Chapter 463 - 463 Already Riddled with Bullet Holes

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“Absolutely, go ahead and tell me what’s going on,” Chen Yu said with a reassuring smile.

“Really? That’s great!”

Nono, a frequent viewer of Chen Yu’s livestream, beamed with relief.

With Dr. Chen on the case, she was confident her girlfriend’s problem would be solved.

Chen Yu smiled and asked, “No worries, Is it work-related?”

“Thank you so much!” Nono exclaimed. “Yes, it’s definitely work-related. My girlfriend’s a director who usually makes low-budget web dramas. But recently, she received an opportunity to direct a large-scale web series.”

Nono went on to explain the situation in detail.

Her girlfriend, three years older, came from a prestigious filmmaking family.

Their family of three generations had established themselves as successful commercial film directors.

A prodigy in her own right, her girlfriend entered the Film Academy at seventeen and began directing films at twenty-one.

However, her artistic vision clashed with the market’s demands. One critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful film after another strained her family’s resources and reputation.

As a way to toughen her up and show the harsh realities of the industry, her family cut off funding from her web drama projects.

Following Nono’s suggestion, her girlfriend started directing web dramas for other companies while saving up to make another artistic film in the future.

Things took a surprising turn recently. A major investor from Hollywood approached her girlfriend with a 70 million yuan offer to direct a crime mystery drama. The only stipulation? He wanted her specifically as the director.

Despite the generous offer, Nono’s girlfriend initially refused. Not only did she have no experience with the crime genre, but all her previous web dramas were historical romances.

“She kept turning him down,” Nono sighed, “but the investor wouldn’t take no for an answer. He kept increasing the budget, eventually offering a staggering 100 million yuan.”

Nono’s frustration was evident. “Seeing her so conflicted is breaking my heart.

I suggested she turn to her family for guidance. After all, they’re seasoned commercial film directors with expertise in this genre.”

Chen Yu offered his own insight. “The investor clearly has another motive your girlfriend’s family background.”

Nono’s lips pressed into a thin line in agreement. It was undeniable. The Hollywood investor wasn’t interested in her girlfriend’s skills with the genre; he wanted the prestige associated with her family name.

“With her family guidance,” Chen Yu continued, “I’m sure she can grasp the technical aspects of filming a commercial crime drama.”

Nono nodded rapidly. Mastering the technical aspect was just one hurdle. The real problem arose once the cameras started rolling.

“It can feel unfair sometimes. You hear about these families with long traditions—academics, business empires, even filmmaking dynasties. I wish there were more recognition for farmers, you know, families who’ve worked the land for generations.”

“Nonsense! My family’s been farming for eight generations. It’s hard work, not a trophy.”

“They say even the local hospital is practically a family business here. Some things just get passed down, right?”

“Dragons give birth to dragons, and phoenixes give birth to phoenixes. The son of a mouse can continue digging their holes.”

“Hard work can change your path, though! The harder you work, the better things get.”

“Yeah, that’s what my dad says too. He worked in food delivery to put me through college. Here I am, still doing deliveries even through winter and summer breaks. Maybe I’ll train my future son to take over the business, and build a three-generation delivery dynasty of our own.”

“Three generations of directors in my family! Even if your girlfriend dated a monkey, with her connections, they could make her a star!”

The chat’s attitude shifted dramatically as Nono spoke.

Her impressive background definitely shaped her personality.

There’s a stereotype that children from wealthy or prestigious families can be self-indulgent.

However, some viewers took Nono’s words about her girlfriend the wrong way.

“No, you’ve misunderstood,” Nono clarified, surprised by the massive reaction in the chat. “She never considered asking her family for help. It was my suggestion. She cares for me deeply and listens to my advice. Despite her frustration, she ultimately chose to handle it herself.”

Nono felt a pang of regret. “If I’d known this web drama would be so complicated, 1 wouldn’t have encouraged her to take it on.”

Worried about continued mockery, Nono quickly shifted the focus to the challenges they were facing during filming, hoping to illustrate his girlfriend’s difficulties.

“The web drama is 30 episodes long,” she explained. “They’ve already filmed the fifth episode. Now, the investors want a famous male internet celebrity to make a guest appearance.”

Many viewers felt a sense of deja vu. The rise of online entertainment has led to countless web dramas, often prioritizing short-term success over quality.

Producers frequently employed a mishmash of tactics to boost viewership-inviting past-their-prime actors, A-listers, and a growing number of popular internet celebrities with large fanbases.

As for the quality of the production? It was often left to chance.

Nono continued, “They’ve finished filming the ninth episode. The plot involves the male internet celebrity getting shot to create a diversion for the female lead’s escape.”

“By the end of episode nine, he’s finished filming.”

“However, during filming for episode ten, the investors received pressure from the internet celebrity’s fans. They demanded his character continue, threatening to give the web drama low ratings and complain to regulators if he wasn’t brought back.”

To cater to the whims of these fans and avoid financial losses, the investors abandoned their usual filming schedule. They switched to a different approach, filming and broadcasting simultaneously.

This allowed them to adjust the plot and character fates based on audience reactions.

The chat exploded with frustration.

“What?! He was already shot! How can he just come back? Does he magically regenerate?”

“Flashback.”

“Wow, dude above, you should be a screenwriter! How about having another twin?”

“Damn, you two are geniuses! Nobody on the production team thought of that!”

Nono was stunned by the creativity of the viewers. Both the flashback and twin ideas were far better than the solution the screenwriter had come up with.

“So, how did they solve it?” A curious viewer asked.

Nono grimaced. “The screenwriter’s solution is to introduce a miracle doctor who will operate on the internet celebrity and remove all the bullets.”

The chat erupted in groans.

“Ugh, haven’t 1 seen this trope before? It’s deus ex machina all over again!”