Huayu: I am the manager of Xiaohua (a popular Chinese entertainment company).

Chapter 115 Schrödinger's Survival

"Director Li, are you sure this is feasible?" Cheng Wu hesitated. In his opinion, it would be best to find a popular actress for the female lead.

"I think it's feasible," Shen Ao, who had been silent until now, said. Hearing this, Li Han and Cheng Wu turned to look at him. "The theme of our film is school bullying. If we choose a well-known actress for the female lead, it might cause the audience to feel disconnected from the story—for example, Zhou Dongyu. She has popularity, awards, and is a 'Zhang Yimou girl.' Putting aside her acting skills, at least her personality and appearance don't seem like those of someone who would be bullied in school—"

"If we choose a complete newcomer actress, especially one with a gentle and mild appearance, I think the effect will definitely be twice as good with half the effort."

"Yes," Li Han replied immediately.

No wonder he's been mentored by director Ning Hao; he's got the words.

Seeing that both the director and the assistant director said so, Cheng Wu couldn't say anything. After all, one was the director and the male lead, and the other was the assistant director, who was arranged by Tencent.

"Okay, I'll make the arrangements. Shall we go to the Beijing Film Academy first?" Cheng Wu said.

"Let's go to the Shanghai Theatre Academy first," Li Han said.

"Okay." Cheng Wu didn't say anything after hearing this.

Li Han turned his head and looked south through the window. Shanghai Theatre Academy, I'm back!

While "Better Days" was still in preparation, Li Han learned some news from Liu Haocun.

Zhang Yimou is back.

"Phew—" Li Han raised his hand to rub his eyes, looking at the messages on WeChat from Zhou Ye, Hu Lianxin, and Bao Shang'en.

He planned to arrange a meeting between the three of them. Hu Lianxin and Bao Shang'en already knew each other, but she didn't know Zhou Ye yet.

"Okay, Cunzi, could you schedule a time for me to meet Director Zhang?"

"Tomorrow, my mom will be coming too," Liu Haocun replied immediately.

—In BJ, inside Director Zhang's residence, in a sizable house, Zhang Yimou and her daughter Zhang Mo are talking with Liu Haocun and her mother Lü Shujuan.

Just now, Zhang Yimou and Liu Haocun signed a formal contract. Starting today, Liu Haocun will be an artist under Zhang Yimou's studio, but she cannot yet be considered a "Zhang Yimou Girl".

"Director Zhang." Zhang Yi's nanny came over at this moment.

"There was a young man who said—"

"Oh, it's Li Han. Let him in," Zhang Yi said immediately upon hearing this.

Upon hearing Li Han's name, Liu Haocun turned her head and blinked her big eyes. She couldn't help but smile as she watched Li Han enter, and then gave a soft hum.

Lü Shujuan observed her daughter's expression and blinked.

"Director Zhang, Sister Mo, Haocun—this is Haocun's mother? Hello, Auntie." Li Han greeted everyone as he entered, his gaze finally settling on the slender middle-aged woman.

"Hello." Lü Shujuan looked at the young man in front of her with a puzzled expression. Who was this?

Neither Liu Haocun nor Zhang Yimou told Lü Shujuan about Li Han's identity or the business contract involving Liu Haocun, because it was unnecessary, as Zhang Yimou had already made the decision.

Zhang Mo smiled slightly as he looked at Lü Shujuan's somewhat bewildered expression.

"Sister, this is the boss of Li Han's studio. They're currently working closely with Tencent Video and have already produced..."

A film is currently in pre-production.

"Oh, hello Mr. Li," Lü Shujuan said immediately upon hearing this, impressed by the young man's abilities.

Li Han smiled and then sat down next to Liu Haocun.

"And another thing is—" Zhang Mo continued.

"Xiaohan, did you bring the contract for Haocun?" Zhang Yi asked.

"I brought it." Li Han nodded, then took out a folder and handed it to Zhang Yimou.

Zhang Yi took it and glanced at it briefly before handing it to Zhang Mo. Zhang Mo looked down at it carefully, while Zhang Yi chatted with Li Han.

Are you currently preparing for a campus movie?

"Yes, Director Zhang, the subject matter is school violence."

"Excellent! Young and promising, truly a new generation of talented individuals."

"You flatter Director Zhang—"

After reading it, Zhang Mo handed it to Liu Haocun and nodded to him to indicate that there was no problem.

Liu Haocun reached out and took it, then looked down and began to read it.

Seeing this, Lü Shujuan curiously came over, only to find that Liu Haocun had quickly flipped through the book in a flash, then looked up at Li Han with a smile on his fair face.

"Let's sign the contract."

"————Heh." Zhang Mo couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at the two of them. Young people really are ———— Ah, youth is truly wonderful.

"Okay, let's sign the contract." Li Han smiled and then took out a pen and handed one to Liu Haocun.

With a few quick swishes, the two of them signed the contract.

Looking up, Li Han saw Liu Haocun, extended his hand to her, and gave her a mocking look.

"Haocun, welcome to our big family."

"Hmph." Liu Haocun wrinkled his nose and chuckled, then raised his hand to shake Li Han's hand, and gently shook the pen.

"I'm not returning this pen to you."

Li Han smiled and glanced at Liu Haocun's mother. Everyone present was in a good mood, but only Li Han was thinking about something, something that concerned Liu Haocun's future development.

"Auntie, is this the first time we've met?" Li Han said to Lü Shujuan, speaking across Liu Haocun.

"Ah, it's our first time meeting," Lü Shujuan said with a smile.

"I heard from Haocun that you teach dance, Auntie?" Li Han said again.

"Yes, I teach dance. I was the one who laid the foundation for Haocun's dance when she was little," Lü Shujuan nodded.

"Hmm—" Li Han blinked, thinking about how to get this information out of him.

"Xiao Han," Zhang Yi interrupted Li Han's train of thought.

"Don't leave at noon, let's have lunch together and chat about the movie."

"Oh, that's great! When it comes to directing ability, Director Zhang, if you say you're second, no one dares to say you're first." Director Zhang has spent his whole life in the film industry, and some of his insights and experiences are still very valuable.

"Director Zhang, I won't eat it," Lü Shujuan said upon hearing this.

"I have to fly back at noon today; I still have things to do back in my hometown."

"Okay." Zhang Yi didn't say anything after hearing this.

Upon hearing this, Li Han turned to look at Lü Shujuan. "You're leaving already? How am I supposed to get information out of you if you leave?"

His gaze swept over Liu Haocun, lingering on the other's fair and delicate face for a few more seconds.

After sitting for a while, Lü Shujuan got up and left. Zhang Mo, Li Han, and Liu Haocun got up to see her off before returning to the living room.

"Mo Mo." In the living room, Zhang Yi stood up.

"Let's order food for lunch today. How many dishes do you want to order?"

"Okay, Dad." Zhang Mo nodded and took out his phone.

Li Han and Liu Haocun continued to sit on the sofa. Liu Haocun was in a very good mood, his head swaying slightly, and his expression was also full of joy.

Seeing Li Han looking at him, Liu Haocun arrogantly raised his chin and gave a soft hum.

"Why are you so happy?" Li Han teased.

"What's it to you?" Liu Haocun couldn't help but chuckle, his expression still haughty.

At noon, Li Han and Liu Haocun ate at Zhang Yimou's place. After finishing their meal, Li Han and Liu Haocun came out.

After coming out, Liu Haocun squinted at the bright sun and raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun.

"Take me back to school."

"Get in the car." Li Han opened the car door for Liu Haocun, and the two of them decided to avoid any unnecessary conversation.

After getting into the car, Li Han told the driver and assistant, "To Beijing Dance Academy."

Liu Haocun sat next to Li Han, lounging around with his head down, looking at his phone. His head was hunched over, his dark hair was loose, and his large, clear eyes blinked.

"Little Luo'er-chan—oh no, I should say 'Zhang Yimou's Girl,'" Li Han turned to look at Liu Haocun and teased.

Upon hearing this, Liu Haocun looked up at Li Han, a smile creeping onto his lips, before pouting slightly.

"What 'Zhang Yimou Girl'? I'm not one yet."

"It was bound to happen sooner or later," Li Han said, raising his hand to gently pat Liu Haocun's head.

Liu Haocun didn't say anything about Li Han's action and continued looking at his phone.

Before long, Li Han and Liu Haocun arrived at the Beijing Dance Academy, the top dance academy in the country, and arguably the most famous dance academy in China.

Li Han looked out the car window and said, "Is this the Beijing Dance Academy? It's my first time here."

Liu Haocun put away his phone, turned to look at Li Han upon hearing this, smiled, his eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint, and gently snuggled closer to him, opening his small mouth.

"Would you like to go inside and have a look around?"

A faint fragrance wafted into his nostrils. Li Han turned to look at Liu Haocun, gazing at the handsome face that had come so close to his.

The two were very close, so close that Li Han could see himself reflected in Liu Haocun's large, clear eyes.

Liu Haocun didn't back away, but just looked at Li Han, his big eyes very bright and his lips slightly curved in a smile.

"Okay." Li Han immediately agreed. Although his older sister was a graduate of the Beijing Dance Academy, there was a six-year age gap between them. When she went to university, he was still a junior high school student. He had never actually been admitted to the Beijing Dance Academy.

"Let's go then." Liu Haocun smiled, turned his head, reached out to open the door and got out of the car first. Li Han gave the driver some instructions, then put on a mask and followed him out of the car.

Liu Haocun stretched and turned to look at Li Han. Just as she was about to say something, she saw him put on a mask, and she couldn't help but frown.

Why are you wearing a mask?

"I'm a celebrity, after all, so I have to wear it," Li Han said as he stepped forward.

Liu Haocun didn't say much, and led Li Han inside. Her hair was loose, her steps were light and lively, and her figure was graceful and elegant, like a deer in the forest.

Well—her face is round, and she still looks a bit young.

Li Han looked down at Hao Cun, thought for a moment, and said, "Hao Cun, even if an artist is a little chubby, it's easy to tell on camera—and the female lead of 'Off Track', Jiang Xiaoyuan, has a strong personality and is a woman of attitude. If she had a round face—"

Liu Haocun listened to Li Han's words, looked up at him, and then couldn't help but laugh. He stuck his tongue against his cheek, looked Li Han up and down with a playful look in his eyes and expression. This expression was quite similar to Jiang Xiaoyuan's style.

"What do you mean, you want me to lose weight? I'm still growing."

"Growing taller?" Li Han smiled.

"You're already 19, what's the point of continuing to grow?"

Liu Haocun chuckled, then stopped talking, snorted, and continued walking forward.

Seeing this, Li Han followed behind the other person.

The campus of the Beijing Dance Academy is not large, but it is full of dance imagery and artistic sense. First of all, there is the school name stone. At the entrance, there is a huge stone engraved with "Cradle of Dancers" and flowers and trees planted next to it. In spring, cherry blossoms and magnolias are in full bloom.

The main building has yellow walls and red windows with clean lines. The cultural corridor in front of the building is engraved with the school's history and the motto of the dance spirit. The school motto stone is engraved with the words "Harmony between Heaven, Earth and Man" and "Make contributions to the times and dance for the people", with concise and powerful strokes.

Further inside, there is a hall with Han Dynasty stone carvings, including stone carvings of dance, music, and acrobatics unearthed in Nanyang, Henan Province. The dance postures from two thousand years ago are simple yet awe-inspiring. In front of that is a large dance tapestry, and directly opposite the stone carvings is a group portrait of modern dancers, a dialogue between the ancient and the modern.

Then there is the statue of Dai Ailian, the mother of Chinese dance, which stands in front of the teaching building.

Li Han asked all sorts of questions like a curious child, and Liu Haocun patiently explained everything to him.

"Haocun?" Suddenly, a girl's voice came from the side. The two turned their heads and saw three people standing there.

The girl who spoke was the one in the middle.

Li Han recognized the girl; it was Ren Min.

"Ren Min." Liu Haocun said with a polite smile.

"You brought your friend here for a visit?" Ren Min asked, looking curiously at the boy wearing a mask next to Liu Haocun.

She originally wanted to say her boyfriend, but felt it was inappropriate.

"Hmm." Liu Haocun nodded, without saying anything more.

Ren Min simply smiled faintly upon seeing this and left with the two people on either side of her.

"This girl is quite popular at your school," Li Han said, watching Ren Min's retreating figure.

"Of course, she just finished filming a movie earlier this year," Liu Haocun said.

A movie? "Cry Me a Sad River"?

Li Han remembered that the movie was released in 18, and it was filmed in 17. After its release, the movie made Ren Min and Zhang Ruonan famous.

However, their acting careers diverged later on. Zhang Ruonan became very popular in urban idol dramas, while Ren Min was ridiculed for her poor performance in period idol dramas.

However, the most ridiculed thing is her appearance. Her looks are indeed not good enough to star in idol dramas. Many people joke that she looks like "Wong Cho-lam" or "pig nose".

Li Han also remembers one thing: Ren Min betrayed Liu Haocun by saying that she was the youngest student in the class at the time.

Therefore, many people believe that Liu Haocun's age is fake.