Fang Zhao looked at Tan Min in silence.
Tan Min's excitement died down under Fang Zhao's stare. His voice grew softer and softer.
"Roughly … roughly … that's the story."
Tan Min raised his head and wiped the sweat off his forehead. He had only briefly explained the script, and it was only a shortened version of the story. Why did it feel like he was carrying a few hundred kilograms of cargo? Sure enough, the pressure was too great. If he couldn't get any investors, he didn't know if he could successfully film it.
Noticing Fang Zhao's silence, Tan Min probed, "Actually, this is all my own imagination. What do you... think?"
Fang Zhao swirled his cup and smiled. "Sure."
If the beginning of the story wasn't so familiar, Fang Zhao would have given it a higher evaluation. Even though Tan Min had only outlined the general direction, Fang Zhao could tell that Tan Min had put some thought into it. The silence had been because Fang Zhao had been observing Tan Min. He wanted to make sure that Tan Min had really been mulling over the story on his own and hadn't been inspired by spying on Fang Zhao.
It was too much of a coincidence. Fang Zhao had no choice but to treat it with caution. Fortunately, as Tan Min had said, "This story is purely fictional," so it was best to treat it as fiction. There were some things that even Denzel, the breeder of the "rabbit," didn't know. For the time being, Fang Zhao had no intention of telling anyone else.
Tan Min had no idea what Fang Zhao was thinking. When he heard Fang Zhao's reply, the uneasiness and inexplicable pressure in his heart dissipated. "Then... are you interested in investing?"
Tan Min had prepared for a long time for his transformative work. He was only waiting for the next step of the shooting plan after securing an investor.
"Tell me your plan." Fang Zhao didn't know whether Tan Min's story would be popular, but if it was filmed well, he wouldn't lose out. The beginning of the story was too familiar. Fang Zhao was startled, helpless, and amused. Now that he knew Tan Min wasn't lying, Fang Zhao was willing to back him up.
The smile on Tan Min's face widened. This time, he didn't hide anything and laid out all the materials he had prepared.
Ren Hong came over with the results of the physical examination. Seeing that they were still talking, he didn't go in and disturb them. He found a seat outside and waited. When they came out, Ren Hong saw that Tan Min's face was flushed and the corners of his eyes were wrinkled from smiling.
Tan Min shook hands with Fang Zhao. "Happy working with you!"
In order to show his sincerity and his excitement, Tan Min tightened his grip a little. When he regained his composure, he quickly loosened his grip for fear of angering the man. Seeing that Fang Zhao wasn't angry, Tan Min thought to himself, Fang Zhao really is a nice guy!
Fang Zhao came out and saw Ren Hong. He asked about the results of the physical examination.
Ren Hong handed Fang Zhao a health checkup report. "Maybe you're not acclimatized and have a bad appetite, but you're very healthy. The test results are all within the normal range. The results are based on data provided by my teacher. Don't worry about the results being wrong."
Since he was not sick, there was no need for Fang Zhao to continue staying here.
Tan Min personally acted as a tour guide, introducing Fang Zhao to the culture and customs of the island. As a native of the Corale Archipelago, Tan Min knew the island better than researchers from other places. There were many things that Ren Hong didn't know, so he told Fang Zhao.
In the evening, Tan Min brought Fang Zhao to a lighthouse by the sea.
"This is also one of the attractions that tourists like to visit. Many movies are shot here. During the Old Era, there really had been a lighthouse here, but it had collapsed during the Period of Destruction. At the start of the New Era, the people here imitated the old lighthouse and built a sturdier one to commemorate it. It's said that the ancestors of our Corale Archipelago's district chief were lighthouse keepers. Later on, it was their family that organized the construction of the lighthouse. Every generation of their family, someone lives in the lighthouse, and tourists are welcome to visit. "
Fang Zhao looked over as he listened to Tan Min's words.
The tall lighthouse stood erect by the sea. Set off by the sunset and the waves, it looked solemn and gentle. The light that seeped out seemed to have a spiritual and poetic quality to it.
For people of the New Era, this was the charm of antiquity.
The ancient-style buildings would always remind people of the historical imprints behind them. Although they were all newly built later, and the development of science and technology had no place for them, as a styled building and a landmark of the island, it would still attract many tourists to take photos and visit.
Tan Min had been here many times. Looking at the lighthouse, memories of the past came back to him.
"When I first switched from being a diver to being a director, I was thwarted many times. I felt like my talent wasn't appreciated and that I wasn't understood. I was young back then. I just wanted to find a place to sulk, so I went to the lighthouse and holed up. The lighthouse keeper at the time was a rather interesting little old man. He pulled me out and pointed above the sea. He said, 'See that light up ahead? Even if that piece of cloud blocked the sun, it would still be dyed with light. As long as you are good enough, no one can cover up your brilliance. '"
Tan Min chuckled as he recalled the past. "I was really young back then. It felt like I had been fed a bowl of chicken soup for the soul. It was especially energizing. A few years later, I used this chicken soup to successfully transition and gain a foothold. It was only later that I found out that when I first switched from being a diver to being a director, this old man was the one who gave me the most backlashes. He never voted for me, and he was the one who stabbed me the hardest during regional competitions! So much so that when I thought back to what the old man said, I always felt like something was off. "
Fang Zhao chuckled and asked, "Didn't you ask that old man about it after you completed your job transition?"
Tan Min spread his hands. "I was a coward. I didn't dare ask him. I was told that the old man was the grandfather of the Corale district mayor, and he had a bad temper. "
Tan Min sighed. "Now the lighthouse keeper has changed. The old man is too old and has retired. The only time I mustered up the courage to pay him a visit was when the old man asked, 'Who are you?'"
Actually, Tan Min didn't blame the old man. When he had first transitioned, he had indeed been on cloud nine because he had won an award. His work hadn't been groundbreaking enough. It was understandable that the old man hadn't voted for him during the regional competitions.
"By the way, Fang Zhao, are you going to the main island tomorrow for the film festival? But if you do, I'll take you scuba diving. I just heard from a friend that they're going to help the research institute take samples. I'll go check it out, "Tan Min said.
Fang Zhao thought about it and said, "There's no hurry to go back to the main island."
"All right, then I'll take you there tomorrow. We'll take the research institute's boat. You don't have to worry about equipment. I'll take care of it. If you're not used to scuba diving, you can do some activities at the maritime plaza. You don't have to worry about entertainment reporters there. Artists like you who go into seclusion when you're not paying attention have the weakest bodies. Get some exercise. Don't let your bones rust. Have you heard of the saying that a healthy body is as important as a healthy mind? "
That day, Fang Zhao checked into a hotel on the small island.
At the same time, Nanfeng, Yan Biao, and Zuo Yu had received the "free time" notice: "..."
Our boss dumped us again!
— —
In order to get closer to Fang Zhao, Tan Min also booked a room at the same hotel. He had wanted to chat with Fang Zhao about the movie, but he realized that Fang Zhao was working on his thesis, so he quietly returned to his room.
The next day, Fang Zhao followed Tan Min to the research institute's sampling boat. There were seven other divers on the boat that Tan Min knew.
Tan Min chatted with his old friends for a bit. When he turned his head, he saw Fang Zhao helping the research institute staff carry the equipment.
There were plenty of people who could carry equipment weighing more than a hundred kilograms, but it was rare to see an artist who could do it so easily.
One of the divers whispered to Tan Min, "Big Brother Tan, is he the one you were talking about?"
Tan Min opened his mouth and choked out, "Young people sure are in good health."
Because Fang Zhao was helping to carry the equipment, the preparation time was greatly reduced. The research institute staff had been a little unhappy with Fang Zhao following them, but now they happily introduced the area to Fang Zhao.
When the sampling boat reached the first target area, the divers went into the water with their equipment and equipment. Fang Zhao wasn't familiar with this business, so he only swam in the designated area.
Tan Min was more familiar with the flora and fauna in the area, so he introduced whatever he saw to Fang Zhao.
"There are corals here. Pretty, right? But don't touch them. There are surveillance cameras. Damaging the corals here is a heavy penalty. Don't try to catch any good-looking or strange-looking fish or shrimp. That's still a fine. You might even be banned from the island. " Tan Min reminded Fang Zhao again, afraid that he wouldn't be able to control himself. A fine was a small matter, but he didn't want to be blacklisted. Being banned from the island was no joke. Every year, at least two to three hundred people were blacklisted.
Fang Zhao didn't touch the corals. Instead, he quietly observed the underwater world. Then he swam back to the boat and changed into a diving suit that didn't cover his head. Instead, he wore a breathing mask that exposed his ears.
Of course, Fang Zhao had to seek the approval of the sampling boat's supervisor before changing into a diving suit. After all, they would be held responsible if anything happened.
Fang Zhao signed a liability agreement as required. He didn't find it troublesome. He signed all the necessary documents and went back into the water.
"F * ck! He's a lunatic! Does a newbie like him know how to protect his ears? "One of the crew members thought he had encountered yet another capricious tourist.
"He could die if he doesn't keep his ear pressure in check!"
"Lifeguards, get ready!"
"One diver, follow him! Tan Min! Take care of the person you brought with you! "
Tan Min felt bitter. Young people are so capricious!
Regardless of what he thought, Tan Min and the other diver followed closely behind Fang Zhao in case of any accidents.
However, they realized that after changing into a diving suit, Fang Zhao didn't do anything. All he did was swim slowly and aimlessly in the water. He didn't seem uncomfortable at all.
"Big Brother Tan, this kid doesn't seem like a newbie," the other diver said to Tan Min through the intercom.
"... Mmhm." Tan Min didn't know what to say. He realized that he really didn't understand Fang Zhao.
But Fang Zhao was his big boss now and his biggest investor. As long as his boss was happy, that was fine.
Fang Zhao turned his attention back to the underwater world.
Light and shadow intertwined in a dazzling display of colors.
It was strange and lively.
He could hear the waves crashing against the reefs.
He could hear the faint sounds of schools of fish swimming around him in a panic.
Among the corals, between the crevices of the reefs, tiny noises fought to be heard.
The underwater world that Tan Min and the others thought was peaceful sounded extraordinarily lively to Fang Zhao.
Seaweed waved its claws and fangs along with the waves.
A small mackerel swam by nearby.
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