427: Chapter 427, "The Little Monster," is now airing!

...

After the mall shootout scene, Lin Chuyan started to truly feel that Director Du Qiyu was making a really good film.

On one hand, Director Du Qiyu's direction was impressive; on the other hand, as a rookie director, Lin Chuyan could basically get the aesthetic of that 'static confrontation' and 'alternative shootout.'

In the following days, the shooting progressed rapidly.

The Five-Man Group, plus Ah Nan and Brother Wen, none of the seven people were slacking off.

Lin Chuyan was also giving it his all.

His special skill, 'Eye Acting,' had long ago reached 401 points. After filming 'the knockout' and 'lotus lantern,' it had gradually risen to 513 points.

Among these, 'lotus lantern' had provided him with the most training.

He had pondered over every single look of the Second Master, again and again.

Like walking out from behind someone, the moment of looking up, an angry shout, being trapped by love, fighting... Lin Chuyan considered himself to have perfected every one of these expressions.

Now...

'the mission' was worth it; Lin Chuyan planned to continue adding points.

However, 401-600 was already the 'Superb' realm. To level up further? It cost 10 points to add 1 point.

So be it. He had saved up a lot of points and added them all at once to 601.

Peak Mastery—this was the highest-level skill he currently possessed—refined to an almost perfect realm, possessing extremely high artistic achievement.

Who else could compete?!

It was just a pity that Director Du Qiyu wouldn't need it for the next scene.

"Nickname, come here, everyone come over."

Director Du Qiyu called The Five-Man Group over: "This scene isn't in the script, but let's film it anyway."

"Film what?"

"Kicking a paper ball."

"Kick what?" Lin Chuyan doubted he had heard correctly.

"Kicking a paper ball. Haven't you ever kicked one?" Director Du Qiyu crumbled the paper he was holding into a ball, threw it on the ground, and kicked it to Lin Chuyan's feet. "Pass it to Ah Mike."

Lin Chuyan: "???"

Director Du Qiyu's explanation came immediately: "You guys, as The Five-Man Group, have been through life and death together. Have you forgotten what this movie is about? It's about brotherhood! You need to slowly build up feelings later on... So, tell me, how do you show the bond between men?"

Everyone began to understand.

Director Du Qiyu continued: "How does the saying go? Men are boys until they die. Kicking a paper ball together—even someone like Ah Lai, who walks around with a stinking face all day, and someone as steady as Ah Gui are joining in. What is this? This is a symbol of the shift in your feelings! Otherwise, the later story—after the Gou Yisao incident happens, no one betrays their brother—it would be hard to convince the audience."

Everyone was convinced.

However, even for such a simple act of kicking a paper ball, Director Du Qiyu filmed it very seriously.

"Ah Mike, Xin Zai, Ah Fei, you three have more lively personalities, so start passing it among yourselves. Later, Xin Zai, try passing it to Ah Gui, and finally, Ah Lai joins in."

The director was serious, so Lin Chuyan was serious too.

Besides, who says you can't have Acting while kicking a paper ball?

Once filming started, Lin Chuyan began his performance.

Seeing Ah Mike and Xin Zai start to kick the paper ball with childlike innocence, Ah Lai glanced at them expressionlessly, then simply turned away, facing away from the three of them.

It seemed as if he disdained such childish games, or perhaps he couldn't bear to watch.

But when the paper ball reached Ah Gui's feet, and seeing Ah Gui start to join in the game...

Ah Lai finally couldn't help but be moved. He turned his body back around, his eyes fixed on the little paper ball being kicked back and forth by everyone.

His body didn't move, only his eyeballs did.

Cold on the outside, warm on the inside—it was clearly revealed.

Director Du Qiyu found it interesting: "Give Lin Chuyan a close-up on his eyes... No, keep a camera focused specifically on him."

Finally, Ah Lai joined the fray.

A female employee from the company walked by. Ah Lai quickly raised his leg, pinned the paper ball that was about to hit the female employee under his foot, and then kicked it back.

Then, Ah Lai changed his stance—he seemed to adjust to a... more conducive posture for kicking?

Originally, his feet were shoulder-width apart, standing like a bodyguard; at this moment, his butt was against the wall, and his feet were stretched forward a bit, seemingly ready to receive the ball at any time.

As a director, Director Du Qiyu naturally understood these small actions that seemed meaningless to passersby. He found it interesting and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Good, good, truly good. It's rare to have such design even in a scene like this."

This moment was like a meeting of kindred spirits.

...

June 1st.

Director Du Qiyu's 'the mission' was still being filmed.

Lin Chuyan had joined the crew in mid-May and felt that at this pace, they should be wrapping up soon.

However, on the other side, 'summer of the little monsters' was finally about to air.

To be honest, even if Lin Chuyan didn't promote this short film, it would definitely be a hit.

And now, with him hyping it up on Weibo by tagging Director Deng Yu... the buzz before the premiere was truly unparalleled.

It was no exaggeration to say it was highly anticipated.

Lin Chuyan took it seriously and even posted a special Weibo.

[Family, today at 12:00 PM, lock in on Bilibili.]

At this moment, whether you were a fan, a passerby, or Haters, who didn't want to test the quality of 'summer of the little monsters'?

Whether to praise or criticize, you had to watch it to know.

12:00 PM.

Netizens flooded Bilibili.

Sure enough, it was the familiar 'free for premium members' viewing.

[It's just 20 minutes, and it still requires a membership?]

[Don't you know Lin the Dog's M.O. by now? What does he not charge for? Tell me!]

[What, short films can't be paid content? If you want to watch, watch; if not, get lost!]

The weather was hot, and everyone was irritable.

However, it was 12:00 PM, time to watch a heartwarming little short film.

'summer of the little monsters' premiered on time.

The bullet comments were flying from the very first second.

Well, the first thing that came into view was the production company.

Eight big characters—

Yanyu Film Co., Ltd.

This was also Yanyu Film's first production.

[Isn't Yanyu Film the company owned by Lin Chuyan and Ruan Xingyu?]

[Caught off guard by another show of affection.]

[With their interests so tied together, it'll be hard to end it without getting married, right?]

[Wishing for a successful premiere!]

[Support! Must support!]

Next.

Director: Lin Chuyan.

[Here to support my brother!]

[Director Deng Yu was here~]

[Old Deng, I know you're watching.]

[Director Lin, keep it up!]

Immediately after, the screen went black, then lit up again—

Blue sky, white clouds.

The camera panned down, and a Little Pig Demon was sleeping on a hillside.

In the shade of a tree, he had a gourd on his left and a spear stuck in the ground on his right.

Comfortable.

[A worker slacking off?]

[You, slacking off at work.]

[The King sent me to patrol the mountains?]

Soon, a crow demon appeared.

Approached.

Slapped the pig's nose hard.

"I told you to patrol the mountains, and you're sleeping here?"

"What's wrong? What's wrong?"

"Hurry back to the cave, the King is holding a meeting, let's go."

The Little Pig Demon picked up the spear and followed him away.

Soon he turned back to grab the gourd.

As the two left, subtitles began to appear on the empty hillside.

A splash of ink appeared, transforming into a few large characters: summer of the little monsters.

[This style is right!]

[Chinese ink-wash style, very good!]

[The worker's summer.]

What if it's only 20 minutes? A good story is what really matters.

Let's go.