The Best Director

Chapter 198: Léon: The Professional

On the large TV screen, the Western All-Stars in red jerseys and the Eastern All-Stars in white were moving energetically across the court, while the commentator’s voice filled the bar: “Michael Jordan with the ball, and Jordan’s task today is to score another 10 points, with that he’d surpass Kareem’s 251 points and become the all-time leading scorer in the All-Star Game, Jordan’s got 2 points now.”

As the commentator suddenly laughed with a “whoa,” the patrons in the bar also cheered and leapt for joy, Michael Jordan had just hit a mid-range jump shot after a quick stop! The commentator exclaimed, “He’s got 4 points now!” The guests clapped and pumped their fists as they shouted, “Jordan! Teach them a lesson!” “Get another scoring title!” …

The 2003 NBA All-Star Game was being held at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, with 1 minute and 15 seconds left in the first quarter, the East 18:16 West. The popularity of this All-Star was exceptional, expected to set the record for the highest viewership in history, because this was Michael Jordan’s last All-Star game after his comeback with the Wizards, and when it was over, it’d truly be the end; there was also the competition for the “successor” with the likes of Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant …

Having finished a day’s shooting, the crew had the evening off. Wang Yang, Joshua, and Kevin Spacey headed to a bar to drink and watch the game, and Natalie, who had heard the news, joined in, claiming to be a “fan” with great interest. For Chinese fans, Yao Ming naturally was a major focus of this edition. Since joining the NBA last year, Yao Ming had gone from struggling to adapt to gradually playing like a top pick, even making Barkley kiss a donkey’s butt and emerging as a promising new generation center.

But he seemed out of place in the All-Star Game, both on the sideline and on the court, where he needed time to adapt.

Seeing Michael Jordan score, Wang Yang let out a “wow” with his fist in the air, took a swig of beer, and continued discussing with Kevin Spacey the topic they had been on, saying, “Actually, the All-Star style of play doesn’t suit Yao Ming; he’s not playing loose.” Sitting across from him, Kevin Spacey stared at the TV screen and replied, “That’s right, Yao Ming is a straightforward, fundamental player; no need to force him.”

Not yet 21, Joshua could only drink soda. Amid the noisy cheers and laughter of the surrounding patrons, he excitedly asked, “Jeff, with your data analysis, who will be the next Michael Jordan? Is it Kobe?” Kevin Spacey squinted with an honest smile and answered, “Kobe has the most potential, he’s in a good team …”

Wang Yang glanced at Natalie sitting next to him and just caught her gulping down her drink. The glass had been full moments ago, and now half of it was gone. He couldn’t help but laugh, “Nat, you can really hold your liquor!” Natalie, with cheeks slightly flushed, laughed, “Of course! My cells are made of alcohol.” Just then, Shaquille O’Neal caught a pass from Steve Nash and completed an alley-oop dunk, instantly igniting the bar’s atmosphere again.

Natalie smiled as she looked at the excited Wang Yang and the others around her; these fans are so interesting! She drank her liquor, occasionally glancing at the screen and then back at the fans. Soon the game reached halftime with East 52:55 West, and it was time for Jordan’s farewell ceremony.

“That-a-hero-lies-in-you, It’s-a-long-road …” On the TV screen, Mariah Carey wearing so the Wizards’ long dress, sang “HERO” passionately, and many fans in the bar had moist eyes, watching the calm and composed Michael Jordan on screen, remembering those passionate games of yesteryear flashing before their eyes. Wang Yang also felt a surge of warmth well up, his eyes growing misty.

Influenced by the atmosphere, Joshua’s nose also felt tingly; Kevin Spacey drank quietly with a solemn face.

Natalie, resting her cheek in her hand, turned to look at Wang Yang as he wiped tears from the corner of his eyes, in disbelief! It amused her to see him being so emotional for the first time! Damn it! Natalie cursed under her breath, took a deep breath to calm her beating heart; why did she foolishly come along? She lifted her glass and tipped her head back, gulping down another half glass.

The game quickly resumed, shouts and cheers continued, and so did the drinking. One drink after another, Natalie’s face flushed with a crimson hue, began to shout frantically, more excited than seasoned fans like Wang Yang and Joshua: “Beautiful! Boom, boom, boom, slam it on them!” “Damn it! If you can’t make that shot, what kind of All-Star are you!” “Natalie Portman is better than you!” …

Her eyes grew more intoxicated, hiccupping continuously while mumbling, “Run, yeah, run, get moving …” As the game went on fiercely, Wang Yang snuck a quick glance at her and tentatively said, “Maybe you should stop drinking? You look drunk.” Joshua giggled as if relishing in her misfortune, “Definitely drunk! Her face’s as red as a monkey’s butt!”

“Huh?” Natalie seemed to have just caught up with Wang Yang’s words, suddenly letting go of her hand, glaring with wide eyes. “Who said to stop drinking, who said? You’re the one who should stop! Don’t think you can boss me around just because you’re the director, it’s the weekend! I… I haven’t even complained about filming on the weekend…” She leaned back in her chair, calling out weakly, “Waiter, another drink for me!!”

With only the last minute remaining, Wang Yang and the others had no time to attend to her. The whole bar was intensely focused on the screen, the noise slowly merging into a chant: “It’s going to overtime, let’s have OT! OT, OT, OT!” In the end, the All-Stars game went into two overtimes, finishing with the West beating the East 155-145. The rookie Yao Ming only posted 2 points and 2 rebounds, while Michael Jordan scored 20 points in a perfect farewell.

Wang Yang felt somewhat regretful for not attending the game in person. There would be another All-Star game next year but without Jordan. Was that also a choice? Before he could ponder further, they noticed Natalie slumped over the table, her face flushed, eyes barely able to stay open; clearly she was utterly drunk!

“Natalie? Can you move?” Wang Yang shook her shoulder, but she was unresponsive like a dead pig. Kevin Spacey and Joshua helplessly spread their hands. Wang Yang scratched his head and muttered, “We told you not to drink so much.” Natalie made a vague noise: “Hmm? Mmm, mmm mm…”

Under the night sky, a chilly wind blew. In Boston, the temperature was just below freezing. On Harvard University’s campus roads, students and passersby were bundled up warmly. Joshua, wearing a blue coat, strolled leisurely, chatting and laughing into his phone: “Yeah, if only Jordan’s dunk had made it…” His task was to escort Natalie back to her dormitory. To avoid suspicion, he had been called by Wang Yang to accompany him.

Wang Yang, wearing a gray coat and jeans, walked ahead with Natalie in a beige coat, her arms wrapped around his neck, her head resting on his shoulder. After sitting in a taxi for a while and then being hit by the cold wind, she seemed to sober up a bit, but her gaze was still drunkenly hazy.

“Good thing Boston doesn’t have paparazzi.” Wang Yang hoisted her legs up and continued towards the nearby dormitory building. More fortunately, Natalie was just a petite girl at 160CM. Had she been like Jessica at 170CM, big and sturdy, Wang Yang could imagine he’d be exhausted, as he had also drunk quite a bit and his footing was unsteady.

He felt Natalie move on his back and then heard her murmur with a giggly laugh, “Yang, Yang! Is your girlfriend happy now? Haha, am I sprawled out on the street?” Wang Yang casually replied, “Mhm, you’re sprawled out on top of a Best Director.” Realizing the ambiguity of his statement, although Natalie was sloshed, he maintained some sobriety and closed his mouth, not speaking further.

“Do you like Mathilda?” Natalie leaned close to his ear, blowing warm air and speaking with half-closed eyes, laughing, “Do you? Haha—I am, that Mathilda.” Listening to her nonsense, Wang Yang couldn’t help but laugh. Natalie continued to mutter, “Say it! Just say it! What can’t you say, speak the truth. If you don’t, I’ll… I’ll bite your ear.”

“Don’t!” Startled, Wang Yang, possibly feeling a bit tipsy, thought there wasn’t anything he couldn’t answer to, and said, “Yes, I like Mathilda. Back then, all the boys liked her because she was… special! The scene I remember most is the one going uphill, you were holding that pot of evergreen along with a few bags; Leon was carrying a suitcase, then walked nervously. When you walked, that pot of evergreen kept shaking…”

Remembering that scene put a smile on Wang Yang’s face, and he quickened his pace, saying, “That’s just classic. Such an iconic scene.” Natalie, quietly leaning on his back, too drunk to keep up, asked in confusion, “That scene? What scene, what else?” Wang Yang described, “You were wearing a brownish-green jacket, your shorts, I remember had green trimmings, and then your legs swaying…”

“Heh heh.” Natalie responded with a silly sound, “I remember now. So, you like my legs? Ugh… that’s disgusting.” Wang Yang frowned slightly, countering, “No, I liked that feeling, and I remember the plant even more. By the way, what happened to that plant in the end?” Natalie, comfortably hugging him and almost falling asleep, murmured, “It was buried right there. Yang, I think I might be…”

Barely able to hear what she was saying, Wang Yang already saw a female student coming up to take Natalie off his hands. Suddenly, Natalie opened her drunken eyes again and asked, “Did you want to be a director when you were young? Did you ever think about finding Mathilda to make a movie?” Wang Yang said, “I suppose so? Probably.” Natalie chuckled with glee, tightened her grip around his neck, and said, “Thanks for that movie review, it was good…”

As they arrived in front of the dormitory building, Wang Yang said, “Natalie, I’m going to set you down now.” With the help of her classmate Beth, Wang Yang released the drunk girl’s legs and forcefully peeled off the hands from around his neck. Watching the unsteady Natalie, he said, “So, that’s it then! Take a good rest, we have filming to do tomorrow!” Beth couldn’t help but stare in amazement at this remarkable director who seemed rather fierce.

“That’s settled then! Get some rest—you’ve got more filming tomorrow!” Natalie looked at Wang Yang and shouted loudly. Wang Yang nodded and said, “OK.” Natalie seemed to notice her best friend’s presence for the first time, the flush on her face intensifying with excitement. She laughed and said, “Beth, let me introduce you! This guy is Wang Yang, super fun and adorable! My good brother…”

She slapped Wang Yang’s arm forcefully, spun around a couple of steps, leaned on his shoulder, and lowered her head, saying, “Bro! Thanks for driving me home.” Wang Yang smiled at Beth and gave a “Look at this drunkard” expression, laughing, “No need to be polite.”

“Good brother!” Natalie raised her head with a goofy smile and stretched out her arms to hug Wang Yang, but perhaps due to having yelled or stood for too long, the nausea she had been feeling suddenly surged violently. With a “whoosh,” she involuntarily opened her mouth wide and threw up, spewing all the food she had eaten at the bar.

“Oh my God!” Beth covered her mouth with both hands in shock. Joshua, standing not far behind, also froze in surprise, exclaiming, “Jesus!”

Natalie’s vomit was all over the front of Wang Yang’s coat. As he came to his senses, Wang Yang quickly steadied her shoulders. Staggering, Natalie struggled to throw up a few more times until she was empty. Wang Yang looked at the stupefied Beth, smiling, “It’s fine, no worries!” It was his first time experiencing such a situation, and he actually found it quite humorous.

As Natalie gasped for breath, Wang Yang asked, “All done throwing up? Beth, come over and help hold her up.” Beth promptly came forward to support Natalie. Wang Yang glanced down at his messy coat and said with a laugh, “Oh, it’s quite a sight!”

“I threw up…? It’s okay, it’s okay! He’s not angry,” Natalie laughed heartily, leaning on Beth, and spoke with determination, “We’re good bros, Wang Yang, my forever good bro! Yang, my dearest good bro…” Beth wore a helpless smile and said, “She’s really drunk, but trust me, a hangover cure and some sleep and she’ll be fine.”

Looking at the coat smeared with filth, Beth grimaced and asked, “This… do you need any help?” Natalie suddenly asked curiously, “Yang, what are you standing there for?”

“No, thank you, don’t worry about me, take care of her,” Wang Yang said, ignoring the nonsensical Natalie. He pulled out a packet of tissues from his pocket, wiped off the mess, looked at them, and smiled, “Well then, good night!” Joshua also waved his hand and said, “Good night.”

“Good night,” Beth said, supporting the dizzy Natalie and walking into the dormitory building, while Wang Yang and Joshua walked away. Along the way, Joshua pinched his nose and frowned, “Sour and stinky, don’t drink if you can’t handle it! Now it’s just causing trouble for everyone.” Remembering the long list of drinks on the bill, Wang Yang, wiping his coat, laughed and said, “She can hold her liquor…”

Returning to the hotel where the film crew was staying near MIT, Wang Yang naturally took a hot shower immediately, changed into a set of clean, warm clothes, and, refreshed from the hot water, sat down at the desk and opened his laptop. He thought about Natalie and muttered, “My dearest good bro, reminds me of Mathilda!”

He googled and, looking at the images on the screen, burst out laughing, “Exactly, with the green border!” He then opened his blog and began typing his thoughts on the NBA All-Star game that evening, also planning to upload a few stills from “MIT-21-TEAM.”

The promotional strategy for this movie was quite standard, but as long as these tasks were well handled, it was more than sufficient. Apart from the traditional set and flooding the internet with advertisements, what was crucial was to spread the stories of Jeff Ma and the MIT group, using every possible method: print media interviews, radio appearances, and lecture tours, etc., letting more people know and become interested in this cool true story, especially targeting the younger audience.

Because Wang Yang and the distribution department both agreed that the success of this commercial film ultimately depended on its ability to win over young people, regardless of the cast or the style of the story, this was a film for the youth.

However, that was exactly his advantage. He enjoyed considerable popularity among young moviegoers, and with the collaboration of the two female leads, promotion was certainly more effective. Besides, he had already done a “product placement” during “The Hangover,” which I believe still left a strong impression on the audience.

While typing his journal with one hand on the keyboard, Wang Yang picked up his cell phone and dialed a contact. As soon as the call connected, he smiled and said, “Watched the game?” An excited voice belonging to Jessica bubbled through from the other side, laughing, “I did, the game was like a movie! That last fadeaway shot in the first overtime, it was so similar to Jordan’s final shot in the ’98 finals!” Wang Yang laughed, “Yeah, I was surprised too!” He said in Chinese, “It’s as if fate decreed a classic moment to be relived…”

As night made way for day, the “MIT-21-TEAM” crew continued their filming work. A truck loaded with photographic equipment entered the MIT campus, and the actors scheduled for the day’s scenes gathered at this prestigious school. The morning’s shooting schedule listed scenes of actors chatting and walking in front of some of MIT’s famous buildings.

The Maclaurin Building is a symbol of MIT, distinguished by its row of tall ancient Greek Ionic columns and a large domed roof. At the moment, its front wide lawn, known as the “Killian Court,” was busy not just with young students passing by but also with the production crew setting up camera angles. Joshua walked over to Alexis, who was seated in the actors’ chair, and said something that made her laugh.

Through the viewfinder, Wang Yang, standing beside a large tree, admired the MIT landscape before him. Being able to stand here with a viewfinder had required significant effort, so he planned to shoot more footage, not wanting to waste the opportunity.

According to Jeff Ma, everything within MIT, from buildings and academic departments to courses, lecture halls, and labs, is designated with a number. Where a number can explain things, they absolutely do not use an extra letter. This is not just something specific to the blackjack team; it’s an unwritten rule throughout the entire school—for instance, the Maclaurin Building is known as “Building 10.”

A Course 6 student attends class 8.07 in Room 5 in Building 2, gathers in Lobby 7, and prays at W15…

“Hey! Yao Ming played pretty well yesterday, didn’t he?” Wang Yang suddenly felt his arm being slapped. He set down the viewfinder and saw a healthy-looking Natalie standing next to him, her hand snatching away the viewfinder as she squinted towards Building 10.

Wang Yang shrugged and smiled, “Not too bad, 2 points and 2 rebounds.” Natalie twirled the viewfinder and hummed thoughtfully, “Not bad, 2 points and 2 rebounds… If you think about it from another angle, those two numbers make for a neat pair; indeed, not bad.” Wang Yang nodded, “Indeed, not bad.” Natalie then laughed and said, “I heard I threw up on you last night, but I guess you aren’t mad at me.”

She put down the viewfinder and with a touch of confusion raised her eyebrows, suddenly asking, “But I vaguely remember you saying last night that you really liked my thighs, what was that about?”

“Uh.” Wang Yang stared at her blankly and said, “I don’t know, I never said that, I just talked about the shot with Mathilda, her thighs… how they shone…” Natalie threw her head back and frowned, “So you like a little girl’s thighs, Lolita? That’s disgusting!” Wang Yang rolled his eyes, “Firstly… Okay, at that time I was only a year older than you, liking it isn’t that creepy, right?”

Natalie smiled as if she had an epiphany, “That’s true!”

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PS: Wow, I can hardly hold onto the eighth place in the urban category ranking for monthly tickets. Tragic, really. For those who have monthly tickets, please throw a few to support. Thank you! Also, continuing to ask for recommendation votes, thanks again!