Huayu 1999: Starting with nothing but getting something for nothing

On May 25, the Olympic bid committee's promotional video entered the final stage.

Yang Che, who had already returned to Beijing, went to Beijing North Railway Station, where filming for "Waiting Alone" would wrap up.

The final scene is a scene between Xia Yu and Gong Beibi, where Chen Wen sees Li Jing off at the train station to Guangzhou.

Alyssa Chia has finished filming and returned to Taiwan to film the TV series "Flying Dragon in the Sky". When she left, Yang Che was not in Beijing. The two made a phone call, but there was no talk of love or vows of eternal love. It was just a normal farewell.

After the reporter's visit to the set in mid-May, she was even more confident in "Waiting Alone" than Yang Che.

It's worth mentioning that Chow Yun-fat and Hu Haiquan both made cameo appearances in the film, playing themselves as characters.

Hu Haiquan plays a singer who gets an autograph from a fan while he's urinating... while Chow Yun-fat comes to the store to inquire about "Brother Chow's" underwear.

What followed was unremarkable: a Q&A session with reporters, a wrap party, and the project entered its later stages.

Unlike the extensive media coverage during filming, the news of "Waiting Alone" wrapping up did not generate much buzz.

It wasn't because reporters distanced themselves from Yang Che, but because Tony Leung won the second Best Actor award in Cannes history for "In the Mood for Love," Edward Yang won Best Director for "Yi Yi," and "Devils on the Doorstep" won the Jury Prize. Then, as expected, Jiang was blacklisted.

What Yang Che wants to say is that Luc Besson, the chairman of this year's Cannes Film Festival, is indeed a close friend of Director Jia and an old friend of the Chinese people, yet he so blatantly favors Chinese films.

Of course, "Yi Yi" is still good. The older you get, the more you feel about it. Most people are repeating the same things day after day... occasionally a flash of inspiration, but life knocks them back to square one... just like this movie.

I also want to say that the Film Bureau was dishonest. They should have banned Jiang Wen when Teruyuki Kagawa was being beaten by his compatriots. Then "Devils on the Doorstep" would most likely have won its second Palme d'Or. What a pity!

Also, Jiang Zhiqiang once called Yang Che, and he excitedly said: "After the premiere of 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' in Cannes, the entire audience stood up and applauded for eleven minutes and twenty-seven seconds. China is the center of attention at Cannes this year."

Yang Che congratulated him.

Yang Che's energy was still scattered, but he was enjoying the busy work, and time passed day by day.

The entire cast of "The Grand Mansion Gate" has been finalized, including guest roles. The only difference is that Chen Kaige will play Li Lianying, Zhang Yimou will play Wu Baosheng, and Yang Che will play a yamen runner, which is perfect.

Gao Yuanyuan's results for the associate-to-bachelor's degree entrance exam came out, and she successfully got into a bachelor's program in secretarial studies... Having started her summer vacation early, she and Yang Che took a road trip to Longcheng. Well, mainly, Yang Che was settling his parents in; the furniture and appliances he ordered for the Dongshan villa had all arrived, and they had a meal together. Her parents' attitude towards Gao Yuanyuan was the same as Fan Bingbing's—very friendly...

On June 16, Yang Che received his first award, the Best Song Award for "Fleeting Years" at the MTV Music Awards. Sun Nan, who won Best Male Singer, accepted the award on his behalf. He didn't go because he had gone to the Women and Children's Hospital at Xiao Pang's request that day.

Newborn Fan Chengcheng looked like a big, bluish-purple rat... Watching him cry helplessly, Yang Che was somewhat dazed, wondering if it was joy at being born or fear of the world.

Fan's parents knew that Yang Che was coming today.

This was something Yang Che and Xiao Pang had confirmed repeatedly. Otherwise, even if he was shameless, he wouldn't have come over now. What if he provoked them?

Then it was just a very ordinary visit: praising the child who couldn't tell anything, asking about the aunt's health, leaving some cash, and then chatting and smoking downstairs with Fan Tao.

"Bingbing told me you've been busy with the Olympic bid lately."

"Yes, I'm flying to Switzerland the day after tomorrow to submit my application."

"I see. You're planning to work for the government?"

"No, at first I just wanted to do my part, haha, it's all been a series of coincidences that I've gotten to where I am now, and it'll be over soon."

Fan Tao nodded: "I've seen the house in Zhonghai Triumph. It's very nice, the furniture is also very good, and your aunt likes it very much. You're very thoughtful."

"The furniture is the same as what my parents have. I also had the furniture and the house tested by a professional agency, so you can live here with peace of mind. There is no formaldehyde or toluene."

"Yes, Bingbing said that your aunt will move there after she leaves the postpartum care center."

"Call me when the time comes, and I'll drive the truck to haul the stuff."

"Okay, go ahead and do what you need to do."

"Okay, just give me a call if you need anything."

"..."

On June 20, Yang Che went to Lausanne, Switzerland again, this time led by Wang Wei. He answered 22 questions raised by the International Olympic Committee to the applicant cities and presented the plans and ideas for Beijing to host the Olympic Games.

When the delegation proposed a video presentation, every member of the International Olympic Committee was completely bewildered. After some discussion, the video was broadcast.

Despite not being eligible to participate in the defense, Yang Che continued to laugh and joke with the managers of those sports brands. However, when he learned that the video had been broadcast, he felt a lump in his throat.

After returning to China, Yang Che and his colleagues were received by Mayor Liu and another leader. The leader shook his hand and said very kindly, "I've seen the film you made about Macau. It was very well made. Those two bridges are great. I hope you will create more excellent works of art."

Yang Che nodded repeatedly: "Bridges are warm because they make rivers and straits no longer sad."

The leader paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, pointing at Yang Che and saying to those around him: "This young comrade Yang Che is very interesting."

Yang Che really wanted to take a separate group photo with the leaders, but when he told Wang Wei, it was naturally not allowed. However, in the end, everyone took a group photo.

This leader is truly gentle and refined, a treasure in the family.

With this, Yang Che's work at the Olympic Bid Committee came to an end.

June 26th arrived in the blink of an eye. Yang Che, having done his best for the country, went to the filming location of "Let Love Rule" early in the morning, which was a teahouse in Nanliu Lane.

As soon as he arrived at the door, Zhou Liren and a middle-aged woman with delicate features and fair skin, wearing red-rimmed glasses, came to greet him.

"Brother Che, this is Liu Mei."

Yang Che extended his hand: "Hello, sister-in-law. Thank you for your support of Brother Zhou's work and for your trust in me."

Liu Mei quickly grasped his hand: "Brother Che, you're just teasing me. Thank you so much for taking care of our family. My parents both say Zhou Liren has met a benefactor."

Clearly, this small courtyard in Nanliu Lane is the clubhouse that Zhou Liren set up. It was just finished recently, and Zhou Liren handed it over to Zhang Jiandong to warm up the atmosphere, since he is now in charge of Doubao's TV drama business.