Huayu: I'm reborn, but you still force me to be a scumbag?

Chapter 391 Janice Man Returns to the Scene

For the audition for the female lead, James Pritzker's Pritzker Pictures mobilized its entire production team.

These people are all from the same crew James used to work on his short films, including the cinematographer, lighting technician, sound engineer, production assistant, and assistant director, among others.

Why are so many people here?

That's because in Hollywood, auditions for some major roles are almost the same as the actual filming.

During the audition, several cameras record simultaneously from different angles, with lighting and sound effects almost identical to the actual filming. The director can then monitor the actors' performances on camera. Sometimes, if unsure, the camera positions will be adjusted, and the actors will be asked to do another take.

For example, Jessica Alba and Charlize Theron received this kind of treatment this time.

It can be said that the collaboration between the actors and the crew begins from the moment of the audition.

It's completely different from mainland China or Hong Kong.

Chen Nuo only learned all of this over the past two days through auditioning with James. After all, the roles he had previously accepted were not part of the normal Hollywood model.

After hearing what Chen Nuo said, Wen Yongshan became even more nervous. "Darling... I, I'm scared."

"What I was talking about was auditioning for the female lead before. You're not auditioning for the female lead now. You're just an extra, don't worry."

"But...didn't you say there would still be so many people there?"

"Yes, but they might test it out in three or four shots. Putting it in your place is just to see how it goes. Besides, I thought you acted pretty well just now, didn't I? You have to trust my judgment."

"Okay, okay."

Despite saying that, Janice Man still looked worried.

Chen Nuo understood this.

After watching these past two days, he truly felt that if he had followed such a formal procedure when he auditioned for the Joker at Warner Bros., he definitely wouldn't have had a chance.

It's also thanks to the actresses who came to audition this time. They are all veterans around 30 years old. Each of them has been working in Hollywood for many years, experiencing countless auditions and on-set trials. That's why they were able to show their different understandings of the characters in front of the camera after only 24 hours of receiving the script.

Of those, what impressed him most, besides Richards Theron wearing red high heels and black stockings with long legs,
On a stage bathed in dim, hazy lighting, they swayed their bodies to the rhythm of New Orleans jazz.

With a look that was three parts provocative, three parts indifferent, and four parts weary, Eve's complex inner world was vividly portrayed. She gave the impression of a butterfly trapped in yellow amber, both poignant and sexy.

Another one is Jessica Biel, who starred in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Blade III".

During her audition, she chose a scene where Eve argues with Lee in a run-down apartment.

On stage, she wore tattered denim shorts and a white tank top, barefoot on the wooden floor, her emotions shifting from anger to collapse to despair, displaying explosive power.

Especially in the last scene, when she suddenly stopped her hysterical performance, lit a cigarette with trembling hands, and stared blankly out the window, at that moment, in Chen Nuo's eyes, this woman perfectly embodied Eve's sense of powerlessness against fate.

Janice Man's performance was, of course, insignificant compared to these people.

but…………

As Li Er said.

Life is the best teacher for an actor.

"Okay, let's do it again. You discover that your boyfriend has fallen for another woman, and that night, he takes the money and runs away again, leaving you alone in the apartment, ignoring everything and no one."

"3, 2, 1! ACTION!"

……

Applause erupted throughout the hall, though it was sparse, quite a few people were indeed clapping.

“Very good! Excellent, fantastic!” James Pritzker exclaimed, clapping his hands. “Janice, I love your performance; it’s so realistic, amazing!”

"THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Thank you, director, thank you everyone." Janice Man wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and said shyly.

Apart from the director, everyone else also gave it unanimous praise at this time.

"Her emotional performance was superb, especially that desperate look in her eyes at the end, it was truly heartbreaking."

"I think her body language is very accurate. Look at her hugging herself with both hands, as if she is protecting herself. It's so real."

“Yes, especially the moment she sat on the floor with her head down, I felt that she was exactly the abandoned woman.”

"Janice, you were completely immersed in the role just now, your performance was so captivating!"

“Chen, you’ve introduced a great actor. I don’t think we need to audition anyone else.”

After listening to the assistant director's words, James Pritzker nodded and said, "I think so too, Chen. I think we should just stick with the role of 'Dan Dan'."

Chen Nuo asked insincerely, "Are you sure, James? This is your movie, and I don't want our friendship to interfere with your decision."

James Pritzker laughed heartily. "No, really. Maybe before, I had a little bit of an opinion. But now, no, really, I think she's too good. Now the remaining question is the female lead, Charlize Theron or Jessica Biel? What do you think?"

James asked sincerely, and after thinking for a moment, Chen Nuo gave his own answer: "I prefer Jessica Biel."

James paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, I understand."

Next, the production team will be auditioning some other actors, but Chen Nuo won't need to participate in that.

I left Paramount's film set with Janice Man and got into the car back to the hotel.

Although Allison's expression showed that she was very curious about the girl who had suddenly flown in from Hong Kong the day before yesterday, she still didn't ask any more questions.

Chen Nuo was very satisfied with this.

With the increasing number of artists under Huanxin Company and the growing busyness of domestic business, Qi Yuntian can play a much greater role by staying in China than by accompanying him to film abroad for extended periods.

In this situation, Alison's timely appearance perfectly filled the void left by Qi Yuntian. Whether in terms of ability or connections, Chen Nuo couldn't find any fault with this woman.

Although the large medical expenses each month make her very concerned about money, on the other hand, this is also what puts Chen Nuo at ease.

The problem now is that Alison herself doesn't think that way.

“Chen, my abilities are limited. Even if you don’t think you need an American agency, what about Miss Wen? She needs to sign a contract with James’s production team, get a work visa, and join a union. I can help her with that this time, but what about next time?”

"As I said before, companies like CAA provide tremendous support to artists. They can accelerate your career and handle any troubles you encounter."

“I am familiar with CAA’s customer ratings.”

"With your current fame after the Oscars, you can already be rated as a Top-Tier Star in their internal evaluation system, just like Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, all of whom are A-level stars."

"Second only to Tom Hanks and Harrison Ford, who both received an A+ rating."

Do you know what this means?

"This means you will not only get top-tier film contracts, but also have a dedicated team to help you plan for the global market. You won't even have to worry about trivial matters like taxes and publicity, completely freeing up your energy to focus on your career."

Although I know that Allison made this suggestion because she is a professional.

After all, if CAA were to join, while it would indeed free Alison from her current role as an all-around assistant, her importance would be greatly reduced.

Chen Nuo didn't believe Allison didn't know.

However, he is not considering this issue at the moment. He is used to being free and independent, and although handing over the business in the United States to CAA would bring many more opportunities, it would be like putting an invisible shackle on himself.

He won't consider this issue until he needs CAA's help to break through some invisible glass ceiling in Hollywood.

He immediately interrupted, saying, "Alison, thank you for your opinion."

Allison glanced at the silent Janice Man, then nodded without saying anything more.

……

Back at the hotel, as soon as she entered, Janice Man let out a cry and collapsed onto the sofa, exclaiming in Cantonese, "I was so nervous! I cried so many times before we went, and I almost... I almost couldn't cry! Luckily!"

In Cantonese, "喊" means to cry. Chen Nuo smiled and said sincerely, "Whether you cry or not is not important. The most important thing is that you brought out the character's emotions. Just like the director said, it was real, infectious, very good and great."

Janice Man laughed and switched back to Mandarin, saying, "Really? Hehe. Actually, I've been taking care of my dad in Hong Kong these past few days, and I've been taking out my school books to read whenever I have free time."

"It's strange, but things I couldn't concentrate on at school, I could concentrate on in the hospital. When my dad went for physiotherapy, I would go to the rooftop to practice, yelling and screaming like a ghost."

As she spoke, she stuck out her tongue. "Several times I've been bumped into by people who thought I was crazy and stared at me for ages, hehe. Later, they even came to watch me act. There was an old man in the play named Deng who told me to treat him to tea when I became successful, hahaha."

Chen Nuo was genuinely surprised when he saw the girl on the sofa.

After winning the Golden Horse Award, he went to Hong Kong to transit through the United States. When he talked to Janice Man about this movie, he hadn't actually thought about this aspect.

His reason for recommending Janice Man is simple.

He had only read the script and felt that the role, which only had a few scenes, was very suitable for Janice Man in every way. Coincidentally, her father's health had almost recovered enough to return to acting, so he thought he would let her give it a try.

He was quite surprised that things went so smoothly, and thought that life had changed him.

Unexpectedly... there was this twist behind the scenes.

Chen Nuo asked curiously, "You were performing for them all by yourself on the rooftop? What were you performing?"

"A one-woman show, like Zhou Ping or Margaret. Hehe, those are the kinds of shows my teachers taught me at film school."

"Come on, perform a scene for me to see."

"...Oh dear, I'm so embarrassed to be acting like this in front of you."

"Hurry up, or I'll spank you."

"Okay, okay, but you can't laugh at me!"

"Don't worry, it won't be."

Then, when Chen Nuo watched Wen Yongshan slowly stand up from the sofa, take a deep breath, and seem like a completely different person.

She chose Marguerite from *La Dame aux Camélias*, stood in the center of the hotel room, and pretended there was a mirror in front of her. She gently raised her right hand, her fingertips trembling as she touched the air, as if caressing her reflection. Her lips parted slightly, and she murmured softly in English, "Marguerite, look at you now… how haggard you are…"

Then, her body leaned forward slightly, as if unable to support her own weight. She placed her left hand on her forehead, her fingers digging into her hair, gripping it tightly. She slowly squatted down, her movements slow and heavy, as if she had truly been dragged down by illness and despair.

She whispered, "How much longer can I hold on? Armand... he's not coming back..."

As she said this, her head suddenly dropped, and her hair fell down, covering half of her face.

Then, she slowly rose from her squatting position, turned her back to him, her shoulders trembling slightly as if she were crying silently, and said in an almost inaudible voice, "Goodbye, my youth..."

This scene froze for a few seconds.
Then, Janice Man turned around, stuck out her tongue, and smiled with a slightly flushed face, saying, "How about it? Isn't that a bit too much?"

Looking at her, Chen Nuo suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

The performance I just gave in front of James and the others was neither accidental nor a perfect fit for the role.

Of course, the performance still felt a bit too contrived, and the emotional transitions weren't entirely seamless. It wasn't as James and others had praised it, making it seem like she was a shoo-in for the next Oscar for Best Actress.

Chen Nuo wasn't stupid; of course he knew that these were all part of the American social etiquette.

However, he understood very well that this was definitely a huge step forward for Janice Man.

Chen Nuo recalls that Janice Man returned to Hong Kong in the second half of 09.

During this period, the two met very infrequently, and even when they did meet, it was always a brief encounter, and she never mentioned this matter.

It's been four years since she entered the vocational program at the film academy.

Two years of schooling plus two years of self-study,

Finally, right before his eyes, she transformed from a clueless little model into a true actress who could skillfully perform a one-woman show in "La Traviata" and recite the lines fluently.

Chen Nuo gave a heartfelt thumbs up: "No exaggeration, it's exceptionally good."

"Hehe." Wen Yongshan chuckled shyly, changing the subject, "Alright, hurry up and pack your things, the plane is about to take off!"

……

……

York Region, a suburb of Toronto.

At the entrance of a luxury mansion nestled against the mountain and overlooking the lake.

When Janice Man got out of the car, she saw the mansion in front of her, as well as several servants and the mistress standing at the entrance to greet her.

Before coming, she thought she would be angry and sad.

However, when the time came, it didn't happen.

On the one hand, she knew that if Chen Nuo hadn't done things the way he was doing during this period, she certainly wouldn't be so calm.

However, he personally flew to Hong Kong to explain the matter to her in person, and despite the potential criticism, gave her the job opportunity she had always dreamed of.

What else can she do?

As a Hong Konger, she had witnessed far too many heartless acts by men.

Just a few days ago, her senior officially released a statement announcing her formal breakup with the second son of the Li family.

This means that even after having three children, she was still kicked out of the Li family.

Compared to that, how could she not be convinced by herself?

On the other hand, when she saw the woman whose cheeks were a little rounder than before and who looked a little softer, standing at the entrance of the mansion, smiling at her without any reservations, as if she did not regard herself as the mistress of the house or the woman as an intruder, she seemed to find it hard to have much hostility left.

"Shanshan, it's been a long time."

The woman came up and gently hugged her.

Janice Man felt the anger that had been building up inside him dissipate by more than half, and he hugged her back, saying, "Sister Bingbing, it's been a long time."

Upon hugging him, she realized it wasn't her imagination; he had indeed gained weight. His chest was soft and yielding, giving her a feeling of being padded and warmed up.

Fan Binbing let go of her hand.

She looked the girl up and down, noticing how much thinner she had become, and for no apparent reason, a wave of pity washed over her. She knew this was definitely just hormonal sensitivity.

However, in this situation, she did indeed have many feelings.

She genuinely cared, saying, "Shanshan, you're too thin. You should eat more."

Janice Man smiled sheepishly, "I actually eat quite a lot, and I'm not on a diet."

"Alright, you two, go inside and talk. It's cold outside," Chen Nuo interjected.

"Okay, come on, Shanshan, let's go inside." Fan Bingbing took Wen Yongshan's hand and walked into the house.

Chen Nuo followed behind.

To be honest, I felt a huge sense of relief. He definitely wouldn't hide it from Janice Man.

Of course, he didn't expect that the girl would take the initiative to ask to come and see.

I was initially worried that this might cause a major conflict, since these two people had previously been particularly incompatible.

But it seems okay now.

Since that's the case, hehehehehehe.

Hey, what are you laughing at? Why is your face moving on its own?

Chen Nuo pinched her cheek.

What are you thinking about?
shameless.

……

When Janice Man looked at the little one in Fan Bingbing's arms, he couldn't help but feel a little envious.

She touched her fair, delicate face with her fingers and saw the girl staring at her with wide, clear eyes, full of curiosity.
Yongshan laughed and asked curiously, "What's her name?"

"Fan Ruoruo".

“No, her name is Chen Ruoruo,” Chen Nuo interjected.

Fan Binbing glared at Chen Nuo with annoyance.

Men's words are always just empty talk.

They previously said that the girl would make a choice after she turned 18, but now, not even 18 months have passed, and they already want to change her name back.

"Shanshan, let me tell you, you be the judge... who should listen to you?"

After listening to Fan Bingbing's complaints, Janice Man chuckled and said, "I think both are good, both sound nice."

Fan Binbing pursed her lips, then laughed and asked, "Shanshan, do you want to give me a hug?"

"Me?! Is that okay?"

When Janice Man carefully took it from Fan Bingbing's hands, she felt an indescribable feeling.

She gently rocked the little Ruoruo in her arms, feeling the soft little body against her chest, the warm touch sending a shiver through her heart.

Janice Man looked down into the little one's bright eyes and said softly, "You're so cute. You'll definitely be as beautiful as your mom and dad when you grow up."

……

That evening, two women and a man, each holding a glass of red wine, sat chatting in the dimly lit living room. The room was filled with the faint scent of burning wood from the fireplace, and the orange-red flames cast warm, soft shadows on their faces.

When Fan Binbing heard Chen Nuo say that Janice Man had landed the role, she exclaimed with a mixture of surprise and delight, "Really? Shanshan, that's amazing!"

Janice Man smiled sheepishly, "Actually, they're all doing it because of him."

Chen Nuo shook his head and said, "It wasn't me, it has nothing to do with me."

Fan Bingbing also said, "Americans don't have that much sentimentality to consider. Shanshan, this is all thanks to your ability! Keep it up and try to bring back an international award!"

In the firelight, Janice Man's face turned even redder, and he smiled with pursed lips, "I'm just an extra in a movie, how could that be?"

"Why not?" Fan Bingbing said seriously. "Can't extras win awards? There are Best Newcomer awards at Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and even the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Chen Nuo, don't you agree?"

Chen Nuo didn't laugh, but nodded seriously and said, "Yes, I think that makes sense."

"Hey, why are your eyes darting around like that? Can't you behave yourself? I've been watching you for a while now, what are you up to?" Fan Bingbing took a sip of her drink and said with a half-smile.

Janice Man's face flushed red instantly.

How could she not have noticed what Fan Binbing noticed?
Ever since dinner, when the baby was handed over to the nanny and the three of them were alone, the man's eyes have been wandering around, looking up and down, left and right, and occasionally touching her inappropriately.

Finally, they brought them here and deliberately lit the fireplace very brightly, making the whole room hot and humid.

What he's up to is as clear as day.

Actually, it wasn't a long time ago that she hadn't gone crazy with him.

But with Fan Binbing?!
"Ah, I'm a little sleepy, maybe I should go upstairs and go to sleep first." Wen Yongshan yawned in a mock manner.

Fan Bingbing pulled her back and asked, "Wait a minute, what's the rush? Ignore him, let's talk. I still have a lot to ask you."

Janice Man initially thought Fan Bingbing was just being polite, but she didn't expect the other party to actually care about her, asking about everything from her upcoming contracts and visas to her family situation.

Later, she asked the other person many questions.

For example, the hotel apartment she ran in Canada.

This is something Janice Man has to admit is true.

This woman is not only bold and willing to have children, but more importantly, she also has the courage and is good at starting her own business!

It is said that she kept it a secret from everyone and invested all her assets in Canada, almost to the point that she couldn't afford to have a baby.

Ultimately, the risky investment brought rich rewards.

Chen Nuo told her that the woman's apartments were doing very well, with last month's revenue exceeding 50 Canadian dollars, which is about 300 million RMB! They were about to expand again, which is why he had to return to Toronto from Palm Beach to oversee things.

Thinking of this, and then of other people, Wen Yongshan felt an even greater sense of urgency.

……

……

Chen Nuo ultimately stayed in Toronto for three days, though he actually wanted to stay longer.

Anyone in his shoes would think the same way.

Over the course of those three days, he repeatedly exclaimed how wonderful it was to be reborn.

Fan Binbing, 30 years old, plus Janice Man, 22 years old.

What is meant by "Intoxicated by the joy of spring in the emerald tent, softly whispering of love on crimson lips"? What is meant by "Her delicate figure leans against me, her soul stirred by her soft murmurs, her dreams soaring"?

He truly understood it.

Chen Nuo felt that he might only need to stay for another two or three days.

His poetry writing ability should improve by leaps and bounds, and he will no longer need to move from one room to another at night.

However, calls from within China kept coming in, one after another, like a death knell.

In the end, he had no choice but to leave Janice Man to stay in Toronto as a guest, while Allison settled things in LA.

He and Linghu flew back to China together.

……

2011年3月10日晚上11点20多分，京城机场外有不少蹲守的记者。

Huang Hongwei is one of them.

Like everyone else, he came here to wait for "Brother Coat".

Brother Coat, whose real name is Zhu Zhiwen, became famous last year after participating in Shandong TV's "I Am a Big Star". He then participated in "Avenue of Stars" and even this year's Spring Festival Gala, becoming a household name across the country.

There's a rumor circulating today that he'll be coming to Beijing to participate in a CCTV program.

So even though it was past 11 p.m., there were still quite a few reporters at the exit of Terminal 2 where he was.

Of course, he also knew that many of his peers were waiting in T3.

That's because there are some rumors that Chen Nuo might return to China soon. The paparazzi in the US haven't released any news about him for several days.

So, many people have been trying their luck at T3 these days.

Huang Hongwei scoffed at this. He didn't think that, given that guy's elusive nature, they would actually catch him.

But at that moment, he noticed that several paparazzi across the street suddenly turned and ran away like madmen.

Before he could react, people around him started running.

Huang Hongwei quickly grabbed one of them and asked, "What's going on?"

The man struggled but couldn't break free, so he said, "They said they saw Chen Nuo's name on the ground when it landed."

Huang Hongwei was stunned for a moment, then reacted by cursing, "Damn it!" At this point, he no longer cared about Brother Coat or Brother Coat, and turned around to run towards T3.

Meanwhile, reporters at Exit 2 also sprang into action. Some ran directly to the parking lot, trying to hail a taxi or jump into their own cars, while others made phone calls to notify other colleagues, creating chaos at the scene.

Huang Hongwei ran a few steps and realized he was too far away, but luckily there was an airport shuttle bus that had just stopped in front of him, so he decisively jumped on.

The shuttle bus arrived at Exit T3 in less than 5 minutes.

As soon as Huang Hongwei got out of the car, he saw that the T3 exit was already packed with people. Dozens of reporters and paparazzi were gathered in a circle, flashes of light were going off non-stop, and shouts were going off all around.

"Chen Nuo! Look this way! What are your plans for returning to China?"

"Chen Nuo, can you tell me about the Oscars?"

"Chen Nuo, can you give us a sneak peek at your new movie?"

"Chen Nuo..."

Not only reporters, but also countless passengers, were all standing on the perimeter, holding up their phones.

Huang Hongwei couldn't even squeeze into the outermost area, so he could only raise his camera and take a few pictures in that direction, as a last resort.

Finally, he could only see a man wearing a black baseball cap and a mask in the distance, head down, walking quickly towards a black van, getting in, closing the door, and driving away quickly.

"Damn it!" Huang Hongwei cursed again.

Then, with a sudden thought, he decided to set up camp in T3 starting today.

Now that you're back, you have to return what you left behind! I just don't believe it!

……

Chen Nuo has returned to China.

The news spread rapidly online through the paparazzi's lenses and quickly reached the ears of various parties.

The brightly lit Huawei building in Shenzhen.

Yu Chengdong received the news just before he was about to leave work.

He barely hesitated before telling his secretary, "Book me the earliest flight tomorrow. I'll fly to Beijing tomorrow to meet with him."

Assistant Xiao Liu agreed, then asked, "Should I contact them now?"

Yu Chengdong instinctively wanted to nod, but immediately realized his mistake and shook his head, saying, "Forget it, it's too late. No one will be at work. Let's go there tomorrow morning and talk about it then."

In a high-end residential area in Beijing.

Zheng Zhongjian had just finished showering and was getting ready for bed.

The woman in her thirties was clinging to his back, whimpering and moaning, but Principal Zheng was too busy today and a bit overwhelmed, so he pretended not to hear her.

The young woman snorted in dissatisfaction, said nothing more, and turned away.

After a while, Zheng Zhongjian suddenly heard the woman say, "Hey, Principal, Chen Nuo has returned to China."

Zheng Zhongjian's eyes snapped open, and he turned to ask, "Really?"

The woman nodded and said, "Yes."

Zheng Zhongjian instinctively reached for his phone, but he stopped, then shook his head and smiled.

Forget it, some people made this mess themselves, so they should clean up their own mess.

Meanwhile, in a villa in Beijing, Cao Guowei, having just arrived home, hung up the phone and breathed a sigh of relief.

Following the Oscars, Sina Weibo officially surpassed 2 million registered users.

It has become the undisputed leader among several Weibo accounts, and it is almost certain to be the ultimate winner.

This situation has also attracted the attention of many strategic investors.

The recent Alibaba situation has caused a huge uproar in the board of directors, giving him a real headache.

Alright, now that this great deity is back, it should shut many people up.

……

Huawei, China Broadcasting Network, Sina... these were indeed the topics mentioned in the numerous phone calls urging him to return to China.

However, what ultimately made Chen Nuo decide to leave the comfort zone was something else entirely.

Zhang Yiyi's father, the patriarch of the Zhang family, has passed away.

When Chen Nuo went to the Zhang family overnight and saw Zhang Yiyi, Li Yu, and Li Xiaotian who was helping out, he felt really bad.

The braised pork knuckle he ate at Zhang Yi's house in Beijing last year is a memory he still finds hard to forget.

After comforting Zhang Yiyi's mother, he went out into the courtyard.

Although Zhang Yiyi's face was expressionless and quite calm, Chen Nuo could feel the turbulent emotions surging within him.

At this point, there was no way to say anything more, and he couldn't even stay any longer. All of Zhang's relatives and friends were surrounding him, constantly taking pictures with their phones.

I reckon if we don't leave soon, the paparazzi will be here.

"Go on, go about your business." Zhang Yiyi hugged him tightly, her voice finally choking up, "Good brother, thank you."

Chen Nuo patted Zhang Yiyi's back hard without saying a word.

After leaving Zhang Yiyi's house, Chen Nuo's mood was naturally not good.

Even though it was past 3 a.m., he wasn't sleepy at all. He asked expressionlessly in the car, "Tell me, what exactly happened? Who's holding up 'No Man's Land'? Why is it having problems and not passing the censorship?"

Ps:

Things are tense lately, so I can only write poetry. Please forgive me.

(End of this chapter)