Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 478 begins with the initiation of the "Ball Lightning" project.

The world is in chaos again.

After paparazzi discovered the secret couple, a group of print media and tabloids gathered on Gongti Road, only to be legally and reasonably persuaded to leave by the traffic police and public security officers.

After all, it was the capital city, and no one dared to gather and shout in front of state organs. They had no choice but to disperse quickly.

Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei left in Leader Liu's car without any obstacles.

However, the smooth offline operation could not overcome the congestion online. Weibo has learned from the painful lesson of the boss lady's "punishment without warning" last time, and after careful consideration, the server stability and page response speed have been greatly improved.

But the problem is that this online "riot" has affected more than just Weibo.

Zhijie Video has created numerous fan-made mashups of Liu Yifei's past roles as a "pure and innocent" actress, but the final titles and core themes all end with emotions such as regret, grief, and sadness.

An old post on Tianya Forum listing the "Top Ten Scumbag Men in the Entertainment Industry" was unearthed, and the original poster personally took matters into his own hands, replacing the names of the top ten with washing machines.

The Liu Yifei and Lu Kuan forums on Baidu, which were once allies against a common enemy, have become infighting forces turning against each other.

While Xiao Liu's fans were cursing the washing machine, the laundry detergent enthusiasts were also responding to screenshots of Xiao Liu's own Weibo posts with a grin.

This left the celestial beings' fans somewhat helpless. They were ready to fight to the death, but the empress had already submitted. This verbal battle was truly frustrating.

Portal websites, which had been gradually declining, have revived themselves by launching special topic pages, which they are good at, and have put related content online.

Sohu.com published an article titled "From Bai Xiuzhu to the Richest Man's Wife: Liu Yifei's Eight-Year Love Journey," which presented a chronological account of all the publicly released photos of the two together, complete with pictures and text.

At the bottom of the special feature was a voting section titled "How would you rate this marriage?", with options ranging from "a perfect couple" to "a beautiful flower in the hands of the richest man." It garnered 800,000 votes in just three hours, much to Zhang Chaoyang's delight.

From an economic perspective, Sina Weibo estimates Liu Yifei's annual income at its peak, based on her current fan base, endorsement status, and popularity as a Chinese actress in the West. The estimate is approximately 8000 million RMB.

Unlike dating announcements or marriage announcements, this is a genuine and legal de facto marriage. After observing fluctuations in fan numbers and public opinion, and following the "purification" process of the previous two, Xiao Liu has objectively gained even more popularity.

Even disregarding the share of property she naturally acquired after marrying Lu Kuan, this Chinese actress's income, even if she supported her family on her own, would be enough to surpass that of some small listed companies.

Other companies like NetEase and Tencent have also taken different approaches, trying every means to capitalize on the popularity of this marriage registration event. This is probably the most talked-about news on the internet this year, apart from the Olympic Games opening ceremony and the earthquake.

The key point is that this is a series!

From dating, marriage announcements, to marriage, to the wedding ceremony, pregnancy and childbirth, and even the "marital breakdown" segment that onlookers eagerly anticipate.

This isn't just "making the most of one thing," it's practically a perpetual motion machine for generating buzz in the Chinese entertainment industry.

The energy of the Lu Liu Universe will neither be created out of thin air nor disappear out of thin air; it will only change from one form of trending topic to another, and will continue to rotate eternally.

Of course, the most lively place was the comment section of Lu and Liu's Weibo, which once again became a hotbed of complaints and declarations of war.

Celebrity blessings also arrived quickly, including from Jay Chou, Anita Mui, Zhou Xun, Feng Yuanzheng, Leung Ka-fai, Andy Lau, Eagle Entertainment artists, classmates from the Beijing Film Academy, members of the Beijing People's Art Theatre system, friends in the directing circle, and international friends.

This year's blessings were particularly comprehensive, encompassing everything from Mandopop kings to film legends, from mainland China's top actors to international stars, from film school classmates to global directors, almost covering half of the entire entertainment industry.

The media storm spanned across mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, reaching three generations and covering multiple fields including music, film, television, and the internet, making it arguably the most extravagant lineup of celebrity well wishes in the history of mainland China.

Behind each name lies a heavyweight industry status, and every comment sparks a new round of heated discussions among fans, pushing the popularity of this wedding announcement to an unparalleled peak.

Of course, there are also peers, rivals, and schemers with different motives examining this internet frenzy.

Ali, Baidu, Wanda, and Lianxiang's online ticketing websites are making steady progress, and they are happy to see their competitor fall into a trap.

Ideally, they should hold a wedding, go on a honeymoon, and make a movie, until their surprise attack strategy during the Lunar New Year season takes effect. Even if they don't defeat Wenjie, they can at least throw the latter into disarray and put it a few steps behind on this track.

The people at Huayi remained silent and focused on their own development. Let others be strong, the two kings didn't have any good way to compete with the industry leader.

Especially in the administrative field, which they have always been good at, news has spread that President Ni is about to step down from his position, while Leader Liu has taken a further step. Given the already significant disparity in strength, the situation has become even more dire, leaving them with virtually no chance of winning.

Now, all Dajun and Xiaolei want is to stay in their position as the second-largest player in their industry, continue to expand their cinema chains and make movies. As long as they can go public, money will guarantee their future.

With such a large Chinese film market, who has the stomach to devour it all?

For all female celebrities in the Chinese entertainment industry—or rather, across mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong—Liu Yifei embodies the dream of a leading lady's life.

Even if outsiders can't see whether the washing machine has truly reformed, even if he's still a womanizer or a stud, few female celebrities can resist the allure of being a legitimate wife.

For a man, an open lifestyle is probably his least noticeable characteristic, and it can't even be called a flaw.

After Yang Mi posted on Weibo to gain attention, she received a call from Gan Wei, the leader of the Teddy Sisters group.

At her husband Jia Yueting's request, the latter asked Yang Mi if she could introduce the two of them or bring Xiao Liu into her circle.

If all else fails, find out about their wedding and show up uninvited. They wouldn't dare to turn down a smiling face, would they?
Jing Tian's junior year at Beijing Film Academy has begun, and males continue to flock around him, trying to be witty and striking poses.

It wasn't just her classmates like Peng Guanying, Zhai Tianlin, and Zhu Yilong who were simps; even Yang Yang and Li Yifeng, who entered in 07, found out about this rich and beautiful senior's background.

She once spent 1500 million yuan to buy a painting by Boss Lu. Liu Yifei's best friend and confidante lives a life of luxury, from food and clothing to housing and transportation.

How could anyone not love such a beautiful, rich, and successful woman?

However, during the first week of the semester at the Beijing Film Academy, rumors circulated that Jing Tian was in a bad mood and that a shameless person who tried to flirt with her was scolded.

Sweetie is suffering inside, and she wishes she could eat the sweetness in her name to relieve her bitterness.

In a single day, I lost my beloved.

two.
-
September 10th, noon, Hokkaido, Japan.

Filming for "If You Are the One" is about to wrap up in the next couple of days. A cool early autumn rain is falling along the Otaru Canal in Hokkaido, along with artificial snow.

Bingbing's addition led to some changes in the script compared to the previous one. For example, the scene in the snow today that hinted at the feelings between the male and female leads was prepared for the sequel.

Indeed, no one at Huayi Brothers could see any reason why this movie would flop, especially since the investment had already been recouped through advertising.

Feng Xiaogang, wearing a black vest, stared at the camera on the monitor showing Ge You walking across the brick road with a long-handled umbrella. Suddenly, he frowned and yelled "Cut!"

An unwanted corner of clothing appeared at the edge of the image.

Little Cannon was somewhat helpless, wondering what had gotten into Bingbing. Today's performance was completely different from his usual confident and flamboyant self, and was rather lackluster.

What drives him even crazier is the current status of this female celebrity; even he can no longer scold or berate her like he would a minor actress, or make her dance for him.

The advertisers for this film, "If You Are the One," were drawn by Feng Xiaogang's reputation as the king of New Year's films, and also by the commercial value of Bingbing, a top star in the Chinese entertainment industry.

How could he still be so bossy?

"Bingbing, this part requires you to coordinate with the seagulls foraging for food. You need to position yourself precisely, not too fast and not too slow, okay? Let's do it again."

Fortunately, Bingbing was a person who knew how to behave properly. She apologized and returned to her original position.

Only his timid assistant knew the heartbreaking sight of this top star's ashen face after seeing a certain message at noon.

Frustrated, Bingbing continued filming, mechanically repeating the same mistakes over and over again, until Ge You delivered the line from the script, "Marriage is always a mistake no matter how you choose; a long-lasting marriage is just making the best of a bad situation." Suddenly, she forgot her line.

The artificial snow from the film crew covered her long eyelashes, making the awkward pause seem even more fragmented.

Little Cannon said weakly, "Bingbing, this scene is all about the feeling of snow falling silently. If your rhythm is off, it will ruin the composition."

“Let’s start over. You stand at the bridgehead and give Grandpa Ge a smile in the snow as he walks by. How about we save this bridge?”

The sporadic cold rain in Hokkaido dampened her carefully styled curly hair and ruined her CHANEL makeup that should have been sparkling in close-up shots.

Bingbing knew she couldn't continue like this. She glanced apologetically at Ge You and gestured to Feng Xiaogang, "Director Feng, please continue filming. I'm fine."

"Action!"

Ge You, holding an umbrella, slowly walked out of the snow and recited that line.

This time, Bingbing tilted her head slightly, her lips curved upwards, and the snowflakes on her eyelashes reflected the light under the lens, making her smile appear clear and gentle.

Her gaze passed over Ge You, as if she were truly looking at someone she deeply loved, even the curve of her lips was just right.

It's neither overly sweet nor contrived, like a bride waiting for her lover in the snow, carrying a hint of expectation and a touch of reserve.

"Cut!" Feng Xiaogang finally called out in satisfaction, "That take is done!"

The atmosphere on set instantly relaxed as the crew began packing up their equipment. Ge You shook the artificial snow off his umbrella and jokingly remarked, "Bingbing's performance just now was good enough to win her an award for Best Actress."

"Thank you for your kind words, Teacher Ge. I'll go back and remove my makeup."

"okay."

The moment the camera moved away, the moment all eyes turned away, the leading lady's smile instantly crumbled.

She returned to the van, slumped in her seat, and seemed somewhat lost.

Bingbing once thought that he wanted to use "If You Are the One" to target Huayi Brothers, instructing her to withdraw from filming or refuse to cooperate with publicity at a crucial moment, in order to thwart the joint strategy of Huayi Brothers, Ali, and Wendy Deng.

What she didn't know was that Wenjie Mall's payment system had already gained an absolute advantage, and its controlling stake in Huayi was also in control due to Xiao Liu's 10% shareholding.

He no longer needs to resort to such damaging and inconsiderate methods to subdue the industry's second-largest player.

The current stance of Wenjie and Huayi is the same: both hope that the latter will get better and better.

Bingbing was not satisfied with the convenience of disrupting the situation brought by her shares. She also thought that even if she was condemned and defected, she would still get this unparalleled credit and occupy a more important place in his heart.

But after waiting and waiting, what they received was a marriage contract.

An engagement with someone else.

The assistant walked over with a heavy heart and handed the phone to Bingbing, whose tears had dried: "Sister, it's a call from the Xie family in Shanghai."

Bingbing was stunned for a moment, and a bad feeling crept into her heart. The condolence message in the receiver exploded in her ears!

Xie Jin's nephew sadly reported the news over the phone that director Xie Jin suffered a sudden heart failure this morning and passed away at 10:07 a.m. despite all efforts to save him at Ruijin Hospital.

Hearing the cold dial tone from the receiver, Bingbing's hand gripping the phone tightened suddenly, her nails digging deep into her palm, and tears slid down her stiff jawline.

She mechanically hung up the phone. Her face was shattered in the makeup mirror. Her carefully drawn eyeliner was washed away by tears, leaving two black streaks. Her false eyelashes came unglued from repeated tears, like two withered leaves about to fall.

Liu Yifei's declaration of love was like a dull knife, slowly killing her carefully constructed fantasy. Now she has no way of figuring out the true attitude of those in power.

Xie Jin's death was the last straw that broke the camel's back; the guiding light went out, and the last glimmer of light illuminating the way forward vanished as well.

Love and separation, resentment and hatred, unfulfilled desires, and an inability to let go.

The four kinds of suffering burn intensely, scorching the heart.

Bingbing instinctively felt that she was standing on the edge of an abyss, with nothingness beneath her feet and desolation behind her, and the whole world was just cold.

Jing Tian wished she could eat away the sweetness in her name, while Bingbing really wanted to get rid of the ice in her name.

On this day, wasn't she also heartbroken at the loss of her beloved?
-
Beijing, China World Hotel.

The crystal chandelier reflected a warm yellow glow, making the corridor look magnificent.

Liu Yifei pushed open the heavy, carved wooden door of the private room, her high heels clicking almost silently on the soft carpet.

She frowned slightly. At the end of the corridor, a familiar figure stood with his back to her in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his phone hanging by his side, the screen already dark.

It was Lu Kuan, who had just hung up the phone and was standing there in a daze, speechless.

Today, Ankang and Liu Yifei's grandparents are treating the newlyweds to dinner to congratulate them on their marriage and to formally introduce them to each other.

During the meal, Lu Kuan received a phone call and left. He hadn't come back in ten minutes, so Xiao Liu came out to check on him, puzzled.

"What's wrong?" Liu Yifei asked, gripping his hand tightly with concern.

"Xie Jin passed away this morning."

Xiao Liu was speechless upon hearing the sudden news; her cherry lips parted slightly, revealing a mixture of grief and regret.

She gently hugged her husband, stroking his back with her right hand: "Director Xie, the loss of his son is a huge blow to him."

"It's mainly a heart problem. Aunt Xu Dawen was also hospitalized because of a heart problem. We're keeping it from her and haven't dared to tell her yet. There's nothing we can do."

Lu Kuan's expression was gloomy and unreadable, which made Liu Yifei feel a pang of sympathy.

The heightened emotional sensitivity brought on by her marriage amplified her empathy; the frozen image on the marriage certificate and the tear stains on Xu Dawen's face seemed to be equally real slices from the long river of life.

The eight sufferings of life are like eight shackles of fate, firmly imprisoning all beings in the cycle of reincarnation.

The four mental obstacles: the piercing pain of separation from loved ones, the torment of being with those one hates, the melancholy and resentment of not being able to get what one wants, and the lingering obsession that one cannot let go of.

Not only Bingbing in Hokkaido has a deep understanding of this, but Liu Yifei, who is only 21 years old, has also tried it all.

But what she sees in Xie Jin now is fourfold physical suffering:

The confusion of life, the decline of old age, the torment of illness, and the fear of death.

Just like the irresistible cycle of the seasons, time will eventually roll over everyone's life trajectory one after another in the long river of time.

Lu Kuan felt the girl in his arms tightly holding his arm, and then comforted her, "Director Xie Jin has always been open-minded. Leaving is a relief for him, so we shouldn't worry too much about it."

Birth, aging, sickness, and death do not discriminate based on social status or wealth; they are like destiny, waiting for every soul to experience, understand, and transcend.

Seeing his wife's eyes redden, he joked, "Luckily, we beheaded Zhu Dake first and vented his anger, otherwise I wouldn't be able to swallow this."

Liu Yifei nodded: "Shall we go to Shanghai?"

Xie Jin had always been a strong supporter of Lu Kuan during his lifetime, endorsing this innovator in the domestic film industry with his own industry status and reputation. Xiao Liu had seen all of this.

Lu Kuan nodded: "Just now, Xie Jin's nephew announced the death, and Ren Zhonglun also called to represent the literary and artistic circles of Shanghai and ask me to be the deputy head of the funeral committee."

Liu Yifei was a little confused about these routine tasks: "What kind of work do you need to do?"

Old Lu explained, "No need, it's just a nominal appointment. We'll see how the committee arranges it. I should go there in the next couple of days."

At the University of Tokyo, the organization that publishes the obituary and the composition of the funeral committee best reflect the deceased's past status and prestige.

Xie Jin's career and rise to fame both took place at the Shanghai Film Studio. The obituary was issued by Ren Zhonglun and his organization to the public with deep sorrow and condolences.

The funeral committee was headed by Wang and Shen, the local deputy prefect and the Minister of Propaganda, respectively. The deputy head was Chen Dong, an official from the cultural and broadcasting system. There were also several other committee members.

Ren Zhonglun, representing Shanghai Film Studio and the local government of Shanghai, invited Mr. Lu to serve as one of the deputy team leaders, which was of course due to his social status and industry reputation being commensurate with the position.

At least for the deceased, this aligns with director Xie Jin's wishes and thoughts during his lifetime. Firstly, he and Lu Kuan were like-minded friends despite their age difference.

Officially, Mr. Lu is a member of the Dongda Zhengxie Committee, vice president of the Directors Association, senior advisor of the Broadcasting Science Research Institute, dean of the Pan-Asian Film Academy, and director of the Legislative Advisory Committee of the Film Promotion Association.

In the industry, he is a flag bearer for the industrialization of mainland Chinese films, a young director who is on par with Zhang Yimou at the three major European awards, the chief director of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, and the leader of the largest cultural industry company in China.

With Boss Lu's involvement, this funeral committee has become a comprehensive entity encompassing Party and government organs, industry organizations, and cultural figures, boasting impressive prestige and industry standing.

The young couple adjusted their mood and returned to their private room, and the banquet soon came to a successful end.

Liu Yifei's grandparents were both veteran revolutionaries who were loyal to the country. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, they worked in the medical system in Jiangcheng and retired in 1983.

The two elders greatly admired Lu Kuan's stance and demeanor as their grandson-in-law, and kept stroking their granddaughter's hand, reminiscing about her childhood cuteness, and wishing their two young children a happy and harmonious life in the future.

After everyone said goodbye and left, Xiao Liu went to the Beijing People's Art Theatre to continue rehearsals. After the performance, he would join the cast of "Under the Hawthorn Tree". On the way, he asked Lu Kuan about the details before he left.

What did your father say to you?

Mr. Lu said in a serious tone, "Tell me that if you are disobedient after marriage, I must discipline you properly to uphold my authority as your husband, and I absolutely cannot spoil you!"

"Speak properly?" The pretty young woman's slender fingers touched the washing machine's thigh, her threat already obvious.

"He's going to be a high-ranking official."

Xiao Liu laughed and said, "So what my mom said was true?"

“The organization talked to him, and he was a little hesitant, so he talked to me.”

As the First Secretary for Education at the Embassy in France, An Kang's job combines the professionalism of a diplomat with the special nature of educational affairs. In the fields of education and culture under his supervision, he has made outstanding contributions and achieved remarkable results in recent years.

All of this is inextricably linked to his daughter and son-in-law.

During the Sino-French Cultural Year of 2004-2005, in order to counter the powerful attacks from Zhou Jun and Hua Yi, Liu Yifei held a live-streamed Hanfu fashion show in Paris, France, which received a warm response and promoted in-depth cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Subsequently, the embassy launched numerous cultural exchange projects based on this foundation, such as lectures on Eastern aesthetics, Sino-French film screenings, and the "Sino-French Film and Television Talent Exchange Program," which is Ankang's primary job, to name a few.

The most outstanding and admirable moment, showcasing the breadth and capability of diplomats from a great nation, was undoubtedly the "heroes emerging from chaos" scene during this year's Paris torch relay.

The story of how the director of the Confucius Institute made good use of the "Lunyu" (a type of idiom) to curb the violence of thugs and protect disabled torchbearers has been widely circulated.

Lu Kuan recounted his father-in-law's earlier doubts: "He has several possible options now, and we need to decide as soon as possible, and then make a concerted effort."

"One is promotion within the diplomatic system, from the current division chief to a deputy director-general position such as counselor in France, or deputy director-general position in the International Department."

"The second cross-system move was to the cultural and educational fields he was familiar with, such as the International Department and the Bureau of International Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Education."

"Actually, the most powerful option would be a vice mayor or director of the foreign affairs office in a coastal city that is open to foreign affairs, but I advised him to give up on that path."

Liu Yifei asked in confusion, "Why? I can see that the third option is the most tempting."

“Scholars are not necessarily suited to local positions,” Lu Kuan said with a smile. “Besides, I have my own reasons. I hope he can continue to shine on the diplomatic front, which aligns with Wenjie’s future overseas strategy.”

"I most hope that he can go to the United States, and I have given him my advice. It is up to him to make his own choice."

Xiao Liu exclaimed excitedly, "That's great! We often travel between the two places, so we'll have more opportunities to meet."

Boss Lu smiled but did not answer. He was somewhat worried about the future situation, and it was too early to talk about it now.

My father-in-law is currently working in the US to gain experience and seek promotion within his system. Whether he can become an assistant in the future is unknown, but fortunately, his "Black Sea Plan" should ensure my safety for the next few years.

The suggestions were given, and Lu Kuan also vaguely mentioned the future development of East American relations and cultural exchanges. Now it depends on An Kang's own thoughts and plans.

If necessary, he would have to visit Leader Liu, who had an even heavier burden on his shoulders.

In the context of Chinese culture, marriage has never been just a union of two people; it is not only a destination for emotions, but also a reconstruction of social relationships and an integration of resources.

Lu Kuan's growing concern and connection with Liu Yifei's uncle and father's future development is essentially a long-term strategy based on marital trust.

Afei dropped Liu Yifei off at the Beijing People's Art Theatre, then returned to the company with Boss Lu to handle work, mainly the pre-production of "Ball Lightning" and other business matters.

For example, the construction of IMAX and 4K large screens, the advancement of copyright work for video websites, and the integration of microblogs, videos, and other modules within the Wenjie system with mobile internet, etc.

There are still two weeks before he joins the crew of "Under the Hawthorn Tree". Before that, he needs to take care of these trivial matters, and then he will be able to start his long-awaited directing work.

However, this collaboration with Zhang Yimou is also an opportunity for mutual learning and growth. His role as producer even overshadows his role as an actor, and the two fellow students will undoubtedly have a friendly exchange.

September of 2008 seemed to continue the year-long barrage of news.

In addition to the news of Lu Liu's wedding and the recently announced death of director Xie Jin, Wenjie officially announced another major piece of news in the industry on the afternoon of the 10th.

Mr. Lu's next film, "Ball Lightning," has passed the filing and approval process and has been officially approved as a project.

The reason no press conference was held is because preliminary work, including location scouting, special effects technology, and script adaptation, is still underway, and much information cannot be disclosed.

The special effects list has been submitted by Butian Pictures for budget approval, and the initial amount involved in technology imports and equipment imports has reached as high as US$2000 million.

Other factors, such as physical effects development, military equipment recreation, location scouting and construction, and special prop production, are also crucial in determining the success of a science fiction film.

It can be said that every detail in a science fiction film is a cornerstone for building trust with the audience.

To put it dramatically, when the camera pans across the circular track of the quantum collider, viewers should be able to subconsciously notice the oxidation marks at the seams of the titanium alloy.

When actors operate virtual interfaces, the interaction between their fingertips and holographic projections must be perfectly aligned with the technological level of the era in which they are set.

During the development of the previous "Little Broken Ball" series, in order to recreate the "heavy industrial texture" of the novel, Guo Fan's team used the most rudimentary method: traveling to heavy industrial factories all over the country.

Ultimately, they used discarded turbines from the Qingdao Locomotive Factory to modify the core components of the engine, and cut hot-rolled steel plates from the Hebei Steel Plant into the skeleton of the space capsule.

The military exoskeleton worn by Li Guangjie weighed 80 kilograms. The 18 aviation aluminum joints required 6 people to assemble with an electric drill for 1.5 hours. When they inquired with Weta Workshop in New Zealand, they were told that the complete set of equipment would cost $300 million. In the end, the team gritted their teeth and replicated it themselves.

This includes the Oriental Pearl Tower, which was cast with 200 tons of silicone, and the CG rendering of 2200 special effects shots that took 9 months of continuous computation on 3000 servers.

Such examples are numerous.

The news of the "Ball Lightning" project being approved was reported and reprinted by industry media, and a large number of well-connected male and female actors in the entertainment industry have already begun to consider opportunities to contact the project.

Even if the script hasn't been released yet, the real-life prototypes of the characters in the book still exist, right?
Unlike other production teams that use connections to get roles, everyone knows that Boss Lu is not short of money and is not afraid of trouble. The so-called seeking connections is based on self-assessment that he can handle a certain role and see if he can get someone to become familiar with him.

Even if it's just an audition like the previous one for "A Home Too Far," it will still give us a head start.

Four years later, another science fiction film is finally about to be released in China, which is also the best explanation of Lu Kuan's proposed path of film industrialization.

However, the direct impact of this news was nothing short of a surge in the manuscript fees and publication sales of Liu Cixin and others' novels.

The editor-in-chief of Science Fiction World magazine in Chengdu worked overtime overnight. Yao Haijun was overjoyed as he stared at the real-time order data screen. There was a constant stream of communication in the office about matters such as "daily reprint" and "inventory shortage".

This frenzy began the day after Lu Kuan's team announced that they would be adapting Liu Cixin's "Ball Lightning" into a film. Immediately afterward, the sales of "Science Fiction World" soared to 28 copies that month, setting a record high since 2000.

In front of newsstands in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, many middle school students lined up to buy the latest issue of a magazine, with the gold-embossed title on the cover, "The Movie 'Ball Lightning' Launched," blazing brightly in the sunlight.

Many companies in the industry, such as Pegasus Media, Chengtian, Huayi, and Eagle King, are internally discussing the possibility of testing and producing science fiction films. Various copyright inquiries are being made to the Science Fiction World Publishing House and novelists.

This is a godsend for science fiction writers who have mediocre incomes year after year, and some of them are even working out of passion.

Of course, everyone in the industry knows perfectly well who brought all this to light.

However, what troubles domestic film companies that want to imitate and follow suit the most is the issue of choosing a director.

Among established directors in China, only one well-known master has successfully managed a science fiction project.

For the Chinese film industry, whose evaluation system and production circles have been closed for a long time, who knows what science fiction is?
After all, the commentary system controlled by figures like Zhu Dake and Li Jie, and the thematic paradigm created by the Sixth Generation, have been rampant and dominated the charts for too long. The commercial boom that started with "Hero" at the end of 2002 has only lasted five or six years.

In an instant, heated discussions about "Ball Lightning" swept across the entire film industry.

Novelists are generating revenue, science fiction copyrights are increasing in value, fans and moviegoers are discussing it heatedly, and film companies are watching and waiting.

Film critics from both China and abroad were caught up in a frenzy of discussion.

New generation film critics like Gu Xiaobai and Zhou Liming have been longing for sci-fi films like "A Home Too Far" for far too long.

In their view, Lu Kuan, the only mainland company with a chance of success in terms of financial resources and film industry support, has finally made his move, which is something to look forward to.

In his previous life, Zhou Liming was known as "Mainland China's No. 1 Film Critic," regarded as a "traitor to the academic school," and was also a die-hard fan of Lu Kuan.

Xiao Zhou studied English and American languages ​​at Lin'an University for his undergraduate degree, Western culture at Sun Yat-sen University for his master's degree, and later earned an MBA from UC Berkeley. He is now a columnist for "Movie View" and "China Daily" and has 500 million followers on Weibo.

But unlike Zhu Dake, who was influenced by traditional culture, Zhou Liming, who studied so much Western aesthetics and literature, wrote books called "Beautiful China" and "Hollywood Revelation".

The latter provides an in-depth look at the role of the Hollywood film industry and cultural export, echoing Lu Kuan's proposal two years ago on the industrialization of film, and resonating in the grassroots academic field.

Zhou Liming, after mourning the passing of director Xie Jin and hearing the news that "Ball Lightning" had been approved, excitedly posted on Weibo—

The Lone Warriors and Game Changers of Chinese Science Fiction Cinema:
Too many major events happened in the country in 2008. As far as the domestic film industry is concerned, the passing of director Xie Jin was a great loss. However, another director's film project was launched, as if to send him off and remember him from afar.

The project "Ball Lightning" has been approved.

The former symbolizes the end of an era, while the latter may usher in a new one.

Over the years, the development of Chinese science fiction films can be summed up in the word "decline".

When Lu Kuan's "A Home Too Far" was released in 2004, it caused a stir in the industry. It turned out that Chinese people could also make science fiction films.

But four years later, apart from "A Home Away From Home", we have hardly seen any decent domestic science fiction films.

Science fiction films need the support of an industrial system, the director's respect for scientific logic, and, more importantly, the willingness of capital to pay for the unknown.

Unfortunately, our market has long been monopolized by the "realism" of the sixth generation of directors and the "cultural criticism" of people like Zhu Dake. Commercial films are already struggling, let alone science fiction.
A joke circulating in the industry recently goes like this: A film company boss was in a meeting discussing whether to buy the rights to a science fiction novel. The marketing director passionately analyzed the IP's value, but after listening, the boss coldly asked:

"Who's going to make this for? Besides Lu Kuan, who else in China can make science fiction films?"

"Buying it would just be a waste of resources for Butian Pictures!"

After the laughter subsides from these casual conversations, I only feel sorrow.

Industry insiders are optimistic that the Chinese film market will reach 60-65 billion yuan this year, but science fiction films are almost impossible to find directors.

The passing of director Xie Jin reminded me of Director Lu's statement in "The Times Have Xie Jin, But Xie Jin Has No Times":
The lingering influence of figures like Zhu Dake has, to some extent, led to a break in the development and commercialization of the Chinese film industry, and is one of the reasons for the aforementioned industry jokes.

Fox's visual effects blockbuster "Avatar" has officially entered post-production and is set to be released globally next year. It's not hard to imagine that it could become the next "Jurassic Park," "Star Wars," or "Titanic."

What kind of works should the Chinese market respond with?
Fortunately, the Chinese people of the 70s and 80s had director Xie Jin, and our era has director Lu Kuan.

The initiation of the "Ball Lightning" project not only marks the birth of a film, but also represents a breakthrough for Chinese science fiction.

It could change the entire industry ecosystem:
Capital will no longer be afraid of science fiction; directors will begin to explore hard science fiction, screenwriters will create more original stories, and special effects companies will see technological upgrades.

This was a revolution that started from scratch, and Director Lu was the one who ignited the spark.

In September 2008, we bid farewell to director Xie Jin, marking the end of an era;

The initiation of the "Ball Lightning" project may be a sign of the beginning of a new era.

This time, Chinese filmmakers finally have the opportunity to leave their mark on the vast universe of science fiction.

. . .

Zhou Liming's non-film review articles quickly sparked heated discussions.

As the saying goes, "when the tide goes out, you see who's swimming naked." When other film and television companies in China were eager to follow suit and explore the industry, they found that they couldn't even find a science fiction director. Only then did they truly realize the extent of the pernicious influence of people like Zhu Dake, as Lu Kuan had previously mentioned. This also made the passing of director Xie Jin even more regrettable for the vast number of movie fans.

At 8 PM on September 11th, Wenyuhefu.

Lu Kuan sat in front of his computer in the study, typing away. Liu Yifei brought him a cup of tea and placed it on the table. She then rested her chin on her hand and watched him process the collaborative workflow.

Lu Kuan tilted his head and teased, "Vitamin Qian? What time is our flight tomorrow?"

"9 point."

As the deputy head of the funeral committee, and also to send Xie Jin off on his final journey, the young couple will be going to Shanghai tomorrow.

The washing machine took a sip of hot tea and smiled, "Then take a day off tomorrow and don't exercise. Time is too tight, and you might miss your flight again."

Xiao Liu smiled and said, "It's okay. Get a good night's sleep tonight and you can get up early tomorrow. I think you should rest tonight."

“Then forget it…” Lu Kuan frowned: “Young people should be tired, and the capable should do more. I think it’s not a bad idea for us to work overtime tonight and tomorrow morning.”

Liu Yifei looked at her husband with a teasing expression: "Isn't it said that men are most prone to getting bored with the old and seeking the new? How come you're still so addicted to it?"

Liu Xiaolv's ostensible question was actually a boast.

"The key is that you're always new! No matter how you use it, it never gets old. Teacher Liu and Director Liu have already played the roles, so why not have a set for everyone from Zhao Ling'er to Lu Xueqi? Wouldn't that be great?"

Young girls after marriage often lack the charm of mature women, mainly because they are still too young.

But after a year of development and training in squats and swimming, his impressive physique is undeniable.

This "two ways of cooking fish" that combines girlish innocence and allure is quite captivating to gourmets.

"Bah! Shameless!"

Xiao Liu gave the washing machine a coquettish look and said with some emotion, "After the excitement of the past two days wore off, I feel that getting married is not much different from when I was dating."

“There’s no difference anyway.” Lu Kuan typed as he chatted with her, showering her with compliments for his own sexual happiness that night: “I’ve always considered you my wife, how could there be any difference?”

"Husband~~~" Liu Yifei was overjoyed by the coaxing and hugged the washing machine from behind in a coquettish voice. Caught off guard, the washing machine could already feel the warm and soft touch of the cotton candy on its back.

"You need to say those kinds of things more often in the future, understand? Don't make me angry all the time!"

Boss Lu reached behind her and pinched the girl's buttocks: "Alright, alright, the sweetness is a bit too much, Vitamin Qian. Let me calm down and finish writing the article mourning Director Xie."

"Okay!" Xiao Liu kissed him, got off the man's back, and curled up on the sofa: "I'll read the script by myself and won't bother you."

The autumn night outside the window along the Wenyu River is tranquil, with only the occasional chirping of crickets.

In the study, the warm yellow light from the desk lamp cast a gentle ripple on the solid wood desk, where the young couple were each busy with their own tasks.

Liu Yifei's slender white toes unconsciously hooked the edge of her fluffy slippers, and the script spread out on her lap was being turned with a rustling sound.

Lu Kuan was deep in thought, the blue light from the screen reflecting on his sharply defined profile. Before long, he wrote a heartfelt memorial article and posted it on Weibo.

(End of this chapter)