The only sun in Huayu

Chapter 121 Woof Woof Shatters the Ice

With the momentum of having completely won over the artistic director of Venice, Shen Shandeng now focused all his attention on this woman.

Shen Shandeng doesn't demand that Fan Bingbing become an artist, as long as she retains at least a trace of reverence for the rules, rather than completely degenerating into an animal chasing fame and fortune.

"Should I speak?"

Fan Bingbing buried her face in the soft down pillow.

Does it hurt?

Sort of.

But more than anything, it's a feeling of being completely seen through and dominated.

Having been in the industry for many years, struggling and drifting in the complex world of entertainment, she thought she had long since developed an indestructible heart.

But now, in front of this man who is younger than her, she feels that all her thoughts and all her pretenses have been easily stripped away.

It was agreed upon in the bet we made.

Fan Bingbing's face instantly turned bright red, as if dripping blood, and even the roots of her ears turned crimson.

She got it!

This is too much!
This is simply treating her like...
She tried to maintain the last shred of her pitiful dignity, weakly protesting, "I... I also have dignity."

Shen Shandeng pressed her further: "How do you compare to Marco Müller? He can do it, but you can't?"

Fan Bingbing: "Clang, clang, clang!"

Although Shen Shandeng's words were harsh, Fan Bingbing sensed a different kind of care he showed towards Marco Müller.

Shen Shandeng loved her.

She is different.

Silence returned to the suite, broken only by the sound of rising and falling breaths.

Shen Shandeng's heart was as still as water.

He knew very well that for a woman like Fan Bingbing, a short period of education could not truly change her fundamental nature.

Deep down, she still holds a strong bias against the artistic pantheon of the three major European film festivals.

To reform her, we must proceed gradually and exert continuous effort, especially to shatter her deep-seated blind worship of the Western art evaluation system.

Shen Shandeng asked calmly, "What do you think is the purpose of the three major European film festivals?"

Fan Bingbing curled up lazily and answered subconsciously, "The highest temple of art?"

"Too empty."

"Then, the highest level of industry recognition?"

"That's still just talk. Let me tell you about the real, tangible benefits."

Fan Bingbing thought for a moment: "Copyright trading? Winning one of the three major European awards, the copyright can fetch a good price."

“Hmm.” Shen Shandeng nodded. “For a new director, if they get a nomination, they can probably earn three or four hundred thousand euros, which is three or four million RMB.”

"It seems... not much?" Fan Bingbing blurted out, then realized it was inappropriate and corrected herself, "Less than I expected."

"The top-tier sixth-generation models probably only reach this number. They sell a lot, but after being divided among multiple layers, the amount they actually receive isn't much."

Shen Shandeng said calmly, "Twenty years ago, this income was indeed amazing; it could change your destiny. Now? Heh."

Fan Bingbing was stunned.

Yes, when you calculate it this way, the actual economic benefits don't seem to be as amazing as you might imagine.

Ma Youde's earlier outburst at the dinner table, "I have no money to play with art," was not simply an insult.

Rather, it is a fact to some extent that while China's economy is developing rapidly, the direct monetary returns provided by European film festivals are stagnating.

Has Europe not developed in recent years?
Fan Bingbing felt as if she had entered some forbidden territory, and she felt a little breathless.

Shen Shandeng pointed out the key point: "In this world, there is no absolute truth that 'the more difficult something is to pursue, the more precious it is.' Many times, that is just a cognitive trap set by humans."

Fan Bingbing subconsciously resisted this conclusion, struggling to say, "No, it's definitely more than that! There's also influence and brand endorsements."

At this moment, her conventional wisdom was violently challenged.

She suddenly realized that she had never considered the value of the so-called art world from this most practical perspective, as if an invisible thread was preventing her from thinking this way. Seeing that she was still immersed in her own mindset and unwilling to come out, Shen Shandeng did not force her.

Changing mindsets takes time and effort.

It requires daily effort.

Fan Bingbing was so frightened that she immediately sealed her mouth and cried out in a pitiful voice, "I give up, I can't take it anymore."

Shen Shandeng laughed and slowly put on his clothes.

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore, I have to go home."

When Fan Bingbing saw that he was really leaving, she felt a strange emptiness in her heart. She forced herself to sit up and said, "You're leaving already? Actually, I'm still okay."

Shen Shandeng straightened his collar and said naturally, "I am a family man."

Fan Bingbing looked at him with a complicated expression, and couldn't help but tentatively ask, "Then, about the Venice Film Festival Best Actress award?"

"Wait."

Shen Shandeng said, "Since you can think about chasing the three major European powers, you can naturally chase me too. If you serve me well, you'll have everything you need."

"Furthermore, don't forget that by hearing these words today, whether you like it or not, you have done something that tramples on the Western narrative, and it is the most direct form of god-killing. You need to examine your own heart; you are brave."

Shen Shandeng's reminder, though encouraging and caring, struck Fan Bingbing like a thunderbolt.

Done.

Shen Shandeng opened the door and left without a second thought.

He doesn't like testing human nature, and with today's experience, Fan Bingbing can't succumb to Western narratives even if he wanted to.

They won't accept surrender!
The door is closed.

Only Fan Bingbing remained in the luxurious suite. As clever as she was, she naturally understood Shen Shandeng's subtext.

She touched the necklace around her neck, her feelings a complex mix of emotions.

In her career, Shen Shandeng could provide her with tremendous support, even surpassing the illusory "Big Three" in Europe.

However, the relationship between the two seemed to transcend a pure transaction, yet they were not quite lovers.

As soon as Shen Shandeng opened the door, he saw a figure lying on the sofa.

"Why are you sleeping in the living room?" Shen Shandeng asked with concern.

Da Mimi was startled at first, then rushed over with a fragrant breeze and clung to him.

"I'm home!"

Da Mimi's voice was clear and crisp, but the next second, her small nose wrinkled up, like an alert little fox, sniffing around his neck: "You still know how to come back?"

"Hmm? There's a smell! A musky smell! Tell me! What did you do?"

"I'm heartbroken!" Shen Shandeng questioned, "Do you know how difficult it is for a man to build his career out there?"

"I had no choice but to play along, and today, hmph, they actually sent Tang Wei over, which I firmly refused!"

"If there's any 'smelly' smell, it's all from you, you little fox, clinging to me all day long, you've become thoroughly infused with that flavor."

Da Mimi made a vomiting face: "Oh, come on, that woman is dark-skinned."

"Don't say that," Shen Shandeng interrupted, "what kind of wild and inappropriate words are these?"

As Shen Shandeng took off his clothes, he boasted about the fierce battles that would rage that night.

He described how he outwitted and outmaneuvered the foreign devil from Venice, and how he achieved a great victory. His exaggerated tone made Da Mimi exclaim in surprise.

"It's a good thing you didn't go. That kind of occasion is too dangerous and not suitable for my little maid."

Shen Shandeng pinched her cheek: "Don't worry, I'll get you a Venice Film Festival Best Actress award later."

Da Mimi giggled, clearly not believing his nonsense, but quite pleased.

Remembering her business, she said, "Oh, right, I received an email this afternoon—an invitation for an interview with CCTV's 'Face to Face' program. China Film Group also hopes you'll accept it. Your record-breaking performance this time has caused quite a stir!"

Face to Face?
His eyes narrowed slightly.

(End of this chapter)