Rebirth: I became rich by farming

Chapter 621: Chapter 621 Can’t Stand It Anymore (5/5)

Fan Tianyu naturally felt her remark was incorrect and immediately nudged her with his elbow, then followed with a glare.

Director Fang An, however, responded with a wry smile, "Thirty million is quite a lot. The total investment for this film is only seventy million, of which, twenty million is invested by Star Cinema. We don’t have to worry about that part; as long as they don’t shoehorn anyone into the cast, there aren’t any other issues. Though the film will be released in all Star Cinemas nationwide, the remaining twenty million came from investors with whom I’ve worked on several films before. It’s quite normal for each to invest a few million, which is a standard proportion. This includes an investment of twenty million by me and a few others from Chengnan combined. So, Ren Li’s thirty million is indeed a lot."

Hearing Fang An’s explanation, Mei Mengzhen’s concept of money amounts was brought back from the future to the present, probably because she had lived in the future for too long. In the future, investments for a film would easily exceed hundreds of millions, even for modern plays with not a hint of special effects. Anything involving special effects would cost several hundred million. Pulling her thoughts back to 2009, for a somewhat famous director to secure an investment of seventy million was already considered a major production. Of course, this amount was somewhat different from what she remembered the final sum to be, and how that discrepancy was covered remained unknown.

Mei Mengzhen nodded at Fan Tianyu, who understood her intent, "Alright, Xiyuan will cover the thirty million shortfall. Consider it an investment by Xiyuan. I wish us a pleasant cooperation."

With the investment discussion concluded, the day’s meeting came to an end, and essentially, she had just come to sit for the day.

The issue with Ren Li still needed the director’s attention, and the filming probably couldn’t start for a day or two. No matter how the remaining scenes would be filmed, it was certain that work would halt for the day.

Taking advantage of the fact that her friends who had come to visit her hadn’t left yet, Mei Mengzhen descended the mountain with the group, including Huang Jing.

Sitting in the car, Mei Mengzhen asked, "There won’t be any filming in the next couple of days, do you need to stay with me?"

"Yes, unless you’ve finished all your scenes, I’ll have to stay with you," he explained earlier that his role as a production assistant wasn’t limited to scheduling. He was also responsible for various other matters concerning Mei Mengzhen during her time with the production, so he definitely needed to accompany her.

Mei Mengzhen didn’t mind, "Fine by me. If filming can start tomorrow, you can drag me back here in the evening."

Huang Jing chuckled, "Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. But even if we were to film tomorrow, I don’t think it would be your scenes. You can probably rest another day."

"How do you figure that?"

"You have a total of eight scenes, two of which have been filmed. This location requires four scenes, three involving the second male lead. Since the second lead hasn’t been cast, we can’t proceed with your scenes. The remaining two must be finished to move the set, but the new location is nearby. We’ll need to transfer everything together, simply because the equipment and the crew are too many."

The arrangement wasn’t specifically for Mei Mengzhen’s scenes; it had been planned like this from the start.

With this explanation, Mei Mengzhen understood, "So, you mean I might have to rest for several days."

"Possibly." Huang Jing weren’t too certain himself; the director might decide to film other scenes first.

The journey wasn’t very long, and after descending the mountain, they arrived at the Chicken Soup Restaurant they had visited before. Having missed a decent lunch before, they settled their meal here before heading to the city.

During the ride, Liang Xiao suggested, "Why don’t we visit our film set?"

Lai Xixi grinned mischievously, "It’d be even better if we could rub it in Chen Zhi and Luo Yingying’s faces."

Yan Keke definitely agreed. Although she was in Mei Mengzhen’s car, she had already received the news on her Twitter, and her face lit up with joy, uncontainable after seeing the message.

The messages were sent individually and not in a group, so as long as no one mentioned it, Mei Mengzhen was completely unaware. Yan Keke craftily kept it a secret, "No, Xiaoxiao says she’s heading back to the set and invited us there."

Mei Mengzhen, taking nothing amiss, agreed enthusiastically, "Great, I’ve already planned a visit to Director An Zhi before descending, and I brought him two bottles of wine."

She also brought the wine they wanted to drink, ensuring there was plenty.

Seeing Mei Mengzhen’s acquiescence, Yan Keke beamed even brighter, "Mm-hmm."

Huang Jing followed He Yiran and the others in their minibus to Director An Zhi’s set. The scenes at the university had been shooting for several days without wrapping up, and in the film, Mei Mengzhen and Fan Tianyu’s characters were already deep in a budding romance. Compared to their previous interaction, the pair now seemed to be heatedly in love.

However, their overly intimate behavior was quite an eyesore, to the point where the two of them in the car were reluctant to even get out, "I really can’t accept this storyline."

Fan Tianyu was also flabbergasted, "Me neither. Who could come up with such a plot?"

Yan Keke disagreed, "What do you mean, can’t accept it? Just don’t imagine those two as yourselves, and it’ll be fine. Does that female lead look better than our Zhenzhen? Is Brother Tianyu’s background as tragic as presented? So, it’s not you two at all. Don’t feel so immersed, will you? This is a plot Xiaoxiao poured her heart and soul into writing. How can you just spoil it like this?"

Quick-witted as he was, Huang Jing caught on right away, "I heard that this TV series is adapted from a novel, so is Miss Liang the scriptwriter for this film?"

"Not only the scriptwriter, but she’s also the author of the original novel," Yan Keke enthused as she briefed Huang Jing, who then grasped the key point of their relationship, "So, it’s a brother-sister turned lovers story."

That certainly sounded melodramatic, and their discomfort watching it was natural.

The four of them in the car found their attention irresistibly drawn to the male and female leads, who were filming a kiss scene, making what was already hard to watch even more unbearable.

Mei Mengzhen and Fan Tianyu helplessly turned away, "I can’t stand it."

Yet Yan Keke, Huang Jing, and everyone in the minibus ahead were engrossed, unblinkingly watching with broad, knowing grins – utterly speechless.

Finally, the scene ended, and they prepped for another. Liang Xiao hurried over and said, "Zhenzhen, I’ll go say hello. The daughter of the investor I told you about is here too. I’d like you two to meet."