For the people of Liangjing, the cinema is a place full of novelty.
Not to mention the unique decoration style, the peculiar and convenient utensils, supplies, and novel food, just the unique way of pastime of "watching movies" brings different feelings almost every day.
This morning, "A Monster is Born" not only explained the true face of the monster to the people, but also brought more questions: Why do the people in the film dress and look completely different from them? Where was this so-called behind-the-scenes film made and how was it made? Where did the owner of the theater come from? What is his purpose
There are too many problems.
The cinema is like a huge and ingenious mystery, constantly stimulating the curiosity and desire to explore of the people of Liangjing.
This mystery is so bizarre and yet tries so hard to appear harmless that many people are inevitably attracted to it despite being wary.
That is the case now.
The cinema just clarified the popcorn monster issue and released a new trailer again. The screen that occupies the entire glass surface faces the street. The new film is called "Meeting You Again in the Time of Falling Flowers" and it caught the attention of all passers-by almost instantly.
During the war, people lived in hardship.
Female assassin Hua Shi was ordered to assassinate Shen Xiangjun, a frail but powerful court official. However, the two accidentally exchanged "souls". From then on, the assassin and the target were forced to be "bound", starting a different story full of thrills and unknowns.
There is no need for too many dazzling scenes. The previous situation where the assassin and the target were forced to be bound together is enough to make people curious about the follow-up. In addition, the setting of "soul swapping" adds mystery and imagination to the already tense relationship between the characters.
There was no shortage of vernacular novels describing gods and monsters during the Dawu Dynasty, as well as examples of evil ghosts eating people, the bond between humans and ghosts, and monsters taking over other people's bodies. However, the visual experience created by movies through scenery, music, actors, dialogues, and special effects cannot be compared with reading or listening to books.
The soul exchange between Hua Shi and Shen Xiangjun is different from the common routine of possession in storybooks. Storybooks like to write about monsters who want to eat people and don't want to attract attention, so they find ways to put on human skin and blend into the market; some people also like to write about the bond between humans and ghosts, and the ghosts take over other people's bodies in order to stay with their lovers forever.
The two protagonists of "Meeting You Again in Falling Flowers" are both human, which makes people particularly curious about the reason why their souls exchanged, and whether they will be exchanged back in the end
If they can't get it back, how will they live from now on
If it were the other way around, how would Shen Xiangjun deal with Hua Shi? After all, Hua Shi wanted to kill him in the beginning.
This time the trailer is only thirty seconds long, and every second is precisely on the most exciting and captivating points. The last frame is Hua Shi and Shen Xiangjun looking at each other after trying again to recall their bodies.
Xie Xu pounded on the carriage door, startling the horse in front of him and kicking its hooves non-stop: "So, did you get it back?"
Chen Yuning was also thinking the same thing: "When will this movie be released? It's so interesting!"
The Prince of Jin and Chen Yuning squeezed in the narrow window of the car, retreating to the side in disgust. It was too far to see the screen, so they squeezed back patiently, "Didn't you say it would be two days later?"
Chen Yuning: "It will take two more days! This is going to be tough."
Xie Xu sat in the carriage for a while, "There's no point in being anxious, let's go eat first."
Chen Jingshan heard that the owner of the cinema went to Sixilou yesterday and said he wanted to reveal the true face of the popcorn monster, so he arrived at the cinema entrance early and waited.
After watching the behind-the-scenes footage, he thought a lot and once again lamented the unfathomable nature of cinema.
I passed by in the afternoon and saw the trailer for the new movie. I stood at the door for a long time.
After watching it several times, he finally had enough and was ready to leave. He turned around and saw Liu Gennong, walked over and bowed, "Brother Liu, how are you these days?"
Liu Gennong was immersed in the new film trailer. After a while, he hurriedly returned the greeting and murmured, "The Little Cook hasn't been revised yet, but another new film is coming out. Even 'possession' can be performed. It's incredible."
Chen Jingshan wanted to inquire: "I heard that the manager of the cinema went to Sixi Building yesterday. Was Brother Liu there at that time?"
Liu Gennong nodded and described the scene at Sixi Building yesterday in vivid detail. "The young shopkeeper looked young, but she was a powerful person. She silenced the rumormonger with just a few words. The clerks beside her were very skilled and sent the rumormonger to see the official. Within half a day, all the rumormongers were taken away by the officials and beaten with sticks. By the way, the young shopkeeper also took out the equipment for making movies yesterday. The equipment is small, with holes no bigger than the size of a finger. When it is facing a person, it can put the person's face, body shape and voice into it, and even the surrounding ornaments, tables and chairs can be put into it. It is really magical."
Chen Jing didn't expect Lu Yao to take out the treasure in public. Listening to Liu Gennong's description, he felt envious and secretly regretted not being able to see it with his own eyes.
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Xie Xu is the second son of Left Prime Minister Xie Qianru. He has been studying abroad for a year and returned to Beijing early as the old lady's birthday is approaching.
Old Madam Xie loved her grandson very much. With his birthday banquet coming up, she urged Madam Xie to hold a welcoming banquet for him.
It was a small banquet, and most of the guests were young people and noble ladies of the same age as Xie Xu.
Few people declined the invitation from Prime Minister Zuo, so the banquet was extremely lively that day.
After three rounds of drinks, a group of people surrounded Xie Xu and asked him to tell them about the interesting things that happened during his study abroad.
Xie Xu drank a lot of wine, his cheeks were flushed and his eyes were shining.
He recounted some of his experiences during his study tour, but gradually his mind became confused and he changed the subject to talk about the deeds of Ye Qingzhou, the world's number one swordsman.
Ever since I watched "The Best Under Heaven" and "The Little Chef of Shengjing" in the cinema yesterday, the images of Ye Qingzhou, Yu Zhengzheng and Jing Hao have taken root in my mind. I didn't feel anything when I came out of the cinema, but later when we went to a restaurant for dinner, all we talked about was the plot.
At this age when one is full of vigor and vitality, who has not dreamed of traveling the world with fine clothes, a horse, and a sword
Among the three films, Xie Xu liked "The World's Number One" the most, and Ye Qingzhou appeared in his dreams.
He has excellent literary talent and tells stories through a heavy character filter. He describes the swordplay and revenge in the martial arts world in a magnificent way, which quickly attracted the attention of the guests.
Chen Yuning sat aside, patching the plot from time to time.
Others were curious: "Brother Chen has also seen Ye Qingzhou?"
The face of the Prince of Jin was always solemn, and his tone was slightly smug: "Ye Qingzhou is not the knight that Second Young Master Xie met during his study tour. He is the protagonist of the movie "The World's Number One". You are in Beijing, and you don't know the movie theater yet?"
Xie Xu blushed and slapped his head, muttering softly: "That's what I wanted to say!"
Chen Yuning also complained quietly: "If I remember correctly, the prince only knew about the cinema yesterday."
Prince of Jin: “…”
When the others heard this, they became even more curious: "What is a store cinema? How is a store cinema different from a store cinema? We have never heard of it before."
This time, Xie Xu rushed over to tell the Prince of Jin everything he had seen and heard in the cinema.
On the other side of the screen, the noble ladies were also listening, their faces filled with surprise, and they couldn't help whispering to the daughters they knew well.
"It sounds really interesting, but it's in the East Market and it's not easy to get there on weekdays." A noble lady said regretfully.
The girl in the yellow embroidered pleated skirt nodded, the tassels hanging by her ears swaying slightly: "From what the Second Young Master said, no matter men or women, peddlers and vendors all gathered together to watch the store, and they also had to blow out the lights. How can a girl go? Don't you care about your reputation?"
The ladies were initially interested, but when they thought about it carefully, they realized that no matter how interesting the cinema was, they would never have the chance to see it.
Wan Baozhu was kept in the palace by the Queen to talk in the morning. After leaving the palace, she returned home to change her clothes. When she arrived at Xie's house, the banquet had already started.
However, she had a high status and was favored by Emperor Wu, so no one dared to say anything or blame her even though she was late.
The maid led the way in front. Before Wan Baozhu entered Qingfeng Pavilion, she heard Xie Xu's voice.
On the other side of the screen, all the noble ladies stood up and bowed their heads, "Your Highness."
"No need to be so polite." Wan Baozhu walked straight to the main seat in the middle of the banquet hall and sat down. "I heard the hustle and bustle inside from outside the door. What's going on?"
Others did not dare to respond rashly. Xie Wan was Xie Xu's younger sister, and was in charge of entertaining the female family members. She briefly mentioned the matter of the cinema.
Someone started talking, and the others became more active, chatting about the cinema again in low voices.
Unfortunately, given their status, it is unlikely for them to go to such a place, whether before getting married or after getting married.
Wan Baozhu listened to the ladies' enthusiastic discussions and gradually resigned sighs. She played with the purse on her waist and said casually, "It's not a shameful place. Men can go, so why can't women? If you want to go, why not bring maids and servants with you?"
About eight years ago, a banquet was held in the palace and assassins sneaked in. In the moment of crisis, the prince blocked the knife for the emperor and died of his injuries.
When the crown prince passed away, Emperor Wu was heartbroken. He lost his appetite and fell ill in bed.
Wan Baozhu was the orphan of the crown prince. She was only five years old at the time. She entered the palace to comfort Emperor Wu and accompanied the emperor day and night. Later, she was granted the title of Princess Deyi. She had been favored by the emperor for many years and acted without any scruples.
Others could only praise him and never dared to disobey. When they heard what he said, they all agreed softly and said no more.
Wan Baozhu felt bored and suddenly thought of Lu Yao, and her lips couldn't help but curve up.
The young shopkeeper's behavior is erratic and abnormal. If the ladies from the various mansions saw her, they would probably be frightened to death.
What a pity, they won’t go to that cinema.
The interesting stories at the welcoming banquet eventually spread the word about the cinema.
On the second day, "Meeting You Again in Falling Flowers" premiered, and several carriages stopped at the door one after another.
Xie Xu jumped off the carriage, followed closely by a fair-skinned young man in light blue brocade clothes.
Xie Wan was helped out of the carriage by his brother. Before he had time to look at the legendary cinema, he looked up and saw a familiar-looking man getting off the carriage behind him with a slightly stiff expression.
When Sun Qinghe saw Xie Wan, her expression was equally embarrassed.
She was also dressed in men's clothing, and she was accompanied by her younger brother Sun Qingju.
Yesterday, the ladies of various houses were filled with regret, lamenting that they could not go to the cinema, and there was no further talk.
As soon as the banquet was over, Xie Wan felt itchy and went to ask Xie Xu again. This question became a demon in his mind.
She took advantage of the fact that Xie Xu was still drunk and asked him to take her to the cinema.
Xie Xu sobered up in the morning and tried to refuse in every possible way, but in the end he couldn't resist his sister's pleading.
Sun Qinghe was similar. After leaving Xie's house, she couldn't help but send someone to Song'an Street to inquire.
The cinema is so famous on Song'an Street that any passerby would talk about it for a long time.
After the servant heard the news, he went to the cinema in person, observed at the door for a long time, and reported a lot of details when he returned to the mansion.
Sun Qinghe didn't say anything for a long time after listening to this. At this time, the maid reported that the young master was coming.
Sun Qingju was the tutor of Prince Sheng.
Prince Sheng somehow heard about the cinema and was extremely curious.
But he was weak since childhood, and the prince and princess imposed many restrictions on him. Apart from studying and going to the palace, it was difficult for him to leave the house on weekdays, so he secretly asked his son to accompany him to the cinema to watch the movie and then tell him about it later.
Sun Qingju was only eleven years old. Apart from his parents, he was most dependent on his elder sister Sun Qinghe. He could not help but come to her when he got an assignment.
Sun Qinghe suddenly thought of Wan Baozhu. It was no secret among the noble ladies that the princess liked to dress up as a man and mingle in the streets.
Everyone only envied him secretly, but no one dared to imitate him.
Sun Qinghe thought about it again and again, and thought that she would not meet any acquaintances, so she made up her mind to go out with Sun Qingju. However, she did not expect to meet the daughter of the Left Prime Minister at the entrance of the cinema.
Xie Xu also saw Sun Qinghe. Without caring about being surprised, he turned around and told Xie Wan to go buy tickets quickly, otherwise he would not be able to buy tickets for the first show if he was late.
On the day when the trailer of "Meeting You Again in Falling Flowers" was released, many diners in the restaurant asked to watch this show.
After Xie Xu bought the tickets, he took Xie Wan to the rest area and waited for the broadcast notification for ticket checking. As a result, they met several noble ladies dressed as men.
Some of them came with their brothers, and some brought their nurses and maids with them.
When their eyes met, they quickly moved away as if they were on fire.
Awkwardness and silence gradually enveloped the entire rest area.
Chen Yuning and Prince Jin had arrived earlier and were eating popcorn and chatting in the corner.
In this depressing space, I feel particularly relaxed and comfortable.
Lu Yao adjusted the content played on the advertising screen in the background, and the last popcorn and cola advertisement was launched online together with "Meeting You Again in Falling Flowers".
It is different from the previous two, but its content is Lu Yao’s favorite at present.