Enforcer Manual
Chapter 224: Number One Fan_1

Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Number One Fan_1

Just one month later, the movie officially hit the theaters, which was a testament to how eager the crew was.

It was a weekday, and Lu Xiang had approved a day off for herself, dragging Song Lan to the cinema with her.

Before this, she had little interest in movies and lacked understanding, only occasionally watching one at home with Song Lan on weekends. To her, those movies were more or less the same, merely changing the protagonists and villains.

The week Song Lan was away from home, to get some understanding of films, Lu Xiang bought the complete holographic video disc collection of "Sponge and Starfish" for 3700 watts. According to the seller, it was a limited edition, and during delivery, she even received a life-sized Sponge cartoon plush doll.

When Song Lan wasn’t home, she would sit in the living room at night, hugging the life-sized plush doll and binge-watch the entire "Sponge and Starfish" series.

She found the storylines somewhat boring, but they greatly relieved the stress accumulated throughout the day.

At least in the world of "Sponge and Starfish," she didn’t need to think about crime.

And at this moment, the film on the screen pulled her back into the chilling reality.

Lu Xiang quickly realized that the city depicted in the film was almost an exact replica of this city’s past.

Under the expert effects of Kolo Film and Television Media, the Audience was quickly immersed in the world presented by the film. Unlike the more common recent shooting methods where every battle seems intent on destroying a block, the scenes in the movie were closer to reality.

Black-on-black violence, gang warfare, the city’s glitzy veneer, and the relentless gunfire created a stark contrast.

In one of the fight scenes, on the rooftop of a grand building, when Chai Ke asked the "concerned citizen" what kind of people would turn to crime in this city, he successfully stirred the emotions of the Audience.

For the people of District 17, this was all too familiar; it was as if their own lives had been transposed into the film.

Many among them were former gang members.

In the numerous films produced by Kolo Film and Television Media, the Audience rarely inserted themselves into the role of the villains, and through Chai Ke, they understood who their true enemies were.

Not the Law Enforcers, not the members of rival gangs, but the rules that turned the city into what it was.

During the final showdown between Chai Ke and the "concerned citizen," even Lu Xiang found herself holding her breath involuntarily. Originally she hadn’t expected much from the film; she had taken the day off and come to the cinema solely to support Song Lan’s big screen debut.

Song Lan once said that his childhood dream was to become an actor.

Thus, for her, any movie featuring Song Lan was a masterpiece.

But now, her focus was no longer on Song Lan but on Chai Ke instead.

Challenging unjust rules, willing to perish in a blaze in order to have his voice heard, just like in all superhero themed movies, Chai Ke ultimately failed to destroy "Libra" under the resistance of the "concerned citizen." From the outcome, it seemed his voice hadn’t even reached beyond his city, letting the people inside "Libra" truly hear the voice from the lower echelons.

Clearly, though, his actions had transcended the confines of the screen and reached deep into the hearts of every Audience member.

"Damn!"

Along with the explosion sounds and rising flames, the cinema erupted in curses.

Many among them had hoped Chai Ke would truly stuff nuclear weapons into "Libra." The feeling of being stopped in their tracks was like losing the battle themselves.

For the first time ever, when seeing a Kolo Film and Television Media production, they did not rejoice in the villain’s demise; instead, after a brief bout of swearing, they sat in their chairs, staring at the scrolling credits, unable to recover from the impact.

"The real villain isn’t Chai Ke, but the unfair rules?"

Lu Xiang reflected thoughtfully.

Unlike the sighing Audience, as a Law Enforcer’s department head, she saw much more in this movie. Although it never explicitly mentioned this idea, from the first clash between Chai Ke and the "concerned citizen," another villain lurking deeper within emerged, making it difficult to judge Chai Ke’s actions in simple terms of good and evil.

But...

Was the villain in the movie, the Chai Ke they knew?

The Chai Ke she knew had no such realization, nor could he plan such a world-shaking event.

"Song Lan."

Lu Xiang turned her face, furrowing her brows, "Did you take some advantage from Chai Ke?"

It was foreseeable that, after the movie’s release, people would reevaluate the character of Chai Ke.

"Everything is in service of the film’s plot; this story is purely fictional, please do not equate the characters with real people."

Song Lan brought out the disclaimer that was mentioned at the beginning of the movie.

And amidst their conversation, the audience seemed to have realized something.

"Wait a second, why is the villain also called Chai Ke?"

It wasn’t until after the movie had ended that someone belatedly raised this sharp question. In truth, the film had subtly downplayed Chai Ke’s name, with his underlings usually calling him "Boss" or "Chief."

"It’s just a common name. How could that loser Chai Ke possibly have that kind of presence."

"Bad luck!"

...

"See, people can still distinguish between the movie and reality."

Song Lan said.

Lu Xiang didn’t speak, which was as good as agreeing with the response. Listening to the end credits song, she leaned her head on Song Lan’s shoulder, taking advantage of the angle. During his week away from home, she had taught herself a lot of film-related terms.

What were those terms again?

"From now on, I’m your number one fan,"

she said as she picked up her phone and brought up the camera function, wrapping her left arm around Song Lan’s neck and making a "V" with her fingers.

After the flash, their expressions at that moment were recorded forever.

"The internet says that taking a photo with your idol is the highest honor for a fan."

However, she didn’t show the frenzied expression of a fan meeting their idol. In the photo, her expression was calm, and the way both of them looked at the camera was more like a couple.

After taking the photo for remembrance, she put her phone away contentedly, "I didn’t expect you to have such a talent for acting."

"That’s thanks to you too,"

"Why?"

Lu Xiang blinked with curiosity.

"Because I’ve based it largely on your persona."

As far as Song Lan was concerned, Lu Xiang was an invaluable reference. As the head of the Law Enforcers, no matter how vicious the criminals she encountered, she would never lash out; she would just emotionlessly blow their heads off with bullets.

Chai Ke in the film was the same.

Whether a deal went sour, whether he was surrounded and blocked by the Law Enforcers, or whether he faced the "enthusiastic citizen" as an adversary, he always maintained his composure and made his next move with absolute rationality.

"Song Lan."

Even upon hearing this information, Lu Xiang maintained her indifferent expression, "Good learning. Don’t learn it anymore."

..................

No matter what, the film was a huge success on its opening day.

Beyond its box-office success, it sparked an unprecedented level of discussion.

There were discussions about the villain’s character,

there were calls for Kolo Film and Television Media to hurry up and shoot a sequel,

there were debates about the current state of the border cities,

there were wishes for the villain to participate in a comeback competition,

and there were the Foster Family, who, while eating hotpot and singing songs, suddenly found themselves barraged by thousands of posts from netizens.

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