HuaYu: The most muscular director in history!

"Brother Chen, it's not that I didn't try, but nobody could have guessed he'd be chosen for the Spring Festival Gala!"

"What about the money? My money?"

"That's not how it works. I can't risk my reputation without getting paid for my work, can I?"

A corner of an antique-style mansion in Dali Film and Television City.

Chen Jinfei peeked at Yifei, who was dressed in all white, and saw her talking to Producer Zhang. He then pulled back and lowered his voice, saying, "That's not what our agreement says."

"The agreement didn't say this guy was that powerful, did it? An official is an official, a businessman is a businessman. You want to take advantage of the situation and target him? I'm not playing along!"

Chen Jinfei gritted his teeth, thought for a moment, and then tentatively asked, "Then after the Spring Festival, when..."

"You can play by yourself!"

"Beep beep beep..."

Hearing the busy tone on his phone, Chen Jinfei couldn't help but curse a few times.

"Jinfei, what's wrong?"

Liu Xiaoli's cool voice came from behind him. Chen Jinfei's eyes changed for a moment, and his familiar gentle smile reappeared.

"Xiaoli? What's wrong?"

Liu Xiaoli's eyebrows twitched twice, but her expression remained calm. "Just asking. Filming will wrap up in the 20th, and Qianqian can be free then."

"Yes, this girl has a tough time filming."

Chen Jinfei pondered for a moment, then looked up again, made an excuse, and left.

Watching her old friend's departing figure, Liu Xiaoli shook her head.

Somehow, Xiang Nan entered the picture between the three of them, and everything changed.

Obsession can sometimes spur people on, but it can also distort them beyond recognition.

"Mom!" A sweet, childlike voice rang in my ears.

Yifei, dressed in ancient costume, came skipping and hopping.

Liu Xiaoli smiled, then her face hardened a moment later: "You're off set and you're still not removing your makeup? Aren't you cold in the dead of winter?"

Yifei's smile vanished, and she quickly pouted.

"You're always yelling at me! The director hasn't finished filming yet!"

"Hehehe..." Liu's mother stepped forward and tapped her daughter's head, her tone softening: "Go remove your makeup, I have some news for you."

"What news?"

Liu's mother didn't hide anything from her, and took her hand as they walked towards the makeup room. "The drama 'The Story of Gold' is about to premiere, and there will be an interview and a celebration party."

She paused, then added, "Xiang Nan will be there too."

"Hmm?" Yifei's heart skipped a beat, and she secretly glanced at her mother, only to find her mother looking at her with a half-smile.

"Hey—what do you mean by that?!"

……

On the other side, Xing Nanfei Studio.

Today, the quiet office was filled with a few lively people. Chen Yaochuan and the operations manager looked around his office again and again.

The table, chairs, bookshelves, and circular sofa for receiving guests were arranged in a rather ordinary manner, except for the calligraphy and paintings above Xiang Nan's head, which were somewhat unsightly.

"You should replace this calligraphy and painting. Anyone who comes in and sees a slut will not have a good look on them."

Xiang Nan paused, then turned to look at the calligraphy above his head: "Is it possible that those are the two characters '坦蕭' (tǎndòng, meaning open and honest)?"

"..."

"Let's get to the conclusion first. After the Spring Festival Gala invitation was announced, all the negative rumors online disappeared, and Dwarf Brother also went quiet. Although daily sales stopped increasing, they were still booming."

Xiang Nan crossed his fingers in front of his chest, watching Chen Yaochuan change the subject. After Chen finished speaking, Xiang Nan asked, "Sony doesn't have any plans after the New Year, right? Like a concert or something?"

"You won't even hold a concert?"

Chen Yaocuan is really speechless. What kind of singer is this?!

No makeup, no roadshows, no concerts.

"We'll talk about the concert later." Xiang Nan tidied up the stack of notices on the table, then turned to Chen Yaochuan: "Brother Chuan, can I settle part of the payment in advance?"

"Um?"

Chen Yaochuan frowned, turned around, dragged a wooden stool to sit opposite Xiang Nan, and his tone gradually became serious: "Signed singers are usually settled after 6-9 months, and those who haven't signed a contract also take 3 months. Why are you in such a hurry?"

"It's nothing."

Xiang Nan couldn't possibly tell him that he was going to buy stocks or lottery tickets. What if he lost everything? Who would he complain to then?

"Anyway, Brother Chuan, could you please make an exception for me? I need to see the money in March, since I haven't signed a contract yet!"

"Hey?" Chen Yaochuan got angry again.

This kid's getting more and more capable every day! He's ordering me around again!

"As you know, my relationship with everyone else at Sony is one of mutual exploitation. Only you, Brother Chuan, are worthy of my sincere treatment. I've always treated you like a brother."

"..."

Well, one sentence silenced Chen Yaochuan. He still scolded Xiang Nan with a stern face, but the upturned corners of his mouth showed his inner satisfaction.

……

1 month 20 day.

That day, Xiang Nan drove Feng Man's Mazda to the airport early in the morning.

At 10:00 a.m. sharp, the vehicle slowly pulled up at the entrance of the Beijing Film Academy.

The car door opened, and a figure jumped out first.

"Slow down, ouch, you...tsk!"

Liu's mother also got out of the car, but instead of looking at her daughter, she anxiously went to the driver's seat, opened the door, and pulled down the seat adjustment lever.

"Bang—"

Xiang Nan was finally able to move his knees again.

"What kind of car is this? How can it get stuck in its own wheelchair?!"

Liu's mother's tone carried a hint of reproach; she now had a good impression of the child.

Xiang Nan awkwardly touched his nose. He was driving a Mazda, so of course he would get blocked.

"Let's go."

After closing the car door, the three of them walked together toward the school.

The school was already on holiday, but the old man outside still couldn't get a cigarette because Xiang Nan hadn't brought any.

The three walked through the deserted campus, talking about their recent experiences. Xiang Nan and Liu's mother did most of the talking, while Yi Fei found it difficult to speak.

"The scene in the well was really difficult to film. It was cramped and quite cold. Sisi caught a cold that night."

Yifei was listening to Xiang Nan on his left when she suddenly leaned forward to look at her mother. She pouted, and her slightly red lips glossy in the sunlight.

"It's not as bad as you say. I have a very good constitution, right? You big blockhead."

Just as Xiang Nan was about to nod, Yi Fei, who was standing next to him, suddenly stepped on a stone, stumbled, and was about to fall.

"Sissi!"

"brush--"

In a flash, Xiang Nan took a step forward, reached out and grabbed Yi Fei's wrist, then lifted her up with a little force.

Who knows—

"what!"

Perhaps Xiang Nan used too much force, because Yi Fei was pulled into his arms and flew towards him.

Should I hug you? Or not?

Liu's mother was watching, and at this age...

In the next instant, Xiang Nan made his decision.

He stretched out his arms and lifted Yifei up by her armpits!

"Hey! Xiao Nan, what are you doing!" Liu's mother reacted quickly.

Before Xiang Nan could explain, the doll in his hand started acting up again: "Giggle! Big blockhead, you're so strong! Flying, giggle..."

This was the first time Xiang Nan had ever seen such an innocent and ethereal fairy-like woman, and his sense of guilt intensified.

He put Yifei down, and Liu's mother quickly pulled Yifei to her side.

"Ahem, let's go and report back from leave as soon as possible. Teacher Wang is probably getting impatient."

"Mmm," Liu's mother responded, gently hooking her daughter's palm with her left hand.

She could guess that Xiang Nan's predicament was nothing more than his young age.

But does she not know whether her daughter has a childlike heart or not?

Lost in thought, she glanced back at her daughter.

Yifei was breathing heavily, gently patting her chest with her left hand, her delicate earlobes tinged with rouge.

See, I told you so...