Chapter 955: Resurrection

Lin Dongxue and Tao Yuanyuan entered the screenwriter’s room to gather evidence.

Tao Yuanyuan found an aluminum telescopic rod under the bed and said, “I guess this thing is used for reaching ropes.”

“Probably,” Lin replied.

“Sister Lin, how many years do you think the screenwriter will get?” asked Tao Yuanyuan.

“I’m not a judge, so I can’t say for sure, but typically it’s over a decade,” Lin Dongxue replied.

“Over a decade, that’s so long!”

“At least there’s still hope.”

“I don’t think he’s a bad person, just unlucky. Back in school when I pranked Liang Zuo-ming, pushing him down the stairs only broke his leg. The screenwriter pushed someone down and that person died. I’m sure he didn’t intend to kill. Could he get a lighter sentence?”

Lin Dongxue shook her head. “The law only cares about outcomes. If one person drives drunk and damages a streetlight, and another kills someone while driving drunk, they’ve both done the same thing. It’s all about luck. Like you said, luck. Even a person’s birth—those hardened criminals, if they had been lucky to be born into a good family, maybe they wouldn’t have gone astray. It’s a pity, but the law can’t save unfortunate souls. It only punishes and protects others.”

“Like removing the bad apples to prevent them from spoiling the good ones?”

Lin Dongxue nodded with a smile. “That’s about right.”

From a drawer, Lin Dongxue found a fishing line with a coin tied to its end and also a magnet. She tapped the coin against the magnet and said, “So that’s how it works. The screenwriter tied a coin to the end of the rope and then used a magnet to pull it over.”

With the investigation complete, Lin Dongxue fulfilled her promise and gathered everyone from the crew to deliver the findings.

After hearing her report, everyone was shocked. The producer roared, grabbing the director’s collar. “It was your people who killed my son, and you’re still making movies? Dream on! You won’t be making any more movies in the future!”

The director said, “Mr. Producer, this isn’t our fault. It’s Xiao Ai…”

“You want to say something? It was my son’s fault!” The producer’s eyes bulged as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.

He left angrily, and Xia Xiaolou hesitated for a moment before following him.

Tao Yuanyuan suddenly thought, the screenwriter is ultimately just a pitiful person, making a bit of resistance under the shackles of capital. The producer is the real villain, like a tyrant acting arbitrarily, yet he stands within the safety line of the law. No one can touch him.

The director sat despondently in his chair, saying, “Fine, I guess our collaboration this time is probably over. The screenwriter was fine, why did he have to push someone down the stairs?”

The assistant director said, “Should we go look for more sponsorship?”

“Easy to say, nowadays, whoever pays the piper calls the tune. Even if I don’t know if I’m filming a movie or just trying to please those big shots. Damn it, I might as well go home and open a grocery store!”

“How much money do you need?” Cai Zhengkai suddenly asked.

“A grocery store will cost around a hundred thousand.”

“No, I mean for the movie. How much sponsorship do you need?”

The director brightened up. “Cai Ge, are you willing to invest?”

Cai Zhengkai looked at his hesitant agent and said, “Let our company invest. I think this movie can be made well and win awards. It’s an investment.”

“What if we lose? Our small company can’t afford this risk.”

“In that case, I’ll invest personally. I get sixty percent of the box office. We’ll use the earliest version of the script, a pure thriller without all that messy stuff, and I’m confident in portraying Zhou Xiao’s character.”

“But what if it doesn’t pass censorship? You put all your savings into it, and in the end, it doesn’t get approved. You’ve worked for these years for nothing.” The agent reminded.

One sentence made Cai Zhengkai’s just-raised ambition wither.

An awkward silence hung over everyone’s heads. Tao Yuanyuan stood up and said, “Why do we have to consider so much when making a movie? If it doesn’t pass, we can just cut it. Shouldn’t we focus now on making a good movie? Catering to sponsors, making it easier to pass censorship, the only thing we never consider is the audience. Shouldn’t a movie be good-looking?”

“She’s right!” Cai Zhengkai’s eyes lit up, “As long as we make a good movie, there’s no return without risk. I invest!”

“Great!” The director exclaimed excitedly, “I didn’t expect a sudden turn of events. Our movie has come back to life…”

The assistant director received a phone call and whispered to the director, who said, “Alright, now Xiao Xiaolou is leaving too, and we probably need to find another leading actress.”

Tao Yuanyuan timidly raised her hand. “Um, can I play that role?”

“Huh? You?” The director looked as if he’d heard a joke. “Little girl, I admit you’re smart in other ways, but why should you play the female lead?”

“Because I am Tao Yuanyuan!”

The director suddenly realized this fact, his smile faded, and he called his team aside to discuss.

Lin Dongxue said, “What are you doing, acting impulsively? Why skip school?”

“I just want to contribute. If I can use one less star, I can save a lot of money,” Tao Yuanyuan blushed and said, “Besides, this movie is my true story.”

“Young people are really daring,” Cai Zhengkai walked over, “Are you going to act with me?”

Tao Yuanyuan nodded.

“Do you have time?”

“I can ask for leave from school. I usually study with books on my own. I should be able to finish filming before the exams!”

Cai Zhengkai stared at Tao Yuanyuan for a while, making her nervous. He said, “I can’t say you’re not the female lead, after all, you’re her. But experiencing that part of your life again must be very heavy for you?”

“I’ve already moved on.”

“Good, very good!”

At this point, the director and others arrived, smiling at Tao Yuanyuan, “After discussing with everyone, we believe…”

Tao Yuanyuan’s heart pounded like a drum.

“We believe you’re not suitable!”

“Why?”

“Because you’re not a professional actress. How could we let an amateur play the female lead? Isn’t that a joke?”

“I can learn, I learn things very quickly!” Tao Yuanyuan continued to struggle.

“No, no, you better go to school!” The director waved his hand.

Just as Tao Yuanyuan was disappointed, she heard Cai Zhengkai say, “She is the female lead!”

“No, Cai Ge, why?”

“Because I’m the investor now, and what I say goes!”

With that, Cai Zhengkai left confidently, leaving the director and the others dumbfounded.

The director told Tao Yuanyuan, “Congratulations first, we’ll start shooting tomorrow. Is the time okay for you?”

“No problem.” Tao Yuanyuan said happily, “I’ll call the school to ask for leave. Sister Lin, could you help me talk to the dean?”

Lin Dongxue showed a helpless expression. “You acted on impulse and came to shoot, so I’ll have to accompany you every day!”

“Just this once!” Tao Yuanyuan clasped her hands together and pleaded.

“Alright, alright, I can’t do anything with you.” Lin Dongxue smiled bitterly.