Chapter 1560
Nobody Believes
"According to our reporter's report."
"A serious accident recently occurred on the set of The Expendables 2, which is located near Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria."
"The accident resulted in one death and multiple injuries."
"The deceased was Liu Kun, a Chinese actor, who was only 26 years old."
……
In the hotel, after getting off work, Zhang Yuan watched CCTV news reports on satellite TV.
CCTV has reported it, so the whole country must know about it now.
I opened Weibo on my phone, and sure enough, the matter was trending.
Several celebrities also posted messages of condolence on Weibo.
Don't let his young age fool you; he's only in his early twenties. In the stunt business, people start as teenagers and are already covered in injuries by their mid-twenties.
He previously served as Chen Kun's stunt double in "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate".
Because he is not tall, but has a suitable build.
He was chosen to be Li Lianjie's stunt double this time because his height was suitable.
If I were to act as his stand-in, the deception would be exposed immediately.
Moreover, it was because of the film "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" that Li Lianjie recommended him to this production team.
Chen Kun said, "May you rest in peace."
But then another sentence followed.
"I will chant sutras for you every night."
These Tibetan Buddhists are truly "devout".
People who had met him, including Shi Xiaolong, Fan Shaohuang, and Li Yuchun, also posted messages of condolence.
But Zhang Yuan noticed that Li Lianjie was the only one who didn't speak.
Not just on Weibo, but on any other channel.
Zhang Yuan thought for a moment and then called Lao Li.
"Of course it's very painful."
"But the production team did buy insurance for the stunt performers."
"Moreover, the production crew also has people who specialize in handling these kinds of things."
"Just leave everything to them."
After understanding the other party's businesslike attitude, Zhang Yuan asked another question.
Will he personally provide some compensation or condolence money?
"He was filming for the crew."
"It's not a film made for me."
"So it depends on how the production team handles it."
Old Li's attitude was roughly...it has little to do with me.
Zhang Yuan remained silent for a long time after putting down his phone.
Later, many people on the internet spread the rumor that Li Lianjie personally paid 500 million yuan in compensation to the family.
However, without any official confirmation, if Mr. Li really did contribute money, the One Foundation would definitely treat it as a major event and publicize it.
So this news is either from Lao Li's fans speaking up for him, or someone just making up a story.
He doesn't look like someone who would spend that much money.
This is also the difference between Li Lianjie and Chen Long; it's a matter of personality.
Old Li has a bit of that Shaw Run Run vibe.
How much I spend on charity is my business.
But why should employee wages be increased?
He is right in principle; the stunt double was hired by the production crew, not by him personally, and the contract was signed by the production crew.
But this world is not just about reason, it's also about emotion.
His statement is illogical and unreasonable.
Anyone who hears this would say that he is heartless and ungrateful.
But Old Li can be quite cold-hearted at times.
beep, beep...
He went to open the door when he heard the knocking.
"Mon chéri, why are you frowning again?"
Miss Jiang, freshly washed and scented, entered his room.
He was holding a brand new Canon flagship camera, which he had just bought for her.
That Hasselblad that my dad gave me needs to be sent for repairs.
The Japanese machines may not be the best, but they are definitely the best to buy.
"Sit down, I have something to ask you." He gestured for the other person to sit opposite him.
Do you think I should speak out about the dead?
"I don't know," the girl shook her head.
“But you told me not to make a sound, and now you’re asking me this kind of question, which means you’re hesitant,” the girl replied quite cleverly.
"I understand."
He then made a long-distance call back to China.
Zeng Jia was informed that she was prepared to speak out about the matter and was asked to prepare a Weibo post and a combination of photos.
Although Jean-Claude Van Damme, a seasoned veteran, reminded him not to speak.
Although Li Lianjie, the person in question, is not planning to speak out.
If he were to speak up, it would inevitably affect Lao Li's reputation.
However, one should not let the opinions of others or concerns about saving face influence one's own judgment and true self.
Of course, I could keep quiet, which would save me a lot of trouble.
But as a Chinese person, when my compatriots are overseas or when something big happens in our group, it doesn't go against my instinct to remain silent.
After all, neither of those two kung fu masters were Chinese.
Old Li is now a resident of Singapore.
He could certainly find a hundred reasons to remain silent, but the fact that he would find reasons and excuses shows that somewhere in his heart he knows he is wrong.
Soon after, his memorial letter appeared on Weibo overnight.
She also attached a photo of herself and the other person.
The following morning, he arrived at the film set with his assistant and "photographer".
The deceased's family members have also arrived in Bulgaria; a whole group of them have come.
Uncle, cousin, uncle-in-law, father... all the men in the family who could come were there.
You can hear the cries with a local accent from a great distance.
Stallone did not show up; he left it to his agent to handle.
The original plan was to talk to the other party at the hotel, but the family insisted on coming to the site to burn paper money as a form of mourning, so there was no way to refuse.
I was then brought to the film set.
He also went up to express his condolences to the family and burned some paper money.
The deceased's family did not try to hold him accountable, but they still pleaded with him to speak to the film crew on behalf of their child.
Because once the stage of respecting the dead has passed, another important issue arises.
That is... how much is a human life worth?
Zhang Yuan stated that he is merely an actor and can only represent himself; he cannot speak on behalf of others.
"It all depends on how the production team handles it."
He said those words out of desperation.
But I tried my best to help, even asking the film crew's insurance agent.
The insurance the production team bought for the stunt doubles was the lowest tier, which would only pay out around $100,000.
That's how it is for Chinese people working overseas; if something happens, they're lucky if they have insurance.
If it were white people, the number would definitely be more than that.
The Screen Actors Guild and the Performing Arts Association are making a fuss, and it won't be any less than a million dollars.
Having tens of thousands is better than nothing; that's Stallone's rule—he bought insurance.
If they don't buy you insurance, you won't get any of this.
That's the answer to that question.
How much is a human life worth?
Approximately $9.
After listening, Zhang Yuan felt a sense of loss.
When my personal expenses are high, I spend more than this amount on food and drink in a single day.
The family members were naturally dissatisfied and said they would sue the production team, namely Sylvester Stallone's Millennium Films.
The other party believes that the death of their family member was caused by improper handling by the film crew.
Stallone seems quite relaxed about it.
These old guys may not have much else, but they have plenty of experience in handling things.
Just leave it to the lawyer.
Since they are foreigners, I estimate they won't be able to pay much compensation, at most a few tens of thousands of US dollars.
No amount of money can bring back a precious life.
Zhang Yuan roughly understood why Li Lianjie wanted to avoid suspicion; he was afraid of being implicated and extorted.
Anyway, they can't extort money from me, I didn't have any scenes with them, and I wasn't even there when the incident happened.
He did not personally go when the family members left.
But he had his assistant bring out $5000 in cash, wrapped in a white envelope, as funeral money.
It may not be much, but it can still elevate the level of a funeral.
"Hey." Jiang Yilang took several pictures of his worried expression and showed them to him.
"You are gentler than I imagined."
“It’s more complicated than I imagined,” she said, leaning closer. “People are very complex; you only truly understand each other after spending enough time together.” He cracked his neck, trying to sound more alert.
"Well, the passing of life is inevitable."
"Those who are alive should continue to work hard."
They mustered their energy and headed to the filming location.
Meanwhile, domestically...
Due to this fatal accident, the number of domestic media outlets traveling to Bulgaria has increased significantly.
Besides the behind-the-scenes photos of the film crew, many people also took pictures of him and Ms. Jiang together.
As a result, Hong Kong media reported on it.
Zhang Yuan's new love affair on set leads to an accident that results in death.
This is pure clickbait!
It's as if his womanizing caused the accident that resulted in someone's death on set.
Hong Kong media paparazzi have always been like this.
Moreover, this kind of news will be quickly shared on mainland forums and online communities.
Photos of a young girl accompanying him on set were quickly released.
Fortunately, no media arrived when he was comforting the other person and hugging her for a long time that day, otherwise it would have been even worse.
But the fact that they were just chatting and laughing together was enough for netizens to speculate.
Furthermore, the power of netizens is boundless, especially when it comes to digging into other people's privacy; they seem to never get tired.
Jiang Yilang's identity was quickly revealed.
Director Jiang's own daughter, and she's mixed-race, that's something else!
These days, mixed-race children are very popular, and many women are proud to give birth to mixed-race children.
Unlike later on, when people see someone who is mixed-race, they don't immediately assume you're a crossbreed.
Immediately, numerous articles with detailed accounts appeared.
It is said that Zhang Yuan met Jiang Wen and her daughter while filming "Let the Bullets Fly".
They developed feelings for each other during filming, fell in love, and eventually got together.
It's also said that her public appearances and accompanying filming crews are signs that she's getting married.
Claims like there are no age limits for marriage for white people have even surfaced.
That's really true...
The legal marriage age in France is 18 years or older for both parties.
However, if there is pregnancy or other special circumstances, the age can be lowered to 15 years old with the written consent and approval of both guardians.
However, the reason for such a relaxed policy is to stimulate the marriage rate. After all, the marriage system in Europe is a pilot program with an extremely low marriage rate. Most people choose to cohabitate and have children but do not get married.
Of course, partners who meet the conditions also have legal obligations and inheritance rights.
But they just don't get married.
There are also rumors that Ms. Jiang is pregnant, because there are photos of her with a slightly protruding belly.
She's just healthy and doesn't diet, so what's wrong with having a little belly fat?
It feels so good!
I'm not actually fat, but I always manage to find something to do.
Many female celebrities get rumored to be pregnant if they eat a little more when they're not working, which is quite annoying.
Well, now everyone knows about it in just a few days.
Because they had been photographed together on the Bund in Shanghai before, and were spotted together twice in a row, everyone assumed that they were a couple.
All I can say is... he has a really good eye for people.
Admitting it is impossible, absolutely impossible, so we can only remain silent.
Many media outlets called Zeng Jia to inquire.
"It's so boring."
Don't believe this kind of boring information.
"Please support the artists' work and don't make unfounded accusations."
She categorically denied it.
The problem is that it only speaks from his perspective.
This creates a situation where, because of Zhang Yuan's image, he has many female fans.
What would female fans' reaction be if they saw that their idol had a girlfriend?
Curse her to death!
You shameless bastard!
It must be fake; this jerk is just trying to take advantage of my brother.
At this time, fan culture was not as prevalent as it later became, but it wasn't completely absent either.
Within days of the exposure, a large amount of content insulting Jiang Yilang appeared online.
The words were quite harsh, comparable to the articles that attacked Xiaolongnu back then.
Zhang Yuan never expected that all these years he had been so vigilant and cautious.
In the end, he was brought down by a young girl.
Moreover, any woman, whether an ordinary woman or a female celebrity, would be ecstatic to be constantly criticized online in this situation.
If he were to make an official announcement and be labeled as Zhang Yuan's girlfriend, it could make an unknown person's fame approach that of a top-tier celebrity within a few days.
Even if he doesn't admit it or doesn't know him, he can still get a lot of attention by sticking his nose up to him.
If he told Yang Mi that he was willing to announce it to the world, she could post 30 photos of them together in a day.
If he dared to admit that Zhang Yuqi was his woman, that woman would divorce Wang Quan on the spot without any hesitation.
Especially since he was the "800 million box office male lead" at the time, the most popular artist without exception.
For 99% of the women in this circle, he is like Tang Sanzang's flesh, like the imperial brother.
Let alone eating it, even just smelling it can prolong life.
but!
The only one who wasn't happy about the rumored affair was the person in question!
Although Miss Jiang is young, she has a very clear ambition.
She didn't want to be an actress or a star; she wanted to be an artist and a photographer.
This is similar to Sisi; both of them set clear goals at a young age and resolutely pursued them.
Regardless of ability or talent, a life with goals and family support is a very happy one.
Since she wanted to be a photographic artist, she naturally didn't like so much exposure.
In particular, not only was he thoroughly investigated, but a bunch of fake life stories were also fabricated.
Being inexplicably insulted made her very upset.
"I'm sorry, you shouldn't have to endure this."
After the other person pouted and didn't take any photos all day, he privately tried to persuade them.
"This is my daily work routine, but not yours."
"No, I'm the one who wanted to come with you, so I should take the risks myself." After thinking it over, the girl was still sad, but she quickly became strong.
She didn't understand why so many complete strangers were attacking her and saying such nasty things.
You don't even know me, so why do you hate me so much?
Attacking girls is nothing but a despicable act; women love to slut-shame other women.
The girl is naturally open-minded, so most of the descriptions didn't hurt her much, but they were very insulting.
Who I hang out with is my freedom, why should I be labeled a bitch?
“And you also took on pressure, right?” After she came to her senses, she even had the energy to comfort him in return.
"That's it."
Zhang Yuan raised his eyebrows helplessly.
People in China call him dozens of times a day to inquire about his situation.
Ordinary friends are fine, but even many women called to question him after seeing the news.
What's your relationship with that mixed-race girl?
What's going on between you and that young girl?
"Zhang Yuan, you're really playing the game, aren't you? You seem to be getting younger and younger with each new relationship."
"Junior brother, what's being said online isn't true, right..."
Headache!
However, he quickly devised a universal reply method.
He didn't answer whether it was true or not, nor did he explain his relationship with this girl; he only said one sentence.
“She is Jiang Wen’s daughter. She interned with me and was my photographer.”
Upon hearing this, most women's reaction is...
"Oh, that's all."
Everyone's immediate reaction was that it was impossible.
Even the person himself called.
What's going on online these days?
"Why are you insulting my daughter like that!"
Director Jiang's fiery temper is intimidating even over the phone.
Zhang Yuan first explained what happened, especially how Jiang Yilang was nearby when the accident occurred and was quite frightened.
And he clearly stated that he had comforted himself for a long time.
The specifics of how he comforted her were not mentioned...
"I know."
"How could that be?"
“I don’t believe you, but you have to believe my daughter,” Jiang Wen said confidently.
Zhang Yuan scratched his head.
You overestimated me, and underestimated your daughter.
Fathers often have a romanticized view of their daughters.
So he absolutely refused to believe that his girl could date him.
My daughter would be interested in you?
She has to find a man like me!
After listening, Zhang Yuan suspected that Jiang Yilang's insistence on finding him might be due to his father's disbelief, which led to his rebellion.
Am I part of this father-son play game?
However, just when he thought the public opinion would veer towards romantic gossip and end there, things took a wild turn in another direction... (End of Chapter)