Huayu Entertainment 1995 started with hijacking.

Chapter 27 Spread
Xie Xiaojing glanced at Huang Lei beside her, then at Wu Yuchen standing respectfully before her, and asked with a smile:

"You're inviting us to appreciate it? You're that confident?"

Xie Xiaojing is the class teacher and head instructor of the 95 directing class, as well as the deputy director of the directing department of Beijing Film Academy. In the future, he will become the department head, the vice president of the school, and the director of the Youth Film Studio. He is an absolute backbone of Beijing Film Academy.

He was also a classmate of Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige, but after graduation they chose different paths and stayed at the university to teach.

He already knew about Wu Yuchen's tinkering with making short films, and he approved all the fake ones. It wasn't just because Huang Lei vouched for him; he also wanted to see what this freshman with such ideas could come up with.

In his view, it's a good thing whether the film is made or not. If it's made, it will be a very successful practice for the student; if it's not made, it can still help to temper his arrogance and allow him to settle down and focus on his studies.

But Xie Xiaojing didn't expect Wu Yuchen to be so confident, inviting all the teachers to watch the public screening.

"Teacher Xie, I dare not say how great it is, but at the very least, my short film is definitely no worse than the graduation projects of the senior students in the directing department every year!"

Wu Yuchen said with certainty.

Ha! A freshman who has only been in school for two months dares to say that his work is better than the graduation projects of previous seniors. That's pretty arrogant!

Looking at the young and spirited Wu Yuchen in front of her, Xie Xiaojing smiled. She wasn't disgusted. Who hasn't been young?

Back in his school days, Chen Kaige was way more arrogant than him. He wrote all his homework in classical Chinese, and he'd argue with teachers in class, leaving his classmates stunned. Who could compare to Kaige?

He made his debut film "Yellow Earth" in less than two years after graduation, and a couple of years ago he also made the masterpiece "Farewell My Concubine", which made him famous all over the world. Now he has become a leading figure in Chinese cinema.

It's okay to be arrogant, as long as you have the talent to back it up.

Xie Xiaojing nodded: "Okay, I agree to this. I'll approve the screening room for you, and I'll call the teacher over. Let's see if you can handle it tomorrow!"

……

The Beijing Film Studio isn't very big, so even the slightest rumor can spread, let alone when the film crew of over twenty people went back together to spread the news.

"A public screening tomorrow night?"

"Who is this? Isn't he supposed to be a senior in college yet?"

"What?! The director is a freshman who just entered the university?!"

Are all new recruits this arrogant these days?

"I'm definitely going to give him a good scolding tomorrow and teach him a lesson about how arrogant he really is!"

When the news reached the ears of the older students, it caused an uproar.

Public screenings at Beijing Film Academy are not easy to get through; every year, senior students are brought to tears by the insults of their junior classmates.

Zhang Yimou once said that he was always nervous when he returned to Beijing Film Studio to screen his films. He explained that he was quite a "rebellious youth" in his school days, having once made a senior student cry with his criticism, so he knew how intense and satisfying it would be when it was his turn.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qinqin had also learned that "Car 44" would be screened at the school tomorrow; Qi Jing had just come to inform her personally.

Chen Shasha, who was standing next to her, clicked her tongue and said, "Wu Yuchen is too audacious!"

Jiang Qinqin was also somewhat surprised, not expecting Wu Yuchen to dare to publicly screen it. They had already witnessed the fighting power of the Beijing Film Academy's group of trolls during their freshman year, who had verbally abused a senior so much that he went back to his dormitory and lay in bed for a week without eating.

Chen Shasha turned her head and asked:
"Qinqin, how's the movie going? You never tell me, even though it's showing tomorrow!"

Jiang Qinqin shook her head: "I...I don't know either."

"You, the female lead, are telling me you don't know?"

Jiang Qinqin has been holding her breath ever since she came back. She hasn't contacted Wu Yuchen since, and she hasn't even seen the final product. How would she know?

"It should be alright, I guess..."

Although Jiang Qinqin was angry with Wu Yuchen, she still admired his talent. Since he dared to screen it publicly, he must have been confident.
Yin Qiaoqiao, who was standing next to her, sensed that Jiang Qinqin's words lacked confidence, so she said to her:

"Qinqin, why don't you skip tomorrow? If the movie doesn't turn out well, you, as the lead actress, will also be criticized."

Jiang Qinqin, who was already a little apprehensive, felt a surge of indignation upon hearing this. The movie hadn't even been released yet, so why was it already unacceptable?

"Yes, I'll definitely go tomorrow. What movie premiere doesn't have the leading lady go?"
"So what if we both get scolded? It's not a big deal!"

After speaking her mind, Jiang Qinqin felt much better. At the same time, she was also very curious about how her film performance was.
However, the thought of seeing that annoying Wu Yuchen tomorrow made Jiang Qinqin pout. Actually, after so many days, her anger had almost subsided. But just thinking about that arrogant guy gave her an indescribable feeling—a mixture of annoyance and disgust.

……

The day passed quickly. Starting at 6 p.m., students began to enter the screening room one after another. By 6:30 p.m., the huge screening room was almost full, but students kept coming in and crowding into the aisles or back rows. The audience was filled with discussions.

Looking at the scene below the stage, some members of the film crew were already starting to feel uneasy.

At 6:45, a group of teachers arrived together and sat down in the first row. Finally, someone couldn't help but ask, "Old Jia, look, isn't this Dean Hou?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangke looked towards the center of the first row, where a middle-aged man wearing glasses was chatting and laughing with Xie Xiaojing next to him. This man was none other than Hou Keming, the current vice president of Beijing Film Academy.

"Even the school leaders are here! What if something happens..." Someone swallowed hard and said with a bitter face.

"There's no 'what if'!" Jia Zhangke said directly. Although he was already nervous, he knew he couldn't let his men lose their composure first.

At this moment, Wu Yuchen walked up to the group and said firmly, "Don't worry, everyone, I'm here. I'm the director, I'll take responsibility for whatever happens!"

His words reassured many people and calmed everyone down.

Standing to the side, Jiang Qinqin looked at Wu Yuchen and thought to herself that he was quite responsible. But when Wu Yuchen turned his gaze to her, she turned her head away with a cold face.

On the other side, Sun Honglei looked at Duan Long, who had been standing silently without saying a word, and said, "Duan Long, with so many people around, aren't you nervous?"

Duan Long glanced at him and said in a low voice, "Anyway, it's not like it's the Central Academy of Drama."

Sun Honglei patted him on the back:
"Are you stupid?! If we smash it, we'll both be incredibly embarrassed in Beijing Film Academy. We'll be scolded to death when we get back to school!"

Upon hearing this, Duan Long stumbled and almost lost his balance.

(End of this chapter)