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

Chapter 269 I went bald! And I became stronger! (Seeking monthly votes)
"Your actions this time are tantamount to kicking a huge hole in the foundation of Hong Kong cinema!"

Lü Rui has recently stirred up a storm in the Hong Kong entertainment circle, and as the soon-to-be head of China Film Group, Han Sanping naturally cannot ignore it.

Sure enough, his call came right away, taking into account the time difference.

"If they start something, they should expect me to do something in return. If they're not happy, let them continue. I don't care anyway."

Lu Rui sat on the sofa, legs crossed, looking cheerful and speaking in a relaxed tone.

He was definitely satisfied with what he did.

What does it matter to him what price and consequences the Hong Kong entertainment circle will suffer?
What? Do you think those arrogant guys will share their profits with him after they've made money and gained some benefits?

It’s impossible to even think about it.

So let them die.

"Do you have any other plans?" Han Sanping changed the subject, his tone now carrying a hint of deliberate probing.

Upon hearing this, Lü Rui subconsciously raised an eyebrow, sensing something else: "What? Is someone else asking you to mediate again?"

"No, not at all." Han Sanping quickly denied it, but his words revealed the truth: "The higher-ups won't interfere with this kind of thing."

The unspoken rule of having each country provide the male and female leads in co-productions was actually unavoidable at the time, because there were no actors in China who could guarantee box office success.

Now that you can break the unspoken rules and even retaliate against the Hong Kong film industry, this is exactly the situation the higher-ups want to see. After all, the mainland film industry can't always be suppressed by them..."

Upon hearing this, Lü Rui breathed a sigh of relief.

He didn't inform anyone before taking action this time, because he was worried that someone would try to "persuade" him.

The phrase "we cannot affect unity" could very well cause his entire plan to fall apart.

But things are different now. What's done is done, so who would stand in front of him and criticize him to his face?

Young people, if they're not hot-blooded, can they even be called young?
"Um..." Han Sanping's tone suddenly became somewhat conflicted, "I actually just wanted to ask if you'll continue to delve deeper into other films..."

"Don't worry." Lu Rui understood and immediately said with a smile, "It won't affect China Film Group. I won't be involved in 'Red Cliff' and 'The Warlords,' so you can proceed with the project without worry."

"Okay! That's fine then."

Han Sanping on the other end of the phone breathed a sigh of relief.

He invested a lot of money in the projects "Red Cliff" and "The Warlords".

In particular, due to the recent splitting of "Red Cliff" into two parts, China Film Group had to increase its investment.

The sunk costs were simply too high; he had to ensure that both projects went smoothly and were successfully filmed.

As long as Lü Rui doesn't deliberately target them, things will likely proceed smoothly in the future.

Moreover, if something were to happen, he would be caught in the middle and feel quite uncomfortable, which is why he thought of asking in advance.

"Is the situation with 'Red Cliff' very troublesome?" Lü Rui asked tentatively.

Han Sanping replied casually, "It's nothing, it's not a big problem, it's already been resolved."

"Oh, that's fine."

Lu Rui didn't press the matter further.

Actually, I don't think there should be any major trouble.

After all, the producer listed on the project's name is Han Sanping himself!

Don't be fooled by his usual cheerful demeanor; his ruthless methods are well-known in the industry.

In addition, he is about to take over the position of leader, acting as both a player and a referee. Who would dare to offend him to death?
Even the most greedy people in Hong Kong's entertainment circle have their limits.

Afterwards, the two chatted for a few more minutes about the post-production progress of "Pacific Rim" before hanging up the phone.

Lu Rui tossed his phone aside, picked up his laptop, and browsed domestic news websites for a while.

Recently, besides the ongoing controversy surrounding the Hong Kong Film Awards, the film market has also been quite lively.

Especially Yinghuang, which has been enjoying great success recently!

While collaborating with Ruishijie on "Ip Man" and "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil," they also partnered with Shanghai Film Group to invest in the comedy-action film "Kung Fu Dunk."

Since filming "Initial D" and "Curse of the Golden Flower", Jay Chou seems to have suddenly developed a love for acting, and has been adhering to the unspoken rule in the industry that "those who excel in singing can then act".

However, when he thought about the plot of the movie, Lü Rui's expression became inexplicably complicated.

Kobe broke down when he saw it, Jordan cried. Watching the NBA is just for fun, but to learn real skills, you have to dunk...

It has to be said that the screenwriter has a very creative mind.

In addition, as the news about Ruishijie began to fade, news about the start of filming for "The Forbidden Kingdom" finally surfaced.

However, new developments have recently emerged in Hollywood.

Li Lianjie appears to be in talks with Universal Pictures, and is suspected of participating in the filming of "The Mummy 3"...

Lu Rui looked at the message and couldn't help but purse his lips.

Since filming "Danny the Dog," this guy has clearly stopped pretending. In order to make a name for himself in the Hollywood market, he has completely abandoned any moral compass.

Besides the farce in Hong Kong's entertainment circle and the news of the start of filming for "The Forbidden Kingdom", there is another particularly interesting thing happening in China recently.

Lu Chuan's "Nanjing! Nanjing!" encountered a major setback during its preparation!

Previously, he had publicly declared that he would spend 2000 million yuan to create a brand new Nanjing city scene.

But now, the project has suddenly stopped when it was only halfway through.

On the contrary, the film "Nanjing Photo Studio", which started later, is nearing completion with the assistance of Shanghai Film Studio. The filming base built at Chedun Film and Television Base is already in progress, far ahead of the former.

Shenao has been closely monitoring the developments of "Nanjing! Nanjing!"

As soon as he got any news, he would immediately call Lü Rui to report: "Brother Rui, you would never guess how outrageous Lu Chuan's actions are."

"Huh? What stupid thing did he do this time?"

"It's that 'Nanjing! Nanjing!' again. They had already obtained the filming permit, but he changed the script without permission. Somehow, the news leaked out, and now the Film Bureau has stopped the project."

He was told he either had to reapply for a filming permit or film the original exactly; otherwise, the film wouldn't pass censorship even if it was completed.

Upon hearing this, Lü Rui burst into laughter.

It has to be said that this action is indeed in line with Lu Chuan's personality.

The main problem is that the circles he hangs out in are mostly made up of old-timers in the arts and culture scene who are all talk and no action.

In particular, when Lü Rui saw the list of experts who guided "Nanjing! Nanjing!", he almost couldn't hold back his laughter.

Besides Lu's father and Lu Chuan's old mentor Jiang Shixiong, there was also Yang Minxia, ​​the famous pro-Japanese graduate advisor from Beijing Film Academy and Zhao Yanzi's teacher.

With such a bunch of traitors involved, even if the original script was supposed to remain neutral, their "guidance" would probably skew the stance to an absurd degree.

The fact that it alarmed the General Administration of Radio, Film and Television means that it wasn't just minor changes; they probably even completely distorted the main plot.

"Ignore him, let's just wait and see what happens."

After laughing, Lü Rui changed the subject and asked about the situation at the Nanjing Photo Studio: "Is everything going smoothly on your end?"

“It’s going very smoothly!” Shen Ao’s tone became lighter. “The actors are currently undergoing intensive training to familiarize themselves with the historical background and character states. Once the base is completed in May, we can start filming immediately.”

Lu Rui nodded, then specifically asked about Mei Ting's situation: "Is there anything wrong with Mei Ting?"

Recently, there have been quite a few rumors circulating online about her divorce, and they've even reached Hollywood.

Shen Ao replied, "There's no problem. She seems to be in pretty good shape. I also heard that she and her husband have been separated for a long time. Their marriage was just in name only, and now they only have a marriage certificate."

"That's good. Just keep an eye on things and call me anytime if anything happens."

"Ok."

Shen Ao readily agreed.

After hanging up the phone, Lü Rui closed the news website, then opened the script document and continued working on the scriptwriting for "Sherlock Holmes".

After this period of hard work, the script is almost finished.

He quickly skimmed through the completed content, mentally conceiving details of the scenes between Holmes and Watson, attempting to retain the essence of the original while adding suspense elements that better suited the aesthetics of modern audiences…

...

Three days flew by.

That morning, after arriving at the company, Lü Rui handed the script of "Sherlock Holmes" to Peter and asked him to take it for filing.

He then went downstairs and left the company, heading once again to Hans Zimmer's studio.

As soon as he opened the door, he was shocked by the room full of sheet music and the strong smell of coffee!
Looking around, the studio was filled with manuscripts of the soundtrack for Pacific Rim, and the coffee machine in the corner was still steaming.

Hans Zimmer sat in front of the mixing console, his eyes bloodshot and his hair disheveled, clearly having been staying up late a lot lately.

"Lv, you've come!"

Hans Zimmer perked up immediately upon seeing him, nearly knocking over the chair behind him as he stood up.

He pointed to the mixing console, his tone a complex mix of excitement and exhaustion: "Listen to this version, I guarantee you'll be absolutely satisfied!"

During this period, he turned down almost all other work and devoted himself entirely to Pacific Rim, revising it thirteen times before finally producing a satisfactory version.

As he spoke, he handed over a pair of noise-canceling headphones.

After Lü Rui put it on, he immediately pressed the power button on the player.

The moment the melody started, Lü Rui felt as if he had been instantly pulled into a battlefield where mechs and monsters were fighting!
The opening low-frequency drumbeats are like the footsteps of a giant beast, deep and powerful, instantly creating a sense of tension.

Then, the symphony gradually intensifies, with the soaring brass instruments and the rapid strings intertwining, like the roar of a mecha starting up, full of metallic texture.

As the melody reaches its climax, electronic sound effects blend with traditional instruments, creating a futuristic feel reminiscent of modern science fiction, while also possessing an epic grandeur. Every note is precisely timed to the rhythm of battle, making it feel as if you can see mechs throwing punches and monsters roaring, a sight so powerful it sends chills down your spine!
It has to be said, a master is a master. Once he goes all out, he truly lives up to his reputation!
Lu Rui took off his headphones and nodded sincerely in praise, "Fantastic, Hans! This version completely met my expectations, and even exceeded them..."

Although it hasn't reached the level of a Mozart concerto, Lü Rui feels that this version is on par with Xu Jingqing's piece in terms of quality.

One is a resilience full of Eastern charm, and the other is a passion full of Western epic, which perfectly matches the emotional needs of different scenes in the film.

This is exactly the effect Lü Rui wanted!

Upon hearing his praise, Hans Zimmer's tense shoulders instantly relaxed, and a relieved smile appeared on his face: "I'm glad you're satisfied."

Lu Rui continued to express his sincere gratitude, saying, "You've really worked hard during this time. Without your persistence and polishing, a large part of the soul of Pacific Rim would be missing."

"This is my job, and it's my honor." Hans Zimmer smiled and waved, the weariness in his eyes gradually replaced by a sense of accomplishment.

Taking the opportunity, Lü Rui added another round of flattery: "To be honest, it's my good fortune to be able to cooperate with you."

Your creative attitude and control over music fully deserve the title of 'top master.' For any major projects in the future, you will be the first person I think of."

These words made Hans Zimmer completely arrogant, and he immediately patted his chest and assured him, "No problem! Lv, I'm available anytime you need me!"

"Okay, then it's a deal."

Afterwards, Lü Rui smiled and said goodbye, leaving the studio with the audio files.

After seeing him off, Hans Zimmer finally felt a wave of intense fatigue wash over him.

He rubbed his stiff neck and prepared to go to the bathroom to wash up and get some rest.

But as he stood in front of the mirror and habitually scratched his hair, he suddenly felt a chill between his fingers. A large clump of hair was pulled out and scattered in the sink.

He froze instantly, staring incredulously at himself in the mirror. His once thick hair had become sparse, and a noticeable bald patch was even visible on the top of his head.

"Oh no!" Hans Zimmer cried out in anguish!
He stayed up countless nights working on the soundtrack for Pacific Rim, meticulously refining the melody, but little did he know that it would lead to his baldness!

Looking at the hair in the sink, his expression was one of utter despair. Although his composing skills had improved considerably after working on the score for *Pacific Rim*, he had gone bald…

For a moment, he didn't even know whether to be happy about completing the score or to feel sorry for his hair.

"I've gone bald? And I've become stronger... Is this the price of improving my composition skills?"

Hans Zimmer looked at his bald head in the mirror, his feelings were extremely complicated.

At this moment, Lü Rui had no idea that Hans Zimmer's already sparse hair had all fallen out because he had stayed up all night composing music for him.

After leaving the studio, he took the newly finalized soundtrack straight to Sony Columbia and handed the audio files over to the post-production team.

As he watched the staff begin to synchronize the background music with the battle scenes, another worry that had been weighing on his mind finally came to an end, and he felt exceptionally relieved.

Then, after staying in the post-production studio until 5 p.m., he drove to Burbank Airport.

Ten minutes before the domestic flight landed, he stood at the exit, his eyes fixed on the arrival point of the flight.

About 15 minutes later, a slender figure came into view.

The average temperature in Los Angeles in April is around 12°C to 20°C, which is quite pleasant and suitable for wearing light clothing that is easy to add or remove.

So, Liu Yifei wore a white cropped top underneath, revealing her neat waistline.

The outer layer is a beige long trench coat with a loose and casual fit, which adds a sense of layering to the look and creates a sophisticated atmosphere in its simplicity.

She wore khaki wide-leg pants, which not only flattered her leg shape but also enhanced the overall relaxed and stylish vibe.

The blue loafers on her feet echoed the blue baseball cap, adding a touch of retro elegance to the outfit while also giving it a playful feel.

From afar, Liu Yifei spotted Lü Rui standing at the exit.

She immediately took off her sunglasses and casually tossed them to her assistant who was dragging a suitcase next to her.

Then she quickly ran towards Lü Rui.

After not seeing her for a while, she had become even taller and more slender. When she jumped up and stood up, she exuded a slight sense of pressure.

Lu Rui, of course, did not back down. He reached out and firmly held her in his arms, his palms gently supporting her firm waist and hips, and a soft touch immediately spread to his palms.

"Senior, have you missed me? I miss you so much."

Liu Yifei clung tightly to Lü Rui's neck, oblivious to whether anyone else was watching, and acted coquettishly.

That's how little girls are; once they fall in love, they want to be inseparable from their sweetheart all the time.

Liu Yifei was no exception; this was her first love, and she had been lovesick for a while.

Thankfully, Lü Rui wasn't the "yellow-haired" type of boyfriend; otherwise, Liu Xiaoli probably wouldn't even have been able to see her daughter.

"Of course I think about it, every day, every hour, every moment, every minute, every second."

Lu Rui carried her and walked out, showering the young girl with sweet words of coaxing.

Liu Yifei's face turned bright red and her heart began to race before she finally managed to break free from his embrace.

She whispered angrily, "How embarrassing! Stop talking! There are so many people around. Be careful not to let anyone hear you."

"What's there to be afraid of? There aren't that many foreigners who understand Chinese."

Lu Rui laughed and joked, completely ignoring the "life is meaningless" look in the eyes of Liu Yifei's assistant behind him.

Assistant: Here we go again! Am I not human? Am I even human?!
After leaving the airport and getting into the car, Lü Rui drove Liu Yifei and her assistant straight to Beverly Hills.

Actually, Liu Yifei's trip to Hollywood was ostensibly to complete the English dubbing work for the female lead in "Pacific Rim".

It will probably take about a month... Anyway, that's what Liu Yifei told Liu Xiaoli, and she expressed that she wanted to go out and make her own way in the world and didn't want her mother to come with her.

Liu Xiaoli hesitated at first, but eventually relented.

She simply couldn't resist her daughter's insistence. Of course, the main reason was that Lü Rui was abroad, and she felt particularly at ease leaving her daughter with him.

After so many years of working together, she believes she understands Lü Rui quite well.

Despite his young age, he is remarkably composed.

More importantly, he has managed to maintain a spotless record of zero scandals within the industry!
This is extremely rare for a great director.

It's important to know that the entertainment industry, a place of fame and fortune, is notorious for its rampant promiscuity and infidelity.

Liu Xiaoli has even witnessed instances of women personally sending their boyfriends/girlfriends, or even wives/husbands, to other people's beds.

Compared to these despicable acts, Lü Rui is simply an exceptionally good man!

She couldn't feel more at ease letting her daughter interact with him.

Of course, while you can rest assured, you still need to keep up with the daily reporting.

So, after returning to the villa in Beverly Hills, Liu Yifei immediately called Liu Xiaoli to let her know she was safe.

On the other end of the phone, Liu Xiaoli's instructions came like a machine gun: "Make sure to lock the door when you sleep at night. Los Angeles is not as safe as China. When you go out, your assistant must accompany you. Don't wander around alone..."

Mothers all over the world are the same; even when their children have grown up, they still can't help but nag.

Liu Yifei has always been well-behaved. Even during her adolescence, she would only silently "protest" her mother's nagging in her heart and would never interrupt her in person.

But tonight, she interrupted Liu Xiaoli, which was unusual for her: "Mom, I'm a little sleepy, and I still need to adjust to the time difference."

"Okay, then you should get some rest, and remember to remove your makeup," Liu Xiaoli added.

"Know it!"

The moment she hung up the phone, the weariness in Liu Yifei's eyes vanished instantly.

Having finally seen her beloved, how could she possibly be willing to go to bed early?

So, she first went to the bathroom to remove her makeup, then took a shower, changed into her pajamas, and then tiptoed out of her room, heading straight for Lu Rui's bedroom on the second floor.

The bedroom door was ajar, and warm yellow light spilled out from the crack, clearly left on especially for a kitten trying to sneak in.

"Senior, you're still awake?"

Liu Yifei pushed open the door and gently closed it behind her, her voice filled with a hint of excitement.

Lu Rui was sitting at his computer writing a script when he saw her come in. He smiled and waved to her, saying, "It's still early. Finish this work before you go to sleep. Come here."

When she walked up to him, he reached out and pulled her into his arms, letting her sit on his lap.

Liu Yifei obediently wrapped her arms around his neck, gently rubbing her cheek against it like a kitten nestled in its owner's arms.

The two nestled together quietly, a sweet atmosphere filling the air, as if time itself had slowed down.

After a while, Liu Yifei blinked her eyes with some boredom and looked curiously at the computer screen.

As you can see, Lü Rui is currently writing a script, and it's in Chinese.

As she watched, she became engrossed in the captivating storylines.

The story tells of a girl with superpowers who, after escaping the pursuit of a mysterious organization, is adopted by a couple. However, years later, she is targeted by the organization again after participating in a talent show, which triggers a series of thrilling events.

She witnessed the initial bloody battle in the laboratory, and saw the girl who was being used as a test subject successfully escape and be adopted by a kind person.

Ten years later, the girl's family was in dire financial straits, so with the encouragement of her best friend, she participated in a talent show and successfully advanced with her outstanding singing and magic performances.

Then, on the train back, the girl suddenly encountered a mysterious man who claimed to be an old acquaintance, but she had no memory of him...

She became more and more engrossed in her reading, not even noticing that Lü Rui had stopped typing.

Only when the screen stopped scrolling did she look up in confusion: "Huh? Senior, why did you stop writing?"

Lu Rui reached out and gently stroked the hair on both sides of her face, his voice soft: "It's getting late, it's already 11 o'clock, you should go to sleep."

"Oh, okay."

Liu Yifei pouted slightly, subconsciously letting go of his hand, and was about to get down from Lü Rui's arms.

But the next second, she found herself being held tightly in Lu Rui's arms.

"Don't leave tonight, stay here and sleep with me."

"what?"

A blush immediately appeared on Liu Yifei's face.

Although the two had slept together once before at Lü Rui's house, that was several months ago.

Now that he suddenly suggested sleeping together again, she felt a little uncomfortable.

It's not that I'm unwilling, it's just that I feel a little embarrassed.

This is actually a process that men and women go through when they first start dating.

Some boys who are just beginning to experience romantic feelings panic even more than girls when they first mention wanting to spend the night out with their girlfriends!
Of course, Lü Rui wasn't in that state.

Seeing Liu Yifei with her head down and not saying a word, he picked her up and carried her to the bed.

At this point, you absolutely cannot ask "Is it okay?"; taking direct action is the best approach.

It wasn't until she was gently placed on the soft bed that Liu Yifei belatedly came to her senses and muttered softly, "Then... I can only sleep while being held, and I can't do anything weird, okay?"

Lu Rui lay down beside her, pulled her into his arms, and his warm breath brushed against her ear: "Okay, I'll listen to you."

He knew perfectly well that defenses were meant to be broken through slowly.

A man and a woman alone in a room, with no one else to disturb them.

"The advantage is in my hands!" Lu Rui thought to himself.

He does have lustful desires, he doesn't deny that, but he's not the kind of person who likes to force himself on others.

Take it slow. After all, this person is someone you'll spend your whole life with, so taking it slow makes it all the more precious, doesn't it?

However, to his surprise, Liu Yifei was quite considerate.

She actually took Lu Rui's hand and placed it where it should be: "Senior, feel it, isn't it a bit bigger than before?"

"Huh?" Lu Rui was a little surprised when he sensed it, and then exclaimed in surprise, "What did you do? It seems like you have indeed improved."

"Hmph, I'm not telling you."

Liu Yifei gave a playful hum, a hint of smugness hidden in her eyes.

She would never tell anyone that she had specifically consulted her best friend, Da Tian Tian, ​​and had secretly practiced shaping exercises for a long time.

After snuggling together quietly for a while, Liu Yifei suddenly shifted her body somewhat awkwardly.

Lu Rui noticed her movement and asked softly, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Liu Yifei gently moved his hand away, turned around to face him, her cheeks as red as a ripe apple: "You're bad, you're using me...using me as a hostage?"

"Ahem." Lu Rui gave her an innocent look. "This is a normal reaction, and it's not something I can control..."

Liu Yifei blinked her watery eyes, her voice barely audible: "Then... won't this be very uncomfortable? Do you want me to help you?"

Lu Rui asked instinctively, "How can I help?"

"That's right, use other methods, the book says you can use ~~~~~" Liu Yifei suddenly moved her foot, her voice getting softer and softer, "I already took a shower before I came here."

Lu Rui subconsciously looked down and, through the thin nightgown, could see her delicate little feet gently resting on his lap. Her round, pink toes were slightly cool and playfully rubbed against him.

So, tonight we'll use this to test Director Lü, right?
Damn? How could he withstand such a test?

(End of this chapter)