Huayu: This director is so eager to improve.

Chapter 21 A Young Man's Journey

As the night deepened, the three of them left the bustling grilled fish restaurant, their steps faltering slightly.

Alcohol completely relaxes the nerves that have been tense for a long time, and also releases the hidden unbridled desires.

It's unclear who suggested it, or how they ended up climbing over a low fence, but the three of them stumbled and staggered into an amusement park that had already closed.

In the empty space, the huge Ferris wheel and roller coaster skeletons cast silent silhouettes under the moonlight, with only a few ground lights emitting a faint glow.

"Over there! Go up!"

Guo Fan pointed to the tallest observation tower in the distance, his voice unusually loud in the silence.

Fueled by the exhilaration of alcohol.

Without security guards or any obstruction, they climbed the emergency staircase, panting and laughing all the way up.

Finally, I stood on the highest platform. The summer night wind blew freely, carrying the scent of green grass on the edge of the city and distant lights.

Guo Fan was the first to rush to the railing, spread his arms wide, and imitated Jack's pose from "Titanic," shouting loudly:

"I am Guo Fan! I want to make movies! I want to be the king of the world, wow!!"

The shouts drifted in the night wind, carrying with them youthful fantasies and unbridled spirit.

He turned around, his eyes shining brightly, and looked at Li Qing, whose long hair was blowing wildly in the night wind:

"Li Qing! Do you know what kind of movie your brother Fan most wants to make?"

Infected by his emotions, Li Qing also asked loudly:

"What?"

"Science fiction!"

Guo Fan practically roared, forcefully swinging his arm and pointing it towards the sky.

"Let's make our own awesome sci-fi films! Not cheap special effects! Real hardcore sci-fi! Let our spaceships leave the solar system, let our imagination conquer the universe! Do you believe it?!"

"I believe you!" Li Qing nodded vigorously, also ignited by his passionate declaration.

"Brother Fan, you will definitely succeed!"

"Yes! One day, my name, Guo Fan, will resound throughout the world, alongside Chinese science fiction films!"

Guo Fan once again declared to the sky, then he looked at Li Qing.

"Li Qing, what about you? Do you want to become the best actor in the world?"

When suddenly asked this question, Li Qing was taken aback. The excitement on her face faded slightly, replaced by a hint of confusion and reminiscence.

She leaned gently against the railing, her voice sounding somewhat faint in the wind:

"Me? I don't know... I used to study Kunqu Opera. A teacher said I had a talent for acting and was suited for it, so I... came here without really knowing what I was doing. But after three or four years in the industry, running around to auditions, playing minor roles... I haven't accomplished anything, and I even got swindled out of all my money..."

Her voice lowered, tinged with bitterness.

"Sometimes I think I feel really bad for my former Kunqu Opera teacher; she had high expectations of me..."

Guo Fan walked over and patted her shoulder forcefully, so hard that Li Qing stumbled.

"Why dwell on the past! Look at now! 'Yu Zui' is a hit! You are Lin Yujing, the big-breasted actress! Your 'Chasing the Light' is playing everywhere! You are already an amazing actress! You will definitely become even more amazing in the future!"

His words eased some of the gloom in Li Qing's heart.

Yes, it seems that her life took a completely different turn from the day she met Qi Yue.

She took a deep breath of the cool air, and imitating Guo Fan, cupped her hands to her mouth, and shouted with all her might towards the night sky and the city:

"I—Li Qing—want to become the best actor in the world—!"

The crisp sound broke the silence, echoed in the night breeze, and then dissipated.

After shouting, she smiled shyly, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Qi Yue, who had been standing quietly to the side, watching them with a smile.

The evening breeze ruffled the stray hairs on his forehead, and his profile was half-lit and half-shadowed in the moonlight, a smile playing on his lips.

"Director Qi," Li Qing asked softly, "and what about you? You must want to become the best director in the world, right?"

Qi Yue did not answer immediately. The smile at the corner of his mouth seemed to deepen, yet it also seemed to carry something else, something more complex and difficult to understand.

The night breeze ruffled the hem of his clothes.

To become the best director?

He silently repeated the question to himself.

No, that's far from enough.

Look at those so-called "famous directors." Their names may be engraved on the monument of film history, but can their creations truly transcend the shackles of capital?

George Lucas of Hollywood created the Star Wars empire, but he also suffered repeated setbacks in his battles with distributors and studios.

Ultimately, Lucasfilm had to be sold to Disney. Although it retained its creative influence, the core power of the empire had changed hands.

Xu Ke from Hong Kong is known as "Old Monster Xu" for his unrestrained imagination and sharp visual style. However, many of his brilliant ideas have had to compromise with commercial box office and bow to the market.

Even renowned mainland directors like Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige, known for their "toughness" and "control," had massive investment groups and complex networks of interests behind them during their "blockbuster era."

From its inception to its release, a project may be subject to scrutiny, interference, or even rejection by investors at every step. They may earn respect and awards, but they are still far from truly controlling the fate of their work and determining the rules of the game in the industry.

They are undoubtedly excellent "chess pieces," or even the most brilliant "chariots" on the chessboard.

However, the chessboard itself, and the rules of the game, are often not set by them.

A puppet of capital? Qi Yue wouldn't allow himself to go that far.

In his previous life as a policeman, he had seen too much of the reality behind the glamour, distorted by capital, personal connections, and unspoken rules.

In this life, with the system at his fingertips and a second chance at life, he clearly knows that in this industry, talent and works alone are far from enough.

You must control the discourse, and at its core, the discourse is capital, the power to allocate resources.

What he wants is not to become a top director favored or even sought after by capital—that would still be being chosen.

What he wants is to become capital itself.

In short, this director really wants to improve!

But he wouldn't say those words aloud.

So, meeting Li Qingqing's clear and inquisitive gaze, Qi Yue simply smiled.

"Yes, the best director"

He paused.

"Perhaps one day, the world will remember the era we created."

He didn't say "I," he said "we."

But the immense ambition hidden beneath those calm words silenced Guo Fan and Li Qin instantly, and even the evening breeze seemed to pause.

It's not about becoming the person at the top of the tower, but about building a completely new tower.

The summer night wind continues to blow, carrying unknown stories towards a more distant future.