With the help of the extraordinary lightbrain, Zhao Lun managed everything with exceptional finesse. Not only did he flawlessly edit the footage, but he also handled the film's soundtrack. Then, driven by curiosity, he added his name to the credits.
Nicole and the others couldn't believe it and repeatedly watched the film.
"This is... absolutely amazing!" Monica exclaimed.
The visuals were clear and full of texture, so perfect that none of them could find any flaws. It looked as though it had surpassed the limitations of its time. Of course, due to the current screening technology, the film didn't appear as three-dimensional as Zhao Lun saw it in the lightbrain, but even so, it still left them in awe.
The captivating storyline, the explosive fight scenes, and the flawless post-production made it an opulent visual treat. They believed that once released, it would surely be a massive success.
"Let's promote it! Christmas is almost here, and it's the perfect time for release," Angela suggested.
"I agree," Nicole replied.
"Then it's settled," Monica confirmed.
The three began discussing the best ways to promote and release the film, brainstorming the most cost-effective partnerships. Since their film company was newly established, their resources were still limited, and they needed to collaborate with others for the promotion. Maria occasionally came by to offer her suggestions.
With their plan in place, they set their plan into motion.
Meanwhile, Zhao Lun had been collecting an immense amount of computer data, but it still wasn't enough. To complete the work, he had to use simulations, which had been running for days. The prolonged operation of the lightbrain consumed a lot of energy, and for the sake of this critical task, he stopped most of his daily activities. Except for meals, he remained secluded in his laboratory, working tirelessly. Eventually, even mealtime was skipped, and he slept in the lab.
When he felt hungry, he simply took food from the nearby thermal box; when thirsty, he drank flower dew extracted by the flower fairy from within the divine realm; when tired, he would lie on a small bed beside him to rest.
Monica, as his assistant, grew increasingly concerned about Zhao Lun's condition. She temporarily entrusted the company's matters to Nicole and focused on taking care of her boss. Maria also shared the responsibility with Angela, taking turns to ensure Zhao Lun had the best possible rest. They even called on Ada, the part-time Chinese medicine bodyguard, to give him massages to prevent over-fatigue.
At first, everyone tried to encourage him to rest, but Zhao Lun, fully engrossed in his work, ignored their advice and continued working relentlessly.
During this time, Zhao Lun would pull out design plans and hand them to Monica, instructing her to have the company staff divide the work and send the finished products back to him.
He himself was not idle, working on the most crucial parts. At the same time, he kept searching for materials, sending them into the "Sun" within the divine realm, where the sun's heat transformed the materials according to his wishes into finished products. He then controlled these parts and began assembling them.
Piece by piece, the components were quickly installed and assembled, ultimately fitting everything into a delicate box. Next came the screens—many of them—followed by a multitude of wires, all controlled by the lightbrain, operating according to his will.
In just one day, his laboratory had transformed into a futuristic technological space. Monica and Angela, who were watching, stood dumbstruck by the transformation.
Seeing that Zhao Lun was doing fine, they shifted their focus back to the movie.
This film was quite unique for its time. It differed significantly from similar films and featured a fresh storyline. The protagonist was female, which stood in stark contrast to the prevalent trend of male leads. The film was met with mixed reactions—some were excited, while others harshly criticized and rejected it. Nicole, understanding both sides, pushed ahead with the promotion. The campaign was going smoothly; while it didn't reach overwhelming coverage, it was certainly well-known, with a strong buzz even before its release.
Even Angela and Maria, who rarely left home, could hear intense discussions on TV or see the movie pop up in entertainment news.
Zhao Lun's irregular state seemed to be returning to normal. With the movie's promotion nearing completion, the group stayed inside, focused on Zhao Lun, waiting for him to finish his work. They catered to his every need, ensuring he was well taken care of. Zhao Lun didn't keep them waiting long; just as the movie was about to be released, he finally paused.
"Huh? Why is everyone here? Didn't you go out for promotion?"
Seeing the group around him, Zhao Lun was puzzled. Normally, they were all busy with their own tasks and wouldn't gather like this unless it was dinner time. The time was almost noon.
"What? You didn't see us?"
"Who just brought you the cable?"
"Who brought you breakfast?"
"Who changed your clothes?"
The group glared at him, and together, they reprimanded him. Zhao Lun quickly shifted the topic, "Meal time? Great, I'm starving. Let's eat first, and we can talk after."
"Is that so? We're hungry too, but you have to wash up first."
After all the hard work, Zhao Lun hadn't had a proper rest. Though everyone had been attentive, he could still smell his own body odor. He had lost a lot of weight, and his hair had grown untamed, unkempt. His face, freshly wiped earlier, was now dirty again. The clothes he had worn to sleep were also filthy, clearly in need of washing.
"Wash up? Oh, the smell is so strong. Don't believe me? You can smell it too!" Zhao Lun said, extending his dirty hand toward the women who had just scolded him.
"Ah? Get away! Don't touch me, ah!" they cried, caught off guard, and immediately had marks on their faces.
"Hahaha..."
Zhao Lun's prank succeeded, and he laughed heartily as he ran away.
"Stop right there!"
"I swear, I won't let you off!"
Even the roar from behind couldn't be blocked by a closed door, and Zhao Lun wondered if he had gone too far.
The water splashed as it was turned on, and Zhao Lun washed himself quickly before sinking into the nearby bath.
During this time, he had been too busy to eat properly or take a bath. Now, sinking into the warm water, he felt so comfortable that he didn't want to get up, forgetting all about his earlier prank. He focused entirely on his bath.
Zhao Lun stayed in the bath for a long time, only emerging when Monica and the others called him. By then, it was already noon, and a table full of delicious food was waiting. Upon closer inspection, all of the dishes were his favorites.
"Wow! The food looks so abundant today," Zhao Lun cheered.
"What are you doing? Hurry up and sit down," Angela said with a playful eye roll, not mentioning the earlier incident.
The meal was entirely Chinese cuisine, prepared to Zhao Lun's taste. The dining setup followed Chinese traditions, with porcelain tableware, chopsticks, bowls, and plates. Because of Zhao Lun, everyone had learned to use chopsticks.
Zhao Lun, still standing, had everyone waiting for him.
"Brother, here!" Maria gestured for him to sit beside her.
"Alright, let's start," Zhao Lun said, feeling a bit embarrassed for making everyone wait.
"Anything you want, I'll serve you," Angela said, sitting beside him and taking care of him.
"No need, sister. The table turns, I'll serve myself." Zhao Lun immediately started eating.
Angela wouldn't listen and continued serving him food, bringing him a small bowl of soup while Maria also sent over some of her favorite dishes.
Having not eaten properly in a long time, Zhao Lun devoured the food like a ravenous beast, eating as much as he could, leaving only a little of the abundant spread untouched.
Maria and the others weren't surprised—Zhao Lun had a huge appetite, and this amount of food was nothing to him.
4o mini