Entertainment from Divorce

In late October, the autumn chill had seeped into the very bones of Beijing.

The morning breeze swirled sycamore leaves across the dazzling glass curtain wall of the entertainment complex, casting dappled light and shadow on the floor of the CEO's office on the eighth floor.

Tan Yue sat behind a large mahogany desk, his fingertips tracing the promotional plan for "Time Ticks" on a tablet computer.

The film schedule for the New Year's Day holiday has been preliminarily determined, and the poster design has just been submitted by the art department. The main visual uses the warm yellow light of an old watch shop, which makes the slogan "Time is silent, but the ticking of time conveys deep affection" feel especially warm.

He was annotating the details of the font on the poster when there was a gentle knock on the office door, and Lu Chuan's slightly hurried but excited voice came from outside.

"Mr. Tan, this is Lu Chuan. May I come in?"

"Come in." Tan Yue put down his tablet and looked up at the doorway.

Lu Chuan was wearing a dark blue windbreaker and looked to be in good spirits. He was carrying a thick folder in his hand and walked briskly to his desk.

"President Tan, all preparations are complete!" Lu Chuan opened the folder, which contained a site acceptance report, actors' schedule, props list, and several printed photos of the filming location.

"The entire crew is on duty, and the photography, lighting, and art teams have already worked together three times."

"As for costumes and props, the work clothes at the Red Coast Base, Shi Qiang's jacket, and the wool sweater worn by the elderly Ye Wenjie were all made with historical accuracy. The prop model for the Nano Flying Blade also passed the special effects team's test."

"The actors' reading session just ended last Saturday. When Ma Guoliang and Zhang Lan were rehearsing their lines, the entire conference room was so quiet that you could hear a pen falling to the ground. They were in excellent form."

He pointed to the scene in the photo, his tone becoming increasingly agitated.

"The filming location was divided into three parts. The interior scenes of the Red Coast Base were built at the Huairou Film and Television Base, and the radar antenna was reproduced at a 1:1 scale."

Tan Yue picked up the photo and looked at it carefully.

In the Red Coast Control Room of the Huairou Base, the dark gray control console gleamed with a metallic sheen, and the hands of the old-fashioned wall clock were stopped at three in the afternoon, which perfectly matched the time when Ye Wenjie first entered the control room in the script.

In the photos of the Gobi Desert, withered yellow grasses sway in the wind, and the distant hills have sharp lines, truly capturing the desolate and solemn atmosphere of the original work.

A smile unconsciously crept onto his lips as he lightly tapped the edge of the photograph with his fingertips.

"It's very meticulous; even these small details have been considered."

"It was all done according to your previous emphasis on 'hard science fiction should emphasize realism'." Lu Chuan scratched his head, a hint of shyness on his face.

"The props team went to three flea markets to find the old instruments in the control room, and finally borrowed the same replica from the museum."

"The costume team specifically sought out a textile factory from the 1970s to make work clothes according to the fabric weaving methods of that time, and didn't even dare to change the style of the buttons."

"Thank you for your hard work." Tan Yue closed the folder, his tone full of approval. "So, can you turn on the computer on time this weekend?"

“That’s right,” Lu Chuan replied immediately, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"If the venue can be delivered on time, we can start filming on Saturday, which will coincide with the good weather in the Gobi Desert. The photographer said that the temperature may drop starting next week, which will affect the shooting of outdoor scenes."

Tan Yue pondered for a moment, then raised his hand to glance at the calendar.

It was early November, and Chen Ziyu's prenatal checkup was scheduled for Saturday. The results would be available that day, and she had nothing else to do over the weekend.

He looked up at Lu Chuan and said firmly, "Okay, it'll be on the weekend. I'll be there for the opening ceremony."

Lu Chuan suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with surprise and disbelief: "President Tan, you...you really came?"

He had only intended to report the start time of filming and did not dare to hope that Tan Yue would be able to attend.

As the company's CEO, Tan Yue has too many things to handle on a daily basis.

Moreover, Tan Yue is now managing the entire company all by himself.

"The Three-Body Problem is different for the company and for me." Tan Yue leaned back in his chair, his gaze falling on the script of The Three-Body Problem on the corner of the table, the cover of which was worn from being turned over so many times.

"This is a rare hard science fiction drama in China. I went to the opening ceremony to cheer on the team and also to add some buzz to the drama. After all, good works deserve to be anticipated by more people."

He paused, then looked at Lu Chuan: "You've been working too hard lately. Now that the preparations are all done, get some rest these next couple of days before filming starts. Don't let yourself get too exhausted when filming begins."

Lu Chuan nodded vigorously, his eyes slightly warm.

From the day he was chosen by Tan Yue to direct "The Three-Body Problem", he has been in a state of both excitement and trepidation.

I'm excited to be able to direct such a heavyweight production, but also nervous that I might mess it up due to my lack of experience.

But Tan Yue's trust, Qian Tao's help, and the team's cooperation allowed him to gradually stabilize.

Now Tan Yue is even going to personally attend the opening ceremony, and this recognition moves him more than any award.

"Thank you, Mr. Tan. I... I will definitely not let you down!" Lu Chuan's voice trembled slightly.

He clenched his fist and continued, "I will adjust my mindset in the next two days. This weekend, I will make sure the opening ceremony is a great success. I will also strictly control the quality of subsequent filming and strive to make 'The Three-Body Problem' a work that can stand the test of time."

"I believe you." Tan Yue smiled. "Go ahead and get busy. If there's anything that needs coordination, feel free to contact Chen Ye or me."

Lu Chuan thanked him again, picked up the folder, and strode out of the office, his steps lighter than when he arrived.

As he walked to the end of the corridor, he took out his phone and sent a message to Qian Tao: "President Tan will be attending the opening ceremony this weekend!"

Within seconds, Qian Tao replied with a string of exclamation marks and an excited emoji, clearly also surprised by the news.

Lu Chuan looked at his phone and couldn't help but laugh.

With General Manager Tan in charge, the morale of the entire team will definitely be boosted to another level.

Not long after Lu Chuan left, there was another knock on the office door. Chen Ye walked in carrying a freshly brewed cup of green tea and a stack of documents.

"Mr. Tan, this is the detailed budget for the start of filming of 'The Three-Body Problem' that the finance department just submitted."

Tan Yue took the document and first opened the budget details.

The venue setup for the opening ceremony, media invitations, and actors' travel expenses were all clearly listed, and the total amount was 15% less than expected, which was obviously due to cost control by the administration department.

He signed the document and handed it to Chen Ye: "The budget is fine. Have the finance department implement it accordingly."

"Okay." Chen Ye took the signed document and then took out his schedule. "By the way, Mr. Tan, your schedule was originally empty this weekend. Do you want to add the opening ceremony now? Do you need to prepare a speech in advance? Also, should we arrange someone to handle media reception?"

“Let’s add it. It will be from nine in the morning to twelve at the Red Shore Studio in the film and television base.” Tan Yue thought for a moment and added, “The speech doesn’t need to be too long. Just say a few words, mainly to thank the team and actors, and mention my expectations for ‘The Three-Body Problem’.”

"Have the public relations department send two people over to handle media relations, focusing on liaising with a few mainstream film and television media and science fiction platforms. Don't let too many entertainment gossip media come over, so as not to disrupt the start of filming."

Chen Ye quickly jotted notes in his notebook, the pen tip making a soft scratching sound as it scribbled across the paper.

"I've noted it down. Tomorrow I'll send the schedule to the public relations department and the production crew, and remind Director Lu to prepare the opening ceremony's procedures in advance, such as the order of the incense offering, unveiling, and group photo."

"Yes, thank you for your hard work." Tan Yue picked up the green tea and took a sip; the aroma of the tea dispelled some of his fatigue.

He watched Chen Ye turn and leave, feeling a mix of emotions.

In the following time, Tan Yue processed several more documents.

By the time I finished dealing with all of this, it was already 5:30 PM.

The setting sun outside the window gradually sank, turning the sky orange-red.

Tan Yue tidied up the documents on the table, picked up his coat from the back of the chair, and got up to go home.

As he reached the door, he remembered what Lu Chuan had said about actors rehearsing together, and specifically asked Chen Ye to send him video clips of the rehearsal.

You can watch it at home in the evening; it's a good way to get a feel for the actors' performances beforehand.

By the time the car entered the residential area, it was already completely dark.

As soon as Tan Yue parked the car, he saw warm yellow lights shining from the windows of his house, and the motion-sensor light at the door was also on, clearly indicating that Chen Ziyu was waiting for him.

He strode to the door, and just as he took out his key, the door opened. Chen Ziyu was wearing a beige loungewear set, her belly was already noticeably protruding, and she had a gentle smile on her face.

"You're back? Mom just put the soup on the table; it's your favorite radish and beef brisket soup."

"Yeah, I didn't work overtime today, so I got home early." Tan Yue took the slippers she offered and casually touched her belly. "Was the baby good today? Did he kick you?"

“He’s being very good. He even moved a few times this afternoon. I told Mom that he must be happy because he knew you were coming back.” Chen Ziyu took his arm and walked into the living room.

Chen's mother was carrying dishes out of the kitchen, smiling as she said, "You're back? Wash your hands and eat quickly. The soup is still warm; I specially saved a big bowl for you."

The aroma of radish and beef brisket soup filled the dining table.

Tan Yue took a sip of soup, and the warmth spread from his stomach to his whole body, relieving much of his fatigue from the past few days.

While serving food to Chen Ziyu, Chen's mother reminded her, "Don't forget your prenatal checkup tomorrow. I've already made an appointment with the hospital for nine o'clock in the morning. I'll go with you then."

“I can’t forget it, I’ve written it all down in my notes,” Chen Ziyu said with a smile, looking at Tan Yue. “By the way, are you free this weekend? If you’re free, let’s go shopping, I want to buy some clothes for the baby.”

Tan Yue put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and said with a hint of a smile, "I probably won't be able to go this weekend. Filming for 'The Three-Body Problem' is scheduled to start this weekend, and I need to attend the opening ceremony."

"Filming has started? So fast!" Chen Ziyu's eyes lit up. "That's great! You told me before that the storyboard script had been revised several times, and now we're finally starting filming."

Chen's mother put down her bowl, her face full of relief: "You put a lot of effort into writing the script for 'The Three-Body Problem,' right? It's good that filming can start smoothly. When it's finished, we can take a look."

"Well, the script has been revised three times, the actors have been selected for almost a month, and the venue has been set up for two months. It's finally all ready." Tan Yue looked at Chen Ziyu and said in a gentle tone.

"After the opening ceremony, I'll find some time to go shopping with you, or I can have my assistant buy the baby room items first, and you can choose them at home."

"No need, you should focus on your important business." Chen Ziyu shook her head and reached out to hold his hand.

“I know that ‘The Three-Body Problem’ is very important to you. Go to the opening ceremony and cheer on the team. Don’t worry, Mom and I are here at home.”

Tan Yue felt a warmth in his heart and took her hand in return.

Chen Ziyu is always like this; no matter what decision he makes, she will support him unconditionally.

He recalled Lu Chuan's excitement that afternoon, Ma Guoliang's focus during his audition, and Zhang Lan's understanding of the character, and his heart was filled with anticipation.

"Veteran actors like Ma Guoliang and Zhang Lan will be present for this filming start, along with new director Lu Chuan. The team atmosphere is excellent."

"I hope this drama can be made well, not only for the company, but also to let domestic audiences see that we can also make good hard science fiction dramas."

“It will definitely be well made,” Chen Ziyu said with a smile. “With the script you wrote, the actors you chose, and such a dedicated team, how could it not be well made? After the baby is born, we can watch ‘The Three-Body Problem’ together with him and tell him, ‘This is a TV series written by Daddy.’”

Listening from the side, Chen's mother couldn't help but laugh: "The baby definitely won't understand when he grows up, but when he knows how amazing his father is, he'll definitely be proud."

After dinner, Tan Yue sat on the sofa and opened the video of the actors reading aloud that Chen Ye had sent him on his phone.

In the video, Ma Guoliang is wearing a simple T-shirt, holding a script, and rehearsing a scene with Zhang Lan.

This is a segment where the elderly Ye Wenjie recounts the past of the Red Coast Base to Wang Miao.

Ma Guoliang's tone was filled with confusion and inquiry, while Zhang Lan's voice was calm yet contained a sense of vicissitude. Their conversation was not deliberately sentimental, but it made people hold their breath.

Chen Ziyu leaned against him, watching the video together, occasionally asking softly about the relationships between the characters.

Tan Yue patiently explained to her, for example, that Ding Yi was a physicist, Zhuang Yan was Wang Miao's pillar of support, and Shi Qiang was a seemingly rough but actually meticulous policeman.

Watching the actors' focused expressions in the video and listening to Chen Ziyu's gentle questions, Tan Yue felt completely at ease.

He knew that the filming of "The Three-Body Problem" was still a long way off, and that various problems might arise later.

For example, changes in the weather at the filming location, scheduling conflicts with the actors, and the difficulty of creating special effects exceeded expectations.

But as long as he thinks of Chen Ziyu and their unborn baby waiting for him at home, and of the hardworking people like Lu Chuan and Qian Tao in his team, he is confident that he can overcome all difficulties.

It was late at night, and Chen Ziyu was fast asleep, breathing evenly.

Tan Yue sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her sleeping face in the dim light of the bedside lamp, and gently touched her belly. The baby seemed to sense his touch and moved slightly.

He recalled the opening ceremony over the weekend, the radar antennas at the Red Coast Base, and the story behind the words "Three-Body Civilization."

He silently made a wish in his heart.

I hope "The Three-Body Problem" can be filmed smoothly, I hope this series will be loved by more people, and I hope that many years later, when people talk about domestic hard science fiction dramas, they will think of "The Three-Body Problem". (End of this chapter)