Directing in the Ark, Success If Not Banned

"This melody, this rhythm... perhaps it really is different from other rap songs."

Although she was startled at first, Swire was beginning to sense the special quality of this promotional song. Nowadays, most movies didn't even have the concept of a promotional PV; people generally still used posters to advertise their films.

Audiences could only rely on promotional posters and synopses distributed by theaters to judge a film's genre. A method like this, using a song and edited film clips to help people understand the movie... it was truly novel.

Of course, Swire felt she still needed to see the song's lyrics. After all, if the filmmakers could come up with this method to attract audiences, the quality of the song itself shouldn't be bad, right?

Swire found herself filled with anticipation without realizing it, and soon, instead of the non-traditional rap of Columbia, familiar Yan lyrics began to slowly emerge:

"Yo, the cool morning dew, wets the black formal wear, the stone slabs mist with dew, the Father whispers low."

"A helpless realization, can only be more cruel, everything is for, the path to the Sanctuary."

As if to echo the lyrics, a video quickly showed an elder dressed in black formal wear in a dimly lit room. Swire didn't recognize him, but she could feel the dignity emanating from the elder, a composure and inviolable aura like that of a Monarch.

"You're afraid of owing me a favor, you don't consider me a friend."

The elder's voice was exceptionally clear. While playing with a cat, just speaking made one feel immense pressure.

"This song, this actor—amazing!"

"Where did the director find this actor? Isn't he a real-life Mafia boss?"

Swire couldn't help but murmur. The rap using Yan lyrics alone was enough to shock her. It was her first time hearing someone rap with Yan vocabulary, because compared to Columbia, it was very difficult to achieve a similar sense of rhythm in rap using Yan.

But this song... just the opening lines made Swire feel it was completely natural, not only rhyming but also smooth!

Paired with this imagery and dialogue, anyone could tell the tone of this movie.

This creator is just too powerful!

"The fog that won't dissipate, drowns the intentions, who softly treads, and stops."

"Before there's time to cry, icy bullets take away the warmth."

At this moment, the previously impactful lyrics suddenly became ethereal and uncertain. The rap speed increased again, making one's heart race as it sang:

"Each of us has a sin, committing different sins."

"I can decide who's right, and who must fall asleep."

In the video, the elder slowly stood up. Accompanied by the soft and rapid rap, his words clearly fell again:

"What did I do to make you disrespect me so?"

"They are also my enemies... then they will fear you."

This seems to be a scene of offering protection, Swire thought. She vaguely guessed that this elder must be a prominent figure from a Syracuse family; his aura was enough to indicate all of this.

But... what was Texas's role in this movie at the beginning?

"Arguments can't resolve, in the endless night, shut your mouth, the only favor."

"Those who stand in front are guilty, with no way to retreat from regret."

"Judgment in the Name of the Father, there are no suitable words for that feeling."

"Like shedding tears while smiling, staring into complete darkness, the tragedy that prevents tragedy's spread will intoxicate me."

The scene shifted, and the video showed a man being shot at a toll booth. Before Swire could recognize who it was, the camera turned to Texas—a man on the phone stared at her in horror, but half his face was hidden in darkness, like a demon's arrival. She simply said indifferently:

"You will pay for Sonny's death, Carlo."

This short sentence revealed another plot point of the movie: assassination, family betrayal, and judgment, once again echoing "judgment in the Name of the Father" from the lyrics.

"Kiss my left hand, in exchange for a promise of forgiveness."

"An old organ in the corner, plays on and on and on."

"The black curtain is blown by the wind, sunlight penetrates silently, scattering onto the beasts I have tamed."

"Silent screams, silent screams, loneliness begins to ferment..."

Now, Swire could somewhat discern the connection between Texas and the elder Godfather shown earlier in the movie. Because in this part of the lyrics, someone kissed their hand. Upon closer inspection, Swire noticed that both individuals were in the same environment.

And at the pause on the word "beasts," the scene suddenly shifted to a group of men in suits and ties, the Mafia. Undoubtedly, they were the "beasts" driven by the two, the "beasts" they had tamed.

"Scenes of past innocence, cruel tenderness appears."

"Fragile time is up, let us pray together."

The scene shifted to a cute girl Swire hadn't seen before. If the crew members were present, they would know this was Mike, played by Texas, his wife whom he met and fell in love with in Syracuse.

But the next moment, the girl's colorful figure slowly faded and disappeared, transitioning to Texas standing alone in a church.

This scene made Swire's heart skip a beat. She felt this shot subtly hinted that... this movie wouldn't have a happy ending.

"Merciful Father, I have fallen, into a land where sin is unseen, please forgive my arrogance."

"Ahyayacheckitcheckitahya"

"No one can say, no one can speak, it's so hard to bear, behind the glory is carved a loneliness."

"Ahyayacheckitcheckitahya"

"These lyrics... this theme, they all correspond perfectly, truly amazing!"

Swire's eyes were now shining. The song didn't mention Syracuse, the Godfather, or the Mafia at all, but through the messages conveyed by the visuals, Swire immediately understood how the lyrics corresponded with the movie.

The land where sin cannot be seen undoubtedly refers to the world of the Mafia. Father, honor, loneliness... all these words describe the story and the changing mindset of a Mafia Godfather.

"Father" can mean one's own father or a godfather, and in this movie, it's clear that both terms refer to the same person. That old godfather is Texas's father in the film.

"Close my eyes, and I see again the scene from that dream of yesteryear, the sky a hazy mist (Ahyayacheckitcheckitahya)."

"Father holds my hands, walking gently, along the quiet stone path in the early morning (Ahyayacheckitcheckitahya)."

As this part of the lyrics ends, the video freezes again on a scene in a church, where an infant is being baptized. The song sounds like a nun from Laterano is singing, her voice high-pitched but not jarring, speaking the doctrines of Laterano in the language of Syracuse.

"Mike Francis Riz, do you renounce Satan?"

Swire, who thought she had entered a brief intermission, relaxed her nerves. But the next moment, as Mike, played by Texas, answers, the sudden burst of gunfire shatters the peace even more abruptly!

"—I renounce him."

"Bang bang bang bang bang!"

Five gunshots, flashing images of five people shot dead! Swire, who had psychological trauma from being kidnapped in the past, was so startled she almost jumped up, instinctively cursing:

"Lungmen vulgarity, you scared me to death!"

"Who thought of using the sound of firearms as part of the accompaniment! It's terrifying!"

But, she had to admit, the idea of using firearms as part of a song was bold, something no one had ever done before!

And this sound of firearms blended perfectly into the accompaniment, without any sense of discord.

What kind of genius with a wild imagination could have come up with this? Swire couldn't hide the curiosity and admiration in her eyes. At this moment, the song had reached its end.

"Merciful Father—I have fallen—into the land where sin cannot be seen~~"

"Please forgive me—my pride—carved with loneliness~~"

"Merciful Father, I have fallen, into the land where sin cannot be seen, please forgive my pride..."

The lyrics felt like a long confession and a lament, but the video showed the corpses and blood of many people, as if foreshadowing the success of a revenge... and the birth of a new person who had fallen into darkness.

Then, the subsequent fast-paced rap began, appearing simultaneously with the dialogue in the video. The dialogue was primary, the lyrics secondary, appearing line by line in the video.

"Don't let anyone know what you're thinking (The mottled family crest was polished all night)."

"I spent my whole life learning to be careful (Only the solitary radiance can feel)."

"He is the traitor, don't ever forget that (The candlelight flickered incessantly)."

"They killed Sonny, he's dead (An owl on the windowsill gazed into the distance)."

"I refuse to be manipulated by those so-called big shots (The long corridor leading to the hall, equally indescribable in its vicissitudes)."

"Look at how they treated my children (No clamor, only tranquility surrounds)."

"We'll do it, Dad, we'll do it (I slowly fell asleep as dawn broke)."

"...Godfather."

Finally, as Lappland gently kissed Texas's palm, the door slowly closed, as if forever locking out anyone who didn't belong to this "world."

With this, the entire video finally ended, the last scene freezing on a credit roll.

"Wait? That's it? It's over already?"

Swire, who only realized after a moment, understood that the time had passed. She instinctively tapped her phone screen, only to discover that the song was a full six minutes long!

Six minutes is quite long for a song, but she felt like less than three minutes had passed!

"I didn't even get my fill! This movie—it's called 'The Godfather'? Is it only showing in Syracuse now?"

"Wait, this name... I feel like I've seen it somewhere before?"

However, as Swire's gaze fell upon the final credits, she saw a conspicuous line: "Thanks to director Chen Qi for the song, and welcome everyone to support the film 'The Godfather' shot by the Integrated Cultural Troupe. It will premiere in Syracuse in one week."

"Chen Qi? Isn't that Talulah's boyfriend's name?"

"And this Integrated Cultural Troupe, isn't that the name of their production crew?!"

"Wait, so this song was written by Chen Qi? And he filmed 'The Godfather' in Syracuse?!"

Swire, realizing the truth, looked at the video's upload date after a moment of slight shock. It had been two days ago.

And the current view count was a full two million! For Lungmen's population, this could truly be considered explosive! Lungmen is a mobile city, how many people could possibly have phones to watch videos?

"Hmph, Little Talulah and Chen Qi! I helped them out so much back then, giving their crew a solid start. Now they're making a blockbuster and they won't let me invest?!"

"No, I have to find Pink Sausage Long and have Pink Sausage Long call Chen Qi and them! I don't want to travel all the way to Syracuse to watch a movie! I want to watch 'The Godfather' right now!"

Without a second thought, Swire immediately decided to inform Chen. She knew that Chen had family ties with Wei Yanyu and Talulah, and she had the most say in this matter.

After all... the banning of 'Young and Dangerous' had caused a significant rift between Wei Yanyu and Talulah. The fact that 'The Godfather' was only showing in Syracuse already indicated the problem. Talulah must still be holding a grudge.

Perhaps Chen could persuade Talulah and Wei Yanyu to reconcile and allow 'The Godfather' to be shown in Lungmen?

Regardless, Swire had to see this movie within a week. She couldn't stand this lousy job for another day!

Chapter 21: Sir Chen promotes Chen Qi's movie

"Pink Sausage Long! Pink Sausage Long! Are you in there? Hurry up and open the door!"

"Can't you just come in yourself? The door isn't locked."

Swire entered Chen's office, her arrival coinciding with Chen's voice. Soon, her gaze locked onto the blue-haired woman with dragon horns sitting at the desk.

However, the woman seemed tired and agitated, even more so than Swire. She was so exhausted she barely had the energy to argue.

"It's not even quitting time yet... What do you want, you little brat?" Chen rubbed her forehead, her voice weak. Seeing this, Swire, uncharacteristically, didn't get annoyed by the nickname. Instead, she asked curiously:

"Are you also troubled by the 'Young and Dangerous' situation?"

"Because of this movie, crime rates in Lungmen have been rising for months. It's only gotten a little better recently, and Hoshiguma and I have been so busy we're about to drop."

Chen shook her head, her tone tinged with a hint of complaint. "It's better for me. Hoshiguma has to take her team to crime scenes multiple times a day. The entire Nearl Guard is groaning."

"To boost everyone's morale, I've already applied for a collective pay raise from Commander Wei. It's been approved, but I don't know when we'll finally be done with all this..."

Although "Young and Dangerous" had been banned for a while, its influence continued to spread. Clips online, and even pirated recordings, were still being posted. The Nearl Guard's technical staff couldn't possibly monitor everything 24/7 to take down related videos the moment they appeared. They couldn't keep up with the constant uploads!

Speaking of which, Swire's pupils shifted slightly. She deliberately wanted to gauge Chen's reaction and then intentionally asked, "By the way, as Talulah's sister, what do you think about 'Young and Dangerous' being banned? I remember you had a huge argument with Commander Wei about it."

"...As a senior police superintendent of Lungmen, I must resolutely resist movies that promote crime and violence. That is my duty."

After a brief silence, Chen maintained her upright and unwavering stance as a senior police superintendent of Lungmen, replying rigidly:

"Even if it's a work painstakingly produced by my sister and those she trusts, if it doesn't align with the values promoted to the citizens of Lungmen, it should be banned. I have no complaints about this."

"Sigh... Is that so..."

Swire's tone suddenly became peculiar. Her eyebrows shot up, and she looked quite smug. Then, she said with extreme teasing:

"Ah, what a shame. I actually heard that Chen Qi and Little Ta filmed a new movie in Syracuse. It's a pity it's another film related to crime, so it won't be able to be shown in Lungmen~"

"—News about Little Ta and Chen Qi having a new movie?!"

As expected, everything unfolded just as Swire predicted. The moment Chen heard news about Chen Qi and Talulah, her dragon tail shot straight up. She immediately turned to look at Swire, who had a mischievous grin on her face, and instinctively asked:

"But how did you know? Little Ta didn't even tell me about this."

"Are you stupid? We've already banned their movie. Do you expect her to want to show it in Lungmen? Little Ta and Chen Qi are probably furious right now."