Huayu: Starting from retirement, sweeping across the domestic entertainment industry

On the way back, Liu Haocun sat in the passenger seat, looking at Li Ran with his head turned to the side.

She asked softly, "Li Ran, is this matter... troublesome?"

Li Ran looked straight ahead and said calmly, "It's all over now, everything's been resolved."

Liu Haocun's doe eyes lit up: "Really?"

Li Ran smiled and joked, "I thought he was some big shot! Turns out he's just a nobody."

Liu Haocun did not respond.

She didn't know if that person was a big shot, but she knew that he was definitely not someone she could mess with.

After a moment of silence, she asked again, "Why does President Guo call you Young Master Li?"

What she really wanted to ask was why her boss acted so subserviently in front of Li Ran.

Li Ran thought for a moment, then casually said, "Maybe I really am someone's young master?"

Liu Haocun was amused by him: "Haha, that's true. I saw the photos of your aunt's birthday celebration on Weibo, and just looking at the background, you could tell she was very wealthy."

Li Ran seemed to remember something. Just then, the light turned red, and he turned to look at her: "Cunzi, have you told Director Zhang about this? Or did Director Zhang tell you himself, and even then, there was nothing he could do?"

Liu Haocun thought for a moment and shook his head: "I met that person at a party that President Guo took me to. Later, President Guo said she couldn't handle it and asked Director Zhang, who also said there was nothing she could do."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Director Zhang is very busy. I don't usually see him, and when I do, there are always other people around, and we're always talking about work."

She looked at him, somewhat puzzled: "What's wrong? Wasn't it all resolved?"

Li Ran smiled and said, "It's nothing. I was just asking. Don't worry, that person won't cause you any trouble."

Liu Haocun nodded slightly.

Li Ran looked away and continued driving.

But he was thinking about something else.

This suggests that Zhang Yimou was likely unaware of the situation, or perhaps... tacitly approved it.

Liu Haocun is actually a newcomer being promoted by the Beijing entertainment circle.

The first film was an art film directed by Zhang, just like when they were promoting the Little Yellow Duck back then.

The entertainment industry has changed 20 years since then.

After the Jin Suo incident, the industry was cleaned up, and the previous situation of hot money pouring in was gone.

With the development of the Internet and the diversification of entertainment models, movies are no longer the mainstream entertainment project, TV series are declining, web series have become the new favorite, and the future may even belong to short dramas.

Liu Haocun and her generation of young actresses have just arrived at the end of an era in the entertainment industry. They can no longer become nationally famous with just one drama like the stars of the past.

The Beijing elite circle has indeed declined.

In his previous life, when Liu Haocun was being cyberbullied, he had almost no effective marketing methods.

In the end, she gradually reversed her reputation through her acting skills, and some fans spontaneously helped her clarify things.

Even so, her reputation remained polarized afterward.

Her agency contract is not with a single company; it is jointly managed by Zhang Yimou's studio and Boxin, which is Huang Tingting's company.

How can those veterans of Beijing's elite circles compete with the new internet elites?

Other investors are unlikely to let Liu Haocun rise to fame so quickly and then snatch resources from their artists.

……

Back at the apartment, only Tian Xiwei was there.

She was curled up on the sofa with her flower in her arms watching TV when she heard the door open, but she didn't turn around.

Li Ran went straight into the kitchen.

Liu Haocun stood in the entryway, glanced towards the kitchen, and then looked at Tian Xiwei on the sofa.

She hesitated for a moment, but still went over.

"Tian Xiwei." She sat down on the sofa.

Tian Xiwei then raised her eyes and looked at her lazily.

Liu Haocun took a deep breath: "I think we need to form an alliance."

Tian Xiwei raised an eyebrow: "No need."

"But Zhou Ye and Hu Lianxin have already joined forces."

Liu Haocun explained, "Can't you tell?"

Tian Xiwei turned her head and continued watching TV.

"So what?"

Her tone was indifferent. "So what if you all team up?"

Liu Haocun was stunned.

Tian Xiwei didn't say anything more, she just held Huahua and watched TV intently.

Liu Haocun looked at her for a while, and seeing this, he didn't say anything more.

If this doesn't work, there's Zhang Jingyi; if all else fails, there's Wang Churan, whom I don't know.

……

December 31, Kyoto.

Wanda Cinema, IMAX theater.

Premiere of "A Little Red Flower for You".

Li Ran and Liu Haocun arrived at the scene together and joined the rest of the crew. Director Han Yan, Zhu Yuan, Xin Baiqing, Xia Yu, and Yue Yunpeng were all present.

Today's screening is special; the audience includes media reporters, renowned film critics, and celebrity friends of the lead actors.

Li Ran's gaze swept across the audience seats, where he spotted several familiar figures.

Zhang Jingyi and Zhang Ruonan sat together, Zhou Ye and Hu Lianxin sat next to each other, and Tian Xiwei sat alone on the other side.

He looked away and took his seat in the first row.

The lights dimmed, and the movie began.

On the screen, Wei Yihang's story unfolds slowly.

That dejected boy, that stubborn girl, those repressed, struggling, yet radiant moments.

When Wei Yihang said "Ma Xiaoyuan, I like you" in the rainy night, a slight commotion arose in the audience.

Zhang Ruonan leaned close to Zhang Jingyi's ear and whispered, "Li Ran's performance is so captivating! I never realized his acting was this good when I watched 'Minglong Boy' before."

Zhang Jingyi leaned close to her ear and whispered, "You have no idea how much pressure I felt acting opposite Li Ran when we were filming 'The Lighter.' To put it dramatically, he was like Li Xun straight out of the book."

Zhang Ruonan's eyes widened: "Are you going to audition for 'Snowy Mountain'? My company got me a role, and I heard Li Ran will be a casting judge?"

Zhang Jingyi nodded: "Brother Li Ran will go. But he'll just offer some suggestions; it mainly depends on Director Zhang Li."

She paused for a moment, then said, "I'll be making a cameo appearance; it won't be a big role."

Zhang Ruonan slowly said, "I'm just doing a cameo role. The company just sent me out to make my name known."

……

When Wei Yihang argued with his parents and his father slapped him across the face, Zhou Ye gasped in pain.

She leaned close to Hu Lianxin's ear and said, "It looks really painful. Was it a real beating?"

Hu Lianxin nodded: "It's obvious. Didn't you see it was almost a blur?"

……

When the little girl's father squatted at the intersection, eating the now-cold takeout, the entire screening room fell silent.

Suppressed sobs rose and fell.

Some people were wiping away tears, while others were quietly sniffling.

……

The end credits slowly rolled, and the lights came on.

The main creators took the stage one by one.

Liu Haocun stood next to Li Ran, his eyes red and tears welling up in his deer-like eyes.

Although she was the female lead, she was still moved after watching the complete film.

Li Ran gently patted her back.

The host began the program, and the main creators introduced themselves one by one.

Then the interview session began.

In the audience, a hand was raised high, and Hu Lianxin stood up immediately.

Director Han smiled and gestured for a staff member to hand her the microphone.

Hu Lianxin took the microphone and looked directly at Xin Baiqing: "Hello, Teacher Xin, I'd like to ask you a question."

Xin Baiqing nodded with a smile.

"Just now in the play."

Hu Lianxin paused, "Did you... really slap Li Ran?"

The entire room fell silent for a moment.

Xin Baiqing was taken aback; he hadn't expected the first question to be this.

He nodded: "It was definitely a real fight. The script originally required it to be done using camera tricks, but that scene left a deep impression on me..."

"Li Ran's performance truly drew me into the story."

He recalled, "At that moment, I was Wei Yihang's father. Hearing my son say things like 'Go out and die,' I was genuinely angry and heartbroken..."

Director Han chuckled and continued, "I also have a deep impression of that scene. The performances of the three actors didn't feel like acting at all; they were genuine expressions of emotion. And it was filmed in one take."

Li Ran glanced at Hu Lianxin and said calmly, "I think this shot will become a very important shot in my acting career."

Hu Lianxin met his gaze and read a hint of warning in his eyes.

But she smiled brightly: "Thank you for your explanation, teacher. Teacher Xin and Brother Li Ran are truly dedicated and excellent actors; I want to learn from you."

After she finished speaking, she sat down.

The moment she sat down, she glared at Xin Baiqing.

Xin Baiqing was taken aback. Why did he feel like he was being glared at?

The interview continues.

Zhou Ye leaned close to Hu Lianxin's ear and whispered, "Sister, you're a bit too rough..."

On the other side, Tian Xiwei poured cold water on the situation with a nonchalant tone: "Aren't you just looking for trouble? I thought you were a bit smarter than a tablet."

Hu Lianxin ignored her.

……

After the premiere, staff guided the audience to leave in an orderly manner.

Backstage, Li Ran found three people.

His gaze fell on Hu Lianxin: "I'll deal with you when we get back."

Hu Lianxin muttered softly, "Should we hit there again?"

Li Ran looked at her without saying anything.

But in his heart he thought: Could this little white fox really have some kind of special fetish?

At this moment, Zhang Jingyi and Zhang Ruonan walked over together.

"Brother Li Ran," Zhang Jingyi called softly.

Zhang Ruonan nodded and greeted the others.

Li Ran looked at her: "Jingyi, let's have dinner together tonight. We can talk later, I have to rush to my next roadshow."

Zhang Jingyi nodded: "It's okay, brother, you go and do your thing."

After Li Ran left, the atmosphere backstage became subtle.

Zhang Jingyi looked at Tian Xiwei, Zhou Ye, and Hu Lianxin without saying a word.

Tian Xiwei glanced at her, then said to Zhou Ye and Hu Lianxin, "Let's go! Aren't you two going to practice your action scenes? The audition is coming up soon."

Hu Lianxin immediately retorted, "Do you need to remind me? Do you really think you're the empress?"

Zhou Ye took her hand: "That's right. Xiao Hu, let's go."

The two left first.

Tian Xiwei looked at Zhang Jingyi: "You knew everything?"

Zhang Jingyi nodded.

Tian Xiwei said calmly, "Then I have no interest in reminiscing with my love rival."

After saying that, she left.

……

Only Zhang Jingyi and Zhang Ruonan remained backstage.

Zhang Ruonan was completely dumbfounded.

Her eyes widened, and she opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

What's going on?

What earth-shattering gossip has she heard?

My God, this world is crazy!

"Nannan," Zhang Jingyi tugged at her arm, "Let's go."

Zhang Ruonan mechanically followed her outside. After a few steps, she finally couldn't help but ask, "Jingyi... are these all Li Ran's suitors?"

She struggled to find the words: "Aren't you with Li Ran? How come he's still with these suitors...?"

Zhang Jingyi looked at her and hesitated for a moment.

Then she nodded, then shook her head.

"I'm telling you, don't talk nonsense."

Zhang Ruonan immediately raised her hand and earnestly assured, "Jingyi, I definitely won't talk about our relationship. Besides, I'm just a small-time actress, how could I dare to spread rumors about Li Ran!"

Zhang Jingyi took her arm and said, "I believe you."

She paused, then said softly, "Actually, they are all Li Ran's girlfriends."

Zhang Ruonan was completely petrified.

She was completely stunned.

Although she had already guessed in her mind, hearing Zhang Jingyi say it aloud was still a completely different experience.

She opened her mouth, but it took her a long time to find her voice: "How...how could you tolerate this?"

Zhang Jingyi smiled and said, "Because I like Li Ran. I don't know about the others."

She thought for a moment and said, "Besides, Li Ran is just a bit of a womanizer, but otherwise... I can't find any flaws."

Zhang Ruonan glared at her: "Sister, are you love-struck?"

"Is this considered being a bit of a flirt?"

She suddenly remembered something: "Wang Churan, the one we ate with that day... was he also one?"

Zhang Jingyi nodded and added, "And the female lead from today, Liu Haocun."

Zhang Ruonan was completely speechless.

She complained, "You guys are crazy. Coming to watch your boyfriend's... well, another girlfriend's movie premiere."

Zhang Jingyi said seriously, "I came to see Li Ran, not Liu Haocun."

Zhang Ruonan shook her head.

She really couldn't understand.

"Will you come out to dinner with me tonight?" Zhang Jingyi said, pulling on her arm and acting coquettishly.

Zhang Ruonan immediately shook her head: "I'm not going."

She paused, then said with some emotion, "Li Ran is really something... He's not even afraid of you guys fighting."

Zhang Jingyi continued to plead, "Just come with me. If a fight breaks out, you can help me, right?"

Zhang Ruonan firmly shook her head: "I won't go. I'm afraid you'll gang up on me, an outsider."

Zhang Jingyi was amused by her.

The two walked out of the cinema, chatting and joking...