Chapter 52: What Does the Title "Great Sweetheart" Mean? (Please Continue Reading)

“What did you say?”

“CJ7!?”

Before Zhang Li could finish his sentence, Yang Mi’s exclamation interrupted him.

“Yes, CJ7,” Zhang Li nodded calmly. “Looks like you know it.”

“Of course!” Yang Mi’s fox-like eyes sparkled. “I’m the youngest Star Girl. How could I not know about Stephen Chow’s CJ7, which grossed over 200 million at the start of the year?”

“The youngest Star Girl?” Zhang Li laughed, his gaze teasing. “Self-proclaimed, I suppose.”

After all, she was just a little girl who held Su Qi’er’s hand in the movie, and yet called herself a Star Girl… What does she take Zhang Min for?

“Whatever the origin, the fact doesn’t change,” Yang Mi retorted coolly. “But are you sure you’re not tricking me?”

“What’s there to trick about?” Zhang Li operated on his laptop for a moment, then turned to Yang Mi.

Without hesitation, Yang Mi plopped down beside him and softly urged, “Move over a bit. Is the first-class seat not big enough for you?”

A subtle fragrance wafted over, making Zhang Li slightly uncomfortable as he shifted his seat.

Yang Mi glanced at the laptop for a while, confirming it was the script for CJ7.

“When did you write this?” she asked, turning to Zhang Li.

“September 2005,” Zhang Li replied with exact certainty.

At that time, he was in Shanghai. Because he got along well with Hu Ge and out of curiosity, he went to the Shanghai Theatre Academy.

Mainly, he thought that since he could foresee the future when interacting with female stars—and this arts school was the easiest place to find them—he might try his luck.

However, none of the acting students triggered his foresight, indicating their futures were rather ordinary. But after meeting Zhang Yuqi at the affiliated Opera School, he gained something valuable.

That very night, without hesitation, he wrote the CJ7 script, registered the copyright, and submitted it to Stephen Chow, entrusting his American foster father to handle negotiations.

In the end, he successfully secured a one-sixth stake—five million yuan in investment.

That five million turned into fifteen million by the beginning of the year and was paid out in installments last month.

But there was no need to tell Yang Mi about all this.

“You were only fifteen then, right?” Yang Mi found it hard to believe. “How could you write a script of this caliber?”

“Caliber?” Zhang Li smiled and asked back, “Why do you think I couldn’t write this story?”

Yang Mi paused, recalling the plot of CJ7: beneath its comedic surface lay warmth and philosophical reflections—father Zhou Tie’s relentless efforts for his son Dicky’s future; Dicky’s growing understanding of family’s importance and his father’s hardships; their journey from quarrels to reconciliation and mutual understanding; and the ‘CJ7’ itself symbolizing miracles and hope that transformed the father and son’s fate.

If anything was difficult, it was the inspiration.

“I lost my parents when I was ten and was adopted,” Zhang Li suddenly said. “Do you think I couldn’t write this?”

Yang Mi was speechless.

Art stems from life.

---

Zhang Li’s tragic experience mirrored Dicky’s loss of his father in the film.

But while Dicky had CJ7 to change his fate, Zhang Li lost his parents completely.

His ability to write such a story was more reasonable than anyone else’s.

“Besides CJ7, what other scripts have you written?” Yang Mi abruptly changed the subject.

“If You Are the One,” Zhang Li said simply.

He wrote “If You Are the One” after meeting Shu Qi in 2007.

Since meeting Zhou Xingchi, he often visited Hong Kong to connect with actresses in the film industry, gaining much.

As a quintessential Feng Xiaogang comedy, he sold the script to Huayi Brothers and invested five million yuan himself. Huayi, having suffered losses from “The Forbidden Kingdom,” welcomed sharing the burden.

“What!?” Yang Mi was stunned again.

She also knew “If You Are the One,” Feng Xiaogang’s newly completed film rumored to premiere at the year’s end.

Huayi Brothers pinned high hopes on it to recoup losses from “The Forbidden Kingdom” earlier in the year.

And this was also Zhang Li’s work, completed when he was just seventeen.

“Damn, damn, damn!” Yang Mi swore.

So this younger brother really was a versatile genius.

Maybe that’s why being around him could boost one’s talents?

Yang Mi felt she had accidentally uncovered the truth.

“Don’t tell anyone about this,” Zhang Li warned. “Besides Stephen Chow, the big bosses at Huayi, and Director Feng, you’re the first to know.”

“Standing out invites destruction. I just want to lay low and develop,” she replied.

If not for knowing Yang Mi could ‘level up’ from being around him and that she considered herself a ‘lucky girl,’ he wouldn’t even bring up this topic and would just continue growing quietly behind the scenes.

“You haven’t mentioned Yifei yet?” Yang Mi’s focus shifted.

“If I told her, she might stop me,” Zhang Li nodded slightly. “So I haven’t told her yet. I just need to pick the right time later.”

Yang Mi felt comforted, then suddenly grabbed Zhang Li’s arm. “Little brother, take me flying.”

“Depends on my mood,” Zhang Li said, raising his chin.

“Little brother~” Yang Mi shook his hand playfully.

[You have awarded Zhang Li the title “Big Honey” and gained +1 Career Talent.]

Yang Mi: ?

[Yang Mi gives you... a reward, gaining the title “Zhang Donkey” and +1 Talent.]

Zhang Li: !?

“*Cough, cough.*” Yang Mi choked on her own spit.

“You should go back to your seat first. I’ll get you some water,” Zhang Li said, feeling relieved. “If you want me to take you flying, I have to get this script going first.”

Yang Mi, overwhelmed with embarrassment, obediently complied.

Zhang Li called a flight attendant to bring water, allowing Yang Mi to recover a bit.

She drew the curtain around her seat. “I stayed up late last night. I’ll rest for a bit.”

“Suit yourself, I’m writing the script,” Zhang Li nodded as usual.

But both had the same thought.

Does the “Big Honey” title really mean that?

It’s hard to tell at all!

The flight landed at Imperial Capital Airport without incident.

Zhang Li and Yang Mi went together to Beijing Film Academy. He was returning from leave to study; she was a senior just killing time in the dorm.

“Dinner together tonight?” Yang Mi invited.

“Sure,” Zhang Li didn’t refuse. “After being on a set so long, I’m used to eating with you all. Will the senior treat me?”

“No problem,” Yang Mi agreed readily.

They each headed to their dorm buildings.

At the elevator, Yang Mi suddenly realized, “Did he just call me senior?”

She had been chasing something for so long and suddenly obtained it without savoring the moment.

It was probably like Zhu Bajie eating the ginseng fruit.

“When we eat dinner, I have to make him say it again.”

With a joyful heart, Yang Mi returned to her dorm.

But upon opening the door, she was met by a haggard-looking Yuan Shanshan.

“Yang Mi!”

Yuan Shanshan was stunned at first, then her expression turned fierce. “Honey, you have to help me set up a meeting with Zhang Li. I need to ask him what he means!”

Yang Mi’s good mood vanished, her brows furrowing. “What do you mean?”