Rebirth 02, the Celestial Being Told Me to Stop Pretending

The landline rang.

Wang Yan listened for two seconds and then handed over the microphone.

"From Huayi."

"Hello Director Lu Chen, this is Zhang Hong, the production manager of Huayi Brothers." The voice on the other end of the phone was very polite, with the smoothness typical of Beijingers.

"Mr. Wang asked me to give you his regards."

"Which Mr. Wang?"

"General Manager Wang Zhongjun."

Lu Chen leaned back in his chair.

coming.

"Mr. Wang read the reports about the Golden Horse Awards and expressed his great admiration for Director Lu. He asked me to inquire whether you would be interested in collaborating with Huayi Brothers?"

"In what form?"

"Any form is fine. Mr. Wang said, you name the terms."

You name the terms.

These four words sound very generous, but Huayi never does business at a loss.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Wang. However, we currently have no plans to collaborate with Huayi."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, clearly stunned by Lu Chen's direct and decisive rejection.

"Director Lu Chen, would you consider this? Huayi Brothers has top-tier resources in the industry—theatrical distribution, media, artists—we can handle it all..."

But before he could finish speaking, Lu Chen interrupted him.

"Thank you. But I don't need it."

"No need?" Zhang Hong's tone carried a hint of surprise. "Huayi's cinema network is twice as large as Bona's. If you cooperate with us, scheduling won't be a problem."

"Scheduling isn't the issue; the content is. Mr. Zhang, please convey to Mr. Wang that I appreciate his appreciation."

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a few more seconds.

"Okay. I'll pass that on to General Manager Wang," Zhang Hong said.

"But Director Lu Chen, Huayi's doors will always be open to you."

Lu Chen hung up the phone.

Ning Hao sat opposite him, listening intently.

"Huayi?"

Huayi.

"You refused?"

"I refused."

Ning Hao thought for a moment: "Those two won't let this go."

"Two things with underdeveloped brains and completely underdeveloped cerebellums dare to talk to me about cooperation?"

"You are this one."

Ning Hao gave a thumbs up and then went back to studying the script.

Lu Chen thought that the matter with Huayi was over.

But three days later he received another call.

"Mr. Lu Chen, Mr. Chen Jinfei would like to invite you to dinner. Would that be convenient for you?"

Chen Jinfei.

Liu Yifei's "godfather" is the chairman of Tongchan Investment Group, with assets valued at 26 billion yuan.

"When?"

"Saturday evening at 7 pm, China World Hotel Chinese restaurant."

"it is good."

When Lu Chen walked into the China World Hotel on Saturday night, he was still thinking about Chen Jinfei's purpose in inviting him.

Chen Jinfei has arrived, and he is younger than Lu Chen had imagined.

He was in his early forties, with his hair neatly combed, wearing a dark suit, and a gold watch peeking out from the cuffs.

His face was round, and when he smiled he looked like Maitreya Buddha, but his eyes were sharp, like an eagle's.

"Lu Chen! I've heard so much about you!" Chen Jinfei stood up and extended his hand.

He gripped Lu Chen's hand very tightly, making Lu Chen's finger bones ache a little.

"Mr. Chen."

"Don't call me President Chen, call me Uncle Chen." Chen Jinfei patted him on the shoulder with a smile.

"Yifei's classmates are my juniors, so please don't be shy."

He pressed Lu Chen down to sit and began ordering food.

Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, lobster, abalone, shark fin—one dish after another.

"I haven't congratulated you on winning the Golden Horse Award yet. You can't find another Golden Horse Best Director this young in all of China."

"Mr. Chen, you flatter me. I was just lucky."

"Many people are lucky, but very few can win a Golden Horse Award." Chen Jinfei poured him a cup of tea.

"Yifei invested 50 yuan in you and made money. She was very happy, saying it was the first time she had ever made money on her own."

"It was her own decision."

"I know." Chen Jinfei looked at him. "She made this decision without telling me."

The private room fell silent for a moment.

"Mr. Chen, Yifei is already sixteen. She has her own judgment."

"Sixteen years old." Chen Jinfei repeated, "Do you think a sixteen-year-old has any judgment?"

"She invested in me and made money. The result proves that her judgment was sound."

Chen Jinfei reverted to his businessman's demeanor, smiling as he served Lu Chen a dish.

"I'm not blaming you, Xiao Lu," Chen Jinfei said.

"I'm just reminding you. Yifei is still young. She thinks you're reliable, so she's willing to do anything."

"I didn't encourage her. She came on her own."

"She came on her own, didn't you stop her?"

"You're joking. Why should I stop you?" Lu Chen looked at Chen Jinfei. "It's her money, it's her decision. Why should I stop her?"

Chen Jinfei narrowed his eyes.

"Lu Chen," Chen Jinfei said, his face still smiling, but his tone was icy.

"You're a smart man, I won't beat around the bush. I invited you here today not to talk about the 50. 50 is nothing to me."

"So what do you want to say?"

"Two things." Chen Jinfei picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of abalone. "First, did someone from Huayi contact you?"

Lu Chen did not answer.

"Stop pretending. There are no secrets in this industry. You refused, right?"

"right."

Why?

"unnecessary."

Chen Jinfei looked at him for a few seconds and then smiled.

"You rejected Huayi Brothers, the largest private film and television company in the industry. Do you know what that means?"

"This means that the two kings will be unhappy."

"More than that. It means your future path will be very difficult."

"I know."

"You knew that, yet you still refused?"

"Making a movie isn't like hosting a dinner party. Some people you can work with, but some you can never."

As he spoke, Lu Chen glanced at Chen Jinfei with a smile on his lips.

To what extent do you plan to develop the coordinate system?

"To the point where you don't have to worry about anyone's opinion."

Chen Jinfei looked at Lu Chen, smiled and shook his head, somewhat disappointed.

He wasn't surprised that the young man in front of him would say that; it seemed that all arrogant young people were like that, and he had seen plenty of them.

Especially since this person just won the Golden Horse Award for Best Director.

"Alright. That's all for today's meal. I'll leave you with a piece of advice."

"Please speak."

"In this industry, talent alone is not enough, nor is integrity alone. You need to have the ability. When you lack ability, integrity becomes a thorn that pricks you."

"Secondly, mind your own business regarding Yifei. I'll arrange her path; don't cause trouble."

After saying that, he left.

Lu Chen sat in the private room, looking at the dishes on the table.

When you lack strength, pride becomes a thorn, pricking yourself instead.

Chen Jinfei is right.

But do you think you have good taste? After three hugely successful films in your past life, you insisted on entering the film industry, only to end up choosing worse and worse films.

Do you really want what's best for Liu Yifei? Or do you just want a cash cow that she can control?

Who do you think you are, trying to control me?

He took out his phone and sent a text message to Liu Yifei.

"Your godfather invited me to dinner."

After about ten seconds, Liu Yifei replied.

What did he treat you to?

"Buddha Jumps Over the Wall".

He rarely treats people to Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.

How did you know?

"Because he never treats me to meals."

As Lu Chen read the text message, he could clearly sense her charmingly naive tone.

She really is a treasure of a girl.

He told me to mind my own business.

After a while, Liu Yifei replied: "Is it any of his business?"

"Yes. It's none of his business."

Chen Jinfei told him to mind his own business and not interfere in Liu Yifei's affairs.

The two kings were also watching him from the shadows.

But he has a coordinate system, and he also has that girl.

Just as he was about to put his phone away, a new text message came in.

Unknown number.

"Director Lu, congratulations on winning the Golden Horse Award. Would you like to come out for a chat if it's convenient? —Fan Xiaopang"

Fan Xiaopang.

Artist signed with Huayi Brothers.

Jin Suo from "My Fair Princess" starred in Feng Xiaogang's "Cell Phone" at the end of last year, which grossed over 100 million yuan.

In 2004, the Hundred Flowers Awards suddenly changed its competition format from "Best Actress + Best Supporting Actress" to "Best Actress + Outstanding Actress", and the Best Supporting Actress award was canceled.

Fan Xiaopang, who was nominated for "Best Actress" for a supporting role, went straight to the Best Actress award.

The rules were only in effect for one term, and were specifically changed for her.

The rules may be changed by others, but those who use the rules will always pay the price for them.

Why did she look for me?