Chapter 108: A Song for the Worthless to Die Along

With Lin Ze present, filming these scenes was simply a matter of following the images in his mind, ensuring nothing would go wrong.

Upon arrival, a wedding scene was being shot on set.

An elderly lady in her sixties or seventies stood on the stage in a wedding dress, while an old man sat in a wheelchair on the other side.

“Look at the bride! Big eyes, high nose bridge!”

“Svelte figure like a fairy! Red lips, white teeth, and a fragrant aura!”

“Look at the groom! Handsome and elegant, dignified appearance!”

“More charming than Chen Weiguo! Physically stronger than Zhao Funing!”

Chang Zheng recited the lines, even pulling out an apple suspended by a string and placing it between the two “newlyweds.”

They were supposed to bite the apple together.

The old man in the wheelchair wobbled and suddenly toppled forward.

“Cut!”

“Not bad,” Chen Weiguo nodded in satisfaction, stepping down from the director’s chair.

[“Oh, how shameless!”]

[“This has been a tradition for years. When my brother got married, the MC insisted on this, and it almost turned into a fight.”]

[“That’s true. The MCs back then treated people like playthings; it was infuriating.”]

At that moment, Lin Ze and another person arrived.

Chen Weiguo, still pleased, nodded and said, “Every actor has a moment of breakthrough. Good, you’ve had yours.”

Chang Zheng expressed his gratitude to Chen Weiguo before turning to Lin Ze. “Boss!”

“Not bad. Looks like there’s no problem pursuing a career in acting in the future,” Lin Ze said with a bright smile.

“How’s the school location?” Chen Weiguo asked.

“We’ve borrowed it. Let’s shoot there first and get it done as soon as possible.”

“Alright. We’ll scout the school in the afternoon and try filming a few shots. This kid Baozi… Lin Ze, want to take over?”

Chen Weiguo glanced at Lin Ze.

“This character needs a bit of soul. The extras we found just now tried, but none performed well.”

“Fine, then I’ll play the role myself. The campus beauty…” Chen Weiguo looked toward Su Zitan.

“I can’t. Time’s tight—don’t make me shoot,” Su Zitan quickly shook her head.

The props team brought in many blue and white striped school uniforms, which were quite affordable.

Using the crew’s vehicle, they transported people and props to the school. With no time for a proper lunch, they ordered boxed meals and continued filming on location.

---

Lin Ze and Su Zitan wandered around the campus, finding their old classroom desks and chairs still there. They even sat down for a while.

They then walked through the campus, finalizing shooting locations for various scenes.

[“My alma mater, how nostalgic. Our classroom was on the top floor. Every day, we had to run down four flights for exercises and back up four flights. During breaks, going to the store for snacks meant climbing four floors. My body was so fit back then.”]

[“Is a school drama like this even reasonable? Having actors that old play students feels like a recipe for a terrible film.”]

[“Exactly. Don’t let Lin Ze’s good reputation be ruined.”]

Lin Ze saw these comments but just smiled and moved on. Once the film was out, everyone would see the real quality.

Everything was going smoothly for Lin Ze, but the talent management department faced difficulties.

Previously, it was mandated that nothing be released under the production team’s or Lin Ze Studio’s name.

Releasing the song was manageable, but the trouble was with the microfilm.

To release it officially, it had to pass censorship, but posting on a personal account bypassed that.

Of course, everyone knew the difference.

Within a week, shooting and editing would be strenuous.

It was certain they wouldn’t meet the video platform’s release schedule.

They’d take it slow; no rush.

...

“All right, all right!”

“Finally approved. The location’s secured, the director’s ready, and even those slightly famous rappers online have been contacted. We can start shooting anytime now.”

Wu Qian listened to his manager’s report with satisfaction.

All the pre-production work was done; now it was just a matter of releasing his new song and building momentum.

Feeling joyful, Wu Qian couldn’t resist breaking into a freestyle rap.

“Hey, hey, hey, look at this place, rundown and filthy—just like this money, thick and abundant.”

“Ah, we come here to make money, fans, and still feel happy…”

His manager was sweating profusely, wondering what on earth he was singing.

“I’m trying to rhyme here.”

“You want hip-hop, but you’re basically just…”

The location was nothing more than an abandoned factory shed on the outskirts.

They only needed to make some casual renovations; no need to clean the floors.

With the right lighting, standing there would somehow feel authentic.

“Make sure you set up cool lights on the ceiling. It’s hip-hop, so it needs that vibe.”

“Okay…” the manager nodded.

---

“Who knows what nonsense you’re spouting every day?”

“My song is recorded and will be released in a couple of days.”

“It’s time for China to feel the charm of hip-hop!” Wu Qian laughed heartily.

...

“Add more feeling.”

Listening to Chang Zheng’s humming, Lin Ze offered some advice.

“This song doesn’t need excessive flair—just like the first song you sang on stage when I met you. You only need to bring out some emotion.”

As he spoke, Lin Ze began singing along, his voice becoming much deeper and hoarser.

Chang Zheng opened his mouth in surprise.

Lin Ze had altered his voice and tone, using his previous falsetto technique.

For a moment, Chang Zheng forgot to listen for the emotions Lin Ze wanted him to embody.

He had thought the song was given to him because Lin Ze’s voice didn’t fit it.

But unexpectedly…

“Got it? That feeling of bitterness and helplessness.”

“Yes! I understand now!” Chang Zheng was moved. “I’m best at that kind of feeling.”

“No worries. You’re just over thirty; life is just beginning.”

Lin Ze smiled and stood up.

“Got it…”

Watching Lin Ze’s back, Chang Zheng instinctively spoke, though something felt off. How old was Lin Ze anyway? Why did he seem like an elder?

And why was it so natural?

“Come on, come on. Rested enough? Let’s do it again!”

Chen Weiguo glanced at his watch and called the two over.

Now Lin Ze had some stubble on his face, giving him a slightly sleazy look.

Lin Ze then got into a car.

Chang Zheng ran to the car behind Lin Ze’s—a luxury Mercedes and a beat-up old car.

With a signal, Chang Zheng floored the accelerator and bumped into Lin Ze’s Mercedes.

“Bro, bro, I’ll pay! I’ll pay!”

“Pay? What are you talking about? What are you driving? Can you even afford to pay?”