Huayu: This producer has no bottom line.

Chapter 43 The Future Beyond White-Collar Workers

Snapped!

Dapeng placed one foot on the conference table, and the sound of the fly swatter slicing down was like the cracking of a whip.

"I'll ask you one more time: who stole the 30,000 yuan that disappeared from the company's accounts last month?"

His gaze swept menacingly over the four trembling employees before him. "If we don't catch this old devil today, none of you are leaving get off work!"

Qiao San couldn't take it anymore and jumped up from his chair.

"It wasn't me! I paid for unclogging the toilets at the company last month, and I still haven't been reimbursed!"

Da Peng shoved the fly swatter onto his shoulder. "What does this have to do with the company? Go find whoever caused the blockage."

Bai Ke huddled in the corner, holding his laptop in front of his face, his voice muffled.

"Boss, I think we should call the police."

"Why call the police?" Da Peng slammed his hand on the table. "What if the police find out I spent the money myself?"

This is one of the changes that distinguishes it from the original version: the interrogator himself is the prime suspect, and everyone knows it but doesn't say it.

Zhang Yibo held the camera and slowly pushed it toward Ni Ni.

She sat at the end of the long table, her cheongsam collar buttoned up tightly, her back straight.

She didn't say a word amidst a group of hysterical men.

But this silence itself is a source of suspense.

The advantage of having multiple actors is that the seasoned veterans can carry the show, so Ni Ni doesn't need to do much; she can just sit there and that's enough.

Da Peng began interrogating them one by one, and all the lines were replaced with workplace-themed ones.

"Tell me! Where did you go between 2 and 3 pm on Wednesday?"

Xiao Ai, covered in sweat, exclaimed, "I need to use the restroom!"

"Don't give me that crap. You're supposed to spend an hour in the bathroom?"

"Boss... I have diarrhea."

"Diarrhea? You're having diarrhea again? Is that your excuse for getting thirty packs of tissues a month?"

As the investigation progressed, it began to veer off course, and the atmosphere became increasingly absurd.

Da Peng and Qiao San exchanged jokes, getting better and better at responding to each other's lines, while Xiao Ai gradually opened up and contributed several good impromptu performances.

Ren Pingsheng noticed that Ni Ni's shoulders were slowly relaxing.

Her gaze became natural, her attention no longer focused on the hem of her skirt, and she began to follow the rhythm of the scene.

When Da Peng uttered a particularly outrageous line, the corner of her mouth even twitched involuntarily.

A good sign.

But then a problem arises.

"That's you!" Da Peng suddenly turned to Ni Ni. "Don't think that just because you're the company receptionist, I can't torture you!"

As he spoke, he pulled out a "self-help" sword from somewhere and scraped it on the table with a harsh sound.

According to the script, Ni Ni's line is: "I don't know where the money went, but you didn't pay me back for the wig I bought for you last week."

But looking at Dapeng's greasy and extremely serious face, she couldn't hold back any longer.

"puff."

Laughed.

She had tried her best to control herself, but Da Peng was too ridiculous, and with Qiao San frantically giving her signals with his eyes, she finally couldn't hold back anymore.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!" Ni Ni immediately covered his mouth with his hand. "Let's do it again."

"It's alright, it's normal," Ren Pingsheng called out from behind.

Again.

Dapeng turned to her again, this time deliberately raising his chin even higher and looking even more arrogant.

Ni Ni took a deep breath and met his eyes.

"I have no idea..."

"Hahaha!"

This time he laughed even harder, and ended up lying face down on the table.

Zhou Zhanyan covered her mouth outside the venue, laughing so hard her shoulders were shaking.

Article 3, Article 4, and Article 5.

Ni Ni gradually got used to the jokes, and although he no longer burst out laughing, his delivery of lines was extremely awkward.

After the sixth take, she lowered her head, twisting her fingers, and said dejectedly, "I'm sorry, Director Ren, I..."

A person who has always demanded the best of themselves from childhood cannot accept that they can't even finish a single line of dialogue.

"Take a five-minute break."

Ren Pingsheng walked over and handed her a bottle of water. "Don't feel guilty. We're filming a web series skit, so we don't need those long takes like in movies."

He pointed to the three camera positions around him, "So, as long as you get any small part right, I can piece together what I want in post-production."

Ni Ni blinked. "Really?"

"Seriously, do you think Da Peng and Bai Ke didn't have any NGs when they first started filming 'The Loser'?"

Bai Ke, who was standing next to her, also comforted her, saying, "Yeah, junior, just act with confidence. When I first started filming, I burst out laughing every time I saw Peng Ge's face. You'll get used to it."

Da Peng peeked out from the side and said, "Hey, hey, hey, why bring up such an embarrassing thing?"

I'm stating the facts.

"You don't have to say that in front of the girl!" Da Peng muttered under his breath, before Qiao San dramatically grabbed his neck and dragged him aside.

The tense atmosphere dissipated amidst everyone's jokes.

Ren Pingsheng looked at Ni Ni and said, "Relax. Just do whatever you can get. I'll take care of the rest."

Ni Ni looked at him for a while before nodding.

The next few steps were noticeably more relaxed. Although I still laughed and got into knots, I was able to adjust quickly.

In the end, the group scene was filmed, albeit with some hiccups.

He didn't let Zhang Yibo delete those clips of him laughing during filming.

Some things can't be faked, like a goddess breaking down in front of a bunch of idiots.

Audiences like perfection, but they like the moment when perfection is broken even more.

These materials have other uses.

The second day of shooting was much easier, mainly consisting of close-up shots showcasing Ni Ni's physique.

There are no lines; she only needs to sit or stand in her cheongsam, take a few steps in the corridor or at the door, or give a few glances.

With push, pull, pan, and tilt controls, these traffic codes were quickly assembled under Ren Pingsheng's direction.

Ni Ni was more comfortable with these purely visual shots, after all, she had been working as an office lady for several months and was used to being watched.

After recording the voiceover in the afternoon, all the preliminary work was done.

That evening, Ren Pingsheng booked a table near the company and invited everyone over for what he considered a wrap party for this episode.

Zhou Zhanyan didn't stand on ceremony and sat down to order food.

"You're even less polite than me," Ren Pingsheng said, looking at her.

"Since we're already here," Zhou Zhanyan said matter-of-factly.

Inside the steamy private room, everyone was clinking glasses and exchanging toasts.

After a few beers, Da Peng couldn't stop talking.

"No, to be honest," after a few beers, Da Peng couldn't stop talking. "Girl, it's a shame you're not an actress with your looks."

Qiao San nodded in agreement, "Yes, I've never seen anyone look so good on camera."

Bai Ke ate in silence for a while, then suddenly blurted out, "Brother Pingsheng's judgment is indeed accurate."

"So, what I'm saying is," Da Peng said, getting more and more excited. He slammed his hand on the table and looked at Ni Ni, "why don't you just quit that internship and join us? Then LifeVision will have its own leading lady."

"The leading lady?" Zhou Zhanyan's eyes darted around. "Brother Dapeng, can you afford the annual salary of a senior executive in a foreign company?"

Da Peng was taken aback, then turned to look at Ren Pingsheng, winking at him.

"Pingsheng, did you hear that? They think our company is too small and want executive benefits from a foreign company! I can't afford that, so you, as the boss, have to foot the bill."

Ni Ni picked up a piece of fish without saying a word.

Ren Pingsheng put down his chopsticks. "Alright, stop making a fuss. They have their own plans. Hurry up and eat. They have to catch their train soon."

Da Peng pursed his lips and wisely shut his mouth.

The conversation at the dinner table veered off to other topics, including post-production editing and the release schedule.

Ni Ni ate her meal quietly, occasionally being pulled by Zhou Zhanyan to clink glasses.

Her gaze inadvertently fell on Ren Pingsheng, and for the first time she seriously considered her future beyond being a white-collar worker.