NOVPUB```
Li Xuan handed the script to Wu Bin, who after reading for a while, was immediately surprised.
"A ghost film?"
Wu Bin even doubted that Li Xuan had handed him the wrong script.
Because in the domestic market, ghost films are almost not allowed to be released, and if they are released, there will be all kinds of restrictions and regulations.
It’s not that domestic filmmakers can’t make good ghost films, it’s that those who do make them are just too good.
The so-called ghosts and goblins abroad are nothing more than a messy array of vampires, werewolves, and such, but domestically it’s all kinds of Chinese-style horror that can leave you with lingering effects after watching them. Even going to the bathroom alone at night would be a challenge.
Wu Bin found it strange that a commercial film director like Wang He would prioritize box office revenue, after all.
If you could make a good movie, not only would you have the box office, but your fame and asking price would naturally go through the roof.
But if you made a rotten film like a ghost movie, poor box office would be one thing, but losing the good word of mouth would be another; it would be all loss and no gain for Wang He.
Therefore, Wu Bin couldn’t understand why Li Xuan would invite him to make a ghost film.
Li Xuan explained, "This movie, see, is a good one, just with a less popular theme. But it’s not up to us to choose the theme, it’s the investors who have certain demands, you know."
With Li Xuan’s hint, Wu Bin instantly understood.
The investor is the financier, so naturally, what they say goes.
Box office and reputation don’t compare to the opinion of the financier because they contribute so much.
What’s more important is that these financiers don’t only fund one film; they’re willing to invest in both good and bad movies—it’s capricious when you’ve got the money.
So if you don’t make some bad films for these financiers, you naturally won’t get the chance to make better ones later.
Wu Bin read through the script again and noticed his role wasn’t substantial, yet the pay was quite high.
With that in mind, Wu Bin nodded and said, "Alright, I’ll take this role, we’ll be shooting in the nearby studio, right?"
Li Xuan nodded and was about to speak when Tong Huan, carrying a tray loaded with dishes, suddenly came over.
"Here we go, fresh out of the oven roast duck. Here, we also have drunken shrimp, cheong fun, and oysters—try them out, see how they taste."
Wu Bin knew that the owner of such a small shop usually had some real skill, but he never expected the owner to be proficient in so many different dishes.
From all corners of the sky and water, anything that flies, swims, or runs, Tong Huan could make it, and each dish was quite authentic.
Wu Bin was entranced by the aroma of the roast duck, while Zhu Ling’s gaze stayed fixed on the drunken shrimp, unable to tear herself away.
"Are these shrimp alive? Can I eat them raw?"
Zhu Ling blinked, looking at Wu Bin.
She was actually seeking Wu Bin’s opinion, as eating raw was just everyday food for her. However, Wu Bin was concerned about scaring the people around her, so he had always forbidden her from doing so.
Li Xuan misunderstood and thought Zhu Ling was afraid to eat raw, so he started laughing and said,
"The drunken shrimp is meant to be eaten raw, the freshest and sweetest way to eat them. Come on, Miss Zhu, don’t be afraid, just pick one up and after one bite, you’ll realize…"
Before Li Xuan could finish, Zhu Ling directly grabbed a live shrimp and popped it into her mouth.
```
Zhu Ling’s crackling sound as she chewed the shrimp left Li Xuan utterly baffled.
Before Li Xuan even had a chance to speak, Zhu Ling proclaimed the dish delicious and then picked up a spoon from nearby, scooping a generous spoonful of the drunken shrimp and tossing it into her mouth.
The netizens in the live broadcast were stunned by this scene.
"Holy shit, that’s so badass, how can she eat that without any psychological burden?"
"I’ve also eaten this kind of thing before, and to describe it, it’s very springy to the bite. Not because the meat is springy, but once you eat them, you’ll find these live shrimp jumping around in your mouth, which is very springy. In short, it’s very enjoyable, but you’ll probably throw up."
"It’s still little sister Zhu, she’s never once let me down with her eating. I even feel like this small bowl of live shrimp won’t be enough for her."
The netizens’ guess was accurate.
Even for someone who loves to eat, a small bowl of live shrimp could take over twenty minutes to eat due to the salty sauce.
But with spoon after spoon, Zhu Ling finished all the drunken shrimp in the bowl in less than three minutes, and after eating, remembering what Wu Bin had taught her, she gave Tong Huan a thumbs up and complimented the taste.
Tong Huan was flustered by this sudden commendation.
To say he was flattered was an understatement, but things weren’t going as he had imagined!
Although it was clear that Zhu Ling really enjoyed the dishes he made, Tong Huan was still stunned by her appetite, unable to recover for a good while.
It was at this moment that a somewhat weary voice came from the doorway.
"Old Tong, get us each a bowl of beef rice, please."
Seeing customers had arrived, Tong Huan quickly responded and hurried forward to greet them.
Zhu Ling gazed unwaveringly at the new arrivals.
Wu Bin felt something was strange and asked, "What’s up?"
Zhu Ling pursed her lips and said, "These people have a heavy Yin energy about them, like they’ve encountered something unclean."
Hearing this, Li Xuan, seated off to the side, was taken aback and then burst into hearty laughter.
"Does little sister Zhu know about this stuff?"
Wu Bin quickly explained, somewhat awkwardly, "We had a Taoist visit our dormitory before, always muttering about spirits and such, so she picked up a few phrases from being around him. She doesn’t really understand these things; it’s all nonsense."
Zhu Ling protested unhappily, "I’m not talking nonsense. They really do have a lot of Yin energy on them. Look at that guy, he’s got the heaviest Yin energy, and his forehead is darkened. I bet he won’t be long before he encounters a bloody disaster."
This finally convinced Li Xuan that what Wu Bin said was true. Zhu Ling’s words clearly sounded like those learned from a Taoist, and not even a reputable one at that, more like those fortune-tellers on the streets.
Li Xuan said with a smile, "Well, little sister Zhu does have a sharp eye for people. Come on, let me introduce you. These are the crew members from the other film crew I mentioned earlier. They’re currently shooting a ghost film."
As soon as Li Xuan approached, the eyes of the crew members lit up, and they all stood up to greet him eagerly.
"Li, how come you’re here too?"
"What a coincidence, Li! Are you here to eat as well? Old Tong, add a few more dishes to our order."
"Li, I’d like to take a photo with you."
Once Li Xuan approached, it was like he was a major celebrity, instantly getting swarmed by the crew members.
