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

Chapter 421 Everyone is here
The premiere of "Inception" began at around 5 p.m., and Zhang Xinyu and Zhao Liying were scheduled to walk the red carpet at 6:30 p.m.

Before this, the two, who were inseparable in Hengdian, hadn't seen each other for almost half a year. Reunited on this day, they seemed to have endless things to talk about.

"...So it was Mr. Chen who made a call to Mr. Han for you?" When talking about recent events, Zhao Liying's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing Zhang Xinyu's words.

Zhang Xinyu smiled and said, "Yes. Didn't expect that, did you?"

Zhao Liying hesitated and asked, "Then... what happened next?"

Zhang Xinyu said, "What do you think? With President Chen involved, what problems could there be? Director Cai Yuexun personally called me and asked me to play the female lead."

Zhao Liying laughed and said, "Wow, really? Congratulations!"

Zhang Xinyu's face showed no joy; instead, she sighed and said, "The more this happens, the more upset I feel. You know that?"

Zhao Liying comforted her, "Oh, don't think so much."

“How could I not want to?” Zhang Xinyu said with a bitter smile. “That year at the meeting, the company arranged for me to film a movie and you to film a TV series. Logically speaking, I was given a better opportunity than you. But after a few years, you’ve become incredibly famous, while I’m still nobody. I even need the company to help me with auditions. I… I really wish I could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.”

Zhao Liying was never one to mince words, so she patted Zhang Xinyu on the shoulder and said, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about this. Let's talk about something happy."

Zhang Xinyu paused for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "The good news... Shishi is going to film a movie with President Chen, you know that, right?"

Back in the hotel in Hengdian, she, Zhang Xinyu, and Liu Shishi watched the Oscars together and witnessed Chen Nuo accept the award. The two knew each other, but she had been busy filming for the past few months and hadn't heard anything about it. She was quite surprised to hear this and exclaimed in surprise.

Seeing that she indeed didn't know, Zhang Xinyu told her about the Bazaar charity event, and then laughed, "Shishi said she hasn't slept well for three days. She heard that she has a kissing scene with President Chen this time."

"A kissing scene!?" Zhao Liying said incredulously. "Why? Wasn't it just a cameo?"

"It's a cameo, but cameos depend on who you cast. If it were anyone else, it would just be a minor role, a casual appearance, but Mr. Chen is going... Hey, Ms. Cai Yinong spent over 4000 million to get Mr. Chen a cameo. Over 4000 million! How much is their total investment for a drama? Do you think they'd not give Mr. Chen a bigger role?"

Zhao Liying understood and nodded.

"President Chen is supposed to be going to Hengdian in a few days. Will you still be filming there then?" Zhang Xinyu asked.

"exist."

Zhang Xinyu glanced at her and said, "So, will you want to...?"

He was interrupted before he could finish speaking.

A staff member in charge of their red carpet said, "Ms. Zhao Liying, Ms. Zhang Xinyu, please get in the car, it's your turn."

Zhao Liying's mood remained chaotic afterward, causing her to have difficulty concentrating.

Although she immediately attracted the attention of many media reporters when she walked the red carpet in a red Prada dress and Zhang Xinyu in a black fitted long dress.

The calls of "Liying," "Liying," "Liying, look this way!" were incessant.
Even though this was a scene that the small-time actress who used to work as an extra in various film crews in Hengdian dreamed of, she still seemed somewhat out of place, mechanically posing along with Zhang Xinyu.

Until Zhang Xinyu tugged at her hand and whispered in her ear, "Liu Yifei."

Zhao Liying only came to her senses at that moment.

By this time, they had already entered the theater. Not far ahead of her, in a corner of the theater, a girl in a white dress was maintaining a polite smile, chatting with a portly middle-aged man. Several other people were gathered around, smiling broadly as if ready to serve at any moment.

“That’s Xu Yong’an, the chairman of Hengdian Group,” Zhang Xinyu said in a low voice. “Today’s movie was co-invested by President Chen, them, and Warner Bros.

As Zhao Liying walked, her eyes remained fixed on the smiling girl. "Oh."

Zhang Xinyu said, "Actually, this movie was originally intended to be invested in by China Film Group, but at the last minute, China Film Group backed out, and that's how Hengdian got its turn. At that time, many people in the industry in China said that Hengdian was stupid, but now, hehe, let's see who's the stupid one? Look at Xu Yong'an, he's so happy, tsk tsk, this time, he really made a fortune, not just in terms of money, but more importantly, in terms of fame. Now the whole world knows that there is a Hengdian movie in China."

Zhao Liying asked, "What do you think they're talking about?"

Zhang Xinyu said sourly, "What else can we talk about? They probably still want to continue making movies with President Chen in Hengdian, so they asked Liu Yifei for help. Hey, honestly, what do you think of Liu Yifei?"

"How about what?"

"Oh, how does she look? What's she like as a person?"

"I don't know who she is, but she's quite beautiful."

"Hehe, actually, only her face is alright. As for her figure and such, if you look closely, she's really quite average."

"You...keep your voice down."

"I'm being quiet enough."

"Alright, alright, stop talking. Sit down."

Zhao Liying and Zhang Xinyu found their seats and sat down. At this time, some ordinary audience members came over with paper and pens, wanting autographs and photos. The two women accepted all requests.

During the brief intervals, Zhao Liying's attention remained focused on that area.

Not long after, another person appeared in the circle where Liu Yifei and Xu Yong'an were talking.

Zhao Liying was looking at the man and he seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite place him. Suddenly, she heard Zhang Xinyu's surprised voice: "Wang Zongjun, what's he doing here?"

……

"...Some time ago, we at Huayi held an internal poll to vote for the best actress in China in everyone's opinion. As a result, Ms. Yifei, you came in first place. After seeing the results, I said four words to my secretary: Well deserved."

"Really? Or just pretending?" Liu Yifei blinked, listening with a mixture of belief and doubt.

Looking at her, Wang Zongjun said seriously, "Yifei, if I tell even half a lie, may I be hit by a car... May my name be written backwards. Sigh, that's why I had to swallow my pride and come over to ask you if you have any availability for the second half of the year?"

“Zongjun, wait a minute. So you’re here to steal my talent?” Xu Yong’an interjected from the side. “We have several productions in Hengdian that are about to start airing, and we’re really short of a leading lady who has a good image and temperament and can act well. I was just talking to Xiao Liu about it, and you just came over and started to act impolitely.”

Wang Zongjun said, "President Xu, it's not that I'm trying to steal her, but I hope you can be lenient and let me have my way. I really have no other choice. Director Xiao Gang said that he won't start filming his new movie if Yi Fei isn't in it."

Liu Yifei curled the corners of her mouth and smiled.

Xu Yong'an shook his head and said, "Zong Jun, everything has to be done in order of priority. If you want to cooperate with Xiao Liu, that's fine. But Huayi Brothers has to be behind Hengdian in the queue."

"Haha, Mr. Xu, we're competing fairly..." Wang Zongjun laughed.

He was smiling, but inside, Wang Zongjun felt like a respectable woman selling herself for the first time, experiencing only endless humiliation.

Before coming, he repeatedly comforted himself that a true man can bend and stretch, but... when the moment came.

For someone like him, who runs Huayi Brothers and has always been a powerful and influential figure in the Chinese entertainment industry, to flatter a woman younger than his daughter and say such absurd things is no easy task!
However, he had no choice but to come.

With Inception's phenomenal box office performance over the past month, it has not only sparked waves of criticism on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo, but its status as a Sino-foreign co-production has also attracted considerable attention.

When he heard that someone had specifically named Confucius Institutes at a conference, even comparing them to Confucius Institutes, and demanding an investigation into why a film produced by their own people was released in the mainland market so late, asking which环节 (link/step) went wrong, he demanded a thorough investigation to find out the truth and give moviegoers a fair and just explanation.

Upon hearing this news, Wang Zongjun knew that the once-powerful career of President Han Sanping was likely over. Whether he could retire smoothly was a big question mark.

As for Wang Zongjun, his feud with that person had to come to an end. No matter how much he hated and resentful he was, he had to swallow his pride and come over to kiss that person's ass.

But getting close to the real target isn't so easy; a roundabout approach is an inevitable choice for him. Liu Yifei was happy to hear Wang Zongjun's words, but she wasn't stupid; she knew about the feud between Hua Yi and her boyfriend.

Similarly, after spending so much time together, she also realized that her boyfriend was not as perfect as his fans imagined. At least, the word "broad-minded" was not applicable to him at all. She shook her head and said, "Mr. Wang, my schedule is already full for the second half of the year. I'm really sorry."

Wang Zongjun said, "Yifei, it doesn't necessarily have to be this year. If you're willing to come, it can be next year. Director Xiaogang said that the female lead has to be you. He'd rather not start filming without your participation."

Xu Yong'an couldn't help but chuckle and shook his head, saying, "Zong Jun, you've gone a bit too far."

"Mr. Xu, should I call Xiao Gang to verify this? Actually, let alone waiting for half a year, as long as we can cooperate with Ms. Yi Fei, even if it takes Huayi three or five years, I, Wang Zongjun, would be willing."

"Hahahaha...you, you."

Amid Xu Yong'an's laughter, Liu Yifei felt a little awkward and didn't know what to say. Suddenly, she heard a commotion behind her.

She turned around and saw a woman wearing a champagne-colored fishtail dress and 10-centimeter black pointed high heels, surrounded by many staff members, walking into the theater like a queen, radiating beauty.

Liu Yifei burst out laughing and waved in that direction, "Sister Binbing!"

……

For Huanxin Company's own film, all of their artists were present tonight. Not only established stars, but even the newcomers they had previously signed were given tickets to the premiere.

When Fan Binbing entered, Dilraba and Yang Zi were sitting in a corner of the theater whispering to each other.

"She's so beautiful! Xiaodi, don't you think Fan Binbing looks even more beautiful since she came back this time?"

Dilraba looked over there with envy and nodded, saying, "It seems so."

Yang Zi's expression was the same.

She touched her slightly round face, then looked at that enviable pointed chin over there, and a thought suddenly popped into her mind.

But this wasn't the time to think about it, so she continued, "I think her demeanor is even better than before. Look, Liu Yifei went to talk to her."

"Are the two of them close?"

"Impossible, it's all an act for others. You can't make any real friends in this circle."

"........."

"Haha, of course we're different. Xiao Di, we're... classmates, but that doesn't count! By the way, thank goodness that guy surnamed Xiao didn't come today, otherwise I... damn it!"

Suddenly, a handsome young man appeared out of nowhere, glanced at Yang Zi with a detached look, and said, "Excuse me, I'm here. I just got the wrong seat. I should be sitting next to you. Excuse me, could you move aside?"

Not only were all the artists from Huanxin Company present at today's premiere to support their company's film.

The same goes for the Inception crew.

On this day, people flew in from all over the world and gathered in Beijing. This was the only global premiere, aside from the one in London, England. Even the LA premiere was missing Watanabe and Allen.

This has sparked considerable discussion not only on Weibo, but also on Twitter in North America.

"Why is this happening? Don't they know the US market is much larger than the Chinese market?" — @FilmBro_Tony
"Idiot, do I need to remind you, Chen Nuo is Chinese? When about 70% of the film's funding comes from China, why should it give face to you Americans?" —@NoChill_Marco
"I don't think this is a wise move. There's no point in them pandering to the Chinese market; Avatar only grossed 2 million yuan in China. I don't think Inception will exceed 1.5 million yuan. So, this is a very low-value promotion." — @BoxOfficeNate
“I agree. I think the North American market deserves more respect. I might boycott this movie starting today.” — @RealKev
"Boycott?? I just saw your tweet, Kev, you've already checked it three times. Are you planning to boycott it from the fourth time lol" — @SavageSarah_
Not just online,
In reality, Keira Knightley didn't think that her trip to China to walk the red carpet would significantly boost Inception's box office performance.

She believed she was definitely not the only one who thought this way.

however……

She looked at the man beside her who was making a phone call in Chinese.

Everyone still came.

He said, "The Chinese market is very important and deserves our attention."

With just that one sentence, Warner Bros. interrupted their vacation and summoned them from all over the world, as if it were the absolute truth.

Hollywood is such a realistic place.

Who can blame him for the box office performance in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia that has surprised everyone, and this is the same empire he built single-handedly?
On Wall Street, Warner Bros.' stock price surged past $19, making headlines in British financial and entertainment news, which reached her ears.

Keira Knightley thinks that if she were to fart right now, Warner Bros. would think it smells good.

"Hahaha, no, no, I know you're busy. Actually, I should be the one visiting you," Chen Nuo said with a laugh into the phone, while turning slightly to avoid Keira Knightley's unwavering gaze.

"Haha. You said it yourself." Zhang Yimou laughed on the other end of the phone. "To be honest, I think you really should come. In my crew of The Flowers of War, I feel like everyone is your person. From the male lead to the female lead, they are all your old friends, and even your old classmates from The Flowers of War, can you count them?"

"Haha, yes, yes, it's all thanks to Director Zhang for giving me face. Here's what I'll do, I'll come visit the set as soon as I'm done with this busy period, I promise."

"Haha, okay, I'll be waiting for you."

After finishing my phone call with Zhang Yimou, I arrived at my destination.

When the elegantly dressed Keira Knightley took his arm and stepped out of the car...

At 6 p.m. Beijing time, when he walked the red carpet with Christopher Nolan, Ryan Reynolds, Ellen Page, and others, the fans in the audience went wild.

Little Deadpool waved to the crowd with a big smile, saying, "Chen, I like it here. Wow, I think I made the right choice. They all seem to like me."

Chen Nuo was in a good mood and said with a smile, "Actually, I prefer your ex-wife."

"What? Chen, don't speak Chinese, I don't understand."

"I said... smile, please."

……

……

That day, Chen Nuo and the entire cast and crew of "Inception" spent two hours signing autographs outside a movie theater, just like he did in South Korea. The reason was simple: he did it in South Korea, so there was no reason for him to act all high and mighty with his own people after returning home.

Unexpectedly, not only did he stay, but Nolan also stayed, and the others followed him. Following this day, China finally saw the nationwide release of *Inception*.

So how will it fare in its opening week in this last overseas market?

It's not just Warner who cares, he cares, Nolan cares, and there are others in the United States who care.

A week later, at a house in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.

A scream of surprise came from inside the house.

"Mommy! Come quick! OMG, I told you, don't underestimate China!"

Ps:

I went out for a walk during the day last night, and fell asleep while writing last night. Sorry everyone.

(End of this chapter)