Rebirth 02, the Celestial Being Told Me to Stop Pretending

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Lu Chen did not reply to Fan Xiaopang's text message.

But the next day at noon, as soon as he arrived at the entrance of the Beijing Film Academy cafeteria, he saw a woman sitting inside.

She was dressed simply, without makeup, and her hair was tied in a ponytail. She sat by the window.

If you don't look closely, you'll find them no different from students at the Beijing Film Academy.

But Lu Chen still recognized her.

Fan Xiaopang.

She saw Lu Chen and waved to him. Lu Chen walked over and sat down opposite her.

What are you doing in the Beijing Film Academy's cafeteria?

"I told the security guard I was an alumnus of the Beijing Film Academy, and he let me in." Fan Xiaopang took a bite of his food.

"The security guard even gave me directions."

"What brings you here?"

"Let's eat." She pointed to her plate. "The cafeteria at Beijing Film Academy is pretty good."

Fan Xiaopang ate very seriously, not like he was just going through the motions.

She took a bite of the braised pork, squinted her eyes, and chewed. "Hmm, it's a little saltier than last time I came."

"When was the last time you came?"

"Last year. Before filming 'Cellphone'."

She put down her chopsticks and looked at Lu Chen.

"Director Lu, why aren't you replying to my text message?"

"Not familiar with them."

"We're familiar with each other now." Fan Xiaopang smiled at Lu Chen.

"I'm sitting across from you, we're eating together, aren't we familiar enough?"

Lu Chen didn't speak.

Fan Xiaopang stopped smiling and lowered his voice: "Director Lu, I would like to ask you a few questions."

"you say."

What are your thoughts on Huayi's future prospects?

This is a sensitive question. She is a contracted artist with Huayi Brothers, so the implication of asking this question is self-evident.

"I sit and watch, and I also watch it on the news."

Upon hearing this, Fan Xiaopang burst out laughing, creating a scene reminiscent of a flower swaying wildly.

This woman is truly top-notch in every way; even the fine lines at the corners of her eyes are perfectly placed, adding a sense of story to her face.

A woman like that standing there is truly stunning.

"Director Lu, please stop teasing me."

Lu Chen didn't answer, but instead asked, "Any more questions?"

"Secondly, what will you do if Huayi wants to blacklist you?"

"You know?"

"They're assessing your value," Fan Xiaopang said. "They'll either recruit you or suppress you."

Since Lu Chen rejected both the king and the queen, all that's left is suppression, which is exactly what the question is about.

"Third," Fan Xiaopang looked at him seriously, "do you need a friend from Huayi?"

Lu Chen looked at her.

There was no hostility or kindness in those eyes, only something he had seen before.

Ambition.

Just like in my previous life.

Fan Xiaopang's current situation is not good. Her position as the top female singer at Huayi Music has been taken by another actress, Binbin, and she has been trying to rise to the top but has not been able to.

"It depends on what this friend wants," he said.

"Then let me show you what I'm worth." As he said this, Fan Xiaopang had a perfectly timed smile on his lips.

She stood up and patted Lu Chen on the shoulder as she left.

"Director Lu, please save my number. You might need it sometime. Bye."

After saying that, he waved and left gracefully.

Lu Chen watched her retreating figure, somewhat puzzled. What did this woman mean?

Fan Xiaopang took the initiative to ask him three questions, each one as precise as a scalpel.

But why look for Lu Chen?

Lu Chen took out his phone and saved Fan Xiaopang's number.

Then he sent Liu Yifei a text message: "I ran into Fan Xiaopang in the cafeteria at noon today."

A dozen seconds later, Liu Yifei replied: "Who?"

"Fan Xiaopang. The one who played Jin Suo."

"What is she doing at the Beijing Film Academy?"

"Have a meal."

Can't you speak seriously?

"It really was just a meal. She asked me a few questions."

"What's the problem?"

"It's just some stuff about Huayi."

Liu Yifei replied, "Stay away from that woman."

"it is good."

Liu Yifei called that evening.

"My godfather called me again."

But her voice sounded a little off.

Lu Chen sat up straight: "What did you say?"

"Let me meet with Chen Guofu next week. He's the artistic director of Huayi Brothers."

Lu Chen stroked his chin, his mind racing.

Fruit Chan is one of the most powerful producers in the Chinese film industry.

He definitely met with Liu Yifei to sign a management contract.

But it happened several years earlier than in my previous life. Why is that?

Lu Chen was completely baffled.

"Then tell me now, do you want to?"

"Of course I don't want to."

"Fine, if you don't want to, no one can force you."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"But my godfather said..."

"Your path is yours to walk."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, before Liu Yifei's soft, delicate voice finally came through.

"Lu Chen, you know what? From childhood to adulthood, no one has ever asked me if I wanted to do this or not. They all just told me I should audition, I should take the role, and I should follow their instructions."

"You're the first person to ask me 'Do you want to?'"

"Don't worry, it's nothing."

Lu Chen offered a few more words of comfort before hanging up the phone.

Lu Chen sat in his office, looking at the night view outside the window.

It was no coincidence that Chen Jinfei arranged for Liu Yifei to meet Chen Guofu.

Chen Jinfei's relationship with Huayi was deeper than he imagined.

He picked up his phone, found Fan Xiaopang's number, and stared at it for a few seconds.

Friends within Huayi.

Perhaps he needs to reassess the value of this "friend".

He sent Fan Xiaopang a text message: "What is Chen Jinfei's relationship with Huayi Brothers?"

Fan Xiaopang's text message arrived almost five minutes later.

"Chen Jinfei was one of Huayi's early investors. He invested 500 million yuan in 2000, acquiring a 3% stake."

Lu Chen felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at the text message.

Chen Jinfei is not only Liu Yifei's "godfather," but also a shareholder of Huayi Brothers.

This was information he had never known in his previous life.

He pushed Liu Yifei towards Huayi Brothers not out of protection, but out of investment logic.

"And another one," Fan Xiaopang sent another message.

"Huayi held a discussion this morning about Coordinates Pictures. The conclusion was: observe first, then decide."

Lu Chen stared at his phone screen.

"Thank you," he replied.

"You're welcome," Fan Xiaopang replied with another message.

"Director Lu, I don't want to be a pretty face or a tool; I want to be a player. Maybe you can help me."

Fan Xiaopang's ambition was written all over his face, without any attempt to hide it.

Her text message was a blatant, naked offer.

Exchange information for trust, and sincerity for leverage.

Intelligent people should indeed be careful.

He did not reply.

A week later.

"Yifei, where are you?"

"At school."

"The driver is waiting for you at the door. See you at Huayi."

Liu Yifei held her phone, her palms sweating.

"I don't think I'm going, Godfather."

There was a three-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"What did you say?"

"I said I'm not going." Liu Yifei's voice trembled slightly, and she gripped the bed sheet tightly with her other hand.

"You..." Chen Jinfei took a deep breath.

"Yifei, do you know what you're saying?"

"I know."

"You're only sixteen, you don't understand."

"But I don't want to be arranged," Liu Yifei said.

My heart raced after I said those words, but something inside me seemed to loosen up. It turns out that rejecting someone is quite simple.

Chen Jinfei fell silent.

"Yifei, do you know what a contract with Huayi Brothers means? Top-tier resources, first-class treatment. You won't find another company like that anywhere else."

"I know."

"You knew that, yet you still refused?"

"What I act in, who I act with, and when I act are all decided by Huayi Brothers. It's like a contract of servitude."

"Who taught you to say these things?"

No one taught her.

But she saw how Lu Chen built his business from scratch, making movies and establishing a company all by himself.

I saw him go to Hong Kong to rescue his brother, persuade Anita Mui, and discuss cooperation with Yang Shoucheng.

She saw a young man rise to fame in mainland China through his judgment and execution, and then establish connections in Hong Kong.

Those images were like seeds planted in her heart.

"Godfather, I thank you for taking care of me all these years. But I want to walk my own path."

Chen Jinfei's voice deepened: "Does your mother know?"

"I will talk to her."

"She will disagree."

"This is my decision, and I believe my mother will support me."

Chen Jinfei sighed.

That sigh contained disappointment and helplessness.

"If you want to walk by yourself, I won't stop you. But if you fall and get hurt, there will be no one to help you up."

"I know."

"And then there's Lu Chen..."

"The Godfather," Liu Yifei interrupted him.

"This is my own decision, it has nothing to do with him."