The entertainment industry: My 99 future timelines!

"Ms. Jing, do you really want to act in my movie? As the leading actress?"

"If you really have this idea, as long as you have confidence in my project... after the post-production of 'Love Announcement' is finished and you're not so busy, then let's collaborate on a film."

I heard Jing Tian say that she wants to be the female lead in her own movie, just like Liu Yifei.

After thinking for a few seconds, Li Xu spoke seriously, deciding that as soon as he finished dealing with "Love Announcement," he would tailor-make a script for Jing Tian as a way of repaying her.

"what?"

"Director Li, you really have some ideas!"

"I thought you just finished filming your last scene and that your next movie wouldn't be for a long time. So, if you say that, I might actually take it seriously?"

"What are your ideas? Or are you directing and acting all by yourself? How much investment is needed this time?"

Jing Tian's voice began to quicken, her tone instantly becoming serious and showing obvious interest.

"Self-directed and self-acted?"

"No, I have an agreement with Senior Yifei. For movies that are made within the last three years, if there is a suitable role, she will be given priority for the female lead. The same goes for investments, unless it is obviously unsuitable."

"Miss Jing, your acting styles overlap with Senior Yifei's. You can play almost anything that Senior Yifei can play, so we need to find a different approach."

Li Xu organized his thoughts, his mind surprisingly clearer than usual despite being slightly tipsy.

"My idea is that I provide the script, I will be the producer and control the core creative direction, and the director... if you agree, I think we can let Shen Ao give it a try."

"He has grown rapidly in the past few months with me. He has ideas and is willing to work hard. What he lacks is an opportunity to direct independently. With me overseeing him, there shouldn't be any major problems."

As he spoke, Li Xu lowered his voice.

"Also, Ms. Jing, if Senior Yifei is interested in investing in our collaborative film, I hope... you can agree. I apologize for this, as I was exploiting a loophole in the agreement."

"As for acting, if you need me, I can play the male lead. It's all up to you."

After Li Xu finished speaking, he waited for Jing Tian's reaction.

He had already decided that if she hesitated or made conditions, such as not wanting Shen Ao to direct, then he would listen.

To Li Xu's surprise, even with his many demands, Jing Tian only chuckled softly on the other end of the phone.

"Is that all?"

Her voice was clear and crisp, like jade beads falling to the ground, without the slightest hesitation, "Director, you decide. The actors will follow your rules. Investment is no problem. If Senior Yifei wants to invest, then let's invest together."

"We're all family, we all know each other, I won't make things difficult for you."

"As for money, don't have any concerns. I can arrange anything under 100 million at any time. I'll wait for you to finish your 'Love Notice' first."

Jing Tian's words left Li Xu speechless for a moment.

He was stunned; the explanation he had prepared to give had been completely useless.

Li Xu couldn't help but speak up for her, "Miss Jing, won't you reconsider? Shen Ao has never directed independently before, what if..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jing Tian interrupted him.

Her tone was more serious than ever before, "Li Xu, I believe in you."

I trust your judgment and your insight.

"Since you approve of Shen Ao, he must have the potential to be valued by you. Since you are the person I chose to collaborate on the film, your judgment must be good."

After a pause, Jing Tian's voice carried a transcendent, even somewhat willful, certainty and domineering air:

"As for the box office... I don't care."

"I'm investing in you not to make money, although I'm sure you can."

"But, and I mean, if your movie 'Love Announcement' doesn't do as well as expected at the box office, and our next movie doesn't perform as well either, that's okay."

"I can keep throwing and shooting until you succeed."

"No matter how much you lose in the process, I'll accept it. I don't lack money, Li Xu. I'm willing to wait until you succeed."

Holding his phone, Li Xu stood in the empty courtyard of the mountain villa. Jing Tian's words struck him like a blow to the heart.

He possesses a vision of the future of cinema, top-notch directing skills and acting abilities, and he is absolutely confident in his success.

But he never imagined that someone would say such things to him so unconditionally and without regard for the cost.

"……OK."

In the end, all he could say was, "I will give it my all in the next film and not let you down."

"Okay, I'll remember that."

Jing Tian laughed out loud, then said in a soft voice, "Alright, it's getting late, you should go back and rest. You must have been drinking at the wrap party, and if you've been exposed to the night wind too much, you'll have a headache the next day."

"Contact me anytime regarding anything that happens later."

"Okay, thank you."

Goodnight, Li Xu.

"Good night."

After hanging up the phone, Li Xu stood there for a while.

The night breeze was a bit cool, but his heart felt slightly warm.

-

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city.

After Li Xu hung up the phone, Jing Tian put down her phone and walked to her desk.

Several documents were spread out on the table, the top one being an "invitation" for the female lead in a film project, but she didn't look at it.

She bent down, took a small box from the drawer, and opened it.

Inside the box were a few ordinary things: a used-up pen, a few crumpled scraps of paper, and a badge commonly seen on film sets, bearing the "Love Announcement" logo.

These were all used by Li Xu on set, and she "picked them up".

She picked up the pen, twirled it between her fingers, then opened another drawer and took out a thick leather notebook.

I opened the notebook to the latest page, where several Polaroid photos were pasted on.

Some of the photos were taken secretly during her previous visits to the set, and two of them were taken by Wang Jing when she was filming a cherry endorsement in the United States.

The photos include a profile of Li Xu behind a monitor, a half-body shot of Li Xu and Liu Yifei discussing a scene, and a shot of Li Xu looking out the window at the rain with a slight frown.

There is another photo that is the most peculiar. This photo is a close-up of a hand, with fair and slender fingers and distinct knuckles.

Below the photo was her neat handwriting:

"May 3, Huairou, the way he explains the play."

"On May 20th, on set, he seemed a little tired."

"On June 7th, a rainy day, he stood by the window for a long time."

"On June 20th, on set, his hands were beautiful, I really liked them."

Looking at the words in her notebook, Jing Tian picked up her pen and wrote down today's entry on a new page:

"On June 30th, filming wrapped up. He said he was willing to work with me on a movie and let me play the female lead."

After finishing writing, I looked at the new entries in my notebook.

She lightly touched the words "female lead" with the tip of her pen, and a slight smile curved her lips.

She closed the notebook and locked it back in the drawer.

Outside the window, the night was deep.

-

Outside the villa, Li Xu hung up Jing Tian's call and turned to go back to the villa to get a car and leave.

But when he passed by the villa, he was surprised to see that Liu Yifei was still there.

She was holding a blue notebook and looking down at something.

Li Xu approached curiously. "Senior, you haven't left yet?"

Hearing footsteps, Liu Yifei looked up.

"Okay, I'll wait for my assistant to buy some water, and then she'll drive me home."

"What about you? Why haven't you left yet? Is it about Miss Jing?"

Liu Yifei closed the notebook in her hand, casually replied, and asked a question in a very natural way.

Li Xu nodded slightly: "Yes. She paid the bill for the wrap party."

"oh."

Liu Yifei said "Oh" without saying anything more. Her gaze lingered on Li Xu's face for a second before shifting away to look at the dark mountain shadows in the distance.

The night breeze lifted the stray hairs on her cheeks.

The two fell silent for a moment.

A few minutes later, a red car pulled up and stopped. Assistant Tang leaned out of the driver's seat: "Sister Yifei, the water's ready! Director Li, good evening!"

Liu Yifei nodded, but did not get into the car immediately.

She lowered her head, carefully tore a page from her sketchbook, folded it in half, and handed it to Li Xu.

"A wrap-up gift," she said softly, her tone casual.

Li Xu was taken aback, then reached out and took it. "This is..."

See for yourself.

Seeing this, Liu Yifei didn't say anything or explain. She opened the car door, got in, and the car slowly drove out of the parking lot.

Li Xu stood still, looking at the folded paper in his hand, and gently unfolded it.

It is a pencil sketch.

The painting depicts the scene of the film crew wrapping up filming today.

On set, a cheering crowd, champagne bubbles splashing everywhere.

In the center of the picture, a man is holding a cup and smiling broadly—he is surrounded by a crowd.

In the corner of the picture, a girl sits quietly, holding a sketchbook in her hand, drawing something with her head down.

Her profile was carefully outlined, and it was Liu Yifei herself.

She was drawing him.

And in the painting, she is painting him, laughing as he is being painted.

Li Xu stared at the painting for a long time.

In the distance, the taillights of the red car traced two arcs in the night, growing farther and farther away until they finally disappeared at the end of the mountain road.

He carefully folded the painting and put it into the inside pocket of his coat.

He looked up; the night sky was vast, and the stars were bright.

The warmth that Jing Tian's words had stirred in her heart was now mixed with another emotion that was hard to describe.

-

Three days after filming wrapped on "Love Announcement," Li Xu did not take a day off.

After the hustle and bustle of Huairou subsided, he plunged into a rented post-production studio near the East Fourth Ring Road.

This place was arranged by Jing Tian through her connections; it has professional facilities, a quiet environment, and excellent soundproofing.

More importantly, the "top-notch team" she promised has gradually taken place.

The editor is an apprentice of a famous film editing master in China; he is skilled and has a strong understanding of film editing.

The colorist is an industry expert who has done post-production work on several award-winning art films.

The mixing engineer comes from a national-level audio production unit.

Li Xu, on the other hand, is the absolute core.

He, along with Shen Ao, Wang Jing, and the editor, began a relentless battle day and night.

The amount of film material was enormous, but Li Xu's thinking was exceptionally clear.

He not only has every shot from the filming in his mind, but also countless experiences and intuitions about film rhythm, montage, and the relationship between sound and image from his "future director memories".

He remains in "tyrant" mode when working, demanding perfection in the selection of shots, the precision of editing points, and even the length of a single frame.

This time, however, his "demanding" approach was supported by a stronger technical team. Often, when he put forward a vague idea, the colorist or mixing engineer could quickly understand it and provide a professional solution.

This was the first time Li Xu had experienced how efficient and... enjoyable creation could be with top-tier resource allocation.

Of course, fatigue is inevitable.

The continuous high-intensity post-production work left his eyes bloodshot and his chin covered in bluish stubble.

The same applies to the application for Australian visas.

-

Two weeks later, mid-July came to an end.

Li Xu received a call from Jing Tian.

"Li Xu, I heard you've almost finished the rough cut? Would you be interested in coming to my little living room to relax?"

"Let me tell you, I've recently added a lot of new decorations, including some genuine famous paintings. Don't you want to offer your opinions?"

Li Xu initially wanted to decline, citing his busy work schedule.

But Jing Tian's help these past few days, the support and trust he showed on the phone that day, and the famous painting he couldn't bear to part with all made it impossible for him to refuse.

So, the next afternoon, Li Xu brought a hard drive containing the first cut of "Love Announcement" to Jing Tian's home in a high-end villa area in Shunyi District, Beijing.

It wasn't the opulent mansion he had imagined, but a modern villa with a strong sense of design, clean and crisp lines, and large glass curtain walls that reflected the sky and clouds, understated yet tasteful.

Jing Tian was waiting at the door early on.

She was wearing a beige cotton and linen loungewear set, her long hair loosely tied back, with a few stray strands falling beside her cheeks. She wore no makeup, and her skin glowed with a delicate sheen in the sunlight.

"Director Li, welcome."

She smiled, her eyes crinkling, and led him inside.

After passing through the high-ceilinged hall, Jing Tian led Li Xu to an exceptionally spacious and well-lit living room. One entire wall was a floor-to-ceiling window, facing the meticulously maintained courtyard, while the other walls...

Li Xu stopped in his tracks.

The walls were covered with paintings.

They are neither traditional Chinese landscape paintings nor Western classical oil paintings; they are all works in the Impressionist style.

A detail from Monet's "Water Lilies" (a reproduction).

A parody of Renoir's "Lunch on a Yacht".

Degas's dancers, Pissarro's street scenes...

With Li Xu's discerning eye, he could tell that many of them were exquisite imitations or prints, but some of them did indeed appear to be valuable original works.

They were carefully framed and illuminated with professional spotlights, instantly creating the atmosphere of a small gallery in this area.

"Li Xu, I know you have a hobby of appreciating famous paintings and appraising art. What do you think of these paintings? And the layout of this gallery?"

"I don't know why, but lately I've really come to like this style of lighting and color. It looks hazy, but it also feels very emotional and tells a story."

Jing Tian walked to Li Xu's side, followed his gaze to the painting on the wall, her tone sweet and her face full of smiles.

As she spoke, she turned around, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Li Xu, with a hint of joy at being recognized.

Li Xu stared blankly at the walls covered with Impressionist works, deeply moved.

This is certainly not just a simple matter of being pretentious.

These words, this arrangement, and even this environment are clearly the work of a master.

When he makes movies, he always pursues the feeling of light and shadow moving together.

These paintings are mostly Impressionist, and their core is the pursuit of "light" and the capture of fleeting impressions, emphasizing the emotional expression of color and brushstrokes rather than precise form.

This has a striking similarity with his obsession with light and shadow when directing, and his extreme pursuit of the "feeling" and "emotion" of the picture.

Jing Tian said she "didn't know why" she fell in love with him.

Li Xu didn't believe it.

But he could sense Jing Tian's feelings.

Perhaps she arranged this "gallery" in a subtle way to try to get closer to and understand the world of light and shadow and the director's vision through his eyes?

"These paintings..."

"You have a good eye for it. Impressionism... really pays attention to the momentary light and shadow and the mood of color. You put your heart into it."

The girl in the painting had her eyes lowered, and her cheeks were shrouded in soft light. That hazy yet real beauty suddenly reminded him of an afternoon when they were filming "Love Announcement," when sunlight filtered through the leaves of the sycamore trees and cast shimmering spots of light on Liu Yifei's face.

"They put in a lot of effort; they really put some thought into it."

"After all, this arrangement is more comfortable to look at, and these impressionist paintings are more in line with my aesthetic appreciation."

Jing Tian breathed a sigh of relief, her smile widening as she spoke with a cheerful tone.

Seeing Li Xu intently admiring the Impressionist masterpieces, she smiled and said, "Li Xu, would you like something to drink first? I have some good coffee beans here, and... stewed pears with rock sugar, but I didn't stew them in advance today, so I only have freshly squeezed juice."

"After all, I heard you didn't drink the rock sugar stewed pears I sent you before, and you were afraid I would poison them, so I didn't prepare any in advance."

At the end of her sentence, Jing Tian made a small joke, her eyes gleaming mischievously.

Li Xu also showed a rare smile: "Then juice will do, thank you."

Jing Tian smiled and turned to make juice, her movements practiced and efficient.

Li Xu continued to survey the space, his gaze finally settling on a vinyl record player in the corner, next to which was a stack of records neatly arranged, the top one being Debussy's "Clair de Lune".

"You listen to classical music too?" he asked.

"Occasionally."

Jing Tian handed him the juice. The orange-yellow color in the clear glass looked fresh. "I think it's quite suitable for daydreaming when it's quiet."

The two sat down on the sofa by the window and chatted for a few minutes, naturally turning the conversation to the post-production of the film.

Jing Tian asked very detailed questions, but it wasn't an outsider giving advice to an expert; she genuinely cared about the progress and whether there were any difficulties.

While chatting, Jing Tian smiled and casually asked Li Xu what he planned to film for her next.

"A story about youth, a story about a girl."

Li Xu replied with a smile, without going into too much detail.

Jing Tian didn't press the matter further.

She simply nodded, her tone still relaxed, but her eyes serious: "Okay, I'll wait for your script. The director, actors, and investors will all be according to your ideas. I have no problem with that."

This attitude of respecting creative autonomy while providing solid support made Li Xu feel very comfortable.

Without realizing it, as he chatted with Jing Tian, ​​his tone gradually became more casual, even carrying a lot of the feeling of good friends.

By the time Li Xu was ready to leave Jing Tian's house, it was already late at night.

As he left, he took one last look at the Impressionist wall.

Light and shadow flowed silently across the canvas, as if they were alive.

Jing Tian saw him to the door, leaned against the door frame, and waved: "Take care on the road, Li Xu. If you need anything later, feel free to contact me."

"Okay, thank you."

The car drove out of the villa area and merged into the evening traffic.

Li Xu leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Several scenes of Jing Tian's interactions with her today involuntarily flashed through her mind: her profile as she tilted her head slightly while introducing the painting, and the soft strand of hair that fell down when she brought over the freshly squeezed juice.

He shook his head, deciding not to think about it any further.

There are still many things to do, and he doesn't want to think too much about these romantic matters before the film's release.