"The killing intent in Baili's eyes must be intense. This scene is all about murder. In your eyes, there should be a lethal determination—your goal is to kill, with no hesitation..."
In the vast, desolate Gobi, a middle-aged man wearing a gray cap was directing a group of actors. The set was silent; no one dared speak. The atmosphere was heavy and focused.
The man was Zhang Fengyun, a legendary domestic director. Though nearing seventy, his energy and presence made him seem closer to fifty. Internationally acclaimed, Zhang was not only a director but also an actor and screenwriter—a revered figure in China's film industry.
The grand opening ceremonies of China's major international sports events and forums were his masterpieces. His productions never failed to stir hearts and showcase China's brilliance to the world.
Few could rival his mastery of visual effects and large-scale scenes.
Zhang was renowned for war films, but he also excelled in martial arts and literary cinema. Despite his accolades, he remained low-key—quietly developing new projects and mentoring up-and-coming talent.
His humility and unique style earned him deep respect within the acting community.
"Alright, let's get ready for the next scene."
"Director Zhang, there's a call for you." Just as Zhang Fengyun was about to resume filming, his assistant hurried over with a holographic phone.
"Who is it?"
"An unfamiliar number. He says he's Li Zhiyong, general manager of Shili Red Makeup, the well-known wedding company. He wants to discuss a collaboration."
"A wedding company wants to work with me?" Zhang Fengyun raised an eyebrow. He turned to the actors. "Take a break. Go over your lines and think about how your character should express their emotions."
Though skeptical, Zhang took the call. The assistant's phone was linked to his work contacts—most calls were from people in the industry. It would be impolite to dismiss it outright.
"Hello, this is Zhang Fengyun."
"Director Zhang, hello! I'm Li Zhiyong from Shili Red Makeup. I'd like to discuss a potential collaboration. I know it's abrupt, and I wasn't sure where to find you, so I called."
"Oh? What is it?" Zhang asked.
"We have a very special client requesting a wedding with complex requirements. Our team isn't confident we can handle the scope—we need a director's expertise to oversee it. Please don't hang up yet, let me explain."
Li Zhiyong spoke quickly, clearly worried Zhang might end the call—as had happened twice before when other directors heard the word "wedding."
"Alright, go on." Zhang said calmly.
Though uninterested in weddings, the fact that the general manager of such a top-tier company was calling personally warranted at least a listen.
"The client's identity is sensitive—you might guess who it is after watching the video I'll send. I won't say more for now. I'll email you a short clip detailing the request. Please take a few minutes to review it. If you're not interested, just reply by text. Time is tight."
"Alright. What's your email?" Zhang gave him the address.
"I've sent it. Please, Director Zhang, don't leak the contents—it's confidential. We could both get into trouble."
"Understood." Zhang hung up and asked his assistant to fetch his laptop.
He was curious. What kind of wedding was so complex that even a renowned company like Shili Red Makeup didn't dare handle it alone—and needed him, a film director?
"Open the inbox," he said, spotting Li Zhiyong's email right away.
He downloaded the attached file and played the video.
The moment the video started, Zhang's expression sharpened. He'd seen all kinds of spectacles in his career—massive productions, stunning effects—but what he saw here genuinely surprised him.
"Director Zhang, is this all special effects?" his assistant asked, stunned.
"This is... a whole new world."
Zhang stared at the screen, taking in every detail, unwilling to miss anything. While his own films used heavy special effects, this was something else entirely.
"Is that a large-scale holographic projector? And a color-changing wedding dress? But Director Zhang, hasn't the March Ant Group only released medium holographic projectors so far? There's nothing like this on the market—it has to be CGI, right?"
The assistant was in disbelief.
A nearly 30-meter-tall holographic projection? Even the March Ant Group hadn't released anything like that publicly. And a color-changing wedding dress? Completely unheard of.
Hearing the mention of the March Ant Group, Zhang had a hunch about who the mysterious client might be. He quietly closed the video.
"Get back to work. And don't mention this video to anyone." Zhang said seriously.
"Yes, sir." The assistant nodded and left.
Zhang immediately called Li Zhiyong.
"Director Zhang, did you finish the video? What do you think?" Li asked.
"Is the client Chen Mo, from March Ant?"
"Director Zhang, you guessed right—it's Chen Mo's wedding."
So it was him.
Zhang's heart skipped a beat.
Only someone like Chen Mo, with that level of technology at his fingertips, could turn cutting-edge innovation into wedding props.
While Zhang himself was a major public figure—having directed countless national and international ceremonies—Chen Mo was on another level. A tech pioneer.
"Our company was lucky to land this project," Li Zhiyong said. "Chen Mo wants a full proposal before officially assigning the case to us. But the scope is huge, and our planners can't handle it. That's why I wanted to bring you on board.
If you're interested, I can arrange a meeting with Mr. Chen Mo. You'd direct the wedding, we'd handle logistics, and if things go well, he might agree. This could be the wedding of the century—and a rare opportunity for all of us."
Zhang was tempted—not because of Chen Mo's fame, but because of that holographic projector.
It represented a new frontier in filmmaking.
He had a massive intellectual property (IP) in development—one that would benefit hugely from that kind of visual scale. If he could get access to the projector through this project, it might unlock a new era in cinema.
March Ant's medium holographic projector had already caught his attention. Holographic tech, he believed, was the next leap for film—comparable to when Avatar pushed movies into the 3D era.
Though holographic devices were becoming mainstream, holographic films weren't. Most existing content was limited to short ads and small clips.
Many directors were hesitant to experiment, but Zhang had long wanted to. He just lacked the opportunity.
Until now.
"I've directed massive events and grand-scale movies, but never a wedding," Zhang said thoughtfully.
"Does that mean you're interested?"
"When's the date?" Zhang asked.
"Roughly half a month from now—possibly sooner."
Zhang paused to think.
Agreeing would mean postponing his current film shoot by a month. That delay would cost the crew significantly. But if he could access the large holographic projector, it could redefine his next project—and his career.
It was a trade-off. Money wasn't the issue. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"I'll return tomorrow," Zhang finally said.
"That's great! I'll meet you in Binhai City. Once you're here, we'll go see Mr. Chen Mo together," Li Zhiyong said, barely containing his excitement. This could elevate both his company and his own standing.
After hanging up, Zhang returned to the set.
"Notify everyone: we're pausing filming. Shooting schedule will be updated."
The sudden announcement caught the crew off guard. Everything had been going smoothly.
"Director Zhang, is something wrong?" an actor asked.
"I have something urgent to take care of. I'm very sorry for the inconvenience," Zhang replied.
"Please don't apologize, Director."
"Wrap for today. We'll resume in about a month. I'll keep everyone updated. Again, my apologies."
…
That night.
In the villa at Xianglu Bay, Xiao Yu stood by the window, gazing at her wedding dress. The creamy-white gown was flawless. Under the lights, the tiny inlaid diamonds shimmered like stars—perfect in every detail.
The dress had been brought over from the company's Building No. 1 earlier that afternoon, in preparation for their wedding photoshoot the next day.
To Xiao Yu, this dress was a dream. Custom-made by Chen Mo just for her.
Every time she looked at it, she couldn't help imagining the moment she would walk down the aisle wearing it—proclaiming to the world that she belonged to the man she loved. Her heart brimmed with anticipation.
"If you want to try it on, just do it. It's yours," Chen Mo said, watching her.
"I'll wait for tomorrow." Xiao Yu smiled, gently stroking the fabric. "Thank you, husband."
She knew how much effort and care Chen Mo had put into this wedding. She could never repay him, so she simply loved him with all her heart.
"Then repay me by giving me a bunch of little babies."
"How many is a bunch?"
"A hundred."
"You think I'm a sow?" Xiao Yu lightly smacked his chest, laughing.
"My promise is to make you the most beautiful bride in the world. You're the gift Heaven gave me—I won't let anyone take you away. No more thank-yous. If you keep saying that, I'll spank you."
"If you dare spank me, I won't let you sleep in the bed."