"Good to see you all again." Chen Tianming beamed, his eyes crinkling at the sight of the packed theater.
"Director Chen, Director Chen!"
"Ahhh, my Miao Miao, my villain, her Chen Yao made me feel so heartbroken. Why did she have to die? If it were me, I would definitely drag this world down with me."
"Me too. When I saw Chen Yao die, my heart ached so much I couldn't breathe. I just don't know what Chen Yao did wrong to be treated like this. She was the most miserable one. Ever since she could remember, she was in a laboratory. She was rescued in the middle, but that person only wanted to use her. Even the male lead, I feel like he’s a scumbag, unworthy of Chen Yao."
"What a pity, Wen Lan has retired. Otherwise, he would have been here for today's premiere."
"Hello everyone."
"Hello, Director Chen."
The audience in the seats responded in unison.
"Thank you all for coming to watch the film. After seeing it, what are your evaluations of our movie?"
One person raised their hand and stood up. "Director Chen, you are so wicked! You made us cry our eyes out with this movie. Why did the male and female leads, and even the villain Chen Yao, all die in the ending?"
This was a complete tragedy.
Chen Tianming chuckled, rubbing the back of his head, and briefly explained the creative concepts of himself and the screenwriter.
"Director Chen, this is the best movie I've seen this year. I wonder if there will be a sequel later?"
Chen Tianming shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. The ending of this story is the final ending. We don't intend to leave any cliffhangers and shoot a second part."
Mainly, he didn't have the time. He had important matters to attend to later.
Another audience member asked slyly, "Director Chen, is your next task to film a reality show?"
Chen Tianming coughed a few times, feigning annoyance. "If you say it like that, am I supposed to have any dignity? Alright, alright, now let's give the rest of our time to the main creative team."
As he spoke, the atmosphere in the audience became significantly more lively.
"Miao Miao, when did your acting become so good? I truly admire you."
"Talent, talent."
Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this.
"Miao Miao, do you think it was right for Chen Yao to sacrifice her body to detoxify the world in the ending?"
Fang Miao Miao thought for a moment. "To be honest, I don't think Chen Yao was entirely a villain. She was also kind, but her experiences in the laboratory made her not know how to interact with people or how to communicate."
If, if the person who rescued her back then had been a kind soul, perhaps Chen Yao wouldn't have ended up in such a desperate situation.
But there were no ifs.
Because the laboratory was underground, and if the female lead hadn't deliberately gone down to save her, Chen Yao, the villain, wouldn't have been able to emerge from below. In fact, she would have only met her demise in that endless darkness.
Everything is relative, it just depends on how one chooses.
She believed that Chen Yao did not regret the path she chose.
Even as a villain, she yearned for friends and light.
"I also feel that Chen Yao didn't do anything wrong, yet the people in the base attacked her. If I were Chen Yao, I might have chosen to perish with this world."
"Thank you," Fang Miao Miao replied politely. "Thank you for your liking."
The premiere Q&A session was nearing its end, and no audience member had asked Fang Yan Huan a question.
Fang Yan Huan's smile was about to crack.
She slowly picked up the microphone.
Director Chen had a bad feeling. He quickly grabbed the microphone, announced the end of the premiere, thanked everyone for their viewing and questions, and then led the creative team away.
"Director Chen, what are you doing?" Fang Yan Huan touched her wrist and glared fiercely at Chen Tian Ming. "I'm the female lead."
"So what?" Chen Tian Ming replied impatiently. "You're the female lead, and I'm the director. I have the final say."
"Director Chen, don't you think you're going too far?"
"Don't do that. You're putting such a heavy accusation on me, I can't bear it. This is your own doing, isn't it?" Chen Tian Ming sneered, unafraid. "Besides, to put it bluntly, I didn't even invite you. You shamelessly showed up, and me not kicking you out is already giving you face."
"Aren't you afraid I'll spread this around?"
"Try it?" Chen Tian Ming's smile completely vanished. "Fang Yan Huan, when I was making my way in this world, you didn't even know where you were."
Spreading it? People would have to believe it for that to matter.
Fang Yan Huan froze.
"Fang Yan Huan, out of respect for you having acted in my film, I'll tell you this: it's best to be down-to-earth in life. Acting like this will only harm yourself."
Fang Yuan and the others were examples of this.
After speaking, Chen Tian Ming didn't care what Fang Yan Huan wanted to do or say and turned to leave.
"Why are you here?"
Fang Miao Miao gave an awkward smile. "If I said I was just passing by, would you believe me?"
Chen Tian Ming rolled his eyes unceremoniously. "What do you think? If you were passing by, the earth would explode tomorrow."
"Well, Director Chen, you shouldn't say that."
"Go on, tell me, how much did you hear?"
"All of it. Everything."
Chen Tian Ming was momentarily at a loss for words. "What's with you, when did you develop this habit of eavesdropping?"
"No, it's not. I was just afraid you would be bullied by her."
"How is that possible?" Chen Tian Ming blurted out. "Her? I just don't want to stoop to the level of a child. However, this child is unlikely to change."
Fang Miao Miao remained silent.
"Alright, you should leave too. I saw the audience today, and this premiere is likely to be a huge success."
Fang Miao Miao's eyes lit up. "Will we get a red envelope if it's a success?"
"Get lost, get lost," Chen Tian Ming waved his hand. "You're already so rich, and you still want to take advantage of me? Have you no shame?"
Fang Miao Miao didn't move.
"Go on, go on, your man is here. What are you still standing here for?"
Fang Miao Miao turned and saw Wen Zhi Yan standing not far away, holding a bouquet of flowers.
"Then, Director Chen, I'll leave the rest to you. Wen Zhi Yan and I will be going now."
"Go on, go on."
Chen Tian Ming said impatiently, but his face was full of smiles.
"Why are you here?"
Wen Zhi Yan presented the flowers to Fang Miao Miao. "Of course, I'm here to support Mrs. Wen's work."
Fang Miao Miao accepted the flowers, and she and Wen Zhi Yan embraced for a long moment.
"Mrs. Wen, would I have the honor of inviting you to a meal?"
"Just one meal?"
"No, a lifetime."
"I'd be extremely honored."
Fang Miao Miao put on her mask and hat, and the two walked through the mall like any ordinary young couple, unhurriedly.
"Do you think the backs of those two look a bit like celebrities?"
"How could that be? No way. In this kind of society now, even an obscure actor would hire eight bodyguards to follow them around, afraid people won't know how famous they are. How could they be so ordinary?"