Speaking of computer-generated effects, weren’t there plenty of Hollywood blockbusters using them?
The audience wanted to see such films with good stories.
At the least, they wanted films with smooth CGI, good pacing, and the ability to convey a clear storyline.
Now, there were many special effects blockbuster movies. Most of them had an adequate level of CGI, but the storytelling was so poor the plot didn’t make sense.
If the storytelling were done well, Han Zhuofeng’s film would be set.
However, Lu Man didn’t talk much about these.
Moreover, Han Zhuofeng did his studies specializing in directing, and he accompanied many famous directors and meticulously studied directing from them. It was impossible that he didn’t know about these things.
Since Han Zhuofeng was a specialist, Lu Man wouldn’t pointlessly give advice.
“We will begin filming officially next month. When the time comes, we’ll let the cast members with availability in their schedules enter the set and film first,” Han Zhuofeng said. “But before we begin filming, we need to make an offering.”
Lu Man was surprised. “You believe in this sort of thing?”
She thought that Han Zhuofeng, an energetic youth from the modern age of science and technology, wouldn’t believe in these sorts of things.
“I don’t really believe in it, but it’s a tradition, so I think we should respect it,” Han Zhuofeng said while scratching his head.
This tradition of conducting a ceremony to give offerings to the deities before starting the filming…
It was to pray for the success of the film.
For some reason, many rumors of supernatural encounters always emerged from film sets.
Although Han Zhuofeng had any supernatural encounters, there were ample legends about this kind of thing in the entertainment industry.
So, the ceremony was also to pray for the protection of the deities in hope that they would not encounter anything supernatural.
Simultaneously, they were letting the local ghosts know that the crew would be disturbing them for a while, but they would leave after filming.
It was to ask the ghosts not to meet the crew in person if their area was disturbed and to please excuse them.
Additionally, they would pray that there wouldn’t be any accidents during the filming process which may result in injuries or even death.
Han Zhuofeng didn’t know if praying like this would even work.
However, since even the more senior big-named directors often did it, he would do the same.
Otherwise, it would leave the cast and crew uneasy.
“It is indeed better to respect it,” Lu Man said with a nod. She had personally experienced supernatural encounters in the past, so she didn’t display the same skepticism as Han Zhuofeng.
“Moreover, it would be best if you’re more sincere about it. Regardless of whether you believe in it or not, it’s always good to be more sincere,” Lu Man advised.
Han Zhuofeng said with a surprised smile, “Second Sister-in-law, I didn’t think you believed in this sort of thing.”
Lu Man didn’t know how to explain it to him.
Should she say that she had encountered a ghost before?
Or should she mention how she was almost harmed by Lu Qi in the past?
She hadn’t actually seen Lu Qi’s ghost.
However, she believed Xie Jiling’s words with absolute certainty.
“That’s right. I believe in it. So, every time before filming, I will always pray sincerely,” Lu Man said. “However, if anything strange really happens on the set, you’d better not keep it a secret from me.”
“Don’t worry. Even if there truly is such a thing, I can’t be so unlucky as to encounter one, right?” Han Zhuofeng still wasn’t taking it seriously. “Furthermore, I’ve been on so many sets, and so have all of you. We have honestly never encountered anything supernatural.”
“That’s true.” Shi Xiaoya nodded.
However, she treated this matter with more seriousness than Han Zhuofeng, who didn’t think anything of it.
She had never encountered anything supernatural before, but she still believed they existed.
It wasn’t to the extent of believing in ghosts and demons.
But Shi Xiaoya very much believed in supernatural happenings.
However, even Lu Man felt that Han Zhuofeng wouldn’t be so unlucky that he would encounter something supernatural just when he had just become a director, especially after all this time without such encounters.
The probability of it happening was really low.
So, Lu Man didn’t say much more about it.
Right when Xie Jiling was thinking that she didn’t have a courtesy gift to give to them despite meeting them the first time, she heard what Han Zhuofeng said.
From what she heard, Han Zhuofeng didn’t seem to believe in these sorts of things.
However, Xie Jiling still took out two protective talismans and gifted them to Shi Xiaoya and Han Zhuofeng.
She didn’t have the kind of protective bracelet Lu Man was wearing on hand.
That bracelet was truly very effective.
If the wearer encountered something supernatural, the bracelet could neutralize any damage many times.
The protective talismans, on the other hand, didn’t have the same level of effectiveness and could only do it once.
“This is a protective talisman. Take it,” Xie Jiling said.
Han Zhuofeng and Shi Xiaoya didn’t react when they saw Xie Jiling hand over the talismans. Before they even realized what they were doing…
They had already accepted them.
When they finally realized what had happened, they were already holding the talismans.
“Although you might not really believe in this,” Xie Jiling told Han Zhuofeng, “You should still hold on to it. After all, a talisman won’t take up much space. However, it will be best if you hang it close to your skin and leave it there.”
“If you put it in your pocket, you’ll very likely forget about it when you change clothes instead of keeping it with you. Then when your clothes get washed, the talisman will get wet, and it’ll become useless,” Xie Jiling exhorted. “So, always keep it on you. Even if you don’t believe in it, it won’t be too much of a hassle to keep it with you, right?”
“Yes, many thanks.” Han Zhuofeng hung it on his neck in front of Xie Jiling.
He didn’t believe in it, but he would cherish it since Xie Jiling gave it to him with good intentions.
Xie Jiling thought it was very good when she saw Han Zhuofeng cherish it despite his disbelief.
It was indeed very difficult to believe without experiencing it yourself.
There were people who would speak sarcastically and mock you because they didn’t believe in those things themselves. Those people would think you were talking nonsense, so they would ridicule you.
Xie Jiling felt that it was fine if you didn’t believe, but you should at least respect those who did.
Although Xie Jiling had long since gotten used to getting such negative reactions from people…
She was still really happy to see Han Zhuofeng’s respectful response.
So, Xie Jiling added a little more, “This talisman is a single-use. It can only block one attack.
“If you find that this talisman is missing even one corner, you absolutely have to tell me.”
A missing corner meant the resentful spirit was not strong enough or that its attacks weren’t powerful enough.
It could also be that its body wasn’t strong or that it was just experimenting.
Regardless, if a resentful spirit could use an attack strong enough for a human to notice…
It meant that person was in danger.
So, Xie Jiling gave yet another warning.
“Okay.” Han Zhuofeng nodded, agreeing to do what Xie Jiling said.
Yet, he didn’t ask for a method to contact Xie Jiling.
It was clear that he didn’t really take the matter to heart.
Xie Jiling didn’t mind it either.
In any case, if something truly happened, Han Zhuofeng would be able to contact her through Lu Man.
Shi Xiaoya carefully kept away the talisman. Even though she felt like she wouldn’t encounter anything supernatural, she still felt safer carrying the talisman with her.
***
In the blink of an eye, it was already time for Shi Xiaoya’s wedding.
Fortunately, Lu Man was already done with the traditional Chinese one-month confinement following childbirth.
Han Zhuoling grabbed the three unmarried men, Han Zhuofeng, Zhao Gushen, and Wei Wucai, to be his best man and groomsmen.
Meanwhile, Shi Xiaoya sought out Yan Zhiqing, Guo Yujie, and Xie Jiling.
Xie Jiling did not expect that Shi Xiaoya would actually ask her to come.
Actually, it was because the number of unmarried women Shi Xiaoya was close to was getting smaller and smaller.
It was unnecessary to mention Lu Man.
Fortunately, Yan Zhiqing was still unmarried for now.
Shi Xiaoya was very glad that she was doing her wedding early.
If it were a bit later, Yan Zhiqing would have gotten married already.
