Huayu: Serious director, who's eavesdropping on your thoughts?

Yanjing, North Third Ring Road, Jimenli Residential Area.

Room 201, Building 3.

"Boss, this location is a bit odd, but it's also quite nice."

Gu Man, holding a rag, stood on a chair and vigorously wiped the newly hung bronze plaque by the door.

Yanjing Guangnian Film & Television Co., Ltd.

"There's a pancake stall downstairs, and all sorts of other snacks. This place is so quiet; it's practically a sanctuary for secluded writing!"

Gu Man was very satisfied.

This was their third day back in Yanjing.

A few days ago, the two of them squeezed into a green train and traveled for more than ten hours to arrive in Yanjing from their hometown.

By then, it was already evening.

The two checked into a hotel and rested for the night. The next morning, as soon as it was light, Zhao Huaiyuan took Gu Man to the Industry and Commerce Bureau to check the company name, verify the capital, and have the company seal made.

Especially yesterday when she saw the other party's deposit of more than 700 million yuan at the bank, Gu Man was completely stunned.

She knew her boss was well-off, but she didn't expect him to be this rich!

"Boss, I have a question." Gu Man rinsed the rag in the bucket of water and wrung it out.

Zhao Huaiyuan was inspecting the security bars on the window. Hearing this, he didn't even turn around and asked, "What's the problem?"

"You're so rich, why did you choose such a place? I'm not saying this place is bad, I'm just thinking, if investors come to discuss business in the future, people who don't know better will think we're a shell company." Gu Man pouted.

She had assumed that Zhao Huaiyuan, being so wealthy, would at least rent an entire floor of office space in the CBD and hire two beautiful young women as attractive as herself for the front desk.

That's what she thought anyway.

"It's close to the school, which makes it convenient for me to go back to school for errands. After all, I'll be spending a few more years at school."

Besides, office buildings are crowded and noisy, and the central air conditioning makes people's heads hurt. It's nowhere like this bright and quiet place. Most importantly, it's a private building with good ventilation!

Besides, there are only the two of us in the company right now. What kind of logic is it to rent a large office building of several hundred square meters that looks empty?

Zhao Huaiyuan didn't say it explicitly, because after the disaster breaks out next month, many office buildings will be considered as hotspots for the spread of the virus due to their central air conditioning systems and will be forcibly sealed off.

On the contrary, these detached houses with good ventilation are the safest.

"Oh." Gu Man seemed to understand but not quite. She didn't understand why the boss cared so much about ventilation and safety, but the room did have good lighting. The sunlight shone on the desk, giving her the urge to write!

"Alright, since we're here, we might as well make the best of it!"

Gu Man was also an optimist. She picked up a rag, bent over, and started wiping the table.

"Boss, is the second bedroom mine?"

"Whatever you like, the second bedroom is yours. It will serve as your office and lounge. You're employee number one, and also the company's general manager of logistics!"

"I guarantee I'll complete the mission." Gu Man playfully gave a less-than-perfect salute.

Her face showed further confusion. She pointed to the large pile of things by the door and asked,

"Boss, we just opened, why are you buying so many weird things?"

All that could be seen at the entrance was a small mountain of various odds and ends.

Five boxes of white vinegar, dozens of bags of Banlangen (Isatis root), two boxes of 84 disinfectant, boxes of instant noodles, dried noodles, canned luncheon meat, and a large box of face masks.

"It's good to be prepared. If you don't buy now because it's cheap, when will you buy it?"

"Is it still that matter? Is it really that serious? I saw on the news that it's under control." Although Zhao Huaiyuan never said it outright, Gu Man had gained some understanding over the past few days.

"You believe the news? Well, you've got it for life. Alright, bring all this in with me."

"Oh, okay." Although Gu Man felt that the boss was being a bit paranoid and making a mountain out of a molehill, she still obediently went to put things away.

Who told him to be the one paying the salaries?

..

After settling into the base camp, Zhao Huaiyuan returned to the school the next day.

Beijing Film Academy, the office building for the Directing Department.

At this time, school had not officially started yet, so Zhao Huaiyuan was considered to have returned to school relatively early.

As he walked along, many teachers and students pointed at him, their eyes filled with envy and awe.

If the film *The Sound Engineer*, which won a grand slam at the ISFVF Film Festival, made him somewhat famous on campus...

So now that "Escape from the British Museum" has succeeded, he has become a true celebrity on campus!

No one can compare to him!

He knocked on the door of the department head Tian Zhuangzhuang's office.

Tian Zhuangzhuang sat behind his desk, his hair a little messy, a cigarette between his fingers, looking down at a lesson plan.

"You're here, please have a seat."

Zhao Huaiyuan obediently sat down.

He took a box of fine tea out of his bag and placed it on the table.

"Teacher Tian, ​​I brought you some new tea. You can brew it and drink it as you like."

Tian Zhuangzhuang glanced at the can of tea and said with a half-smile:

"You've changed, haven't you? What's wrong? Now that you're a big director, you've learned to be polite with me?"

He recalled how the other person walked into the office after the first lecture last year, acting as if he were one of the family, and even started smoking a cigarette.

"No, this is a gift to you." Zhao Huaiyuan chuckled.

"Don't give me that crap. People outside are praising you to the skies. You're a box office dark horse, a patriotic director. With all those accolades, you're really something else," Tian Zhuangzhuang laughed.

"I still have a long way to go, and I know my own limitations," Zhao Huaiyuan said with a smile.

"It's a good thing that a young person can remain humble and modest after suddenly becoming famous," Tian Zhuangzhuang nodded.

He opened the drawer, took out a document, and tossed it to Zhao Huaiyuan.

"Look, this is a reward the school gave you."

Zhao Huaiyuan took it and saw that it was a document titled "Decision on Awarding Zhao Huaiyuan the Special Award for Outstanding Student Creative Work at Beijing Film Academy".

"The prize money is five thousand, which isn't much, and you might not care about it, but it's an honor. Also, your film is being recommended by the authorities to be nominated for this year's Huabiao Awards."

"Thank you, Teacher Tian, ​​and thank you for the school's guidance," Zhao Huaiyuan said sincerely.

"Alright, enough with the formalities. Just tell me, you never come here unless you need something. You've only just returned to the capital and you're already here to see me. It can't be to deliver tea."

"Director Tian is brilliant; nothing can escape your discerning eyes."

"What is it?"

"I'd like to ask for leave." Zhao Huaiyuan took out the application form he had prepared overnight from his bag and handed it over with both hands.

"Taking leave again? You're either taking leave or on your way to take leave. What do you take the school for?"

Indeed, since enrolling last year, he has hardly attended any classes.

In fact, given his experience from his previous life, there was no need for him to continue attending classes in a structured manner.

"Teacher Tian, ​​I feel that I'm a bit restless right now and it's not suitable for me to stay at school. So, I want to go down and calm down. I'd like to apply to suspend my general education courses this semester and use social practice to offset the credits." Zhao Huaiyuan came up with a reason.

Tian Zhuangzhuang glanced at the application form, which contained a reading list and a research plan.

He glanced at Zhao Huaiyuan again, his eyes filled with admiration.

In this era where everyone is restless and wants to make money, a young man who is not yet 20 years old, has won so many honors and is praised to the skies, actually chooses to actively reflect on himself.

Do you think you're a sports student?

"Have you thought it through? Right now is the peak of your career. If you hide away now, no one may remember you in six months."

This is indeed true. Many celebrities who are at the height of their fame choose to retire at the peak of their careers, wanting to reflect and mature, but usually they disappear without a trace once they do.

"Romance on Lushan Mountain," a double Best Actress award winner, was incredibly popular back then. But at the peak of her career, she went to study in the United States, supposedly to gain experience and further her education, but...

The entertainment and film industry is an era where trends change very quickly.

"It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if others remember or not, as long as you don't forget yourself," Zhao Huaiyuan said.

"Okay, I'll grant you a special leave for creative practice this semester."

Without saying another word, Tian Zhuangzhuang signed and stamped the application.

"Thank you, Teacher Tian."

Zhao Huaiyuan laughed, then added, "By the way, Teacher Tian, ​​I told you to smoke less last time, but it seems you didn't listen at all. What's so good about smoking? I've almost quit. Also, if you don't have anything to do, tell your wife to keep some white vinegar and Banlangen at home, they'll be expensive later."

"Damn it, you were bothering me about smoking last time, and now you're meddling in my family affairs? Alright, I know, get lost." Tian Zhuangzhuang said with a laugh.

It was already dark outside when I walked out of the directing department building.

Zhao Huaiyuan went to his dormitory, packed up, and moved out.

For a considerable period of time to come, he will be living at the company.

For the next few days, the phone at Lightyear Pictures' office never stopped ringing, and Gu Man, as the assistant, was busy and sweating profusely.

She not only had to handle various interview invitations, but also prepare formal attire for her boss.

..

Two days later.

The Golden Hall of the Yanjing Hotel.

The banquet hall was brightly lit, and a red carpet stretched from the hotel entrance all the way to the stage in the banquet hall.

There was a large display board at the entrance with a poster for "Escape from the British Museum" printed on it, and a number above it: 9200 million in box office revenue!

With "Hero" leading the pack with 2.5 million yuan at the box office and dominating the market, a newcomer's work has managed to carve out a bloody path in the fiercely competitive Spring Festival film season.

Not only did it defeat other star-studded domestic films, it also directly outpaced the third-ranked "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by 52 million, a lead of nearly double!

Although this number is still far from that of "Hero", the two cannot be directly compared. Whether it is the support and promotion of "Hero" or the advantage of the release time, they cannot be compared.

The two were not even on the same starting line.

"Escape from the British Museum" was released on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and as of now, it has only been a little over half a month, yet it has already garnered 9000 million yuan in real-time box office revenue, which is quite remarkable.

The banquet hall was filled with the aroma of wine.

Tall waitresses moved among them; after all, those present were all important figures.

The former director of Beijing Film Studio, a powerful leader in the Film Bureau, and several producers from CCTV-6...

What's even more interesting is that at some of the main tables near the front, sat the two brothers from Huayi Brothers, Mr. Zhang from New Pictures, and several other leading figures from domestic private film companies.

no doubt.

This was a high-profile internal celebration banquet.

Han Sanping sat in the main seat, still wearing his signature Zhongshan suit.

"Xiao Zhao, come here." Han Sanping beckoned and called Zhao Huaiyuan to his side.

"Look, 92 million. It's still showing in theaters, but breaking 100 million is no problem. It's second only to Hero, and taking second place for the year shouldn't be a problem."