Chapter 216 – Missing

Chapter 216 - Missing

The premiere began with the film crew sharing anecdotes from the shooting process. The lead actor and actress, along with the director, presented a harmonious and affectionate image, though they conveniently omitted any stories of the director's angry outbursts.

It was Tang Fei's first time attending a movie premiere. She arrived elegantly dressed, greeted by a raucous cheer from her fans and a barrage of questions and photographs from journalists.

"Fei Tang, how does it feel to be part of your first movie production?"

Tang Fei smiled slightly, holding the microphone and looking at the front row where Zhou Weichuan and He Zhou were both recording her with their cameras. Proudly watching from below were Tang Jiao, as well as Tang Fei's parents.

"The filming schedule for movies is much more relaxed than for TV dramas, giving us more time for creativity. The equipment used is also superior, allowing for grander and more intricate shots. Every detail is captured clearly on the big screen.

Actors' performances are scrutinized more closely, focusing on subtle nuances, and emotions are conveyed in greater depth.

Working with Director Chen and Teacher Sheng on my first film is an honor."

Following this, Chen Ye and Sheng Xiaogong took turns praising each other. Their commercial flattery painted the production team as a well-oiled machine, ensuring that the film was exceptional and worth watching.

This provided journalists with material for their articles. Of course, there were also a few cynical film critics who sought to uncover any behind-the-scenes conflicts or flaws in the movie.

Everyone chuckled, and Chen Ye openly said, "In my eyes, my child is perfect. If there's any flaw, you can pay closer attention during the movie screening later."

Tang Fei and Sheng Xiaogong bowed, accepting the scrutiny of their fans. They welcomed criticism if there were any shortcomings in their performance.

As the movie began, Xing Le's gaze followed two men who quietly accompanied the interview journalists backstage. They were Xiao Yuan's brothers.

Xing Le followed them and noticed that they were heading to assist with the preparations for interviewing Tang Fei.

The staff from the interview program handed Tang Fei the script, discussing some potential questions with her. Meanwhile, Tang Fei was removing her elaborate makeup; the tight evening gown had been rather uncomfortable.

Xing Le observed as Min Kai, Tang Fei's stylist whose hand mobility was impaired, took the mineral water from Xiao Yuan's brother and passed it to Tang Fei without much ado.

Xing Le hurried over. "Sis Fei, busy?"

"Xing Le? Why are you here? Did you come with your brother?" Tang Fei put down the water bottle she was about to drink. Min Kai took it from her and drank it himself. Xing Le watched Min Kai closely to ensure he didn't have any issues drinking before smiling at Tang Fei. "No, I'm just here to support Sis Fei's first movie. Don't associate me with him."

"I don't know about your family matters, so let's not bring that up," Tang Fei replied as she opened another bottle of water. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, Xing Le said, "I'll go watch the movie now. Don't tell Zhou Weichuan that I've come. I secretly greeted you to avoid him."

"Go ahead."

Xing Le fixated on the Xiao Yuan brothers as they emerged together. The elder Xiao Yuan gave Xing Le a smile. "Big Brother Le."

Xing Le pretended not to recognize them, remaining silent as he watched them leave the cinema, instructing his own people to follow discreetly to ensure they didn't lose track. Only then did he turn back to his seat in the screening room.

By this point, the film 'Mercury City' was well into its second half and nearing its conclusion. The underprivileged masses emerged from the depths, casting off their air bubble restraints like shedding millennia-old chains. Three luminous moons hung in the night sky, each with varying sizes, while the stars that twinkled above were unlike those on Earth.

Mercury was a vast expanse of sea level, with only frozen ice caps at the poles breaking the monotony. There were no land formations or terrestrial flora and fauna. The most abundant life consisted of organisms with extensive root systems that plunged into the ocean floor yet had branches that reached the surface to bask in sunlight.

This movement swept across all Mercury cities.

It was called 'Breaking the Surface,' 'Revealing What Lies Beneath.'

The terraforming initiative was inspired by mad geniuses who delved into ancient texts to find mythological tales. They named it the 'Jing Wei Project,' after the mythical bird Jing Wei that filled the sea with stones. The drowned Jing Wei, the diligent Jing Wei, and the privileged Jing Wei all resonated strangely with the underprivileged.

They saw themselves as the true inheritors of their ancestors, the perfect descendants of the founders of Mercury City. To counteract the degradation of their bloodline, they sought to reclaim their self-confidence through it.

Identifying with Jing Wei, they discarded the label of 'underprivileged' and referred to themselves as 'Jing Wei People.'

This was a cultivation of confidence. Those who evolved waxy skin and lungs capable of extended underwater respiration, or developed gills for breathing beneath the waves, inevitably sacrificed some brain development due to their environment, leading to stagnation in technological advancement.

On Mercury, there were no other large marine creatures, and offensive technology had not evolved. The protective artillery systems, once in place, had long been neglected and left in disrepair. The people of the Mercury cities found their technology regressing.

Once, humanity could leap from Earth to venture beyond the solar system in search of new homes. Now, they couldn't even reach the polar regions.

As land reclamation began with the most rudimentary methods, and the first stretch of land was created, the joyous Jing Wei celebrants took endless photos, inspiring others to work harder on terraforming. This led to a proliferation of technological innovations.

With enhanced land-reclamation capabilities, the privileged, facing a labor shortage, slowly realized the problem. But unable to set foot on land themselves, they could only continually punish the inferior ones still working for them.

Eventually, even the obedient and submissive inferiors were pushed onto the land, joining the land-reclamation effort. The underwater cities on Mercury started to crumble, forcing the privileged into menial labor, while the inferiors were forced into the roles once held by the lowest class.

Over time, the terrestrial civilization flourished, while the aquatic one dwindled.

The once-arrogant privileged flocked to the oceans, transforming themselves into wild nomads without urban settlements, or ventured onto the land, carrying water jars with them.

Plants were cultivated on land, and terrestrial creatures emerged. On this entirely blue planet, yellow patches began to appear.

The story's conclusion left a profound impression. It seemed that those once oppressed had, in a sense, entered a new cycle of existence as the privileged on land.

The movie ended, and Xing Le found himself lost in thought. His phone vibrated, and he saw that he had missed four calls. He had been so engrossed in the film that he hadn't noticed his phone.

"Xing Le, I lost track of Xiao Yuan's two brothers."

Switching off his phone, Xing Le skipped watching the post-credit scene in the movie and rushed backstage. Tang Fei was nowhere to be found. Apparently, he had been searching and eventually discovered Min Kai unconscious in the restroom, while the backstage staff were also found in a similar state in a small storage area.

Mineral water!

There's something wrong with the entire batch!

Xing Le threw his phone in frustration. Recalling the cryptic smiles on Xiao Yuan's brothers when they saw him, it now seemed like a clear provocation.

Perhaps Sister Yi had already foreseen this, and his failure to pass her test wouldn't hinder any harm coming to Tang Fei.