Chapter 82: The Deal

Seeing that he was direct, Liu Yifei no longer held back: "Director Lu, it is our child, Zhang Ruoyun, who wants to follow you to learn some skills and spend some time in your film crew."

"If there is a role, as long as he can show his face or have an expression, it doesn't matter if it's for one second or one minute, just let him have the experience."

Hearing this, Lu Kuan glanced at Zhang Ruoyun, who was eating his food in small bites nearby. The latter immediately wiped his mouth and sat up straight, though his darting eyes betrayed his secret desire to sneak a peek at Lu Kuan.

"I am a director. If your young master wants to learn acting, he can just take the exam for the Beijing Film Academy or the Central Academy of Drama in two years. Why come to me and ask a blind man for directions?"

While Lu Kuan refused with his words, he sighed inwardly that these "princes" of the Beijing circle, represented by Fan Xian, were truly born in Rome.

In the 2017 "Hurun Original Literature IP Value List," the works *Nightfall*, *Fighter of the Destiny*, and *Joy of Life* by the Qidian author Mao Ni were all on the list.

Two of these three dramas were carved up by the princes of the Beijing circle, among which Chen Kaige secured *Nightfall* for his son, Arthur.

Chen Kaige was on the list of shareholders of New Classics Media, the production company for this self-produced drama, and he also had a long-term directing cooperation agreement with them. Later, the Tencent-owned China Literature Group acquired New Classics Media in full.

Sounds a bit dizzying, right? In fact, going around in circles, everyone is one big family, lifting each other's sedan chairs.

As for Zhang Ruoyun, who took the other drama, *Joy of Life*, he had started acting in television dramas at the age of 15.

15 years old—does that sound familiar? It seems like the same starting point as our little Liu, but actually...

The drama he appeared in at 15 was called *The Oath of the Sea*. His father was the screenwriter, the producer was Wu Xiubo, and the leads included Chen Xiaodong, Li Bingbing, and Gao Yuanyuan.

It is worth mentioning that the later-banned Wu Xiubo and Zhang Ruoyun's stepmother, Liu Yifei, were both children who came out of the diplomatic compound back in the day.

In short, these people are all intertwined; today I give you a hand, and later you will surely have to take care of my child.

Circles, circles—that's just how it is.

Returning to Lu Kuan's current situation, a tentacle of the Beijing circle background had extended an olive branch to him, and the people in the Beijing circle were all observing this young director who seemed to have suddenly appeared in everyone's field of vision.

Seeing Lu Kuan's direct refusal, Liu Yifei tried to persuade him with kind words: "Director Lu, we have inquired about your affairs. I am also an actor, and to be immodest, I have won the Golden Eagle Award and the Hundred Flowers Award. I know best the importance of a good teacher."

"We have all asked Old Feng. You have coached two actors who only had a rough grasp of acting in your crew exceptionally well, and even Feng Yuan has improved under you."

Liu Yifei's *The Story of a Noble Family* aired on CCTV in March 2003, and *Whiplash* was definitely going to be released within the year.

Audiences who don't know the inside story might wonder why Liu Yifei seemed to have regressed while acting, as this later drama was not as outstanding as the previous film.

"Little Zhang should only be fifteen this year. Is he not in school?"

Liu Yifei smiled: "Summer vacation is coming up soon. Besides, as you said, he can just take the exam for an acting school according to his own wishes; it's nothing."

Lu Kuan pondered for a moment and said: "How about this, Ms. Liu, Little Zhang can stay with my crew, but don't worry about how I teach him."

"As for the adaptation rights of *Chinese Paladin* in the hands of Yongyule, let's keep the price as it should be. How does that sound?"

Liu Yifei understood his meaning; he wanted to keep things separate and not owe each other any favors.

Subconsciously, Lu Kuan did not want to get too entangled with the Beijing circle. There were many factions in the arts circle, and once one was tainted by karma, there was no guarantee that everything one did would be hindered.

"Alright, Director Lu, then I will trouble you. The child will come to report to you this afternoon."

Liu Yifei thought she couldn't ask for too much, so she would just leave it at that for now.

Lu Kuan had no further words; he stood up to take his leave.

Liu Yifei politely saw him to the door and immediately called Zhang Jian: "Old Zhang, I've done my best this time. Even though we're divorced, I didn't delay our son's affairs. I've been decent enough, right? Unlike you!"

Zhang Jian laughed on the other end of the phone: "Alright, Beizi, I'll remember your kindness, okay? Stop badmouthing me all the time."

The romantic line between these two was also quite tortuous; Liu Yifei was Zhang Jian's second wife.

At the end of 2002, the two divorced again. Liu Yifei married Zhang Li, the director of *Young Marshal*, which she starred in with Wen Zhang, but later a third party intervened, and the two divorced.

In 2004, Liu Yifei married for the third time, eating "returned grass," and it was with Zhang Jian again...

Thus, she became Zhang Ruoyun's second-round stepmother.

This woman, who was said to have undergone eye surgery without anesthesia, truly had a tough personality, so it was not so strange that she could come to Lu Kuan's door so brazenly today to get things done.

Lu Kuan called Sun Wenwen and told her to deal directly with the contact person provided by Liu Yifei to finalize the adaptation rights for *Chinese Paladin*.

It was also at this time that everyone had not yet realized the value of IP; otherwise, who would be willing to let go of such a gold mine held in their hands? It was precisely starting from this *Chinese Paladin* that a new genre appeared in the domestic television field—the Xianxia drama.

When Lu Kuan finished his lunch break and arrived at the set, Zhang Ruoyun was already playing around behind Zhou Jielun like a little tail, making it hard for Lu Kuan not to suspect that he was here to chase a star.

Lu Kuan picked up the walkie-talkie: "Colleagues, we have a new intern in the crew. Everyone meet him. After that, just go about your business; don't worry about him."

He then handed the walkie-talkie to Zhang Ruoyun, signaling him to introduce himself.

This child might really have a bit of social butterfly syndrome; he smiled and bowed to everyone: "Hello, uncles and aunts, my name is Zhang Ruoyun. I am very honored to be able to..."

"Alright, you go to the side and watch first. Watch for the afternoon and we'll see."

The inaugural speech of the Inspector of the Kyoto Overwatch Council was interrupted, leaving him quite depressed.

Lu Kuan said to the cinematographer: "Ning Hao, you keep an eye on it first, I'll be over in a moment."

"Okay, Director."

Lu Kuan led Zhang Ruoyun to find Huang Bo, who was waiting for his scene, and introduced them to each other.

"Old Huang, this is a friend's child. You coach him on the basics. Later, when Teacher Feng is performing, you explain the tricks of the trade to him."

He then instructed the wide-eyed Zhang Ruoyun: "Little Zhang, this is Senior Brother Huang from the Beijing Film Academy. Watch carefully and learn earnestly."

"I'll give you one week. If you're good, I'll give you a role. If not, you should go home. Alright?"

In *Whiplash*, there were plenty of roles for bar waiters and extras in the audience when the protagonist Xu Huan was performing; this deal had no impact on him whatsoever.

Zhang Ruoyun seemed a bit unconvinced, but seeing that Lu Kuan's manner in the crew was like that of a local emperor and that he didn't seem too polite when talking to his stepmother, he could only hang his head and agree.

(End of chapter)