Chapter 378: The Scene Before Wrapping

"Director Han, rest assured. Before the premiere of *Tai Chi Hero* and the launch ceremony of *The Crossing*, we can absolutely wrap your scenes."

When planning to invite Han Han Sanping to play Zuo Zuo Shandiao, Lin Nan had already made these mental preparations.

Although he's about to retire, for some important film projects from before, Han Han Sanping still has to go back and hold things down—after all, they were all finalized by his own decision.

Whether it ends up being credit or a scapegoat, the successor won't touch any of it, because the "handover" is already underway.

Han Han Sanping listened, then nodded and said: "Then let's hurry and shoot. Those two films are of great significance—I have to go back."

Looking at the dead-serious "Zuo Zuo Shandiao," Lin Nan could barely hold back a laugh.

Those two films, of great significance? More likely it's that the "pit" is just deeper and bigger, isn't it?

Han Han Sanping closed his eyes to rest, while makeup artists and prosthetics specialists beside him applied his makeup and styled his look.

Watching him sitting there so composed, Lin Nan couldn't help but break a sweat for him.

Those two films will be the ones that ruin Han Han Sanping's late-career reputation. Better rely on *Taking Mount Mount Weihu by Strategy* to salvage things.

…………

That morning, Liu Yafei personally drove, taking Shu Chang and his assistant to the airport.

Everyone also agreed that once the film wrapped, they'd get together again back in the capital.

Lin Nan and the others, meanwhile, stayed at Mount Weihu Stockade and began filming the dramatic scenes before the Hundred-Chicken Banquet.

On New Year's Eve, Zuo Zuo Shandiao is to hold the Hundred-Chicken Banquet in Mount Weihu Hall.

Based on Yang Yang Zirong's intelligence, the bandit-suppression squad will take advantage of the night to strike Mount Mount Weihu from inside and out.

"The way you tied her up is way too fake."

Fan Li Bingbing, in a deep-colored printed cotton cheongsam, was bound with rope, face down on the big bed.

Both the styling and her curvaceous figure brought out the charm of a young married woman to perfection.

"Lin Dao's right. I also feel the binding's a bit loose—my arms can still move pretty freely."

Fan Li Bingbing turned her head to look toward Lin Nan.

Truly worthy of being the most visually striking of the post-80s big flowers—the moment she turned her head left many crew members stunned, but Lin Nan only has eyes for Miss Liu.

"Tie her tighter. A bunch of bandits tying someone up wouldn't be that gentle.

Even if you want to be tender with her, you'd have to ask Zuo Zuo Shandiao if he approves, and check how many lives you have left. Jiang Wu's Four Vajras is a perfect example—haha…"

Lin Nan said it as a joke, and the crowd joined in the teasing.

In the plot, the Four Vajras played by Jiang Wu is the first to die—not because a map planted by Yang Yang Zirong to frame him was found on him.

Rather, it's because intimate clothing belonging to the boss's wife was found in his arms—in Zuo Zuo Shandiao's eyes, that's an unforgivable capital offense!

In less than ten minutes, Fan Li Bingbing was re-tied, this time quite tightly. The contours of her figure beneath the cotton cheongsam became even more distinct, plump and full.

"Action!"

As Lin Nan's voice fell, Fan Li Bingbing began struggling to turn over and shift her body.

Several times she thrust her legs up, trying to knock the sewing basket off the box at the head of the bed—there were scissors inside.

After dozens of failed attempts, until she was panting heavily from exhaustion, she finally managed to tip the sewing basket down.

Her hands, bound behind her back, slowly groped around, picked up the scissors, and began carefully sawing through the rope to free herself.

All in all, it took over two hours of struggling before this scene was finally shot.

…………

At the box office, *Badges of Fury* has essentially picked up where *Switch* left off.

Whether in box-office trend or online reviews, the two films are practically identical.

After pulling in 110 million yuan over its opening three-day weekend, daily revenue plummeted from nearly 40 million to just over 10 million.

This avalanche-style drop in daily box office left the entire film industry dumbfounded.

Lin Nan figured that at this moment, Wang Wang Changtian was probably about to explode.

The cliff-like daily box-office collapse of *Badges of Fury*, combined with the tsunami of scathing online reviews, caused Enlight Media's stock price—which had just risen on *So Young*—to drop for two consecutive days.

And judging by the situation, before the film finishes its theatrical run, the downward trend in the stock price is most likely not going to stop.

"The industry's earlier total box-office forecast for this film was at least 800 million yuan."

Han Han Sanping had just removed his makeup and added cheerfully.

Back when Enlight confirmed Jet Li and Wen Zhang as "father and son," China Film had wanted to get in on it, but was politely turned down.

Now, Han Han Sanping just wants to say two words to Wang Wang Changtian: thank you.

"Forget 800 million at the box office. Director Wang should be worrying right now about whether he can break even, and about the stock price." Lin Nan said with a smile.

If a film is terrible, someone has to take the fall.

There aren't many people to take the fall for this one—the director and screenwriter go without saying, they're out in front taking the hits first.

Among the cast, after going around, one of the Four Dan actresses, Liu Liu Shishi, was pushed out.

Didn't you promote yourself as the female lead before? Then now, you have to do what a female lead is supposed to do!

But Tang Ren is impressive too—flooding out a massive batch of press releases, they muddied the waters and pulled Michelle Chen out to share the heat.

And as an Enlight Media artist, Liu Yan stayed out of it entirely. Of course, her role was also well-written and had its bright spots.

Sometimes you have to admit, Tang Ren's grasp of PR is really on point.

Just like now—on one hand, quietly handling all the negative impact on Liu Liu Shishi from *Badges of Fury*.

On the other, directly issuing press releases to announce the news of *Bu Bu Jing Qing* to the outside world.

"*Bu Bu Jing Xin* sequel, *Bu Bu Jing Qing* officially wrapped today at Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. Look forward to the urban romance drama of 'Maertai Lin Ruoxi'…"

"*Bu Bu Jing Qing* features the original cast of *Bu Bu Jing Xin*…"

A TV drama's news story forcefully crashed into the headlines, standing shoulder to shoulder with several major blockbusters—clearly some serious effort went into it.

…………

"We wandered around for a few hours, had lunch, and then saw her off to the plane. Once we wrap, we'll get together again."

Just before the afternoon shoot started, Liu Liu Yifei came back.

"I told you so—how does it take you that long to send someone off? Turns out it was a noon flight!" Lin Nan laughed and teased.

At this point, Huang Huang Xiaoming and the others were already ready.

What they were about to film next was the last dramatic scene before the small detachment's assault on Mount Mount Weihu.

"Lin Dao, the camera crews inside the house and out on the snow are all in position…"

"Then get ready."

"Action!"

In front of the camera, Shao Shao Jianbo—played by Huang Huang Xiaoming—couldn't talk Little White Dove out of it; she insisted on joining the assault on Mount Mount Weihu.

Everyone began distributing white cloaks to conceal their silhouettes, and double skis to help them cover ground.

Once the indoor scenes were done, it was time for the snow scenes.

Not every extra could ski, so close-ups could only be given to a dozen or so people.

In front of the camera, Huang Huang Xiaoming and the other small detachment members lined up shoulder to shoulder, along with young actor Su Su Yiming.

At Lin Nan's next "action," one actor after another slid down the steep slope, occasionally launching into the air. They looked like seasoned veterans charging across the snow.

Just this stretch of travel footage took another two-plus hours to shoot.

Because the group had to both keep formation and maintain a certain visual elegance, mistakes came easily.

It was a movie, after all—presence and image had to be on point.

Besides, every member of the small detachment was a regular soldier, strict in discipline; formation was the outward expression of that—otherwise, how could they ever take Mount Mount Weihu?

"Lin-shige, Hu Ge's side got back to us—tomorrow he can arrive at the set."

As the crew wrapped and prepared to head back to the hotel, Han Jianü came running over in a hurry to report.

Lin Nan was seen hastily slapping the lid onto his thermos, which made Liu Liu Yifei beside him press against his arm and laugh uncontrollably.

The sight left Han Jianü a bit baffled. "Liu Yifei, what are you laughing at?"

"Huh? N-no, nothing."

Lin Nan quickly changed the subject: "Got it, I understand."

"The Hu Bayi Factory side should be almost ready. Tomorrow, we'll shoot in the city first. Hu Ge's part is small, but it's crucial."

…………

Magic City, Tang Ren.

"Lao Hu, it's tomorrow's schedule, right?"

"Yes, his assistant has already booked a flight for tomorrow morning."

At this moment, Cai Yizhong had an idea: could he hitch a ride on the buzz of *Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy*?

After all, this film was the focus of attention in the industry.

The Si Da Chu Pin were all industry giants, and Han Han Sanping himself was playing Zuo Zuo Shandiao!

The film was still being shot, yet plenty of industry insiders were already projecting its box office—at least a billion!

Knowing Cai Yizhong's temperament, his secretary couldn't help but remind him: "President Cai, the crew's invitation to Hu Ge didn't go through our company—they went straight to him personally."

"So what?"

"Lin Dao probably doesn't want to be dragged into things." The secretary picked the most diplomatic phrasing she could.

Hearing this, Cai Yizhong's face instantly darkened.

She'd been plagued these past few days by the negative press around *The Unbeatable Detective* and the online pile-on against Liu Liu Shishi—how did every film she touched flop?!

Just now she was even thinking: could she have Liu Liu Shishi tag along with Hu Ge, and once they got back, they could put out a few press releases?

Then she'd have both the news and the buzz—and from a hot film's set, no less.

Although the *Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy* crew publicly said they didn't accept set visits, hadn't Watching Shu Chang gone too? Rumor had it she even spent a day and a half there.

Now, with the secretary's reminder, she caught on—people are not all the same.

"Here's what we'll do—go tell them…"

…………

When Lin Nan saw the media reports, he didn't even know what to say.

The news that Hu Ge would set out tomorrow, flying to Mudanjiang to cameo in *Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy*, had already spread like wildfire.

The reason traced back to Cai Yizhong, Liu Liu Shishi, and others posting on Weibo, wishing Hu Ge a smooth performance and the film a huge box office…

A few Weibo posts instantly went trending.

This was also one of the few pieces of news to leak out from *Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy* despite its no-media-visits stance—attention and discussion both skyrocketed.

"Heh, really good at squeezing into every crack—how clever!" Lin Nan muttered, too lazy to bother with it.

The next day, Han Han Sanping and the rest of the villain cast began their break.

Whenever the Hu Bayi Factory crew finished setting up the Mount Weihu Stockade, that would be the time for the final scene—the decisive battle.

"Shoot, shoot, and wrap-up's right there—only a few days left."

Huang Huang Xiaoming, Fan Li Bingbing, and a few others all sighed in admiration; the shoot had been tight, and they were confident the box office would be anything but low.

A dozen-plus vehicles were parked at the hotel entrance. Some of the gear was loaded first, then Zhang Zhang Hanyu, Huang Huang Xiaoming, Tong Tong Liya, Xie Miao, and the rest of the small detachment members filed onto the buses one after another, along with young actor Su Su Yiming.

That guy Luo Jin had run off earlier, so now he had to come back for pickup shots—he was on the same flight as Hu Ge and would head straight to the destination after landing.

Lin Nan, Liu Liu Yifei, and Han Jianü got into the same car.

"Let's go."

The convoy rolled toward the city in grand style. Guo Fan had taken people over yesterday and was already waiting there.

…………

(Chapter End)