Chapter 939: Visiting the Film Set

During the Golden Week holiday, Lin Dongxue drove Tao Yueyue to a film studio located in the suburbs.

The place was bustling with tourists, and Lin Dongxue parked the car and took Tao Yueyue for a leisurely stroll around the area. Although they had been here before for an investigation, today they could finally enjoy the quaint shops at their own pace.

The shops, with their traditional charm, sold various souvenirs. Even though they had no intention of buying anything, just browsing through the myriad of items brought a sense of joy—perhaps it was a woman’s innate nature to enjoy shopping.

“Excuse me, miss!” A man in a plaid shirt with sunglasses perched on his forehead approached them, smiling and handing over a business card. “Interested in becoming a star? Our company is recruiting now.”

“Sorry, I already have a job,” Lin Dongxue replied, turning to leave.

“Hey, hey!” The man with sunglasses blocked their way. “Think about it. With your looks, you could make a lot of money as a star.”

“No interest.”

Lin Dongxue pulled Tao Yueyue away, and the man continued his pitch until he saw they were not interested, then moved on to target other passersby.

“Who was that? A talent scout?” Tao Yueyue asked.

“Not really. I checked his card; he’s more of a casting agent. He helps film crews find extras and special actors.”

“Sister Lin, do you get approached by these people often?”

“Yeah, being too good-looking can be a hassle. When I was an intern at the police academy, someone took candid photos of me and posted them online, calling me ‘the most beautiful police student.’ It went viral for a bit, which was annoying. I swore I’d never take a job where I’d be in the public eye, like a traffic cop, to avoid that kind of attention again.”

“Some classmates say I look like a boy,” Tao Yueyue said, touching her short hair.

“You can tell them it doesn’t matter. Women don’t have to look a certain way, and neither do men. There’s no need to conform to anyone’s standards of beauty.”

Tao Yueyue smiled appreciatively. “Okay, I’ll tell them that next time.”

Lin Dongxue patted her on the head. “Do you want to buy any souvenirs?”

“No, I’ll buy something for you instead. I have more money than you now.”

“You have more money than me? Haha!”

Chen Shi had set up a bank account for Tao Yueyue, putting the money from selling her story rights into it. Lin Dongxue said, “Spend it wisely!”

“I plan to buy things that retain value and save them in the bank. What if inflation hits?”

“Discuss it with Uncle Chen. He’s quite financially savvy.”

After Chen Shi’s true identity was revealed, he shared his past experiences with Lin Dongxue. She admired how, despite losing everything and starting over from scratch, he managed to save up enough to buy a house and a car.

Of course, those first few years were tough. He endured a lot of hardship and pressure, but Lin Dongxue thought that a man’s charm, like a diamond, was honed through adversity.

Hearing “Uncle Chen” made Tao Yueyue think of their ongoing cold war. “I don’t want his interference,” she said grumpily.

“Alright, whatever you say…” Lin Dongxue checked her watch. “When’s your meeting with the director?”

“Noon.”

“It’s almost time. Let’s head over.”

Tao Yueyue had been invited to the wrap party for the film crew. She had met the director and screenwriter during the script development phase, and today was just a visit.

They arrived at a hotel and approached the front desk. A chubby man with black-rimmed glasses emerged from the elevator and warmly greeted, “Yueyue?”

“Uncle Screenwriter!”

“Haha, you made it…” The screenwriter glanced at Lin Dongxue. “And this is?”

“This is my mom!” Tao Yueyue said, clinging to Lin Dongxue’s arm.

“Oh, Officer Lin, Yueyue mentioned you.” He shook Lin Dongxue’s hand. “While writing the script, we talked for an average of ten hours a week and met several times, revising countless drafts to get it right. I can finally breathe easy.”

“Your job sounds tough.”

“Let’s not stand here talking. Let’s go upstairs.”

The screenwriter had known Tao Yueyue for a while. In the elevator, she eagerly asked, “Uncle Screenwriter, who’s playing me?”

“Hehe, after much deliberation, we couldn’t find anyone with your unique presence. How about playing yourself?”

“Me? I’m not an actress. I have no acting skills.”

“Haha, just kidding. We’ve cast Xia Xiaolou as the lead.”

“What?” Tao Yueyue was disappointed. “She’s in her forties! Playing me?”

“She played a high school student in ‘Brave Heart’ and did well.”

“It’s not about experience. She’s too old! If she has so much experience, should she play a high school student when she’s a grandmother?”

“Haha!” The screenwriter laughed, finding Tao Yueyue’s remarks amusing. “This kid always has something interesting to say. She must be well-behaved at home. My daughter is the same age and in her rebellious phase. She had a crush, I said a few words, and now she’s angry with me.”

Lin Dongxue and Tao Yueyue exchanged a knowing smile. It seemed every family faced similar challenges.

When they reached their floor, Lin Dongxue mentioned, “I read an article saying that our country’s films are filled with young female roles, forcing middle-aged actresses to play young girls.”

“It’s market-driven, unfortunately. It’s tough for screenwriters here. In the West, screenwriters are the top dogs on set. But here, everyone can demand changes. Directors say a scene is too expensive, so you revise it. Investors want to add a character, so you write them in. The worst are big-name actors who demand script changes on a whim. And then there’s censorship. For example, this film, the director felt a teenage girl’s kidnapping wasn’t appropriate, so the lead was changed to a college student.”

“What?!” Tao Yueyue was shocked. “This was in the news. Why can’t they film it?”

“It’s not that they can’t. The director self-censored, fearing it wouldn’t pass review. It’s common in our industry.”

“Were there other changes?” Tao Yueyue asked, knowing she’d helped write the script and feeling unsettled by these alterations.

“I’ll show you the script later. There were quite a few changes.”

Tao Yueyue turned to Lin Dongxue. “I have a bad feeling about this…”