Huayu02 started by making films.

"I don't care what kind of mess you guys have made in the past. But things are different now. Starting next year—no, starting this year—foreign films will be imported into the mainland in large quantities. Whether you old fogies stick to your own little corner or switch to making commercial films, I don't care. But—"

He surveyed the room again, emphasizing each word: "Script review is the Film Bureau's responsibility. If you dare to interfere again, believe me, China Film Group could also get involved when the film is finished?"

"But I did it so that..." Teng Wenji was about to speak when Han Shanping silenced him with a glare.

Meeting adjourned.

The following day, a single announcement instantly ignited the entire entertainment industry:

"Director Han Yi, due to failing to shoot a film according to the filed script and submitting the finished film to the Venice Film Festival without review... causing a negative impact and serious losses, considering this is his first offense, it is hereby decided: Han Yi's directing qualification is suspended for one year..."

(Note: There is no mandatory director's license requirement for working as a director; this is an industry management measure.)

Major newspapers and news websites all changed their headlines, sparking heated discussions among netizens. Regardless of whether they knew Han Yi before, everyone remembered his name this time.

On the set of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils".

Liu Yifei and Shu Chang stared dumbfounded at the headline on Sina's webpage. They instinctively wanted to call Han Yi, only to realize they didn't have his number.

At Jiang Wen's home: He was dealing with Xiao Qing's matter in a state of great distress. His first reaction upon hearing the news about Han Yi was to take out the photo of the announcement and carefully check whether it had a red stamp.

Fan Bingbing was already a hot commodity in China after winning the Venice Film Festival Best Actress award, but Han Yi's incident only added fuel to the fire, leaving her besieged by reporters every day and unable to find peace.

Chen Chen moved back to the girls' dormitory at Beijing Film Academy, handed a memory card to Du Zhe, and then stayed on campus to avoid the limelight.

Du Zhe inserted the card into the computer, and gasped after seeing the contents. He rushed into the photography department's post-production room to develop the photos, and then ran all over Beijing's major newspapers.

Gao Qiang, Zhao Bin, Dao Rong, and Li Xiang then casually spread the story of Lu Taro reporting Han Yi on the Beijing Film Academy campus every day.

At first, no one believed that Rikutaro would do something so absurd as to report his junior from the same school for watching porn at the Venice Cinema.

Until one morning, all the newspapers, news websites, Sina, and Tianya forums changed their front page headlines to Lu Taro.

This media storm has finally changed its protagonist.

……

Time flew by, and it was already the end of September. All the location scouting and actor negotiations were completed, and filming was just waiting to begin in December. Only then did Han Yi set off to return to China.

The plane took off from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and eventually landed at Beijing Capital International Airport.

The air quality in Beijing in 02 was quite good.

At nine o'clock in the morning, Han Yi, wearing sunglasses, walked out of the terminal, hailed a taxi, and headed straight for Beijing Film Academy.

Stepping into the school gate, the traces of the recently ended military training were still very obvious. Groups of two or three freshmen in camouflage uniforms walked around the campus, their faces showing the naivety and excitement of entering university for the first time.

As I walked down to the literature department building, I looked up and saw the banner congratulating him on his Venice Film Festival award still hanging in the same spot. Red background with white lettering, swaying slightly in the early autumn breeze.

Han Yi paused and looked for a moment, then sighed softly to himself: "Alas, the root of the problem is still here after all."

"Brother Yi!"

A gasp came from behind. Han Yi turned around and saw Du Zhe walking briskly out of the building, his face full of surprise.

"Old Du!" Han Yi smiled as well.

The two of them gave each other a firm hug.

As they walked side-by-side into the school, Han Yi casually asked, "Old Du, anything new happening at school lately?"

"Nothing particularly exciting happened, except that Liu Yifei's enrollment caused a stir, and there was a minor incident in the directing department."

"What is it?" Han Yi raised an eyebrow.

"It's that Riku Taro again. The literature department is currently adapting a documentary script, and somehow he found out about it. He's been asking around about who has the adaptation rights, going around asking everyone he meets if they're willing to sell."

"Does he know who holds the adaptation rights?"

"Nobody knows. It seems only Teacher Dai and Teacher Yuan know the inside story."

After exchanging pleasantries, Han Yi went to Teacher Dai's office alone.

"Professor Dai, keep this. The department can make a copy as a souvenir." Han Yi took the small golden lion trophy out of his backpack, placed it on the coffee table, and sat down himself.

Teacher Dai took the trophy, examined it carefully for a moment, and then said, "Han Yi, don't take the year-long ban on teaching too seriously. Use this time to reflect and recharge in the department."

Han Yi quickly waved his hand: "Teacher Dai, I have my own plans. I actually came today to ask for leave."

Teacher Dai was taken aback: "How long will you be staying this time? And what are your plans?"

"One year."

Han Yi slowly uttered two words.

"What?" Teacher Dai jumped up from her chair. "Han Yi, do the math. How many days have you been at school since the beginning of the year? Are you going to film that documentary adaptation?"

Han Yi shook his head: "I'm not filming that script; it's reserved for the department. Professor Dai, please tell the students that whoever adapts it best will get investment and directing rights."

"Looks like the film made a lot of money." Teacher Dai said thoughtfully.

Han Yi smiled but didn't reply.

Teacher Dai paced back and forth by the table, then slapped his thigh: "I've approved the leave. But you have to hold a meeting with the students. A lot of people have been asking about the documentary adaptation these past few days, so it's more appropriate for you to speak about it yourself."

"That's not appropriate, Teacher Dai. I'm currently a director who's been explicitly banned from directing," Han Yi politely declined.

"Bullshit! Do you even have a director's license?"

Han Yi shook his head.

"That settles it, doesn't it? What kind of director are you without a license?"

After saying that, Teacher Dai immediately picked up the phone and started calling for help.

Lunchtime at Beijing Film Academy.

The cafeteria, usually packed to the brim, was quite empty today. Students from the photography and literature departments were few and far between, many of them engrossed in eating.

Suddenly, a performing arts student rushed into the cafeteria, shouting at the top of his lungs:

"Han Yi, no, Director Han is back. The Literature and Photography departments are having a meeting in the large lecture hall!"

The cafeteria fell silent for a moment, then erupted in chaos. Students simultaneously put down their chopsticks and surged towards the large classroom, some even running out with their trays in hand.

The largest public classroom at Beijing Film Academy was packed with students from the Literature and Photography departments, from freshmen to seniors, with no seats available.

On either side of the podium stood two teachers, Dai Degang and Yuan Jiaping.

Han Yi stood in the center of the podium, looking at the diverse young faces below, leaned closer to the microphone, and joked:

"Ahem, everyone, surely there's someone who doesn't recognize me?"

Laughter erupted from the audience, but quickly subsided after three seconds.

Han Yi's expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the documentary being adapted into a movie at school. Many students are speculating about who is investing in it. Today, I'll tell you the truth: the adaptation rights to the documentary are in my hands."

"Whoa—"

The atmosphere in the audience was instantly ignited.

"However," Han Yi shrugged, "I won't make this movie. After all, I'm currently banned."

The students stopped laughing and focused their attention on the center of the podium, their expressions attentive.

"I've discussed it with Professor Dai and Professor Yuan, and we've decided that the Department of Literature will be responsible for adapting the script, with the Department of Cinematography assisting in the creation. We'll have a six-month period to select the best adapted script from among the current students at the Beijing Film Academy, and the adaptor will personally direct it, with the Department of Literature and the Department of Cinematography jointly producing it. Most importantly—"

Han Yi paused, then winked at his former team members below the stage:

"I'll fund the entire project."

"Whoosh—!!!"