Chapter 134: Special Effects Sample

Shi Hui said, "There is a contract to be signed tomorrow; today is relatively quiet."

He looked toward Kim Hee-sun and asked, "Should we notify Xu Danni and have her hire a good tour guide in advance?"

He had been to the Forbidden City himself, but he couldn't provide an expert explanation of the artifacts inside.

Kim Hee-sun immediately made the call. A cheerful voice came from the other end: "You've called the right person! Director Ma just assigned me a task."

"What task?"

"To invite you two onto a show, of course! You were incredibly popular on yesterday's 'Youth Song Contest.' Before Shanzi leaves for Hong Kong, we need to get you scheduled for an appearance!"

"That's not up to me; Shanzi has to give the word."

"Director Ma said that you won't be helping for free. Our leadership mentioned that the station will help you secure an endorsement deal. How does the couple's diamond ring line from Xie Dafu sound?"

Kim Hee-sun was startled. Even as a South Korean, she had heard of the Hong Kong jewelry brand Xie Dafu; it was a renowned name.

She immediately turned her gaze toward Liu Qingshan, her anticipation clear in her eyes. It would be disingenuous to say she didn't care about the endorsement fee, but it was true that she valued the opportunity to appear with Liu Qingshan as a couple even more. She knew her man’s hearing was sharper than most; even without the speakerphone on, he could hear the conversation clearly.

Liu Qingshan walked over and took the phone with a smile. "Danni, let's skip the guest appearance. The Snow Region Studio is about to open, and I have to head to Hong Kong shortly after."

"Don't say that, Shanzi! It’s just a music variety show. You and Sister Hee-sun would just need to stand on stage and sing a song."

"I'll pass. However, so you don't lose face, I have a proposal for a variety show that I can give your station to produce and broadcast. If you're interested, come over and we can talk details!"

Xu Danni clearly hadn't realized the importance of that proposal yet and continued to try to persuade him, but Liu Qingshan had already made up his mind.

After hanging up, he met Kim Hee-sun’s surprised gaze and patiently explained, "I believe it's better to avoid variety shows like the 'Youth Song Contest.' If I were a resident MC, that might be worth considering."

"Why don't you think such quick and easy programs can help build popularity?"

"Unless you and I intend to pursue a career in variety, frequent appearances will only lead to audience fatigue and make us look like we aren't focused on our primary work. My main profession is acting; the only way to build lasting fame is through roles. Being a guest on a variety show occasionally provides a bit of freshness, but your top priority is to polish your singing and release your first album before returning to your roots as an actress."

"But I wanted that advertisement. Didn't you hear it was for a Xie Dafu couple's ring?"

How could Liu Qingshan not understand Kim Hee-sun's mindset?

He smiled and continued to explain, "If I provide a variety show proposal, I can still get the station to offer us that advertisement. A full-fledged variety program is much more valuable than a one-off guest spot."

In truth, Kim Hee-sun was just being a bit petty. Once she calmed down, she naturally understood the logic.

"When did you write it? Why didn't I know?"

"Because I haven't written it down yet, but the content is all in my head. I'll get to work on it as soon as we get home. Just wait—Director Ma will be at our door tomorrow asking for it!"

Kim Hee-sun giggled. "It's a deal. If they don't like your proposal, you have to go back and take that guest spot!"

Coaxing Kim Hee-sun into a good mood was one of Liu Qingshan's specialties; with a few words, he had the South Korean diva beaming.

Around ten o'clock, Liu Qingshan's group arrived at the hotel. Park Hye-jin and Yu Yi were sent off to join Jackie Chan to assist with the publicity preparations for the *The Myth* film crew. As for Liu Qingshan himself, he only needed to make an appearance at the premiere in two days.

The large group headed to the Forbidden City, where the two English-speaking guides arranged by Xu Danni were already waiting. Yu Chenhui had also come along, and unexpectedly, he provided more detailed historical insights into certain artifacts than the guides themselves.

They didn't finish their tour and head to lunch until after two o'clock. Liu Qingshan took them directly to Donglaishun in Wangfujing. He had planned it perfectly: using the century-old restaurant's delicacies to distract Cram. Otherwise, at that hour, if Cram had suggested climbing the Great Wall, it would have been a real problem.

The evening featured another high-profile banquet, this time hosted by Jackie Chan. Compared to the previous one, the atmosphere was much more relaxed. Most of the attendees were figures from the entertainment industry, serving as a thank-you gathering before the screening of *The Myth*.

The next morning, Shah Rukh Khan called to invite Liu Qingshan and Cram’s team over; the special effects department had finished the demo clip for *Kung Fu*.

Since no actors had performed in it, the clip was just a prototype, yet the computer-simulated combat possessed a surprising degree of realism. Liu Qingshan’s earlier guidance had covered the basics of how the moves should look, and with Samir, Anubis, and Ram—who were well-versed in Chinese martial arts—there to provide input, the resulting clip carried a strong Eastern flair.

Even Liu Qingshan, who had already seen the final film in his previous life, was full of praise after watching the clip, let alone those who were seeing such effects for the first time.

The entire clip was five minutes and thirty-six seconds long—not too long, not too short—but it had an immersive quality that kept everyone glued to the screen. Cram was so excited he was shouting, demanding bonuses for Frederick and the other core team members.

Even Yu Chenhui, who usually disliked special effects, nodded in approval with a smile: "I thought it would be a chaotic mess, but it looks like gods fighting! And every move actually looks quite authentic!"

Liu Qingshan explained further, "The computer effects for the full moves will eventually be replaced by real human martial arts. What we’re looking at now is the effect of the moves coming to life. By the time it’s finished, it will be several times more spectacular and even more realistic!"

"Do you take me for a senile old man? But if you were to play one of the characters in the Twelve Kick Styles, Iron Thread Fist, or Eight Diagram Staff, or if it were adapted so you played all three twin brothers, this fight sequence would become a classic in martial arts cinema!"

Liu Qingshan laughed heartily. "My intention as an actor isn't to be a stunt performer. I have a role in this film, but it's not a martial artist—it's a neurotic gang leader!"

"What a pity! You didn't say before that you wouldn't keep doing martial arts roles; you've disappointed me! Give that sword back; I regret giving it to you now!"

"That won't do. Once something is in my hands, there's no reason to return it. Even a Sword Saint shouldn't bully the young!"

Everyone burst into laughter. The bickering between the old man and the young man was so convincing that they seemed genuinely heated.

"That's settled then!" Once the laughter subsided, Liu Qingshan waved at Frederick and his team.