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After staying at Lu Chen and Chen Fei'er's home for five days, Tian Tian left Capital City and returned to Hangzhou.
When she came to the capital, it was to escape troubles and relax; when she returned, she carried the dream of starting her own business, full of energy and determination to make something of herself.
With Lu Chen's advice and Chen Fei'er's support, Tian Tian decided to start a media company in Hangzhou, focusing on variety and entertainment program production. The company's first project would be The Voice of China.
Lu Chen and Chen Fei'er each invested part of the capital and became shareholders in the company.
On May 7, the day before the opening ceremony of Full House, Lu Chen, invited by Chen Jianhao, went to visit the legendary director Zhang Wentian, who was resting in the capital.
Zhang Wentian is one of the representatives of the third-generation directors in China. In the 1990s, he directed two epic TV dramas, Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Water Margin, both of which set viewership records at the time.
This acclaimed director has shot multiple costume blockbusters, specializing in historical and military-themed productions, and is highly respected in the industry with a prestigious reputation.
Last year, Zhang Wentian was preparing to shoot another historical blockbuster. Lu Chen met him through Chen Jianhao and, with his song A Man Should Stand Strong, earned the director's recognition and a small supporting role.
Time passed, and Lu Chen was no longer the newcomer he had once been. However, Zhang Wentian's comeback project remained stagnant until news broke of conflicts with investors, leading to the film's cancellation.
The stress caused Zhang Wentian to fall ill and spend several days in the hospital, a matter that caused a stir in the show business community.
After being discharged, the director refused all media interviews and stayed at his old residence to recuperate.
Chen Jianhao called Lu Chen and invited him to visit the "Old Master."
Lu Chen naturally did not refuse.
Zhang Wentian's old house is located in the historic district, a standalone courtyard home. Such properties in Capital City are rare treasures, with a market price exceeding 100 million RMB, often with more value than actual availability.
When Chen Jianhao and Lu Chen arrived, the door was opened by none other than Qin Qing.
Lu Chen hadn't seen the "school flower" of Jingyin for some time. Last year, he often went to Jingyin to audit classes and occasionally spoke with Qin Qing, but since starting filming TV dramas, he rarely visited Jingyin, and now he had no time at all.
Seeing Qin Qing made Lu Chen feel slightly embarrassed, as his studies had ended up half-finished.
Qin Qing greeted them naturally and unreservedly, then led them inside to meet the Old Master.
The renovated courtyard exuded rustic elegance. A few green bamboo stalks grew in corners, a vine-covered pergola shaded rattan chairs, and Zhang Wentian lounged on one of them sipping fine tea, with an antique zither nearby.
A portly middle-aged man was brewing tea. Zhang Wentian looked well, his complexion rosy and expression relaxed, exuding a sense of contentment, as if unconcerned with worldly affairs.
Seeing Lu Chen and Chen Jianhao, Zhang Wentian did not rise, only nodding: "Sit down."
The visit was by appointment. The Old Master had largely retired, he rarely met outsiders, let alone granted media interviews. Chen Jianhao's presence already carried weight.
Lu Chen only now realized that Chen Jianhao had some familial connection to Zhang Wentian and had once worked in his film crew, which allowed him to have a seat in the director's presence.
"Director Zhang, how has your health been recently?"
While greeting him, Lu Chen placed the gift he had brought on the tea table.
Though Lu Chen's role in Zhang Wentian's canceled project had fallen through, he could not come empty-handed. He brought a genuine Korean wild ginseng, worth over 100,000 RMB.
Zhang Wentian recognized its value at a glance and, half joking, half serious, said: "Little Lu, you're slapping my face! I couldn't deliver on my promise to you, and yet you bring such a precious gift."
Lu Chen didn't know what to say: "Director Zhang, please don't joke with me, I couldn't bear it. I came just to see you, with no other intentions."
Zhang Wentian laughed heartily: "You probably don't care about that small role anymore. Your lead TV drama is a hit in Korea, bringing prestige to domestic productions. Sit down, sit down!"
He accepted the gift as a courtesy.
Everyone in the industry knew Zhang Wentian rarely accepted gifts, especially from celebrity artists. If his new film had not been canceled, he would have refused Lu Chen's offering outright. Now, it didn't matter.
It was merely a chance to return a favor. Given Zhang Wentian's status in the show business community, helping Lu Chen would be effortless, there was no question of repayment.
This is the principle of the old-generation filmmakers.
Lu Chen sat down humbly: "Director Zhang, I was just lucky."
He did not expect Zhang Wentian to pay such attention to him.
"Luck is also part of talent," Zhang Wentian sighed. "I haven't been so lucky… these days, the film market, sigh!"
The conflict with investors stemmed from this "market." They demanded his work conform to commercial trends, changing scripts and even key cast members, effectively stripping him of much of his authority as a director.
Zhang Wentian was not the type to blindly cling to tradition; he understood the importance of the market, and it was reasonable for investors to expect returns on their huge investments. But treating him like a puppet was something he could not accept.
When both sides could not reach a compromise, the only outcome was cancellation.
The blow to Zhang Wentian was heavy. He had placed high hopes on this film and had put in considerable effort. To see it all fall apart over differences in vision naturally left him deeply disappointed.
China's domestic film market had grown immensely, with box office revenues rivaling those of the U.S. Such vast profits had made industry professionals increasingly restless, everyone wanted to make big money, fast, often ignoring the true essence of filmmaking.
Zhang Wentian's plight was both accidental and inevitable. As some people said, he had "fallen behind the times."
After resting at home for a few days, Zhang Wentian seemed to have come to terms with it and his passion for filmmaking had waned.
At his age, he had no need for more money or fame. Retirement seemed natural, spending time at home, drinking tea with a few close friends, and enjoying life peacefully.
As Lu Chen sat down, the portly man beside him poured him a cup of hot tea.
Lu Chen quickly said, "Thank you."
The man looked vaguely familiar, as if Lu Chen had seen him somewhere before, definitely not a nobody.
Zhang Wentian noticed Lu Chen's gaze and smiled: "This is my student, Wan Xiaoquan. You've probably heard of him, he was just released from prison recently."
Wan Xiaoquan!
Lu Chen immediately realized why he seemed familiar, it was him!
Wan Xiaoquan is also a director, considered part of the fifth generation of domestic filmmakers. He graduated from the directing department at Capital City Film College and had directed multiple TV dramas, including Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio, The Legend of the White Snake, and Xue Rengui, earning a certain reputation in the industry.
But what he was most famous for was his temper.
He would scold actors, producers, screenwriters, and investors alike. When shooting films, Wan Xiaoquan was always in the news, often clashing with media and earning a poor reputation.
The industry described him as: "Talented, but temperamental!"
At the end of 2014, he had a violent conflict with someone on his film crew, slapping the person so hard they suffered a concussion and partial hearing loss in the left ear. He was fined and sentenced to a year and a half for intentional injury.
This was a huge blow for Wan Xiaoquan. His wife divorced him, and the Directors' Association stripped him of his membership, effectively destroying his career.
When Wang Bindrug was arrested for drug abuse, some blogs jokingly added Wan Xiaoquan to the "Prison Storm" blockbuster roster, he was still serving his sentence then.
Compared with celebrities arrested for drugs, prostitution, or drunk driving, the industry's view of Wan Xiaoquan was more sympathetic because his temper targeted problems, not people. The person he hit had truly provoked him; no one expected the consequences to be so severe.
Lu Chen had watched Wan Xiaoquan's The Legend of the White Snake. The director was very skilled in shooting supernatural stories, with excellent use of camera work and color, a genuinely talented filmmaker.
Lu Chen had also read news of his imprisonment and was surprised to see this protagonist from real life sitting right next to him.
He immediately extended his hand: "Director Wan, hello! It's an honor to meet you."
Wan Xiaoquan shook his hand with a wry smile: "Don't call me Director Wan. I'm just a released convict now. I probably won't be making films again."
His expression was bitter, yet his eyes were calm.
Clearly, this rough experience had taught him a lot about life.
Lu Chen shook his head: "Director Wan, with your talent, you don't have to worry about not getting projects."
He pulled a business card from his bag and handed it over with both hands: "My name is Lu Chen. I've started a workshop and am currently filming a TV drama. I hope we might have a chance to collaborate."
Wan Xiaoquan accepted the card, slightly embarrassed: "I don't have cards. I'll give you my phone number instead."
Lu Chen smiled: "Of course!"
Though currently filming a TV drama, Lu Chen's longer-term goal was filmmaking. Movies hold far greater status, larger markets, and more influence than TV dramas.
He wasn't just being polite; there might genuinely be an opportunity to collaborate with Wan Xiaoquan in the future.
He noted down Wan Xiaoquan's contact information.
Zhang Wentian watched with a faint smile on his old face.
This young man, Lu Chen, was really impressive. Few newcomers in the industry matched his talent: humble but confident, neither arrogant nor servile, experienced yet brilliant, a combination of many virtues.
Looking at Lu Chen, the veteran director felt: he really was getting old.
(End of chapter)