Chapter 1 The Script Ends Here

The script that Director Zhu Xiaoce had most recently given him ended there. Lu Zhiyao wasn't quite sure which part of the story the script had reached, but judging from the approximate shooting schedule, it probably wasn't even halfway through the entire film.

Even considering the factors of more special effects-heavy scenes being added later and the plot being diluted, the current story wasn't enough to deduce the entire narrative.

But this was exactly the effect that Director Zhu Xiaoce wanted to achieve.

Clearly, there were many plot twists in this movie, and the protagonist Qin Yi's mentality was also undergoing subtle or drastic changes.

If Lu Zhiyao had known the final ending from the beginning, it would have definitely affected his performance in the earlier scenes.

Therefore, the scripts were given in segments. The main purpose was to allow Lu Zhiyao to break free from the influence of "spoilers" and fully immerse himself in the character.

But in the "immersion" stage, there were still some problems.

Lu Zhiyao had already filmed quite a few scenes, some of which he was satisfied with, and some he wasn't.

But whether he was satisfied or not, he felt a little lost.

Because he didn't have a very clear direction for his performance, and he didn't know the complete plot of the story, he wasn't sure if his understanding of the character Qin Yi was accurate. That's why Lu Zhiyao felt lost and lacked confidence.

Now, looking back at these script excerpts, Qin Yi's emotions had actually changed several times.

At the beginning, Qin Yi had a sense of relief after surviving a disaster and anger at being deceived.

After seeing humanity's initial defeat against the Zerg and learning about the sacrifice of the former commander, Qin Yi's emotions were complex. Although he understood in his heart, knowing the necessity of it, he hadn't completely let go.

In the subsequent command process, with the addition of "realistic elements," Qin Yi's thinking and mentality gradually shifted to that of the former commander. When he personally commanded the battle replay, after Qin Yi issued the order "Reinforcements are on their way" to As-371-45 squad, he had actually completely understood the mentality of the former commander.

And when he accidentally discovered that some of the battles he commanded were actually real battles that had happened, Qin Yi's mentality fluctuated again.

For Lu Zhiyao, the difficulty of expressing these emotional changes was very high.

Because Qin Yi's setting was a very rational and calm soldier. Soldiers took obeying orders as their duty, and he was very clear in his heart that the grievances he suffered, and even his life, were insignificant compared to the victory of humanity's war against the Zerg and the survival of the species.

Therefore, on the one hand, Qin Yi constantly suppressed his inner emotions as a human being, making himself more cold and rational, and striving to win every battle and minimize casualties. On the other hand, he always questioned this, and had a sense of茫然 (mangran, or dazedness) about himself and the future of humanity.

These complex emotions had subtle differences at each stage of the plot, and for Lu Zhiyao, the most difficult part was how to portray this difference while ensuring that Qin Yi's character setting didn't collapse.

Lu Zhiyao got up and took a small mirror from the side, then kept making various expressions at the mirror.

Suddenly, he thought of something, got up and found Zhu Xiaoce.

"Director Zhu, from now on, besides filming, I'll stay in the hotel room and not go anywhere. Give me the laptop with *Star Sea* on it. I want to use it to further understand the character."

"Also, please give me a DV camera. I want to record my expressions while playing the game and watch them repeatedly."

"And Aeeis, can you find me a similar smart speaker? It would be best if you could input all of Aeeis' lines into it so that it can act with me. I suddenly realized that Qin Yi's scenes are not a one-man show, but a scene with Aeeis. I've been acting it as a one-man show, so I feel like something is missing."

"If I can have a system voice to act with me, the effect might be better."

Zhu Xiaoce was a little surprised, but quickly nodded happily: "Okay, of course, no problem."

"The DV camera and computer will be sent to you tonight. As for Aeeis... I heard that the samples from Otto Technology are about to come out. I'll get an Otto phone to use in the meantime. It also has Aeeis' smart voice on it. Once the Aeeis speaker samples come out, I'll get one for you and send it to your hotel room as soon as possible."

…

…

November 17th, Thursday.

Jindi Huating Community, Guangming District, Jingzhou City.

This was a brand new real estate development, and Liang Qingfan had selected one of the buildings to use for the Sloth Apartment 2.0 model.

Pei Qian happened to have nothing to do, so he came to see the preparations.

Liang Qingfan was already waiting downstairs. After picking up President Pei, the two of them went to the model room on the third floor.

"President Pei, this building has two elevators and three households per floor. The areas are 120 square meters, 130 square meters, and 150 square meters respectively. They all have large south-facing bay windows and balconies, and the floor plans are also good. Considering the location of the building, it can basically meet the mainstream needs of most people."

"However, because the houses themselves come with high-quality decoration, the developer's pricing is relatively high, two to three thousand yuan higher than your surrounding properties, so sales are not very good at the moment."

"I think there is a possibility of price reductions in a few months, but if that happens, it will probably be more difficult for us to buy an entire building, so I bought it directly at the current price."

Liang Qingfan introduced some basic information about the building to Pei Qian.

Pei Qian nodded very satisfied: "Yes, you did the right thing!"

Pei Qian had said before that he would give Liang Qingfan 50 million yuan and let him buy a place with little potential for appreciation.

This was mainly because Pei Qian was tricked by the Sloth Apartment 1.0 model before. He deliberately chose remote and unwanted properties to buy, resulting in a purchase price that was too low and a crazy increase in house prices after the renovation.

If it weren't for a special mission, he would have almost failed in the last settlement cycle.

And now this place doesn't seem to have much potential for appreciation in the short term.

The location of Jindi Huating Community is good. The developer and floor plans of these houses are also quite satisfactory, but precisely because there is nothing to complain about in all aspects, the developer became inflated, set a high-end positioning, high-standard fine decoration, and the price is also two to three thousand yuan more expensive per square meter than the surrounding houses.

A house of about 150 square meters is directly 300,000 to 400,000 yuan more expensive, which is still very painful for the price level of these years.

Obviously, the developer's pricing strategy also has some routines. The listed price of houses can only be high, not low.

A high price can highlight the "noble attributes" of its own properties, first tricking a wave of rich people, and when it can't be sold, secretly and indirectly reducing prices, such as giving some discounts to make customers feel that they have taken advantage, and using the means of price discrimination to the extreme.

But if the price is too low, it will be scolded to death if the price is raised later.

Therefore, the developer's listed price is somewhat inflated, and buyers feel that the house is a bit ridiculously expensive, and many people are watching. Liang Qingfan seized the opportunity and directly bought the entire building.

If the price is reduced in the future, even if it only drops by 200 yuan per square meter, Tengda would lose 600,000 to 700,000 yuan, and the more it drops, the more it loses.

But this is exactly what Pei Qian wanted. It's a good thing to spend more money, and he must praise it well!

Liang Qingfan took Pei Qian to see several houses on the third and fourth floors in turn.

"President Pei, these three houses on the third floor were originally the developer's model rooms. Because they were all decorated, it would be a pity to tear them all down and redo them, so we kept them. This way, we can also show customers the difference in taste between our Sloth Apartment and the developer's decoration design."

"These three houses on the fourth floor are the model rooms of our Sloth Apartment 2.0. They are decorated entirely according to our consistent minimalist style."

"As for the other floors, the decoration is still in progress. Considering the entry of furniture, appliances, and other supporting facilities, it may not be completed until the end of December. However, it will be available for move-in in early January, which is consistent with the previously estimated progress."

Pei Qian first went to the third floor to see the developer's model rooms, and then went to the fourth floor to see the model rooms of Sloth Apartment 2.0.

The difference was very obvious.

The developer's model rooms can't be said to be ugly. The wallpaper, carpets, large murals on the TV wall, dark mahogany tables and chairs, etc., are basically the current mainstream style.

It is still the problem mentioned before, that the main group of home buyers is still middle-aged people, and the model rooms are mainly to meet their needs. Even sometimes, the designer's aesthetics must compromise to the needs of customers.

But when you come to the fourth floor, the model rooms of Sloth Apartment 2.0, the feeling of the entire space instantly becomes different!

Compared with the 1.0, the overall style of the Sloth Apartment 2.0 model remains unchanged, but some storage space has been added to the room, making it more practical.

Pei Qian observed a little and found that although the 2.0 model relaxed the restrictions on storage space, Liang Qingfan was still very restrained and did not fill it with cabinets everywhere. Especially in the living room area, he still maximized the spacious style.

However, some cabinets that match the decoration style are still stuffed in the study, bedroom, next to the entrance door, and in the living room near the balcony, which does not appear abrupt.

Compared with the developer's model rooms, the style of Sloth Apartment is obviously more in line with the taste of young people, and there are obvious improvements in the utilization rate of space, practicality, living habits, and cultural atmosphere.

Liang Qingfan said: "President Pei, how do you feel?"

Pei Qian nodded: "Yes, not bad."

Such a Sloth Apartment 2.0, should it be snapped up immediately after it opens?

In fact, Pei Qian decided to make Sloth Apartment 2.0 in the first place to help those young people who were troubled by renting. The only disadvantage of the original Sloth Apartment was that there was too little storage space. Now that this shortcoming has been filled, it has become a rental space that completely meets the needs of young people.

In this way, it may not be easy to rent out Sloth Apartment 1.0 mode again.

However, Pei Qian didn't care about this. Anyway, whichever is popular, he will open more of that one. Opening either one is the same as losing money.

Pei Qian walked around the model room and felt that the furniture inside, including the sofa, coffee table, TV cabinet, etc., seemed to have some subtle differences from before.

Because the floor plan is different, Pei Qian didn't pay much attention to it when he first came in.

"This furniture seems to be different from before?" Pei Qian asked.

Liang Qingfan nodded: "Yes, most of the furniture in the room has been replaced. The reason why it doesn't look much different on the surface is because a large part of it is specially customized from the furniture factory we cooperate with."