Just because I wrote "Zhu Xian," the school beauty sent me razor blades.

The Golden Film Awards ceremony had just ended, and news headlines were everywhere—#LinYuanAchievesGodhoodForThirdTime#, #SweepingBestDirectorBestFilm#, #TheOnlyAbsoluteDominatorOfChineseEntertainment#.

The film has gone viral online, with countless media outlets and industry peers spreading the word that this young director, who wields unlimited capital and top-level decision-making power, will definitely make his next film an epic period drama with an investment of hundreds of millions, or a grand-scale drama vying for an Oscar.

In the study, Lin Yuan sat in an armchair, looking at the Golden Shadow Award trophy on the table, without a trace of the euphoria that comes with winning the award.

He scrolled through Weibo, and apart from the hashtag about his award, the trending topics were filled with all sorts of social news:

[An employee of a startup company worked overtime for six months, only to have the project abandoned by the boss as soon as it was launched, leaving him with no recourse.]

[A major client unreasonably demanded twenty revisions of the manuscript, ultimately choosing the first version, and then withheld the final payment under the pretext of "delay".]

In the workplace, honest people do the most work but get D ratings, while smooth-talking, sycophantic newcomers get promoted and paid based on PowerPoint presentations.

The comments section was filled with the lamentations and complaints of working-class people:

"I suggest writing 'working overtime all night' directly into the labor law as a get-out-of-jail-free card. I'm practically cultivating immortality at the company every day; even the King of Hell would have to offer me a cigarette first."

"Those who do the manual labor are working themselves to death, while those who create PPTs are raking in the profits. A good PPT means a hefty year-end bonus! While I'm tightening screws on the production line, they're giving presentations on 'empowerment, strategies, closed loops, and consolidation'—you'd think they were giving a performance report to the Jade Emperor!"

"Who doesn't go crazy at work? I'm just putting on a brave face! Every morning when I wake up, I hope the company gets bombed by aliens tonight, but then I think, if it gets bombed, I'll still have to write an accident report and summary, so I guess I'll just go and get yelled at."

"The TV dramas these days are ridiculous. The main characters are always high-earning professionals who live in 200-square-meter river-view mansions and complain about how tough life is. Tough my ass! I can barely afford the rent for my basement room."

These sharp, humorous, and somewhat self-deprecating remarks brought a sarcastic smile to Lin Yuan's lips.

The entertainment industry in this world is indeed too idealized. Everyone is catering to capital, pleasing the market, and avoiding controversy, carefully hiding the real-world calculations of interests, blame-shifting and internal strife, and workplace unspoken rules, replacing them with a layer of false harmony.

"Having won every top award, if I keep making those vague and grand narratives every day, wouldn't my right to speak in this second life become just a decoration?"

Lin Yuan muttered a self-deprecating remark under his breath.

He reached out and opened an encrypted folder on his computer, then double-clicked to open the long-dormant script—"Longmen Express".

Isn't a long-established security escort agency on the verge of bankruptcy and burdened with debt just a microcosm of countless startups struggling to survive today?

Lu Sanjin, a wealthy businessman, holds capital and is well-versed in the rules, yet he has to navigate between personal relationships and interests, making him a typical entrepreneurial manager who carries a heavy burden.

Sheng Qiuyue, with her passionate spirit and impulsive protectiveness, is loyal and righteous but often suffers losses. She is a reflection of countless ordinary workers who work hard and diligently.

Having seen the world and burdened with emotional debts, Gong Shu is a seasoned veteran in the workplace whose edges have been smoothed by time and who harbors many secrets.

There's also the timid yet devoted Bai Jingqi, the incredibly strong but yearning-for-a-lifetime Lü Qingcheng, the greedy and materialistic Cai Badou, and the beautiful yet pragmatic Qiu Yingluo...

Every escort mission is a project order; every conflict in the martial arts world is a real-world game.

What appears to be a lighthearted, slapstick comedy set in ancient times is actually a blatant slapstick revelation of the workplace, subtly satirizing the unspoken rules of society in every episode!

In its previous life, this drama was buried in the tide of time due to the platform's haphazard editing and underestimation of its drastic changes.

But in this life, he is Lin Yuan! He is the only top-tier director on Earth who possesses absolute authority, is not bound by any platform, and holds the final cut!

Just as he was typing away on the keyboard, refining the details, the study door was gently pushed open.

Gu Zhiwan, dressed in a comfortable light pink fleece pajama, walked in carrying a steaming bowl of red bean and lotus seed soup, the sweet aroma of which instantly filled the air.

"What time is it? You canceled the Golden Film Awards celebration banquet, and now you're working all night after coming home?" Gu Zhiwan put the soup on the table and reached out to rub his temples with some concern.

Lin Yuan took her hand and pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder: "Wife, I just finalized a deal for a new drama."

Gu Zhiwan raised an eyebrow, curiously leaning closer to take a look at the screen. She paused slightly when she saw the title of the script: "Dragon Gate Escort Agency? A period drama... a comedy about an escort agency? Everyone in the industry is saying that you're preparing a sci-fi blockbuster or a period epic with a budget of 1 billion yuan. President Fei even called me this afternoon to ask if the budget for the production team is ready and that we can bring in several billion yuan at any time."

"It's boring."

Lin Yuan rested his chin on her shoulder, his tone humorous yet exuding a strong sense of confidence: "I'll just film a small escort agency. Right now, all the working people online are being tortured to the bone by workplace politics and schemes, but the entertainment industry is all pretending to be silent. Since others don't dare to touch this sore spot, then I'll film it."

Looking at the light in his eyes, Gu Zhiwan smiled sweetly and gently touched his cheek with her fingertips: "Anyway, no matter what you film, I will support you."

……

The following morning, in the office of the vice president of Tianxing Entertainment.

Fei Zhao leaned back in his chair, toying with a cool-toned fountain pen in his hand. His jawline was sharp, and his eyes were cold and indifferent. Opposite him sat senior executives from Tianxing Productions and several veteran screenwriters, all standing like elementary school students, even unconsciously holding their breath.

"Mr. Fei, has Director Lin's new film project been finalized? I heard that several major Hollywood investors are willing to invest three hundred million US dollars just to secure overseas co-distribution rights!" The executive excitedly rubbed his hands. "If it's an epic blockbuster, we can elevate the domestic film industry to a whole new level!"

Fei Zhao slammed his pen down on the table with a crisp sound, his tone flat and devoid of any emotion: "The projects he has are none of your business to plan for him."

Just then, the phone on the desk rang; it was Lin Yuan calling.

Fei Zhao answered the phone and got straight to the point, his words crisp and concise: "Tell me, what's the budget for the new film, and where's the venue?"

Lin Yuan's extremely calm voice came from the other end of the phone: "Sister Fei, the budget doesn't need to be too extravagant, twenty or thirty million will be enough."

Fei Zhao's cold eyes narrowed slightly, and his tone turned icy: "Twenty or thirty million? Lin Yuan, you didn't omit a zero, did you?"

Lin Yuan replied unhurriedly, "No, not less. My next project won't be a big movie, but a period sitcom called 'Dragon Gate Escort Agency'."

Quiet.

The vice president's office fell into a deathly silence.

The executives and veteran screenwriters opposite them nearly popped their eyes out, exchanging bewildered glances, wondering if they had misheard.

A top-tier director who just swept the Golden Film Awards and whose films grossed over 10 billion yuan, with the entire internet expecting him to unleash an industrial miracle, is going to make a period sitcom?! This is as absurd as a top national scientist suddenly announcing he's going to set up a street stall selling fried skewers!

Fei Zhao didn't react with the same fuss as the others. He simply stared coldly at the phone, his voice as calm as ice: "Those people from Xingtu Entertainment are watching you closely, looking for any flaws. Nonsensical comedy is very risky."

Lin Yuan chuckled softly on the other end of the phone, his tone casual yet unwaveringly confident: "Sister Fei, as long as it's directed by me, there's no risk. And don't worry, this isn't your average comedy. Once the script is sent to your email, you'll know what true 'dimensional reduction attack' really means."

Less than three minutes after hanging up the phone, an encrypted email was sent to Fei Zhao's inbox.

Fei Zhao opened the script with a blank expression, and the executives and screenwriters behind him also gathered around with trepidation.

They initially thought it was just Lin Yuan's "whimsical play" after winning the award, but when they saw Lu Sanjin confront Jing Shitang in the second episode, discussing "capital and employee interests," and that series of brilliant quotes that used the past to satirize the present, the atmosphere in the office suddenly changed.

"Greed is not a flaw, it's human nature! But taking money that you shouldn't have is a crime!"

"You talk a good game about morality, but all you care about is business!"

Upon seeing the fifth episode's ingenious deconstruction of "workplace blame-shifting and interpersonal relationships," a veteran screenwriter slammed his fist on the table, trembling with excitement: "Holy crap!! This dialogue! This deconstruction! This isn't a period drama at all!"

Fei Zhao leaned back in his chair, his slender fingers tapping lightly on the table twice.

A rare hint of approval flashed in those cold eyes.

She knows Lin Yuan too well—when he's not writing songs, he's like a thug; when he's filming, he's like an assassin.

When the entire industry is retreating and covering up the truth, only this guy has the courage and boldness to tear off this hypocritical facade!

Fei Zhao stood up, straightened his cuffs, and his eyes were as sharp as a knife:

"Project approved."

"Give him whatever resources he wants, and the final cut is entirely up to Lin Yuan. Anyone who dares to change a single word of his will be fired immediately."

……

That afternoon, Tianxing Entertainment's official Weibo account also updated its status:

[Lin Yuan's new drama has been officially approved: "Longmen Express"—a period comedy about the martial arts world, express delivery companies, and ordinary people making a living. Stay tuned.]

As soon as the news broke, Weibo's servers predictably crashed again, leaving netizens and industry critics alike stunned.

"What the heck?! Lin Shen won the Golden Globe Award for Best Director, and his next project is a period sitcom?!"

"Holy crap, I thought we were going to make a movie! This contrast is too surreal!"

"The haters are already having an all-night party, saying Lin Yuan has run out of ideas and is afraid to make big-budget productions for fear of losing money!"

Faced with various doubts online, Lin Yuan simply turned off his phone, leaned back in his chair, and smiled slightly.

"What's the rush, guys?"

"When the show airs, I hope you can still laugh this loudly even when you're heartbroken."