Best Director in Literature Department of Huayu

Chapter 73 Huayi's Dinner Invitation

Yang Mi's voice grew softer and softer, and the last few words were almost muffled in her throat.

Lin Ruiyang couldn't help but laugh when he saw her face practically screaming "I want to join the crew."

In 2005, Yang Mi was not yet the top-tier queen who had seen it all in the future, nor was she the future vice president of the Television Artists Association.

Right now, she's just a nineteen-year-old girl who hasn't even touched the big screen yet.

"Is there any possibility of something?"

Yang Mi's ears burned, but she still forced herself to continue:

"I mean... if the production crew needs someone to run errands, a script supervisor assistant, or a translation intern in the future, could I go along and broaden my horizons?"

Ultimately, she herself knew that this request was a bit far-fetched.

That's a Hollywood project, and a movie that's clearly aiming for awards.

Let alone a freshman at the Beijing Film Academy, even many established actors in China probably can't even get close to the threshold.

But opportunities are like that; sometimes, if you don't actively seize them, they'll never fall into your lap.

The office was silent for two seconds. Liu Yibing was so angry at her audacity that he laughed.

"You really dare to speak up."

"Opportunities are meant to be fought for," Yang Mi muttered to herself.

Lin Ruiyang did not refuse immediately; instead, he looked at Yang Mi seriously for a moment.

At this time, Yang Mi was far from possessing the sharp and ambitious "workaholic" aura she would later display. However, her cleverness and ambition to climb the ladder were already beginning to emerge.

In places like the entertainment industry, what is most feared is not ambition.

It's because they lack ambition.

People without desires will find it difficult to survive the subsequent rounds of elimination.

"Let's talk about it later," Lin Ruiyang finally said.

"You haven't even officially started university yet, so focus on building a solid foundation first. If you're really going to join a film crew, you're not just there to watch the show. But don't waste months on a three-second background role; learning properly from your teacher is the most important thing."

"I know!" Yang Mi's eyes lit up instantly. Although it wasn't a clear agreement, at least she didn't directly refuse.

This was enough to excite her.

Liu Yibing watched from the side and shook his head.

"You little rascal, you're getting too cocky."

"hey-hey."

Yang Mi hugged her acceptance letter and grinned foolishly.

She's already starting to imagine herself traveling around with international film crews.

Paris, New York, Los Angeles... just thinking about it is exciting.

Just then, the landline on the office desk suddenly rang.

Liu Yibing answered the phone casually.

"Feed?"

The next second, he raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Looking for Ruiyang?"

Lin Ruiyang looked up.

Liu Yibing handed over the phone, his expression somewhat strange.

"Over there at Huayi."

Lin Ruiyang answered the phone.

"Hello, I am Lin Ruiyang."

A very enthusiastic voice immediately came from the other end of the phone:

"Director Lin, hello! I'm Zhao Kai, the publicity director of Huayi Brothers. I'm so sorry to bother you."

They adopted a very humble posture, even excessively so.

Lin Ruiyang wasn't surprised; the attitude of the domestic film and television industry towards him was completely different from what it was six months ago.

"Director Zhao, you're too kind. Please feel free to speak your mind."

"That's right." The person on the other end of the phone laughed exceptionally attentively.

"Mr. Wang heard that you've returned to China and is very keen to invite you to dinner. Many of his friends in the industry also want to get to know you."

Lin Ruiyang smiled.

The term "eating" certainly doesn't just refer to eating.

I just wanted to probe his bottom line and see what he was planning to do next.

"I haven't adjusted to the time difference yet, it might take a couple of days."

"I understand, I understand!" Zhao Kai immediately replied.

"Director Lin, whenever you have time, we're ready to assist you."

This posture made it seem as if they were afraid he wouldn't go.

Lin Ruiyang exchanged a few casual pleasantries and then hung up the phone. No sooner had he put down the receiver than Yang Mi stared at him with wide eyes.

"Is it really Huayi Brothers?"

"Um."

"Oh My God......"

Having been in the industry for so long, she knows what Huayi Brothers means in China today; it's practically the most sought-after private giant.

The fact that they've now taken the initiative to humbly invite a young director in his early twenties to dinner is quite a shock.

Liu Yibing, on the other hand, seemed much calmer.

"That's normal. In their eyes, your return to China is a living advertisement. Especially since you're tied to a big company like Fox."

He paused suddenly as he spoke.

"But you have to be aware that things are different in China than in Hollywood. There, capital is all about profit, and people can turn on you in the blink of an eye. But in China, it's often about personal connections and networks."

Lin Ruiyang nodded.

He certainly understood that the domestic film and television industry was still essentially in a chaotic, unregulated stage.

Connections, social gatherings, relationships, and saving face are often more important than the project itself.

"Don't worry, teacher, I know what I'm doing."

Liu Yibing glanced at him. What he was most worried about was that Lin Ruiyang, having spent so much time in Hollywood, would look down on the way things were done in China.

It's not a good thing for young people to be too sharp and ambitious.

Especially now, many of his domestic peers are subtly praising him too highly. The higher he's praised, the more people will be watching him, and if he ever falls from grace, even more people will want to step on him.

"You..." Liu Yibing sighed.

"Alright." Liu Yibing waved his hand.

"You'd better go back and adjust to the time difference. Don't go out in public with those dark circles under your eyes. There are countless eyes watching you right now."

Lin Ruiyang stood up with a smile.

"Yes, teacher."

Yang Mi quickly stood up as well, and cautiously asked:

"Senior, is it really possible for me to learn on a film set in the future?"

"Let's talk about it when you can get excellent grades in both acting and physical training," Lin Ruiyang replied casually.

"Huh?" Yang Mi was stunned. "That strict?"

"My film crew doesn't keep idle people."

Yang Mi wrinkled her nose in slight distress, but then felt an irrepressible surge of joy.

This is a promise made personally by Lin Ruiyang!

Although the condition of "getting an excellent grade" was attached, for a "veteran" like her who had been working in film crews since she was a child, as long as she had a goal, she could unleash her fierce spirit as a girl from Beijing at any time.

"What are you grinning about? Hurry up and get going, it'll be time to eat soon, and I don't have any food for you here."

Liu Yibing tapped the table with his pipe from behind and chuckled irritably.

"Okay! Goodbye Grandpa Liu! Goodbye senior!"

Yang Mi gave a crisp reply, clutching the admission notice and several textbooks in her arms tightly.

With a turn of her head, she took light steps and dashed out down the corridor like a happy little sparrow.

Lin Ruiyang shook his head, turned around and greeted Liu Yibing, "Teacher, I'll be going now."

"Go ahead, things are complicated in China, be careful." Liu Yibing waved his hand, his eyes full of expectation.

It takes no more than twenty minutes by taxi from Nortel to Kunte International. When Lin Ruiyang pushed open the glass door on the eighteenth floor, the lights were still on inside.

The fat man had a pile of documents spread out on his desk. He was hunched over his computer checking a budget when he heard a noise. He looked up, paused for a moment, and then jumped up from his chair.

"Old Lin! You're finally back!" The fat man grabbed the half-cup of coffee on the table and took a gulp.

"Do you know how many phone calls I've answered for you in the past two months? One of them immediately said we have two hundred million."

"Two hundred million?" Lin Ruiyang put his travel bag on the sofa and sat down opposite the fat man.

"Yes, two hundred million. I told him Director Lin wasn't in the country, and he said he could wait. I told him Director Lin was going to Paris in October, and he said he could wait until next year."

The fat man shrugged and said, "I asked him if he was an investor or a debt collector. He paused for a moment and said he was a coal mine owner."

Lin Ruiyang chuckled.

In 2005, coal mine owners had not yet become the cultural symbol that would later be repeatedly ridiculed, but they did have a lot of hot money in their hands and were just wondering where to spend it.

Companies like Huayi Brothers and New Pictures are reaping the rewards, and others want to follow suit and get a piece of the pie.

"Never mind them. How's the company doing these past two months?"

"There's nothing wrong with the books." The fat man pulled out a financial report bound by an accountant from the drawer.

"The copyright revenue from Berlin has been fully received, and the domestic box office revenue sharing for 'A Separation' has also been settled."

Lin Ruiyang nodded: "You've worked hard these past few days. Let's go! That's all for today, it's on me!"

Upon hearing the words "treat me to a meal," the fat man's previously tired eyes instantly lit up as if electrified. He quickly turned off the computer monitor and began tidying up the messy documents on the table.

"I've been waiting for you to say that. If I don't fleece you, this great director, today, I'll be letting down all the pounds I've lost around my waist."

"Enough talk, let's go."