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

Chapter 524 You're really something, Chen Nuo

Charlize Theron is all talk and no action. Last night she said she'd go back to America with him, and what happened? She left even faster than him this morning.

I found out that they already had a film crew in Namibia waiting to start filming—it was a sequel to a late 1980s Japanese science fiction film, Mad Max: Fury Road.

Recalling the image of the woman in front of the mirror last night, her golden hair fluttering under the light—Chen Nuo suddenly realized that he probably wouldn't see that scene for a long time.

Although Theron didn't reveal it, he knew for sure that this movie would have her shave her blonde hair, sport a buzz cut, and transform into the "War Goddess" Fiora, conquering the world with an incredibly cool image.

Not only will it be a box office hit, but it will also be a big winner at the Oscars, and after Tomb Raider, it will once again set off a global craze for female action hero movies. Then, together with The Hunger Games, it will completely change the traditional Hollywood role of female characters as decorative objects or supporting roles.

It's safe to say that all Hollywood actresses should give Charlize Theron and Jennifer Lawrence a toast. Without these two, they might forever remain confined to playing roles like cheating wives or cheating lovers in arthouse and romance films; Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel would likely only exist in their dreams.

This departure could last anywhere from a few months to half a year. Theron sounded somewhat reluctant to part on the phone, which reminded Chen Nuo of Kegel's actions last night, and he immediately felt a pang of sympathy.

"I'm giving you one more chance. Listen carefully—Netflix."

"Netflix?"

"Correct."

"...But Netflix's stock has been rising really fast lately. And you won the Volpi Cup in Venice, so it'll definitely open higher on Monday. If I buy now, won't I be buying from a dumped stock...? Hello? Hello!?"

Chen Nuo was too lazy to listen to this woman's nonsense, so he hung up the phone directly.

If I say it's the last time, then it's the last time.

At this moment, they were sitting in a water taxi in Venice, heading to the airport. Alison, who was sitting next to them, overheard Chen Nuo on the phone and couldn't help but laugh:
"Chen, are you going around recommending Netflix stock to everyone now?"

Chen Nuo mentally calculated that, besides Theron from earlier, there were only Tong Liya, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Donald, and that was all. He then said:

"Not many."

Allison continued with a smile, "While I'm not exactly an expert on stocks, I've seen Netflix featured in the Wall Street Journal several times recently; they're quite the talk of Manhattan right now. Are you sure buying their stock at this time is a good idea? Although I'm confident in the market performance of our show, but... don't stocks always reflect expectations?"

Chen Nuo said, "You're right, but the stock price has only increased by a little over 20%. A TV series that we spent eight or nine months filming is only worth 20% of Netflix's stock price? Haha."

Alison, perhaps because she had just received double the bonus, was in a particularly good mood and smiled as she echoed, "You're right, Chen. I completely agree with you. 20% should just be the beginning. Although, from what I read in the newspapers, it seems that many people don't think so."

Chen Nuo seems to have gotten a bit cocky after winning the award, and said shamelessly, "Those Wall Street stock experts know nothing."

Allison said, "But there are exceptions. Chen, do you know Mason Collins? He's an investment manager at Goldman Sachs who's quite famous in Hollywood for his long-term shorting of Warner. Recently, he's written several articles in the Wall Street Journal recommending Netflix stock, just like you."

"Oh? Is that so?" Chen Nuo nodded. "It seems he has good taste."

Gulnazar, who was leaning against the ship's railing, enjoying the last moments of the ancient water city's scenery, turned around and said with great interest, "Boss, can I buy some too?"

Chen Nuo said, "No."

"what?"

"Why would a kid like you invest in stocks? You should pay off your mortgage first."

Gulnazar muttered under her breath, "Anyway, it's company money we're borrowing, so there's no rush..."

Chen Nuo glared at her, and Gulnazar immediately shrank back, not daring to utter another word.

Allison laughed and said, "My little Nazha will definitely become a star as soon as her TV series airs next week. She'll make a lot of money right away, I have a feeling."

Upon hearing this, Gulnazar beamed with joy, her smile widening. "Alison, if I become famous, I'll treat you to the best steak in New York."

Alison laughed and said, "I'll remember that, sweetheart. When that day comes, I'll definitely order the most expensive thing on the menu."

Gulnazar replied, "No problem."

Chen Nuo remained silent upon seeing this, but the little lingering conflict in his heart resurfaced.

He had finally developed a sense of trust in Gulnazar, but if the girl really returned to her past life and became an actress, he would be left without anyone by his side. After all, with the company expanding so much, Qi Yuntian couldn't possibly accompany him on his travels anymore.

But upon further reflection, he couldn't find any reason, morally or logically, to stop someone from pursuing their dreams. Li Jing once said that this girl originally joined the company with the goal of becoming a star, but she was forced to work as a receptionist because her educational background didn't meet the company's requirements.

Although somewhat reluctant, Chen Nuo felt relieved seeing Gulnazar excitedly discussing life after becoming famous with Alison. Oh well, we'll see when the time comes.

As they were talking, Linghu, who was at the bow of the ship, walked into the cabin and said, "Boss, we're almost at the airport."

Chen Nuo nodded and glanced at his Rolex. It had only been about twenty minutes since they left the hotel; indeed, traveling by water was the fastest way to get around Venice.

Upon disembarking, the captain of the "water taxi" booked by the organizing committee ran from the stern to the bow to help them with their luggage. Before parting, Chen Nuo readily agreed to take a photo with the captain, and also agreed to let the captain hang their photo in the cabin.

"Thank you, thank you, Chen. You are the best person I have ever met, and a true friend of the Italian people. Although I don't like immigration, you are an exception. I would welcome you to become an Italian citizen."

The Italian man, in his forties, with a full beard and a rather honest appearance, expressed his gratitude in broken English while repeatedly bowing, mimicking an Asian greeting he'd picked up from tourists of some unknown country. Finally, he handed over a business card and insisted on helping him load his luggage onto the shuttle bus.

Chen Nuo tried to stop him several times but failed, so he had no choice but to give up.

Once on the shuttle bus to the airport, Allison laughed, "I read several Italian newspapers this morning. They're already discussing awarding you honorary citizenship of Venice, and the possibility of you immigrating or having dual citizenship. It seems they can't wait for you to be Italian in your next life. They want you to be Italian now."

When this is brought up, Chen Nuo can only manage a dry laugh.

The main reason was that he wasn't really clear-headed when he received the award yesterday. He just felt that Italy was his lucky place, and he had won such a difficult award. And last night, during a phone conversation with Chen Kexin, he realized that it was indeed true. It was pure luck; he was just a little bit short, and the award would have gone to Harvey and his team.

However, looking back now, the idea of ​​wanting to be Italian in the next life was indeed a bit much.

The key point is that I was emotionally charged at that time, and my performative personality came out. I spoke so sincerely that it felt like many people took it seriously.

This is not,

Actually, the weather was the same as when he arrived in Venice on the day he left – a light drizzle was falling. However, when his group arrived at Venice Airport, everyone from the staff who escorted him to the first-class lounge to the airport staff, from security guards to ground service personnel, greeted him with bright, sunny smiles.

Some people don't even speak English very well, but they still come over and say a few words.

"Congratulations, Chen, your trophy is well-deserved."

"Welcome to Venice. I hope you can relax and enjoy a holiday next time you come."

Goodbye, Chen, have a pleasant journey.

"Thank you for your assessment of Italy; it truly is a great country. China is too."

"Your gesture of raising the glass was very impressive, it reminded me of when our Italian football team lifted the World Cup... By the way, does China have football?"

It felt as if everyone in Venice knew what he had said the night before.

After entering United Airlines' exclusive VIP lounge, although I was seated in a private first-class box, there were quite a few business class passengers in the lounge as well. And being Americans, nobody paid any attention to the "Do Not Disturb" signs on the doors, and people still came to knock on the door from time to time.

Some came with bodyguards, while others came alone.

There were wealthy businessmen who came to ask for autographs for their children, and refined middle-aged people who came to ask if they could take a photo with them.

There was also an elderly couple with white hair, who looked to be in their eighties. They were traveling from Italy to California and were not on the same flight as Chen Nuo, but when they heard that he had come, they came over, shook his hand, and said very seriously, "I listened to every word of your speech last night. Thank you for calling us a nation of heroes. This is the best compliment I have ever heard. Thank you."

As Chen Nuo was taking a photo with the elderly couple who introduced themselves as retired professors from the University of Turin, Gulnazar watched from the side, feeling both proud and puzzled.

At this moment, a voice that had adjusted its pace and made itself very clear to her slowly said beside her: "In fact, in my opinion, a Venice Film Festival Best Actor award is not as good as what Chen said on the awards stage."

"Huh?" Gulnazar turned her head in surprise.

The red-haired Canadian woman looked at Chen Nuo and said softly, "A few Best Actor awards from art film festivals with almost no commercial value, and the goodwill of a country... which do you think is more important? Do you remember what the manager from Eagle Pictures said when we left the hotel?"

Gulnazar didn't know why Alison could read her mind, but the two of them were getting to know each other better and better.

Especially after she brought the woman a small Uyghur flower hat and a hand-embroidered dress from XJ during her recent visit, which the woman then gave to her daughter, Allison became much closer to her. She would often initiate conversations with her, like she is now.

She tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said, "I remember, he told the boss that they were willing to pay a lot of money for the Italian distribution rights of the film, and that he should definitely talk to Director James about it."

“Yes, and I believe that the film acquisition manager was genuinely willing.” Allison said casually, “You know, if before this, the film ‘Water Drop’ was only worth $100, then Chen winning the Venice Film Festival Best Actor award yesterday might have made it $200, and a grand slam winner of Cannes, Berlin and Venice could have made it $600.”

"However, if you know how to make a nation and a country rejoice in a live broadcast with a viewership of 23.4%... then the value of this film could be $1 or even more."

She paused, turned her head, looked at Gulnazar who was staring blankly, and continued:
"This is the magic of public relations, or rather, public opinion. Its science is more profound than film and more difficult to understand than acting. Because it paints in the invisible air and casts ripples on the unseen water. But if you learn how to use it, then what you gain will not only be wealth, but the whole world."

“Our boss is that kind of person. Rather than saying he is one of the best actors in the world, it’s more accurate to say he is a world-class public relations master.”

“Nazar, if you want to be a star, then you can try to learn this. You’ll need it sooner or later.”

……

……

It wasn't just that they enjoyed the same treatment as people in a farmers' market in the VIP waiting area.

When Chen Nuo's United Airlines Boeing 767-400 arrived at Newark International Airport in New York after a nine-and-a-half-hour long-haul flight from Venice Marco Polo Airport...
He had just woken up from a half-dreaming state.

After removing my earmuffs and eye mask, I checked the time, rubbed my eyes, and then heard a soft "ding" from the cabin intercom, followed by the captain's voice:
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain. Welcome aboard our flight from Venice to New York. We are scheduled to begin our descent in twenty minutes. Please fasten your seatbelts and secure your belongings."

Additionally, we are honored to have a passenger on board today who has just returned from Venice with honors. Out of privacy, we will not disclose his name, but you may have already learned of his achievements in today's news.

On behalf of the entire crew and passengers, please allow me to congratulate him on this achievement and welcome him back to the United States.

At this moment, Chen Nuo's mind was still not very clear, and his first thought was, "Who is this?"
But the next second, he heard a few slightly excited shouts coming from the economy class behind him.
At first, it was just scattered calls: "Chen!... Chen!"

Soon, as if someone were organizing it, the voices quickly rose and fell, becoming more and more synchronized.

What began as a tentative probe escalated into a deafening roar throughout the cabin—"CHEN! CHEN! CHEN—!"

The sound surged from the back of the cabin, like an invisible slap on the back of his head, instantly waking him up completely.

WHAT THE FUCK?

When the plane came to a complete stop and they began arranging for first-class passengers to disembark, Alison, Gulnazar, and Linghu followed two flight attendants from the business class side. Only then did Chen Nuo understand what was going on.

Allison said angrily:
“I made it clear to them, no! We just want to get through this voyage quietly and don't want any complications, plus there are security risks involved. But they still did it. Let me tell you, this is an invasion of privacy, we can definitely sue them, and then you'll be in big trouble!”

The flight attendant, whose name tag read "Anna," explained apologetically:
"Indeed, Mr. Chen, your assistant did not give permission, so we only made an anonymous broadcast to celebrate for you. We didn't expect to be recognized by so many people. We are very sorry if this has caused you any trouble. On behalf of the crew, we apologize. But our intention was absolutely not to let things get out of control."

“What you’re doing is extremely unprofessional, and I will be reporting this to your headquarters,” Allison continued.

Although Chen Nuo was initially annoyed, Chinese people tend to downplay major issues and resolve minor ones peacefully. He was also a kind-hearted person, so he kindly advised, "Let it go, Alison."

Then, he turned to Anna and smiled slightly: "My colleague was a bit impatient, I apologize to you on her behalf."

Anna's face flushed red. She had been relatively calm when she apologized, but now she stammered, "No, it was me... We apologize to you. We didn't think things through. Mr. Chen, thank you so much. Please rest assured, we will give you priority in disembarking."

Chen Nuo said, feigning concern, "Wouldn't that be inappropriate? There are so many people here."

Immediately after he said that, someone around him chimed in—

"It's alright, Chen, you can go first."

"Yes, we'll wait a bit."

"I like how you handled it; they meant well."

"You are indeed different from the big stars I know, Chen, well done."

"Chen, congratulations on winning the Best Actor award at the Venice Film Festival. We saw the news in Italy."

Upon hearing this, Chen Nuo smiled and said, "Thank you, thank you very much everyone... Then I won't be polite."

Turning his head, he saw Gulnazar looking at him with a strange expression.

Chen Nuo was a little confused and mouthed: What's wrong?
Gulnazar seemed to wake from a dream and shook her head.

baffling.

……

He was the first to disembark and also the first among the passengers to pass through security.

This time, the customs officer was white, so she might not be as talkative as the black woman. It could also be due to the American "island effect"—even though everyone knew who he was and what he did in Italy just because he was on the plane.

But in the United States, and among many ordinary Americans who may never even travel abroad in their lives, they might not know what other film festivals exist in the world besides the Oscars and Golden Globes.

In short, the older woman showed no expression when she saw him. She didn't ask him a single question, let alone mention Venice. She simply said, "Welcome back, Chen," and promptly stamped his passport.

The Donald Group sent three cars to pick up Ivanka, the shareholder. She wore a beige long trench coat and had her hair tied in a ponytail. Her long golden hair looked like pale golden silk in the sunlight at 1 p.m. New York time.

The moment she saw him, the woman rushed over to greet him. Even though he was still on the phone, she gave him a hug that felt completely natural, chest to chest, making Chen Nuo feel as if he had fallen into a marshmallow.

I can't even make the phone call anymore.

He immediately said, "Okay, okay, I have to go now. Anyway, you can pick and choose some things and talk to them first. Then let me know when you have a better idea, or we can talk again when I get back to China... Okay, that's all, bye-bye. You're not young anymore, go to sleep early."

He just hung up the phone.
Ivanka immediately exclaimed excitedly, "Welcome back! Congratulations, Chen, you got it!"

Chen Nuo had forgotten whether Ivanka had called him while he was in Italy.

At that time, he received a huge number of congratulatory calls from China, the US, the UK, and France. Among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, only Russia did not call.

Judging from Ivanka's tone, she had clearly been keeping an eye on things, and she smiled and said, "Yes, I got it."

Ivanka said, "Although I haven't seen the movie yet, I've read a lot of reviews, and to be honest, I can't wait. When will it be released in the United States?"

Chen Nuo said, "I don't know either, but it will definitely be before December."

This is because James Pritzker's confidence soared after winning Best Cinematography and Best Actor at Venice, and he wanted to leverage his local advantages and public relations skills to make a run for the Oscars. Pritzker, of course, would be happy to see this happen. After all, he'd love to be a seat at the Oscars every year. Therefore, the film *Drop* needs to be released in North America before the end of this year, otherwise it won't be eligible for this year's Oscar nominations.

"It's going to take so long, it seems I'll just have to wait." Ivanka sighed, and judging from her expression, she did seem quite disappointed.

Seeing her like this, Chen Nuo was initially surprised. After all, this wasn't some big-budget commercial film, and this woman didn't usually seem as artsy as Gao Yuanyuan. But then he suddenly remembered that although he was now very familiar with this woman and had communicated with her countless times, she did seem to be a fan of his.

The first time they met, Ivanka approached him at a ball, chatting about things like the Dark Knight and the Joker. They ended up in bed together, and Ivanka took his virginity.

So, speaking of which...

I rely on.

I did something I was such a scumbag in my past life that I never did, but I did it in this life.

You're really something, Chen Nuo.

He then got into one car with Ivanka, while the others rode in two other cars.

The destination needs no further explanation.

Even if someone is just a nominal minor shareholder in the Donald Group, can they stay anywhere in New York other than the Golden Building?
The driver was driving in front, while he chatted with Ivanka in the back.

How many days can you stay this time?

"Two days, I guess."

"Only two days?"

"Yes, I have to travel to several places for the promotion of the new show. After recording The Tonight Show tomorrow, I will go to Los Angeles the day after tomorrow."

“Okay… You won an award in Venice this time, and my dad was planning to throw you a celebration party, but I told him you wouldn’t like it and asked him to cancel it. He agreed, but he was very unhappy about it.”

Chen Nuo patted the woman's thigh with satisfaction and said, "You understand me better and better."

Ivanka said in a serious tone, "Every woman should know her man's preferences."

Look, look, this is the daughter raised by the American conservative party. Regardless of her political views, her attitude is very pleasing to listen to. Chen Nuo sincerely said, "What you said makes a lot of sense. Your words should really be translated into Chinese."

Ivanka was a little surprised: "Oh, why?"

Chen Nuo shook his head and said, "It's nothing."

Seeing that he didn't want to talk about it, Ivanka immediately stopped asking and changed the subject, saying, "This morning at breakfast, our family watched your speech on the podium. It was so brilliant! I think the White House should hire you as their spokesperson. However, I doubt they could afford your salary, haha."

Chen Nuo then laughed and said, "Actually, I was just saying it casually; I haven't even had a chance to use the draft yet."

Ivanka smiled and said, "But it's really touching. If I were running a business in Italy, after watching last night's awards ceremony, the first thing I would do this morning is to ask you to endorse my product. I think even if you were selling chopsticks in Italy right now, you would definitely sell them all."

"Hahahaha." Chen Nuo laughed.

Look, that's the business acumen of a wealthy merchant's daughter.

Indeed it is.

As soon as he got off the plane, Qi Yuntian called him from China. It's true, early this morning, the company's business email inbox was flooded with emails from various Italian companies, some asking for prices, some offering quotes, and some discussing cooperation methods.

Various Italian brands, such as Gucci, Prada, Armani, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Fila, and Kappa, are all participating. Some are familiar names, while others are unfamiliar, and some are quite inexplicable, such as Ferrero, which clearly cannot afford much.

Qi Yuntian said that among them, sports brands are the most sincere.

It is estimated that the manufacturers also checked and found out that after his contract with Li-Ning expired in the first half of this year, he did not renew it and did not have any sports contracts with other brands. Therefore, FILA and Kappa offered him a fairly sincere price.

No one would complain about having too much money, so Chen Nuo let Qi Yuntian make contact first.

Chen Nuo asked, "What have you been busy with lately?"

"The new season of Apprentices will start filming next month. By the way, if Dad asks you to participate later, whatever you do, don't agree to it."

"why?"

"He didn't tell you when he went to talk to NBC about his new contract for the season, right?"

"Yes."

"But he told the people at NBC that he would definitely be able to invite you to his show, and for that, NBC paid the group an extra $500 million on top of the original price. But I guess he never mentioned you at all, whether by phone or email, right?"

Chen Nuo smiled and nodded, "Yes!"

Ivanka said seriously, "So ignore him."

Chen Nuo said, "Okay."

"Also, I have something to tell you."

"what?"

Ivanka leaned close to Chen Nuo's ear and whispered, "I've compiled the group's asset list, but I can't send it to your email. I've printed it out."

(End of this chapter)