Chapter 24: Has the Movie Finished Shooting?

July.

Cicadas chirped continuously.

Shen Long lit a pack of “Da Qianmen” cigarettes, costing two and a half yuan, and squatted silently by the set’s entrance, like a dead dog, smoking in gloomy silence.

As he smoked, he trembled and opened the latest script for “Lin Daiyu vs. Lu Zhishen…”

He turned to the first page, staring at the crumpled words on the script…

He closed his eyes in despair.

It was called a script, but…

It was just one line: [Ancient Era, Beautiful Lin Daiyu, Lu Zhishen, Beast, Action Film].

“How the hell am I supposed to shoot this?”

The sun set, the horizon awash with thick twilight clouds; Shen Long crushed out his cigarette and suddenly let out a long, mournful sigh…

“Director Shen, what’s wrong? This script… Holy shit!”

Zhang Yunyi, carrying his camera, walked over curiously upon seeing Shen Long’s devastated expression—but when he caught sight of “Lin Daiyu vs. Lu Zhishen,” he froze in place.

“What do you think we should do?”

Shen Long handed the script to Zhang Yunyi.

Ancient era, action film, beautiful beast… Lu Zhishen, Lin Daiyu…

Zhang Yunyi stared at the list of keywords…

His mouth twitched uncontrollably; he struggled to recover for a long time, then looked at Shen Long with bitter resignation: “Director Shen, this thing… it’s too artistic.”

Shen Long quietly gathered the script, sighed, and after a long pause, as if making a final decision, looked at Zhang Yunyi: “Teacher Zhang, Director Zhou wants us to add some special effects to our ‘Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2’…”

“What? Special effects?” Zhang Yunyi’s eyes widened in shock: “We’re doing special effects? How much funding are we getting?”

Shen Long remained silent.

Seeing Shen Long’s expression, Zhang Yunyi turned pale: “Don’t tell me we’re supposed to hand-craft the effects!”

Shen Long fell silent for a long while, then looked at Zhang Yunyi: “Teacher Zhang, I remember your crew studied lighting, right? Can you use the camera, combine it with visual illusions, and use lights and props to create something for me?”

“I…” Zhang Yunyi stared, dumbfounded: “Holy shit, you think I’m some kind of genius?”

“I know you’re talented…”

“I’m not!”

“Don’t rush—we’ll figure it out. Director Zhou said if we nail this effect, he’ll give us a huge bonus!”

“How much?”

“I don’t know, but he emphasized the word ‘huge’—probably five digits…”

“Is Director Zhou even rich? I’ve been shooting for so many days, and the more I shoot, the more I feel we’re doomed.”

“No way! Absolutely not…”

Shen Long imitated Zhou Yang’s manner, patted Zhang Yunyi on the shoulder, and forced a smile.

Zhang Yunyi opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, finally nodding and turning to leave the office.

The moment Zhang Yunyi left the office…

Shen Long’s smile faded.

Then…

He looked at the script in his hand: “Lin Daiyu vs. Lu Zhishen…”

He pressed his hand to his chest, then slapped it hard!

Fuck!

I can’t breathe!

Am I going to have a stroke from reading this script?

“Fuck!”

“How the hell do you even write a script like this?!”

…

Evening.

Set of “Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2.”

The crew of about ten people seemed to be growing more insane by the day.

“Teacher Ding, that shot was awesome!”

“Teacher Ding, that move was perfect!”

“Teacher Ding, I think you’re wasting your talent doing crew work—look at your acting, it’s naturally flawless!”

“Teacher Ding, keep going! Let’s wrap up the next scene. Come on, shout with me: Ruyi Jingu Bang!”

“…”

“Teacher Ding, damn it! Look, look what acting is! If the Golden Horse Awards didn’t invite you this year, I refuse to accept it!”

“…”

Eight days ago.

Ding Rong was kicked out of the “Love Ferris Wheel” set and recommended to join “Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2.”

At first, things were normal—he organized the crew’s logistics, planned a strategy, and intended to work hard…

But then, whether he’d exerted too much force moving props or accidentally showed off a bit of muscle, Director Zhou spotted him, and before he could process what was happening, shoved a script into his hands.

Before he even understood what was going on, he was dragged to the center of the frame, slipped into a costume, and forced to start acting!

Since then, the entire set had spiraled further into madness.

Everything he did, every line he spoke, every move he made—he was praised.

He didn’t understand acting at all, didn’t even know what he was filming—he just swung the staff randomly…

And Director Zhou praised him endlessly!

When he shouted his lines a little louder, with more power, he was praised again…

While filming on the battlefield, he accidentally fell to the ground…

Before he could even figure out what happened…

Director Zhou, standing before the camera, immediately jumped up, leading the applause, enthusiastically praising his acting as naturally flawless, embodying Sun Wukong’s indomitable spirit against evil forces—and declared it a perfect take!

Ding Rong felt that if he kept shooting, he’d truly become an award-winning actor in Director Zhou’s eyes.

The problem? He had no idea what he was even acting!

Fuck!

Is this even a movie?

Evening. The sun set.

After another round of ecstatic praise from Zhou Yang, Ding Rong took off his helmet, sat heavily on the ground, and stared at his lines over and over.

At this moment, even he was starting to doubt himself—had he really been praised so much because he had talent?

Could I… actually have acting ability?

No, no!

He felt if he stayed on this set any longer, he’d go insane.

Just as he finished memorizing his lines, pondering how to perform the final scenes…

Yes—the final scenes!

Almost every single scene in this movie had been shot in one take.

How insane was it?

Ding Rong remembered he’d misread his line—and Zhou Yang still let it pass, loudly praising him for improving the dialogue, calling it a masterstroke!

Fuck!

As Ding Rong stood bewildered in the wind, he saw Zhou Yang walking toward him with a smile.

“Director Zhou…”

“Teacher Ding, I can tell you have some martial arts background!”

“A little—I trained when I was young…”

“Good, good. After today’s shoot, I thought long and hard—I think you’re perfect for action films!”

“Huh?”

“Our new movie script is already being written. You’ll play the lead!”

“What? Lead? Me?” Ding Rong pointed at himself, utterly stunned.

“Yes!”

“But I…”

“I trust your acting. I trust your talent even more. I won’t feel safe unless you’re in the new film…”

“…“ Ding Rong stared blankly as Zhou Yang spoke, then looked at the script he was handed.

Ding Rong sucked in a sharp breath!

He saw the title: “Lin Daiyu vs. Lu Zhishen.”

When he looked up again, Zhou Yang was staring at his head: “Should we shave your hair?”

“???”

………………………………

Time passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it was July 8th.

The filming of "Love Ferris Wheel" was in full swing.

An Xiaoshi spent a day on set, her mood gradually growing heavy.

Her daily routine was simple...

Wake up, wash up, sit in front of the camera, watch the crew’s professional staff finish shooting, then quietly return to the hotel to sleep.

She would occasionally attend script discussion meetings, but mostly the professional screenwriters handled everything; she and the others just listened, occasionally offering suggestions—most of which were ignored.

She felt like a complete outsider.

In the afternoon, a heavy rainstorm temporarily halted filming for "Love Ferris Wheel."

On the way back to the hotel, she received a phone call.

“Director An...”

“Zhou Yang? What is it?”

“Our movie’s wrapped!”

“??”

On the other end of the line.

Zhou Yang’s voice struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving An Xiaoshi stunned.

She stared incredulously at her phone.

For a moment, she thought she’d misheard!

Wait...

Did I hear that right?

What did he say?

Did he say the movie was wrapped?

In ten days, the film was finished?

“...”

“Hello!”

“...”

“Hello?”

“So fast... already wrapped? Con-gratulations...” An Xiaoshi was completely dazed.

“Yeah, by the way, we’re already preparing our next movie, Director An—do you know any high-quality female actors?”

“What do you mean by ‘high-quality’?”

“I mean... sweet-looking, soft and cuddly—the best would be, let’s be blunt, big!”

“What on earth is your new movie about?!”

“‘Lin Daiyu vs. Lu Zhishen’!”

“???”

A light breeze blew.

Upon hearing that title, An Xiaoshi’s eyes widened, then she grew excited.

“Zhou Yang, what movie are you even trying to make!!!!!!”