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In 2014, the Chinese-language film market had not yet been completely swept away by the surging tide of capital that would follow. Every achievement won through the quality of the works seemed particularly solid and precious.

Like a dark horse that has been tempered and tempered, "The Massage Therapist" has boldly carved its name in the history of Chinese films with a final box office of 26.8 billion yuan.

The "bizarre and eccentric" film company behind it has completely shed the stigma of being a "shell company" when it was first established, and with its dazzling achievements, it has firmly occupied a place on the map of the Chinese film industry.

In October in Tokyo, the ginkgo leaves are just beginning to turn a pale yellow, as if adorning the city with newly ripened gold leaf.

When Suning partnered with the creative team behind "The Massage Therapist"...

When producer Chen Xiaojun, lead actresses Mei and Liu, and others stepped onto the dazzling red carpet of the Tokyo International Film Festival, the Chinese media waiting on both sides suddenly realized that the ambitions of this fledgling company had long since transcended the confines of the domestic market.

"Director Su! Congratulations! This is the first time 'Bizarre and Unusual' has participated in the competition section of an international A-list film festival. How are you feeling right now? Are you looking forward to the awards?" A reporter from NetEase Entertainment stationed in Japan squeezed to the edge of the red carpet and handed the microphone to Su Ning.

Today, Suning specially chose a well-tailored dark gray Zhongshan suit. The fabric subtly revealed its texture under the flashlight, making him stand out among the international filmmakers dressed in standard suits, exuding both uniqueness and cultural confidence.

He stopped, composed himself, and spoke in a calm yet powerful voice: "Thank you for your attention. In my view, film is a universal language that transcends national boundaries. We came here with the utmost sincerity, hoping that this story about disguise and survival, rooted in the streets of Bangkok, can break through cultural barriers and resonate with audiences from diverse backgrounds."

Standing beside him was Chen Xiaojun, who wore a moon-white modified cheongsam that outlined her elegant lines. Her hair was adorned with only a simple jade hairpin, which made her temperament even more refined and outstanding.

Having studied opera since childhood, her physique is truly perfect, immediately making her another eye-catching presence.

The scene of her smiling and exchanging pleasantries with local media in fluent Japanese was captured on camera and made headlines on several Japanese entertainment news outlets that evening.

It's worth noting that this is all thanks to Suning's teaching over this period of time, since Suning has already mastered the shortcut to learning foreign languages.

The headline boldly proclaimed: "A New Force in Chinese Cinema Makes a Stunning Debut with 'The Massage Therapist,' and the Beautiful Producer's Fluent Japanese Draws Attention."

With the film festival halfway through, the most anticipated awards ceremony was held in Roppongi Hills.

When the ceremony reached its most crucial moment, the esteemed chairman of the jury slowly walked onto the stage, opened the envelope, and read out in a clear tone: "The winner of the Golden Kirin Award for Best Film at the 27th Tokyo International Film Festival is—'The Massage Therapist,' China!"

For a moment, a subtle and brief silence fell over the scene.

Clearly, the fact that this most prestigious honor was ultimately awarded to a debut film by a new director surprised many in the industry.

The spotlight, like the hand of fate, shone precisely on Suning in the audience.

In a close-up shot, he took a deep breath, subconsciously raised his hand to straighten the collar of his Zhongshan suit, then stood up and walked steadily toward the stage.

The towering stature of the Shandong man is legendary in Japan, and his ruggedly handsome appearance immediately captivated the audience both at the scene and watching on television.

However, when Su Ning received the heavy, beautifully designed golden unicorn trophy from the chairman of the judging panel, he felt unusually calm.

This calmness does not stem from arrogance or disdain for the award, but from a more realistic, even somewhat cold, understanding.

The awarding of this prize is also intertwined with complex factors and the exchange of interests related to international copyright.

He knew better than anyone that behind this seemingly glamorous "fairness," the power of manipulation and public relations had never been absent.

This is the harsh reality of the entertainment industry, and indeed, all competitive industries.

"Thank you to the Tokyo International Film Festival and the jury for recognizing 'The Massage Therapist'." He began sincerely in Chinese, then switched to fluent and authentic English in front of the many international faces in the audience: "At its core, this film tells a story about 'disguise' and 'truth.' In our time, performance seems to be everywhere, and each of us may be wearing some kind of 'sunglasses.' But this film attempts to convey a belief: only by mustering the courage to take off those sunglasses can we truly see the world clearly and meet our most authentic selves."

At this point, he deliberately turned to face the Japanese audience and added in pre-rehearsed Japanese, "I sincerely hope that this story will also resonate emotionally with our Japanese viewers. Thank you!"

His poised, confident, and culturally charismatic performance was transmitted back to China in real time via satellite, sending shockwaves through the entire Chinese film industry, which was closely following the film festival.

"I used to think he was just a talented new director, but I never expected him to have such a strong presence and not be intimidated at all in international settings!"

"The key is that he has a good appearance and speaks eloquently. I heard he's a top student from Zhejiang University? He's truly a man of both literary and martial talents!"

"Now 'Bizarre and Extraordinary' is truly going to soar to new heights!"

……

When the team returned triumphantly with the Golden Kirin trophy, a symbol of glory, and arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport, they were greeted by a dense crowd of media with their cameras and microphones, as well as a large number of enthusiastic fans who had come spontaneously, holding congratulatory banners.

"Director Su! Having won the top prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival, what's the first thing you want to say right now?"

"Mr. Chen! What is the next strategic plan for 'Bizarre and Unusual'? Will it accelerate its internationalization efforts?"

"Ms. Mei, congratulations! I heard that you have received an invitation to screen at the Venice Film Festival for your role as the female lead. Is that true?"

The blinding flashes of light almost formed a continuous barrage.

Chen Xiaojun subconsciously took a half step back, closely following Su Ning's side, her gaze fixed on his back with a firm yet gentle look.

At that very moment, she made an important decision:

From now on, she is willing and will strive to become the strongest force standing behind Su Ning, coordinating the overall situation and stabilizing the rear for him.

Just three months ago, they were still lobbying and arguing for a paltry 18% screen time; three months later, they are now standing on the highest podium of one of Asia's most influential film festivals.

The hardships and leaps she made were enough to bring tears to her eyes.

The effects of the Golden Kirin Award are immediate and comprehensive:
Major cinema chains in China quickly announced that "The Massage Therapist" would launch special re-releases to celebrate its awards, and its screening rate immediately rebounded to 25%. One of Japan's most powerful distributors successfully acquired the Japanese rights to "The Massage Therapist" for a high price of $800 million. Global streaming giant Netflix also actively sought the film's exclusive global streaming rights, negotiating extremely favorable terms...

At the grand celebration banquet that followed, industry veteran and renowned director Kong Sheng personally came to offer his congratulations. He raised his glass to Su Ning and Chen Xiaojun, his tone full of emotion: "Looking back, when I received my first significant international award, I had already been working in this industry for a full ten years. And you? You've accomplished this with just your first film... The younger generation is truly formidable!"

Su Ning held the glass with both hands and humbly clinked glasses with Director Kong: "Director Kong, you flatter me. Without the strong support from Shandong Film Group in the early stages, and without the generous guidance and advice from seniors like you, 'The Massage Therapist' would never have achieved its current success. We are simply standing on the shoulders of giants."

In a corner of the banquet, a slightly tipsy Chen Xiaojun recorded a message on her phone: "October 28, 2014, in Tokyo. Tonight, we made the name 'Bizarre and Wonderful' truly shine on the world stage. But I know this is just the beginning. The road ahead is long, very long..."

Yes, this glorious chapter is merely the end of a prologue.

With the honor and support of the Tokyo International Film Festival's top prize, "Bizarre and Extraordinary" has not only firmly established its unshakeable industry position in China, but has also successfully gained international recognition, opening the door to a wider world.

The epic film legend that belongs to Suning and Chen Xiaojun has only just begun.

……

In November, the chill of early winter has already quietly seeped into the air in Ningbo.

At the Xiangshan Film and Television Base, the filming of the large-scale period drama "Like a Flowing River" is in full swing.

Inside a meticulously constructed, authentically styled chemical plant workshop, Su Ning, playing Song Yunhui, is dressed in faded, dark blue overalls with a worn collar, intently filming a crucial scene involving a technical challenge.

In the photos, he has a furrowed brow and a look in his eyes that combines the stubbornness of an intellectual with the focus of a technician.

"Song Yunhui! Remember, this technical hurdle must be overcome!" Director Kong Sheng emphasized the character's motivation through a megaphone in front of the monitor, "It's not for your personal future, but for the future of the entire Jinzhou Chemical Plant!"

Su Ning was completely immersed in the role, unaware that the sweat on his forehead was sliding down his slightly thin face.

Just as he raised his hand to casually wipe the sweat from his brow with his sleeve, he caught a glimpse of Liu Yifei, a familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar figure standing not far behind Director Kong.

She was even thinner and more delicate than she appeared on screen, with no makeup and a hint of fatigue from her long journey, but her signature eyes remained clear and bright, like glass that had been soaked in mountain spring water.

Today is her first day on set. Wearing a simple beige long trench coat, she stands quietly outside the noisy crew, carefully observing the filming process.

Even with her low-key demeanor, her innate, aloof yet pure and unique temperament still makes her stand out in a crowd.

Suning had to admit that even in the entertainment industry, where beauties abound, Liu Yifei's beauty was unique.

It wasn't a carefully calculated, dazzling beauty, but rather a natural, unadorned elegance and grace, like the thin mist that permeates a mountain stream at dawn—aloof from afar, yet increasingly captivating upon closer inspection.

"Cut! That emotion was perfect, that's a wrap!" Director Kong Sheng called out with satisfaction, then noticed Liu Yifei behind him and waved with a smile, "Yifei's here? Perfect timing, come over and get acquainted. This is Su Ning, the soul of our show, Song Yunhui."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei slowly stepped forward, politely extending her right hand, her voice soft yet clear: "Teacher Su, hello, it's an honor to meet you. I've seen your performances in 'Under the Zhengyang Gate,' 'Parents' Love,' and 'The Massage Therapist,' which you directed and starred in—all were excellent."

Her tone was respectful enough, yet she maintained the appropriate distance for a first meeting.

Su Ning gently shook her hand and noticed that her fingertips were slightly cool, and there was a bit of fresh ink on the side of her index finger, obviously she had just made script notes.

"Mr. Liu, you're too kind. Just call me Su Ning." He responded politely, the handshake lasting only a short time. "I look forward to our future collaboration. The character Liang Sichen is very profound and challenging, and I'm sure you, Mr. Liu, will portray her exceptionally well."

Upon their first meeting, both of them displayed the demeanor and politeness expected of professional actors.

Three days later, the production team held a formal script reading session.

It was here that Suning truly witnessed Liu Yifei's admirable professionalism.

Her character, Liang Sichen, has several intense clashes of ideas with Song Yunhui, especially the heated debate about the policy of attracting foreign investment in the early stages of reform and opening up. "Professor Song, in your opinion, does actively attracting foreign investment equate to selling out national interests?" Liu Yifei recites her lines, her eyes instantly becoming sharp and resolute.

His aura changed accordingly, and he fully entered the role of a confident, well-educated Western elite who was trying to challenge the old system with new ideas.

Suning was immediately drawn into the situation. He adjusted his glasses and replied in a calm yet unquestionable tone, "Ms. Liang, perhaps what we should be thinking about is how to safeguard our own industrial foundation and the future of our national brands amidst the influx of foreign capital and technology."

The two actors delivered precise and powerful lines, with a clear rhythm. The wit and clash of ideas in their words made the other actors and staff present unconsciously hold their breath.

Director Kong listened attentively, nodding frequently with a satisfied expression on his face, clearly approving of the initial chemistry shown by this important pair.

After the reading session, Liu Yifei took the script to Su Ning and said, "Teacher Su, I think Song Yunhui's reaction in that dialogue about technology import could have been handled with a little more depth? Although Liang Sichen was sharp-tongued and had a clear stance, she respected Song Yunhui's knowledge and character, and it wasn't just a simple provocation."

Su Ning was somewhat surprised. He had thought Liu Yifei was the kind of actress who was immersed in her own world and didn't talk much, but he didn't expect her to have such a deep and thorough understanding of the character's psychological motivations.

“Your intuition is very accurate.” He immediately took out his script and marked the relevant paragraphs with a pen. “Song Yunhui’s reaction, his stubbornness and toughness, actually stem from his deep concern for the country’s independent industrial development. It is a manifestation of ‘deep love and high expectations’ rather than targeting Liang Sichen personally.”

The two discussed the details of shaping these two complex characters and grasping their motivations for nearly an hour in a corner of the conference room, only ending reluctantly when their assistants came to urge them to move on to the next agenda item.

As she left, Liu Yifei gave him a rare, genuine smile: "Discussing the script and rehearsing with Teacher Su was very comfortable and rewarding."

"Me too."

As filming progressed, the weather in Ningbo grew increasingly cold, and Suning grew to appreciate Liu Yifei's unassuming yet dedicated work ethic even more.

During the filming of the crucial night scene where Liang Sichen braved the rain to rush to the factory dormitory to find Song Yunhui and clear up the misunderstanding, a strong cold front struck, and the actual temperature on set was only five or six degrees Celsius.

Liu Yifei, dressed in a thin autumn costume, filmed seven takes in the cold artificial rain. She was soaked to the bone, her face was pale from the cold, her lips turned uncontrollably purple, and her body trembled slightly. But she didn't complain once from beginning to end. Every time the director yelled "Action," she could immediately get into the right emotional state.

"Should we take a break and have some hot drinks to warm up before filming?" During a break in filming, Su Ning gestured to his assistant to quickly bring over a thermos. He took it and handed it to Liu Yifei, saying, "It's ginger tea, to ward off the cold."

"Thank you, Teacher Su." Liu Yifei took the cup, held it with both hands, and sipped it slowly, her voice still trembling slightly. "It's okay, I can still manage. In this scene, Liang Sichen's emotions are a mixture of anxiety, grievance, and determination. We can't let the cold weather compromise the performance. Once that 'spirit' is lost, it will be difficult to pick it up again."

Her words left a deep impression on Su Ning.

In this generally restless and fame-seeking world, it is truly rare to find an actor who can calm down, have reverence for acting, and be willing to put in tremendous effort for it.

Later, when Liu Yifei's assistant was coordinating the schedule with Su Ning, she quietly said a few more words: "Teacher Su, actually, Sister Yifei has been under a lot of pressure lately. In order to play the role of Liang Sichen, a returned overseas economist, she specially turned down all commercial performances before filming started, secretly went to universities to audit international trade and macroeconomics courses for three months, and also privately interviewed many overseas returnees who returned to China in the 1980s. She has taken several notebooks full of notes."

Su Ning then realized that her precise use of professional terminology, her delicate grasp of the character's overseas background and the rich subtext beneath the lines, all came from such arduous and unknown efforts behind the scenes.

However, throughout the entire filming process, Su Ning remained mindful of the appropriate boundaries in his interactions with Liu Yifei.

He wouldn't fawn over others like some people do, nor would he feign aloofness and deliberately distance himself.

When Liu Yifei encounters bottlenecks or confusion in her performance, he will honestly offer analysis and suggestions based on the character itself, as a colleague and co-star in the play; when she is unwell due to the weather or high-intensity filming, he will take good care of her and then have his assistant quietly send her appropriate medicine or nutritional supplements, but he will never take this opportunity to personally go and show excessive concern.

This mature, appropriate, and professionally respectful way of interacting actually made Liu Yifei, who was sensitive and worldly-wise, develop more trust and goodwill towards him.

One time, when they finished work early and it wasn't completely dark yet, she unusually took the initiative to walk over to Su Ning's rest chair and asked, "Ms. Su, I heard that you didn't receive any systematic training in the film and television industry before filming 'The Massage Therapist'?"

“Yes,” Su Ning put down the script in her hand and answered frankly, “The Massage Therapist is my directorial debut. I had accumulated some ideas before, so I thought I would give it a try.”

"Very impressive." Her praise was simple yet sincere. "There are very few people who can switch freely between the roles of actor and director and achieve success in both."

The two discussed this topic, from the structure and narrative of the script to the use of cinematic language, and then to the differences between different types of performance systems. They discovered that they had a lot of resonance in their artistic creation concepts and aesthetics.

Even though they got along so well, Suning maintained a proper sense of propriety during their conversations and did not delve too deeply into their private lives.

……

Meanwhile, the interactions between Su Ning and his girlfriend Fan Lin (who plays Liu Qiming) both on and off screen present a different picture.

Fan Lin plays Liu Qiming, Song Yunhui's first love, a gentle, resilient, and silently supportive woman.

Their romantic scenes are delicate and subtle, full of the innocence and restraint unique to that era.

In front of the camera, the way Su Ning looked at Fan Lin was the same way Song Yunhui looked at Liu Qiming—a shy, clumsy, yet heartfelt sincerity typical of young people's first love.

"Song Yunhui, this is a notebook my dad asked me to bring you." In a scene set in a library, Fan Lin softly recited her lines, pushing a notebook in front of him with eyes full of concern.

"Qiming, thank you." Song Yunhui, played by Su Ning, had a shy smile on his lips after being cared for.

After director Kong Sheng yelled "Cut," the two would often exchange a smile; that tacit understanding was naturally formed from spending a long time together.

After work, they would study the script for the next day together. Fan Lin would carefully help Su Ning tidy up his overly "shabby" work clothes, which had been distressed multiple times, and dust them off.

"Look here, the thread is a little loose. I'll sew it up for you in a bit," Fan Lin said naturally, pointing to Su Ning's cuff.

She is not the Liu Qiming who needs protection in the play; in real life, she is independent, opinionated, and equally serious about acting.

"It's a good thing you're here." Su Ning looked at her, her eyes filled with genuine relaxation and reliance. "Otherwise, I would almost look like a down-on-his-luck technician."

Sometimes, Fan Lin would bring soup she had made herself to visit the set, sharing it not only with Su Ning but also with the director and other main actors, including Liu Yifei.

She was poised and graceful, taking care of Su Ning without making others feel awkward.

Although Fan Lin and Su Ning had various conflicts, they still cared about saving face in front of outsiders.

Moreover, Su Ning is truly a perfect boyfriend, and Fan Lin is willing to suppress her inner unhappiness.

"Yifei, try this. It's cold, warm yourself up." Fan Lin handed a small bowl of soup to Liu Yifei with a gentle smile.

"Thank you." Liu Yifei accepted it and thanked her politely.

She could sense the stable and harmonious atmosphere between Fan Lin and Su Ning.

Because this is a two-part filming project, the six months of intense filming are about to come to an end.

After the final scene was successfully filmed, Liu Yifei, amidst the congratulations of the staff, found Su Ning, who was talking to Fan Lin, and handed him a rather exquisite-looking kraft paper bag.

"Professor Su, this is a replica of a director's notes that I found by chance when I was in the United States. I think the storyboarding and narrative ideas in it are very unique, and they may be of some reference value to your future directing work."

After thanking him, Su Ning opened the book and found it to be a finely bound replica of Hitchcock's early director's notes. Although not a unique copy, it was still quite precious and clearly carefully selected.

"This is really too precious, thank you." Su Ning was somewhat surprised by the thoughtfulness of the gift.

"Consider this a token of my gratitude for your professional exchange and guidance over the past few months." Liu Yifei smiled slightly, her eyes clear. "I hope we'll have the opportunity to collaborate again in the future."

Her gaze also turned politely to Fan Lin, and she nodded in greeting.

Watching her slender figure turn and leave, Su Ning carefully put away the gift full of heartfelt sentiments.

He knows that in this complex industry, some appreciation and affinity can be maintained and become more precious by keeping an appropriate and purely professional distance.

Fan Lin stood beside him, gently squeezing his hand without saying a word, her eyes filled with understanding and trust.

"Su Ning, if I joined your 'bizarre and fantastical' world, would you refuse?"

"How could that be! I'd love to have that."

"Really?"

“I’ll call Junjun right now and have her contact your current agency.”

"Su Ning, how can you trust Chen Xiaojun so much?"

“She gave up her stable job in the theater troupe for me, so I have no reason to be suspicious.” However, Su Ning looked at Fan Lin with a double meaning and said.

"..." As expected, the clever and perceptive Fan Lin understood Su Ning's meaning. In this respect, she was indeed somewhat inferior to Chen Xiaojun.

During the long and dedicated filming of "Like a Flowing River," Su Ning and Liu Yifei developed a special friendship based on mutual respect, professional recognition, and appropriate appreciation.

At the same time, his stable and tacit relationship with Fan Lin also became a solid emotional support for him off-screen.

Both on and off screen, the boundaries between emotion and professionalism are clear and distinct.

This ability to navigate complex environments and maintain various healthy relationships is precisely the wisdom that mentally mature people understand and cherish most.

...(End of chapter)