Gone Mad

At 3 PM, the parking lot of the Sun Moon Stars Restaurant.

Li Xun, Tang Jiahe, and Kong Teng watched Huang Zhou's car drive away. Then Tang Jiahe said, "Let's go. We need to report to President Dai at the company."

The three took a taxi back to the Penguin Innovation Building.

Actually, both Tang Jiahe and Kong Teng had their own cars. However, they had both prepared to drink that day, so neither of them drove. They hadn't expected a big star like Huang Zhou to drive himself, and the drinking session ultimately didn't happen.

In the taxi, Director Kong Teng, sitting in the back seat with Li Xun, suddenly said, "Have you ever thought about changing careers and becoming a director?"

Li Xun asked, "Director Kong, are you talking to me? Why would you ask that?"

Kong Teng turned to look at Li Xun, his expression complex. "Just now, in over two, almost three hours, you dictated a script so seamlessly. Even the hosts of the Spring Festival Gala sometimes miss their lines, right? And they only have a few sentences. That's after countless rehearsals. You wouldn't have practiced the scene countless times privately, would you?"

"But you managed to do it without any pauses, completely fluid and natural!"

"What's most impressive is how vivid your narration was. The story was moving, of course, but the characters were almost all lifelike. To put it bluntly, through your description, I could even visualize specific actors for each role. I even subconsciously pictured which actor would be suitable for which character, and even how each character should be styled."

"Perhaps you didn't realize it yourself, but the nearly three hours you spent narrating the script significantly sped up my work as a director. As a director, listening to you, I was already subconsciously planning camera angles. Do you understand how strong the visual sense of your description was?"

"Your narration had such a strong visual sense, so what must it be like in your mind? I even think you must have a complete TV series in your head. You just need to perfectly transcribe the images from your mind, and it would at least be a qualified TV series. So now I'm very confident that you have the talent to be a director, and no small talent at that! Perhaps this is what they mean by being born for a certain profession! It would be a shame if you didn't become a director!"

Tang Jiahe, sitting in the front passenger seat, nodded silently. The three then fell into a period of silence.

Li Xun couldn't help but think, Listening to him, I seem really suited for stand-up comedy!

Penguin Innovation Building.

The three took the elevator to the fifth floor, where the original drama center was located.

As they exited the elevator and passed the Screenwriting Department, the previously bustling office instantly fell silent.

Everyone in the office put down their work and turned to look at the trio.

The scene was like a perfect fusion of motion and stillness.

The vast Screenwriting Department seemed frozen, with most people staring motionlessly at Li Xun and the other two. Their walk through the department towards President Dai's office was like moving through a still photograph.

Arriving at the door, Li Xun stepped forward and knocked. After receiving a response, the three entered the office.

Immediately, they disappeared from the sight of dozens of screenwriters.

The previously silent office erupted in noise again.

"The rumors are true? It really was this newcomer, Li Xun, who secured this A-Class original script?"

"I didn't believe it when I heard his script passed for A-Class just now. I thought it was a joke, the kind of joke even an idiot wouldn't believe. What a joke! A brand-new screenwriter with no track record, and their first script gets an A-Class Production? Are A-Class productions that cheap now?!"

"Who's saying they aren't? And the script only covers the first six episodes. They dare to give it an A-Class with just the first six episodes? Even if these first six episodes are amazing, what if the later episodes aren't good?"

"200,000 per episode, if there are 50 episodes, that's instantly becoming a millionaire, right? Do you think Xiao Li has a girlfriend now?"

In this world, walls have ears. Since this morning, the entire office had been buzzing with the news that this newcomer, Li Xun, had secured an A-Class Production.

Although the news was spreading with details, very few people actually believed it.

Firstly, there wasn't enough time.

Two days for a six-episode script?

Come on, use your brain before you make up a story!

Even if you didn't have to think, just copying it, just typing out the script, how long would it take to finish six episodes?

Could it be that geniuses can just blow and the script magically appears?

But now, Li Xun, who had been absent for most of the day, suddenly reappeared. Crucially, he appeared before everyone with Producer Tang Jiahe and Director Kong Teng.

So, it's confirmed?!

This suddenly appearing A-Class Production was indeed created by this newcomer named Li Xun?

Were the rumors once again proven to be far from the truth?!

Everyone in the office had complex emotions.

Wang Hai, Zhou Yao, Han Qiaoling, Zhou Hongsu – countless thoughts flashed through their minds.

Among them, Han Qiaoling and Zhou Hongsu, who were also newcomers, perhaps felt it the most.

Just two days ago, the three of them had reported to the company together, chatting and laughing. Only two days ago, they were all exactly the same rookie newcomers. But somehow, in the blink of an eye, one of those rookie newcomers had become a great figure that the other two rookies now had to look up to.

How did this magic trick happen?

While everyone else in the office was astonished by Li Xun's sudden rise to prominence, Chen Yuning's mindset was far more complicated.

Five days ago, he had sent his original script to President Dai. After reviewing it, President Dai had clearly told him that although the script had some issues, it was generally acceptable, and only minor details needed revision.

Three days ago, he sent the revised script to President Dai again. This time, President Dai directly said the script was basically approved and he should wait patiently for news.

Yesterday, when Producer Tang Jiahe rushed into President Dai's office, he had been quite excited.

He actually knew that his script wasn't entirely satisfactory to President Dai. He understood that President Dai was only considering his script as a backup option in the absence of other choices. However, when everyone was speculating about which IP or whose work had been designated A-Class, he couldn't help but tremble slightly.

That's right, his script wasn't stunning or excellent enough. In normal times, it would have been considered C-Class without question. But who knew it was a critical period now?

IQIYI Video's sister piece, Mortuary, and Gua Video's major IP work I Was a Detective in Ancient Times will undoubtedly be A-Class Productions. With two other rivals making formidable moves, how could Penguin Video, one of the top three video streaming sites, possibly concede defeat before this suspenseful storm even begins?

So, his script might not be that great, but by chance, he, Chen Yuning, has this opportunity, this shortcut, that allows him to instantly cross the threshold into becoming an A-Class Production screenwriter. Is that not allowed?

Perhaps he'll be called the most diluted A-Class Production screenwriter in the company?

But so what?

A-Class is A-Class!

Even the most diluted A-Class is still A-Class!

But just as Chen Yuning was feeling a bit complacent, news somehow spread from who-knows-where, saying that the original production center was indeed launching an A-Class Production, but the screenwriter who secured this A-Class Production was Li Xun, who had only been on the job for less than three days!

This is outrageous; whoever wrote this news must have no brain!

Joined for three days, and landed an A-Class script on the second day?

Even if he wrote 24 hours a day, how many episodes could he write in two days?

Does he really think writing a script doesn't require a thought process?

Then, just today, just moments ago, Li Xun appeared, accompanied by producer Tang Jiahe and director Kong Teng.

So that incredibly exaggerated news might actually be true?!

Chen Yuning suddenly felt his palms turn cold.

Then came a surge of disappointment.

His script was in jeopardy!

An A-Class script is like a legitimate boyfriend; once the legitimate boyfriend appears, is a backup still valuable?

Vice President's Office.

Dai Ying looked at the three subordinates entering her office and smiled, "It's settled. It's an A-Class Production, with an initial estimated production budget of 2 million yuan per episode."

Dai Ying glanced at Li Xun and continued, "After Chen Minghao read the script, he was very interested in the role of Eighth Prince and has already announced his participation. President Ma heard that even Chen Minghao valued this script so highly that he immediately adjusted the production level back to A-Class."

Chen Minghao, 47 years old, is a national treasure actor in this parallel timeline, a recipient of the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, and a top-tier actor who has won countless international and domestic awards.

He is notoriously picky about scripts. In recent years, he has become even more selective, rarely taking on roles. In his own words, he has earned enough money; now, acting is a hobby, so he only accepts the best.

Unexpectedly, someone so discerning in his script choices decided to join this project and play the role of Eighth Prince after reading only a six-episode script.

"Oh, right!" Dai Ying looked at the three and added, "I just received news that Director Zhao Guocheng has invited Huang Zhou to play the male lead in his new movie. So, don't waste any more time on Huang Zhou. Quickly find new candidates. We aim to start filming within a week."

Li Xun, Tang Jiahe, and Kong Teng exchanged glances.

Dai Ying continued, "What do you think about casting Xiao Bin as Bao Zheng? Among the younger generation, he's considered quite a good actor. He might not be as suitable as Huang Zhou, but what can we do? He just happened to be offered Director Zhao's film at this time. After all, no one would give up a role in Director Zhao's movie for a web series that's being filmed and broadcast simultaneously."

Kong Teng looked at Tang Jiahe and Li Xun, then seriously looked at Dai Ying and said, "President Dai, Huang Zhou has already agreed to play Bao Zheng!"

Dai Ying looked up at Kong Teng and asked, "Are you joking with me?"

After asking, she looked at Li Xun and Tang Jiahe, who both nodded.

Dai Ying was momentarily stunned.

Director Zhao's film, the male lead role, he turned it down to act in a web series?

Is he crazy?