Night Talk (Part 2)

In Xia Libing's living room, Tang Baona played a video from her phone using a projector.

The four people in the room had actually seen the unedited original video before. It was a segment from several cooking videos they filmed with You Meng and his You Meng at the "Youlong Teases Rabbits Youlong Restaurant" when they went to Tongshi Town before the Lunar New Year.

The script was mainly designed by Xiang Kun, but Tang Baona was in charge of the filming. Xiang Kun, Yang Zhuo, Xiao Min, Yang Zhen'er and others only assisted from the side, and were responsible for lighting and other matters. Even the equipment was brought by Tang Baona.

During those two days, following Xiang Kun's script and plan, they took the time to shoot footage for two short videos.

However, filming was only the first step. The original video was still a long way from achieving the effect Xiang Kun needed and from becoming the final product. Tang Baona still needed to process the footage extensively according to Xiang Kun's ideas, then edit it, add background music and sound effects.

Xiang Kun originally thought that Tang Baona wouldn't have much time to work during the Spring Festival, but he didn't expect that it was only the third day of the Lunar New Year, and only a week since they returned from Tongshi Town, that Tang Baona had already finished editing and sound effects for a video.

Moreover, judging from the quality of the final cut, it is indeed quite good.

It must be said that Tang Baona not only put in the time and effort, but she also has a real talent for post-production of short videos. Her sense of rhythm and the design and matching of the visuals are very innovative, and she also accurately understands the effect that Xiang Kun wants.

The second installment of "Youlong Teases Rabbits" maintains the same style as the first, relying on rapid editing and camera transitions to create a sharp and precise culinary style.

You Meng still doesn't have a single line of dialogue. Dressed in a pristine white custom-made chef's uniform, he prepares a simplified yet visually appealing braised rabbit dish. Accompanied by fast-paced editing, background music, and sound effects, the short video offers a very enjoyable audiovisual experience, making you want to tap your foot along. Even if you're not interested in the dish, it's still watchable.

Xiang Kun sincerely praised, "Nana, I think it's a real shame you're an accountant. With your skills, you could totally make a living from it."

He had watched all of Tang Baona's videos on Bilibili and knew that Tang Baona's post-production skills were the result of years of practice and extensive experience, and had been tested by viewers and netizens. She had a very clear understanding of the rhythm and genres that current internet users liked, and had a very accurate grasp of them.

Tang Baona laughed and said, "I've really decided not to go to my uncle's this year. I just called him yesterday and told him."

Yang Zhen'er had obviously just heard the news and exclaimed in surprise, "Nana, you've finally decided to become a full-time content creator?" Then she couldn't help but excitedly say, "Show your face, Nana! Appear on camera, Nana! Let's do mukbang! You'll definitely become a sensation across the internet! I've already thought of dozens of themes. We can even go to Tongshi Town and do a rabbit meat special at 'Youlong Restaurant'! Let Xiang Kun sponsor it, and we'll eat at Xiang Kun's restaurant!"

Xiang Kun also laughed and said, "You'll definitely be fine as a full-time content creator. I saw before that you have over 700,000 followers on Bilibili, right?"

Tang Baona glared at Yang Zhen'er first. "There's no way I'll do mukbang! Forget about it!" Then she said to Xiang Kun, "Actually, I haven't completely decided what to do yet. My initial plan is to go to Tongshi Town and help 'Youlong Teases Rabbits' shoot a few more videos to help your account accumulate enough content and get it running. It'll also help me hone my skills in shooting short films and live-action footage. Then, if Little Apple also decides what kind of videos she wants to make, I'll help her manage her account and produce some videos for her. Next, I'll see if I should make some editing and production tutorial videos, or introductions and reviews of music and photography equipment..."

"No way, Nana!" Yang Zhen'er couldn't help but say again, "Musical equipment, photography equipment, that's too niche, not many people watch it. Of course, unless you show your face, then people will watch any review you do. But if you show your face, what kind of reviews are there? Being a food vlogger is so much more fun..."

"Why do you keep talking about mukbang? You foodie! If you want to do mukbang, you can make it yourself, and I'll do the post-production." Tang Baona said helplessly, "Actually, I might not become a full-time content creator. Maybe after helping Xiang Kun, You Meng, and Little Apple's accounts get on track, I'll go back to school to systematically learn some film and television production knowledge, and then decide on my future direction. I've found that I'm quite interested in this area. I don't have any talent in music, and no matter how hard I try, my ceiling isn't high. But recently, when I was editing the 'Youlong Teases Rabbits' video for you guys, I suddenly felt that I should have some talent in this area. And the simple mashup videos I made before also had a lot of popularity, which proves that I know what the public likes to watch now."

Xiang Kun nodded. "Yes, whatever choice you make, we will support you..."

Yang Zhen muttered to herself, "I support you becoming a mukbang streamer..."

"The barbecue is here." Xia Libing picked up her phone, glanced at it, and stood up to say, "I'll go get the takeout."

The barbecue was brought in, and everyone stopped their discussion for a moment to eat.

Xia Libing chose to order barbecue and a lot of grilled chicken wings so that Xiang Kun would have the opportunity to use "Fantasy Manifestation" to "pretend" to eat and try "eating in front of others".

Moreover, in order to make it easier for Xiang Kun to "show" the same chicken wings, Xia Libing specially ordered this grilled chicken wing restaurant. Unlike other barbecue restaurants, it was not skewered on bamboo sticks and grilled over charcoal, but was grilled in an oven.

Every time Xiang Kun took a chicken wing, he would rely on his superhuman senses to judge the direction of Yang Zhen'er and Tang Baona's gaze. Then, when they weren't paying attention, he would reach out and take a chicken wing that he had "manifested" himself from the box containing the chicken wings and eat it. After "eating" it, he would "throw" the bone into the trash can next to him without leaving a trace.

Xia Libing also tried to "disappear" a chicken wing in the takeout box before Xiang Kun reached out, so that he could pick it up and eat it, to see if this method would be more discreet.

Whether it's Xiang Kun's own manifestation or Lao Xia's manifestation, they all taste the same—the same taste that Xia Libing experienced in her dream.

However, neither Tang Baona nor Yang Zhen'er noticed or suspected that what he was eating was actually not real chicken wings.

Instead, Yang Zhen'er said somewhat uncertainly, "Chef Xiang, why do I feel like the chicken wings you have taste even better?"

"That's normal. This is Yang the Third's first law: what other people have is always tastier than what you have," Xiang Kun joked with a smile.

"Lao Xia, Chef Xiang is bullying your sister," Yang Zhen'er said pitifully, looking at Xia Libing.

Xia Libing blinked, seemingly confused, and handed over a chicken wing two seconds later.

"Huh? I didn't want chicken wings, I wanted you to avenge me against Chef Xiang... Sigh, never mind, my dear sister has probably already been won over by Chef Xiang's culinary offensive." Yang Zhen'er said with a feigned sigh, then took the chicken wings from Lao Xia and started eating them. Of course, Lao Xia had given her real chicken wings. Although "manifested objects" can be "eaten," have texture, touch, and taste, it's still possible to notice the food disappearing after chewing when swallowing. In comparison, if the "manifested object" is Ice Cream, the possibility of being discovered would be lower.

Tang Baona laughed and said, "Actually, I feel the same way as Zhen'er. I think it's because Xiang Kun usually eats very restrainedly and rarely eats so quickly and with such relish, so it makes the chicken wings taste even better?"

These words made Xiang Kun nod slightly in agreement. Indeed, he was eating too much, which gave other people who were used to him not eating much the impression he did.

After "eating" three pieces of "roasted chicken wings," Xiang Kun wiped his hands, stopped eating, and said, "By the way, do you remember the games that General Manager Zhang, Director Liu, and I talked about in Tongshi Town?"

"Yes, I remember. Have you decided what game you want to play?" Tang Baona nodded and said.

Yang Zhen'er added, "Anyway, no matter what you do, we agreed on the plane that we'd get a share!"

Xiang Kun laughed and said, "Of course, you guys will definitely get a share. Actually, I already have a basic beta version of that game. Although it's still a long way from being released as a live beta, and most of the features aren't finished yet, it's enough for just the four of us to play. Do you want to give it a try?"

"No way, it's already out? Back in Tongshi Town, Zhang Qian and Yang Zhuo kept asking you what game it was, and you wouldn't say. We thought you only had a general idea and hadn't even started making it yet. Now it's already playable? You didn't spend your whole trip back to Citong buried in making the game, did you?" Yang Zhen'er said in surprise.

Hearing this, Xia Libing glanced at Xiang Kun with some surprise. Of course, she knew very well what Xiang Kun returned to Citong for the Chinese New Year.

Tang Baona laughed and said, "Can we play now? Of course we have to try! But what kind of game is it? Zhen'er and I are both pretty bad at games, so it won't be too difficult, will it?"

"Hey, Nana, don't drag me into this, you're bad at games. I'm really good at them," Yang Zhen'er said, disgruntled.

Xiang Kun stood up and said, "You can play it on your phone. As for what kind of game, I'll keep you in suspense. Give me your phones, Lao Xia, I'd like to borrow your desktop computer for a bit. Also, what's the admin password for your router?"

Actually, this so-called "game" was a task he gave to "Alice" after returning from Tongshi Town. He only received Alice's report this afternoon while shopping, knowing that the game he asked "Alice" to make had a basic framework and was barely playable.