Director Chen did not give up easily.
"It's not a significant role. If you perform like you did in 'The Jade City's Delicate Beauty,' it'll take at most three days, for just one scene."
Zhu Huan hesitated.
"When we get to that part, you can come visit him on set. It'll be done in a day. It's so hard to find someone who can fight these days. Just consider it helping an uncle. I'll add scenes for your little darling."
Zhu Huan: "..."
"Adding scenes isn't necessary. If I have time, I'll come then."
This was tantamount to agreeing. Director Chen was overjoyed.
Even if the timing wasn't right, he would wait.
He truly couldn't find anyone who could film the kind of fierce, hard-hitting close-quarters combat seen in modern films. It wasn't something actresses in period dramas could achieve by learning a few moves or just twirling a sword.
One needed martial arts skills to deliver that kind of impact.
After settling Chong Yan, Zhu Huan returned to the company.
She wasn't short on money. The office building she rented was in the city center, and she had leased the entire building. However, some tenants on upper floors hadn't moved out yet, and their lease hadn't expired.
Her own company hadn't officially started operations either.
The author, at her suggestion, had already begun creating new stories. The artist was in contact with an elderly professor she had found, learning about traditional Chinese mythology to improve their skills. The others were also making preparations.
They were all waiting for Zhu Huan's situation to stabilize before formally joining.
This work was neither easy nor difficult. Zhu Huan didn't find it difficult, but Zhou Lu, who had returned to help, was swamped.
She walked in with a large stack of documents, and seeing Zhu Huan still looking at her phone, felt overwhelmed.
"You're still in the mood to look at your phone? If you were just messing around, you should have told me in advance. I wouldn't have had to go through all this trouble."
"Of course not." Zhu Huan clicked print, and the printer beside them whirred to life.
Zhou Lu put down the documents. "Then what are you doing? These are the resumes received today, already pre-screened. You said you wanted to see them, so here they are."
"Uh, bring them over here."
Zhou Lu picked up the papers Zhu Huan had just printed, which listed job titles and corresponding names.
Confused, she handed the list to Zhu Huan.
However, Zhu Huan didn't take it. Instead, she said, "Based on the positions listed here, just arrange for them to start working."
Zhou Lu's eyes widened instantly. She looked at Zhu Huan in disbelief.
"Just like that? What are you basing this selection on?"
"Big data."
Zhu Huan said, "I'll send you a piece of software later. Install it and you can take a look. We'll use that software for future recruitment, but be careful not to let it leak."
Zhou Lu didn't know what kind of magical software this was.
Zhu Huan had done this many times before, and it was second nature to her.
Soon, she received the software Zhu Huan had sent. After installing and logging in, she saw the information of these individuals. It was all entered from their resumes, but the information was more detailed, even including personality and psychological analyses, indicating their suitability for different roles, their strengths and weaknesses, and so on.
After multiple comparisons, the most suitable jobs were selected for them.
Zhou Lu watched, dumbfounded.
"You made this yourself?"
"Mm."
She exclaimed, "What are you doing with entertainment media? Why don't you go into high-tech? This alone could make you a fortune if you sold it."
"Someone already has it."
This software had been used by Future Star before, and it hadn't leaked, so it was still unknown.
After all, the employees of Future Star were now almost all classified personnel. Leaking their information could lead to a series of negative consequences, even serious criminal charges.
"Which company has it?"
"Future Star."
Zhou Lu swallowed and decided not to ask any further questions.
With this "cheat code," Zhou Lu only had to make phone calls to inform the selected individuals to report for duty. Soon, the media company, named "Chong Hua," was established.
Of course, very few people knew about it.
With everything on the right track, Zhu Huan finally had some free time to visit the film set where Chong Yan was working.
Chong Yan had already been on set for almost a month. The first half of the month was spent on practice and coordination. This film had a lot of action sequences, and the director was a perfectionist, requiring many shots to be repeated numerous times.
Today, there was a scene between the protagonist and the antagonist. Both were renowned film emperors with exceptional acting skills, yet the director felt something was amiss. Even after more than thirty takes, it still wasn't satisfactory.
Helplessly, he had to let the two actors rest and quickly call Zhu Huan in.
She had been waiting for a while.
Zhu Huan was guest-starring as a sexy and fiery female assassin. She had two outfits: one for attending a banquet with the second male lead, and another for a fight scene in a tight leather suit against the henchman played by Chong Yan, whom she would then be killed by.
The first scene was easy and short. She changed into a formal gown and, with the second male lead, entered the banquet hall, where she exchanged a few threatening words with the female lead.
Her demeanor was cold, while the actress playing the female lead had a somewhat naive and sweet persona. Whether it was good acting or genuine fear, the scene was shot in one take to Director Chen's satisfaction.
He watched the playback and said, "It's good, just a bit too fierce."
"Do you want to do it again?"
Director Chen smiled. "It needs to be fierce."
The character was designed to like the male lead, so naturally, she wouldn't have a good attitude towards the female lead. She had to completely overpower the female lead in terms of presence.
However, the female lead had distinctive features and a likable personality, so she wasn't completely lacking in appeal.
After finishing this scene, Zhu Huan immediately changed her makeup and clothes. It was completely dark now.
Coincidentally, the fight scene was set to take place at night.
When Zhu Huan emerged in her tight, sexy leather outfit, almost all eyes were on her.
Her makeup was glamorous and exquisite, with red lips and black hair. The form-fitting leather suit accentuated her perfect figure. Her gaze was seductive and cold, and every movement was captivating. Astride a motorcycle, she stole everyone's attention.
At the director's command, the fight scene between the two began.
They fought in an abandoned factory. For the safety of the actors, the scattered debris and props were mostly replaced with safer versions to prevent accidental injuries.
Chong Yan, playing a killer, drew his dagger, his eyes glinting with cold light. He moved along the factory floor. Just as he was about to enter, a beautiful leg in a red high-heeled shoe kicked out.
He dodged swiftly. The woman's other leg came flying. He immediately raised his hand to block. After blocking, he followed with his dagger. The woman grabbed the dagger with both hands, and they engaged in a tug-of-war.
He twisted his arm forcefully. The woman shifted to grip his wrist, intending to break his hand. He sprang into the air, spinning in a circle with the woman's pull. In mid-air, he released his hand, and the dagger fell towards the ground.
He kicked the dagger upwards, intending to catch it, but the woman's sharp leg swept past, forcing him to abandon the dagger.
To prevent the woman from getting the dagger, he kicked it further away. He clenched his fist and lunged towards the woman's temple...