This director only directs blockbusters.

That article was published on Wednesday.

Even Nicholas Tse himself didn't expect that a diary entry of just over 3,000 words could cause such a huge stir in Hong Kong.

At eight o'clock in the morning, as soon as Ming Pao hit the shelves, the newsstand was packed with people. Usually, it was mostly elderly people buying newspapers, but that day there were many young people, dressed in suits and ties, pulling out their money and urging, "Hurry, hurry, is there any more?"

The newspaper vendor frantically rummaged through the stack of newspapers: "Yes, yes, yes, don't rush—"

In a tea restaurant in Kowloon Tong, the television was on, broadcasting the morning news. The screen showed a screenshot of the front page of Ming Pao, with the eye-catching headline: "Nicholas Tse's South Africa Diary: That Night, I Saw the Mountains."

"Hey, turn the volume up!" someone shouted.

The boss picked up the remote control, and the TV sound immediately drowned out the sound of the bowls and chopsticks.

"...The article sparked heated discussions after its publication. In the article, Nicholas Tse mentioned that in the past, when he encountered problems while filming abroad, he had to bear them alone. But this time in South Africa, with the embassy's intervention and the support of the local government, he felt like he had 'a mountain behind him'..."

The tea restaurant fell silent. Dozens of people stared at the television, their chopsticks hovering in mid-air.

The scene shifts to a street interview. A young man in his early twenties says to the camera, "I read that article, and I was quite moved. To be honest, I used to think patriotism was just a slogan, but after reading it, I feel... it seems like there's some truth to it."

A middle-aged man next to him chimed in, "I lived in Canada for eight years. I understand the feeling Nicholas Tse was talking about. When you're abroad and someone bullies you, nobody cares. It's different now. Our country is strong, and we can stand tall abroad."

Someone in the tea restaurant whispered, "That person is right."

"Exactly, we've never received this kind of treatment before!"

The television broadcast continued: "As of press time, the article has been reposted over 100,000 times online, and the comments section is overwhelmingly positive..."

---

At noon, the incident escalated to a new level.

The first public figure to speak out was Jackie Chan.

He was surrounded by reporters at an event, with microphones almost shoved in his face.

"Jackie Chan, have you read Nicholas Tse's article?"

Jackie Chan stopped and took off his sunglasses.

"I saw it," he said. "That kid, Feng, doesn't talk much usually, but he always speaks his mind."

The reporter pressed further, "What do you think of what he said in the article?"

Jackie Chan thought for a moment, then said in a low but earnest voice, "I've been making movies for forty years. What haven't I seen? I've been extorted, I've been wronged, and at my worst, even my equipment was stolen. Back then, nobody helped me; I had to carry it all myself."

He paused.

"But things are different now. When I'm filming abroad, the local government sends people to greet me. Why? Because China has become powerful. You're not alone; you have 1.4 billion people behind you."

The reporter wanted to ask more questions, but Jackie Chan waved his hand and left.

The second person to speak out was Andy Lau.

He was interviewed on the radio, and the host specifically mentioned this article.

Andy Lau laughed: "I read Ah Feng's article twice."

"Twice? Why?"

"The first time you read the story, the second time you read it to get a feeling," Andy Lau said. "I've experienced what he went through in South Africa, and I've also been abroad. I understand that feeling of isolation and helplessness. So I know what he meant when he said 'I see the mountains.'"

The host asked, "When do you think this change started?"

Andy Lau thought for a moment: "It didn't start from any particular time; it was accumulated little by little. When the economy is strong and diplomacy is strong, you naturally have confidence abroad. This isn't a slogan given to you by someone; it's a real feeling."

The third person to speak out was Peter Chan.

In a telephone interview with Ming Pao, he put it more directly: "I was born and raised in Hong Kong, and spent many years abroad, now I travel back and forth between the two places. I deeply understand what Nicholas Tse meant by 'having a powerful backer.' In the past, Hong Kong people were all alone when they were abroad. Now it's different. With a Chinese passport, it's convenient in many places, and if you encounter any problems, someone will take care of you. This isn't politics, it's reality."

The reporter asked, "So what do you think of those dissenting voices?"

Peter Chan laughed: "Those who oppose it probably haven't lived abroad."

---

In the afternoon, Wenhui Daily followed up with a full-page feature article.

The title is "Looking at the Evolution of Hong Kong People's National Identity Through Nicholas Tse's Diary".

The article quoted many comments from ordinary readers:

"I studied in the UK for eight years. Every time I was discriminated against, I wished someone would stand up for me. But no one did. After reading Nicholas Tse's article, I realized that now I can."

"I used to think patriotism was an abstract concept, but now I think it's a concrete source of confidence."

"Six years have passed since Hong Kong's return to China, and some things have indeed changed. Whether they've changed for the better or for the worse depends on your perspective. Personally, I feel quite good about having someone backing you up outside."

Of course, there were also dissenting voices.

Online, some people are criticizing Nicholas Tse for "sycophancy" and "making political statements." Someone posted on a forum with the title "Nicholas Tse has changed; he's no longer that rebellious teenager."

However, the most frequent replies to these kinds of posts are actually rebuttals:

"You fawn over someone just for telling the truth? Have you ever been beaten up outside?"

"Rebellion doesn't mean being brainless. People have eyes; they can see things."

"What's with the sour grapes? If you're so capable, why don't you go and make a movie in South Africa yourself?"

That evening, TVB's evening news devoted a full five minutes to reporting on the incident.

The host concluded by saying, "The fact that a personal diary has sparked such a wide discussion reflects the deep-seated reflections of Hong Kong people on their national identity. Whether you agree or disagree, this topic can no longer be avoided."

---

On the fourth day, the People's Daily withdrew from the story.

The headline in the overseas edition reads: "Hong Kong Stars' Diaries Resonate: Backed by the Motherland, They Have a Confidence."

The article is short, but it carries significant weight.

The article begins by quoting a line from Nicholas Tse's article: "There is a mountain behind you. It has always been there."

The text then continues: "The experiences of a young Hong Kong actor in South Africa have stirred up a great deal of emotion in Hong Kong. Behind these waves lies the growing sense of national identity and belonging among Hong Kong compatriots. No matter where they are, with a strong motherland as their backing, every Chinese person can stand taller."

The article concludes with a quote from Jackie Chan: "You are not alone; you have 1.4 billion people behind you."

Yang Ning saw this report on the film set in South Africa.

Old Xu showed him his phone, and he stared at the screen for a long time.

Then he returned the phone to Lao Xu and continued watching the monitor.

"Director Yang, don't you have anything to say?" Old Xu asked.

Yang Ning thought for a moment.

"have."

"What?"

"That night, Nicholas Tse stood outside my room for a while," he said. "I thought he was going to say something, but he didn't say anything and just left."

Old Xu was taken aback for a moment: "And then?"

"Then he wrote that piece," Yang Ning said. "Sometimes, people have things on their minds that they don't need to say aloud. They keep them bottled up, and they turn into an article."

---

When he finished work, Nicholas Tse sat alone on the steps.

Yang Ning walked over and sat down next to him.

Neither of them spoke; they just sat there, watching the sun slowly sink below the horizon.

After a long while, Nicholas Tse finally spoke.

"Director Yang."

"Um?"

"I didn't expect it to turn out like this."

"What?"

"So many people... are talking," Nicholas Tse said. "Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Director Chan... and the People's Daily."

Yang Ning did not respond.

"I was just writing down what was on my mind," Nicholas Tse said, looking into the distance. "I never expected it to cause such a stir."

Yang Ning lit a cigarette.

"Because what you said is what many people want to say but haven't said."

Nicholas Tse remained silent.

"Back in Hong Kong, nobody dared to say these things," he suddenly said. "If you did, you'd be scolded and ostracized."

"And now?"

Nicholas Tse thought about it.

"Now..." he paused, "now I feel that saying it out loud isn't so scary."

Yang Ning nodded.

The sun had completely set. A sliver of afterglow remained on the horizon, orange-red, like burnt charcoal.

Nicholas Tse stood up.

"Director Yang, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for letting me make this film," he said. "For letting me see these things."

Yang Ning remained silent.

Nicholas Tse turned and left.

Yang Ning sat there and finished smoking the cigarette.

Then he stood up and dusted off his pants.

I have to film tomorrow.

But some things are different now.