Sci-Fi Base

Before coming to Fujian, Lin Chuan had already gotten in touch with the base staff.

He told them he wanted to shoot a film and asked if he could use the base as a location.

After he explained his background and identity, the staff reported his request to the person in charge.

The person in charge readily agreed and asked Lin Chuan if he wanted to come by for a visit.

Lin Chuan was just as quick to agree, and immediately bought a high-speed rail ticket.

The person in charge of the base was surnamed Xu. He was a leader with a background in scientific research.

Lin Chuan hadn't expected him to come all the way to the high-speed rail station to meet him.

"Director Lin, I've seen your Happy Family. It was very moving. I didn't expect you to be so much more handsome in person than in the film!"

"You're too kind, Director Xu!"

On the way to the base, Lin Chuan realized that Director Xu wasn't just a movie buff—he was a sci-fi fan, too.

He knew all the science fiction films on Blue Star by heart.

When he got excited, he even gestured wildly, his eyes lighting up like a young man's.

Director Xu smiled apologetically. "Sorry, I got a little carried away."

"Director Lin, I'm sure you know that although Huaguo's technological capabilities have improved quite a bit, our cultural industry is still far behind!"

"Many films overseas portray us as backward and barbaric."

"But they turn a blind eye to the things our country does well!"

"When you said at the wrap party that you were going to make a sci-fi thriller, I was thrilled."

"I remember thinking, wouldn't it be wonderful if you could shoot it here?"

"I never thought my wish would come true!"

Director Xu's smile was exceptionally open and hearty, and there was even a touch of innocence in his eyes. He was clearly the kind of person who devoted himself wholeheartedly to scientific research.

Lin Chuan replied earnestly:

"I was worried, too. I didn't want to interfere with your research or violate any confidentiality regulations."

Director Xu waved his hand.

"Interfere with what? You won't be interfering at all. Showing off some of our research achievements could help raise our international standing!"

Lin Chuan chuckled.

"Director Xu, it seems we're on the same wavelength."

"My film, Moon, is mainly about how technological progress allows capital to alienate people."

"Western film festivals have always given awards to movies that smear our image, claiming they're exposing the dark side."

"This time, I thought, why not make a film that exposes their dark side instead?"

"Let's see if they'll give me an award!"

Director Xu laughed and clapped his hands. "That's the way to do it!"

As they chatted and laughed, Lin Chuan arrived at the Aerospace Base. He couldn't help feeling awestruck by the sight before him.

The scenery here perfectly matched what he had imagined for Moon!

Noticing Lin Chuan's reaction, Director Xu said softly:

"The government invested hundreds of billions in building this sci-fi base."

"It's all in preparation for a lunar landing!"

"Last month, NASA sent a crew of astronauts to a space station in outer space."

"Back then, we wanted to use their space station for research, but those foreigners flat-out refused. Now, we have a space station of our own!"

"NASA can still send people into outer space, but it can't send them to the moon."

"The spirit of its golden age has long since faded away."

"But our own crewed lunar landing program is about to become a reality!"

At this, Director Xu's eyes grew moist.

"I'm a materialist, but I believe our forebears will see all our hard work. We haven't let them down!"

Lin Chuan replied softly:

"That's right. We haven't let them down."

Lin Chuan had been following his country's technological progress since his previous life.

Back then, even though he'd been a construction worker and a slave to his mortgage, he'd still felt proud of his country's technological advances.

In his previous life, Lin Chuan had once seen a photograph taken in the early years after the founding of the country.

An old general stood on tiptoe, looking at a Russian aircraft carrier.

In those days, the Russians guarded their technology zealously and wouldn't even let people from Huaguo touch it.

The hope in the old general's eyes had moved Lin Chuan when he first saw the picture.

So when Lin Chuan heard that his country had launched its first aircraft carrier, he'd been overwhelmed with excitement.

Huaguo on Blue Star was much more technologically advanced.

By now, it had the technology for crewed lunar landings, though it was still in the experimental stage.

Once he confirmed that the Aerospace Base met his requirements, Lin Chuan brought up another request with Director Xu.

Lin Chuan asked Director Xu whether they had the technology to build intelligent robots.

If they did, could they lend him one to use?

Those who had seen Moon might know that the intelligent robot accompanying the male lead showed a glimmer of humanity at a crucial moment.

Lin Chuan hoped the robot would be made in Huaguo.

It would also serve as a bit of publicity.

Director Xu's answer delighted Lin Chuan.

"That kind of robot? We can absolutely build one."

"What's more, based on your setup, we could make a remotely operated robot."

"It could be sent to the moon to collect energy."

"That way, the male lead wouldn't have to risk his life going to the moon."

Lin Chuan smiled. "Then there wouldn't be a film."

"This kind of robot could appear in a post-credits scene."

"American technology is backward, so they can only collect energy by hand. Our technology is advanced, and we've long been able to use unmanned machines to collect it."

"Not only is our technology more advanced than theirs, but we're also more humane!"

Director Xu grinned with delight. "That's the way it should be!"

Lin Chuan's discussion with Director Xu ended on a high note.

He even called Xiao Hei over.

Together, they studied how the robot would be built.

Later, he called Ren Hang over, too, so he could get a feel for the atmosphere ahead of time.

The three roommates had a wonderful three days at the Aerospace Base.

At last, satisfied, they returned to Jianghai City.

On the way back, Lin Chuan opened Weibo to see how the writing contest was going.

Had any netizens written about a touching story from their own lives?

Lin Chuan opened Weibo with a smile.

He clicked on the article with the most likes and started reading.

When I was six, I begged my father to buy me one of those Subor learning machines that hooked up to the computer.

I told him it would really help with my studies, and that everyone in my class had one.

My father couldn't stand my pestering anymore and finally bought me one.

Of course, I wasn't interested in studying. I wanted to play games.

My father seemed to see right through me, but he didn't scold me. Instead, he picked up a controller and played with me.

Two years later, my father passed away.

I was only eight.

For the next ten years, I didn't touch that game console.

Then one day, I switched it on and discovered something.

My father and I had once played a game called Wild Racing.

It had actually been a lot of fun back then!

As I started looking around the game, I came across a real "ghost."

In the time trial mode of this racing game,

the record holder's best time would appear as a ghost racer and race alongside you.

Yes, you guessed it!

My father's ghost is still racing around the track to this day.

So I challenged him again and again.

Little by little, I started to catch up with that ghost racer.

Finally, one day, I did it! I overtook him! And then...

I stopped just before the finish line.