Chapter 16: Now, Spread Your Wings!

Summer sunlight streamed through the window onto the corridor.

Sitting beside Zhou Yang, An Xiaoshi fell silent for a long while, then looked at that sunlight and murmured, "Sometimes, I feel like I've entered a vortex, striving hard to grasp something, but no matter how hard I try, I can't hold on."

Zhou Yang nodded. "Sometimes life is just like that, wavering between choices..."

"You are perfect for this film! Director Zhang and I discussed it all night, made countless comparisons, and still feel you are more suitable than Chen Liang!"

An Xiaoshi lowered her head, looking at the script in her hands, then at Chen Liang's personal information beside it.

Chen Liang is an artist of Tianyu Entertainment, one of the largest entertainment companies in this world. He was once a popular member of a Korean group called HSA. He just returned to the country early this year and was immediately heavily promoted by Tianyu Entertainment.

But...

An Xiaoshi and Zhang Jingya felt that although he was good at everything, his temperament differed far too much from the CEO they had in mind.

"There are many helpless things in this world." Zhou Yang listened seriously and nodded. After glancing at Chen Liang's file, he smiled: "Then let Chen Liang play the role. Actually..."

"Actually what?"

"I'll be honest with you. I had no interest in playing this kind of role to begin with; I only did it for the money..." Zhou Yang looked into the distance.

"Then what do you think of this film..."

"I have my own film!" Zhou Yang offered no evaluation of "Love Ferris Wheel" nor expressed any opinion.

Upon hearing these words, An Xiaoshi fell silent.

The film "Love Ferris Wheel" had poured far too much of her heart and soul into it.

It was her dream.

But in this world, sometimes having a dream is far from enough!

Only after truly coming into contact with film companies did she realize that even as one of the investors, she still had to consider many things.

Considering the lead actor's traffic, considering data, considering distributors, considering post-production, considering the various complex social exchanges within the entertainment industry.

To speak fairly, Zheng Yichen had invested and contributed no little amount to the film "Love Ferris Wheel."

This included the majority of the crew, contracts with distribution companies and major cinema chains for scheduling, confirmation of promotional channels, hype generation across major media, traffic driving—countless things within this were all being done by Zheng Yichen and the team behind him...

Without exaggeration, the current fame of this film relies entirely on Zheng Yichen's own traffic. Once the lead actor Zheng Yichen leaves the crew, this film will most likely fall apart.

But...

Just then, the sunlight on the corridor grew brighter and more glaring.

An Xiaoshi finally raised her head, staring intently at Zhou Yang as if making a firm decision: "If you have confidence in us, give me some time, and I will solve these problems!"

Zhou Yang shook his head but said nothing, merely looking out the window at Shen Long and Chen Jianfeng standing alone at their stall.

After a long while, he said, "I have my own film, and I have my own cinema... Actually, I am very busy!"

Seeing Zhou Yang's expression, An Xiaoshi finally lowered her head.

After a long silence: "Zhou Yang... the fifteen thousand I borrowed from you, you don't need to repay it. Consider it my breach-of-contract penalty. I... we are sorry to you..."

Zhou Yang said nothing, seemingly pondering something.

In the office not far away, a brief argument erupted, seemingly Zhang Jingya arguing with Zheng Yichen about something.

But soon it fell into silence.

This sense of silence struck An Xiaoshi's heart like a hammer, smashing down hard.

The atmosphere in the corridor gradually became suffocating and oppressive.

After a long while, she saw Zhou Yang stand up, straighten his slightly disheveled suit, and say, "That fifteen thousand will count as your investment in our film. After the film is released, I will give you a share of the profits!"

"You really want to make that kind of film?" An Xiaoshi was shaken, staring at Zhou Yang in disbelief.

Zhou Yang did not respond. Instead, he silently turned around, waved to An Xiaoshi, and walked step by step out of the room.

Watching Zhou Yang's gradually departing back...

When she saw Zhou Yang disappear into that brilliant sunlight, An Xiaoshi, for some reason, felt somewhat dazed.

Perhaps...

He really can succeed?

………………………………

"We have no connection whatsoever with the film 'Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2'! Nor do we have any strategic cooperative relationship..."

"How could we possibly have any connection with such a film? Everything is slander from certain competitors..."

"We do not know any President Zhou or Director Shen... We only have two directors: Director An and Director Zhang!"

"The cast of 'Love Ferris Wheel' has not changed, and we will officially announce the detailed cast list in ten minutes..."

"Please continue to support us..."

"Yes, it is all competitors trying to sabotage us. We have never replaced anyone to act in the film..."

"..."

The "Love Ferris Wheel" crew.

Noisy voices rose and fell.

The person in charge of the crew stepped out, indignantly accusing and explaining to the media.

Shen Long, in the crowd, heard a series of grating sounds.

Perhaps...

Today was the most awkward day of his life!

Amidst waves of questioning, accusations, and mockery, he carried some items and, looking somewhat dejected, took the promotional poster for "Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2" and left the "Love Ferris Wheel" crew together with Chen Jianfeng.

Countless media along the way swarmed around them like bees, as if trying to strip their clothes off.

The sound of camera shutters, accompanied by various gazes, was like a sharp blade, stabbing hard into his chest.

At this very moment, he wished he could find a hole in the ground to dive deep into and never come out again.

A clown...

Yes!

He felt like a clown, humiliated to the extreme; his mindset collapsed completely in that moment!

Just as they were about to rush away from the film set, hide in that rental room, and never come out again, they suddenly heard a commotion rising from the crowd.

Then, he saw a familiar figure, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, walking over from not far away amidst countless gazes.

Zhou Yang blocked them as they were about to flee.

Under the sunlight...

Zhou Yang stared at him: "Director Shen, lift your head. Remember, what we are doing is not shameful!"

"Unfold the poster!"

"Set up the recruitment booth again!"

"They make movies, and we make movies too!"

"We are all doing what we must do!"

"..."

Shen Long trembled slightly and was about to say something, but he saw Zhou Yang pick up the wrinkled promotional poster and, in front of everyone, unfold it.

Once again, the words "Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2" were revealed.

Then, facing countless eyes in the distance, Zhou Yang looked at the tables, chairs, and documents beside him, set up the tables and chairs again, and then turned on the loudspeaker.

"Good news, good news! China's first Eastern fantasy, Western fantasy blockbuster is officially recruiting!"

"Good news, good news! An epic masterpiece, directed by a famous director, starring a powerhouse actor on the verge of Best Actor, China's first magical blockbuster is officially launched..."

"..."

The familiar voice echoed in Shen Long's ears.

A wave of uproar swept through the crowd!

Shen Long stared blankly at Zhou Yang's figure in suit and leather shoes, sitting on a chair, facing everyone from the "Love Ferris Wheel" film set not far away, and offered a gentle smile.

A breeze blew.

Chen Jianfeng's body shivered; he looked down at the business card in his hand, then at that movie poster.

Shen Long was first bewildered, but then, looking at Zhou Yang, looking at the poster, looking at the media watching the spectacle...

He finally lifted his head too.

All these years, he had been shrinking back, fearing all kinds of strange looks, hiding himself in a corner like a hopelessly worthless maggot...

All these years, he had kept his head down; even the simple sentence "I am a director," he dared not say, hiding in a corner. Must I live like this for the rest of my life?

All these years, dreams seemed to drift further and further away, while his unwillingness grew stronger and stronger, like a coward afraid of all the pointing fingers...

All these years, I...

Past scenes flashed through his mind one by one!

He saw Chen Jianfeng beside him suddenly take a business card and walk toward the media watching the spectacle.

Although his face was red, although his speech stumbled, he kept his head up and introduced himself.

"Hello, I am an actor, Chen Jianfeng. This is our movie!"

"..."

"Hello!"

"..."

Vaguely, he could hear a series of voices!

Yes!

They make movies!

We make movies too!

What wrong have we done?

What is there to be ashamed of?

Try it!

Try it!

For your own future, try it!

No longer...

Retreat!

After hesitating for a long time!

He clenched his fist, took the already printed business cards, forced a smile, and, facing those surprised expressions, walked over quickly!

"Hello, I am Shen Long, the director of 'Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2'. We are recruiting actors! We need action actors too!"

"Hello, if you are interested, come over to our side for an audition..."

"Hello..."

"Hello, I am the director of 'Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2'. We are not scammers; we are doing what we must do. If you are interested in our movie, come take a look..."

"Hello, I am Shen Long, a director. This is our script..."

"Hello, our film crew is missing some positions. If you are interested, come take a look?"

"..."