Chapter 234: The Fear of a Man Paying the 'Public Grain' Tax, Unlocking Yang Rong (Please Subscribe)

Ning Hao brought the *No Man's Land* film crew back to Beijing, and the whole group looked a complete mess.

This was hardly surprising; after more than two months crossing the Gobi Desert across several provinces, anyone would be tanned dark and rough.

When Wei Jin saw them in the reception room, he almost didn't recognize them.

"Damn, Senior Brother, you all look like you've been fleeing a famine."

"Old Wei, you really shouldn't say that. This time, Hao almost killed me; it really was no different from fleeing a famine. From now on, I won't act in this kind of movie even if you beat me to death."

Huang Bai seemed to recall the unbearable past events during the filming process and felt some lingering fear.

"No way, you're the one who aspires to be a Best Actor; are you going to be stopped by just this little bit of hardship?"

Looking at Huang Bai's wilted appearance, Wei Jin couldn't help but tease: "You don't know how harsh the conditions were. High winds and sand, the endless Gobi Desert—I lost nearly 20 jin. Xu Guangtou was about the same. Only Hao ate well, and even he lost seven or eight jin."

Huang Bai felt a bit angry just thinking about it and glanced at the actress beside him.

"The most miserable one is Yu Nan. Such a fine girl, now she's dark and thin; her originally not-so-wealthy family is almost about to strike it rich."

Yu Nan was used to Huang Bai's nonsense; hearing this, she just smiled and didn't say much.

"Senior Brother, this time your wish has been fulfilled, right?"

Wei Jin also had some admiration for Ning Hao; if he were asked to make this kind of film, he wouldn't be able to endure that kind of hardship.

"Hehe, when I finish the final cut, you take a look. This time, I'm determined to bring back an award."

Although Ning Hao had lost a lot of weight, his mental state was quite good; presumably, he had something to pin his hopes on.

"By the way, have you confirmed the actors for your project? Can you arrange a role for Yu Nan?"

Ning Hao's words made Wei Jin a bit surprised, but he immediately understood; this should be out of a sense of compensation.

Yu Nan, standing to the side, naturally understood this logic too. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out; she just looked at Ning Hao with gratitude.

"Senior Brother, it's really not that I won't give you face, but the cast is already set and will be announced very soon."

Once Wei Jin's words were out, it was obvious that Yu Nan felt a bit disappointed. This girl had great acting skills, but she had never had any good resources; she had always been circling in the field of art films and had almost no achievements in commercial box office.

"Hmm, how about this: Jiahe has a co-production project, *Silent Witness*, it's my script."

"Ha, Yu Nan, why aren't you thanking President Wei? His scripts are never bad."

Wei Jin's righteous approach made Ning Hao feel he had a lot of face, and he began to flatter him.

"President Wei, thank you very much."

Yu Nan was truly grateful. Wei Jin's scripts were definitely high-quality projects within the circle; although she hadn't read the script yet, she believed it wouldn't be bad.

"You're welcome. Your acting is truly excellent; having you join this project will make it even better."

Wei Jin wasn't just being polite; Yu Nan was indeed a rare, talented actress in the country, and he could consider her more for his own projects in the future.

"By the way, Senior Brother, you came back from so far away; why run to the headquarters instead of going home first?"

"Old Wei, you don't understand this. This guy is afraid of going back to pay the 'public grain' tax, hahaha."

Huang Bai was truly vicious when it came to insulting people, and Ning Hao didn't let him off either.

"As if you could do any better. After more than two months of wind and sun, who the hell doesn't need to recover for a while?"

"Hahaha."

For a moment, the reception room was filled with joy. — Ever since receiving the script, Gao Yuanyuan had been interpreting it very diligently; she was still very serious when it came to acting.

"Xiao Jin, has the cast been finalized?"

Gao Yuanyuan was very concerned about this issue; after all, it was a sci-fi romance film about two people sailing in the lonely universe for decades, accompanying each other.

The male actor she would be playing opposite was very important, and Gao Yuanyuan hoped for someone she could connect with who also had exquisite acting skills.

"Mm, it's all finalized."

Since this film was a space sci-fi movie and the investment was not small, Wei Jin hoped for a big-name actor with solid acting skills.

"The male lead is Qiao Zhenyu; you shouldn't have any objections, right?"

Over the years, Qiao Zhenyu had focused on honing his acting skills; he knew how strict Wei Jin's requirements were. Likewise, Wei Jin had also consulted Xu Laoguai, and only after seeing the former's performance in *Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame* was it finally decided.

"Him? Then that's no problem."

Qiao Zhenyu was gentle and kind, and his reputation in the industry was very good; almost every actor he had worked with spoke highly of him. Plus, as an artist under Shanhe Media, Gao Yuanyuan was naturally very satisfied.

"You're familiar with the rest of the roles, too. The bartender is Datou."

Lei Jiayin looked mature; playing a robot bartender should be no problem at all. Plus, having worked with Gao Yuanyuan before, there should be some chemistry.

Sure enough, hearing Wei Jin's words, Gao Yuanyuan laughed; there were simply too many embarrassing incidents involving Lei Jiayin back during *Time-Space Cohabitation*.

"The captain is Liang Jiahui."

Choosing Liang Jiahui was because they had worked together many times; he was considered an affordable and easy-to-use veteran actor, and his aura was strong enough.

Gao Yuanyuan was also pleasantly surprised to hear this; he was known as the "Thousand-Faced Best Actor," and it would definitely be great to act opposite him.

In fact, Gao Yuanyuan had always wanted to work with Liang Jiahui, but had never had the opportunity. This time, she finally got her wish, and for a moment, she was actually quite excited.

However, she immediately thought of something else and asked: "What about that intelligent robot?"

Gao Yuanyuan was very familiar with the script; in the script, there would be a high-tech artificial intelligence projection on the spaceship, and it needed to appear in human form.

"Oh, I gave it to a newcomer at the company, Nazha."

This role basically had no requirements for acting skills; one only needed to keep smiling. For a newcomer actor, it was considered a decent opportunity to show her face, and Wei Jin certainly wouldn't let an outsider benefit.

"Oh? Is that the little girl from Xiyu?"

Gao Yuanyuan recalled the girl's appearance, and her expression gradually slumped. This lecherous man, he wasn't harboring some other intentions, was he?

"Xiao Jin, it's against the law to be with someone under 18; you mustn't go astray."

Although Gao Yuanyuan's tone was calm, Wei Jin actually felt a chill.

What to do when a woman is jealous? Wei Jin had his own clever tricks. He gradually approached the beauty, his hands caressing her slender waist, a faint smile on his face as he closed in.

"Yuan Yuanjie, I don't know how to walk the path of 'astray' with Nazha, but today, I am determined to walk your path."

After saying this, without waiting for Gao Yuanyuan to answer, he picked the beauty up horizontally and strode toward the bathroom. — All preparations for *Passengers* had been completed, and the cast had been fully finalized, so Wei Jin no longer hid it and announced it directly.

"Passengers," a sci-fi romance film, with a total investment of 250 million; Director: Wei Jin; Screenwriter: Wei Jin; Male Lead: Qiao Zhenyu; Female Lead: Gao Yuanyuan; Second Male Lead: Lei Jiayin; Second Female Lead: Guli Nazha; Third Male Lead: Liang Jiahui;

The media and the film and television circles took notice immediately. Everyone had been curious about "Passengers" for so long, and finally, there was news, but unfortunately, everything had already been finalized.

Fengyu Fengfeng: "Wei Jin is writing and directing it himself; it's another big project, worth looking forward to!"

Head of the Banquet: "Gao Yuanyuan and Lei Jiayin are collaborating for the second time; the nostalgia from 'Time-Space Cohabitation' is hitting me instantly." Sea Breeze Dancing: "Am I the only one curious about who this Guli Nazha is?"

What Book Are You Reading: "To the person above, you're out of the loop, aren't you? You don't even know this year's most beautiful art student from Beijing Film Academy? She's also a newcomer just signed by Shanhe Media last year."

With the release of the film's information, the main cast instantly became the focus of heated discussion in the entertainment industry and online.

Especially the newcomer Nazha; many people were envious of her luck. Before even entering Beijing Film Academy, she was able to star in a Wei Jin film; she is simply a chosen one.

Many actresses felt extremely uncomfortable in their hearts when they saw that the female lead was Gao Yuanyuan again.

Looking at the second female lead, they felt even worse. Are they not even as good as a newcomer? What kind of taste does Wei Jin have? — Chen Guofu sent an invitation, asking Wei Jin to watch the final scene of "The Message."

Because of Wei Jin's whim, the lead actress Zhou Xun had to take half a month off to promote "Painted Skin 2," which caused the filming schedule of "The Message" to be delayed until now.

Taking advantage of the fact that his own project hadn't started yet, Wei Jin agreed; after all, he was an investor.

According to Chen Guofu, this scene was very critical, so it was left to be filmed last, and Wei Jin was also very interested.

This scene was between Yang Rong and Zhou Xun, a scene full of ambiguity and provocation. Everyone on set, including Wei Jin, gave a thumbs up.

Especially before the scene started, both of them drank eight taels of white liquor; their expressions, movements, and performance effects were maxed out.

The ten-plus-minute long take was completed in one go.

It must be said that Yang Rong's acting skills were truly excellent; she didn't fall behind Zhou Xun at all while trading lines.

With Chen Guofu's shout of "Cut," it meant that nearly three months of filming were coming to an end.

"I announce that 'The Message' has officially wrapped."

Yang Rong was a bit tipsy, but seeing Wei Jin, she still endured it and came over to greet him.

"Boss Wei."

At this moment, Yang Rong's pretty face was slightly flushed, her eyes conveying emotion; she seemed not to have come out of her character yet, which actually allowed Wei Jin to see another kind of charm.

"Sister Rong, you should go to the side and rest for a while."

Wei Jin said with concern, seeing that she was a bit unsteady on her feet.

Yang Rong shook her head without speaking, only letting her Assistant come over to support her. Clearly, she didn't intend to leave; opportunities to stay with the boss were truly rare.

Zhou Xun also came over. This one was completely fine; Wei Jin had drunk with her many times, and she was a master tested by alcohol.

"Old Wei, how was it? Was the acting okay?"

"Of course, long takes aren't easy to pull off. Among domestic actors, you are the best."

Wei Jin said this while giving a thumbs up, then looked at Yang Rong.

"Sister Rong, you also acted very well."

Receiving the praise, the smile on Yang Rong's face grew even wider. The charm of a mature woman made Wei Jin feel a bit overwhelmed.

"Old Wei, your acting is good, but I haven't seen you support your buddy. The last time we collaborated was 'Painted Skin'; it's been four years already."

Zhou Xun really had some grievances toward Wei Jin.

"Young Master Zhou, count for yourself: among domestic actresses, which ones have I collaborated with? You should be content."

Wei Jin's words were not false; the female leads he had collaborated with so far were all his own women. Zhou Xun could be considered lucky.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xun realized it too. This dog of a man really only promoted his own women; it was a pity that he didn't have his eyes on her.

"Fine, I'll give you that. At the wrap party tonight, shall we drink some more?" — The news of "The Message" wrapping up quickly hit the headlines.

"The tribute film 'The Message,' a collaboration between Shanhe Media and Huayi, officially wrapped today."

"Director Chen Guofu stated that the film's post-production will be expedited, with the release date aimed directly at the National Day Slot."

"'The Founding of a Republic' is about to wrap; the National Day Slot will see a battle of dragons and tigers."

After the wrap party ended, Wei Jin finally left with Yang Rong, drawing a roll of the eyes from Zhou Xun. The latter could already predict what would happen tonight and couldn't help but curse under her breath, "Dog of a man, no taste."

In the villa, Wei Jin poured a glass of hot water for Yang Rong.

"Sister Rong, have you really thought it through? You won't regret it?"

It wasn't that Wei Jin was a saint; after all, she was his own artist, and despite how tempting she was, he didn't want to take advantage of someone in a drunken state.

After a glass of water, plus having eaten quite a bit that night, Yang Rong was basically sober by now.

She was wearing a cheongsam today, which perfectly accentuated her waist and bust; her figure was excellent.

"Hmm, Boss, don't you want to taste the flavor of your sister?"

At this moment, she leaned slightly against the man's chest, her fingers touching the buttons on his clothes. Accompanied by her slightly provocative words, how could Wei Jin resist? He immediately scooped her up by the waist and carried the woman into the bathroom.

That night, this woman from Yunnan Province brought Wei Jin incomparable pleasure — waking up in the early morning, Wei Jin looked at the woman beside him, his face filled with lingering aftertaste.

A 28-year-old woman can be called a "light mature woman," just at the moment of being ripe but not yet overripe, the most delicious time.

Just as he was planning to have a morning workout, the phone beside him rang.

"Boss Wei, the Digital Base will be completely finished in at most three days, and the crew is already prepared. Do you want to set the start date?"

On the phone, Chen Xi's voice sounded a bit exhausted; managing such a large project independently, she couldn't hold up either.

"Are the actors' schedules confirmed?"

"They are already confirmed; there are no problems."

As the Producer, this was Chen Xi's job to begin with. Moreover, apart from Liang Jiahui and Gao Yuanyuan, the others were all company artists; they had been waiting for the news to join the crew for a long time.

"Alright then, let's set it for May 28th."

Wei Jin calculated the time and gave a specific date.

Although this film was a space sci-fi, the filming time wouldn't be too long; it could definitely be finished within two months. By then, "Lucy" should be about ready for release.

"Okay, Boss Wei."

Hanging up the phone, he saw that Yang Rong had already woken up. Wei Jin adjusted his posture, held the woman in his arms, and asked, "Sister Rong, did you sleep well last night?"

"Mm, very good."

Yang Rong looked at Wei Jin with a lingering gaze; the experience this man had given her last night was truly wonderful, though it was a pity he was destined not to be her ideal partner.

Thinking of this, Yang Rong decided to seize the time to enjoy herself; one beautiful leg swung over Wei Jin's waist, and her small hand began to grow restless.

With a beauty sincerely extending an invitation, Wei Jin was naturally happy to oblige.

Very soon, on the snow-white bed, a pair of lovers began to roll about. I earnestly request all readers to kindly provide subscriptions, follow-up reads, bookmarks, monthly tickets, and recommendation votes. Thank you all! (End of chapter)