Huayu Entertainment 1995 started with hijacking.

Chapter 152 Goodness, Little Li is rubbing against me!
Upon entering the hall, Wu Yuchen found the entire place in chaos. Many celebrities were looking for their seats, and there were simply not enough waiters, making Wu Yuchen feel like he had wandered into a bustling market.

The hall was divided into three sections, with the central section reserved for the nominated film crews and nominees, since they were the main characters tonight. Wu Yuchen found a seat on either side of the hall.

As soon as Wu Yuchen sat down, the woman next to him, who had been facing away from him, turned around. Upon seeing him, she first showed a surprised expression, then immediately smiled and greeted him warmly.

"Hello, Director Wu, it's a pleasure to meet you!" The woman's voice was slightly hoarse, but it possessed a mature yet charming allure.

Looking at her, Wu Yuchen saw that her long, jet-black hair cascaded down her shoulders, and she had thick eyebrows, red lips, a sculpted facial contour, and deep, light blue eyes that gave her a classical beauty, completely different from the sweet girls on the American side.

Meanwhile, her great figure, barely concealed by a black dress, was so prominent that it almost made Wu Yuchen's eyes glaze over.

"Hello, Miss Connery! Oh, it's such a surprise to meet you. I'll never forget your Deborah in 'Once Upon a Time in America'! You were simply the most beautiful girl in the world!"

The person standing before me is none other than Jennifer Connelly, who played the teenage version of the female lead in "Once Upon a Time in America," and whose debut truly amazed the world.

“Of course, you’re just as charming right now,” Wu Yuchen immediately added.

In fact, Jennifer Connelly doesn't like people mentioning Deborah, the young girl in "Once Upon a Time in America," because people only remember that character, making her feel like she's forever trapped in that role.

In an attempt to shed her innocent, pure image and prove her acting skills, she began filming various explicit movies at the age of 19, her stunning figure certainly providing plenty of entertainment for moviegoers. Unfortunately, she became trapped in these B-movie genres and couldn't break free, only now at 27 slowly realizing her mistake and wanting to return to the mainstream.

Another point worth mentioning is that this girl is an academic star in the entertainment industry. She spent her first two years at Yale and then transferred to Stanford to study drama in her junior year. Unfortunately, the academic star persona is useless in Hollywood, and even now, when people talk about her, they still can't avoid mentioning "Once Upon a Time in America."

Jennifer Connelly naturally wanted to befriend Wu Yuchen, a rising Hollywood A-list director who had just released two blockbuster films. She smiled sweetly:
"Thank you! Director Wu, I think you can call me Jenny, that's what my friends call me~"

“Okay, Jenny, you can call me Wu.”

Wu Yuchen looked at Jennifer Connelly with a smile. She truly had an angelic face and a devilish figure, the epitome of both innocence and allure.

"Wu, I thought you would go over there and chat and laugh with big directors like Martin Scorsese."

Wu Yuchen looked in the direction Jennifer Connelly pointed and indeed saw an area where many big names like Schwarzenegger were sitting.

Wu Yuchen gently shook his head and smiled:

"No, no, Jenny, I think this is the best spot I'm in. To spend the night with such a beautiful lady like you is a blessing from God!"

Abroad, people are very straightforward; don't play the subtle game you see in China. After spending some time here, Wu Yuchen naturally grasped this principle.

Jennifer Connelly and Wu Yuchen looked at each other for two seconds, then smirked and replied, "Wu, you are truly a handsome gentleman!"

Jennifer Connelly wasn't bothered by the affection expressed for her by the young, handsome, and talented director Wu Yuchen, which only proves her charm.

Amidst their laughter and conversation, the Academy Awards ceremony commenced.

This year's Oscars ceremony was largely unsurprising; Titanic won almost all of its nominations, except for Best Supporting Actress, which many people thought would go to the elderly actress who played the older female lead, but it didn't.

In the middle of the film, we also saw Matt Damon accept the Best Screenplay award for "Good Will Hunting." That's right, Matt Damon wrote this film while he was taking classes at Harvard University, and he was even nominated for Best Actor. This was quite a breakthrough for him.

After the presenter handed the Best Director Oscar to the truck driver, the guy was visibly excited. He had gone from being universally despised to achieving a box office miracle, becoming number one in the world, and winning Best Director on his first Oscar nomination.
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm having the time of my life right now!"

The audience burst into laughter.

"...

I can't accurately express how I feel right now; my heart is about to explode.

—"

Then Cameron suddenly opened his arms wide and shouted:
"I am the king of the world!"

Immediately, the entire venue erupted in thunderous applause and cheers; at that moment, no one could help but admire this guy.

Wu Yuchen also applauded in response. He felt that "Titanic" had really boosted the popularity of his "Phone Booth," and he had to express his gratitude. He also felt that witnessing this iconic scene made his trip tonight worthwhile.

He then glanced at the beautiful and charming Jennifer Connelly beside him, who was already chatting happily with him. Tonight was definitely worth it!
……

Although the Oscars ceremony has ended, the Oscars night has just begun. Afterwards, a Vanity Fair dinner will be held in Beverly Hills, which is not only a place for winners and film crews to celebrate and party, but also a place for everyone to socialize. Many opportunities may arise here.

With Wu Yuchen's current fame, even if he had no connection to this year's Oscars, he would still be highly sought after there, and having women on both sides would be no problem at all.

But Wu Yuchen didn't go at all. With Jennifer Connelly by his side, why would he need to have two women on either side?
Wu Yuchen didn't even consider those third- or fourth-tier actresses worthy of his attention.

Furthermore, while social occasions like Vanity Fair are important to others, they aren't particularly crucial for Wu Yuchen. If you're strong enough, you'll have plenty of opportunities to network, but he didn't want to miss the chance to create a lively atmosphere with the beautiful woman!

These days, the fashion industry has led to a global trend of valuing thinness as beauty, with many models becoming extremely thin. Jennifer Connelly's curvaceous figure is considered somewhat "fat," which is one of the factors hindering her career.

But Wu Yuchen liked her "slightly plump" figure, her full-figured curves, which added to her maturity and charm, making her so beautiful that it was impossible to look away. He measured her inch by inch.

Jennifer Connelly's features are exquisite. Her eyes are large and bright, with a heat that can melt anyone's heart in her blue pupils. Her curvaceous figure proclaims "I am a woman" in every inch, and her fair and delicate skin makes Wu Yuchen reluctant to let go.

In the dimly lit room, the tumultuous passion had temporarily subsided. Jennifer, with her alluring curves, lay limp beneath a strong body, fine beads of sweat and her occasional long breaths revealing the lingering effects of their passion. After a moment, she curled her full thighs slightly, calming her breathing, then turned to look at the man with her seductive eyes, and couldn't help but ask:
"Did you take your medicine? Or are all East Asians this strong?"

"Take pills? Do I need that? Jennifer, you're insulting me!"

Wu Yuchen raised an eyebrow, put an arm around her waist, and felt it necessary to teach this foreign woman who questioned him a lesson she would never forget.

"Oh no, darling..." Jennifer sensed Wu Yuchen's anger and quickly pushed against his chest, but before she could finish speaking, Wu Yuchen silenced her with a kiss.

……

At noon, Wu Yuchen brought several plates of food from the waiter and placed them on the table. Jennifer, wearing a white shirt, walked over. The half-covered look, combined with her languid charm, was extremely alluring.

Wu Yuchen couldn't help but sigh, Hollywood is such a great place, he almost doesn't want to leave now.

Wu Yuchen naturally understood what this beautiful girl was thinking. 99% of it was because she was captivated by his personal charm, but wasn't there still 1% for her ambition?

Director Wu isn't a heartless person; he'll naturally give her a chance to improve.

"Jenny, do you have any plans for the future?" Jennifer Connelly's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this: "Not yet."

It's not like the beautiful Zhan wasn't without suitors; some big shots had expressed interest in making deals with her before. But they were either old men or fat pigs like Harvey Weinstein, which she couldn't accept. The young and handsome Wu Yuchen, on the other hand, was a different story; they found mutual amusement in each other's company.

"Are you interested in the female lead for my next Hollywood film?"

"Wow, Wu, are you serious? No audition needed?"

Wu Yuchen chuckled and put his arm around her waist: "Of course I need to. I want to get to know you better."

Jennifer giggled, giving him a captivating glance: "I'll have to see if this role suits me first~"

Shortly after, Wu Yuchen handed her a script, which Jennifer took and read: The Sixth Sense.

Wu Yuchen didn't disturb her and let her read at her own pace.

Back in 1996, he had three scripts registered in Hollywood, two of which had already been filmed, and this third one was "The Sixth Sense".

This movie was released in 99 with a production cost of only 4000 million, yet it grossed 2.94 million in North America and 6.73 million worldwide. This was an astonishing achievement that no one could have predicted, because it was just a horror movie, even though the male lead was a big star like Bruce Willis.

The story of director Shyamalan is like something out of a novel. A newcomer to Hollywood, of Indian descent, who had only directed one low-budget film that grossed less than a million dollars before, wrote a script in 97 that caught the eye of a Hollywood company. He then directed a horror film that grossed $6.73 million worldwide. If this hadn't happened in the real world, even online novels wouldn't dare to write it like this.

However, the script has already been registered by Wu Yuchen, so we can only wait for him to develop it.

He didn't just register these three scripts. During his time in Hollywood over the past two years, he registered no fewer than ten more scripts, reserving them for himself regardless of whether they were actually made.

After a while, Jennifer finished reading it and exclaimed, "Wu, this is really a great story! Do you want me to play the role of the mother?"

"Yes, darling, haven't you always wanted to change your image? You're perfectly capable of this role. Don't let the fact that it's a horror film fool you, I guarantee the movie will gross over 100 million yuan."

“Of course I believe you, Wu, I have no doubt about your talent! Darling, when do you plan to film?” Jennifer Connelly asked impatiently.

Wu Yuchen gently rubbed her shoulder:

“Oh, Jenny, don’t rush. I plan to film at the end of the year, and the story is set in winter. Before that, I need to go back to my home country for a while, which will give you time to properly understand the character.”

"Okay, Wu, I really can't bear to part with you~" After saying that, the beautiful woman wrapped her arms around Wu Yuchen's neck and stuck to him.

……

For Wu Yuchen, Hollywood is like a dreamlike and glamorous amusement park, but no matter how much fun you have at the amusement park, you still have to go home, right?
At the Beijing Film Studio, Han Sanping had someone pour tea for Wu Yuchen, then smiled and said:
"Director Wu, it's been over a month since we last met, and you've made a big splash in Hollywood again! The newspapers are full of news about you!"

As Han Sanping spoke, he shook the newspaper in his hand and handed it to Wu Yuchen.

Wu Yuchen took it and glanced at it:
"Director Wu Yuchen's new film has grossed over $13 billion in North America, dominating the American box office!"

13 million?
Upon seeing the number, Wu Yuchen immediately understood. The newspaper had converted it to Chinese currency, and at the current exchange rate of 8.28, that was indeed the amount. 13 billion was undoubtedly more eye-catching than something like 1.6 million; they hadn't lied to him.

Wu Yuchen shook his head slightly and smiled, then said to Han Sanping:
"That's a bit of an exaggeration. Although my movie did well at the box office, I wouldn't dare say it was the best in America. Director Han, you probably already know about the Oscars. Recently, the only movie that can be said to be the best is 'Titanic'."

Speaking of this, Han Sanping laughed again: "Director Wu, you don't know, there are still quite a few promotional materials for 'Titanic' in China that use your name!"

"My name?" Wu Yuchen asked in surprise.

"Yes, their male lead is Leonardo DiCaprio, and the label next to him says he's your go-to leading man! This year's import quota has been used up, and your new movie 'Phone Booth' won't be able to get in anytime soon, so everyone's curious, right? They're using your name to attract audiences to the cinema!"

After hearing Han Sanping's explanation, Wu Yuchen felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Goodness, in America he was riding on Leonardo DiCaprio's coattails, and he was riding on Titanic's coattails, but now in China it's the other way around, and Leonardo DiCaprio and Titanic are riding on his fame!

Is this considered a virtuous cycle of cause and effect?
However, Wu Yuchen didn't seem to mind at all. As the saying goes, "If you borrow and repay, you can borrow again easily." He, the renowned director Wu, is just using Titanic's name to his advantage! That's how generous he is!
Wu Yuchen waved his hand, then said to Han Sanping with a slightly serious expression, "Director Han, I think you'd better be mentally prepared."

"What?" Han Sanping asked curiously.

"The movie Titanic not only broke the box office record in the United States, but also broke box office records all over the world. I don't think China will be an exception, and it won't be able to hold on."

Han Sanping is undoubtedly an ambitious man; he not only hopes to climb the ladder but also hopes that Chinese cinema can develop under his leadership. His remarks at the celebration banquet for "My Brothers and Sisters" clearly revealed his intentions.

However, Wu Yuchen was well aware that *Titanic* would soon set a box office record of 3.6 million yuan, a massive burden that would weigh heavily on Chinese cinema for a decade, with the closest being Zhang Yimou's *Hero* at 2.5 million yuan. The record was eventually broken by the foreign film *Transformers 2* at 4.55 million yuan, but it was soon surpassed by *Avatar*, which reached 13.83 billion yuan.

Unexpectedly, Han Sanping laughed heartily after hearing this:

"Hey, Director Wu, I thought you were talking about something serious. So what if it's broken? We can just break it back up. Jurassic Park 2 was so amazing, but in the end, you still managed to overshadow it, didn't you?"
With a great director like you, Brother Wu, in charge, I'm very confident we can reclaim the box office record!

Wu Yuchen was surprised to find that it was he who had given Han Sanping confidence. He opened his mouth, thinking that this record was not one or two hundred million, but 3.6 million! Even he himself was not confident that he could break it in a short time, because this was not something that could be made up for by the cast and plot, but by the visible gap in film production level.

But let's just think about it and forget about it. They'll know once the movie is released and they've seen it themselves.

Then Han Sanping spoke up again: "Director Wu, when do you plan to release your new movie, I'm not talking about the Hollywood one, but 'The Classic'?"

"Oh, Director Han, that's why I came to talk to you about this. I plan to release this movie during the summer season."

This was planned by Wu Yuchen when he was filming. Titanic is about to be released in April. Although he wanted to take advantage of the romance trend of Titanic to make a profit, he absolutely could not let it be released at the same time as the big ship, otherwise he would really be doomed.

By July, three months had passed since the summer movie season began, and the peak momentum of the big releases had subsided. It was just the right time to bring out "The Classic" to take over the baton.

Han Sanping had no doubts; the summer movie season was the best time to release a film. Then he sighed:

"It's such a pity that our Beijing Film Studio didn't invest in this movie!"

When "If Love Has a Destiny" was being prepared and filmed, "My Brothers and Sisters" had not yet been released. Therefore, Beijing Film Studio did not participate in the investment at that time, as the studio was short of funds and only let Wu Yuchen take the lead.

Han Sanping is now filled with regret. In the past six months, Wu Yuchen not only broke the domestic box office record, but also wreaked havoc in Hollywood, raking in huge sums of US dollars, which truly proves how popular his movies are in the market.

Wu Yuchen smiled and said, "It's nothing, Director Han. I've brought a new project with me."

(End of this chapter)