Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 49 You and I will go together
The celebration banquet was held in the evening, and we certainly had to give face to the two senior state-owned enterprises.

And they also have to break ice blocks, since they've broken a record.

Co-productions are also domestically funded, and for employees of state-owned enterprises, the underlying meaning is more important than making money.

No foreign directors or actors were invited; only Chinese participants were present. As the organizer, Chen Shouzhe no longer needed to greet people at the entrance; a private car took him into the venue.

After Chen Shou got out of the car, the other door opened, and a woman stepped out wearing a pink and white sequined dress, with her long hair tied up, a delicate face, and bright red lips.

Many people were taken aback when they saw the two getting out of the same car, but immediately greeted them with smiles.

Chen Shou waited for a while, and then Yang Mi came over, took his arm, and walked into the venue with him.

As the two walked in, all eyes turned to them.

"They really are having an affair."

"Could you get a role in a Stephen Chow movie without connections?"

"Dressed up like a vixen."

"I thought she would never be able to attend such an occasion in her life, but I didn't expect her to be right."

"They're so young! Do you think they'll be a couple?"

"Who knows, directors' tastes are constantly changing."

Many people whispered among themselves when they saw the two of them come in, and people kept greeting them.

Yang Mi finally experienced what it meant to be the center of attention. Although she had been under the spotlight before, this time was different. Everyone present was an industry professional, many of whom she couldn't afford to offend, or even people with higher status in the industry than her. Yet, these people were now greeting her with smiles, something she would never have dared to imagine before.

And the one who brought all of this to her was the man beside her.

"Director Chen, congratulations." Chen Shou had only taken a few steps when Wang Zonglei, with a big smile on his face, came up to him.

Yang Mi released his hand, and Chen Shouzhe extended his hand to shake hands with Wang Zonglei: "Mr. Wang, you're too kind. I was just lucky."

“Luck is also part of ability. Besides, I have more faith in Director Chen’s ability. Next time there’s a project, we must bring Huayi along. Huayi’s doors will always be open for Director Chen.” Wang Zonglei squeezed Chen Shouzhe’s hand and shook it vigorously, looking very friendly. He also glanced at Yang Mi next to Chen Shouzhe and nodded with a smile.

This made Yang Mi feel flattered. Wang Zonglei, the second-in-command of Huayi Brothers in the Beijing circle, was an unapproachable big shot. It was a great honor that he had nodded to her.

“We’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with Huayi in the future, but let’s not end up like with ‘Painted Skin.’ We lost a lot of money that time, Mr. Wang,” Chen Shou said with a smile.

"Hehehe, we will definitely strengthen our cooperation in the future. I'll treat you to dinner another day. Director Chen, I have something to attend to, so please excuse me." Wang Zonglei laughed heartily, but the smile on his face vanished instantly as he turned his head. His speed in changing his expression was so fast that even a professional face-changing actor couldn't keep up.

"cut!"

Chen Shou watched him leave, then sneered. Others couldn't hear it, but Yang Mi, who was next to Chen Shou, heard it clearly.

She dared not ask any more questions. In a battle between powerful figures, even a single shockwave could crush her. It was best to stay out of sight of it.

Wang Zonglei walked away, and the others came over. Wang Changtian, Ye Ning, Huo Wenxi and these people were people I often dealt with.

Wang Jinghua also brought people over, including artists. This top agent, who came from Huayi Brothers, left Huayi and Orange Sky started to decline after that.

However, the artists under his management are still very capable, and Chen Shou chatted with her for a while.

When Cai Yinong, the sugar figurine maker, came over, Chen Shouzhe didn't give her a friendly look.

Before long, Han Sanping and Ren Zhonglun arrived. Chen Shouzhe and Ye Ning, along with their respective families, took the stage. The two spoke one after the other, and then, with their 'courtesy,' the two big shots shook hands and together smashed the 2800000000 block of ice.

"Director Chen, may I have a word with you?" Chen Shou was chatting with Huang Xiaoming and others when he suddenly heard a refined voice behind him. He knew who it was without even looking.

The others saw this person quietly step back; he had just been speaking on stage.

"Chairman Ren!"

Chen Shou and Ren Zhonglun walked to the sofa next to them. People nearby watched curiously but dared not go up.

Yang Mi was chatting with Li Baibing at this moment. The two seemed to be getting along well with Chen Shouzhe. He glanced in Chen Shouzhe's direction.

"You need to leverage your strengths; youth might be your greatest asset," Li Baibing said to Yang Mi.

"Thank you, Sister Bai Bing, I understand, but between him and me..."

“I’ve been there. Once you’re in this industry, there are many things you can’t control. Everyone goes through this. Unless you’re like that guy, you can only bow down to them. That’s just how this industry is.” Li Baibing glanced at a round-faced girl in the crowd. Yang Mi looked in the direction she was pointing and saw that she was indeed someone not to be trifled with. “Don’t be fooled by what you’re giving now. Others can give the same. Make good use of it. Even if you get dumped later, at least you’ll get what you want from him.”

"Thank you so much, Sister Bai Bing."

The two sat alone on the sofa. Ren Zhonglun had a scholarly air about him, and was refined and easygoing, but those who knew him said he had the petty-mindedness of someone from Shanghai.

Compared to Han Sanye's rough-and-tumble Northwest style, Ren Dong, as a university teacher, is indeed very refined.

"Director Chen, thank you so much for taking the lead this time."

"No need to thank me, Chairman Ren. It's a win-win situation for everyone." Chen Shou hurriedly held up his cup and lowered his own cup to clink them together.

There's no way a leader would bow their cup first; they'd always be the one to do so.

"I'm very sorry about what happened to Xia Luo. It was Shanghai Film Group's fault. I've already dealt with the personnel, and it will definitely not happen again. As long as it's a film produced by Shanghai Film Group, we'll stick with them from now on." After saying this, Chairman Ren took a sip of his drink.

Chen Shou also took a sip: "That matter is all in the past. Back then, I didn't know anything and just jumped in headfirst. It's normal to be rejected. Young people don't know anything, they just rely on their enthusiasm, haha!!"

Ren Zhonglun knew that Chen Shouzhe's relationship with China Film Group was much better than his relationship with Shanghai Film Group, and there was no way to compare them.

China Film Group helped Chen Shouzhe in his time of need, while Shanghai Film Group kicked him aside when he was in his most desperate situation. Later, although they shamelessly begged for cooperation, Chen Shouzhe completely ignored them.

The fact that this co-production, which included Shanghai Film Group, achieved such great success made him realize that he needed to keep Chen Shouzhe firmly under his control, and ideally, he could poach him from China Film Group.

So he prepared a bunch of benefits for Chen Shouzhe. Ren Zhonglun said a lot, but Chen Shouzhe remained unmoved.

Despite Shanghai Film Group's favorable conditions, the price to pay is not small. However, China Film Group's import rights alone can cripple Shanghai Film Group. If Chen Shou wants to develop overseas, he is destined to be inseparable from China Film Group.

Several state-owned enterprises had previously joined forces to exert pressure, but it was still no use; they simply couldn't wrest this authority from China Film Group.

Why is China Film Group the leader?

Have you made many movies?

Or are you still rich?

It means that they have the highest authority and hold the power of life and death.

Besides, you are all state-owned enterprises with local names, except for China Film Group, which has the name of a country at the beginning, so you are slightly inferior in terms of status.

How could Chen Shouzhe be so close to Shanghai Film Group? Shanghai Film Group can give China Film Group everything it can, and China Film Group has things that Shanghai Film Group doesn't. Who should he choose?

He wasn't stupid; he could tell that Chen Shouzhe was distracted. Ren Zhonglun also understood that it wouldn't be easy to sway Chen Shouzhe; ultimately, they were just too slow to act.

Chen Shouzhe couldn't leave easily either, as he couldn't embarrass Ren Zhonglun. Just when he was in agony, someone finally came to his rescue.

"Why are you still here? Old Ren, hurry up and take your seat," said Third Master Han, bringing over a wine glass.

As a key member of the production team, Chen Shouzhe sat at the first table, while Yang Mi was arranged to sit with Huang Xiaoming and the others, thus joining the ranks of the key members.

The actors at the same table as her were not dissatisfied, after all, Yang Mi came in with Chen Shouzhe, which meant that Chen Shouzhe was sitting with them.

After a few drinks, and with more and more people offering toasts, Chen Shou couldn't keep up. He couldn't remember how he got home; he seemed to have said something, but he also seemed to have forgotten something else.

When I woke up, I was already at the horse farm. Luckily, the heating was very good, and I slept very comfortably.

The wine served at the banquet was all good wine, and I generally didn't have a headache the next day.

Chen Shou picked up his phone first, only to find a bunch of missed calls. After thinking for a moment, he decided to make a call to ask.

"Did you bring me back yesterday?" Chen Shou asked.

"I didn't take you back; I asked Teacher Guo's apprentice to come and pick you up," Yang Mi said on the other end of the phone, who had already started putting on makeup.

"Did I say anything yesterday?" Chen Shou asked.

"You seem to have mentioned making a movie."

"Drinking leads to trouble." Chen Shou looked at the phone screen. No wonder there were so many messages. He must have let it slip yesterday. Everyone knew he was going to make a new movie.

However, Chen Shou was not in a hurry. This film had nothing to do with China. He went to the horse farm, fed the animals, had lunch with his master and mistress, and drove to school. He had been a graduate student for three years and was about to graduate. He needed to prepare his graduation project.

(End of this chapter)