After Defying the System, I Became a Genius Director

The plot galloped like a runaway horse, racing along a path far removed from horror films.

The male protagonist inexplicably began performing comedy to put his girlfriend at ease, instantly dispelling any horrific atmosphere, though the comedy was genuinely funny;

While his girlfriend was in the bathroom, the male protagonist desperately searched online for ways to help ghosts pass on, coincidentally being contacted on WeChat by a stranger claiming to be a metaphysical master. After a mystical conversation, the master told him he must fulfill the ghost’s wishes. The male lead was overjoyed, putting down his phone to begin planning, but missed the master’s last few messages revealing he was actually selling fake Buddha statues;

To help fulfill his girlfriend’s wishes, the male lead tried indirect approaches with reason and emotion, only for his “ghost” girlfriend to misunderstand that he wanted to break up, terrifying the male lead into immediate surrender;

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Amid his hearty laughter, Liu Xun felt somewhat confused.

—Is this really a horror film? It’s been funny for half an hour now?

—Did I accidentally watch a fake horror movie?

But undeniably, even though these plot developments had nothing to do with horror, the natural and non-awkward transitions between scenes made it quite enjoyable. Moreover, perhaps because the interaction between the male lead and his ghost girlfriend was so natural and warm, without any trace of artifice, Liu Xun even gradually became immersed in the story, eager to see what would happen next.

Just as he was wondering if there was too much comedy, the plot suddenly took a sharp turn.

After his plans repeatedly failed to progress, the male protagonist finally made a decision—while his girlfriend was cutting apples in the kitchen, he would search her room for clues!

The film’s color palette abruptly shifted from warm to cold tones, partly because he moved from the brightly lit living room into his girlfriend’s bedroom, illuminated only by his phone’s light, but also signaling a return from comedy to horror.

Though Liu Xun maintained a calm facade for his girlfriend, his heart was racing. He felt his girlfriend unconsciously leaning closer to him, which delighted him. Feigning nonchalance, he put his arm around her shoulder, letting her rest against him.

Indeed, the audience’s premonition was correct. With the male protagonist’s decision, the film’s plot suddenly made a 180-degree turn—but from a direction no one expected!

When the male protagonist’s death certificate was revealed to the audience, everyone was stunned into realization.

The real ghost was the male protagonist!

Simultaneously, the reason why the female lead frequently went to the kitchen, bathroom, and balcony, giving the male lead space to operate, was also revealed—while the male lead was desperately searching for ways to help his girlfriend pass on, she was desperately searching for ways to help him leave peacefully…

Once this biggest mystery of the film was revealed, the subsequent plot wasn’t hard to predict—the leads would confess their feelings to each other, analyze their emotional journeys, and earn the audience’s tears. Although the female lead, whether due to character design or genuinely poor acting, remained as stiff and expressionless as a ghost when describing her longing for the male lead during the year since his death, with the camera avoiding her face whenever possible, the male lead’s self-examination was sincere and deeply moving. His expressive eyes and the moment he removed his glasses to cry, revealing his perfect face—Liu Xun finally realized he was indeed handsome—was undeniably touching.

Though the plot had completely deviated from the horror genre, the audience didn’t feel deceived; rather, they were moved by the film’s story. Liu Xun’s girlfriend was even quietly sobbing on his shoulder, prompting him to hastily pull out a pack of tissues, fumbling to help her wipe away her tears.

Finally, the screenwriter provided a clichéd but heartwarming ending: the couple shared dinner, blew out the candles on the cake together, and the male lead passed on—a story with regret but still a good ending. Though his girlfriend still appeared sad for the male lead, she gradually stopped sobbing.

While enjoying the intimate contact with his girlfriend, Liu Xun thought how unexpectedly worthwhile, no, more than worthwhile, this randomly chosen film had been. Seeing how much his girlfriend seemed to like it, they might watch it again later, perhaps looking for hidden foreshadowing in the first half of the film.

Just as his attention wandered, a shocking blast of sound suddenly erupted.

Liu Xun jumped, then realized—it was the end credits music!

Accompanied by ear-piercing music reminiscent of construction site noise, two nearly identical visual kei band members appeared on screen, headbanging with abandon under otherworldly lighting that sent chills down spines.

Liu Xun finally remembered that this was supposed to be a horror film.

Admittedly, these end credits were more fitting for the horror category than the main film…

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Exiting the theater, both Liu Xun and his girlfriend heaved sighs of relief.

The customer-repelling power of the netherworld-esque end credits was too strong; almost all viewers had swiftly fled within twenty seconds of the music starting, leaving an empty theater.

Liu Xun had also wanted to bolt, but his girlfriend, covering her ears, insisted on waiting for a post-credits scene that might or might not exist. Left with no choice, he endured the entire end credits song, feeling his soul had been elevated to a point where nothing could frighten him anymore.

Surprisingly, after the credits finished, there actually was a small easter egg. It was a brief scene showing the female lead’s next birthday after the male lead’s passing. As she blew out the candles alone, there was a click at the door, and the ghostly male lead swaggered in just like the previous year…

Whether the male lead remembered his own death this time, whether he would pass on again, whether last year’s events would repeat—these questions remained unanswered for the audience.

Admittedly, this completely un-publicized film was quite interesting. Liu Xun casually gave it five stars on the app. Searching for reviews, he found pitifully few, so he commented: “Watched with my girlfriend, quite fun, though the female ghost’s expressions were stiff and the camera somewhat shaky. By the way, run right after the film ends, don’t listen to the end credits music!”

After posting, he turned to his girlfriend and asked: “It’s about time, shall we go see ‘Path to Immortal Ascension’ as planned?”

Unexpectedly, his girlfriend thought for a moment, then shook her head: “I suddenly don’t think Fu Lianghui is that handsome anymore… I’d rather watch ‘The Last Wish’ again, maybe we missed some foreshadowing.”

She had an unspoken motive—while her boyfriend was rating and reviewing on the app, she’d checked online reviews for “Path to Immortal Ascension” and found that audiences generally found the plot boring and the lead actors’ makeup subpar, with only fans stubbornly defending the film. By comparison, this horror film’s protagonist was not only handsome but also a good actor. On reflection, she preferred to spend more time seeing this unknown actor.

Liu Xun naturally agreed unconditionally. Honestly, compared to watching some melodramatic xianxia film, he’d rather rewatch the “horror” film.

He approached the ticket counter and announced: “Two more tickets for ‘The Last Wish,’ please!”

Author’s Note: Shao Yichen: Who are you calling a female ghost? Who has shaky hands? Whose expressions are stiff?

Li Xingyu: Thanks everyone for saying I’m promising; I can be even more promising. Let me go eliminate my father and take back [BEEP—]

Author: Spoiler alert, censored.

An innocent celebrity named Fu Lianghui who got caught in the crossfire: ? Is it my fault I’m not as good as some unknown actor?

Thanks to the little angels who gave me nutrient solution~

Reader “Photosynthesis” watered with 1 bottle of nutrient solution

Thank you for your support, I’ll continue to work hard~

(Why is there no automatic thanks again? The author disguises herself as a heartless thanking system)