HuaYu: The most muscular director in history!

8 month 25 day.

With less than two weeks until the start of the new semester at Beijing Film Academy, Xiang Nan got up very early that day, skipped breakfast, and took a taxi to Huairou.

At 9:30 a.m., he arrived at Changguanlou in Beijing Zoo.

After getting out of the car, looking at the gate in front of him, Xiang Nan sighed. He had bumped into someone just three months ago, and thought they wouldn't see each other again until the start of the school year, but unexpectedly...

"Hello, this is the filming location of 'The Story of a Noble Family.' May I ask who you are?"

"Please contact the downstream production team and tell them that Xiang Nan has come as requested."

"OK."

Ten minutes later, Xiang Nan followed a staff member inside. He looked around curiously. The red brick walls and gray base of the antique Baroque-style palace did indeed have the feel of a noble family from the Republic of China era.

"Xiang Nan, haha, you're here?"

"Producer You! Hello!"

You Jianming, wearing a white T-shirt and with a large belly, walked over and looked Xiang Nan up and down as he shook hands with him.

"You little rascal, you didn't say you were this strong on the phone!"

"Haha, Dad's genes are a bit better now, please don't mind."

"..." You Jianming remained noncommittal, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes.

The original plan for "The Story of a Noble Family" was to commission songs from Sanbao, but this guy somehow got his phone number and called to say he wanted to submit a song.

With a "let's give it a try" attitude, You Jianming listened to the demo he sent. Wow, it was amazing! It was perfect!

"Director Li is still filming, please wait a moment. I didn't expect you to arrive so early!"

"Can I go to the film set?"

You Jianming looked over curiously.

Xiang Nan spoke frankly and respectfully: "To be honest, Producer You, I am also an actor, a freshman at the Beijing Film Academy, class of 02."

"Oh?" Producer You looked Xiang Nan up and down again.

Xiang Nan was able to find him before, and You Jianming later learned some of the reasons. It was Cui Zhendong who had pulled some strings, but he didn't expect that this person was a freshman at the Beijing Film Academy.

This kid, with his connections to both Sony and Nortel, must have some powerful backing!

"Let's go then. I'll show you around and broaden your horizons. Speaking of which, you have a classmate in the group too. That's interesting. You're both from the same acting class."

"Oh? What a coincidence?"

The two walked and talked, and soon arrived at the filming location.

Upon entering the main hall of Changguan Building, Xiang Nan's eyes lit up.

The surrounding doors and windows had been treated, the entire hall was dimly lit, the decor was somber, the walls and furniture were mainly coffee-colored, and the walls were decorated with some paintings and lanterns. The people inside were dressed in suits and ties, holding wine glasses and chatting with each other.

It evoked the feeling of a ball in the Republican era; so this is what a film set is like!

"Xiao Xiang, you stay here and watch. I'll go say hello to Director Li."

"Okay, you're busy."

There was no filming at the moment, so You Jianming walked through the crowd toward the director's area.

Xiang Nan observed the moving crowd. Some men in suits were being led to their positions by the script supervisor, while others were sitting in actors' chairs reading their scripts.

Suddenly, Xiang Nan's eyes narrowed as he spotted a figure.

The figure wore a pearl necklace, had curly hair, a white dress, and light blue eyeshadow. The eyelashes at the corners of her eyes and the eyeshadow at the outer corners of her eyes were slightly upturned.

Xiang Nan immediately understood, recalling Bai Xiuzhu's character in the drama.

Just then, the script supervisor's walkie-talkie crackled to life, and Xiang Nan seemed to hear the director call for the crew to stop filming.

A moment later, a director with a buzz cut came out and immediately went to Liu Yifei, whispering something to her and pointing to Xiang Nan, who was watching the show at the door.

Hmm? Is there something else I need to do?

A moment later, Liu Yifei stood up, pulling her skirt up, and walked towards Xiang Nan, followed by Liu Xiaoli, whose face was not friendly.

"Hello, Director Li said you're my classmate. Is there something you'd like to say to me?"

"Me? I wasn't looking for you... Wait, you don't remember me?"

Yifei frowned and looked Xiang Nan up and down.

"Who are you?"

"Yifei, I am Xiang Nan. During the third round of auditions for the Beijing Film Academy..." Xiang Nan stopped speaking, then frowned as he saw something.

In the distance, on the dance floor, director Li Dawei was adding some kind of transparent liquid to red wine.

A bad feeling rose in Xiang Nan's heart. Was this bottle of red wine a prop that Liu Yifei was going to use next? Could it be...?

No, no, Xiang Nan shook his head.

With so many people here, and You Jianming watching right next to the director, it's impossible for that to be happening. So, I must have misunderstood.

Is that for relieving hangovers?

The prolonged silence finally irritated Yifei. She muttered "weirdo" under her breath, crossed her arms, and stopped talking.

"Alright, Sisi, how was your chat?"

The director finally finished his little trick, but when he walked over, he saw the three of them facing off.

That's right, it's a standoff.

Xiang Nan stared intently at the chandelier in the distance, while Liu's mother frowned and stared at him with an unfriendly expression. Liu Yifei pouted, looking somewhat unhappy...

"What's wrong?"

"It's alright!" Two voices rang out simultaneously.

Xiang Nan glanced down subconsciously and instantly met a pair of phoenix eyes, then the two looked away again.

"Ahem, let me introduce you. This is Xiang Nan, the arranger, lyricist, and singer of the theme song for 'The Story of a Noble Family.' He's also from the 02 acting class. If I'm not mistaken, you two are classmates."

Yifei raised her head, forcing a professional fake smile: "Nice to meet you!"

Xiang Nan shook his head and smiled: "Nice to meet you."

"Alright!" Director Li, perhaps sensing the discord between the two, clapped his hands to interrupt them, then exchanged a few brief pleasantries with Xiang Nan before turning and heading towards the monitor.

Ten minutes later, filming officially began.

To be fair, Liu Yifei is quite suitable to play Bai Xiuzhu. She portrays the proud and devoted young lady very well, for example, right now: she picks up her wine glass with a blank look in her eyes, and while drinking, tears silently stream down her face.

She portrayed a lovelorn and proud young lady to the fullest.

There were many news reports in her past life, such as Chen Kun scolding her until she cried, saying that she couldn't act, etc. Xiang Nan believes that this is a common problem for newcomers, such as "looking at the camera", "making mistakes in positioning", "being slow to bring emotions", etc.

Everyone starts as a newbie; it's normal.

He thought that for a fourteen-year-old girl, her performance was quite good.

Time flew by and it was noon. The morning's filming was over, and Xiang Nan, being a guest from afar, was invited by You Jianming to have lunch together.

It was only then that Xiang Nan realized that he had been called here today to review the songs, something that hadn't been explained clearly on the phone last night.

He didn't bring a USB drive.

Because the gathering was organized on short notice, everyone found out they had to wait another ten minutes or so when they arrived at the restaurant.

Inside the restaurant, Xiang Nan sat at a table near the entrance, surrounded by strangers. He didn't know if they were behind-the-scenes staff or actors, but regardless of whether he knew them or not, Xiang Nan addressed them all as "senior brother" and "senior sister."

"Xiao Xiang, Xiao Xiang..."

Suddenly, You Jianming's call came from afar, and Xiang Nan responded and jogged to the main table.

The main table was filled with the lead actors and bigwigs of the show: Liu Yifei and her daughter, Shu Chang, Dong Bailian, Wang Bozhao, and Chen Kun. They all looked at Xiang Nan with curiosity.

This guy is so tall! Tall and strong!

"Xiao Xiang, Director Li suggests that while the food is being served, you sing a piece for us. Since you didn't bring a USB drive, we can all hear the song I chose!"

"No problem!" Xiang Nan agreed readily.

As an actor, you inevitably have to show your face. If you don't even dare to sing a song in front of a crowd, how can you face the camera?

The shop owner was also a music lover, and readily provided a guitar and microphone, making it even harder to refuse.

In the spacious hall, eight round tables were set up, and dozens of eyes were fixed on them.

Xiang Nan went to the front of the corridor, sat on a high stool, adjusted the equipment, and looked around.

That person was looking at him...

"Ahem, first of all, happy birthday to Liu Yifei."

All eyes turned to Liu Yifei, whose face flushed pink, and her impression of Xiang Nan worsened.

Who asked you to be so nosy!

Having been rebuffed, Xiang Nan stopped talking and his fingertips moved lightly, producing a soft guitar melody.

The mournful piano music echoed throughout the hall, and Liu Yifei, who had just finished filming a romantic scene, was immediately struck by the sight.

As the petals fall from the flower, a lingering fragrance remains.

A deep, sexy voice echoed through the hall, and everyone stopped what they were doing and stared intently at the tall figure.

The fragrance fades after the wind and rain, and no one comes to smell it.

"It sounds great! Sisi, what do you think...?"

"Stop!" Yifei raised her hand to cover Shuchang's chattering mouth, tilted her head, closed her eyes, and listened quietly to Xiang Nan's singing. Just then, the song came to the chorus.

Xiang Nan raised his chin, and the veins on his neck bulged.

If the heart dies in splendor, love will be reborn from the ashes.

[I will never forget your tender whispers; I offer you my smile as a tribute.]

Let the heart die in splendor, let love be reborn from the ashes.

……

It sounds beautiful, really beautiful.

Yifei didn't know how to describe it. When they first met, this big guy looked like a wooden block, but she never expected him to sing so well!

It is often said that a singer's voice is an expression of their inner world...

So this big guy is actually a gentle person?

As the petals fall from the flower, a lingering fragrance remains...

"Clap clap clap..."

"Beep—beep—"

When the song ended, the entire audience erupted in enthusiastic applause, and some people in the distance even stood up and cheered.

Xiang Nan breathed a sigh of relief, stood up and began to bow to the surroundings, finally fixing his gaze on a figure at the main table.

The latter's face was still slightly flushed, whether from the lingering effects of the morning's alcohol or something else, it was hard to tell.

She was looking at Xiang Nan, but after meeting his gaze, she casually stared at the ceiling and turned her head away.

Xiang Nan clicked his tongue, amused by the young girl's arrogance: "So proud?"