diymy Chapter 130 Double Jiang Bombardment
Chapter 130 Double Jiang Bombardment
Chapter 130 Double Jiang Bombardment
At 3 p.m. on Tuesday, the sky in Beijing was the clear blue unique to early spring, and the sunlight was warm but not scorching.
Jiang Yu sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in the top-floor office of Chasing Light Holdings, holding two first drafts of the scripts sent by David from North America: Pacific Rim and The Hunger Games.
The script for Pacific Rim was still rough, but the concept was interesting: giant mechs fighting alien monsters, a typical popcorn blockbuster.
David wrote in the email, "Jiang, Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures are very interested in this project, but the budget could be as high as $1.5 million. We need to consider it carefully."
The Hunger Games presents a completely different picture.
Adapted from Susan Collins' bestselling novel, it is set in a dystopian future where teenagers are forced to participate in life-or-death competitions.
David's assessment was: "The core of the story is very strong, and it has the potential to become a phenomenal IP. But it needs to find a director who can capture the cruelty of youth."
Jiang Yu was engrossed in reading when there was a gentle knock on the office door.
Without even looking up, he said, "Come in."
The door opened, but it wasn't Wang Wei who came in.
A soft voice sounded at the door: "Mr. Jiang, are you busy?"
Jiang Yu suddenly looked up, then froze.
Liu Yifei stood at the door, wearing a light pink leather jacket over a simple pink long dress and white canvas shoes.
She wasn't wearing makeup, and her face showed signs of fatigue from a long trip, but a familiar smile played on her lips.
"Yifei?" Jiang Yu immediately stood up. "Why are you here? Didn't you only arrive in Beijing this afternoon?"
"I wanted to surprise you." Liu Yifei walked in, carrying several paper bags. "My mom went straight home, so I had the driver bring me here. I hope I didn't disturb your work?"
"No, no." Jiang Yu walked around the desk, naturally taking the things from her hands, and put his other arm around her shoulder. "Are you tired? Flying is never comfortable."
"It's alright, only two hours." Liu Yifei sat down on the sofa, looking curiously at the script on the table. "What are you looking at?"
"A new project for the North American company." Jiang Yu sat back in his office chair and pushed the script over. "Pacific Rim and The Hunger Games are both big productions."
Liu Yifei picked up the script for "The Hunger Games" and flipped through it, her eyes gradually brightening: "This story—is interesting. The female lead is named Katniss? She has a very resilient personality."
"Do you like it?" Jiang Yu asked.
"Hmm." Liu Yifei nodded, "However, this role—the kind of wildness and stubbornness it requires—I probably can't portray right now."
Jiang Yu smiled. This was Liu Yifei; she always had a clear understanding of herself and wouldn't blindly pursue something just because it was a big production.
"Oh, right," Liu Yifei remembered something and took out an exquisite tin box from the paper bag, "I brought this for you, it's Biluochun tea from Suzhou. I heard you've been working overtime a lot lately, drinking tea helps you stay alert."
She then took out a package wrapped in oil paper: "And this too, Suzhou jujube paste sesame cakes, my favorite when I was little. I don't know if you like sweets—"
The last photo album reads: "These are photos I took in Suzhou. Gardens, alleys, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the shoot."
Take a look.
Jiang Yu took the photo album and flipped through the pages one by one.
The photos were taken casually, yet they have a unique charm; the pavilions and waterside terraces of the Humble Administrator's Garden are faintly visible in the morning mist; on Pingjiang Road, there are small bridges and flowing water, and elderly people are washing vegetables by the river.
On set, Liu Yifei wore an elegant blue cheongsam and walked on a bluestone path with an oil-paper umbrella; there was also a photo of her and Liu Xiaoli, the mother and daughter standing under Tiger Hill Pagoda, smiling happily.
"These photos are really good," Jiang Yu said sincerely. "Let's go together next time. You can be our tour guide."
"Okay." Liu Yifei's eyes curved into crescents. "I know a lot of fun places that tourists don't even know about."
The two chatted for a while about their experiences in Suzhou. Jiang Yu checked the time and asked, "Are you hungry? What do you want to eat for lunch? There's a new Suzhou-style restaurant that just opened downstairs from the company. I heard it's very authentic."
"Okay." Liu Yifei nodded. "But keep it simple. I have to go back to Shunyi tonight, and I need to start intensive training tomorrow. 'Lucy' starts filming in Hong Kong at the end of the month, and there are a lot of action scenes, so I need to prepare in advance."
During dinner, Liu Yifei shared some interesting stories from Suzhou: "It happened to rain on the day of filming, and the director said that this would make it more charming to the Jiangnan region."
As we were filming, the rain got heavier and heavier. I walked through the alley with my umbrella, and my skirt got soaked. Later, when I watched the playback, the effect was surprisingly good; the raindrops looked like silver threads in the footage.
"Did you get caught in the rain?" Jiang Yu frowned. "You haven't caught a cold, have you?"
"No, Mom prepared ginger tea for me," Liu Yifei laughed. "But that director was quite interesting; he's a local from Suzhou. After filming, he even took us to his home for a home-cooked meal. His wife's sweet lotus root with osmanthus was especially delicious. It's a pity I couldn't bring it back, otherwise I would have brought some for you."
Jiang Yu felt a warm feeling in his heart as he watched her beaming with joy.
This version of Liu Yifei is more real and more touching than the flawless "fairy sister" in front of the camera.
After dinner, Jiang Yu escorted Liu Yifei downstairs; the car was already waiting at the door.
"Are you sure you don't need me to take you?" Jiang Yu asked.
"No need, you still have work this afternoon." Liu Yifei opened the car door, suddenly turned around and hugged him. "I'm leaving now, I'll call you tonight."
"Okay, be careful on the road."
Watching the car drive away, Jiang Yu stood there until the car turned the corner before turning around and going upstairs.
Wang Wei waited for him at the elevator entrance, a smile on her face: "Boss, Miss Liu's arrival has definitely brightened your mood today."
"Really?" Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Wang Wei said definitively, "You laughed eight times today, three more than last week combined."
Jiang Yu was both amused and exasperated: "Are you spying on me?"
"No, no, it's just that I'm very observant." Wang Wei smiled and handed over a document. "The afternoon's meeting schedule: at 3 PM, Zhou Mu, the head of the technical department, will report on the progress of the real-time rendering system; at 4 PM, the fund preparation team meeting; at 5 PM—"
"Understood." Jiang Yu took the documents. "By the way, is the schedule for the premiere at China Film Group on the 16th all set?"
"It's all arranged. We'll depart at 4 PM, and Mr. Jiang will accompany you. We expect to arrive at 6 PM, the premiere starts at 7 PM, and there will be a simple cocktail party afterwards. Would you like to attend the party?"
"It depends," Jiang Yu said. "I might not participate."
"clear."
For the next few days, Jiang Yu was extremely busy.
The real-time rendering system has made a breakthrough, and Zhou Mu was so excited during the demonstration that he danced with joy: "Old Jiang, look! This lighting effect, this particle system, it's all in real-time! What does this mean? It means we can reduce post-production time by two-thirds!"
No matter how busy he is, Jiang Yu calls Liu Yifei every night.
Sometimes it's a simple greeting, sometimes we chat for a long time.
Liu Yifei is undergoing closed training in Shunyi to prepare for the action scenes in "Lucy".
They train for six hours every day, including combat, firearms, and physical fitness.
"Today the coach made me hit the sandbag, and my hands are all blistered." Liu Yifei's voice sounded tired but excited on the phone. "But I think I've made a lot of progress. My punches are starting to look pretty good now."
11
"Don't push yourself too hard," Jiang Yu said with concern. "Just take it one step at a time."
"No, I have to give it my all." Liu Yifei said seriously, "This is an opportunity you fought for me, I can't let you down. Besides, the director said that the action scenes in 'Lucy' are crucial, to show the female lead's transformation. From weak to strong, she needs physical changes to support it."
Jiang Yu knew he couldn't dissuade him, so he could only say, "Then be careful and don't get hurt."
"Okay."
Time flew by and it was April 16th.
At 4 p.m., Jiang Yu and Jiang Xuerou set off on time for the China Film Grand Auditorium.
Jiang Xuerou wore a well-fitting dark blue suit today, exuding a capable and professional aura.
On the bus, Jiang Xuerou briefed Jiang Yu on the situation: "The project 'Nanjin! Nanjin!' has been controversial since its inception. Director Lu Chuan insisted on making it, and China Film Group and Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation invested money, but many problems arose during filming; budget overruns, script revisions, and censorship obstacles—I heard it almost didn't get released."
Jiang Yu nodded without saying anything.
He remembered the huge controversy this film caused in his previous life, the suffering depicted in those black and white images, and some of the director's uncomfortable statements.
When the car arrived at the China Film Grand Auditorium, a number of media had already gathered at the entrance.
As soon as Jiang Yu got out of the car, a flurry of flashes went off.
"Mr. Jiang! Are you here for the premiere because you're really looking forward to this movie?"
"Mr. Jiang, would you invest in director Lu Chuan's next film?"
"President Jiang————"
With a smile on his face and without saying a word, Jiang Yu entered the auditorium under the protection of Jiang Xuerou and bodyguards.
Quite a few people have already come inside.
Jiang Yu glanced at it and saw that it encompassed almost half of the Chinese film industry.
The Wang brothers of Huayi Brothers, Yu Dong of Bona Film Group, Wang Changtian of Enlight Media, Wang Jinhua of Orange Sky Entertainment, Ye Ning of Wanda Group, Liu Yanming of Hairun Media, and Li Shaohong of Rongxingda Group —
There were also directors such as Jiang Wen, Gu Changwei, and Tian Zhuangzhuang, as well as many veteran filmmakers that Jiang Yu did not recognize.
As soon as he entered, everyone's eyes were drawn to him.
There was curiosity, scrutiny, envy, and jealousy.
Wang Zhongjun from Huayi was the first to greet him: "President Jiang, long time no see! How have you been?"
"Mr. Wang, it's been a long time." Jiang Yu shook hands politely. "Thanks to you, I'm doing well."
Next was Yu Dong from Bona: "President Jiang, you're a rare guest! When are you free? Let's have a meal together?"
"Mr. Yu, you're too kind. Let's reschedule for another day."
After exchanging pleasantries, Jiang Yu's face was stiff from smiling so much.
This is what socializing is all about: pretending to be close even when you're not; chatting enthusiastically even when you don't want to.
Finally reaching the seating area, Jiang Wen stood up and greeted loudly, "Hey, President Jiang! A member of the same family has arrived! Come, come, have a seat!"
Jiang Yu walked over with a smile: "Director Jiang, it's been a long time."
"That's right." Jiang Wen patted the seat next to him. "Sit here. Let me tell you, I've been thinking about you. Last time, on that 'Let the Bullets Fly' project, President Yang invited you to join, and you invested without hesitation. That's pretty good!"
"Director Jiang's film deserves our support." Jiang Yu sat down. "However, President Yang is mainly worried that you don't have enough money to produce it, so he's asking me to share the risk."
These words were quite blunt, and Jiang Wen laughed heartily upon hearing them: "Yes, yes, that's exactly what President Yang meant! But don't worry, President Jiang, although my movies are expensive, they're definitely worth it!"
As the two chatted, Jiang Yu noticed that Jiang Wen was holding a book with the title "Military Intelligence Agency Files" on the cover.
"Director Jiang, you brought a book to the premiere?" Jiang Yu asked curiously.
"Hey, don't even mention it." Jiang Wen casually put the book aside. "Han Sanping insisted that I play a cameo role in 'The Founding of a Republic,' as a spy. I thought to myself, fine, I'll do it, but I have to do it convincingly. So, I bought some materials at a bookstore on the way here, flipping through them to get a feel for it."
Jiang Yu remembered; there really was this gossip in his past life.
Jiang Wen researched a lot of historical materials for that few-minute role, and even had an argument with Han Sanping and the director over makeup and costume issues, but in the end, he went with his idea.
"Impressive, Director Jiang, your dedication is truly admirable," Jiang Yu said sincerely. "You rarely see this even in Hollywood."
"That's right!" Jiang Wen was very pleased. "How about it, Mr. Jiang? If you have any suitable roles in Hollywood, you might consider me. Although I don't act in other people's films much these days, I'll make an exception for yours!"
Jiang Yu smiled and said, "Okay, next time the North American company has a suitable candidate, we'll definitely contact you."
As they were talking, Han Sanping came in with several people who looked like leaders.
Upon seeing Jiang Yu, Han Sanping immediately approached him: "President Jiang, let me introduce you. This is Director Zhang from the Film Bureau, and this is Director Li from Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation—"
After another round of pleasantries, once everyone was seated, the premiere officially began.
The host took the stage and gave an official opening speech, then invited Lu Chuan and the lead actor to the stage.
Lu Chuan was dressed very formally today, in a black suit and white shirt, his hair was neatly combed, and the deliberately serious expression on his face made Jiang Yu feel uncomfortable.
During the interview, Lu Chuan began to speak at length: "I prepared for this film for four years, researched a large amount of historical materials, and interviewed countless survivors. The filming process was extremely difficult, but I persevered because I wanted to restore history and ensure that future generations would remember it —"
He said a lot, and the more Jiang Yu listened, the more his brows furrowed.
Jiang Wen muttered under his breath, "Tsk tsk, so much nonsense—President Jiang, don't invest in his movies in the future, I think he's a joke."
Jiang Yu smiled but didn't reply.
The lights dimmed, and the movie began.
As the screening lasted for more than two hours, Jiang Yu's expression grew increasingly grim.
He's not a professional film critic, but he still has basic aesthetic sense and a stance.
This movie has too many problems: the perspective is confusing, the values are unclear, and some scenes are even uncomfortable.
When a Japanese soldier was depicted as "humanized" on screen, Jiang Yu muttered softly, "Lu-san."
The voice wasn't loud, but Jiang Wen, who was standing nearby, heard it.
The hot-tempered director immediately chimed in, "Mr. Jiang has a good name, but I think 'Rokutaro' would be more suitable for him."
Several people around heard it, and some couldn't help but laugh out loud, but quickly suppressed it.
Everyone realized that something bad was about to happen.
The movie ended, and the lights came on.
The atmosphere in the auditorium was subtle. The expressions of the industry insiders were intriguing, and the media reporters looked at each other, none daring to be the first to speak.
Jiang Yu looked at Han Sanping on his right. The chairman of China Film Group also looked uneasy, and the leader of the Film Bureau next to him had a furrowed brow.
The host reluctantly began interviewing the guests.
They first invited a few veteran directors, who all said the same old platitudes: "It's very meaningful," "Filming is not easy," and "It deserves encouragement"—not one of them told the truth.
Lu Chuan listened attentively on stage, nodding frequently with an expression of "humbly accepting" on his face, which made Jiang Yu feel nauseous.
Finally, the host handed the microphone to Jiang Yu: "Mr. Jiang, as the chairman of Light Chaser Pictures, what are your thoughts on this film?"
The entire room fell silent, and everyone stared at Jiang Yu.
This young tycoon holds a special position in the entertainment industry, and his words carry weight.
Jiang Yu took the microphone and remained silent for a second.
Then he spoke, his voice calm, each word like a nail driven into the air: "Let me share my personal opinion. Although I'm not a director or actor, I do work in this industry. Director Lu's film—"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Lu Chuan on the stage, whose face was beginning to turn pale. "He's just a pile of shit."
"Whoa!!!"
The entire audience erupted in uproar.
Some people gasped, some stared wide-eyed, and some instinctively covered their mouths.
The reporters were excited, and the sound of camera shutters clicking filled the air.
Han Sanping's face changed drastically, and he was filled with regret.
Jiang Wen stood to the side and gave a thumbs up, with a "well done" expression on his face.
Ignoring the crowd's reactions, Jiang Yu continued, "I don't think this movie needs to be released. Director Lu can just take it home and watch it himself. Putting it in theaters is a waste of the audience's money and annoys them. Light Chaser Cinemas will not release this movie; doing so would be an insult to the tens of millions of compatriots who died. They can even whitewash the history of the invasion of China. I don't know if Director Lu grew up in China."
These words left no room for argument, and the entire room fell silent; you could hear a pin drop.
Lu Chuan stood on the stage, his face changing from white to red to green, and finally to a liver color.
The main actors were also stunned. Gao Yuanyuan covered her mouth, Liu Ye's eyes widened, and Fan Wei frowned.
The reporters were ecstatic; this was huge news! Absolutely headline news!
Those present suddenly realized, "Who is Jiang Yu? He's the chairman of Chasing Light Holdings, worth billions, and well-connected in North America and Hollywood."
He has the right to say this, and he has the ability to bear the consequences.
Jiang Wen took the microphone from Jiang Yu and said without any politeness, "I agree with President Jiang's point of view. This movie is garbage."
He began to analyze from a professional perspective: "The perspective is confused, the narrative is fragmented, and the values are ambiguous. What are you trying to express? The complexity of human nature? The multidimensionality of history? But the premise is that you must take the right stance! Some historical periods have no middle ground, no gray areas!"
"And that camerawork, is it trying to imitate Kurosawa? The imitation is so clumsy! It's similar in form but lacks the spirit; it's like trying to draw a tiger but ending up with a dog!"
Jiang Wen ranted and raved for five minutes, finally concluding, "What kind of rubbish was this? Go home and study some more!"
On stage, Lu Chuan was completely stunned, standing there like a wooden statue.
The host was at a loss, unsure whether to continue.
Han Sanping braced himself and went on stage, said a few perfunctory words, and hastily ended the interview.
Many reporters skipped the subsequent reception, rushing back to finish their articles.
Jiang Yu, Jiang Xuerou, and Jiang Wen also left without participating.
In the parking lot, Han Sanping caught up with him: "President Jiang, you... well, how can I put this?"
"Mr. Han," Jiang Yu turned around, "I am Chinese, and I am also a filmmaker. There are some bottom lines that cannot be crossed."
"That movie—" Han Sanping asked tentatively, "Is it really not showing in Light Chaser Cinemas?"
"No." Jiang Yu said firmly. "President Han, you are a leader and a filmmaker. Can't you really see the problems with this film?"
Jiang Wen chimed in from the side, "If you ask me, this movie should be banned outright. Releasing it would be a disaster."
Han Sanping shook his head with a wry smile and said nothing more.
On the way back, Jiang Xuerou said with some worry, "President Jiang, Lu Chuan's father is a veteran of the association and has some connections. Were we being so direct today...?"
"Won't they retaliate?" Jiang Yu chimed in. "What's there to be afraid of? If things get really bad, we'll just leave the domestic market. The North American market is big enough, and we're expanding into Southeast Asia and Europe too. Film is a universal language; good content will thrive anywhere."
Looking at the boss's calm profile, Jiang Xuerou suddenly felt that having such a boss was a stroke of luck for Chasing Light.
From the moment Jiang Yu and Jiang Wen dropped that "bomb" at the China Film premiere to Liu Yifei's phone call that evening to inquire, only two hours had passed.
These two hours are enough for a media storm to sweep across the entire Chinese internet.
At 8:10 p.m., just as Jiang Yu's car entered the Shunyi villa area, Wang Wei called again, her voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.
"Boss, this is outrageous! Absolutely outrageous! The entire internet is talking about your and Director Jiang's statements, and the top five trending topics on Baidu are all related!"
Jiang Yu parked the car in the garage, turned off the engine, and leaned back in his seat: "Tell me more about it."
"First, Jiang Yu angrily criticized Lu Chuan's films; second, Jiang Wen said Lu Chuan's films were garbage; third, the controversy surrounding the premiere of Nan Jin; fourth, Lu Chuan's dark history; fifth, the refusal of Zhui Guang Cinemas to screen Nan Jin."
Wang Wei spoke rapidly, "Tianya, Tieba, Douban—every platform is discussing it. What netizens are most curious about right now is, what exactly did Lu Chuan film that made you and Director Jiang so angry?"
What about the media?
"The media is even crazier," Wang Wei said. "Seven media outlets have already issued breaking news reports, detailing the situation at the premiere. Sohu Entertainment's headline is 'Jiang Yu angrily denounces on the spot: This is a pile of shit!'; Sina Entertainment's is 'Billionaire blasts director, Nan Jin suffers Waterloo'; NetEase is even more outrageous, 'The two Jiangs join forces to overturn the table, Lu Chuan's film dream shattered at the premiere.'"
Jiang Yu rubbed his temples: "What's the public opinion trend?"
"Most people support you," Wang Wei said. "Especially your statement that Light Chaser Cinemas wouldn't screen this film, because doing so would be a betrayal of the tens of millions of compatriots who died," many people applauded. However, a minority of voices said you were too impulsive and didn't respect your peers."
"Save face?" Jiang Yu sneered. "Some things are not negotiable. Alright, I understand. We can talk about it tomorrow."
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yu sat in his car for a while.
The garage lights, which are motion-activated, had already dimmed, leaving only the faint light from the dashboard illuminating his face.
He was calm, even somewhat relieved.
Keeping certain things to yourself is irresponsible.
I opened the car door and stepped into the villa.
The living room lights were on, the TV was on, and the volume was turned down low.
Liu Yifei was nestled on the sofa, hugging a cushion, and immediately turned around when she heard the door open.
"You're back." She stood up and jogged over. "Have you eaten? Mom left some food for me; it's keeping it warm in the kitchen."
"Not yet." Jiang Yu naturally put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her forehead. "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"I've been waiting for you." Liu Yifei looked up at him, her eyes filled with worry. "I saw the news—are you alright?"
"What could possibly be wrong with me?" Jiang Yu laughed, pulling her to sit down on the sofa. "I just told the truth."
"But—" Liu Yifei hesitated, "Lu Chuan has a wide network of connections in the industry. His father is a senior figure in the Screenwriters Association, and many departments give him face. You're being so direct, I'm afraid—"
"Afraid I'll be retaliated against?" Jiang Yu picked up on her words, his tone relaxed. "Yifei, do you know why I dare to say this?"
""
Liu Yifei shook her head.
"Because I don't make a living from this industry," Jiang Yu said earnestly. "Light Chaser's main business is technology and investment; film and television are just one part of it. Even if some people in China are unhappy, they can't shake my foundation. Most importantly..."
He paused, looking into Liu Yifei's eyes: "There are some bottom lines that someone has to stand up for. If I don't speak up today, and he doesn't speak up tomorrow, then the day after tomorrow no one will remember what should and shouldn't be said."
Liu Yifei looked at him, her eyes gradually welling up with tears.
She suddenly remembered many things: the helplessness she felt when she was blacklisted by Huayi Brothers, the indifferent looks from people in the industry, and all the changes that came with Jiang Yu's appearance.
"Yes." She nodded vigorously. "You're right. I support you."
Jiang Yu smiled and pinched her cheek. "Alright, let's not talk about that. What did you eat for dinner?"
"Mom made braised pork and stir-fried vegetables." Liu Yifei stood up. "I'll heat up your food. Go wash your face and change your clothes first."
Jiang Yu felt a warm feeling in his heart as he watched her walk into the kitchen.
This is home. Outside, the wind and rain may be fierce, but when you come home, someone is waiting for you, and someone cares whether you have eaten.
He went upstairs to wash up quickly, changed into his home clothes, and came down to find Liu Yifei had already set out the meal.
"Mom made extra, saying you must have been too busy to eat properly lately." Liu Yifei sat opposite him, resting her chin on her hand as she watched him eat.
"Auntie's cooking is really good." Jiang Yu picked up a piece of braised pork, which melted in his mouth. "It suits my taste even better than my mom's."
"That's because you haven't been home for too long," Liu Yifei laughed. "Once this busy period is over, I'll go back to Wuhan with you. Your aunt said she misses you."
The two ate and chatted, deliberately avoiding heavy topics.
Liu Yifei talked about her training progress: "The coach praised me today, saying that I have good flexibility and learn the moves quickly. But fighting is really too difficult, my whole body aches after training."
"Take it slow, don't get hurt," Jiang Yu said. "The action scenes in 'Lucy' are important, but safety comes first. Should I ask David to find you a better coach? There are many professional action directors in Hollywood, North America."
"No need, no need," Liu Yifei quickly waved her hand. "The current coach is very good; he has taught many martial arts actors. Besides, I feel more accomplished because I trained myself little by little."
Jiang Yu felt a surge of pride as he looked at her earnest expression.
This is the girl he loves: not spoiled, not dependent, and with her own principles.
After dinner, Liu Yifei cleared the dishes. Jiang Yu offered to help, but she pushed him away, saying, "Go sit on the sofa. You've had a tough day 'fighting the battle,' I'll do it."
Jiang Yu chuckled and obediently sat down on the sofa and turned on his computer.
Jiang Yu was engrossed in reading when Liu Yifei finished washing the dishes and sat down beside him, saying, "Look, everyone's talking about you."
.
"As expected." Jiang Yu put his arm around her. "By the way, you still haven't told me what you did after training today?"
.
"I read the script for a while. There are so many English lines in 'Lucy,' I have to memorize them beforehand." Liu Yifei leaned on his shoulder. "Then I watched the news and waited for you to come back."
Just then, Jiang Yu's phone vibrated.
It was a text message from Jiang Wen, just one sentence: "Brother, well done! I'm so happy, I went home and had a couple of ounces of baijiu!"
Jiang Yu smiled and replied, "Director Jiang is awesome too."
Soon another message appeared: "Are you free tomorrow? Let's go drinking! My treat!"
"Tomorrow won't work, I have a meeting. We'll do it another day."
"Okay! Looking forward to your reply!"
I had just put my phone down when it rang again.
This time it's Han Sanping.
Jiang Yu frowned and answered the phone: "President Han."
"President Jiang, did I disturb your rest?" Han Sanping's voice sounded very tired.
"No, is there something you need, Mr. Han?"
"It's like this—" Han Sanping paused, "What happened today has had a huge impact. The leaders of the Film Bureau are taking it very seriously and asked me to ask you if there's any way to ease the situation? Lu Chuan is willing to apologize, and the film can be edited into another version."
Jiang Yu was silent for a few seconds: "President Han, this isn't about whether to cut it or not, it's about stance. Some historical events are beyond negotiation."
A sigh came from the other end of the phone: "I understand, but Mr. Jiang, this film has a large investment; China Film Group and Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation have both placed heavy bets. If Light Chaser Cinemas really doesn't release it, other cinema chains might follow suit, and the losses would be huge."
"President Han," Jiang Yu's tone turned serious, "you are a veteran in the film industry, you should know better than me what money can be made and what money cannot be made. Some losses must be borne. That's called the price."
Another silence followed.
After a long silence, Han Sanping said, "I understand. Well—that's all for now. Sorry to bother you."
After hanging up the phone, Liu Yifei looked at him worriedly: "Was that Han Sanping? Did he make things difficult for you?"
"No," Jiang Yu shook his head. "I just want to try again. But he knows in his heart that there's no room for negotiation on this matter."
"Won't we offend too many people?" Liu Yifei asked in a low voice.
"Sisi," Jiang Yu turned to look at her, "it's impossible not to offend people in this industry. The key is, who you offend and why you offend them."
Liu Yifei didn't say anything, she just held his hand tightly.
Meanwhile, the online frenzy continues.
On the film section of Tianya Community, a post titled "In-depth analysis of Lu Chuan: From being credited in 'The Search for Robbery' to 'Kekexili'"
The post titled "Plagiarism: How Much Dark History Does This Director Have?" was featured on the front page.
The poster, claiming to be an "insider," detailed Lu Chuan's "dirt": "Let's start with 'The Search for Robbery.' Lu Chuan was nominally the director, but who doesn't know it was Jiang Wen who directed it? Back then, Jiang Wen and Lu Chuan collaborated; Jiang Wen was the producer. During filming, from storyboarding to on-set coordination, everything was done by Jiang Wen. Lu Chuan was just a figurehead. Later, the two had a falling out, and Jiang Wen directly said that the film was like his son, something he gave birth to," and Lu Chuan didn't dare utter a single word."
"Let's talk about *Kekexili*. When it first came out, it was hyped up so much, winning awards left and right. Everyone in the industry knows that it's 70% similar to a documentary called *Tibetan Antelope*. The director of *Tibetan Antelope* was an unknown documentary filmmaker who spent years making films, only to have them plagiarized by Lu Chuan." They were furious but dared not speak out. Why?
Because Lu Chuan's father is in the association, he has a lot of connections!
"This time, 'Nanjin! Nanjin!' is even more outrageous. According to friends who saw the internal premiere, the film's perspective is extremely bizarre, with many shots taken from the viewpoint of Japanese soldiers, even glorifying the invaders. No wonder Jiang Yu and Jiang Wenfa are so angry; I would have cursed it too!"
The post received thousands of replies: "Holy crap, really? Is Lu Chuan that bad?"
"The Search for Robbery is indeed in Jiang Wen's style. Looking back now, the camera language and the control of rhythm are completely Jiang Wen's work."
"Kekexili: Mountain Patrol plagiarized? No wonder it looked so much like a documentary!"
"Who's Lu Chuan's dad? He's that awesome?"
"Upstairs, Lu Chuan's father is Lu Xuezhang, a big shot in the screenwriters' association."
"No wonder Jiang Yu was cursing; he's met his match!"
"Who has Jiang Yu ever been afraid of? He's worth billions, has connections in North America and Hollywood, would he care about an association?"
"Support Jiang Yu! This kind of unhealthy trend needs to be curbed!"
Similar discussions have been brewing on various platforms.
Someone created a comparison image, placing shots from "Kekexili" and "Tibetan Antelope" side by side, making the similarity immediately apparent.
Someone unearthed an interview from many years ago, in which Jiang Wen made a meaningful remark about "The Missing Gun": "That film is like my son."
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Some people also dug up Lu Chuan's remarks on various occasions and found that he repeatedly expressed his "appreciation" and "understanding" of Japanese culture.
Public opinion overwhelmingly supports Jiang Yu, and netizens are expressing their admiration for him in various ways.
"General Manager Jiang is awesome! He dares to speak the truth!"
"That's what entrepreneurial spirit is all about—taking responsibility!"
"Lu Chuan, get out of the film industry!"
"I support Light Chaser Cinemas' refusal to screen this film! This kind of movie shouldn't be shown at all!"
"Jiang Yu is setting rules for all filmmakers: some money you can't earn, and some things you can't say!"
Of course, there are also a few dissenting voices.
Someone asked on a forum: "Isn't Jiang Yu's public criticism of his peers disrespectful to artistic freedom?"
The top-voted answer below is: "The premise of artistic freedom is respect for history and conscience. If even national trauma like the Nanjing Massacre can be 'processed' into something with an ambiguous stance in art, then this kind of freedom is not worth having. Jiang Yu is not criticizing art; he is defending the bottom line."
At 11 p.m., the television in the living room of the villa in Shunyi was already off.
Jiang Yu and Liu Yifei were still sitting on the sofa, one using a laptop to handle emails and the other reading a script.
Liu Yifei suddenly looked up: "Jiang Yu, tell me, if one day my movie is criticized like this, what would you do?"
Jiang Yu looked up from his computer screen and said to her, "That depends on whether the criticism is correct. If it is, I'll help you revise it; if it's wrong, I'll scold back for you."
"What if it's like today, a matter of stance?" Liu Yifei asked seriously.
Jiang Yu closed his laptop, walked over and sat down next to her, and took her hand: "Yifei, you are the one I love, and I understand you."
You are kind, upright, and principled. You wouldn't film something that confuses right and wrong. I believe in you.
Liu Yifei smiled and said, "You trust me that much?"
"Yes." Jiang Yu nodded. "Just like you trust me."
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