Huayu: This director is so eager to improve.

On the high-speed train line from Shanghai to Beijing, the milky-white streamlined train body cuts through the slightly gloomy winter sky over the East China Plain.

The Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed ​​Railway, which officially opened in June 2011, has become the busiest artery connecting the two major economic and cultural centers in the north and south in just two years, and has also become the first choice for many business people and government officials.

Compared to air travel, which is often affected by weather and requires early arrival, high-speed rail is more favored by efficiency-oriented travelers because of its punctuality, convenience, and relatively spacious and quiet environment in the carriages, which allows them to handle work at any time.

Qi Yue was one of them.

On the left side of the three-row seat, Bai Mengyan, wrapped in a thin blanket provided by the train, was fast asleep with her head tilted to one side.

The excitement of those days and the subsequent busyness had exhausted her.

After an unknown amount of time, the train swayed slightly, perhaps as it passed through a tunnel.

Bai Mengyan opened her eyes groggily, rubbed her slightly sore eyes, and yawned slightly.

She glanced to the side instinctively and saw that Qi Yue was still in the same position, his fingers rapidly typing on the keyboard.

"Boss, are you writing a novel? Why are you still busy?"

"Write a script." Qi Yue said without looking up.

"A script?" Bai Mengyan's curiosity was piqued. She leaned closer and squinted at the glowing screen.

The text above was densely packed, and she didn't quite understand the specific details, but she vaguely caught words like "criminal police," "dismemberment," "investigation," and "suspect."

It should be a story related to the police and crime.

"Boss," she couldn't help but ask, "why...do you like writing police stories so much? 'Yu Zui' is about police, 'Day and Night' is also about police...do you have a special connection to the police profession?"

Qi Yue's fingers paused slightly as he typed on the keyboard.

"It's probably just a professional habit," he said casually, his voice very soft.

"Occupational habits?"

Bai Mengyan didn't understand and scratched her head. "Didn't the boss study directing before? What kind of professional habits does he have with the police?"

Qi Yue didn't explain, but simply looked away and glanced at the time in the lower right corner of the computer screen:

"Alright, stop overthinking. We still have an hour before we arrive. You can go back to sleep; I'll wake you when we get there."

Bai Mengyan gave an "oh" and didn't ask any further questions. She shrank back into her seat, pulled the blanket that had slipped down, and after a while, her even breathing resumed.

Qi Yue refocused his attention on the script. The document was nearing completion.

This is a story set in a small, frozen industrial town in the north, about a bizarre dismemberment case, a down-on-his-luck policeman, a mysterious and dangerous woman, and the struggle and destruction between cold reality and repressed desires.

This is a film script with a cold and gloomy style, which is different from his previous fast-paced and plot-driven works such as "Yu Zui" and "White Night". It is more inclined to authorial expression and atmosphere creation.

He scrolled to the top of the document, where the cursor was blinking at the title, which had been previously saved as "Untitled".

He thought for a moment, then tapped his fingers lightly and typed four words:

Black Fireworks in the Day

"Daytime fireworks?"

A male voice, hoarse and sounding like he had just woken up, came from the window seat to his right.

"This is a good name."

This was a man who looked to be in his thirties, wearing black-rimmed glasses and a simple, even somewhat worn, coat. He had a somewhat frail demeanor, but his eyes revealed a keen sense of observation.

He seemed to have just woken up as well, looking at the title on Qi Yue's computer screen with admiration in his eyes.

"Daytime symbolizes the cold, oppressive, and inescapable reality of order and daily life. Fireworks, on the other hand, represent the futile, fleeting, yet incredibly intense emotions, desires, and struggles that erupt within this reality."

Qi Yue looked at him, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"You're quite knowledgeable about screenwriting." Qi Yue closed the document save page and looked at this unexpected "neighbor."

"Hehe, actually I'm one too..."

The man subconsciously began to speak, but halfway through his sentence, his gaze inadvertently swept across Qi Yue's face and then landed on an open entertainment magazine beside him.

Inside the magazine, there happened to be a photo of Qi Yue holding a trophy on the awards stage. Although it was more formal than now, his facial features were still clearly recognizable.

The man froze.

"You...you are...Qi Yue? Director Qi?"

He waved the magazine pages in his hand and pointed at Qi Yue.

Qi Yue nodded calmly.

"Yes, I am Qi Yue."

"Oh my! What a coincidence!"

The man's expression instantly shifted from surprise to immense joy, even bordering on bewilderment.

"I never expected to run into you on a train! I... I really love your 'Day and Night,' it's so well-made!"

"Thanks."

Qi Yue smiled, ignoring the other person's excitement, and continued his question, which had been interrupted earlier.

"You just said you are also...?"

"oh oh!"

The man then came to his senses, scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, and smiled shyly.

"Actually... I'm also a screenwriter, um... or rather, a screenwriter who's always trying to be a director. I've made a few films, but... none of them were very successful, and not many people know about them."

He paused, then formally extended his hand. "I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Diao Yinan."

Qi Yue grasped his hand: "Hello, Director Diao."

The two continued their conversation for a few more minutes about movies, scripts, and images of northern cities.

Although Diao Yinan spoke modestly, his eyes shone when he talked about film aesthetics and creative concepts. He also shared some of his views on the fusion of genre films and auteur films with Qi Yue.

The conversation was very engaging, but it didn't last long. The train's announcement came over the loudspeaker, informing passengers that they were approaching a major transfer station with a lengthy stop.

Diao Yinan is getting off here.

He stood up, gathered his meager belongings, and bid farewell to Qi Yue once more.

"Director Qi, I'm so happy today! I hope to have the opportunity to learn from you again! I wish you success with your new script!"

Thank you, and I wish you all the best with your project.

Diao Yinan, carrying her bag, hurried to the car door. Before getting out of the car, she turned back and waved to Qi Yue with a smile, clearly delighted by this unexpected encounter.

The train slowly came to a stop, then slowly started moving again, leaving the platform lights behind, and accelerated into the open field.

Bai Mengyan, who was sitting by the corridor, was disturbed by the noise of getting off the car. She groggily opened her eyes and rubbed them.

"Boss..." she said in a slurred voice, "Just now... I think I had a dream."

"What did you dream about?" Qi Yue asked casually as he reopened the document interface.

"I dreamt that...you gave me a raise! A huge raise!"

Bai Mengyan's eyes weren't fully open yet, but a silly, happy smile appeared on her face.

Qi Yue didn't even lift his eyelids:

"Oh, that was indeed a dream."

Bai Mengyan: "..."