Chapter 15: Two Stories
Chapter 15: Two Stories
Three days later, in Chenning City.
At 2:50 p.m., inside a downtown café, director Zhang Ke sat with his assistant at a corner table. As a rising star director who burst onto the scene two years ago, Zhang Ke carried a distinctive pride unique to the art world. Yet, with the appointed meeting time of three o’clock drawing near, he was anything but calm.
He kept glancing at his watch, then out the window at the passersby, his expression anxious and restless.
Seeing this, his assistant couldn’t help but advise, “Zhang, is it really necessary to be so nervous? Even if that boy named Jiang Ren refuses to grant you the story rights, you can still make the movie. After all, the incident has already made the news.”
Zhang Ke shook his head. “My film cannot have such a serious stain, and besides, I want to know the details more specifically.”
Details? What kind of details could there be?
“Brother Zhang, hasn’t the police already released the case details?”
“That Jiang Ren happened to set up numerous traps near the scene, and those poachers were just unlucky, one after another falling into them, leading to eleven dead and one injured.”
“No, it should be twelve dead. I heard the only surviving poacher committed suicide yesterday.”
The assistant took a sip of coffee to soothe his throat and continued, “At the end of the day, he’s just a lucky kid. The only thing special is that his luck was especially big.”
“You don’t understand.”
Zhang Ke shook his head again, unwilling to explain further.
He had wasted over two years searching for a suitable script, encountering hundreds, some of which were excellent works, many of which other directors had adapted and released with decent box office success this year. Yet none had captured his interest.
Like many geniuses with peculiar tastes, as a new director who had earned outstanding acclaim with his debut film, Zhang Ke would never consider adapting anything that didn’t feel absolutely right.
This had left him with little earnings from his debut work, and recently he had been pondering whether to first make a mediocre film just to earn money, then pursue the ideal script afterward.
But fortunately, just as he was about to settle on that path, a story appeared that perfectly matched the script he envisioned.
The moment he read it, countless brilliant ideas flooded his mind—plot, dialogue, action, cinematography. Though chaotic and unstructured, the inspiration was like a raging spring, a sensation he had only experienced once before when he first saw the script for his debut film.
He was convinced this story was a gift from heaven.
No matter the cost, he would bring it to the screen!
---
“It’s over. All over.”
The assistant suddenly felt his own future grow darker. He had worked with Zhang Ke for two years and knew his temper well.
Once Zhang Ke made up his mind, not even eight horses could pull him back.
And he would never hide his passion just to negotiate a lower authorization fee. He could only hope that the boy named Jiang Ren wouldn’t ask for an exorbitant price.
“Sorry, I’m not late, am I?”
A man wearing a mask and sunglasses appeared beside them, sitting directly opposite.
Seeing their puzzled looks, he took off his sunglasses and pulled down his mask. “I’m Jiang Ren.”
“You’re not late, not late at all.”
Zhang Ke immediately stood and shook Jiang Ren’s hand.
The reason for their confusion was that Jiang Ren didn’t resemble a fifteen-year-old boy at all. He was taller and sturdier than both of them, even exuding a more mature aura.
If not for his slightly youthful face, matching the photo they had been given exactly, they wouldn’t have recognized him.
Jiang Ren ordered a cup of coffee, then turned to Zhang Ke. “Director Zhang, you want my authorization?”
“Yes, I hope Mr. Jiang will grant it. I promise to make it a timeless classic.”
Facing the composed Jiang Ren, Zhang Ke instinctively treated him like an adult.
Without hesitation, he laid out the terms for purchasing the rights: a licensing fee of several hundred thousand and a share of the box office profits. The conditions were generous.
The assistant covered his face in disbelief.
My goodness, this is just inviting the other side to take advantage of them!
How can you be so clueless?
Just as the assistant was wondering how to handle the aftermath, Jiang Ren agreed almost immediately.
Agreed?
Watching the two happily conversing, the assistant was at a loss for words, but one thing was clear—they shared some similarities in personality when it came to certain matters.
“Actually, besides the authorization, I’d like to know the full details of the incident. After all, the police only released fragments, many parts were vague or omitted. Would you be willing to share, Mr. Jiang?” Zhang Ke asked, feeling a bit embarrassed.
---
“I can’t describe it in detail, but I can tell you the story.”
Jiang Ren took a casual sip of his coffee and began to speak.
His account matched what he had told the police: an unexpected encounter with a poaching gang, being hunted by them, then turning the tables with traps he had set and an extraordinary stroke of luck to finally win. Only this version was more detailed.
Undeniably, compared to the official report, hearing the story from Jiang Ren himself made it more authentic and thrilling—a perfect blueprint for a great film.
Though the assistant still thought the story wasn’t worth the price, at least making the movie wouldn’t be a loss, just less profitable.
Wait!
Zhang Ke furrowed his brow. “Mr. Jiang, may I ask—do you think this story is true?”
“Who knows? But I have another story. Want to hear it?”
Jiang Ren shrugged with a smile.
Zhang Ke nodded without hesitation, and Jiang Ren began the second story.
Also at night, also in the forest, also involving a boy and twelve poachers.
But unlike the first, the roles of hunter and prey were reversed. This time, the boy was the powerful hunter, and the twelve poachers were the trapped prey.
Of course, some parts Jiang Ren deliberately glossed over with subtlety, as some things defied explanation.
Until Jiang Ren left the café, neither Zhang Ke nor the assistant had fully processed what they had heard.
Several minutes later, the assistant snapped back to reality. “Zhang, do you think what he said is true?”
The second story was obviously more outrageous and less believable, yet for some reason, he felt it might be the truth.
“Who knows?”
Zhang Ke suddenly laughed with excitement, oblivious to the curious stares around him. The flood of ideas in his mind insisted this was the real story.
Jiang Ren had no idea what had transpired after he left, nor which story Zhang Ke would ultimately choose.
All he knew was that his life would never be dull again.
(End of Chapter)