This is Hollywood, where tourists from all over the world gather, and where big-name stars can be found...
Here, Luo Xiaoqian and Leng Zimo don’t have to worry too much about the paparazzi.
Leng Zimo has always been low-key, and with his attire today—hoodie, sunglasses, jeans... Leng Zimo looks just like an ordinary tourist. As for Luo Xiaoqian, in this country where there aren’t many Chinese, her level of fame isn’t enough to cause any trouble. Thus, they can stroll and play freely... holding hands and running around.
They walked through the bustling streets, turned into an alley, and went all the way to the end, where Leng Zimo stopped in front of what seemed to be a modest little courtyard, glancing at the nameplate hanging on the fence wall.
"Qinglong Studio, this should be the place."
The two of them entered the yard together, and Leng Zimo let go of Luo Xiaoqian’s hand and pressed the doorbell.
After a moment, the door opened. A young Asian man with the same yellow skin and black hair came out from behind the door, glanced at Leng Zimo and Luo Xiaoqian standing outside, paused, and his eyes showed a look of obvious astonishment when they fell on the face of Leng Zimo, who had removed his sunglasses.
"You..."
"Is Huang Bo here?" Leng Zimo asked in Chinese.
"Are you really Mr. Leng Zimo?" Huang Bo spoke again, this time in an authentic Capital accent.
"It’s me!" Leng Zimo said with a smile, extending his hand, "I’m glad I didn’t get the address wrong."
"Did you specifically come looking for us?" Huang Bo was visibly surprised.
He was also from Beijing, and had gone to the United States to study movie special effects. Later, he stayed in Hollywood and opened this studio with a few like-minded friends. As newcomers without many connections here, the studio wasn’t doing well.
"I’ve seen your work online, and I really appreciate your creativity," shrugged Leng Zimo. "I had someone try to contact you to purchase your short films, but I heard you had moved. This address—I only found it a few days ago."
"We had to move here because of limited funding," said Huang Bo, somewhat embarrassedly scratching his nose. "Mr. Leng, I apologize for any inconvenience."
"Would you mind letting us in?" Leng Zimo asked.
"Of course, of course, I’m sorry, I was just too excited..." Huang Bo hurriedly stepped aside, ushering the two of them into the living room.
This place seemed to be a studio converted from a warehouse. Through the windows, one could see two young men playing basketball under an old hoop in the backyard.
Leng Zimo looked at the young men in the back yard, "It seems you have some free time. I was thinking, surely you wouldn’t mind doing a rush job for me, right?"
"What did you just say?!" Huang Bo wore a look of disbelief.
The name Leng Zimo was legendary, even in Hollywood. He had won an Oscar as a youth and, with his outstanding performance, had left his own star on the Avenue of Stars. The films launched by his company, Emperor View, were sought after even in the North American market.
For such a high-profile company and personage to come seeking their insignificant little studio for special effects was almost too surreal to believe.
Leng Zimo set the laptop bag he was carrying on the table, "Call your buddies in and get ready for work!"
"Just a moment!" Huang Bo ran excitedly to the window, "Guys, get ready to start working!"