Chapter 58: Gaining Something for Nothing

For the next few days, Chen Qi spent all his time at the post-production company. He supervised the special effects, the editing, the compositing… The treatment he received here was exceptional. The general manager not only set aside a private office for him, but also assigned several dedicated staff members to assist him.

At first, Chen Qi thought this special treatment was all due to Xu Buyan’s influence. Only later, when he asked about it by chance, did he realize the general manager’s true motive was all about confidentiality.

The general manager had even given those staff members a gag order, afraid anyone would find out they were working on such an unspeakable special effects project.

But things became awkward when, during the special effects and dubbing process, the general manager—who had never come to the studio before—dropped by for reasons unknown. He happened to see the final cut of the first episode.

Perhaps out of curiosity, or perhaps to check the final result, he clicked play almost involuntarily.

As he did so, the staff all glanced at him, then at Chen Qi, who was busy at his desk, their expressions tinged with amusement.

Having followed the project from the beginning, they’d seen this episode many times. Without exaggeration, they’d all been startled—no, shocked—by it!

They’d become intimately familiar with the scenes and dialogue during editing, but none had expected such an explosive effect once everything was put together.

“My name is Wang Dazhu, I’m an actor, filming a low-budget martial arts series…”

The episode began. The general manager paused, clearly surprised by how the show looked.

Still, it seemed intriguing. He continued watching, outwardly impassive.

When the sword flashed on screen, a smile tugged at his lips, and he nearly forgot why he’d come.

“Come on! Use your ultimate technique: the Nine Suns Divine Fist!”

But when Chen Qi’s flat, emotionless voice delivered this line, the general manager’s eyes widened, and he nearly burst out laughing.

Nine Suns Divine Fist? Divine Fist, my foot! Could you be any less conventional? Was that sword’s flash a waste?

The next moment, as the frosty and fiery special effects appeared on Wang Dazhu’s hands, the general manager’s smile froze.

Suddenly, he remembered why he’d come.

This… this was almost painful to watch.

But before he could react, Wang Dazhu’s onscreen monologue left him utterly stunned.

“What the heck is this? You didn’t even bother with real effects, just slapped on some subtitles? How lazy can you be?”

“It’s the Nine Suns Divine Fist of *********!”

Wang Dazhu turned to his opponent in disbelief: “Hey, how did you even figure that out? That name is way too suggestive!”

“Too amazing! Aaaaaaah—”

The general manager hadn’t recovered from the abysmal effects when the frost and fire subtitles hurtled toward the villain.

The villain collapsed, gasping out his final line about “youth without regret, running beneath the setting sun.”

The general manager was dumbfounded.

What on earth was this mess of a show?

This was nothing like he’d imagined! Wasn’t shoddy special effects supposed to be something the audience mocked? Why call it out yourself?

With no pause for him to process, the episode cut to the next scene.

“Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang—”

The “two stick figure effects” that Chen Qi had described popped up in delightful surprise.

“I didn’t do anything, I swear!”

Watching the villain fall in perfect sync with the plot, the general manager’s expression grew serious.

He realized he’d misjudged something.

The episode continued. A minute later, when the final scene ended, the general manager sat in silence.

He remained silent for a long time.

When he finally snapped out of it, he watched the episode again, his expression growing more complicated with each passing second.

He was not okay.

This was nothing like what he’d expected!

He’d thought it would be a normal plot with slapdash effects. But the actual story? What genre was this? He’d never seen anything like it.

Such a plot paired with such effects—any fool could tell it was intentional. If anyone doubted the production company after this, they really had no business in film and television.

The general manager was at a loss.

He remembered how seriously he’d insisted on confidentiality.

Was that even necessary? Not at all!

In fact, he now felt that putting his company’s name on this show would actually be a huge credit.

This show was… interesting. Even someone as jaded as himself, having watched countless films, couldn’t wait to see the next episode after finishing the first.

Feeling foolish for his earlier anxieties, the general manager glanced back at Chen Qi.

Chen Qi had just wrapped up the current phase of work.

“Director Chen…” the general manager approached politely.

Chen Qi, about to start the next task, looked up, puzzled.

“I just watched your show. It’s really something.” The general manager gave a thumbs-up.

Chen Qi smiled, waiting for him to continue.

“So, uh, could you… maybe put our company’s name in the credits?” the general manager finally blurted out.

“That wouldn’t do; we’ve already signed a contract,” Chen Qi replied, all seriousness.

The general manager was speechless.

“Or… how about you waive my production and special effects fees?” Chen Qi suddenly suggested with a bright smile.

“What?” The general manager was startled.

“If you can waive the fees, I’ll put your name in the credits,” Chen Qi said, grinning broadly.

The production and effects fees weren’t exactly much, but Chen Qi cared more about the general manager’s attitude.

You can’t just change your mind on a whim, can you? I have my pride too!

The general manager frowned deeply, hesitated for a moment, then made up his mind and said, “Alright!”

With the potential he saw in this show, he was willing to take the plunge.

Chen Qi laughed. “Then let’s draft a supplementary agreement.”

“I’ll write one up,” the general manager replied, turning to leave, his mood in shambles.

As it stood, they’d not only produced the show for Chen Qi for free, but now, for the sake of a normal credit, he owed Chen Qi a favor as well.

Unbelievable!

If only he hadn’t been so secretive, none of this would have happened.

Behind him, the staff’s expressions grew even stranger.

Though they hadn’t seen the contract, the earlier conversation, paired with their gag order, made everything clear.

Now, when they looked at Chen Qi, there was a hint of awe.

Was this the legendary “pulling off a heist with empty hands”?