Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 423 Luring the Mother Tiger Away from the Mountain (Two chapters combined, bonus chapter for "If We Were to Get Snowflakes Together in Another Day")
Inside the sauna at Wenyu River Mansion, a young girl was pressed against a Nordic spruce wood wall panel, the fragrance of pine resin mingling with the rising heat to create an ambiguous mist.

Liu Yifei's hairpin had slipped off at some point, and her wet, long hair clung to Lu Kuan's chest like seaweed, with water droplets at the ends rolling down her skin and into the folds of her scarf.

Unconsciously, she traced circles on his heart with her fingertips. Her knees, flushed pink from the heat, came together and then parted slightly, leaving shallow marks on the wooden couch on her alabaster skin.

Only after exhaling a breath of stale air did Lu Kuan smile and help her lie down on her side to rest.

He closed the sauna door that he had deliberately left open for ventilation, turned around and poured some water on it, causing a cloud of steam to rise.

The temperature in the small wooden house was just right. Exhausted, Liu Yifei wrapped herself in a bath towel and didn't want to get up. She lay on her side on the wooden couch and watched him.

"You bastard, why are you acting like this today..."

"what?"

His girlfriend winked mischievously, "Why are you so gentle? You used to drive me crazy."

Mr. Lu also felt a sense of ease after the harmony of Yin and Yang, as if that heavy topic could be temporarily put aside.

"I'm afraid you'll get broken like that lotus-patterned cup, which wouldn't just be a matter of tens of thousands of dollars, so I'm deliberately being gentle with you, this delicate flower."

Xiao Liu rested her head on the towel contentedly: "Please keep it up. We're together every day now, so we need to be careful not to overdo it."

The temperature in the sauna rose, and the girl, still feeling the afterglow of pleasure, said breathlessly, "Lu Kuan, I've realized I've really gotten a bit bigger. My old bras are a bit too tight."

"Isn't it all thanks to my good work, like an old ox plowing the land? After you're done enjoying yourself, I can even help you get in shape. Pretty good, right?"

Liu Yifei seemed to remember something, and after a long while, she shook her head and sighed, "What a pity."

Boss Lu poured a few more scoops of water on it: "What nonsense are you trying to spout now?"

Xiao Liu giggled: "I'll give you credit for this. But if you could just massage me and not exercise each time, I would have an S-shaped figure in no time and wouldn't have to suffer like you."

"What are you thinking? How can a washing machine work if it's not plugged in?"

Boss Lu looked at her speechlessly: "Besides, you'll go crazy doing that."

"why?"

Boss Lu rambled on: "Otherwise, why are there so many cases of mad cow disease in dairy farms every year? They're constantly squeezing and pressing them without releasing them. You'd feel numb if you stomped on them."

Get lost! I'm not as... greedy as you!

The washing machine sneered inwardly, "That's because you're not old enough yet. Sooner or later, you'll be eating and drinking like a glutton."

After catching her breath, Liu Yifei got up and coaxed her boyfriend to carry her to wash up before returning to the bedroom to rest.

Even now, aside from feeling that the washing machine was particularly gentle during their intimate moments and spiritual union, the girl was still immersed in her dreams of a bright future.

In her heart, 2008 was a perfect, happy, and hopeful year.

Whether in her career or love life, everything was going so smoothly and beautifully, and her life was on the right track.

As dusk deepened, only one person remained sleepless in Wenyu River Prefecture tonight.
-
As April arrives, the entire nation remains immersed in the pre-Olympic atmosphere.

The magnolia trees along Chang'an Avenue hold up unopened white porcelain cups, each petal filled with the sound of the five Olympic flags fluttering in the wind;

In the morning light, the waves at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center shattered into millions of silver coins, jingling and counting the sails about to set sail.

Deep in the alleyways of Shanghai, a red shirt fluttering on a clothesline suddenly freezes, resembling a ribbon dancing on a volunteer's wrist.

CCTV and Wenjie Video provided live coverage of the torch relay's progress overseas.

On April 9th, the Olympic flame from Beiping arrived in San Francisco, which was the only stop in North America for security reasons.

Due to the discordant factors in Paris, my country's Ministry of Education summoned the French Ambassador to China on the same day to express serious concern and called on overseas Chinese to join hands in supporting the torch relay.

The bravery of the disabled torchbearer on the banks of the Seine that day and the spirit of “great unity among the people of the world” quickly spread throughout the world, resulting in the San Francisco torch relay route being almost entirely crowded with North American Chinese.

People spontaneously drove from all over the United States and Canada to support the event, including many movie fans wearing T-shirts with the theme song "The Sky of History" and fans of Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei.

Chinese Olympic swimming champion Lin Li was the first runner, US women's volleyball head coach Lang Ping was the second runner, and San Francisco Chinese-American administrator Li Mengxian was the third runner.

In the video, when a few rioters attempted to replicate the farce in Paris, countless international students and overseas Chinese joined hands to form a human wall to stop them, and the entire crowd sang in unison—

"The five-star red flag flutters in the wind, and the victory song rings so loud!"

May our beloved motherland march towards prosperity and strength!

From Paris to San Francisco, the Olympic torch relay in April 2008 became a window for showcasing China's image to the world.

When a few disruptors attempted to sabotage, overseas Chinese built a Great Wall with their own flesh and blood, and their resounding singing of "Ode to the Motherland" echoed through the sky.

All of this evokes deep emotions.

From North America to Buenos Aires in South America, then through Tanzania's capital (the only stop in Africa), and Muscat and Islamabad in the Middle East.

In mid-April, the Olympic torch from Beiping (Beijing) entered Asia, with its first stop being New Delhi.

Meanwhile, the domestic Olympic Committee and the Olympic creative team led by Lu Kuan and Zhang Yimou have entered deeper waters of their work. Programs that have been proposed, rejected, and improved repeatedly are in disarray, and many new problems have emerged, causing great headaches.

Inside the Olympic Building office, a film crew from the Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio was using three high-definition cameras to record a lively discussion within the Olympic creative team.

The Chinese nation's century-old Olympic dream must have started from the arduous process of bidding for the Olympics, accumulating materials all the way up to the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games.

Director Gu Yun stands behind the camera. This documentary director, who graduated from the Beijing Film Academy in 1991, is the second female director in Olympic history. Entrusted by the Olympic Organizing Committee, she undertook the task of filming a documentary on the Olympic theme.

The documentary is called "Building Dreams 2008". The entire film is shot on 16mm film and is set against the backdrop of the Beijing Olympics. Through seven years of filming, nearly 1000 hours of footage have been accumulated.

Of course, the essence of the documentary begins on March 24th of this year, the day the Olympic flame was lit in Athens and began its relay across five continents.

Today they are filming a simple yet sophisticated day for the Olympic opening and closing ceremony creative team led by Lu Kuan and Zhang Yimou.

At noon on April 17, Gu Jun was directing the lighting setup on site.

Documentaries are mostly lit using natural light, but sometimes special sets and lighting are used for interviews with key figures.

Feeling that everything was ready, Gu Yun prepared to walk from the outside to the inside to test the camera effect, just as she ran into the Olympic creative team returning from lunch.

"Director Lu, Director Zhang, you're back? Sorry to bother you today."

Boss Lu smiled and said, "Have you eaten yet, senior? Should we ask the cafeteria downstairs to send some food up to everyone?"

"No need, no need, and please don't call me senior sister, I can't possibly accept that!" Gu Yun is around 40 years old this year, but she is well-maintained and doesn't look like a director who has been exposed to the elements.

Zhang Yimou, Lu Kuan, and Gu Yun are all alumni and worked together for the Olympics, so they are quite familiar with each other.

Zhang Yimou joked, "Gu Yun, Xiao Lu was trying to flatter you, hoping you'd give him more screen time later, but you didn't understand!"

Gu Yun, who has a lively personality, said: "Right? Then I'm being silly. But the leaders also instructed us to show more of the spirit of young people who are striving for the Olympic cause."

"Yesterday I interviewed Liu Xiang during his closed training. He was quite shy, unlike Coach Lu, who has already stepped onto various important stages around the world at such a young age."

Marvin brought in coffee; she was always there for this kind of occasion: "Sister Gu, film less of Director Lu. He's too handsome; people will watch your documentary and not pay attention to the content."

After a while, he boasted, "Me too, I take fewer photos too!"

"Hey~~~" Zhang Jigang and the others laughed and cheered, but Gu Yun still kept a relatively humble attitude in front of Lu Kuan and Zhang Yimou.

"Could the two renowned directors perhaps offer some guidance on camera angles, composition, or something?"

"I'm being called Director Gu all this time, but really I'm just tinkering and fiddling around. I'm really afraid that what I end up filming won't meet your standards!"

Mr. Lu waved his hand: "I really don't know anything about this. Please give me some pointers, Director Zhang."

Zhang Yimou chuckled: "It's nothing, just don't put me in the same frame as this kid. Give me more close-ups, otherwise I'll look too old!"

The office was filled with laughter again. Gu Yun really liked their work atmosphere—united, harmonious, humble, and friendly.

In less than ten minutes, she changed her mind.

The filming of the documentary footage officially began. The camera first slowly panned across the long table piled with design drafts, and then focused on the creative team members on both sides of the table.

There was no particular seating arrangement; everyone sat on either side, but the main discussion was led by the two directors.

Zhang Yimou and others simply pretended the cameras didn't exist. Documentaries are meant to restore the truth, and besides, they have nothing to hide from others.

"Ladies and gentlemen, in the last overall report, the leaders have already approved the cultural performance, the lighting of the torch, and the prelude performance. Today, we will discuss a few key issues again."

"The first issue is the casting for 'Singing for the Motherland'."

Zhang Yimou signaled to his staff to connect to the office's large screen, and Gu Yun also had the cameraman cut to a medium-long shot, capturing the reactions and expressions of everyone in the discussion.

A hint of helplessness appeared on Zhang Yimou's terracotta warrior-like face: "In the A and B roles of 'Singing for the Motherland,' the little girl in the A role, Yang Peiyi, is about to lose her baby teeth, and I estimate that she will be missing two front teeth, which the leaders think may not be aesthetically pleasing."

"The backup B-position Lin Miaoke's timbre and pitch are slightly inferior to hers, but her lively and lovely temperament is superior, and she can represent the image of Chinese children at the opening ceremony."

"Let's discuss this issue. My personal opinion is to use Lin Miaoke."

Music director Chen Qigang was the first to speak: "I think Yang Peiyi is a better choice. The children's faces are all quite cute, and Yang Peiyi's voice is even better."

“Last year I saw the Paris Opera Boys’ Choir perform at Versailles. Many of the children were in the process of losing their baby teeth, which is exactly the most authentic childlike innocence.”

Zhang Jigang offered a different opinion: "A choir is a choir, and the Olympics is the Olympics. At that time, 40 billion viewers around the world will be focused on this little girl on the stage. The children are all good children, but why should people have to say anything? I support using Lin Miaoke."

Boss Lu asked several overseas Chinese for their opinions: "Sister Lin Ying, Ma Wen, Teacher Cai, what do you think?"

Marvin shook his head: "From the perspective of Western audiences, I don't think there will be much difference. I prefer Lin Miaoke."

Lin Ying supports: "I support Lin Miaoke. Western audiences don't know much about 'Singing for the Motherland'. They can't judge whether the singing is good or bad. If they have to choose one, image is more important."

Cai Guoqiang also supports Lin Miaoke.

It wasn't until Chen Weiya, a bearded man with experience in large-scale overseas dance galas, came up with an idea that was later adopted by the Beijing Olympics.

"The leadership's instructions prioritize the national image. Could we follow international practice and use Lin Miaoke's image and Yang Peiyi's voice?"

Zhang Yimou said expressionlessly, "That's indeed what the leader suggested, but the decision is for us to make it ourselves; we can't just blindly follow."

Chen Weiya argued, "It is lip-syncing, but it is also an international practice, so I don't think it will have a big negative impact."

"The Sydney Philharmonic Orchestra's performance in 2000 and the Athens National Choir's performance in 2004 were both recordings, weren't they?"

Suddenly, someone slammed their hand on the table and stood up: "No! Absolutely not!"

Gu Jun was startled. Only now did she begin to understand the dedication and selflessness of these artists, and glimpse the daily routine of the opening and closing ceremony discussions.

She instructed the camera to focus on music director Chen Qigang, who was somewhat agitated.

The musician stood up and said, “Director Lu, Director Zhang, it’s fine to use Lin Miaoke or Yang Peiyi, but you absolutely cannot use a false pretense. That would be disrespectful to music and to the two children.”

"Hey, Lao Chen, what's all the fuss about? Sit down first." Chen Weiya looked somewhat displeased. "Didn't I just say that we did the same thing in the previous two Olympics? How is that disrespectful?"

"On such a world-class stage, let alone a situation like ours, even if the original singer came, we would have to play the recording just in case, and we couldn't afford the slightest mistake!"

"Just because others do it, does that mean we should? Would other countries allow rioters to storm their torch relays?"

"If it weren't for Director Lu and his team racking their brains and making some arrangements in advance, who knows what the final result would have been?"

There were actually quite a few artists present who agreed with Chen Weiya's views, but seeing Chen Qigang express his stance once again, they sat solemnly in their seats and remained silent.

A deathly silence fell over the meeting room as everyone pondered the pros and cons.

Gu Yun and other documentary filmmakers deeply felt the tense atmosphere.

Under immense work pressure and bearing the expectations of the entire nation, it's understandable that people might have some emotional outbursts.

Actually, Chen Weiya's words weren't entirely wrong.

After asking for Marvin and others' opinions at the beginning, Boss Lu didn't say anything more. In fact, this is the norm for him when he hosts and participates in many creative group discussions.

Even if he knows the best answer to many problems, he cannot bring it up immediately to reach a consensus, because every solution to any problem is bound to have flaws.

The final solution was not the most perfect, but the most suitable.

For example, when discussing "singing while striking the earthenware jar," everyone expressed their opinions and suggested instruments such as the xun and zhu. Lu Kuan knew that these were inappropriate, but he still let everyone discuss them to their heart's content.

Finally, the design of the jar was chosen, and there was no room for further discussion, so the final design could be completed.

If he had proposed the jar from the beginning, it would undoubtedly have been rejected on the spot, and it would have been uncertain whether it would have been used in the end.

There is no first place in literature, but there is no second place in martial arts. There is no absolute authority in art. Everyone present is a top talent in their respective fields, even in the country or the world, and they will not necessarily blindly follow him.

The current issue of the little girl actress in "Singing for the Motherland" is actually the same.

Chen Qigang's viewpoint is not wrong, but can Chen Weiya be said to be wrong in any way?

Just as he said, the previous two Olympic Games were lip-synced, and even the Queen of England's skydive, which was heavily promoted as a gimmick at the 2012 London Olympics, was also performed by a stand-in, but it didn't seem to be criticized much.

Why can't Beiping be included?
Mr. Lu sighed inwardly. He had just asked three overseas Chinese artists about the perspective of Western audiences. It wasn't that he was being a Western worshipper, but rather that such a grand event was an international program and couldn't be created in isolation.

Only he knew that Westerners could lip-sync, but it wouldn't work in Beiping.

After the 2008 Olympics, The Washington Post published its list of the top ten scandals of the year, including the Olympic lip-syncing incident, which was heavily criticized.

The Guardian also pointed out that such lip-syncing behavior conflicts with the spirit of fairness and authenticity advocated by the Olympics and is shameful.

Leaving aside the biased and unjust views of Western journalists with a political bias, Lu Kuan came to be the chief director of the Olympics precisely to contribute his efforts to make this Olympics the best it could be.

Whether it was the historic drone ignition, the improvements to LEDs, or the program direction for the second half of modern China, he achieved this goal and ideal.

Similarly, the issues at hand still require his final decision; even if he acts arbitrarily, he cannot allow the lip-syncing incident to happen again.

"Comrades." The young director's voice broke the silence, and everyone looked up at him.

"Yesterday's New York Times headline stigmatized the journey of the Olympic torch from Paris to Los Angeles as 'an elaborately staged patriotic show'."

"If we choose to use Lin Miaoke's image and Yang Peiyi's voice today, from a young age, it would be unfair to both children and a deception of the audience."

"Looking at it from a broader perspective, we have no doubt about the integrity of Western journalists. This stain will follow the Beijing Olympics like cancer cells for the rest of our lives. No matter how well we do in other aspects, they can always use this incident to attack us."

Everyone paused in surprise. For more than a year since the Olympics began, various Western media outlets had been spreading rumors and gossip, which had disgusted everyone.

Even The People's Daily established a special column called "Bell" to refute the rumors and set the record straight.

"Think about the instrument we chose, the 'fou' (缶). The ancient music professor described it as 'producing sound when struck and having a rhythmic stop,' which is one of the fundamental characteristics of Chinese culture."

"Authentic but measured."

Lu Kuan glanced at Zhang Yimou, who was deep in thought: "We can use Lin or Yang, but we absolutely cannot lip-sync. I prefer Director Zhang's opinion and recommend Lin Miaoke."

"When the atmosphere reaches its climax, no one will be able to discern the timbre or pitch of 'Ode to the Motherland,' but this video will circulate for a long time. The leaders' considerations are reasonable; in this matter, the image is indeed of greater importance."

Chen Weiya hesitated, "But what about the leadership?"

"If anything goes wrong, Director Lu and I will take responsibility. It's fine." Zhang Yimou, still working seamlessly with his junior from the Beijing Film Academy, said in a deep voice:

"Compared to false perfection, real imperfection is closer to the Olympic spirit. The fact that the spikes that American black athlete Jesse Owens lost when he won the gold medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics is still talked about today. No problem."

Zhang Yimou raised his hand: "Now let's vote. Those who support Lin Miaoke, please raise your hands."

It was passed unanimously in the meeting room.

Watching the documentary from behind the camera, Gu Yun was deeply moved and began to jot down her observations in her sketchbook as a form of narration:
We saw Chen Qigang, who had lived in France for twenty years, suddenly tear up. Amid the applause of the crowd, we gained a deeper understanding of the "cultural confidence" that director Lu Kuan had mentioned on different occasions.

I think this is not just a slogan, but a willingness to openly present our unadorned civilization to four billion people.

The discussion in the conference room continued, and Zhang Jigang raised a new question about the program "Ancient Rhymes of Qin".

Lu Kuan's head was throbbing from listening. This was a program that was repeatedly proven unworkable before the show was even about to start, and was eventually cut.

However, for the reasons mentioned above, he cannot state this clearly now, because this is a flaw that can only be verified through practice.

Especially since this program was created by a team led by Zhang Yimou and Zhang Weidong, an inheritor of Shaanxi shadow puppetry intangible cultural heritage, Boss Lu had no choice but to cancel it without any explanation.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to face his senior from Beijing Film Academy who had confided in him.

What can I do?

"Weidong has recently led the actors in two rounds of rehearsals in Daxing. The foldable metal shadow puppet frame sent by the Zhejiang factory has also arrived, and the effect is very good."

Zhang Yimou smiled broadly, his face crinkling with laughter. He is very willing to promote the culture of his hometown, and shadow puppetry is an art form that can represent Chinese culture.

"Director Lu, shall we take another look together before the drone test next week?"

Boss Lu readily agreed: "Okay, no problem!"

The afternoon discussion went smoothly until 5 p.m., when Gu Yun was surprised to find that two international friends had come to make a guest appearance.

"Lu Sang! Zhang Sang! We've arrived!"

Takeshi Kitano and Ken Takakura entered the meeting room, led by staff from the Organizing Committee, where everyone greeted them with smiles and applause.

Ken Takakura is the most internationally influential male actor in postwar Japan. With works such as "Manhunt" and "The Yellow Handkerchief," he became a national movie star in Japan, and his cool and tough image has profoundly influenced Asian film and television aesthetics.

"Manhunt" was also the first Japanese film to be imported into China in ten years. Ken Takakura's portrayal of Du Qiu became a nationwide sensation. He and Zhang Yimou had a deep collaboration on "Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles" in 2005.

Needless to say, Takeshi Kitano met Lu Kuan in Venice in 2002, and they became close friends after finding they shared similar tastes.

It was through Takeshi Kitano's introduction that Toho Co., Ltd. became an Asian ally linked to the Pan-Asian Film Academy.

In recent years, he has been generous in supporting Lu Kuan's films, including "The Sky of History," whenever they are released in Japan.

If Ken Takakura is Japan's national treasure-level male actor, then Takeshi Kitano is Japan's national treasure-level director, handpicked by Akira Kurosawa as his successor.

What brings these two people who represent Sino-Japanese friendship here?
Given that the torch relay is entering Asia and will soon be arriving in East Asian countries, this is a marketing strategy devised by Mr. Lu and Mr. Zhang to enhance the prestige of the Beijing Olympics and showcase the friendly exchanges between artists from East Asian countries.

In other words, even though his film "The Sky of History" consistently guided the wording of the film towards a call for peace, it still provoked a backlash from the right wing within Japan.

Now that two big names in your Japanese film industry are also "secretly exchanging ideas" with the chief director of the Beijing Olympics, they can at least suppress some of the hostility towards the Olympics that has been stirred up in Japan.

Ken Takakura and Takeshi Kitano readily agreed. In fact, the former had an anecdote about visiting Zhang Yimou during the Olympics in his previous life, which was recorded in the documentary "Zhang Yimou's 2008".

Gu Yun knew this material was important, with significant value for united front work and propaganda. She focused intently on selecting camera angles, striving to capture the expressions and movements of the four main characters.

Boss Lu clapped his hands in welcome. After everyone greeted each other, Takeshi Kitano had his staff bring over two samurai swords as a gift.

"Mr. Lu, Mr. Zhang, the main purpose of our trip is to visit you both and express our support for the Beijing Olympics."

He turned his back to the crowd and exchanged glances with Lu Kuan, who was talking on the phone about Sanlitun in Beiping, a place that Boss Lu described as a paradise on earth, a place that Quentin Tarantino had lingered in for a long time.

This greatly piqued his interest.

Zhang Yimou and Ken Takakura embraced warmly: "Thank you and welcome to both of you. Thank you for your gifts. Director Lu Kuan and I have also prepared return gifts."

Takeshi Kitano, usually a carefree eccentric, waved his hand casually, but his expression instantly turned serious: "Gentlemen, please allow us to present you with our swords!"

The crowd applauded and cheered.

Since it is a friendly exchange between international friends, we should also allow others to promote their own culture and display samurai swords according to their own rules.

Gu Yun's camera quickly turned to the two of them: Takeshi Kitano was wearing a navy blue stand-up collar suit, while Ken Takakura was wearing a gray linen kimono.

A space was cleared on the table, and the two laid the brocade bag flat. When they untied the silk rope, a scabbard wrapped in indigo Echizen washi paper was revealed.

The conference room lights cast a cold glow on the scabbard. Takeshi Kitano was the first to unwrap the indigo-colored washi paper, slowly revealing a katana.

The scabbard is made of black lacquer with gold lacquer outlining continuous patterns. The Chinese characters "山川异域" (meaning "different lands and mountains") are engraved on the guard, with sharp strokes that gleam with a bluish light under the lamp.

He only revealed three inches of his sword, explaining, "Mr. Kurosawa Hei's samurai tradition is that when showing one's sword, one 'does not reveal the whole body.' Mr. Lu and Mr. Zhang will draw their swords themselves according to the rules later."

Ken Takakura was the same, except that his sword was inscribed with "Sharing the same moon and sky".

“What a wonderful phrase, ‘Though mountains and rivers separate us, we share the same moon and sky.’” Zhang Yimou’s writing was brilliant: “When the Tang Dynasty’s Master Jianzhen traveled eastward, Prince Nagaya of Japan presented the Tang Dynasty with a thousand kasayas, embroidered with these eight characters. How thoughtful.”

Mr. Lu clapped and laughed, "The Beijing Olympics is not only a grand event for China, but also for all of Asia. Thank you for your kind intentions. Long live peace."

To complete the performance, under the lens of documentary director Gu Yun, Lu Kuan and Zhang Yimou each drew and wiped their swords, which was a step in receiving a gift.

Takeshi Kitano handed over two pieces of white cloth: "Gentlemen, in Japan, the sword is a symbol of loyalty and protection."

"Keep your mouth shut when cleaning the knife, so that the smokeless grime in your mouth will not defile the knife."

The two did as instructed, and the crowd applauded and took photos.

Afterwards, Ken Takakura and Takeshi Kitano had their staff post photos of them together and appeals for support for the Beijing Olympics on Twitter and Japanese social media, thus completing their visit as left-wing figures promoting Sino-Japanese friendship. The complex Olympic affairs required balancing the practicalities of cultural performances with the public image of promoting, publicizing, and marketing the Games to the world.

This role as chief director can only be filled by renowned directors like Lu Xun or Zhang Yimou, who have extensive connections and international renown.
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As time went by, the entertainment industry in China was incredibly noisy and chaotic throughout April, with a constant stream of news breaking.

The Hong Kong Film Awards concluded on the 13th. "The Warlords," which was defeated at the mainland box office by the blockbuster "Assembly," became the biggest winner of this year's awards with an absolute advantage of eight awards. Jet Li and Siqin Gaowa won Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively.

Wang Jinhua, a top agent in mainland China, has left her current employer, Chengtian Entertainment, once again after leaving Huayi Brothers two years ago. Her new studio is located in Beiping SOHO Modern City, and her next destination is unknown.

According to Zhuo Wei, it was because another vice president under Wu Kebo, in order to demonstrate the importance of his own team, established "Chengtian Shijiu" in response to Wang Jinhua's Orange Sky 18 Culture Brokerage Company, which showed a strong tendency to gradually replace "Chengtian Shijiu", which made her want to leave.

According to Fengxing Studio, coal mine owners from Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces have contacted them for investment, and the two Wangs of Huayi are interested in recruiting her back to her former employer to promote the company's listing.

But the condition is that Wang Jinhua must accept the modern company's brokerage system reform and dismantle her old team.
The rest are movies and business news related to the entertainment industry.

Ning Hao's Lunar New Year film "Lost in Thailand" has been approved, with Wang Baoqiang and Shen Teng, artists from the Wenjie Group, playing the male lead and supporting male role, respectively.
With a joint venture between Wenjie, Shanghai Film Group, and Eagle King, the film "Let the Bullets Fly," directed by Jiang Wen, has been officially launched. Casting is currently underway, and filming is expected to begin before the end of the year, with a release scheduled for the 2009 Lunar New Year season.

Currently, the rumored roles are mainly played by Ge You, Tony Leung Ka-fai, and Jiang Wen herself. It is also said that Tang Yan, the rising star promoted by Eagle King after the photo scandal, will also be in the cast.

I wonder if it was some close friend who whispered in my ear.

In addition, the 13th Huabiao Awards officially announced the nominees, with "The Sky of History" nominated for the main competition categories of Outstanding Feature Film, Outstanding Director, Outstanding Screenplay, and Outstanding Actor and Actress.

Or rather, this year's domestic award, with its strong patriotic theme, is almost unsurprising in terms of its winners.

After news broke that the film would no longer be submitted to the Golden Horse Awards, Liu Yifei is expected to continue sweeping the Best Actress awards at domestic film festivals during the award cycle.

This is a well-deserved accolade for her more than a year of preparation for the role and her immersive performance, and it is also a small testament to her transformation into an excellent actress.

In late April, the theme song for the Beijing Olympics, "Beiping Welcomes You," entered its final production stage. This song, composed by Xiao Ke and with lyrics by Lin Xi, required the participation of hundreds of celebrities to record, showcasing the unity of China's arts and culture community.

Led by Zhao Dongming, director of the Cultural Activities Department of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, and with creative support from Zhang Yimou and Lu Kuan, the music video was filmed at 36 landmarks along the central axis of Beiping, including the Bell and Drum Towers, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall.

At 2 PM on the 22nd, Liu Yifei, Su Chang, Zhang Liangying and others, who were acquainted with each other, came to Lejiaxuan Recording Studio together.

In this three-story recording studio building located on the back street of the art museum, an unprecedented spectacle is unfolding in the history of the Chinese music scene.

Powerful singers such as Stefanie Sun, Wang Leehom, Nayoung, Emil Chau, and Jane Zhang;
Film and television actors such as Hendrik Willem Van Loon, Liu Yifei, Su Chang, Huang Xiaoming, Fan Bingbing, and Lin Chi-ling, as well as cross-disciplinary accompanists and hosts such as Lang Lang and Sa Beining.

They would record their songs in the recording studio, then film music videos in their respective areas. The final product was the music video for "Beijing Welcomes You," which showcased the history and modern features of Beiping (Beijing).

The list has changed somewhat compared to the previous one.

For example, Nicholas Tse was excluded by a certain director because of a photo incident, on the grounds that it was unsightly and should be avoided to prevent controversy;

For example, Jang Nara, the only non-Chinese person, experienced a career setback two years ago and returned to South Korea, so she naturally wouldn't be on the list.

Besides Beiping, the theme song was recorded in three other locations outside mainland China.

Liu Huan was in New York on a business trip, while Hong Kong artists such as Joey Yung and Anita Mui were at Victoria Harbour, and Taiwanese artists such as Jay Chou were at Taipei 101.

However, both Anita Mui and Jay Chou will be going to Beijing soon, firstly to participate in the recording of a music video, and secondly to attend the 8th anniversary celebration of the "Quest for the World" event on May 1st.

As soon as Xiao Liu stepped into the waiting area outside the recording studio, the quick-witted Huang Xiaoming was the first to greet her: "Yi Fei, long time no see! Congratulations, Best Actress!"

"Hey Xiaoming, you're getting more and more handsome!"

"Hey, you're kidding me. How can anyone be as handsome as your richest man?"

The two chatted and laughed as they walked inside. Huang Xiaoming, the social butterfly, kept introducing her to singers like Wang Leehom and Emil Chau, whom she wasn't very familiar with before, since they were from different fields.

Other people from the music and film industries also came up in twos and threes to greet her. Many of the singers were meeting Liu Yifei in person for the first time.

The saying goes, "A flowery sedan chair is carried by people." Whether it's Liu Yifei's achievements at such a young age and her current status, or her boyfriend, none of the entertainment industry figures present have the right to pretend.

This circle is full of smart people, at least on the surface.

Hendrik Willem Van Loon was undoubtedly the biggest star here, but he didn't go to such lengths to greet him. When Liu Yifei took the initiative to come over and greet him, Van Loon also stood up first to shake hands:
“Iris, Iris Chang acted really well in this movie. I was just talking to Bingbing about you.”

Only then did Xiao Liu notice Fan Bingbing standing next to Fang Long, who was looking at him with a smile.

It seems the two had never had any conflict; they were colleagues who first met on the set of "Zhu Xian"—

More than acquaintances, but not quite friends.

The leading lady was dressed modestly today and smiled, saying, "Consort Yi, 'The Forbidden Kingdom' will premiere at Chaoyang Park at the end of the month. You are welcome to come and support us."

“Yes, come over when you have time.” Fang Long pretended not to know about the conflict between them, and the three of them, along with Su Chang and Huang Xiaoming, sat together and started chatting.

Liu Yifei's composure was remarkable. Upon hearing this, she said gently, "Chaoyang Park? This is the first time I've heard of a premiere being held in a park. Huayi is very creative."

Henrik Wong laughed and said, "To be honest, I learned it from Director Lu."

“We purchased Asia’s largest spherical tent from Dubai to set up a 360-degree projection screen, creating an audiovisual experience comparable to top international cinemas and highlighting the film’s ‘magical spectacle’.”

"Just like the outdoor movie screening he organized two years ago at the stadium in Tangshan that attracted tens of thousands of people."

Hendrik Willem Van Loon's words sounded frank, but they didn't tell the truth.

Huayi chose Chaoyang Park, a place with a strong Olympic atmosphere, purely to capitalize on the Olympic hype, and even invited sports stars such as Tian Liang to show their support.

At that time, Jet Li would bring his daughter to walk the red carpet for the first time, satisfying the public's curiosity about celebrity offspring.
Even the highly influential Chinese superstar Lao Long, who is considered a figure of great value in the united front, has expressed his views on the recent torch relay controversy, warning those with ill intentions that they would better behave themselves on his torch relay route.

Of course, hype aside, Hendrik Willem Van Loon's statement is beneficial to united front work and solidarity.

Similar to some of Boss Lu's shady practices that benefit both public and private interests, some things should be judged by actions, not intentions. It's already quite good that he's done this much, and we shouldn't be too demanding.

Soon it was Jackie Chan's turn to record the song, so the group consisted of Bingbing, Liu Yifei, and Su Chang.

The awkward situation that Su Chang had expected didn't happen. Her nemesis Bingbing and her best friend were actually chatting and laughing together!

"Emily, your nude Jimmy Choo shoes are really beautiful, are they custom-made?"

"Yes, I wore it to an event in the US at the beginning of the year, but I still don't feel comfortable wearing it. My feet hurt terribly every time I get home!"

Bingbing laughed and said, "If you wear opaque or closed-toe shoes, you can try buying a pair of silicone forefoot pads."

"There's not much that can be done about the transparent feet. I have flat feet, and usually after walking for an hour or two, my feet feel like they've been amputated."

Xiao Liu covered her mouth and chuckled, "I wanted to take it off after half an hour, but I know an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor who told me a method based on acupoints on the soles of my feet—"

"Tie your second and third toes a little with tape. It's said that it will make walking less tiring. Sister Bingbing can try it next time."

"Okay!"

Liu Yifei and Fan Bingbing smiled sweetly, chatting like best friends.

Su Chang, Qianqian's best friend sitting next to her, was absolutely stunned. Had the washing machine succeeded in giving Qianqian a sudden enlightenment?
Or has this glamorous leading lady finally found her place, stopped rushing headlong into things, and focused on building her own path to wealth?

I am superfluous—

This is Su Chang's current sentiment.

These two inseparable "sisters" talked about everything from Bingbing's Dior early spring printed dress to Xiao Liu's limited edition LV Speedy.

Perhaps afraid of neglecting the "outsider" Su Chang, he even took the time to express his appreciation for the Cartier rose gold bracelet on her wrist, calling it a top-quality item.

It can be described as a spectacle in the Chinese entertainment industry.

Xiao Liu's phone was vibrating incessantly in her bag. She smiled at Fan Bingbing and walked a couple of steps away.

The caller was Yang Siwei: "Sisi, there's a fashion business meeting in Cannes, which might conflict with the filming schedule for the giant pandas at the Wolong National Base."

"What business?" Liu Yifei had been looking forward to her first close encounter with the giant pandas for a long time, and she didn't want to interrupt her schedule unless it was a particularly important event.

She's a laid-back girl by nature, but now that there's a powerful figure who can control everything, she's able to focus on honing her acting skills. To be honest, she's not very interested in these fashion events.

In the past, she couldn't turn down some events because she needed to support her studio; no matter how lazy she was, she had to put on a show.

Now...

"Dior invited you to the 'Fashion & Cinema' charity gala in Cannes on the 13th, probably because of your status as a Berlin Film Festival Best Actress winner and your current influence in China."

Yang Siwei's tone was somewhat excited: "In the past, you were too young and your fans' purchasing power for luxury goods was too low, so Fan Bingbing monopolized most of them. I think now we can gradually get in touch with these resources. Isn't Director Lu on good terms with Anna Wintour and the others?"

From a slightly chubby agent to an obese manager, Yang Siwei's loud shouting was overheard by Bingbing.

Or rather, Bingbing, who was concerned about Liu Yifei's every move, could hardly miss such information at such close range.

Xiao Liu understood: "Who did Lu Kuan contact? Galliano?"

"No, Galliano is Dior's artistic director. This time, it was Dior's vice president who called me directly through the China headquarters."

"Sissi? Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Hmm... I'll think about it!"

Yang Siwei was shocked: "You're not kidding, are you? That's Dior, and it also has the exposure from the Cannes Film Festival. The charity gala is on the 13th, and the Cannes Film Festival opening is on the 14th. It's a seamless connection!"

"Liu Yifei! Don't tell me you gave up this level of fashionable business event just to pet pandas?"

"Hello? Hello?"

Xiao Liu swung his phone around, sometimes close and sometimes far away: "Siwei, the signal is bad in the recording studio, I'll get back to you later!"

Beep, beep, beep…

Liu Yifei pursed her lips. She really hadn't made up her mind yet, even though for 99% of female stars in the Chinese entertainment industry, such a decision wouldn't even require much thought.

It's common for fashion events to be held during the three major European film festivals; the combination of film, celebrities, and fashion can bring huge traffic and exposure to all three.

In 2007, Chopard held a "Love and Cinema" gala in Cannes, which Gong Li attended.

In 2006, L'Oréal Paris held a "Movie Star Beauty Workshop" event on the French Riviera in Cannes, which Zhang Ziyi attended.

All of these are different.

The two-minute call passed quickly. When Xiao Liu returned to his seat, substitute player Su Chang was picking at a three-bedroom apartment on the floor while chatting with Fan Bingbing.

"Congratulations, Yifei, on your entry into the fashion industry." Bingbing seemed to have a beautiful smile tattooed on her face today, her warm attitude remaining consistent.

But inside, it's a completely different world.

You really do try to take everything from me!

Jackie Chan walked out of the recording studio with an air of nonchalance. A staff member came over and interrupted their conversation: "Sister Bingbing, it's your turn next."

At that moment, both the leading actress and Liu Yifei breathed a sigh of relief, finally no longer having to pretend in front of so many people in the studio waiting room.

Su Chang was in the same boat; her feet were digging painfully into the ground, as if the silicone soles of her shoes were about to be torn through.

These two women are really weird. Not only do they not fight, but they can also chat nicely for more than ten minutes.

Bingbing stood up and waved to Xiao Liu: "Yifei, see you in Cannes."

She is the spokesperson for Dior J'adore perfume.

After taking a few steps, the leading lady turned back and looked at Su Chang beside her, seemingly remembering Tang Yan who had ruined her plans last time: "I really envy you having so many best friends, that's great."

Su Chang was completely bewildered, but Liu Yifei naturally understood the hidden meaning in her words.

Don't expect to be this lucky every time. Someone will tip you off, and someone will even break into your room!
"What does she mean? Is she praising me?" Su Chang asked, clinging to her best friend's pretty arm.

Xiao Liu turned his head to look at the innocent fox spirit Xiao Yu, feeling that it would be too troublesome to explain the whole story to her, and smiled at her: "Of course, you are the best!"

Unfortunately, Su Chang still had some intelligence, and she slapped her in dissatisfaction: "Is this how you treat me?"

Liu Yifei chatted with Bingbing for more than ten minutes, and she was also mentally exhausted. She thought that if she ran into Bingbing in Cannes, she would inevitably have to put on a show of politeness.

Especially since there are probably only two actresses from the mainland present, they might get pulled aside by reporters and asked questions about washing machines.

Add to that Bingbing's relentless wielding of the hoe, and just thinking about it made Xiao Liu feel frustrated.

Why are so many beautiful flowers trying to pluck flowers from this pile of cow dung that's a washing machine?
Including yourself!

"Changchang, you need to grow up quickly."

"what?"

Liu Yifei looked at her best friend with a bitter and resentful expression: "I need to quickly become the top female celebrity in the fashion world, so I can take on all these fashion events and endorsements and then I can live a peaceful life as a country girl!"

"This way, the washing machine can continue to make money, and I can attend fewer boring business meetings. Perfect!"

Su Chang frowned and clenched her small fist fiercely: "You're a female washing machine now! You become a capitalist's wife and then turn around and exploit the working class, how shameful!"

Liu Yifei ignored her protest and, recalling Bingbing's veiled remarks before leaving, composed herself and sent Yang Siwei a message.

I informed her that I would not be attending the Dior event due to a scheduling conflict, thanked her for her kindness, and expressed my hope for the next collaboration.

Anyway, I'm not a spokesperson or close friend right now, and unlike Fan Bingbing, participating in fashion events isn't an obligation under my contract. For now, it's just an olive branch extended by the other party.

He was genuinely afraid of Bingbing's indomitable spirit, which rivaled his own tenacity in trying to warm up the stubborn rock that was the washing machine. In just the past six months, Bingbing had confronted him openly and subtly several times.

The recording of "Beiping Welcomes You" in the afternoon session ended quickly. Liu Yifei entered the recording studio after Fan Bingbing, but finished filming earlier than many other celebrities who came in first.

The entertainment industry is a small world, and the bigger the star, the more likely they are to be scheduled to record songs first. How can we make big shots like Hendrik Willem Van Loon wait as long as the smaller stars?

Even though Xiao Liu is just a twenty-year-old actress, both she herself and the will of capital she represents as someone's girlfriend are enough to make people look at her with respect.

To those unaware of the inside story, even if she's just a girlfriend, there are quite a few celebrities in the Chinese entertainment industry who change girlfriends like they change clothes.

This is the first and only washing machine officially announced to date, and it seems to be trending towards transforming the home into a mainstream appliance.

For at least the past six months, Fengxing Studio hasn't revealed any major scandals about him.

Only in early April did tabloid reporters photograph Boss Lu and Fan Bingbing seemingly meeting at a hotel in Shanghai.

Those were paparazzi hired by Yang Mi, but unfortunately, they failed to achieve their goal of sowing discord.

Around 8 p.m., Lu Kuan returned to Wenyuhefu from the Daxing training base, looking travel-worn.

Liu Yifei was sitting in the living room watching a recorded play. She was about to happily fly away when she saw him on the phone and stopped.

"Let's hurry up and produce some more. The drone tests these past two days have been quite successful, but the loss rate is not low either. It's better to be prepared!"

On the other end of the phone, Wang Tao was speechless at the controlling shareholder's demands. "You can't just act like this because you're the richest man! So DJI isn't your company's favored son?"
The company now has more than a thousand of the latest version drones in its warehouse, featuring infrared imaging, acoustic detection, and high payload capacity, developed in collaboration with the drone laboratories of Northwestern Polytechnical University and Beihang University.

How many aircraft might be destroyed during a single Olympic torch lighting rehearsal? Why is it necessary to stockpile them?

The key point is that the IOC's procurement price is not high, and the quantity is not large.

The director's own company reduced the price of drones to below cost, which was done to avoid any appearance of impropriety and also as a contribution to the Olympic cause.

Besides, he has already gained a huge advantage, so there's no need to argue with the government about such a small matter.

Xiao Liu patiently waited for him to hang up the phone before she, like a large baby swallow, not very gracefully flew into her boyfriend's arms.

A tall girl who is over 1.7 meters tall will find it difficult to appear petite and delicate.

The washing machine, anticipating her arrival, caught her steadily and gently pinched Liu Yifei's small buttocks with both hands. However, the young girl of today no longer let blush creep up her ears so easily.

Perhaps because he hadn't had enough of singing in the recording studio that afternoon, Xiao Liu jokingly sang to his friends: "Falling in love with someone who never comes home, waiting for a door that never opens!"

Boss Lu listened helplessly to Sandy Lam's "Falling in Love with Someone Who Never Comes Home," then pulled her into his arms and lay down on the sofa: "I've only been in closed training in Daxing for two days, and you're so impatient. At least let me take a shower first!"

Liu Yifei hurriedly waved her hand: "No, no, no, don't start with meat dishes right away, let's have some pure love and sweet moments first."

Xiao Liu clung to Lu Kuan like a koala, her nose rubbing against his stubble that hadn't been shaved for two days, deliberately humming off-key lyrics in a sickeningly sweet voice.

"Looks like the recording went well this afternoon. It really got your karaoke addiction working."

"Haha, it's been a long time since I sang karaoke. I invited Su Chang and Zhang Liangying to my house tonight. Liangying just left after helping us with training. I was worried she might embarrass herself at the company's annual party again."

Mr. Lu then belatedly realized, "It's almost the 30th already. I've been so busy lately."

April is almost over, so how far away is May?
I wish time could stand still at this moment, but cruelly, it leaves me, the one in the know, powerless to watch the tragedy unfold.

The faint sound of the Wenyu River outside the window seemed to echo the countdown to the disaster I remembered.

The Olympic venue blueprints spread out on the table suddenly became blurry, the ink lines twisted into contour lines of a Sichuan province map, and on the 1:50000 scale blueprint, the coordinates of the Wolong base were right in front of his heart.

"What are you spacing out for? Which piece of clothing of yours do you want to wash next?"

Seeing her boyfriend deep in thought, Liu Yifei leaned closer, her nose almost touching his cheek, and winked playfully.

"It's nothing, I just suddenly remembered the annual meeting on May 1st. There are still a lot of details that haven't been finalized. I'll make a call to ask later."

"No need to ask. I went to work for half a day yesterday. The specific procedures and all the details are in your email. Just take a look."

Mr. Lu readily agreed: "Okay, Director Liu."

"Director Liu, could you please wear something from the Office Lady collection tonight?"

Director Liu didn't hold back his sarcasm: "You need some entertainment? Do you think even the sows raised by the military at the Daxing base look good now?"

"No, not really."

Although the washing machine said it wasn't that serious, its actions betrayed its true intentions, making the girl lying on top of it instantly aware of the movement in a certain place.

"Tch! What a disgrace!"

Before Xiao Liu could get enough of their sweet moments, to prevent things from escalating too quickly and she'd be taken care of by the washing machine on the sofa, she hurriedly got up and gracefully went to pour some tea.

"Oh, by the way, I was recording the Olympic theme song on the back street of the art museum this afternoon. Siwei called me, saying that Dior invited me to Cannes for an event. Did you arrange that?"

Boss Lu took a sip of tea, the teacup pausing slightly in his palm, the rim of the cup just barely concealing the fleeting ripple in his eyes as it touched his lips.

The celadon cup reflected the dappled light from the chandelier, casting a pale blue shadow on his knuckles, like a silent warning line.

"I've been so busy these past few days, I haven't heard anything about it."

Xiao Liu smiled gently, not taking it to heart: "Oh, I thought you were looking for Galliano."

"We've had very little contact since Galliano left the Olympic team."

Boss Lu shook his head: "This bald guy is too unrestrained. When he's drunk, he often makes anti-squid remarks. I was afraid he would cause trouble in the Olympic team, so I persuaded him to leave."

This wasn't entirely because he lied to cover up his secret manipulation of a "luring the tiger away from the mountain" tactic.

In 2011, Galliano was dismissed and blacklisted by Dior for shouting "I love Hitler!" and "Squid are disgusting!" while drunk.

After that, he was targeted by Jewish forces in various ways, and his career could never return to its former glory.

"That's fine then. I've already declined. I was worried it was you who contacted me, but I couldn't reach you this afternoon during your closed training session."

“You called to say you’re coming home tonight, so I’ll wait until you get back before we talk.”

To prevent unauthorized filming and leaks, all training sessions at the Daxing training base require participants to hand in their mobile phones.

"What activity? Why aren't you interested?" Boss Lu asked with a smile, but the tea he had just swallowed suddenly tasted bitter.

"It's some kind of movie and fashion gala, probably just a runway show selling haute couture," Liu Yifei said nonchalantly.

Boss Lu was inwardly groaning, but with a calm expression, he placed the teacup back on the rosewood coffee table, the bottom of the cup making a very soft "tap" as it touched the surface.

It was slightly louder than he had expected, yet it made his chest tingle.

"You could go to Cannes to relax, and while you're at it, visit your dad in Paris."

He was doing his best to conceal his intentions, even deliberately avoiding his old acquaintance Galliano and contacting Dior's vice president through Iger's connections.

This tentative statement is probably their last effort.

No matter how much more she thought about it, the naturally intelligent Liu Yifei would definitely find some clues, especially after that afternoon, when everything would come to mind and be pieced together into irrefutable evidence!

Lu Kuan's fingers unconsciously rubbed the edge of the teacup, the cool touch of the glaze reminding him of the metal knobs on the drone control panel last night.

He turned slightly to the side, using the act of adjusting his shirt cuffs to conceal the movement of his Adam's apple, and looked up at his smiling girlfriend.

At this moment, I was more eagerly awaiting her answer than ever before we had known each other!

(End of this chapter)