Chapter 159: The Supreme Invincible Dongpo Pork

Chen Shi asked again, “So, what about the actors’ salaries?”

“They get the same rates as third-tier stars, they never fall behind on payments, they often get bonuses, and the company even organizes trips for them… Though Lu’s company isn’t well-known, one thing’s for sure—it’s loaded with money!”

Hearing this, even Chen Shi felt a twinge of envy. He continued, “Who’s Mr. Lu’s current girlfriend?”

“He’s single right now!”

“How long has he been single?”

The HR manager recalled, “I think he broke up with his last girlfriend in November, so about three months now.”

“Thank you.”

Chen Shi then called over the planner, who was more familiar with the actors, capable of naming each one. Chen Shi got straight to the point, “Who is Mr. Lu’s current girlfriend, or rather, who is he pursuing now?”

“Cheng Yan.”

“Is she also the lead actress?”

“Um, she’s in this movie that’s still being edited. It seems like Mr. Lu took this one quite seriously, a big production compared to the others.”

“Do you have a photo of her?”

The planner pulled up an image on the computer. Xu Xiaodong commented, “Mr. Lu’s taste seems consistent, but this girl looks prettier and younger.”

The planner added, “Mr. Lu spent a lot on pursuing her, even bought 9,999 roses on set once.”

Chen Shi asked, “Why didn’t she accept?”

“Rumor has it she doesn’t like men, or perhaps that was just an excuse to reject Mr. Lu.”

“By the way, what’s the title of this new movie?”

“‘The Supreme Invincible Dongpo Pork’.”

“What’s it about?”

“I didn’t really read the script, you might want to ask the scriptwriter.”

Chen Shi then summoned the chief scriptwriter and asked, “Are you the scriptwriter? Did you write this script?”

The scriptwriter replied, “No, no, actually every movie is self-produced, self-written, directed, and starred in by Mr. Lu himself. He’s the real scriptwriter; we just help polish it. I know it’s bad to speak ill of the dead, but Mr. Lu had wild ideas yet not much literary talent. He’d often come up with an idea on a whim, call a creative meeting, or just write it himself. The first drafts were like dog crap; we’d try to straighten them out, make them presentable.”

“What’s the movie about?”

“It’s about Chinese cuisine personified, banding together to defeat Western fast food. The protagonist is Dongpo pork, the heroine is Yangchun noodles, and the antagonist is a hamburger.”

“Interesting. Let me see the script.”

“Well, the rights are currently…”

“Don’t worry, we’re just using it for the investigation. We’ll destroy it afterward. Oh, and give us a copy of the unedited film.”

The scriptwriter printed out a script and also copied a rough cut of the movie from the editor. Chen Shi reviewed the title page of the script and noted down the contact details of everyone listed.

Feeling he had no further questions, Chen Shi prepared to leave, but the person in charge asked, “Could you speak with Mr. Lu’s father, see if he could let the company keep operating?”

“Yeah, yeah, you have the clout, please say something!” Everyone looked at Chen Shi expectantly.

Chen Shi knew the truth was harsh but had to share it, “You all know this company was just a plaything for Mr. Lu; it doesn’t really make money. Lu Qixing is a businessman; he won’t keep a non-profitable venture running. It’s better to look for new opportunities sooner rather than later.”

“But we’re a team with experience in film production, we’ve built up a lot of contacts and resources. Are we just supposed to give up?” the manager persisted.

“I must be blunt, filmmaking, nowadays, anyone can do it, but it’s also a product that needs to sell.”

What was intended as a cold splash of reality sparked inspiration in some, the planner said, “As long as we can sell these films, there’s still hope for the company.”

The scriptwriter added, “Right, we could write more popular themes, include more comedy and melodrama, make films that are easy and enjoyable to watch.”

“Why not just skip severance and use that as start-up capital for the next film?”

“What should we film?”

“I think today’s event could be adapted into a film, call it ‘The Boss Is Gone’.”

“Haha, that’s interesting, worth a try!”

Everyone began discussing enthusiastically, rekindling a spark of hope to save the ship without its captain. Chen Shi just shook his head and smiled wryly at their naive optimism, but it wasnot his place to dampen their spirits.

As the office buzzed with renewed energy, a long-haired male editor stood up from his workstation, slinging a canvas bag over his shoulder with a cool demeanor. He coldly remarked, “Get real, everyone. This company was just a fantasy playground for a big baby. You’ve been here for years and haven’t really learned anything valuable. Once you step outside, you’re still nobodies.”

Someone protested, “Xu Xuan, how can you say that? Mr. Lu always treated you well!”

The editor replied icily, “He’s dead now. Avoiding reality won’t change anything. You all take care of yourselves.”

With that, Chen Shi decided it was time to leave. He and Xu Xiaodong headed out to a nearby film café, “Let’s watch Mr. Lu’s last work.”

Xu Xiaodong gave a wry smile, “Sure, let’s pay our respects.”

The rough cut of the film, unenhanced by special effects or proper sound editing, was tough to watch. About a third of the way through, Chen Shi couldn’t take it anymore. He paused the playback, massaging his temples, “I can’t handle this anymore. Noticed anything?”

Xu Xiaodong remarked, “The soul of the performances is the same, but you can tell the male lead has feelings for the female lead. He’s really into their romantic scenes.”

“The girl seems a bit stiff, like she’s not too willing to cooperate,” Chen Shi observed.

“Exactly!”

“I need some fresh air,” Chen Shi announced, standing up.

Xu Xiaodong called after him, “Hey, grab me a Coke while you’re out.”

Outside, Chen Shi overheard a heated argument. The editor he’d met at the company was disputing with the café owner. The owner was saying, “Buddy, the films you’re asking for are so obscure, no café in town has them. Why don’t you watch some of the new releases instead?”

“Just give me my money back!” the editor insisted.

The café’s policy was clearly posted: No refunds. “To make a fuss over fifty bucks? I can’t believe it!” the owner retorted, yet reluctantly handed back the money.

Chen Shi patted the editor on the shoulder, “Came here to unwind?”

“Feeling down. The company’s still pretending nothing’s changed, discussing what films to make next. None of them can face reality.”

“Young people having dreams is not bad, even if those dreams are doomed to be shattered.”

The editor sneered, “Dreams are a luxury. They don’t understand that. Lu could afford to chase them; they can’t.”

This young man, not yet thirty but with a cynical outlook, intrigued Chen Shi, “How about I buy you a drink?”

The editor paused, then nodded, “Sure, why not?” They moved to a quieter corner of the café, where Chen Shi was ready to hear more about this disillusioned soul’s story, perhaps to offer some advice, or simply to listen—an old detective’s way of lending an ear to the world’s hidden woes.