Chapter 119: Academy Awards Invitation
"Li Chen visits the set of Ip Man and no longer responds to the rumors and Song Zude's remarks."

"Zhang Yimou's new film "Curse of the Golden Flower" starts shooting today, with Chow Yun-fat and Gong Li joining the crew."

"The new Mou girl has just been announced. Zhang Weiping confirmed that the one-man show is the 17-year-old freshman from the Central Academy of Drama, Li Man."

"It is reported that the Academy has once again sent an invitation letter to Li Chen as an award presenter."

"Zhang Yimou's masterpiece Red Sorghum will be remade into a TV series by Rongchen Pictures, and the popular actress Zhou Xun will challenge Gong Li to play Jiuer!"

The eye-catching and explosive news gave everyone in the circle a wake-up call.

If there had been no remake of Red Sorghum, the start of filming of Curse of the Golden Flower and the emergence of Mou Girl would definitely be the undisputed headlines.

It’s a pity that there is no if!

Zhang Weiping felt very unlucky and he even suspected that Rongchen Pictures was targeting him.

I release news about Curse of the Golden Flower, and you release news about a remake of Red Sorghum.

Zhang Dapao just refused to believe that Li Chen didn't do it on purpose.

"Yimou, when did Mo Yan sell the rights to the TV series remake of Red Sorghum? Why didn't he say a word?" Zhang Weiping said in an unhappy tone.

Zhang Yimou smiled while holding the phone, "I just found out about this too, and I haven't had time to ask Mo Yan yet. But Zhou Xun's role as Jiuer shouldn't be too bad, I'm really looking forward to it."

Zhang Weiping’s mind is full of lawsuits, am I talking about the actors’ problems?

After hanging up the phone in annoyance, Zhang Weiping called his subordinates again.

“Let’s release Qin Junjie’s news tomorrow!”

"Boss, he's just a sixteen-year-old kid, no one pays attention to him at all!" The people below were a little overwhelmed!

"Don't you have a brain? You won't be called 'Mou Nanlang!'" Zhang Weiping shouted.

"Ah? Moumou boy." Everyone below was so shocked by Zhang Weiping's words!

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Weiping still cursed: "You are so stupid!"

Li Chen arrived at China Film Studio and met Han Sanding.

In the office, Han Sanping's assistant gently closed the door, then let out a long breath and said to himself, "Boss Han finally has a smile on his face."

"Mr. Han, why was your call transferred to the secretary's desk?" Li Chen sat down and said with a smile.

"You're asking even though you already know the answer. If you want tea, pour it yourself." Han Saping scolded with a smile.

“Because of “The Promise”? Not really? Hasn’t the chapter been turned over yet?” Li Chen asked in surprise.

When he was in Berlin, he saw domestic news saying that reporters couldn't get in touch with Han Sanping, and it had been a week, but he still hadn't arrived.

"Let's not talk about The Promise. For your company's projects this year, whether you are the director or not, let China Film Group Corporation have a hand in them."

With the big fish "Lost in Thailand" slipping through the net, Han Saping now looks at every project of Rongchen Pictures with the principle of rather killing by mistake than letting it go.

Han Saping stared at Li Chen intently. He didn't need to explain too clearly, because with Li Chen's cleverness, he would definitely understand.

Li Chen thought about it for a few seconds and nodded: "Okay."

Both of them were smart people, so they didn't waste any more words.

Han Sanping needs achievements because next year will be the year of leadership change at China Film Group Corporation.

But Li Chen knew that even if he didn't help him, he would still take over as Director Yang next year.

Forget it, there is no end to making money, and this favor is not small, Han Saping knows it.

The two also discussed the introduction of "Buried Alive" and the progress of "Thieves Gate".

Li Chen and Liu Dehua both meant that there was no need to hold a premiere for "Buried", and that it could just be released simultaneously with Lionsgate in North America in April once it passed the review.

Han Saping felt better, and at noon he took Li Chen to have a quick lunch in the cafeteria of China Film Academy.

During the meal, Han Sanping and Li Chen talked about the speechless "Red Cliff"

"If you want to invest, I can give you a 30% share." Han Sanping looked like "I'm being generous!"

Li Chen almost spit out a mouthful of rice and quickly drank some vegetable soup before swallowing it.

Han Sanping patted Li Chen on the back and said with a smile: "Why are you so excited!"

Li Chen was devastated! Was I excited? I was freaking scared.

You just climbed out of the pit of "The Promise" and now you're jumping back into the pit of "Red Cliff".

It’s also because “Red Cliff” was released late. If it had been released this year, it would have been a bit of a stretch for Lao Han next year.

Li Chen raised his hand to interrupt Han Sanping's self-indulgence: "Boss Han, I appreciate your kindness."

"There's no need to invest. I advise you not to invest too much."

Han Sanping put down his chopsticks, his face changed a little: "What do you mean? You don't think highly of Red Cliff?"

Li Chen also put down his chopsticks and said seriously, "Let me put it this way, Mr. Han, I don't like any historical drama shot by those people in Hong Kong, no matter if he is Yusen or Yusen."

"These people didn't receive nine years of compulsory education. How many of them know history? Are they playing the Three Kingdoms or Red Cliff?"

"Boss Han, we still have Chen Kaige's experience as a lesson. It's up to you whether you want to listen or not. If you're not happy, just pretend I didn't say anything today."

Han Sanping was startled. Li Chen was a bad-mouthed man. Didn't his prediction come true in "The Promise"?

At this moment, Han Sanping recalled the words of a vice president during the group meeting.

“‘The Promise’ came first, and ‘Red Cliff’ can take the lead, but it doesn’t have to.”

When Han Saping heard this, he was a little angry, as it was obvious that this was directed at him.

But now that Li Chen said this, he felt a little uneasy.

"Okay, don't say this again in the future. Since you don't want to vote, forget it. I'll find someone else." Han Sanping replied ambiguously.

Li Chen mourned in his heart for those unlucky people who were about to invest in "Red Cliff".

If I remember correctly, Orange Sky finally joined the game, and China Film Group seemed to have invested only a small part.

After talking about "Red Cliff", Han Sanping mentioned Li Chen's special effects targeted training program.

Li Chen was not surprised that Han Sanping knew about this.

It’s just that Han Sanping mentioned Chang Hong, who had not been seen for a long time.

I heard that he went to the South not long ago, got together with Tang Jili, and opened a special effects company which is said to be the largest in the country.

What Han Sanping meant by saying this was that if Li Chen also wanted to start a special effects company, he would act as a middleman to bring Chang Hong over. With Chang Hong around, many things would be easy to handle.

Perhaps Li Chen is not a member of the system and does not understand the social practices of Han Sanping and others.

"Boss Han, please stop. I'm not interested in knowing whose son or grandson Chang Hong is."

"My company must have me in charge. If Chang Hong wants to come, he can only be my employee like Yang Siwei."

"How can you be so stupid, kid? Have you never heard of this? Do you have someone in the court to help you get things done?"

"Yes, I have. I have also heard a saying 'letting a wolf enter the house'. Chang Hong is not the kind of person who would be content to be under someone else and keep to his proper place. I don't want my company to change in the end." Li Chen said bluntly.

Han Sanping was stunned by what Li Chen said. "Okay, I won't mention this matter again in the future. If you really open a special effects company in the future, as competitors, you will meet sooner or later."

Li Chen didn't take Chang Hong and Tang Jili's second-rate special effects company seriously at all. He thought everything would be fine just because he got some second-hand special effects equipment that was said to be the most advanced in Hollywood from somewhere.

After leaving China Film Academy, the driver took Li Chen to the company.

After entering the Jinxiu Mingzuan Building, the elevator door had not yet closed.

"Wait, wait, wait." A female voice came.

Li Chen pressed the elevator door open button.

He saw a girl with a chubby round face, wearing a yellow woolen sweater and blue straight pants, with a ponytail. Li Chen thought she looked familiar.

The girl was stunned: "Li, Li, Director Li?"

Li Chen smiled and nodded in response: "Which floor?"

"Third floor, third floor." The girl's heart beat faster. She didn't expect that she would meet the company's boss when she came to apply for the job.

"Are you here for an interview?" Li Chen asked casually after seeing her appearance.

Ever since the media reported the grand occasion of Li Chen’s company’s annual meeting, whenever the company releases recruitment information, countless people come for the million-dollar property.

"Well, my name is Zhang Jiao, and I'm here to apply for the position of stylist." The girl spoke with a bit of a northeastern accent.

Li Chen frowned slightly. Zhang Jiao? Zhang Tianai? Why is she like this?
But after a moment of thinking, I felt relieved.

How old is this girl now? Among people of her age, there is no one who is as naturally beautiful as Miss Liu.

Most of them are unsophisticated, but at least this one looks much better now than when he first met Tang Yan.

Li Chen said nothing more, and the elevator quickly reached the third floor.

Zhang Jiao hated that the elevator was too fast. Just as she said something, the elevator door opened.

However, Zhang Jiao was in a good mood. It was a good omen that she met the big boss before the interview.

When he arrived at the office, Li Chen had no intention of interfering with Zhang Jiao's interview. It depended on her luck whether she could get the job.

The assistant took a few invitation letters that Yang Siwei had screened and placed them on Li Chen's desk.

There is the Shanghai International Film Festival, the China Women's Film Festival to be held in Washington, and the Academy Awards ceremony.

Li Chen called Yang Siwei in. Zhou Xun also came to the company and came with Yang Siwei.

Zhou Xun, petite and wearing a black jacket, looked around Li Chen's office.

"Siwei, Director Li's office has a bathroom that is equivalent to your office. Tsk tsk, there is really no harm without comparison." Zhou Xun complained.

Yang Siwei rolled his eyes. How can we compare?
"I heard that you went to the United States to meet your parents during the Chinese New Year?" Li Chen said with a smile.

"Don't mention it. We just had a simple meal, but the paparazzi said that Da Qi and I got married!"

Zhou Xun didn't want to say more, and Li Chen didn't ask any more questions.

"Boss, I declined their invitation on your behalf before the Academy Awards ceremony. I don't know why they sent you another invitation and even made the media know about it." Yang Siwei was also a little puzzled.

Li Chen turned his head and looked at Zhou Xun with an unpredictable look in his eyes.

"Look at me, what am I doing? I'm still hesitating whether to go or not! You and Director Chen had such a big fight some time ago, and now I've joined our company. I always feel like I've done something sorry to Director Chen!" Zhou Xun said with a smile.

Li Chen tapped his fingers on the desk and said after a while, "You go ahead. I guess you've been chosen as the best actress this time, so Wen Jun wanted me to be the guest presenter."

Yang Siwei and Zhou Xun were shocked: "Boss, is this possible?"

Li Chen sneered, "What can't they do? Think about last year's Golden Rooster and Golden Horse Awards, and then think about this year's Berlin Awards. Why can't the Hong Kong Film Awards follow suit and give it to their own people?"

"I guess this year's Academy Awards will be won by two films, Du Qifeng's "Election" and Chen Kexin's "If Love"."

Yang Siwei and Zhou Xun remained silent. The boss's words were very telling!

"Who's Black?" represented Hong Kong Island in the Cannes Film Festival, and "If Love" represented Hong Kong Island in the Oscars.

In the end, both of them returned empty-handed. If their own people no longer support each other, where can the filmmakers in Hong Kong put their faces?

Yang Siwei responded quickly: "Boss, Sister Xun has been selected for the Academy Awards. Wenjun wants you to present the award to Sister Xun?"

Yang Siwei and Zhou Xun are both well-versed in all the intricacies involved and can understand them immediately.

Haven’t you, Li Chen, ever watched "If Love"?

Don’t you look down on Chen Kexin?
I want you to present the award for Chen Kexin's "If Love", and the Best Actress goes to your company's Zhou Xun. I want to see if you will come!
"If that's the case, Director Li, you don't have to go. I won't go either. If there really is a prize, just let someone receive it on my behalf." Zhou Xun said without hesitation.

Li Chen chuckled and said, "No need. Since they want to slap me in the face so much, hiding is not my style. I'll go with you!"

"Siwei, you reply to Hong Kong Island and the media. I agree."

"Okay, boss, I'll do it right away." Yang Siwei was a little excited, feeling that the boss was about to start firing again.

After they left Li Chen's office, Zhou Xun asked curiously, "I have never guessed Director Li's actions correctly. What is he doing?"

“Haha, Sister Xun, just get used to it. If I guess right, you will be the boss. Think about the bet you made. Fortunately, you stopped the loss in time, otherwise..." Yang Siwei shook his head and laughed.

Sina Entertainment News

"Yang Siwei, publicity director of Rongchen Films, confirmed that Li Chen has accepted the invitation letter from the Academy Awards."

As soon as the news came out, there was an uproar in the circle.

Ever since "Lost on Journey" was severely criticized by the judges of the Golden Rooster Film Awards.

Li Chen disdained the three domestic gold medals and began to strive for the three major European medals.

He also never participates in other major domestic film festivals.

Why did he accept the invitation to the Academy Awards this year? He was having a verbal fight with those people in Hong Kong a while ago.

No matter how confused people in the industry are.

But the organizing committees of several other domestic film festivals are willing to see Li Chen's transformation.

At one time, Baihua, Huabiao and others all sent invitations to Rongchen Pictures.

Even Liu Yifei, who went to Hong Kong to promote The Return of the Condor Heroes with Huang Xiaoming, noticed it.

I was also very curious about my boyfriend's gender change and his participation in the Academy Awards.

I called Li Chen as soon as I got back to the hotel.

"Why are you suddenly going to attend the Academy Awards?" Liu Yifei said in a crisp voice.

"It's hard to refuse such a kind invitation. Besides, as the boss, I have to support Zhou Xun, right?" Li Chen said with a smile.

"Don't talk about me, talk about you. You attended a press conference holding hands with Huang Xiaoming? Do you take Director Li seriously?" Li Chen scolded with a smile.

"Don't blame me. If you have the guts, go and argue with Director Zhang!" Liu Yifei said with a smile.

"This bearded guy, I'm going to teach him a lesson sooner or later. He doesn't treat Director Li as a leader at all!"

(End of this chapter)