Chinese entertainment: What's wrong with actresses wanting to improve?

Chapter 3 Domestic Reactions

"Yi Bai, you'll take responsibility, right?"

When Zeng Li asked him this question, Fu Yibai's expression froze, and he didn't know how to answer it for a moment.

Zeng Li noticed Fu Yibai's hesitation, and her fingertips stopped moving.

She looked up, her bright eyes now filled with a mixture of unease and anticipation.

"Sister Li, I..."

Zeng Li got the answer from Fu Yibai's hesitation.

Her eyes dimmed, and she gently pulled away from his embrace, silently picking up her scattered clothes.

The faint light of dawn shone through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled shadows on her smooth back.

"I see."

Her voice was very soft, like a snowflake falling on a Berlin street in winter.

"Let's consider last night... a celebration of our award."

She turned her back to him as she fastened the straps of her nightgown, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Fu Yibai quickly sat up and hugged Zeng Li from behind.

"Sister Li, I can't make any promises to you."

After returning to China, I will upgrade Morning Light Studio into a company.

If you don't mind, you can sign up for my company.

I will support you.

Fu Yibai wanted to sign Zeng Li for two reasons: first, he wanted to compensate her; second, after winning the Best Actress award at the Berlin International Film Festival, Zeng Li would soon become famous in China, and her market value would rise accordingly.

Anyway, it's better for him to sign the woman he promoted to his company and make money for him than for her to benefit someone else.

Zeng Li's body trembled slightly in his arms, but she did not struggle.

"Never mind, I was the one who initiated it last night, I shouldn't ask for too much."

Thank you, Yibai.

To give me such a great award.

But I'm used to my freedom, so I won't trouble you.

After saying that, Zeng Li broke free from Fu Yibai's embrace and walked out of the room.

Fu Yibai did not try to stop him.

Before dawn broke in Berlin, the allure and confrontation within Fu Yibai's room had already cooled.

When Zeng Li left, she took all her essence with her, leaving only faint, gradually fading traces of ambiguity.

Fu Yibai sat alone on the messy bed, lit a cigarette, and silently processed everything that had just happened.

He quickly suppressed these disturbances.

Now is not the time to indulge in personal emotions. The trip to Berlin is not yet completely over, and back home, a storm caused by them has only just begun.

Beijing, February 17, morning.

Although the time difference means that Berlin's night corresponds to China's morning, the speed of the internet and news agencies has already allowed the good news to cross mountains and rivers and be delivered accurately.

The first to get excited were online forums and emerging entertainment portals.

Breaking News! Chinese film "Black Coal, Thin Ice" wins two awards at Berlin! Grand Jury Prize + Best Actress!

"Fu Yibai, a junior at the Beijing Film Academy, makes his directorial debut, stunning the international film scene!"

Zeng Li wins Best Actress award in Berlin! Her stunning performance captivates the judges!

The eye-catching headline, coupled with slightly blurry but recognizable photos of the awards ceremony, quickly dominated the headlines of entertainment sections on major websites.

In the photo, Fu Yibai holds the Silver Bear trophy, his young face radiating confidence under the spotlight;

Zeng Li held the Silver Bear for Best Actress, her eyes slightly red, but her smile was dazzling.

The movie and entertainment sections of well-known BBS forums such as Tianya and Xici Hutong refresh posts at an astonishing speed.

"My God! The Jury Grand Prize! Second only to the Golden Bear! Who is this Fu Yibai? I've never heard of him before!"

"Upstairs, the post says he's a third-year directing student at the Beijing Film Academy, it's a genuine student project! Apparently, he even won the initial funding from a bet with his dad..."

"Zeng Li is so beautiful! I always thought she had a unique charm, but I never imagined her acting was so superb! A Berlin Film Festival Best Actress! That's an incredibly prestigious award!"

"What kind of film is *Black Coal, Thin Ice*? The synopsis says it's a crime thriller? When will it be released in China?"

"Student director, debut film, international award... This script is too legendary! Is there some inside story behind it? (laughs)"

"Insider information my foot! The Berlin Film Festival Jury Prize can't be manipulated! Look at the eyes of those foreign judges in the photos—they're genuinely impressed! Director Fu is awesome! He's brought honor to Chinese cinema!"

Doubts, amazement, curiosity, pride... a mix of voices quickly propelled the names "Fu Yibai" and "Zeng Li" to the forefront of public opinion.

Domestic actresses also went crazy, and when they saw Zeng Li win the Berlin Film Festival's Best Actress award, they were filled with nothing but jealousy and regret.

Many people knew about the audition for this movie, but because Fu Yibai was only a sophomore, they didn't take it seriously and didn't want to waste several months playing with a student.

They never imagined that what they initially thought was just a student director dabbling in film would not only become famous overnight but also produce a Berlin Film Festival Best Actress winner.

These actresses are now filled with regret, and they've all been calling the directing department of the Beijing Film Academy to ask when Fu Yibai will return.

The situation on the Beijing Film Academy campus was in an uproar.

In directing and acting classes, as soon as the teacher enters the classroom, they are surrounded by students eagerly asking questions.

"Teacher! Did you see the news? Senior Fu Yibai really won the Berlin Jury Prize!"

During break, Fu Yibai's classmates excitedly discussed, "Old Fu is really something! He actually succeeded. Now he's a famous director!"

"I heard his dad is a wealthy businessman, and they wanted him to go back and take over the family business, but he refused. He made a bet on making a movie, and if he lost, he would go back... Well, he won the bet, and he won so spectacularly!"

"Won't they treat me like a national treasure when I go back to school?"

The phone in the offices of the department head and school leaders also started ringing frequently.

There were media requests for interviews, congratulations from sister universities, and inquiries from film studios and companies about potential collaborations.

The fact that the Beijing Film Academy produced a student who won a major award at an A-list international film festival while still in school is undoubtedly one of the most dazzling proofs of the academy's teaching achievements.

The publicity department immediately began preparing press releases, planning how to leverage this "tailwind" to enhance the college's reputation and influence.

Traditional media also quickly followed suit.

Reporters from the culture and entertainment sections of XX Daily and XX Evening News were all woken up from their weekend naps for an emergency meeting to assign interview tasks and determine the direction of their commentary.

"A young Chinese director wins a Berlin Film Festival award, attracting attention to the emerging talent in cinema."

"From 'rich second generation' to 'prize-winning second generation,' Fu Yibai's movie bet was a resounding success."

"Zeng Li: From 'Golden Flower of the Central Academy of Drama' to Berlin Film Festival Best Actress, a Magnificent Transformation of a Talented Actress."

The titles vary, but they all revolve around the keywords "youth," "miracle," and "breakthrough."

Fu Yibai's background (son of a wealthy businessman, student status) and Zeng Li's Central Academy of Drama background and low-key past have become the focus of media attention, adding more drama and talking points to this good news.

Although Zhang Yimou's "Hero" and Li Yang's "Blind Shaft" also won awards at the Berlin Film Festival, the media's focus was clearly on the new director Fu Yibai.

Fu Jianlin's foreign trade company, president's office.

Fu Jianlin appeared calm as he handled his official duties, but the relaxed expression on his brow and the occasional glance at his son's photo on his phone betrayed his inner turmoil.

His secretary had compiled and printed out the main news reports from the internet and placed them on his desk.

Li Hui received phone calls non-stop, with congratulations from relatives and friends almost never stopping.

She repeated it proudly as she answered the phone.

"Yes, yes, Yi Bai is such a stubborn kid, he insists on making his own way... He's been lucky, he didn't embarrass his dad."

The company's employees are also discussing it privately.

"Young Master Fu has really made a name for himself this time...! Should we start calling him Director Fu from now on?"

"I heard that President Fu wasn't very supportive before, but he's probably overjoyed now, right?"