Entertainment from Divorce

a few days later.

The capital city was swept by an unprecedented heat wave.

The weather forecast indicates that the high temperature that day will exceed 39 degrees Celsius, making going out for fun a real ordeal.

Tan Yue's family naturally gave up the idea of ​​going out and chose to enjoy a rare moment of leisure at home.

In the living room, the air conditioner was blowing out a cool breeze, dispelling the heat in the air.

Tan Xin, dressed in a pink dress, sat cross-legged on the sofa, holding a plush bear in her arms, and was vividly telling Tan Yue about her travel experiences over the past few days.

The little girl's eyes sparkled, her face was full of excitement, and she gestured wildly, as if she had returned to the red walls of the Forbidden City and the long corridors of the Summer Palace.

"Uncle, you have no idea how big and magnificent the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City is!" Tan Xin exclaimed, her mouth agape in amazement.

"The tour guide said that this was where the emperor used to hold court. There are many small mythical beasts on the roof, each with a different meaning. I tried to count them for a long time, but I still couldn't figure out how many there were!"

Tan Yue sat beside her, holding a glass of warm water, listening to her story with a smile, nodding occasionally in response: "Really? Then Uncle will take you there again next time, and we can count them slowly, and listen to the tour guide tell more stories about mythical beasts."

"Great! Great!" Tan Xin immediately clapped her hands and cheered, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Mom said that when I grow up, she will take me to visit West Lake, saying that West Lake is even more beautiful than Kunming Lake. But I think that when I earn money, I want to travel all over the world, go to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower, go to Egypt to see the pyramids, and go to Antarctica to see penguins!"

The little girl's words were full of hope for the future, and her innocent voice echoed in the living room, making everyone present laugh.

An Nuan sat on a single sofa not far away, watching Tan Xin's excited expression, her eyes full of gentle smiles.

She was holding a parenting magazine and chatting quietly with Chen Ziyu, who was sitting next to her. The conversation revolved around precautions during pregnancy.

"Ziyu, you must pay attention to folic acid supplementation in the early stages of pregnancy, and eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, such as spinach, broccoli, and apples."
Chen Ziyu listened attentively, nodding occasionally, and took notes of the important points in a small notebook.

On the other side, Li Yulan, Tan Zhaohe, and Chen's mother sat around the dining table, chatting casually about everyday matters around a fruit platter.

The fruit platter was filled with sliced ​​watermelon, grapes, and peaches, all of which are fruits that can help cool you down and relieve summer heat.

Li Yulan picked up a slice of watermelon, took a bite, and the sweet juice spread in her mouth, refreshing and cooling.

"Mother-in-law, is your catering company not busy lately?" Li Yulan asked while eating watermelon.

"I'm not busy anymore. I've left everything to the staff. Now I'm just focused on taking good care of Ziyu so she can give birth to her baby smoothly," Chen's mother said with a smile, her eyes full of anticipation.

"By the way, Lao Chen is coming to Beijing in a few days. He'll settle things at the company in Hangzhou and then come over. We can have a few drinks with Lao Tan then. You two haven't seen each other in a long time."

Upon hearing this, Tan Zhaohe smiled and said, "Great! I was just thinking of having a good chat with Lao Chen. The last time we met was during last year's Spring Festival; it's been almost a year. Let's cook some dishes together, have a few drinks, and catch up."

"That's wonderful! Old Chen loves the old wine you brought. He even told me last time that he wanted to taste it again," Chen's mother said with a smile, handing Li Yulan a piece of grape.

“Ziyu is pregnant now, and it’s lively with many people at home. If we take care of her together, it will put Tan Yue and Ziyu at ease.”

Li Yulan nodded, deeply agreeing, and said, "Yes, there's strength in numbers."

The group chatted amongst themselves, filling the living room with a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled shadows on the floor. The gentle breeze from the air conditioner brought a refreshing coolness, making it feel exceptionally pleasant.

Just then, Tan Yue's phone, which was on the coffee table, suddenly rang, breaking the silence in the living room.

The name "Lin Qingye" appeared on the screen. Tan Yue's heart skipped a beat. He picked up his phone and went to the balcony to answer the call.

"Director Lin, what's wrong? Is there some problem with the editing?" Tan Yue asked with concern.

Since Lin Qingye started editing the film, I have been reporting my progress to him every day. Today is the weekend, and he suddenly called, so he must have encountered a tricky problem.

"Mr. Tan, I'm sorry to bother you on the weekend." Lin Qingye's slightly anxious voice came from the other end of the phone. "I have indeed encountered a problem and would like to ask you to come to the company and give me some advice."

"Don't rush, tell me slowly, what's the problem?" Tan Yue reassured him.

"Here's the thing, there's a key scene in the movie. I shot two different versions during filming. Now that we've edited it to this point, I've been struggling with which one to choose. I think both versions are pretty good."

Lin Qingye's voice was full of conflict.

"This clip is very important to the overall rhythm and emotional expression of the film. I'm afraid that if I choose the wrong one, it will affect the effect of the film, so I would like to ask you to take a look and give me some advice."

Upon hearing this, Tan Yue pondered for a moment.

He knew that Lin Qingye was very invested in this film and strived for perfection in every detail. Now that he was faced with this choice, he must be in a difficult position.

Although it's the weekend and he wants to spend more time with his family at home, editing is a crucial part of film production, and Lin Qingye certainly won't be able to relax until this problem is solved.

“Okay, I’ll go to the company now,” Tan Yue said decisively. “Wait for me in the editing room, I’ll be there in half an hour.”

"Thank you, Mr. Tan! You've gone to so much trouble!" Lin Qingye's voice was full of gratitude.

After hanging up the phone, Tan Yue returned to the living room with an apologetic look on his face: "I've run into some problems with the editing, and I need to go to the company."

"It's so hot, why do you still have to go to the company?" Li Yulan said with some concern. "Can't you wait until Monday to deal with it?"

"No, this is a critical issue. Director Lin has been struggling with it for a long time. I'll go and give him some advice so we can resolve it as soon as possible and allow him to continue editing with peace of mind."

Tan Yue explained, reaching out to pat Chen Ziyu's head: "Rest well at home, don't overwork yourself, call me if anything happens."

“Okay, go ahead. Be careful on the road and drive slowly,” Chen Ziyu said gently, her eyes full of understanding and support. “Don’t rush, just come back after you’ve finished taking care of things.”

"Okay." Tan Yue nodded, picked up his coat from the sofa, and turned to leave the house.

Stepping out of the residential area, a wave of heat hit me, as if I had instantly entered a giant steamer.

The sun was blinding, the air was scorching, and the trees along the roadside looked listless, their leaves drooping limply.

Tan Yue opened the car door and got in, immediately turning on the air conditioning. The cool breeze instantly dissipated the heat from his body.

The car drove smoothly along the city streets. There were few pedestrians, and most of them were in a hurry, eager to find a shady spot. As Tan Yue drove, he pondered the problem Lin Qingye was facing.

He knew that the key scene Lin Qingye filmed was the main scene in the movie where the protagonist reconciles with his father. Lin Qingye had been thinking about it repeatedly during filming, but he didn't expect that he would end up filming two versions, and now he was in a dilemma.

Half an hour later, Tan Yue arrived at the Brilliant Entertainment Building.

The parking lot was empty, with only a few cars.

He took the elevator directly to the floor where the editing room was located.

The corridor was quiet; most employees were off for the weekend, and only the lights in the editing room were still on.

Tan Yue pushed open the door to the editing room and saw Lin Qingye sitting in front of the computer, his brows furrowed, staring at the screen, holding a mouse and occasionally dragging the progress bar to watch two different versions repeatedly.

Hong Yuanda was also nearby, holding a cup of coffee, looking somewhat tired, clearly having struggled with Lin Qingye for a long time as well.

"President Tan, you've arrived!" Upon seeing Tan Yue walk in, Lin Qingye immediately stood up, a look of relief on his face.

"So, what's the specific situation?" Tan Yue walked to the computer and gestured for Lin Qingye to play two versions of the clip.

"Mr. Tan, please watch the first version first." Lin Qingye nodded, clicked the mouse, and played the first clip.

On the screen, the protagonist stands in the courtyard of an old house, the setting sun casting golden rays upon him.
After the clip finished playing, Lin Qingye looked at Tan Yue with anticipation in his eyes: "President Tan, this version mainly relies on silence and details to convey emotions. There aren't many lines, which I think makes it more subtle and charming."

Tan Yue didn't speak, but gestured for him to play the second version.

The second version is also set in the courtyard of an old house, but the lighting is brighter, and the protagonist's emotions are more outward.
"This version has more direct and impactful emotions, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in the emotions more quickly," Lin Qingye explained, his tone full of struggle.

"I think the first version is more profound, and the second version is more moving. Both versions have their own advantages, and I really don't know which one to choose."

Tan Yue leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and repeatedly replayed the two versions of the scene in his mind.

It must be said that Lin Qingye's filming skills are indeed outstanding; both versions are brilliantly shot and each has its own unique characteristics.

The first version is subtle and understated, conveying emotions through details and silence, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

The second version is direct and unrestrained, with a strong emotional outburst that can quickly grab the audience's attention.

A few minutes later, Tan Yue opened his eyes, looked at Lin Qingye, and expressed his opinion: "Director Lin, both versions are indeed very good, each with its own merits."

"From the perspective of the overall pacing of the film, the first version is more in line with the tone of the film."

"This film focuses on warmth and healing, with a relatively slow pace. The first version's subtlety and restraint better reflects the deep, unspoken love between father and son, and also gives the audience more room for reflection."

He paused, then continued, "While the second version is emotionally impactful, it feels a bit abrupt and doesn't quite match the overall rhythm of the film. Moreover, sometimes the most moving emotions aren't the dramatic outbursts, but rather the silent understanding and reconciliation."

"In the first version, a father's glance or a gesture, or the protagonist's soft apology, were more powerful than a thousand words."

Lin Qingye listened attentively, his brows gradually relaxing as he fell into deep thought.

He kept replaying Tan Yue's words in his mind, and then dragged the progress bar to watch the two versions of the clip again.

Tan Yue didn't disturb him. Instead, she walked to the side, picked up a glass of warm water that Hong Yuanda handed her, and took a sip.

Hong Yuanda whispered to Tan Yue, "President Tan, actually I also think the first version is better, it has more flavor. Director Lin has been struggling with this for the past few days, watching it dozens of times, but he still can't make up his mind. Now that you've said this, he should be able to understand."

Tan Yue smiled but didn't say anything.

He knew that Lin Qingye was a director with his own opinions, and although he had given suggestions, the final decision should still be left to Lin Qingye.

After all, he was the director of this film, and no one knew its overall style and emotional expression better than him.

About ten minutes later, Lin Qingye raised his head, his eyes no longer showing the previous hesitation, but instead showing determination: "President Tan, thank you for your suggestion. I've thought it over, I'll choose the first version."

"Oh? Why?" Tan Yue asked curiously.

"You're right. The tone of this film is warm and healing, and the first version's subtlety and restraint are more in line with the overall style of the film."

Lin Qingye explained, "Moreover, I just watched it again carefully. In the first version, the actor's eyes and micro-expressions were more on point, and the complex emotions were expressed more delicately, allowing the audience to feel the reconciliation and warmth between the father and son in silence."

"Although the second version has a strong emotional outburst, it is a bit too deliberate and loses its natural charm."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Actually, I've always preferred the first version, but the second version has a stronger emotional impact, which makes me hesitate."

"Now that I've heard your advice, I'm even more certain of my thoughts. Thank you, Mr. Tan. If it weren't for your help, I might have been struggling with this decision for a long time."

"You're welcome, it was your own decision," Tan Yue said with a smile, patting Lin Qingye on the shoulder.

"As the director of this film, you understand best the emotions and themes it wants to express, so the final decision rests with you. I'm just providing you with a reference to help you clarify your thoughts."

"Yes, I understand." Lin Qingye nodded, a relaxed smile on his face.

"Now that the problem is solved, I can continue editing with peace of mind. At the current pace, the first cut of the film will be completed in another half month, and I will invite you to come and see it then."

"Okay, no rush, take your time cutting, make sure the quality is good," Tan Yue said. "It's getting late, don't stay up too late, get some rest. I'm going back now, call me anytime if you have any questions."

"Okay, Mr. Tan, take care!" Lin Qingye saw Tan Yue to the door and watched his figure disappear into the corridor before turning back to his computer and getting back to editing.

At this moment, his eyes were firm and his movements were swift; his previous struggles and anxieties had vanished.

Tan Yue walked out of the dazzling entertainment building; night had already fallen.

The city's neon lights illuminated the bustling cityscape, and the evening breeze, carrying a touch of coolness, dispelled the daytime heat.

He walked to the parking lot, opened the car door, got in, and looked at the fleeting night view outside the window, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

He was very happy with Lin Qingye's growth. Transitioning from a television drama director to a film director, Lin Qingye had put in a lot of effort and had finally found his own rhythm and style. (End of Chapter)