Huayu: The Big Players Behind the Scenes

Wide ditch,

Zhuang Huai'an looked relaxed, while Zhang Huijun, who accompanied him, seemed somewhat nervous.

"Huai'an, when you go in, don't be nervous. Just answer whatever the leader asks, and try to tell the leader your thoughts."

"I know Dr. Zhang, I'm not nervous, it's just that you..."

Watching Zhang Huijun pace back and forth, Zhuang Huai'an hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back. Compared to himself, Old Zhang perfectly illustrated what it meant to be:

Once you're in the system, you see me as an ant looking at an elephant.

For Zhang Huijun, the position of Secretary Liu was indeed a lot of pressure. After all, the Beijing Film Academy could not compare with the Twin Stars and other universities. It had a big reputation in the entertainment industry, but it was just a nobody in the education sector.

Just as Zhuang Huai'an was about to say a few words to comfort Zhang Huijun, the conference room door opened, and Secretary Liu led the way, followed by several older leaders.

"Secretary Liu, hello leaders, I am Zhang Huijun, Dean of Beijing Film Academy." Old Zhang quickly stepped forward to greet them.

Zhuang Huai'an followed closely behind, "Secretary Liu, hello leaders, I am Zhuang Huai'an, a student at the Beijing Film Academy."

The leaders couldn't help but chuckle at their self-introductions, while Zhang Huijun was both surprised and delighted.

"I'm sorry to have kept you both waiting."

Secretary Liu took the initiative to shake hands with the two of them, his attitude was very pleasant, "The meeting just now went a little overtime, I had to keep you waiting for a while, sit down and let's talk."

"It's alright, Secretary. The leaders are very busy, we can wait a bit."

Seeing Zhang Huijun speak such flattering words with a straight face, Zhuang Huai'an inwardly despised his sect leader; this flattery was far too clumsy.

The group took their seats, and the secretary brought them tea.

Secretary Liu took a sip of tea and asked with a smile, "Huai'an, why didn't you submit your work during last year's Olympic creative design contest?"

"Secretary, I'm still a student and not qualified enough. I wouldn't dare to be presumptuous about such a national matter," Zhuang Huai'an said, feigning innocence.

"Hey, you can't say that."

Secretary Liu put down his teacup. "You know this is a matter of national importance. We value meritocracy. Besides, even in terms of seniority, no director in the country can surpass you, right?"

"Mainly because I'm still young."

Zhuang Huai'an pretended to be shy and scratched his head. "Besides, I have no experience in organizing galas. When the organization was soliciting ideas, I didn't prepare the corresponding team and materials in advance. I can't just shamelessly step in and do it. That would only cause trouble for the organization."

"It's all about participation."

Secretary Liu saw through Zhuang Huai'an's excuse at a glance, "Even if we can't make it to the finals, you young people are quick-witted and might be able to offer some good ideas and creativity, which would be a good thing for the overall presentation."

"The secretary's words are profound."

Zhuang Huai'an feigned sudden realization and continued with his old argument, "It's also my fault. I was only thinking about not causing trouble for the organization, and I wasn't proactive enough. I didn't realize that serving the country is the responsibility of us young people in this new era!"

This topic…

Secretary Liu gave Zhuang Huai'an a meaningful look, but didn't ask any further questions. Instead, he started chatting about everyday matters.

About twenty minutes later, Secretary Zhao knocked on the door and came in to interrupt, whispering something in Secretary Liu's ear before standing aside.

"Comrade Huijun, classmate Huai'an, thank you for making this trip. I have urgent business to attend to, so you should go back now."

Secretary Liu stood up and shook hands with the two of them, smiling broadly. "Huai'an, give Secretary Zhao your personal number. If he needs your help with anything else, you can't say things like that again."

"I am ready to be called upon by the organization at any time." Zhuang Huai'an replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, immediately establishing his resolve.

After the leaders left, Secretary Zhao exchanged phone numbers with them, escorted them to the gate, watched them get into their car, and then returned home.

"Huai'an...you..."

On the way back, Zhang Huijun hesitated, seemingly regretting that Zhuang Huai'an hadn't seized the opportunity.

"Director Zhang, please don't think about it anymore."

Zhuang Huai'an saw his dilemma and advised, "Even if I get involved, at most I'll only get the title of advisor. The organization has already made plans for such important national affairs. No matter how famous or outstanding I am, my age is a major disadvantage. It's impossible for me to take on a leading role."

"That makes sense..."

Zhang Huijun thought about it and came to terms with it; that's just how things are in this country.

"A young man with no experience is unreliable." The organizing committee wants stability with a touch of the extraordinary, not someone like their "holy son" who is always on the path of the bizarre and unpredictable.

Just look at his film resume; he only plays fancy tricks, and they're all about the tragic realities of the lower classes, which is really not suitable.

"Huai'an, who do you think will be the director?"

"Who else could it be but your best buddy?"

"what?"

Zhang Huijun was immediately shocked. "Brother Kai? No way! He actually got noticed by the boss after reciting a poem?"

"Fine, fine, you've offended two people with just one sentence. Dean Zhang, you're something else!"

Zhuang Huai'an chuckled. "I definitely have to mention this to Zhang Yimou, and I also have to inform Brother Kai. Just wait for them to come knocking on your door."

"Oh, you mean Zhang Yimou?"

Zhang Huijun was a little embarrassed and gave him a disgruntled look. "Go away, of course Zhang Yimou is also my buddy. It's just that I didn't think of him as the person behind the scenes at the closing ceremony."

"It was just a man-made accident. No one in China could pull off such a grand spectacle except Zhang Yimou."

At a red light, Zhuang Huai'an shifted into Park and, after checking that there were no eyes nearby, secretly passed a cigarette to Zhang Huijun.

"That's true," Zhang Huijun lit a cigarette. "Actually, Brother Kai didn't just recite a poem; he brought a complete plan with him. It's just that the media took the recitation scene out of context."

However, I also saw his proposal; it was too artistic, completely immersed in his own world, and far from accessible to the general public.

Zhuang Huai'an smiled. Kai Zi has definitely had a run of bad luck these past few years. First, he was given the nickname "Poet Chen," and then there was the steamed bun incident. No wonder he later made the movie "Caught in the Web," which is a reflection of his own life.

"I think Senior Brother Kai is still very skilled."

How tall is it?

"It's three or four stories high!"

Zhuang Huai'an held Hua Zi's hand in his palm, saying, "His definition of beauty is really high. If the two of them could work together without any barriers, this year's opening ceremony would definitely be even more spectacular."

"Even more? You make it sound like you can see it for yourself."

Zhang Huijun shook his head. "Getting these two to join forces is no less difficult than Yang Guo and Zhen Zhibing teaming up to fight Jinlun Fawang."

"Wow! My two senior brothers had this experience too?"

Zhuang Huai'an looked surprised. "Then who is Yang Guo? Who is Zhen Zhibing? And who is Xiaolongnu? Gong Li, Chen Hong, or Christopher Doyle?"

"Hey! Why are you dragging Christopher Doyle into this again?"

"It's a good thing you weren't shortlisted. With your imagination, who knows what kind of amazing things you'd come up with."

Zhang Huijun was quite helpless. His holy son was good in every way, but his personality was too unruly. He wasn't like this before.

Who trained him?

(Someone who was still lazing in bed at home sneezed three times in a row)

"I was just using an analogy to illustrate this point. The story is quite long, and it dates back to the time when we were filming the Loess Plateau."

Well, I won't waste space with filler here; let the great readers leave comments to clarify.

Zhang Huijun looked at the world in the rearview mirror, bidding farewell as it grew further and further away.