I Forged the Myth of the Ancient Overlords
Chapter 282 - 282 281. Sample piece modify modify modify modify_1

Chapter 282: 281. Sample piece modify modify modify modify_1 Chapter 282: 281. Sample piece modify modify modify modify_1 In the evening, while Bai Qiquan was still eating dinner, at Lu Ban’s place.

“You hire so many people, pay them so much, why bother?”

Qin Tiantian was eating take-out pan-fried buns, sipping on chilled cola, and said.

The TV was broadcasting the evening news, and the table was loaded with foods bought from the backstreet of Jiangcheng University: fried skewers, barbecue, pan-fried buns, porridge, rolls, and small wontons.

If Feng Yu saw this, she would surely complain about Lu Ban always eating these greasy street foods.

But Feng Yu couldn’t see it anyway.

Lu Ban put down his phone; he just messaged Feng Yu on WeChat, confirming she wasn’t in Jiangcheng.

Only then did he boldly pick up a skewer of grilled lamb and take a bite.

Fat sizzled and released grease, the fragrance of animal fat wafting between his lips and teeth. The lamb was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, paired with spices, cumin, chili powder, the exotic flavors spreading in the mouth.

This felt just like the abrupt end to the life enforced by parents at home where he was compelled to sleep and wake up early with three regular meals without fried chicken, carbonated drinks, barbecue, or any sort of snacks, and like the first night living by oneself outside, utterly comfortable.

“Delicious.”

Lu Ban remarked contentedly and glanced at Qin Tiantian again.

“I’m creating more labor positions for society, addressing the manpower resource crisis caused by the current winter of the film and television industry.”

“Damn, don’t you know why there’s a winter in the film and television industry?”

Qin Tiantian grimaced as she spoke.

“Because of me?”

Lu Ban was puzzled.

“Isn’t it?”

Qin Tiantian was filled with righteous indignation.

“Because your movies are too popular. One was okay, but two are both high-quality and profitable, all the film companies realized they need to improve production quality for audiences to buy in, so now everyone is spending money on hiring.”

“Hmm? Shouldn’t that mean there’s a strong demand for employment?”

Lu Ban found it strange.

“The people they’re hiring need to have skills, whether actors or others. Before, the circle was big, there was a lot of money and many freeloaders, but now the circle has shrunk, and many of those freeloaders are out of work.”

Qin Tiantian suddenly felt perhaps she was more familiar with the showbiz scene than Lu Ban.

After all, she used to be a minor idol, a genuine artist signed with an entertainment company.

If it weren’t for her project fizzling out and her contract limiting her from doing paid performances that required face reveal, Qin Tiantian wouldn’t have had to debut in a virtual skin, becoming a virtual live streamer.

Compared to her previous life as a little-known minor idol constantly rehearsing for performances and carefully minding her behavior, she now had a pretty good life, with hundreds of thousands of fans and earning several times more just by playing games and loafing around.

But still! Now the film industry was spiraling into a competitive craze led by Lu Ban, leaving many unable to find work. Some minor celebrities with a small following had started live streaming directly.

Some were pretty normal, streaming their daily lives or creating vlogs, while others were a bit over the top, flirting and engaging in questionable antics.

And some who could sing took on a virtual persona and debuted as virtual idols, starting with hours-long singing live streams, putting streamers like Qin Tiantian, for whom singing was more about entertainment and less about performance, in an awkward position.

Fellow students might ask, weren’t you just a jumping and bouncing minor idol before, how come you can’t sing better than them?

To this, Qin Tiantian could only say, if her singing was really that good, she wouldn’t have been just a minor idol back then and would’ve become famous on various singing shows a long time ago.

“Freeloaders out of work, isn’t that a good thing?”

Lu Ban expressed his confusion.

“The industry was always about survival of the fittest. Before, everyone’s skills were mediocre, which allowed many to make money under the radar. Now that the tide has receded, it’s clear who’s been fishing in troubled waters, right?”

“?”

Qin Tiantian couldn’t shake off the feeling that Lu Ban was hinting at her.

“Don’t overanalyze it. Although you slack off every day, your livestream only has program effects, your singing is terrible, your gaming skills are awful, you don’t have any talents, and you even look like a middle schooler, but I’m not actually talking about you,”

Lu Ban explained.

“So you are talking about me!”

Qin Tiantian jumped up.

“No, no, you are the image spokesperson for our company. Think about it, once Silent Media’s movies are released, everyone will associate the films with you. With so many people across the country, even the world, having seen the movie, wouldn’t your fan base swell by hundreds or thousands of times?”

Lu Ban coaxed earnestly.

“That does sound pretty good… Wait a minute, doesn’t your company only make horror films? Won’t that mean I’ll end up being associated with horror, causing kids to cry at the sight of me?”

Qin Tiantian realized.

“Right, I’ve put together some clips before, do you want to give them a try?”

Lu Ban suddenly said.

“Get lost, I’m not going to be your guinea pig!”

Qin Tiantian refused immediately.

“It’s not scary, I’ve transformed this time, it’s a commercial blockbuster.”

Lu Ban said, like a devil tempting someone into downfall.

“Not listening, not listening. And when did you shoot it, didn’t you go to the psychiatric ward not too long ago?”

Qin Tiantian drank some fruit yogurt, using a tissue to wipe off the white residue at the corner of her mouth.

“Actually, I traveled to Another World and made a movie out of my experiences there,”

Lu Ban spoke the truth.

“…You think I’m stupid.”

Qin Tiantian gave Lu Ban a dismissive look.

Although Lu Ban was indeed a fast shooter, and it did not feel like he disappeared for half a year after a shoot, like those in documentary films, Qin Tiantian was still quite sensible.

“This one’s not scary; it’s on the level of a special effects blockbuster, so don’t worry,”

Lu Ban persuaded again.

His main reason was still to see if the visuals of the Demonic Tide would cause a similar sense of immersive fear in common people. After all, although Lu Ban could claim to be the strongest in this world in terms of visuals, without a certain sense of immersion and shock, it would lose its essence.

“Then let’s watch it after dinner; I want to bring my shark pillow along,”

Qin Tiantian reluctantly agreed.

As for why she needed to hold a shark pillow, Lu Ban didn’t quite understand; it might be some kind of special method to feel at ease.

The most important thing for people living in the world is a sense of security.

The vast majority of human actions can be seen as ways to attain a sense of security.

For example, making money, buying houses, getting married, having children, immersing oneself in a fictitious world to escape reality.

Perhaps Qin Tiantian also had a special fondness for sharks.

After the meal, the two cleaned up the meal boxes, disposed of the trash during the last minutes of the waste sorting schedule, and Lu Ban accompanied Qin Tiantian to her house to retrieve her shark pillow.

Sitting in the living room and waiting for a while, Qin Tiantian saw Lu Ban plug a hard drive into the television.

He opened a folder named “New Folder 02,” which contained several files.

Lu Ban then opened a video file named “Sample Edit Edit Edit Edit.”

He turned off a few lights, and the television screen lit up.

*

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