Reborn in the Chinese Entertainment Industry: You're a Director, But You're a Casanova?

Hearing Edison Chen recount without any remorse the situation of the driver in the trunk not being dead when he pushed the car off the road, it was quite shocking.

Liu Xiaoli finally couldn't hold back any longer. She perfectly expressed her anger and hatred, which she suppressed and didn't reveal.

"Click, it's cleared."

After watching the monitor, Liu Yuehua clapped his hands and shouted "It's over!" The moment he did, Liu Xiaoli collapsed onto the sofa, panting heavily, and finally couldn't hold back her tears and cried.

"Alright, that's enough."

"This shot is perfect. The interior and exterior shots are almost done. We'll reshoot the rest when we get back to China."

Liu Yuehua handed two pieces of paper to Liu Xiaoli, the coldness on his face gone.

"Let's go, Sister Xiaoli."

"I'll help you back. Go back and get some sleep."

At 8 a.m., traffic restrictions were lifted at the entrance to the mountain road in Gunma Prefecture.

Three diesel trucks rumbled up the mountain. The production manager directed the workers to move the trucks while making a phone call to report the situation to Huanya headquarters.

"Boss, don't worry, I negotiated down 20% of the late fees from the rental company these past few days." The production manager was beaming, as if he had gotten a great deal.

Unexpectedly, right under his nose, Liu Yuehua secretly managed to film all the indoor psychological warfare and outdoor car accident scenes of "The Invisible Guest" using equipment obtained through trickery, actors forced into the role, and free locations.

Although many transitional shots were missing, as long as we return to China, we can simply find a similar location to reshoot them, and that will be enough.

At 6 p.m., the crew booked a local barbecue restaurant to hold a wrap party for "Initial D". Everyone raised their glasses to celebrate the end of this tiring trip to Japan.

However, the atmosphere in the two adjacent private rooms was unusually oppressive.

Edison Chen poked at the meat on his plate, his face full of frustration from working overtime these past few days. Jay Chou, sitting across from him, was completely bewildered, thinking he'd gone to a nightclub but hadn't found a suitable girl.

Tang Yan was also complaining to Liu Shishi and Liu Yifei about the dark circles under her eyes that she had developed from staying up late these past few days.

Liu Xiaoli sat quietly to the side, her eyes still filled with deep resentment as she looked at Liu Yuehua.

Only Wang Baoqiang was happily eating his barbecue without a care in the world.

The three men's attitude towards Liu Yuehua can be summed up in four words: they hate him to the bone.

In their eyes, Liu Yuehua was a heartless madman. He would stay up late at night and force them to act out nonsensical dialogues.

Liu Yuehua strolled leisurely towards the group, holding a bottle of beer.

"What's wrong? You don't like the barbecue?"

He casually picked up a piece of freshly grilled pork belly from Edison Chen's plate and stuffed it into his mouth.

"This is my treat, don't waste it."

"Director Liu, let's not beat around the bush." ​​Edison Chen slammed down his chopsticks. "These past few days of filming are just me helping you out; I won't take your pay."

"But what the hell was that filmed? I can't understand it at all."

"I still don't know what I was talking about. There wasn't even a storyboard. It was all a mess."

"If you dare to sell those shoddy products and ruin my reputation, our company's legal department will sue you."

After Wang Baoqiang wolfed down a piece of meat, he quietly echoed in agreement.

"Yes, Director Liu, even the lighting was just makeshift. How can the film even look good?"

Although Liu Xiaoli at the other table didn't say anything, her expression clearly showed her agreement.

She was so pushed to the point of almost breaking down last night.

Looking back now, that was definitely the ugliest moment of her life. How could such a scene be broadcast?

Liu Yuehua nodded to indicate that he understood, and then waved to his part-time assistant, Xiao Li.

Xiao Li brought over a video recorder.

"I know you're cursing me and my ancestors for eighteen generations in your hearts, thinking I'm taking advantage of you and using you as free labor."

Liu Yuehua stuffed it into the bag.

"Although I'm stingy, I don't like to make empty promises. I'll show you something real."

He pressed play, and the TV screen lit up, showing the hotel confrontation scene filmed in the early hours of the morning.

The tape hadn't been edited yet; there was no background music, no filters, and not even any background noise was removed.

It was presented to everyone in such a crude and simple way.

Edison Chen looked at himself on the screen.

He had never seen himself on screen with such depth in his entire life; this was exactly the version of himself he had imagined in his mind.

The man on the screen appeared dignified, with a scruffy beard and a颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it conveys a sense of decadence, listlessness, and a sense of being a sophisticated but roguish middle-aged man) look.

When faced with the relentless pressure from the "female lawyer," the hypocrisy that was ingrained in his bones, and the murderous intent that appeared in his eyes when he was driven to the brink, all seemed to tell him that this was not him, that he had been possessed.

This is completely different from the idol who usually only acts cool and handsome on screen.

"Was this really me acting?" Edison Chen asked, still somewhat skeptical.

……

The camera then switched to Liu Xiaoli.

Shedding her usual dignified lady persona, Liu Xiaoli appears on camera like a sword sheathed in its sheath.

When she heard that her son had been drowned alive, her drooping eyes and clenched teeth vividly revealed the madness and repression of a vengeful mother.

The overwhelming sense of despair and oppression, even without any post-production editing, is enough to make viewers feel suffocated.

Liu Xiaoli stared at the screen, her eyes filled with confusion.

Liu Yuehua thought she had unlocked the genetic code.

She couldn't believe that she could unleash such dramatic tension, enough to contend for a Best Actress award.

After the short clip finished playing, the private room fell silent.

Jay Chou and the others were all dumbfounded. They only knew that Director Liu had hired someone to conduct some kind of script experiment for filming these past few days. They never expected the acting to be so explosive. Edison Chen, who usually only knew how to act cool and handsome, had actually unleashed such superb acting skills.

Jay Chou stared intently at Liu Yuehua, knowing that Director Liu must have given him a powerful push from behind.

He has always had a great idea: to make a love story that chronicles his youth.

He originally planned to film, direct, and act in the film himself, but after witnessing Edison Chen's dramatic transformation, he changed his mind.

"Do you still think it's poorly made? Do you think it's ruining the brand?"

Liu Yuehua looked at the shocked actors and spoke calmly.

"I'll take this tape back and find the best editor to do top-notch post-production."

His gaze swept over the group.

"You should be glad that you didn't spend a single penny to create the most amazing masterpiece of your lives in my crew."

"When this movie is released, you'll find that all the grievances you've suffered now are nothing."

This is the highest level of PUA: not binding you with contracts, nor bribing you with money.

Under my magical touch, I will show you a peak version of yourself that you've always dreamed of, or even dared to imagine.

Edison Chen's earlier complaints had completely vanished.

He picked up a glass of wine and drank it all in one gulp.

"Director Liu, Xiao Chen is being irresponsible."

"I'll toast you with this glass. From now on, I'll be available for any role you need, even if it's just a minor one, for free."