HuaYu: A Great Director Starting with Dream of the Red Chamber

For someone with a distinctly Chinese palate, the chilled Parma ham and cloyingly sweet bread from Lido Island are a novelty to eat once, but eating them twice in a row would be simply self-destructive.

Fortunately, Li Yan has always had a good memory, so he ignored the three guys who were still jet-lagged and exhausted in the hotel.

He got up very early and, following his vague memories from his previous life, found an unnamed tavern serving hot meals in an inconspicuous alley.

Steaming hot tomato seafood soup, served with freshly baked Italian flatbread.

That's more like it; breakfast should be something warm.

Just as Li Yan found a seat by the window and was waiting for the food to be served, the wind chimes by the door rang out.

"Hey? I thought there was a hot meal here!"

He speaks Mandarin with a strong oyster accent.

Then came the familiar Guanzhong accent: "Really? Then hurry up, that Western food is inedible, it'll give you stomach acid!"

Li Yan looked up and smiled.

What a coincidence!

Standing at the entrance were Huang Bo and Yan Ni. They were clearly exhausted from the cold breakfast that morning. They didn't bring any assistants and looked just like ordinary tourists, peeking around curiously.

When they suddenly saw Li Yan sitting by the window, smiling and looking at them, the two were taken aback.

Last night at the party, everyone was there when Guan Hu put on airs, so it was a bit awkward to see him again now.

Huang Bo was a smart man. He hesitated for a moment, wondering whether he should greet her or pretend he didn't see her, so as not to make either of them feel uncomfortable.

On the contrary, Yan Ni, being an actress from the Air Force Political Department, didn't have as many reservations and walked over confidently.

"Oh, isn't this... Director Li?"

Yan Ni has a straightforward personality. Apart from looking a bit tipsy early in the morning, she is still very warm and friendly.

"What a coincidence! Sister Yan and Brother Bo are also here looking for food?"

One yard owned by a yard.

Li Yan looked down on Guan Hu and his gang of pretentious old-timers, but he had no prejudice against these two talented actors who made a living through their skills, and even admired them quite a bit.

He stood up with a smile, pulled out the chair next to him, and replied to Yan Ni in Guanzhong dialect:

"It's quieter here, how about we share a table? We're all from Shaanxi Province, Sister Yan, just call me Li Yan."

"Exactly! That accent sounds so friendly."

Upon hearing Li Yan's Guanzhong dialect, Yan Ni burst into laughter. Since he was being so informal, she waved to Huang Bo, who was still standing at the door.

"Huang Bo, come on! This is Xiao Li from our Qin Province. He doesn't mind, so what are you being so coy about?"

Seeing this, Huang Bo immediately seized the opportunity and came over, a smile spreading across his comical face:

"Oh, Director Li, hello Director Li! Then I won't stand on ceremony, I'm Huang Bo, the one in 'Cow'... what's that, Niu Er!"

"Brother Bo, you're too kind. Please have a seat."

After learning that neither of them spoke English very well, Li Yan waved to the waiter to order two more bowls of soup and flatbread for them, then turned around and smiled:

"There were too many people and too much chatter last night, but I really love both of your acting! Brother Bo, whether it's Hei Pi in 'Stone' or Niu Er this time, to be on the bold side, I think you're almost certain to win Best Actor!"

Who doesn't love to hear nice things?

Especially in this unfamiliar foreign land, being fawned over by a young director who was just yesterday criticizing everyone and everything.

After that, everyone tacitly avoided mentioning Guan Hu or any of the unpleasant things in the industry, and instead chatted about which pizza was too salty and which coffee was too bitter.

After a few sips of hot soup, my stomach felt better, and I relaxed.

Although Huang Bo isn't good-looking, those who climb up from the bottom are never lacking in emotional intelligence.

He tore at the flatbread while observing Li Yan.

This young man was sharp-tongued when he confronted Guan Hu last night, but after talking to him today, he turned out to be surprisingly easygoing and insightful.

He took a sip of lemonade and said politely:

"Director Li, thank you for your kind words. I came to Venice this time just to broaden my horizons; I didn't even dare to think about winning any awards!"

"But since we've met so coincidentally today, I hope to have the opportunity to collaborate with Director Li in the future. If you happen to win the Golden Lion this time, I'll share in your joy..."

This was originally just a polite remark.

But that's exactly what Li Yan was waiting for!

Didn't you say that you made Huang Bo famous?

Perfect timing! Whether there are dates or not, let's try our luck. I'll start by swinging my little hoe.

Anyway, he hasn't found a suitable candidate for the role of the driver in "Silent Witness".

Li Yan put down his spoon, wiped his mouth, and said with a smile:

"Brother Bo, if you say that, then I'll take it seriously!"

"I happen to have a script that I just finished preparing for, and we're ready to start filming in the next two months. The funding and the crew are all set. There's one role in it that I feel is perfect for you the more I look at it."

Huang Bo was taken aback.

I just said it offhand...

Let's not even talk about whether his schedule is available right now.

Directing a film for a director who has just made a short film? Or a director who just had a falling out with Guan Hu?

"This..." Huang Bo hesitated for a moment, then began to evade the question.

"Director Li, I'm honored that you think so highly of me, but regarding my schedule afterwards, my company..."

"Brother Bo, don't rush to push it, listen to what I have to say first."

Li Yan sat up straight and began to deceive:

"I know you have a lot of scripts coming up, but this play of mine is different!"

"What kind of roles did you play before? Crawling in sewers, running through mountain gullies, being chased all over the streets, your face covered in mud and blood, all images of people suffering, right?"

Huang Bo nodded subconsciously. Indeed, he hadn't played a clean person in the past few years.

"But this time, it's a blockbuster! A legal thriller!"

"Your role is a driver for a big boss, wearing a suit and tie, and always driving luxury cars."

"Your role isn't too demanding, so you won't have to worry about box office numbers. You can just stay comfortably in the studio, sheltered from the wind and rain, and filming will wrap up in two weeks."

"The key is that this character is also the central figure in the story! He's a loyal and righteous man willing to take the blame for his boss's murder, which really tests his acting skills!"

Li Yan paused for a moment, then turned to look at Yan Ni, who was drinking soup and watching the commotion:

"And Sister Yan, there's a driver's wife in this play, she's still so charming, feisty yet deeply affectionate, a perfect match for you! She's also a woman who, to please her husband, would lie in court and admit to having an affair!"

"You two just acted together in 'Cow,' and now you're playing a married couple with me again? We won't even need to rehearse any scenes together—it'll be incredibly efficient!"

"A commercial film? A legal drama?"

Huang Bo was slightly tempted.

To be honest, he has had enough of playing ordinary people at the bottom of society and doesn't want to be stuck in the image of a "clown".

Moreover, Li Yan's persuasion was incredibly skillful:

A minor role means it won't interfere with his other work; a memorable character means the role is outstanding; and a commercial film means his salary will definitely be higher than other films!

The reason he took on several supporting roles in Hong Kong films next year is simply to make money!

"That sounds...quite interesting."

Huang Bo stroked his chin: "So, who did Director Li choose for the lead role in this film?"

"The initial plan for the male lead is to find a Hong Kong film star. We've been in contact with Wu Zhenyu and Liang Jiahui, or ideally... Chow Yun-fat."

Li Yan casually tossed out three names.

"puff……"

Yan Ni nearly spat out her soup, her eyes widening: "Who? Chow Yun-fat?!"

"It's not settled yet. The other two are negotiable, but we need to talk to Chow Yun-fat."

Li Yan remained calm and composed. He had already made his boast, and once Jing Tian's money arrived and Lu Zheng put in some effort, anything was possible, wasn't it?

"Our production has a strong backing from Starlight Entertainment, so the budget is negotiable. We just want to make a benchmark for domestic legal dramas..."

Hearing "Starlight Shines Brightly," Huang Bo felt reassured; he knew he wouldn't have to worry about money.

As for whether or not Chow Yun-fat can be invited, that's not important. As long as the money is right, he might consider it...

"Okay! Director Li, I've got this in mind."

Huang Bo picked up his lemonade, clinked it against Li Yan's, and his attitude became noticeably warmer.

"Let's get in touch when we get back. I'll take a look at the script. If we can squeeze in some time, we can finally be respectable again, right?!"

……