Venice, Italy, is a world-famous city. For most Chinese people, the impression of Venice remains that of the "water city" described in elementary school textbooks.
At this moment, Chu Zhi and his group had no leisure to admire the scenery. The reception staff's arrangements were inadequate, so they had to make their own way.
Because of this, the crew's logistics producer received a scolding from the director. They needed to head to Lido Island, either by sea rail or by ferry.
Lido Island is shaped like a dog bone, narrow in the middle and wide at both ends. It is a famous resort destination with restaurants, theaters, casinos, and bars. The Palazzo del Cinema, where the Venice Film Festival is held, is also located here.
The group checked into Hotel Villa Mabapa, thankful that this time the logistics producer hadn't failed. Otherwise, during the peak tourist season, it would have been impossible to book rooms at the last minute.
That afternoon, the film festival would open. Whether it was because of Director Wang's reputation or the film's quality, The Shiyi Lang was chosen as the opening film.
Its Italian and French translations were titled Goodbye My Concubine, while the English title was slightly different: Farewell, My Beloved Consort. Just from the translated names, no one could really tell if foreigners would grasp the film's true core.
Xiao Zhuzi had already arranged all of Chu Zhi's luggage: clothes for outings were hung up, toiletries were set, everything was in order.
"We're actually a bit too early," Chu Zhi realized.
Having no prior experience with film festivals, he hadn't known that there would be ten full days between the opening ceremony and the closing awards ceremony. During that time, there would be screenings for the main competition, Horizons, Lion of the Future, non-competition exhibitions, and more.
The main cast and creators such as Director Wang, Rong Yi, Ge Zongfeng, and You Quan were all here. Compared to them, Chu Zhi was almost entirely a newcomer.
It would not be proper for him to come only on the last day for the award ceremony, especially since The Shiyi Lang was the opening film.
"Well, I can't just sit around… Apart from the Spring Festival, when would I ever take more than ten days off? You can rest as long as you want after you die. While alive, there's no need." Chu Zhi began brainwashing himself again, deciding to find something to do.
This was a habit Chu Zhi had even before his time-traveling—his ability to keep motivating himself. "Once I get into a good university, life will get easier." "I can work part-time in college, I can support myself and my mother." "It's normal to suffer and work hard, once I graduate, I'll get a high-paying job." Before time-traveling, Chu Zhi was already drawing these self-motivational pies for himself.
He took out his notebook and pen, must-haves for an idol—just in case he ran into fans and needed to sign autographs.
Ten days, that was enough to finalize the tracklist for the English album. His original idea of "Under the Gods" as the theme, however, was discarded.
[Theme:]
He wrote down the colon, then froze, pen in hand. His neck leaned forward slightly as he bent over the table, drawing a curve of deep thought.
The album's theme was especially important. A "Best of Earth Songs" collection could work, since every track would be strong, but it felt wasteful and somewhat low-tier.
Currently, the English songs on hand included We Will Rock You, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Sugar. He also had Avicii's best-of collection and Led Zeppelin III.
If possible, he wanted to include "Ode to the River Thames" as well… but just thinking about it felt messy.
"Led Zeppelin III is hard rock, a milestone by Led Zeppelin. The core of the album's production is the perfect fusion of vocals and guitar, with a touch of folk influence."
From Chu Zhi's own words, one could already sense why this album was great—its pioneering nature. It was one of the best examples of combining folk rock with hard rock. But if he released it under the exact same theme, it might not hit hard enough as a debut strike.
Avicii's best-of collection, on the other hand, was full of stirring, high-energy tracks. Great singers each had their unique style, but Chu Zhi noticed the themes overlapped.
Three of Avicii's electronic hits: The Nights, Waiting for Love, Wake Me Up.
Hard rock: Immigrant Song, Friends.
Glam rock: We Will Rock You.
Right now, these six songs all had lyrics that were "inspiring, giving people strength."
Compared to his Chinese album, the English lineup was not much weaker.
"So let's set the theme as [Life that Shakes the Gods]," Chu Zhi wrote in his notebook.
Why add "Gods"? Because Westerners liked titles with that flavor, and also because many of the lyrics clashed with gods.
"The Hammer of the Gods will lead us to the New World…"
When you focus on something seriously, time flies. Hours passed, and just then, Rong Yi sent a WeChat message inviting him to dinner.
Chu Zhi didn't refuse. He stuffed the notebook and pen into his leather pouch, thinking to himself, "That's enough for now."
He smoothed out the wrinkles on his pants with his hands, straightened himself up a little, and headed out.
In the lobby, he saw Ge Zongfeng, Rong Yi, and the crew's assistant director Zhao Yusheng waiting. They exchanged greetings.
"Come, come, come. Last time I was on the island, I found a pretty good restaurant. I have to take you there, so you don't end up eating at places that don't suit your taste. I'll take care of meals these next few days," Rong Yi said.
"Good idea," said Assistant Director Zhao Yusheng. "You keep winning our pocket money at cards anyway. It's only fair you pay for this meal."
Rong Yi had a big mahjong habit. She often gathered friends from the industry to play, and even had the nickname "Rong Mama"—just one generation younger-sounding than "Rong Nanny."
It wasn't just that she liked it; she was really good at it. Once, wearing a mask, she had competed in the World Mahjong Championship and made it all the way to the finals. Only with her agent and agency forcibly dragging her away did "Rong Mama" stop short of competing.
Because of that, few dared to play with her during Chinese New Year.
"Speaking of mahjong, my assistant happened to bring a set in the luggage," Rong Yi said. "Shall we play a round after dinner?"
Turning to Chu Zhi, she asked, "Xiao Jiu, do you know how to play mahjong?"
"I know a little Sichuan-style mahjong and Dao Dao Hu," said Chu Zhi. Back when he was doing business, he had learned in order to chat with clients.
"Perfect, then after dinner we can play a couple rounds." Rong Yi was delighted.
Why hadn't the crew noticed before that Rong Yi loved mahjong? Because she strictly separated work from entertainment. But here at the Venice Film Festival, it was basically a vacation for her.
On the way to the restaurant, they happened to run into You Quan.
"Teacher You, are you sneaking off to eat something delicious all by yourself?" Rong Yi called out. "Not coming to the group dinner?"
"Not exactly," said You Quan. "I heard there's a place here called [Da Zhongguo Restaurant]. They serve steamed bass and shark fin soup, so I was heading there."
As the saying goes, wherever there's a commercial street, there's always a Chinese restaurant.
"Chinese food is always better back home," Rong Yi said. "Since we're abroad, we should eat something different."
"That makes sense," You Quan said. "But I still want Chinese food. I really can't get used to foreign food."
And so You Quan declined the suggestion to "try something new." Everyone had their own way of thinking, and for him, there was no need to even try.
Rong Yi led the group to [Ai Do Mati], a traditional Italian restaurant famous for its squid ink pasta.
Over dinner, Rong Yi, Ge Zongfeng, and Assistant Director Zhao Yusheng discussed the film festival. Chu Zhi stayed quiet, listening to the veterans' insights.
"Our biggest rival is Lirde Bargoin, that French director. I don't know how good his new film Plagiarism is, but he really is a national treasure of France."
"I think Director Wang will be fine. Bargoin's films always leave me with utter despair about human society. After watching, I feel depressed for days. I wonder what state of mind he's in when he films. At least Director Wang, while coldly observing society, still holds some hope for the world."
"Maybe Bargoin keeps the depression for the audience, but keeps the joy for himself?"
"And Oangdo's film also entered the main competition."
"Then he's probably winning Best Actor. He's the only living man whose acting has already been made into textbook material for the Central Academy of Drama, Beijing Film Academy, and Shanghai Theatre Academy."
"Don't say that, I think Ah Jiu also has a shot."
Zhao Yusheng's voice was loud, maybe because he was from Chongqing. He always sounded like he was arguing. Middle-aged "old cadre" Ge Zongfeng always steered conversations in odd directions—sometimes sharp and insightful, other times discouraging.
Chu Zhi gathered some useful information. After dinner, Assistant Director Zhao Yusheng had to join the director for interviews, so the mahjong game was cancelled.
Walking along the coast to digest, Chu Zhi admired the beautiful beach. Regular tourists couldn't usually enter because the beaches were owned by hotels. On Lido Island, many of the nicest beaches belonged to hotels.
The next day, it was time for the world's oldest film festival to open—the Venice Film Festival. Famous directors and international stars gathered.
Actresses competed for attention in off-shoulder gowns, deep V dresses, floor-length backless gowns. Male stars rushed to admire them.
For every success, countless others fail. Who knows how much blood from the entertainment industry has been buried beneath the red carpet? But walking on it, one was always dazzling, while the press from every country stood on both sides, long lenses and short lenses aimed, all eager to capture the perfect shot.
A reporter from Roma Leisure News, Bellini, spotted an unfamiliar face walking the carpet. Though he didn't know him, he couldn't resist snapping a few photos.
"This Asian star's features look like they were sculpted by Michelangelo, three-dimensional and perfect."
His proportions were outstanding, his expression confident, like a dart flung straight and fast toward the end of the carpet.
Until a reporter called out loudly, he didn't stop. Then he opened his deep brown eyes.
The reporter asked him to pose, and he tilted one corner of his lips, a faint smile appearing. After the shot, he returned to his usual calm.
The reporter noticed this Asian star's hands: long fingers, little flesh, and the back not smooth but with veins prominently connecting the five fingers, like dunes suddenly rising on a barren plateau. His gaze was captivated.
Unconsciously, Bellini took two more shots. Though Roma Leisure News sounded second-rate, it was actually Italy's top-selling entertainment newspaper.
"I knew it, Director Wang's lead actor had to be Chu Zhi. No way he wouldn't be here." A reporter from Penguin Entertainment had found his target. The Asian star in Bellini's photos was indeed Chu Zhi.
In the entertainment industry, there was no shortage of handsome men and beautiful women. On a red carpet filled with global stars, Chu Zhi's looks still stood out—top-tier in both Eastern and Western aesthetics.
After the stars walked, the festival began with screenings. The first day naturally featured the main competition.
The Shiyi Lang opened the festival, screening in the largest hall of the Palazzo del Cinema. Director Wang Anyi was already world-renowned, drawing in many big names, including the French director Bargoin—who, as mentioned last night, "despairs of the world."
The film opened with Chu Zhi singing When Love Has Become a Thing of the Past, before the main story began—
["One must fulfill oneself."]
["To stand proud in front of others, you must suffer behind the scenes."]
["Truly, without madness there is no life. Madness in acting is fine, but if you live madly too, in this mortal world, among ordinary people, how can we survive?"]
["I am the false overlord, you are the true concubine."]
The lines, when translated into Italian or English, lost some nuance. Still, Director Wang had hired professional translators, so the meanings were largely conveyed.
The Shiyi Lang could be interpreted in many ways. Some saw it as "a reflection on self-identity and gender," some as "a homosexual film," others as "the obsession of an artist," and still others as "the cruelty of an era toward small people." Every interpretation was valid, and all were what the film intended to express.
In this parallel world, Wang Anyi was hailed as the number one director of China, a title she fully deserved.
But Bellini watched differently than others. For him, the plot didn't matter anymore. His gaze was fixed only on the actor—more precisely, entirely on Chu Zhi's portrayal of Su Shiyi.
"His face, especially in the scenes with tears welling in his eyes… the image was so beautiful, it made me want to destroy it," Bellini murmured.