Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 319, Section 317: "A Fake Marriage" (Part 1)
Friday, December 1, 2000.

In early winter in Beijing, the wind was already biting, but the afternoon sun, shining through the sparse clouds, still brought a rare touch of warmth.

For many young people in Beijing, the start of this weekend is particularly anticipated due to a movie and the opening of several new cinemas.

Lin Xiaoyue tightened the new scarf with a cute bear pattern around her neck, and her breath condensed into a small cloud of white mist in the cold air.

She stood at the gate of an ordinary university in Beijing, pacing back and forth, her gaze occasionally drifting towards the intersection.

Her mood was as bright and warm as the rare winter sunshine.

A few months ago, she came to this northern capital from Shanghai with her college admission letter in her arms.

During the intense period of preparing for the college entrance examination, director Wang Sheng's film "Flying Colors" provided her with tremendous spiritual support.

Ultimately, she was admitted to the accounting program at this school as she wished. Although it was not a top-tier university like Peking University, Tsinghua University, or Renmin University, it was a remarkable leap in her life for someone who had once been lost.

Several months into the semester, she gradually adapted to life in the north and the pace of university life. To her delight, she met Zhang Heng, a senior from the same university's computer science department, during a club activity.

Coincidentally, both of them were fans of Wang Sheng.

From "Flying Colors" to "First Love," and then to the record-breaking "My Sassy Girl," Wang Sheng's films have almost become the starting point for their common topics and the catalyst for their emotions.

Naturally, the two got together.

"Xiaoyue!" A familiar voice called out, and Zhang Heng arrived in a hurry on a nearly new bicycle, his face flushed from exercise and sporting a simple, honest smile. "Have you been waiting long? I just went to get some money."

"It's alright, I just arrived too." Lin Xiaoyue greeted him with a smile, naturally taking his arm. "Are the tickets okay?"

"Don't worry!" Zhang Heng patted the pocket of his down jacket and said proudly, "I went to queue up early this morning and finally managed to snag two tickets for the 7 PM showing. It's at the newly opened 'China Film Grand Cinema' in Oriental Plaza, I heard the conditions are really good!"

"That's great!" Lin Xiaoyue's eyes lit up. "I've always wanted to see Director Wang's new film, especially since he directed it himself!"

The two decided to splurge and took the newly opened Metro Line 1 to Wangfujing.

The subway was warm and crowded, full of urban vitality.

Lin Xiaoyue leaned against Zhang Heng, chatting quietly about the upcoming movie "Fake Marriage" and the recently popular TV series "Lurking"—a show produced by Wang Sheng and starring Wang Zhiwen, which was also a hot topic of conversation in their dormitory at night.

“I heard that this ‘China Film Grand Cinema’ is a joint venture between Director Wang’s company and China Film Group. There are five of them in Beijing right now!” Zhang Heng had obviously done his homework and knew them like the back of his hand. “Besides the Oriental Plaza branch we’re going to, there’s also the Haiding Theater branch, the Chaoyang Joy City branch, the Xidan Joy City branch, and oh, there’s also a new one that opened near the Wangfujing Department Store, the Xindongan Market branch.”

"Wow, so many?" Lin Xiaoyue exclaimed. "It seems like watching movies will be much more convenient from now on."

"Absolutely! I heard it's all multi-screen theaters, with big, bright screens and comfortable chairs. It's completely different from those old movie theaters!" Zhang Heng's tone was full of longing for new things.

Upon exiting the subway station, Wangfujing Pedestrian Street was brightly lit and bustling with people.

Oriental Plaza Shopping Center looks particularly grand at night.

Following the signs, they quickly found the "China Film Grand Cinema - Oriental Plaza Store", located inside the building and seamlessly connected to the subway level.

Upon entering the cinema area, the two of them simultaneously let out a soft gasp of surprise.

Spacious, bright, and stylish were their first impressions of the place.

The smooth, mirror-like floor tiles reflected the soft light from the ceiling. The huge movie poster wall was arranged in a very stylish way, with the most eye-catching position naturally being the main poster for "The Proposal"—Li Bingbing and Wang Zhiwen, one looking capable and sophisticated, the other slightly decadent, their eyes locked in a dramatic tension.

The ticket office is no longer a traditional small window, but an open circular counter, where staff in uniforms serve customers with smiles.

The electronic display screen clearly scrolls through the film schedules, times, and ticket prices for each theater.

"This place...is so high-class."

Lin Xiaoyue whispered to Zhang Heng, her eyes curiously looking around.

Spacious, bright, and stylish were their first impressions of the place.

The gleaming floor tiles reflected the soft lighting on the ceiling, and the huge movie poster wall was arranged in a very stylish way... The ticket office consisted of several traditional windows side by side, but the environment was clean and tidy, and electronic displays above the windows scrolled movie information.

There were queues of moderate length in front of each window, with staff in uniforms busy inside.

"Right, that's how I felt when I came here this morning."

……

With more than twenty minutes to go before the performance, a fairly long queue had already formed at the ticket gate. Most of them were young couples like them, as well as groups of friends, and everyone's face was filled with anticipation.

The ticket inspectors were efficient, checking tickets and providing directions; the process was smooth.

Pass through the ticket gate and enter the theater corridor.

The soft, dark carpet absorbed the sound of footsteps, and the environment immediately became quiet.

Movie stills and framed artworks are hung on the walls on both sides of the passageway, creating a strong artistic atmosphere.

They quickly found Hall Seven.

Pushing open the heavy soundproof door, the interior of the theater once again amazed the two of them.

It is completely different from the dimly lit, dilapidated, and stuffy single-screen cinemas of the past.

This theater isn't the largest, but it has a high enough ceiling, and the scientifically designed tiered seating ensures an unobstructed view no matter where you sit.

The dark blue velvet seats looked brand new and sturdy. After sitting down for a while, they were indeed comfortable, and the design of the armrest cup holders was also quite thoughtful.

"This chair is so comfortable!" Lin Xiaoyue said softly, adjusting her posture.

"Look at that screen!" Zhang Heng pointed to the huge, flat, wrinkle-free screen in front of him. "It's so big, so bright! And the sound system..."

He noticed the multiple speaker units embedded in the wall.

The overhead lights gradually dimmed, leaving only the soft glow of the guide lights at our feet.

The noisy chatter gradually subsided, and a focused sense of anticipation filled the theater.

After the public screening license was issued, there were not many pre-roll ads. Sheng Ying Media's opening animation appeared on the screen: a bundle of film reels, like a lively ribbon, wrapped around the two characters "Sheng Ying" and finally froze, accompanied by a short, uplifting yet slightly warm piece of music.

The film officially begins.

The scene opens with a bustling street scene in Beijing at dawn, filled with cars and people hurrying by. The voice-over is a calm and articulate inner monologue from Lin Yue, the female protagonist played by Li Bingbing:

"Beijing, a city with over ten million inhabitants. Here, opportunities and pressures coexist, and dreams clash with reality. My name is Lin Yue, I am twenty-nine years old, and I am the Deputy Director of Media at Ogilvy & Mather's Beijing branch. My goal is to become a director and obtain a Beijing residency permit before I turn thirty."

The camera shifts to a high-end office building in the Guomao business district.

Lin Yue wore a well-tailored dark gray business suit, and her high heels clicked crisply and firmly on the marble floor.

Her makeup was exquisite, her hairstyle impeccable, her eyes sharp, and she exuded an undeniable aura as she walked.

While on the phone communicating fluently with clients in English, she walked briskly through the open office area. Her subordinates greeted her respectfully with "Good morning, Director Lin," to which she merely nodded slightly, her steps unwavering.

Scene 2: Lin Yue's Apartment

In the evening, Lin Yue returned to her home in a high-end apartment on the East Third Ring Road.

The room was decorated in a modern minimalist style and was so clean it was almost deserted.

She took off her coat, habitually wiped the doorknob and her phone with disinfectant wipes, then opened the refrigerator, which contained only bottled water and some instant salad. She sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the night view of Beijing, a barely perceptible hint of weariness and loneliness flashing in her eyes.

She turned on her computer, and the screen displayed "Pathways to Settle in Beijing." She read through them one by one, her brows furrowing slightly.

Scene 3: A courtyard house in a hutong

Meanwhile, in a hutong near Houhai Lake in Beijing, in a slightly old but charming courtyard house, the male protagonist "Jiang Zhou," played by Wang Zhiwen, is wearing loose-fitting training clothes and slowly practicing Tai Chi in the courtyard.

He looked to be over thirty, with slightly long, somewhat messy hair, a stubble beard, and a look in his eyes that held a detached laziness and a worldly-wise, sarcastic insight.

He was the editor-in-chief of a magazine called "Folk Culture," which had mediocre sales and was barely surviving.

The neighbor knocked on the door and came in, carrying a bowl of freshly made noodles with soybean paste: "Xiao Jiang, haven't you eaten yet? I brought you some."

Jiang Zhou didn't stand on ceremony, took the bowl, and said with a smile, "Thank you so much, Aunt Wang! I was just wondering what to eat for dinner."

"Look at you, you're such a grown man, why don't you find a proper partner? You just stay here in this old courtyard every day..." Aunt Wang started nagging again.

Jiang Zhou ate his noodles in big mouthfuls while vaguely replying, "If one person is full, the whole family isn't hungry. My yard is warm in winter and cool in summer, it's quite nice."

(End of this chapter)