[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta":3,"chapter-the-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta-the-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta-chapter-275":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Playboy of Huayu: How Did a Celestial Immortal Transform Me?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2297901,4495,"Chapter 275: It","the-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta-chapter-275",275,"\u003Cp>In a staff residential compound for a certain agency in Beiping, a restless Zhou Jun quietly got up, holding his phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glancing at his wife sleeping soundly beside him, he threw on a coat and walked into the hallway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oppa... wuwuwu... I know what's going on now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Nara was sobbing uncontrollably, her broken, tearful complaints coming from the other end of the line. Zhou Jun cautiously glanced back, then walked a bit further away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sense of inexplicable disgust suddenly rose in Zhou Jun’s heart; what if she woke her up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm? Calm yourself down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I saw Li Meijing, it’s her! It’s absolutely her!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Jun’s field of vision had not yet extended to the Korean entertainment industry: \"What do you mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lu Kuan... Lu Kuan is going to establish a film academy, and Li Meijing is involved too!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She is the boss of the biggest film company in Korea, Samsung’s Li Jian... Chairman Li is her uncle... wuwuwu...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out of the fear ingrained in every Korean’s heart, Zhang Nara didn't even have the courage to call Li Jianxi by his name over the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Jun was silent for a long while; when it came to his brother-in-law, perhaps he could play some power games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for a conglomerate group with such professional alignment, it was certainly not as convenient as Lu Kuan using film investment shares and distribution agreements to buy people off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, hearing this for the first time, he didn't even know what kind of thing a film academy was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, I know now. Aren't you at the film festival? Go back first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Nara wanted to say something more, but the \"beep-beep-beep\" of the dial tone had already interrupted her tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking back from the end of the empty film palace corridor, Lu Kuan’s gestures on stage—spiritedly writing and pointing out the landscape—were unrestrained and dashing, and waves of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience from time to time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She no longer had the heart to care about any details, not even the promotional work for \"Seven Swords\" tomorrow or the day after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the only thing supporting her trembling legs so she wouldn't collapse was the final effort Zhou Jun would make for her after he woke up tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the film palace, the atmosphere remained heated, especially as the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean reporters present were all eagerly raising their hands to ask questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was likely the first time in the history of the three East Asian countries that film art institutions had jointly established a school, and it was under the coordination and organization of a young director only twenty-four years old—it was simply too astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Japanese \"Mainichi Shimbun\": \"Director Lu Kuan, may I ask when this idea first sprouted?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In 2002, I attended the Venice Film Festival for the first time. The theme of that year was 'Accepting Diversity'.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I discovered that even Venice, with the longest history in Europe, was suffering from Hollywood’s dumping and devastation, and had to issue revolutionary slogans to attract and invite more Hollywood stars in hopes of maintaining its influence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In fact, it is not just our Asian countries; in the major box-office countries of Europe, since the first four years of the new century, American films have accounted for 95% of total screenings in the UK, 60% in Germany, 70% in France, and 65% in Italy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The film markets of Europe and Asia are very similar; they are not lacking in art films, and even less so in art masters, but they lack genre film and commercial film directors capable of effectively countering Hollywood films.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In 2003, I operated a film called 'Exotic' using Hollywood’s operational model, and I personally experienced the production process of a qualified commercial film under an advanced industrial film system; it was very shocking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Therefore, I want to bring this experience back to our country and to Asia, and through an integrated teaching institution like the Pan-Asia Film Academy, cultivate more excellent directors to change the weak position of the genre film market.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cannes is relatively the most inclusive and open of the three major European film festivals, possessing the world’s largest film market, so naturally, it does not have such strong resistance to commercial films.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were commercial film directors and buyers in the audience, but there were even more art film directors and practitioners, and they were also thinking about how to deal with this situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, influenced by Hollywood blockbusters, art film cinema chains and subsidies in Europe were becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>France’s mk2, Germany’s independent cinema chains, and the UK’s Curzon cinema chain were all dedicated to the promotion and development of art films.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And national institutions represented by the French CNC used high subsidies to support and cultivate art film directors, but the gap remained huge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the important reasons for the major strike at the Cannes Film Festival last year was that the French National Centre for Cinema proposed that 15% of the annual profits of domestic television stations should also be invested in the production of art films, which seriously affected employee benefits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The global art film directors present naturally wanted to stick to their own artistic ideals and the auteur film route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that under the situation where the whole world was facing Hollywood dumping, it seemed only this young director had put forward his own proposition to coordinate and integrate the film power of the Asian region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like Zhang Huijun’s surprise when he first heard of this project, this developmental perspective that transcended regional and national limitations was something only those with great breadth of mind and vision could achieve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Film festival president Kusturica took the lead in applauding; the atmosphere at the scene was warm, and the reporters were busy taking notes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person with the most complicated feelings in the audience was none other than Wang Xiaoshuai, who had once engaged in a debate with Boss Lu during the seminar on the lifting of the ban on the \"Seven Gentlemen of the Beijing Film Academy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression was dark and inscrutable as he watched Lu Kuan, who had already ascended to the position of jury president at Europe’s largest film festival, and listened to his lofty words from just moments ago, remaining silent for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some people not only scolded you to your face but also did real things to slap you in the face—where could you even go to reason?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Korean media \"Dong-A Ilbo\": \"May I ask President Song of Chung-Ang University, how did you accept Director Lu Kuan’s invitation and proposal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Korea’s Chung-Ang University was founded in 1918 and is undoubtedly the leader among the country’s film art institutions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Kang Je-gyu, who defeated \"Titanic\" two years ago to take the box office championship in Korean film history, came from that school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We first received a formal letter from the Beijing Film Academy and the Chinese education department, and subsequently, Dean Zhang and Director Lu Kuan flew to Korea personally to communicate with us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Before this, I was not very optimistic about this light-asset operating film academy, because it was not as if our school hadn't tried it before, but the results were minimal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A very fatal flaw was that the students cultivated had no opportunities for practice or filming feature-length movies; they couldn't apply what they learned to practice, and everything was in vain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Panyun then nodded to Boss Lu: \"However, Director Lu Kuan convinced me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He is the box office champion director in Chinese history, and the four films since his debut have also had great influence in Japan and Korea; Director Lu Kuan has a great many fans in Korea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At the same time, he is also the boss of the largest private entertainment group in China. With such a person who understands both film art and is proficient in commercial operations leading this project, I am very reassured.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ju Wenpei from \"China Film Report\" was an old friend and asked a supportive question: \"May I ask the three presidents, who is the dean of the Pan-Asia Film Academy established this time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Huijun was pushed forward to answer the question and said with a smile: \"It is Director Lu Kuan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Considering Director Lu’s age and qualifications, do the several presidents and the bosses of the two companies, CJ and Toho, have any concerns?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Huijun signaled for Li Meijing to take the microphone: \"Director Lu Kuan is currently in the golden period of his film career, and he is also proficient in the operational models and marketing strategies of Hollywood films.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In terms of teaching, he can communicate with the three major institutions, and in terms of commercial operations, our three companies will also share resources.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And the first batch of professors and teachers at the academy were almost all invited by Director Lu relying on his own connections.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It can be said that he is the soul of this project; if it were anyone else, they would not be able to carry out the school’s educational philosophy and original intention. This is beyond doubt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Meijing’s tone was extremely firm and domineering; it seemed she had already become a loyal supporter of Boss Lu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The depressed Wang Xiaolei, Zhang Nara, and others at the scene certainly did not know that the name of CJ Entertainment had already been added to the list of producers for \"Exotic 2.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this did not prevent their anticipation of the worsening situation from becoming increasingly intense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After famous Asian and European directors like Zhou Xingchi, Park Chan-wook, and Luc Besson delivered their speeches one after another, the brief inaugural meeting of the Pan-Asia Film Academy came to an end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that, apart from the barrage of comments frequently output on the Wenjie Video interface, there were likely quite a few reporters from China, Japan, and Korea rushing to file their reports tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The news quickly spread back to the country, and the next day, both print media and online media had fallen into a frenzy of celebration and discussion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were those making irreverent jokes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Washing Machine is too awesome, looking forward to him going to Japan and Korea to hunt for beauties and be my substitute.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I graduated and immediately became unemployed, while Lu Kuan graduated and immediately became a school president, damn it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If Washing Machine becomes the president and Xixi is still a student, wow, just thinking about it is exciting; I wish I could be in his shoes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second-floor reply: Replace Liu Yifei?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I feel that 'Dean Lu' and 'President Lu' don't sound very good; 'President Xi' sounds more pleasing to the ear!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were those raising doubts:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A twenty-four-year-old film academy president—even for this type of academic discipline, shouldn't it be someone else's turn? There are so many qualified and prestigious leaders and directors in the country, aren't there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This comment was quickly drowned out by rebuttals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Samsung Chairman Li Jianxi’s niece says he can do it, and you say he can't?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Beijing Film Academy President Zhang Huijun says he can do it, and you say he can't?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhou Xingchi, Park Chan-wook, and Luc Besson say he can do it, and you say he can't?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Cannes Film Festival president says he can do it, and you say he can't?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trolling Washing Machine and exercising a spirit of entertainment at his expense was the norm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for this kind of face-saving event as the initiator of an international institution, led and coordinated by a domestic director, netizens with a normal mindset all felt a sense of honor and mainly supported him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary netizens watched the fun, while insiders and public intellectuals voiced their opinions in long articles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chuan: \"On the lips, it's all about principles; in the heart, it's all about business. Those who know, know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Dake: \"It’s not enough to seize the living space for art films domestically; now he’s starting a movement in Asia that will 'destroy the nation and exterminate the species' of art films. Lu Kuan has completely degenerated from a talented director into a capital gangster and robber.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shixian: \"I have never heard of any film academy that would specifically set up a Hollywood film subject and teach Hollywood film technology. It’s hard not to make people suspicious of Lu Kuan’s true purpose as a domestic private film capital.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dai Jinhua: \"I believe in the original intention of President Zhang of the Beijing Film Academy and Director Lu Kuan in this move, which is a pioneering measure combined with the actual development of the domestic film market. But I also want to offer a friendly reminder: the students’ feature film practice must be handled with extreme caution. Once there is a loss, it will cause a vicious cycle, and even the funding for the second phase of enrollment and preparation may become a problem.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dai Jinhua was a representative of domestic academic film critics, and her voice quickly received responses from a large number of netizens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, Zhou Liming, Gu Xiaobai, and other die-hard fans of Lu Kuan’s films explained it by combining the content of yesterday’s Wenjie Video live broadcast:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The students’ assignments and short film and feature film projects at the film academy would operate according to strict market rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, short film content practice learning assignments would be released through Wenjie Video to recoup costs through advertising revenue and other means;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small number of students who qualify to shoot feature films would complete their works under the supervision and review of their instructors, and those meeting the criteria would be distributed domestically by Toho, CJ, and Wenjie respectively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those that do not meet the cinema criteria can be sold in DVD format. Don't forget that Wenjie also has independent film allies like Lionsgate and Miramax in Hollywood; DVD distribution is not a difficult task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the Beijing Film Academy, Wenjie, and the newly registered and verified official blog of the [Pan-Asia Film Academy] simultaneously released relevant information and enrollment brochures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, the academy’s first enrollment and start date were set for the summer of 2006.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before this, applicants aspiring to participate in the film academy’s studies must submit at least one short film and personal information before December 31, 2005, and wait for the academy to conduct an initial screening before an interview notice is issued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>China’s largest video website, Wenjie Video, would open a column on its homepage to select and publish high-quality short films.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enrollment information was reprinted in major media in Korea, Japan, and North America, attracting the attention of film lovers and directors from all over the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At nine o'clock in the morning, Zhou Jun, having just digested all this overwhelming news, looked at the sumptuous breakfast prepared by the nanny on the table and found it hard to swallow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having found out Li Meijing’s identity, he finally understood the panic Zhang Nara felt last night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no longer a matter of whether there was an opportunity to continue her professional life in the country; this was a matter where, if things went wrong, even the path to returning home for development would be blocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Jun was in a bit of a dilemma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To tell the truth, he had already developed the intention to give up on Zhang Nara.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Wang Daxia had anticipated, for a person like him, why would he care about the life or death of an actress?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that Zhang Nara’s decline was a small matter, but the loss of face for Young Master Zhou was a big one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How would the brothers, peers, and seniors in the circle look at him in the future?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could he not even defeat a bumpkin?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking it over, Zhou Jun still made a phone call to the counselor at the South Korean Embassy in China, preparing to pay a visit as planned, but he was met with a bucket of cold water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Zhou, the Ambassador returned to his country for a debriefing yesterday and cannot keep the appointment; we are very sorry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing that all coincidences are inevitable, Zhou Jun did not want to say more and hung up the phone after a few perfunctory words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now there was only one way out left: Sina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 2005, Sina had over 100 million registered users globally; even though it had been left far behind by BlogBus in the blogging business, it still had the prestige of being the number one portal in the country.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention that Sina Entertainment was currently the leader in professional internet entertainment media.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had his driver pick up Lu Chuan, the director of the cultural exchange program tailored for Zhang Nara, and drove straight to the headquarters of Sina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sina was, after all, a shareholder of Huayi, so there shouldn't be any major problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So thought Zhou Jun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing that this Mr. Zhou had a very impressive background, Taro acted obsequiously in the car, selling his cultural activity ideas with all his might:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Zhou, our theme this time is called 'Korean Wave and Chinese Charm, Appreciating Elegance Together.' The location is set in the 798 Art Zone, and the format of the event is to first film a...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Jun was listening intently at first, but it took him a few minutes to realize what was going on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn't this just a magical adaptation of the Hanfu show that Lu Kuan created for Liu Yifei in Paris!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just having Zhang Nara wear Hanfu and Hanbok respectively for the display.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a bad mood, Zhou Jun couldn't be bothered to play along with this empty-headed fool: \"Director Lu, take a break for a while. You can communicate with Wu Zheng from Sina later; I don't understand these things.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eh, okay, okay.\" Taro wrinkled his bitter-melon face and sat to the side, silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Jun’s vehicle was an Audi A8 provided by Morgan; the driver drove into the basement, and the secretary in the passenger seat couldn't reach Wu Zheng, so he turned back to ask for instructions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Zhou, I can't reach Mr. Wu. Should we just go up?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Jun did not suspect anything and took Lu Chuan and his assistant into the elevator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the elevator door was about to close, a figure ran over hurriedly and blocked the door: \"Sorry, sorry, please wait a moment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, two men in suits, deferring to each other, walked in while laughing and chatting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Wang, Ms. Farina, please go first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eh, Mr. Chen, this is my home base after all; you are still guests for now, you go first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Tianqiao nodded with a smile and immediately let Farina into the elevator with great gentlemanly grace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The few of them chatted casually in the elevator, and the air was full of cheer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Jun felt a bit suspicious and uneasy at this moment; he did recognize Chen Tianqiao and Wang Zhidong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was the president of Shanda, currently in the limelight in the country, and the other was the former founder of Sina who had become a victim of a power struggle. These two people together...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shock!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought of a possibility that was very small, yet it flooded into his mind crazily!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barbarian and the founder joining forces!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Zhou, Mr. Zhou?\" Lu Taro asked cautiously from the side, afraid of disturbing his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Wu sent a message asking you to sit in his office for a while; the company has some matters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the main floor of Sina, the office style of the country's number one portal website seemed somewhat unworthy of its name, with a scene of total chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xiao Li! Hurry up and contact those media outlets; don't let them write nonsense!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xiao Wang, contact Mr. Liu and others who are on good terms with the boss; prepare to release information on Sina and BlogBus!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taishan Club? Liu Chuanzhi?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Jun was truly confused, almost putting the matter of Zhang Nara to the back of his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked into the office led by Wu Zheng's secretary, and right behind him, a group of reporters carrying long guns and short cannons surged in, followed by Chen Tianqiao and Wang Zhidong, with assistants clearing the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His confusion did not last long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, a square-faced man over 60 years old walked out of the Sina president's office; it was none other than the famous elder of the Taishan Club, Duan Yongji.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wang Zhidong! You are too despicable, actually joining forces with outsiders to carry out a hostile takeover of your old home!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old home? Hehe, I am the old home; I have let you occupy the magpie's nest for too long!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Tianqiao instead acted as a peacemaker: \"The two of you, don't make a joke for outsiders to see here; let's go to the conference room to talk, hehe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He strode into the conference room with confident steps, as familiar as if he were returning home, a sight that made Duan Yongji’s eyes split with rage!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Jun couldn't hear the rest of the commotion clearly, and it wasn't appropriate to go and investigate further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting in Wu Zheng’s co-chairman office, he had no choice but to calm his mind and close his eyes to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It really is an eventful autumn...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About two hours later, Wu Zheng pushed open the office door with a sigh and walked in, apologizing repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Zhou! Director Lu, I'm really sorry to have kept you two waiting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Zheng slumped in his chair, somewhat powerless: \"Sina, I'm afraid it's in danger this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room seemed to enter a vacuum; Zhou Jun and Lu Chuan even breathed cautiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The country's number one portal website, changing hands just like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What about your poison pill plan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What about your anti-hostile takeover firewall?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What about the brothers of your big brother, Old Duan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Jun, who came from an investment banking background, keenly captured a loophole: \"What is the identity of that foreign woman just now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"An American private equity fund called Gunner; they are acting in concert with Chen Tianqiao.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Plus the shares in Wang Zhidong's hands...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Zheng suddenly realized: \"By the way, Old Zhou, please help me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please make an issue out of the approval process of the Development and Reform Commission; first, whether this private equity fund has a trading license from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Second, foreign capital acquiring the country's largest portal website—the leaders of the information industry department should still be concerned, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Jun pondered for a few seconds, carefully considering the pros and cons of this matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Zheng and his wife, Host Yang, were themselves the link between Huayi, Xiangtai, and Sina, but Xiangtai's current attitude was ambiguous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for himself, what difference did it make who Sina changed to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Tianqiao's strength was even greater; perhaps he could bring even greater help to Huayi?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay, Mr. Wu, I will do my best.\" Zhou Jun perfunctorily replied, not forgetting the important purpose of his visit today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh! By the way, Nara's cultural promotion program...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Zheng gave a bitter smile: \"I'm really sorry, in this short time, the company is truly in a state of chaos.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How about this, since Miss Zhang has to come back from Cannes to operate anyway, give me a few days to arrange it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At that time, I will definitely maximize the buzz and really boost the popularity for Director Lu and Miss Zhang's program; we at Sina can also take advantage of the trend to drive traffic.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Jun shook hands with him to say goodbye, looking at the chaotic mess that was Sina, and thought to himself that it was indeed not suitable to \"press too hard\" anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that how to explain all this to Zhang Nara, who was still in France, was a real headache to think about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The promotional event for \"Seven Swords\" in Cannes was set for May 15th; like the Hong Kong Night last year, this time it was also turned into a grand cocktail party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Kuan had conflicts with Huayi, but Xu Ke was a Chinese filmmaker with a good stance and reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being abroad, as the chairman of the jury for this year, and because the Pan-Asia Film Academy project, which had just been officially announced, was in the limelight, it was reasonable and appropriate to come and show support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What's more, no matter how much support was shown, it was estimated that it wouldn't change the outcome of this movie flopping, so it was just a favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Lu, thank you!\" Xu Ke understood his position and was very grateful that Boss Lu brought Luc Besson and the film festival chairman Kusturica to the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why be so polite? We are all our own people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu affectionately patted Old Xu on the shoulder, took the champagne from the waiter, and walked inside, not delaying his greeting of guests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The venue was certainly full of Huayi's artists, employees, agents, and assistants; seeing his posture of driving straight in, it looked like he was coming to wipe out the whole family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A misunderstanding, it was all a misunderstanding!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, standing tall with a blade, it was only to eliminate a national traitor, and a Korean one at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your Huayi still needs to be raised for a while longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eh? Mr. Wang, why are you drinking alone in the corner?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu patted Wang Xiaolei from behind: \"Today is your Huayi's home court; cheer up!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This dialect was learned from Song Jia on the Tangshan film set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xiaolei cursed the little thief for being arrogant in his heart, turned his head with a face that looked worse than crying, and couldn't show too much in front of the film industry celebrities at the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hehe, I've had a bit of a toothache lately; welcome, Director Lu, thank you for your support.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's only right; we are all compatriots, shouldn't we be united against outsiders?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xiaolei’s mouth twitched upon hearing this; wasn't this talking about Zhang Nara?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person in question was right nearby, and she was still hesitating whether to come over and act obsequious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Jun’s reply to her was to be patient, calm, and wait for good news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, every second was extreme torture for Zhang Nara.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had just wanted to walk over with her wine glass, but was beaten to it by a gorgeous top actress from the same company: \"Director Lu, long time no see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bingbing, you're about to join the cast of *Zhu Xian 2*, right? You must perform well, okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will, Director Lu. I'll toast you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xiaolei watched coldly from the side, observing Bingbing as she walked over to socialize with great poise and without the slightest reservation, and he didn't feel there was anything inappropriate about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the three at Huayi, Zhou Jun had always been suspicious of Fan Bingbing's stance, but the Wang brothers believed this was just Zhou Jun being selfish, wanting to promote his own little honey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at it from all angles, Bingbing still had the strongest professional ability, and she was the first to \"surrender\" after Wang Jinhua had a change of heart; she should be a cornerstone of Huayi's future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cocktail party proceeded as scheduled, and Xu Ke confidently gave introductions to the buyers from various countries present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the recent sordid affairs involving Zhang Nara, he didn't want to consider them, nor could he resolve them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, this was an ensemble martial arts film, and Zhang Nara didn't have many scenes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, regarding overseas copyrights, the Zhang Nara incident wouldn't cause much of an impact; it was only a matter of considering strategy for domestic promotion and distribution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it really came to it...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just don't let her participate in the roadshow; let her take a break.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Teng Huatao, facing the current situation, Xu Ke also had to consider his own work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the cocktail party neared its end, Lu Kuan exchanged a few words with Xu Ke and then left first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he didn't leave, a crowd of reporters would block him again once it ended; he had been in the spotlight too intensely lately and had accepted too many interviews, which was tiresome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after Boss Lu returned to the hotel, Bingbing entered the room with a coquettish laugh, having clearly shaken off any tails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why did you run off so early? I was still...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shh! Someone's coming!\" Lu Kuan pulled her into his arms; about four or five seconds later, the doorbell rang sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing no one answer inside, Zhang Nara, who had just reached the door, looked left and right, throwing the self-respect of a female star to the winds:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Lu, it's Nara. Can I have a word with you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Lu, I know you're inside. The hotel front desk took my tip. Please don't hide from me, okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bingbing found it amusing as she listened in Boss Lu's arms, knowing this was a \"pleading for forgiveness with a rod on one's back\" scenario; if she were let into the room, she might really have to imagine herself like Lian Po, bare-chested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in this room, there didn't seem to be a whip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gorgeous top actress breathed like an orchid against his ear: \"Did I come at a bad time today? Did I ruin another good thing for you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Nara possessed a bit of that stubborn, unyielding nature typical of the Koreans, just using her knuckles to tap on the door repeatedly and softly, as if she would nail herself to the door if he didn't respond today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had thought it through very clearly: as long as he didn't let go, she would truly have no way to heaven and no door to earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huayi couldn't protect her, and she couldn't return to Korea—as long as Li Meijing was there, as long as First Sugar was there, as long as Samsung was there, she didn't even count as a little ant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bingbing watched his speechless expression with interest and mischievously reached her hand inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She whispered in his ear again: \"There's a little Korean beauty on the other side of the door; isn't this even more exciting?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bingbing leaned against the young director, her eyes hazy, her shoulder slipping to reveal a patch of white, supple skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the door, Zhang Nara was relentless, having made up her mind to see it through to the end today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bingbing was also experiencing this extremely stimulating sensation for the first time, and the sponge expanded rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Cannes, a seaside city filled with romantic atmosphere, the ambiguous and alluring vibe in the room had also permeated to the extreme!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, just a tiny spark could bring about an unprecedented explosion of desire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The top actress's desire was fully aroused, and she touched his forearm with her slender, jade-like fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Knock, knock, knock!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if it were a fire extinguisher, Zhang Nara's rhythmic knocking interrupted the process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why don't you go out and talk to her?\" Bingbing adjusted her clothes and whispered a suggestion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu pondered for a few seconds: \"Alright, she really is persistent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gently opened a crack in the door and signaled for Zhang Nara to be quiet; the latter followed him step by step to the terrace on the second floor of the luxury hotel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint, almost inaudible shutter click sounded; this scene was captured clearly and thoroughly by the paparazzi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speak.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Nara's tears fell before she could speak: \"Director Lu, I beg you to let me go, I...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu actually already had plans for her, but he had to completely destroy her body and mind before that, otherwise she couldn't be used by him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Giving up already? Isn't Zhou Jun still waiting to use the popularity of Sina to vindicate you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Nara just shook her head blankly, unable to argue, and not knowing what to argue with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No! Please! Please, I was wrong, Director Lu! Wuwuwu...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Nara grabbed his arm and wouldn't let go: \"I was wrong. I know how they treated Liu Yifei last year. I shouldn't have cooperated with them, I shouldn't have been on the *Silver Years* set...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another long, rambling apology followed, which made the young director somewhat impatient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go back first, do what you have to do. I have plans for you; wait for someone to contact you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Nara looked up in a daze, not knowing what he meant, and could only watch helplessly as he walked away swinging his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu walked toward the room door in a hurry, just as a guilty-looking Bingbing came out with small, quick steps, fully dressed; she shot him a glare before leaving coyly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, she made a phone gesture: \"The puppy is looking for me, I'll come over later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The paparazzi's haul for the day increased by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder his Chinese peers all said he was full of scoops; there were two in just this short while!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",5555,"2026-06-20T06:05:19.268Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","ea6160ee1b574742b63c8c54829cb763beeeb05d4bc0cd6e00cbd2f3b438b049","the-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta-chapter-276","the-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta-chapter-274",343,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta-cover.jpg"]