Huayu: I Have a Doraemon

Chapter 60 Death of Society

HD District, West Fifth Ring Road, Xiangshan.

Rows of gray and white photography studios stand on both sides of the dirt road.

This is the regular filming location for Ying's Film and Television Art Company, where sitcoms such as "Chinese Restaurant" and "Ma Dajie the Idle Man" were created one after another.

Studio 3.

The 400-square-meter space was divided into several functional areas.

Behind the monitor, Yingda sat in the director's chair, holding a walkie-talkie in his hand, his eyes fixed on the screen.

Ye Daying stood behind him, arms crossed.

He was wearing a dark gray jacket, his gaze fixed on the monitor, revealing no emotion.

On the monitor, Huang Xiaoming stands at the kitchen door of the "apartment" set, wearing a black leather jacket, rehearsing lines with Lü Xiaopin.

"...Why are you like this?" Huang Xiaoming said, raising his chin slightly as he recited his lines.

Lü Xiaopin responded, his voice coming from the monitor with the exaggerated rhythm characteristic of sitcoms.

One trip back and forth.

One trip back and forth.

When Huang Xiaoming finished reading his last line, the entire set fell silent for a moment.

"Pass."

Yingda's voice came from the director's chair.

The crew on set started getting busy. The lighting technician adjusted the camera positions, and the props team jogged over to adjust the set.

"Director Ye, what do you think?" Yingda turned his head.

Ye Daying withdrew his gaze and said in a flat tone, "His acting skills need improvement."

Yingda explained, "I have formal training, so I have a solid foundation, but I'm not quite good at taking on clients yet."

He said, "If you have a good appearance, young girls will be willing to look at you just by standing there. In this day and age, looks are also a part of your strength."

Ye Daying remained noncommittal.

He has already found out the cast of "iPartment".

The main actors are all good-looking and have great temperament, and Gao Yuanyuan is especially popular. She can generate buzz just by standing in front of the camera.

For a newcomer to the industry to assemble such a team, he has to be said to have some skills.

Yingda noticed the tense state of the person and felt a slight displeasure.

He and Lin Cong had worked together for many years and knew each other inside and out. He knew that girl's capabilities better than anyone else.

What kind of waves can a student who has just entered the industry and a director with little experience make?

"Actors need to be trained."

Yingda spoke, his tone as patient as if he were coaxing a child:

"I know Lin Cong's skill level very well; he still has some room for improvement."

Ye Daying lowered his eyes slightly: "I hope so."

Yingda's lips twitched slightly, but he didn't say anything more and turned back to continue staring at the monitor.

Ye Daying stayed on set for a while longer.

After Huang Xiaoming finished his performance once again, he silently turned around and walked out along the passage between the studios.

Finding a secluded corner, Ye Daying took out his phone from the inside pocket of his jacket.

His thumb paused on the keyboard for a moment, then pressed a string of numbers.

Two long beeps came through the receiver.

"Feed?"

A slightly hoarse voice came from the other end of the phone, with background noise, like a break on a film set.

Ye Daying said in a steady voice:

"Director Feng, it's been a long time since we've been in touch. How about we get together?"

"It's nothing, I just heard you signed another project?"

"To be honest, I just wanted to recommend an actress... Don't worry, she's not an unknown; she's even acted in gay movies."

……

……

A small shop on a dirt road in the west of the city.

On the dark blue fabric sofa, Lin An sat huddled by the window, holding a script in his hand, sketching on the paper with his pen.

Lin Cong and Ji Tao sat opposite him, arguing about the background music, with a budget spread out on the coffee table between them.

"I said, we can't use an orchestra, it's too heavy. This is a sitcom, not a historical drama."

"Then tell me what to use? Pop music? And who to get to do the recording?"

The two held their own opinions, and neither could convince the other.

Lin An was so annoyed that he shouted, "Alright, I'll find someone to do it."

The argument abruptly ended.

Lin Cong and Ji Tao turned to look at him at the same time.

"You have connections in this area too?" Lin Cong looked at him with a strange expression.

I was thinking, "Isn't your approach a bit too unconventional?"

A literature major in a continuing education program is now getting involved in everything from scriptwriting and set design to casting and storyboarding, and even the music.

Don't you think that's going too far?

Lin An's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm and said:

"As for the lyrics and music, there shouldn't be any problem." Just make up a name, who would know who it is?

Lin Cong scoffed expressionlessly, his tone slightly mocking:

"Another one of your friends?"

Lin An nodded earnestly, believing that as long as she wasn't embarrassed, it was others who were embarrassed.

Lin Cong's face stiffened.

The room fell silent for a moment. Shen Teng, Dong Xuan, and the others sat on the sofa, not daring to make a sound.

"cough......"

Ji Tao coughed and looked at Lin An seriously: "This isn't a game. Are you sure you're confident?"

Lin An met his gaze and said, "I'm the one who signed the betting agreement. I have no reason to risk my own interests."

Ji Tao was speechless for a moment.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door.

Knock knock knock.

Three sounds, neither too loud nor too soft, carrying a certain probing tone.

Lin Congdao said, "It should be Yuanyuan."

Lin An nodded. "I'll go open it."

He placed the script on the sofa armrest, got up, and walked towards the door.

The door opened.

Lin An instinctively smiled and said, "Welcome..."

He noticed something was off about Gao Yuanyuan's expression halfway through his sentence.

Her delicate face was slightly tense, no longer as composed as usual. Her gaze lingered on his face for a moment, then slowly shifted to the right, as if hinting at something.

Lin An followed her gaze.

Then he froze.

Lin's father stood half a step behind Gao Yuanyuan, carrying a box of milk, his expression a mix of confusion and embarrassment.

Standing next to Lin's father, Lin's mother held a plastic bag in each hand. Her gaze went over Lin An's shoulder and she peered into the convenience store, her eyes full of scrutiny.

Lin Yi stood at the very back, carrying a bag of fruit, his face expressionless.

Lin Meng squatted at the bottom of the steps, holding a lollipop bigger than her face, licking it with relish.

Lin An blinked.

Blinked again.

After a brief silence, he slowly and gently closed the door.

Inside the convenience store, Lin Cong frowned and said:

Why are you closing the door?

Lin An ignored him and whispered:

"I must have opened the door wrong. Let me try again."

He took a deep breath, gripped the doorknob tightly, and pulled hard.

The door opened again.

The person outside the door didn't leave, or even move an inch.

Lin An's gaze swept across the faces of Lin's father, Lin's mother, Lin Yi, and Lin Meng in turn, finally landing on Gao Yuanyuan.

Only one thought crossed my mind: It's over.

Lin Cong's voice came again from the convenience store, tinged with obvious impatience:

"Lin An? Who's that?"

Lin An did not answer.

Lin's mother broke the silence, her tone unusually calm:

"Won't you let us in and have a seat?"

Lin An mechanically stepped aside, making room for half a person.

Lin's mother was the first to step in, followed by Lin's father. As he entered, he glanced at Lin An, and the meaning in his eyes was clear: good luck to him.

As Lin Yi walked past, he paused for a moment, a half-smile playing on his lips.

"You seem to be having a great time out there."

Lin An opened his mouth, but Lin Yi had already turned his gaze away and walked inside without looking back.

Lin Meng was the last one.

She stood outside the threshold, head tilted back, took the lollipop out of her mouth, and waved it at Lin An:

"Do you want some?"

Lin An nodded subconsciously, and Lin Meng quickly snatched the lollipop back, saying sweetly:

"I won't give you any!"

I really want to punch her! Lin An's face turned ashen.

Gao Yuanyuan remained standing there, her bewilderment turning into embarrassment, her ears slightly flushed:

"I don't know... I asked for directions at the alley entrance..."

Lin An sighed, extended his hand, and gestured for him to come in.

He said blankly:

"It doesn't matter anymore."