A song called "The You of the Past" has prompted the entire internet to beg me not to leav

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

Lin Yan had just finished eating and drinking and was about to start a game when his phone, which was lying on the sofa, started vibrating wildly like a death knell.

The caller ID showed an unfamiliar landline number from Beijing.

Lin Yan didn't want to answer, but the other party called back immediately after hanging up, as if they would keep calling until the end of time if he didn't answer.

"Feed?"

Lin Yan reluctantly pressed the answer button, his tone full of annoyance at being disturbed.

"Young friend Lin Yan! I'm Sun Changgeng from the Huaxia Archaeological Research Institute in Beijing! Oh dear, it was really difficult to get through to you on the phone!"

A loud and extremely excited old man's voice came from the other end of the phone.

Lin Yan was taken aback. After a moment of thought, he remembered that this Professor Sun was the archaeological giant who had been responsible for identifying the "Luoyang Shovel" and the "Firestone Array" when the police checked his water gauge while he was writing "The Grave Robbers' Chronicles".

Later, this old man almost got into a fight with Li Mingchang from the Music Association at the villa over who would take him.

"Oh, Professor Sun, what brings you here?" Lin Yan pressed the pause button on the game.

"Brother Lin, it's like this!" Sun Changgeng said excitedly, "Ever since the official clarification announcement, your book 'The Grave Robbers' Chronicles' has become incredibly popular! The Forbidden City Publishing House printed seven or eight million copies, but it still couldn't keep up with demand. Now, young people all over the country have developed an extremely strong interest in our ancient Chinese tombs and archaeological culture, and the number of visitors to major museums has tripled!"

"That's a good thing. It means people are starting to pay attention to traditional culture." Lin Yan yawned.

"So the higher-ups attach great importance to it!" Professor Sun's voice suddenly rose.

"The Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the State Administration of Radio and Television have jointly issued a document deciding to seize the opportunity and adapt 'The Grave Robbers' Chronicles' into a film or television series! This is a key cultural promotion project. They specifically named you, the original author, as the person in charge of developing this IP. Funding, approval, distribution channels—the national team is handling everything!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yan's mind went blank.

Film or television adaptation? Will you personally oversee the process?

This means he has to write scripts, oversee casting, check out locations, and even work on set.

This is absolutely the most anti-salted job in the world!

"Professor Sun, I've been unwell lately, suffering from rheumatism and bone pain, and I'm still on my honeymoon. Also, a friend of mine might have a serious illness next month..." Lin Yan blurted out, trying to politely decline.

"Oh, Brother Lin, don't refuse! I've already spoken with Shen Qingqiu, and she strongly supports this important undertaking that benefits the country and its people. Moreover, as long as the script passes review, our research institute will grant your crew special permission to film on location outside some of the newly excavated authentic Han Dynasty tombs!"

Filmed on real ancient tombs!

These words struck Lin Yan like a hammer blow, hitting him squarely where it hurt.

Although he is lazy, he still has that obsessive-compulsive disorder of creating perfect works deep down.

The inconsistent quality of film and television adaptations of the previous "Tomb Raiders Chronicles" has always been a source of frustration for book fans.

If it can be filmed on location, and with the backing of a national team, it could definitely become a masterpiece that will go down in film history.

"Alright," Lin Yan conceded, "but I have one condition. I'll only provide the script and decide on the core casting; I won't concern myself with any other trivial matters."

"Deal! The entire production team will report to you in Xinghai City tomorrow!"

Fearing that Lin Yan might change his mind, Old Man Sun hung up the phone with lightning speed.

Hearing the busy tone on his phone, Lin Yan rubbed his temples helplessly.

Without hesitation, Lin Yan made a direct call to the group's administration department and had someone summon Deputy Director Zhang, who was still waiting in Xinghai City, to the villa on the hillside.

Half an hour later.

Assistant Director Zhang sat nervously on the sofa in the villa, a laptop on his lap, his hands hovering over the keyboard, his palms sweating with tension.

He was Lao Liang's protégé and knew all too well how terrifying this young man in slippers was.

"President Lin, when...when should we start discussing the script outline?" Assistant Director Zhang asked cautiously.

"What outline are we discussing?" Lin Yan picked up an apple and took a bite. "Just type what I say. If I say 'first episode,' you type 'first episode,' just don't interrupt."

"Huh? You don't make a draft?" Assistant Director Zhang was stunned.

"The drafts are all in my head."

Lin Yan closed his eyes, and the memories in the treasure trove of Earth's culture and entertainment began to play in his mind like a clear film reel.

Episode 1. Title: The Seven Star Lu Palace.

"Inside the day. Wushanju, Hangzhou. A slightly dilapidated but quaint antique shop. The protagonist, Wu Xie, in his early twenties, wearing a simple white T-shirt, his eyes must be clear, that kind of innocent curiosity about the unknown amidst his clear naivety."

"Close-up shot: a yellowed Warring States period silk scroll. Big Gold Tooth pushes open the door, revealing the secret of the scroll. Wu Xie's third uncle, Wu Sansheng, makes his appearance, exuding the aura of a cunning old fox."

At first, Assistant Director Zhang had doubts about this absurd method of "orally dictating the script," but as Lin Yan's speaking speed increased, his fingers gradually became afterimages on the keyboard.

Lin Yan's description was extremely vivid, from the eerie atmosphere of the tomb to the dryness of the clump of red soil brought out by the Luoyang shovel, and even the sound effects and drumbeats when the blood corpse was taken out of the coffin. He described everything with perfect accuracy.

"Then the young man will make his appearance." Lin Yan suddenly opened his eyes, his tone becoming serious.

"Zhang Qiling. Note that he is not the kind of expressionless, cool idol drama male lead. His eyes should convey a sense of vicissitude from living too long and a sense of alienation from this world. He carries a black gold ancient sword, wears a dark blue hoodie, and has unusually long fingers. Remember, every time he appears, he must exude an absolute sense of security that can suppress all evil spirits."

"I...I've got it!"

Assistant Director Zhang's fingers went numb from typing, but his eyes burned with a fervent light.

This is absolutely amazing! The script doesn't need any revisions at all; the imagery is so vivid it's immediately apparent.

Every suspenseful moment and every crisis resolved was precisely timed to resonate with the audience.

"Last one is Fatty Wang." Lin Yan took a sip of water to moisten his throat.

"He's the soul of this show. He's not some clown or idiot used to highlight the main character. He has to be genuinely fat, with a belly full of fat, but he has to be agile. He has to be witty, loyal in crucial moments, and seemingly rough but actually very meticulous. He's the lubricant in the iron triangle."

For the entire afternoon, Lin Yan lay on the sofa and dictated, managing to "read" the entire scripts of "Seven Star Lu Palace" and "The Lost Tomb 2: The Wrath of the Sea".

"Alright, that's enough for today."

Lin Yan glanced at the clock on the wall and left work on time.

"Take the script and file it. Tomorrow, notify all the major talent agencies that we'll start casting. Remember, no big names, no expressionless faces. Anyone who dares to put in those useless people who only have a pretty face can get out of here."

"Yes, Mr. Lin!" Assistant Director Zhang left with the computer as if it were a priceless treasure.

Lin Yan looked at the empty living room and stroked his chin.

Wu Xie and Xiao Ge are easy to find; there are plenty of good young actors in China with formal training.

But this Fatty Wang needs to be both rough and tumble, funny, and agile; it's not something just any fat guy can pull off.