Entertainment from Divorce

In early July, Beijing was already shrouded in the sweltering heat of midsummer. The morning sun, having just pierced the glass curtain wall of the dazzling entertainment office building, warmed the top-floor offices.

Tan Yue sat behind his ebony desk, his fingertips hovering over the keyboard of his laptop, but his eyes were fixed on the document containing the script for "The Three-Body Problem" on the screen.

The cursor stopped at the end of "A Brief Biography of Ye Wenjie," and the two reference books open beside it were worn out from being turned over.

One book is "Introduction to Cosmic Sociology," and the other is "Fundamentals of Astrophysics," the pages of which are covered with markings he made with different colored pens.

Next to professional terms such as "the principle of sophon blockade" and "the trajectory of the three-body galaxy," there are also a few lines of fragmented questions.

"How can we visualize dimensional attacks while avoiding excessive abstraction?"

"Ye Wenjie's experience at the Red Coast Base needs to be supplemented with details of the historical context to enhance the sense of immersion."

He rubbed his throbbing temples, his fingertips tracing the passage about the Dark Forest Theory.

This core concept is the soul of "The Three-Body Problem," but how to make it understandable to ordinary viewers using cinematic language has become his challenge in recent days.

During a previous conversation with frontline employees, someone mentioned that they hoped science fiction would use less technical jargon and more emotional resonance.

This made him particularly concerned: he had to retain the core essence of the original work, but he also couldn't let the audience give up because they couldn't understand the setting. He needed to repeatedly strike the right balance.

Just as Tan Yue was deep in thought while staring at the screen, his phone on the table suddenly vibrated, and the name "Lin Qingye" appeared on the screen.

He quickly pressed the answer button, and the noisy background sounds typical of film sets immediately came through the receiver.

In the distance, the props crew could be heard carrying wooden crates with a clanging sound, and the clapperboard could be heard making a crisp snapping sound.

Lin Qingye's voice, slightly hoarse but unable to hide his excitement, said, "President Tan! I'd like to report on the filming progress of 'Time Ticks'. We've already completed half of it!"

"The progress is fast, is the filming going smoothly?" Tan Yue leaned back in his chair, his tone full of satisfaction, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the table.

"Successfully! We just finished filming the major scene yesterday where the old watch shop is facing demolition."

"When Zhou Ming played Master Zhao, he squatted on the ground and cried while hugging the old toolbox left by his father. He didn't have a single line. He just relied on the trembling of his shoulders and the despair in his eyes. The staff on set were all moved to tears. They got it in one take!"

Lin Qingye's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"Wang Hao is getting into character more and more. Yesterday, when we were filming the scene where he secretly helped Master Zhao repair his watch, he practiced the watch repair movements for half a month in advance. The way his fingers pinched the tiny gears was so realistic that even the old craftsmen in the props team praised him for being so convincing."

"Well done, the attention to detail is excellent." Tan Yue responded with a smile. "But there's no need to rush. If you feel that a certain shot doesn't meet your expectations, just shoot a few more takes. Quality is the most important thing. How are the actors doing? It's hot, don't let anyone get heatstroke."

"Don't worry! We avoid the midday heat and start work at five in the morning, with a three-hour break at noon. The set also provides mung bean soup and Huoxiang Zhengqi Water (a traditional Chinese medicine for heatstroke)."

"Teacher Zhou Ming even took the initiative to act alongside Wang Hao and helped him refine the details, creating a great atmosphere on set."

Lin Qingye quickly said, "There's just a small problem. We're filming a scene next week where the boy takes Master Zhao to see the city's new watch exhibition. The location coordination isn't completely finalized yet, and the props team is worried that we won't be able to keep up with the filming schedule."

"I'll have the administration department handle the venue arrangements for you, and I'll definitely give you an answer today," Tan Yue decided immediately. "If there's anything else that needs to be coordinated, feel free to call me anytime. Don't try to handle it all yourself."

"Thank you, Mr. Tan! I'm relieved to hear you say that!" Lin Qingye's voice was full of gratitude. After chatting briefly about the follow-up filming plans, he hung up the phone.

Tan Yue put down his phone and looked back at the computer screen.

His conversation with Lin Qingye just now reminded him of the details of polishing the script for "Time Ticks".

At that time, Lin Qingye ran all over the antique markets in Beijing in search of a prop for an old clock.

Now that filming is halfway through, he still maintains a reverence for detail, a dedication that makes him particularly gratified.

He took a deep breath, drew his attention back to the script of "The Three-Body Problem," and his fingertips returned to the keyboard as he began to revise Ye Wenjie's character biography.

In 1967, Ye Wenjie came into contact with the Trisolaran civilization signal at the Red Coast Base. Her father's wrongful death and the despair of reality made her doubt human civilization, and she finally pressed the launch button.

Here, a flashback scene needs to be added: young Ye Wenjie runs through the rainy night, clutching her father's physics manuscript. The manuscript is soaked by the rain, suggesting her confusion about scientific faith and humanity.

The progress of the script for "The Three-Body Problem" was much slower than he had anticipated.

Just figuring out the concept of the sophon required him to consult over a dozen astrophysics papers and ask several university professors online before he could barely grasp the scientific logic behind the two-dimensional expansion of the proton.

Furthermore, the narrative structure of the Wallfacer Project requires repeated adjustments to avoid confusion among multiple storylines.

But he wasn't in a hurry.

Good works require time to polish, especially IPs like "The Three-Body Problem" that carry complex ideas; no detail can be overlooked.

The scriptwriting process this time was different from the past, as I wanted the audience to be able to understand the TV series "The Three-Body Problem".

First and foremost, Tan Yue naturally needed to understand every single word in the script.

If you don't even understand it yourself, then you can't expect the audience to understand it.

This is precisely why Tan Yue is so concerned.

Before I knew it, the sunlight outside the window had moved to noon, and the phone on my desk showed "12:00".

Tan Yue saved the script document, got up and straightened his suit jacket, preparing to go to the company cafeteria.

The restaurant's private rooms were decorated in a simple and elegant style. The mahogany round tables were covered with off-white linen tablecloths, and fresh white roses were placed in celadon vases by the window. These were specially prepared by the administration department according to Chen Ziyu's preferences.

As soon as Tan Yue entered the private room, he saw Chen Ziyu sitting by the window, holding a report from the overseas distribution department, her brows slightly furrowed, clearly still thinking about her work.

After finishing her activities outside, Chen Ziyu arrived at the restaurant first to wait for Tan Yue.

"Don't be busy yet, eating is the most important thing." Tan Yue walked over, gently took the report from her hand and placed it on the corner of the table. "No matter how busy you are, you have to eat on time, otherwise your body won't be able to take it."

Chen Ziyu looked up and smiled, but there was a hint of weariness hidden in her eyes: "I just looked at the overseas distribution plan for 'Time Tick-Tock'. They want it to be released online in China two weeks after its domestic release, and they also require us to provide a behind-the-scenes documentary in multiple languages. We need to coordinate with the post-production department to follow up as soon as possible."

The waiter pushed the door open at the right time and brought in the dishes that had been ordered in advance.

Tan Yue's favorite braised pork has a glossy appearance and a good balance of fat and lean meat.

Chen Ziyu's favorite steamed sea bass has tender flesh and is sprinkled with bright green scallions; there is also a dish of stir-fried snow peas, which is refreshing and helps to cut through the richness.

Tan Yue picked up a piece of sea bass for Chen Ziyu and served her half a bowl of winter melon soup: "Have some soup to tide you over first, we can talk about work after dinner." Chen Ziyu took the soup bowl, took a couple of small sips, then picked up the sea bass Tan Yue had given her and slowly put it in her mouth to chew.

But after chewing a couple of times, her expression suddenly changed.

His once rosy cheeks instantly lost their luster, his brows furrowed tightly, his right hand instinctively covered his lower abdomen, and his body leaned slightly forward, as if he was suppressing something.

"What's wrong? Is the fish not to your liking?" Tan Yue immediately put down his chopsticks, reached out to touch her forehead, his tone full of concern, "Or are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

Chen Ziyu shook her head, forcing herself to swallow the food in her mouth, her voice weak: "It's nothing, it's probably because I've been attending several international conferences recently, only sleeping four or five hours a day, so I feel a little nauseous. I'll be fine after a rest, no need to make a fuss."

"How can you make a fuss over nothing?" Tan Yue frowned, her tone firm. "I'll go with you to the hospital for a check-up after dinner, so you can relax. You've been saying you're tired lately and you're often working overtime. Don't ruin your health."

"There's really no need to go to the hospital. I know my own body." Chen Ziyu waved her hand, picked up her spoon, and took another sip of soup.

But as soon as I drank it, the discomfort in my stomach surged up again.

She quickly put down her spoon, covered her mouth, and looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, I really don't have an appetite today. You can eat by yourself. I'll go back to my office and rest for a while."

Looking at her pale face, Tan Yue was filled with worry, but he knew he couldn't go against her stubbornness.

He picked up her coat and draped it over her shoulders. "I'll take you back to your office. There are some nuts and honey water on the table that I asked you to prepare yesterday. Eat something to tide you over, don't go hungry. If you feel worse, be sure to call me, okay?"

"I know, you're getting more and more long-winded," Chen Ziyu teased with a smile, but her tone was full of warmth.

She stood up, her steps a little unsteady, and Tan Yue quickly supported her arm, carefully accompanying her out of the private room.

After escorting Chen Ziyu back to her office and watching her lean back on the sofa and close her eyes to rest, Tan Yue gave Chen Ziyu's secretary a few more instructions, telling her to keep a close eye on Chen Ziyu's condition and report any unusual activity immediately before leaving with peace of mind.

When he returned to the private room in the restaurant, the food had already gotten a little cold, but he had lost his appetite. His mind was filled with Chen Ziyu's pale face and weak appearance.

He ate a few bites of food quickly and then hurriedly returned to his office.

I originally wanted to continue revising the script for "The Three-Body Problem", but I just couldn't concentrate.

He picked up his phone, found the family doctor's number in his contacts, hesitated for a moment, but still didn't dial.

Chen Ziyu doesn't like him worrying too much. If she finds out he secretly contacted a doctor, she'll definitely "criticize" him again.

Tan Yue walked to the window, looking at the bustling traffic below, her heart filled with conflict.

Chen Ziyu has always been a strong-willed person. She founded Brilliant Entertainment Company on her own. In recent years, in order to reduce the pressure on Tan Yue, she has always reported good news and never bad news. Even when she is sick, she rarely takes a break.

But this time, the discomfort made him particularly worried.

After all, they are still trying to conceive, so their physical condition cannot be taken lightly.

"When I get home tonight, I must persuade her to go to the hospital for a checkup," Tan Yue muttered to himself, sitting back down at his desk without immediately opening the script for "The Three-Body Problem."

Instead, I searched online for "reasons for nausea and fatigue during pregnancy preparation." The results included terms like "early pregnancy reaction," "overwork," and "malnutrition."

He looked at each item carefully, and his worries deepened.

It wasn't until 2 p.m. that Tan Yue managed to bring her attention back to work.

He opened the script for "The Three-Body Problem" and continued revising the character biography of "Luo Ji," but the speed at which his fingertips tapped the keyboard slowed down considerably.

I would think about Chen Ziyu's situation from time to time, and I couldn't help but take out my phone to send her a message, but I was afraid of disturbing her rest.

Around 3 p.m., Chen Ziyu's secretary sent a message: "President Tan, President Chen just woke up, drank some honey water, and said he feels much better and is looking at the meeting materials for this afternoon."

Upon seeing the message, Tan Yue felt a little relieved and replied, "Please keep a close eye on President Chen's condition. If she feels unwell in any way, please let me know immediately."

Putting down his phone, Tan Yue took a deep breath and refocused on the script.

The character profile of "Luo Ji" on the screen is gradually becoming more detailed.

Once a free-spirited sociology professor, he unexpectedly became a Wallfacer. From shirking responsibility to taking initiative, he comprehended the Dark Forest Theory in the confrontation with the Trisolaran civilization.

A key scene needs to be designed: Luo Ji is in a wooden cabin in the snow-capped mountains, looking at the starry sky and suddenly has an epiphany. The wine glass in his hand slips from his hand, implying his transformation from confusion to clarity.

The sunlight outside the window gradually slanted westward, bathing the office in a warm golden hue.

While revising the script, Tan Yue kept glancing at her phone, afraid of missing any messages from Chen Ziyu.

He knew that both the polishing of the script for "The Three-Body Problem" and the company's development were inseparable from Chen Ziyu's support.

But her health was what he valued most.

When Tan Yue finished get off work in the evening, he specially packed his things half an hour early and went to Chen Ziyu's office to pick her up.

I opened the door and saw her leaning back in her chair, staring intently at the computer screen. Her complexion was much better than at noon, which put my mind at ease.

"How are you feeling today? Are you still feeling unwell?" Tan Yue walked over, picked up her bag, and asked softly.

"I feel much better. I probably just didn't get enough rest. I took a nap this afternoon and I feel much more energetic now," Chen Ziyu said with a smile, standing up and taking his arm. "What do you want to eat tonight? I'll make you braised pork at home."

"Okay, but after we finish eating, let's go to the hospital for a check-up, just to put our minds at ease," Tan Yue said softly, her tone pleading.

Seeing the worry in his eyes, Chen Ziyu finally nodded: "Okay, I'll listen to you."

The two walked out of the office building side by side.

Tan Yue held Chen Ziyu's hand tightly, her heart filled with warmth and anticipation.

He hopes that the script for "The Three-Body Problem" can be completed soon, that "Time Ticks" can be released smoothly, and that they can have a healthy baby soon so that they can witness the company's growth together and enjoy ordinary happiness together.

Tan Yue and Chen Ziyu arrived at the underground parking lot, started the car, and left the company.

Nowadays, the sun sets relatively late, and while driving on congested roads, you can actually see the sun.

Tan Yue turned to look at Chen Ziyu, praying in his heart that Chen Ziyu was alright. (End of Chapter)