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

Chapter 165 I'll Make Sure Your Movies Can't Enter Mainland China! (Two-part series! Please vote!)
Taiwan is practically Jay Chou's home turf, since he's a local and a very well-known singer.

Therefore, most of the background music chosen by the organizers tonight is his work.

This is also a common method to boost viewership ratings.

Coincidentally, when Liu Yifei walked down the red carpet arm in arm with Lü Rui, the song playing from Jay Chou's 2000 album "Starry Night" was being played from the speakers on both sides.

"Hand in hand, one step, two steps, three steps, four steps, looking at the sky."
Look at the stars, one, two, three, four, forming a line.

They silently made a wish, back to back.
Can you hear it from the distant stars...?

Because Lu Rui was busy dealing with the shouts of the media and fans on both sides, he didn't pay much attention to the background music.

But Liu Yifei blushed instantly, her cheeks turning red, and she even slowed her pace unconsciously.

With Jay Chou's gentle voice in her ears and her senior's arm linked beside her, the lyrics "holding hands and making a wish" gently tickled her heart like a feather, making her lower her head and purse her lips.

"Isn't this just too much of a coincidence?"

She muttered to herself, her heart swaying gently with the rhythm, and she tightened her grip on Lü Rui's arm.

The flashes of light around her were so bright they made it hard to open her eyes, but she felt that the singing in her ears was clearer than all the noise.

It was as if the melody was tailor-made for this scene, hiding a secret joy that only she could understand.

Lu Rui didn't think much of it, assuming that she was just a little nervous because of the big event on the red carpet, and turned her head to ask in a low voice, "Are you alright?"

"Ok!"

Liu Yifei nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling like fallen stars when she looked up, and a sweet smile curved her lips.

The two stood in front of the autograph wall.

Lu Rui wasn't interested in the photo session, but he knew that Liu Yifei had many endorsements and needed this kind of exposure opportunity.

So he simply moved aside naturally, giving her enough space to take photos.

The 18-year-old stood in front of the autograph wall, showing no fear in the face of the numerous cameras, but instead exuding a graceful and lively charm.

She slightly raised her chin, her shoulders and neck gracefully extended, and her moon-white dress shimmered softly under the light, making her skin appear even whiter than snow.

The camera captured the moment her eyes sparkled, her clear eyes seemed to hold starlight, and a faint smile played on her lips, understated yet radiant.

When she raised her hand to sign, the slight curve of her wrist carried a girlish charm. Her strokes were crisp and clean. After signing, she didn't forget to nod slightly at the camera. She had both the composure to face the public and the unique innocence of a young girl. Every gesture perfectly showcased her beauty, making the shutter clicks around her even more frequent.

Lu Rui watched from the side, feeling gratified.

The woman before him was like a flower he had carefully nurtured for a long time, finally blooming in full glory at this moment, bright and dazzling, making him feel that all the care he had given her before was worthwhile.

However, this comfort did not last long, because an uninvited guest came over.

"Director Lü, are you confident about winning an award tonight?"

The one who asked the question was Huang Zijiao, one of the red carpet hosts. He had a formulaic smile on his face and handed the microphone to Lü Rui's mouth.

Lu Rui glanced at him and subconsciously frowned.

This person looked refined and gentle, with an innocent and harmless appearance.

But he knew perfectly well that this guy was definitely not a good person.

In his past life, he was exposed for secretly possessing thousands of indecent videos, the youngest of whom was a minor. He was nothing short of a beast in human skin!
He suppressed his disgust and said calmly, "As for the awards, let nature take its course."

After saying that, he ignored the guy and turned to signal Liu Yifei to go inside.

Meanwhile, on the red carpet behind, Stephen Chow and the entire cast and crew of "Kung Fu Hustle" made a grand entrance.

As expected, Huang Shengyi, the "Star Girl," was absent from the event again, clearly determined to sever all ties with Star Overseas.

Upon entering the main venue, one is immediately struck by the dazzling array of stars, yet amidst the elegant attire and glimpses of different social circles, subtle distinctions between different groups are clearly discernible.

Hong Kong and Taiwanese filmmakers gathered on one side, chatting and laughing, while the mainland team formed their own group. Although they greeted each other, there was a lack of warmth between them.

"Director Lü!"

Not far away, Wang Zhonglei was standing in the crowd waving at Lü Rui with a familiar smile on his face.

Feng Xiaogang, who was standing next to him, also looked over in the same direction, and his expression darkened slightly.

Lu Rui nodded to Wang Zhonglei from afar as a greeting, then glanced at Feng Xiaogang without lingering before leading Liu Yifei straight to the front row.

Although Ruishijie has an indirect collaboration with Huayi, this does not mean that he has integrated into their circle.

The purpose of the cooperation is simply to hold shares so that we can make a big profit later, nothing more.

Following the hostess's directions, Lü Rui led Liu Yifei to the second row.

With its box office success, "Taken" is destined to be a "VIP" at tonight's Golden Horse Awards, hence its prime location.

Liu Yifei followed quietly beside him, her fingertips gently gripping the hem of her skirt. Her curious gaze swept over the celebrities around them, but she never let go of Lü Rui's arm, as if she was afraid that her pillar of support would run away.

"What's so great about that?"

Feng Xiaogang stared at Lü Rui's retreating figure, muttered something under his breath, his face full of resentment.

He was really seething with anger tonight.

On the red carpet, he was surrounded by the media, who pressed him for his feelings about the box office record being broken. It felt like they were slapping him in the face, which made him so angry that he almost cursed them out on the spot.

And the one who started all of this was none other than Lü Rui, who turned a blind eye to him!

Just as he was gritting his teeth in frustration, Wang Zhonglei gently patted his arm and said, "Alright, don't get angry with him. It's not worth making things too awkward."

"Do I need to maintain a good relationship with him?" Feng Xiaogang retorted, clearly unconvinced. "Isn't he just relying on a few commercially successful films? In terms of experience, he's far from qualified!"

Wang Zhonglei sighed helplessly: "He's quite experienced, and I recently heard that he's preparing a new project, bringing in a lot of state-owned enterprises. Judging by this, he's probably aiming for a big award. If it succeeds, your future..."

The rest of the sentence was left unsaid, but the meaning was all too clear.

Feng Xiaogang fell silent instantly.

In terms of awards, he is indeed far behind many of his domestic peers, which is a hurdle he has always kept in mind.

"When my 'The Banquet' becomes a huge success, I'll also try to win awards, and I might not be any worse than him!" He clenched his fist and muttered to himself.

However, many people around could hear a hint of stubbornness and a lack of confidence in his words.

...

Although he had already entered and taken his seat, given Lü Rui's status as a director, quite a few people still came over to greet him.

A host of Hong Kong and Taiwanese artists, including Leung Ka-fai, Aaron Kwok, Fong Chung-shun, Yeung Sin-wah, Shu Qi, and Mao Shun-yun, enthusiastically stepped forward to chat about their works or simply exchange pleasantries, creating a lively atmosphere.

The only ones who stayed far away were the directors from Hong Kong, their eyes glancing over with a deliberate air of distance.

Lü Rui was not surprised by this.

He knew in his heart that many people in Hong Kong had probably been specifically instructed not to approach him casually.

In addition, since the directors tonight are all competitors and their relationships aren't that close, they naturally won't seem very friendly.

It's actually quite funny when you think about it. Even though I won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director, it's like I've been blacklisted in the Hong Kong entertainment industry.

Those Hong Kong film and television capitalists are really stingy. They always allow themselves to take advantage of others, but if anyone takes even the slightest benefit from them, they immediately become indignant and resentful...

Just then, Lü Rui's eyes lit up, and an interesting idea suddenly popped into his mind:

If they were to collaborate with mainland directors, use mainland actors as leads and Hong Kong actors as supporting actors, and make a few films that precisely fit the Hong Kong market, and then suppress other films in the Hong Kong market for several years in a row, achieving both critical and commercial success, I wonder if the Hong Kong Film Awards could withstand the pressure.

Should we continue to award prizes to local filmmakers, or should we have to bow to high-quality works?
And what about those investors who can only watch helplessly as the profits are distributed without getting a share themselves? They'd probably be green with envy.
The more he thought about it, the more interesting the idea seemed, and a meaningful smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.

However, I've been too busy with work lately and haven't been able to find the time.

When I have some free time, I could work on one or two scripts for fun.

Perfect timing, we've found a suitable partner...

...

At 7:30 p.m., the Keelung Cultural Center was already packed.

As the guests took their seats, the Golden Horse Awards ceremony officially began!

The ceremony was hosted by Taiwanese host Hu Gua and Jay Chou's girlfriend, Patty Hou.

The former opened his mouth with his usual humorous tone, while the latter had a gentle smile; the two, one warm and the other cool, complemented each other perfectly.

Sitting in the front row, listening to the interaction on stage, Lü Rui suddenly had another thought pop into his mind:
It seems like most of the male TV hosts on Taiwanese TV have some issues?

They either have a strange, androgynous demeanor, or they're like Huang Zijiao, whom we just met—refined on the surface but gloomy on the inside—or they're like Hu Gua, who has been exposed for using marijuana.

He glanced around silently, feeling that the entertainment market here had a strange sense of "madness".

While seemingly trying to learn Hollywood's business model and imitate the star-making assembly line and ceremony process, it always seems to have gone astray, taking extravagance and novelty as its characteristics, and lacking the industry's necessary depth and standardization.

As the two warmed up the audience, the large screen in the center of the stage lit up.

The list of films nominated for each award and clips scrolled across the screen, eliciting occasional murmurs from the audience.

Hou Peiqin, holding the microphone, began with a gentle smile: "Welcome everyone to the 42nd Golden Horse Awards ceremony. Tonight is a star-studded event, and I believe it will be a grand feast for filmmakers..."

After a warm and enthusiastic opening, the audience erupted in applause, and the awards ceremony officially began.

Best sound effects, best editing, best action choreography, best costume design...

The structure of these awards is quite similar to that of Hollywood.

Interspersed between the awards ceremony were some performances, including singers performing classic movie theme songs, which evoked a wave of nostalgia for the audience.

Some dance troupes also presented modern dances that incorporated film elements, with lights and dance steps intertwined, creating a dazzling spectacle.

The award presenters and hosts frequently cracked jokes, sometimes teasing the award recipients and sometimes interacting with the celebrities in the audience, which made the whole ceremony seem relaxed and well-paced.

The first minor highlight of the evening came from the presentation of the Best New Actor award.

When Gui Lunmei called out "Jay Chou's" name, the audience erupted in applause.

This singer, who transitioned from singing to acting, is incredibly popular in the local area!
After a song, Jay Chou, who won an award for "Initial D", stood on the stage.

Although the presenters were clearly Yang You-ning and Gui Lun-mei, the two insisted on dragging Hou Pei-qin out and having her personally present the trophy to her boyfriend.

At this moment, the Golden Horse Awards viewership ratings experienced a small surge.

However, Lü Rui vaguely noticed that besides the applause, there seemed to be quite a few boos mixed in with the applause.
The couple is facing considerable public pressure regarding their relationship.

Patty Hou's family background is frequently reported by Hong Kong and Taiwanese media, while Jay Chou is constantly embroiled in scandals, and many media outlets and fans are not optimistic about their relationship...

"Best Adapted Screenplay: A World Without Thieves!"

The award was well-deserved, but Feng Xiaogang himself didn't go on stage, seemingly waiting for an even bigger award.

The Best Original Screenplay award went to "Crazy Stone".

Ning Hao excitedly rushed onto the stage, accepted the gleaming golden trophy, and kissed it several times, unable to hide his excitement.

Yuen Qiu won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in "Kung Fu Hustle".

The Best Actress award went to Shu Qi...

"The winner of this year's Golden Horse Award for Best Actor is Ge You for his role in 'Click'!"

Lu Rui turned around and looked at Ge You and Shen Ao along with the others.

The former touched his bald head, seemingly surprised that he had won the Best Actor award.

Shen Ao looked on in disbelief, clearly not expecting that he had personally nurtured a Golden Horse Best Actor!
Now, let's move on to the climax of the night!
The nominees for Best Director are: Tsai Ming-liang for "The Wayward Cloud", Johnnie To for "Election", Hou Hsiao-hsien for "Three Times", Stephen Chow for "Kung Fu Hustle", Lui Yuen for "Taken", and Feng Xiaogang for "A World Without Thieves".

Under the watchful eyes of the entire audience, Li An and Takeshi Kaneshiro walked onto the stage together.

The latter opened the envelope and handed the list to the former.

Looking at the names on the list, Li announced loudly into the microphone, "The winner of the Best Director award at the 42nd Taiwan Golden Horse Awards is—Lü Rui for *Taken*!" Boom!!!
The audience erupted in applause, and all the cameras turned to Lu Rui as exciting clips from "Taken" began playing on the big screen.

The tense car chase, the sharp action sequences, and the delicate emotional portrayal in the father-daughter scenes—every frame exudes the director's distinctive style…

Holding the cue cards, Li continued reading the award speech into the microphone: "Director Lü Rui demonstrated amazing control in 'Taken'."

He perfectly blends the rhythm and emotional core of commercial genre films, and his cinematic language is as precise as a scalpel.

In the fast-paced action scenes, every punch and kick carries real weight, while in the tender scenes between father and daughter, the most restrained shots capture the unspoken words in their eyes.

He didn't indulge in showing off his skills, but instead ensured that all filming techniques served the story, allowing the audience to experience both an adrenaline rush and be deeply moved by the characters' emotions. This ability to balance commercial appeal and artistic merit is especially rare among young directors…

As soon as he finished speaking, the applause from the audience grew even louder.

Stephen Chow, Feng Xiaogang, Hou Hsiao-hsien, and others all turned to look at him, their eyes filled with complex emotions—resentment, doubt, and bitterness, yet also a sense of helplessness…

Only Liu Yifei looked up at him, her eyes sparkling, clapping enthusiastically, and unable to hide the smile on her lips.

Lu Rui smiled slightly, stood up and straightened his shirt collar, showing no sign of nervousness.

In 2002, he won the Best Director award at the 39th Golden Horse Awards for "The Prestige".

Now that he has won the award twice, he is already quite adept at it.

"Congratulations, senior!"

Liu Yifei stood up and gave him a gentle hug.

Only in such situations can the two embrace openly and without worrying about what others might think.

"You deserve credit for this award as well."

Lu Rui whispered something in her ear, then let go of her hand and turned to walk towards the stage.

Liu Yifei's cheeks flushed, and she was overjoyed.

Upon arriving on stage, Lü Rui received the trophy from Takeshi Kaneshiro, nodded politely to him, and then stood in front of the stage.

Li An, on the other hand, was somewhat bewildered.

He always felt that Lü Rui was cold towards him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

The two had never worked together before, so logically they shouldn't have any conflicts, right?

"Thank you to the Golden Horse judges, thank you to all the viewers who love 'Taken,' thank you to Jiang Wen and Zhou Yun who couldn't be here, and thank you to Liu Yifei who is here. It is your recognition, support and hard work that gave me the opportunity to receive this award..."

The stage lights flashed continuously.

Compared to last night's Golden Rooster Awards ceremony, the Golden Horse Awards had far more to offer.

Many of the films and filmmakers who won the award are little known, and even the media doesn't know how to report on them!
However, many people cannot express their inner frustration.

After all, this is China, not Hollywood, and we absolutely cannot say anything that is detrimental to unity.

...

Adhering to the principle of "sharing the cake," after Lu Rui stepped down, the Best Film award was immediately won by "Kung Fu Hustle."

Stephen Chow visibly breathed a sigh of relief, and the pent-up frustration he had been holding in for so long was finally released.

Feng Xiaogang was completely dumbfounded!
After all, "A World Without Thieves" was a movie that grossed over 100 million yuan!
So they've really become stepchildren? In the end, all they get is a Best Screenplay award?

He had originally planned to go on stage to promote "The Banquet," but to his utter surprise, he sat there all night without getting a chance to go on stage.

What's the point of advertising this? They might as well just go home and rest!
After Stephen Chow and his team took the stage to bring back the Best Film trophy, the Golden Horse Awards ceremony officially came to an end.

Then came the dinner party, a favorite activity for many female celebrities.

It's a place where you can socialize, eat heartily, and catch up with loved ones... Just like the Oscars, tonight is also a "carnival" for filmmakers.

Lu Rui noticed that Feng Xiaogang left early, showing no interest in attending the banquet at all.

Soon after, news of this year's Golden Horse Awards ceremony appeared on major news outlets.

"Warmest congratulations to director Lü Rui for winning the Golden Horse Award for Best Director for the second time with 'Taken'!"

Stephen Chow won the Best Film award for "Kung Fu Hustle." In an interview with the media, he stated that his contract termination lawsuit with "Star Girl" Huang Shengyi is still in progress, and he will resolutely not back down!

"Feng Xiaogang allegedly stormed off the event in anger because 'A World Without Thieves' failed to win a major award, implying unfairness at the Golden Horse Awards..."

"Shu Qi achieved her goal, Ge You rose to prominence as a dark horse, and the 42nd Golden Horse Awards have officially come to a close."

……

Halfway through the banquet, Lü Rui was leading Liu Yifei, Shen Ao, and Ning Hao around the venue when his phone suddenly rang.

He took it out and saw that it was a call from Yang Shoucheng.

"Wait here for me, I'm going to take this call." He settled Liu Yifei at a table, told her to eat something first, and then walked to a quiet spot.

Upon answering the phone, Yang Shoucheng's voice came through the receiver: "Director Lü, I've already found out about Li An's new film."

"What's going on?" A sense of unease rose in Lü Rui's heart.

"He acquired the rights to Eileen Chang's novel 'Lust, Caution.' Tony Leung was cast as the male lead, and he originally wanted to cast Shu Qi as the female lead, but Shu Qi refused because she was unwilling to take on any more explicit sex scenes. So he's been looking for someone everywhere lately..."

On the other end of the phone, Yang Shoucheng was still rambling on and on about the details, while Lü Rui's face had turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Damn it! Li An, you dog! I finally managed to protect the flowers that were just starting to bloom, and you want to drag them into the mud?

If even Shu Qi, an actress who started out making Category III films, can't accept this kind of subject matter, then how disgusting must it be? How outrageous must the content be?
Combined with memories of a past life and gossip...

Lu Rui's fingertips clenched so tightly they turned white. He took several deep breaths to suppress his surging anger and said in a hoarse voice, "Thank you, Chairman Yang, for your trouble."

"Director Lü, you're too kind." Yang Shoucheng seemed to sense that something was wrong with his tone. He had originally wanted to exchange a few more pleasantries, but seeing this, he wisely stopped talking. "Then I won't bother you any longer. We can contact each other again if needed."

"it is good."

Lu Rui responded and hung up the phone, but he couldn't suppress the anger in his chest.

He looked up at the moon-white figure in the banquet hall, who was sitting obediently at the table, eating small bites of food. Her profile looked exceptionally clean and clear under the light.

However, an uninvited guest has appeared beside him at this moment.

Li An held a glass of red wine, a gentle smile on his face, looking as if he were just passing by.

Looking at his sanctimonious appearance, Lu Rui's anger flared up again.

Damn it! He pretends to be a refined elder, but behind the scenes he's plotting to trick a young girl who's just come of age into acting in those kinds of explicit scenes. How despicable is that?
He put away his phone, and the atmosphere around him instantly seemed to drop several degrees. He strode into the banquet hall, his eyes filled with undisguised coldness, as if they were frozen solid.

When I got to Liu Yifei’s side, I heard Li An holding a wine glass and talking to her about his so-called “artistic pursuits.”

In short, the underlying message is the same: actors should dedicate themselves to art... and be willing to give up everything for film...

Lu Rui didn't give Li An a chance to continue instilling distorted ideas. He stepped forward and said with a forced smile, "Director Li, I heard from Yi Fei's mother that you want to invite Yi Fei to play the female lead in your new film?"

Li An's smile froze for a moment, but he didn't seem too embarrassed. He nodded frankly, "That's the idea. Yi Fei's temperament is very suitable for my new role."

"If it's convenient, may I take a look at the script?" Lü Rui got straight to the point.

Li An answered readily: "The script isn't finished yet."

"An outline will do," Lü Rui pressed on.

Li frowned slightly, his tone tinged with displeasure: "Director Lü, don't you know that the script is the core of creation? How can you just show it to other directors?"

Lu Rui's face turned cold, and he directly exposed the truth: "Doesn't Director Li know that it's a despicable act to trick people into acting in your 'Lust, Caution' without even showing them the script?"

Upon hearing this, Li An immediately realized that Lü Rui had come prepared.

He simply put down his wine glass, his face cold as he retorted, "Director Lü, what do you mean by this? I don't understand. Besides, what does my inviting actresses have to do with you?"

Lu Rui stared directly at him, then pulled Liu Yifei, who had already stood up, behind him, his tone icy cold: "I'm warning you, she's mine! Don't come near me again from now on, or I'll make sure your movies can't get into mainland China!"

Li An was stunned for a moment, then suddenly sneered: "Haha, Director Lü is quite domineering. I really don't believe you have that ability."

“Then you’re welcome to try!” Lü Rui retorted without backing down an inch.

Having said all that, the pretense of politeness has been completely severed.

Li An ignored Lü Rui and turned to Liu Yifei, throwing out a tempting offer: "How about you play the lead role in my new movie? I guarantee you'll win Best Actress at an A-list film festival!"

That statement is indeed quite tempting.

After all, Li An's reputation speaks for itself; his name alone is enough to make many female celebrities take risks for "art."

Moreover, given his status, even if the film is a bit too explicit, winning an award for his participation would bring him great honor!

If it were any other actress, she probably would have been tempted long ago.

But Liu Yifei shook her head without hesitation, her tone firm: "I'll listen to my senior."

She wasn't familiar with Li An, so no matter how capable he was, it was none of her business.

Moreover, in her heart, Lü Rui was never inferior to anyone else.

How can an old geezer with a greasy smile compare to the senior she admires?

Li An's expression instantly darkened, and his signature gentle demeanor vanished completely.

Lu Rui scoffed, unleashing his full attack: "Best Actress? With such great qualifications, why don't you let your daughter act in it? Let her partner with Tony Leung, with your abilities as Director Li, you could easily win her a Best Actress award, wouldn't that be more prestigious?"

"You!" Li An was so angry that he pointed at him, his chest heaving violently.

"Get lost, don't come near me! I find you disgusting." Lu Rui took a step back and glanced at him with disgust.

Li An's eyes were icy cold...

"Brother Rui? What's wrong? What does this old man want?"

A low growl suddenly came from the side, and Shen Ao, who had been socializing with others not far away, rushed over carrying a bottle of red wine.

As he blocked Lü Rui's path, he stared intently at Li An.

Just wait for Lu Rui's order, and this wine bottle will definitely explode on the other person's head!

He didn't care about anything else. So what if it was Li An? If he dared to touch his older brother, no one could do anything about it!

"Director Lü? Director Li? Let's talk this out, what's going on?"

Ning Hao also came over at this moment.

Although he wasn't as hot-tempered as Shen Ao, his big gold chain and black sunglasses made him stand between the two of them, subtly blocking Lü Rui's way, and he exuded a powerful aura!
He thought the old man was going to do something to Liu Yifei, and was ready to step in and take his side at any moment.

It's a 3 vs 1 situation. If Li An dares to move even a little, he'll be knocked down on the spot!

"It's nothing! A minor issue."

Lu Rui stopped Shen Ao's hand, which was holding the wine bottle and was eager to try it out.

"Brother Rui?"

"Let's go back to the hotel first; there's no need to do anything."

Lu Rui glanced at Li An, who was standing still and silently backing away, sneered, and then took Liu Yifei's hand and walked out.

This isn't over yet!

Who would dare to have ulterior motives towards the people he protects? Do they really think he's been wasting his time in mainland China all these years?
"Lust, Caution" wants to enter the mainland market smoothly? Dream on!

"Damn it, if your movie actually gets into mainland China, I'll change my name backwards! And that 'Life of Pi' thing, just you wait, I'll ruin it all!"

He wanted to see how Li An would continue to survive in the Chinese-speaking market without the support of the mainland market and resources!

Forget about Hollywood, go back to Brokeback Mountain and herd sheep!

(End of this chapter)