Chapter 21: Growing Courage
"Hello? Can't you hear me?"

Han Sanping, who didn't hear any response, thought that Chen An didn't hear it.

Chen An, who had reacted, said quickly: "I heard from Director Han. I will contact you later. I am still in class."

"Okay, I've informed you, please take your leave first, and then contact me later."

After saying that, the person on the other end hung up the phone.

Teacher Mu, who was standing on the podium, held his forehead helplessly and said, "You can leave the get out of class today and ask for leave from me later."

Since the students have been shortlisted for the Cannes Film Festival, as a teacher I certainly cannot stop them.

"Then I'll be out first, Teacher Mu."

Chen An also stood up and prepared to leave the classroom with his things.

"go Go."

Teacher Mu waved his hand.

"Hello, Director Han, it's me, Chen An."

"get out of class is over so soon?"

"No, Mr. Mu let me out after hearing that I was shortlisted."

After Chen An came out, he rushed to the dormitory while taking out his phone to contact Han Sanping.

"When are we going to leave? I can contact the investors and actors to go together. Since this is a long film, we must go together."

"You've been shortlisted for the main competition unit this time, so the festival has arranged round-trip airfare and hotel for you. You can take two leading actors and a few crew members with you in first class. However, this time, the film directed by Brother Chen Kai has also been shortlisted, so I'll lead the team myself this time, and you can bring others with you."

"Well, I'd like to thank Director Han for his generosity. I'll contact them right away."

"No problem. Three days later, when Brother Chen Kai and the others arrive, we'll go together. You contact the person first!"

"no problem."

After saying that, Chen An hung up the phone.

After rushing back to the dormitory, Chen An put his things away.

He then took out his phone and called his investor who had no business doing anything about it: "Hello, this is Brother Jiang. The movie has been shortlisted and will leave in three days. Where are you? Can you make it to Beijing?"

"Selected? I knew you wouldn't let me down, brother. I'll leave now and arrive tomorrow."

"Well, we'll gather at the Beijing Film Studio then. There's another movie that's been shortlisted this time, so you'll go with them. The Beijing Film Studio will lead the team this time, so you'd better bring fewer people. Just call Brother Zhao and the others along."

"Okay, no problem. I'll go book the tickets now and contact you then."

After the other party finished speaking, there was a buzzing sound from the phone before the call was hung up.

It seems that although this investor usually doesn't care about anything, he is still very excited about being shortlisted.

Lin Dajiang immediately stopped some of his work and asked his assistant to book four plane tickets for him to Beijing.

Just prepare to take Zhao Xiong and the translator with you and set off immediately.

His last short film sold for over 300,000 US dollars, so he couldn’t even think about making a feature film this time.

Although I don’t know if I can win the prize, I think making one million US dollars would be a big profit. If I don’t win, it doesn’t matter, at least I can recover my investment and promote my own brand!

After Chen An finished calling the investor, he called his leading man and woman:
"Hello~ Sister Jing, where are you?"

"On the set?"

"Of course I have something to do. My movie has been shortlisted for the Cannes Film Festival. I wonder if you have time to win the Best Actress award."

"Well, you should leave as soon as possible in three days. Director Han will make the arrangements then. You should do it as soon as possible."

The leading actress is in the crew, but there is no big problem and the filming is basically finished. The rest can be re-shot separately. Now she is preparing to rush to Beijing.

Afterwards, Chen An contacted Jiang Wu and specifically asked him to talk to Jiang Wen about it, to satisfy Chen An's desire to show off.

Jiang Wu was also very happy and promised to give his brother a heads up.

The last call was made to Zhang Hanyu, who had been out of contact for several months. His home phone was a landline, but Chen An happened to pick up the phone. After the conversation was over, Chen An didn't talk much.

The remaining one is poorer than Chen An, so Chen An plans to go directly to him.

Chen An entered the Central Academy of Drama with his student card. The guard did not stop him and he walked straight into the school.

After holding it in for several months, it would be boring to ask Duan Long out alone. Chen An wanted to pretend, so he went to his classroom to find him and took him along to pretend.

The little brother has too low self-esteem, today I will help him to grow courage!

After walking into the school and asking students how to get to the 94 Acting Department class, Chen An went straight to their classroom.

It was just past noon, after the lunch break, and classes had not officially started yet, but most people had already arrived.

The students each found a seat, and those who were on good terms with each other sat together, chatting in groups.

Duan Long was also chatting with others, but he didn't say much and just listened quietly.

"Duan Long!"

Chen An's voice was very loud. He stood at the back door of the classroom and shouted at Duan Long who was sitting in the crowd.

Duan Long turned around when he heard someone calling him, and saw Chen An, and said with a little surprise:

"Director Chen, why are you here?"

After saying that, he stood up and walked towards Chen An.

The classmates behind him were also staring at Chen An who was standing at the door. Some of them had heard of him.

Duan Long's secret crush Tao Hong also turned to look at Duan Long as he walked towards Chen An. Her big dark eyes were filled with thoughts as she listened to the students' whispers:
"I heard that person is the student my teacher mentioned who won the Golden Lion for Short Film in Venice."

"As for him, I heard that he had previously filmed a movie with Duan Long. I wonder why he came here."

"Yes, I don't know what movie it was, but I found Duan Long somehow."

"."

Duan Long, who walked to Chen An's side, was also a little curious as to why Chen An came to the school to find him.

"What is it, Director Chen?"

"What else could it be? Last time, I asked you to shoot a movie that was shortlisted for the Cannes Film Festival. You don't have a cell phone so I can only come to find you myself. Come with me then. By the way, remember to ask for leave from your teacher. We will leave together for the Beijing Film Studio in three days."

After saying this, he patted Duan Long's shoulder with an expressionless face and left directly, hiding his identity and name, leaving the protagonist to Duan Long.

Chen An came and went as fast as a gust of wind, leaving Duan Long standing there in a daze, at a loss as to what to do.

As Chen An walked out, he couldn't help but mutter to himself: "I'm such a good person."

In the classroom, Duan Long was still in a daze, but all the classmates came to him and started asking questions.

"Duan Long, is this true? Was your movie really shortlisted for Cannes?"

"How did you two know each other? Why did he ask you to make a movie?"

"Could you help introduce me next time you have a chance?"

Until Tao Hong walked up to him, squinted his eyes and smiled blessingly and said:
"Congratulations, Duan Long. You may become famous overnight."

Duan Long raised his head after hearing Tao Hong's voice, and seemed to be looking at her carefully for the first time in person: "Lucky, I just played a supporting role, you will definitely be better than me in the future."

The classmates next to them looked at the two people looking at each other and suddenly they smelled the stench of love.

Tao Hong also replied happily: "Then thank you for your blessing. Go and talk to the teacher about your leave first, and ask if it's true."

"Well, I'll go first."

Duan Long nodded heavily and walked out of the classroom quickly. Now he suddenly felt a little confident enough to look directly at his former sun.

As for Chen An who left, he seemed to have returned to his previous state, walking with the wind.

He walked quickly to school.

After returning to school, I found Teacher Mu who was about to finish class and asked for leave.

"Write a note asking for leave, and I'll help you report to the department when the time comes."

Teacher Mu does not have the authority to decide on holidays of more than seven days. The last time I requested a long vacation, I had already consulted Dean Liu, who approved it directly.

Chen An wrote the leave application with ease. After all, it was not his first time.

After putting away the leave application, Teacher Mu thought for a while and said, "To be honest, I still hope you can stay in school and study more. The photos you took in the last outdoor class were very good. You are very talented, but you have already been shortlisted for Cannes. The teacher can only wish you to win."

"Even if you win an award, you can't stop learning. After all, learning never ends. It's always a good idea to learn more. Go ahead."

Chen An did not smile when hearing Teacher Mu's earnest words of persuasion. After all, he was too young compared to those big directors.

After leaving the office building, Chen An went to the Beijing Film Studio and met with the people that Director Han was going to bring with him before returning to school.

　Please help me. If there are any typos, please let me know.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)