This director only directs blockbusters.

Yang Ning put out his cigarette and walked into the conference room.

"Director Zhao, I ordered those materials." He pulled up a chair and sat down. "They're needed for filming, and we can't wait to go through the formalities."

Director Zhao pushed up his glasses and smiled: "Director Yang, the group's regulations aren't just for show. You say you can't wait, but what if every project 'can't wait' in the future? What will happen to the regulations then?"

"Rules are rules, but movies are flexible." Yang Ning leaned forward. "That scene required a close-up of the wound, and under a 4K lens, ordinary silicone wouldn't look right. If the audience finds it disjointed, are you going to take responsibility?"

"I'm only responsible for process compliance." Director Zhao closed his notebook. "Here's what we'll do: seal these materials for now. You go through the process again, get quotes from three companies, compare them, and then we can use them."

"What if the filming schedule is delayed?"

"That's your problem," Director Zhao stood up. "Director Yang, an investment of 1.3 million yuan by the group is no small sum. Every penny must be spent transparently, don't you agree?"

The two looked at each other.

The air in the conference room seemed to freeze.

In the end, Wang Lei smoothed things over: "Director Zhao, how about this—we'll continue using the materials for now, and we'll complete the procedures later. Subsequent procurements will definitely be conducted strictly according to the regulations."

Director Zhao stared at Yang Ning: "What does Director Yang mean?"

Yang Ning laughed: "Okay, let's do it the way we do it."

He got up and walked out, but turned back at the door: "However, Director Zhao, there's something I need to say beforehand—"

In the film industry, some money can be saved, but some money cannot.

If you cut corners where you shouldn't, the film will flop, and no matter how compliant your audit is, you can't make up for the losses.

The door closed.

In the corridor, Old Xu caught up: "Are you really going to let them seal it up?"

"Shut up my ass." Yang Ning took out his phone. "I'm looking for Chairman Han."

The call was connected.

"Chairman Han, the audit team needs to seal the special effects materials."

Han Shanping was silent for two seconds on the other end: "Reason?"

"I didn't compare prices at three different stores."

"You definitely didn't leave."

"But the material is specially made, and there's only one distributor in all of China," Yang Ning said. "Director Zhao insisted that I find three. Where am I supposed to find them? Make two more?"

Han Shanping sighed, "Old Zhao has that temper; he's a stickler for details. Here's what we'll do: you can use the materials first, and we'll complete the procedures later. I'll talk to him about it."

"Thank you, Chairman Han."

"Don't thank me." Han Shanping's voice turned serious. "Yang Ning, you've been getting too much attention lately."

You know very well how many people you offended with your words at the press conference.

The audit team isn't just here to check the accounts; they're also here to give you a warning. Keep a low profile; making a good film is more important than anything else.

The phone hangs up.

Yang Ning held her phone and stood there for a while.

Old Xu asked, "How so?"

"Use it first." Yang Ning put his phone in his pocket. "Let's go to the film set."

---

Filming continued.

Scenes of the battle on the city wall continued to be filmed.

Chen Qiming directed the lighting team to set up the lights, and the huge light stands were moved around, casting swaying shadows on the ground.

Huang Xiaoming, suspended by wires, posed in mid-air. The martial arts instructor below shouted, "Straighten your back! Yes! You need that 'I'm about to unleash my ultimate move' spirit!"

Fan Binbin sat beside the monitor touching up her makeup, her assistant holding up a small mirror. She saw Yang Ning in the mirror and turned to ask, "Has the audit team left?"

"No, I'm checking the accounts in the conference room."

Is it troublesome?

"It's nothing." Yang Ning sat down next to her. "How's your knee?"

Fan Binbin rolled up his trouser leg—the gauze was removed, and the wound had formed a dark red scab, with the edges still a little red and swollen.

"The makeup artist said it can cover it up." She pulled down her trouser leg. "It won't affect the shoot."

Yang Ning nodded and picked up the walkie-talkie: "Are the lights ready?"

"Right now!" Chen Qiming shouted, "Adjust the side lighting again!"

While waiting for the lights to come on, Fan Binbin suddenly asked, "Director Yang, do you think our film will really be a success?"

"Why are you suddenly asking this?"

"Well..." she paused, "the things people are saying online lately are really nasty."

They say we're playing a 'game of capital,' and that you're 'unworthy of your position.' I'm so frustrated reading this on the forums."

Yang Ning laughed: "You still browse forums?"

"I look at it when I have free time," Fan Binbin said softly. "It makes me angry."

"Then don't watch it," Yang Ning said. "Focus on making your film and playing your role well. In the end, the audience isn't watching a forum, they're watching a movie."

Fan Binbin remained silent for a while.

Aren't you worried at all?

"What's the use of worrying?" Yang Ning stood up. "Will worrying make the film better? Or will it shut those people up?"

He walked behind the monitor and looked at the screen.

"Lights on! Actors, in position!"

Filming continues.

Huang Xiaoming leaped from the city wall, the wire pulling him through the air. He landed, tumbled, and drew his sword—the movements were executed in one fluid motion.

"Cut! Pass!"

After one take, change camera positions.

The stagehands were moving equipment, kicking up dust. Yang Ning coughed twice, reached for his cigarettes, and found the pack empty.

"Here you go." Fan Binbin handed over one.

Yang Ning paused for a moment, then took it: "You smoke too?"

"Don't you know whether I smoke or not?" Fan Binbin stared at Yang Ning. "Sure enough, people don't appreciate what's offered to them."

Yang Ning knew that although he seemed to be joking, his words were only half true.

In the distance, a young man from the audit team came out of the meeting room to use the restroom, glanced in this direction, and then retreated back inside.

"They've really got their eyes on us," Fan Binbin said, exhaling a puff of smoke.

"Let them keep an eye on us," Yang Ning said. "We haven't done anything wrong."

"The process is..."

"The process is fixed." Yang Ning flicked his cigarette ash. "Once the movie is finished, released, and becomes a box office hit, who remembers how the process went? Everyone only remembers whether the movie was good or not."

Fan Binbin laughed: "You're so optimistic."

"It's not optimism," Yang Ning said, looking at her. "It's that there's no time for pessimism."

With hundreds of crew members waiting for meals, the actors' months of hard work not to be wasted, and the 1.3 million yuan budget not to go down the drain—with so many things weighing on their minds, there was no time for sentimentality.

After finishing his cigarette, Yang Ning stubbed it out.

"Get ready for the next match!"

---

When we finished work in the evening, the audit team was still there.

Director Zhao came out of the finance office with his men, carrying several thick stacks of vouchers. Seeing Yang Ning, he walked over.

"Director Yang, that's all for today," Director Zhao said. "We've noted down some questions, which may require further explanation later."

"What's the problem?"

"It mainly involves budget execution and procurement processes," Director Zhao said, opening his notebook.

"For example, on page seven, the equipment rental fee is 15% higher than the market average."

Page 11, the meal allowance for extras exceeded the limit. And there's also the special effects material I mentioned earlier…”

Yang Ning interrupted him: "Director Zhao, do you know how much our film crew spends per day?"

Director Zhao paused for a moment: "Well... it depends on the specific project."

"On average, 300,000 per day," Yang Ning said. "That doesn't even include post-production special effects."

If you spend a whole day researching here and half a day filming, that's hundreds of thousands of yuan.

Do you think process compliance is more important, or is it more important to spend money wisely?