Entertainment from Divorce

In mid-July, the heat in Beijing was intense, and the afternoon sun, like molten gold, poured onto the film and television shooting bases in the suburbs.

On the set of "Time Ticks By", the set for the final scene has been completed.

The wooden counter of the old watch shop was polished to a shine, and old-fashioned clocks of all sizes hung on the wall, their hands ticking as if counting down to the end of this months-long filming project.

Lin Qingye, dressed in a faded gray director's uniform, held a walkie-talkie in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed, as he was giving instructions to the lead actors Zhou Ming and Wang Hao. Beads of sweat slid down his cheeks from his forehead, soaking his collar.

"The final scene is about Master Zhao and the adult Lin Xiaoyu reconciling."

Lin Qingye's voice, slightly hoarse but still firm, came through the walkie-talkie across the set.

“Teacher Zhou Ming, you need to portray Master Zhao’s sense of relief. After so many years of obsession, he finally let go when he saw Xiaoyu bringing his son to repair the watch.”

“Wang Hao, you need to show Xiaoyu guilt and gratitude. He was ignorant when he was young, but now that he is a father, he understands Master Zhao’s good intentions back then.”

"The eyes must be expressive, and there shouldn't be too many lines. The emotions should be conveyed through the details."

Zhou Ming nodded, raised his hand to straighten his blue cloth shirt, and ran his fingers over the patch on the cuff.

This costume was specially aged by the props team to fit Master Zhao's character of upholding traditional craftsmanship and living a simple life.

Wang Hao looked down at the old-fashioned pocket watch in his hand, a gift from Master Zhao to Lin Xiaoyu in the drama. At this moment, his fingertips gently traced the dial, and complex emotions gradually brewed in his eyes.

The clapperboard slammed down with a "snap," announcing, "Final scene, Action!"

As an adult, Lin Xiaoyu held her young son and pushed open the door of the old clock shop, the wind chimes making a crisp sound.

Master Zhao was sitting behind the counter wiping the watch parts when he looked up and saw the person who came in. He paused, his eyes flashing with surprise and doubt, before finally settling on relief.

"Master Zhao, it's been a long time." Lin Xiaoyu's voice was choked with emotion. "This is my son. He said he likes old pocket watches, so I brought him to see you."

Master Zhao put down his tools, stood up, and slowly walked to Lin Xiaoyu. His gaze fell on the child's face, then turned to Lin Xiaoyu, and a smile slowly appeared on his lips: "You've grown up and are a father now." He took the pocket watch that Lin Xiaoyu handed him, gently wound it up, and the pocket watch made a "tick-tock" sound. "This watch still works. I didn't lie to you back then. Good craftsmanship can be passed down for a lifetime."

Lin Xiaoyu's eyes reddened, and he bowed deeply: "Thank you, Master Zhao. I was ignorant back then."

"Let's not talk about the past." Master Zhao patted his shoulder and handed the pocket watch to the child. "You must teach him well in the future, and teach him to be a good person before doing anything else."

The child took the pocket watch and happily called out, "Hello, Grandpa!" Master Zhao smiled so much that wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes. Sunlight streamed through the window and fell on the three of them, creating a warm and healing scene.

"Cut! Perfect!" Lin Qingye suddenly raised the walkie-talkie, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.

The set erupted in thunderous cheers. The crew dropped their tools, hugged and high-fived each other, and some even raised water bottles in celebration.

Several young stagehands jumped up and cheered, while the prop masters wiped the sweat from their faces, their expressions full of satisfaction.

After months of working day and night, enduring wind and sun, from late spring to midsummer, all the hard work has turned into a great sense of accomplishment.

Lin Qingye stood there, looking at the cheering crowd in front of him, and suddenly felt a little dazed.

He has been working in the film and television industry for more than ten years, from script supervisor and assistant director to TV series director, and has experienced countless wrap-ups, but this time, he has a completely different feeling.

It felt like the nervousness and excitement of directing for the first time, but with an added sense of fulfillment.

This film marks his directorial debut and is the first time he has truly crafted a work according to his own ideas.

From script revisions to camera design, from actor selection to set construction, he poured his heart and soul into every aspect.

"Director Lin, happy wrap-up!" The assistant director walked over with a bottle of champagne, smiling as he handed it to Lin Qingye. "Thank you for your hard work these past three months. This movie is sure to be a huge hit!"

Lin Qingye took the champagne, popped the cork, and the foam gushed out, eliciting cheers.

He took a sip, the icy liquid flowing down his throat, but it couldn't suppress the heat in his heart.

"Thank you everyone, thank you for your hard work." He raised his bottle and shouted to everyone, "Without you, there would be no movie. Thank you all for your contributions!"

Cheers erupted again, and the set was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Lin Qingye took out his phone and dialed Tan Yue's number with trembling fingers.

He wanted to share this good news with the person who had always supported him as soon as possible.

At this moment, in the top-floor office of Brilliant Entertainment, Tan Yue was sitting in front of his computer, intently typing on the keyboard.

The script document for "The Three-Body Problem" has been opened.

His brows furrowed slightly, his fingers danced rapidly across the keyboard, occasionally pausing to revise a few words, his eyes filled with focus.

The coffee on the desk had gone cold, and next to it were several thick books on astronomy and physics, their pages covered with dense annotations.

At the current pace, the script is 90% complete and should be finished in a week at most.

My phone suddenly vibrated, and the name "Lin Qingye" appeared on the screen.

Tan Yue immediately stopped typing, answered the phone, and asked with a hint of anticipation in her voice, "Director Lin, is there any good news?"

"President Tan! Filming's wrapped! The last scene of 'Time Ticks' has just finished shooting!" Lin Qingye's voice came through the receiver, filled with barely suppressed excitement and a sob.

"We did it! Three months of hard work have finally come to a successful end!"

"That's great!" Tan Yue stood up abruptly, his face beaming with genuine joy.

"I knew you could do it! You've worked so hard these past few days, take a break and don't worry about the post-production. The company will provide you with the best editing team."

"Thank you, Mr. Tan!" Lin Qingye's voice was full of gratitude.

"However, I don't want to rest. I want to take advantage of the current feeling for the story and quickly edit the movie out. I want to personally oversee the post-production and strive to complete it as soon as possible, so as not to let down your trust and everyone's hard work."

Tan Yue paused for a moment, then smiled.

He knew Lin Qingye's personality all too well; once he got into a creative project, he would devote himself entirely to it and never give up until he achieved his goal.

"You're still working so hard," he said helplessly. "Post-production is a meticulous job, you can't rush it. If you keep being tense, you're more likely to cause problems. Listen to me, take three days off, get yourself in good shape before you start editing. Health is the most important thing."

"Mr. Tan, really, it's not necessary." Lin Qingye's tone was very stubborn.

"My mind is very clear right now, and all the editing ideas are in my head. If I rest for a few days, I might forget them. Don't worry, I will take care of my health and won't overwork myself."

Hearing Lin Qingye say that, Tan Yue didn't insist anymore.

He knew that for those who truly loved creating, it was harder to make them stop than to make them work overtime. "Okay, then be careful not to overwork yourself," Tan Yue instructed. "If you need any support for post-production, such as editing equipment or a special effects team, just let me know, and the company will fully cooperate with you."

"Thank you, Mr. Tan!" Lin Qingye's voice was full of emotion. "I'll pack up my things on set tonight and report back to the company first thing tomorrow morning to start post-production."

"Okay, I'll wait for you." Tan Yue hung up the phone, still smiling.

Lin Qingye's success is not only a personal achievement for him, but also a gain for Brilliant Entertainment.

The company has gained another excellent film director, which is crucial for the company's long-term development.

He sat back down at his computer, looking at the script for "The Three-Body Problem" on the screen, feeling a surge of motivation.

Lin Qingye's persistence reminded him of his own creative process. Whether it's making a movie or writing a script, only by dedicating oneself wholeheartedly can one create an excellent work.

His fingertips landed on the keyboard again, and he continued typing.

Time passed unnoticed, and as the sun set, golden rays streamed through the French windows, casting a warm glow on Tan Yue's desk and the script documents.

Tan Yue stretched, rubbed his slightly sore eyes, saved the document, and got up to walk to the window.

The city lights outside the window gradually come on, with traffic flowing like a river and neon lights flashing, outlining a bustling urban night scene.

He picked up his phone and sent Chen Ziyu a WeChat message: "Wife, I'll come home early tonight and make you your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs."

Soon, Chen Ziyu replied to the message: "Okay, Mom and I are waiting for you at home. By the way, Xu Nuo said today that the first episode of 'Star Idol Camp' went very smoothly and the audience response was very good."

Tan Yue smiled and replied, "I understand. Let him rest well after he's done with his work."

Putting down his phone, Tan Yue's gaze fell on the department's weekly report on his desk.

During this period, all of the company's projects have been progressing smoothly.

The first episode of "Star Imagination Camp," which Xu Nuo was in charge of, was successfully recorded. The audience's enthusiasm, as reported by Aurora Video, far exceeded expectations, and the number of bullet comments and interactions set a new record for variety shows on the platform during the same period. Subsequent recordings are proceeding as planned.

Lu Chuan's short film "Deep in the Old Alley" has started filming in the TV drama department and is progressing smoothly. Lu Chuan's control over the camera is becoming more and more mature. The sample footage submitted yesterday impressed Tan Yue. The visuals are delicate and the emotions are sincere.

The talent agency has signed several promising newcomers, including a female singer named Su Mu, who has a unique voice and has already completed the recording of her first single. She is currently preparing to shoot the music video.

Seeing these encouraging developments, Tan Yue felt gratified.

Brilliant Entertainment is like a thriving tree, with each department like a branch. Through everyone's joint efforts, it continues to flourish and steadily moves towards the goal of becoming a world-class entertainment company.

He picked up his coat, ready to go home after get off work.

As he reached the office door, he glanced back at the script for "The Three-Body Problem" on his computer screen and made a silent decision.

Once this script is completed, we must assemble the most professional team to turn it into a phenomenal science fiction TV series, filling a market gap and allowing Chinese science fiction to shine on the world stage.

On the set of "Time Ticks By", Lin Qingye is packing up equipment with the crew.

Although filming had wrapped, he didn't relax. He carefully inspected every prop and instructed the staff to keep it safe.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed him in a golden glow, and his eyes were filled with determination and anticipation.

He couldn't wait to start post-production and present this film, which embodies everyone's hard work, to the audience in its best form.

Tan Yue returned home at 8 p.m.

As soon as I entered, I smelled the aroma of food. Chen's mother was busy in the kitchen, while Chen Ziyu sat on the sofa in the living room, holding a parenting book.

Seeing Tan Yue return, she immediately stood up with a smile: "You're back? Why are you here so early today?"

"Qingye's movie has wrapped up filming, and I'm so happy, so I came back early to be with you." Tan Yue walked over, gently hugged Chen Ziyu, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Was my baby good today? Did she kick you?"

“He’s been very good. He probably knows his dad is coming back, so he’s been quiet.” Chen Ziyu said with a smile, pulling Tan Yue to sit on the sofa. “Mom made chicken soup today and also made your favorite braised pork. Go wash your hands and eat.”

Tan Yue nodded, went to the kitchen to wash his hands, and saw Chen's mother stir-frying sweet and sour pork ribs. The ribs in the pot were bright red and smelled delicious.

"Mom, thank you for your hard work."

"It's not hard work. You've been busy lately, so eat more to nourish your body," Chen's mother said with a smile.

At dinner time, the family of three sat at the table, enjoying each other's company.

Tan Yue picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs for Chen Ziyu and served Chen's mother a bowl of chicken soup. He talked about interesting things at the company, and Chen Ziyu and her mother listened with great interest.

As night deepened outside the window, the warm lights and delicious food filled Tan Yue's heart with happiness.

After dinner, Tan Yue accompanied Chen Ziyu for a walk in the living room. Chen's mother, having finished cleaning up the kitchen, also sat down beside her and chatted with her.

Chen Ziyu leaned on Tan Yue's shoulder and whispered, "When Lin Qingye's movie is released, shall we go to the premiere together? I want to see what kind of movie the excellent director you've trained has made."

“Great!” Tan Yue said with a smile. “Once the film is finished editing, I, Director Lin, will reserve the best seats for us.”

Chen's mother also said with a smile, "I want to go too. I also want to see Teacher Zhou Ming's performance. I'm a big fan of his."

The three chatted and laughed, filling the living room with a warm atmosphere.

Late at night.

Chen Tzu-yu is already asleep.

Tan Yue quietly entered the study, turned on the computer, and opened the script for "The Three-Body Problem" again.

Moonlight streamed through the window and fell on the desk, illuminating the words on the screen.

His fingertips tapped the keyboard, his eyes focused and determined.

Based on the current progress.

The script for "The Three-Body Problem" will be completed in another week.

Post-production on Lin Qingye's film is also about to begin.

The popularity of "Star Creativity Camp" continues to rise, and the company's various businesses are progressing steadily.

Tan Yue knew that the days ahead would be even busier. (End of Chapter)