Entertainment: 1990

Chapter 297 This is not over yet
"I think the Chinese film industry has gone down the wrong path!"

Hearing these resounding words, Zhang Yan couldn't help but pinch his brow in worry; this was already the fourth one this morning.

When he first heard this, he was invigorated, thinking that the other person was about to say something groundbreaking and insightful. But the first thing the other person said was that grand narratives were not advisable and that the truth should be presented by starting with marginalized people.

The first three are like this, and this fourth one...

"Instead of always focusing on grand narratives and highlighting idealized characters, it's better to present the real world to the audience, without bias..."

Got~
It's not much different from the previous three.

Even before Guan Hu filmed "Hair Messed Up," Zhang Yan had anticipated that a group of directors like him would emerge, but he did not expect that this concept of drawing material from the margins of society would become mainstream in the directing department of Beijing Film Academy so quickly.

"This... uh, Xiao Jia."

Zhang Yan flipped through the resumes on the table and asked doubtfully, "You seem to be a literature major, right? Shouldn't you be talking about screenwriting techniques?"

Xiao Jia straightened his chest and said proudly, "My dream is to become a director. Although I didn't get into the directing department, my determination to become a director will never waver!"

"Uh, very good, very energetic."

Zhang Yan cleared his throat and said tactfully, "However, our company is a private enterprise after all, and we mainly focus on profitable commercial films. Perhaps... why don't you go back and wait for our notification?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jia looked disappointed. As he stood up, he muttered, "I thought that as an investor in 'My Hair is a Mess,' you would be more... Never mind, thank you for giving me this opportunity today."

After saying this, he bowed slightly to Zhang Yan before leaving the office.

It's because of "My Hair Is a Mess" again!
Because this film was released earlier than the original and the story is more logical, it is regarded as an inspiration by many young directors, and Zhang Yan, the screenwriter and producer, is also regarded as one of their own.

They were greatly disappointed when they saw it today.

However, compared to how the others reacted after being rejected, Xiao Jia at least maintained basic politeness.

"boss Zhang."

Seeing that Zhang Yan leaned back and didn't seem inclined to call the next person in, Chang Jihong suggested, "How about we stop here this morning? Li Yapeng and Huang Zhizhong have been waiting downstairs for a long time."

The incident of the Class of '90 assaulting a reporter may seem like a closed story to others, but for the students of that class, it's far from over. Apart from Chen Jianbin, no one wanted to accept this outcome.

So as soon as the curfew imposed on him by the Central Academy of Drama was lifted, Li Yapeng couldn't wait to come over.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan looked at Zhang Guoli on the other side.

When Zhang Yan went to audition for the Central Academy of Drama, she invited Zhang Guoli, but Zhang Guoli declined the invitation because he was worried that the TV series would be unpopular after it aired and he was also afraid of being ridiculed for not living up to his reputation.

But this time when he came to Beijing Film Academy, he was much more at ease.

Seeing that Zhang Yan was asking for his opinion, Zhang Guoli laughed and said, "How about we stop here? It's almost noon, we need to grab a bite and clear our heads."

Zhang Yan then waved his hand, signaling the staff to distribute the pre-prepared number plates so that the students could line up again in the afternoon according to their numbers.

Then he went to the next room to discuss with Chen Hong whether to send someone to buy boxed lunches or eat out.

As soon as I entered, I saw a girl squatting on the ground with a ferocious expression, one hand grasping at a ball of air and the other pounding at the air.

Zhang Yan asked instinctively, "This is... Wu Song fighting the tiger?"

After asking, I realized that the Ice and Snow Sisters were sitting in the corner.

Li Bingbing and Li Xue quickly stood up. Li Xue whispered, "No, the question she drew was actually 'The lover proposes to break up'."

hiss~
Zhang Yan couldn't help but gasp.

Chen Hong then called for a stop and asked, "Yuan, your actions and emotions are fine, but do you think you can so steadily suppress a man?"

The student surnamed Yuan answered decisively: "I am the kind of person who would give my all for love! So if he took the initiative to break up with me, it must be because he did something wrong or fell in love with someone else. He was too guilty to resist!"

That makes sense.

Chen Hong and Wang Jinghua exchanged a few words, then Chen Hong nodded to her and said, "Okay, you can go back and wait for further notice."

"Okay~"

The girl answered crisply and ran out the door.

As soon as you go outside, people call out, "Yuan Li, how did you do?"

Yuan Li didn't say anything, but gave a thumbs up and raised her eyebrows proudly. Zhang Guoli, who had come over, commented with admiration, "This girl seems quite talented. If we make a similar film again, she might be able to play a lively character."

Zhang Yan nodded in agreement, then asked the Ice and Snow sisters with a puzzled look, "What are you doing here?"

"we are……"

The two of them instinctively looked at Wang Luyao.

Wang Luyao, on the other hand, kept her eyes down and pretended to be an obedient follower.

"You two really know each other?"

Chen Hong continued, "I was wondering... how you two met?"

Zhang Yan frankly said, "Li Bingbing is a freshman at the Central Academy of Drama. Last year, when she took the art exam, she received guidance from Tao Hong. Later, when she wanted to invite Tao Hong to dinner, it just so happened that I also invited Tao Hong to dinner, so we ended up having dinner together."

Later, her family had some urgent financial problems and she contacted Tao Hong, who then contacted me. So I lent her 15,000 yuan. Now, the two sisters have repaid several thousand yuan through part-time jobs.

After listening to Zhang Yan's account of how she met the two sisters, Chen Hong basically concluded that Wang Luyao had made a misunderstanding.

but……

She scrutinized Li Bingbing and Li Xue. Since these two were Tao Hong's close friends, perhaps she could use them to her advantage and kill two birds with one stone.

At this point, Zhang Yan asked again, "It's about time to prepare for dinner. What should we do? Should we eat out or buy something?"

"Buy it back."

Chen Hong said, "I won't be able to rest well at noon anyway, so let's eat breakfast and continue the interviews."

"I doubt I'll be able to finish the interviews today—I'll have someone go buy some ready-made food nearby; Huang Lei recommended a few restaurants to me before."

As he spoke, he turned and went out, instructing Li Songqiang to buy boxed lunches and to call up Li Yapeng and Huang Zhizhong from downstairs.

Inside the house, Chen Hong smiled at the Bingxue sisters and said, "I'm sorry, I've been too busy today and haven't had a chance to entertain you two. Why don't you stay for lunch and we can talk about Tao Hong?"

"This……"

The Ice and Snow sisters exchanged glances, then shook their heads and waved their hands in unison: "No need, we've already made plans to have lunch together with someone."

"Oh, I see. Let's keep in touch next time we have the chance," Chen Hong said, getting up to personally see the two of them to the door.

"what?"

Seeing them come out, Zhang Yan asked in surprise, "Are you leaving? Did you have lunch together?"

"No, no, we have appointments with other people."

The two sisters dared not stay for dinner; if they were asked about Tao Hong, they wouldn't know where to begin.

The two sisters quickened their pace as they reached the stairwell, nearly bumping into Li Yapeng and Huang Zhizhong who were rushing up.

Upon recognizing who was opposite him, Huang Zhizhong exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, Bingbing? What are you doing here? Aren't only people from the Beijing Film Academy allowed upstairs?"

When Li Bingbing first came to the school to register, it was Huang Zhizhong who received her, so the two of them knew each other.

"Our situation is rather unique."

Li Bingbing mumbled something and stepped aside, saying, "You're going to see General Manager Zhang, right? I won't keep you any longer."

With a heavy heart, Li Yapeng turned and left without saying a word. Huang Zhizhong glanced at Li Bingbing with a puzzled look, wondering how she knew that he and his senior were there to meet President Zhang.

We arrived at a quiet spot downstairs.

Li Xue patted her chest, which was beginning to take shape, and said with lingering fear, "That was really embarrassing just now. It felt like we had done something wrong."

Li Bingbing looked back upstairs: "They might have really thought that way at first, but later... it seems that Tao Hong's matter is not a secret to Chen Hong."

"Is this what they call the blessing of having multiple wives?"

Li Xue also turned to look upstairs, frowning as she said, "I don't know why, but I always feel like this isn't over yet."

Li Bingbing thought so too, after all, Chen Hong's last look was quite meaningful no matter how you looked at it.

(End of this chapter)