Chapter 484: The Desperate Sector

"If I go, it will take more than a month if it's slow, and 20-plus days if it's fast. I can only rely on you for the publicity of our movie."

"Rest assured, I know."

"Sigh, no matter what, I will be back before May 1st."

After saying this, a trace of self-deprecating bitter smile appeared on the flat-headed old man's face full of gullies.

There were less than two months left before his own movie was released on May 1st. At this time, as a director, he should be in the publicity period, busy with all kinds of announcements and schedules, but he had to travel to a distant place to work for others.

Where is the reason for this?

The other old man opposite him looked normal and said: "Go, go. Everything is with me."

The flat-headed old man sighed again, saying: "Good."

The scene changed.

From the office in the company's office building to a spacious and bright bedroom in a villa.

Things were almost packed, two full boxes, and the driver had already been contacted, and he would come to pick him up in half an hour. The old man started packing some personal items for the last time, preparing to go out.

A young and beautiful woman leaned against the door frame and said aggrievedly: "Why are you leaving again? It was hard to wait for you to finish your work, and seeing that you could stay at home and rest for two months, you are going to Hong Kong again?"

The old man sighed: "Sigh, isn't there no other way?"

"He invited you, does that mean you must go? I know you have a good relationship, but there are so many children at home. You are not here, and they are all looking for their father. You... can you bear it?"

Looking at the woman with pear blossoms in the rain and an aggrieved appearance, the old man felt heartbroken, immediately put down the things in his hand, walked over, hugged the woman's shoulder lightly, and said: "Ting'er, of course I can't bear it. But..."

"But what?" The beautiful young woman raised her head and looked at the old man with resentful eyes, "But what~ you say~"

"But, I have to go." After saying this, the old man sighed long, his face full of sorrow.

"Husband, is it about the premiere? But, didn't he promise to come over when the time comes? He only needs to come once, and you have to spend one or two months to help him? Husband, this is too unfair."

The old man shook his head and said: "It's not that simple, you don't understand. Ting'er, I'm not

The woman shook her head and whispered, "It's not hard, it's just... I can't bear to part with you."

The old man kissed the woman on the cheek, his hand beginning to move, "I can't bear to part with Li either..."

The woman was left breathless by his touch, "Honey, the car... the car is almost here."

The old man panted, "It's fine, tell him to wait at the door when it arrives."

Ten minutes later, the old man finished washing up and, feeling refreshed, left the house accompanied by the woman.

The car hadn't arrived yet; it was March in Beijing, and still quite cold. The old man looked at the child the woman was holding by the hand, and once again, his heart felt like it was being cut by a knife.

"Jiaojiao, Daddy has to go now. Will you miss Daddy?"

"I will."

"Aww, what a good girl. Daddy will bring you a gift when he comes back... Alright, the car is here. Ting'er, the car is here, you two should head back quickly. Don't catch a cold."

"Alright, honey, take care."

"Mm."

Just like that, the old man left.

He left behind his beloved films, his young wife, and his young child.

In this instant, he felt as if he had returned to a certain time in his memories, a time when he had also carried his luggage like this to work for others. For Zhang Junzhao, for Chen Kaige. Thirty years had passed in a flash. He hadn't expected to face a day like this again.

"Director Zhang."

"Good day, Director Zhang."

"Director Zhang."

Arriving in Hong Kong and walking into this small studio, he met quite a few staff members who greeted him very warmly. The old man responded to each one with practiced ease, following Du Qifeng, who had picked him up at the airport, toward the lounge.

Before they even reached it, the door opened, and a chubby man wearing glasses walked out. He looked over, immediately showing a look of shock, and exclaimed, "Zhang Yi... Director Zhang!"

The old man revealed a smile and said, "Director Xiao Peng, nice to meet you. Hello, hello. I am Zhang Yimou."

At this very moment, no one could tell that once upon a time, he had also been nothing but a weak and old man.

At this moment, he possessed his own name, and that was—

The generation's national master, Zhang Yimou!

……

The director's lounge on set was not large, and it was instantly packed by the newcomers.

Actually, there weren't many; besides Du Qifeng, Peng Haoxiang, and two assistant directors, there were only seven or eight people from the team that had traveled all the way from Beijing with Zhang Yimou. Considering the status of the national master, this was definitely traveling light.

It was just that the room was too small and couldn't accommodate everyone. In the end, the guest who had traveled from afar was considerate of the host's cramped space, letting the others go outside to rest and stand by, leaving only three people in the lounge.

After asking where the male lead was and learning that he was likely still in makeup, Zhang Yimou didn't say much more and began to discuss business.

Honestly, if someone else had come, Peng Haoxiang would definitely have put on airs.

After all, Peng Pang wasn't exactly a nobody; he was a former guest of honor at Huayi and now a subordinate of the Huanxin Gate. Even in front of acquaintances like You Naihai and Wei Jiahui who knew his roots, he stubbornly pretended everything was fine, absolutely refusing to show weakness or lose face in front of his peers.

However, facing the man before him, he truly stopped pretending.

What was there left to pretend?

Director Zhang, Director Zhang—there might be eighty or a hundred directors in all of China called Director Zhang, but the one who walked with the stride of a dragon and the step of a tiger, who spoke with such wit and charm that even Du Qifeng looked like a little brother in front of him, was one hundred percent only this one.

The Hong Kong people have a saying: in the south, there is Wang Jiawei; in the north, there is Zhang Yimou. From an official perspective, this is definitely an overestimation of Wang Jiawei and a definite underestimation of Zhang Yimou.

The reason is simple: one number.

2008.

If we're talking about the coordination of grand scenes, looking back at the last hundred years across the globe, regardless of time or space, besides the two World Wars, what grand scene could be grander than the 2008 Olympics?

And the coordination problems he had encountered before... he felt like he had encountered problems late at night, so he went to Temple Street, thirsty and impatient, wanting to solve them. He didn't expect that Thirteen Sister, seeing he looked cute and well-behaved like her own pug, would personally arrange for him a curvaceous top-tier beauty with long legs, a veritable queen of the trade.

The moment he saw the top-tier beauty, he knew his problems could absolutely be solved by her.

If he were still pretending at this point, he would probably only be fit to spend his whole life with his right hand.

Afterwards, when he laid out the little problems he had encountered, the other party immediately showed an expression of sudden realization.

"So that's how it is. Many of them are newcomers, and with such a large number, it's really not easy to coordinate them on site."

That sounded very much like the top-tier queen saying, "So that's how it is, sir; it's been so long since you've touched a woman, having accumulated so much, it really isn't easy."

Peng Haoxiang said obediently, "Yes. Could I please ask for your help?"

"Haha, Nuozi told me to come early specifically for this. Since I'm here, I am naturally duty-bound."

*Giggle*, Thirteen Sister told me to come here, and that's exactly what I'm here to do, sir.

Peng Haoxiang swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said, "Thank you."

"Don't mention it. Now, Director Xiao Peng, could you let me see your shooting plan for today? I'll help you coordinate it in a moment?"

Now, sir, would you like me to help you wash up first? Shall I let you have a good time in a moment?

"Yes, yes, of course."

……

……

All around was a pitch-black, empty, and enclosed space.

The backdrop of blue sky, white clouds, and rice paddies pieced together an illusion. In front of the large tree ahead, a giant doll puppet standing fifteen meters tall announced the rules in a low, mechanical voice:

"First game: Three, two, one, Red Light, Green Light. During the countdown of 'One, two, three, Red Light, Green Light,' everyone is allowed to move forward; after the countdown ends, the puppet turns its head, and anyone detected moving—will be eliminated."

The camera looked down from above; four hundred and fifty-six participants dressed in uniform green tracksuits lined up in dozens of rows, staring quietly at that cold, plastic doll face. Chen Nuo and Qin Pei stood in the first row, right in the center of the frame.

Then the camera continued to move, and Li Cansen leaned in and whispered, "Hey, fool, is this Red Light, Green Light the game we used to play when we were kids?"

Chen Nuo didn't answer a word, just stared fixedly into the distance, as if in a daze. Li Cansen pushed him impatiently: "Hey, fool, can't you hear me talking to you?"

"Ah, ah." Chen Nuo came back to his senses and looked at the person in front of him, "Sorry, what did you say?"

Li Cansen said, "I said, is this Red Light, Green Light the same game we played when we were kids?"

Chen Nuo blinked his eyes and said hesitantly, "I think... it should be."

"Should be." Li Cansen mimicked his speech in a weird tone, then laughed, "You're really crazy. Hey, fool, want to make a bet?"

Chen Nuo shook his head, "No."

Li Cansen feigned anger, "I haven't even said what the bet is, and you're already refusing? Do you look down on me? Do you believe I'll beat you up?"

Chen Nuo took a step back, "Then... then what's the bet?"

Li Cansen looked down at his legs and laughed with a malicious look, "Bet on who reaches the finish line first, bet ten thousand dollars."

"……No."

"You say no, so it's no? It's settled then, fool. If you don't pay me later, I'll beat you to death!" Li Cansen shouted arrogantly.

At this time, the doll in the machine had its back to the crowd, and the mechanical voice sounded again:

"Three, two, one, Red Light, Green Light..."

Li Cansen made a face at Chen Nuo, sticking out his tongue, then pushed him and ran out first, laughing and joking.

Chen Nuo stumbled, but he stabilized himself immediately and didn't fall.

"……Cannot speak, cannot move."

As soon as the puppet finished reciting, its head whipped around 180 degrees.

Li Cansen stopped his steps abruptly, but because he had rushed too hard, his body still swayed.

"Number 347, eliminated."

The mechanical voice in the loudspeaker droned.

At this moment, the cameraman gave Chen Nuo a close-up.

The person appearing next to him this time was Ge Minghui.

This former go-to male lead for Peng Haoxiang said in a relaxed and cheerful tone, "That idiot, he got caught so fast, hahaha, he's the first one kicked out!"

Chen Nuo's expression, however, was solemn, his eyes looking straight ahead.

Afterwards.

Only a crisp "crack" sound was heard.

Li Cansen in front was hit by something, falling cleanly onto the sand.