Huayu02 started by making films.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Han Shanping called. Han Yi got up from his warm embrace and answered the phone:

"Hello, who is this?"

"Han Shanping".

"Oh, Mr. Han, have you gone to Vietnam or Myanmar?"

"I'm outside your hotel room, why isn't anyone answering my knock?"

With a loud "clang".

Han Yi jumped out of bed, pulling on his pants as he replied, "Why is this happening so suddenly? Is SARS over in Beijing?"

Han Shanping, being a shrewd man, immediately understood what Han Yi was doing and thought to himself: You're living a pretty comfortable life, huh? Is this an essential talent for a director?

He said into the receiver, "Alright, I won't bother you anymore. Just letting you know, tomorrow's opening ceremony, don't get stuck on a woman's stomach."

"I don't understand what you're saying? Hey... Dudu..."

The call ended. Han Yi fiddled with his Bird phone, looking completely bewildered.

On the bed, Zhang Min looked at him like this and chuckled foolishly:

"Little Gangdu~ Come up here to sleep whenever you have nothing to do. You woke me up just now, so you have to take responsibility for putting me back to sleep."

"Okay."

Director Han is very busy.

2003 5 Month 14 Day.

The 56th Cannes Film Festival has officially opened.

In the afternoon, in the hotel room.

Han Yi took out the suits that Chen Chen had sent him. They were the two suits that he had ordered from Beijing last year when he came to Cannes. One suit was black with a subtle pattern, and the other was plain black without any pattern.

He thought for a moment: Which outfit did I wear last year?

Whatever, whatever.

Han Yi casually picked up the patterned jacket and put it on, combed his hair into a neat slicked-back style, polished his leather shoes to a shine, and tossed his hair in front of the mirror without moving an inch.

Great, very energetic!

Pushing open the door, Han Yi strode forward. The door opposite opened immediately, and Zhang Min, dressed in a bright red gown, gracefully walked in, leaning closer and whispering:

"Yiyi, what do you think of my outfit?"

Her short hair was styled into big waves, she wore bright red lips, and her eyebrows were drawn high and arched, making her look exactly like a modern version of Zhao Min.

Han Yi took her arm and lowered his voice, "Don't rush to remove your makeup when you get back tonight. Also, don't call me Yi Yi when there are many people around, it feels weird..."

Zhang Min covered her mouth and chuckled, then tiptoed and breathed into his ear, her voice seductive: "That depends on your performance tonight."

Han Yi said seriously, "That's our specialty, Min-jie, just you wait and see."

"Hehehe..."

Soon, Jiang Wu, François, Lao Luo, and Han Shanping also came out of the room one after another and followed.

The group left the hotel lobby, boarded a limousine arranged by the film festival, and drove along the seaside promenade towards the Palais des Festivals.

Staff members were at the front to guide the members of various film crews who were about to step onto the red carpet. After all, it was the opening ceremony, and film crews of all sizes wanted to take advantage of the red carpet's popularity.

Han Yi sat in the back of the limousine, looking out the window at the bustling scene outside, and thought to himself: This is just like a rural market.

Zhang Min sat next to him, feeling a little nervous. After all, she had lived for more than 30 years and this was her first time walking the red carpet at one of the three major film festivals. However, the passage of time left no trace of emotion on her face, except that her palms, which were holding Han Yi's, were slightly sweaty.

Soon, the limousine drove to the front of the red carpet.

Han Yi got out of the car first, and in an instant, all the cameras and microphones were pointed at him, flashing incessantly.

He walked around to the right side, gentlemanly opened the car door, and reached out to take Zhang Min's hand.

The two walked side by side down the red carpet.

Han Shanping went with Jiang Wu, Lao Luo, and François. As for whether or not Cannes would send female companions, that was not Han's concern.

The red carpet laid out at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes is very long, extending all the way to the steps of the Lumière Hall deep inside.

Last year, when he walked the red carpet, he didn't feel much, but this year, with Zhang Min by his side, Han Yi realized how troublesome it was. The reporters and media on both sides didn't care whether they knew him or not; as long as someone was good-looking, regardless of gender, they would all take a bunch of pictures.

This wasn't Han Yi's first visit; he recognized many familiar faces among the media. He held Zhang Min's arm with his right, waving frequently with his left, almost shouting:

"Comrades, you've worked hard!"

As the two walked to the center of the red carpet, a reporter and photographer shouted towards Han Yi:

"Han! Han! Cowboy, cowboy! Look here, look here!"

Han Yi forced a standard smile, thinking to himself: You bastard, you wouldn't happen to be the photographer for "Very Sunday," would you?

Zhang Min linked arms with him, turning to the side with an elegant smile. The photographer kept flashing his camera, taking pictures while asking:

"Cowboy! Last year you brought your short film and won the Palme d'Or for Best Short Film. This year you're nominated for a feature film. What are your expectations?"

Although I'm 90% sure I'll win the Palme d'Or, I don't need to make such a fuss on the first day of the film festival.

Han Yi gave a polite smile and said, "I'm very happy to be shortlisted. Whether I win an award or not doesn't matter, after all..."

Before he could finish speaking, the reporter next to the photographer had already pulled out a pen and paper and started taking notes.

"The Cowboy's Second Cannes Journey – Aiming for the Palme d'Or!"

Han Yi stood quietly to the side, waiting for Zhang Min to finish taking photos in several different poses before finally walking to the end of the red carpet. He breathed a long sigh of relief.

Jiang Wu and the others stepped onto the red carpet a little later than Han Yi, and they had been waiting there for a while.

Lou Ye was also waiting there, and his two leading ladies were vying for attention on the red carpet, their vibrant colors creating a lively scene.

Soon, Li Dapang and Zhang Ziyi led Xiao Shouye over. They greeted each other, acquainted, and then entered the opening ceremony venue together.

Lumière Hall.

The crew of "The Intouchables" found their seats by following the numbers on the chairs and were placed among other crews that were also nominated for the main competition.

To Han Yi's left is the crew of director Gus's film "Elephant," a film adapted from the real-life Columbine High School shooting in the United States in 1999.

On the right is Lou Ye's "Purple Butterfly" crew. Li Dapang is chatting with Zhang Min about something, making the two of them cover their mouths and chuckle.

Zhang Ziyi sat to the right rear, her brows slightly furrowed. She could vaguely hear words like "director," "old man," and "sleeping" drifting over.

Han Yi glanced to his right at Lou Ye with his buzz cut, thinking disdainfully: Apart from Director Jia, none of the other sixth-generation directors are a match for me.

He tilted his head to the left again, and just then Gus looked over. Their eyes met, and Han Yi smiled on the surface, but inwardly cursed:

"So your name is Gus? You started out by filming gay movies, you're not even as good as me, you're despicable!"

Soon, the venue was filled with film crews taking their seats, the lights gradually softened, and the host took the stage.

The host of this year's Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony was "The Ballad," the famous Italian actress Monica Bellucci.

She is Monica, the woman who sat in a chair surrounded by a group of men lighting cigarettes in the 2000 film "Malèna".

Han Yi looked at the Italian beauty on the stage, sat up straight, and casually rolled up his trouser leg, thinking: I'm not a director. Even if this 39-year-old foreign woman has a good appetite, she can't eat much.

It's too late for me to be reborn.

Monica launched into a long, rambling speech, the gist of which was:

"Thank you all for coming. There are new and old friends here; some who came last year, and some who are new this year. Everyone is a guest, and we'll start the meal after the movie. We promise you'll eat and drink well. We apologize for any inconvenience caused..."

Then she invited the chairman of the jury, Patrice Scherough, to the stage to give a speech, which was nothing more than a formality.

Pat then introduced the remaining eight judges one by one: first Spielberg, then the others, and finally Jiang Wen.

As soon as Jiang Wen appeared, his rugged Hebei man vibe kicked in. He tossed his head in a flamboyant manner, even though he didn't have long hair.

The atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Jiang Wu, sitting in the audience, clapped enthusiastically. If it weren't for the inappropriate occasion, he would have stood up and shouted, "Look, that's my brother! Isn't he awesome?!"