Chapter 879: Completion

After turning over the night, Lin Nan rose early. After washing up and finishing breakfast, he did not head to the company, but drove straight to the Film Academy.

Yesterday afternoon, he had already made an appointment with Cao Bao, agreeing to return to the Film Academy this morning to discuss that film.

On the broadcast, the hot news at this very moment was still Boss Jia boarding a plane to Los Angeles a dozen or so hours earlier, and the Weibo post he made before boarding:

"I did not run away, nor did I ever think of running away, and I never planned to hide abroad to evade those tens of billions in debt. I'm only going abroad on a short business trip, and I'll return to the country next week…"

It had to be said, there were indeed no shortage of sharp-witted netizens online, and there were plenty of piercing comments and posts:

"You already owe this much, why isn't there a high-consumption restriction?";

"LeTV is already in that sorry state, is there still any 'business' to be had?";

"Under the LeTV building, the swarms of people braving 40-degree heat demanding their hard-earned money — they still don't know that the controlling shareholder of this company has already pledged all of his shares, do they?";

"Boss Jia has already settled his family…"

"What if he leaves and never comes back? Just eat it cold?"

……

Inside Beijing Film Academy, it was still the same old scene; even during summer vacation, it was packed with people, even more so than usual.

Today it seemed quite a few film and television companies and talent agencies were here to bring in fresh blood, and there also seemed to be several production crews.

Lin Nan did not step forward to join the bustle, but dodged it and headed straight for the Literature Department. As for the Directing Department, he wouldn't go there today.

Not long after, having dealt with the lecturers of the Literature Department, Lin Nan was smoothly invited into the office by Cao Bao.

The latter handed a screenplay to him, his tone somewhat serious: "Her Killing, a realistic subject. The inspiration comes from… a real incident!"

"Teacher Cao, I have to say, you're really bold this time. The real incident you're talking about — the waters there are a bit deep."

"That's why I said it's only inspired by it." Cao Bao corrected him with a meaningful tone.

The next second, perhaps recalling the creative process, perhaps recalling that real incident, Cao Bao said with a somewhat heavy-hearted self-mockery:

"In broad daylight, under the clear heavens, with ironclad evidence… guess what? Nothing to be done! Heh, the real incident that gave me creative inspiration — doesn't it perfectly fit the mood of those two words, 'Scorching Heart'? Lin Nan, are you in?"

"In!" Lin Nan answered without hesitation. This kind of film, naturally, could not be missed. But…

"Teacher Cao, I heard from Liu Yifei that Zhou Xun came to see you a few days ago?" Lin Nan looked up at Cao Bao, asking with very clear eyes.

Sure enough, the latter immediately showed a helpless and troubled expression. "Yes, she wants the female lead of this film; I'm having a headache over it, because I want to use Fan Li Bingbing."

"Is Zhou Xun unsuitable in some way? I remember 'The Hypothesis of Li Mi' went very well, didn't it? In my view, Zhou Xun's acting is definitely better than Fan Li Bingbing's."

"Looks like you lean toward Zhou Xun? But this time I want to go out and try, even to the Three Majors; Fan Li Bingbing has…" For the first time, Cao Bao revealed this idea of his to Lin Nan.

Just as expected!

"But in my view, an actress who has won Best Actress at A-list film festivals twice will very likely, invisibly, make the jury's standards for evaluating the film far more demanding.

You have to know that even Gong Li and Maggie Cheung both stopped at two trophies.

Look at their films afterward — there were plenty of good ones, but even when they broke into the final round of an A-list film festival, how many of them actually won a major prize?"

Lin Nan felt this wasn't sophistry on his part, because the facts were indeed so — the jury's evaluation standards for films starring such top-tier actresses were far stricter.

A film that could have won an award at 90 points might now need 95, because the standard had already changed!

Cao Bao fell silent. When it came to understanding A-list film festivals, especially the Three Majors, he was far inferior to Lin Nan. But even so, he was still very hesitant…

"How about this — I'll send the screenplay up for review first. During this period, I'll think it over carefully, and there's also a lot to prepare…"

At this point, Cao Bao suddenly frowned and said meaningfully, "Lin Nan, I estimate the review time for this screenplay might be a bit long."

Hearing this, Lin Nan glanced again at the two characters "Her Killing" on the first page of the screenplay, and nodded in agreement: "I don't know if it'll be long, but it definitely won't be fast!

As for the choice of female lead, I do suggest that during the screenplay review period, Director Cao, you carefully consider which of those two is more suitable for the film."

While Lin Nan and Cao Bao were discussing the film project "Her Killing," outside, the film and television circle had completely fallen into chaos, online public opinion was in an uproar, and people were furious…

The "Shadow" crew.

Zhang Zhang Yimou, Deng Chao, and Sun Li all wore deathly pale expressions; if they hadn't been on set with so many people around, they might have started cursing by now.

"Heh, this kind of person — you really can't find the words to describe 'it.' Yesterday, before boarding, he posted on Weibo saying it wasn't running away or dodging debt, but a business trip, and he'd be back next week.

But what does the Weibo post he put out today mean? Has he completely denied what he said yesterday?" Zhang Mo said with a dark face, struggling to suppress his emotions and trying not to utter profanities.

At this moment, the entire crew was in a grim, murderous atmosphere. Because just now, Boss Jia had posted another Weibo in Los Angeles, and the meaning between the lines was already self-evident — he had run off!

"…LeTV's enormous challenge today, I will take full responsibility, and I will be accountable to employees, users, customers, and investors to the end…

I voluntarily resign as Chairman, CEO, and even more positions, so as not to drag the company down… Coming to Los Angeles, I am only here to go all out and realize car-making… realize mass production…

I implore everyone to give LeTV time… once I succeed, I will come back, and I will pay off all the financial institutions, suppliers, and every single debt…"

Zhang Zhang Yimou stared coldly at the Weibo on his phone screen; looking back now, how familiar this whole pitch sounded!

Back then, this surnamed Jia used exactly such 'simple' and 'full-of-holes' rhetoric to paint pies, luring people in the film and television industry in one by one, tricking everyone's money in bit by bit…

"Director Zhang, LeTV has issued an announcement." Zhang Mo's assistant walked over and reminded him.

"What did they say?" Deng Chao and Sun Li asked in unison.

"Go ahead." Zhang Zhang Yimou's voice carried a coldness; beneath the forceful aura, what was hidden was weariness and helplessness.

"They issued an announcement saying the board of directors has accepted the resignation of the largest shareholder, Jia Dong, and the group has arranged for other executives to take over the work and positions left by Jia Dong; the group's operations will not be affected…"

"Heh, what a fast reaction." Deng Chao laughed out of anger, his hands trembling.

"As expected, it was all planned long ago — he had long thought of running abroad. LeTV's top brass all knew, and they were just waiting to issue an announcement in response!" Zhang Mo cursed with a cold laugh.

……

When Lin Nan left Beijing Film Academy with the screenplay of "Her Killing," the entire internet was watching the joke on those twenty-some people in the film and television entertainment industry.

Zhang Zhang Yimou, Guo Guo Jingming, Deng Chao, Sun Li, Sun Sun Honglei, Li Xue Xiaolu, Feng Feng Shaofeng, Huang Huang Xiaoming, Yang Ying… as expected, there really are plenty of fools with more money than sense in the film and television entertainment industry!

And LeTV? The boss, with the cooperation of the executives, has run off; this company has completely lost even the most basic 'credit' to speak of;

As for the relevant departments, it seems they always react only after the fact — what a quick reaction!

Back at the company, Lin Nan immediately plunged into the post-production editing of "Druggist"; as for the things outside, he couldn't be bothered to pay them any more attention.

But then again, Boss Jia can be considered to have taught this group in the film and television circle a lesson; from now on, they'll probably be 'once bitten, twice shy' for ten years!

Han Jia Nü Studio, break room.

Watching Shu Chang, unable to keep a secret, leaned close to Liu Liu Yifei's ear and whispered, "Don't even say it, that Ren Ren Suxi from earlier actually looks pretty well-matched with Chairman Han—both of them are scary. Hehe."

Before Watching Shu Chang's words had even landed, Liu Liu Yifei had already reached out and tapped her on the forehead. "Is that any way to describe someone? Be careful Miss Jia Nü hears you—she'll give you a beating later."

"Alright, it's decided—Ren Ren Suxi it is." Speak of the devil, Han Jia Nü's voice startled Liu Liu Yifei and Watching Shu Chang with a fright.

Only to see little Miss Han pushing open the door with a tray of fruit, and the moment she entered she began sharing with Liu Liu Yifei and the other the decision she and Han Han Sanping had just made.

"Really decided on her?"

"Yep, my dad also thinks her audition was really good. She let go completely on the lines, was very uninhibited, had no image baggage, and her acting wasn't bad either."

"Alright then, I'll go back today and give Lin Nan a heads-up too." Ignoring Watching Shu Chang's exaggerated winks and nods, Liu Liu Yifei smiled and nodded at Han Jia Nü.

A few minutes later, as the three were preparing to head back to the audition office to continue casting, Liu Liu Yifei's phone rang.

"Liu Liu Qianqian, my godmother's call?" Watching Shu Chang glanced at the screen and spoke up.

Liu Liu Yifei nodded and answered, "Mom, what's up?"

"Just now Shunyi called and said all the new construction, renovation, landscaping… plumbing and electrical… is completely finished, and they want us to arrange people to come inspect and accept the work…"

"Okay, I'll call back in a bit… that's fine too, you can go take a look first… as for the furniture, one month is more than enough time…"

After Miss Liu hung up the phone, the two in front of her were already both looking eager and ready to pounce. "What's with you two?"

"It's finished?"

"It's finally finished!"

"Mm-hm, what, want to go take a look?" Liu Liu Yifei immediately guessed what those two were thinking.

"Of course, that cost nearly 10 big goals." Han Jia Nü said sourly, and Watching Shu Chang nodded in agreement beside her.

"Then forget it, it's not too late to look in a month and a half. When we move, you two come help out together."

……

Bad Monkey Pictures.

Shen Teng had made a special trip over to confirm the filming matters again.

"Director Ning, our film should be able to wrap by the end of December, right?"

"What, got a scheduling conflict?" Ning Hao—sharp as he was—immediately saw the subtext behind Shen Teng's smiling face.

"It's not a conflict, it's just that our company is working on the sequel script to 'Happy Happy Mahua,' called 'Hello Mr. Billionaire'; Yan Fei plans to start shooting right after I wrap 'Crazy Alien.'

"So, we're about to start shooting too, so I came over specially on behalf of our company to ask—can Happy Happy Mahua's start date be pushed up to before the end of December?"

"Then I can only say I'll try my best." Ning Hao spread his hands and jokingly played along with great interest.