Brother Dao Took the Entertainment Industry by Storm, Fans Beg Me Not to Kill Anymore-Chapter 428: Director Ning and the Others… Cut from the Same Cloth

When Linghui Entertainment's account finally forwarded the announcement, the internet had already gone through a wave of celebration.

Seeing Linghui Entertainment's belated congratulations, netizens even started mocking them.

[What's wrong with your operations team? Always one step behind! We all got the latest news from marketing accounts first, you guys really need to reflect on this!]

But when Xiao He forwarded it using his own account, the comment section was filled entirely with Little Box fans' blessings and anticipation for the movie "No Bait."

[Looking forward to "No Bait" being a huge hit! Charge ahead!]

Seeing the completely different comment styles on the two accounts, Linghui Entertainment's operations team was at a loss.

Indeed, within fan communities, studios and fans are always in opposition. No matter whether the boss behind the studio is the artist themselves or not, what fans always hope for is the next, better studio.

The online buzz continued to ferment, with more and more people starting to notice the name "No Bait" and adding the film to their May Day season watchlists. Even some marketing accounts that usually had little to talk about had already begun analyzing and predicting "No Bait's" box office performance and potential awards in advance.

And Xiao He paid absolutely no attention to any of this.

-

Beijing, a certain villa district.

This time returning to the country, Xiao He didn't go back to Shanghai, but instead landed directly in Beijing to visit Director Ning at his home.

Liu Rulan had visited Director Ning's home before. Previously, it was her who directly stormed into Ning Jiaqi's house, enthusiastically promoted Xiao He, and submitted Xiao He's resume. Only then did Director Ning finally turn his attention to Xiao He and give him an opportunity to compete on the same stage with other Award-Winning Actors.

The final result was naturally excellent. Liu Rulan's promotion was very successful, and Xiao He smoothly defeated the original lead Shu Han, becoming the undisputed male lead of "No Bait."

Now, he had also successfully used "No Bait" as a stepping stone to ascend to the Cannes stage.

So now, sitting in the living room of Director Ning's villa once again, Liu Rulan's state of mind was completely different.

Back then, Liu Rulan was still quite apprehensive, bravely recommending a pure newcomer's resume, and was even coolly mocked by Director Ning, who felt she was exaggerating her artist's abilities too much. But the truth was, they had all underestimated Xiao He's ability at that time.

This time meeting Liu Rulan and Xiao He again, Ning Jiaqi's face was also full of smiles.

"I really never expected that, at the very end of my career when I was about to retire, I'd still have the chance to go out and see the world. It's truly rare."

Ning Jiaqi had ventured abroad in his early years too, but he was young then, and many works were limited by various circumstances, ultimately defeated by reality, forcing him to turn toward box office success.

After all, no matter how many awards you have, can they compare to having real money?

Thus, the art world lost one director with aspirations, while the commercial world gained a director with billions in box office revenue.

Since deciding to retire, Ning Jiaqi's temperament had broadened. If he hadn't been constantly thinking about the "No Bait" script that had remained unfinished for many years, Ning Jiaqi would have truly been ready to transfer his entire team to several of his disciples and begin his leisurely retirement years.

But who would have thought that life is perhaps just like this—when you struggle desperately wanting to obtain something, it's the unattainable desire of youth; when you no longer hope for such success, it responds to you at the very last moment.

Every time he thought about this, Ning Jiaqi would shake his head helplessly.

If he went out and said this, people would accuse him of Versailles-style humblebragging.

Tsk tsk, no other meaning, just pure showing off.

Liu Rulan then said with a smile, "This shows Director Ning is still an old hand, and your works can still gain recognition. I think Director Ning, you really shouldn't be thinking about retirement yet. There's still plenty to do afterward."

Ning Jiaqi laughed and scolded, "Look at what you're saying. Can't I retire early to preserve a good reputation?"

Look at those Old Things next door—the stuff they film has already become what audiences judge as "high-level" art. If he didn't escape early, was he supposed to wait to lose his reputation in his later years?

Ning Jiaqi snorted coldly in his heart.

He wasn't that stupid.

Anyway, he'd earned enough money, had successors, and was happy to be idle.

"I know you all too well," Ning Jiaqi said, glancing sideways at Liu Rulan. "My several disciples now also greatly admire your artist. Rather than keeping your eyes on me, you'd be better off trying to snatch some scripts from them."

Then a hint of a smile appeared on his face. "I do know they have a few treasured good scripts in their hands. If you're interested later, I can tell you all about them properly."

Actually, don't just think Liu Rulan coveted the resources in their hands—they equally coveted a future Award-Winning Actor like Xiao He.

There were too many scripts that could be filmed. Managing to shoot and complete one or two a year was already their limit, but the actors they could collaborate with were only those same few, going back and forth.

If they didn't form a deep connection now, and later found the actor's schedule booked solid for years ahead, they'd really have nowhere to cry.

Both sides exchanged compliments like this, then simultaneously burst out laughing.

"Alright, back to the main topic."

Ning Jiaqi turned serious. "'No Bait' being shortlisted for Cannes this time is indeed a good thing. So our current plan is not to hold additional preview screenings, but to have a global premiere directly on May 1st."

"Global simultaneous premiere on May 1st?"

Liu Rulan confirmed further.

"Yes."

When it came to box office matters, Ning Jiaqi's sitting posture became more proper. "To be honest, with the film 'No Bait' itself, I was aiming for commercial success. So compared to awards, what I actually hope for more is that it can achieve box office success domestically and even overseas."

Speaking seriously, money is still more important.

"I heard Xiao He is preparing to join a crew in the United States next month?"

"Yes, it's not a major role. We'll try our best to return before the May 1st premiere."

"Then we'll have to trouble you to help promote it while you're in the United States. We'll arrange events in advance, and you just need to be responsible for arriving on site to connect with people afterward."

As he spoke, Ning Jiaqi seemed to think of something, then said to Xiao He with a smile, "Speaking of which, Xiao He's popularity overseas hasn't been low recently either. I heard you just won another racing championship recently? And some netizens are teasing you as a mafia young master."

Xiao He was stunned for a moment, then felt so awkward he could dig three bedrooms and a living room with his toes. "Hehe, Director Ning, you also like watching these things?"

Damn it, Director Ning is already this old and still likes watching all that nonsense on the internet?

Even watching overseas announcements!

I never expected you to be like this, Director Ning!

"Ahem, as a director, one must keep up with the times after all. Besides, in this era, isn't it strange not to use a phone or go online?"

Ning Jiaqi cleared his throat, immediately finding a perfectly reasonable excuse for himself.

Anyway, he definitely didn't go to foreign websites to look at those pretty girls!

He was just following fashion!

Xiao He and Liu Rulan: "...As long as you're happy."

Perhaps feeling he had gotten carried away and lost face in front of the younger generation, Ning Jiaqi finally said a few more words to them about the upcoming arrangements, then put on a stern face and shooed Xiao He and the others away.

They had originally talked about having a meal together, but now, all that was left was Xiao He and Liu Rulan staring at each other.

After a long silence, Xiao He finally slowly spoke up, "I think their teacher-student group really is... passed down through the same lineage."

Liu Rulan: "? What do you mean?"

Xiao He: "Look at Director Zhuang—on the surface he's a domineering CEO and director, but actually he's an otaku. Yan Shaohan—on the surface he's a natural airhead, easy to talk to, but when actually filming, he's a super demon king, strict to a terrifying degree. Finally, their teacher Director Ning—old in age but young at heart, loves browsing foreign websites."

How can this not be considered a sense of contrast passed down through the same lineage?

Liu Rulan rolled her eyes. "Let's go, let's go, you're the one with all the words!"

You just had to show off!