Global Film Emperor

Chapter 501, "Atonement," is finished.

Time always flows at a strange pace. Often, when we are busy, it moves faster, as if suddenly bidding farewell to the sunrise and heading towards the rosy dawn. In the days of being in a daze, it is like a frozen stream, flowing slowly toward the unknown at an almost stagnant speed.

But when we look back after a period of time, those busy days are firmly etched in our minds. Big events, small events, and countless experiences pile up and fill the sea of memories, making busy people sigh that time has really passed a long time. And those muddled days, compared to the difficult times back then, seem like a lifetime ago when we recall them.

Does time fly by faster for busy people, or do those who waste their time age faster? Opinions vary, and no one can definitively say for sure.

That's how it is on the set of "Atonement" right now. The busy and clear-headed people are living fulfilling lives, while those who are drifting through life are just enjoying the passing of time until filming comes to an end and the day of wrapping up arrives.

……

“Mr. Lu, may I ask... if you can accept my call? If so, I would like to have time to prepare for dinner every 24 hours from now on.”

The note was handed to her, which Lu Ze took without hesitation. The girl held the bag slung over her left shoulder with both hands, smiled without showing her teeth, and displayed the most perfect curve of her slightly full, sexy lips to Lu Ze.

As the collaboration comes to an end, the impending farewell is just around the corner. Many people hope to seize the last bit of time, pull it back, and create a romantic relationship.

Every beautiful and confident ordinary girl dreams of being Cinderella.

In passionate Italy, this statement is incredibly apt, not only because of the confidence that comes from individual excellence, but also because of the many romantic tales of love breaking down class barriers, such as Cristiano Ronaldo living next door to Lu Ze and his girlfriend who used to be a saleswoman.

Lu Ze didn't want to forcefully refuse a lady who was putting on heavy makeup to show off her beauty, so he smiled, took the note, carefully folded it, and put it in his wallet to show his respect and appreciation for her beautiful appearance.

"If I had the chance, I think I would."

This wasn't hurtful, and the other party didn't have high expectations either, so they exchanged a knowing smile. She took her luggage, first saying goodbye to Fatini and Lucas, who were sitting to the side pretending to play on their phones but actually eavesdropping. Then, she nodded slightly to Lu Ze, her thick brown hair falling down her cheek. She tied it up and then turned to leave.

"Ciao."

On the last day of the film crew, so many people left like this. Lu Ze had experienced too many disbandments, and his heart was no longer as turbulent as it had been at the beginning. He found an empty seat, tightened his suit, put his long, straight legs on the monitor table, took out a cigarette from the lining of his suit, and the exquisite lighter flicked up with a crisp, pleasant sound. He tilted his head and lit one for himself.

"Is this the fifth one today? Lu Ze, you really are a heartthrob."

Fatini tossed his phone on the table, adopting a slightly sour tone as he played the role of a hermaphrodite. This was the instinctive hostility men have towards other charming men. To put it bluntly, if both of them became penniless, with Fatini's looks and physique, it would indeed be difficult for him to win the hearts of girls, while Lu Ze would most likely be someone girls would be willing to pay to support.

"There's still one more shot that hasn't been filmed yet. I estimate he'll receive even more after the whole group disbands."

"Lucas! Who are you on?"

"I'm just telling the truth... Besides, do you need a girlfriend?"

"It's different. Every man needs hot girls pursuing him! Romantic pursuits! That's how he shows his masculine charm! Hot girls! You know? The kind that jiggle when they run~"

He hunched his shoulders and neck, curled himself up, placed his palms up near his mouth, and spread his fingers outwards as he spoke, as if he was about to vomit from talking too much, which further lowered his image.

"Uh... I think that's what masculine charm is."

The response he received was a giant arm thicker than his head, with bulging muscles and capillaries that had evolved into blood vessels bulging on the skin's surface. The throbbing biceps stifled his words, leaving him with his arms crossed and a frustrated, uncommunicative feeling.

"Director, props are set up, final check complete, we can start filming."

"Okay, all departments, get ready."

The idle talk was put away and thrown into the mental trash can. Each department readjusted its mindset and began one last busy period, bringing a complete end to the five-month filming trip.

The final scene was filmed on a bridge. Applying for road closures for filming was not difficult for Fatini. After the road was cleared, the props team's task was to recreate the environment needed in the film using 3D models of the vehicles and to set up small explosives.

This filming involved more than 400 private cars of various brands, as well as more than 30 police cars. In addition, two police helicopters were also deployed to assist in the filming. This was the first time Lu Ze had filmed such a large-scale scene in all his years of acting.

In the scene, the car driven by the protagonist has overturned due to a car accident, which was just filmed by a professional stunt double. They then encounter a police traffic jam, requiring Lu Ze and Dennis, who plays the protagonist's son, to complete the scene. While Lu Ze and Dennis are applying their final blood makeup, props staff are testing the driver's side window to ensure it's completely smooth, preventing accidental blood-related mishaps during the filming.

After the makeup was finished, the director began to let the extras in. Each extra's costume was related to a specific car, representing a subjective impression of a certain brand of car owners. Finally, the main actors appeared.

The seemingly completely damaged car door was actually still usable. With the help of the staff, Lu Ze and Dennis sat upside down in the car, fastened their seat belts, and began to sweat profusely with their heads down until their faces were flushed and their veins were bulging. The makeup artist took out a spray bottle and sprayed water mixed with plant essential oils for a final touch-up to replenish their sweat. Everyone retreated, leaving the space to the two who were in the car with their brains congested and had begun to groan in pain.

"Everyone evacuate! Check the extras' positions! Script supervisor! Hurry! Set the clapperboard!"

"Atonement, Scene 31! Act VII! Begin!"

……

The accident involved too many vehicles, causing widespread traffic paralysis. Drivers of other vehicles, unaware of the situation, stopped to watch. It wasn't until two helicopters flew low overhead, their powerful gusts even blowing off some drivers' hats, that people realized something serious had happened.

Inside the car, and on the broken glass on the ground, blood had stained the surface. He barely opened his eyes and slowly unbuckled the seatbelt. He tried several times but couldn't open the door. He could only brace himself on the glass-sharded floor with his elbows and slowly climb out of the window. His sparse eyes were stained red with blood, and the ruptured blood vessel in his left eye caused his eyeball to become bloodshot and bright red.

He stood up, about to straighten his back, but then fell headfirst to the ground due to dizziness. His son's painful groans inside the car snapped him out of his daze, and he scrambled toward the passenger side. Fortunately, the door there could be opened.

"Joseph..."

He used all his strength to pull his son off the car seat and hide him behind the car. The two of them leaned against the wheels, panting. He could see police cars stopped ahead, and a large number of police officers were hiding behind the car doors, raising their guns at him.

The police started shouting, urging him to put down his weapon. He anxiously glanced at his watch; there wasn't enough time. He needed to stall for more time. Just then, Joseph beside him slowly woke up.

"You're insane! What do you want to do?"

"Shut up if you don't want to die!"

He hysterically grabbed the man's collar and pressed the gun against Joseph's chin, which made Joseph realize that his alcoholic and abusive father had never changed; this man who pretended to be weak was still as fierce and crazy as ever.

So you're planning to kill me? You're planning to shoot me dead? I'm your son!

“You have never been my son! You bastard! Shut up! You are not! You are not! Do you hear me?”

"Put down your weapons! Release the hostages! Don't make the same mistake again!"

"Fuck you! If you want him dead, then shoot! Get me a car right now! If you let me leave, I might spare his life."

He was fed up with being constantly harassed by the police. He raised his pistol behind the car and fired several shots blindly at the police. Instantly, the crowd that had been watching curiously from a short distance away scattered like birds, and the scene became chaotic.

The pain in his body intensified again, making his face even more contorted. As he made his demands to the police, he kept glancing at his watch, anxiously calculating the time. And so, the two sides remained deadlocked.

Would the police agree to this request? Obviously not. All the police need to do is calm him down and wait for the sniper to find a suitable sniping position so that he can be taken care of with minimal casualties. He understands this, but it doesn't matter. All he needs now is time. As for leaving, at this point, he obviously has no intention of doing so anymore.

"Why don't you just kill me? Just pretend I never existed. Shoot me dead."

Perhaps it triggered his childhood trauma, or something else, but Joseph seemed to have lost the will to live. He looked up at his father's old and deranged face, pleading with the man who brought him into this world to send him away.

"I won't let you die, live on..."

He expected a straightforward answer, but to his surprise… his father’s voice was unusually gentle at this moment, which startled Joseph. He looked up but did not see the face soaked in blood. He got up, but did not pull himself up first. Then… he heard a gunshot in the distance and saw the man fall.

"Cut! I hereby declare 'Atonement' a wrap!"

"..."

As I was writing, I realized that this part would reveal a lot of details and involve spoilers. I've been working on perfecting "Atonement" these past few days, and I believe it will be a very good assassin movie.

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(End of this chapter)