novelraw Chapter 131
Chapter 131
Chapter 131
"Don't you think things are going a little too smoothly for us right now?"
Li Jun looked up at her.
"The movie was a success, my relationship is stable, and my career is on the rise."
Zhang Liangying said.
"Everything is so wonderful, it feels like a dream. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, and I'm afraid that this dream will suddenly end."
Li Jun held her hand: "It's not a dream."
"I know."
Zhang Liangying nodded.
"But I just don't feel at ease."
Perhaps because I've suffered so much hardship in the past, the sudden sweetness makes it hard to adjust.
Li Jun understood her feelings.
He has often had this feeling of unreality these past few months.
The applause at the awards ceremony, the praise in the media, and the pursuit of investors—all of these are like a glamorous wrapping paper, concealing a version of himself that he doesn't quite recognize.
"What should we do then?"
he asks.
"have no idea."
Zhang Liangying spoke frankly.
"Maybe we'll just keep doing our jobs. You make your movies, and I'll make my music."
Let your work speak for itself; you can't go wrong.
"Um."
After dinner, the two strolled along Guijie Street. Beijing was bustling at night, with flashing neon lights and throngs of people.
"Beautiful."
Li Jun suddenly said.
"I want to make a film about artists from the Republican era."
"Then let's film it."
"But we might lose money."
"So what if we have to pay?"
Zhang Liangying is very relaxed.
"The money you're making now is enough to lose money on several movies."
"Mr. Wang said that it's an art film, nobody watches it."
"That's because he doesn't understand."
Zhang Liangying stopped and looked at him.
"Xiao Jun, do you make movies to get people to watch them, or to get people to remember you?"
Li Jun was stunned.
"To be seen by others is a temporary spectacle. To be remembered is an eternal echo."
Zhang Liangying said.
"Bodyguards and Assassins was memorable, so it was a success. Your next film should also be memorable."
She paused for a moment: "As for losing money or making money, that's a businessman's business."
You're an artist, just focus on creating.
Li Jun looked at her and suddenly smiled.
"What are you laughing at?"
Zhang Liangying asked.
"Laughing at you."
Li Jun said.
"She's younger than me, but she talks like my mom."
"Hate!"
Zhang Liangying punched him lightly and then laughed.
The two continued walking forward.
A warm night breeze blew by.
"Xiaojun."
Zhang Liangying said softly.
"No matter what the future holds, I will be with you. I will support you in making commercial films."
If you make an art film, I'll support you. If you succeed, I'll celebrate with you. If you fail, I'll help you try again.
Li Jun's heart was filled with something. It was warm and full.
"Me too."
He said.
"Whether you make pop music, classical crossover, or a female-led album, I will support you."
You hold a concert for 10,000 people, and I applaud from the audience.
You sing in the bar, and I harmonize with you.
Tears welled up in Zhang Liangying's eyes.
She bent down to wipe it, then looked up and smiled: "It's settled then."
"It's settled."
The two embraced under the streetlights. People came and went around them, but their world was quiet.
The recording of "Art Life" took place the following day in the old CCTV studio.
In the dressing room, Zhang Liangying was touching up her makeup.
Li Jun sat in the chair next to her, looking at the interview outline in his hand.
Are you nervous?
Zhang Liangying asked.
"A little."
Li Jun said.
"This is the first time we've been on a TV show together."
"Me too."
Zhang Liangying held his hand.
"But thinking about it, it's all real anyway, so what's there to be nervous about?"
The program begins.
The host was a gentle middle-aged woman who started the conversation in a relaxed manner, beginning with a chat about the two people's careers.
"Director Li, how has your life changed since the success of 'Bodyguards and Assassins'?"
"I've become busier."
Li Jun spoke the truth.
"Before, no one contacted me, but now so many people are contacting me that I don't know how to choose."
"And what about Ms. Zhang? With a successful tour and a hugely successful new album, you can now be considered a top-tier female singer in the Chinese music scene."
"Thanks."
Zhang Liangying smiled.
"But I prefer to say that I am a musician."
Singer is a profession, musician is an identity.
"I heard you're going to be making an album entirely written by women?"
"Yes." Zhang Liangying's eyes lit up. "It's called 'Their Voices.' I want to discover and showcase the power of female songwriters in the Chinese music scene. This field has always been underestimated."
Does Director Li support this?
"I fully support her," Li Jun said. "Liang Ying is doing something very meaningful. Music needs diverse voices, and female creators should be heard by more people."
After discussing their careers, the conversation shifted to relationships.
How did you two meet?
Zhang Liangying glanced at Li Jun and smiled.
"Love at first sight?"
"Not really."
Li Jun took over the conversation.
"We got to know each other gradually, and grew closer slowly. The process was very natural, as if we were meant to be together all along."
"May I ask, do you two have any wedding plans?"
"not yet."
Zhang Liangying said.
"We're all too busy. Maybe we'll talk about it after we finish our current work."
"Won't we have very little time to spend together?"
"meeting."
Li Jun admitted it.
"I'm often on set, while she's often in the recording studio or on tour."
But we will try our best to meet, even if it's just for a day or two.
How do you maintain a relationship?
"trust."
Zhang Liangying said.
"Furthermore, we understand and support each other's careers."
I know how dedicated he is when he's filming, and he knows how serious I am when I'm making music.
This understanding is more important than being together every day.
The program went very smoothly.
Midway through the recording, the host suddenly asked an unexpected question: "Both of you are public figures, and your relationship is under the spotlight. Do you feel any pressure?"
Li Jun and Zhang Liangying exchanged a glance.
"Yes, there will be."
Li Jun spoke first.
"But we will try our best to protect privacy. Relationships are a very private matter and don't need to be explained to everyone."
"But the public has the right to know..."
"The public has the right to know, and we have the right to privacy."
Zhang Liangying took over the conversation, her tone gentle but firm.
"We are willing to share our work and creative work, but we hope to leave some space for our personal lives."
The host nodded and didn't ask any further questions.
After recording wrapped, the two rested backstage. Zhang Liangying leaned on Li Jun's shoulder and whispered, "That question from earlier—"
"fine."
Li Jun put his arm around her.
You're right.
"I just don't want our relationship to become fodder for other people's gossip."
No, it won't.
Li Jun said.
"Because we're serious."
Just then, Yuan Tao hurried in, his face looking rather grim.
"Li Jun, something's happened."
"What is it?"
"Someone online has revealed that the awarding of 'Bodyguards and Assassins' was the result of manipulation, and that we bribed the judges."
O
Yuan Tao handed over the phone.
"They also said that the rumors about you misappropriating investment funds were true, but they were suppressed."
Li Jun took the phone.
It was a long, professionally written article that listed so-called "evidence," including a photo of a judge and a Chinese-American producer, Star River Capital's hotel bills during the film festival, and even a photo of Li Jun dining with several French people in a restaurant.
The comments section is exploding: "There was definitely something fishy going on!"
"No wonder I suddenly won an award; it turns out I bought it with money."
"Li Jun's public image has collapsed."
Zhang Liangying also saw it, and her face turned pale: "This...this is clearly a rumor!"
"I know."
Li Jun remained calm.
"It takes only a mouth to spread rumors, but it takes a lot of legwork to refute them."
He looked at Yuan Tao: "Have you found out who did it?"
"Still under investigation."
Yuan Tao said.
"But their methods are very professional, not like those of ordinary marketing accounts. I suspect—"
Li Jun was silent for a moment, then said, "Two things."
First, send a lawyer's letter and sue the person spreading the rumors.
Second, contact the film festival organizing committee and ask them for an official clarification.
"it is good."
After Yuan Tao left, Zhang Liangying held Li Jun's hand and asked, "Are you alright?"
"fine."
Li Jun said.
"I had long expected this day to come."
"What do you mean?"
Li Jun smiled wryly.
"Bodyguards and Assassins was too successful, it threatened the interests of too many people. It's normal that some people want to bring me down."
"What should we do then?"
"Let your work speak for itself."
Li Jun stood up.
"The more they try to ruin me, the more I'll make good movies. That's the best way to fight back."
He looked at Zhang Liangying: "What about you? Aren't you afraid of being implicated because of me?"
Zhang Liangying shook her head: "I'm not afraid. We'll face it together."
The two looked at each other, their eyes filled with determination.
That evening, Li Jun was writing a new script in his hotel room.
The light from the computer screen shone on his face.
This is a story about perseverance and loneliness.
As Li Jun was writing late into the night, he received a call from Kent Chan.
"Director Li, have you seen the news?"
"I saw it."
"Do you need my help?"
"Not for now."
Li Jun said.
"I want to handle it myself first."
Chen Zeshi paused for a moment, then said, "Li Jun, do you know why I voted for you?"
Why?
"Because you have something in you that isn't talent or luck, but resilience."
Chen Zeshi said.
"Never give up in the face of setbacks, and never become arrogant in the face of glory. This kind of quality is too rare in this industry."
He paused for a moment, then said, "So I believe you can get through this too."
"Thanks."
After hanging up the phone, Li Jun continued writing his script. Outside the window, Beijing gradually quieted down, with only the occasional sound of a car in the distance.
When writing about the painter's deathbed, Li Jun suddenly stopped.
The script says:
Lying in his hospital bed, the painter looked out the window at the withering sycamore trees and murmured to himself, "In my life, I have painted countless landscapes, but I have never truly stepped into them."
Looking at these words, Li Jun suddenly realized that they were describing him.
He made movies, won awards, and gained fame, but it seems he's getting further and further away from the essence of filmmaking.
My phone vibrated; it was a voice message from Jane Zhang: "Are you asleep? I'm writing a new song, and I suddenly thought of you."
No matter what others say, you are the best director. Love you.
Li Jun replied, "I love you too."
Then he turned off the computer and went to the window.
Beijing in the night resembles a sleeping giant.
The lights on the high-rise buildings, like the eyes of a beast, coldly watch over the joys and sorrows of this city.
Li Jun recalled what he was like when he first came to Beijing two years ago.
Now the wish has come true, and even exceeded expectations.
But why does it feel like there's an empty space in my heart?
He recalled the old director's words: "It's already quite an achievement to avoid being changed by the world."
Perhaps the real challenge is just beginning.
He's already accomplished more than just making good movies.
Instead, they maintain their original intention of making good films amidst the pursuit of fame and fortune.
That's even more difficult.
But it must be done.
Because he is Li Jun.
He's the director who heard singing on the rooftop and decided to make a movie.
He's the director who started filming in a downpour and said, "Making movies is never a lucky thing."
He's the director who held Jane Zhang's hand on the red carpet and said, "We've only just begun."
He cannot fall.
And you must never become the kind of person you used to hate.
Outside the window, the sky was beginning to lighten.
A new day is about to begin.
Three days after the lawyer's letter suing the rumor-mongers was sent, online public opinion began to shift.
It wasn't a shift to support Li Jun, but rather a shift to a more complex kind of suspicion.
A new wave of revelations has emerged, this time targeting Zhang Liangying.
They say she had "backing" when she participated in Super Girl, and that her crossover transformation from classical to traditional music was "entirely due to capital packaging."
They even dug up photos of her from her early days as a resident singer, implying that she had a "complex background."
Li Jun sat on the sofa in his studio, looking at the scrolling comments on his tablet, his face expressionless.
Yuan Tao reported the progress over the phone: "We've found the source. It was three marketing companies that accepted the order at the same time. The funds came from overseas accounts and were transferred layer by layer. We can't trace the final client."
However, the legal representative of one of the companies is Wang Zhonglei's cousin.
"understood."
Li Jun hung up the phone, got up and walked to the window.
The studio is on the 27th floor of an office building in Chaoyang District, with a view of the traffic on the East Third Ring Road.
It was a cloudy day; the clouds hung low, as if it were about to rain.
My phone vibrated; it was Zhang Liangying: "I'm downstairs."
Five minutes later, she pushed open the door and came in, carrying two paper bags containing coffee and light meals.
She was wearing a beige trench coat today, her hair was loosely tied up, and her face showed undisguised fatigue.
Have you eaten?
She asked.
I'm not hungry.
"You have to eat even if you're not hungry."
Zhang Liangying placed the paper bag on the coffee table and walked over to him.
The two stood side by side, looking out at the gray city.
"I've also received a lawyer's letter."
Zhang Liangying said softly.
"The company suggested that I issue a statement to clarify those rumors."
"Do you want to send it?"
"In no mood."
She shook her head.
"The more we clarify, the more excited they get. It's better to let it cool down."
Li Jun turned to look at her.
Her profile appeared soft in the overcast light, but her lips were tightly pursed, a habitual gesture when she was nervous.
"Are you scared?" he asked.
"A little."
Zhang Liangying admitted it.
"But I was mostly angry. I didn't care what they said about me, but they shouldn't have said anything about you, they shouldn't have said anything about 'Bodyguards and Assassins'."
Li Jun held her hand. Her hand was cold.
"I have an appointment with people from Legendary Pictures this afternoon."
He said.
"Let's discuss a co-production project."
Zhang Liangying was taken aback: "A new project already?"
"It's not my project, it's a collaboration."
Li Jun explained.
"They wanted to make a science fiction film co-produced by China and the United States called Looper."
I am the co-producer for the China region, responsible for localization and distribution; I do not directly direct.
"Sci-fi movie? That's not your style."
"So it's just production."
Li Jun said.
"I want to try different roles. And this theme is very interesting, about time and choices."