Chapter 369: The King of Extras Begins Filming!
Chen Yi didn’t hesitate for an extra moment.
She just tightly gripped that worn ballpoint pen.
The pen tip slid swiftly across the contract, coming to rest on the two characters “Chen Yi.”
The signing motion was clean and decisive.
After writing her name, Chen Yi raised her hand and tossed the ballpoint pen back into the pocket of her delivery uniform.
She swung her leg over the electric scooter, turning the handlebars to face the direction she came from.
The engine emitted a faint electric hum.
“Braised pork knuckle rice, Director Gu.” She urged in a low voice, “Sign for it.”
Gu Zhiyuan’s mind went completely blank.
He subconsciously took the meal box Chen Yi handed over.
Lin Wan walked to the side of Chen Yi’s scooter.
She took the remaining few portions of braised pork knuckle rice from the thermal box, then took the script from Gu Zhiyuan’s arms.
She stuffed the script into the large pocket of Chen Yi’s delivery uniform.
“Tomorrow morning at eight o’clock.” Lin Wan’s tone was crisp, “The film crew starts shooting.”
Chen Yi didn’t reply, she didn’t even glance at anyone again.
She twisted the throttle, the electric scooter humming softly as it quickly disappeared into the night.
That bright yellow figure departed rapidly.
She only left behind this signed contract.
Gu Zhiyuan lowered his head to look at the script in his hand.
Jiang Ci walked to Gu Zhiyuan’s side.
He took one portion of the meal from Gu Zhiyuan’s stiff hand, tore open the packaging.
“Tomorrow morning at eight o’clock, start shooting.” Jiang Ci tore off a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth, “You still have time to digest this ‘five-star review’.”
Hearing this, Gu Zhiyuan’s body jolted violently.
He looked at the empty factory entrance.
His chest heaved intensely.
Digest.
Yes, he needed to digest.
Digest the pain he had suppressed in his heart for three years, digest the genius he had personally destroyed.
Even more, digest that belated “repayment” with interest.
The next day.
Spark Media’s official Weibo suddenly posted a message.
“The role of Liu Piaopiao, the female lead of the film ‘King of Extras’, will be played by actress Chen Yi.”
The accompanying image was a blurry back view.
A girl wearing a bulky yellow delivery uniform, head bowed as she signed the contract on the electric scooter’s rear seat.
The photo froze that moment.
The comment section began stirring up trouble again.
“‘King of Extras’? Definitely a terrible film in the making!”
“Is Spark Media about to go bankrupt? They actually got a food delivery person to play the female lead?”
“Chen Yi? That box office poison Gu Zhiyuan’s go-to female lead? Is Gu Zhiyuan going to destroy a second genius?”
“A box office poison, a food delivery person, a film emperor who willingly wallows in the mud. Did this crew gather from a scrap recycling station?”
“Waiting for ‘King of Extras’ to set the record for the worst film in Chinese cinema history!”
Many marketing accounts also seized the opportunity to join in.
“Exposing how box office poison Gu Zhiyuan personally destroyed Cannes-nominated newcomer Chen Yi.”
One packaged old story after another was dug up again.
All responsibility was shifted onto Chen Yi.
Sister Wang and Li Feifei’s team secretly added fuel to the fire.
They hired paid posters to repackage the old story of “Gu Zhiyuan destroying a genius.”
Shifting all responsibility onto Chen Yi.
Making Chen Yi the target of public criticism.
Spark Media’s Public Relations Department faced the surging negative public opinion, standing ready for battle.
However, Lin Wan issued a command.
“No response, no comment control, no post deletion.”
She sat in her office, fingertips tapping on the desktop.
“Let them curse.” Lin Wan’s voice was calm, even carrying a hint of coldness.
“The harsher they curse, the greater the backlash will be later.”
She wanted everyone to see clearly.
This film wasn’t the so-called “second-generation box office poison’s” comeback fight.
Nor was it Jiang Ci’s “willing wallowing in the mud.”
Even less was it Chen Yi’s “being destroyed.”
She wanted all these filthy words to eventually turn into sharp blades.
Stabbing those who spread rumors and caused trouble.
The entire film crew, however, endured the pressure.
The day of the opening ceremony finally arrived.
At the entrance of the film set, staff were busy setting up a simple red carpet.
In the distance came the continuous roar of engines.
A black heavy-duty truck slowly stopped at the film set entrance.
The truck driver opened the door.
In the rear compartment, dozens of custom gift boxes were neatly stacked.
The driver jumped down, holding a delivery receipt in hand.
“Hello, is this Spark Media’s film set?” the driver asked.
Lin Wan’s assistant jogged over.
“Yes.” The assistant asked suspiciously, “What is this?”
The driver pointed to the boxes on the truck: “Opening gifts from Daylight Entertainment.”
Everyone was surprised and uncertain.
Soon, a black business vehicle drove up.
The door opened.
Zhou Lan stepped down from the vehicle.
She wore a sharp professional suit.
Zhou Lan first swept her gaze around, then walked to the truck.
“Distribute them all.” She directed several assistants, “One for each film crew member.”
Dozens of gift boxes were unloaded.
Staff carefully opened them.
Inside were no gold, silver, jewels, or famous brand luxury goods.
The gifts were simple.
A custom thermos cup printed with the ‘King of Extras’ chibi-style poster.
A soft lumbar support pillow, convenient for crew members to rest.
And a handwritten card.
Jiang Ci walked to his exclusive makeup room.
His assistant handed him his share of the gift.
He took the gift box and opened it.
On the card was Gu Huai’s bold, flowing handwriting.
“The altar is too cold, come down and get boxed lunches together.”
“Your ‘Chen San’, I’m looking forward to it.”
Jiang Ci raised an eyebrow.
He pinched the card, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
He liked Gu Huai’s honesty.
And he liked this kind of.
“Mutual appreciation” feeling of being kindred spirits.
The character “Chen San,” for him.
Was a beam of light in the darkness.
And Gu Huai was someone who knew how to appreciate the light.
Chen Yi also received one.
She sat in the simple rest area.
The thermos cup in her hand still carried a slight smell of new plastic.
The handwriting on the card was also Gu Huai’s penmanship.
“Those who have been drenched by the rain have the right to hold up a bigger umbrella.”
“Welcome home, actress Chen Yi.”
Chen Yi’s fingers traced over the handwriting on the card.
She remembered that rainy night three years ago.
Remembered that box office disaster ‘Kite.’
Remembered all the mockery piled upon her.
She thought she had grown accustomed to it.
Accustomed to no one mentioning the name “actress Chen Yi” anymore.
But.
“Welcome home.”
These four words opened that long-sealed door in her heart.
Tears silently slid down.
Dripping onto the lid of the thermos cup.
Gu Huai’s gift wasn’t meant to win people over.
It was a form of immense spiritual support.
Representing that he placed himself in the same position as all the staff.
He used action to tell the entire crew.
We are one.
We are “madmen.”
But we have each other.
All film crew members received this “crew survival kit.”
They held the thermos cups, looking at the handwritten cards.
Their inner excitement was beyond words.
“Film Emperor Gu is so considerate!”
“This isn’t a gift, it’s a letter of allegiance!”
“He’s going crazy with us!”
The crew’s morale quickly solidified.
The gloom hanging over their heads the past few days was dispelled by these warm gifts.
Media were on-site for a visit.
They captured the scenes of Gu Huai sending gifts and Zhou Lan personally directing.
News headlines.
Changed from “Gu Huai invests” to “Gu Huai strongly supports.”
The direction of public opinion began to show subtle changes.
Under Spark Media’s official Weibo.
Many netizens began leaving comments.
“A crew Film Emperor Gu strongly supports, could it really be a terrible film?”
“One dares to invest, one dares to act, one dares to accept. Do these three people actually have something?”
“Suddenly feeling a bit expectant.”
“Film Emperor Jiang Ci taking this role definitely has his reasons.”
On the other side.
Huachen Pictures’ Zhang Dezhi saw the news.
He was drinking coffee in his office.
“Bang!”
The coffee cup heavily smashed onto the floor, shattering into pieces.
Coffee splattered everywhere.
Zhang Dezhi’s face flushed red with anger.
He realized.
Money and public opinion.
Couldn’t crush these madmen at all.
“Gu Huai!” He growled lowly, suddenly clenching his fist.
A sinister flash passed through his eyes.
He wanted these madmen to know.
Some things couldn’t be solved just by being “mad.”
The opening ceremony.
A simple backdrop was set up at the film set.
A camera covered with red cloth was placed at the front.
Gu Zhiyuan, Jiang Ci, Chen Yi, and Lin Wan stood side by side.
Countless camera flashes flickered before them.
Gu Zhiyuan held his breath, concentrating.
He walked to the camera.
With trembling hands, he lifted the red cloth.
The camera’s dark lens was revealed.
He faced all the cameras, speaking word by word.
“‘King of Extras’.”
“Today.”
Gu Zhiyuan’s words were firm and powerful.
He loudly roared the final two words.
“Start shooting!”