Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 371 Can this be blamed solely on me?
September 2008, 6, Beijing.

At the Capital Airport in the early morning, a sudden rain had just receded, and the ground still shimmered with a layer of dampness.

The smell of cement and dust mingled together, but was carried away by the wind at 5:30 in the morning.

Outside the airport terminal glass, a layer of lingering mist hung in the clouds, and the first faint golden rays of dawn pierced through the clouds.

"Hehe, Chairman Han might be under a lot of pressure lately," Liu Yifei said with a laugh as she picked up Wu Chen and got back into the car.

"Oh, what do you say?"

Wu Chen was a little curious, as he hadn't really paid attention to the news back home while he was in Los Angeles.

Just as Liu Yifei was about to speak, she suddenly noticed that Wu Chen hadn't fastened his seatbelt yet, and pouted to remind him, "Hurry up! I'm about to step on the gas."

"Help me!" Wu Chen tilted his head back, leaning lazily against his seat, his eyes filled with a smile.

Liu Yifei's face flushed slightly, as if she had thought of something, and she couldn't help but lightly pat Wu Chen, "You bad boy."

Having said that, he had no choice but to loosen his seatbelt, turn slightly to the side, and a refreshing fragrance wafted over.

Today, Liu Yifei wore a white turtleneck T-shirt, jeans, and her hair was simply tied up, making her look simple yet youthful and charming.

This pose made her figure look particularly alluring, especially the hips and thighs wrapped in jeans, which were full of healthy and taut proportions, making Wu Chen unable to resist giving them a light pinch.

Yes, it's very bouncy.

In that instant, Wu Chen saw a pair of reproachful eyes and puffed-up cheeks.

"Don't move, or I'll chop your claws off!"

Her words were harsh, but her cute, fierce tone and the watery look in her eyes made her completely pleasing to the eye.

"Go ahead and cut it, the Olympics are coming up soon anyway."

Hearing Wu Chen say this, Liu Yifei blushed even more, and was a little nervous. After all, if Wu Chen's parents came, they would definitely talk about the two of them.

Wu Chen sensed that Liu Yifei seemed a little unsteady on the steering wheel, and quickly reminded her, "Hold on tighter, or we won't be able to wait for the Olympics."

"It's all your fault."

Upon seeing this, Liu Yifei quickly focused her attention, gave a coquettish sigh, and a hint of sweetness flashed in her eyes with a touch of shyness.

"By the way, how much pressure is Chairman Han under?" Wu Chen quickly changed the subject, stopping teasing Liu Yifei.

"Oh, at yesterday afternoon's press conference for 'Red Cliff,' Chairman Han made a slip of the tongue, saying instead that 'we must mobilize the entire nation to ensure the successful distribution of 'The Promise.'"

At this point, Wu Chen also laughed out loud.

"It seems like Han Dong might not have gotten over the hurdle of 'The Promise' yet."

“He’s probably afraid that Red Cliff will become another The Promise!” Wu Chen replied with a smile.

"It can't be that bad."

Liu Yifei found it hard to believe that "The Promise" was composed of a combination of favorable timing, location, and various coincidences, and that "Red Cliff" could be replicated again.
Just as Liu Yifei was starting to doubt it, Han Sanping from the China Film Studio frowned deeply.

He had seen the finished film of "Red Cliff," but something about it seemed off, which made him very uneasy. Otherwise, he would never have mispronounced the film's name at the press conference, saying it was "The Promise."

"We need to think about the Southeast Asian market."

Han Sanping tapped his fingertips absently on the edge of the table, pondering a plan, but when he thought about the finished film of "Red Cliff," he couldn't help but complain:
"Damn it, how could it be filmed like this?"

"."

At midday in Beijing in June, the heat was intense. A gentle breeze blew through the curtains, lifting a wisp of pale light. From inside the room came a girl's soft humming and complaints.

"It's all your fault," Liu Yifei muttered under her breath, her flushed face still warm from the "battle" just now. She pinched Wu Chen's chest a few times with her fingertips, "Look at my swollen lips, how am I going to go home for dinner later?"

Knowing that Wu Chen was coming back today, Liu Xiaoli specially invited the two of them to go back for lunch together.

"This isn't just my fault. Look at my chest!" Wu Chen was about to bend down and pull at her collar to show Liu Yifei her handiwork.

"No, no!" Liu Yifei covered her eyes shyly, then couldn't help but instruct, "You have to change into a turtleneck later, or you'll be in big trouble if someone sees you."

"Good good!"

Seeing how thin-skinned Liu Yifei was, Wu Chen couldn't help but chuckle. But he had to admit that the white T-shirt and jeans she wore were undeniably attractive and alluring.

The two arrived on time at noon.

The air conditioning in the restaurant was not turned up high, the fan was turning slightly, and there was a hint of the salty aroma of braised shrimp in soy sauce in the air.

Shu Chang sat on the chair, and as soon as she saw the two enter, a smile immediately appeared on her lips. Her gaze swept over them and landed on Liu Yifei's red lips.

"What are you looking at?" Liu Yifei immediately noticed, took a small step back, and spoke with a slightly fierce tone.

"It's nothing, I'm a professional."

"Shuchang, how come you're so free? Don't you have any gigs?" Wu Chen changed the subject immediately.

Liu Yifei breathed a sigh of relief, but when she saw Liu Xiaoli bringing over the dishes, her heart started racing again.

"Wu Chen, have you forgotten? We have to go to Hong Kong next week to film 'Bad Genius'. I need to study the script diligently, otherwise I'll hold you back."

Shu Chang couldn't help but speak up.

Wu Chen then remembered something else and sighed, "I'm really busy non-stop."

Just then, footsteps came from the kitchen, and Liu Xiaoli came out carrying the last bowl of West Lake beef soup.

She glanced at her daughter briefly, her eyes sweeping over the color at the corner of her mouth, then at Wu Chen. Her gaze lingered for a second, but she quickly turned around and put the vegetables away as if nothing had happened, without saying a word more.

But when he got back to the car, Wu Chen had two red marks on his waist.

"I must have been laughing my head off just now."

"How could that be? Nobody said anything."

"Hmph, self-deception!" Liu Yifei said coquettishly.

In late June, in addition to the high-profile promotion of "Red Cliff" within the industry, "Painted Skin" also gradually began its promotional campaign.

Ren Zhonglun specially invited Lu Yang, Pang Hong, and the rest of the crew to the Shanghai International Film Festival. After learning that Wu Chen had returned, he couldn't help but call him.

"Director Wu, this is the Shanghai International Film Festival."

"Mr. Ren, I won't be going. I have to fly to Hong Kong in a few days. Filming for 'Bad Genius' is about to begin."

"Oh!" Seeing this, Ren Zhonglun had no choice but to give up and then asked about other things:
"By the way, Director Wu, many companies are interested in the film and television industry now. As you know, Huayi Brothers has been talking a lot about its listing plans recently, and China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group are also in the process of filing for listing. Now many people are very interested in Starry Night Pictures."

Do you need external investment? If so, I know quite a few people who can.

Wu Chen understood and politely declined with a smile: "Never mind, Xingchen doesn't plan to go public for the time being, as long as we have enough funds."

"Haha, okay, I understand!" Ren Zhonglun laughed and didn't say anything more.

Wu Chen's meaning was very clear.
(End of this chapter)