msmithbooks Chapter 457 Connections
Chapter 457 Connections
After Lu Ran came down from the stage, he sat back in his seat. He had just picked up his teacup and taken a sip when he felt all eyes on him.
There's no way around it, I'm just that dazzling, I'm the center of attention wherever I go.
"How lonely it is to be invincible!"
Lu Ran unconsciously started humming.
"Brother Lu, why are you singing my song?" Liu Jun asked, puzzled.
"What do you mean 'your'? I haven't even asked you for the copyright fees yet. Send me this year's copyright fees first, as a token of respect to your godfather," Lu Ran said jokingly, rolling his eyes at Liu Jun.
Lu Ran is not short of money at all now. He didn't even accept this amount from Liu Jun back then, let alone now.
However, while Lu Ran was rambling on, many people around him couldn't sit still.
First, an old man in a dark blue Tang suit came over from the next table with a glass of red wine.
The old man's hair was completely white, but he stood up straight and walked with a brisk pace, clearly someone who spent years filming on set.
He walked up to Lu Ran, raised his glass, and smiled so broadly that his face was covered in wrinkles.
"Mr. Lu, it's an honor to meet you. I'm Li Guodong, an actor. I've been wanting to talk to you about your script for 'Ip Man' for a while now, and I'm so glad to finally meet you in person."
Lu Ran stood up, raised his teacup to clink with hers, and said without changing his expression, "Director Li, you're too kind. I've seen your film 'Ash Is Purest White,' it's full of human relationships amidst the swordplay, it's very well done."
Li Guodong's eyes lit up, as if he hadn't expected Lu Ran to actually have seen his work.
He moved his hand holding the wine glass forward a little more, his tone warming slightly: "Professor Lu, I'm embarrassed by your words. Let me invite you for tea another day, and we can talk in detail."
Lu Ran smiled and agreed, and Li Guodong left with his wine glass, satisfied.
He had just left when another one arrived.
This time, it was a woman in her early forties, wearing a dark green cheongsam, her hair neatly styled, and a pearl necklace around her neck, exuding a capable and efficient air.
She walked to Lu Ran's table, and instead of speaking, she smiled, a smile that suggested she had dealt with all sorts of people over the years.
"Hello, Mr. Lu, I'm Zhou Lifang, a producer at Huayi Film & Television. I've come to offer you a toast."
Lu Ran stood up for the second time.
This time, he had replaced his teacup with a half-empty mineral water bottle next to him, unscrewed the cap, and held it up: "Hello, Mr. Zhou. I finished watching Huayi's 'The Longest Day in Chang'an' last year; the costumes, props, and sets were truly exquisite."
Zhou Lifang smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners: "Teacher Lu, you flatter me. What I actually wanted to ask is if you have any scripts similar to 'Ip Man'? Martial arts, historical, anything goes. We're really short of good original scripts here. I've flipped through all the scripts on the market, and they're all pretty much the same; I can guess the ending by the third page. If you have any, the price is negotiable."
Lu Ran, holding the mineral water bottle, thought for a moment: "Yes, I do. But it's not martial arts fiction; it's a different genre. I'll have someone organize it and send it to you later."
Zhou Lifang's eyes lit up again, and she said "good" three times in a row. She then took out a business card from her handbag and handed it over with both hands before returning to her seat with satisfaction.
After that, it was like a floodgate had been opened, and people came one after another.
Men, women, old, young, screenwriters, directors, producers, actors' agents, and even program planners from two television stations.
Everyone approached with a glass of red wine or champagne, smiling broadly. They introduced themselves, praised Lu Ran's work, and then subtly conveyed a message.
"Professor Lu, is there an opportunity to collaborate?"
Lu Ran welcomed everyone who came, standing up to accept their toasts, regardless of whether they offered wine or tea. He always held a bottle of mineral water in his hand, raising his glass properly when clinking glasses, speaking politely, and sporting a standard social smile.
Shen Yuege sat next to him, watching the scene. Her expression changed from calm to amused, and then from amused to thoughtful.
She said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "You're being treated like a groom today, even more so than Tan Yu."
Lu Ran turned her head and replied, "The groom did all the work, and I did all the work of being surrounded. A fair division of labor."
Shen Yuege's lips curved slightly at his words, but she didn't say anything more and took a sip of warm water.
When the fifth or sixth person came over with a wine glass, Lu Ran felt that this couldn't go on.
He had to deal with dozens of people by himself, and it would take him half an hour to greet each one with a toast. He didn't even have time to sit down, let alone eat.
Moreover, many of these people who come actually have projects and resources. It would be a waste for them to just exchange a few polite words and leave.
During a break between toasts, he whispered to Liu Jun at the same table, "Liu Jun, stand up for a moment."
Liu Jun was engrossed in dealing with a large hairy crab when he heard this. He looked up, his mouth still smeared with crab roe, and asked, "Huh? What?"
"Stand up and offer a toast. Let me introduce you to a few people."
Liu Jun paused for a moment, then quickly threw the crab shell into the bone dish, tore off a tissue to wipe his hands and mouth, and stood up with even more agility than when filming a scene.
Upon hearing Lu Ran's words, Zhao Dapeng and Sun Tianyu stopped eating, each grabbed a wine glass, and stood up.
Lu Ran turned her head and glanced around, her gaze landing on a gray-haired but energetic man at the next table.
The man was wearing a gray jacket and was sitting among a group of young people, chatting about something, with an unlit cigarette between his fingers.
Lu Ran led Liu Jun over and stopped at the table: "Director Huang, excuse me. This is my friend Liu Jun, an actor from Xingyao. Don't you have a supporting male role in your next film that hasn't been cast yet? You could consider him."
Director Huang looked up, his gaze lingering on Liu Jun's face for a couple of seconds, then he reached out and shook hands with Liu Jun: "What's your name?"
"Liu Jun." Liu Jun's voice was a shade lower than usual, carrying a serious tone. "I acted in 'Meteor Garden,' and later had a guest appearance in a few episodes of 'The Starry Night.'"
Director Huang nodded, then glanced at him again: "Nice appearance. I watched a few episodes of 'The Starry Night,' so I vaguely remember you."
"Yes, I had a cameo role in a few episodes, and it was quite a bit of screen time."
"Your acting was alright, the rhythm of your lines was good." Director Huang tucked his unlit cigarette behind his ear. "I'll have my assistant contact your agent later and send you an audition script."
Liu Jun said "Thank you, Director Huang" three times, shaking hands with much more force than usual, his fingers turning slightly white when he let go.
Lu Ran then led the three of them to a table next to them.
Several older actresses and directors were sitting at this table, chatting about their experiences at Fashion Week.
Lu Ran greeted one of the women, who had short hair and wore a black shirt, saying, "Director Jiang, let me introduce you. This is my friend Zhao Dapeng. He has acted in stage plays and web dramas, and he's been practicing his lines recently."
Zhao Dapeng immediately straightened his back, a smile plastered on his face, a smile that carried the restraint of a student meeting a teacher. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but swallowed the words back, only bowing deeply.
Director Jiang looked him up and down: "What have you acted in before?"
"I acted in the web series 'The Return of the God of War' and also appeared in several TV dramas starring Lu Ge."
Director Jiang nodded, his tone calm but not perfunctory: "I do have some impression of you. Your appearance is suitable for playing roles in slice-of-life dramas. Come visit my studio sometime and we can chat."
Zhao Dapeng bowed a second time, even more deeply than the first time. If Sun Tianyu hadn't pulled him back, his forehead would have hit the edge of the table.
Then Lu Ran pushed Sun Tianyu forward a step as well.
Sun Tianyu is not tall and was a little nervous standing in front of a group of people. He didn't know where to put his hands, but in the end he still forced himself to bow.
Lu Ran said a few words for him: "Sun Tianyu has worked as a screenwriter's assistant and has written a few short scripts. He has solid basic skills, but he's just lacking a good opportunity."
A middle-aged man wearing glasses at the table pushed up his glasses and glanced at Sun Tianyu: "What genre is the short script?"
Sun Tianyu's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear: "I've written both urban romance and suspense. One of my suspense short scripts won a newcomer award on the platform last year."
The bespectacled man nodded: "Send it to me later."
Lu Ran introduced several people in succession, walking around between the tables. Liu Jun, Zhao Dapeng, and Sun Tianyu followed behind him, like three chicks being led by a mother hen to find food.
When Lu Ran reached the third lap, he saw Liu Siqi.
Liu Siqi sat at the table by the window, wearing a white off-shoulder dress, her hair styled in large curls and draped over her shoulders, her makeup so exquisite it looked like she had just finished shooting a magazine cover.
She was chatting with the person next to her, twirling a glass of champagne that she hadn't drunk much of between her fingers, looking very relaxed.
As Lu Ran walked over, Liu Siqi looked up and saw him. She raised the corner of her mouth and said, "Oh, busy man, you've finally turned your attention to me. I thought you only had the director and producer on your mind today."
"No way." Lu Ran stopped beside her, stepping aside to make way for Liu Jun behind him. "I brought your brother along. I just introduced him to a role as the second male lead; Director Huang wants him to audition."
Liu Siqi glanced at Liu Jun, who was staring down at the tips of his shoes, his ears noticeably red.
Liu Siqi chuckled: "Well done, Liu Jun. You've learned a lot from following your brother Lu today, haven't you?"
Liu Jun gave a muffled "hmm," his ears turning even redder.
Liu Siqi stopped teasing him and turned her gaze back to Lu Ran: "Teacher Lu, you've been incredibly busy today. I saw you walking around in circles, and you haven't even finished a glass of water. Aren't you tired?"
"Even if I'm tired, I have to stand. So many seniors have come over willingly; I can't just sit there."
"Then you didn't lose out today," Liu Siqi raised her champagne glass to him. "I heard that even General Manager Jiang from Guohua Film and Television came to see you and invited you to have tea another day. In this industry, you can count on two hands the number of people who can get General Manager Jiang to personally bring you a glass of wine."
Lu Ran smiled, raised his mineral water bottle and clinked it against her champagne: "It's all for your sake. I'll write the theme song for your period drama sometime, and you can sing it."
Liu Siqi's eyes lit up, but she retorted sharply, "I've remembered what you said. Don't try to renege on your promise later."
"A dog would refuse to pay its debts."
Liu Siqi was amused by his childish response and burst out laughing. The eyes of several people at the nearby tables were drawn to look over, but then turned back.
When Lu Ran finally returned to his seat after completing a full circle with his three tails, Tan Yu had already finished toasting and started returning the greetings at each table.
He walked ahead in a silver-gray suit, with Xu Manxue walking beside him, arm in arm. The two walked in sync between the tables, chatting with acquaintances and bowing respectfully to elders.
Tan Yu stopped at Lu Ran's table, raised his glass to clink with Lu Ran's water bottle, and said, "Brother Lu, you've worked hard today. My mother-in-law is still crying after your song."
Lu Ran stood up and patted him on the shoulder: "It's no trouble. Today is your wedding day, you're the boss. Toast properly, don't block others from drinking, drink what you should drink, and if you can't drink, let Zhao Dapeng fill in."
Zhao Dapeng raised his glass and shouted, "I'm ready!"
Tan Yu glanced at Zhao Dapeng, laughed and scolded, "Drink less, or you'll end up in my wedding car," then took Xu Manxue's arm and continued to the next table.
Lu Ran sat back down in his chair and let out a long sigh.
He glanced down at the bottle of mineral water in his hand, realizing he had almost finished it; the bottle was warm from his grip.
Shen Yuege pushed a plate of peeled shrimp in front of him.
The shrimp shells were peeled clean, the shrimp veins were removed, and they were neatly arranged on a small plate. It was clear that they had been prepared with care.
"Eat something. You were so busy talking that you didn't even touch your chopsticks."
Lu Ran stared at the plate of shrimp for a moment, then picked one up and put it in his mouth.
The shrimp meat was very fresh, springy, sweet, and warm.
As he chewed, he suddenly realized that his mouth not only tasted of shrimp, but also something else mixed in.
Without thinking, he picked up another one, then turned to Shen Yuege and whispered, "What about you? Have you eaten yet?"
Shen Yuege shook the half-empty rice bowl in front of her: "I'm much more at ease than you. You go about your business, I'm eating just fine on my own."
Lu Ran nodded and continued eating the shrimp.
The sky outside the window had already darkened, making the lights in the banquet hall appear even brighter.
Tan Yu and Xu Manxue were still toasting, and laughter and clinking glasses filled the room, making it lively and bustling.
Lu Ran finished the plate of shrimp, leaned back in his chair, and suddenly felt that today's trip had not been in vain.
It's not just because that song was sent out.
It wasn't just because he connected Liu Jun and his group with a few people.
The scripts he had—comedies, romances, historical dramas, and serious dramas—had been lying in the system library gathering dust for a long time.
He couldn't possibly finish writing it all by himself, and his father-in-law, Shen Zhiwei, couldn't possibly finish filming it all by himself either; a century wouldn't be enough.
These scripts need to be adapted to the right people one by one.
Comedy films should be directed by directors who make comedies, romance films by directors who make romance films, and historical dramas by directors who can handle large-scale scenes.
He made at least a dozen new faces and saved several new contact information during his trip today. He plans to contact them one by one after the wedding and maybe he can finally release several scripts that have been shelved for almost two years.
He placed the mineral water bottle on the table, turned his head to look at the completely dark sky outside the window, and pondered his next move.
My mind is already racing with those untouched books: "Goodbye Mr. Loser," "The Nameless," and "Ming Dynasty 1566."
These three alone will keep him busy for more than half a year, and there's a long list of names following them.
Shen Yuege, seeing him lost in thought, waved her hand in front of his eyes and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"I want to work." Lu Ran snapped out of her reverie, poured herself another cup of tea, "Several of these people from today will come in handy. I've finally found suitable people to take over those notebooks I had."
Shen Yuege glanced at him, but didn't ask any further questions. She simply finished the remaining half spoonful of soup in her bowl and then placed the empty bowl on the table.
"You're the kind of person who can turn any place into your own personal playground."
Lu Ran thought for a moment: "It's not really a home ground. More like a transit point."
Shen Yuege was amused by his nonsensical statement, but she didn't refute it. Instead, she turned to look at the bride and groom exchanging favors on the stage.
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