Super Zoo

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Two pieces of news, one expected, the other surprising.

Disney's "Crazy Animal City" took years to shoot, but most of that time wasn't spent in front of the camera. It included pre-production, material gathering, post-production, and promotion; the actual 'shooting phase' accounted for less than 20% of the total time.

For a minute on stage, ten years' preparation is needed; a minute of filming requires four or five minutes of prep and post-production work, ensuring the movie's quality stays high.

When the inspection team entered the production crew, pre-production was already complete, and the film was in its middle and final stages; it was only natural that some members would return having finished their learning.

Cai Liming would continue to lead the remaining members of the inspection team, staying at Disney to study post-production, while those returning were led by Fairy Li Wanting.

What surprised Suming was that also coming was an internationally renowned movie star, Nicolas Cage. Reportedly, this fellow has been filled with respect and curiosity for Huaxia culture from a young age, deeply admiring it and always wanting to visit Huaxia, but his busy schedule had made it difficult. On the rare occasion, he did visit, his packed schedule prevented full enjoyment. This time, taking advantage of a rare opportunity, he was able to schedule a break to enjoy a leisurely holiday in the famous Qinling scenic area in Huaxia, accompanied by friends from the inspection team.

This was through an official written letter from Cage's agent, conveyed to Suming by Li Wanting, with impeccable, formal language... However, the way Li Wanting communicated with Suming was far less 'polished'.

"Hollywood's market has changed these past two years. To pay off debts, the washed-up uncle has taken on too many bad movies, and his box office earnings have declined. Over time, this ruined his reputation in the industry, and now he can't even get bad movies to act in. With high living costs in the United States, large expenses, and endless social obligations, the money drains like running water, and Mr. Cage can't withstand it. He's come to Huaxia to freeload for a while, and incidentally, hide from the tax authorities who are hounding him for money. I reckon he can't even afford an agent and is posing as his own. And boss, I'll tell you, this uncle really has some nerve. After several meals, guess who's been paying the bill... Boss, shouldn't you allocate more funds for my activities..."

The last sentence was the key point, as the little fairy sent a flirty smiley face.

"You're about to come back, why do you need more activity funds?" Suming sent an eye-rolling emoji, as this fairy was the biggest spender of the group, having already used up over eighty thousand US dollars in specially approved funds by herself.

After some thought, he typed a message back: "However, you've handled things well, so I'll give you a bonus when you return."

No matter how down and out Nicolas Cage may be, he's still an international superstar. In Hollywood he might be past his peak, but in Huaxia, he's a big name. Huaxia people enjoy a spectacle, and to an extent idolize foreign culture. If this former star really wanted to come to Huaxia, he could simply visit any big city or famous tourist spot and shopping center, and he would be lavishly received.

In an era where you can make hundreds of thousands to millions just standing on a platform, earning a bit of money in Huaxia would be too easy for Cage, so why would he specifically come to Yangchuan City's zoo in this second-tier city?

Li Wanting made it sound like Cage was truly so down on his luck he'd resort to scamming for food and drink, but Suming knew that having managed to invite Cage, the little fairy must have put in some effort. Taoyuan Film Industry was recently established with insufficient heritage and limited fame, but securing an international celebrity like Nicolas Cage was undoubtedly an invisible promotion for Taoyuan Film Industry.

That's why Suming mentioned a bonus.

"A bit of a bonus, how much is a bit? How much is a bit, huh? Two bits would be nice, three bits even better..." the little fairy sent another drooling emoji.

Then she followed up with a picture of herself at the beach, wearing a bikini that left little to the imagination, her figure explosive, not losing out to any Western beauty on the beach, smiling seductively at the camera.

Suddenly getting this treat late at night sent Suming's heart thumping wildly.

"Boss, a bit, how many bits exactly?" the little fairy cooed again.

Suming shook his head and smiled, not responding. Continuing down this path would be flirting, which wouldn't be appropriate.

"Send the itinerary for your return directly to the film company as soon as you have it arranged. I'll lead the team to pick you up." Suming typed the final line and then logged off MSN.

With the inspection team's matters settled, Suming pulled out a poster.

The poster glittered with stars, resplendent in gold.

A promotional poster for "The Legend of Deification."

"The Legend of Deification" is a fantasy mythology film produced by Huaxia Star, co-directed by Xu An and Yang Longcheng, starring Li Lianjie, Fan Bing, Huang Xiaoming, AB, Gu Tianle, Liang Jiahui, Xiang Zuo, Wen Zhang, and Xu Qing—a gathering of top-tier celebrities, with Long Wu's clout pulling in almost half the entertainment industry from the mainland and Xiangjiang, each one a leading star capable of carrying a movie.

Oh, except for Xiang Zuo.

With a budget of two hundred million, the production invited a Hollywood special effects team to join, striving to create a Huaxia-style fantasy blockbuster, claimed to be the most magnificent special effects in Huaxia's movie history.

"The Legend of Deification" is by far the most expensive movie Huaxia Star has launched in nearly a decade. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's one of the most lavish movies in Xiangjiang's cinema history either.

According to the original plan, "The Legend of Deification" was set to premiere next year. Thanks to the zoo providing many animals for filming, the need for post-production special effects was reduced, and the shooting schedule shortened considerably.

But even if production time was shortened, moving the premiere up by almost half a year was a bit illogical, wasn't it?

This clearly didn't make sense.

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"It's illogical," Long Wu laughed somewhat desolately and helplessly on the other end of the phone, without offering much explanation, "Do me a favor, keep an eye on mainland promotions and distribution, will you? My wife and I might come over ourselves."

Long Wu clearly didn't want to disclose the reason, and at his age, with his experience, if he didn't want to say, no one else could pry it out of him.

Suming didn't say much else, simply responding, "Rest assured, Big Bro, whatever you need me to do will definitely not be a problem."

After a moment's hesitation, Long Wu said, "I'll have the film sent over to you, have a look first."

"Alright," Suming replied.

Having established a film company, Suming felt his greatest pleasure was having a designated screening room.

Despite not being very large, the film company covered an office space of just a few hundred square meters, one-third of which was a separate small theater.

The backbone staff of the film company were studying and observing abroad, leaving only a couple of big cats and kittens to maintain the daily operations; fortunately, the company's main task at the moment was scouting, so there wasn't much to do. The company hardly had any notable artists under its banner, so the management was not very difficult.

As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, he saw through the glass doors of the company, which were already locked, a little girl with a ponytail, dozing off at the reception desk.

A slight frown crossed his brows—sleeping in the office? And at the reception desk, the face of the company?

But then, looking up at the clock on the wall, he relaxed. It was already 7:30 p.m., well past closing time. Even the company doors were locked, and he didn't know why this girl hadn't left, apparently volunteering to work overtime. But then, why lock the doors and nap there?

Suming took out his key, unlocked the glass door of the company, took out his access card, swiped it at the entrance, and the glass door opened slowly with a beep.

The receptionist remained oblivious, still sleeping.

He peered down the corridor into the office area, which was pitch-dark; everyone had left.

Approaching the reception, he gently knocked on the desk.

"Knock, knock…"

The dozing girl finally lifted her head, rubbed her bleary eyes, and said vaguely, "Oh, sir, hello, how can I help you?"

"There's nothing you can help me with," Suming said with a smile, "If you're tired, go home and sleep. You'll catch a cold here. And by the way, close the main door."

"The main door…" The girl instinctively glanced toward the company's entrance and saw the two previously locked doors now wide open. She suddenly realized, stood up abruptly, and looked at Suming with wide, horrifed eyes: "Who are you? How did you get in? What do you want? Get out, or I'm calling the police!"

Suming was speechless, wondering where this little confused creature had come from.

"I have the key, for heaven's sake." Suming shook the company keys in his hand exasperatedly, then pulled out his access card and gestured with it, before finally pointing at a large portrait hanging on the wall.

Having resolved Yang Tao's issue, Suming was in a good mood. After these few gestures, he smiled and took an interested look at the befuddled young receptionist, waiting to see how she would react when she realized she was talking to the company's big boss, 'Mr. Su' in the photo, and what her embarrassed and nervous expression would be.

The confused girl, noticing the man in large shorts and the eerie smile, gave him a bewildered look, then followed the direction of Suming's pointing finger to see the portrait on the wall.

In the photo, a young man in slim white riding breeches and leading a black horse by a lake.

It was a portrait of Suming from the first internal magazine, exuding the air of a successful man.

Suming continued to smile, waiting for the adoring gaze of the young girl.

"Eh?" The confused girl glanced at the photo, then scrutinized Suming carefully. The man in front of her was dressed in large shorts, wearing plain white sneakers that cost barely a few US dollars from a street stall, and a slightly faded white T-shirt…

The confused girl rubbed her hair and muttered in doubt, "He looks so familiar... Could he be a relative?"

After saying that, she gazed longingly at the large photo, "But our boss is way more handsome!"

"Damn!" Suming was completely defeated by this little confused creature, looking down at the large shorts he'd casually put on, and frustratedly pointed at his own nose, "I am Suming!"