Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 633 Angelina Jolie is coming
Beijing has no autumn; even in October, the air in Beijing is still filled with sweltering heat.

Just after nine o'clock in the morning, the coolness of the morning had already disappeared as Zhang Chen arrived outside the fence of the international arrivals exit of Terminal 3.

Beijing Capital International Airport's Terminal 3 has only recently opened, and everything looks brand new.

He was wearing sunglasses and hadn't been recognized yet, his eyes occasionally glancing at the electronic screen above his head.

Noticing that the status of "UA889 flight, Los Angeles-BJ" had finally changed to "landed," Zhang Chen looked towards the arrival gate.

Then, a series of light footsteps suddenly sounded beside him—seven or eight reporters carrying cameras and holding recorders appeared out of nowhere. As they passed by him, one of them glanced at Zhang Chen and suddenly uttered a soft "Huh?": "Zhang Chen?"

The guy didn't try to hide his voice at all, and then the guys nearby all stopped and looked over: "It really is Zhang Chen!"

Then, the reporters, who originally didn't know what they were going to do, surrounded Zhang Chen.

"Director Zhang, who are you here to pick up?" the reporters asked familiarly.

Zhang Chen smiled wryly and took off his sunglasses: "You guys can still recognize me like this?"

"Haha, Director Zhang, you're so recognizable, wearing sunglasses won't help!" the reporters replied with a laugh.

"Director Zhang, who are you here to pick up?" a reporter asked again.

Zhang Chen smiled and waved his hand, "I'm picking up a friend. You guys go ahead and do what you need to do."

Zhang Chen wanted to get rid of them, but the reporters weren't stupid either.

They weren't there for Zhang Chen; they had heard that a Korean boy band was coming today and came specifically to wait for them. Finding Zhang Chen was a complete surprise.

But Zhang Chen and the Korean group still know how to choose.

Zhang Chen is a celebrity, and most people who would personally come to pick him up at the airport are also celebrities.

Whether to choose Zhang Chen's side or the uncertain Korean boy group, even a fool knows which to choose.

The reporters then stopped and set up their cameras and microphones right there, openly preparing to capture the moment Zhang Chen picked up the person.

Zhang Chen had no choice but to keep an eye on the exit.

Less than ten minutes later, Tom Cruise's familiar figure appeared at the exit, and a flurry of camera shutters immediately followed.

Tom Cruise wore a black leather jacket over a white printed T-shirt, and jeans that accentuated his tall figure. His signature smile stood out in the crowd.

As soon as he stepped out of the customs passage, his eyes locked onto Zhang Chen. He strode over and gave Zhang Chen a firm hug.

"Zhang, it's been a long time!"

Tom Cruise's Chinese had an American accent, but it was clear enough. He patted Zhang Chen on the back with a familiar and firm touch.

Zhang Chen smiled and hugged him back, "Tom, you must be tired from your journey. It's a bit hot in Beijing today. Let's go. I've prepared a short-sleeved shirt for you in the car."

Reporters were everywhere nearby, and Zhang Chen just wanted to get his men away as soon as possible.

The sound of camera shutters clicking non-stop was constant as the two were talking.

The reporters' voices rose and fell:
"Tom! Look here!"

"Mr. Zhang, Tom Cruise is here again. Is there some kind of trouble with Mission: Impossible 4?"

The questions echoed through the terminal, but neither of them seemed inclined to answer.

Tom Cruise simply waved politely to the camera without stopping, and followed Zhang Chen to the parking lot under the escort of bodyguards.

Sunlight streamed through the glass curtain wall, illuminating the two figures, one in black and one in gray, walking briskly side by side, followed by a group of reporters eager to take pictures.

That afternoon, the photo of Zhang Chen hugging Tom Cruise at the airport made headlines in all entertainment sections.

The Beijing Times headline read, "Mysterious Embrace! Zhang Chen Picks Up Tom Cruise at the Airport, Sparking Speculation About Collaboration Between the Two in 'Mission: Impossible 4'."

Sina Entertainment's homepage featured a special report directly addressing the question: "Why did Tom Cruise secretly visit China again? Has there been a change in the collaboration for 'Mission: Impossible 4'?"

The online forums were in an uproar, with all sorts of opinions being expressed. Some netizens even boldly speculated that Zhang Chen might have withdrawn from the role again, and that Tom Cruise had personally persuaded him to do so.

The media was thrilled, and the reporters who came that day received commendations from their newspapers. Little did they know that Tom Cruise's appearance was just the appetizer.

In the following period, Hollywood stars were spotted at Beijing Capital International Airport.

First, someone photographed Emily Blunt.

This English rose's career is just beginning; she's not very famous yet, but she has great potential.

Coincidentally, the reporter who was lying in wait was a big fan of American TV series and recognized her.

When the reporter tried to approach for an interview, she was stopped by her assistant. Emily simply said, "I'm here to take care of some business," and got into the black car waiting at the airport.

The next day, reporters photographed her at the international departure gate of Beijing Capital International Airport, looking tired, clearly having finished her business overnight and left.

Immediately afterwards, someone else photographed Blake Lively.

This one is much more famous.

Although neither "Gossip Girl" nor "Don't Breathe" were officially released in China, they have a considerable online following.

When Blake Lively appeared at Beijing Capital International Airport, she was wearing a bright yellow dress and oversized sunglasses, immediately attracting everyone's attention.

When a fan approached her for an autograph, she smiled and signed two autographs before her manager urged her to get into the car.

Like Emily, she also left BJ early the next morning, her schedule so rushed it felt like she was completing an urgent mission.

Within a week, two Hollywood actresses arrived in China and then "left in a flash." Coupled with Tom Cruise's mysterious itinerary, media speculation completely spiraled out of control.

Some media outlets have linked this to previous news about Fan Xiaopang's withdrawal, and have already guessed the general idea:

Are all these people here for auditions?
Mission: Impossible 4 is secretly casting for its female lead?
However, none of these speculations were confirmed until Liu Tianxian's appearance a few days later, which finally solved the mystery.

That afternoon, the international arrivals area at Beijing Capital International Airport was much busier than usual.

As soon as Liu Tianxian got off the plane, she was surrounded by reporters who had been waiting for her.

She was wearing light-colored jeans and a white sweatshirt, her long hair was tied in a ponytail, and she didn't wear much makeup, making her look exceptionally fresh.

"Yifei, did you come to Beijing for the audition for Mission: Impossible 4?"

"Was Emily Blunt and Blake Lively's visit to China related to you?"

Do you think you can beat them?

The barrage of questions left Liu Tianxian somewhat overwhelmed. She smiled politely first, then said softly, "I am indeed here to audition for a female role in Mission: Impossible 4. The others who came before me were probably also here to audition."

These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly causing an uproar among the reporters present—it turned out that the "mysterious trips" of those Hollywood actresses were indeed for auditions for Mission: Impossible 4! Although there had been speculation before, speculation and confirmation are completely different.

As soon as the news broke, entertainment news was flooded with posts, and the audition list for Mission: Impossible 4 became the hottest topic.

Some have compiled a list of the actresses who have already appeared: Emily Blunt has solid acting skills, Blake Lively has outstanding looks, and Liu Yifei has an innate oriental charm; each has her own advantages.

Some people are also curious about which other actresses will audition and who will ultimately get the role.

Upon seeing this, Lu Zheng immediately released the news that Jing Tian had also participated in the audition and had a very high chance of winning the role. The director himself said that she was a perfect fit for the role.

As the news spread, many domestic female celebrities became interested, and Zhang Chen received several phone calls trying to bribe her, all of which he explicitly refused.

First, the actor playing this role must have a certain degree of international fame, and this alone shuts out 99% of people.

……

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, USA, Angelina Jolie was doing flexibility training in the gym of her mansion.

She just took on the role in "Salt," a show with a lot of action scenes.

Julie had just finished warming up and then easily did a split on the floor, her tight-fitting workout clothes clearly outlining her perfect figure.

"Even as a woman, I'm smitten by your figure."

Her agent, Mary, sat across from her, holding a glass of whiskey.

He took a sip of whiskey, placed the glass on the floor beside him, and then began to read the script in his hand.

The script is about Salt.

"Paramount really put in a lot of effort; the script revisions are quite good."

Julie didn't say anything, but she clearly agreed.

The original script for Salt featured a male protagonist and planned to star Tom Cruise, but Cruise ultimately withdrew, so the script was rewritten, and Angelina Jolie was cast as the female spy.

After reading the script, I discovered that there was a newspaper tucked underneath, which contained news about auditions for Mission: Impossible 4.

She picked it up and glanced at it, her tone tinged with urgency: "Angie, have you seen the news about the auditions for Mission: Impossible 4 in China? Tom Cruise went to Beijing himself, and Zhang Chen is casting female roles. Why don't you give it a try?"

After completing one action, Julie switched to another, her eyes showing no emotion: "Forget it, Mary. I heard that Fan Binbin has been eliminated because of her salary issue. My salary level is about the same as hers. Since they can't afford her, they definitely won't consider me either."

As she spoke, she bent over again, "Besides, Mission: Impossible 4 is Tom's movie, and he always has high standards for leading ladies. I may not meet his expectations."

Mary shook her head and leaned forward: "Angie, you've got the point wrong. Even if you don't get the role, you should still go to Beijing."

In the past two years, the Chinese market has become increasingly important, and in some film projects, its performance is second only to North America.

All six major Hollywood studios value the Chinese market, and Zhang Chen is no ordinary person. It is said that he can wield considerable influence in the Chinese market, and Warner Bros. also values ​​him highly.

Most importantly, his acting style suits you well. The action and sci-fi films he excels at are genres you can handle. Getting closer to him will greatly benefit your career.

"I understand everything you're saying, but the key point is, I don't know him at all, not even my friends. I can't talk to him at all, and he seems to have a very good relationship with Fan Binbin. Fan Binbin is almost always the female lead in his movies."

“So you need to work harder to get closer to him. Don’t tell me you don’t know what to do. The relationship between men and women is actually very simple~” Mary’s tone was full of slyness.

“Angie, you’re a Hollywood stunner. No man can resist your charm. Zhang Chen is a man. If he can work with Fan, he can definitely work with you too. Get on his good side, and there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.”

Julie was silent for a moment; Mary's words did indeed make sense.

She has been expanding into international markets in recent years. The Chinese market has huge potential, and if she can make a breakthrough through Zhang Chen, it would indeed be a good choice.

In that instant, she had made her choice.

Just then, the phone rang; it was her husband, Brad Pitt.

"Hey, honey, what are you doing?"

Pitt is not currently in the country; he is in Australia filming "Moneyball".

"Nothing, just reading the script," Julie said calmly.

"By the way, honey, I'm going abroad for about a week."

"What to do?"

"I'm going to audition for Mission: Impossible 4 in Beijing. I'll bring you a present when I get back."

Pete chuckled on the other end of the phone: "Audition? Sure, but don't push yourself too hard, be careful. It's probably pretty cold in BJ, remember to bring plenty of clothes."

He paused, then added, "Do you need me to contact your friends over there?"

"No need, I can handle it myself," Julie said with a smile. "You focus on filming, and I'll be back."

After hanging up the phone, Julie looked at Mary: "Book me a flight to Beijing for tomorrow, and prepare the script for the audition."

Mary nodded immediately, her eyes filled with relief—she knew that once Julie decided to do something, she would go all out.

……

Meanwhile, at that moment, Zhang Chen, along with Tom Cruise and Sasha, another producer of Mission: Impossible 4, were sitting in a hotel conference room discussing audition candidates.

A stack of documents was spread out on the table, containing the resumes and audition clips of actresses who had already auditioned.

"Emily's acting is fine, but she's a bit stiff and doesn't seem to know how to show her sexiness."

Sasha pointed to Blake Lively's profile and said, "Blake is young, but inexperienced. Her acting in American TV shows is too contrived. She's okay when she's not smiling, but when she smiles, she's too naive and sweet, which makes it easy for the audience to be distracted."

Tom Cruise nodded in agreement: "I think this role not only needs to be able to act, but also needs to have enough presence to create a sense of confrontation with me in the film."

He looked at Zhang Chen, "Zhang, of the remaining two Chinese actresses, which one do you prefer?"

"Jing Tian".

Zhang Chen picked up Jing Tian's file and pushed it in front of the two of them: "Although Jing Tian is young, her image fits the character perfectly—she has both the gentleness of an Eastern woman and the competence required for action scenes. Moreover, she has filmed several action movies before, so she has a certain foundation. In addition, she has a strong appeal in the Chinese market. I think she is the most suitable candidate."

Sasha flipped through Jing Tian's audition clips and nodded: "Indeed, her performance was better than I expected. But I just got a call—Angelina Jolie also wants to audition. She'll be in Beijing tomorrow. Let's watch her audition before making a final decision."

"Angelina Jolie?"

The two people opposite them exchanged a glance: "Her salary isn't reasonable. Considering everything, Jolie's status is even higher than Fan's. If Fan goes over budget, Jolie definitely will too."

"Perhaps she'd be willing to lower her fee?"

Sasha shrugged: "It's just one more day anyway~"

(End of this chapter)