Reborn in the Chinese Entertainment Industry: My Childhood Sweetheart is Boss Yang

For the two days after the screening ended, Ning Hao was restless, as if he had a nail in his butt.

He paced around his hotel room all day, muttering to himself, "It's just a nomination, participation is what matters," but his eyes would dart to the phone every three seconds.

That's all the ambition he's made.

The organizing committee finally called the night before the awards ceremony. They were very polite, but their message was clear: Director Ning must attend the closing ceremony the following night, and it would be best if you could iron your suit properly.

After hanging up the phone, Ning Hao almost jumped out of bed and bumped into the ceiling.

"Holy crap! Boss! We've got it!"

Gu Heng was reading the newspaper with his legs crossed, not even lifting his eyelids: "Look at your pathetic self."

Although he complained, Gu Heng felt relieved.

This is a sure-fire way to make money.

The cinema on Lido Island was ablaze with stars on the night of the awards ceremony.

This night was destined to be a highlight for Chinese-language films.

Section Chief Jia is indeed a ruthless person; "Still Life" won the highest honor, the Golden Lion Award, in one fell swoop!

Ning Hao did not leave empty-handed.

Best Film in the Horizons category!

Although it can't compare to the Golden Lion, for a "newcomer" who started with commercial films and then suddenly entered the art film arena, this is practically like taking off on a rocket.

Standing on the podium, Ning Hao's hand holding the trophy was trembling, but this guy is also a talent. After stumbling through a few sentences of English acceptance speech, he finally uttered a perfect sentence in Chinese.

"Thank you to my boss, Gu Heng. He made me believe that film is not only a business, but also a belief."

Gu Heng, sitting in the audience, twitched at the corner of his mouth.

That was a bit of a blatant compliment, but it sounded nice.

After winning the award, the next step is naturally the most mundane but also the most practical part.

Selling DVDs.

With the trophy as a bonus, those film companies that were still observing immediately changed their tune.

The idea that art is priceless is nonsense. In the eyes of film producers, trophies are a guarantee of sales.

Gu Heng didn't stand on ceremony with them and handed over the negotiation to a professional distribution agent, while he himself was responsible for signing and counting the money.

European copyrights, North American copyrights, plus all sorts of messy TV broadcasting rights.

In the end, all the miscellaneous items were added up, and it sold for about 200 million dollars.

Don't complain about the small amount; this is a low-budget art film!

How much did it cost to film?

This is outrageously profitable! It's faster than robbing a bank, and it's legal too.

Ning Hao looked at the numbers on the contract and grinned so hard his back teeth were showing.

Gu Heng patted him on the shoulder.

"Alright, stop acting so naive. This is nothing; there's more to come."

On the plane back to China, Ning Hao was in a state of excitement the whole way, chatting with Gu Heng about his ideas for the next movie. Gu Heng wanted to slap him twice to shut him up and put him to sleep.

Upon landing at Beijing Capital International Airport, the sheer volume of people and the atmosphere were overwhelming.

Chinese-language films dominate the Venice Film Festival!

"Jia Zhangke wins the Golden Lion, Ning Hao amazes Horizons!"

"The Rise of the Sixth Generation Directors!"

This was all over the front page of major newspapers, and even ordinary people who don't usually follow the entertainment industry knew that these moviemakers had made a name for themselves abroad.

Gu Heng hadn't even stepped into the company gate when his phone rang.

Upon checking the caller ID, it read Han Sanping.

That old fox is certainly well-informed.

"Hey, Third Master, so early?" Gu Heng answered the phone.

"You're something else! You stirred up a huge scandal without making a sound!"

"That's right, look who trained these soldiers." Gu Heng flattered him casually.

Stop joking with me!

Han Sanping abruptly changed the subject, revealing his true intentions: "How's Ning Hao's next film going? Let me tell you, Xiao Gu, China Film Group has to get a stake! If you dare to hog it all this time, I'll make you pay!"

"Third Master, how could I dare to say that?" Gu Heng laughed. "I'll definitely save a seat for you. I'll need your protection then."

"That's more like it! Send the script over to me as soon as it's finished. As long as it doesn't break any major rules, I'll take care of getting it approved!"

After hanging up the phone, Gu Heng shook his head.

That's how this industry is. When you're incompetent, no one will listen to you no matter how much you beg. But once you become powerful, these big shots will be chasing after you and giving you money.

Besides China Film Group, the Beijing Film Academy is also bustling with activity.

The biggest winner of this Venice victory was actually the Nortel Film Academy.

Jia Zhangke is from the Literature Department, and Ning Hao is from the Photography Department.

Goodness, the whole school was in an uproar.

Especially the photography department teachers, they all walk with a swagger, their noses in the air, as if they could write "I'm the best in the world" on their faces.

He would often loiter near the entrance of the directing department's office, making sarcastic remarks.

"AUV, our department's Xiao Ning, he usually seems quiet, but I didn't expect him to be so good at directing."

"This is ridiculous! How come our photography department is producing so many directors? What about us photography instructors? How are we supposed to feel?"

Those old pedants in the directing department were so angry they turned green, but they couldn't even utter a word in response!

What can you do when what they said is true?

Counting the famous directors of today, Zhang Yimou and Gu Changwei both majored in cinematography.

Now there's Ning Hao, who's also from the photography department.

So the directing department is just for show?

These photographers are utterly unethical and disruptive to school unity!

There are even rumors that the directing department of Beijing Film Academy might as well be merged into the cinematography department in the future, since there's not much difference anyway.

Of course, these are just things people talk about during their leisure time at school.

Gu Heng returned to Beijing, and after dealing with a bunch of messy things at the company, it was already completely dark.

Gu Heng simply told the driver to take him home.

There's no place like home.

What's more, there's a lovely little wildcat waiting for me at home.

As soon as he entered, before the lights were even turned on, Gu Heng felt a fragrant breeze waft towards him.

Immediately afterwards, a soft body threw itself into his arms.

"Why are you only getting back now?"

Yang Mi's voice was sweet and childlike, with a hint of complaint, but mostly it was coquettish.

"To earn money to support the family." Gu Heng hugged him with one arm and closed the door behind him. "What's wrong? Can't sleep because you miss me?"

"Who misses you? You're just being delusional."

Yang Mi was stubborn, but she buried her head deep in Gu Heng's neck, sniffing his scent like a puppy.

"You reek of smoke, it's awful."

Gu Heng carried the koala bear towards the bedroom, teasing as he went, "If you think it smells bad, why are you holding it so tightly?"

"I'm happy to do it, what's it to you!"

Yang Mi looked up, her large eyes sparkling in the darkness, revealing a sly glint. "Tell me honestly, were you seduced by any women while you were abroad?"

"No, no, I can't even manage to cultivate this small plot of land at home."

Gu Heng threw her onto the bed and then pressed himself against her.

"Oh! You haven't showered!"

"Why wash it? The original flavor is the healthiest!"

"You scoundrel... ugh..."

The remaining protests were swallowed.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that's absolutely true.

That night, the noise in the room never stopped, and even the moon outside the window seemed to shyly hide behind the clouds.

As for Venice, the Golden Lion, box office revenue sharing...

Nothing compares to the warmth and fragrance of a soft jade in one's arms.