough, Liu Xiaoli noticed it. She knew very well that being able to get a role at Huayi meant that a resource exchange must have taken place.

Lin Nan also looked at his mother-in-law with new eyes, because she was completely different from before. She saw the current environment very clearly: without long-term support from the circle's background and resources, a newcomer couldn't be made famous!

On the other side, Jiang Wen's *Hidden Man*, in addition to himself, Eddie Peng, Zhou Yun, and Liao Fan, had also cast Xu Qing, Li Meng, and other actresses, which truly left many artists in the circle disappointed.

According to the casting progress of these two films, the industry had already begun comparing *Youth*, *Hidden Man*, *Operation Red Sea*, and *Sky Hunter*; because these films would basically start filming in the same period, and the interval would definitely not be long!

On the morning of the 24th, Lin Nan and Liu Yifei, traveling light, got into the RV to the airport at seven o'clock, accompanied by only four assistants.

When the two arrived at the airport and met up with Ning Hao, Zhu Yawen, Zhang Hanyu, and others, the news outside had already been flooded by *See You Tomorrow*.

"Alibaba's *See You Tomorrow* is really a big show! Wong Kar-wai is leading the team himself, taking the nominal director Zhang Jiajia, and appearing simultaneously with Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Angelababy, Eason Chan, Du Juan, Lu Han, and Li Yuchun. This scene, the heat of the film press conference in the capital this morning, I'm afraid it's going to explode, right? The *Monster Hunt* crew is directly missing two people!"

Ning Hao sighed with emotion; it had been years since Wong Kar-wai had done film promotion.

"Keep your voice down, what do you mean by 'nominal director'?" Lin Nan raised his eyebrows and teased maliciously.

Beside him, Zhang Hanyu closed his eyes naturally and hummed Peking opera; he hadn't heard anything. Only Zhu Yawen was eager to try, looking like he wanted to continue eating melon.

"Keep pretending! Isn't it just that Director Wong hasn't filmed a comedy, so he's using his 'apprentice' as a cover to play around? Making it seem like everyone in the circle is blind and deaf."

"Director Ning." Liu Yifei couldn't help but "scold" him. Who knew if there were disguised paparazzi around?

"Alright, alright, I won't say it. But I will definitely go see his comedy to see if his ability in comedy is as strong as mine?"

"That's really hard to say, hehe..."

Lin Nan laughed and tried to dodge Liu Yifei's thumb and index finger, but he was still pinched. Hiss... a bit painful.

The two-hour flight was just enough for Lin Nan and Liu Yifei to take a nap.

At 11:00 AM, the two were about to land at Hongqiao Airport;

And at this moment, the internet had already been hit by an earthquake from the breaking news of *I Am Not Madame Bovary*! The eyes of the entire film and entertainment industry were focused there.

The newly promoted international director Feng Xiaogang, leading the *I Am Not Madame Bovary* crew, took the initiative and, "hijacking" the wave of public opinion, started a fight with Central China Normal University!

………… ===== CHAPTER 777 =====