Chapter 12 Tuesday, December 14th

Early in the morning on this day, Pei Qian arrived at the filming location for "A Better Tomorrow."

It had been a while since he'd last been here, and he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

The last time was two weeks ago, when Pei Qian casually suggested that Lu Zhiyao play a loser, but to his surprise, Lu Zhiyao had an acting explosion, earning unanimous praise from the crew for that scene.

So, for the past few weeks, Pei Qian had been suppressing his worries, avoiding the set.

He was afraid that an offhand comment would cause Lu Zhiyao to have another epiphany, and then the situation would spiral out of control…

But he couldn’t stay away forever.

Pei Qian felt that he couldn’t keep his head in the sand, or it would be too late if something really went wrong.

He still had to find problems early and treat them early.

Even if the situation was beyond repair, knowing sooner would at least allow him to prepare to spend money in advance, reducing his losses somewhat.

So, today, with nothing better to do, Pei Qian came to the film set again.

The film set was quite busy, with staff members scurrying back and forth.

Pei Qian didn't want to disturb anyone's work, so he just stood off to the side, watching the performance.

The surrounding set was no longer the cramped capsule, but had been transformed into an exterior view of a future city space.

Of course, even though it was called an exterior view, it was still filmed in the studio, with a lot of green screens hanging up.

Those cool future city scenes would be created using special effects.

The close-ups were still done with physical sets. For example, in this scene, the male and female leads were eating together at a roadside shop. The entire shop was built, and the tables, chairs, tableware, decorations, and so on were all real objects.

In addition, the shop's signboard, the trash cans on the roadside, and the costumes of the male and female leads and all the extras in the scene were also custom-made.

These were all carefully crafted props by the props team, giving a sense of realism.

From these sets, one could roughly tell that this was a slum-like setting in a cyberpunk style.

According to Director Zhu Xiaoce's plan, the buildings in this film would be roughly divided into four different styles:

The capsule space where the male lead lived looked very technological, but it was cramped, narrow, and severely homogenized in style. These were uniformly built welfare facilities;

The slums of the outside world, which was where the male and female leads met and dated. There were many small shops here, looking a bit like cyberpunk, with bright lights and bustling activity, but full of chaos and disorder;

The glamorous outside world, including the scene of the talent show. It looked very technological, spacious, and grand, representing the general style of science fiction architecture;

The residences of the upper class, mainly in the style of classical mansions, with beautiful fireplaces, large oil paintings, and wooden furniture that looked very expensive, but with some high-tech elements to distinguish them from real-world mansions.

Because in the setting of the script, only the upper class could afford "classical arts" like oil paintings and pianos. In their circles, the "retro" architectural style was a trend, used to distinguish themselves in taste from ordinary wealthy people.

This scene was being filmed in the "future city slum" scene with a somewhat "cyberpunk" feel.

This was the first time Pei Qian had seen the female lead of this drama.

The actress was named Lin Ruyi. She had a round face, big eyes, and two very nice dimples when she smiled, giving her a standard "first love" face.

Pei Qian had previously tried searching for her information, but couldn't find any famous works. Later, he asked around and found out that she was a newcomer recently discovered from the film academy, and hadn't graduated yet this year.

Speaking only of appearance, Lin Ruyi couldn't be said to be particularly beautiful, because her face was on the round side, so she wasn't very photogenic.

However, this exactly matched the setting of the script.

Because in the script, the female lead wasn't a very stunning, captivating beauty. Otherwise, she would have been noticed by the upper class long ago, and these later stories wouldn't have happened.

Pei Qian had no requirements for the actress, except that he hoped she wouldn't be too pretty.

After all, this was an era where everything was judged by appearance.

If the female lead was too beautiful, it might become a hot topic, and if her acting was even a little bit good, the consequences would be even more unimaginable.

What if the female lead was too beautiful, and even though she played a gold digger, the audience wouldn't hate her at all, but would instead become crazily in love with her? Wouldn't that be a bad thing?

Of course, Pei Qian also knew that it wasn't very realistic to find a very ugly actress to play the female lead.

So, this new actress, who didn't seem to have a particularly outstanding appearance, was a pretty good choice for Pei Qian.

Soon, Pei Qian understood the plot of this scene.

The female lead had already been on the talent show, but hadn't been selected.

Now, the male lead, played by Lu Zhiyao, was resting and drinking a beverage with the female lead at a small shop by the roadside.

Lu Zhiyao would try his best to make Lin Ruyi happy, while Lin Ruyi would casually agree with him.

And when Lu Zhiyao revealed that he had saved enough money to buy a double capsule, Lin Ruyi would suddenly explode, unleashing several emotionally charged lines, and then leave with a flick of her hand.

This scene was a flashpoint in the early to mid-stage of the plot. In short, it could be summed up in four words: the male lead gets dumped.

Alas, this was a timeless and classic flaw.

Pei Qian couldn't help but sigh silently.

…

At this time.

Lu Zhiyao was fantasizing about the future, acting like a complete simp, quite humble.

However, because he was good-looking, even though he was simping, it didn't make people feel very uncomfortable. Instead, they felt a little sorry for him.

And Lin Ruyi was staring blankly at the drink cup on the table, nodding from time to time, or making very perfunctory agreements, obviously thinking about other things.

"I heard that a good restaurant has opened nearby, selling delicious imitation meat, standard purified water, and red wine."

"The imitation meat we had last time could only simulate about 60% of the taste of real meat, and it was already very delicious. This one is said to be able to simulate about 80% of the taste of real meat, and there are many flavors such as beef and chicken."

"And the standard purified water. All the standard purified water we've drunk before had a rusty taste. This store's standard purified water is said to have almost no peculiar smell and even has a faint fragrance, which is a hundred times better than the water in the living capsule."

"And red wine. Bottled red wine sold in the capsules is very expensive. The price of red wine there is only about 70% of the price of the vending machine in the capsule, and it is said that there is almost no difference in taste."

"Let's go try it together tomorrow or the day after, what do you think?"

Lu Zhiyao looked at Lin Ruyi opposite him.

Lin Ruyi showed a polite smile on her face: "Yeah, sure."

When she smiled, two shallow dimples appeared on her face, making her look very charming.

However, the smile quickly disappeared, and she continued to stare absently at the cup on the table, picking it up indifferently and taking a small sip, her expression seeming to say that the drink in the cup was tasteless.

Lu Zhiyao said a lot, but only got three words in return, and couldn't help but feel a little helpless.

However, he quickly adjusted his mood.

Because he had prepared a big surprise for today.

The two fell into a brief silence.

Lin Ruyi still didn't know what she was thinking, while Lu Zhiyao was drinking his drink, steeling himself to speak.

"I know, you were greatly affected by the failure of the talent show last time."

"It's okay, it will pass."

"Don't worry, I've already planned our future."

Lin Ruyi raised her head and looked at Lu Zhiyao blankly, seeming to not understand what he meant: "Huh?"

Lu Zhiyao couldn't hide the smile on his face: "I've saved enough money to buy a double capsule again!"

"Let's go pick a suitable place to live tomorrow, and then you can move in!"

"Although the double capsule isn't very big, we can slowly move to a bigger place later!"

"Maybe one day, we can also afford a 60-square-meter luxury apartment with a kitchen, so that our children can go out at 6 pm, and if we're lucky, we can even see the sunset…"

Lu Zhiyao excitedly described the beautiful prospects he imagined.

However, Lin Ruyi's face didn't show any joy at all, but instead became more and more impatient.

"Keep the money, I don't want to live in a double capsule, and I don't want to marry you and have children."

"Let's break up."

Lu Zhiyao's smile froze on his face.

"Why?"

"What's wrong with you?"

"Ever since the talent show, you've been acting strange…"

"It's just a talent show, it doesn't matter…"

Lin Ruyi said with a straight face: "You don't understand my feelings at all, of course you think it doesn't matter!"

Lu Zhiyao was speechless: "Honey, I know how you feel! The registration fee took me a lot of effort to save, this matter is a huge loss for both of us!"

Lin Ruyi seemed even angrier: "A huge loss for you too?"

"You only lost a few stinky dollars, but I lost my dream!"

Lu Zhiyao was speechless for a moment.

He suddenly realized that something was wrong and asked: "Honey, what's wrong with you?"

"I don't seem to have done anything wrong, I just planned to buy you a double capsule, why are you angry?"

"Why am I angry?" Lin Ruyi's emotions seemed to be getting worse, "everything!"

The two of them were speaking English, so saying "everything" was quite imposing.

"I'm angry at the watered-down, inferior syrup drinks in the roadside shops, angry at those disgusting greasy snacks, angry at only being able to come out for three hours a day to walk in the dark and sunless slums, and live with the rats…"

Lu Zhiyao was dumbfounded: "But, weren't we living happily like this before? Why do you say… could it be that you…"

He saw more and more accessories worn on Lin Ruyi's body, and her slightly bulging belly, and a terrible guess appeared in his mind.

Lin Ruyi's emotions seemed to collapse. She covered her face with her hands, and after a long time, she raised her head again, her eyes filled with tears, but unusually determined.

"I'm sorry, I don't want to hide it from you anymore."

"I became that judge's mistress and got pregnant with his child."

"So, let's break up, we're over."

Lu Zhiyao's expression changed from suspicion to shock, then to despair, and finally to utter disappointment.

His originally slightly leaning forward body suddenly seemed to lose its support and slumped in the chair.

Lin Ruyi stood up, ready to leave.

However, Lu Zhiyao suddenly grabbed her wrist.

"He didn't marry you, and he didn't give you a lot of money, right?"

"He doesn't care about this child at all, otherwise you wouldn't be collapsing and confused now, right?"

"Even… he abandoned you the moment he found out you were pregnant, right?"

Lin Ruyi's body trembled slightly.

Lu Zhiyao knew he had guessed correctly, knew he still had a chance, and quickly said: "It's okay, it's okay…"

"It will be difficult for you to live alone, and no other man will be willing to accept someone who is already pregnant."

"You need me, I will help you take good care of this child together."

"Believe me, I won't mind this, I will definitely…"

His voice was pleading.

Lin Ruyi was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly shook off Lu Zhiyao's hand.

"This child has the blood of an upper-class person."

"I don't want him to become a useless poor person like you."

Lin Ruyi decisively strode away.

And Lu Zhiyao watched her leave, opening his mouth to shout something, but never shouted it out.

He was like he had been drained of all his strength, and his whole person "collapsed."

…

"Cut!"

"Good, very good!"

"We shot it seven or eight times, and finally there's a relatively satisfactory one. Everyone has worked hard!"

Director Zhu Xiaoce took the lead in applauding and encouraging everyone.

At this time, Lin Ruyi, who played the female lead, quickly bowed to Director Zhu Xiaoce and the crew to thank them, and then bowed to Lu Zhiyao to thank him.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior. If your acting wasn't so good, I wouldn't have been able to act so immersed in the scene."

Lu Zhiyao smiled: "Your acting is already good, I wouldn't dare take the credit."

"Besides, I'm just a 'box office poison'. As for acting, it's really hard to say who is guiding who."

Pei Qian, who was quietly watching from the sidelines, silently gave a thumbs up in his heart.

Awesome!

He got goosebumps watching this scene just now, and he really wanted to hit someone.

Lu Zhiyao brought a simp to life, especially those last few words, vividly explaining what it means to be "a simp doesn't get the house."

And Lin Ruyi vividly portrayed a gold digger.

The small emotions in the front were expressed very well, and the last two sentences were completely the finishing touch.

Pei Qian felt severe discomfort watching it on the set.

Too toxic!

Men will be silent when they see it, and women will cry when they see it.

Pei Qian felt that if he saw this movie in the cinema, he would probably faint on the spot.

Moreover, Pei Qian also realized a major positive message.

Maybe Lu Zhiyao's improved acting skills are actually a good thing for him?

If Lu Zhiyao didn't act well, everyone might not be so immersed in the scene, and they might even secretly enjoy Lu Zhiyao being so miserable in the movie.

After all, this guy doesn't have much audience appeal.

But now, Lu Zhiyao acted well, and many people would naturally feel the simping aura emanating from him, producing an instinctive discomfort.

Those fans of Lu Zhiyao must be so angry that they are fuming, right?

In this way, there will definitely be more people scolding this movie!

Pei Qian suddenly felt better.

It seems that accidentally improving Lu Zhiyao's acting skills a little bit earlier is not a big problem.

As long as the script is toxic enough, even the best actors can't save it!

Pei Qian couldn't help but smile and went up to chat with Director Zhu Xiaoce.