Huayu: Enjoy Yourself

Chapter 21 Developing Courage

"Hello? Can't you hear me?"

Not hearing a reply, Han Sanping assumed Chen An hadn't heard her. 👻♕ ➅❾𝓼ħⓤ𝕏.ᑕⓄｍ 👺♥

Realizing what was happening, Chen An quickly said, "I understand, Director Han. I'll contact you later. I'm still in class."

"Okay, I've informed you too. Please take leave first, and then contact me."

After saying that, the other end of the phone hung up.

Standing on the podium, Teacher Mu helplessly rubbed his forehead: "You can leave get out of class now and come back to ask me for leave later."

Since the students have been shortlisted for the Cannes Film Festival, the teachers certainly can't stop them.

"Then I'll head out now, Teacher Mu."

Chen An also got up, grabbed his things, and prepared to leave the classroom.

"Go ahead, go ahead."

Teacher Mu waved his hand.

"Hello, Director Han, this is Chen An."

"get out of class is over already?"

"No, Teacher Mu let me out after she heard I was shortlisted."

After leaving, Chen An hurried back to his dormitory while taking out his phone to contact Han Sanping.

"When do we depart? I need to contact the investors and actors so we can go together. This is a long film, so we definitely need to go together."

"You've been nominated for the main competition section of the film festival, and we've arranged everything for you: round-trip airfare and hotel. You can bring two lead actors and a few crew members in first class. However, Director Chen Kai's film has also been nominated, so I'll personally lead the team this time. You can also bring other people with you."

"Alright, I'll thank Director Han for his generosity in advance. I'll contact them right away."

"No problem, we'll go together in three days when Brother Chen and the others arrive. You contact them first!"

"no problem."

After saying that, Chen An hung up the phone.

After rushing back to his dormitory, Chen An put his things away.

He then picked up his phone and called one of his investors who wasn't involved: "Hey, Brother Jiang, this is you. The film has been nominated, and we're leaving in three days. Where are you? Can you make it to Beijing?"

"You made it to the shortlist? I knew you wouldn't let me down, bro. I'm leaving now and I'll be there tomorrow."

"Alright, we'll meet at the Beijing Film Studio then. There's another film nominated this time, so we'll go with them. The Beijing Film Studio will be leading the team this time, so you'd better bring fewer people. Just call Brother Zhao and the others."

"Okay, no problem, I'll book the tickets now and contact you later."

After the other person finished speaking, the phone made a "buzzing" sound as it hung up.

It seems that even though I, as an investor, don't usually get involved, I'm quite excited to have been shortlisted.

Lin Dajiang immediately stopped some of his work and asked his assistant to book four plane tickets to Beijing.

They prepared to set off with Zhao Xiong and his companion, along with a translator.

He sold over $300,000 for his last short film, and he can hardly believe how much he can make with this feature film.

Although I don't know if I can win the award, I'm thinking that making a million US dollars would be a big profit. If I don't win, it doesn't matter. At least I can recoup my investment and promote my brand!

After finishing his call with the investor, Chen An then called his male and female lead actors:

"Hey~ Sister Jing, where are you?"

"On set?"

"Of course I have something to do. My film is nominated for the main competition at Cannes. I'm seeing if you have time to go and win Best Actress."

"Alright, you should leave as soon as possible in three days. Director Han will make the arrangements then, so please be quick."

The female lead is on set, but there are no major problems; filming is almost finished, and the rest can be reshot separately. She is currently preparing to head to Beijing.

Afterwards, Chen An contacted Jiang Wu and specifically mentioned to him that he should tell Jiang Wen to satisfy Chen An's desire to show off.

Jiang Wu was also very happy and promised to mention it to his brother.

The last call was to Zhang Hanyu, who had been out of contact for several months. His home phone was a landline, but Chen An happened to answer it. After discussing the matter, Chen An didn't talk much more.

There was one person left who was even poorer than Chen An, so Chen An decided to go directly to him.

Chen An entered the Central Academy of Drama with his student ID card, and the security guards didn't stop him. He walked straight into the school.

After holding back for months, it would be pointless to ask Duan Long out alone. Chen An decided to put on a good show by going to Duan Long's classroom and getting him involved in the pretense as well.

This little guy is so insecure, today I'll help him build some courage!

After walking into the school and asking the students for directions to the 94 acting class, Chen An went directly to their classroom.

Class of '94, Acting Department.

It was just past noon, after lunch break, and classes hadn't officially started yet, but most of the students had already arrived.

The students found their seats, and those who were close sat together and chatted in groups.

Duan Long was chatting with the others, but he didn't say much himself, just listened quietly.

"Duanlong!"

Chen An's voice was loud as he stood at the back door of the classroom and shouted at Duan Long, who was sitting in the crowd.

Hearing someone call his name, Duan Long turned around, saw Chen An, and said with a hint of surprise:

"Director Chen, what brings you here?"

After saying that, he got up and walked towards Chen An.

The students behind him were also staring at Chen An, who was standing at the door. Some of them had even heard of him.

Tao Hong, Duan Long's crush, also turned to look at Duan Long as he walked towards Chen An. Her big, dark eyes seemed to be lost in thought as she listened to the whispers of her classmates.

"I heard that person is the student my teacher mentioned who won the Golden Lion for short film in Venice."

"Him? I heard he previously commissioned Duan Long to make a movie. I wonder what the reason is for him."

"Yes, I don't know what movie it is, I don't know how they contacted Duan Long."

"."

Duan Long, who walked up to Chen An, was also a little curious as to why Chen An had come to the school to find him.

"What is it, Director Chen?"

"What else could it be? Didn't I ask you to make a movie last time? It was nominated for the Cannes Film Festival. You don't have a cell phone, so I had to come find you myself. Come with me. Oh, and remember to ask your teacher for leave. We'll leave together at the Beijing Film Studio in three days."

After speaking, he patted Duan Long's shoulder in a perfunctory manner without any expression, and then left, disappearing without a trace, leaving the protagonist to Duan Long.

Chen An came and went quickly, like a gust of wind, leaving Duan Long standing there in a daze, completely at a loss.

As Chen An walked out, he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "I'm such a fucking good guy."

Inside the classroom, Duan Long was still in a daze when all the students crowded around him and started asking him questions.

"Is Duan Long real? Your film really nominated for Cannes?"

"How did you two meet? Why did he ask you to act in his movie?"

"Could you please introduce me next time you have the chance?"

Until Tao Hong walked up to him, squinted her eyes, smiled, and offered her blessings:

"Congratulations, Duan Long, you might become famous overnight."

Duan Long only looked up when he heard Tao Hong's voice, seemingly looking at her carefully for the first time: "I'm lucky, I only played a supporting role. You will definitely be better than me in the future."

The students next to them, watching the two gazing at each other, suddenly felt a stench of rotting romance.

Tao Hong happily replied, "Then I thank you for your blessing. You should go talk to the teacher about asking for leave and ask if it's true."

"Okay, I'll go first then."

Duan Long nodded heavily and strode out of the classroom. He suddenly felt a little more confident that he could look directly at his former self.

As for Chen An, who left, he seemed to have returned to his previous state, walking with a confident stride.

He walked briskly towards the school.

After returning to school, I asked Ms. Mu, who had finished class, for leave.

"Write down a leave request, and I'll report it to the department for you later."

Teacher Mu does not have the authority to decide on holidays exceeding seven days. Last time, when I requested a long leave, I had already consulted Dean Liu, who approved it directly.

Chen An wrote the leave request with practiced ease, as it wasn't the first time.

After putting away the leave slip, Teacher Mu thought for a while and then said, "To be honest, I still hope you can stay at school and study more. The photos you took in the last outdoor class were very good, you have a lot of talent, but you have already been shortlisted for Cannes, so I can only wish you the best of luck."

"Even if you win an award, you can't stop learning. After all, learning is endless, and it's never a bad thing to learn more. Go on."

Hearing Teacher Mu's earnest advice, Chen An didn't grin or joke, after all, he was far too young compared to those famous directors.

After leaving the office building, Chen An went to the Beijing Film Studio to meet with the people that Director Han wanted to bring, and then returned to the school.

Please help me with anything. If there are any typos, please point them out, brothers.

(End of this chapter)