Chapter 947: Deputy Director; A Lousy Grade A

……

Shortly after 8:00 AM on the 3rd, an international flight from Los Angeles landed at Pudong Airport.

That’s right, Lin Nan and Liu Yifei had stood up countless domestic entertainment reporters and paparazzi.

Although there were rumors "leaked" at the last minute, basically confirming that the two of them would land domestically on the morning of the 3rd, neither of them—nor their assistants—had ever said they were flying directly to the capital!

Therefore, while a massive crowd of media reporters was blocking the exits at the capital airport, Lin Nan and Liu Qianqian had pulled off a near-perfect diversion, returning to the country low-profile and arriving in the Magic City.

Although there were some entertainment reporters here too, caught by surprise and off-guard, these people naturally couldn't stop Lin Nan and Liu Yifei.

They didn't even manage to get a response from the pair; the whole way, they were kept two meters away by the bodies of assistants and bodyguards.

In less than half an hour, the news that Director Lin and Liu Qianqian had landed in the Magic City with their entourage spread like wildfire online, instantly topping the morning’s trending searches and destined to dominate the list all morning.

The media side was full of complaints and grievances; netizens, meanwhile, were laughing and watching the spectacle, making jokes:

"If anyone else dared to lead the paparazzi on a wild goose chase like this, they’d probably be torn to shreds, right? Just wait for the smear pieces to fly!"

……

At the hotel where Ning Hao and the others were staying, the production had booked an entire floor for the main creative team; the filming crew was not here, but at another three-star hotel nearby that had been fully booked.

The sudden arrival of Lin Nan and Liu Yifei came as a surprise to all the leads except for Ning Hao, Xing Aina, and Shu Chang.

"Director Lin, Producer Liu, you two are truly impressive. You threw a nuclear bomb into the industry without a sound." Yuan Quan smiled and offered her congratulations.

"Indeed, a legendary heroine, a live-action *Mulan*! I’m very curious, how did Yifei beat out those thousands of other actresses?" Qin Hailu teased with great interest.

"Appearance, temperament, talent, character, suitability for the role... and strong psychological fortitude; none of these can be missing. Of course, the most important point, and the key factor that allowed Qianqian to stand out, is her combat power—MAX!"

Shu Chang’s cheeky interruption immediately drew a burst of laughter. Everyone first glanced at Liu Yifei, then couldn't help but cast sympathetic looks toward Director Lin.

But the next second, a sudden scream erupted, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

They saw that Shu Chang, who had just been laughing and joking, was now being violently suppressed by the indignant Liu "Mulan" Yifei!

After the commotion died down, Qin Hailu and the others returned to their rooms to continue reading scripts and writing character biographies, as filming was set to officially begin the morning after next.

Lin Nan and the others went to the garden balcony to continue drinking coffee and chatting.

"Are you two really not planning to stay for the opening ceremony? We’ve invited quite a few media outlets."

"Sister Na, if Lin Nan and I stay, do you think the day after tomorrow will still be the opening ceremony for *The Father*?" Liu Yifei raised an eyebrow and smiled at Xing Aina with a hidden meaning.

"Fine, I get it. It would turn into an impromptu press conference for *Mulan*!"

Ning Hao reacted quickly and immediately realized the consequences. He then waved his hand at Lin Nan and Liu Yifei with feigned disgust: "Then you two had better head back early, so you don't get in the way when we start filming."

They stayed holed up in the hotel for the entire morning. During this time, Lin Nan’s assistant received a call from Ren Zhonglun’s secretary.

Shanghai Film Group.

"What, an evening flight? Good grief, they really are going to great lengths to avoid the media!"

Ren Zhonglun was truly speechless. Lin Nan and Liu Yifei had politely declined his invitation for afternoon tea, giving the reason that they planned to rest at the hotel all afternoon and then board their flight back to the capital at 8:00 PM sharp.

"Chairman Ren, about that... the flight tickets?" the secretary reminded him pointedly.

Hearing this, Ren Zhonglun understood instantly and nodded with a smile: "Since they’re back, let’s book the tickets for tomorrow morning."

"Understood, I’ll take care of it right away."

After the secretary left the office, Ren Zhonglun smiled and picked up his phone to make a call.

Before long, a boisterous voice came from the other end: "Uncle Ren, I was just about to leave Tiangong Color to go get lunch. If you have something to say, say it quickly."

"Let’s arrange a meal. Tomorrow or the day after?"

The other end went quiet, and after a moment, a serious voice replied: "Let’s do the day after tomorrow at noon. Let Brother Lin and Yifei get an extra day of rest."

……

In the afternoon, other entertainment news finally managed to "emerge" on the trending list; this search result came from the episode of *The Birth of an Actor* that aired last night.

Since the "Oscar self-directed and self-acted incident," Huang Shengyi, who had been silent for three years, could no longer endure the loneliness. Under the vigorous "encouragement" of Yang Zai, she chose to sign up for *The Birth of an Actor* in an attempt to make a comeback.

But that horse-faced man clearly had forgotten the pain once the wound had healed, or perhaps he thought the netizens had a terrible memory...

When he was interviewed by entertainment media, his tone was as if he were still the boss of Juli Pictures from seven or eight years ago when they produced *The Sorcerer and the White Snake*—wealthy, prestigious, influential...

But reality slapped him mercilessly: the judges clearly had no reservations about him, and they were even less polite toward Huang Shengyi.

Zhang Ziyi directly delivered a fatal blow to the actress, who had once been famous for being a "Sing Girl," even going so far as to humiliate her: "Your performance is the most awkward acting I have ever seen in my life!"

After Zhang Ziyi, all the judges, without exception, gave devastating critiques, almost every one of them bordering on humiliation!

It was these comments that, by the afternoon, sent Huang Shengyi to the entertainment headlines she had been absent from for years, completely declaring the failure of her comeback and shattering Yang Zai’s daydream of his wife returning to rake in money. After all, netizens across the entire web were unanimously supporting the judges, having no good impression of that couple at all.

"What a joke. Him, actually trying to shade us?" After Wang Chang returned from Tudou, he saw the news online.

Yang Zai’s remark that "Juli Pictures suffered massive losses indirectly because we offended certain people in the industry, and Shengyi was almost forced to retire" made Wang Chang unable to stop laughing.

"What is a clown? This is a clown! And with his looks and level, he’s still shouting about appearing on these acting competition shows in the future? What is he going to act? Does he have any acting skills? He doesn't have a damn bit of acting skill, haha..."

After his unrestrained laughter, Wang Chang began discussing business with Li Xiaoping and the distribution department.

"Maximize the distribution efforts for *Never Say Die*. Starting from the 16th, Wanda will tilt all their prime-time screening resources toward us..."

"Huayi has been very smug these past two days. Feng Xiaogang has started 'pontificating' everywhere again, and he’s even shaded us several times... Liu Xiaobin hasn't stopped cursing since lunch today..."

"Then what about the screenings for *Ex-Files 3* and *Youth*? Especially the latter, wouldn't that be...?" Li Xiaoping couldn't help but sigh.

"With a blockbuster comedy film for the New Year season being released, the screening rates for other films will naturally plummet—this is just a spontaneous market adjustment. Who can say anything? Can anyone find fault with that?"

Wang Chang’s smile was somewhat naked, making no effort to hide his desire to kick someone while they were down and his anticipation of seeing the chaos.

……

Shortly after 10:00 PM, Lin Nan and Liu Yifei, wrapped in down jackets, left the airport "alone." They had intentionally left their assistants and bodyguards behind, well, instructing them to come out five minutes later.

It must be said, on such a cold night, the two of them, fully disguised, blended into the crowd and indeed didn't attract the attention of the paparazzi.

And when they sat in the car and looked through the window to see their assistants and bodyguards being surrounded as they pushed the luggage out, the feeling in their hearts was quite strange for a moment; yes, it was that sense of being hidden in plain sight, the secret joy of successfully fooling the paparazzi.

Online, when the news that Lin Nan and Liu Yifei had landed at the capital airport and successfully avoided the paparazzi hit the entertainment headlines, it was already late at night... and the two of them were already tucked into bed...

The night passed quietly.

Huayi’s *Ex-Files 3* delivered another beautiful result of 100 million in daily revenue on the morning of the 4th, and its stock price continued to maintain a slowly pulsing red glow after 9:30 AM...

Wang Zhonglei rarely chose to strike while the iron was hot, and the slogan of 2 billion+ in box office was officially shouted by him on Weibo.

In an instant, the entire Huayi-affiliated circle of filmmakers, actors, and stars reposted it, gathering in response with great momentum!

When the sun reached its zenith, Lin Nan and Liu Yifei finally woke up naturally. Well, not bad, the two of them saved on breakfast and could go straight to lunch!

However, compared to filling their stomachs, company matters were also quite important.

The media had blocked the entrances to Lin Nan Pictures and Red Star Dock, and the phones were ringing off the hook, all for one purpose: hoping to interview Lin Nan and Liu Yifei regarding *Mulan*.

Miss Liu threw this matter to her great director, while she went to find the auntie to report the lunch menu; she felt she could eat a cow right at this moment!

"Director Lin, logically speaking, shouldn't we hold another press conference for this? After all, the entire industry is watching, and the regulatory authorities are definitely keeping an eye on it. Back then, the Disney people communicated and reported it to the higher-ups, and even the filming location was set in the most northwestern autonomous..."

Listening to Yue Jun’s nagging, Lin Nan’s head began to ache. A moment later, he forcibly interrupted Yue Jun and began to give orders:

"There’s no need to say anything to the outside world during the preparation stage, and there’s no need to. If the bureau asks, I’ll just tell them whatever there is to tell."

"Also, keep the large conference hall on the 3rd floor open for me. I’ll rest for a week, and then we’ll hold a big meeting."

"By the way, contact Guo Fan and see if there are any promotional activities for *Operation Red Sea* on the 10th. If there are, change the time."

"Director Lin, why are you looking for Director Guo?" Yue Jun asked suspiciously. In fact, he had already vaguely guessed something, but he wasn't sure.

"I plan to have him come and help me out as a deputy director, specifically responsible for the coordination and scheduling of the crew. Otherwise, if I have to coordinate such a huge project all by myself, won't I be exhausted to death by the time *Mulan* is finished?"

Lin Nan couldn't help but make a self-deprecating joke. Of course, this was also his true thought. Since there were helpers available on-site, why not use them? He wasn't the type to suffer needlessly!

"Alright, I’ll arrange it in a moment and contact Director Guo as well." Yue Jun was also amused; his boss certainly knew how to slack off.

One call back to Yue Jun, one call back to Red Star Dock.

After Lin Nan had completely finished handling these matters, Liu Yifei had also ordered lunch and walked back while on the phone, "Jia Nu said she’s hosting tomorrow at noon, treating us at the usual place..."

"Right, no refusing, no being late!" Before Miss Liu could finish relaying the message, Han Jianu’s voice was already shouting. Liu Yifei smiled speechlessly and simply put it on speakerphone, "Fine, you say it again yourself."

Hearing this, Han Jianu didn't stand on ceremony and spoke directly: "First, to celebrate the wrap of *A Cool Fish*; you two had already boarded the plane at that time, right?"

"Second, there’s another matter to discuss. Well, we’ll talk when we meet tomorrow. By the way, my dad and Uncle Ren will be there too. That’s it, hanging up."

Good grief, Lin Nan wanted to retort. Han Jianu really didn't take the invitees seriously, did she? She didn't even give them a chance to speak?!

"Hmm, are you going?" Liu Yifei looked at Lin Nan’s disgruntled face and teased him with a laugh.

"Of course I’m going. It’s her first time treating us, why wouldn't I? Let’s bleed her dry, we’ll order the most expensive things tomorrow!" Lin Nan laughed viciously.

"What if it’s a trap?" Miss Liu blinked.

"Her? Hehe, then I’m even more interested! With that brain of hers, a trap..." Lin Nan couldn't help but laugh. He swore he didn't mean to look down on Han Jianu.

At the same time, on the other side, little Han was counting on her fingers while settling accounts with Han Sanping.

"Yes, we’ll order the expensive stuff tomorrow, Uncle Ren is reimbursing it anyway! And he’s the guest of honor, I’ll just provide the support. Why don't you chime in every now and then?"

"Although our family owes the most favors to the Magic City side, as the director of this film, Brother Lin can't escape either, right? Hehe..."

Looking at his little "cotton-padded jacket" acting so calculating, Han Sanping didn't know whether to be happy or have a headache.

Thinking of himself, such a steely, domineering head of China Film, why did he raise such an unconventional tomboy? She was smart, truly talented, and her character and personality were impeccable... but these little flaws of hers really left him speechless!

"As long as you're happy." Han Sanping shook his head helplessly, not wanting to say more.

"Then it’s settled. I’m going to reply to Uncle Ren." Han Jianu picked up her phone carelessly.

"Heh, you’re certainly close to him. Your uncle is almost closer to you than your own father! It’s just a lousy Grade A."

Han Sanping muttered indignantly, unable to help but glance at Han Jianu to make sure she hadn't heard.

…………