One hour later, Shen Tian uploaded six thousand words to the starting point website, stretched his waist, and rotated his stiff neck.
"Still thirty percent battery left," he muttered after checking his laptop. "Good enough to last until I get there."
Feeling a bit hungry, he rummaged through his bag and pulled out some snacks to munch on.
At the same time, he played A World Without Thieves on his pirated handheld console.
The train rattled on slowly, the rhythmic clattering of wheels lulling him to sleep.
By dawn the next day, a voice echoed through the platform speakers:
"Attention passengers, we've arrived at Ningbo Station."
Shen Tian snapped awake, hastily packed his things, and slung his backpack over his shoulder. After disembarking, he waved down a taxi and bargained with the driver.
"Fifty yuan to Hengdian Film and Television Base," the driver said.
"Deal," Shen Tian replied, climbing into the cab.
---
An hour later, the taxi pulled up outside the massive Hengdian complex. Shen Tian stepped out and immediately pulled out his phone.
"Brother, I'm here," he said over the call.
"Alright," came the reply from the other end. "Wait there, I'll be right over."
Minutes later, a green Mazda rolled up. The car door swung open, and a sturdy man in his early thirties stepped out, scanning the area before his eyes landed on Shen Tian.
"Junior brother?" the man asked.
"Senior brother?" Shen Tian replied in surprise.
"Damn," the man laughed heartily. "You're way too handsome! How did you end up in the directing department?"
Shen Tian scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Uh, well… this has always been my dream."
The man's eyes gleamed with mischief as he patted Shen Tian on the shoulder knowingly. "Sure, dream. I believe you. But from what our teacher said, with your reputation, you probably had one to three 'true loves' at the same time back in school."
Shen Tian's face turned red. "Those were all real feelings, alright?"
"Yeah, yeah," the man teased. "Come on, let's get going. I'll take you to meet the director first, then we'll grab something to eat."
"Thanks, Senior Brother," Shen Tian said as he climbed into the car.
"Oh, by the way, what exactly do you do now?" Shen Tian asked curiously once they were on the road.
"I'm a producer," the man replied casually.
"Whoa, awesome!" Shen Tian gave him a thumbs up.
The man, whose name was Liu Shang, waved off the praise. "It's nothing special, really. Just a job to make a living. This drama actually has four producers—one from Ningxia Film Studio, another from Shanghai Film Studio, one from Dinglongda, and one from Century Jiaying. Do you know why that is?"
"The investment must be huge," Shen Tian guessed. "And the investors don't fully trust each other, so they split control?"
Liu Shang's eyes widened. "Well, look at you, hitting the nail on the head!"
Shen Tian chuckled and lit a cigarette, offering one to Liu Shang. "Brother, it's obvious. They're investing fifteen million US dollars. That's a massive budget for a domestic production. With numbers like that, they're bound to be cautious."
Liu Shang nodded in approval. "Looks like you're no fool. That makes things easier for me. Just remember, there are some things better left unsaid, understand?"
"Got it, brother. I won't cause you trouble," Shen Tian assured him.
---
When they arrived at the set, Liu Shang led Shen Tian to meet the director.
"Director Chen," Liu Shang greeted respectfully. "This is my junior brother, Shen Tian. He comes from a proper academic background and was recommended by our teacher. He's here to gain some hands-on experience with our crew."
Director Chen Jiashang gave Shen Tian a brief glance and nodded. "Arrange it however you see fit."
There were no dramatic scenes of rejection or disdain as Shen Tian had feared. Liu Shang quickly escorted him back downstairs, and they went to the nearby hotel to check him in.
After dropping off his luggage, Liu Shang took Shen Tian to a small restaurant just down the street.
As they waited for their food, they ordered two bottles of malt juice to quench their thirst.
"Brother," Shen Tian said, glancing at him. "Director Chen looked… exhausted."
Liu Shang nodded while chewing a mouthful of beef. "Of course he's exhausted. The crew is full of conflicts.
The actors and producers all have powerful backers, constantly fighting for influence and control.
They stir up trouble every single day just to make more money. It's maddening."
"And what about you, brother?" Shen Tian asked with a smile.
Liu Shang smirked. "Me? I'm only interested in two things...money and women. That's why I was able to bring you in so smoothly. Do you think it's easy to get someone a position like 'nominal editor' without connections?"
Shen Tian lifted his bottle and clinked it against Liu Shang's. "Brother, I understand completely."
The two shared a hearty laugh as their food arrived, continuing to chat and bond over the meal.