Hey! The Criminal Assistance System Can Even Be Used Like This? 29

Soon, the other party stopped looking at her. After Xu Zhizhi switched back from the photo-taking pose, the other person had already vanished from the spot they had been occupying moments ago. It seemed they had merely come for a glance, with no ulterior motive. Xu Zhizhi lowered her gaze, knowing that the visitor meant no good.

This was a border city, not far from a country rife with chaos, where certain unscrupulous criminal gangs might choose to operate. If anything abnormal occurred, they could swiftly escape across the border. That was why Qin Su had chosen to focus on this area; the theft of chemical reagents and the sculpted pressure plates from the film crew was likely related to them.

After a moment’s thought, Xu Zhizhi’s gaze fell on the lead actress, Wu Shiyun. She should know which company the producer was affiliated with, and checking the background might yield quicker results. As for Qin Su’s side, they would be investigating as well, so it would be interesting to see if there were any discrepancies.

With a target in mind, Xu Zhizhi moved closer to Wu Shiyun, using her unfamiliarity with the script as an excuse to ask the actress for guidance. The others were all male, so choosing another female like Wu Shiyun seemed perfectly normal to any outsider. Compared to Xu Zhizhi’s overtures, Wu Shiyun was welcoming. After all, they had to collaborate for at least three months.

Once the movie wrapped, there would also be a promotional period that required cooperation. Helping with directing was a trivial matter for her. Xu Zhizhi’s first question was merely a casual inquiry. Just like that, her relationship with Wu Shiyun advanced rapidly, and they successfully added each other on V-Chat.

The information from the inside and outside could differ. Some things only those familiar with the entertainment industry, like Wu Shiyun, would know. Indeed, Wu Shiyun quickly provided information about the investment situation. The investment company for Director Zhou’s film comprised two firms, with contributions of twenty million and seventy million, respectively.

Seventy million came from the old boss, Double Star Media, while the twenty million was from a private investor, rumored to be a benefactor from Director Zhou’s early days, hoping to cash in on the film’s box office success. Double Star was a major player in the industry, with numerous films and television dramas under its belt, controlling about one-third of the domestic cinema market—a top-tier entertainment company in the country.

Such companies rarely have issues because countless eyes are focused on them, and any opportunity to undermine such a giant would certainly be seized. The so-called private investor was rather strange; appearing entirely normal, they seemed to be invested in a famous director’s work through their role as a savior. Their motivations seemed utterly reasonable.

“So the producer is from Double Star?” Xu Zhizhi inquired, feigning curiosity.

Wu Shiyun nodded. “They’re from Double Star, but I haven’t met them before.”

Wu Shiyun didn’t know much more than that, so Xu Zhizhi quickly changed the subject. Filming was set to begin the next day, and they needed to rehearse a scene to ensure a perfect start. Even someone as composed as Xu Zhizhi felt a twinge of nervousness.

Soon, the next day arrived with everyone gathering at the factory, the main location for filming, covering nearly half the scenes of the drama. The premise involved everyone being kidnapped to a counterfeit money factory.

When they entered, everyone appeared bare-faced, reflecting Director Zhou’s emphasis on realism. This saved the crew considerable time; apart from needing to apply some injuries from being abducted, they merely needed to fix their hair and clothing.

Everyone had been thrown out of a vehicle, faces bound with black cloth, expressions filled with panic. Next, armed men holding wooden crates would come forward, pushing a few people together before removing their blindfolds.

After being hooded for a while, as they finally saw light, they instinctively squinted; it took a moment for them to realize they were in danger. Xu Zhizhi’s character, Du Yuyan, managed to appear panicked, yet her eyes were constantly scanning the surroundings, trying to ascertain where they were and if there was any chance to escape. Yet, with all the armed individuals holding crates, the possibility of fleeing was nonexistent.

She turned her gaze to the leading thug, sweetly asking, “Big brother, where are we? What have you brought us here for?” The short-haired man lifted Du Yuyan’s chin with the wooden crate, locking eyes with her, who seemed the weakest of the group.

“You’re not bad-looking, and your personality is good,” the man remarked, before shifting his gaze to the various individuals each harboring their own thoughts. “We brought you here to let you utilize your skills. Once the task is completed, we’ll send you back and give each of you a million!”

Instantly, everyone’s expressions altered—some curious, some intrigued, while others were wholly skeptical. Du Yuyan initially displayed disbelief, but then, as if struck by greed, her face became filled with longing and trust. “Really? A million is true!”

Her words, revealing her as a greedy and foolish woman, caught the disdainful looks of those who deemed themselves clever. The man withdrew his gaze from everyone and turned back to Du Yuyan, inspecting her with keen interest as if he were tasting her.

“Of course, our boss is exceptionally generous! But you all have to be obedient; it’ll be less painful,” the man instructed, gesturing towards the factory’s crude dormitory. “Head over there to rest for two hours, and then I’ll start assigning tasks.”

Du Yuyan was the first to react, followed by the elderly man played by Lin Zheng and some hesitating extras. Finally, it was the leading couple. They exchanged glances, both understanding they were resolved to escape.

Du Yuyan led the way, and once she confirmed no one was watching, she subtly tilted her head, casting a meaningful look towards the leading couple. “Go!”

Loud applause erupted as the scene concluded. Shooting such a crowded scene was particularly challenging, given that everyone needed to coordinate their positioning, expressions, and actions.

However, to everyone’s surprise, they flawlessly executed their movements, gestures, and lines in perfect unison. Even Director Zhou applauded. Xu Zhizhi turned around only to have Lin Zheng pat her shoulder. “Not bad! Your expressiveness is remarkable!”

Xu Zhizhi’s ability to mimic and understand was astonishing. The entire scene was only briefly described before filming began, and everyone had anticipated needing multiple takes. Yet, Xu Zhizhi’s performance was so natural amid a sea of seasoned actors, exhibiting an effortless quality in her every move and delivering lines with no hesitance.

Even someone as discerning as Director Zhou decided to go with a single take. Lu Yilin even revealed a rare smile. Having worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade, he had initially felt inconvenienced when hearing that Director Zhou signed a newcomer.

Due to the frequent interactions, a rookie’s lack of experience might lead to multiple NGs (Non-Good) (a filming term meaning a scene that needs to be redone), which he saw as a waste of time and energy, leaving him dissatisfied. So, upon entering the set, despite Xu Zhizhi’s attempts to befriend him, he only responded with polite smiles to maintain surface-level relations.

Like everyone else, he was prepared for Xu Zhizhi to have a few NGs today, expecting to go through the motions together. Instead, he was taken aback by Xu Zhizhi’s remarkable performance, realizing he wouldn’t have to expend so much energy, and a genuine smile emerged on his face.

It was a heartfelt expression—a first for him in fully acknowledging Xu Zhizhi’s presence. Others felt similarly, though Lin Zheng genuinely cared for the newcomer. Xu Zhizhi sensed the shift in atmosphere, her expression innocent and lovely, resembling a naïve, foolish, yet talented college student. This setup suited her age perfectly.

Then came the preparatory work for another storyline in the same scene.

One moment, they entered; in the next, they faced punishment. Shooting films and dramas doesn’t strictly follow scripted lines but aims to capture all storylines within a single scene. For example, some might find themselves filming death scenes upon entering the set because it’s convenient.

The

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