Huayu: Serious director, who's eavesdropping on your thoughts?

(This is an important chapter, so I won't split it into separate parts to avoid making it seem drawn out.)

Just a moment.

A girl emerged from the crowd ahead, glanced at him a few times, and then walked over.

She was bare-faced, yet her features were exquisite. She wore a woolen coat and looked petite and slender.

This is Gu Man.

"Um... hello." Gu Man walked over and stood timidly beside him, her voice very soft.

Zhao Huaiyuan suddenly found it somewhat amusing; Gu Man usually talked a lot when she sent text messages or made phone calls.

But I didn't expect her to be so shy and introverted when we met.

He couldn't help but recall the scene of their first meeting.

Are you a social butterfly online, but socially anxious in real life?

"Why are you being so formal? This isn't the first time we've met. What's wrong? You usually chat so well on the phone, don't you?" Zhao Huaiyuan teased her.

Gu Man's cheeks flushed slightly, feeling somewhat embarrassed, and she muttered to herself:

"How can they be the same..."

"Hehe, don't be so polite with me. I'm actually very easygoing. The reason I invited you here today is the same as I mentioned before: let's talk about the studio." Zhao Huaiyuan smiled.

"Okay, let's chat while we walk around."

The two started shopping together.

The square was filled with makeshift stalls, all set up haphazardly.

There are balloon popping games, dart throwing games... all kinds of games, food, and drinks are available.

There are a lot of people.

As she strolled along, Gu Man finally let loose, completely abandoning any semblance of ladylike behavior and revealing her foodie nature.

"Boss, a plate of sizzling tofu, extra spicy, please."

"Boss, two skewers of gluten, and a grilled meat."

Next came lotus flower skewers, pig's blood, fried chicken strips, fresh milk...

Zhao Huaiyuan was completely dumbfounded. He couldn't understand how her small body could hold so many things.

"Eat less, these things aren't clean, be careful you don't get an upset stomach later."

"It's alright! I have an iron belly, I'm not afraid." Gu Man patted her belly and said with a smile.

Before long, the two strolled to an area where they could solve lantern riddles.

The city's event was very down-to-earth, with long red ropes strung across the tree trunks, covered with slips of paper with riddles.

"I know this one. Half of the Spring and Autumn Annals, guess a character. Take half of Spring and Autumn, and it's Qin!" Gu Man stopped in front of a piece of paper and blurted out.

The older woman redeeming her gift took off the slip of paper, picked up a cookie, and handed it to her, saying, "Here you go."

Gu Man happily accepted the biscuit, tore open the packaging on the spot, and took a bite.

"It's delicious, do you want some?" Gu Man said indistinctly, and handed another one to Zhao Huaiyuan.

Zhao Huaiyuan: "..."

The two walked and guessed as they went.

"This is the character '默' (mò)!"

"This is the character '慧' (hui)!"

"Oh, that's easy, it's just the word 'fat'!"

As they walked, Zhao Huaiyuan would occasionally furrow his brow in a mock manner, touch his chin from time to time, and say something like, "This is a bit convoluted," before watching Gu Man enthusiastically answer the question successfully.

In less than half an hour, Gu Man's arms were full of small items such as soap, toothpaste, and laundry detergent, and she had a lollipop in her mouth.

"That's about enough. If we keep guessing, their little stock will be gone. Let's leave something for others to look forward to."

Gu Man smiled a little shyly, stuffed the bag of prizes she was holding into her backpack, and said with a smile:

"That was so much fun!"

Just as the two were about to leave, they saw a large crowd gathered in front of them, pointing and talking animatedly.

"What's going on?" Gu Man, being very curious, stood on tiptoe to look inside.

As the two got closer, they realized that this was an official riddle-solving arena set up by the authorities to display highly difficult riddles.

In the very center, on a red pillar, hangs a large red paper strip, and below the strip hangs a beautifully packaged small gift box.

The stall owner was an old man who looked like a scholar, clearly a retired cadre from the cultural center, and he was smiling at the crowd.

"This is the last riddle. Here is today's king of lanterns, the Seven-Colored Cloud Brocade Sky Lantern. It can change colors when it flies into the sky, and it's twice the size of a regular one. Whoever can guess it, this lantern belongs to them."

Upon hearing that this was the King of Lanterns, Gu Man's eyes lit up, and she quickly went to look at the riddle.

There were a few lines of poetry written on it:

"With one eye, I see through the affairs of the world, distinguishing right from wrong within my heart. Fleeting moments are like smoke and clouds, but this thing can hold back time."

Guess what it is!

The people around him were talking all at once, some guessing it was a telescope, some guessing it was a Go board, and others guessing it was a clock, but the old man just smiled and shook his head.

Gu Man looked at the small gift box; she really wanted it. She started thinking...

"Locking away time, black and white, a small space... a diary? No, a diary doesn't have a single eye. A mirror? That doesn't seem right either."

Zhao Huaiyuan stood aside, also looking at the puzzle.

One eye, black and white, capturing time, a small space—isn't this a photograph?

He glanced at Gu Man, who was still deep in thought, and wanted to offer her a few words of advice indirectly.

"Gurgle..." An untimely sound suddenly rang out.

Gu Man's expression changed, and she suddenly clutched her stomach.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Huaiyuan asked curiously.

"It's okay, it's okay, I... I'll go wash my hands." Gu Man ate all the way, but the snacks from the street stalls weren't clean after all. She had just been bragging, and now, in such a short time, she had diarrhea.

But she was a girl after all, so she couldn't very well say she needed to use the restroom. She could only come up with this lame excuse.

After saying that, she clutched her stomach and ran towards a nearby toilet, running faster than a rabbit.

Seeing her disheveled appearance, Zhao Huaiyuan shook his head with a wry smile.

"Sir, the answer to your riddle is a photograph, isn't it?"

The old man was somewhat surprised, not expecting that someone had guessed it. He nodded and said, "Yes, the one-eyed soul-capturing, black-and-white imaging, locking in time, is indeed a photograph."

The onlookers suddenly realized what was going on and exclaimed, "Oh, I see! I almost thought of that!"

"Here's the prize. The lamp is inside; you can set it off when you get home." The old man took out the gift box and handed it to Zhao Huaiyuan.

Zhao Huaiyuan accepted it.

He casually stuffed the gift box into his pocket and zipped it up.

Ten minutes later.

Gu Man returned looking completely dazed.

She looked at the shelf where the gift boxes were hanging, only to find it completely empty.

The crowd dispersed, leaving only one stall owner sitting in a chair, no longer hawking his wares.

"The riddle has been guessed! What's the answer?"

"Oh, you guessed it, it's a photo."

"Photographs?" Gu Man was taken aback, then suddenly realized.

"A single eye is a camera, and capturing time is a photograph, isn't it? Wow, it's that simple. How come I didn't think of that? I'm truly impressed."

Gu Man was extremely annoyed.

"Forget it, it seems we're not meant to be. Let's go."

The two went against the flow of people to a food stall by the river, ordered two bowls of glutinous rice balls for two yuan each, and sat down at the small table to eat.

After the two sat down...

Zhao Huaiyuan took a sip of hot soup to warm his stomach, and then spoke as if chatting casually:

"Gu Man, after you go back to school after the New Year, shouldn't you be thinking about your internship?"

"Yes, it's giving me a headache," Gu Man said. In fact, she was somewhat resistant to the nine-to-five, routine life.

I really don't know what to do!

If I stay at home writing novels, my family will definitely think I'm not doing anything productive!

Sigh, the gap between ideals and reality is so huge.

"That's perfect. Come with me to Yanjing. I'll register a Lightyear Pictures company there."

"A film production company, huh? I thought you'd be like those independent directors, starting with something like Zhao Huaiyuan Studio?"

"The studio is what we call a studio. You can't go far in this industry by going it alone. Only by setting up a company can you do many things legitimately."

Gu Man was puzzled.

"There's a big difference. If you just run a studio, you're a sole proprietor. If something happens during filming, you'll have to take full responsibility."

But registering as a company is different. If something goes wrong, the company pays out all the money, and that's it; it won't affect me personally. To put it bluntly, it's about security.

"Oh, I see." Gu Man didn't know much about these things.

"For example, when we sign contracts with others in the future, some formal companies only recognize the company's official seal. Besides, opening a company can save a lot of taxes, while a studio is not very feasible."

"There are quite a few intricacies involved here." Gu Man had never been exposed to these things before, so she could only nod as if she understood.

"Then why did you look for me...?" Gu Man asked, puzzled.

"In the early days of the company, I needed an assistant, and I think you're quite suitable," Zhao Huaiyuan said with a smile.

"Assistant..."

Gu Man hesitated.

She wanted to write and create, not to go to a big city to serve tea and water or print documents for people.

If it was just for the sake of being an administrative assistant and earning a fixed salary, why would she leave her hometown and follow this man to Yanjing to wander?

"Well... I might not be very good at serving tea and water, and my family might also be..." Gu Man tried to politely decline.

"Who asked you to serve tea and water? I value your writing skills. You are thoughtful and have a great talent for literature."

Gu Man blushed again after being praised by Zhao Huaiyuan. "No, it's just that I like to think about stories and write some random articles on my blog."

Zhao Huaiyuan smiled, but in his heart he was thinking...

We absolutely must win over Gu Man.

Undeniably, his mind is indeed filled with a library of classic films for the next two decades.

He could indeed remember the beginnings, developments, twists, turns, climaxes, and highlights of those stories.

He can recount the general plot of a movie, but it's difficult for him to perfectly replicate every classic line.

The last filming of Great Britain almost drained him dry. It was only because the original film was short and he could remember it, and with some of his own adaptations, that he was able to film it successfully.

Therefore, he urgently needs a top-notch assistant, someone who can perfectly understand his ideas and translate them into practice.

Gu Man is undoubtedly capable of the job.

"I know you've always wanted to write a novel, you just haven't started yet. So what I'm offering you isn't just a job. You've heard of Amway... no, have you heard of full copyright management?"

"Full copyright?" Gu Man was stunned. This term was unfamiliar to her; she didn't understand it!

"Simply put, your main job at the company is to help me polish scripts and the like, which won't take up much of your time. You can use the rest of your time to write your own novels at the company."

"Slacking off during work hours, doing side jobs?" Gu Man asked in surprise.

"The term 'side jobs' isn't quite accurate; a more fitting term would be 'company strategic reserves.'"

Gu Man looked confused and didn't quite understand.

Zhao Huaiyuan, with an upright demeanor, patiently and persuasively explained:

"Gu Man, think about it. You're a newcomer right now. You have nowhere to publish your book. Even if you post it on online forums, it might not get published. But it'll be different if you sign with my company. The company will package you as a contracted author."

"A signed writer? You want to start a company that writes novels?" Gu Man asked in surprise.

"No, this contract means that the company will fully support you and provide you with publishing opportunities. In exchange, all the works you create during your employment will be considered works made for hire, and the copyright will belong to the company, which means it belongs to me."

Gu Man hesitated. Although she didn't know much about it, she knew that it involved copyright issues and it seemed that she couldn't easily agree to it.

Although she has nothing right now.

"Don't worry, although the copyright belongs to the company, the authorship rights will always be yours. In the future, the company will also invest resources to help you develop the novel into a TV series or movie, and I'll give you a share of the profits!"

Gu Man was stunned. She had never imagined that one day her stories would be shown on the big screen.

This is almost too dreamy!

She was almost knocked unconscious by the pancake.

How can there be such a great boss in the world!

Zhao Huaiyuan pressed on, "You can imagine that one day in the future, your novel will be personally directed and produced by me and turned into a TV series, which will be broadcast on TV stations across the country. At that time, the company will also fund the establishment of your own studio."

"Help me set up... a studio?" Gu Man was so surprised she could hardly close her mouth.

"Yes, it's a studio. Let me think... we'll call it Gu Man Personal Screenwriting Studio, and you'll be the boss!"

Gu Man was in a daze.

What a wonderful future this is!

Slacking off at work, paid writing, film and television adaptations, profit sharing, personal studio, being a big boss...

This pie is so tempting, it's almost irresistible. She doesn't need to give anything in return; all she needs to do is give a vague copyright that may never even exist in the future.

This is a really good deal.

"The copyright belongs to the company, so there's no problem with that," Gu Man muttered to herself. Anyway, she wasn't famous, and it was uncertain whether she would be able to publish a book in the future.

Now that someone is providing support, that would be wonderful.

Looking at her expression, Zhao Huaiyuan knew he had been persuaded and smiled inwardly.

This is certainly just empty talk, but it's not entirely false.

It is now 2003, and major online literature websites are emerging. The golden age of online literature is about to explode.

Gu Man's potential, her future achievements, and her role are self-evident.

If only we could sign the future queen of romance novels with a small salary and a vague promise at this moment.

What a huge cake this will be!

Of course, Gu Man can't figure this out right now.

However, he absolutely cannot say these things out loud now.

"Of course, all of this is on the premise that you first prove your ability to me."

Zhao Huaiyuan knew the principle of moderation; if he exaggerated too much, the other party would become suspicious. When making grand promises, one should first make them and then back down a bit to give the other party a realistic test.

Only in this way can the other party truly dispel their guard.

"Perfect timing. I have an idea in my head recently, but it's still in the conceptual stage. I'd like to hear your opinion."

"What are you thinking?" Gu Man's curiosity was piqued.

"In a while, I'd like to make a film about 1937."

Gu Man was taken aback.

1937 was no ordinary year.

"A war film? Like the Tunnel Warfare type?" Gu Man asked.

"No, I wanted to film a group of ordinary people from that time. I wanted to know what they were like when that disaster struck."

"This angle... is a bit special, but it's quite difficult. If you don't write about war, how can you show the cruelty of that era?" Gu Man said, puzzled.

"This is where I need you. I need you to help me find some very detailed information."

"for example?"

"For example, how cold was the weather in Nanjing in December 1937? How much did a bowl of plain noodles cost on the street? What color socks were popular among young people at that time? What brand of film was used in photo studios?"

Zhao Huaiyuan rattled off several seemingly unimportant questions in one breath.

As Gu Man listened, her eyes widened more and more.

She quickly understood.

"Are you trying to use simple, unadorned ordinariness to highlight the tragedy?"

"Yes, this job is a bit tedious and mentally taxing. Are you willing to take it?"

"Sure, what's there to be afraid of? I studied in Nanjing for four years, it's easy." Gu Man smiled and agreed without hesitation.

With such a bright future ahead of her, if she can't even get past this first hurdle, what's the point of writing a novel?

"Then it's settled. Welcome to Lightyear Pictures." Zhao Huaiyuan smiled, raised the bowl in his hand, and was about to clink it with hers.

Gu Man also raised her bowl and clinked it against his. "But Director Zhao... oh no, boss, let's make this clear first, even brothers should keep clear accounts."

"We need to calculate your salary and benefits according to the proper procedures. Also, the profit sharing you mentioned for helping with film and television adaptations should be written into the contract. You can't go back on your word."

"Don't worry, we'll sign the contract once the company is up and running. You'll be the first official employee, with all five social insurances and one housing fund. There's no probation period; I'll make you a full-time employee right away. You'll earn 2,500 a month, plus bonuses, with no upper limit. All your room and board in Yanjing will be covered."

Zhao Huaiyuan took an envelope out of his pocket, then took out a cell phone and pushed it across the table.

"Here's ten thousand yuan. This is an advance payment for three months' salary and activity expenses. If it's not enough, I'll give you more. Also, this phone is a gift for you."

"Wow, Director Zhao, you're so kind!" Gu Man didn't stand on ceremony, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter.

At that moment, she felt like she had hit the jackpot!

You know, her classmates who had already gone on internships, and even the senior students, worked themselves to the bone for a month and only earned eight or a thousand. If they made fifteen hundred, they'd have to treat everyone to a meal.

She just gave me two thousand five hundred right off the bat? And there's a bonus too!

So happy!

This is probably what it means to be sold out and still pay the seller. Zhao Huaiyuan felt a little sorry for her when he saw her excited look, but in just a second, his capitalist conscience disappeared.

He looked at the innocent Gu Man and said softly, "Eat up, and if you're not full, have another bowl. Work hard with me from now on, and life will be sweet."

"kindness!"

The deal was settled.

After they finished eating, the two walked along the riverbank again.

It was already late, and the breeze along the river carried the unique scent of early spring—a truly comforting feeling.

As Zhao Huaiyuan passed by the cinema next to the square, he was in a good mood as he saw the red banners hanging at the entrance announcing that various organizations had booked out entire screenings.

The word-of-mouth for "Escape from the British Museum" has now exploded, and after more than ten days of continued buzz, it is now the first peak of various organizations organizing group bookings. As for students, large-scale group bookings may not be possible until after the Spring Festival holiday.

How wonderful, what a prosperous and flourishing scene!

Unfortunately, a harsh winter is just around the corner for the film and television industry.

Before long, cinemas across the country will be closed, which is a good time to lie low, gather strength, and prepare for the next film.

Indeed, he spent a long time selecting films, and the next one he chose was "Nanjing Photo Studio".

Admittedly, making such a heavy film after that particular period seems a bit out of place.

But he had deeper considerations.

Of course, the money he had was far from enough to make this movie, and there were many challenges he would face.

He needs to overcome each and every aspect one by one.

However, all of this happened after he returned to Yanjing.

Thinking of this, he looked at Gu Man and said:

"There's one more thing I need to tell you."

"What's wrong?"

"You'll come to Yanjing with me first, and then for the next few months, if you're not with me, try to avoid crowded places, especially those with poor air circulation."

"Why? Aren't we in a crowded place right now?" Gu Man asked, looking bewildered.

Unable to say it outright, Zhao Huaiyuan could only give a vague answer.

"I saw on the news that there might be some issues in the south. Although there's no news here yet, it's always better to be safe than sorry. You seem to have a weak constitution, so drink more Banlangen (a traditional Chinese medicine) and white vinegar when you have time. It won't hurt."

Although Gu Man felt a little strange, a warm feeling welled up in his heart when he heard that the other person also cared about him.

"Alright, alright, you're just like my mom. Don't worry, I value my life." Gu Man shook the rabbit lantern in her hand.

"That's good."

Zhao Huaiyuan didn't say anything more. Some things are better left unsaid. It's enough to leave it at that.

Before we knew it, the night had deepened.

As dusk settles, the city lights begin to twinkle.

More and more people gathered along the riverbank.

Someone shouted that the government-organized fireworks display was about to begin.

The two found a patch of grass and sat down.

"Bang.."

The night was illuminated by the firelight, and fireworks bloomed one after another against the dark sky.

Immediately afterwards, millions of points of light poured down like iron trees and silver flowers, landing in the shimmering moat and creating a phantom ripple.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

The two sat side by side on the grass, looking up at the fireworks in the sky.

Amidst this vibrant and colorful scene.

A sudden, inexplicable sadness welled up in Gu Man's heart. She was always sensitive and sentimental, and as a scholar, she was prone to melancholy. Most of the good things in this world are not lasting; colorful clouds easily disperse, and glass is easily broken. Fireworks, though beautiful, are ultimately fleeting.

She subconsciously turned her head and secretly glanced at Zhao Huaiyuan.

He simply tilted his head back, intently watching the fireworks, the flickering light flashing across his profile.

Looking at him, Gu Man felt a sudden sense of loss fill her heart.

She felt a strange sense of peace and couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be if time could stand still at this moment.

As the last firework soared into the sky, the officially organized fireworks display came to an end.

Kongming lanterns began to float up one after another from various corners of the square.

Hundreds and thousands of Kongming lanterns swayed and rose into the night sky.

"Wow..." Gu Manqing couldn't help but exclaim.

She watched as a young couple next to her frantically wrote down their wishes and released sky lanterns, and sighed.

"How romantic... It's a pity I was so busy eating today, the street vendors' lanterns are probably all sold out by now."

His words were filled with sighs and lamentations.

Zhao Huaiyuan remained silent, but quietly took out a gift box and took out a folded Kongming lantern from it.

"Isn't this the prize from the riddle game this afternoon?" Gu Man recognized it at a glance.

"Oh, you took the prize?"

"Yes, let me lend a hand."

Why didn't you say so?

"You didn't ask."

Together, the two slowly unfolded the folded Kongming lantern on the ground.

He truly is the King of Lights.

When unfolded, it is more than half a meter long, and the paper used for lighting is not the cheap, thin kind.

"ignition."

"it is good."

"Ready? Time to release."

"Yes!" Gu Man nodded excitedly, her eyes filled with colorful light and shadow, a beautiful sight.

"rise!"

The two of them let go at the same time.

The colorful sky lantern steadily left the ground, swaying gently as it passed countless tiny lights, flying higher and higher.

Gu Man kept her head tilted back.

"So beautiful..." she murmured to herself.