Chapter 942

Sometimes one really has to admit that the ability of entertainment reporters to stir up trouble and create topics is indeed top-tier and professional, and they are also very good at grasping the itch and excitement points of the public.

Lo and behold, near noon, Zhou Xingchi was extremely unlucky to be staked out; he was blocked at the casting site for *The Mermaid 2* and was asked about the "cringe-worthy" acting of Huang Shengyi.

And so, this pair of master and apprentice, who had gone to court and parted ways 11 years ago, were thus once again pushed to the forefront of all-network entertainment gossip, undoubtedly becoming the entertainment focus and headline.

A simple, plain truth—"I'm not familiar with her"—was undoubtedly a heavy blow in the current context of the topic, making Huang Shengyi and Yang Zai look like unquestionable clowns in everyone's eyes.

Looking back at that year, the "long-faced" one "arrogantly" mocked Zhou Xingchi and "protected" Huang Shengyi; the limelight at that time was truly unparalleled;

But looking at today, a response of only five words made the former so anxious that he jumped, unable to wait to run out and call out to Zhou Xingchi again, pointing directly at the other party for being hypocritical, kicking someone when they are down, and having no regard for old feelings...

This kind of joke, where the status and posture have completely reversed after more than a decade, was something even Lin Nan watched with great interest.

Besides, he couldn't help but feel some sympathy for Zhou Xingchi; the latter shouldn't have responded to the reporter's questions at all.

Because if nothing goes wrong, Yang Zai should follow the trend and bite back, and then bite down without letting go;

After all, the two of them need the heat, and Zhou Xingchi is from Hong Kong, with no power, no influence, and no foundation in the mainland... Isn't this the best opportunity?

"But you also overlooked one point, and that is that the Zhou Xingchi of today is no longer the Zhou Xingchi of a dozen years ago. He is now a qualified capitalist!

In other words, he only needs to say a word, and the co-producers of *The Mermaid 2* will handle these noisy signals for him."

Lin Nan, who had originally wanted to share the joke with Wang Changtian, was instead reminded by Old Wang.

Fine, he really hadn't considered this point. No wonder the usually reticent Zhou Xingchi rarely responded to questions about Huang Shengyi; it turns out he doesn't care at all about whether he's being used for heat?!

"Then it's even better to watch! That long-faced one is truly a hopeless idiot. Just wait and see him get educated by those few companies together."

"Let's talk about your *Mulan* instead. Your behavior of staying at home and not showing your face as soon as you returned has caused a lot of complaints in the circle. A production cost of 200 million US dollars, nearly 1.4 billion RMB in funds, such a huge cake..."

"Stop! It's precisely because I'm afraid of you all staring at me that I haven't stepped out of the house."

Lin Nan also had a headache, the first time he had a headache over how to spend money.

A 200 million US dollar investment, letting a Hollywood team do it, that is a top-tier A-level production.

But after converting it to RMB and letting him preside over the project, it's not just a simple "top-tier A-level production" that can describe it. This level of wealth is simply frighteningly rich; too rich!

"The more you hide, the more everyone will think of you. After all, everyone knows that although your company is large, it still can't eat this super big cake alone... You definitely need a lot of helpers, and this is also the news revealed at the Disney press conference."

"After the 10th, my company will issue invitations to the entire industry, but it will be mainly those film studios, universities, and museums.

In addition, you can also help me convey this: Disney will send a team to follow the crew throughout the process, plus audit the financial accounts at all times;

So companies or units that want to come to me to daydream had better dispel these thoughts. I won't be inviting them out of personal favors, and there are no connections to be made."

"Then Enlighten..." Wang Changtian was a little anxious.

"In terms of domestic promotion and distribution, you should be able to help a little, haha..." Lin Nan's tone was filled with a sense of still considering, laughing unscrupulously.

"You bastard, are you playing the 'kill the donkey after the millstone is used' game with me? Which of your company's films is not being promoted and distributed by Enlighten now..."

Just as he was joking with Wang Changtian, another call suddenly popped up on Lin Nan's phone screen;

His expression stiffened instantly, and his brows furrowed slightly; after a flash of lightning in his mind, he decisively rejected the call.

Inside the China Film Digital Production Base, outside the studio of the *Shanghai Fortress* crew.

The secretary shook his head at La Peikang for the third time, and the latter understood instantly. Although he remained expressionless, the displeasure in his eyes was not concealed at all.

In the distance, Teng Huatao had already greeted him with a smile, "Chairman La, the crew is just about to have lunch, would you like to join us?"

"Good, I originally came to visit the set today, it's just right to taste the crew's food." La Peikang smiled very naturally.

For a film project with an investment of 400 million, when it comes to the crew's food, it naturally won't be bad. Before long, with the enthusiastic warm-up from lead actors like Shu Qi and Lu Han, La Peikang was seated.

A group of people ate and chatted, and many big words were spoken unconsciously.

"Chairman La, in at most half a month, *Shanghai Fortress* will be completely wrapped up. As for post-production, it definitely won't be finished before the end of next year. So the public screening of the film will roughly have to wait until the year after next."

"That is to say, it's impossible to screen during the 2019 New Year period and the 2020 Spring Festival period?" La Peikang was obviously a little disappointed.

"Time is too tight." Teng Huatao shook his head. At the same time, he was also hesitating whether to tell La Peikang his thoughts, which was that *Shanghai Fortress* should try to set its release date after *The Wandering Earth* sets its date. Although he had always been full of confidence, for the sake of the box office, it was better to avoid it if possible.

"If time is too tight, then so be it. It's better to be steady. Regarding the box office..."

"You can rest assured about this. This year's summer period is already a box office market of nearly 6 billion for a single film. By the year after next, it will definitely be over 6 billion. Even if we can't get that high, half of it shouldn't be a problem, right? Haha..."

While Teng Huatao was patting his chest and making solemn promises, Lu Han, Shu Qi, and others were all echoing him, looking like they were all of one mind.

At this moment, the haze in La Peikang's heart caused by those few "missed calls" seemed to have temporarily disappeared completely.

A set visit, ended in a hurry. After the actors began to touch up their makeup for the afternoon scenes, La Peikang left the crew with his people.

Just out of the studio, the secretary came up, "Chairman La, Director Lin just returned my message, saying that he was talking about business with Chairman Wang of Enlighten earlier. If we have any official work matters, we can contact Yue Jun directly."

"What an official tone!"

A sentence with no discernible emotion was spat out from the leader's mouth, and before the secretary could react, the former had already walked far away.

The next day, morning.

*The Father* held a high-profile opening ceremony in Shanghai, while *Hello Mr. Billionaire* also started filming grandly in Xiamen...

At the same time, Liu Yifei and Lin Nan were not idle either. Miss Liu was replying to Disney's emails, while Director Lin was busy dealing with Yue Jun's complaints.

After finishing these, he still had to wash up, dress up, and change clothes, preparing to go out to attend Han Jia's "Hongmen Banquet."

"Just say whatever you need to say. If you really feel it's hard to speak up these two days, then wait until after the 10th to reply to China Film. By then, the list will be out, and there will naturally be people standing in front, and they can handle it!"

"Okay, then after the 10th. But I also really feel that China Film can't help much. Their 'communication' on this matter is purely to take advantage." Yue Jun said very affirmatively.

"That's it, I won't go to the company these few days. If there's anything, you handle it yourself."

Yue Jun could hear that Lin Nan intended to hang up the phone, so he didn't say anything more.

"Disney's team will arrive in the capital on the 5th of next month and won't leave until *Mulan* is completely wrapped up. My good days are only about a month left. Starting next month, I will transform into Mulan and begin half a year of intensive training... Are you sure there's no problem with preparing my training team in one month?"

Liu Yifei sat cross-legged on the sofa, holding a laptop in her arms. She made a miserable expression at Lin Nan, complaining and teasing herself.

Lin Nan first nodded, then immediately showed a miserable look: "Sigh, my bitter days are also coming. It's not because I have to transform into a beast of burden starting next month and devote myself to the preparation work for *Mulan*, but because my wife is about to undergo a super evolution. The days of domestic violence in the future will definitely become more and more frequent..."

"You're bad-mouthing me again. When have I ever committed domestic violence against you? I think you're looking for a beating!"

Echoing Lin Nan's laughter, Miss Liu also acted along.

She put the computer aside, and like a tiger descending the mountain, she pounced on Lin Nan beside her, her perky buttocks riding on Director Lin: "Hehe, continue to slander me?"

"Look, this is the evidence!" A head of long hair with the fragrance of shampoo hung on Lin Nan's face, rubbing back and forth; he looked face-to-face at Liu Yifei, who was leaning over. Although that face was truly devastating, his mouth was still full of "iron-willed" resistance, but it was useless!

"No one saw it anyway, humph..."

After playing around for a while, Lin Nan and Liu Yifei went straight to the walk-in closet.

The one-third that was once promised to be left for Director Lin now only had about one-fifth left.

That's right, out of two walk-in closets of over a hundred square meters, Lin Nan only occupied one-fifth of one of them; it was simply unbearable. Sigh, forget it, let's endure it!

At 10:30, a touch of red unique to Ferrari rushed out of the manor villa, the roar sounding like thunder. If any acquaintance was nearby, they would definitely be able to guess who was in the driver's seat!

At this time, outside the private kitchen restaurant, another Ferrari also turned off its engine.

The driver's side door opened, and Han Jia stepped out in a trench coat.

She took off the sunglasses on the bridge of her nose, looked at her father who was still a bit dark-faced in the passenger seat, and teased with a smile:

"I've had this car for so long, and this is your first time sitting in it. How does it feel? Is there a sense of youthful excitement? Just for this, you were still refusing to sit in my car at home just now.

What's so good about that Audi? It's so old-fashioned, I've never liked it... Hmm, we should be the first to arrive, let's go, let's go in and order some things that we both like to eat... Dad, why aren't you talking?"

"Did you give me a chance to speak?" Han Sanping strode forward, too lazy to bother with Han Jia.

"Haha, wasn't I just talking to you about the car."

"I shouldn't have given you my salary if I had known earlier."

"Hehe, it's too late for you to say these things now!"