Reborn in the Chinese Entertainment Industry: You're a Director, But You're a Casanova?

The heat in Beijing at the end of July was unbearable.

Niu Yuehua, wearing a vest, shorts, and sandals, was sitting on a small stool eating watermelon.

My Nokia rang in my pocket. It was the admissions office of Beijing Film Academy calling, and the caller sounded excited.

"Congratulations, Niu Yuehua! Your college entrance exam results are out, and you've scored a full 211 points above the first-tier university admission line. Your score is unparalleled, not only in the directing department, but in the entire history of the Beijing Film Academy!"

"By the way, are you sure you still want to apply to the Beijing Film Academy? Not some other university like Tsinghua or Peking University, right?"

"Thank you, teacher." Niu Yuehua spat out a watermelon seed. "Don't worry, I'm definitely going to the directing department at Beijing Film Academy."

After hanging up the phone, he stared at the ants crawling over his feet to lick watermelon juice and sighed.

I don't know how to control my score; getting too high a score would be a waste. What's the point of getting such a high score? They didn't even mention giving out scholarships.

Complaining aside, we still have to get the important things done.

Niu Yuehua, who had already turned 18, dragged Feng Chengcheng to the Industry and Commerce Bureau under the scorching sun.

The air conditioning in the Industry and Commerce Bureau was on full blast, making it cool.

"What should I fill in for the company name?" the auntie at the window asked without looking up.

"Let's call it Yixin Media in Chinese, and A&B in English."

The older woman adjusted her reading glasses and asked, "What does this foreign language mean?"

Niu Yuehua instantly switched to an expression of righteous indignation, as if he were willing to sacrifice his life for Chinese cinema.

"Art and belief. Auntie, this represents the highest aspirations of us young people for the film and television industry."

The woman was filled with respect, and with a snap of the official seal, the matter was settled.

Stepping out of the Industry and Commerce Bureau, a wave of heat hit me.

While holding a bottle of Arctic Ocean soda to cool her face, Feng Chengcheng asked curiously:

"Old Cow? What does your English name mean? It sounds so mysterious to me!"

Niu Yuehua smiled, revealing his true colors.

"Chengcheng, remember this. On the big screen, you're packaged like an angel, but behind the scenes, you're more ruthless than a bitch when it comes to grabbing resources and climbing the ladder."

"This is the true nature of the entertainment industry. Our job as the organizers is to squeeze every last drop of their scheming nature out of them, package them as pure angels, and then sell tickets to the audience, understand?"

"By the way, has the shell company Starry Sky Technology Investment that I asked you to register been completed?"

"It's all taken care of, but Yuehua, why do we need to use a tech company's name as a shell when we're making a movie? And why isn't your name on it?"

"This is called risk isolation." Niu Yuehua looked at him as if he were a foolish son.

"If our films are too anti-human and get reported, or if we can't make a living in this industry anymore, or if too many of the stars under our management have had their careers ruined, or if our film and television companies go bankrupt and are liquidated, they won't be able to trace it back to our tech company."

"Even when you're shoveling mortar on a construction site, you have to wear a safety helmet. People in our line of work need to have an extra safety net."

Time flies, and it's September, the start of the new school year.

Niu Yuehua first went to the Beijing Dance Academy to see Liu Shishi off to register.

The campus of Beijing Dance Academy is simply a paradise for men. Once inside, you'll find long-legged girls who have been training since childhood, each one as proud as a white swan.

Niu Yuehua followed behind Liu Shishi, helping her carry her luggage, his eyes darting back and forth between the girls' legs.

Liu Shishi was initially happy to be able to go to school with Yuehua, but when she turned around by chance and followed his gaze, she was instantly filled with jealousy.

The little girl's face turned bright red. She puffed out her cheeks, leaned over, grabbed Niu Yuehua's arm, opened her little mouth, and without any hesitation bit him, saying sourly:

"Brother Yuehua, what are you looking at? Your eyes are practically glued to someone's legs."

Niu Yuehua pretended to shudder, relaxed his muscle defenses, and rubbed his arm with a face full of righteous indignation and aggrieved grievance more wronged than Dou E.

"Shishi, how could you think of me like that?" Niu Yuehua said in a serious tone, spouting nonsense.

"I'm not looking at pretty girls, I'm assessing the future talent pool for the arts in our country's cultural and entertainment industry."

"Think about how flexible you dancers are."

"If you join my crew in the future and film those flying and stunt wire scenes, you won't even need to hire a stunt double. You can figure out the martial arts choreography yourself."

"This will save our production crew a huge amount of money."

"After we get married, all the money we save will be yours, and you'll have to help me manage the accounts."

"My mind is only focused on making money for the company, and you actually suspect me of being a womanizer? This is a serious insult to my pure soul."

A set of fallacies and heresies left Liu Shishi completely bewildered, her cheeks flushed red.

The little girl actually thought it made a lot of sense, and instead lowered her head shyly, whispering:

"Then don't stare so directly, you're making those young girls shy."

After settling Liu Shishi in, Niu Yuehua leisurely took the subway and bus, heading straight to the Beijing Film Academy.

The 02 class of the Performing Arts Department was a well-known star class.

The registration area was packed with people. The new students who came to register were handsome men and beautiful women, dressed in designer brands, wearing makeup, and acting all high and mighty, as if they were afraid others wouldn't know they were future superstars.

A young man with a tough-guy vibe, who looks like Zhu Yawen, is being surrounded by several girls asking for his phone number.

Niu Yuehua walked over wearing a simple white T-shirt, shorts, and slippers.

His attire made him look like a ragpicker among a group of glamorous future big names.

"Hey, hey, move aside, don't touch my clothes." A stylishly dressed boy covered his nose in disgust and darted around Niu Yuehua.

Niu Yuehua wasn't angry. He cheerfully moved two steps to the side and sat on the curb to wait in line.

Just then, a small commotion arose at the school gate.

Fifteen-year-old Liu Yifei, wearing a simple white dress and with her hair in a high ponytail, walked downstairs accompanied by Liu Xiaoli.

Although it was a taxi, the moment she stepped out, her aloof, ethereal beauty instantly captivated everyone present.

The freshmen around them, who had just thought they were something special, were all stunned.

Zhu Yawen and the other boys instinctively put on their brightest smiles, ready to go forward and help the female classmate with her luggage.

However, Liu Yifei didn't even glance at these future male stars; her eyes searched through the crowd.

When she saw the young man collecting scraps sitting on the curb, she smiled and, to everyone's astonishment, this beautiful girl pushed through the crowd and walked straight up to Niu Yuehua.

Liu Yifei lowered her head slightly and said softly in a docile and ingratiating tone:

"Director Niu, my mom asked me to come and let you know I'm at school." She bit her lip, seemingly afraid of upsetting him.

"When do you think our company will sign the contract?"

The entire registration area fell silent instantly. Zhu Yawen and the others' jaws dropped to the ground. What was going on?

Is this junk collector a director? And he's even going to sign this year's most beautiful fairy?

What's even more outrageous is that, judging from his tone, it sounds as if this fairy was humbly begging him to sign the document.

Niu Yuehua looked up at Liu Yifei and said impatiently, "What's the rush?"

"I haven't even made my bed in the dorm yet, how could I have time to work on a contract for you?"

"School's started, Yifei, you should focus on your studies, practice your acting skills, and watch what you eat, don't get fat."

"My filming budget is very tight, so I don't provide weight-loss meals."

Liu Yifei nodded repeatedly and said, "Okay, Director Niu, I understand."

I was just about to register when my phone rang. I took it out and saw it was Mr. Wang.

Niu Yuehua answered the phone: "Mr. Wang, you're not thinking about the money and are planning to back out, are you?"

"What do you mean, 'I'm not going back on my word'?" Mr. Wang's voice on the other end of the phone sounded impatient.

"Brother Yuehua, I'm really in trouble this time, and I need your help."