With the end of this episode, the viewers' hearts felt empty again. They really wanted to see the scene of Mei reuniting with Kiana, and they also very much wanted to see Kiana return to St. Freya Academy once more.
But on the television, only the ending theme song announcing the conclusion was playing.
However...
This time, the viewers' emotions weren't as agitated as they had been after the previous episode.
Yet it also made many viewers certain of one thing: as long as everyone threatened the director, he wouldn't dare to randomly dish out more tragedy.
After all, no matter how you looked at it, the direction of the plot was that Mei and the others would find Theresa.
And at the same time.
Inside the Golden Courtyard.
The four women had drunk several bottles of wine. Now that the TV watching was over, they had someone drive them to Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainment Company to find Hessian.
Over this past week, Hessian had been living at the company, so he was naturally there at this hour.
Not long after.
The group arrived at the company.
As the true boss of the company, Elysia had signed all the female actresses herself. Everyone greeted her enthusiastically when they saw her arrive.
Elysia also stepped forward and hugged every girl.
This was her favorite part of greeting upon meeting; when the situation allowed, she would even kiss the other person's cheek.
After going through these formalities.
She then asked Mobius: "Where's my husband?"
Mobius pointed toward the office: "He's been holed up in there the whole time."
Eden asked curiously: "Is it because the viewers threatened him too harshly this week, so he doesn't even dare come out of the office?"
Elysia felt a bit heartbroken: "I should have found him a bodyguard sooner."
Mobius knew they had misunderstood and explained: "Actually, ever since Kalpas joined the company, the viewers' threats have decreased a lot. Normally when he stays in the office, he's just playing games. Today, he should be thinking about the script."
"That's true..."
Everyone nodded in deep agreement. Being threatened every day like this, the script definitely needed careful revisions—it was naturally a huge headache.
Moreover... even the participants couldn't imagine how the later plot could proceed without becoming clichéd, in order to live up to the peak achievements of the opening.
"I'll go check on him."
Elysia quickly walked to the office. Seeing Hessian sitting at the desk deep in thought, she gently approached from behind, placed his hands on her chest, and massaged his temples for him.
She whispered softly: "Hubby, you've worked hard."
Hessian very much enjoyed this moment, closing his eyes to rest: "It's not hard, really. It's just that the company is a bit short on staff right now."
His subsequent plot required new characters to appear, and the current company employees were clearly not quite enough—especially since almost all the roles so far were played by the original characters themselves. Replacing them later would definitely feel somewhat inharmonious.
Most crucially, he had searched the entire entertainment industry for that girl named SAKURA, but couldn't find any related information. Even when he pulled strings to have people check art academies, there was nothing.
Upon hearing this, Elysia thought, isn't this my responsibility?
She quickly said: "Hubby, don't worry. I'll definitely work even harder to find cute girls!"
Hessian nodded: "Okay~ By the way, my dear wife, why did you come to the company today?"
Elysia said: "I've seen that you've been threatened every day lately, so I was a bit worried about your safety. I specially asked Eden to find a bodyguard for you and brought her here for you to meet."
"Oh? A bodyguard?!"
Wasn't this exactly what he needed most right now?
The viewers in this world were too terrifying. Only by ensuring his own safety could he continue to deliver the tragedy!
"Where is she? Take me to see."
Hessian immediately stood up and headed outside.
As soon as he came out, he saw Eden—and SAKURA beside her.
His eyes instantly lit up. He went up and asked: "Your name is SAKURA, right?"
SAKURA nodded, assuming Elysia had already told him her information.
Hessian quickly followed up: "Do you have a younger sister?"
SAKURA was a bit surprised: "How did you know?"
Hessian waved his hand: "That's not important. Right now, I want you to appear in the next episode of Honkai Impact 3rd. You absolutely have to take the role."
SAKURA looked toward Eden, somewhat at a loss.
To be honest, after watching today's episode, she was very interested in this drama. But her identity was a bodyguard; she couldn't casually do things that didn't fit.
Eden smiled and said: "It seems like a good idea. This way, you can always stay by his side."
Hearing this.
SAKURA agreed: "No problem. But... can I take a look at the script? I want to know what role I'm playing."
"Of course that's fine."
Hessian went straight back to the office and brought out a script: "Here, take a look."
SAKURA took the script and started flipping through it.
Eden, Himeko, Elysia, Kiana...
Everyone gathered around her and looked together.
At first, their expressions were all curious, but as they read on, they all looked strange—and some even looked at Hessian with admiration.
Only SAKURA grew angrier the more she read. Finally, she pulled out a knife from who-knows-where and held it to Hessian's neck: "So you asked if I had a sister just to kill my sister in the script???!!!"
Himeko also sighed helplessly: "That's why I say, our director really knows how to court death!"
Eden was speechless too. Even as a big star, for a moment she had no idea what to say to ease the atmosphere.
Who does things like him—specifically asking if someone has a sister first, then killing that person's sister in the script, and even killing her too? Who wouldn't be furious?
Elysia also covered her face with her hand, utterly embarrassed.
The others could only secretly give Hessian a thumbs-up, praising his bravery in their hearts.
Hessian quickly said: "Don't be rash. I wrote this script earlier; we were just missing an actress, and you happened to show up."
SAKURA said angrily: "Who are you fooling? What are the odds of that? And I'm a bodyguard!"
"Huh?"
Hessian looked to Elysia for answers.
Elysia nodded: "Yes, hubby. She's the bodyguard I found for you."
Hessian: "..."
Had he just completely offended his own bodyguard?
After thinking for a bit.
He immediately gently pushed the knife aside with his hand: "My friend, this is really a misunderstanding. You have to believe me. This drama is a healthy, sunny, positive, and uplifting one. This episode's script may seem tragic, but it's all paving the way for the later plot. Rest assured, your character will definitely have a good ending later!"
"Really?"
SAKURA looked suspicious, somewhat unwilling to believe him—especially that "my friend."
Hessian nodded sincerely: "Of course! In the later plot, you, Elysia, and Eden will all appear. One is my wife, the other is my financial backer. Do you think I'd tragedy them?"
Hearing this, SAKURA thought it did make sense.
She put down the knife: "Fine, I'll trust you this once."
"Phew~"
Hessian let out a sigh of relief, knowing he'd talked his way out of it.
Next, he handed out scripts to the others: Bronya, Theresa... and Seele, who had come to the company the week before last, etc.
Finally... Kevin.
Hessian looked around and spotted Kevin slinging his backpack over his shoulder, preparing to leave the company. He immediately called out: "Kevin!"
Kevin stopped, turned back, and asked: "Director He, what's up? I'm in a hurry to meet Mei for a date."
Hessian directly tossed the script to him: "Take a good look at the script. This is the role I prepared for you—of course, there's also one for your girlfriend Mei. Bring her to the company tomorrow; she'll have scenes."
Kevin pinched the script without opening it, asking suspiciously: "Director He, you're not burying some tragedy for me in the script, are you?"
Hessian said irritably: "Am I that kind of person? Besides, what do you have that's worth me tragedying?"
Kevin answered seriously: "You're probably envious of Mei and my love, right? So it's not impossible you'd tragedy me."
"Get lost!"
Hessian laughed and cursed: "As if my relationship with Elysia isn't great. I'm already married—who's jealous of an unmarried rookie like you?"
Hearing this, Kevin finally relaxed: "Good then. I'll go tell Mei right now."
After he left.
Hessian also announced it was time to clock out.
Of course!
The nightly live streams were still continuing, and today's stream character was Rita. The next few days were scheduled for Theresa, Mei, and Bronya respectively.
Hessian had long prepared Rita's stream content—roughly spoiling some upcoming actions and introducing Schicksal's understanding of World Serpent.
After finishing these.
He took Elysia's hand and headed straight home.
For a whole week, viewers had been blocking the door; the two of them hadn't had a proper intimate moment.
Now that the viewers' emotions had calmed a bit, it was naturally time to go home and make up for it.
And... didn't they have a bodyguard now?
Since both women had been drinking.
Hessian drove them back to the villa himself...
As soon as the car stopped.
SAKURA got out first, surveyed the surroundings, and only after checking returned to the car: "There are no longer any squatters around, but based on the traces, someone was here not long ago."
Hessian was speechless: "Wife, how about we move somewhere else?"
Elysia thought for a moment: "Eden told me her Golden Courtyard is quite large. Usually it's just her alone, so we could move in there."
This was indeed a good idea!
As the most famous star, Eden's home security was naturally nothing to worry about.
He agreed immediately: "Deal. We'll rest one night here tonight, and tomorrow we'll start handling the move."
Back home.
Hessian collapsed onto the sofa.
This week had really worn him out.
After SAKURA checked the entire house and confirmed there were no issues.
He then said: "The room near the main door is yours. Sorry to trouble you to rest here tonight."
SAKURA said very professionally: "It's fine. This is my job. You two can do whatever you want tonight. I'll wear headphones—you can just pretend I don't exist."
Elysia's pretty face flushed red at her words, but she didn't refute it.
After all, over this past week, she had indeed missed Hessian a lot.
The night passed quickly.
Hessian woke up in the morning sunlight, looking at Elysia still sleeping in his arms. He gently kissed her forehead.
Carefully getting out of bed, he made breakfast for her and SAKURA.
He instructed: "SAKURA, stay with Elysia and rest here. Come to the company after she wakes up."
SAKURA hadn't slept all night.
It wasn't that she didn't want to sleep, but out of curiosity about Honkai Impact 3rd, she had started watching from episode one last night and unknowingly stayed up until dawn.
"Got it."
SAKURA agreed and began carefully studying the script while eating breakfast.
...
Hessian headed straight to the company.
Upon seeing him arrive, Mobius came up directly: "According to the data from the TV station, last night's viewership ratings for Honkai Impact 3rd continued to rise. The viewers didn't abandon the show because of last week's plot. You can proceed according to your own ideas."
Hessian nodded: "Mm, about what I expected. How are the company's finances now?"
Mobius reported: "The funding issues are completely resolved. However, whether in terms of personnel or current revenue, it's still not suitable to start a second project. We need to wait a while longer."
She had long known that Hessian wanted to prepare a second drama, but the company was still too small right now to handle two dramas at once.
"Mm... Anything else important?"
Mobius shook her head: "Things are going pretty well at 4.2 right now. Oh, right—Kevin brought his girlfriend over. They're waiting for you in the lounge."
"Mm."
Hessian acknowledged and went straight to the lounge.
As soon as he entered, he saw Kevin still eating noodles... while Mei sat beside him, looking at him with eyes full of affection.
Only when he walked in.
Did Kevin greet him: "Good morning, Director He! Have you eaten?"
Hessian nodded: "I ate at home. This must be your girlfriend Mei, right?"
Kevin actually pushed his noodles aside and said boastfully: "Yeah! Isn't she super cute? Director He, you absolutely have to write her an incredibly awesome role!"
Hessian smiled and said: "Naturally. I originally planned to make Mei one of the greatest contributors to defeating Honkai."
Mei was also very happy to hear this: "Thank you, Director He. I've been watching Honkai Impact 3rd that you've been filming—it's truly an era-defining TV drama. It's a real honor to participate in it."
Hessian smiled even more happily: "What I like most are loving young couples like you two. Rest assured, I'll shape you into a couple that the whole nation envies, one that everyone will remember forever."
Hearing this, Kevin excitedly stood up and kept thanking him.
Say what you will.
The scripting level of their boss's wife was absolutely unparalleled.
Whatever she promised, she could definitely deliver.
Hessian waved his hand: "Alright, alright, don't get too excited yet. Study the script carefully first—your scenes are very important."
"No problem!"
Kevin nodded repeatedly.
Next.
Hessian headed to the filming studio to begin preparing for today's shooting tasks...