She was a thirty-year-old director who had already earned the highest accolade a filmmaker could receive—an Academy Award for Best Director. And just this year, she had overtaken James Cameron, beating his record by several million dollars and climbing to the top of the all-time global box office rankings.
Just those two facts alone placed her at the absolute pinnacle of global cinema. She was a true superstar director, reigning at the very top of the film world.
And yet, someone like him—a nobody, a fledgling director whose debut film hadn't even made it to theaters—was now holding her phone number in his hand…
If word got out, who knew how many people would envy him?
He knew full well that this unbelievable opportunity was all thanks to his friend Fu Chuan. He also knew that to get this number for him, Fu Chuan must've risked his own job to do it. If he were in Laila's shoes, he probably wouldn't be too fond of a subordinate who stirred up trouble like that, either.
No matter what, he owed Fu Chuan a debt of gratitude.
And if this call led to a real chance—if he could keep moving forward on this path—he would use everything he had to repay that favor.
Laila didn't have to speak to this director personally.
One reason she was doing so was that she genuinely admired the film he'd made.
Another reason? She respected the way he had burned his bridges and bet everything on one shot.
She wanted to know—had he ever thought about what would happen if he failed?
After the introductions and small talk, she got straight to the point.
Han Mingjiang paused for a moment at her question. Then he said quietly,
"I forced myself not to think about failure.
Because if I did—if I hesitated—then this film would've never been made. And who knows how many years it would be before I had another shot at chasing my dream.
So I didn't dare look back. I couldn't.
I had to walk this path to the end, even if it's a dead end."
Others might not understand what he meant, but Laila did—all too well.
Because she had been the exact opposite: the one who hesitated, who calculated, who chose the most "secure" route.
There's a saying: Personality determines destiny.
And Laila had never found it truer.
Different people make completely different choices when faced with the same circumstances.
He had staked everything on his dream.
She, meanwhile, had waited—patiently accumulating strength, biding her time for years, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
As much as she didn't want to admit it… she was a little envious of him.
If Han Mingjiang hadn't offended the wrong person and lost his shot at screening…
If his film about volunteer teachers—this mainline, feel-good project—had been released properly…
He likely would've received a massive return on his investment.
His so-called "recklessness" would have been rewarded with success.
And what about her?
In her previous life, after struggling for so long to get just one opportunity, she finally landed a major film project—only for it to become a complete joke, thanks to the meddling of investors and constraints she couldn't control. She wouldn't deny her own immaturity at the time—her stubbornness played a part in the failure, too. But still… she had once believed her chances of success were high. To watch it fall apart like that—how could she not question her own decisions?
After learning about Han Mingjiang, she'd thought more than once:
If she had risked everything to shoot the film she truly believed in—without any external interference—
Would she have achieved the kind of success she always imagined?
Would the road to her dream have been a little smoother?
But thinking too much can't turn back time.
And so, she wanted to help Han Mingjiang.
She didn't even fully understand if this desire came from wanting to give him a chance…
Or from trying to resolve her own regrets by living vicariously through his success.
Maybe watching him succeed could serve as a kind of closure for her previous life.
"I gave Fu Chuan two possible ways to help you," she said. "Did he pass them on to you?"
"Yes, he did." Han Mingjiang's heart was pounding again.
Honestly, when he first heard those two options, his mind had gone completely blank.
He suddenly felt that maybe this wasn't the lowest point in his life—
But the moment right before his brilliant rise.
"And your choice?" Laila asked. "Will you come work with me and shoot a new film?
Or would you prefer I help you get your current one released in the East?"
"…Can I choose both?" Han Mingjiang hesitated for just a second before saying it.
Laila narrowed her eyes slightly, a smile tugging at her lips. "Oh?"
"This film means a lot to me. It carries many things I wanted to express, and I really hope it can be seen by the public.
But at the same time, I'd love to work with your company—to learn and grow.
Of course, I understand that kind of opportunity isn't something that can be given so easily.
So if my film gets released and receives decent reviews or public response, I hope you'll let me apply to join your New Wave Initiative."
Han Mingjiang wasn't being greedy, nor was he speaking impulsively.
No one takes their dreams lightly.
No rookie director would ever turn down a chance to join the New Wave Initiative.
Fu Chuan had already risked his career to help him.
What was there left for him to cling to—his pride? His dignity?
But Han Mingjiang wasn't asking blindly—he wanted to prove himself with his work first.
Only then would he seek Laila's recognition.
What he really wanted… was to earn his place with his own strength.
To fight his way into Hollywood.
His words made Laila smile, though silently.
"You're very brave. And smart."
And… you know how to seize opportunity.
Normally, when given two options by someone like her, most people would only dare choose one.
They'd worry that asking for both would seem greedy—might upset her—and result in losing both.
"You're very lucky, Director Han," she said with a grin.
"I've always admired ambitious people.
If your film receives reviews that meet my expectations after release, I'll consider letting you into the New Wave Initiative."
Han Mingjiang clenched his fists tightly.
He knew his gamble had paid off.
Whether her impression of him had improved or not, his goal had been achieved.
He believed that once the film was out, she would see his strength in every frame.
After the call ended, Laila began to consider how to get his film released.
A movie about volunteer teaching—being a mainline, patriotic theme—should have been easy to release.
With the right connections, he could've even received government support.
But if Han Mingjiang had access to those kinds of connections, he wouldn't be in this situation to begin with.
Still, Laila didn't act like Fu Chuan had imagined—by calling up the person who had "sabotaged" the film and throwing her weight around.
To be honest, that kind of thing was… petty. Childish.
She wasn't the type to go begging or threatening.
Especially since her relationship with that person was… well, complicated.
So instead of contacting that man directly or sending someone to lobby on her behalf,
Laila picked up the phone and called Yao Yingxia.
Yao might not be directly responsible for this kind of issue,
but as an official, reining in some entitled second-gen rich kid and keeping him in check?
That shouldn't be a problem at all.