It's reasonable for me to be a three-time Golden Horse Award-winning director and an all-around

Chapter 13 Liu Yifei and Lü Rui: "I guarantee I'll take them down!"

"Big Shot's Funeral has ended its run perfectly, successfully grossing 4300 million yuan at the box office, ranking second in the national box office chart, second only to the Hollywood blockbuster Pearl Harbor. Feng Xiaogang has once again created a box office legend!"

"The action/martial arts blockbuster 'Hero,' directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Li Lianjie, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, and Zhang Ziyi, with an investment of US$3000 million (approximately RMB 2.6 million), wrapped up filming the day before yesterday."

The 52nd Berlin International Film Festival announced its official selection this morning, with more than 180 films from around the world participating, including 23 films in the main competition.

Warmest congratulations to "The Vanished Lover," a suspense/thriller film directed by emerging Chinese film director Lü Rui, for successfully being nominated for the main competition!

"In terms of Chinese films, Feng Xiaogang's 'Big Shot', Zhang Yimou's 'Happy Times', Li Xin's 'Blind Eyes', and Ann Hui's 'July Rhapsody' will be screened at the 52nd Berlin International Film Festival."

It's on the front page!

It's gone viral online!

Immediately after ending his call with Jiang Wen, Lü Rui used his newly purchased IBM R30 laptop to log into the three major portal websites.

On the homepage's headline page, his name was listed alongside those of Feng Xiaogang and Zhang Yimou!

"Hey? You're getting better too, buddy."

Lu Rui was scrolling through the news, thoroughly enjoying himself.

"Berlin Film Festival? Selected for the main competition?"

Zhao Peng, standing next to him, seemed stunned, repeatedly muttering the same phrase.

Finally, under Lu Rui's suspicious gaze, he actually rushed out the door, shouting, "Brother Rui is going to ascend to heaven!"

I'm crazy...

"You're the one who's about to ascend to heaven."

He called out towards the door, then shook his head helplessly, picked up the toothbrush and bucket next to him, and prepared to wash up first.

However, it was clear that things wouldn't be quiet this early in the morning.

While I was brushing my teeth, calls came in one after another from Han Sanping, Wang Zhonglei, Jiang Wei, Zhang Jiandong, Feng Yuanzheng, Mei Ting, Wang Jinsong and others!
It took more than half an hour to get the phone call sorted out.

Lu Rui thought this was already exaggerated enough.

But when he stepped out of the dormitory, he discovered that things were far more complicated than he thought!
[Warmest congratulations! Our school's second-year directing student, Lü Rui, has had her debut film, *The Vanished Lover*, selected for the main competition at the Berlin International Film Festival!]

A brand-new, eye-catching banner was hung conspicuously at the entrance of the dormitory building.

"Move a little to the right, can't you see it's off-center? Can you please pay attention?"

With one hand on his hip and the other hand directing his two junior classmates, Zhao Peng adjusted the banner to the center.

"Holy crap? What are you doing?" Lu Rui was completely dumbfounded.

That's fucking terrible!

It's just being shortlisted, is it really necessary to make such a big fuss?

"Brother Rui, don't worry about it, just go about your business. This is what our director Xie Xiaojing asked us to do."

Zhao Peng waved his hand, giving the impression that he could rest assured that the matter was in his hands.

"Can't we just not be listed? We're only shortlisted..."

Lu Rui still wanted to try, but Zhao Peng said seriously, "Brother Rui, you are the first student in the history of Beijing Film Academy to be shortlisted for a major award while still a student. You must accept the award!"

Lü Rui: "..."

“I brought 10 banners. After hanging them here, I have to go to the school gate and the school playground to hang them up.”

"???"

…………

Classes can't be held because all the teachers in the directing department have gone mad!
As soon as Lü Rui sat down in the classroom, before he could even adjust to the envious and jealous looks from his classmates, Jiang Wei grabbed him and dragged him out.

"Come with me to see the boss!"

Li Zhen, deputy director of the Directing Department; Xie Xiaojing, director of the Directing Department; Sun Lijun, vice president of Beijing Film Academy; Wang Fengsheng, president of Beijing Film Academy…

He spent the entire morning listening to teachings and receiving praise.

The leaders said a lot, but he only remembered one sentence: "Next time you make a movie, Beijing Film Academy will give you their full support! Starting with a million-dollar investment!"

That one sentence is enough!
In the following days, Lü Rui did not go to class, but instead went to communicate with China Film Group about the follow-up arrangements for "Gone Girl".

First and foremost, I have to attend the film festival. The opening ceremony of the Berlin Film Festival is on February 6th, and I absolutely have to be there that day.

Meanwhile, the film's premiere and first appearance will also take place at a film festival.

To date, the three major European film festivals all require participating films to have a "world premiere" before their screening at the festival, in order to ensure the festival's authority and uniqueness and attract the attention of global media and audiences.

The Cannes Film Festival explicitly stipulates that films in competition cannot be screened in advance at other film festivals or in public venues, nor can they be released through online or other channels. Violation of these regulations will result in immediate disqualification!
and so……

"I want this movie to be released on February 12th, the Chinese New Year."

"why?"

Han Sanping didn't quite understand the release date proposed by Lü Rui. After all, the concept of a "Spring Festival film season" didn't exist yet, and the "New Year's film season" was only just beginning to emerge.

His idea was to release it after the Berlin Film Festival.

But Lu Rui explained, "From New Year's Eve to the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, everyone is at home and has plenty of free time. At this time, there will definitely be more people who want to watch movies to relax and have fun than usual."

Furthermore, given that it coincides with a film festival, its popularity is guaranteed to be high. Also, "Gone Girl" tells a love story, which aligns perfectly with Valentine's Day on February 14th. Capitalizing on this point during the promotion will undoubtedly attract many couples to see it.

Han Sanping pondered for a moment, his eyes lighting up slightly.

What this kid said seems to make some sense?!

After thinking for a moment, he immediately made the decision: "Okay, I'll do as you say!"

However, he really couldn't agree with the description of "Gone Girl" as a 'love story'.

Who talks about love like this?
Suspicion, infidelity, framing, hatred, betrayal, and even wishing to send the other person to jail—can this be love?

……

After leaving China Film Group, Lü Rui found Jiang Wen again, intending to ask him for advice on what to do next.

He himself had lived to be over 40 years old in his previous life, but he was just an unknown director who could only end up making short dramas.

So he was completely clueless about places like the Berlin International Film Festival and had no idea what to do once he got there.

Seeing his confusion, Jiang Wen immediately patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I'll go with you and we can visit your wife and kids on the way."

His wife Sandrine and daughter Kang Il-rang currently live in France.

During the Chinese New Year holiday, he wanted to have a family reunion dinner and took the opportunity to fly to Berlin.

Unfortunately, Lü Rui will not be able to have a family reunion dinner this year, as the Berlin Film Festival will run from February 6th to 17th.

However, when he told his parents the news, they both agreed.

"Be confident and out in public, and remember to greet people when you meet them!"

"Remember to bring warm clothes, don't catch a cold..."

Parents may show their care for their children in different ways, but their love is always the same!
After finishing all the preparations for departure, Lü Rui returned to school and resumed classes as usual.

The gossip around me hasn't decreased compared to before; it's just that the rhetoric has changed.

"Just lucky."

"So what if you're nominated? Come back and brag when you actually win an award."

"If Jiang Wen is willing to support me, I'm willing to go too!"

"..."

Zhao Peng would argue with those people, but Lü Rui ignored the group of clowns.

You didn't even feel the pain after being slapped on the right cheek?

Then you can expect to get slapped on the left cheek too!
……

On January 30, the Beijing Film Academy officially began its holiday.

With a few days left before his departure for Berlin, Lü Rui was bored, so he decided to go visit Jiang Wen.

It was only then that he realized that the post-production editing of "Looking for a Gun" was actually done by Jiang Wen himself, while Lu Chuan was just squatting down and watching.

When she saw him coming over, Lu Chuan was extremely reluctant.

"Why are there outsiders here? What if the finished film gets leaked..."

Snapped--

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Wen slapped him on the back of the head. "What are you babbling about? Go get Lü Rui a chair."

I don't even have a seat!

Lu Chuan roared inwardly, but had no choice but to stand up with a wronged expression, rubbing her numb thighs as she went to get a stool.

Lu Rui suppressed a laugh, took the stool handed to him, and sat down next to Jiang Wen and Zhang Yifan to learn their editing techniques.

Before we knew it, it was April 4th.

Lu Rui, Jiang Wen, Han Sanping, and more than ten people from China Film Group boarded a plane together and headed straight for Berlin!

Meanwhile, at the other exit of the Capital Airport, Liu's mother, pulling two huge suitcases, led Liu Yifei out.

While waiting for the bus, Liu Xiaoli looked at her 15-year-old daughter and said softly, "Qianqian, how's your preparation for the art exam going?"

Holding a pink plush doll in her arms, Liu Yifei smiled brightly, revealing dimples that made her look sweet and charming.

She raised her right hand, made a fist, and swung it forward lightly, "I guarantee I'll take it down!"

Meanwhile, on the plane, facing Han Sanping's teasing question about whether he was confident of winning an award, Lü Rui also curled the corners of his mouth and said, "I can't guarantee a big prize, but I guarantee I'll win a small one!"

(End of this chapter)