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

"Have you never thought about becoming part of a wealthy family yourself?"

Li Yan's words were like a bolt of lightning, piercing straight into Fan Bingbing's heart.

She does get a lot of media coverage every day, and she certainly seems incredibly famous.

But most of them are either scandals or rumors about plastic surgery, being kept by a sugar daddy, or having illegitimate children.

To outsiders, she was just a pretty face who rose to power through her looks and cunning, a plaything dependent on men.

In fact, ever since that old woman Qiong Yao said she was "only fit to play maids"...

She vowed that even if it meant facing mountains of knives and seas of fire, she would climb to the very top of the industry and become a superstar who could no longer be looked down upon.

Fan Bingbing's expression changed instantly.

She raised her hand to stop Mu Xiaoguang from lashing out, stared intently at Li Yan, and uttered three words:

"Go on."

Li Yan smiled, knowing that his goal had been achieved.

He pushed over the script that had already been prepared, speaking slightly quickly:

"Both male leads, Liang Jiahui and Wang Zhiwen, are your rivals! And Wu Zhenyu is a supporting actor."

"Liang Jiahui plays a wealthy father who fights against the world for his daughter, Wang Zhiwen plays a prosecutor who will stop at nothing to seek justice, and you are the top defense lawyer hired by Liang Jiahui at great expense."

"The entire film consists of scenes between the three of you. If you can't keep up with their acting in this film, you'll be completely overshadowed by the acting of the Best Actor, solidify your reputation as just a pretty face, and be ridiculed."

Seeing the slight change in Fan Bingbing's expression, Li Yan emphasized:

"But if you catch it..."

"You are a true talent who can rival the best actors. After this movie, no one will dare to say that you rely on your looks, and no one will dare to treat you as an accessory in the movie."

"How about it? Interested in giving it a shot? Trying to be a real 'leading lady'?"

Fan Bingbing quickly flipped through the script on the table, her breathing becoming increasingly rapid.

Liang Jiahui and Wang Zhiwen?

It's not that she hasn't acted alongside award-winning actors, but as Li Yan said, they were all supporting roles, all "decorative vases," there to highlight the men's presence.

This kind of small-scale, high-intensity acting battle with dialogue is indeed a first.

If the script is truly as Li Yan described, then it would be an excellent opportunity for her to shed the controversial labels attached to her.

With Jiang Zhiqiang around, Liang Jiahui and Wu Zhenyu have nothing to worry about.

"Wang Zhiwen..."

Fan Bingbing muttered a couple of sentences to herself, then suddenly looked up, "You think you can handle Wang Zhiwen? He's notoriously difficult!"

"My teacher is Guo Fumin from the Central Academy of Drama, so I should have some influence!"

Without hesitation, Li Yan took advantage of the situation and gestured to Jiang Zhiqiang beside him:

"With Boss Lu's funding and Boss Jiang's connections, everything is ready. Now all we need is Sister Bingbing to provide the perfect catalyst!"

Fan Bingbing took a deep breath, stomped her high heels on the carpet, and suddenly stood up.

She walked up to Li Yan and looked down at him:

"So, do you think I'm good enough to play that defense lawyer in my current state?"

Today, Fan Bingbing wore a glamorous and heavy makeup look, with exaggerated eyeliner and fiery red lips. Combined with her royal blue deep V-neck dress, she looked stunningly beautiful.

The entire makeup look exudes a seductive charm that makes one want to conquer.

Li Yan also stood up, took a step forward, and instantly closed the distance between the two of them, so close that he could almost smell the subtle patchouli scent in her perfume.

Under Mu Xiaoguang's shocked and angry gaze, he reached out and gestured to the side of Fan Bingbing's delicate face.

"cannot!"

Li Yan shook his head and commented very professionally:

"You're too seductive right now, and it's the kind of seduction that's for men."

"If you were to play this role, I would cut off your long hair, wipe off your red lips, and rip off your dress."

"You'll be dressed in your sharpest suit. Your expression should be cold, your eyes icy, and your speech fast."

"What I want to portray isn't a Fan Bingbing that makes people want to sleep with her, but a Fan Bingbing who wants to conquer others—'Fan Ye'!"

Fan Bingbing.

Upon hearing those two words, Fan Bingbing's pupils constricted and his scalp tingled.

If the previous "wealthy family theory" hit the nail on the head regarding her ambition, then the term "Fan Ye" (Master Fan) hits the definition of herself that she most yearns for.

Looking at the young, handsome man before her, who seemed to have a direct connection to her heart, she couldn't help but smile:

"Fan Ye...hehe, that nickname is really cool, I love it!"

Fan Bingbing turned around, picked up the cup of tea that she hadn't planned to drink when she came in, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Brother Mu, there's no need to talk anymore."

Mu Xiaoguang was taken aback: "Bingbing, the payment for this film hasn't been made yet..."

"I'll take the role."

Fan Bingbing interrupted him, turned to look at Li Yan, and extended her well-maintained hand:

"Director Li, you've got guts compared to those old men who just stare at my chest! But let me be clear, if we can't get the effect you want..."

She narrowed her eyes and threatened:

"I don't care if you're Venice or Cannes, I'll still smash your signboard."

Li Yan held her hand; it was soft and boneless, yet very strong.

"make a deal."

He looked at Fan Bingbing and added:

"In terms of billing order, Liang Jiahui is first, you're second, and Wang Zhiwen is third! I'm letting you outrank Wang Zhiwen, isn't that fair?"

Fan Bingbing raised an eyebrow, her smile widening, tinged with satisfaction:

"You've got guts! As long as you can keep Wang Zhiwen from turning against you, I have no objections."

……

Half an hour later, at the hotel entrance.

After seeing Fan Bingbing and Mu Xiaoguang off, Jiang Zhiqiang stood on the steps, lit a cigarette, and looked at Li Yan with admiration in his eyes.

"The younger generation is truly formidable."

Jiang Zhiqiang shook his head:

"I thought you'd argue with Mu Xiaoguang, but I didn't expect you to convince Fan Bingbing with just a few words! 'Wealthy family,' 'Master Fan'... Hehe, you really know her inside and out, even I have to admire you."

Li Yan took the cigarette Jiang Zhiqiang offered and lit it.

"Boss Jiang, she doesn't lack fame or money, what she lacks is recognition. She wants to trample everyone under her feet and transform from a 'plaything' into a 'person of importance.' I'm just going with the flow."

Jiang Zhiqiang watched the taillights of Fan Bingbing's nanny van disappear into the distance and sighed:

"Just by putting up posters of these few people, the box office of this movie is already half guaranteed."

Li Yan smiled:

"Boss Jiang, for my first film, being steady isn't enough."

"I have to make it explode!"

……

Just as "Silent Witness" was gaining momentum.

Guan Hu, however, was complaining in a private room in the west wing of the Great Wall Hotel.

This place belongs to Boss Qin; they often gather here, so they don't have any reservations.

"Brother Shuo, Brother Gangzi, are you really not going to do anything about this? That bastard called me a traitor in front of so many international friends! Damn it, our old men have all shed blood! Who the hell dares to say that about me?!"

Guan Hu held a lit cigar between his fingers, his face flushed red from drinking, veins throbbing in his neck, and he was filled with resentment.

"Is this a slap in the face? This is a slap in the face to all of us! He said the stuff we make is groveling before foreigners, where do we put our faces now? Who will respect us anymore?!"