Huayu: This director is pretty strong.

Chapter 186 The Gaze from Across the Pacific, A Blade Reforged in the Abyss

Late at night, at the new headquarters building of Yanying Culture.

The main light in the chairman's office on the 30th floor was off, and the neon lights of the city outside the floor-to-ceiling windows poured in, casting a dark glow. Su Wan took off her high heels and stepped onto the thick wool carpet to file the last tender document for the special effects factory's infrastructure. The dull thud as the folder closed brought out the weariness that had been lingering all day.

The soreness in her temples and the back of her neck rose up together. She raised her hand and rubbed it a couple of times. Only when her fingertips touched her skin did she realize that she had been working non-stop and her skin was numb.

Chen Yan pulled open the liquor cabinet door, and ice cubes crashed into the glass, the crisp sound echoing in the empty room. He poured two glasses of whiskey, the amber liquid settling into the bottom of the glass and slowly gathering its light.

Su Wan took the glass and sank into the sofa. The sharp edges she had forced into the negotiating table during the day were gradually softened by the smell of alcohol.

The suit jacket still carried Chen Yan's body heat when it fell on her shoulders. Su Wan felt a slight weight on her shoulders, and her breathing eased.

Chen Yan said: Starting tomorrow, the company's daily operations will be handed over to the professional management team recruited by headhunters. You should focus your energy on supervising the construction of the special effects factory and coordinating the "Wandering Earth" film crew. That's our main battlefield.

Yan Haishan's funds have arrived, and the exploration team for the 500-acre plot will arrive tomorrow morning. Su Wan took a sip of wine, the spiciness going down her throat and suppressing the restlessness that had been building up in her chest for days.

The opening ceremony in Hengdian practically dominated the entertainment headlines of the entire city. Su Wan turned her head and said: "Director Zhang's 'A Better Tomorrow' just started filming this morning. Li Jianguo invited hundreds of media outlets, and the press releases were everywhere. They are creating hype and want to lock in the National Day release before filming even begins, pushing us to the sidelines."

The shimmering liquid in the glass reflected a sliver of light from outside the window. Chen Yan said, "Let them build it. The audience for martial arts films is limited. The hype created by celebrities can't stop the real visual spectacle. We won't engage in verbal battles with them in the media. The steel and concrete of the factory and the rendering servers of Weta Digital are our weapons of retaliation."

A strand of long hair fell to the side of Su Wan's face. Chen Yan reached out and tucked it behind her ear. He didn't rush the movement, and Su Wan leaned against his shoulder. The wine in her glass swirled gently.

The fax machine screeched on the table, followed by a knock on the door.

When Zhang Yuan pushed the door open, he was carrying an express package with an international logistics logo. Before he could even stand still, he said, "Director Chen, this is an urgent package from Los Angeles, signed by Lin Qingqiu."

The box cutter ripped open the seal, revealing no letter inside, only a black videotape with worn-out edges.

The television in the corner was switched to play mode. The moment the videotape was inserted, the screen first showed static, then revealed an empty dance studio.

In the scene, Lin Qingqiu, wearing a black tight-fitting training uniform, with her short hair plastered to her scalp and a bare face, stands in the center of the classroom. Opposite her sits an elderly foreign man with gray hair, who is the Strasberg method acting master whom Su Wan recognizes.

The old man uttered only one word: Begin.

As the third second passed, Lin Qingqiu's back began to hunch inward, her shoulders, neck, and chest tensed up section by section, her breathing became erratic, and intermittent breaths escaped her throat. Her fingertips clenched in mid-air twice, and a soft scraping sound echoed on the wooden floor.

She suppressed the lack of oxygen and panic into her body layer by layer. She did not use exaggerated expressions or gestures to put on a brave face. Veins climbed up her neck and her forehead gleamed. She stared at the empty space in front of her until it turned white. Su Wan stood aside and even slowed her breathing.

The old man clapped his hands, and a new scenario unfolded: You found the oxygen mask, but your companion is dead.

In the few seconds after finding the oxygen mask, Lin Qingqiu's chest heaved several times before calming down. She slowly turned her head and looked at the empty space beside her. There were no tears on her face, nor did she lose her voice. There was only a calmness after clearing away all weakness. She reached out and closed the eyes of the non-existent corpse. Her movements were light, and even her knuckles were steady. Then she stood up and straightened her back again.

The videotape stops here, and the screen is left with only static.

After the snowflakes dispersed, Lin Qingqiu walked in front of the camera, her forehead covered in sweat and her face pale, but her eyes shone brightly. She said, "Director, I'm ready to board the ship."

The script was spread out on the table, with the four bold characters "The Wandering Earth" printed on the cover. Chen Yan turned to the character setting page, circled the name of the female lead Han Duoduo, and then wrote the three characters Lin Qingqiu stroke by stroke.

Chen Yan doesn't need any of those actresses who rely on popularity to boost their box office and the fan base behind them. What he needs is a knife that can withstand the heavy pressure of heavy industry and can ensure that every action command is implemented effectively.

Upon hearing just this one sentence, the casting assistant director had already decided on the female lead. Chen Yan said, "Immediately start auditions for the other roles, and send the complete cast list to my desk in three days."

The technical team across the Pacific is boarding the plane, the funds from Shanxi have been received, and China Film Group has given the green light. Outside the window, the city lights stretch into the distance, but the five major cinema chains still want to use a martial arts film to prop up the old era.

Chen Yan turned around and said to Su Wan and Zhang Yuan: Special effects are the brain, actors are the blade, and these are all in place, but we are still missing a skeleton, a skeleton that can bring the blueprints to life.

Chen Yan lifted his coat off the back of the sofa, buttoned it up, and walked toward the door, saying, "Zhang Yuan, prepare the car. We're going to Shougang to find Wang Yuanchao."