Chapter 172: It Will Be Repaid Sooner or Later
In the blink of an eye, July ended and the summer vacation was halfway through.
With the capital in place, the preliminary preparations for Apocalypse were complete, and filming was scheduled to begin on August 5th.
During the period when Xia Chenge was participating in the competition, Ning Xia had already signed with a talent agency and officially debuted under the name Tong Yangyang.
Due to the fame of Xia Chenge and Ling Hanmu, before Apocalypse was officially announced, the internet was already buzzing with discussions about the lead actors. It could be said that it was already popular before filming even began.
“Who would have thought that you two would also be among the lead actors?”
“If it’s officially announced, the hype will be even greater.”
“Let’s officially announce it after the promotional photos are ready.”
“Suddenly I feel full of motivation and passion.”
The director said with a smile, pleased with such popularity.
The lead actors had already been in training for over half a month. Although they were all newcomers, he was very optimistic about them.
“Of course, we are born actors,” Meng Yufei said arrogantly, “Just wait and see the results.”
“Usually, those who speak loudly are the ones who get their faces slapped,” Li Yuming poured cold water on him.
Jiang Feifei said shyly, “I will strive to do my best.”
Zhong Yujin scratched his head, “Let’s all work hard together.”
“Let’s do our best, we’re all newcomers! I hope the director will guide us more,” Ning Xia said humbly.
Instead, Xia Chenge and Ling Hanmu remained silent, making it impossible to tell what they were thinking.
Seeing this, the director returned to the topic of discussing the script.
Since the lead actors were all newcomers, such meetings were held almost every evening. Even supporting actors with minor roles had to attend.
Xia Chenge’s script was worn at the edges, filled with dense notes and personal reflections.
She didn’t seek high box office for this movie, only hoping that people would be shocked and understand the importance of environmental protection.
The reason humanity had reached the apocalypse was not only the zombie virus developed in laboratories but also the destruction of the ecosystem.
On the apocalyptic Earth, the sky was gray, and all plants had mutated due to the environmental changes. There were no birds singing or flowers blooming; instead, there were mutated birds that ate people and flowers and grass that emitted foul odors and were deadly upon contact with blood.
—
August 5th.
Apocalypse V: Apocalypse’s 07 Leopard @ Zhong Yujin
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The first character to be officially announced, without any elaborate copy, just like the movie itself.
However, it sparked quite a discussion.
This was because, as everyone knew, the movie was funded and produced by Xia Chenge and Ling Hanmu, who represented the Xia and Ling families respectively.
With such substantial capital, everyone assumed Apocalypse would be a big production that would definitely invite big stars to participate. But who would have thought that the first officially announced role would be that of an unknown passerby!
August 6th.
Apocalypse V: Apocalypse’s 06 Clownfish @ Tong Yangyang
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Everyone stared in disbelief: “Why another newcomer?”
August 7th
Apocalypse V: Apocalypse’s 05 Snow Rabbit @ Jiang Feifei
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The comments below exploded:
Pfft… Are Xia Chenge and Ling Hanmu crazy? They’re filming a movie and are only casting unknown extras?
@Queen Xia Chenge@Ling Ling Ling Hanmu Sister Chenge, are you guys really not just playing around? Why are all the actors you chose completely unknown?
Oh my god, I looked at the director’s name, and he seems to be a newcomer too.
They really know how to have fun.
Meanwhile, Xia Chenge, Ling Hanmu, and the others had already ventured deep into the desert for location scouting and began filming.
In such a desolate area, the filming conditions were understandably arduous.
Furthermore, there were quite a few fight scenes.
In the apocalypse, humanity had to fight not only nature but also mutated animals and plants for resources or to hunt them for survival.
The true protagonists of the apocalypse, the zombies, had a relatively small role in this movie.
Filming fight scenes in the desert under high temperatures was definitely a major challenge.
The others watching from the side were also struggling to breathe from the heat. Apart from Xia Chenge, Ling Hanmu, and Ning Xia, everyone else was half-dead.
“Cut!” the director shouted through the megaphone, “Your movements aren’t precise, let’s do it again!”
Xia Chenge and Ning Xia returned to their positions, preparing for another take.
This scene depicted a life-or-death struggle between the two due to their differing stances before the apocalypse. Just as they were nearing exhaustion, the apocalypse descended, and they were surrounded by mutated desert animals.
Humans at this time had not yet begun to evolve, and neither of them knew about the coming of the apocalypse. Facing the incredibly powerful mutated animals, it was a suffocating and desperate situation, and they would ultimately have to trust the enemy they had just been fighting to the death.
It seemed simple, but it wasn’t easy to act well, with such drastic emotional changes.
“I finally understand how hard filming is,” Xia Chenge said to Ning Xia with a smile, “I should have written a better environment if I had known. Now look, I’ve dug my own grave.”
Ning Xia patted the yellow sand off her clothes, “It’s too late to know now. There’s no turning back once the arrow is loosed.”
The megaphone on the other side began to call out. After the two took their positions, they entered a new round of filming.
Ling Hanmu watched from not too far away, feeling very distressed.
Fortunately, the desert scenes weren’t extensive; after two more takes, they would be finished. Otherwise, his wife would be completely sunburnt!
After a long day of filming, they returned to their resting area. Ling Hanmu had already prepared a soothing face mask and brought it to Xia Chenge.
Xia Chenge had just finished removing her makeup and was about to take a shower.
After a day in the sun, even with repeated applications of sunscreen, it couldn’t withstand the intense UV rays in the desert. Her entire face was red and burning painfully.
Damn it, why didn’t my skin evolve to be more sun-resistant? Xia Chenge grumbled inwardly.
“Little Brother, here, for you!” Ling Hanmu presented the mask as if it were a treasure, “Hurry and put it on, or you’ll get sunburned.”
Looking at Ling Hanmu, who was also tanned, Xia Chenge suppressed a smile, “Why aren’t you afraid of getting sunburned?”
“Men have thick skin, what’s there to fear about sunburn? Girls need to be careful.” I’m worried about you!
“Then why don’t Young Master Ling treat us equally and give us some too?” Ning Xia emerged, teasingly.
Ling Hanmu raised an eyebrow, “Can’t you prepare your own? I’m not your nanny!”
“Tsk tsk tsk, look at this favoritism. You guy who values romance over friendship, I’ll eventually steal your goddess and elope with her to get married abroad.” Ning Xia said with a wicked grin.
“It’s not too late to take that back!” Ling Hanmu’s words were filled with threat, “Really, the word ‘regret’ is not easy to write.”
Ning Xia: “…You win!”
See, the affection they showed back then would eventually come back to haunt them… Ning Xia teared up and walked out, holding her precious one.
“Hey, wait, here!” Just as Ning Xia reached the door, Ling Hanmu called out to her again, handing her the key, “Distribute two boxes to all the girls in the film crew. They’re in my room.”
“Long live Young Master Ling.” Ning Xia happily took the key and left.
Xia Chenge smiled, “Since you prepared them, why tease her?”
“Who told her she was eyeing you like a tiger, wanting to snatch you away,” Ling Hanmu huffed proudly.
