Huayu02 started by making films.

A few seconds later, Liu Yifei, slightly out of breath, asked in a low voice, "Senior, why did you call?"

"I went back to school today and wanted to treat you to lunch in the cafeteria, but I couldn't find you. Zhu Ya gave me your number." Han Yi finally relaxed his nose and his voice returned to normal.

"Oh, I see. Senior, I'm filming on set right now."

"Is it 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'?"

"How did you know, senior?" Liu Yifei asked in surprise.

Han Yi chuckled: "Zhang the Big Beard is practically trying to make 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' known throughout the entire solar system, with news about you everywhere online, isn't that right, Wang Yuyan?"

"Hehehe..." Liu Yifei's sweet and slightly smug laughter came from the other end of the phone.

After laughing for a while, Liu Yifei's tone became somewhat worried: "Senior, I saw in the news that you've been banned from directing for a year, is that true? It won't affect you much, will it?"

Han Yi reassured him, "It's true, but it won't have much of an impact. Ask around in the industry, which film director hasn't been banned? You'd be embarrassed to call yourself a professional if you weren't banned. Don't worry about me. But what about you? How was your performance as Wang Yuyan?"

On the other end of the phone, Liu Yifei pouted, a string of question marks seemingly floating above her head: Why are all the big directors being banned?

She shook her head and replied playfully, "Wang Yuyan has too many lines to memorize. I spend all my free time reading from the script."

Han Yi thought for a moment and said, "I can understand. Although Wang Yuyan doesn't have to film action scenes, she still has to be on the sidelines as a commentator for the martial arts tournament when they are filming."

"Hahaha..." Liu Yifei was so amused that she could hardly breathe.

The two chatted for a while longer, and Han Yi promised to visit the film set when he had time before hanging up the phone.

October 1st, National Day

Kai Zi's film "Together with You," made for his wife, was released in theaters nationwide, but its box office ultimately settled at 1200 million yuan, making it a complete flop.

Han Yi took some time to go home. If he didn't go back soon, he was afraid his mother would really come to the Beijing Film Academy.

First day back home:

"Da Bao, come and eat breakfast before you sleep! Skipping breakfast will hurt your stomach!"

the next day:

"Han Yi, breakfast is in the pot, get up and get it yourself..."

Day 3:

"Little Bixia! You never sleep at night and never get up in the morning, what a slut! Get up right now!"

There is no fourth day.

On the morning of October 4th, Han Yi slung his backpack over his shoulder and headed straight to Shanghai.

......

Temporary address: No. 1-1, Lane 85, Yaohua Road, Pudong New Area.

The five characters "Zhang Min Beauty Salon" are prominently displayed above the entrance, though the paint has faded somewhat.

The shop looked desolate; the dust on the lintel showed it hadn't been cleaned in a long time, but thankfully the door wasn't locked. Han Yi knocked and gently pushed the door open.

Is anyone there?

No one responded.

He peered inside; it was supposed to be a beauty salon, but there wasn't even a sink. In the center of the empty room stood only a solitary glass coffee table.

Han Yi peeked inside and saw another staircase. Just as he was about to go upstairs, he heard the "tap, tap, tap" of high heels on the floor from upstairs.

The person arrived before the voice did:

"Are you here for a beauty salon visit? I'll be right down."

A low-pitched, slightly husky, and grainy voice descended from above the stairs.

Han Yi looked up at the sound and saw Zhang Min. Mature and slender, yet still elegant and composed, the years had imbued her with a more enduring charm.

"Ms. Zhang, you've misunderstood. I'm not here to take over the shop."

Han Yi turned around and said, "I'm here to ask you to act in a play."

Footsteps echoed down the stairs. Zhang Min, wrapped in a coat, descended the stairs. Upon recognizing the person, a hint of curiosity flickered in her eyes: "Are you Han Yi? That banned director?"

Han Yi covered his face: Good heavens, once that announcement was released, I became completely famous in the industry.

"Yes, I am Han Yi, the one who was banned." Han Yi said with a helpless smile.

Zhang Min nodded, wiped the glass coffee table with a cloth, sat down on the side, and gestured, "Excuse me, there are no chairs here, please make do with the coffee table."

Han Yi sat down as instructed, back to back with her.

"Ms. Zhang, I have a movie script that needs a second female lead. I heard you've been retired from acting for the past few years. Do you have any availability?"

Zhang Min took out a cigarette from her pocket and offered it to him: "Director Han, to be honest, I've only made a few movies in the past few years. Business isn't good these days—"

She looked around the empty shop: "You see, this beauty salon is about to be sold. I really don't have the energy to act anymore."

Han Yi did some mental calculations: if you buy a house in Pudong now, you won't lose money for decades to come.

He stood up, turned to Zhang Min, and asked, "Ms. Zhang, you own more than one property in Shanghai, don't you?"

Zhang Min looked up, a cigarette between her fingers, her eyes slightly narrowed: "What does Director Han mean by asking this?"

Han Yi cut to the chase: "There have been reports in the industry about you being swindled out of tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars by your friend. I've also heard some rumors about Wang Yu. He won't lend you money, which is why you're in such a hurry to sell this beauty salon, right?"

Zhang Min blinked, stretched lazily, and her abs flashed under the hem of her clothes.

"Director Han, you did your homework quite well before you came," she said with a smile. "So, what do you want? To keep me as a sugar daddy? Do you have enough money?"

Han Yi, avoiding eye contact, looked away and said, "You've misunderstood, Sister Zhang Min. I want to buy all your properties in Shanghai. Listen carefully, all of them. Beauty salons, fashion boutiques, large apartments—I want them all. But the condition is that you have to play the second female lead in my movie."

Zhang Min was stunned.

Am I that charming? You even paid for my house just so I could act?

She stood up, a half-smile on her face: "Do you have enough money? I own more than one or two properties in Shanghai. Are you kidding me?"

"You don't need to worry about that. As long as you agree, we'll sign the contract now, I'll transfer the money, and you can transfer the ownership."

If not now, when?

"Hehehe..."

Zhang Min covered her mouth and chuckled, "Then wait for me a moment."

She turned and went upstairs, her footsteps light and quick. A short while later, she came down with a file folder, took out a dozen or so property contracts, and placed them, along with a pen and inkpad, on the coffee table.

"Come on," she said, looking up at him. "It's your turn to perform."

Han Yi quickly scanned the contract, then took out his phone and dialed BNP Paribas:

"It's me. Yes, transfer the money to this account. The account number is—"

He looked at Zhang Min: "Does US dollars work? Do you have an account in Hong Kong?"

Zhang Min was somewhat stunned, taken aback by Han Yi's decisive and efficient manner. She suddenly reached out and took the contract back: "Are you really going to buy it? Won't you reconsider?"

"nonsense!"

Han Yi's temper flared up. "Is this for real or just a joke? Hurry up, give me the account!"

Zhang Min handed the contract back and wrote down the Hong Kong bank account information on the paper. Han Yi read it over the phone, word by word.

Through a series of maneuvers, Han Yi acquired several prime properties in Lujiazui, Shanghai, in 2002 at prices far below future value.

Afterwards, the two looked at each other and smiled, both feeling that they had made a huge profit.

A short while later, Zhang Min received a call informing her that the remittance had been made. She turned around, smiling broadly, and asked:

"Director Han, you still haven't told me what kind of movie you're going to make?"

"Don't worry, this time it won't be a banned film."

Han Yi took the script out of his backpack and handed it to him: "Make sure you have a available schedule from November this year to February next year. This movie needs to be filmed in France. Oh, and let's exchange phone numbers."

After exchanging numbers, Zhang Min wanted Han Yi to stay for lunch, but he politely declined by waving his hand.

"Take care of your own affairs first, then think carefully about the role. Although it's the second female lead, the role is quite substantial."

"Hey, Director Han..."

Han Yi waved his hand, turned around, pushed open the door, and walked out.