Chapter 34

Evening.

By the window in the office of [Feihe Cinema].

Director [Shen Long] glanced down at the audience below, muttering curses.

He lit a cigarette and took a bitter drag.

Fuck!

He, who had vowed to become a great director and chase his dream, had actually made this movie!

It’s an outright social scourge!

He closed his eyes, bitter.

My life is probably ruined!

No!

I…

He opened his eyes and stared at the script lying nearby: [Lin Daiyu vs. Lu Zhishen].

He looked again at [Zhou Yang], even more stifled.

At this very moment…

[Zhou Yang] was leaning against another window, holding his phone, searching for signal while on a call.

“Yes, yes, I need the big ones, absolutely big ones, preferably ones that shake…”

“I’m not into that kind of thing—I’m not that kind of guy—but everyone at [Love Ferris Wheel] knows handsome guys and beautiful girls; wouldn’t it be great if our movie had a pure college girl?”

“Yes, our new movie must be passionate—no passion, no viewers!”

“No, not that kind of passion…”

“….”

The person on the other end had apparently hung up.

[Zhou Yang] shook his head in disbelief and put down his phone.

Seeing this, [Shen Long] took a deep breath and stared at [Zhou Yang] with even more stifled anguish: “Zhou Zong, are we really going to shoot that kind of… that kind of…?”

Before he could finish two sentences, his face turned bright red and he couldn’t speak.

“Shoot it! Haven’t you noticed how excited the fans get when we release movie tickets? Don’t you want to make money?”

“But that… that’s a Level Three… I… I can’t do it…” [Shen Long] trembled slightly, his face as pale as paper.

“Wait, Shen Dao, what are you thinking? We’re making legitimate films—I never told you to shoot that kind of movie!”

“But you specifically asked for a pure female ‘college’ student…” [Shen Long] shrank back, his face flushed.

“Do you like ugly monsters as the female lead?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“Relax—we’re making legitimate films, no weird, dirty tricks. Just like you, I have dreams and pursue art!” [Zhou Yang] patted his head.

“Oh oh…” [Shen Long] nodded.

At that moment…

A knock came at the office door.

Then…

[Ding Rong], now bald, walked in with a face flushed crimson.

“Zhou Zong, I heard… we’re going to shoot that kind of… that kind of movie?” [Ding Rong] lowered his head, too shy to look at [Zhou Yang].

“Yes!”

“I heard you’re looking for a pure female ‘college’ student as the lead?”

“Yes… what’s wrong?”

“I, I… I can’t do it—I can’t get past my own psychological barrier…” [Ding Rong] coughed lightly, sat down on the nearby chair, and grew even more awkward.

This former crew member had inexplicably become the film’s lead actor, and now inexplicably been told he’d play the “drunken monk” in the new movie.

It felt like a dream.

“You shaved your head because you couldn’t get past your psychological barrier?” [Zhou Yang] stared, stunned, at his gleaming bald scalp.

“I, I… I didn’t know we were shooting that kind of… I…” [Ding Rong] turned even redder, struggling to utter a single word.

Yesterday, when he learned he’d be starring alongside a pure college girl in a high-impact film, he’d been so excited he couldn’t sleep all night.

He’d been single for so long, still a virgin—how could he possibly shoot that kind of… that kind of…?

This morning, when he woke up, he thought his hair was the cause of his insomnia, so he shaved his head clean.

“Enough—it’s not the movie you think. We’re going through official review and will be screened in legitimate theaters…”

“Then why is [Lin Daiyu vs. Lu Zhishen] premiering at midnight?”

“Can’t a legitimate film premiere at midnight?”

“I…”

“What’s that disappointed look for? You don’t seriously think I’m going to make you strip your underwear off and shoot some horny flick with a pure college girl, do you?”

“I, I, I didn’t mean—I mean…” [Ding Rong] felt so embarrassed he wanted to crawl into a hole.

“Enough! I’ve realized you guys are all filthy-minded, thinking about nothing but nonsense… Alright, Shen Dao, finished your script yet?”

“I can’t write—I, I…”

“No inspiration?” [Zhou Yang] stared at [Shen Long], who looked dazed.

[Shen Long] glared at the title of the script: [Lin Daiyu vs. Lu Zhishen], then finally nodded.

Fuck!

How could he have inspiration for a movie like this?

“I already gave you the hint—stimulating, something that excites men and makes women blush… and it’s premiering at midnight—how obvious is that?”

“Zhou Zong, are you sure you’re not asking us to shoot a Level Three film? I…”

“Oh come on, how limited is your thinking? Must it be that kind of movie? Don’t horror films premiere at midnight?”

“What? We’re shooting a horror film with this title?” [Shen Long] dropped his cigarette, his pupils contracting sharply.

He felt like he was going mad!

“Yes. As Hong Kong cinema fades, martial arts and horror films have drifted away. Shen Dao, as a talented, dream-driven director, haven’t you ever thought of saving these two genres and becoming a hero?”

[Shen Long] stared blankly, his mind a void.

What is Zhou Zong saying?

[Zhou Yang] walked to the window, watching the setting sun, adjusted his glasses slightly, and smiled: “Yes, our film must be creative, bridging past and future—anchored in the depth of the old era, yet infused with the exploratory spirit of the new generation. We’ll forge a new genre for Chinese cinema: Martial Arts Horror!”

“….”

Upon hearing this, [Shen Long] stared, dumbfounded, at the script: [Lin Daiyu vs. Lu Zhishen].

What the hell is Martial Arts Horror?

[Ding Rong] felt his ears ringing, as if an electric current surged from the script straight into him!

His scalp prickled instantly!

At that moment…

[Zhou Yang]’s phone rang.

[Zhou Yang] glanced at his phone, then at the two dazed men in the office, and smiled as if struck by an idea: “Gentlemen, this budget is generous—I’m giving you twenty thousand yuan. And this time, you have plenty of time: twenty full days to shoot. Twenty days—perfect for fine-tuning. I just remembered—the Venice International Film Festival starts in August. After we finish, we’ll premiere here in Venice. Let those foreigners see our talent!”

???

[Shen Long] stared at [Zhou Yang] like he’d seen a ghost, gasped, and pointed at himself in disbelief: “Me… us? To Venice? For the premiere of… this movie shot in twenty days?”

“Yes!”

…………………………

Night.

Deep.

The box office for [Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2] hadn’t been released yet.

In the chairman’s office of [Feihe Cinema], sat several shifty-looking young men.

Leading them was [Li Dongqiang], the pirate movie dealer.

“Gentlemen!”

“Let me introduce myself…”

“I’m [Zhou Yang], a director, screenwriter, and entertainment company boss…”

“Today, amid my busy schedule, I’ve called you here for one reason only…”

“I got a tip—the government is launching an unprecedented crackdown on pirated films!”

“Gentlemen, the situation is dire. Continuing piracy won’t last—you’ll all end up in jail!”

“From now on, we’re transforming!”

“I happen to have a batch of legitimate DVD copies!”

“….”

[Zhou Yang] looked at the shifty young men and smiled, then signaled actor [Chen Liang] to bring over a box of discs.

[Li Dongqiang] suppressed his shock and stared at the disc titles:

[Superman 2]

[Superman 2: Secret Mission]

[Superman 2: Invincible!]

Superhero Superman 2

Superman Sun Wukong 2

Superman Sun Wukong 2

Ghost Superman 2

Mechanical Knight Superman…

……

He prided himself on being well-traveled and mentally strong, yet he was still stunned into numbness by these explosive titles.

Especially when, beside a stack of discs, he spotted one titled Beast and Female Superman 2: Passionate Bed Battle—his hand trembled slightly as he held it…

Immediately after.

He stared at Zhou Yang as if seeing a ghost.