Chapter Eight: Everyone Else Acts Badly, So I'm Going to Make It Look Like They're Not Acting / Chapter Nine: Iconic Scene: "My Beloved Horse, Mist"-A Siracusan-Style Threat

"Carlo, The Godfather's son-in-law, had an execution scene. He was ultimately executed as a traitor, personally strangled to death in a car by Clemenza, another of The Godfather's right-hand men."

"That sounds good." The moment Lappland heard she could strangle someone, an intrigued expression appeared on her face. She chuckled. "I've decided. I want to play Clemenza. What are this character's traits?"

Chen Qi said, "He's Sonny, The Godfather's eldest son's godfather, and fiercely loyal to The Godfather. But in my script, he's male, fat, and vicious."

However, Chen Qi looked at Lappland's figure—one more beautiful than almost any other in all of Syracuse—and smiled. "But that doesn't matter. We can change it. You can even keep your identity as a woman."

If this had been in Chen Qi's original world, gender would have been a highly debated matter, especially during the height of political correctness. Without stacking several buffs, these films might not even have been released.

But on this land, all those issues were easily resolved. Compared to gender, there were far more conflicts that had yet to be discussed—race, whether someone was Infected, and so on... Gender issues ranked far too low on the list.

If Chen Qi's movie had not been called The Godfather, Madam Sicily and Texas would have needed to dress as men to fit the film's theme. They could even have appeared as women, just like Chastisement.

Therefore, there was absolutely no problem with Lappland playing Clemenza. She might become the most beautiful actor ever to play Clemenza.

"Still, convincing your father to let you play a domestic abuser like Carlo..."

"Leave it to me. That old man won't refuse." Lappland agreed with a smile. But soon afterward, a red figure squeezed her way over and slid right up to Chen Qi.

"Director Chen Qi! What about me? What about me?!" Having finally snapped out of it, Exusiai saw that both Lappland and Texas had roles. As a Sarkaz who naturally loved causing trouble, she immediately asked Chen Qi, "I really want a role too! Since it's a Mafia movie, there have to be gunfights and chase scenes, right?!"

"Let me act too! I promise I'll do great! No one is more suited than me for a role involving gun battles!"

Chen Qi said, "Don't worry, Exusiai. There will definitely be scenes for you this time. Not just you—everyone at Penguin Logistics has a role. I prepared them all for you."

As he spoke, Chen Qi also reached out toward Sora and Croissant. The two girls, who had thought they were only here to make up the numbers, asked in surprise, "We have roles too?"

"Yes. Every one of you does, and they're all fairly important." Chen Qi nodded, giving the girls a definite answer before immediately making arrangements. "Croissant, you'll play the first clear-cut villain to appear in this film. Her name is Sorozzo, and she's nicknamed The Milosian. Do you have any objections?"

"Oh! Playing a villain? I think I'll be great at that!" Croissant did not seem bothered in the slightest. She replied to Chen Qi, "Don't worry. It takes place in Syracuse, so the people of Minos won't mind!"

"That's good." Chen Qi nodded, feeling much more at ease. He then turned to the expectant Sora beside him and smiled. "Sora, your role is the most important one after Texas's. The character I've given you is named Kay, Texas's girlfriend from Columbia."

"G-Girlfriend?" Sora was stunned by the identity. She instinctively glanced at Texas beside her, and when she noticed Texas looking back with the same surprised expression, she asked nervously, "B-But isn't Texas a girl?"

"She is in real life, but in the film, Texas is The Godfather's youngest son, so she's male in the movie." Chen Qi explained to the nervous Sora. "This time, only Texas and Madam Sicily will appear dressed as men, so your role is very important too. Sora, can you do it?"

"I-I'll do my best!"

Though the arrangement had startled her at first, Sora quickly adjusted her mindset as a professional idol and accepted it.

"I'll treat it as training for my eventual transition from idol to serious actor. I'll work hard!"

"Good. Then everyone, look over your scripts and lines." Chen Qi spoke softly. At that moment, Texas, the only person who had not been given instructions, could not help feeling ignored. She asked, "What about me? What am I supposed to do? Didn't you say... I'm playing the second male lead?"

"Oh, Texas, of course there's something you need to do. Your first assignment is to spend time with Si Ye, Chastisement, and Madam Sicily."

When Texas spoke up, Chen Qi immediately informed her of her first task. "You're playing a family, but because of real-life circumstances, it will be difficult for you to completely feel like one. Yet I need you to create that effect, so you need to stay together and build rapport."

"And whenever you're with the crew, you must address each other by your characters' names. For example, Texas and Chastisement, you two will call Si Ye 'Sonny.' He's your older brother."

"More importantly, whenever you see Madam Sicily, you must call her 'Dad' or 'Father.' Can you do that?"

Texas said, "...That's a little difficult, but I'll try my best."

As she spoke, Texas turned her gaze toward Madam Sicily. Her lips moved slightly before she called out, stiffly and unnaturally, "Dad... Father."

"Sorry... This is harder than I imagined."

"Don't force yourself." Madam Sicily understood that this was an enormous challenge for Texas, one that would not be easy to overcome. She showed the tolerance expected of a "father." "We have plenty of time to spend together, Cello... no, Mike."

"Just for this period, let's live as though we truly are family. Don't think about anything else."

Texas said, "Yes... F-Father."

As Texas haltingly used that form of address, an unusual hint of embarrassment appeared on her face. She had already begun wondering whether she could truly treat Madam Sicily as a father.

Chen Qi had clearly anticipated this. He realized he needed to use filming to bring them closer together, and immediately pulled out his communicator. "All departments, get ready. Prepare for the next set. Let's arrange Si Ye's wedding scenes first."

"Yes, arrange Si Ye's bed scene, then Chastisement's scenes. Has the camel beast head I ordered arrived? We start filming immediately."

Si Ye said, "...Huh?"

However, Si Ye, who had merely been watching from the side, revealed a rare expression of panic when faced with the sudden embarrassing scene. The eighteen-year-old Lupo boy found every woman present staring at him, making him so ashamed that he nearly wanted to jump from the second floor.

Wasn't this supposed to be filmed last?! Why were they starting now?!

As a Mafia movie, The Godfather had an overall dark tone. The opening wedding was one of the few scenes with a relatively relaxed atmosphere.

But it was still a Mafia movie, so Chen Qi retained most of the original's violent and other such scenes. Among them was the scene where the eldest son Sonny secretly fooled around with the bridesmaid Lucy at the wedding.

Si Ye naturally knew that. But this eighteen-year-old young master of the Bellone Family was clearly mortified by the scene. He had initially discussed with Chen Qi whether they could film it last, and Chen Qi had agreed at the time.

But now Chen Qi had suddenly moved the scene forward and put it right before everyone Si Ye cared about. One could only imagine how chaotic Si Ye's thoughts were.

"This isn't what we agreed on, Director!"

After several rounds of retakes, Si Ye's scene finally passed. Still red-faced, he fled the set as if escaping, leaving behind the other Lupo girl from the Bellone Family, who looked around as though she had not had enough.

"Huh? It's already over? I thought it was real..."

Compared with the Lupo girl's belated disappointment at forgetting she was merely filming a "romance scene" with her family's eldest young master, Si Ye was far more flustered.

He immediately went to find Chen Qi. Yet when he reached Chen Qi's room, he discovered that not only were Chen Qi, Chastisement, Madam Sicily, and everyone from Penguin Logistics there...

Even more surprisingly, there was someone Si Ye knew extremely well—his own father, Bernardo!

And on the large screen in the room before them, footage was playing of Si Ye "seducing" the bridesmaid at the wedding...

"Director, this isn't what we agreed on! Didn't you say we'd film this scene last?!"

"And why are you playing it in front of everyone?!"

At that moment, knowing that the scene he had just acted out had fallen completely into the eyes of everyone he cared about, Si Ye nearly awakened his racial talent and dug a hole on the spot to hide in. But his final shred of dignity made the eighteen-year-old turn toward everyone's strange expressions and hurriedly explain, "No, everyone, it was all acting, I—"

"It's not really a problem." However, the first person to speak was Madam Sicily. After watching the footage, even a teasing smile seemed to appear on her face. "After all, in the movie, this child is supposed to be like that—hot-tempered and lustful, yet willing to stand up for his family. I think he has potential."

"He's still some distance from becoming the next Godfather, but if he can overcome his impulsiveness, he'll become a capable man."

"—Still, doing that at a wedding, Sonny, means I have to punish you. It breaks the rules."

Madam Sicily deliberately used the character's form of address here. Clearly, she understood why Chen Qi had arranged this in front of everyone—he wanted to use Si Ye's embarrassment to help the main cast become closer.

This method of bringing everyone closer through something related to sex was rather crude... but it truly worked.

After all, what could bring a group of people closer together more quickly than talking about risqué things? For a moment, even Madam Sicily could not think of a better method.

Thus, through Si Ye's repeated embarrassing retakes, Chen Qi quickly helped several previously unfamiliar people warm up to one another.

At first, when they heard Si Ye had a "bed scene," the girls had all been embarrassed. But as Si Ye's retakes piled up and he became increasingly nervous, their shyness was gradually washed away by amusement and delight.

Later on, Croissant and Exusiai, those two troublemakers, were already laughing so hard while watching Si Ye's "bed scene" that they could barely close their mouths. There was not the slightest trace of embarrassment left as they pointed at him and remarked that it was obvious Si Ye was an inexperienced virgin...

Though Madam Sicily could tell at a glance that they were all equally inexperienced girls, she had to admit that Chen Qi's method had shown results. Even Texas, cold as she was, could not help but smile. Listening to her companions chatter noisily beside her made Texas look much more relaxed.

That was why Madam Sicily cooperatively teased her "eldest son" before continuing, "By Syracuse custom, you must do something you hate the most... Tom, what do you think your older brother's punishment should be?"

"Make him eat nothing but thistles today." Chastisement suppressed her laughter as she stared at the pale-faced Si Ye with a hint of disdain. "Having an older brother like you is truly disappointing, Sonny."

Si Ye said, "I was acting, Lavinia! I—"

Chastisement said, "Really? Didn't you get awfully excited at the end? Other people act so convincingly it doesn't look like acting. You looked like you weren't acting at all."

Chastisement's words stripped Si Ye of his last supporter. When he turned a pleading gaze toward Texas, she merely shook her head and said helplessly, "...Doing that at a wedding really was inappropriate. And all my friends were there. You went too far, Sonny."

"Then it's settled. Sonny can only eat thistles tonight." At that moment, Madam Sicily, as the "father," issued the final order. The childless Madam Sicily seemed to have finally found a little of what it felt like to be a father.

Is this what it feels like to have family by your side... It really is quite nice.

Even if they were not truly her children, at least during their time with the crew, she could treat these exceptional young people as her own children.

No one knew Madam Sicily's thoughts. At that moment, everyone gradually left the room, leaving only Si Ye behind, dazed and devastated, looking as though he was one line away from saying, "I'm no longer pure."

Only when Si Ye's biological father Bernardo noticed that his son was emotionally unstable did he step forward, help him up, and pat his shoulder. "Stand up, my son. You acted well. I'm proud of you."

"Dad..."

At that moment, receiving his father's encouragement, Si Ye nearly cried from emotion. The way he called out "Dad" had never sounded so affectionate.

The next moment, Bernardo patted his son's shoulder again. After a long while, he finally chose his words. "There is nothing to be ashamed of, my son. As the next successor of the family, you bear the mission of continuing the family line. There is no need to feel ashamed of such things. Consider it preparation for your future."

"If there truly is a girl you like, you can tell me as well. You're about that age already. Wanting women is perfectly normal..."

"Dad?!"

At that moment, Si Ye suffered a devastating blow from his biological father and nearly collapsed to the floor. His image had completely crumbled because of that one scene.

The dignified eldest young master of the Bellone Family had performed a bed scene before so many people he would have to spend a long time with... He might as well find a gun and end it all.

At that moment, even Si Ye himself failed to notice that he was gradually accepting a fact: he would be spending a long time with everyone. Though they were still far from being family, that change in thinking had begun to take shape in his mind.

And it was not only Si Ye. Texas, Chastisement, and Madam Sicily had all become somewhat closer after watching that scene. As their time with the crew lengthened, the relationship between everyone who spent time together would inevitably improve, little by little.

"...But if that's the case, the scenes later where they die one after another will be very effective. Still, they'll surely be heartbroken, won't they?"

"That's exactly the effect I want, Talulah. The best acting is genuine emotion that does not feel acted."

Chen Qi and Talulah continued adjusting equipment backstage. The day's work was already over. More than fifty Mafia extras alone had come for the wedding scene, which showed just how supportive the Twelve Families had become of Chen Qi.

"Oh, right, Chen Qi. Mephisto has already bought the camel beast head you wanted from the local canned food market." Talulah remembered the prop needed for the next scene and said, "FrostNova froze the head with her Originium Arts. Once we're on set, Mephisto will use his Originium Arts to make it bleed through continuous stimulation. It will definitely soak an entire bed in blood."

"I hope it doesn't scare poor Mr. Rubio senseless. We didn't tell him in advance; we only gave him part of the script."

As Talulah spoke, she thought of the upcoming scene and teased Chen Qi, "Your twisted sense of fun... Sometimes I really can't imagine what tricks you'll come up with for the sake of filming."

"I call that being responsible for the audience's experience." Chen Qi did not feel the least bit burdened. When he had invited the man to act in this scene, he had kept the script secret but considered every other aspect—whether he had any medical conditions, whether he took blood pressure medication. Rubio was the only person who met the requirements, so Chen Qi had no choice but to use him.

"I just don't understand why you're so obsessed with genuine reactions." Talulah could not help asking. "Back then, to ensure our cinematography and sound crews would not affect the actors' states, you even had me beg Chen, then had Chen beg Swire, to invest in a complete set of Feline tactical stealth suits and supporting equipment."

"Because I want to make the effects of certain iconic scenes as good as possible."

When Chen Qi answered that question, he sounded more confident than ever before. Every word was clear and firm. "Some scenes will become classics and be passed down forever. I want our movie to achieve that."

The Beloved Steed, Mist: Syracuse-Style Threats

The following afternoon, Chen Qi's crew temporarily changed locations. They were heading to the center of Volcini, where there was a municipal assembly hall that had never been used by any official.

That municipal assembly hall had actually been built jointly by Volcini's family powers. Its purpose was to provide a place for family representatives to discuss matters without convening Grey Hall.