I am a Big Player
Chapter 599 - 593, Chen Da’s 12th Year (Second Update)_1

Chapter 599: 593, Chen Da’s 12th Year (Second Update)_1

Chen Da returned to the Central Academy of Drama to continue teaching his course on liberating one’s nature. He resumed his role as the head of his department as if the filming of "Crazy Stone" had never happened.

He was aware of how the outside world discussed him, with comments like "He’s turned his fortunes around" and "He’s clinging to the big wigs," along with other unpleasantries, most of which came from Jiang Wensheng’s faction, a group with which he had already irreparably fallen out.

But Chen Da didn’t care at all. Approaching the age of forty, not being perplexed doesn’t mean you understand everything, but rather you know the path you ought to take, and have no desire to understand anything else.

When "Crazy Stone" was sent for review, Chen Da was still worried, and Zhang Ming was aware of his concerns. Ten years ago, when he was first blacklisted, a rookie director took a risk and gave him a supporting role. However, after the film was submitted for review, it was blocked, with the reason given being its veiled political satire.

At first, everyone thought, what satire? In the end, the film had a happy ending, with praises for the motherland and love. How could it be seen as veiled political satire?

Jiang Wensheng didn’t get involved in this matter. Later, it was Jiang Wensheng’s godson who vaguely expressed to the director that as long as Chen Da’s scenes were cut, the film would be approved for release.

And so, all of Chen Da’s scenes were cut. The director wanted to pay Chen Da the agreed compensation of 400,000 yuan, but Chen Da just smiled and didn’t take a cent.

This time he was worried that "Crazy Stone" might encounter the same issues as before.

Zhang Ming just laughed and said, "Don’t worry so much. If it really gets stuck in the review process, then we’ll see just how influential Qinghe Group really is. Do you think Ren He can’t handle something like this?"

It was only after hearing this that Chen Da felt reassured. Both he and Zhang Ming were curious to see what decision Ren He would make if Jiang Wensheng tried to pull the same move again.

However, to their complete surprise, the film was reviewed and approved within three days of its submission to the bureau, an unprecedented feat. Not a single required document was missing, and when going to collect the approval paperwork, Director Zhang even cheerfully remarked that the film was very educational and that he wanted to treat Director Zhang to a meal on behalf of the bureau!

Good heavens, someone from such lofty heights actually wanted to invite someone from the industry to dinner? The world had indeed changed!

Only then did the two of them realize that the drama they were hoping to see would never happen. Ren He had long since smoothed over the situation, and yet it seemed that Ren He hadn’t actually done much—it only made Ren He all the more enigmatic in their eyes.

With just one month left until the release of "Crazy Stone," Chen Da peacefully returned to his role as department head at the Central Academy of Drama. He had lain dormant for 12 years—a month more would make little difference.

After learning of this, Zhang Ming praised him, saying, "These 12 years have not inflicted suffering upon you, but have honed you. Seeing the calm aura you now possess, I think you should be thanking Jiang Wensheng."

At that moment, Ren He laughed and retorted, "Director Zhang, you’re mistaken. What he should be thankful for isn’t the 12 years of being blacklisted by Jiang Wensheng, but rather for the fact that during those years of daily torment, he never once considered giving up."

Talking about gratitude for hardship is all nonsense. After every person emerges from adversity to wealth and success, they should be most thankful to the deepest part of themselves, for never having been defeated by fate.

Upon hearing Ren He’s words, Chen Da was filled with emotions, his eyes slightly moist, but he wasn’t yet ready to thank himself. The person he was most thankful to was Ren He.

Chen Da thought that a man’s life should be lived with the courage to love, to hate, to repay kindness, and to exact revenge. Xu Xiaowen stabbed him in the back when he was in trouble, so now that she was rapidly falling from grace under the influence of Qinghe Group, he didn’t feel the slightest bit of pity for her.

Three months passed, and Qinghe Group had taken the opportunity to acquire a 57% stake in Xu Xiaowen’s fiancé’s real estate company at a low price. Although they saved his life, from now on, he would be working for Qinghe.

Xu Xiaowen was dumped by her fiancé, but not at Ren He’s request. He hadn’t the time to pay attention to their love affairs; it was the power of capital at work.

They say that money can make the devil turn the millstone, so why be surprised if capital can cause a couple to repeatedly split and reunite?

Back then, there were so many who kicked him when he was down that Chen Da couldn’t be bothered to remember them all. However, Ren He had helped him when he was in crisis, and for the rest of his life, Chen Da would remember that name.

Even if the sky were to fall and crush Ren He, he would be there to share the burden, even though Ren He didn’t need his support. After all, as an actor, Chen Da was insignificant compared to the vast Qinghe Group.

In recent days, following Qinghe Group’s actions, people began inviting Chen Da to meals. Friends from over a decade ago started reaching out to him again, being overly affectionate as if the reason they hadn’t been in touch for ten years was because Chen Da had gone to another planet.

In these 12 years, Chen Da had learned many life lessons. He agreed with what Zhang Ming said—that he had truly transformed after these 12 years.

Now, all he wanted to do was wait quietly for the coming month to bring a perfect end to his past 12 years.

Was "Crazy Stone" actually good? Well, everyone in the crew who had seen it felt invigorated, convinced it was a rare gem of a film. Assured of its quality and backed by Qinghe Group’s intensive promotional onslaught, they all firmly believed it would be a smash hit.

This morning, Chen Da received three invitations to dinner that evening, two of which were from current A-list celebrities, who, between the lines, probed whether Chen Da could invite Ren He to the banquet.

Chen Da laughed at the thought. To put it bluntly, what right did they have to invite someone of that stature to dinner?

Everyone in the crew was saying Chen Da’s acting was absolutely incredible—that was his lifelong asset.

Chen Da used to think the same, that with good acting skills, he could carve out a path for himself in the entertainment industry. But reality later proved him wrong.

Chen Da admitted that he had become more shrewd and pragmatic, yet some of his original nature remained unchanged. But isn’t that just how one ought to live? His true asset now was not his acting skills, but being closely associated with that young man, nothing more.

Just as Zhang Ming told him, within Qinghe’s faction, as long as you understand why you’re successful and stay true to your roots, life will go smoothly.

And why was he successful? Because of two words: Ren He.

Having politely declined the three dinner invitations, Chen Da gathered his teaching materials and prepared to leave work. Today he had to leave a bit earlier, not needing to dress too formally, but he absolutely couldn’t be late to the dinner at the Courtyard House on Liu Hai Alley, not even by a minute, as it was his first time attending a feast there.