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

Chen Yan smiled shyly: "Teacher, I was forced to do this!"

Qiao Liang rolled his eyes, then sat down next to Chen Yan and began to silently watch Chen Yan edit the video.

Qiao Liang had only read the beginning when he couldn't help but exclaim repeatedly, "Chen Yan, how did you come up with all these brilliant ideas?"

Chen Yan shook his head mischievously: "It's innate!"

Chen Yan spent more than 10 days in the editing room to finish this film.

When Chen Yan came out on the last day, his steps were unsteady and there was a faint bluish tinge under his eyelids.

There was no other way; the deadline for submitting feature films to Berlin was fast approaching, and Chen Yan didn't want to miss it.

He has been analyzing the final version of the film several times in the past two days, and even invited Tian Zhuangzhuang and Qiao Liang to take a look and give him their opinions.

Tian Zhuangzhuang frowned: "Depp's acting is really good. You can take a clip from this movie and put it in the Beijing Film Academy's teaching library so that acting students can learn what a good actor is."

Chen Yan chuckled and said, "Then, Teacher Qiao, this movie will be my final assignment."

Chen Yan had been busy all year and could hardly attend any classes at school, so when he saw Zhou Yifeng looking for someone to shoot a short film the day before yesterday, he suddenly remembered that he was still a directing student.

Students do have final assignments, and the proportion of these assignments is quite high.

"You little monkey!" Qiao Liang teased with a laugh.

But actually, it wouldn't matter if Chen Yan didn't pay. He's become the most dazzling new director in the industry this year, and his title could be used as a recruitment brochure.

Of course, the admissions officers have already done it.

Therefore, the happiest people about Chen Yan winning the award might not be the directing department teachers, but the admissions office teachers. This job is too easy. This year, they only need to say one thing to compete with the Central Academy of Drama for students: "Our school has produced a Cannes three-time Oscar-winning director."

They all have to remain silent, and they all have to exceed their targets next year.

Chen Yan packaged the film and mailed it to the Berlin Film Selection Committee, finally able to relax for a while.

He stayed at home for two days, and his aunt kept saying he had lost weight.

He was served plenty of meat and fish every day, and Chen Yan regained the few pounds he had lost from filming.

"Don't overwork yourself while filming. Take good care of yourself and don't worry us," my aunt said from the living room.

Zhao Changlin had heard it so many times over the past two days that he couldn't take it anymore and interrupted, "Alright, Xiao Yan is a grown man now. Doesn't he know how to take care of himself?"

Chen Yan lowered his head slightly, not responding, and cracked the melon seeds in his hand.

"I learned it all from you!" Wang He reached out and slapped Zhao Changlin next to him.

Zhao Changlin accepted the slap without saying a word.

"Uncle and Aunt, don't worry, I don't have anything to do at the end of the year. I'll take a good rest," Chen Yan quickly said, trying to smooth things over.

Wang He finally calmed down: "Look how well-behaved Yan Yan is."

Zhao Changlin sighed softly and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Wang He asked as he saw him about to leave again.

Without turning his head, Zhao Changlin said, seeking some peace and quiet, "I'm going for a stroll."

Wang He pursed his lips and whispered to Chen Yan, "Every time your uncle can't win an argument with me, he runs outside. I don't even know who's out there."

Chen Yan chuckled softly, knowing it was best not to get involved in this matter; the old couple would be fine again that evening.

After resting at his uncle's house for a few days, Chen Yan called Liu Yifei.

There was no other reason than that the old scoundrel Zhang Jizhong called him and suggested that he sign the contract for "The Return of the Condor Heroes" first.

"Producer Zhang, why are you in such a hurry? Didn't you say you weren't planning to start filming 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' recently?" Chen Yan also found it amusing.

If he remembered correctly, the series was not scheduled to start filming until 2006. Would his appearance disrupt the entire timeline?

Zhang Jizhong postponed the filming of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" by several months. Is he now going to start filming "The Return of the Condor Heroes" ahead of schedule?

Zhang Jizhong shamelessly said, "Hey, isn't Yifei about to break into the international market? I'm afraid I won't be able to schedule a date with her later, so I'm securing this one in advance."

Chen Yan chuckled softly, thinking to himself, "You old sly fox."

I don't know where he found out that he had made a co-production with Liu Yifei that was going to Hollywood, so he was scared and rushed to inquire about it.

"Producer Zhang is really well-informed," Chen Yan teased.

However, his worries were in vain. This was the last piece of the puzzle in Liu Yifei's early television career, and it can also be said to be the most important part that made Liu Yifei invincible.

Chen Yan will not stop him.

Zhang Jizhong replied slickly, "We can sign a letter of intent first, but don't worry, Director Chen, we don't need to sign a specific amount. I know Yifei's value will definitely be much higher by then."

Zhang Jizhong's idea was to secure the slot as soon as possible, and if he really didn't have the money later, he could just pay in advance.

"Sure, no problem," Chen Yan agreed immediately.

Chen Yan's quick agreement surprised Zhang Jizhong on the other end of the line. He agreed? He just agreed like that?

He was momentarily stunned, then quickly recovered: "Okay, sure, it's settled then. I'm busy out here right now, but when I have time to go back to Beijing, I'll invite you out, and we'll have a good drink together!"

"Okay." Chen Yan hung up the phone and laughed. "Two brothers? How old is he? This guy really knows how to take advantage of people."

In November, Liu Yifei called herself and started gossiping.

"Director Zhang is in the newspaper!" Liu Yifei whispered.

"Who is it? Zhang Yimou?" Chen Yan was still half asleep when he picked up the phone and saw that it was Liu Yifei, so he answered.

"No, it's Zhang Jizhong, oh, Producer Zhang." Liu Yifei slapped her forehead. She had just spent a long time looking at the post about Producer Zhang and the director falling out.

He confused the two of them as soon as he opened his mouth.

Upon hearing that it was two unimportant people, Chen Yan lay back down, closed his eyes, and began to ramble, "What happened to them?"

From Liu Yifei's side came the sound of crunching food. "They said that Producer Zhang owed him 40% of his salary, and when he returned to Beijing, he couldn't even find the editing room. They won't let him touch 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' anymore."

"What are you eating?" Chen Yan asked, his teeth itching as he listened to Liu Yifei rattling something like a hamster.

Liu Yifei looked down and replied, "I'll have some nuts. My mom prepared them for me, like walnuts and hazelnuts."

A picture flashed through Chen Yan's mind: a miniature version of Liu Yifei holding a hazelnut kernel bigger than her head and munching on it.

Chen Yan suddenly felt a strong urge to see Liu Yifei. "Huayi sent me an invitation to the 'Cellphone' press conference at the end of the month. I'll take you there then, okay?"

Liu Yifei immediately replied happily, "Okay!"

During this time, Liu Yifei stayed at home obediently to study the script, turned down many announcements, and even walked around the house every day wearing a Western retro dress.

Liu Yifei resumed her daily morning practice. Chen Yan specially asked Zhang Jizhong to hire a martial arts instructor for her, and now she has some muscle in her arms.

After hanging up the phone, Liu Yifei picked up the sword that was lying next to her. Chen Yan said that later in the drama, she would be holding a sword and severing the neck of a dragon like a dragon-slaying warrior.

Liu Yifei imagined the scene, raised her sword and made a few gestures, performing a beautiful sword flourish, her movements graceful and elegant.

"Clatter!"

After finishing, she lowered her head and started grinning foolishly. She was already looking forward to that press conference, where she would finally see Chen Yan.