Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 621 Lily Collins

August in Los Angeles is hot and dry. Zhang Chen is from the coal-producing province and has a habit of taking a nap, but he hasn't taken one in a long time and suddenly felt sleepy today.

Two hours later, Zhang Chen woke up in his hotel bed, feeling refreshed.

Full of energy, Zhang Chen prepared to work for a while. As soon as he turned on his computer, he saw the email icon flashing. He casually clicked on the email interface, and among the dense work emails, the three words "Lin Yoona" stood out.

He paused for a moment, then clicked to open the email with a hint of curiosity. The email contained only a single line: "Zhang Chen oppa, this is my recent Taekwondo training video. I can also shoot action movies~"

The attached video file wasn't large. Zhang Chen pressed the play button, and Lin Yoona's familiar figure immediately appeared on the screen.

But the next second, his gaze froze—the girl in the video was indeed standing on the mat in the taekwondo training hall, wearing white taekwondo shoes, but she was only wearing a tight-fitting short sports vest on her upper body, revealing her smooth shoulders and neck and slender waist. She was wearing a pair of sports shorts that were just above her thighs, and her fair legs were particularly dazzling in front of the camera.

Despite it being taekwondo training, where one should be wearing a loose-fitting uniform, her revealing outfit made it look more like a carefully prepared sports photoshoot.

The camera followed her movements; her clothes fluttered slightly as she kicked her leg, and her vest outlined her figure clearly when she bent over. Even the way sweat dripped from her forehead seemed to be deliberately slowed down by the camera.

This girl's posting of training videos is fake; she's really trying to seduce him.

But she achieved her goal; Zhang Chen was indeed provoked.

He's been so busy lately that he hasn't had time to relieve his internal heat for a long time. Coupled with the hot weather, Zhang Chen feels like a teapot boiling over, with steam constantly churning inside him.

Damn it, distant water can't quench immediate thirst, and even ordering takeout from China now seems too late.

Just as I was getting into it, there was a sudden knocking sound at the door.

Zhang Chen frowned. Who could it be? He didn't have any work scheduled for today.

The knocking stopped a few seconds later, then started again, but very softly. Based on his intuition, Zhang Chen felt that it was a woman knocking.

The knocking continued, which annoyed Zhang Chen. He took a few quick steps and flung the door open.

The moment he opened the door and saw the person outside, he was stunned.

There was indeed a woman in front of him, and she was quite young, but he didn't recognize her.

Lily Collins, standing outside the door, also looked at Zhang Chen with astonishment. It seemed that the director she was visiting was not in a good mood at the moment.

Lily Collins was at a loss for words, but finally mustered her courage and said, "Director Zhang... Director Zhang Chen, hello, I... am Lily Collins~"

As Collins introduced himself, Zhang Chen was also sizing him up.

She was wearing a beige silk shirt with the top two buttons undone, revealing her delicate collarbone, which looked quite sexy.

She wore a high-waisted denim mini skirt, which made her legs look even longer.

She was carrying a small leather handbag, her hair was slightly curly and casually draped over her shoulder, and her smile was a little stiff, probably because she was startled by herself.

But her eyes seemed to hold a pool of spring water, and when her gaze swept over Zhang Chen's face, it carried an indescribable allure.

"Lily Collins? Wait a minute~"

Zhang Chen seemed to remember something and asked uncertainly, "You're the one Edland recommended?"

A look of surprise appeared on the girl's face: "Yes, my godfather and Mr. Edland are good friends!"

She then looked around somewhat awkwardly: "May I... come in and sit down?"

"Ok."

Zhang Chen stepped aside from the doorway and went inside first, reminding her, "Remember to close the door!"

"Oh~"

Lily closed the door behind her, then followed Zhang Chen while curiously looking around.

"Would you like something to drink? Tea or coffee? Oh, never mind, I only have coffee here."

The presidential suite where Zhang Chen stayed was equipped with tea, but Zhang Chen had already finished drinking it.

"Coffee will do."

Zhang Chen went to make her coffee, while Lily Collins casually looked around the living room and then immediately noticed the video that was still on the computer.

The video is paused, and the exquisite picture perfectly shows a large expanse of Yoona's snow-white skin.

So the director likes this style~
Before coming, Lily Collins had mentally prepared herself. If she dared to visit in person, she must have been prepared to deliver the goods to her door. This is not uncommon in Hollywood.

However, their first meeting did not seem to be pleasant. The director seemed to be in a bad mood. Now Lily Collins finally knows why. Anyone would feel this way if they were interrupted while appreciating art.

Zhang Chen spent some time brewing coffee; the coffee provided in the presidential suite certainly wasn't some cheap, instant coffee, so it took him a little while.

However, when he returned to the living room with the coffee, a delicate hand grabbed his collar, and the air seemed to be filled with hormones.

Lily Collins' eyes sparkled, and she lost all the poise she had when she first entered, throwing herself into his arms.

Zhang Chen felt his lips being enveloped by something soft and warm, and his hand was being pulled by the other person to a certain place.

Wow, you've got some substance!
The enthusiasm that had been temporarily suppressed by knocking on the door was instantly reignited, and the steam in the teapot was about to overflow.

But reason prevailed. He knew perfectly well why a complete stranger would put on such a show on their first meeting—it was simply for the sake of the role.
But how could that be? The leading lady in a big-budget production with a budget of hundreds of millions isn't someone you can just get by sleeping with.

Zhang Chen suddenly stopped the other person's actions: "I won't make any promises~"

He was met with an even more enthusiastic response. The next second, Zhang Chen's mind was replaced by something called hormones, and he completely lost the ability to think.

On the table, the coffee in the cup rippled, and it took about half an hour for it to gradually calm down.

The American girl rolled over, smiled, and extended her hand to Zhang Chen beside her: "Nice to meet you. Let's get to know each other again. I'm Lily Collins~"

Zhang Chen shrugged. "Your way of greeting me is quite unique. It's nice to meet you. I'm Zhang Chen."

Thinking to himself that meeting naked was indeed the fastest way to break the ice, Zhang Chen's hand caressed the other's smooth back. Now, all the awkwardness of their first meeting was gone.
I recalled what the other person had said when they came in: "Could we come in and sit for a while?"

Is it true that relationships are about sitting when there are people around and taking a seat when there aren't?

What works have you acted in?

After the cooldown period, Zhang Chen began to test the other person's acting skills.

"Last year, I starred in a TV series called 'New Beverly Hills,' ahh~"

"This year, I had a role in a movie called 'The Blind Side' starring Sandra Bullock, oh my god, you're so mean, but it hasn't been released yet~"

Lily Collins, panting heavily, finally managed to finish a sentence.

"You know what? I actually auditioned for your company's 'Twilight,' but unfortunately, I was eliminated in the last round. You chose Kristen Stewart instead."

"Oh my god, is that true? What did I miss? If I had been there, the leading lady would definitely be yours..."

Zhang Chen could say such things so easily, but the truth is that Zhang Chen personally selected Christine to play the female lead.

To be fair, Lily Collins is indeed good-looking, with a youthful face full of collagen. Lily Collins was born in 89 and is exactly 20 years old this year, no wonder she looks so youthful and rosy.

Zhang Chen even remembered the movie "The Blind Side" that she just mentioned, a very heartwarming movie based on a true story.

Zhang Chen had seen it on Douyin before and thought the actress who played the daughter was very beautiful. It turned out to be Lily Collins.

"By the way, are you free the day after tomorrow? If not, come with me to a movie premiere~" After a few rounds, Zhang Chen was quite satisfied with Lily Collins.

This young body brought him a strong sense of novelty and was quite attractive to Zhang Chen.

"Is that okay? Thank you so much!"

Lily Collins was very excited; she hadn't expected such a surprise.

She didn't expect to land the lead role in Mission: Impossible 4 after just one night with him; she was just trying to make connections and hopefully land some minor supporting roles.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Chen extended an invitation to her.

What does this mean? It means the director is interested in him. With that in mind, Collins worked even harder.

……

In Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, afternoon sunlight streams through huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting dappled patterns of light on the beige marble floor.

Inside the villa, Liu Xiaoli sat on a velvet sofa, holding a tablet computer, and looked at the entertainment news with great interest—"Zhang Chen joins 'Mission: Impossible 4,' female lead casting still undecided."

"Sissi~"

She suddenly looked up at her daughter, who was curled up on a single sofa reading a script not far away, her voice filled with barely concealed urgency: "Look at this news! Zhang Chen has been confirmed to join 'Mission: Impossible 4' and work with Tom Cruise. 'Mission: Impossible'! If you can land the female lead role, your career will definitely take another leap forward!"

As she spoke, the mother got up and walked to Liu Tianxian's side, repeatedly pointing to the words "the female lead is still undecided," her eyes full of longing: "The news said that the original choice for the female lead was Fan Binbin, but she withdrew due to injury. This opportunity is too rare. Why don't we go to her and see if we can get the role? You can definitely play the role that Fan played..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Tianxian's face showed a bitter expression: "Mom, stop dreaming. How many times have I told you? Can't you see? Zhang Chen doesn't like me..."

"He doesn't like you? Why doesn't he like you?"

Liu Tianxian shook her head: "I don't know either, but I can tell he just doesn't like me, he even seems a little disgusted by me."

Liu Tianxian didn't know the reason either, but he could just sense it.

"Could it be your imagination?" Liu Xiaoli was still unwilling to give up.

Liu Tianxian placed her coffee on the coffee table, her gaze falling on the neatly trimmed lawn outside the window. Her voice softened: "Even if it's just wishful thinking, it's impossible for it to happen to me. The competition for resources in Hollywood is fierce, especially for the female lead in 'Mission: Impossible,' co-starring with Tom Cruise. Even in fair competition, it wouldn't be a chance for an actress like me who doesn't have much international box office appeal. Let's just focus on the roles we have and stop having unrealistic hopes."

Liu Yifei spoke with a bitter tone. She was once one of the most famous actresses in China, starring in hit TV series and collaborating with big names like Jackie Chan and Jet Li in movies.

But somehow, Fan Binbin suddenly appeared, and her rise to fame was meteoric.

Fan Binbin is now a top-tier female celebrity in China, even surpassing Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi in status, not to mention her.

The mother saw the fleeting disappointment in her daughter's eyes, opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end she just sighed softly and walked away silently.

The only sounds in the living room were the sound of sunlight hitting the floor and Liu Tianxian's figure, holding the script but remaining motionless for a long time.

……

Los Angeles, Chinese Theatre.

The red carpet in front of the theater stretched from the street all the way to the theater entrance. The barriers on both sides were crowded with fans and media reporters who were eagerly waiting. Hundreds of spotlights lit up in the night, and the light intertwined to form a dazzling sea of ​​light. Every flash seemed to be a cheer for this film and television extravaganza.

Today is the global premiere of "Inglourious Basterds".

Zhang Chen wore a custom-made black velvet suit with a white turtleneck underneath; the clean lines accentuated his tall and straight figure.

Lily Collins, standing beside him, wore her emotions on her face.

She slightly raised her chin, her eyes sparkling, and as she looked at the crowd around her, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up, revealing a pair of shallow dimples.

As the two walked side by side down the red carpet, the sound of camera shutters from reporters rose and fell, their lenses like countless eyes, fixed on the dazzling couple. The cheers of the fans broke through the night and echoed for a long time in the theater.

This is the first time Lily Collins has walked the red carpet at such a grand premiere since her debut.

Before this, she had only acted in one low-budget TV series, but had never had the experience of facing so many cameras and audiences.

When countless cameras were pointed at her at the same time, and the sound of shutters clicking was as dense as raindrops, her heartbeat quickened involuntarily, and her fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her skirt—it was a light pink gauze dress with layers of hem like flower petals, and a silver belt tied around her waist, which perfectly outlined her slender waist.

"Alright, you're free to do as you please from now on. Getting to know more people will be good for you~"

After entering the venue, Zhang Chen said goodbye to her.

Lily Collins has given him a different experience these past two days.

What does it mean to say that a day is just a day, and a day is just a day?

After spending two days together, the two became quite familiar with each other.

Well, this girl is quite understanding. Of course, if you were to describe her as a woman, she might be called a "green tea" (a manipulative, manipulative woman).

"Tea or not" is just an adjective. Women call it "green tea," but men only think it means a good woman.

It's like with "scumbags"—men find it strange that women like them, but women don't actually think they're scumbags; they just think they're good men.

The difference in perception is so amazing; the kind of woman that men yearn for is seen as a "green tea" by women.

They say that "green tea" women control men by making them feel good.

Hmph, they don't admit that they control men by making them unhappy.

Regarding the matter of my kind and understanding younger sister being falsely accused of being a "green tea" by a mean and mean woman.

When discussing "Shameless," film fans worldwide will inevitably think of the genius director Quentin Tarantino—the master filmmaker who excels at reconstructing narratives with violent aesthetics and always manages to bury countless surprise Easter eggs in his films.

However, Zhang Chen's appearance on the red carpet at the premiere was not due to Quentin Tarantino's fame; the real reason was Eli Roth, the film's co-director.

This film, regarded by the industry as a milestone in Quentin Tarantino's career, is actually the culmination of the joint efforts of two directors with distinct styles.

Quentin Tarantino was responsible for constructing a grand and absurd story framework, cleverly weaving history and fiction together; Eli Roth, with his precise control over thriller elements, was responsible for the core segment of the film where the "Jew hunters" hunt down the Nazis. Their collaboration allowed Inglourious Basterds to retain Tarantino's signature dark humor while adding a suffocating sense of tension.

Eli Roth is a core member of the "Horror Gang," which was originally a loose group of directors, screenwriters, and actors who supported each other and shared resources. Now it has become an undeniable force in the Hollywood industry.

Just like the "Huala Gang" would attend and support Zhang Chen's previous films, Zhang Chen and other members of the Huala Gang would also be present at Eli's films.

Rob Zumby, Ray Whannell, Darren Lean Bousman, Toby Hopper, Alexander Aja, and Zhang Chen, this oddball, were all present.

Their arrival was not only to support Elilos, but also the best proof of the "Huala Gang's" cohesion. The laughter and joy of the members together made the atmosphere even more enthusiastic.

On the other hand, Quentin Tarantino's group of friends is equally star-studded.

Samuel L. Jackson, dressed in a dark suit, stood out with his signature bald head under the lights. He walked side by side with Quentin Tarantino, and the two occasionally chatted in hushed tones, their gestures revealing a deep understanding that had lasted for many years. As Tarantino's "go-to actor" in his films, Samuel has appeared in almost every one of Tarantino's works. Although he did not appear in "Inglourious Basterds," he came to show his support.
Uma Thurman wore a red halter dress, her elegant figure looking as if she had stepped out of a scene from "Kill Bill." Her collaboration with Quentin Tarantino has long been a classic in film history, and her appearance at the event elicited screams from the fans present.
Director Robert Rodriguez, dressed in a denim jacket and wearing his signature cowboy hat, attended the Grindhouse Film Festival, which he co-founded with Quentin Tarantino and has provided a platform for countless niche films. Their friendship is a well-known story in Hollywood.

Producer Harvey Weinstein, dressed in a sharp suit, greeted the guests with a smile. As one of the key figures behind "Inglourious Basterds," his presence at the event was a way of supporting his work.
In addition, Chinese-language director John Woo also made a surprise appearance. He was dressed in a Zhongshan suit and, although he didn't say much, his friendly gesture when shaking hands with Quentin Tarantino showed the mutual respect between the two directors of violent aesthetics.

Not long after, Quentin Tarantino came over to entertain Zhang Chen.

"Hi, idol, I'm so happy to see you here!"

Quentin stepped forward and gave Zhang Chen a big hug, patting him on the shoulder.

At the premiere of Pacific Rim, Quentin Tarantino admitted that he was a fan of Zhang Chen and highly praised Taken. Since then, he has referred to Zhang Chen as his "idol" in public.

(End of this chapter)