Chapter 61: Farewell Heathcliff

  Writing scripts, starting a company, recruiting actors, back and forth, has already delayed for four or five days. Counting on fingers, there are only more than 20 days left before Halloween, which means that within this period of time, the three plays must be filmed and premiered smoothly.

  Time waits for no man, the curtain is about to rise.

  In a simple conference room, old chairs were arranged around an old temporary borrowed conference table.

  Yi Feiyang, Paozi Gaojiabao, Tuzi Bill, Jack Black, Da Niao Luchi, Nv You Natalia and new partner of DreamWorks Jessica Alba etc. sat around the table, starting the first "round-table conference" since the establishment of DreamWorks.

  "Shouldn't the meeting be starting? It's almost eight o'clock," Bill reminded Yifei.

  "Just wait a minute, pal, I think he's coming back!" The "he" in Yi Fei Yang's mouth was "Carpenter" Jack Gyllenhaal.

  "Alright, let's wait and see." Bill was very puzzled as to why Yifei Yang attached so much importance to that cowboy, just because he was a child star and had acted in many dramas.

  The clock on the wall ticked away.

  Time is passing minute by minute and second by second.

  Bill and others began to show anxious expressions, just as Yi Feiyang was also getting impatient and preparing to announce the start of the meeting, when the conference room door was pushed open.

  "Hey guys, hope I'm not late!" Just then, Jake Gyllenhaal walked in with a script.

  Everyone stared at him in shock.

  Gyllenhaal walked up to Yifeng and said seriously, "Dear Yi, this script is really good, it's the best script I've ever seen! I've decided to star in this play!"

  Yi Feiyang smiled and stretched out his hand: "Welcome to join our team!"

  ……

  "Alright guys, I suppose you all know why I've gathered everyone here this time. It's simple: the final battle on All Saints' Eve, and firing the first shot for our Dream Illusion Movie Studio!"

  As they spoke, Yi Feiyang nodded at Gao Jiabao, who distributed the three prepared scripts.

  "What you're holding is the script of our upcoming movie. There are three, 'Cruise of Terror', 'Buried Alive' and 'Ghost Record'."

  "Billy the Rabbit, you're in charge of filming 'Horror Cruise'. Natasha is the lead actress, and Ruchi and Jessica are supporting actors. Remember, no nonsense on this film, especially none of your pretentious artistic crap. I want efficiency and results. Efficiency means wrapping up within 10 days or so, and results mean something that's shocking enough!"

  "Jack Black, don't say I'm bullying you, now give you a chance to show your talent, as the director of 'Buried'. The male lead is Mr. Jake Gyllenhaal, he has very rich acting experience, if there's any problem, try to communicate with him. You both are called Jack, I hope this pair of 'Double J' can bring me miracles!"

  "Finally, I myself will direct the play 'Ghost Shadow Record'. As for the female lead, it has not been decided yet. Time is pressing, so I hope you can all take action immediately. Bill, go find the yacht you want; Jack, go move the coffin you need; and as for the camera equipment and other gear, try to solve it yourselves. If you need money to buy something, just ask High Fatso for it. If he doesn't give it to you, kick his butt! Alright, meeting adjourned, dismissed!"

  No one had expected Yi Feiyang to be so decisive and efficient. Before anyone could even open their mouths, the meeting was already over.

  But just as Yi Feiyang said, next Hua Jia Bao became a "celebrity", surrounded by a crowd of people asking for filming "funds".

  "Actually, I've already got my eyes on the cruise ship we need to film, it's called 'Love Boat No. 1', it's really beautiful and pretty great, but they're asking for a $1000 deposit!" said Bunny Bill.

  "A coffin is no problem, we can just grab one from the nearby church, but going to the desert to shoot will cost us road expenses. I'm not as greedy as Bill, give me $800 first!" Fat Jack said.

  ……

  "On a cruise ship shoot, cameras need to be secured on the deck, so I need a stable camera!" said Bunny Bill.

  "Coffin photography requires sufficient light to illuminate, it's a very profound subject, so I need all kinds of high-quality lighting equipment!" Fat Jack said.

  ……

  "I've tightened my belt and I'm ready to make a big effort, but my actors can't go without eating, I need meal expenses!" shouted Bunny Bill.

  "Although there are not many people on our side and only one actor, we should still give some daily expenses!" Fat Jack muttered.

  ……

  Gao Jiabao was about to go crazy, damn it, how did he end up with such a job?

  What's up with the financial controller?

  The black pot manager is still pretty good!

  Just as Gao Jiabao was yelling for Yi Feiyang to resign, Yi Feiyang began his search for the female lead.

  Inside the ballet training room.

  "Annie... your dance piece is Mendelssohn's 'Scottish Symphony'..." The lyrical piano accompaniment starts again, and Anne Hathaway emerges with enchanting lines.

  Annie's state wasn't very good today, although grandma had been discharged from the hospital, but her heart was still not calm, especially with a faint shadow in her mind, yes, a shadow, to be exact, a man's shadow.

  Remembering the first encounter with Yi Feiyang, remembering that ambiguous scene in the projection room, remembering how Yi Feiyang drove away the bad guys and saved me, remembering crying on his shoulder in the hospital...

  Annie, while dancing with ease, couldn't help but recall Yifei Yang's face, sometimes radiant, sometimes hesitant, full of oriental charm: "Annie, there is no hurdle in this world that can't be overcome... all you need to do is smile and face it head-on. Yes, just like that, curl up the corners of your mouth, look, how beautiful..."

  A sudden spin... a rapid rotation that left her somewhat breathless, "Ah..." Annie accidentally fell onto the smooth floor...

  "Stop...!" The ballet teacher's tone was unusually severe, "Annie, are you dancing or just going through the motions? Are you worthy of this piece of music?"

  Annie, sitting on the ground, suddenly turned red in the face, and her ankle seemed to be twisted. She rubbed her ankle and hastily said: "Sorry, can I try again? Please give me another chance..."

  The female teacher did not expect that Annie, who was always as proud as a swan, would say such pitiful words, and she couldn't help but feel somewhat surprised...

  The other girls around her also looked at Heather in surprise, usually Heather was very proud and arrogant, not easily saying such humble words.

  "Not even a small turn can be handled properly, and yet you still want to stand on the big stage, performing in front of thousands of people? That's humiliating, humiliating our Saint Anna Ballet Institute..." The female teacher was stunned for a moment before immediately recovering her seriousness.

  Teaching students must be strict and firm, all for their own good.

  "I... I didn't mean to... I'll try harder..." Annie said with a shake of her head.

  "Still arguing with me... Alright, today's training is over, dismissed..."

  Annie's eyes reddened and she really couldn't go home to face her mother's expectant gaze, clinging to the last hope: "I... I was wrong, can I dance one more time?"

  "Whatever..." the female teacher said coldly and left. The other female students also left one after another, only a few people came forward to comfort Annie: "Let's go, Annie, you can jump next time."

  Annie shook her head, "No, I want to dance to this song."

  "Alright, good luck." Her friends also left, and the large dance hall was empty, with only Annie left, looking deserted.

  In the center of the venue.

  Annie took a deep breath and saw in the large mirror on the wall, reflecting the bright and spacious dance studio, but only she was using it, making it feel especially empty... She felt a thrill of fear in her heart. She thought back to when she used to practice with her classmates, sometimes even fighting for space, grabbing onto the barre... Because there wasn't enough room, many movements couldn't be fully extended. Now she was the only one left...

  Even so, I must practice this dance well!

  Annie said to herself.

  Next, she practiced very diligently and focused. Toe tips, pressing legs, pulling waists, opening strides, small jumps, big jumps, rotations... A string of basic skills came one after another, and the music also changed many segments.

  Annie's forehead gradually sweated, her black hair clinging to the corners of her forehead. The back of her clothes was slowly soaked through with sweat... Bing Cong saw herself in the mirror, her face pale with a hint of red, panting heavily...

  I won't fail!

  I'll continue!

  Jump!

  Jump!!

  Time flies, an hour has passed...

  Suddenly, a voice came from mid-air: "You're jumping pretty well, but take a break first!"

  Annie was taken aback, it turned out... there was someone who had been quietly watching her practice all along... and that person was Yì Fēi Yáng!