Entertainment: 1990

Chapter 81 Meaning

After finishing that conversation, when it was time to eat, Zhang Yan brought up the fact that Guan Hu planned to raise funds to make a movie and had even specially hired him as the producer.

"That kid wanted me to revise the script, but he didn't want to spend the money, so he came up with this crooked idea."

After hearing Zhang Yan's words, Feng Xiaogang felt a pang of bitterness. He had been in the industry for so many years, and he was still only able to work as a screenwriter in partnership with others.

And what about Zhang Yan?

He debuted as a bestselling author with 300,000 copies sold, then became an independent screenwriter for hit TV dramas, and was courted by Tianjin TV, Beijing TV, and even CCTV. Now, he has somehow become a producer.

In less than two years, they have covered half the distance of my life, and even easily left me behind.

Fortunately, Feng Xiaogang was used to being hit hard since childhood, and most children from high-ranking families had it easier than him, so his bitter feelings only lasted for a moment.

Then he raised his glass and said enthusiastically, "This is good, this is good—if you ask me, this news is more worthy of a toast than the 'Three Platforms Fighting for a Husband'!"

Zhang Yan clinked glasses with him, swallowed a mouthful of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), and laughed, "Brother Feng, don't worry. Now that Beijing and Tianjin have started, there will definitely be more and more domestically produced dramas in the future. With your abilities, you'll have your chance to make it sooner or later."

"Sigh, let's just tough it out for now."

Feng Xiaogang shook his head helplessly and said, "Who told me to come from a poor family and not have your talent, brother? I can only try my best step by step."

The banquet ended in high spirits.

Zhang Yan took a taxi back to his apartment. He was feeling quite drunk on the way, and he staggered a bit as he climbed the stairs.

I knocked on the door when I got to the apartment, but there was no response from inside for a long time.

He searched for a long time in a daze before finally finding the key, opening the door and going inside. Just as he was about to turn around and close the door, he suddenly heard a voice behind him: "Don't move."

These three words seemed to stir Zhang Yan's DNA. His eyes lit up as he turned around, only to see a dark... uh, camera lens.
Click~
The shutter clicked, and Chen Hong put down her camera, covering her mouth and giggling, "Darling, your expression just now, you didn't misunderstand something, did you?"

Zhang Yan paused for a moment before pointing to the camera hanging around her neck and asking, "What's this?"

Didn't you say you wanted to buy a camera the other day?

Chen Hong took the camera off her neck and showed it to Zhang Yan, saying, "I asked around among professionals, and this Canon EOS-1 is the most advanced SLR camera. It can even autofocus. It cost me more than 20,000 yuan!"

No wonder she didn't go to Magic Rock Culture this morning. Zhang Yan had thought she was tired of the noisy rock music, but it turned out she went to buy herself a gift.

Moved, Zhang Yan scooped her up in his arms, closed the door with his heel, and headed for the bed.

"Oh dear, let me put the camera away first—curtains, close the curtains!"

…………

When Zhang Yan woke up again, it was already past 10 p.m.

He looked down at Chen Hong nestled in his arms, then at the imported camera worth over 20,000 yuan on the table, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

He initially thought it would be an amicable parting, but now he's getting more and more involved and can't seem to leave Chen Hong.

The more he couldn't live without Chen Hong, the more suspicious he became.

For example, Chen Hong just made a double entendre yesterday, and today she bought such an expensive gift. Is it more out of love, or...?

At this moment, Chen Hong was awakened by his sigh, and sat up with concern, asking, "Honey, what's wrong?"

"nothing."

Zhang Yan rubbed his temples and said, half-jokingly, "The alcohol hasn't completely worn off yet, and I have a bit of a headache."

"How about I cook you some noodle soup? Once you have something in your stomach, you shouldn't feel so uncomfortable."

As Chen Hong spoke, she grabbed Zhang Yan's coat and put it on, preparing to cook some noodles.

"Wait a moment!"

Zhang Yan suddenly grabbed her, stared at her coat for a while, and shook his head regretfully, saying, "Never mind, go cook some noodles."

"What's wrong? Just say what's on your mind."

Seeing him like this, Chen Hong went up to him and acted coquettishly.

Zhang Yan simply stood up shirtless, rummaged through the thin jacket he had worn that day, and said to Chen Hong, "That night you got up in the middle of the night to read the script under the lamp, and it felt particularly interesting—that's why I got the idea to buy a camera."

"The 26th of last month?"

Chen Hong took the shirt he handed her and said with a hint of worry, "After you finish filming, be sure not to let anyone else see it."

"Don't worry, I'll find Guan Hu tomorrow to learn how to develop film. We'll set up our own developing room behind closed doors, and we'll never let anyone see it!"

Zhang Yan was very proactive, immediately helping Chen Hong unbutton her clothes and putting the thinner one on, then coaxing her to sit down on the chair. "Heels on the edge of the chair, toes up, then slightly hooked back—yes, yes, that's it."

"It seems like you should lean forward a little more, yes, put your chest on your knees—keep your eyes focused."

"Don't look so stiff, and make your movements more natural."

Zhang Yan spent a lot of time and effort to finally train him to a certain extent, but there was basically no hope of restoring that unintentional feeling.

After Chen Hong had posed, Zhang Yan excitedly picked up his camera, and then...

"Uh, how do you use this thing?"

"Cuckoo~"

Chen Hong laughed so hard she collapsed onto the table, gasping for breath, "Seeing how professionally you were directing just now, I thought you knew everything."

"Hey, that was just copying what I just did."

Zhang Yan awkwardly held up the camera and said, "Stop laughing, come over here and teach me how to use this thing."

Chen Hong was actually just cramming at the last minute, and only learned a smattering of what she had learned from others.

Needless to say, the skill level of an apprentice taught by someone with only a half-baked knowledge is questionable.

After Chen Hong posed again, Zhang Yan took a few photos, but the results were completely different from what he had expected.

"Got it."

Seeing Chen Hong sneeze, he could only give up helplessly and said, "Looks like I need to learn how to take pictures first—you should go back to bed and lie down, or you'll catch a cold."

It was obviously too late to say that, and Chen Hong felt unwell when she woke up the next morning.

Zhang Yan took her to a nearby clinic, got some medicine, and then, under Chen Hong's direction, cooked half a pot of congee with preserved egg and lean pork. After serving her until she was full and fell asleep, Zhang Yan went downstairs to meet up with Guan Hu.

Guan Hu had been waiting on the street for quite some time. When he saw Zhang Yan come down, he hurriedly came up to him and asked, "Brother, is it time to shoot that cup noodle commercial? Don't worry, the brothers are all ready."

"No rush. Tell everyone that this advertisement might be filmed in Tianjin."

"Why go to Tianjin to film?"

"Because I wanted to find a section of train carriage to film, it was difficult to coordinate in Beijing, but it was much easier in Tianjin."

Zhang Yan briefly explained his thought process to Guan Hu.

After listening, Guan Hu frowned and said, "This role doesn't seem to suit my sister-in-law very well."

He added silently to himself: It's not suitable for Xu Fan either.

"I have someone else in mind."

As Zhang Yan spoke, he subconsciously looked up at the building and then asked, "When are you planning to shoot that movie?"

"Next spring?"

Guan Hu scratched his head and said, "Thanks to the recent commercial shoot, the filming team has been well-trained—and our old man read the script you revised and said that this time it's finally doing properly. He plans to personally help me pull some strings and get some sponsorship."

"It would be best to hurry up, at least to get the general framework settled first." Zhang Yan whispered, "Your sister-in-law just got the role of Diao Chan in 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms,' and she'll be joining the cast soon."

As you know, she's always wanted to play 'Ye Tong,' but actually, her temperament isn't quite suitable for this kind of aloof role—after all, this is your first project, and I don't want your future to be ruined because of your sister-in-law."

"Brother~ You're really my brother!"

On the surface, Guan Hu was extremely grateful, but in his heart, he knew perfectly well that Guan Hu was tired of his first wife and wanted to pamper his second wife on set.

However, Xu Fan was indeed more suitable for the role than Chen Hong. Chen Hong's appearance was too striking, and her acting skills...

So after separating from Zhang Yan.

Guan Hu immediately contacted Xu Fan: "Hey, old classmate, you'd better make time for me around the Lunar New Year—yes, the female lead, the one Brother Zhang handpicked."

Of course, he didn't say it explicitly, but that's definitely what he meant!

…………

The reception room of Beijing People's Art Theatre.

Xu Fan put down the phone, thanked the security guard, and pondered as he walked back: what did Zhang Yan mean by giving up Chen Hong and handpicking himself to be the female lead?

Is he interested in me, or is it because I am classmates with Guan Hu and I acted as their middleman?
In any case, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Back in the dormitory, she looked at Jiang Shan's upper bunk and thought to herself: I'm sorry, old classmate, but who told you to always miss opportunities?
(End of this chapter)