[{"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-282":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},2297908,4495,"Chapter 282: Ringing the Nasdaq Bell!","the-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta-chapter-282",282,"\u003Cp>Liu Yifei came in high spirits but returned disappointed, leaving Shanghai by plane that afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had to return to Beijing to film a commercial and continue shooting the second season of *Zhu Xian*; the working girl’s schedule was very tight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, her employer, Lu Kuan, was already feeling that something was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gossip about his romantic entanglements in Cannes had long since spread, so why hadn't this little girl cried, made a scene, or threatened to hang herself like she used to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shouldn't she have swung a giant broadsword and charged at him by now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had met several times, yet she hadn't mentioned a word about it, still honestly working for him to earn money...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the saying goes, when a child is quiet, they are definitely up to no good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Kuan had an ominous premonition welling up inside him, and besides, her birthday was coming up in two months...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Kuan thought for a moment and took out his phone; he would stall for as long as he could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello? Lu?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leo, when you pursue Victoria's Secret angels, do you give them sports cars or handbags?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonardo seemed to have heard a joke: \"I only need a dinner or a kiss, nothing more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing, I said that's great. Can you help me order a supercar from that car dealer friend of yours? Any recommendations?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonardo chuckled slyly: \"Something suitable for a lady to drive? When do you need it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn! It's a gift for Crystal, it needs to arrive before August 25th.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bro, haven't your talent and your face already moved her? This isn't like you, is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonardo’s tone was filled with an arrogant sense of superiority, which left Lu Kuan feeling helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the process differed somewhat from what he described, the result was no different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she were eighteen, he could forget about laying a finger on her until he resolved the \"fundamental contradiction\" that Liu Yifei had raised several times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Kuan was both greedy and helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don't understand, Crystal is a rose with thorns; she requires a bit of patience.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patience to deceive, to ambush, and to manipulate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, I can recommend some of the latest models; they are all in stock.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bugatti Veyron 16.4, a model just released this year, 8.0L W16 quad-turbocharged engine, maximum power of 736kW, zero to one hundred acceleration in 2.5 seconds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ferrari Enzo, 6.0L V12 naturally aspirated engine, maximum power of 660 horsepower, zero to one hundred acceleration in 3.6 seconds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lamborghini Murciélago, tubular steel structure and carbon fiber material, 6.2-liter engine, zero to one hundred acceleration in 3.9 seconds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(From top to bottom)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Lu Kuan didn't know the industry, he wasn't a fool: \"Why are all the ones you're recommending over a million dollars?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What about a Porsche Carrera GT for a few hundred thousand dollars? Or a Koenigsek CCR? Or a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonardo said with disdain: \"Are you this stingy with your own woman? I thought you were only stingy with your film crews!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Kuan cursed again and said helplessly: \"Just go with those three expensive ones. With your eye for things, which one do you think Crystal would like?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Ferrari Enzo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you so sure?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonardo’s tone was full of exasperation: \"She often talked about this with the stunt drivers when she was filming racing scenes in *The Forbidden Kingdom*. Lu, you really are dense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder Leonardo’s skills in picking up women were maxed out; there was a method to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Kuan ignored his mockery: \"How much?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have to ask, probably around 1 million pounds, but I suggest you go to Europe to buy it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>1 million pounds was about 13 million RMB at the time. Lu Kuan did a quick mental calculation and regretted turning down several endorsement contracts for Liu Yifei from advertisers last month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The washing machine company didn't consider that Liu Yifei was already stretched too thin to have time to film that sort of thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine, I'll contact Luc Besson.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to import tariffs, shipping costs, and the fact that environmental regulations and related tax rates in the United States were far higher than in Europe, the price of a Ferrari in North America was much higher than in Europe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Kuan made a few calls to settle the matter and began to fantasize about whether he could use this car to trick the now-adult Liu Yifei into his hands, though it was clearly going to be difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But stalling for a while to keep things stable should be possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At four in the afternoon, A-Fei drove his boss and Fan Bingbing to No. 51 Jiangning Road in the Jing'an District of Shanghai. Carrying gifts, they got out of the car and walked into a lane; this was the residence of the film master Xie Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Bingbing led him inside with familiarity, turning back to smile: \"I came here often when I was in school. Master Xie's wife makes delicious food.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actors of the generation of Zhao Yanzi and Fan Bingbing had deep memories of old directors like Xie Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 1996, 15-year-old Fan Bingbing applied to the Xie Jin Hengtong Star School. Xie Jin felt she had a good image, so he waived her second and third rounds of auditions and ultimately admitted her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While she was in school, Xie Jin recommended her for a guest role in the TV series *The Strong Woman*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Bingbing, who was good at seizing opportunities, befriended the lead actress Liu Xuehua, which led to the latter recommending her to her own agency, Qiong Yao’s *My Fair Princess* production team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Initially, Fan Bingbing's role was Ziwei, but due to the withdrawal of the original Taiwanese actress Li Tingyi, there was a vacancy for a Hong Kong\u002FTaiwanese actress in the co-production.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Zhao Yanzi firmly occupying the role of Xiaoyanzi, Qiong Yao had no choice but to use Ruby Lin to replace Fan Bingbing, who had to settle for the role of Jinsuo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through a twist of fate, this became the inner demon that led to her being disparagingly called a \"maid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 2008, after Director Xie Jin passed away, Fan Bingbing, remembering the old man's past care, went to Shanghai to pay her respects and even had some unpleasantness with reporters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The residence of a legendary director was incredibly simple and low-key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was on the 5th floor of an ordinary residential building in a small lane. The two walked up the stairs, the dim yellow stairwell light revealing the rust spots on the iron door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Bingbing knocked lightly on the iron door, which creaked with a teeth-grinding sound. The Xie family’s old nanny poked her head out with a beaming smile: \"Oh, the big star is here! Come in quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Bingbing walked in carrying the gifts: \"Hello, Mother Zhang. This is Director Lu Kuan. He came specifically to visit Master Xie today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know, I know. Director Xie specifically instructed me, saying there would be an honored guest today, so I went to the small market early in the morning to buy fish!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother Zhang looked to be in her fifties, having been with the Xie family for nearly thirty years. Both of the elderly couple were now in their eighties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin’s wife, Xu Dawen, was a bit more nimble on her feet. She walked out wearing reading glasses, holding a book in her hand: \"Is that Fan Bingbing and Director Lu Kuan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's me, Master's wife!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Bingbing happily placed the gifts on the floor, drawing a series of scoldings from Xu Dawen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're going to get scolded by the old man again for bringing so many things.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Kuan laughed: \"I took his purple clay teapot from him yesterday; these don't even count as a return gift. I'll have Fan Bingbing send more over once I find some good items.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, that purple clay teapot had been a gift from Xie Jin’s nephew, and Fan Bingbing had already paid for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But by Lu Kuan saying it this way, it turned into an elegant gathering and exchange between cultured people, avoiding the appearance of mercenary gift-giving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Xie Jin walk out of the room, leaning on a cane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha, no need. Good things are only precious in the hands of those who know their value.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Kuan took the initiative to step forward and shake his hand: \"Director Xie, hello.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lu Kuan, I have seen your films; they are very exciting!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin had dealt with film his whole life. Facing this young man who was younger than his own grandson, his eyes were full of appreciation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I came this time to seek your advice and to hear your criticisms and corrections.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha, you are a young man in your twenties, why do you speak like a forty-year-old cadre? That's no good!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin invited him to sit on the sofa with a smile. Fan Bingbing’s gaze lingered between the two, enjoying such a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Dawen took Xie Jin’s notebook from the room and showed it to the young director.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look, Old Xie is getting old and is afraid of forgetting things. He even takes notes after watching your movies!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Kuan said with pleasant surprise: \"Really? May I take a look?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Kuan flipped through the pages of vigorous handwriting. From *The Drummer* to *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*, there were short reviews and words of expectation, like an old teacher grading a student's homework.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Xie, you are too kind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young director turned to Fan Bingbing: \"Help me take a picture with my phone; I want to take it back and study it carefully.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eh, why go through such trouble? It's just my old man's boring scribbles; they aren't worth taking seriously.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin looked at his meddlesome wife with a helpless expression: \"To tell you the truth, I only found out from Fan Bingbing that you were in Shanghai for an event today, and I wanted to meet a young talent like you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Over the past three years, Zhang Yimou, Jiang Wen, and Fan Bingbing have all come to see me and mentioned you. Just consider it satisfying this old man's curiosity!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Lu Kuan could habitually respond with the polite, modest tone of a cadre, Xie Jin went straight to the point:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lu Kuan, don't listen to the clamor of Zhu Dake, Huang Shixian, and that Gu Shan from your Beijing Film Academy. Just go ahead and make your own movies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Kuan was stunned, wondering where such an abrupt transition had come from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin’s wife, the elderly Mrs. Xu Dawen, sighed: \"If it weren't for those people in the critical circle like Zhu Dake labeling him back then, Old Xie wouldn't have left the film industry so early.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Child, I don't know much about film, but Old Xie likes your work very much. He is afraid that you will repeat his mistakes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin laughed: \"I originally had this worry, but ever since I learned you were going to start that Pan-Asia Film Academy, I knew that this group of people wouldn't be able to influence you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since his debut in 2002, every film by Lu Kuan, who carried the banner of commercial cinema, had almost always drawn questioning and attacks from older-generation literary critics like Zhu Dake, Huang Shixian, and Gu Shan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially after the debate involving the \"Seven Gentlemen of Beijing Film Academy,\" Lu Kuan had almost become the target and \"electronic side dish\" for these old stubborns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And because Lu Kuan’s own status and standing grew higher and higher, the ranks of those eating this \"side dish\" grew even larger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the 80s they criticized me, in the 90s they criticized Zhang Yimou. I see that it will be your turn to endure their clamor next.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words were spoken lightly, but Lu Kuan knew that the names he mentioned had almost destroyed his career back in the day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chinese cinema (including Hong Kong and Taiwan) had no masters, but it had several figures who were close to being masters, and Xie Jin was one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the entire twentieth century were divided into two parts, and one had to list the most influential figures in the cultural and artistic circles of the latter fifty years, even if the list were narrowed to the absolute minimum, Xie Jin would inevitably be on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin was born into a scholarly family in Shangyu, Zhejiang Province, moved to the Magic City in the 1930s, and from then on became obsessed with film, embarking on the path of a legendary filmmaker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a general sense, the literary and art circles consider Zheng Zhengqiu to have concluded one chapter of film history, and the rise of Cai Chusheng to be the beginning of another; these were the first and second generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Xie Jin is the undisputed successor of the third generation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the peak of *Woman Basketball Player No. 5* to *Hibiscus Town*, Xie Jin gradually stood at the forefront of the spotlight in that era of \"the thawing of the glaciers,\" much like the shining Boss Lu in the country today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all attracted the covetousness and \"staged provocations\" of people in the literary and serious criticism circles, because that is how they make a living.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, Zhu Dake is the flag-bearer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin and his wife are elderly and barely touched their chopsticks during dinner; Lu Kuan and Fan Bingbing also left after only tasting a little, so as not to disturb their rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin possesses the elegance and detachment of the older generation of intellectuals; it seems he just wanted to see this rising star and say a few words from the heart to be satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting in the car, Fan Bingbing raised the doubt in her heart: \"That Zhu Dake is quite annoying, but it seems he only ever talks trash about you; why did the Master's wife just say he almost ruined Director Xie's career?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In this era, he is just talking trash; in that era, it was real artillery.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Starting with the 'Anti-Bourgeois Liberalization' movement in 1985, Director Xie Jin's explorations in commercial film gave him a major handle for attack, and he had to temporarily stop his efforts in that direction.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is just like how in 2005, Lu Kuan carried the banner of \"Chinese learning as substance, Western learning as application,\" advocating and practicing the Hollywood film industrialization production model.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Shanghai Film Studio of the 1980s, this exploration had actually begun long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the founding of the country, the Magic City was already the most internationalized city in the country; after that group of filmmakers influenced by advanced trends entered the studios, they always continued the classic narrative style of Hollywood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 1980, the Shanghai Film Studio produced the country's first science fiction film, *Death Ray on Coral Island*, which sparked heated discussion and sensation as soon as it was released, pioneering domestic science fiction film.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Tian Zhuangzhuang, and others, who began directing on the wave of rejuvenation, also began their exploration of avant-garde film relying on the Xi'an Film Studio and the Guangxi Film Studio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu sighed: \"If the historical process had not been affected by the 'Anti-Bourgeois Liberalization' and the labeling and scapegoating by the likes of Zhu Dake and those literary ruffians and provocateurs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The mainland film scene might have been like Hollywood and New York, producing two film centers—one commercial and one artistic—with everyone developing separately and undertaking different missions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Those who win awards win awards, those who make money make money; it would have been of great benefit to cultural outreach and the prosperity of film art.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Bingbing said hatefully: \"Isn't that Zhu Dake just the 'Red Guard' of culture from that era?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu laughed in spite of himself: \"Pretty much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In '86, he published an article in the Magic City's *Wen Hui Bao* titled 'The Flaws of the Xie Jin Film Model,' criticizing the narrative rules that Xie Jin's films adhered to as having a kind of 'outdated aesthetic consciousness with sentimentality as the highest goal'.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That wasn't even the most critical part.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The most critical part was that Zhu Dake pinned the two labels of 'influencing the transformation of Chinese film art' and 'accepting Hollywood cultural colonization' on him; that was truly fatal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Lu Kuan described earlier, the trash talk from the serious criticism circle represented by Zhu Dake and Li Jie might be the buzzing of flies in the current era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But back then, it almost ruined Xie Jin's exploration of the Hollywood model and the path of commercial film, and ruined the Shanghai Film Studio, which had been producing one good film after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one dared to risk such great political danger to continue forging ahead, and the mainstream of Chinese film gradually turned to the \"metaphysical\" mode, like the scholars of the Wei and Jin dynasties—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>blindly pursuing philosophical concepts, ignoring plot, opposing sharp conflicts, and deliberately digging into human nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Bingbing rested her head on the shoulder of the man beside her, listening to him recount this history of the \"sinking of Shenzhou film.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why is it that since the 90s, our audience has rarely walked into movie theaters?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is because 'storytelling,' the simplest and most basic principle of film, was attacked and stigmatized by that group of critics like Zhu Dake.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Although Chinese films frequently won awards in the West after that, the mainland film industry also collapsed rapidly, until 1994, when the state had to open up to Hollywood films entering the mainland to boost the market and attract audiences.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Bingbing felt a mix of emotions; this was simply too ironic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much did filmmakers of that era reject commercial films and storytelling?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shaohong once mentioned in an interview that in '87, the Beijing Film Studio prepared to test the waters with commercial films; famous directors and big directors avoided it for fear of being involved, and only their group of young directors came out to take on the burden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, in the end, you pushed it to me, I pushed it to you, and the task fell on Li Shaohong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were this era, wouldn't a young director be thrilled to have a chance to shoot a film?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, Li Shaohong found the head of the Beijing Film Studio, Hu Qiming, overnight, sat in front of his house, and wailed: \"This is too bullying! You are trying to force me to death! Why on earth should I be the one to shoot entertainment films?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that era, commercial films were all called entertainment films; compared to the high-and-mighty art films, one can see the depth of their vulgarity and stigmatization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Bingbing imagined Li Shaohong throwing a tantrum in front of the Beijing Film Studio staff dormitory and burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tilted her head to look at the man's sharp-angled profile and couldn't help but scrape her slender jade fingers across his dense stubble: \"It's a good thing Chinese film has you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh? That's a tall claim; I just happened to be there at the right time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu bragged in front of outsiders, but he didn't dare take credit for this: \"Starting with Zhang Yimou's *Hero* in 2002, to Chen Kaige's *The Promise* this year, these directors who were once avant-garde film creators have all turned back to the exploration of commercial films.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This isn't a question of me or anyone else shouting slogans; this is the result of the audience and the market forcing the issue.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As long as that label isn't hanging over our heads, our Chinese directors' ability to tell stories is no worse than anyone else's; we just need to pick up the wealth accumulated by the previous generations of directors.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was something he didn't say out loud: some directors are still able to pick it up, but some directors can no longer pick it up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this \"rebellion\" of the fifth-generation directors fully proves how fatal the malicious reviews from Zhu Dake and others were back then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the eighties to the beginning of the millennium, it rawly delayed the exploration process of Chinese commercial film for twenty years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two walked into the hotel suite, and Fan Bingbing sat on the young director's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, her eyes full of admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps a tycoon who started out with dirty, underhanded means would make female stars feel intimidated and attempt to cling to them;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a man like Lu Kuan, who has both means and ideals, who has transcended cities and industries, and who opens up careers and leads trends with an extremely high vision and breadth of mind, undoubtedly makes a top actress feel a heartfelt worship—this is the \"admire-the-strong\" gene carved into the bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn't want to pay attention to them before because this group of people just wants to ride the coattails of popularity; the more you pay attention, the more energized they get.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But today, Director Xie's concern touched me; when Zhu Dake goes online to spout nonsense again, I will definitely scold him until he's covered in blood!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Bingbing giggled: \"Next time Zhu Dake scolds you, I'll scold him! I'll vent your anger for you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu's large hands had already begun to gently caress and stroke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How can a beauty's mouth be used to scold people?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Bingbing gave him a light tap, chiding the man for his vulgarity, and then gave him a soul-stirring glance: \"Then what should it be used for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu laughed loudly: \"Hmm!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The delicate warbling of an oriole, a soft sound, a night of fish and dragon dance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After lingering in the Magic City for two days, Lu Kuan returned to Tangshan to continue film shooting and the Olympic opening ceremony bidding work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The film's shooting progress was moving steadily, but the time had come for the Olympic opening ceremony plan to gradually set its tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to the tedious and complex nature of the bid document production, the problem now facing everyone was not a lack of creativity, but too much creativity!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For more than two months, there had been day-and-night discussions, verification, and overturning, followed by cycles of repetition; Lin Ying even complained about the sudden decrease in the volume of her hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Kuan specifically let Zhao Fei lead the secondary shot filming for a day, while he focused on discussing and determining the plan at the temporary Olympic group office next to the set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the route and basic plan were determined, they could then innovate and constantly improve within the established plan; otherwise, since there is no \"first\" in literature, they wouldn't be able to finalize the draft even by next year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on the aesthetic judgment ability required of a director, this decision naturally had to be made by Lu Kuan himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assistant Li used a large rear-projection screen to roughly demonstrate the overview of all the programs; there were more than 50 creative ideas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Traditional ones like *Tai Chi*, *Ink Wash*, *Spring River Flower Moon Night*, *Si Nan*, *Bronze Ware*, and *Rainbow Clothing*;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Modern ones like *High-Altitude Cableway*, *Great Voyages*, *Internet*, and *Five Continents Dream*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked at the contemplative Lu Kuan, waiting for his decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young director spoke slowly: \"Everyone, the focus of our discussion today, which is the literary performance part that only has 50 minutes at most, is that we must make a choice on the strategic direction.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These 50-plus programs are content discussed by such an international team, but they can generally be divided into two types.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Kuan held up two fingers:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The traditional route, which is the cultural route, is elegant and unique in its connotation, but its actual effect is questionable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The visual route, which is the special effects route, the atmospheric route, uses more high-tech means; the scene is grand but lacks particularly profound cultural connotation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All programs have achieved the ultimate in the fusion of culture and technology, but they will inevitably still have a tendency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you want the entire performance program to have a core thread holding it together, so it doesn't end up scattered in form and spirit, you must establish a center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this issue, Jin Wei, Shen Wei, Guo Qiyong, Yang Liping, and others are inclined toward the traditional cultural route; the programs on this route best express our national spirit and style.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But foreign nationals like Lin Ying, Michelle, and Galliano, out of their past experience and international perspective, strongly suggest choosing the romantic and atmospheric technical route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young director expressed his own opinion: \"Chinese culture is broad and profound; even we ourselves wouldn't dare say we are proficient in every branch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For a short 50-minute literary performance, my opinion leans toward choosing to use the strongest visual impact to shock the people of the world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, in this process, we must also strike a balance; we cannot blindly engage in 'eyeball economy,' but we must even less blindly pursue elegance and make the audience drowsy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Qiyong shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this and couldn't help but advise: \"Director Lu, we are different from them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled bitterly and gestured toward several foreign friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Our plan must take into account the opinions of the leaders and the feedback from the literary and art criticism circles.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just like your films, even though they have won awards and are box-office hits, there is still frequent noise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If the Olympic opening ceremony program blindly pursues visual effects and audiovisual shock, I am afraid you will have to bear too much pressure—pressure from both the elite establishment and the general public.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The artists present were silent; it had to be said that this cultural scholar's analysis made sense, except that his angle started from Lu Kuan himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We must consider the leaders' opinions, but that will be after the bid presentation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for the criticism circle, just let them bark like dogs; there's no need to pay attention.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Kuan stood up and tapped the table: \"From now until the end of the month, we must produce a complete set of creative plans, budget plans, and technical plans.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For these 50-plus programs, prioritize the technical and special effects route; if there is a possibility of targeted modification for the cultural route programs, then we will test the waters and discuss them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With someone to set the tone, the team had a backbone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The creative group quickly began to use \"Heaven, Earth, and Man\" as the main ideological path and logical structure, adapting and embedding programs that leaned toward big culture, big visuals, and big romance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting in July, Boss Lu lived a work rhythm where people were more tired than dogs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shooting films during the day, discussing Olympic plans at noon, and handling official business at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, *Cowherd and Weaver Girl*, produced by Wenjie and jointly distributed by Shanghai Film and Bona, was taken off the screen; with a film cost of 7 million, it was a loss based on the box office data of 20 million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But considering the upgrade in prestige after the film's Venice Horizons section and Golden Horse Awards, as well as the sale of DVD rights, a small profit was not a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one with eye-popping performance was Xu Zheng's *Crazy Supermarket*; with a cost of less than 3 million, the total box office was 15.4 million, and the word-of-mouth in second- and third-tier cities was explosive, which then transmitted and radiated to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was mainly the effect brought about by the correct distribution and promotion strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei, Su Chang, and Zhang Songwen were all considered to have a small amount of fame, and supporting actors like Yang Qing and Zhang Jiayi were not exactly nobodies either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The creative team began their roadshow from second and third-tier cities, avoiding major blockbusters like \"Initial D\" that were strong during the same period.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially with the finely edited comedic behind-the-scenes clips playing on a loop on the homepage of Wenjie Video, just like how the Hollywood Big Six were envious of the overseas Mytube, industry insiders all realized the promotional role that professional video websites played in film distribution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, \"Bad Genius\" and \"Seven Swords,\" primarily invested in by Huayi, were also officially scheduled for the August 1st summer slot, preparing for a head-on collision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The promotional channels of Blog Network, Douban, Wenjie Video, and Focus Media were firing on all cylinders, forming a pincer movement against \"Seven Swords.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Zhang Nara had already returned to South Korea to lie low, this film still had investment from Huayi, so it had to be stepped on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On July 10, 2005, urged by seven or eight phone calls a day from Jiang Beichun in Jiangbei, Lu Kuan finally finished arranging the various tasks for the film crew and the Olympic team and flew to the United States.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Focus Media was about to ring the bell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since investing in Focus Media in 2003, relying on the film and television promotional business of its parent company, Wenjie Media, Focus began its second large-scale expansion in the country.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of 2004, in view of future listing plans, it was also to allow Focus, which could barely break even, to develop advertising businesses in places like Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Beichun represented Lu Kuan in accepting the second round of financing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Institutions like Goldman Sachs from the United States and 3i Group from the United Kingdom invested 20 million USD for shares; with this, Lu Kuan's shareholding ratio dropped to 52%, but the actual value of his holdings rose sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A portion of this 20 million USD was used by Focus Media to expand the scale of its commercial building network from 10,000 buildings to 20,000;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another portion was used to establish a hypermarket network, striving to occupy 50% to 70% of the market share within half a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is to say, in addition to traditional building advertisements, emerging networks like airport networks, golf networks, and hospital networks would also be included in the scope of business, striving to create new growth points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the long-term goal was to develop and operate a Chinese Focus-style outdoor television network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this step were truly reached, in the future, in territories across the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau, wherever there was an electronic screen, there would be the presence of Focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Yu Feng's Target Media had also been watching like a tiger eyeing its prey, having completed three rounds of financing, just waiting to see the big brother's performance on NASDAQ this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting from mid-April, Jiang Beichun, as CEO, began his roadshow, traveling through important cities like Xiangjiang, Singapore, and London, with the final stop being New York.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During these three months, including Jiang Beichun and underwriters like Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse First Boston, they had constantly urged this young director, who already had a bit of international fame, to join them, but he had politely declined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, his main business was busy; second, professional matters should be left to professional people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, as the roadshow entered its final stage, with the team heading to the last stop, New York, Lu Kuan could no longer avoid it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For underwriters like Focus and Goldman Sachs, such a young director who already had considerable recognition in North America, along with the international color he carried, was beneficial for the stock issuance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu, who often joked that he had \"poverty disease,\" had no choice but to take A-Fei and rush to New York to contribute his final effort to this bucket of gold for Focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On July 12, photos from the roadshow cocktail party held by Focus Media at a hotel in New York were leaked, and once published by domestic financial media, they immediately broke out of their circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaking from the financial circle into the entertainment circle...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn't this the washing machine?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is he filming a movie? Dressed up all fancy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The big boss of Focus Media? Washing machine? Holy crap!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were dimensional walls between different fields, and Focus did not look like a Wenjie-affiliated enterprise at first glance like Wenjie Video or Wenjie Mall, so it was normal that many netizens did not know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, with the frequent reports from financial magazines and media, the reasons for the washing machine to be envied, jealous, and hated seemed to have added one more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"China Financial News\": Founded only two and a half years ago, Focus Media has now built a commercial building network covering 15 million middle-to-high-income people daily, and has newly opened hypermarket networks, airport networks, golf networks, hospital networks, etc., with monthly advertising revenue of nearly 40 million yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Caixin Weekly\": Even with conservative estimates, the market value of Focus will reach over 800 million USD, and since the major shareholder of Focus Media, Lu Kuan, holds 52% of Focus, his net worth will therefore reach at least 400 million USD.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Caijing.com\": According to public information, the market value of White Horse Outdoor Media, which was listed on the Xiangjiang main board market in 2002, is currently about 3 billion HKD, and as Focus Media, which has only been in its growth period for two years, considering the help provided by the major shareholder Lu Kuan in film and television resources, a valuation of around 800 million USD is quite reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First Financial Channel\": According to public information, the well-known domestic director Lu Kuan already has a Hong Kong-listed company, Wenjie Jiahe, under his banner, currently holding shares with a market value of about 800 million HKD, and with Focus ringing the bell the day after tomorrow, the assets of his listed companies are expected to bring in 400 million USD.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, the well-known \"pig-slaughtering list\" compiler Hu Run posted a blog post on his official account, stating that he had noticed this low-key tycoon from the mainland and would reflect it on the rich list to be released in October.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Netizens were red-eyed with envy while taking pens to secretly calculate the net worth for the washing machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just taking the assets of the two public listed companies and adding them together already reached as high as 4.068 billion RMB.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone flipped over the 2004 Hu Run pig-slaughtering list to look:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Guangyu 10.5 billion, Chen Tianqiao 8.8 billion, Rong Zhijian 8.5 billion,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The washing machine's 4.068 billion net worth could rank around 14th!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this hadn't even counted his other industries!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, it was mostly entertainment circle netizens who teased the washing machine, especially Liu Yifei's fans, who were particularly vicious because their goddess was so close to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it was fine, such a young man not even 25 years old had \"usurped\" the top twenty of the rich list...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone, spray him for me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By what right do you occupy beauty, money, and talent all by yourself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, while there were teases, jealousy, and sour words, no one said he was rich and unkind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, since he started in the industry, he had been filming movies and running companies to make money, without grabbing huge wealth from the financial market or energy markets like coal, iron, and oil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Added to the charity of building school buildings for Wenjie a few months ago, and his past cultural output and humorous confidence under Western media, Lu Kuan still won quite a bit of favor among the public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>9:30 AM on July 13, 2005.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blonde beauty in a suit walked up to the Focus team: \"Gentlemen, please prepare to send a representative to ring the opening bell.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Beichun was standing to the side, dazed; once upon a time, would this self-made advertising media practitioner have dared to imagine he could reach this step?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old Jiang, let's do it together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu patted the Focus CEO.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Beichun's face showed joy, but then he hurriedly declined: \"Boss Lu, you should go; I'm so happy my legs are shaking!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Focus is your idea, and it was built by your own hands; I only provided the expansion funds and some business.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old Jiang, you are more qualified than me to ring this bell.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Beichun looked at the sincere young director and couldn't say a word; his throat moved, and it would be a lie to say he wasn't moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, he had put his entire net worth of 20 million into the bottomless pit of expanding reproduction, and it was only out of helplessness that he found the distribution business for \"The Thief,\" taking whatever jobs he could get.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn't expected to be precisely targeted and squeezed into by the person in front of him, and losing controlling interest was truly a helpless move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since then, besides providing great help in the advertising business, the young director had indeed never interfered with the operation of his company, which already made him an extremely good boss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's do it together! Boss Lu!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the cheers of NASDAQ, Lu Kuan and Jiang Beichun rang the opening bell together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the routine listing speech, Boss Lu did not decline again; this was the time he needed to use his international reputation and confidence to boost the new stock issuance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Today, Focus Media stands on the stage of NASDAQ; this is a new starting point for a journey full of challenges and hard work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What we see is a future of infinite possibilities; in this era of information explosion, Focus Media is committed to accurately reaching every audience, maximizing the value of advertising, and weaving a unique communication network between buildings and where crowds gather.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We come with innovative ideas and fearless courage, willing to join hands with global investors and partners to write a brilliant chapter for Focus Media in this capital market full of opportunities!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunderous applause erupted off-stage, and Boss Lu's dashing and unrestrained photos also killed the film of the reporters present, becoming the headlines of major domestic websites!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After one night, the market value predicted by all financial media and bloggers beforehand came true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CCTV Financial Channel column program:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>News from 17:00 Eastern Time on July 13 (5:00 on July 14, Beiping Time).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Focus Media (NASDAQ: FMCN) saw strong stock price growth on its first day of listing on the US NASDAQ, closing at 20.20 USD, 3.2 USD higher than the 17 USD issuance price, with a daily increase of nearly 19 percentage points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Netizen: ??? Just tell me how much the washing machine's shares are worth?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Popular science posts were of course indispensable, and it was about the same as the financial media's predictions; according to the first day's closing price, the 52% shares held by Lu Kuan were worth as much as 410 million USD!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No amount of predictions, no amount of hype, and no amount of description were as intuitive and shocking as this number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu's phone rang constantly, and his mobile phone memory was almost filled with congratulatory text messages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether friend or foe, it was impossible not to pay attention to the young director in these past two days, but everyone's thoughts were different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bingbing was of course full of joy, so excited that she wanted to find an excuse to fly to the United States to sacrifice herself to celebrate for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But looking at little Liu from the \"Zhu Xian\" crew, and the Shangxinqiao teapot in her hand, the big actress couldn't help but feel that trace of desire again...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could she actually do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Liu was somewhat indifferent, because she knew almost all of the washing machine's unknown sides, and this included the ownership issue of the Blog Network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew that if all his assets were taken out into the sun to be dehydrated, dried, and carefully calculated, that would be what was truly jaw-dropping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenjie-affiliated employees and artists all felt honored; even though they had long known the boss's capabilities, this large-scale breakout still made everyone look good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the boss of Wenjie Holdings, Lu Kuan himself was the biggest IP and resource, and the reputation of such a business tycoon was beneficial to the business operations of other branches and subsidiaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there were also two forces watching with complex expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One side was naturally the Zhou Army and Huayi, and the other side...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was Deng Wendi, who had already learned the identity of the person behind Mytube!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",6790,"2026-06-20T06:05:19.268Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","ad5dbd7806ea314999ee91921027cc35665612c5ae456f45a0cbce9d618abe05","the-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta-chapter-283","the-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta-chapter-281",343,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta-cover.jpg"]