"To the Moon" Had Only Just Begun, and Everyone Was Already Crying? / A Massive Uprising in Kazimierz, the Destruction of the Commercial Federation

"... If it's with Chen Qi, it's okay. I'd love to act opposite you, Chen Qi, then I definitely won't be nervous."

Alina didn't refuse because it was indeed the best solution. She, Chen Qi, and Talulah were all very familiar with each other and trusted each other completely. Even if they played husband and wife in the movie, Alina believed that nothing would happen that would lead to "feelings developing on set."

Moreover, this way, we can avoid creating even more enemies... Alina's gaze couldn't help but fall on FrostNova and Talulah beside her, and she couldn't help but think of Theresia from a while ago, which further strengthened her determination to play this role.

She wants to protect Little Tal's happiness. This family can't accommodate any more members now, so let her reduce the risk!

Chapter 183: Did " To the To the Moon" make everyone cry right from the start?

The movie " To the To the Moon" was adapted by Chen Qi from the game's plot. However, the game's overall gameplay takes three hours, and as a pixel game with relatively simple controls and a focus on interaction, Chen Qi could not possibly make a movie at that pace, as that would be too long.

Chen Qi's idea was to compress " To the To the Moon" into a normal one-and-a-half-hour film as much as possible. Of course, the essence of " To the To the Moon" lies in its many plot points and dialogues, as well as its overall use of a flashback narrative.

In the movie " To the To the Moon," two Doctor, played by Saria and Kristen, will use a device to enter the memories of Johnny, who only has one or two days left to live. By collecting important memories from Johnny's old age, middle age, youth, adolescence, and childhood, they will try to understand why Johnny has the idea of "To the Moon" at the end of his life.

This will help them modify and guide Johnny's memories, and help Johnny instill the idea of To the Moon in him from a young age in a more humane way, thereby achieving their ultimate goal.

Because this is a terminal project, no one wants an elderly person's last fabricated beautiful memories to be so distorted that they find them strange. Therefore, forcibly altering them is not an option. Instead, the project must guide the elderly person within the memory itself, allowing them to believe that their memories are plausible, so that they can leave this world with satisfaction and a smile.

On the first day of filming, Chen Qi and the lead actors, including Saria, entered the world of " To the To the Moon," as described by Chen Qi. Here, filming for " To the To the Moon" would begin...

The two Doctor, played by Kristen and Saria, had arrived at the home of John, played by Chen Qi, and entered Chen Qi's memories through their device—that's how it was filmed, but in reality, it was Xi who casually teleported them to another area of the painting with a stroke of her pen.

They entered John's most recent memory and saw an elderly John who was still quite healthy and standing. They took this opportunity to ask John, played by Chen Qi, why he wanted to To the Moon.

This motivation was important; it would allow them to easily access John's memories from different periods through the device, making it easier for them to guide John to project his desire to go to the To the Moon. However, after much deliberation, the elderly John said, as if sighing, regarding this:

"... I have no idea."

Saria and Kristen exchanged bewildered glances, until Kristen, who had been leading the way from the beginning, finally spoke up:

"Alright, you must tell us. This is a necessary condition for us to take you there."

"Want to become famous? Want to get rich? You need to have some kind of motive, right?"

"I'm sorry, but I really don't know."

However, John, played by Chen Qi, faced with the question posed by Kristen —a question his character never understood in his entire life—he suppressed his heartache and shame, speaking in a low, sincere, yet persistent tone:

"I just... absolutely have to go."

Chen Qi's words conveyed an old man's final wish, a wish he didn't even know why he To the Moon, but an inner conviction told him he had to go there.

However, the deeper meaning behind all of this is naturally unknown to anyone now. Helpless, Saria and Kristen could only use some important tools to travel through John's memories from different periods and collect more important memories.

The first special item they received was a rabbit folded from yellow and blue paper.

In John's memory, Kristen and Saria saw a floor covered with yellow paper rabbits, but only this one had two different colors. Clearly, it was an important object that held great significance for both John and River.

Sure enough, during their subsequent journeys, they finally encountered the paper rabbit again, and also met the character "River" played by Alina.

However, judging from the current situation, River is already bedridden and doesn't have much time left.

"Even after paying the surgery fee, there will still be more than enough money left... so don't worry."

Beside Alina, Chen Qi continued to care for her, comforting his beloved wife. However, it was clear that such words could not deceive her. Alina, playing River, though weak, still exposed the lie of her beloved, saying:

"A white lie... that's what people call it, right?"

Despite his lie being exposed, Chen Qi persisted, only to be gently interrupted by Alina. Alina, though weak, remained determined to spend the money on something other than medical treatment... something called "Anya," though it was unclear whether it was a person or something else.

"Do you know what can make me happy, Johnny?" Alina remained steadfast in her convictions, as if the existence of "Anya" was more important than her own life.

She was incredibly weak, but she mustered all her strength and stared intently at Chen Qi —her eyes were so bright they were almost blinding, filled with anticipation and longing, but all she got was the bewildered look in John's eyes, played by Chen Qi.

"... What?"

"You know, right?" Alina asked Chen Qi repeatedly, as if grasping at a last straw. However, seeing Chen Qi's continued confusion, disappointment flickered in her eyes, and she finally only said:

"Okay, I'll do as you say. I just... hope you can help me with this."

But what was it that River couldn't say? For Kristen and Saria, who already knew that River suffered from "high-functioning autism," this made the reason clear. This condition prevented River from expressing her thoughts, making her words always incoherent.

She could only keep subtly hinting at what John was trying to achieve, hoping he would understand what she truly wanted to do.

"I won't sign the treatment plan once it's submitted. As for what to do with our money, that's up to you."

"But if you approve of my ideal, I hope you can use it to build that house."

"... Then, I hope that as long as you still live there, you can take good care of 'her.' Spend more time with her, talk to her often, and make sure she has a good life."

"... I hope she will no longer be alone."

"... And what about me?" However, facing his wife who planned to abandon him and let him pursue her dreams, Chen Qi's eyes were filled with tears, as if he was blaming himself for his wife's "heartlessness" or for not understanding her dreams.

However, Alina simply persisted. She could understand her husband's sadness, but she still wanted to uphold her beliefs... She hoped that one day he would remember.

She would not give up as long as there was a glimmer of hope, even at the very end of her life.

"Johnny, I made this."

Alina seemed to suddenly remember something, and at that moment she finally handed over the paper rabbit made of folded blue and yellow paper. Facing Chen Qi, who was already used to this, her weak voice showed anxiety for the first time as she asked, "Tell me, what is this?"

"I want you to tell me what it is."

Faced with the paper rabbit his wife handed him, Chen Qi, who had seen similar paper rabbits countless times before, still couldn't understand his wife's actions. He stared blankly at the paper rabbit in his hand and only uttered some meaningless messages.

"It's a rabbit, exactly like the other rabbits you made."

However, Chen Qi's answer only made Alina, whose days were numbered, even more anxious. Her face seemed to darken slightly, but she didn't give up and continued to press for answers:

"Anything else?"

"Hmm... it's made of paper?" Chen Qi still couldn't grasp the point, while Alina's face darkened further as she relentlessly pressed for an answer:

"... Anything else?"

Its body is yellow, and the rest of its body is blue.

"That's right, is there anything else?" Alina's tone showed a hint of hope for the first time, as if Chen Qi was about to get to the crucial point, as if the two colors hinted at something.

However, after a long silence, under Alina's gaze, which gradually turned from hope to despair, Chen Qi slowly put down the paper rabbit that he couldn't understand.

"... Take a look at this first, River."

I composed a piece of music, it was written for you.

He abandoned the parts he couldn't understand, instead trying to rekindle his wife's hope for life. Compared to everything River wanted to convey to him, Chen Qi's actions seemed much easier to comprehend.

An old man went to great lengths to move a piano upstairs for his beloved, and even composed a piece specifically for her, wanting to convey his deep love for her.

However, just as Chen Qi couldn't understand everything Alina wanted to convey, Alina also seemed unable to understand all of Chen Qi's actions.

She didn't understand why the man standing before her was no longer the one she remembered.

"Actually, you didn't need to bring the whole piano here. I can hear you playing even through the door."

However, Alina's words sent a chill down the spines of all the filming crew members who were currently in a transparent state... because compared to Alina's meaningless paper rabbit, Chen Qi's actions undoubtedly made much more sense to them.

Alina's words... were somewhat disheartening, especially for those who didn't understand the situation of the character Alina played. Although one could sense the reluctance between Alina and Chen Qi, it seemed that Chen Qi's sacrifices far outweighed hers.

However, Chen Qi didn't react to this. He simply sighed, then went to the piano, placed his hands on it, and softly said:

"... This piece of music is called 'For River'."

"So old-fashioned."

Alina's words had no effect. Accompanied by the soft sound of a piano, simple yet calming, the familiar, slightly melancholic melody began once again.

For a moment, everyone was immersed in the music. Although the pieces were fragmented, everyone felt the deep love conveyed through those stories... and felt a touch of sadness at the impending disappearance of such love.

The music subtly amplified the emotions in everyone's hearts, making them all unconsciously forget that filming was still ongoing. Neither Saria, Kristen, nor any of the filming crew interrupted the moment...

Only when the piano music slowly stopped did everyone reluctantly open their eyes. At that moment, Chen Qi, who was sitting at the piano, finally raised his hand helplessly and immediately shouted:

"Click! Saria, Miss Kristen? What are you two spacing out for? Did you forget your lines?"

"There's still a year left! How were you supervising? Were you asleep? I finished playing the piece and you still didn't tell me to stop? That was a really touching part, and now we have to start all over again!"

"... Yes, I'm sorry!" Nian's slightly flustered voice came through, but for some reason, Chen Qi also heard Nian blowing her nose...

As Chen Qi finished speaking, the scene within the scroll slowly dissipated, and everyone was instantly returned to the scroll where Xi usually spent the most time, successfully bringing everyone back to their senses from the play they had just witnessed.

Chen Qi looked around and noticed that everyone had tears in their eyes to some extent. Not far away, Talulah and FrostNova were also in the same state. Chen Qi was somewhat surprised and asked:

"... What's wrong with you guys? We've only filmed the third scene! Why are you all crying?"

"It's all your fault, and Alina's acting was just too good!"

Talulah responded reproachfully, wiping away a few tears from the corner of her eye with her finger. She cast a resentful glance at Chen Qi and said softly:

"I can bear separation by death, and I can bear being separated by vast distances; I've seen plenty of these things—but you can't do something that tears happiness apart! I have no resistance to this kind of thing!"

"... This time, Talulah was right, Chen Qi, you and Alina acted so well that it made us all a little sad."

Even FrostNova stood with Talulah this time. These two sentimental girls, completely unaware of the script for * To the To the Moon *, were moved to tears by what they saw—a fragmented, incomplete memory...

This scene made Chen Qi's teeth ache a little... This is nothing! They've only just started filming, and she's already crying. What will she be like later on, with tears streaming down her face?

Moreover, Chen Qi also saw that not only Talulah and FrostNova, but even Nian was blowing her nose in a very unladylike manner... It seems that the "Master-Level Acting Skill" he temporarily obtained from the system by using a lot of reputation points is really quite useful.

"Saria, what's wrong?" Not far away, Kristen also looked at Saria with a blank expression. However, Saria simply lowered her hat and said calmly:

"It's nothing... It's just that after reading the script, watching this scene again makes me a little sad."

"I'm going to wander around somewhere else, don't worry about me, Kristen."

"?" Kristen was also confused upon hearing this, staring blankly at Saria as she left. Although she had also been somewhat moved by the scene, the Saria she knew was not the kind of person who would be moved by a mere play, was she?

Just as Kristen was filled with questions, Chen Qi walked over at the perfect moment and asked Kristen:

"How does it feel to be acting for the first time, Miss Kristen? You seem to be adapting very quickly?"

"It's nothing, just a rather rational Doctor. I don't need to act out that kind of character; I can just be myself." Kristen shook her head as well. However, Saria's behavior piqued her curiosity about the script, and she asked:

"Director Chen Qi, although I now understand how this movie is connected to To the Moon... I still don't quite understand."

"Although John and River seem to have a good relationship in the script, I feel that John's feelings are more like a one-sided devotion... Is the character of the River really necessary in this movie?"

"So, Miss Kristen thinks that John has given more to the River, right?" At this moment, Chen Qi asked Kristen this question in return.

But Kristen was also a smart woman. Upon hearing Chen Qi's words, knowing that she only had a part of the script, she quickly realized there would be a twist later. Her eyes lit up slightly as she asked:

"You mean... in the future, the character of the River will encourage John to To the Moon? Could this be River's unspoken purpose?"

"... Well, please take your time to appreciate it, Miss Kristen."

However, Chen Qi felt a pang of emotion for Kristen, whose mind was still preoccupied with "how to To the Moon." Not far away, Saria's deliberately slowed pace quickened as a result.

But Saria wasn't discouraged. At this moment, she was like the River in " To the To the Moon," and everything she wanted to convey to Kristen, everything she wanted her to remember, was contained in this film...

"John never remembered any of this, but I hope you can... Kristen."

Saria murmured to herself, then silently left—whether successful or not, this was the last thing she could do for Kristen.

Regardless of whether Kristen can ultimately change things, Saria feels she has done everything she could.

Chapter 184: The Great Kazimierz Uprising, the Destruction of the Commercial Federation

Meanwhile, filming of " To the To the Moon" in Columbia went exceptionally smoothly for Chen Qi, but for the outside world, this period could still be described as one of constant turmoil.

First, there was the matter of the fourteen Campaign Knight of Kazimierz who, instigated by the Commercial Federation, attacked Chen Qi. After obtaining testimonies from the Imperial Calendar Bureau, led by Zuo Le, and the Silvermane Knights, the Supervision Committee confirmed the crimes of the fourteen Campaign Knight and sentenced them to death for treason.

However, on the day of the execution, Grand Knight Commander Ioleta actually came to the execution site in person to supervise the execution. But before the execution took place, she made an incomprehensible decision in front of the public.

She pardoned the sins of these Campaign Knights, and on that day, she delivered a speech that shook Kazimierz.

"I know you were misled by the Commercial Federation and did things you had no choice but to do. You have tarnished the chivalric code of Kazimierz and deeply etched the mark of betrayal on the 'loyalty' of chivalry!"

In the courtroom, the Grand Knight Commander, facing fourteen Campaign Knight who had confessed to their crimes, spoke with unprecedented leniency:

"But I know that everything you did was out of necessity, and such crimes have fallen upon you because of the mistakes of our Supervision Committee... For this, as the Grand Knight Commander, I should apologize to you, and to all the knights who have not yet, or are currently, undergoing the same ordeal."

"Whether they are true knights or those who harbor knightly ideals, the Supervision Committee should be held responsible for all of this... Everything you have done is unavoidable. The Supervision Committee made far too many mistakes, to the point that the spirit of chivalry has been tarnished, and even the Nearl Family has abandoned Kazimierz."

"Therefore, as the Grand Knight Commander... I should take responsibility for everything that is happening in Kazimierz today, and for the many knights who died unjustly on the battlefield."

"The glory of Kazimierz has been disgraced because of us. You were forced to become traitors to protect your families. It is all my fault."

For the first time in public, the Grand Knight Commander, representing the Supervision Committee, addressed all the knights with words of apology. Naturally, this public trial was witnessed by countless knights and commoners from the Grand Knight's Dominion.

Before everyone's eyes, the Grand Knight Commander knelt on one knee, lowered her head for the first time, and addressed the fourteen Campaign Knight in a gesture that seemed to be both repentance and mourning for the heroes, expressing her apology through her actions.

In an instant, the entire Grand Knight's Dominion erupted in uproar. As the Grand Knight Commander knelt in repentance, her voice once again clearly resonated throughout the noisy arena, calmly stating: