Chapter 64

"Wayne, you have to see that student short film, oh my... it's incredible! You have to see it, and then we'll reconsider the casting for 'Opal.'"

"What's the matter? The short film is good?"

"Good? After you see it, you won't say that. It was made by a high school student who directed, edited, and composed the music. Can you believe it?! The kid is a genius! A damn genius! Wayne, seriously, I think in a few years, when people talk about Chinese directors, they won't think of you or Ang Lee, but him, him..."

"Oh, okay... I'll watch it today and call you back."

In the spacious hall, Wang Ying's old face was full of confusion after hanging up the phone. Having worked together for some time, he knew that Trevor Albert was not one to exaggerate. If he praised the short film so enthusiastically, then "Dance of the Angels" must be truly remarkable.

A Chinese high school student? Pushing up his glasses, Wang Ying became even more curious. Until this call, he had thought the so-called short film was just the last resort of AnnaSophia Robb's management team: a hastily produced third-round audition tape, deliberately presented as a Chinese work to get closer to him.

Wang Ying didn't like this. In the second round of auditions, the result was already clear: Saoirse Ronan had won.

What was the point of these small tricks? The DVD had been in his possession for over a day, and he had almost forgotten about it.

Where did I put that DVD? Wang Ying had to think for a moment before remembering it was still in his briefcase.

Now, Albert's call was a surprise. What was going on? A genius high school student?

The word "genius" had nothing to do with Wang Ying's life. Born in Hong Kong in 1949, he came to America alone at 18 and worked hard, starting as a farm laborer and eventually becoming a film director.

He didn't make his debut until he was 33, and it wasn't until he was 53 that he directed his first Hollywood commercial film, "Manhattan Cinderella," which did well and gave him a small place in the cutthroat Hollywood industry. His second commercial film, "It's All Because of Daisy," had a budget of over ten million.

Although he found the creative constraints of the Hollywood industry stifling, both in terms of pace and emotion, once he took on a job, he did his best to do it well, loyal to both himself and others. This was why he wasn't still an old farm laborer today.

Since the beginning of the year, "It's All Because of Daisy" had been in pre-production, and everything was almost ready, but the lead actress had yet to be decided.

After the third round of auditions a few days ago, Saoirse Ronan had won again. They would shoot a sample film and then sign her.

He thought the casting was settled, but now there was another surprise. With Albert's high praise, Wang Ying couldn't help but watch it, and he was genuinely interested.

"Where's my briefcase?" He looked around, not seeing it on the sofa. Just as he was about to search, his wife, Qian Mou, called from the kitchen, "Wayne, come and help!"

"Okay, I'm coming!"

...

In Las Vegas, after more than an hour's flight, Ye Wei's plane landed at McCarran International Airport around 6 PM.

After landing, Ye Wei texted his parents to let them know he was safe and then hurriedly left the airport, taking a taxi to the Caesar's Palace Hotel.

A few minutes later, he could see the gilded, ancient Roman-style five-star hotel, and his eyes narrowed. "Come on, go win the competition!"

...

Due to the time difference, the clock times across the United States varied. Members of the Dream Alliance had calculated the synchronized viewing time. In Las Vegas, around 8:00 PM, no matter where they were or what they were doing, they would turn on their TVs and play the "Dance of the Angels" DVD!

They were encouraged to invite family and friends, and everyone around them, to enjoy this 10-minute feast together!

Most people planned to watch it at home, while others would ask store owners in malls, on the streets, or in entertainment venues to play it for them...

"It's definitely not inappropriate content! Oh, do I look like that kind of person? What?! I'm creepy?!"

"Sir, please help. This short film will definitely bring you more customers. I'll lend it to you for the night."

"This is a professional work by VIY! VIY is a hero at our school. Let me tell you about his achievements..."

"He's a dreamer! A leader! A man!"

Meanwhile, in New York, which was three hours ahead of Las Vegas, it was already 9:00 PM. Christmas Eve in Manhattan was even more beautiful, with a giant Christmas tree in front of the Rockefeller Center and sparkling Christmas lights on every street. The number of people dressed as Santa Claus was countless...

If there really was a Santa Claus, he would be surprised, but people were happy, and it was a sleepless night.

At the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Lily and her mother, father, and sister and brother's families had been staying there for a few days, each in different luxury suites. The children were the only ones who didn't mind, but the two ex-wives didn't want to see their ex-husband.

That evening, Lily first had the first half of the Christmas dinner with her mother in the hotel restaurant, then went to her father's table for the second half, and then had to greet her sister and brother's table, which was quite busy.

After that, except for the two ex-wives, everyone returned to her father's suite to rest and gather.

But before long, the scene of the whole family sitting on the sofa watching TV and laughing didn't last. They were all restless and ready to go out and play. Except for Lily, who wanted everyone to stay until 11:00 PM.

"11:00! After 11:15, can we go out and play? Jolie, Simon, Dad?"

Lily stood in front of the suite door, her face full of earnest smiles, looking at her sister, brother, and father, and then called to her stepmother and stepbrother behind, "Orion, Nick, what do you think?"

"Not interested." Simon Collins, 27, spoke with a mocking tone and was about to continue walking out, "Staying here is so boring."

"Wait!" Lily blocked his way.

Phil Collins' old face showed a puzzled smile, asking, "Lily, why?"

"Yeah, tell us clearly," Jolie Collins, 31, also smiled, not understanding.

"Alright..." Lily couldn't keep the mystery any longer. She had wanted to reveal it slowly but said, "Come over here." She led everyone to the classical sofa, took out a DVD from her handbag, and her smile became even sweeter, "Ta-da! Guess what this is?"

"Please, guess what, you're wasting time." Simon was a bit impatient, "Dad's concert recording?"

"Lily, your track and field competition recording?" Jolie also guessed, remembering that Lily was on the track and field team at school and did pole vaulting.

Simon suddenly guessed again, "You're not into rock music now, are you? An album CD? Ha ha!"

Hearing this, Phil Collins' eyes lit up with expectation, "Is it?"

"No!" Lily smiled helplessly. Their reactions weren't as interesting as she had hoped, so she said, "This is a short film made by a good friend from my school, a professional-level one, and it's really good! I want us to watch it together, Dad, and there's a surprise in it, you'll like it!"

"Oh?" Phil Collins was a bit disappointed. A friend's short film? That wasn't what he wanted.

"Watch it now?" Jolie looked at the large LCD TV on the wall. At that moment, Orion dragged his son Nicholas back from the bathroom and asked curiously, "Watch what?" Simon said teasingly, "A short film by one of Lily's friends."

"It's not a DV short film, it's professional digital photography. You'll see." Lily smiled, "But not now. Let's wait until 11:00 PM, okay? We can stay here for two more hours, just enough to watch 'It's a Wonderful Life.'"

She hoped the whole family could watch 'It's a Wonderful Life' every Christmas Eve, but it never happened.

"Lily, why wait until 11:00 PM?" Phil Collins asked, puzzled.

"Because it's a synchronized viewing. Many people have agreed to watch it and share it with their families..." Lily pouted and smiled, "It's a really cool thing!"

But the others weren't very interested. What was cool to teenagers was often foolish.

Simon looked at his watch, "Either play it now or I'm leaving." Phil Collins also didn't support it, "Two hours is too long." Jolie, seeing that everyone was determined to leave, suggested, "Lily, play it now?"

They all ignored her idea of watching 'It's a Wonderful Life' together, thinking it was a joke, as the film wasn't suitable for their "family."

"Everyone, listen to me..." Lily's smile gradually faded, "This synchronized viewing is very meaningful, and I promise the short film will be great..."

And there's a surprise gift inside! Dad, it's for you. She added silently in her heart. This was also the main reason she was here and not preparing to watch it with her mother.

"Oh, please! Let me guess what it's about, a class? A fight?" Simon's teasing and impatience grew, "It's just a high school student's work. How can it be great?"

"I said, it's a 10-minute short film! It's serious and really good." Lily felt a bit powerless.

Jolie spoke gently, "Lily, everyone wants to go out and play. Why not watch it now? If it's cool, it will be cool now too."

"No... Jolie, this is also a way of support, a way of being together... a way of sharing..."

"Dad, I want to see the Christmas tree!" Nicholas said loudly, his face full of requests.

"Ha ha!" Phil Collins looked at his youngest son and then at his youngest daughter, hesitating. Nicholas called out again, "Dad!" He laughed, "Lily, Nick has been wanting to see the giant Christmas tree for a long time. Can we watch the short film when we come back?"

"Forget it, I don't know what she's up to." Simon walked to the door, "I have some friends to meet at the bar. Bye!"

Lily stood there, holding the DVD, her face darkening as she watched Simon walk away, and then her father, Orion, and Nicholas head for the door. "Lily, come on!" Jolie still tried to persuade her...

"Just once... just once..." She suddenly whispered, her voice quickly rising, like a bomb exploding, "Just once!! Can someone listen to what I say!! Can someone care about what I want!! Can someone care about me... me!!"

Silence. Everyone stopped in shock. Simon, who hadn't walked far in the corridor, came back and asked in surprise, "...What's wrong?"

Lily took a deep breath, still in a daze, "I'm sorry, everyone, I just wanted... just wanted..."

"Lily, it's okay, we're all listening to you..." Jolie was the first to recover, gently comforting her.

"I'm sorry... I need to excuse myself for a moment." Lily put the DVD back in her handbag and quickly walked to the bathroom, wiping away the tears that were welling up in her eyes.

The sound of the bathroom door closing echoed, and everyone remained silent.

...

In Las Vegas, at dusk, Ye Wei dragged his suitcase and walked briskly into the Caesar's Palace Hotel lobby.

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