The Film Queen Is Cold and Ruthless, Only Sends Money - Chapter 41.1

3:00 AM.

Su Yun, who had been suffering from insomnia, had barely slept for an hour when she felt an overwhelmingly loud music blaring beside her ears.

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to ignore the noise, and turned over to go back to sleep.

However, the music only grew louder, forcing Su Yun to sit up in bed, bleary-eyed, as she tried to locate the source of the sound.

Jiang Zhi was also awakened by the music, though she was slightly more alert than Su Yun. She turned on the room’s light.

After observing for a moment, she said to Su Yun, “It’s coming from outside the room.”

Su Yun: “…”

She rubbed her face. Even though she was exhausted, she could immediately guess: “It must be the production team’s doing. If we don’t get up, they’ll keep playing it.”

Jiang Zhi hummed in agreement, there was absolutely no doubt about it.

The other groups of guests were in perfect sync with them when it came to sleeping. They would usually delay until the very last second before the live broadcast started before emerging from their rooms.

So there was no need to worry about this being a prank from another group, the other guests definitely wouldn’t be awake yet.

However, she glanced at the time: “It’s only 3:00 AM.”

Su Yun, who had been in the middle of getting up, froze and looked at the clock she hadn’t paid attention to earlier. It really was 3:00 AM.

Su Yun: “???”

Normally, if a task required a longer time to complete, the production team would wake them up an hour or two earlier.

But even the earliest record had been after 5:00 AM, how could it be 3:00 AM this time?!

The music played by the production team continued relentlessly, and during this time, the guests had already dressed and stepped out of their rooms.

They weren’t as groggy as usual, instead, their faces were filled with resentment toward the production team.

Lin Yan, spotting the directors sitting in the living room, asked, “Is there some major mission today that requires us to leave at this hour?”

Liu Yangran crossed her arms and nodded beside her. “Yeah, we need a reasonable explanation.”

“Wait, before giving any explanations, Director, turn off the music first,” Jing Zhaozhao interjected.

Su Yun looked at her. “Is this your song?”

It seemed any song used as an alarm would lose its original charm, what a victim of bad publicity!

“It’s Zhaozhao’s song,” Su Xue said, now just wanting to cover her ears. “This is the same song they played in my headphones yesterday while we were doing the mission.”

At the time, she had even specifically mentioned how much she liked the song.

Now, Su Xue just wanted to grab the noise-canceling headphones the production team had given them earlier!

Su Yun cast a sympathetic glance at Jing Zhaozhao. “I don’t think any of us will want to hear this song on the show again after this. What an undeserved disaster!”

Jing Zhaozhao: “…”

Truth be told, even Jing Zhaozhao herself wanted to cover her ears now.

When she had originally composed the song, she never imagined there would come a day when it would be unanimously hated by everyone including herself!

No wonder the production team had specifically discussed using this song with her team before this recording.

She should have refused outright back then!

The production team had played the song to wake the guests up. Now that everyone was outside, there was no need to keep the music going, so the director naturally turned it off.

Once silence returned, the director began answering the guests’ questions: “Good morning, everyone…”

But as soon as these words were spoken, the director was immediately interrupted by them.

“???” Liu Yangran was the first to voice her skepticism, pointing at the pitch-black sky outside. “Director, are you sure you should be saying ‘good morning’ to us? Shouldn’t it be ‘good midnight’?”

Unless someone was sleep-deprived, who in their right mind would say “good morning” at 3 a.m.?!

“Director, you look pretty tired too. Why don’t we all go back to sleep?” Su Xue glanced around, noticing the absence of any task props or equipment.

She strongly suspected that the director, just as sleep-deprived as they were, had mistaken the “3” on the clock for an “8,” leading to this absurd statement.

Director: “No need to doubt, everyone. 3 a.m. is indeed the scheduled start time for today’s task. You should all begin preparing now.”

As he spoke, the director deliberately picked up a nearby megaphone and turned up the volume, as if to prove he was wide awake and not the least bit drowsy!

Su Yun: “Director, maybe put the megaphone down? At this hour, someone might report you for disturbing the peace.”

Director: “…”

Lin Yan, upon hearing the director’s words, suddenly had an idea: “Director, didn’t you say yesterday that we could decide our own tasks? Can we go back to sleep now?”

Ye Ying: “Agreed. We’ll do whatever task corresponds to this request after we wake up.”

[As someone who already knows the truth, I can’t help but look at them with pity and amusement, hahaha!]

[They’re so angry they’re wide awake now, hahaha! No trace of the earlier sleepiness from just waking up.]

[They actually played Zhao Zhao’s song does the production team not fear making her the show’s public enemy?!]

[I can’t wait to hear the director’s explanation a minute later! The scene is going to be hilarious, hahaha!]

Amid their bargaining with the director, Jiang Zhi noticed Su Yun yawning incessantly.

Jiang Zhi asked softly, “Are you really that tired?”

She remembered saying goodnight to Su Yun at a reasonable hour. If Su Yun had gone to bed then, she shouldn’t be this exhausted.

But as she glanced over, the dark circles under Su Yun’s eyes were unmistakable, more like the result of a sleepless night than mere fatigue.

“I kept dreaming all night,” Su Yun admitted. She wasn’t actually sleepy just fighting against her body’s instincts.

Her mind, whenever idle, kept replaying last night’s dreams and the steady, calming sound of Jiang Zhi’s breathing, lingering in her thoughts like an unshakable melody.

Su Yun knew exactly what this feeling was, but she had drawn a firm boundary in her heart from the very beginning, keeping such emotions firmly on the other side.

Jiang Zhi, curious, asked, “What kind of dreams? Nightmares?”

She knew Su Yun was afraid of horror movies, but she hadn’t realized the fear ran this deep.

At this thought, Jiang Zhi considered discussing a movie change with the others when it came time for the film-watching segment.

“Not nightmares.” Hearing Jiang Zhi’s concerned tone, Su Yun thought of her dreams from the night before and immediately chastised herself inwardly. “Just… normal dreams.”

Wasn’t the whole point to maintain a purely innocent relationship with Jiang Zhi?! How had she ended up tainting it first, even dreaming about… springtime fantasies? Absolutely unacceptable!

While they chatted, the director firmly rejected the others’ requests.

Director: “No one is allowed to skip today’s task.”

Yesterday’s theme was that each guest could decide their own itinerary, with minimal interference from the production team.

But now that it’s past midnight, a new day has begun, and the show’s theme will change accordingly.

Today’s theme is placing the initiative in the hands of the audience.

So today’s schedule won’t be decided by the guests but will instead be collectively determined by the viewers in our livestream.

Just moments ago, our production team launched the first round of voting in the livestream: letting the audience decide the guests’ wake-up time today.

Among the four options, 3 AM, 4 AM, 5 AM, and 6 AM the audience chose 3 AM.

[Hahahahahaha! I love this segment so much! I was one of the votes just now.]

[I was about to go to sleep, but then I saw the livestream notification from the show and thought it was just an ad. I didn’t expect them to actually be live!]

[I just tuned in and heard the director explaining the rules, I think I’m even more shocked than the guests! I can’t believe I already missed the first vote!]

Unlike the excited viewers in the livestream, the guests fell into a full minute of silence after hearing the director’s explanation of today’s rules.

Su Xue was the first to speak up. “So… can we still watch the movie?”

“Definitely not,” Ye Ying said, already foreseeing the darkness of the day ahead just like the sky outside right now. “We can’t even go back to sleep now.”

At this thought, everyone’s first reaction was regret!

Before bed, they had even discussed how to set up the perfect movie-watching atmosphere and what snacks to prepare.

Who knew that after just one day, all those plans would vanish like a beautiful bubble?

Hesitation leads to defeat, the ancients truly didn’t lie!

The director’s response was more measured. “Today’s itinerary will be decided by the livestream audience’s votes. Maybe they’ll choose a movie-watching activity, there’s still hope!”

Lin Yan: “No need for hope. The livestream audience is definitely harsher than your production team.”

She didn’t even need to think about it, the viewers would never let them have an easy time.

And the audience didn’t discriminate between guests and the production team their motto was simple: their own enjoyment came first.

Like the last time they voted on whether the director had to climb a mountain.

Or just now, when choosing the wake-up time, out of the four options, the audience inevitably picked the earliest one.

Thinking about this, Lin Yan suddenly understood why the production team had been so accommodating yesterday, granting all their wishes. Today’s audience-controlled tasks were the real highlight!

She suspected the director had taken inspiration from that mountain-climbing vote this was blatant revenge!

Of course, while everyone else was lamenting, Su Yun and Jiang Zhi quietly sighed in relief.

Su Yun felt that although the future looked bleak now, there was at least one silver lining, she had narrowly escaped the horror movie ordeal!

Jiang Zhi, meanwhile, was just relieved on Su Yun’s behalf.

“But director,” Xu Zhi asked skeptically, “is there really an audience at this hour?” She couldn’t help but wonder if the livestream viewers were just production team plants.

After she asked this question, the director also turned the live broadcast screen in front of her to face another direction.

On it were the results of the vote for the previous question. The option for “3 a.m.” had surged ahead, capturing almost all the votes in the live stream.

From the creation of the poll to its conclusion, the entire process took no more than thirty seconds proof that the live audience had voted without the slightest hesitation.

In the top left corner of the screen, the number of online viewers was visible: five digits.

The guests, seeing the number: “…”

There really was no excuse left.

Su Yun looked at the screen and asked the live audience, “Aren’t you all supposed to be asleep at this hour? I think everyone must need rest. Once you’ve all woken up, your votes would be much more fun, right?”

Su Yun’s strategy shifted lightning-fast. Whoever decided today’s tasks, she would negotiate with them.

The odds of success weren’t high, but only by daring to try would she learn that the odds really weren’t high!

Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, a wave of comments flooded the screen in unison: We’re not sleepy~

The tilde at the end of each comment served as proof that they were, in fact, wide awake more energetic than anyone else.

The guests: “…”

[First time watching a show with such strong audience participation. Dear Them, your production team deserves to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple!]

[Hehe, I was already planning to stay up late tonight, Su Yun. Don’t worry, I’ll be here all day definitely casting a vote that’ll ‘satisfy’ you!]

[+1 +1, the guests’ utterly defeated expressions are hilarious. But we have to watch the horror movie if we get the chance! And Su Yun has to watch it too, hahaha!]

–

Director: “Now that everyone understands the rules, we’ll move on to the next segment.”

She posted a new poll in the live stream:

At 3 a.m., the guests have begun their wonderful day. However, it’s still early, and they’re drowsy. Therefore, their next step is:

Option 1: They decide to go back to bed and catch up on sleep.

Option 2: They decide to head out for a good workout to overcome their drowsiness.

Seeing the options, the guests immediately walked to the door and changed into their sneakers.

Was there even a need to vote?! If they were the audience, who in their right mind would pick the first option?!

[HAHAHAHAHAHA, you guys are so obedient! The results aren’t even out yet, and you’re already changing shoes!]

[Hehe, already voted! A morning workout is great for your health!]

[+1, guests, don’t follow my example, I’m still curled up in my cozy bed, doge. But this is the perfect time for you to exercise!]

As expected, before the guests could even finish changing their shoes, the director announced that the results were in: Option 2.

“Though it’s not too hot right now,” Liu Yangran remarked as they walked outside. “It’s much cooler than when we were walking back at noon yesterday.”

Jinguang City had scorching summer temperatures, but at this early hour, the air was almost as cool as an air-conditioned room even pleasantly comfortable.

“It’s just a little too quiet. There’s not a single person on the streets!” Lin Yan glanced around, seeing no signs of life.

Though they had woken up this early, the workout option had been chosen by the audience, so the guests couldn’t slack off. They jogged in a slow loop around their accommodation.

Fortunately, the streetlights were still diligently working, ensuring they could at least see a little.

“I feel like running has really cleared my head,” Ye Ying said. If she had woken up at 3 a.m. before, her first thought would have been how hard it was to even open her eyes.

“Even though this is my first time running in the morning, I feel so awake!” Su Xue nodded, even more energetic than Ye Ying, with enough spare attention to observe the plants along the road. “The leaves on the trees in Jinguang City are much wider than those in Herong County.”

The differences between the two regions manifested in countless ways, and the guests subtly conveyed the show’s philosophy through these small details.

Su Yun also looked at the fresh sights along the road, but she still had a question: “Is this considered a night run or a morning run?”

A simple question successfully made everyone pause and think.

In the end, it was Lin Yan who settled the debate: “Let’s call it a morning run, it makes us sound diligent and motivated.”

Su Xue, who had never successfully woken up early for a morning run before: “…”

She couldn’t help but feel personally attacked by that statement!

–

They chatted animatedly, with most of the conversation revolving around today’s mission.

Lin Yan: “The audience in the livestream is actually very kind. If they make certain choices, it’s definitely because the production team led them astray.”

“Director Lin is absolutely right!” Su Yun gave Lin Yan a thumbs-up.

Not only did it call out the production team’s antics, but it also flattered the livestream audience.

Now that was the art of smooth-talking!

[Director Lin, you suddenly being so nice with your words is making me uncomfortable!]

[Hehe, even though I always vote based on my gut, Director Lin isn’t wrong blame the production team!]

[+1, I’m definitely recommending this show to my friends! The production team hands the reins to the audience, and the guests still remember to sweet-talk us, what a great viewing experience!]

[Touched, but don’t worry, guests next time I vote, I won’t go easy on you, hahaha!]

At this point, Ye Ying remembered the movie discussion from earlier: “I was all ready to watch a movie last night, but then the rules changed today. I really wish every day of filming could be up to us!”

“What movie did you pick?” Jing Zhaozhao asked. “If we can’t watch it now, we can always see it after filming wraps.”

As they talked, Su Yun’s ears perked up discreetly.

“I wanted everyone to watch Dream of Terror,” Ye Ying replied. “I think it’s perfect for a group watch.”

“Oh, Dream of Terror I know that one,” Lin Yan said. As a director, she recognized the title immediately. “It’s highly praised as a horror film. Even after watching it once, certain scenes still leave a lasting impact.”

Su Yun: “…”

That did not sound like her kind of movie!

Jiang Zhi had seen it too. The director’s craftsmanship was superb, every seemingly warm scene was laced with eerie undertones. Even when she could guess some plot points, certain twists still managed to startle her.

For someone who had never watched horror films before, it was not beginner-friendly!

“Thank goodness we didn’t watch it,” Su Yun whispered to Jiang Zhi.

If they had, she would’ve ended up clinging to Jiang Zhi the entire time!

Jiang Zhi chuckled and reminded her, “The mics are still on.”

As expected, every viewer in the live stream must have heard it.

Even though Su Yun had lowered her voice earlier, the surroundings were so quiet at this hour that even the slightest rustle couldn’t escape their ears.

Su Yun closed her eyes briefly: “!”

Her fear of horror movies was now completely confirmed.

Su Xue leaned in with a grin, “Don’t be so regretful. How about we request the director tonight to make sure you get to watch it?”

Just imagining it promised great entertainment value, she was certain the director would agree.

“Thanks, but no need!” Su Yun was filled with regret. Why had she suffered from insomnia last night? Her mind was still foggy, leading to such a huge mistake!

She had actually blurted it out in front of so many people!

Ye Ying chimed in, fanning the flames, “If the director doesn’t agree, it’s fine. I’ve already watched it once. If you’re curious, I can summarize the plot for you right now.”

Though lacking the realistic visuals and eerie soundtrack would significantly dampen the horror effect, Nightmare had a gripping story on its own. Just recounting it would be more than enough for Su Yun!

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