The only sun in Huayu

Chapter 171 A Feast for the Eyes, A Powerful Figure (14)

In June, Beijing is bathed in the lingering warmth of the day in the evening.

A red carpet was laid out outside the CPPCC Auditorium, and more than a month later, the shadow of national crisis gradually dissipated.

The media, armed with their long lenses and microphones, were on high alert, while the fan area was packed with people, and the clamor almost lifted the early summer sky.

The host, He Jiong, stood in front of the microphone, his smile as warm and gentle as ever.

"Welcome everyone to the premiere of the movie 'Lost on Journey'! Thank you for joining us at this moment to witness the birth of this film full of laughter and warmth."

As soon as he finished speaking, the red carpet event officially began.

The first to appear were actors who weren't very famous.

"Oh my god, this is quite a big deal," Ma Li said, sounding slightly nervous.

Shen Teng and Ma Li looked around, it was their first time walking the red carpet.

Shen Teng is already a key player on the Happy Twist stage, but his fame is limited to the Beijing theater circle.

Ma Li joined Happy Twist not long ago and had just finished getting to know Shen Teng.

In the film industry, both of them are considered "little caramels".

Shen Teng sighed softly, "They said the premiere would be low-key, but with Director Shen's status, it's going to be quite a spectacle."

Then there were warm-up guests, socialites, and actors such as Qiao Shan and Chang Yuan.

Then there are the familiar celebrity actors.

The atmosphere became lively, with each name announced eliciting cheers that were either enthusiastic or expectant.

Chen Hao has a gentle temperament, and compared to the past, her temperament has recently become more resilient and gentle.

Li Xiaolu takes a personality-driven approach, wearing stockings, leather pants, short skirts, and high heels, her eyes sparkling, attracting many whistles.

The appearance of well-known actors gradually pushed the atmosphere to a series of climaxes.

Next up were the two male leads. Xu Zheng's shiny bald head was particularly eye-catching, while Wang Baoqiang beside him had a simple and honest demeanor. The two smiled and waved to each other.

This unexpectedly cute look instantly sparked laughter and applause.

"Xu Zheng! Look here!"

"Baoqiang! You're so cute!"

Tang Yan walked the red carpet with several members of the film crew.

She wore a dress with a uniform-like style, and smiled as she tried to straighten her back.

But upon hearing the screams behind him and turning around to see Yang Mi engulfed in flashes of light, a barely perceptible hint of sadness and envy flickered in the depths of his eyes.

When someone in the fan area called her name, Tang Yan immediately looked in the direction of the sound, waved vigorously, and smiled sincerely but with a hint of caution.

As Shen Shandeng's official girlfriend, Da Mimi received excellent treatment, being given a semi-final appearance.

Wearing a stylish white mini-skirt, she looked both innocent and playful, linking arms with her classmate Zhang Xiaofei on one arm and holding Yuan Shanshan's hand on the other.

The appearance of the "Three Golden Flowers" immediately attracted countless cameras.

Zhang Xiaofei and Yuan Shanshan were slightly nervous, while Yang Mi was poised and confident.

When Fan Bingbing walked onto the red carpet, the screams almost pierced our eardrums.

"Ah, Fan Bingbing!!"

Fan Bingbing, in a bright red off-shoulder dress, was undoubtedly the most dazzling presence on the red carpet.

She struck a pose with ease, her bright red lips exuding confidence and charisma.

Huang Xiaoming, wearing sunglasses and trendy clothes, strode confidently.

A fan shouted, "Brother Xiaoming, you're the most handsome!"

Upon hearing this, Huang Xiaoming took off his sunglasses, grinned, and revealed his signature smile.

It was actually a bit greasy, but the fans liked it and it received a lot of encouraging applause.

Not just celebrities.

Han Sanping, Wang Zhonglei, Wang Changtian, Yu Dong and other big names made a low-key appearance, not lingering on the red carpet for long, but were still captured by the camera.

Industry luminaries such as Feng Xiaogang and Chen Kexin sent their blessings.

Reporters both inside and outside the industry are well aware that this premiere was by no means a simple affair.

At the end of the red carpet.

Shen Shandeng only made his appearance after most of the main cast members had entered.

He no longer needs to walk the red carpet to gain attention; he himself is the biggest focus.

Still wearing a white T-shirt and jeans.

This style of dress, which was initially seen as somewhat immature and even unsophisticated, has now become a symbol of Shen Shandeng.

A sunny and cheerful young man.

The goal is to bring a refreshing feel to the film industry.

Shen Shandeng walked with a steady gait and a calm smile on his face.

Wherever it went, media cameras swerved wildly.

"Director Shen! Director Shen, look this way!"

Shen Shandeng nodded slightly, not lingering for long, his gaze landing on Da Mimi, who had already entered and was exchanging pleasantries with someone.

Seeing him approach, Da Mimi immediately darted through the crowd like a cheerful little bird to his side and naturally took his arm.

The other women, who were socializing but whose attention was on Shen Shandeng, had different expressions.

Chen Hao sighed slightly. "The Eunuch" had already finished its run, and given that the actor and his girlfriend were on good terms, she couldn't find a reason to continue watching.

Fan Bingbing's eyes flickered slightly, and she subconsciously took a sip of champagne, slowly calming down.

She just needs 24-hour access.

Moreover, Shen Shandeng has the right to use her.

She was different in Shen Shandeng's heart.

Standing in the corner, Tang Yan chatted with Ma Li while watching silently, a hint of sadness in her eyes.

As soon as Shen Shandeng entered, Li Bingbing and her younger sister Li Xue, who had been waiting on the side, greeted him with smiles.

"Director Shen, congratulations! What a grand occasion!"

Li Bingbing's tone carried just the right amount of amazement.

Li Xue chimed in, half-jokingly, "Director Shen, it's so hard to get a role in your movies these days. When are you going to give my sister a part? She's practically bored to death."

Shen Shandeng smiled and glanced at Li Bingbing's heroic face, saying, "It's a pity that Bingbing's face isn't used for action scenes."

Li Xue quickly replied, "Did Director Shen see my sister's movie 'The Forbidden Kingdom,' which was released in April? It's a Sino-US co-production."

Just then, a fragrant breeze wafted over.

Fan Bingbing approached gracefully, seemingly ignoring the Li Bingbing sisters, and went straight to Shen Shandeng.

"If we have a good script and a suitable role, of course we'll think of our own people first. Director Shen, where should I sit inside later? Could you save me a seat close to you?"

Seeing Fan Bingbing approaching, Da Mimi was slightly displeased and very wary.

However, Fan Bingbing didn't care, and she unknowingly kept the Li Bingbing sisters on the outside of her social circle.

Li Bingbing pursed her lips and remained silent.

Shen Shandeng looked displeased and said, "What's yours will be yours. Can't you see I'm talking to someone?"

Fan Bingbing trembled upon hearing the tone of the command.

Li Xue's expression shifted slightly as she glanced at Fan Bingbing with amusement.

Da Mimi next to her was slightly annoyed.

What are all these female celebrities up to?!

And then there's Shen Shandeng, that scoundrel who doesn't even act anymore, publicly disciplining himself.

However, feeling the domineering presence of the man beside her, Da Mimi was only slightly angry and dared not show her displeasure in this situation.

Dare to be angry but dare not speak.

Shen Shandeng was completely unaware of the undercurrents between the women, her gaze already fixed on Chen Kexin who was walking towards her.

The famous Hong Kong director, who had previously clashed with Shen Shandeng, was all smiles at this moment, reaching out his hand from afar.

"Director Shen! Congratulations! 'Lost in Thailand' is generating so much buzz even before its release, I've been looking forward to it for ages!"

Shen Shandeng felt that the Hong Kong directors were indeed interesting; they learned quickly even after being criticized.

Having seen the artistic school and the abstract school like Lu Chuan.

Shen Shandeng's attitude has become much more tolerant.

Everyone seems like a good person.

Shen Shandeng smiled, extended his hand and shook his firmly, saying calmly, "Director Chen's presence is a matter of respect for me."

"Don't mention it! Who wouldn't want to come and see for themselves what surprises Director Shen has prepared for us?" Peter Chan's laughter was loud and clear, his words were pleasant, and his emotional intelligence was high.

Li Xue walked to the side and sighed to her sister in a low voice, "Even he came."

Li Bingbing nodded almost imperceptibly and said, "He suffered such a huge loss with 'The Warlords,' and now he can hardly protect himself. Shen Shandeng is not alone."

Li Xue nodded slightly; she was more concerned about industry changes than Li Bingbing.

Everyone knows that Shen Shandeng is Han Sanping's number one general!

In addition, Shen Shandeng also tied Huayi, Bona, and Guangxian together on the same boat.

I recently heard that she even helped Xingmei out of a difficult situation.

It can be said that the currently active first-tier film companies, as well as the investors and financiers behind them, all have intricate relationships with Shen Shandeng.

While Shen Shandeng may not be able to completely block Chen Kexin's path, he can certainly make it significantly more difficult for Chen to attract investment.

Moreover, as long as the "Supervisor Universe" doesn't fail one after another, or if this comedy succeeds, then Shen Shandeng will become another rising giant in the industry.

The film's concepts and production methods are both very advanced.

Originally, Li Xue planned for Li Bingbing to gradually get involved in Hollywood productions.

Looking at the current situation, we can't afford to fall too far behind domestically either.

After Fan Bingbing got involved with Shen Shandeng, she gradually shed her previous negative image, becoming half negative and half positive.

It also perfectly realized the transformation from going solo to setting up its own studio.

Moreover, as long as the Du Gong Cinematic Universe project exists, Fan Bingbing can continue to release press releases and hype up expectations.

Production companies related to the Du Gong Universe will also lend a hand.

This is the influence of movies, the power of the big screen.

Directors of blockbuster commercial films are the most valuable resource.

Having witnessed Shen Shandeng's undeniable influence at the premiere, Li Xue firmly declared, "Sister, we can't fall too far behind that woman, Fan Bingbing."

Li Bingbing sighed, "Didn't you see what state Fan Bingbing is in? We're a bit late." "It's not late," Li Xue shook her head and said, "We're fighting as a couple."

Li Bingbing nodded slowly.

Two is always better than one.

Although they are legends of ice and snow, they also love the sun.

The preciousness of sunshine is most evident in the dead of winter.

in the corner.

Tang Yan stood in the shadow of a pillar a little distance away, holding a glass of champagne that no one noticed.

Watching Shen Shandeng surrounded by bigwigs and superstars like a star, watching Shen Shandeng talk and laugh with ease and grace.

Every glance and every gesture exudes a confident and languid air of dominance.

That's the composure that only those at the top of the industry possess.

Tang Yan recalled that when she greeted him earlier, Shen Shandeng only nodded hastily and said, "It's good that you're here," before turning his gaze to someone more important.

Tang Yan felt a pang of pain in her heart.

She wasn't even as good as Shen Shandeng's young assistant, who deserved even a second more of his attention.

When Yang Mi was seen again, she was standing not far from Shen Shandeng, talking to Wang Changtian of Enlight Media, her eyes crinkling with laughter.

That image was like a fine needle, piercing Tang Yan's heart.

Yang Mi is just a moderately famous new generation actress; how much better is she than Yang Mi?
But now he can chat and laugh with big shots.

Tang Yan recalled how close she had once been to that center, so close that it was within reach.

Now, even squeezing to the edge of one's field of vision is so difficult.

Standing in this magnificent hall, Tang Yan felt like a Cinderella who had wandered into it by mistake.

Before the midnight bells rang, she already felt incredibly humbled and lost.

The host, Jingwei, a leading lady from the movie channel, stood in the center of the stage in an elegant long dress, exuding a gentle and intellectual charm.

A crisp, cheerful voice rang out again through the microphone, inviting the main creators to the stage.

Inside the auditorium, the lighting was soft, and the guests took their seats.

The lights suddenly focused on the center of the stage, and the previous noise subsided, turning into a more solemn anticipation.

Jingwei didn't immediately introduce the movie; instead, his expression turned serious.

"Distinguished guests, friends. At this moment, before we enjoy the pleasure brought by the light and shadow, please allow us, with the heaviest and most sincere hearts, to remember our compatriots who passed away not long ago, and to pay the highest tribute to all the heroes who fought on the front line of earthquake relief."

All the lights went out, leaving only a spotlight shining on the dark curtain in the center of the stage.

silence.

A minute-long moment of silence.

Below the stage, whether they were celebrities, industry leaders, or ordinary audience members, everyone stood with their heads bowed in solemn silence.

After the moment of silence, the lights came on.

Jingwei's voice rang out again, this time with a more resounding tone: "Natural disasters are merciless, but humanity is full of love."

"In times of crisis, there are always those who go against the tide to protect the lights of every household."

"Today, we are also honored to have invited a group of special guests from Central and Southern China, including Changsha, Wuhan and other places. They are armed police officers, power repair workers, medical staff and volunteers who stepped forward in the snow disaster at the beginning of the year and in this earthquake relief efforts!"

Let's welcome them with the warmest applause!

There was thunderous applause.

A group of men and women dressed in different uniforms were invited onto the stage. They had simple and even somewhat reserved expressions.

Jingwei inquired about their respective stories, and then naturally the conversation turned to movies.

Shen Shandeng picked up the microphone, stood beside these ordinary heroes, and first expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you."

Shen Shandeng first bowed slightly, then turned to the audience and said: "Many times, we take life for granted and get used to it. But we can watch movies and talk about art here in peace because there are countless people who are silently protecting and working hard in places we can't see."

"If something is done well, it should be praised. This is not singing praises, it is a fact. During the snow disaster at the beginning of the year, power grid workers climbed ice and slept in the snow; during this earthquake, soldiers risked their lives to go against the flow. The people saw it and remembered it."

"Our films and our works of art must not forget their roots, and we cannot pretend not to see them."

"The story of 'Lost in Thailand' was largely inspired by the snow disaster at the beginning of the year, and by those people who were stranded on their journeys and looked out for each other."

"There is laughter in the movie, but the underlying tone of this laughter is the resilience of us Chinese when facing difficulties, and the warmth of mutual help."

"This year has been full of hardships for us, but adversity strengthens a nation, and we are about to welcome the Olympic Games. I hope 'Lost in Thailand' will celebrate the Olympics and our motherland!"

"Remember what should be remembered, be grateful for what should be appreciated, carry this sentiment with you, live well, and keep moving forward. I believe this is the best tribute."

There was a moment of silence in the audience, followed by even more enthusiastic applause!

Many people in the industry were visibly moved.

They suddenly realized that Shen Shandeng was unlike any director they had ever known before.

Lu Chuan watched from below the stage, her expression complex.

Feng Xiaogang felt the same way; as a director, he somewhat envied Shen Shandeng's carefree lifestyle.

Shen Shandeng has no artistic baggage, nor does he believe that art must distance itself from the mainstream and be critical in order to appear noble.

Patriotism is something we don't shy away from; it comes naturally and we dare to express it openly.

The tribute segment concluded with applause.

Jingwei didn't dwell on the emotions and quickly steered the conversation back to the movie.

"Thank you, Director Shen, and thank you to all the ordinary heroes. Just as Director Shen said, we should face life better, and that is the best tribute."

"Now, let's put aside our heavy thoughts and enter the world of today's protagonist, 'Lost in Thailand'!"

The lights went out completely, and the screen lit up.

The dragon emblem flashed, and the movie officially began.

Shen Shandeng, sitting in the audience, leaned back slightly in his seat, becoming nervous.

Although he knew the script of the movie by heart and the jokes had been tested by the market in his previous life, he still felt a long-lost sense of nervousness at this moment.

Subtle differences in the times and subtle changes in audience tastes are all variables.

"You three are weirdos!"

At the beginning of the movie, before anyone is seen, their voices are heard as Li Chenggong, played by Xu Zheng, complains about his subordinates.

Then the camera focuses on a small office where Li Chenggong is wearing a suit and facing three employees.

If future viewers see this, they will find it very familiar. These three employees are Qiao Shan, Chang Yuan, and Jia Ling.

These are all familiar faces in future comedies, but at this time, they are still unknown.

The camera pans to the tabletop, where a life-size replica gun, silver handcuffs, and identification documents are displayed.

"What sins did I commit in my past life that you've done this? Are you trying to send me to jail?"

Qiao Shan immediately stepped forward with a cheeky grin and said, "President Li, President Li! It's fake! A one-to-one high-fidelity model! Feel it, it's made of alloy! It's heavy and has a great texture!"

Chang Yuan picked up the gleaming handcuffs: "They're a matching set! And this one too!"

Jia Ling opened her notebook and showed it off: "Boss! Police ID! Your photo is in the photo section. You can be Officer Wang if you want, or Director Li if you want!"

Li Chenggong looked up to the sky and sighed, "You three are truly freaks!"

The scene shifts to the dairy farm manager's office.

The TV was broadcasting news about how difficult it was to get a ticket during the Spring Festival travel rush.

The dairy farm manager said, "I think something big is about to happen in the entire dairy industry."

Niu Geng: "What's the big deal? I need money!"

Factory manager: "The US dollar has cut interest rates, and international grain export prices have risen sharply. The sickle is coming."

"Food is one of their tools."

Niu Genghan was about to burst into tears; he had only come to ask for his wages: "What?! I don't understand any of this! I want my money!"

The factory manager was furious at their incompetence: "The price of grain has increased by 40%, and the price of corn feed for dairy cows has also increased dramatically."

Niu Geng went crazy: "What? What? What international situation? I need money! Do you have it or not?"

Seeing that changing the subject was not working, the boss said helplessly, "I really have no money left. Look, look, the boss in Guangzhou owes me 50,000 yuan, and the boss in Changsha owes me 20,000 yuan."

Instead, he advised Niu Geng: "You're a skilled worker, you haven't been shortchanged much in terms of wages, so don't get involved. I really don't have any money."

"If you're so capable, go yourself."

Niu Geng picked up the IOU from Changsha and began his perilous journey.

The scene shifts to a shopping mall.

Li Chenggong, wearing a brown overcoat, bought gifts for his wife and children before going home, accompanied by his mistress.

The year 07 flashed by on the electronic screen.

Lulu, played by Li Xiaolu, clung to Li Chenggong's arm and said coquettishly, "Don't go home for the New Year this year. Stay here and spend the New Year with me. You can call your wife and tell her about the divorce."

Li Chenggong, played by Xu Zheng: "How can this be explained over the phone? I only go home once a year. You have to let me see my daughter."

Lulu said, "Then I'll come see you during the Chinese New Year."

Li Chenggong: What?

Lulu: "I'm here to wish you a Happy New Year, and also to say hello to your wife and kids."

Li Chenggong was startled: "Really?"

Lulu countered, "What do you think?"

Li Chenggong chuckled and said, "Stop joking, I'll come pick you up on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year."

Before separation.

Lulu suddenly grabbed Li Chenggong: "I'm pregnant."

Li Chenggong was stunned for a moment: "No way?"

Lulu said seriously, "It's true, I just got the results this morning."

Then he chuckled and said, "Look how scared you are, your face has turned white."

Li Chenggong breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at his watch, and said, "Hey, stop messing around, it's too late."

Before boarding the plane.

"Who's the oddball this time?!"

While searching for his plane ticket, Li Chenggong, dressed in a black overcoat, pulled out a replica gun and replica handcuffs from his bag and handed them to his men who were seeing him off, cursing under his breath.

The movie screen went black.

The phrase "Directed by Shen Shandeng" appeared.

The journey of "Lost in..." begins.

(End of this chapter)