This director only directs blockbusters.

As the final scene ended, the sun was almost setting below the horizon.

Sunlight shone through the clouds, bathing the port in an orange-red hue. The shadows of the shipping containers stretched long on the ground.

Yang Ning sat behind the monitor watching. In the footage, Nicholas Tse and Hu Jun were standing together, with a prop truck burning behind them.

Both of them were covered in dust, and their clothes were a bit torn. Li Binbin and Gao Yuanyuan walked over, supporting each other, while Deng Chao followed behind, walking with a slight limp.

"stop!"

Yang Ning stood up.

No one spoke; everyone was watching him.

He paused for a few seconds.

"This one is approved."

No one moved.

"That's enough," he said again.

Old Xu finally realized what was happening, threw the walkie-talkie into the air, and yelled at the top of his lungs, "Filming's wrapped up—!"

The whole scene suddenly became lively.

Deng Chao jumped up, landed unsteadily, and fell, still laughing as he sat on the ground. Hu Jun picked up Nicholas Tse and spun him around, then remembered his left hand was still in a cast, quickly putting him down, a little embarrassed. Nicholas Tse smiled and patted him on the shoulder with his right hand.

Li Binbin squatted on the ground, burying her face in her hands. Gao Yuanyuan walked over, thinking she was crying, but upon closer inspection—she was actually laughing, her shoulders shaking with laughter.

"What are you laughing at?" Gao Yuanyuan asked.

"It's amazing that we actually finished filming." Li Binbin stood up, his eyes a little red, but the corners of his mouth were turned up high. "Three months, South Africa, forty-degree weather, and all those troubles... we actually made it through."

Gao Yuanyuan laughed when she heard her say that.

Xue Kaiqi stood to the side, still holding a prop wrench, staring at everyone somewhat absentmindedly. Chen Wei walked over from behind and patted her on the shoulder.

"Filming's wrapped up, what are you spacing out for?"

"It just feels... a bit unreal," Xue Kaiqi said softly.

Chen Wei laughed: "I've been acting for so many years, and this is the first time I've ever seen a production like this."

7 p.m., hotel banquet hall.

The long tables were arranged in a large U-shape, covered with a white tablecloth, and filled with dishes and wine. The chef had prepared ten courses, from cold appetizers to desserts, a full table of food.

More than eighty people were crammed into the hall, making it very lively.

Yang Ning sat in the main seat, with Lao Xu on her left and Xu Qin on her right—she had just flown in from Beijing yesterday to attend the wrap-up party.

"Director Yang," Old Xu said, holding his glass, his face flushed, "these three months have been truly tough! A toast to you!"

Yang Ning clinked glasses with him.

Xu Qin whispered from the side, "President Han just sent a message that preparations for the domestic publicity have already begun. We'll start post-production when we get back."

Yang Ning nodded.

Li Binbin walked over with a wine glass in his hand.

"Director Yang, I salute you."

Yang Ning stood up.

"Thank you for these three months," Li Binbin said, looking at him. "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to play Leng Yue. Everything is in this drink."

"It's because you acted well."

Li Binbin smiled and drank the wine.

Then Hu Jun came over, holding a bottle of baijiu and reeking of alcohol.

"Director Yang, I've worked with many directors. You're the first one who lets me act freely and enjoy myself. I hope we'll have the opportunity to work together again next time."

Yang Ning clinked glasses with him: "Teacher Hu, you are also the first actor who made me dare to write that kind of play."

Hu Jun laughed after hearing that.

Deng Chao leaned closer, his face flushed, and his words trembled slightly: "Director Yang... I'm telling you, I'll act in whatever you direct from now on, even as an extra!"

Yang Ning looked at him and smiled.

"Alright, go back and get some rest. We have important business to attend to tomorrow."

"What important matter is it?"

"Pay labor fees."

After everyone had finished offering their toasts, Yang Ning stood up and gently tapped his glass.

After a few ringing sounds, the hall gradually quieted down.

"I'd like to say a few words," Yang Ning said, looking at the people present.

More than eighty faces were looking at him. Some were tanned, some were so tired they could barely keep their eyes open, and some were excited.

"We just arrived in South Africa three months ago, and some people thought we'd never finish filming this movie."

No one spoke.

"The insurance company refused to cover the scene on the mountain road. Some locals came to cause trouble, and we almost got into a fight. When filming the helicopter scene, the steel cable almost broke. Some people were injured during filming, some suffered from heatstroke, and some were so stressed that they couldn't sleep at night—"

Someone chuckled softly below.

"But," Yang Ning paused, "we've all made it through."

He raised his glass.

"This toast is to everyone. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard on set. Thank you to the camera crew for carrying equipment around every day, thank you to the lighting crew for working in the sweltering heat wearing long sleeves, thank you to the props team for running all over Johannesburg for even the smallest parts. And thank you to all the actors—"

He looked at Nicholas Tse, Li Binbin, Hu Jun, Gao Yuanyuan, Deng Chao, and Xue Kaiqi.

"Thank you for going to such lengths and taking this so seriously."

Everyone listened quietly.

"We'll have two days off starting tomorrow," Yang Ning continued. "Go wherever you want, buy whatever you want. Each person has a 20,000 yuan allowance, which will be reimbursed by the team."

There was silence for a few seconds.

Then it suddenly exploded.

"Twenty thousand?!"

"Really?"

"Director Yang is so magnanimous!"

Deng Chao jumped up from his chair, knocking over a wine glass without a care, and shouted, "Twenty thousand! I'm going to buy some local specialties!"

Hu Jun laughed from the side, "Why buy local specialties? Just bring back a souvenir."

Li Binbin and Gao Yuanyuan exchanged a glance and both smiled.

Nicholas Tse sat there without saying a word, a slight smile on his lips.

Xue Kaiqi was stunned for a long time, then grabbed the person next to him and asked, "Is it really 20,000? RMB?"

"Yes, twenty thousand."

She opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn't know what to say.

The banquet gradually came to an end, and half of the people left.

Yang Ning went out onto the balcony and lit a cigarette.

A night breeze blew by, carrying the dry heat of Africa. In the distance, the lights of Johannesburg shone like scattered stars on the ground.

He leaned against the railing, smoking, his mind preoccupied with what lay ahead—returning home, post-production, promotion, and the film's release. There was still so much to do.

There were very light footsteps behind me.

The sound stopped behind him.

Then, someone gently leaned in and quickly kissed him on the cheek while standing on tiptoe.

It left so quietly, in an instant.

Yang Ning turned his head.

Xue Kaiqi stood there, her face flushed. She was still wearing the little white dress from the banquet, her hair was a little messy, and her eyes were bright, but she didn't dare to look at him.

"Director Yang..." she said softly, "I just... wanted to thank you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I didn't know how to thank you, so..."

She couldn't continue.

Yang Ning remained silent.

She panicked even more: "I'm so sorry, I was so impulsive, please don't mind, I'll be going now—"

After saying that, he turned and ran.

He ran to the door, then stopped.

She glanced back at him quickly.

Then he pushed open the door and entered the banquet hall, disappearing into the lights.

Yang Ning was still standing on the balcony, with the half-smoked cigarette between his fingers.

He raised his hand and touched the spot where he had just been kissed.

My face still felt a little warm, soft, and had a slightly sweet fruity smell.

He smiled.

I turned around and continued to look at the night view in the distance.

A gentle night breeze blew by.

In the distance, the lights of Johannesburg shone quietly like stars.