Chapter 15: Conflict!

“Hello, Director An, are you really collaborating with… this movie, ‘Sun Wukong vs Superman 2’?”

“Director An, I’m reporter Xiao Chen from Jingying Entertainment. Is what this ‘Mr. Zhou’ said true? Have you signed a strategic cooperation agreement with this—uh, uh—‘Sun Wukong vs Superman 2’?”

“Director An… do you really think this movie, whatever ‘Sun Wukong vs Superman’ is… is even a real film?”

“Uh, uh, Director An, could these people possibly be coming to the set just to freeload meals?”

“A new chapter in Chinese cinema history? What audacity! Even Ma Kaige, the leader of the fifth-generation directors, wouldn’t dare say such a thing…”

“…”

The morning sunlight was bright.

So bright it made some people squint.

The set in the early morning was bustling with voices, filled with endless noise.

An Xiaoshi stared blankly as wave after wave of media surged toward her.

In her entire life…

If she had to pick the most embarrassing moment…

It would probably be today.

Her mind went utterly blank as she watched Zhou Yang, among the crowd, being interviewed—brazenly, shamelessly.

What was Zhou Yang saying?

Eastern fantasy, East-West clash, epic scale, shocking impact…

It was as if anything Zhou Yang could imagine—any element associated with a blockbuster—he was attaching to their ‘Sun Wukong vs Superman 2,’ leaving no chance unexploited to grab attention…

Among the crowd, some were bewildered, some skeptical, but mostly there was a chorus of sharp, mocking laughter.

In the sunlight, An Xiaoshi saw someone staring at the poster of ‘Sun Wukong vs Superman 2,’ laughing so hard they couldn’t stand up straight…

She also saw people with cameras interviewing Zhou Yang, whose face remained solemn, while reporters kept steering the conversation toward absurd points—and Zhou Yang kept boldly claiming his film rivaled any blockbuster, trouncing the entire entertainment industry…

The scene was filled with laughter, as if watching a clown.

…

As more and more people gathered around—even many passersby who had no idea what was going on—

An Xiaoshi took a deep breath, her face burning with social death.

It’s over, it’s over!

This is the most humiliating thing ever!

“Zhou Yang, stop talking…”

An Xiaoshi’s face flushed crimson as she grabbed Zhou Yang, who was still spouting nonsense as if blowing up a balloon to the sky, and urgently ordered security to drag him away and immediately secure the scene!

The security personnel nodded and rushed over, surrounding the reporters who kept filming and the crowd snapping photos of the poster, trying to prevent the situation from escalating…

But the reporters who loved chaos only grew more energetic, and the security couldn’t hold them back for long…

Fortunately, at this moment…

A chorus of screams came from afar.

“Zheng Yichen is here!”

“Wow!”

“He’s here, he’s here!”

“…”

Countless cameras finally stopped swarming toward them and turned toward Zheng Yichen’s luxury van nearby.

Only then did this farce gradually subside!

……………………

“What’s going on?”

“What strategic cooperation agreement? What ‘Sun Wukong vs Superman 2’…”

“What even is this?”

“When did our ‘Love Ferris Wheel’ sign any strategic agreement with this mess of a set?”

“And why was the third male lead suddenly replaced? Weren’t we agreed that Chen Liang would play him? Why the last-minute change?”

“…”

In the office.

Zheng Yichen, after finishing the interview, walked in with a dark expression, glaring at An Xiaoshi sitting in the office and Zhang Jingya, who had just returned, looking dazed.

An Xiaoshi’s face was flushed as she cleared her throat and said to Zheng Yichen: “Senior brother, we were just going to tell you today that we’d finalized the third male lead—but we never expected this to happen this morning…”

“Wait, who is this guy?”

Zheng Yichen took a deep breath and stared at Zhou Yang, standing beside him in a sharp suit.

“Hello…” Zhou Yang smiled and extended his hand.

But Zheng Yichen frowned, refusing to shake his hand, ignoring his smile entirely as he fixed his gaze on An Xiaoshi: “Changing the lead actor at the last minute is a huge taboo. Don’t you know that?”

The air in the office fell into a brief silence.

After a moment, An Xiaoshi took a deep breath and looked Zheng Yichen squarely in the eye: “I’ve discussed this with Director Zhang. We both feel Mr. Zhou better fits the character in our script. Chen Liang—we compared them repeatedly—but we felt his aura just didn’t match…”

“What aura?”

“That kind of noble presence…” Zhang Jingya, seeing An Xiaoshi hesitate, immediately answered.

“Ha. Noble presence?” Zheng Yichen turned and sized up Zhou Yang, who stood nearby, his face still wearing that gentle smile.

He saw a cheap suit of some unknown brand…

He saw a pair of shoes with no brand label at all—so cheap it was unbelievable…

And he saw a smile that made him deeply uncomfortable…

…

“Forgive me, but from his clothing and appearance, I see absolutely no trace of this so-called noble presence,” Zheng Yichen’s tone grew colder: “Casting in a film is extremely important. Not just anyone can play any role…”

“But…”

An Xiaoshi tried to speak, but Zheng Yichen cut her off: “Before the film was greenlit, I already helped you secure the right team. I’ve told you many times: just focus on filming. Afterward, I’ll hire a professional company to edit, review, and distribute it. Then I’ll push you for Best New Director nominations. For these past months, I’ve exhausted myself planning every step for you, to prevent you from taking unnecessary detours on your first film.”

“Senior brother, I think he’s perfect for the role!” An Xiaoshi bit her lip, her voice trembling with grievance, yet she still fixed her gaze on Zheng Yichen: “Senior brother, you can watch his audition—he has no issues with his acting…”

When Zheng Yichen heard this, he finally turned to look at Zhou Yang, his gaze growing colder.

Zhou Yang met his stare calmly, still wearing that gentlemanly smile, neither humble nor arrogant.

“Forgive me, Mr. Zhou. I’m a very practical person—I speak bluntly and don’t consider anyone’s feelings. You know well enough that in this industry, everyone speaks through their work and talent.” Zheng Yichen stared at Zhou Yang’s unruffled, elegant demeanor—and for some reason, felt a pang of discomfort.

After hearing this, Zhou Yang nodded seriously, smiled, and held Zheng Yichen’s gaze: “We all prefer to speak through our work.”

“Then, Mr. Zhou, may I ask—did you graduate from Shanghai Film Academy, or Beijing Film Academy? Or perhaps from an art school in Hong Kong? Or do you have overseas study experience?” Zheng Yichen narrowed his eyes.

“None of the above…” Zhou Yang replied calmly.

“Then, does your family have anyone in the entertainment industry? Any directors, actors, crew members, or cultural workers?”

“Not at the moment,” Zhou Yang continued shaking his head.

“Then, Mr. Zhou, what car do you drive? What car do your parents drive?” Zheng Yichen pressed further.

“I don’t own a car,” Zhou Yang replied, still smiling gently, unfazed by the barrage of questions.

“Then you must be exceptionally talented? Published any books? Appeared on any shows?” Zheng Yichen’s eyes grew colder.

“Not yet.”

“Then what major films have you acted in? What box office numbers? Tens of millions? Hundreds of millions? Directed any films? Ever been a background extra? If so, name one?” Zheng Yichen spoke now with condescension, as if he had already seen through Zhou Yang’s entire life—and no longer bothered to hide his disdain.

“None.”

In the office.

Zheng Yichen asked question after question.

Zhou Yang simply kept shaking his head, replying each time with calm composure.

Eventually, even An Xiaoshi couldn’t take it anymore: “Senior brother, isn’t this movie about acting? None of this has anything to do with acting! We can let him perform a scene…”

But Zheng Yichen didn’t look at An Xiaoshi—he kept staring at Zhou Yang: “I’ve always believed that not just any nobody can make or act in a film. Sorry, I’m just blunt.”

Zhou Yang nodded, his expression solemn, yet his smile unusually bright as he looked Zheng Yichen up and down: “I agree completely. Not just any nobody can make a film.”

When Zheng Yichen heard this, his face darkened instantly.

But he didn’t respond to Zhou Yang. Instead, he fixed his gaze on An Xiaoshi and Zhang Jingya: “The casting is final. Don’t change it. Otherwise, everything I’ve done for your ‘Love Ferris Wheel’ in this industry will be wasted!”

“But…”

An Xiaoshi’s face flushed crimson. She tried to speak again, but Zheng Yichen cut her off, voice firm and unyielding: “Chen Liang’s role cannot be changed. Anyone I’ve approved for this set cannot be changed. Otherwise, I won’t recognize it, the distributor won’t recognize it, and the fans certainly won’t recognize it…”

“But we’re the investors! Don’t investors even have this much authority?” An Xiaoshi trembled, staring fiercely at Zheng Yichen.

“I’m also an investor—and the producer. Do you know how many favors I’ve called in over these past months for this film? More than you, not less!” Zheng Yichen’s face was ice-cold: “Remember, I’m paving the way for you two—a path others dream of to enter the film industry!”

An Xiaoshi lowered her head, her eyes slightly red.

Zhang Jingya sat quietly in her chair, saying nothing.

After a brief silence, Zheng Yichen looked around the room, his gaze finally settling on Zhou Yang: “Forgive me, Mr. Zhou. What we’re about to discuss is internal to ‘Love Ferris Wheel.’ You’re not suited to be here. If you could, I’d ask your group—well, let’s call it a group—to keep your distance. I don’t want your ridicule to taint our film…”

Zhou Yang remained standing, still smiling gently, as if watching an unrelated farce, treating Zheng Yichen like air—he didn’t respond at all, instead quietly playing with a small stone on the desk.

Zheng Yichen’s face turned instantly ashen!

Just as he was about to explode, An Xiaoshi suddenly stepped forward, her eyes red but her gaze resolute: “Senior brother, I invited him! He’s part of our crew! We signed a contract—I just want one role. Can’t we even decide on one role?!”

When Zheng Yichen heard this, his expression turned ugly—but he held back, only glaring at An Xiaoshi: “You can decide later. But not for this film.”

“But…” An Xiaoshi froze, her eyes bloodshot, teeth clenched—she couldn’t say another word.

Zhang Jingya quietly walked over to An Xiaoshi’s side and squeezed her hand.

The office fell silent once again.

In the silence, an invisible weight lingered in the hearts of those present.

At that moment, Zhou Yang’s phone rang.

Zhou Yang glanced at the number, then at the people in the room, and finally shook his head: “Director An, let’s collaborate another time…”

“Zhou Yang, you don’t have to—actually, we didn’t mean it like that, I…”

“I’ll step out to take this call. I’ll wait outside for you regarding the next steps!”

“….”

Zhou Yang looked at his phone, avoided An Xiaoshi’s gaze, and turned to leave the office.

…………………………

Outside the window.

The chaos in “Love Ferris Wheel,” under the control of security personnel, finally ended.

Shen Long and Chen Jianfeng stood in a corner, facing each other beside their stall, both at a loss.

After finishing the call, Zhou Yang sat quietly on a chair outside the office door.

About ten minutes later.

The office door opened.

An Xiaoshi stepped out; when she saw Zhou Yang, her eyes were red, and she silently lowered her head, sitting beside him.