Volume One: When We Were Young

Prologue

　　In a tall building in the capital of Huaxia, Yanjing City.

　　Samuel Wright sat properly in a luxurious office. Across from him was his old friend, Mr. Cooper, who also bought his scripts. This guy was looking down at his script, but not very seriously. Soon, Mr. Cooper looked up and spoke.

　　“Sam, can’t you add some good stuff to this script?”

　　Samuel Wright understood what Mr. Cooper wanted, but he really couldn’t write it in: “Come on, Cooper, don’t you think things like tearing Japanese soldiers apart with bare hands are just too ridiculous? That stuff is just nonsense, right?”

　　“Who cares if it’s nonsense? As long as people watch it, and they enjoy it, isn’t that enough?”

　　“That kind of plot has already been mocked countless times. I really don’t have the face to write it.”

　　“You, you—making money is all that matters! Why do you care if the plot makes sense or not? Don’t tell me you sympathize with the Japs? Are you one of those Japanophiles?”

　　“Cooper, don’t you know what kind of person I am? That bunch of damn Japs—just like that crew that came last time, if you’re going to shoot a film, just shoot it properly, but damn it, they insisted on adding a filter in front of the camera. I was so pissed off!” Samuel Wright had to take a firm stand on this kind of thing.

　　Actually, Mr. Cooper just wanted Samuel Wright to add a bit more to cater to the tastes of ordinary viewers, so he continued, “Last time, the director made some changes to your script. Look at what happened after he changed it—never mind the criticism, the attention and ratings all went up. Can’t you just go with the flow for once?”

　　Samuel Wright was helpless: “That director changed my stuff himself. The fact that I didn’t curse him out already shows my self-restraint, and you want me to go along with it? Cooper, that guy didn’t even know how to design camera shots. If I hadn’t helped, the cameraman would have quit on the spot.”

　　“Fine, you’re the capable one, okay? But when you got involved, the director was so pissed, we almost lost the sponsorship we’d already secured. Can’t you just make things a little easier for me? Let’s talk about your current script—it lacks originality.” Mr. Cooper was a bit frustrated.

　　“What? Still lacks originality? This time I wrote about monks fighting the Japanese! There’s kung fu, I’ve got it all ready—Golden Vajra Palm, Mad Demon Staff Technique, Bodhidharma Swordplay—all according to your requests, seeking novelty and change.” Samuel Wright felt wronged. “What, do you want me to write about nuns next?”

　　“You really don’t get it. Not just monks—even nuns have already been done!” Mr. Cooper’s words hit like a blow to the head.

　　“What?” Samuel Wright was depressed, thinking to himself, “Who the hell is so shameless?”

　　“I told you before, if you want something new, don’t bother with religious figures. Everything that can be written has already been written. Think about some special professions.” Mr. Cooper gave Samuel Wright a hint.

　　“You’re right.” Samuel Wright thought, if even nuns have been done, then, then—“How about I write about a fallen woman from the Republic era?”

　　But Mr. Cooper immediately said, “No, definitely not. The big directors have already done that. Did you forget?”

　　“That’s right!” Samuel Wright cursed himself for not thinking of it.

　　“Doctors?”

　　“No, they can only play a supporting role. Choosing that kind of profession doesn’t have the thrill of charging into battle!”

　　“Pickpockets?”

　　“No, no leadership skills, and no sense of immersion.”

　　“Then…”

　　Samuel Wright listed off several professions, but Mr. Cooper shot them all down. In the end, though, Samuel Wright came up with one that seemed like no one had written about before, and it even had a bit of a martial arts vibe: “Beggars! Let’s write about the Beggar Sect, that should work, right? This is good.”

　　“Hey, that actually sounds pretty good.” Mr. Cooper seemed to agree, but then immediately said something that almost made Samuel Wright spit blood: “But why do I feel like the Beggar Sect is kind of like the Eighth Route Army? Hasn’t someone said that before?”

　　Samuel Wright broke out in a cold sweat. This won’t work either? This is tough… Wait! Got it!

　　“How about aliens?” Now that’s a good idea!

　　But Mr. Cooper immediately got annoyed and said, “Should I make his surname ‘Du’ too?!”

　　Samuel Wright started sweating again. These days, even writing a ‘divine drama’ isn’t so easy…

　　After talking for so long, the two still couldn’t reach an agreement, so Samuel Wright had to go back and think it over. No choice—after all, he’s the investor.

　　But unexpectedly, as he reached an intersection, with a creak, Samuel Wright fell into a pool of blood…

Chapter 001: Just Reborn and Already Taking an Exam

　　In February, Yanjing already had a hint of early spring green, but the fierce wind and cold air still carried a sense of bleakness. Even so, the entrance of Yanjing Film Academy was crowded with people. Among them were men and women, some older, some young, but all the young people, whether male or female, were truly handsome and beautiful.

　　Many people must have realized that what’s happening here is the entrance exam for Yanjing Film Academy, and it’s the final round. However, at this critical moment, some people seemed to be reaching their limit.