Entertainment from Divorce

Beijing.

Brilliant Entertainment Company.

Tan Yue sat behind his ebony desk, his fingertips tracing the "Supplementary Clauses to the Newcomer Contract Details" submitted by the artist management department.

As Tan Yue put the documents into the "Approved" file box, he glanced at the European-style wall clock on the wall; the silver-plated hands were just past two in the afternoon.

With two hours to go before the 4 p.m. meeting of the overseas distribution department, and having finished dealing with the backlog of urgent work, he stood up and stretched his stiff shoulders, his joints making a slight "creaking" sound.

Tan Yue walked out of the office.

As I pressed the elevator's down button and the metal doors slowly opened, I happened to run into an administrative intern carrying a stack of A4 printing papers.

The young girl was wearing the company's uniform light gray color, her ponytail was tied tightly, and the stack of printed papers in her arms was higher than her shoulders.

The moment she saw Tan Yue, she held her breath, the papers in her arms almost slipping out of her hands. She quickly braced them with her elbow, her voice trembling with barely suppressed nervousness: "Mr. Tan, hello! I... I'll move them right away!"

"Don't rush, come in first." Tan Yue smiled and stepped aside, his gaze falling on her reddened ear tips.

He remembered this girl; during the new employee onboarding training last week, she proactively asked, "How to balance administrative services with departmental needs?" Her thinking was very clear.

"Which floor should these printer papers be sent to?"

"Send it to the logistics department. Sister Zhang said their printer paper is almost gone, and they need to rush to print tomorrow's material requisition forms this afternoon," the intern answered softly, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards Tan Yue's figure reflected on the elevator wall.

The elevator stopped on the third floor, and as soon as the doors opened, a faint rustling sound came from the logistics department.

The clicking of printers, the tearing of plastic tape while sorting packages, and the occasional hushed laughter among employees, mixed with the faint smell of ink and cardboard, exude a sense of grounded busyness.

As Tan Yue walked into the open-plan office area, Zhang Jie, the logistics supervisor who was bending over to sort through express deliveries, looked up.

She was wearing a faded blue overall, with the sleeves rolled up to her forearms. When she saw Tan Yue, she almost dropped the delivery knife in her hand. She rushed over excitedly, "Mr. Tan? What brings you down here! Is there something you need?"

"Nothing much, just came to check on everyone and chat about our daily work." Tan Yue walked to the long table and glanced at the neatly stacked express delivery boxes on it.

Most of the items were labeled with the employees' names, and there were also three cardboard boxes printed with "Props from the 'Time Tick-Tock' crew," with the words "Urgent replacement: Old watch parts" written in marker on the corner of the boxes.

"Are these to be sent to Director Lin Qingye's film set?"

"Yes! Yesterday afternoon, Director Lin's props team called specifically to say that they accidentally broke two clock gears from the Republic of China era during filming. If we waited for the regular procurement, it would take three days. So we contacted antique prop dealers in Panjiayuan overnight, and went to pick up the parts as soon as they opened this morning. They're packed now and can be shipped out this afternoon."

As she spoke, Sister Zhang took a folding chair out of the drawer, wiped the chair surface with her sleeve, and said, "Please sit down. Shall I get you a glass of cold water? There's some freshly chilled plum juice in the refrigerator."

"No need for that, just some cooled boiled water will do. I'll just sit here and chat with everyone for a bit." Tan Yue sat down in the chair, his gaze inadvertently falling on a poster of "Interstellar" on the corner of the table next to him.

"Sister Zhang also likes this movie?" Tan Yue pointed to the poster, her tone filled with curiosity.

"Absolutely! Last year, the company organized a private screening for all employees, and I specifically brought my son along. He's in the second year of junior high this year, and he still brags to his classmates every day, 'My mom's company's CEO, Mr. Tan, directed a blockbuster movie!'"

Sister Zhang smiled, her eyes crinkling with fine lines, her voice brimming with undisguised pride. She continued, "To be honest, Mr. Tan, I used to think that science fiction movies were far removed from ordinary people like us. They were all those Hollywood movies about fighting and killing, spaceships exploding, alien invasions—they were exciting to watch but didn't really resonate with me. It wasn't until I watched 'Interstellar' that I realized science fiction could be so moving."

When the topic of movies came up, Xiao Li, a young employee who was changing the toner in the printer, also came over.

He was wearing a black T-shirt with the words "Science Fiction Fan" printed on it, and he was holding a half-eaten piece of bread in his hand. His tone was as excited as a child who had just received candy: "Mr. Tan, I'm a die-hard fan of yours! I've watched 'Interstellar' three times in the theater, and I have new feelings every time I watch it!"

Looking at the expectant light in their eyes, Tan Yue felt a warm ripple in his heart.

He knew perfectly well that the success of Interstellar was like planting a seed in a blank field, not only igniting the audience's passion for science fiction, but also making many people look forward to "science fiction stories belonging to the Chinese people".

"Whether or not we can make a science fiction film depends on whether we have a suitable story," Tan Yue responded candidly, tapping the table lightly with his fingertips. "Creation cannot rely solely on the audience's expectations; it must also have a core that can truly touch people's hearts."

As they were talking, several more logistics staff members gathered around, and the conversation naturally turned to Tan Yue's next work.

Old Wang, who was in charge of water and electricity maintenance, was a seasoned movie buff in his fifties. He approached with a wrench in hand and said earnestly, "Mr. Tan, if you were to make a science fiction film, could you add more elements from China? For example, could you include our country's space station and quantum communication technologies in the movie?"

“Yes! Yes!” Xiao Zhou, a new employee born in the 95s, nodded quickly. She held her phone, the screen still showing a video of a Mars rover. “If we could make a story about Mars exploration, like astronauts encountering difficulties on Mars and overcoming them with their wisdom and teamwork, it would be really great!”

Tan Yue listened attentively to everyone's suggestions, nodding occasionally in response, his fingers tapping lightly on his knees in rhythm.

These genuine thoughts from grassroots employees are more vivid and relatable than any professional market research data.

He could clearly sense that the world's audience's desire for high-quality science fiction content far exceeded his initial expectations.

What they want is not empty special effects and flashy techniques, but "Chinese-style science fiction" with cultural core, emotional warmth, and scientific basis.

After spending nearly forty minutes in the logistics department, Tan Yue went to the other floors.

When I returned to my office on the eighth floor, the sun was already setting, and golden light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow on my desk.

Tan Yue took a blue and white porcelain cup from the tea room and brewed a cup of aged Pu'er tea. The tea leaves slowly unfurled in the hot water, and the mellow aroma of the tea gradually spread.

He sat in the wicker chair by the window, his fingertips tracing the warm rim of his cup. The conversation he had just had with his employees still echoed clearly in his ears. "Science fiction..." Tan Yue murmured to himself, his gaze fixed on the gradually brightening city streetscape outside the window.

The first thing that comes to mind is the creative process of "Interstellar"—in order to make the black hole model conform to the scientific principles of Einstein's equations, he invited five astrophysicists to form an advisory team and repeatedly reviewed and revised it seventeen times.

To capture the realistic feel of weightlessness in space, he specially rented a simulator from the International Space Station, allowing the actors to complete filming in a weightless environment.

But when it comes to more "hardcore" science fiction stories with humanistic depth, his thoughts unconsciously drift to another dimension—the Three-Body Problem, a story from the depths of Earth's memory.

Tan Yue's fingers tightened suddenly, the warmth of the cup seeping through his fingertips, instantly snapping him out of his reverie.

This may be an unprecedented opportunity.

The world-building of "The Three-Body Problem" is grand enough to satisfy the audience's expectations for "hard science fiction," while its profound questions about humanity, civilization, and morality can also resonate deeply with audiences from different social strata.

More importantly, this IP has been thoroughly validated by the market on Earth, possessing a huge audience base and mature adaptation potential.

He got up and walked quickly to the bookshelf, pulled out a blank notebook with a gold-embossed cover, and the moment the pen tip hovered over the paper, he began to clearly sort out the core plot of "The Three-Body Problem" in his mind.

From Ye Wenjie pressing the radio transmission button at the Red Coast Base, establishing the first contact with the Trisolaran civilization; to Wang Miao joining the "Science Frontier" organization, searching for the truth amidst the fear of the "Ghost Countdown"; and then to "Operation Guzheng" using nanoblades to destroy the "Judgment Day" and obtain crucial information about the Trisolaran civilization...

Every key plot point and every central character comes to life.

This story not only features a stunning science fiction setting, but also contains the ultimate questions about human civilization.

When faced with an alien civilization whose technology far surpasses our own, what choice should humanity make? Should we uphold the bottom line of humanity, or resort to any means necessary for survival? Should we choose individual freedom, or the survival of the collective?
"Adapting 'The Three-Body Problem' into a TV series might be more suitable than making a movie."

Tan Yue solemnly wrote the words "Three-Body Problem TV series adaptation project" in his notebook.

His thoughts drifted unconsciously to Lu Chuan, the new director previously recommended by the TV drama department.

The young director who was able to capture delicate cultural details such as "century-old tea caddies" and "gaiwan tea etiquette" in the Sichuan tourism promotional video "Shu Di Yan Huo" has an outstanding ability to control the emotions of the characters and the cultural connotations.

If Lu Chuan can accumulate enough experience in subsequent short film projects, especially in his ability to control complex narrative structures, he may become a suitable director for the TV series "The Three-Body Problem".

Even if he is temporarily unable to take on the role, the company still has the experienced TV drama director team left behind by Lin Qingye after his transition to film. They have created many hit dramas with realistic themes and are extremely mature in their control of character portrayal and narrative pacing. They are fully capable of undertaking such a big IP project.

More importantly, the adaptation of "The Three-Body Problem" can completely fill the gap in science fiction IP.

If the adaptation of "The Three-Body Problem" into a television series is successful, it will not only further enhance the company's competitiveness in the television drama field, but also drive the development of the entire Chinese science fiction entertainment industry worldwide, paving the way for the development of more science fiction IPs in the future.

Tan Yue's pen moved incessantly across the notebook, from outlining the story to defining the core characters.

“Perhaps we can first establish a special preparatory group,” Tan Yue added in his notebook, his handwriting strong and powerful. “The group will be led by the TV drama department and will be jointly composed of the scientific advisory team, the special effects production team, and the screenwriting team.”

"Scientific advisors were prioritized, including experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in relevant fields, to ensure that concepts such as 'sophons' and 'black holes' align with current global scientific understanding; the writing team adopted..."

As I put down my pen, the sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the city streetlights lit up one after another, like a string of pearls.

The notebook on the desk was filled with dense handwriting, and the initial framework for the TV adaptation of "The Three-Body Problem" had been clearly presented.

Tan Yue picked up the already cooled Pu'er tea, took a sip, and the mellow sweetness of the tea spread in his mouth, while his heart was filled with warm anticipation.

He picked up his phone and dialed the number of Qian Tao, the director of the TV drama department.

The call was answered after only two rings. Qian Tao's steady voice came through the receiver, accompanied by the sound of typing: "Mr. Tan, you wanted to see me? I was looking at the outline of the short film proposal submitted by Lu Chuan."

"Qian Tao, I have an important idea I'd like to discuss with you beforehand." Tan Yue's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement as he lightly tapped his fingers on the table. "The TV drama department could focus on developing science fiction themes. I have a potential major IP idea here, which I'll compile into a detailed plan. We'll convene a special meeting with relevant departments next week to discuss it in detail."

"Also, how's Lu Chuan's short film proposal coming along? I want him to submit the complete script as soon as possible. I want to focus on his ability to handle complex characters and narrative pacing, which is very important for future projects."

Qian Tao on the other end of the phone was clearly taken aback for a moment, the sound of typing on the keyboard stopped, and his tone was filled with surprise and curiosity: "Okay, President Tan! I'll contact Lu Chuan right away and ask him to speed up the process so that we can submit the complete script by tomorrow."

Qian Tao continued, "We've had some preliminary discussions about science fiction before, but we haven't found a suitable IP direction yet. If you have any specific ideas, that would be great! By the way, what kind of science fiction IP is this? Is it near-future urban science fiction, or interstellar civilization?"

"It's hard science fiction that leans towards interstellar civilization collisions. It has both rigorous scientific settings and profound humanistic reflections. It has great potential and deserves our full attention," Tan Yue responded with a smile, without revealing any further details.

"I'm really looking forward to it!" Qian Tao's tone was full of anticipation. "I will organize the existing science fiction resources in the TV drama department in advance and give you a report at next week's meeting."

After hanging up the phone, Tan Yue turned his gaze back to the words "Three-Body Problem" on the notebook, his fingertips lightly brushing across the paper.

As night fell, the lights on the other floors of the office building were turned off one after another, except for the offices on the top floor of the eighth floor, which remained lit.

Tan Yue sat at the table, turned on his computer, and began to look up astronomical and technological information about this world.

He needs to confirm the observation data of the "Three-Body System" in this world and the technical parameters of the space station to ensure that the adaptation of "The Three-Body Problem" can perfectly match the current technological background of the world and avoid logical contradictions.

The city lights outside the window were dazzling, and the neon lights shone through the glass onto Tan Yue's face, his eyes filled with determination and anticipation. (End of Chapter)