In a small classroom at the Central Academy of Drama, the morning was spent on foundational theory and technique courses. In the afternoon, Zhu Momo and Li Youhu focused on performance training. Alongside scripts for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Keep Cool, Teacher Yu had prepared scenes from classic films for practice.
This had become the pair's daily routine: direct, intensive, and with immediate results.
Around 3 p.m., a visiting professor from the academy arrived. His surname was Chang, and he brought along a group of his students—freshmen from the 1996 acting class who were currently undergoing military training as part of their orientation.
It was early autumn, the start of the academic year in China.
The 1996 freshmen had registered on August 22 and were now busy with drills. Over the next three days, returning upperclassmen would complete their own registration, making this one of the academy's busiest weeks. With the hectic schedule slightly easing, Professor Chang found time to visit with his students.
China's entertainment industry, much like Hollywood, operates through a network of interconnected relationships. The Central Academy of Drama and the Beijing Film Academy are two major hubs that link many of the industry's stars. News of Li Youhu's return to the academy, now accompanied by Zhu Momo, had already spread quickly.
Normally, girls with wealthy backers were nothing noteworthy in the entertainment circle; such cases were far too common. But when the backer in question was Simon Westeros, the dynamics changed entirely.
Simon Westeros' influence was now so pervasive that his name carried weight across the globe.
In China's entertainment industry, this was particularly evident. With Daniele Entertainment's dominance in Hollywood, anyone aspiring to break into the American market could not ignore him. This was doubly true now that the Westeros System had begun making substantial moves in China's media and entertainment sectors over the past year.
Previously, Li Youhu had struggled in the industry due to her straightforward and uncompromising nature. But with such a formidable backer behind her, she no longer needed to adapt to the circle's norms and politics, finding herself unexpectedly at ease.
Warmly greeting Professor Chang, she also introduced Zhu Momo to him and the freshmen, fostering a friendly atmosphere.
By 4 p.m., as scheduled, two additional visitors arrived, instantly drawing the attention of the wide-eyed freshmen. While the new students might not fully grasp Zhu Momo and Li Youhu's backgrounds, they immediately recognized Zhang Yimou and Jiang Wen—two of China's most celebrated filmmakers.
Zhang Yimou, an alumnus of the Beijing Film Academy, and Jiang Wen, a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama, shared a long-standing camaraderie with Professor Chang, resulting in a lively reunion before getting down to business.
The two directors had come to meet the lead actress for their next film: Zhu Momo.
At the moment, Zhang Yimou's primary focus was still on Hero, the ambitious wuxia film he was developing based on a concept personally provided by Simon. Understanding the significance of the $30 million investment from Daniele Entertainment—a staggering 250 million yuan by Chinese standards—Zhang had set aside all other projects to prioritize Hero.
However, given the time required for such a large-scale production, Zhang had another, smaller project lined up to fill the gap: Keep Cool, adapted from a short story. With Simon's support, the project had quickly moved forward and was set to begin filming in October.
Originally, Keep Cool had been written with a summer setting, but with production delayed to autumn, the story was being adjusted for cooler seasons. It was a minor change, as the core of the film lay in its narrative.
Though Zhang Yimou and Jiang Wen had reviewed Zhu Momo's profile, this was their first time meeting her in person.
Their initial impression?
Tall.
Very tall.
Jiang Wen, standing at 183 cm, was slightly taller than Zhu Momo's 182 cm. But male and female height dynamics are rarely judged equally. Cultural preferences for taller men and shorter women made their pairing visually unconventional.
In the original Keep Cool, the female lead was also a model, but at 175 cm, her height still complemented Jiang Wen's. However, with Zhu Momo's involvement, neither Zhang nor Jiang had much room to object, given the film's prominent backer.
That said, after their initial reservations, the directors quickly noticed something exceptional.
Despite her inexperience, Zhu Momo possessed a unique, camera-ready presence. Her youthful awkwardness was balanced by a striking charisma—an innate quality that many seasoned performers work hard to develop.
This made her an unexpectedly fitting choice for the role of An Hong, a spirited and somewhat unpredictable character.
Particularly telling was when Zhu Momo performed an impromptu scene with Jiang Wen.
Her uninhibited, almost fearless approach earned the directors' approval. The character of An Hong—a fiery and capricious young woman—was brought to life in her audition.
Jiang Wen, struck by inspiration, turned to Zhang Yimou. "You know, if she's already taller than me, why not go all in and have her wear high heels?"
He then looked at Zhu Momo and asked, "Do you have high heels?"
Initially addressed as "Miss Zhu," Zhu Momo had diplomatically invited the directors to use her first name instead. She smiled and replied, "Of course. I love wearing high heels—12 cm ones are my favorite."
Zhang Yimou considered this and hesitated. "At 12 cm, you'd be 194 cm tall. That might be a bit much."
Zhu Momo laughed. "I have plenty of options. You can choose the height."
Jiang Wen chimed in, "We'll have to test them all out and see what works."
Zhu Momo nodded eagerly. "Sure! I've cleared my schedule for Keep Cool. Just let me know when."
Satisfied, Zhang Yimou agreed.
Meanwhile, the 1996 freshmen, who had been observing quietly, left with Professor Chang after realizing there wasn't much room for them to participate.
Before departing, Jiang Wen asked, "Professor Chang, are there any promising students in this year's class?"
Professor Chang approached with a smile. "They're all promising, of course. This year's intake is quite different. Perhaps you've heard?"
Jiang Wen shook his head. "What's different?"
"The academy has revised its selection criteria. Most of the girls in this class have backgrounds in dance or traditional Chinese opera, so they come with strong foundational skills. Like Li Youhu here."
"Ah, that's a good change," Jiang Wen remarked.
Seizing the moment, Professor Chang added, "So, Jiang, Zhang, if you ever need fresh talent, don't forget about my students."
Zhang Yimou smiled. "Of course. But they're just freshmen. Are you ready to let them go so soon?"
"For your films? Anytime."
"Then it's settled," Zhang replied warmly. Turning to Li Youhu, he asked, "You'll be attending tonight's reception, right?"
Li Youhu nodded politely. "Yes, Mr. Zhang. We'll be there."
Professor Chang, overhearing this, seemed puzzled.
Zhang Yimou explained, "It's a reception hosted by Jinshu Media. A casual gathering. Professor Chang, you've heard of Jinshu Media, haven't you?"
Professor Chang nodded.
Jinshu Media was a rising star in the industry, publicly known for its work in film production, talent management, and event planning. Within the circle, however, it was clear that Jinshu Media was a proxy for Daniele Entertainment's operations in China.
With projects like Keep Cool, Hero, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and another rumored comedy involving phone calls, Jinshu Media's influence was rapidly growing. Zhang Yimou had even signed on as its first master-level filmmaker.
After wrapping up their discussions, the group dispersed.
Zhu Momo and Li Youhu continued rehearsing until 5 p.m. before heading out. As they exited the building, two 1996 freshmen approached them.
"Li Youhu, Momo, are you free tomorrow?"
Li Youhu politely declined, preferring to avoid unnecessary socializing. Zhu Momo, however, readily agreed and even suggested organizing an outing with the entire class.
Later that evening, Zhu Momo and Li Youhu arrived at the China World Hotel for Jinshu Media's reception.
Chen Qing and Lin Su also attended, accompanied by Lin Su's younger sister, Lin Lan.
In many ways, Chen Qing and Lin Su were the evening's focal points. Their close ties to Simon and involvement in Westeros System projects made them invaluable figures in China's entertainment and media landscape.
Upon entering the grand banquet hall filled with industry heavyweights, Lin Lan's eyes widened in awe. Before she could fully process her surroundings, they were greeted.
"Miss Lin, Miss Chen, you're here."
Two sharply dressed men in their early thirties approached. One was a tall, slender figure over 180 cm, while the other had a square, chiseled face. Both exuded sharp intelligence, their demeanor distinctly wolfish.
After brief introductions, Lin Su gestured to her sister. "Lin Lan, this is Wu Shanlin, the CEO of Jinshu Media, and Luo Qian, the CEO of Jinshu Theaters. Gentlemen, this is my younger sister, Lin Lan."
Lin Lan greeted them politely, trying to make conversation. "Jinshu—like in the phrase 'yun zhong shui ji jin shu lai'?"
Wu Shanlin smiled. "You'd have to ask Miss Lin. She might know better than we do."
Lin Lan turned to her sister, who hesitated slightly before nodding. "Maybe."
Wu and Luo exchanged a brief glance, their expressions subtly shifting.
Lin Lan, sensing she had touched on something sensitive, quickly changed the subject.
As the men departed, Lin Lan leaned closer to her sister.
Lin Su shot her a sharp look—half warning, half irritation.
Chen Qing, observing this, offered a cryptic explanation. "It's not 'yun zhong shui ji jin shu lai.' It's from Lu You's poem: 'shan meng sui zai, jin shu nan tuo.'"
Lin Lan, familiar with both poems, frowned. "That's from Chai Tou Feng. But isn't that line… not exactly auspicious? Why use it?"
Chen Qing's lips curled into a sly smile. "I'm not telling you."
Truthfully, she didn't know either. But there was no need to admit that.
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