Huayu02 started by making films.

The student, named Li Xiang, excitedly said when Han Yi struck up a conversation, "Director Han, my name is Li Xiang. 'Looking for a Gun' was released on May Day, and Professor Jiang, seeing that the box office was doing well, asked Lu Taro to come back to the department and talk to us about 'how a director is'."

Han Yi asked curiously, "Li Xiang, have you seen the movie 'The Missing Gun'?"

Li Xiang curled his lip, as if he had swallowed a fly: "I went to see it last week. If the movie hadn't had 'Director Lu Taro' at the beginning, I would have thought it was directed by Jiang Wen. It's really bullshit... anyone can be a director."

Han Yi chuckled and patted him on the shoulder: "Great minds think alike. Come on, let me give you some exclusive insider information..." He then pulled Li Xiang aside and whispered in his ear:

"Li Xiang, let me tell you... on set... seizing power... going home crying... you're like a stepmother..."

Li Xiang was stunned, and stammered, "Director Han, is it...is that really true?"

Han Yi nodded: "Just keep this to yourself, don't tell anyone. I'm even thinking of collaborating with a directing student on my next film..."

Li Xiang instantly snapped out of his daze and patted his chest to assure everyone: "Director Han, don't worry! I'm the famously outspoken Li from the directing department."

"Okay! Then I'm relieved!"

After saying his last sentence, Han Yi walked into the screening room. By then, everyone had arrived.

Teacher Dai stepped forward with the microphone and began, "Dear students and teachers, Han Yi from our Literature Department has just returned to school after winning two major awards at Cannes. Aren't you all particularly curious about what his films are like?"

The students in the audience exclaimed in unison, "Curious!" Especially the literature majors, who almost jumped up and shouted, "The literature department is the best!"

Teacher Dai waved her hand to signal for quiet and continued, "Shall we have Han Yi come up and say a few words?"

"good!!!"

Han Yi, sitting in the audience, was both amused and exasperated: "Teacher Dai is truly a master of pretense among us. Be careful, or you might get a sack thrown around by the directing department later."

He walked onto the stage with a smile, placed the trophy he had brought back from Cannes on the podium, took the microphone, and said, "Class, I know you're all getting impatient. Shall we watch the movie first, then ask questions?"

"good!!!"

The applause erupted once again.

Among the directing students, Lu Taro muttered disdainfully, "What's with all the pretense about making a short film? I heard Jiang Wen is in it, but who knows if he actually directed it."

Hearing this, Li Xiang, who was sitting to the side, silently bent down and stood up, retreating to the back of the crowd—there was something more important for him to do now than watch the movie.

On stage, Old Du turned on the projector. The screen slowly lit up...

……

Ten minutes or so passed, and the short film ended. A slight commotion arose from the audience.

"Jiang Wen acted so well... he portrayed that fool so realistically."

"Don't you guys think Jiang Wu is incredibly convincing as a villain? The moment he shaves his head, he's absolutely perfect."

"Completely wrong! Isn't the point that there's not a trace of Jiang Wen's style in Director Han's short film?" This was Li Xiang's voice.

"Exactly!"

"Yes, it's completely different from 'The Missing Gun' that I watched a few days ago... The two directors have such different styles."

"Could it be that Rikutaro...?"

Lu Taro sat in the crowd, initially enjoying the show. After it ended, he was about to find fault with it when he heard the surrounding discussions becoming increasingly strange, so he quickly looked up and around.

He noticed all sorts of stares coming from the crowd. Lu Taro immediately felt extremely uncomfortable.

At this moment, Lao Du had turned off the projector and the lights came on. Han Yi, sitting by the podium, said, "Classmates, if you have any questions or anything you want to say, please feel free to ask. It will be lunchtime soon."

Someone in the crowd raised their hand—it was a directing student.

Han Yi raised his hand to indicate, "Please speak, student."

"Director Han, my question is, why can't I see a trace of Jiang Wen's influence in your film?"

Han Yi thought to himself: Are you here to cause trouble? Didn't you see Lu Taro sitting right next to you?

Lu Taro's expression changed as he sat in the audience: This is aimed at me.

Han Yi pondered for a moment and replied, "My friend, I don't quite understand what you mean. But what I'm trying to say is that when this short film was being shot, Jiang Wen was just an actor in my crew."

"Then why does director Lu Taro's newly released film 'The Missing Gun' have such a strong Jiang Wen style? By the way, Director Han, have you seen 'The Missing Gun'?"

Han Yi shook his head and said with a wry smile, "I haven't seen 'The Missing Gun' yet. But perhaps that's the charm of Jiang Wen... Director Lu Taro was captivated by Jiang Wen on set, which led to..."

Before he could finish speaking, the student who asked the question was pulled down to sit by the student next to him.

At this moment, Zhao Ke, a student from the acting department, stood up and asked, "Director Han, do you have any plans for your next film?"

"I have this idea, but the script isn't finished yet."

Zhao Ke said "Oh" and sat down.

Wang Luodan then stood up and asked, "Director Han, if you make your next film, will you give acting students a chance?"

Here it comes, the important part.

Han Yi looked at the eager gazes cast upon him by the performing arts students, including Nai Liang, Sheng Yi, and others who would later become known by name, and couldn't help but smile:

"Of course we'll use them. After all, it's perfectly normal for directors from the Beijing Film Academy to use actors from the Central Academy of Drama... no, I mean, the Beijing Film Academy, isn't it?"

The audience erupted in applause and laughter.

Han Yi then answered several questions from the Literature and Photography departments. As the event was about to end, Lu Taro, who had been silent all along, suddenly stood up and loudly addressed Han Yi on stage:

"Junior Han Yi, the questions your classmates asked earlier were all off-topic. I have a different perspective on your short film."

Upon hearing this, Han Yi looked at Lu Taro with the same gaze he would give a crybaby.

He raised his hand to signal the other person to continue, and then slowly took out the two trophies from the backpack he had just packed and placed them beside him, as if to say: Please begin your performance.

Lu Taro glanced at the two Cannes trophies, his eyelids twitched, and he said, "While your film is rich in metaphors and cleverly shot, it has a fatal flaw..."

"Oh—" A chorus of cheers erupted from the audience.

Everyone's eyes darted back and forth between Han Yi and Lu Taro, as if anticipating a good show.

Teacher Dai remained calm and composed, Yuan Jiaping remained expressionless, and Jiang Wei... Jiang Wei was looking out the window. Where was there a window in the screening room?

Lu Taro continued, "The short film is too mysterious, leaving the audience completely confused and having no idea what the plot is about."

He stared at Han Yi on the stage, as if he had discovered a new continent, and asked with certainty, "Is the person in the coffin the protagonist's father? If so, was it done by the two brothers?"

Han Yi was both amused and exasperated, thinking: So this is what you're asking after all this time? I thought it would be something more tricky. He stood up and looked directly at Lu Taro, as if trying to see right through him.

Only after Lu Taro felt extremely uncomfortable did Han Yi speak up: "Excuse me, senior Lu Taro, is what I'm holding the Cannes Short Film Palme d'Or trophy?"

"So what if it is?" Rikutaro shrugged.

"So I made a short film, right?"

Han Yi put the trophy into his bag and clapped his hands: "Isn't that settled? It's just a short film. You expect me to explain every single detail? Where am I supposed to find that much money to make it?"

"Hahaha..." The audience burst into laughter.

Han Yi stepped off the stage, handed the backpack to Teacher Dai, walked to Lu Taro's side, and feigned confusion:

"You should also understand that even in feature films, directors don't lay out all the metaphors clearly. Isn't that the case with 'The Missing Gun'?"