456: Chapter 456 The Most Troublesome Place

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Director Deng Yu never expected Producer Zhang Nuo to suggest such a terrible idea. "No way, don't I have any reputation to maintain?"

"What is reputation worth? A real man knows when to bend and when to stretch—"

"I can't bend, not even a little." Director Deng Yu interrupted her. "A musical plus no screening slots—the obvious advantage is with me."

"But what if you lose?"

Director Deng Yu was instantly silenced.

Producer Zhang Nuo tried to persuade him earnestly: "That Lin guy is too popular; he has too many music fans and movie fans. After 'lotus lantern' aired, it was even more incredible. I really have no confidence. Plus, everything he films becomes a hit. He has Director Du Qiyu's 'the mission' and Chen Jiaju's 'new police story' coming up. Tell me, who in the Chinese Entertainment Industry is as popular as him? You've seen the trending topics yourself; this has nothing to do with whether the movies he wants to film are good or not. It's only about one thing."

"What?"

"This is just a game, and the name of the game is 'Choose One to Stay.' Who do you think the audience will choose?"

Producer Zhang Nuo's words made sense.

Director Deng Yu was completely speechless.

Damn it, what kind of twisted game is this in the entertainment industry? I've never seen it before!

Besides, at around 60 years old, it's the prime age for striving. How could he bear to leave this vanity fair?

"If you really can't bring yourself to do it, I have another way."

"What way?"

"I never intended for you to apologize in person anyway. Let's find someone to sound him out and test his attitude."

Director Deng Yu finally agreed: "...Fine, do you have someone in mind?"

"How about Producer Zhang Man?"

The two of them were old acquaintances with Producer Zhang Man and had dealt with her many times.

"She is the executive producer of that 'la la land,' right?"

Producer Zhang Nuo nodded and analyzed it for her husband: "First, she is familiar with Lin Chuyan. Second, her relationship with us is decent. Wasn't the news that 'la la land is a musical' something we found out by asking her? Have you forgotten?"

"Fine, I'll go talk to her."

"Don't you show your face, and I won't either. Don't leave any evidence for this kind of thing."

Director Deng Yu nodded: His wife made sense; this matter was indeed not decent.

"What? Did I hear that right?"

Lin Chuyan had just gotten off the plane and landed in Beijing when he received a call from Producer Zhang Man, and then he heard such a... bizarre piece of news.

Producer Zhang Man held back her laughter: "That's right. They entrusted another friend to come and tell me. In short, that's the situation."

"Oh, quite cautious." Lin Chuyan's tone was full of sarcasm.

"Yeah, in short, it's about turning hostility into friendship, so we can all be fine. As long as you don't mention any betting agreement, they naturally won't engage in any blacklisting."

"Is that their original wording?"

"Yes."

Lin Chuyan laughed out loud at the airport: "Hilarious. They didn't even manage to blacklist me, and they still want to use this empty threat to manipulate me?"

"Hahaha, they also added: 'Think carefully, both sides originally had no grudges, so we can be friends.'"

"Tsk tsk tsk, now they want to be friends?"

Lin Chuyan was in a great mood; after all, who doesn't like hearing something funny? Thanks to Director Deng Yu, the exhaustion from filming was swept away.

"I almost couldn't keep a straight face when I answered the phone. But I'm quite impressed by them. I thought you two were already at odds, but I didn't expect them to be able to swallow their pride."

"Indeed, a boss is a boss; he can endure what others cannot. But to be honest, I still like Director Deng Yu's unruly demeanor; I hope he can recover that soon."

"So, what do you mean?"

Lin Chuyan naturally already had a decision in mind, but he was willing to chat a bit more.

"Sister Man, what do you think?"

"What do I think?" Producer Zhang Man didn't hesitate and said whatever came to mind: "I don't think their words can be trusted. Once this hurdle is passed, they might turn around and smear your name! You need to be careful and guard against that."

Lin Chuyan had already gotten into the car at this point, and it was his own company's people picking him up. He was laughing while getting into the car.

"Hahaha! Director Deng Yu and Producer Zhang Nuo thought they had found a lobbyist for themselves, but they didn't expect—oh, they didn't expect, Sister Man, that you see things so clearly."

First, she saw the thoughts of Director Deng Yu and his wife clearly, and second, she saw the situation clearly.

"Duh! Haven't I been on your side for a long time!"

First, she was working for Lin Chuyan, and second, she had indeed taken sides early on.

Facts proved that her judgment was correct—nowadays, it was becoming increasingly obvious which side, Lin or Deng, was superior.

"Alright. Sister Man, please help me reply to them."

"Go ahead."

"Ahem, just say—" Lin Chuyan cleared his throat, "Get lost!!!"

What kind of nonsense, they have no backbone at all; Lin Chuyan despised them even more.

Wu Yue listened to him finish the call from the side and could basically guess what the content was.

"Indeed, you cannot make peace. Everyone is watching you. This spirit has been held up, waiting to fight with you and destroy Director Deng Yu together, so you cannot retreat first. Once you retreat, public opinion will backlash, and the other side might even sabotage you and frame you instead."

Xia Zhi also added a point: "Brother, didn't we find out last time that they were buying fan accounts? They really can't be trusted."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. In short, just wait for their response. Didn't I say before that the conditions were open? Now it's their turn to have a headache."

"Brother, they won't just open their mouths and ask you to get 5 billion in box office, right?"

"No, the netizens are watching," Lin Chuyan answered with a smile. "This is the most troublesome part. If they say too much, they'll be scolded for being shameless; if they say too little, they'll lose and have to retire from the industry."

Xia Zhi couldn't help but give a thumbs up: Brilliant! Truly brilliant!

Lin Chuyan didn't return to his company; he had the employee take him home, put away his luggage, and then turned around and went to Tianxing.

No choice, there wasn't much time, so he had to hurry. Besides, Zheng Hai and Ruan Xingyu were waiting there.

Arriving downstairs at Tianxing, Lin Chuyan glanced at his phone again—Director Deng Yu still hadn't responded.

"Brother, I'm watching. I'll tell you the first moment they respond. You go do your thing."

"Good. Let's go, let's go together. Wen Qi is also on the third floor."

Once Lin Chuyan entered the building, he took off his hat and sunglasses. At this moment, many employees at Tianxing had already recognized him—

"Second Master!"

Where did this title come from? Why does it sound a bit familiar?

Lin Chuyan was a bit dazed: He remembered, 'lotus lantern,' Erlang Shen.

Well, nothing else to say, just acknowledge it.

Xia Zhi said from the side: "Many people on the internet are calling you that now."

"I'm used to it; one drama, one way of calling."

Lin Chuyan thought about it, regarding the later dramas, "Ah Lai" is hard to say, but "Ah Zu" shouldn't be avoidable.

"It shows that your acting skills are good, Brother. Every character is so deeply rooted in people's hearts."

"Fine, I'll note down this flattery."

Arriving at the third floor, the two of them went to find their respective partners.

Ruan Xingyu was already waiting.

The two of them didn't avoid people and held hands right there in the company.

His girlfriend's little hand was so soft.

"Still quite early, no traffic on the road?"

"No traffic. Hey, let me tell you something; it cracked me up."

The matter of "Director Deng Yu admitting defeat" was something he could tell others, but he had to share it with his girlfriend.

Hearing that he had already made the right decision, Ruan Xingyu just expressed her stance: "I will always support my boyfriend!"

"Hehehe." Lin Chuyan squeezed her palm, "Where is Zheng Hai?"

"He's staying in the recording studio; he asked me to lead you over."

The two of them chatted while walking.

Arrived at the recording studio.

Zheng Hai stroked his thinning hair: "Xiao Yan, you performed well this time! You even know to hurry up and record songs; I commend you."

It's just that Lin Chuyan's next sentence made him feel quite ominous.

"Brother, I'm sorry to you; I suddenly remembered something."

"...What?"

"Extremely urgent: The soundtrack for 'la la land,' let's record that one first!"

Zheng Hai: "..."