Sparkle sighed, rubbing her forehead. "The problem is, I'm not a System Spirit. You've been reading too many novels, haven't you?"
Jiang Li's face fell in disappointment. "Oh... really?"
"But it's true that I can help you."
"But... if you're not a System, why would you help me?"
"You..." Sparkle groaned in frustration. "Why is your brain so fixated on Systems? Haven't you ever heard of someone getting help from a benefactor? I saw your extraordinary potential and decided you'd be the perfect partner for my project!" She pouted.
Jiang Li immediately retorted, "Oh! So you're a scammer!"
Sparkle blinked in confusion. "???"
Wait, how did I suddenly become a scammer?
Jiang Li continued, "My dad warned me about scams in big cities. Anything that seems too good to be true, anything free, always hides an unimaginable price!"
This kid... she's impossible!
Sparkle pursed her lips. "So, I have a script. Are you going to shoot it or not?"
Jiang Li answered instantly, "I'll shoot it!"
Sparkle stared, dumbfounded. "?"
"Don't worry," Jiang Li reassured her, waving her hand dismissively. "You're not some creepy old pervert like Boss Wang. What could a cute girl like you possibly do to me? Besides, I practically grew up in a martial arts school—I'm a total badass! If things get hairy, I can always just run!"
"You... alright then," Sparkle sighed, pulling a stack of documents from her handbag. These were the 'movie scripts' she had written earlier, which she handed to Jiang Li.
Jiang Li took the script and read the title on the cover: Honkai: The Queen of the Void Awakens.
Yes, after much deliberation, Sparkle had decided against simply copying classic works from her previous life, like The Shawshank Redemption, Titanic, or Inception. While those films were classics, they were unlikely to bring much elation to audiences in this world.
As for more comedic fare like The Hangover, Bruce Almighty, Johnny English, and Forrest Gump, Sparkle had enjoyed them in her previous life and remembered them as "hilarious." But when she tried to recall the specific plot details...
Hmm... Sparkle admitted to herself that she really couldn't remember. After all, the point of watching those comedies was fleeting laughter; she had long forgotten the exact jokes and situations that had made them funny.
After much deliberation, Sparkle suddenly realized that elation didn't necessarily mean making the audience happy. If she could inflict pain through heartrending plot twists and revel in their suffering, wouldn't that bring her even greater pleasure?
In this world, there was no Mihoyo and no Honkai series. As a seasoned otaku intimately familiar with the Honkai 3rd plot, simply copying and pasting its storyline, complete with its devastating plot twists, seemed like an excellent plan.
Why not Honkai: Star Rail instead? Because Robin and SAM were highly recognizable figures in this world. If she adapted HSR, Jiang Li would likely attract official scrutiny, and her true identity might be exposed—specifically, the secret that Firefly and SAM were the same person.
For these reasons, Sparkle ultimately settled on Honkai 3rd. Having witnessed the success of Marvel's interconnected cinematic universe in her previous life, she believed she could create a sprawling Honkai film franchise.
The moment this decision crystallized, Sparkle felt a surge of motivation coursing through her veins. After all... wasn't this utterly fascinating?
However, because the story was being told through film—a medium distinct from a game—it needed to convey a complete narrative within a limited timeframe. This was the director's challenge.
Watching Jiang Li flip through the script page by page, Sparkle couldn't help but ask, "What do you think?"
Jiang Li shook her head. "It's hard to say. I need to study it further."
This was perfectly understandable. How could anyone judge a film's quality based solely on the script? Even if Sparkle had presented a script of The Shawshank Redemption caliber instead of Honkai, Jiang Li's response would likely have been the same.
In fact, even if they actually filmed The Shawshank Redemption in this world, its success wouldn't be guaranteed. The same held true for Honkai.
But whether Honkai would ultimately become a blockbuster or a commercial hit wasn't Sparkle's primary concern. She hadn't come here to make money. Even if it crashed and burned, as long as a single person watched it and felt the sting of its emotional blows, she'd be perfectly content.
Jiang Li glanced at the script and asked, "This feels like a sci-fi film. It'll probably need a lot of special effects. What's the budget?"
Sparkle blinked in surprise. "Budget?"
Jiang Li stared at her, puzzled. "What do you mean, 'Budget'?"
Actors' salaries and special effects were usually the biggest expenses in filmmaking. But Sparkle had initially planned to have her clones play all the roles and use illusions for all the special effects, so she hadn't even considered the budget.
"Wait a minute," Jiang Li said, suspicion creeping into her voice. "Are you trying to pull a fast one on me? I thought you were some big-shot producer, the client bringing in the funding. Turns out you're just like me—a newbie screenwriter with nothing to your name!"
Sparkle shook her head. "No, no, no. It's just that I've never had to think about these... 'basic' things before."
Once suspicion took root, it wasn't easily shaken. Jiang Li eyed her doubtfully. "Really?"
"Of course," Sparkle replied. After a moment's thought, she added, "I've been focusing on other things, like... getting Miss Robin to sing a song to help promote the film."
"Huh?!" Jiang Li froze. "Who? Robin? Are you serious?!"
To say Jiang Li's disbelief had intensified would be an understatement. Asking Robin to help promote the film was, in a way, infinitely more outlandish than having an "unlimited budget"!
Jiang Li was certain that if Miss Robin actually sang the theme song for the movie, even if it turned out to be utter garbage, countless fans would flock to theaters, eagerly lining up to devour the "trash."
Never underestimate the fervor of fans!
Sparkle shrugged. "Of course it's true. Robin and I are old friends—we're practically inseparable. Believe it or not, I wouldn't even need to pay her to help me out!"
To prove her point, Sparkle immediately pulled out her phone, opened WeChat, and showed Jiang Li a chat log. The other party in the conversation was none other than Robin herself, using her real name and photo as her profile picture.
Jiang Li's eyes widened, and she stood frozen in place. "...Huh?"
Swallowing hard, she stammered, "So... you're really a System Spirit?! Do I need to complete some kind of System-issued mission to get Miss Robin's help?"
After all, only the System could explain something this utterly absurd, right?