The only sun in Huayu

"Thank you, thank you!"

In early spring, Beijing still felt chilly in the evening.

In front of an inconspicuous private club on the edge of the North Fourth Ring Road, Lu Chuan saw Shen Shandeng and hurriedly went to greet him.

"Mr. Shen, thank you so much!"

Shen Shandeng patted Lu Chuan on the back, seemingly oblivious to his awkwardness, and said, "It's cold outside, let's go inside and talk. Jiang Wen has already arrived."

The interior of the club is decorated in a Chinese style, quiet and elegant, with ample heating and the aroma of incense filling the air.

After passing through several corridors and pushing open a heavy wooden door, Jiang Wen was sitting in a chair.

Upon seeing them enter, he stood up, gave Shen Shandeng a thumbs-up, and exclaimed in a loud voice, "Director Shen! Excellent!"

Then, turning to Lu Chuan, he also gave a thumbs-up, his eyes filled with rare admiration, "Director Lu! Awesome!"

Lu Chuan's facial muscles twitched, forcing out a smile that looked more like a grimace.

He knew that Jiang Wen was arrogant and had never given him a second glance before.

The experience of "Looking for a Gun" was even more unbearable. If it weren't for his family background and Han Sanping's intervention, he might have ended up like someone who sought Jiang Wen's help to make a film while terminally ill, and was completely taken advantage of.

Right now, she had become the "brave" man Jiang Wen had described, and Lu Chuan felt that everything was absurd.

Upon hearing this, Shen Shandeng laughed heartily and pointed at Jiang Wen, retorting, "Director Jiang! Tall and tough!"

Jiang Wen also burst into laughter, his previous restraint and probing vanished.

After the guests and hosts were seated, the waiters quietly entered.

Amidst the fragrant aroma of tea, the conversation naturally turned to business.

More than a year has passed since the box office flop of "The Sun Also Rises," and Jiang Wen has clearly emerged from that slump, rekindling his creative passion and ambition.

He took a sip of hot tea and joked, "Yu Dong is acting like he's seen a ghost when he sees me now, avoiding me like the plague. Director Shen, aren't you afraid of losing money investing in my film at this time?"

Shen Shandeng, holding a white porcelain teacup, smiled and said, "Director Jiang, I received your letter. I read half of the script and found it interesting, so I'd like to submit it."

Jiang Wendao said, "I only had four people read the script: you, Ge You, Chow Yun-fat, and Albert Yeung. You were the only one who read the script and wrote the letter. I think writing the letter is a very sincere thing, and I wrote it one by one."

This approach doesn't work well against Shen Shandeng, because he's used it on others before. He put down his teacup, looked calmly at Jiang Wen, and said bluntly, "If I feel I'm going to lose, I definitely won't invest."

This was very impolite, bordering on arrogant.

But we can't flatter Jiang Wen too much. When Jiang Wen was a child, he could eat canned food and chocolate brought from Guangxi. Shen Shandeng was born almost 20 years later than him, and he never ate chocolate like that when he was a child.

In the 1960s and 70s, being able to bring back a whole box of popsicles and hand them out one by one was something that many people born in the 80s and even the 90s didn't have when they were kids. Even today's children rarely have that kind of extravagance.

Many people think Jiang Wen is an elitist, but that's not entirely true. He simply doesn't know what ordinary people's lives are like.

Upon hearing Shen Shandeng's words, Jiang Wen was not annoyed at all; instead, he burst into hearty laughter, his eyes filled with even greater admiration.

He disliked ordinary people, believing them to be foolish and in need of elites to lead them, otherwise they would be easily deceived.

But he disliked the insects among the elites even more, because he felt that those insects were completely incapable.

Some things depend on who says them.

If the person in front of him were just making blockbuster movies, Jiang Wen would at most say "amazing," but he started by attacking "Lust, Caution."

When it really comes down to it, it's not just about the film industry and box office success. The battle at the Beijing Film Academy directly left the masters wondering where they are and what they're doing.

He had to express his admiration for such a person's courage and methods.

Moreover, with Shen Shandeng leading the investment, many things can be resolved. After discussing the investment intentions, Shen Shandeng and Jiang Wen began to discuss the script of "Let the Bullets Fly" with great interest.

Jiang Wen spoke with great enthusiasm, spitting as he spoke, from the metaphor of Goose City to the horse-drawn train, from Zhang Mazi's banditry to Huang Silang's cunning.

Shen Shandeng only occasionally chimed in. As long as Jiang Wen can film a complete storyline and knows he can't afford to lose, the film will basically be fine.

Lu Chuan listened quietly from the side and roughly understood that this was an absurd story about bandits, bullies, and swindlers that took place during the Beiyang warlord era.

He became increasingly suspicious. Did Shen Shandeng call him here just so he could eavesdrop on this?

Seeing that the matter was almost settled, Lu Chuan finally couldn't help but ask during a break in their conversation, "President Shen, what about this bad reputation I have?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Shandeng turned his head and softly uttered a few words: "Let the bullets fly for a while."

Lu Chuan was taken aback; it sounded like they wanted to let time fade the impact.

He understood the principle, but the waiting process was too agonizing.

Shen Shandeng pointed at Lu Chuan and asked Jiang Wen, "Director Jiang, what do you think about having Director Lu play Liu Zi in your film?"

"Sixth son?"

Jiang Wen was taken aback. The image of the impulsive young man in the script who was wrongly accused and disemboweled himself to prove his innocence flashed through his mind.

Jiang Wen's gaze fell on Lu Chuan's face again, and seeing his frustrated and confused expression, he burst into laughter: "Incredible! Absolutely incredible! As long as Director Lu comes, he's the one!"

"That sense of frustration, that stubbornness to prove something! Absolutely amazing!"

Lu Chuan was completely dumbfounded.

Shen Shandeng said to Lu Chuan, "Take a look at the script. If you think it's good, then come and try out for a cameo role."

Lu Chuan glanced at the script and told him to act in it, to play a character who died unjustly.
There are only a few lines of dialogue so far, but the character's role is still very clear.

Lu Chuan was somewhat bewildered.

Leaving the club, having finalized the investment for "Let the Bullets Fly" and also managed to snag Lu Chuan, Shen Shandeng felt like a saint.

"Sister Lan, Lu Chuan is all set, you owe me another dance."

Shen Shandeng called Qin Lan and arranged to meet at a hotel.

I had no other thoughts, I just wanted to dance.

Qin Lan said, "I broke up with him."

Shen Shandeng said it was all acting, and that Qin Lan was just acting out the scene where there was no score.

March passed like flowing water, and in April, an NGO, together with the China Entrepreneurs Club, launched an initiative.

Hundreds of entrepreneurs, including Yang Chuanzhi, Wang Shi, and Ma Yun, called on themselves to "protect sharks and refuse to eat shark fin soup."

More and more entertainment stars are joining in, with many celebrities such as Shu Qi, Faye Wong, and Kevin Tsai expressing their support.

"here we go."

In his office, Shen Shandeng looked at the related reports and felt the pressure. Compared to the previous group, Michelle's husband's group was truly cunning!

Ma Youde came in and said, "Marco Müller is here."

Upon arriving at the screening room and meeting Shen Shandeng, Marco Müller said warmly, "Mr. Shen, I can finally see your new work."

Shen Shandeng joked, "Old Ma, I'm afraid you won't have the guts to accept this film." (End of Chapter)