Chapter 49: Are These People Even Making a Real Movie?

Morning sunlight bathed the land.

Cicadas chirped steadily in the shade along the streets.

The sunlight glinted off the script in her hands…

This was a horror film.

Terrifying, absurd, despairing—yet suffused with a deep sense of sorrow.

Inside the recording studio…

Zhang Jiali didn’t know how she entered the state.

She only knew she had begun singing along to the melody.

But as she sang, the story of Chu Renmei echoed again and again in her mind.

The passion, the grief, the despair, and the faint bitterness within the story gradually spread through her entire body.

Then, the mournful melody, paired with haunting lyrics, seemed to coalesce into a blade, stabbing sharply into her chest…

Perhaps…

Chu Renmei in the film was her future self!

“Can I do this?”

“You can!”

After leaving the recording studio, Zhang Jiali remained trapped in that emotion, unable to break free.

After finishing the entire script, she looked at Zhou Yang with a dazed expression, asking again uncertainly.

Zhou Yang stood in the sunlight, still dressed in a suit and tie, looking exceptionally refined.

She saw Zhou Yang nod, giving her a confident glance.

“Alright, I’ll go handle my resignation today.”

“Need help?”

“No, I can do it myself!”

“…”

She shook her head, carefully packed away the script, then walked toward the [Yue Lai Hotel].

A few minutes later.

Her phone rang.

It was her hometown number.

Seeing that number, Zhang Jiali’s body trembled involuntarily.

A wave of grievance surged into her heart; her eyes instantly turned red.

But…

Finally, she clenched her teeth.

“Mom, I’ll send you money right away…”

“But I’m not going back!”

………………………………

“You really want to quit?”

“Don’t get tricked!”

“You can act in a movie? What nonsense…”

“They just want you because you’re pretty—they’re lying to you! I don’t get it, you’d rather believe these movie frauds than go to a KTV to drink with clients, really…”

“Do you know how much you can earn in one night at a KTV?”

“…”

The evening breeze brushed through Zhang Jiali’s hair.

Zhang Jiali stepped out of the [Yue Lai Hotel], dragging her luggage.

Her initial determination had gradually turned to confusion.

Yet, despite the looks of disbelief from her boss and fellow villagers, she firmly got into that minivan.

Once inside, she felt a flicker of unease—just like when she first came to Yanjing years ago, staring at those people.

The minivan slowly rolled into the [Fei He Cinema]; amid her anxiety and tension, Zhang Jiali met the entire crew.

But…

The imagined scene of celebrity crowds and media frenzy never appeared.

The imagined spacious office, bustling with professional staff, never materialized.

In fact, the entire project team consisted of only four people.

Besides the lead actors, there was only one prop master and Zhou Zong himself…

No cinematographer. No lighting technician.

They said the cinematographer and lighting technician were assigned to another film.

No assistant director—the former assistant director, Ding Rong, had become the male lead…

There wasn’t even a director…

…

Looking at the shabby office inside the [Fei He Cinema].

And the handful of leads…

Zhang Jiali instinctively hugged her luggage, watching Zhou Yang with unease.

“Zhou Zong, are we really making a movie?”

“Do you think we’re scammers?”

“I… no, no…” Zhang Jiali’s unease grew stronger.

She instinctively moved to a spot near the door and sat down carefully, replaying her journey here in her mind.

“Let’s go over the script. This film has heavy responsibilities and high artistic value…”

“…”

………………………………

The old ceiling fan in the office whirred loudly.

Ding Rong, formerly the assistant director and now the lead actor, glanced unconsciously at Zhang Jiali, whose cheeks were flushed.

If he were Lu Zhishen…

Then Lin Daiyu must be her?

Lu Zhishen and Lin Daiyu…

He remembered the film’s premiere was scheduled for midnight…

What kind of serious movie premieres at midnight?

And given Zhou Zong’s last film, [Sun Wukong vs Superman 2]…

This movie was probably…

Damn!

How much more outrageous can this get?!

A light breeze blew outside the window.

Looking at the delicate Zhang Jiali, Ding Rong found himself growing more and more intrigued; he cleared his throat, yet felt a surge of heat inside.

“Zhou Zong, I—I’m a man with principles. This film can’t be too… too extreme… At least, I can’t wear anything too revealing…” Ding Rong glanced at the title [Lin Daiyu vs Lu Zhishen], then looked at Zhou Yang.

“Fine…”

“Zhou Zong, I’m not saying I’m unwilling to sacrifice for art—but Zhang Miss is so young, I’m not sure if she…”

“Don’t worry, we already discussed it yesterday, recorded the voiceover, and she’s willing to sacrifice for art,” Zhou Yang nodded with a smile.

“You already recorded the voiceover?”

Ding Rong perked up, glancing again at Zhang Jiali, who sat by the door, head bowed, face flushed.

In that moment, images of faint, intoxicating moans from the island country involuntarily surfaced in his mind…

Accompanying those sounds, a series of thrilling artistic masterpieces played automatically in his mind.

He was thrilled!

Until…

With high anticipation and moral condemnation, he opened the script for [Lin Daiyu vs Lu Zhishen].

His expression froze slightly.

“Zhou Zong, our new movie is called [Lin Daiyu vs Lu Zhishen]?”

“Yes!”

“Where’s Lu Zhishen?”

“You shaved your head—aren’t you perfect for the role? Cinema is art, and art uses metaphor. Isn’t that right?” Zhou Yang looked utterly serious.

“Wait! Then where’s Lin Daiyu?” Ding Rong opened his mouth, suddenly looking frustrated.

“Look at Zhang Miss—doesn’t she look exactly like Lin Daiyu?” Zhou Yang pointed to Zhang Jiali, clutching her bag nervously beside him.

“Where’s the ‘battle’ in [Lin Daiyu vs Lu Zhishen]?”

“She becomes a ghost to kill you—doesn’t that count as a battle? If you think it’s not a battle, we can call it [Lin Daiyu’s Minor Battle with Lu Zhishen]. If you think the power dynamic isn’t clear, we can call it [Lu Zhishen’s Minor Battle with Lin Daiyu]… Or [Lin Daiyu’s Midnight Battle with Lu Zhishen]. Isn’t that reasonable?”

“???”

I’ll fucking rat you out…

Fuck!

Aaaaaaah!

I was even ready to sacrifice myself for art!

You…

You’re telling me you suddenly made a serious film?

“Zhou Zong, don’t tell me you’re the director of this movie yourself?” Deng Hairong swallowed hard, then widened his eyes.

“I said I’d direct this film—do you think the director could be anyone but me? Are you trying to usurp my position?”

“I… I didn’t mean it that way, I…”

“Just read the script!”

“Oh, wait, Zhou Zong, may I ask—what about the other actors?”

“I was just about to discuss this with you…”

“Me? Discuss?”

“Yes. As a former script supervisor, you must know plenty of people, right?”

“Yes…”

“Are there any actors—or even crew members—who are deeply devoted to their dreams but seem… hmm… solid, reliable?”

“There are plenty of solid, reliable ones. Which kind do you want?”

Zhou Yang fell silent for a moment, glancing at Zhang Jiali, who was sneakily peeking over, then at Deng Hairong.

“Someone like Miss Zhang—pure, untainted, with little worldly experience…”

“Easy to fool?”

Deng Hairong blurted out at once.

“What do you mean ‘easy to fool’? I said pure and untainted, with little worldly experience—not that she’s gullible. Those are two different things…” Zhou Yang stared at Deng Hairong with a serious expression.

“…”

A short distance away.

When Zhang Jiali heard that, she clutched her bundle tighter.

Looking at this shabby office…

She instinctively edged closer to the door.

Why did she feel like she’d stumbled into a scam ring?

What the hell are these people planning?!

Are these people really making a real movie?!

…

At that moment, Zhou Yang’s phone rang.

Zhou Yang looked at the caller—it was Director Shen Long.

“Zhou Zong, our movie needs a 300,000-yuan investment. I’ve calculated it—we still don’t have enough funds…”

“Send me the invoice…”

“Alright. Every single yuan must be accounted for—we’ve already cut every possible corner.”

“Good!”