Chinese entertainment: What's wrong with actresses wanting to improve?

At 10:00 AM on August 4th, Ning Hao appeared on the 28th floor.

When Fu Yibai pushed open the office door, Ning Hao was leaning back on the sofa in the reception area, scrolling through his phone, with a steaming teacup in front of him.

Seeing Fu Yibai come in, he put down his phone and stood up.

"Mr. Fu."

"Hey, isn't this Director Ning?"

What brings you here?

"Solar wind".

"Solar wind? That won't do, I'm afraid of the heat."

Fu Yibai smiled and sat down opposite him. Zhang Xinyu poured him a cup of tea, then closed the door and left.

Ning Hao pulled a thick script from his briefcase and placed it on the coffee table.

The cover reads: Crazy Aliens.

Fu Yibai raised an eyebrow and reached out to pick up the script.

"After resting for over a year after returning from Cannes, are you finally ready to get back to work?"

Ning Hao chuckled.

"I recently finished polishing the script, and I think it's going quite well. I'm bringing it here for you to see."

If that works out, I'd like to start filming at the end of this year.

"Crazy aliens?"

"You've gotten into sci-fi movies now?"

"Soft science fiction, soft science fiction."

These days, science fiction movies are all the rage.

I'll join in the fun too.

Ning Hao's script is easy to read.

The story is about an alien spaceship that crashes unexpectedly. A folk artist who performs monkey shows mistakes the aliens for monkeys, leading to a series of absurd and bizarre events.

Ning Hao's expertise in multi-narrative storytelling remains evident in the script, which is well-structured, packed with jokes, and subtly satirical beneath the surface of revelry.

Fu Yibai spent nearly forty minutes reading the script.

"Okay, it wasn't a waste of time to rest for so long."

"Actor, do you have any ideas?"

"I want to use Huang Bo and Shen Teng."

Fu Yibai glanced at him.

You need to coordinate Shen Teng's schedule.

Besides preparing for "Never Say Die," Happy Twist also has a stage play tour scheduled for the end of the year.

"I've talked to him, and he can free up three months of his time."

"The production team will have Chen Xi provide you with everything you need."

"Report the budget, start date, and shooting schedule to the production department as soon as possible."

Ning Hao nodded, then grinned broadly.

"President Fu, I not only came back to work myself, but I also called Lu Yang back."

He'll be in Beijing in a few days.

Fu Yibai laughed.

"He's back too? Great, my two great generals are finally back in their positions."

"Have a good talk with him when he gets back."

I've been resting for so long; I've gone back to the Beijing Film Academy to reflect.

That guy went on vacation.

"Haha, okay, I'll definitely have a good talk with him."

Ning Hao sat for another ten minutes or so before leaving.

Fu Yibai sent Chen Xi a message, asking her to pay attention to the preparations for Ning Hao's new project.

Lu Yang arrived in Beijing on the afternoon of August 7.

He came straight to the Morning Light Building after getting off the plane, dragging his suitcase with him.

When Zhang Xinyu received the call in advance and brought Lu Yang to Fu Yibai's office, Lu Yang was wearing a wrinkled dark T-shirt and had gotten a tan.

"Mr. Fu."

Lu Yang stood at the door, his tone slightly embarrassed.

"Come in. When did you get back?"

"Just got off the plane."

"Then why did you come all the way to the company? Go home and rest first."

It's alright.

I have something I'd like to show you first.

Lu Yang pulled a bound script out of his suitcase. The cover had three words written on it: Embroidered Spring Blade III.

Fu Yibai took it and pointed to the sofa: "Sit."

As Fu Yibai flipped through the script, Lu Yang briefly introduced the story's background.

"In this part, I want to set the timeline after the fall of Shenyang City, when Shen Lian leads his remaining troops to retreat southwest, and gets involved in a case related to former officials of the Southern Ming Dynasty."

The main storyline still revolves around brotherhood and choices made in chaotic times, with a greater proportion of action scenes compared to the previous two films.

Fu Yibai finished reading the script, closed it, and placed it on the table.

"The main storyline is fine, and it's broader than the second one."

"Where are the actors?"

"Deng Chao will continue to play Shen Lian, and I will use new actors for the rest of the cast."

"Deng Chao, you'd better coordinate your schedule with him."

He's preparing for his first film, but he's unsure if he'll be available.

"Is Brother Chao going to make a movie?"

"Yes, the project has already been approved and is in the preparation stage."

It should be ready to start filming this year.

"Sure, what kind of subject matter?"

"Nonsensical comedy."

I just consulted with Stephen Chow before the Lunar New Year, but I don't know if it will work out.

"Brother Chao would definitely be good at comedy. He's crazy and eccentric all the time, which is funny in itself."

I'm going to go talk to Brother Chao.

"Okay. Submit the project proposal and budget as soon as possible, and someone from the production department will liaise with you."

After Lu Yang left, Fu Yibai called Chen Xi and asked her to simultaneously advance the project initiation process for the two new projects.

On August 12, Yang Mi sent a message from Los Angeles saying that her work there had come to an end and she was preparing to return to China for a while.

Fu Yibai replied: "What's the landing date?"

"Have Xinyu pick me up on August 20th."

"I'll come pick you up."

"That would be great."

At 3 p.m. on August 20, at Terminal 8 of Beijing Capital International Airport.

When Yang Mi walked out of the international arrivals exit, Fu Yibai had already been waiting in the arrivals area for more than 20 minutes.

She wore a long, off-white trench coat, and her sunglasses were pushed up to the top of her head, revealing bright, gleaming eyes.

Upon seeing Fu Yibai, she didn't jog over as she usually did; instead, she quickened her pace.

After walking up to him, she lowered her voice and said something.

"Did you miss me?"

Fu Yibai took the carry-on suitcase from her and walked towards the parking lot.

"Let's talk about it when we get home."

Yang Mi snorted, put on her sunglasses, and followed beside him.

Once in the car, Fu Yibai started the engine.

Yang Mi took off her sunglasses, tilted her head to look at Fu Yibai, her gaze lingering on him.

"Stop messing around, I'm driving."

Fu Yibai felt the intense gaze from the side.

"Hmph~"

I should have let Xinyu drive.

To distract Yang Mi, he talked to her about her experiences in North America during this time.

Yang Mi talked to him about some work, and also told him that she visited Liu Yifei on the set of X-Men, and visited Wang Ou on the set of Disney Studios.

She told Fu Yibai that the two women would be able to come back together around the end of this month.

As the car entered the East Gate of Ocean Park, Yang Mi lowered the window slightly.

The August evening breeze carried the coolness of the lake, and she took a deep breath, leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes for a while.

"Home is still the best."

Fu Yibai turned his head to look at her: "Are you tired?"

I slept the whole way on the plane, it was alright.

What are we having for dinner?

"Rongrong made your favorite food."

Yang Mi opened her eyes, a smile playing on her lips, and leaned against Fu Yibai's shoulder.

Dinner was lively.

Yang Rong prepared a table full of dishes, Liu Yan stewed soup, and Li Dabai also returned from the film set.

Zhao Ning and Jing Chen surrounded Yang Mi, one calling her "Auntie Mi" and the other stuffing toys into her hands.

Jing'an and Jinyu were placed in baby high chairs, one banging on the table and the other babbling.

Fu Yibai sat in the main seat, watching the group of people eating noisily.

While eating, Yang Mi talked about her experiences in Los Angeles, mentioning how good Scarlett Johansson and Elizabeth Olsen's relationship is now, and how she auditioned for the lead role in a fantasy film in Hollywood.

After the meal, the children were taken back to their respective rooms.

Yang Mi, Yang Rong, and Liu Yan sat in the living room and chatted for a while. After everyone had left, she walked up to Fu Yibai, took his hand, and led him upstairs.