It's reasonable for me to be a three-time Golden Horse Award-winning director and an all-around

Chapter 164 The Second "Date" with Liu Yifei ~ (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Quite coincidentally, the Taiwan Golden Horse Awards and the mainland Golden Rooster Awards were held only one day apart this year.

The former is located in the Keelung Cultural Center, and the latter is located in Sanya, Hainan.

The two places are extremely far apart!

This means that many filmmakers can only choose between the two and cannot attend both award ceremonies at the same time.

Lu Rui guessed that the Golden Rooster Awards organizers must be regretting it to the core right now.

Look at the prestige of the Golden Horse Awards; all the nominated films are blockbuster commercial films.

Looking at the Golden Rooster Awards, there are a bunch of art-house films with realistic themes, many of which many people have never even heard of.

Most importantly, this year's top-grossing film in mainland China, "Taken," along with "Click" and "Crazy Stone," are all aiming for the Golden Horse Awards, with none of them going for the Golden Rooster Awards.

"Brother Rui, do you think Jinji might give us a hard time?"

In the hotel, Shen Ao, who had flown in from the mainland, was still a little worried about offending the judges.

"Make things difficult for them?" Lu Rui curled his lip. "They'll only have a chance if we go, right?"

"Huh? That makes sense!"

"Haha." Ning Hao chimed in with a laugh, "I really envy you guys who still have to consider this. I don't have to worry about my movie."

This time, he was met with a cold shoulder instead of a warm welcome.

After the movie finished its run, I enthusiastically went to apply for the Golden Rooster Awards, but I didn't even get a nomination.

On the other hand, the Golden Horse Awards gave out five nominations. Although the chances of winning are slim, at least there's something to look forward to.

On the other hand, Jinji's attitude really broke his fragile heart.

"Let's go eat first. Why think so much? Making money at the box office is the most important thing for commercial films. As for awards, there's no point in worrying about them."

Lü Rui was quite open-minded, after all, he didn't lack for it.

Shen Ao didn't think too much about it; as a new director, he wasn't likely to get his hands on any awards for the time being.

Ning Hao, however, was seething with resentment.

He started out making art films, so he has never been able to let go of his obsession with winning awards.

When he was filming "Green Grassland" in Inner Mongolia, he was deeply moved by the sparsely populated natural environment.

After returning home, he dreamed of filming the desolation of the no-man's-land, the struggles of humanity, and the "law of the jungle" where the strong prey on the weak.

Unfortunately, he still hasn't figured out how to get to the heart of the story. He can only prepare for a new commercial film project first, and then work on this award-winning film once he has earned enough money.

The easiest way is to learn from Lu Chuan's filming of "Kekexili" and copy the content of other people's documentaries everywhere.

But Ning Hao couldn't do such a thing.

He doesn't want to one day be cornered by reporters, face-to-face, and called "Ning the plagiarist."

...

After dinner, back at the hotel, Lü Rui turned on his computer and went online, only to find that the Golden Rooster Awards ceremony had already ended.

The best film is "On the Taihang Mountains".

According to the judges, this epic war film, with its grand narrative and stunning visuals, vividly portrays that turbulent period of history!
The Best Director award went to Ma Liwen, who won this prestigious award for her delicate and heartwarming film "We Two".

The film's lead actress, Jin Yaqin, delivered a superb performance, perfectly capturing the loneliness and warmth of an elderly person living alone, earning her the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actress.

This film is no ordinary film. It is produced by Han Sanping himself, and Yang Buting, the current head of China Film Group, is involved in its production. It has a very high profile!

It's worth mentioning that the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor went to Jackie Chan for his film "New Police Story".

At the same time, this year's Golden Rooster Awards marked the first time in its history that filmmakers from Hong Kong and Taiwan were included in the selection process.

Jackie Chan's award seems to be a signal from the Golden Rooster Awards to filmmakers in Hong Kong and Taiwan: "We mainland filmmakers can also win awards now, so hurry up and join us!"

In contrast, the Hong Kong Film Awards remain as high-class as ever.

Whether they're putting on a brave face or are outwardly strong but inwardly weak, they're all maintaining their "status in the industry," unlike the Golden Rooster, whose name truly reflects its character...

What's even more interesting is that, whether the directors of the Golden Rooster Awards wanted to feast their eyes or boost ratings, they actually invited the contestants from the Miss World pageant to come.

In the bikini photos circulating online, a group of elderly men with gray hair and wrinkled faces are smiling in a way that is both kind and lewd.

The scene is somewhat incongruous, making people wonder what considerations were behind it.

……

The following morning, the venues for the Golden Horse Awards gradually became lively.

Media reporters rushed over from Sanya, and many celebrities also flew in overnight, instantly filling the place with a lot of noise.

"Senior, are Director Jiang and Sister Yun really not coming?"

Liu Yifei also rushed over from the mainland overnight, just to walk the red carpet and attend the awards ceremony with Lü Rui.

"They're filming at a crucial stage over there and can't get away," Lü Rui explained, then changed the subject, "Thank you for coming all this way."

"It's not tiring at all, it'll give me a couple of days to rest." Liu Yifei waved her hand with a smile, but a secret joy was rising in her heart. This time, she could finally help her senior!

What made her even happier was that Jiang Wen and Zhou Yun weren't coming, so walking the red carpet that night would just be the two of them making their own appearance.

Thinking of this, her cheeks involuntarily began to flush slightly, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

"Haven't had breakfast yet? Shall we go together?" Lu Rui asked.

"Okay, okay!" Liu Yifei nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling.

In fact, to maintain her figure, she usually only eats a slice of whole wheat bread in the morning to fill her stomach.

But since Lü Rui had taken the initiative to invite her, she couldn't bear to refuse.

"Where's your mother? Isn't she going?" Lü Rui knew that Liu Xiaoli had also come to the Golden Horse Awards.

“She said she wasn’t hungry,” Liu Yifei blurted out, but in her heart she was thinking: I’m not a child anymore, it’s so embarrassing to have my mother come with me when I go out for breakfast.

The two turned and walked through the corridor into the elevator.

Seeing the girl beside him jumping for joy, Lü Rui chuckled and teased, "Aren't you afraid I'll sell you off if you just follow me like this?"

Liu Yifei blinked her big, watery eyes and asked earnestly, "Who would you sell it to? You?"

"..."

Now it was Lü Rui's turn to be speechless.

This girl was as clear as a glass of water in front of him, straightforward and frank, making it impossible for him to even have the slightest wicked thought. He could only shake his head helplessly in his heart.

Once inside the restaurant, the two got their own food, found a seat by the window, and started eating and chatting.

Lu Rui specifically inquired about the production of "Sunny Sisters," asking detailed questions about everything from the filming progress to the actors' condition.

Liu Yifei took a small bite of her steamed bun and answered in great detail, even revealing the minor conflicts between Huo Siyan and Fan Bingbing without reservation.

Lu Rui listened, and his thoughts coincided with Zhao Peng's.

As long as it doesn't affect filming, these minor conflicts should be left alone; there's no need to take them too seriously.

This is ultimately a private matter for the actors, and the director shouldn't interfere too much. He should just turn a blind eye and let Huayi deal with it themselves.

As they chatted, the topic shifted back to academics.

Time flies, and Liu Yifei will graduate after the first half of next year.

"What did you write in your graduation thesis?" Lu Rui asked casually.

"A brief...a brief discussion on actors' creativity," Liu Yifei said, her cheeks slightly flushed, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.

Seeing that she choked on her steamed bun while speaking, Lü Rui casually pushed his half-finished cup of soy milk towards her: "Speak slowly, catch your breath."

Liu Yifei glanced at the used straw on the rim of the cup, paused for a moment, but said nothing. She picked up the cup, put the straw in her mouth, and took a big gulp.

As the warm soy milk slid down her throat, she suddenly realized that her heart was beating a few beats faster for no reason, and her ears were getting warm.

"Your topic is quite profound."

Lu Rui was somewhat surprised. He had thought she would discuss one of her works, but she actually wanted to focus on actors as a whole. It seemed she was really planning to delve deeper into the field of performing artists.

Unfortunately, with such an eye-catching face, this path is destined to be anything but easy.

“I’ve been studying hard,” Liu Yifei said proudly, tilting her head back and raising her chin slightly. Her slightly arrogant look was especially cute. “Our advisor said that my framework is well-structured and even said he would recommend me as an outstanding graduate.”

"Haha, good luck then." Lu Rui smiled and offered encouragement. He reached out to take his soy milk cup back, but saw that she was still holding it tightly, her fingertips digging into the cup. He had no choice but to give up and get up to make another cup.

Liu Yifei watched his back as he walked towards the food counter, then lowered her head and took a sip of the soy milk in her cup. A sweet taste mixed with a faint warmth kept seeping into her heart.

Thinking back to the last time we "dated", it was when we went to the mall during the Chinese New Year. I never thought I would have the chance to do it again today.

She couldn't contain her excitement, and even slowed down her drinking of soy milk, wanting to savor this moment of relaxation a little longer.

However, happy times are always short-lived.

Lu Rui had just returned with a fresh cup of soy milk when he sat down at the restaurant entrance when a commotion broke out.

Liu Xiaoli walked in with a warm expression.

"Mom?" Liu Yifei was taken aback, thinking her mother had come to "check up" on her.

But the next second, she saw another figure following behind her mother.

Liu Xiaoli walked quickly to the table, greeted Lü Rui with a smile, and then turned around to introduce her daughter warmly: "Qianqian, this is Director Li An, please greet him."

Liu Yifei was slightly taken aback, stood up, and curiously looked at the kind-looking uncle in front of her with a gentle smile. She quickly greeted him politely, "Hello, Director Li."

"Xixi? That's a nice nickname. Hello to you too," Li An replied politely.

The next second, he turned his gaze to Lü Rui, nodded and said, "Hello, Director Lü, nice to meet you."

"Director Li, I've long admired your name."

Lu Rui stood up, feeling somewhat wary, but still reached out to shake his hand.

He simply wiped his hand on his trouser leg discreetly as he withdrew it.

After exchanging pleasantries, Li An turned to look at Liu Yifei, his smile as warm as the spring sun: "I've seen your performance in 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils,' and Wang Yuyan's spirit truly shines from the very core of her being."

Liu Yifei was surprised that this big director who had just returned from Hollywood would suddenly praise her, and quickly bowed slightly: "Thank you for the compliment, Director Li. I actually still have a lot of shortcomings."

“Don’t be modest,” Li An waved his hand, his tone friendly. “An actor’s talent is innate; it can’t be learned. I see a very special quality about you, both clean and with a touch of aloofness, which is very suitable for the big screen…”

He paused, then changed the subject slightly, "Besides filming, do you usually enjoy watching movies? Are there any directors or actors you particularly admire?"

After careful consideration, Liu Yifei answered each question one by one.

Although she is busy filming all year round, she has not neglected her studies.

From Hitchcock's suspense techniques to Meryl Streep's acting, the presentation was clear and organized, showing that the author had done their homework.

Li An listened attentively, nodding frequently and occasionally interjecting with comments, guiding Liu Yifei to become more and more engaged in her speech, gradually letting go of her initial restraint.

Lu Rui sat to the side, his mind in turmoil.

Li An's question seemed casual, but it actually contained a hidden meaning.

From discussing works to aesthetics, from personal preferences to career plans, every sentence revolves around "actor suitability".

Especially when Liu Yifei mentioned her interest in art films, a barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes.

This immediately put Lü Rui on alert!

After chatting for about ten minutes, Li An suddenly took out a vintage camera from his leather bag and said with a smile, "Sorry, my professional habit kicked in."

Just now, when I saw you speaking, the sunlight fell perfectly on your profile; it was such a beautiful scene, it would have been a shame not to take a picture.

Before Liu Yifei could react, he had already raised his camera and pressed the shutter with a "click".

The photo was taken very naturally. Liu Yifei tilted her head slightly, her eyelashes casting a small shadow under her eyelids. Her eyes were clear yet somewhat innocent, creating a unique atmosphere.

“You will definitely become a very good actor in the future.” Li An put away his camera, his smile still gentle. “I won’t disturb your meal any longer. Let’s talk again another time.”

After saying that, he nodded to Lü Rui and Liu Xiaoli, then turned and left the restaurant.

Only after his figure disappeared through the door did Lü Rui turn his gaze to Liu Xiaoli, his tone inquisitive: "Why did Li An suddenly come here?"

Liu Xiaoli shook her head, her tone blank: "I'm not entirely sure either. About two weeks ago, he suddenly called and said he wanted to invite Qianqian to be the female lead in his new movie."

Hearing this, Lü Rui already guessed what was going on. His eyes narrowed slightly as he pressed, "He didn't say what movie it was?"

“No,” Liu Xiaoli continued to shake her head, adding, “He just said that the female lead in the new film is particularly suitable for Xixi, and he has called several times recently, even wanting to finalize the deal right away.”

But I felt it wouldn't be safe to not see the script, so I kept quiet. It was quite a coincidence that we bumped into each other in the hotel lobby today.

Liu Xiaoli may not be a particularly shrewd agent, but she is certainly a competent mother.

Everything she did, even if it sometimes seemed ill-considered, was ultimately for her daughter's good.

So even though Li An had a great reputation and offered her the lead role right away, she wasn't blinded by it and always remained cautious.

After thinking for a moment, Lü Rui took out his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and finally found Yang Shoucheng's number.

Yinghuang has deep roots in Hong Kong and Taiwan and is always well-informed.

He was the one who handled Liu Yifei's reinstatement of her Hong Kong citizenship, so it shouldn't be difficult for him to find out this information.

The call was quickly connected, and Yang Shoucheng's delighted voice came through the receiver: "Director Lü? What a rare guest!"

"Chairman Yang, good morning. I hope I haven't disturbed your rest?"

"Haha, no, I woke up a while ago and just got to the company."

"That's good." Lu Rui smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries before getting down to business: "Actually, there's something else I'd like to trouble you with."

"Oh dear, Director Lü, what are you saying?" Yang Shoucheng quickly replied, "Don't mention it, just let me know if you need anything."

Lu Rui didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Have you heard recently that Li An has a new film project in the works?"

Yang Shoucheng on the other end of the phone was slightly taken aback, then said, "I really didn't notice that, but don't worry, Director Lü, I'll have someone inquire about it right away, and I'll let you know as soon as I have any news."

"Thank you very much then," said Lü Rui.

After hanging up the phone, the three of them got up and walked together toward the room.

Seeing that no one was around, Lü Rui instructed, "From now on, no matter what Li An promises, don't agree to it. Let me find out the situation first."

"Okay." Liu Xiaoli knew she wasn't as well-informed as him, so she nodded earnestly.

Needless to say, Liu Yifei always listened to Lü Rui.

……

In the afternoon, the Golden Horse Awards red carpet officially kicked off.

The order of the red carpet is meticulously planned, with a clear distinction between who goes first and who comes last, and between the main and secondary figures. Only a few big names can enjoy special arrangements.

Thanks to the outstanding performance of "Taken", Lu Rui was not scheduled to be the last to appear, but her appearance time was arranged in the evening.

At the appointed time, the guests walked out of the hotel one after another, got into the cars arranged by the organizers, and lined up to walk the red carpet.

In the car, Lu Rui saw Liu Yifei secretly touching her stomach, so he took out a piece of bread from his bag and handed it to her, and also handed her a bottle of milk: "Have something to eat first, I'll take you out for a big meal after the ceremony."

When there are red carpet events, it's common for female celebrities to go without food for a whole day in order to look good in their gowns, at most they'll eat some fruit to tide them over.

Liu Yifei was no exception. After eating a steamed bun in the morning, she had hardly eaten anything all day, and her stomach was growling with hunger.

She took the bread and milk, whispered "Thank you, senior," unwrapped the package, and started eating in small bites, while secretly glancing at Lü Rui.

At six o'clock sharp, the host at the end of the red carpet raised his voice, which resonated throughout the venue via microphone:
"Next, let's give a warm round of applause to the cast and crew of 'Taken'—director Lü Rui and lead actress Liu Yifei!"

This film is the No.1 highest-grossing Chinese-language film this year, with a domestic box office of 3.72 million yuan and a Hollywood box office of 4532 million US dollars, equivalent to approximately 14.5 billion New Taiwan Dollars…

As soon as he finished speaking, the door of the black sedan was opened by the staff.

Lu Rui wore a pair of slim-fit trousers with a black shirt and shiny leather shoes. His simple outfit could not hide his outstanding figure.

His main profession is director, but his appearance and temperament are in no way inferior to those of actors. He stands tall and straight like a pine tree, and although his face exudes composure, there is a hint of sharpness in his eyes. He has an aura of his own just by standing there.

After getting out of the car, he turned slightly to the side and extended his hand in a gentlemanly manner.

The next second, a slender, fair arm reached out from inside the car and gently rested on his palm.

Liu Yifei wore a moon-white strapless dress with layers of skirt that flowed like moonlight. Her shoulders and neck were slender and graceful, and her collarbones were as delicate as a carefully sculpted work of art.

Her long hair was loosely tied up, revealing her delicate earlobes. The diamond earrings swayed gently with her movements, reflecting the light in her eyes.

The dress was clearly in a cool color, yet she wore it with a touch of lively charm and naivety.

Standing next to Lü Rui, they formed a perfect picture of a handsome man and a beautiful woman, so well-matched that it was hard to look away...

(End of this chapter)