"Let’s not talk about that. This year’s Qingmu Award, are you going to attend?" Wen Bing asked.

Zhou Yun nodded and said, "Yes, I’ve already received the invitation. This year I’m going to present the Best Actor Award. I should’ve already asked the production for leave a long time ago. You didn’t know?"

Wen Bing said, "I didn’t pay attention."

"What about you?"

"Of course I can’t get away." Wen Bing said.

Zhou Yun was an actress; if she took a few days off, the crew could still shoot scenes with other actors.

He was the director. Once the director left, the production could only shut down.

Zhou Yun said, "You’re actually not going when you’re nominated for Best Director this year?"

"I’m not going to win anyway." Wen Bing smiled. "The fact that Two Tigers even got a nomination is already a big surprise."

"How can you say that? The word of mouth for this film is so good, and it’s not just some ordinary commercial action movie," Zhou Yun said. "I like it a lot."

Wen Bing shrugged and said, "Anyway, even if there were a chance of winning, I still couldn’t go. I can’t help it, Female Assassin happens to clash with it. You can go in my place. If I do win, you can go up and accept the award for me."

"Sure. Then send me your acceptance speech in advance, and I’ll read it for you," Zhou Yun said.

Wen Bing: "Just say a few words for me on the spot, if there really is that chance."

"Okay."

Zhou Yun looked at Wen Bing’s thin face. Sunlight streamed in from the train window, cutting across his face at an angle.

He was already handsome and delicate to begin with; under the magic of the light, he looked even more like a frame from a movie. This man’s face was full of a sense of story.

"Will you... still make films like Life in the future?" Zhou Yun asked.

Wen Bing said, "Probably not for the next few years. Ever since the box office numbers for Two Tigers came out, Yao Yuanfeng practically wishes every film I make from now on was a sequel to Two Tigers."

"That would be such a waste of your talent. You’re clearly capable of shooting a wider range of films."

Wen Bing said, "What can I do? Back when I signed the contract, I didn’t have any leverage to negotiate with them."

Back then, Wen Bing had only been an obscure commercial director.

Zhou Yun fully understood the choice Wen Bing had made at that time.

So now, Wen Bing could only be subject to far too many constraints from New Shield.

Zhou Yun asked curiously, "So if you want to make something else, Yao Yuanfeng doesn’t support you?"

"He’s more supportive of me making films like Two Tigers," Wen Bing said. "Of course, I’m willing to make them too. I just hope for a bit more freedom."

"Hasn’t Yao Yuanfeng talked to you? No matter what, the box office for Life and Two Tigers has fully proven you’re a director who can handle different genres and subjects. And you’ve been so successful—there’s no way he still treats you like he did before, right?"

"He’s willing to pay me a higher fee, and he’ll show more respect in many aspects, but when it comes to what kind of film to make and how to make it—sorry, Yao Yuanfeng has his own ideas." Wen Bing shrugged helplessly. "That’s just how Yao Yuanfeng operates."

Hearing Wen Bing say this, Zhou Yun couldn’t help feeling a deep sense of helplessness as well.

This was how the film world worked. Even though Zhou Yun and Wen Bing had reached where they were now, the ones who truly held power weren’t them.

Take Female Assassin, for instance. To the outside world, this was Zhou Yun’s film, or Wen Bing’s film. But in the industry’s eyes, this was New Shield’s film.

Directors, actors—whether they were wildly popular in the moment or famed far and wide—were all just creators.

Power does not come from creation.

Yao Yuanfeng wanted Zhou Yun to make films for New Shield, wanted to build a long-term working relationship. Of course he had to maintain good relations with her. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

But Yao Yuanfeng didn’t desperately need Zhou Yun, nor would New Shield go under without her.

The same applied to Wen Bing.

Before Zhou Yun and Wen Bing came along, New Shield was already one of the top film and television companies in the industry.

The meteoric rise of Zhou Yun and Wen Bing only made Yao Yuanfeng want to keep working with them—it didn’t mean he would let them lead him by the nose. Those are two different things.

Someone on the train recognized Zhou Yun and asked to take a photo with her.

Zhou Yun readily agreed and took a photo with her.

"It’s so good to see you." The slightly fat foreign woman said, warm and excited.