Huayu02 started by making films.

"Daorong, you haven't done anything out of line lately, have you?"

"Old Du, could you help me ask around at school? Here's the situation..."

Then a phone call was made to Fan Xiaopang: "Xiaopang, subtly ask Sister Hua if someone has reported 'Selaginella'."

"Damn it! What the hell did this?!" Fan Xiaopang's voice suddenly rose in volume on the other end of the phone.

Han Yi said in a deep voice, "Do as I say first, and don't let anything slip. Anyway, the film is no longer in the country."

He then contacted Gao Qiang, Zhao Bin, Li Xiang, and others, explaining everything to them one by one.

Han Yi received an unexpected message from Li Xiang: Lu Taro had been boasting in the directing department that Han Yi was a "grasshopper in autumn."

Han Yi understood immediately. He told Li Xiang to keep it a secret, then grabbed a faded old T-shirt, put it on, and messed up his hair before rushing out and hailing a taxi to the Film Bureau.

The Film Bureau is located on Xuanwumenwai Street in Xicheng District, near Caishikou.

Han Yi paid the fare and got out of the car. He glanced at the time, stepped through the gate, asked people along the way, and stumbled his way to Tong Guan's office.

With his hands in his pockets, he was about to push the door open when he noticed the door to another office at the corner of the corridor open, and a few people were walking out.

Han Yi pressed himself against the wall and took a closer look. The person in the lead looked somewhat similar to Lu Tailang next to him. It must be that "wild father" Lu Taiming.

Lu Taro was seen serving his father and several film bureau leaders attentively like a servant as they walked out the door through the corridor.

Han Yi cursed inwardly: These bunch of damn directors, they all rely on their seniority and have little ability, they just depend on having connections.

With the same subject matter, some directors can get approval, while others just can't, such as Lu Taro's later film "Nanjing! Nanjing!"

Just as he was thinking this, he turned around to knock on the door, but the office door suddenly opened from the inside. Han Yi stumbled and fell on top of the person who opened the door.

He quickly stood up and apologized, "I'm so sorry, I didn't notice, the door opened by itself..."

After Han Yi apologized, he finally saw clearly that the other person was a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, with a square face and a scholarly air about him. The man patted his clothes, looked Han Yi up and down, and asked:

"You're Han Yi?"

Han Yi nodded, and the other person said, "I'm the one who called you."

Fortunately, Tong Guan was the only one in the office; it would have been awkward if he had witnessed something else.

Tong Guan was not as stern and cold as one might imagine; on the contrary, he resembled a kind and benevolent old cadre.

Once inside the office, Tong Guan poured him tea, gestured for him to sit down, and then got straight to the point:

"Han Yi, I have some urgent business to attend to. Please have a seat for a while, I'll be right back."

Although Han Yi felt confused, he still obediently replied, "Teacher, you're busy. I'm on summer vacation anyway, so I'm just killing time."

After Tong Guan left, Han Yi looked like a country bumpkin visiting the Grand View Garden, after all, it was his first time entering the office of a teacher from the Film Bureau.

He touched the sofa here, pressed the coffee table there, and then looked up at the paintings hanging on the wall. When his gaze fell on Tong Guan's desk, Han Yi's eyes suddenly froze.

On the table was a file folder with the words "Han Yi" written on it in large characters. Han Yi got up, walked over, and picked it up; the seal had already been broken.

Han Yi pulled out an A4 sheet of paper, which was densely filled with a list of the differences between the filming of "Selaginella" at the Beijing Film Academy and the script submitted for review. It was a long one or two thousand words long, and the signatory was "Lu Taro".

The next sheet of paper contained the written instructions. Han Yi leaned closer to examine it:

"Please have the bureau leadership pay attention to this matter. If such a script, which is inconsistent with its content, were to be made into a film, it could negatively impact my country's artistic exchanges and international image..."

The signatory is Lu Taiming.

It was Lu Taro's "wild father," whom Han Yi had just seen from afar.

"My Dragon-Scaled Horse... this is truly a father-son team on the battlefield!"

Han Yi cursed Lu Taro's ancestors for eighteen generations in his heart, "The ancients were right—they hate those who have, laugh at those who don't; the hatred of a subject, when will it end..."

A few minutes later, Tong Guan returned to his office, sat down in a chair, took a few sips of tea, and then slowly began to speak:

"Xiao Han, although I haven't seen your film 'Selaginella' yet, the fact that Han Shanping personally called me to praise you, and that you just won the Palme d'Or for short films at Cannes, makes me believe that you are an excellent director who is willing to follow the rules."

This routine has stumped Han Yi. I was prepared to get scolded. Why aren't you following the script?

He thought for a moment, then organized his thoughts: "Oh, not at all. I'm just a freshman. I was lucky enough to make a short film with my classmates from the Beijing Film Academy, and we won an award at Cannes. I was just thinking of bringing some honor to the school, but I never expected to cause you so much trouble."

Tong Guan waved his hand and continued:

"Just from the words 'Selaginella,' I know it's a good movie that uses plants to promote the resilience of humanity. I also understand that you young people always want to express different ideas, and I personally support that."

Han Yi thought to himself: I know this routine well. Is it going to start by praising and then criticizing? Or is it going to be a mix of highs and lows? It can't be a case of hitting me and then giving me a sweet treat, can it?

Tong Guan picked up a cigarette from the table, took one out, and handed it to Han Yi. Han Yi waved his hand, saying he didn't know how, but quickly picked up a lighter, leaned forward, and lit it for his teacher.

"Clatter..."

Tong Guan took a deep breath, gently patted Han Yi's hand holding the lighter, and gestured for him to sit back down. As he exhaled the smoke, his tone remained amiable:

"Han Yi, you are the first director in the history of Beijing Film Academy, and even in the history of the new China, to win the Palme d'Or for a short film as a freshman. You are incredibly talented, and truly enviable. But—"

Before he could finish speaking, Tong Guan opened the file bag on the table, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to Han Yi, indicating that he should take a look first.

Han Yi had actually already read it once, but he had no choice but to grit his teeth and read it again, cursing the person's ancestors for eighteen generations in his mind.

Then he blinked hard, but no tears came out. His eyes were red, but that was enough.

Han Yi raised his head blankly, looked at Tong Guan, and said in a hoarse, pitiful voice:

"Tong Guanchang... I'm still a student."

Before the teacher could reply, Han Yi's little mouth kept moving, chattering away as he complained:

"Someone tried to bully me at the Beijing Film Academy because I'm young and a literature major, but they failed. I never expected... that he would even tattle on me to you. I... I'm only eighteen years old, and I have to suffer such injustice..."

Tong Guanchang panicked instantly, then suddenly realized: Han Yi, though a literature major, was a direct descendant of the Beijing Film Academy and was still a student. He had even heard Tian Zhuangzhuang praise the kid when they were drinking together before. On the contrary, Lu Taro and his illegitimate father were always looked down upon in the circle.

If Han Yi were to turn back and quit studying at the Beijing Film Academy, the criticism from everyone there would be overwhelming. And if he were to hire a few reporters and make the news, complaining that the academy tolerates favoritism and bullies young directors, wouldn't that cause an uproar?

Thinking of this, Tong Guan composed himself, shifted his body to sit next to Han Yi, and whispered:

"Maybe they misunderstood you. How about this, after you finish filming your movie, I'll go check on it. As long as there aren't any major problems, I'll let you off the hook."

Han Yi kept his head down, finally managing to squeeze out a few tears. He raised his head, his voice still choked with sobs:

"Okay, I knew you wouldn't listen to such a despicable person, Teacher Tong."