Chapter 0137

The first segment of the short video depicts Wu Zhishang, playing the male lead, nursing a broken heart as he leaves his tragic past behind and steps into the arms of his childhood sweetheart, the wealthy heiress "Chen Qingtian."

Filming this scene required an extravagantly luxurious setting. After all, a wealthy socialite must look the part, and the audience craves visual spectacle. Normally, such a location would need to be rented, but the crew had heard rumors that their boss, Lin Ran, had already prepared everything.

The entire team was instructed to film at the boss’s home, sparking curiosity among many. Just how lavish was his place to meet such filming demands? Keep in mind, Chen Qingtian’s character was portrayed as a chaebol princess.

So, the group arrived at Paradise Manor.

Most of the crew were students from Capital University—from the director to the screenwriter and actors. Aside from the male supporting role, Zhang Xiaolong, nearly everyone else was still in school. They had only theoretical knowledge, lacking practical experience. Now that the company was giving them this opportunity, everyone was eager to prove themselves.

This was also why college students were so sought after—affordable, diligent, and high value for money.

As the car entered the manor, everyone was stunned.

The place was enormous, opulent, and dripping with luxury.

Who on earth had their boss borrowed this estate from?

"Holy shit, isn’t this Paradise Manor? I’ve never been here, but I’ve heard about it—it’s the most luxurious estate in all of China, bar none. I once heard even the dogs here eat better than people."

"Paradise Manor? I think it was built by Luo Corporation a few years back."

"Wait, didn’t Chairman Lin say we were filming at his place? Don’t tell me this is actually his home."

When they arrived at Villa No. 1, everyone stepped out of the car, gaping in awe.

Uncle Fu greeted them.

"Everyone, I’m the manor’s butler. You may call me Uncle Fu. Young Master Lin has instructed that you’ll be filming here during the day for the next few days, so there are a few things I need to clarify in advance."

"First, moving around the manor requires an escort from our security team. If an area is off-limits, you’ll be informed. I strongly advise against wandering off, as there may be wild animals—even crocodiles—roaming the grounds. For your own safety, please follow instructions."

His words left everyone speechless.

Seriously, who keeps wild animals at home? That’s beyond ridiculous.

"Second, please avoid damaging any items here. They are all extremely valuable."

"Third, and most importantly, Young Master Lin’s bedroom and study are strictly off-limits. Everywhere else in Villa No. 1 is accessible."

With just a few sentences, Uncle Fu left the entire crew dumbfounded.

Did he just say "Young Master Lin’s bedroom"?

Did that mean this manor actually belonged to Lin Ran? He wasn’t lying—this really was his home.

"But wait, wasn’t Paradise Manor built by Luo Corporation’s young heiress? How come our boss lives here too?"

"I get it now. Back when Luo Yao visited our university, I had my suspicions. Now it’s clear—our boss is being kept by CEO Luo."

"That’s great news! With Luo’s wealth, we don’t have to worry about the company going under."

"So that’s how it is. Boss… I could cry. He sacrificed himself, bending to the enemy, just to create job opportunities for us."

"Hey, keep your voice down! Are you insane? Who are you calling the enemy?"

Just then, the sound of brakes echoed outside the villa.

Lin Ran stepped out of the car with effortless ease, tossing the keys to a valet before swaggering inside.

"Since everyone’s here, let’s get started."

Even Wu Zhishang, Lin Ran’s friend, was stunned by the sheer extravagance—this was his first time here too.

"Lin, you’ve been living like this and didn’t tell me? You’re dead to me!" Wu Zhishang’s gritted teeth suggested his envy was genuine.

"Don’t hate the player, hate the game."

Even Chen Qingtian was left wide-eyed. The luxury here surpassed even the palaces she’d visited.

She sidled up to Lin Ran and whispered, "Cousin, your place is insane. We’re family—now that you’ve made it big, you’ve got to pull me up with you… Wait, scratch that, you’re already filthy rich. I think we should renegotiate my contract."

"Don’t hate the hustle, cousin. Money talks."

The others quickly greeted him.

"Hello, boss!"

"Chairman Lin!"

This was the real deal—a living, breathing money god. Even if he was riding on someone else’s wealth, he’d reached heights they could only dream of.

Lin Ran smiled, urging them to work hard, then handed a lunchbox to a maid before settling into a plush seat on the second floor to watch his team film.

The villa was usually quiet, occupied only by maids and Uncle Fu. The lively buzz of people was a rare change.

Should he ask Luo Yao for a child?

But she didn’t seem to like kids.

Wait a minute…

They never used protection, so why hadn’t she shown any signs of pregnancy?

Was she taking pills?

Could those be harmful?

When Luo Yao returned, he’d have to ask her.

The filming crew first followed the bodyguards to capture exterior shots, with many grand scenes filmed by drones. With the bodyguards' permission, they shot every accessible location.

Of course, certain restricted areas were off-limits—even if they filmed there, they wouldn’t dare include the footage in the final cut.

The director and assistant director were both students from Capital University, and this was their debut project. Though it was just a short drama, they approached it with utmost seriousness.

Only after returning to the villa did they begin filming the indoor scenes.

To Lin Ran’s surprise, Chen Qingtian, a top-tier actor, showed no arrogance whatsoever. His professionalism and dedication left everyone impressed.

His manager and personal assistant hovered nearby, keeping a close eye on Chen Qingtian, rushing over during breaks to offer drinks, snacks, and attentive care—a testament to their diligence.

After watching for a while, Lin Ran shook his head and spoke up.

“If you keep filming like this, it’ll never go viral.”

Everyone exchanged puzzled glances, unsure what he meant.

Lin Ran stepped in to guide them himself.

“You’re putting in the effort, and the acting isn’t bad, but trust me—this won’t blow up.”

“What are we making? A feel-good drama. You need to emphasize the ‘feel-good’ part. The rest? Not that important.”

The director scratched his head and glanced at the screenwriter, who was deep in thought while reviewing the script.

“Boss, some parts of your script don’t make much sense. For instance, the male lead’s actions feel out of place—they defy common sense. No offense, but if we shoot it as written, the audience might think it’s a bit….”

The screenwriter hesitated, but Lin Ran finished the sentence for him.

“Dumb?”

The screenwriter nodded. Lin Ran laughed.

“You need to understand—we’re making short dramas to entertain people. Life’s already tough enough. Everyone’s struggling just to get by. Do you really think they want to use their brains while watching a short drama?”

“Are you serious?”