Chapter 82

"Mom, Dad, it's okay, don't worry about me. This change won't knock me down. It's just a fragile, ugly bubble that burst. It's a good time to find a real fruit. I can impress Willis, and I can impress others! Anyway, I won't give up. The game is long, and I will definitely win in the end."

Not long after returning home, Ye Wei told his parents about today's major upheaval. He had already composed himself and was as cheerful as "Anna," so he laughed heartily, his expression and words full of confidence.

Gu Qiao finally understood why her son looked a bit unusual at noon; Ye Haogen also understood what Michelle meant by "I saw Wei at the door."

Both parents felt very uneasy, worried, angry, sad, and frustrated. The disappointment was secondary; what they were most concerned about was Wei's mood. He was not yet 16, yet he had to endure such setbacks and face such a deceitful and ugly world, all because of their incompetence...

"Son, don't put too much pressure on yourself," Ye Haogen sighed. "Now, Dad has no expectations for you; you've already exceeded my hopes by far." Gu Qiao nodded, "Me too."

"Then how low are your expectations for me? Come on!" Ye Wei spread his hands and laughed.

Although his son seemed fine, the two couldn't feel at ease. Wei had a stubborn personality and had always carried his burdens alone. When his grandfather was still alive, he could talk to someone, but now...

Gu Qiao comforted him, "If you have anything, just tell us. Don't keep it bottled up. We are adults and can give you a lot of advice. If you don't want to talk to us, you can talk to Teacher Aisi or Teacher Kapson. Just don't face it alone; it's too unfair and too much for you."

"Thank you, Mom, Dad. In my heart, you are the best parents in the world!"

Ye Wei hugged each of them, then picked up Dodo, who didn't understand what had happened, and smiled at her, "Brother only got a C this time, but I'll get an A+ next time."

"Oh!" Dodo opened her mouth wide, and with this, she understood. It wasn't the first time! She could recite that line, "Brother, no one is perfect."

"Yes, you're right! Even though I'm so handsome, I can't escape this rule."

Ye Wei nodded with a smile, feeling warmth in his heart. The Wei they loved was not perfect. He was a bit mischievous, a bit combative, and a bit flirtatious, but he was not a despicable person, absolutely not!

...

In London, England, it was just past 2 a.m., and Phil Collins was fast asleep. In his youth, he played rock music almost every night, but now, staying up a few nights felt like dying.

In the luxurious bedroom, his mobile phone rang without warning. It was his private phone. Only family or very close friends would dare to call a rock star in the middle of the night. Did they want to be scolded?

"Oh, who is it..." Phil Collins grabbed his phone from the bedside table. His wife turned over and mumbled, "Is it a wrong number?"

He looked at the screen in confusion and instantly woke up. It was Lily calling! This was the first time. Lily never called at this hour, and in recent years, she rarely called him at all. Something must have happened.

He became anxious, answered the call immediately, and put on a robe to leave the bedroom, "Lily, what's wrong?"

In Los Angeles, USA.

Lily's left index finger traced the sofa, and her right hand held the phone. Even though they were separated by a continent and an ocean, she felt a bit nervous. After coming to America at age 5, she had never asked her father for anything, but this time, she had to...

"Dad, I have something to tell you, something very serious and important!"

"Of course, Dad is always here for you."

On the other end, Phil Collins answered happily. It seemed Lily was confiding in him. Since his third marriage, his beloved daughter had seemed distant from him. Writing songs had helped mend their relationship, but how long had it been since she talked to him about "important things"? Over four years.

What was it? Her mother was too strict? She missed England? She wanted to hear him sing? These thoughts flashed through his mind, and suddenly, something unpleasant came to mind—her relationship...

He exclaimed, "That boy? Ye Wei?"

"How did you know? You know! The mysterious person is you?!" Lily almost shouted.

"What? What mysterious person? What are you talking about?" Phil Collins was puzzled and helpless. What important thing could his daughter have now? It was all about that movie kid. That kid was taking his daughter away! Damn kid...

Lily said, "Oh," and then recounted the entire story, except for the part about the mysterious person. Finally, she said sincerely, "I want to ask you for a favor, to call Willis. If they really want to retaliate, ask them to back off, okay?"

Her father became silent. She took a deep breath and pleaded, "Dad, PLEASE!"

This "PLEASE" brought back many memories, "Dad, PLEASE! Don't divorce Mom, don't leave me, Dad, PLEASE!" "Dad, why don't you love Mom anymore, don't love me anymore?" "Dad, please, please."

Go away! Lily shook her head, suppressing those memories, and raised her eyebrows, shouting, "This is the right thing to do, the right thing a good person should do, isn't it?!"

"Yes..." Phil Collins sighed, his tone serious, "But I don't have much of a relationship with Bruce Willis. I don't even have his private number. I'm not their boss or the President of the United States. I can't influence them, but I'll try to mediate. Don't worry."

"Help as soon as we finish talking. Don't let those people act. Wei has worked so hard and is so talented. He shouldn't be treated like this. The world shouldn't work this way!"

Hearing his daughter's earnest and determined voice, Collins smiled. He only wished she would never be hurt by those evil people. As an irresponsible father, he would do his best to protect her.

"I have an idea... Dad, you've seen 'Dance of the Angels.' You know how excellent Wei is. 'Little Miss Sunshine' is a project Willis and his team are excited about. They think it can make it to the Oscars! Isn't this a great investment opportunity?"

Lily's heart raced as she spoke. This idea had just come to her, and it could be a win-win solution! She laughed, "Why don't you invest? Wei's production budget is $5 million, which is... over 3 million pounds. Dad, you have tens of millions of pounds. Instead of keeping it in the bank, why not..."

"Ah?" Phil Collins felt like he had heard a bad joke, neither laughing nor not laughing. Finally, he said, "Movie investment isn't a simple numbers game. Willis and his team are willing to invest because they have production capabilities and can find distribution channels. With their connections, they don't worry about making a profit.

As for me? If that kid wanted to release an album, I could help him and invest in him. He would have a good path, but in the film industry, my abilities are limited."

"His name is Wei, not 'that kid'!" Lily was a bit angry, sensing her father's disdain. He had never really believed in Wei, as if he had some bias, or maybe he really didn't understand movies, otherwise, he wouldn't have acted in 'Super Deception'...

She said urgently, "Don't you know many Disney executives? You've won an Oscar, you have connections! Dad, this is really feasible! 3 million pounds... consider it a loan from me, I'll invest!"

"3 million pounds is not a small amount, Lily. Maybe you think this boy is important now, but..."

Phil Collins suddenly stopped. Fortunately, he didn't continue, "But after some time, you might not like him anymore, or he might not like you. Your relationship might end for some reason, and then you'll regret this investment."

Although her father didn't finish, Lily understood. A wave of frustration surged in her heart. The worst part was, she couldn't refute it.

Since her parents' divorce, or rather, from a young age, she didn't believe in "forever." How long would she and Wei last? What would the future be like? She didn't know... She didn't want to think about it. It was too serious, too early, too confusing... As long as she was happy now, as long as she was infatuated now.

"Forget it, forget it, consider I never said anything!" She shouted, very angry, "I just want to say, old man, maybe you missed a chance to shine in the film industry, not by composing, but by your insight! When 'Little Miss Sunshine' is released, don't tell me you regret it, because regret won't help! Goodnight, sleep well."

"Lily!"

Lily hung up, took deep breaths to calm her complex emotions. She didn't want to see a psychologist anymore, but in the past few months, she had lost control many times...

Her phone dinged, and her father sent a text: "I'll call Willis right away. Lily, your happiness is Dad's greatest wish."

Greatest? Lily scoffed. Dad, you forgot to say "one of."

Dad, Mom, I don't want you to separate, don't divorce, PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE!...

She shook her head, dispelling the memories, and replied, "Tell Willis, compared to Wei, he's a despicable coward! He'll regret it!"

...

"How do you plan to deal with him?"

"That kid thinks he can be arrogant just because he has some talent, ha ha. His talent is all because of 'Dance of the Angels.' What if it wasn't his work?"

"You mean... ruin his reputation? Accuse him of plagiarism? I don't think that will work. He can prove it, and it might even boost his reputation."

"That's if it gets big. We just need to create a small industry joke: 'We almost got fooled.' The joke will clarify that 'Dance of the Angels' was a prank by a group of USC students, working with that Asian kid to fool Hollywood.

Once this joke spreads and becomes more believable, many people will think he's a fraud, a joker in Hollywood. No one wants to be a fool, especially big shots. This way, the kid won't even get a chance to pitch. People will ignore him, and he won't know why, ha ha.

And we'll use our influence to reduce his opportunities, block his paths, and make his failures seem strange. How does that sound?"

"Not bad, but will we really lose 'Little Miss Sunshine'? Bruce will be disappointed."

"Not yet. Let the kid taste the bitterness of failure first. Once he's completely down, we'll give him a little food, buy the 'Little Miss Sunshine' project for $2 million! He won't refuse. People change, especially when they're young and face more setbacks. Maybe in a few days, the kid will beg us to forgive him, wanting to be a little Woody Allen.

Wait, Bruce is calling me. I'll see what he says."

"Okay, say hello for me."

After a while.

"...Back, ha ha. The kid's little girlfriend asked her dad for help. A rock star called Bruce, saying something about young people being naive and not to take it seriously. Bruce told me not to mess with the kid, just to ignore him."

"What did you say?"

"Phil Collins can't control us or benefit us, so we don't need to listen to him. And Bruce... Arnold, this isn't just Bruce's issue; it's ours too. If we don't do something, we'll become the industry's laughingstock. I have to teach that kid a lesson. He can't beat me, and no one can help him!"

"What if Bruce gets angry after the fact?"

"He won't. Once we get the project, he'll be happy. If we can get an Oscar nomination, ha ha, your company will be flooded with investment."

"Sounds good... When do you plan to start?"

"Tonight."

...

After dinner, Ye Wei returned to his room and sent a long group message to all the members of the Dream Chasers Alliance: "Because the Willis team changed their mind and decided I'm not suitable as the project's producer and director, the cooperation between the Dream Chasers Alliance and Xia Yan Enterprises is over. I'm not joking; I'll keep working hard, so don't worry!"

He didn't explain the Willis team's malicious actions, but this news was enough to shock everyone. His phone soon flooded with concerned and indignant messages.

Ye Wei lay in bed, texting and talking on the phone with them, feeling increasingly warm. The Wei his friends loved was not a despicable person.

Within an hour, guests arrived at his house: Lev, Bud, Chen Nuo, and Colewin, his four best friends, all came!

"Bro, don't say anything!"

As soon as Ye Wei came out to welcome them, Lev hugged him, "I love you!" Bud also hugged him, as did Chen Nuo, and Colewin hesitated but also hugged...

On the lawn, the five of them hugged tightly, with Ye Wei in the middle, shouting, "I'm not gay! Bud, your hand!"

"Oh, sorry, I thought you were hiding some food..."

...

"Mom, please, please! Help Wei!"

When her mother came home that night, Lily told her the whole story and pleaded. It was more natural to beg her mother, but it usually had no effect...

In the living room, Taverman sighed, "I believe Willis won't retaliate, but we can't do much about Lowitt and his people. I'm serious, I can't help Wei."

Lily was immediately angry, "Can't you at least introduce Wei to some other big shots? The world isn't just about Willis!"

"There are other big stars, but most of them will give Willis and Lowitt some face. This project is too unusual and too risky, a teenage director! Even if someone is interested, few would dare to take such an investment risk.

And those who don't care about Willis's feelings have no reason to get involved. Money? Fame? They don't lack either; helping young people? A good eye for talent? I don't know who would have the time... So..."

Taverman shook her head, "I think Wei should stop trying to get big stars to join and raise funds. Think of other ways."

Lily frowned, angry but knowing her mother was right. She gradually felt discouraged. Willis was one of the top five highest-paid actors in Hollywood, and the only ones who could ignore him were the 20 million club members...

Taverman stroked her daughter's hair, comforting her, "Actually, the current situation is normal. I had a premonition. Nothing in the world goes smoothly, especially something so crazy."

"Mom, if we invest...?" Lily mentioned this idea again, but their family wasn't as wealthy as her father's, and her mother would likely...

"Your father told me about your idea. No, it's not possible." As expected, her mother directly refused and said, "He's right; it's not suitable for you, really not."

Lily's face darkened, "But it's clearly a good investment. I think it will have a high return... 1 million?"

"No, no means no. Don't even think about it!"

...

The TV played "You'll Be In My Heart," and the screen showed a montage.

The honest face was moved and excited, with slightly moist eyes.

After watching the 10-minute film, he couldn't help but exclaim, "It's filmed so well!" Indeed, a talented young man, director, producer, screenwriter, editor, and composer—all him. What a great job, a graduate of which film school? Amazing...

"Tom, what are you watching?"

"A perfect short film, Rita. I often say the film industry buries countless talents. This young man has such talent and still needs to find opportunities! But I saw him, and he won't be buried. I want to meet him; it's filmed so well. Maybe we've found another 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'! I wonder if Bruce Willis has beaten me to it. Wait, wait... Harvard-Westlake School? Ye Wei is a high school student?!"

His face showed shock!

"Ha ha... You mean a high school student made a short film that shocked you?"

"Are you kidding? What kind of joke is this? How... is it possible..."