Who says Beijing Film Academy has no great directors? (2002)

Yang Rui was excited for a while when she was notified that she was going to a dinner party that evening.

Yang Rui was staying with Jiang Xin on set. From the moment she answered the phone, she kept talking, asking Jiang Xin whether this outfit looked better or that outfit looked better.

Jiang Xin was so annoyed she had a splitting headache: "Anything is fine, they're all beautiful."

Yang Rui snorted: "Perfunctory."

Then, as if remembering something, she turned to Jiang Xin and said, "You really aren't going? That's a future director who'll make hundreds of millions of yuan! What if he takes a liking to you at the dinner table and lets you play a lead or supporting role? You'll be set for life!"

But after she finished speaking, she kept a close eye on Jiang Xin's expression, as if she didn't want Jiang Xin to go.

Jiang Xin, with a face mask on and her eyes closed, said nonchalantly, "I'm not going to accompany anyone for drinks."

Upon hearing this, Yang Rui secretly rolled her eyes, completely losing her enthusiasm for picking out clothes.

Jiang Xin didn't open his eyes and continued talking to himself: "Tell me, don't have too high expectations for this Director Chen. When he came during the day, didn't you see how clingy he was with that Wang Yuyan? Hmph, who knows, they might have already gotten together. Do you think you'd even get a chance?"

Yang Rui pouted angrily and threw the lace shirt she was holding onto the sofa.

"I'll go find Tao Tao, she'll definitely go."

Jiang Xin opened her eyes: "She might not like this kind of person. She's too young and not mature enough."

Yang Rui winked at Jiang Xin: "It's precisely because none of you like it that I can make my move~"

Jiang Xin laughed and threw a small piece of clothing at him, saying, "Keep being reckless!"

When Chen Yan arrived, he found that there were quite a few people there.

All three directors of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" were present, along with several actors, all of whom were familiar faces.

Hu Jun, Yang Rui, and Liu Tao.

Haha, that's interesting. Jiang Xin didn't come, otherwise Chen Yan would really like to get to know him. Jiang Xin is a good actor.

Zhang Jizhong smiled and introduced Chen Yan: "Director Chen, let me introduce you. This is the chief director, Zhou Xiaowen. You are actually his junior. He also graduated from Beijing Film Academy, but not from the directing department, he was from the cinematography department."

Chen Yan naturally stepped forward to shake hands: "Senior."

Zhou Xiaowen said modestly, "I can't compare to you, I can't compare at all. Your movie 'Love is Not Blind' is much more famous than mine."

"Now I just film TV dramas."

Zhang Jizhong then introduced, "This is Yu Min, the director of the dialogue scenes, and Ju Jueliang, the director of the action scenes."

As for the remaining actors, they only introduced themselves after Chen Yan had finished exchanging pleasantries with the directors.

Chen Yan nodded politely to each of them. The seats they had reserved for him were good, between Liu Tao and Yang Rui.

Zhang Jizhong smiled and asked Yang Rui to pour wine for Chen Yan.

Chen Yan found it amusing, seeing that Zhang Jizhong and Zhou Xiaowen still had a very close relationship, with Zhang Jizhong even affectionately calling him Xiaowen.

Who would have thought that the two would publicly tear each other apart in the second half of the year, with reports appearing in newspapers and online? Zhou Xiaowen accused Zhang Jizhong of monopolizing power and becoming too arrogant, saying that the local area was full of banners saying "Welcome Zhang Jizhong" and that he was treating the film crew as his personal stage.

Zhang Jizhong was even more ruthless, turning around and kicking Zhou Xiaowen out of post-production. He was even owed money for a cameo role as a sweeping monk, and Zhou Xiaowen was completely reduced to a nominal director.

Chen Yan watched with amusement as the two chatted animatedly about domestic martial arts novels in front of him, as if they were close friends.

After a few drinks, Zhang Jizhong said, "I guarantee that Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils will be a huge hit across the country. I've already thought about the next installment: The Return of the Condor Heroes."

"I also asked Yifei to play the female lead."

Upon hearing this, the actresses at the table immediately became restless.

Yang Rui said with a smile, "Producer Zhang, you'll have to call us on the team then."

Liu Tao was a little shy, but he nodded in agreement.

Zhang Jizhong readily agreed and then turned to Chen Yan, saying, "Director Chen, don't let this trip be in vain. I think we can give that drama 'Broken Hearts' a boost. Tomorrow I'll invite a few media outlets to do some interviews, and Yifei can also get some exposure."

Chen Yan agreed, knowing that Zhang Jizhong wouldn't let this opportunity to generate buzz slip by.

When "Heartbreak" first started filming, it used the "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" production team for marketing. Moreover, "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" started filming almost two months later because it was waiting for Liu Yifei. Now it's time to repay the favor.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Zhang Jizhong and the others left first.

Chen Yan hadn't drunk much, so he planned to walk back slowly, but Yang Rui called him back before he even got out.

Seeing Liu Tao still following beside him, there was nothing he couldn't understand; Liu Tao was pulling someone aside to ask for his contact information.

During the meal, Chen Yan had already added Hu Jun's contact information and jokingly said that he would contact him if he had any roles in the future. Hu Jun smiled so broadly that his eyes disappeared.

At that moment, Zhang Jizhong glanced at the two actresses next to him several times, as if to say, "Aren't you going to go for it?"

However, after Chen Yan got Hu Jun's contact information, he didn't follow up and went to chat with Zhang Jizhong.

Yang Rui almost ground her teeth to powder.

Liu Tao, needless to say, didn't dare to utter a word.

Yang Rui's cheeks were flushed; she'd drunk quite a bit to liven things up earlier. "Director Chen, this is a rare opportunity. We small actors don't usually get to meet big directors. Could we... exchange contact information? If there are suitable roles in the future, you can contact us. We're very affordable!"

Chen Yan was more interested in Liu Tao. As far as he knew, after Yang Rui finished filming Zhang Jizhong's several adaptations of Jin Yong's works, only "Happy Seven Fairies" was relatively well-known.

It seems that after getting married, she shifted her focus to her family. Liu Tao, on the other hand, still had to go out to act to support his family and pay off debts after marriage.

Liu Tao mustered his courage and responded a few times.

Chen Yan didn't say anything else, just gave out his QQ number, and then left.

After Chen Yan left, Liu Tao let out a long sigh of relief: "That scared me to death. Don't let Director Chen's young age fool you, he has a lot of presence. I didn't even dare to look up at him just now."

Yang Rui's eyes turned colder; she understood that Chen Yan wasn't interested in her at all.

Then he burst out laughing: "Yeah, a big director, let's go."

As soon as Chen Yan stepped out the door, he saw a person wrapped up tightly and wearing a hat loitering at the entrance.

"Hehe, Liu Qianqian! I see you."

The one wrapped up tightly was Liu Yifei. She looked up, revealing a fair face, and was extremely surprised.

Liu Yifei walked over and looked at Chen Yan with a cute expression: "How did you know it was me? I'm almost wrapped up like a dumpling."

Chen Yan's eyes fell on Liu Yifei's maroon down jacket, and he thought to himself that what was said online was true. Liu Yifei had managed to make this tacky color look fashionable.

Chen Yan didn't answer, but instead asked something else: "Who picked out these clothes for you?"

Has Liu Yifei's aesthetic sense already been set from this point on?

Liu Yifei looked puzzled: "I picked it myself, it's very warm."

Chen Yan was at a loss: "Fine, whatever you like."

Then he said, "Come pick me up."

At this point, Liu Yifei became embarrassed and her eyes started to dart around: "Who's coming to pick you up? I'm just out for a stroll tonight."

Chen Yan glanced at her phone; it was already past 10 PM. "You didn't sneak out on your own, did you?"

Liu Yifei gently bit one side of her lip, then suddenly pointed to the sky and exclaimed, "Chen Yan, look how big and bright the moon is!"