Huayu: This director is pretty strong.

As soon as the guesthouse door opened, three video cameras were already set up at the bottom of the steps.

The camera was focused entirely on Chen Yan.

Zhou Man stood at the front of the reporters, wearing a gray suit, with short hair and a media pass hanging around her neck.

The microphone in her hand was already turned on.

Before he could catch his breath, Lu Haiming handed him the second knife.

Su Wan stood beside Chen Yan, holding her handbag.

Inside were copies of Wild Bunch's contracts, bank receipts, a French power of attorney, and copies of checks for $1.5 million.

Chen Yan glanced at her hand.

"Is the bag still there?"

Su Wan nodded and moved the purse to the inside of her arm.

"Money can make up for it."

Chen Yan closed the folder for her, saying, "Don't go inside."

Zhang Yuan carried his camera bag, his face still bearing the bluish tinge of staying up all night.

"They're coming for us?"

"Aiming for the trophy, and also for the contract."

Chen Yan pushed the suitcase, "Don't do anything, don't give them any chance to see."

Zhou Man took half a step forward.

"Welcome back to China, Chen."

Her voice drowned out the noise from below the steps.

"I heard that your film screened in Cannes used internal footage from the Lu Group. Does winning international awards mean you can disregard the rights of domestic companies?"

The flash went off.

People stopped by the roadside, and onlookers gathered around.

Chen Yan did not stop.

Zhou Man followed him, pressing the microphone to his side.

"You publicly mentioned your new film 'Thunder' at Cannes. Will you continue to use related materials? If this causes reputational damage to national enterprises, what responsibility are you prepared to bear?"

copyright.

National enterprises.

Overseas awards.

Three words are enough to fill an entire page of tomorrow's newspaper.

Zhang Yuan's hand reached for the tripod clip in his camera bag.

Chen Yan held down his bag strap.

"Don't touch it."

Zhou Man didn't get a reply, so the microphone was turned to Su Wan.

"Ms. Su, as a producer, did you participate in overseas US dollar transactions? Were your income properly declared? Was the contract signing process compliant?"

Several microphones were extended over.

The camera zooms in on the folder in Su Wan's arms.

The bag was squeezed slightly, and the clasp made a soft sound.

Su Wan looked at Chen Yan.

Chen Yan didn't speak up for her, but simply pushed the folder containing the documents half an inch closer to her hand.

Su Wan slung her purse over her left arm and pulled out a pre-sorted copy of the documents with her right hand.

The paper trembled in her hand before being quickly pressed down.

"Three points to respond."

The reporter pushed his way forward.

"First, the copyright chain is complete, with authorization letters, agency agreements, and bank receipts all available."

She handed a copy of the contract to the nearest reporter.

The French seal is affixed to the bottom right corner of the first page.

"Secondly, the source of the material is supported by written proof, which has been stamped by the French authorities."

The second document was submitted.

"Third, if the Lu Group wants to assert its rights, please file a lawsuit."

Su Wan looked at Zhou Man.

"The media has no right to adjudicate."

There was silence for a few seconds at the bottom of the steps.

Zhou Man's expression softened somewhat.

She had originally thought that Chen Yan would be the one to step forward.

I never expected that this young girl in the old coat would know the legal terminology so well.

"Miss Su is very well prepared."

Zhou Man changed her question.

"But Director Chen, is it really respectable to have your girlfriend stand in front of you?"

Whispers arose from the crowd.

This question avoids the law and only involves violence.

Su Wan gripped the folder, her arm tense.

Chen Yan stopped, took the power of attorney from Wild Bunch's legal team from her, and walked up to Zhou Man.

He handed over the documents.

"Lu Haiming wants to file a lawsuit, we are waiting for the summons."

Zhou Man caught the paper.

"If you want to find a reporter, I'll provide the materials."

Chen Yan looked at her.

"You can play something else if you want."

He paused for a moment.

"Go back and tell him that the thunder hasn't sounded yet."

Zhou Man held the authorization letter in her hand, the edges of the paper creased from being pressed.

"Director Chen, President Lu asked me to pass on a message."

She took half a step forward.

"Young people have talent, don't push your luck to the limit."

Chen Yan pushed his suitcase and brushed past her.

"Narrow roads are good for blocking people."

Zhou Man stood still and did not chase after him.

As reporters tried to surround her, Su Wan had already distributed the remaining copies of the documents.

"The materials are here. For contract details, please contact Wild Bunch's legal department via email."

Her voice still sounded tired, but she didn't retreat any further.

It was very cold outside on the steps.

Lin Qingqiu has been taken to the hospital by a car arranged by Lin Shufen.

Zhang Yuan pushed his luggage, cursed, and then looked back at Su Wan.

"Sure, it's a Su-produced film."

Su Wan finally relaxed, her shoulders slumped, and she still held her purse protectively in her arms.

"Am I right?"

Chen Yan tucked her wind-blown hair behind her ear.

"no."

Su Wan looked down at the folder.

My hands were shaking terribly just now.

"Being able to hand over the documents is enough."

Su Wan looked up.

"I will be more stable in the future."

Chen Yan glanced at her.

There will be many more "futures".

The taxi queue was very long.

Outside the crowd, a middle-aged man carrying an old briefcase stood by the escalator.

Yan Huaizhong.

The vice president of Beijing Film Academy had no entourage or school vehicle.

He stood there, coming to greet his students.

Chen Yan told Zhang Yuan and Su Wan to go ahead and queue up, while he went over there himself.

Yan Huaizhong looked at him and said only three words.

"I won an award."

"Um."

"It's not that fun at school."

Yan Huaizhong switched the briefcase to his other hand.

"Lu Haiming went there this morning. He's not donating the building anymore."

Chen Yan did not respond.

Yan Huaizhong continued:

"He wants to lead the establishment of an academic review panel to review the creative process of 'The Night Watch.' Filming records, actor agreements, and sources of materials—everything must be examined."

"A copy can be found."

"Where's the original?"

"I won't go to school."

Yan Huaizhong looked at him for a long time and then nodded.

"How far are you planning to go with 'Thunder'?"

"They filmed him until he was too afraid to enter the Beijing Film Academy again."

Yan Huaizhong took out a business card with frayed edges from his bag.

"Liang Qinian, Laochang Street Police Station, Tianjin."

Chen Yan accepted the business card.

Yan Huaizhong said:

"His sister died on Lu Haiming's first piece of land."

"There is no murderer in the case file, and no name on the compensation list."

The business card was old, with frayed edges.

Chen Yan looked at the landline number on the screen.

"Will he help me?"

He won't help you.

Yan Huaizhong said.

"He just doesn't like Lu Haiming."

This statement is more effective than any promise.

Yan Huaizhong added another sentence:

"I can hold out for a while with the review team. Remember, don't hand over the master tape, don't hand over the original, and don't believe any verbal guarantees."

Chen Yan put the business card into his inner pocket.

Have you ever been taken advantage of?

Yan Huaizhong didn't answer, but just patted him on the shoulder.

"Go make your film."

After saying that, he picked up his briefcase, turned around, and disappeared into the crowd.

As the taxi drove off the airport expressway, it was getting a little brighter.

Su Wan fell asleep leaning on Chen Yan's shoulder, still clutching her handbag.

Zhang Yuan was sitting in the passenger seat, asking the driver which hot pot restaurant was still open.

My phone vibrated.

Lin Shufen's text message popped up.

"Lu Haiming has already contacted the martial arts industry. Wu Gang has been informed. No one in Yanjing dares to take on the action scenes for 'Thunder'."

Chen Yan stared at the screen without replying.

Liang Qinian.

Wu Gang.

Old Factory Street.

Bell tower.

These lines all point to Tianjin.

The collapsed clock tower in the novel "Rain in the Old City" from his previous life was the starting point for Lu Haiming's rise to wealth.

The first scene of this life's "Thunder" must also begin there.

Chen Yan took out the business card Yan Huaizhong had given him and, using the light from the car window, clearly saw the landline number.

"master."

The driver looked at him in the rearview mirror.

"I'm not going to the hospital."

Zhang Yuan turned around: "Huh? Where to?"

Chen Yan put the business card into his inner pocket.

"TRAIN STATION."

He looked out the window.

"Buy a ticket for the earliest train to Tianjin."

Zhang Yuan was stunned for a moment.

"Now?"

Chen Yan said:

"The first scene of 'Thunder' begins filming today."

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