Entertainment to the death, make a tokusatsu film that will crush the entire internet.

The "class reunion slap-in-the-face plot" that Su Xiaoran had rehearsed countless times in her mind did not play out in reality.

A private room in a mid-range restaurant in City A.

A group of young people in their mid-twenties sat around a large round table, their faces bearing the marks of life's trials.

But when they get together, you can still vaguely see traces of their student days in their eyes.

There was no flaunting of wealth, no comparison, and no sarcastic remarks.

The theme is a large-scale, sympathetic, and吐槽-filled event (roasting session).

"Our idiot boss is all talk and no action; the project bonuses are six months overdue!"

"Don't even mention it! My client called me at midnight to ask me to revise a PowerPoint presentation, and said things like, 'Isn't this the age for young people to stay up all night?' Pah!"

"My colleague is amazing. He's a master at shifting blame, taking all the credit and leaving all the blame. Going to work every day feels like going to a funeral."

"Sigh, my salary is never enough to cover my expenses, and the rent has gone up again..."

The private room was filled with collective complaints about "idiot bosses," "idiot clients," "idiot colleagues," and the high cost of living.

"When I was a kid, I thought that if I had 100 yuan of pocket money every day, I would be the richest person in the world."

A classmate who works in sales took a swig of beer and said with a wry smile.

"Now I work from 9 to 9, have only one day off a week, and take home 3,000 yuan. After paying rent and utilities, I still have to rely on instant noodles to survive at the end of the month."

"When I was a kid, I thought instant noodles were the most delicious food in the world, and I wanted to eat them every day."

Another female classmate, who was working on a project at GG Company, chimed in.

"Now, my three meals a day are either takeout or pre-cooked meals heated up at the convenience store downstairs from the office. I feel nauseous just looking at instant noodles."

When I was a kid, I was so envious of other people who had computers so they could play games.

The balding programmer pushed up his glasses. "I spend more than twelve hours a day in front of the computer now. I feel like throwing up just looking at the screen. When I get home, I don't even want to touch my phone..."

"Growing up is really not fun at all."

Someone made a summary that drew sighs from the crowd.

Yang Qian, as a listener, sat on the side and quietly ate the dishes on the table.

To prevent being recognized by classmates who may have seen his interviews or news, thus avoiding unnecessary trouble.

He disguised himself slightly before he arrived.

A baseball cap, a pair of slightly dull black-rimmed glasses, and a casual outfit without any logo.

He looks like an ordinary office worker who is tired from work.

"By the way, Yang Qian."

Liu Fei, the class monitor who organized the gathering, suddenly steered the conversation toward him.

"I remember you majored in animation in college, right? How's it going now? I've heard it's a pretty tough industry."

Immediately, several curious gazes were cast over.

Yang Qian swallowed the food in her mouth and nodded.

"Yeah, it's still going strong. We're working a lot of overtime; there's a ton of stuff to do every day."

That's absolutely true.

The projects, meetings, reviews, and decisions that the Land of Light has to handle every day are indeed piling up like mountains.

"Sigh, it's tough for everyone these days."

Liu Fei sighed with deep sympathy, "Especially in your animation industry, it's too complicated."

"The Land of Light's output is like a sow's, and the quality is ridiculously high. Animators are under immense pressure."

Yang Qian: Blame me, blame me...

"But the Land of Light anime is really good!"

Liu Fei then changed the subject.

"I recently tried to snag that Dark Sparkler, and I was incredibly lucky! I actually won a limited edition shikishi (art board) with [Hikaru's] autograph! I was so excited!"

"Whoosh—"

The students who were just complaining about life suddenly turned their attention to Liu Fei.

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

"Class monitor, you're 26! Almost 30! Still watching anime? Still giving away merchandise? How childish!"

A male student wearing a shirt deliberately dragged out his voice.

"Exactly, class monitor, you're a mature adult now. There's no use for these autographed shikishi (artificial paper stamps) if you keep them. Why don't you let me keep them safe for you?"

Another girl stretched out her hand with a grin.

"I'll pay! Class monitor, name your price!"

"Everyone who sees it gets a share! Class monitor, you can't keep it all to yourself!"

Liu Fei glanced at his old classmates who were plotting something, and snorted.

"You think I don't know your wolfish ambitions? You all pretend to be respectable people, but you've been watching closely behind the scenes, haven't you?"

He pointed at the shirt-wearing man who had just spoken: "You think I didn't see that pink Cardcaptor Sakura keychain in the side pocket of your backpack?"

The man in the shirt blushed, stiffening his neck, "Ugh! This...this is a must-have for any macho man! What do you know?!"

Liu Fei then pointed to another short-haired girl: "You, is that thing hanging around your neck a badge of courage?"

The short-haired girl's eyes darted around. "This...this is a lucky item I snagged during a promotion at the Land of Light...it's for good luck!"

"And you!"

Liu Fei looked at a quiet-looking boy and asked, "That guitar that Yui Hirasawa showed off on your WeChat Moments last time, besides 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,' can you play anything else?"

The quiet boy immediately wilted, lowered his head, and ate his rice. "Stop yelling at me... I'm practicing, I'm practicing..."

"you……"

"Class monitor, please be gentle! I admit it! I cried so much the night I watched the hat-throwing scene in Digimon that I was hiccuping!"

A chubby boy immediately raised his hands in surrender.

For a moment, the private room was filled with the sounds of teasing each other, laughing and joking, and reminiscing.

The adult masks that people have to wear under the pressure of work quietly slip off, revealing the real faces that still retain some of their childishness.

For a fleeting moment, it felt as if everyone had returned to their high school days, when they did practice problems together, secretly read comics together, and argued endlessly about certain anime characters.

"well……"

Someone sighed softly, "Childhood...it's truly gone forever."

Sometimes, I really envy this generation of kids.

Liu Fei took a sip of his drink and said seriously, "After the Land of Light appeared, it really produced a lot of high-quality animations."

"We didn't have so many choices back then..."

"Now, when I get home from get off work, I'm exhausted, but watching an episode of 'K-On!' or 'Ultraman' on my computer really gives me a boost."

A slightly nerdy guy whispered, "Actually, I've watched quite a lot... Ultraman, Digimon, Puella Magi Madoka Magica... I've followed them all."

Me too.

"+1"

"+ID number".

"Sign a contract with me and become a magical girl bar~"

"You copy QB! I'll summon Chief Ace right now and slice you into pieces with his guillotine, you believe me?!"

Another burst of laughter erupted in the private room.

Yang Qian looked at his old classmates who were playing around together, temporarily forgetting the pressures of life.

His lips unconsciously curled up in a smile.

It allows people to escape from the weariness of real life, enjoy a moment of purity, and immerse themselves in beautiful or sad stories.

This is one of the most important meanings of his creation of animation.

At that moment, Yang Qian remembered another target for tonight.

He looked around and asked casually.

"By the way, class monitor, I saw a student named Crane Dance Inkfish on the previous list, the one who transferred from Sakura Province."

"I don't quite recognize the name. Who is it again?"

"Oh, you mean her?"

Liu Fei pointed to a corner seat by the window in the private room.

"Look, she's the one in the wheelchair. She recently broke her leg while figure skating and will be in a wheelchair for a while."

Unlike the other students who were still eating and chatting.

He Wu had already put down her chopsticks and was focused on drawing something.

Yang Qian got up and walked over.

Standing to her side and slightly behind, my gaze was fixed on the screen of the graphics tablet.

On the screen is an unfinished comic sketch.

The art style is delicate, and the lines are smooth.

At the center of the image is a young girl wearing ice skates, leaping joyfully across the ice.

"A very good comic."

Yang Qian spoke softly, "Have you thought about submitting your work?"

"what?"

The crane-like cuttlefish was startled.

She turned her head in a bit of a panic, saw it was Yang Qian, and paused for a moment, "Yang...Qian?"

"Do you know me?"

Yang Qian raised an eyebrow slightly. Had his disguise been exposed?

"Yeah. Back in high school, you often copied my English homework."

Yang Qian: "Please don't say it..."

He remembered...

……

The class reunion ended around 9 p.m.

Everyone said goodbye to each other at the entrance of the restaurant, promising to get together again next time.

Yang Qian walked to the parking lot and opened the trunk.

He planned to put the small souvenirs given to him by his classmates inside.

Then--

"Splash splash ...

Countless popular merchandise items from the Land of Light poured out of the trunk like a flood bursting its banks!

The students, who were about to leave, stopped in their tracks and turned to look at them.

The students: "????"

Yang Qian: ...

He didn't even need to guess; it was definitely Su Xiaoran who did it.

The air froze for a few seconds.

Liu Fei was the first to come to his senses.

He stepped forward, looked around at the ground, and then looked at Yang Qian.

Liu Fei patted Yang Qian on the shoulder heavily.

"Yang Qian..."

He said earnestly, "I didn't realize you were already working so hard, and you're still doing side jobs to supplement your income. You must take care of your health! Money can't be earned forever!"

"Okay, I'll buy three Spark Lenses! Consider it helping you boost your sales!"

The other students also realized what was happening.

"Yes, yes, yes! Support my old classmate's business!"

"I'll have one too, since I didn't manage to get my WarGreymon one."

"Hey? I have a belt! This one's cool! Give me one!"

"I have Sakura's magic wand! Save one for me! To give to my niece!"

"I want Mami Tomoe's USB drive!"

"Stop grabbing! Everyone gets a share! Yang Qian, quickly open your payment QR code!"

For a moment, the students forgot their shock.

They swarmed around, enthusiastically snapping up all the merchandise scattered around.

Transfer money to Yang Qian at the official website price or slightly higher.

They euphemistically called it "supporting my old classmate's side business" and "not letting my old classmate lose money."

Yang Qian tried to explain, "No, these are actually..."

"Don't be shy! It's only right for classmates to help each other!"

"Exactly! You're selling it much cheaper than scalpers!"

"Miriam Yeung, remember to get an invoice! (Just kidding)"

His attempt to explain was met with silence.

Forget it...

He silently brought up the payment QR code.

Finally, class monitor Liu Fei and a few other boys helped put the remaining items into the trunk.

Liu Fei patted him on the shoulder again.

"Keep it up! I hope you'll be a regional distributor by the next class reunion!"

Yang Qian: "Thank you for your kind words..."

The next day, in the Land of Light, in the office.

"Xiaoran."

"This is the contact information and personal details for someone named Crane Dance Inkfish."

"Try to contact her and invite her to join the Land of Light's comics department or original content incubation group."

"Excellent compensation and maximum freedom in creative direction."

Su Xiaoran immediately replied, "Okay, Director Yang, I'll take care of it right away."

"in addition,"

Yang Qian paused, looked at Su Xiaoran, and a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.

"You've worked hard these past few days preparing for the start of work, so the company has decided to give you some benefits."

Su Xiaoran's eyes lit up: "A perk?"

"Okay, I'll give you a special allowance of 5000 yuan. Pick up any merchandise from the Land of Light you like. Take it home before you leave work today."

Su Xiaoran was initially delighted: "Thank you, Director Yang!"

But then she realized something, and her smile froze on her face. "But, Director Yang, my car is just a small car with chopped chili fish head filling; it can't hold that much..."

Yang Qian picked up her thermos, slowly took a sip of tea, and looked up at her.

"Then that's none of my business."

"Find a way yourself."

Su Xiaoran: "..."

……

Land of Light Work Group

[Ado joined the group chat]

Makoto Shinkai joins the group chat