Nobody knows movies better than me

Chapter 122 The Premiere of "Bad Genius" (Part 2)

The film has entered its second half.

Chen Qi incurred Li Jiaming's wrath because he reported Lin Wei.

In order to get revenge and to recruit Chen Qi, Li Jiaming had Chen Qi beaten up and dumped in a garbage dump outside the city.

As a result, Chen Qi missed the exam for a foreign scholarship, and his life was rewritten from that moment on.

Wen Zhang has a major role to play here.

He crawled out of the garbage heap, covered in mud and with blood on his face. He looked around blankly, then suddenly ran into the city like a madman.

By the time he arrived at the examination hall, the exam was already over.

He knelt at the entrance of the examination hall, panting heavily, tears streaming down his face mixed with muddy water.

The camera zooms out, and the sun sets in the west.

A young boy's dream was shattered just like that.

The theater was extremely quiet; no one spoke.

Jiang Tao sighed, "This drama is too heart-wrenching."

Zhang Jun didn't speak. He looked at Wen Zhang on the big screen and thought to himself that this actor was already extremely talented among the post-80s generation of actors.

Hopefully, he can seize the opportunity and avoid another "See you on Monday" incident.

Ma Yili, who was sitting in the back row, was already crying.

She was Wen Zhang's fiancée and knew how much he had sacrificed for this role. But now, looking at the desperate Chen Qi on the big screen, she couldn't tell if it was Wen Zhang or the character.

Wen Zhang held her hand without saying a word.

At this point, saying anything is superfluous.

The film continues.

Lin Wei was investigated for cheating. Although she managed to escape punishment, she was now under surveillance by the school. She was originally eligible to apply for overseas scholarships, but her eligibility was revoked because of this investigation.

She was completely disillusioned with the education system.

Just then, Li Jiaming and Su Na found her again.

They wanted to study in Australia and needed to pass the SAT international exam. They offered Lin Wei an exorbitant fee of 200 million yuan for her help.

Lin Wei refused.

Two million is a lot of money, but she doesn't want to take any more risks.

Until she saw a news report about the time difference between Australia and Pearl City, a crazy idea took shape in her mind.

She found Chen Qi.

Chen Qi was no longer the upright and stubborn boy he once was. He had missed out on scholarships, the laundry business was declining, and his mother's health was failing.

He needs money.

Lin Wei told him her plan: go to Sydney to take the exam, and use the time difference to send the answers back to Pearl City.

Chen Qi hesitated for a long time before finally nodding.

"Once we finish this, we'll call it a day," he said.

Lin Wei looked at him without saying anything.

She knew that even she herself didn't believe what she was saying.

The third major cheating scene has begun.

Sydney's exam room.

Lin Wei and Chen Qi sat in their respective seats, outwardly calm but inwardly turbulent.

Zhang Jun used a very special shooting technique here; the camera was constantly shaking, not violently, but slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Just like a human heartbeat.

The first part of the exam is over; time for a break.

Lin Wei and Chen Qi went into the restroom one after the other.

In the toilet stall, Chen Qi took out his phone, which was hidden in the toilet tank, quickly typed in the answer, and sent it out.

Li Jiaming from Mingzhu City received the answer, immediately printed it on a pencil barcode, and distributed it to the other thirty paying customers.

all the best.

But during the break after the second part of the exam, an accident occurred.

When Chen Qi was distributing answers in the toilet stall, the proctor noticed something was amiss.

He walked to the bathroom door and knocked, but Chen Qi did not answer.

The proctor started banging on the door: "Open the door! I know you're in there!"

The camera rapidly switches between Chen Qi's terrified face, the answers on his phone screen, and the proctor's angry expression.

The background music is a rapid drumbeat, each beat striking the audience's heart.

Chen Qi's hands were trembling, and his forehead was covered in sweat.

In his last few seconds, he frantically tapped on his phone to send out the remaining answers.

Just a second before the door was kicked open, he pressed the send button.

The proctor rushed in and pinned him against the wall.

"What have you done?! Show it to me!"

Chen Qi's face was pressed against the cold tiles, his eyes filled with fear and despair.

He was taken away, and the camera slowly zoomed out.

The bathroom door closed, and Chen Qi's figure disappeared behind it. The theater was so quiet that you could hear someone breathing.

Many people's eyes welled up with tears.

It wasn't out of pity for Chen Qi, but because of the despair he felt. A young man who had the chance to change his fate lost that chance forever because of one wrong choice.

Lu Chuan was also moved. He recalled the scene of Chen Qi kneeling at the entrance of the examination hall and the despair in his eyes.

He suddenly wondered, if he were Chen Qi, what would he do? Would he continue? Would he stop?

He didn't know, but he did know that the character Zhang Jun portrayed had made him remember him.

If Zhang Jun knew what Lu Chuan was thinking, he would say: This person is having a bout of pretentious intellectualism.

On the big screen, Lin Wei was still in the examination room when she saw Chen Qi being arrested.

Her heart was trembling, but she had to continue.

There was only one last part of the exam left, and one last batch of answers to memorize. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to calm down.

After the exam, she rushed into the restroom, and the camera followed her.

She turned on the tap and splashed cold water on her face. Then she put her hand down her throat and gaggled herself to induce vomiting.

This is her way of relieving stress, and also her way of punishing herself.

After vomiting, she leaned against the wall, panting heavily.

The camera lingered on the scene for a long time.

It lingered there until the audience thought the scene was over, but it was still there.

Then, Lin Wei stood up and opened the bathroom door.

The proctor was standing at the entrance.

"Student, your behavior is unusual. Please cooperate with our investigation."

Lin Wei didn't explain, and turned to run away.

At the subway station, Lin Wei ran ahead, while the proctor chased after her.

The camera cuts rapidly, capturing Lin Wei's footsteps, the proctor's shouts, and the rumble of the subway entering the station.

Lin Wei rushed into the subway car, and the proctor chased after her a second before the doors closed.

But the door closed, and Lin Wei leaned against the carriage door, panting.

She took out her phone and, with trembling hands, sent out the last batch of answers.

The phone screen displays: Sent successfully.

She laughed, and as she laughed, tears streamed down her face.

It succeeded, but at what cost?

Chen Qi was banned from taking international exams for life and was expelled from school.

She was also blacklisted.

The futures of two gifted teenagers were thus ruined.

As the film nears its end, Lin Wei returns to Mingzhu City.

Li Jiaming and Su Na wore T-shirts printed with "Perfect Score" and happily celebrated their dream of studying abroad coming true.

They hugged Lin Wei and said, "Thank you, you are our savior."

But looking at their smiling faces, Lin Wei suddenly felt very unfamiliar.

Those so-called friendships are all transactions from beginning to end.

Chen Qi came to find her. He used the money he had received to buy his mother a new washing machine, but he was no longer the same Chen Qi he used to be.

"We can continue to cooperate."

He said, "There are still many exams around the world. We can expand."

Lin Wei looked at the person in front of her and felt a sharp pain in her heart.

He was once so upright and so stubborn.

And now? All they see is desire.

"I'm not doing it anymore," Lin Wei said.

Chen Qi was stunned for a moment: "Why? Are you crazy? This is a multi-million dollar deal!"

"Because of you," Lin Wei looked at him, "I don't want to become like you."

Chen Qi fell silent.

Then he laughed, a laugh that contained both mockery and bitterness.

"It's too late, Lin Wei. We're already on this road; there's no going back."

He turned and left, the camera following his retreating figure.

He walked into the darkness, and the door closed.

In the final scene, Lin Wei, accompanied by her father played by Fan Wei, enters the investigation room for the exam cheating case.

Sunlight streamed in through the window and fell on her.

She sat down, raised her head, and faced the investigators.

"My name is Lin Wei, and I want to tell you everything."

The camera lingered on her face, her eyes showing guilt, relief, and uncertainty about the future, but she finally chose to face it.

The movie ended, and the credits slowly rolled. The theater was silent for a few seconds, then applause erupted.

It started as a few scattered spots, but quickly spread into a large area.

Everyone stood up and applauded.

Zhang Jun was pulled to his feet by Yang Mi and waved to the surroundings.

Cheng Long walked over and patted Zhang Jun's shoulder forcefully.

"Junzi, this movie is excellent. I, Cheng Long, have been in the industry for so many years, and there aren't many directors I can truly respect, but you're one of them."

Zhang Jun smiled and said, "Brother, you flatter me."

Li Shuangbing also came over, her eyes filled with seriousness: "Director Zhang, next time there's a suitable role, please think of me. It would be a loss not to act in a play of this quality."

Zhang Ziyi nodded in agreement: "Indeed, this film is even better than I imagined."

Huang Xiaoming and Chen Kun squeezed in, and Huang Xiaoming said, "Director Zhang, how did you come up with that piano cheating idea? It's brilliant!"

Zhang Jun casually said, "Just observe life more."

Actually, it's not about observing life; it's a setting from a movie set in a previous life, but he can't say it.

Reporters swarmed around, bombarding him with questions.

"Director Zhang, what was the inspiration for this film?"

"Director Zhang, what are your expectations for the box office?"

"Director Zhang, do you have any plans for your next film?"

Zhang Jun waved his hand: "Let's watch the movie first today, we can talk about the interview another day."

He Xuan and Jiang Tao came to his rescue and stopped the reporters. Zhang Jun took the opportunity to walk out, with Yang Mi following beside him.

Upon reaching the rest area, Fan Bingbing and Gao Yuanyuan were standing there.

Fan Bingbing looked at him with a complicated expression: "Zhang Jun, this movie is really good, Yang Mi will become famous."

Gao Yuanyuan also said, "Indeed, she was outstanding in this drama."

Yang Mi listened from the side, feeling happy inside, but still said aloud, "It's all thanks to the director's excellent teaching."

Fan Bingbing glanced at her, smiled, and said nothing.

Liu Yifei walked over and stood in front of Zhang Jun.

"Zhang Jun, the movie is very good," she said.

Zhang Jun nodded: "Thank you."

Liu Yifei thought for a moment and then said, "That Chen Qi is such a pity."

"Yes, one wrong step leads to another," Zhang Jun sighed.

Liu Yifei looked at him and suddenly asked, "Don't you ever make a mistake?"

Zhang Jun paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Yes, I am human too. But if you go the wrong way, just remember to turn back."

Liu Yifei nodded thoughtfully.

Her assistant came over to urge her, saying she needed to catch a flight back to the set of "The Forbidden Kingdom".

Liu Yifei glanced at Zhang Jun, wanting to say something, but seeing the women around her, she ultimately said nothing.

"Then I'm leaving." She was still a little reluctant to go.

"Be careful on the road," Zhang Jun said.

Liu Yifei nodded and turned to leave.

Fan Pangbing watched her retreating figure, then leaned close to Zhang Jun's ear and whispered, "That little brat has a thing for you."

Zhang Jun did not respond.

Fan Pangbing didn't seem to care and continued, "But be careful, her godfather is not someone to be trifled with."

Zhang Jun glanced at her: "You're overthinking it."

Fan Bingbing smiled and didn't say anything more.

However, given Zhang Jun's current fame and status, it is almost impossible to suppress him.

So many investors are waiting to give money to Zhang Jun. By suppressing Zhang Jun, aren't you cutting off our source of income?

As the premiere ended, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Zhang Jun stood at the entrance of the theater, watching the last group of viewers leave.

Yang Mi stood next to him, holding his arm.

"Zhang Jun, thank you," she said.

Zhang Jun looked at her: "What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for letting me act in this play."

Yang Mi said earnestly, "This is the best role I've ever played, and I probably won't encounter anything better than this in the future."

Zhang Jun thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Not necessarily. There will be many more opportunities in the future."

Yang Mi shook her head: "I know, not every director can film people this well, but you are different."

Zhang Jun didn't speak.

Yang Mi leaned on his shoulder and whispered, "That's why I won't let go. No matter how many women you have, I won't let go."

Zhang Jun smiled and put his arm around her waist.

"Let's go home."

The two walked out of the cinema, where the neon lights of Beijing were flashing in the night.

The evening breeze in June carries the scent of summer.

The premiere of "Bad Genius" has ended, but the story of the film continues.

The next day, reports from major media outlets were published.

Sina Entertainment's headline was: "Bad Genius" Premieres to Explosive Acclaim, Zhang Jun Sets New High for Genre Films. Sohu Entertainment's headline was: "Turning Cheating into a Spy Thriller, Zhang Jun Has Done It." Beijing News' headline was: "From Little Miss Sunshine to Bad Genius, Why Are All of Zhang Jun's Films Masterpieces?"

Another media outlet had a very direct headline: "Zhang Jun, it's a pity you didn't become a secret agent," which caused an uproar online.

On a forum, a lucky audience member who attended the premiere posted: "Just finished watching the premiere of 'Bad Genius,' and I declare Zhang Jun is my dad!"

The comments below were numerous.

"Please calm down, OP. Zhang Jun is my husband."

"Bullshit, he's clearly my husband."

"Stop arguing, Zhang Jun is mine alone."

Of course, there are also serious discussions about the plot, but these are limited to viewers who have already seen the show.

"That cheating system was ingenious. If I had had that skill back then, would I have failed to get into university?"

"Chen Qi is so pitiful, I cried a whole pack of tissues watching him."

"The last shot, Lin Wei walks into the investigation room, the sunlight shines on her, that image I will remember for the rest of my life."

"Zhang Jun really knows how to film women; Yang Mi looks absolutely stunning in this movie."

On a Douban discussion group, someone posted an article titled: "Looking at Zhang Jun's directing skills through 'Bad Genius'." The article stated: "Many people think that Zhang Jun's success is due to luck or resources. But after watching 'Bad Genius,' I want to say that this person has real talent."

First, his control over the rhythm.

The entire film is over two hours long, and almost not a single minute is superfluous. The interweaving of tense scenes and dramatic moments is just right, keeping you engaged from start to finish.

Second, his character portrayal.

Lin Wei, Chen Qi, Su Na, and Li Jiaming—each character is vividly portrayed. Chen Qi, in particular, is a complex and compelling figure, depicting his transformation from an upright young man to a villain.

Wen Zhang acted well, but Zhang Jun directed even better.

Third, his handling of the visuals. The chase scene with Sherry, the shaky camera work, and the editing rhythm are all at an international standard.

To be honest, I went there with a critical mindset.

After watching it, I was convinced.

Someone replied below: "Is the poster a professional film critic? The writing is so detailed."

The original poster replied: "No, I'm just an ordinary viewer, but good movies deserve to be taken seriously."

This article was featured on the homepage, with hundreds of comments below.

He Xuan instructed people to monitor public opinion and report back regularly.

"Currently, all the feedback is positive."

She told Zhang Jun on the phone, "Occasionally a few people nitpick, saying that cheating shouldn't be romanticized or something, but they're quickly shut down."

Zhang Jun asked, "What about pre-sales?"

"It's already surpassed 15 million."

He Xuan said, "Based on this trend, it should reach over 50 million by the end of the first weekend."

Zhang Jun nodded: "Keep an eye on it, don't let your guard down."

"clear."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Jun leaned back in his chair and looked at the sunlight outside the window.

"Bad Genius" seems to have been a success, and Yang Mi is poised to become famous. He himself is also one step closer to that goal.

But Zhang Jun knew that this was just the beginning.

There's still a long road ahead, more movies to make, and more people to take care of.

Zhang Jun smiled, picked up his phone, and sent a text message to Yang Mi.

What should we eat tonight?

Yang Mi replied very quickly.

"you."

Zhang Jun paused for a moment, then smiled.

This woman is getting better and better at it.