This director only directs blockbusters.

That three-story building on the West Fourth Ring Road looks alright from a distance, but up close it's not so great.

The red brick exterior walls were covered with withered vines, and the two windows on the first floor had two holes that were plugged with cardboard. There were several cracks in the cement floor in front of the door, and withered grass was growing in the cracks.

Liu Yong was the first to arrive, carrying a huge hiking backpack and a toolbox. When he saw the building, he stood there stunned for three seconds.

"Director Yang..." He turned to look at Yang Ning, "Are you sure this is the place?"

"OK." Yang Ning took out the key to open the door, but the lock was rusty and it took him a while to open it.

As soon as the door was pushed open, dust fell down in a flurry.

The first floor was a large, empty space, with discarded filing cabinets and tables and chairs piled on the floor. Sunlight streamed in through the broken windows, casting swirling dust motes in the beams of light.

"This is fucking..." Liu Yong put down his bag. "How long will it take to pack this up?"

"Let's look at the second floor first." Yang Ning walked towards the stairs.

The stairs were made of wood and creaked when you stepped on them. The second floor was divided into several small rooms, and most of the plaster had peeled off the walls, revealing the red bricks underneath.

But the south-facing room is nice; it has a large window and plenty of sunlight. You can see an old locust tree behind the building, its bare branches reaching towards the sky.

"This is your office," Yang Ning said, pointing to the room. "Isn't it big enough?"

Liu Yong went inside and looked around: "It's enough... but the walls need to be repainted, the electrical wires need to be re-laid, and the internet cable..."

"Take your time," Yang Ning said. "First, we need a place to call home."

Just then, the sound of brakes came from downstairs.

The two walked to the window and looked down. A black sedan stopped, and Xu Qin got out of the passenger seat, looked up at the building, and frowned slightly.

She was wearing a long black coat today, and her high heels clicked loudly on the concrete.

"Sister Qin is here." Yang Ning came downstairs to greet her.

Xu Qin stood at the door, not going in, but first looking around.

"This place..." she paused, "is quite dilapidated."

"It's cheap," Yang Ning said honestly.

"You get what you pay for." Xu Qin walked in, her high heels leaving clear marks on the dust. "The renovation must have cost a lot of money."

"We have the budget," Yang Ning said. "Chairman Han will waive a year's rent, and the money saved will be enough for the renovation."

Xu Qin walked to the middle of the first floor and looked around: "The first floor is for reception and meeting rooms, the second floor is for offices, the third floor... what's the third floor for?"

"The third floor will be used as a special effects lab," Yang Ning said. "Han Duoduo needs a lot of equipment and requires a large space."

"That girl really came?" Xu Qin raised an eyebrow. "Will Third Master Han be willing to let her go?"

"We have to let her go, even if we're reluctant," Yang Ning laughed. "Duoduo wanted to come herself, and no one can stop her."

Just then, another taxi stopped.

Han Duoduo jumped off the bus with a backpack on her back and a laptop bag in her hand. Her eyes lit up when she saw the building.

"Director Yang! Brother Yong! Sister Qin!" She jogged over, "This building has such a great vibe! It's like a detective agency from an old movie!"

Liu Yong laughed: "A detective agency, my foot! Look at how shabby this is..."

"It's good to break it down!" Han Duoduo exclaimed excitedly. "These old buildings have a lot of potential for renovation! Director Yang, I'd like to install a skylight on the third floor. It'll be great for lighting, especially when we're doing special effects..."

"Okay, you draw the diagram," Yang Ning said. "As long as the structure allows, you can do it however you like."

Han Duoduo put down her bag and started taking out a measuring tape, muttering to herself, "4.2 meters high, 6 meters wide... That's good enough, enough for the rendering cluster..."

Xu Qin looked at the girl, shook her head, and said to Yang Ning, "It's good to be young; you're full of energy."

"You're young too," Yang Ning said.

"Come on," Xu Qin laughed. "I'm more than a decade older than you all."

"You're experienced enough," Yang Ning said earnestly. "You'll be the one to set up the studio."

Xu Qin didn't reply, but walked to the window and lit a cigarette.

"Yang Ning," she said, looking out the window, "what kind of studio do you want to make?"

"First, survive," Yang Ning said, "then make a sign, make a voice."

"How will we survive?"

"After 'Purple Cloud' is released, it will definitely generate buzz." Yang Ning walked over to her. "Let's strike while the iron is hot and start the next project immediately. I already have a general idea in mind."

"What type?"

"It still has to be a blockbuster," Yang Ning said, "a racing movie; the market is lacking in that genre."

Xu Qin exhaled a puff of smoke: "Where's the notebook?"

"I'm writing it," Yang Ning said. "I'm writing it myself. But I might need to find a screenwriter to polish it."

"Where's the director?"

"I'll direct," Yang Ning said, looking at her. "I have to personally oversee the studio's first project."

Xu Qin nodded and stubbed out her cigarette.

"Okay," she said. "Then I'll take care of setting up the company's framework first. Business registration, finance, legal affairs, HR... I'll handle all the trivial matters. You can focus on your creative work."

She paused for a moment: "But let me make one thing clear from the start—even close brothers should keep clear accounts. The studio's financial system must be standardized, and every transaction must be traceable. That's the bottom line."

"Of course," Yang Ning said.

Just then, my phone rang.

It was Chen Qiming calling.

Yang Ning answered: "Qiming."

"Director Yang," Chen Qiming's voice came from the other end, the background noise a bit loud, "I heard you started a studio?"

"They're quite well-informed."

"The industry is only so big," Chen Qiming laughed. "So, how about it, do you need a director of photography?"

Yang Ning was taken aback.

Chen Qiming now has a studio in Taiwan, taking on music videos and gigs, and he's doing quite well. I didn't expect him to bring this up on his own initiative.

"Are you serious?" Yang Ning asked.

"Seriously," Chen Qiming said. "Those three months filming 'Zi Xiao' were the most enjoyable I've had in recent years. I want to continue enjoying that experience."

Yang Ning walked to the top of the stairs and lowered her voice: "But the studio is just starting out, and the compensation might not be as good as what you got in Taiwan..."

"Money isn't the issue," Chen Qiming interrupted him. "I'll be back after a few gigs. The important thing is to work with the right people and film the right stuff."

Yang Ning remained silent for a few seconds.

"Okay," he said. "Then come here, the position of director of photography is reserved for you."

"Alright! I'll finish what I'm doing and head over next month!"

After hanging up the phone, Yang Ning went back downstairs.

Judging from his expression, Xu Qin guessed: "Chen Qiming is coming too?"

"Um."

"That's a good thing," Xu Qin said. "He's skilled and has a wide network of connections, so Taiwan could be a potential channel for him in the future."

"But for Taiwanese people coming to work in mainland China, the procedures..."

"I'll handle the formalities," Xu Qin said. "It's no problem at all."

Han Duoduo ran downstairs after taking measurements, her little face flushed: "Director Yang! I can divide the third floor into two areas, the front for special effects previews, and the back for the server..."

"You decide," Yang Ning said. "Make a list of what equipment you need and give it to Sister Qin."

Liu Yong came down from the second floor at this moment, holding a small notebook in his hand: "Director Yang, I've roughly calculated that the basic renovation plus water and electricity upgrades will cost at least 150,000 yuan. This doesn't include office furniture and equipment."

"Approved," Yang Ning said, "but quickly. I need to see this building operational within a month."

"A month?" Liu Yong's eyes widened. "That would require three shifts..."

"Then let's do three shifts." Yang Ning looked at him. "Brother Yong, we don't have time to take it slow. 'Purple Cloud' will be released after the New Year, and its popularity will only last for a few months. We have to strike while the iron is hot."

Liu Yong gritted his teeth: "Fine! I'll fucking risk it all!"