Chapter 63

The director of a rehabilitation center in Seoul, South Korea, frowned as he looked at the two children, a boy and a girl, standing before him. He felt it was absurd and angrily asked, "You said you want to observe the process of people quitting drugs here?"

"Yes, that's right..." Xia Hou Zhong Ying nodded and said.

"Nonsense, what kind of joke is this?" The director, without waiting for Xia Hou Zhong Ying to speak, roared angrily, "Get out, get out now. If you don't leave, I'll have someone drive you away."

"Director Quan, can you please listen to the reason first?" Xia Hou Zhong Ying said helplessly.

"No reason will change my mind." The director flatly refused.

"Please, Director Quan, if you still don't agree after we explain, we'll leave immediately, okay?" Xia Hou Zhong Ying pleaded, "Just two minutes, please give me two minutes."

"Alright, just two minutes." Director Quan, seeing Xia Hou Zhong Ying's persistent pleading, felt a bit curious about why he would make such a crazy request.

"It's like this..." Xia Hou Zhong Ying organized his thoughts and said, "We are filming a movie called 'Green Apple Paradise.' There's a scene about a student's redemption, but we can't capture the effect we want, so we want to observe the painful scenes of people quitting drugs up close."

"Green Apple Paradise?" Director Quan was stunned for a moment and asked, "The one that caused a stir a couple of months ago with Lee Hyori in it?"

"Yes." Xia Hou Zhong Ying nodded in response.

"Who are you two?" Director Quan asked.

"I am the director of the movie." Xia Hou Zhong Ying introduced himself and then pointed to Zheng Xiuyan beside him, "She is the lead actress."

"You're the director?" Director Quan looked at the boy, who was only about 14 or 15 years old, and felt it was absurd. This director was too young, making it hard to believe.

"Here is my identification, Director. You can verify it." Xia Hou Zhong Ying handed over his ID.

"Are you really here to film a movie?" Although Director Quan still found it hard to believe, Xia Hou Zhong Ying's ID was genuine, leaving him no choice but to believe it.

Xia Hou Zhong Ying nodded and looked at the director with pleading eyes.

"Do you know how cruel and harmful such scenes can be for you? I can't agree to it." After a long silence, Director Quan shook his head lightly.

"I know, but this scene is very important." Xia Hou Zhong Ying replied and explained the reasons for filming the movie and its potential impact on society.

This time, Director Quan was silent for even longer. He looked at the two of them a couple of times, wanting to speak but ultimately didn't.

"I can't make the decision for the people in the center, nor do I have the authority. You can talk to them yourself. If they agree, it's up to them." Director Quan sighed and said.

"Thank you, Director." Xia Hou Zhong Ying and Zheng Xiuyan quickly thanked Director Quan.

Director Quan sent someone to guide Xia Hou Zhong Ying and Zheng Xiuyan to the center to communicate with the people inside.

After Xia Hou Zhong Ying explained his request and the reasons behind it, the people in the center who were undergoing rehabilitation treatment fell silent. Although Xia Hou Zhong Ying's intentions were good, no one wanted outsiders to witness their embarrassing moments.

Just as Xia Hou Zhong Ying was persuading them, a girl finally stood up and agreed to their request.

"I deeply regret it. I couldn't resist the temptation and touched something I shouldn't have. I hope such harmful things never appear again, and I hope others don't go through what I've gone through. If I can help some people stay away from drugs, I'm willing." The girl, with tears in her eyes and a look of hatred, said to Xia Hou Zhong Ying and Zheng Xiuyan, "I hate those people so much, I wish I could kill them. They've destroyed my family."

The girl's name was Guo Rongrong. Her words deeply touched Xia Hou Zhong Ying and Zheng Xiuyan, who listened silently as she recounted her descent into the wrong path.

"My mother died of a heart attack because of me, and my father committed suicide because of the pain and the judgment from others." Guo Rongrong sobbed uncontrollably, "I have no family left, no one. Dad, Mom, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I regret it so much, I wish I could go back to the past..."

Listening to Guo Rongrong's story, Zheng Xiuyan also cried with her, and Xia Hou Zhong Ying felt a heavy weight in his heart.

Guo Rongrong had been in the rehabilitation center for some time, and the initial intense withdrawal had passed, but she still had intermittent episodes.

During her recounting, Guo Rongrong's drug cravings started, and the center staff quickly restrained her. Someone stayed by her side, helping her with water and wiping her sweat. Even with medication and past the worst of the withdrawal, the pain of a drug craving was unimaginable.

Guo Rongrong was nearly losing her mind, screaming, struggling, moaning, and convulsing.

After just two minutes, Guo Rongrong's heart-wrenching screams and her struggles while tied to a chair terrified Zheng Xiuyan, making her pale and almost faint.

Xia Hou Zhong Ying noticed Zheng Xiuyan's distress and quickly supported her.

"I don't want to see anymore, I don't want to see anymore, it's too scary." Zheng Xiuyan clung to Xia Hou Zhong Ying, crying loudly and hugging his waist tightly.

Xia Hou Zhong Ying quickly carried Zheng Xiuyan out of the room. Even after leaving the soundproof room, Zheng Xiuyan's body was still trembling.

"It's okay, it's okay, it's all over." Xia Hou Zhong Ying gently stroked Zheng Xiuyan's hair and comforted her softly.

"It's so scary." Under Xia Hou Zhong Ying's comfort, Zheng Xiuyan's emotions gradually calmed, but she was still sobbing softly.

"It's okay, it's okay, everything is fine now." Xia Hou Zhong Ying, unsure how to comfort her, kept repeating that everything was fine in her ear.

"Um." When Zheng Xiuyan recovered from her fear, she realized she was tightly pressed against Xia Hou Zhong Ying, her face burning with embarrassment. She thought her face must be red as blood, making her hesitant to leave his embrace.

"This scoundrel, how dare he hug me. My innocence is compromised, I'll get back at him later." Zheng Xiuyan thought angrily, completely forgetting that Xia Hou Zhong Ying was comforting her. "But, his embrace is quite comfortable."

Her continuous thoughts distracted her, helping her to recover from the terrifying scene.

Director Quan, who had been about to check on Xia Hou Zhong Ying and Zheng Xiuyan, stopped when he saw them hugging. He shook his head, thinking these two kids were really bold and reckless. He regretted agreeing to their request, worried that Zheng Xiuyan might be left with psychological trauma.

"I'm fine now, you can let me go." Zheng Xiuyan, realizing they couldn't stay like this forever, softly said to Xia Hou Zhong Ying.

"Ah, oh, okay." Xia Hou Zhong Ying awkwardly smiled and quickly released his hold on Zheng Xiuyan, his heart pounding. He was worried she might be so angry that she would kill him. He secretly glanced at Zheng Xiuyan, who was blushing and looking down, and he felt relieved.

"Are you okay?" Seeing the two separate, Director Quan walked over and asked.

"I'm fine, thank you, Director Quan." Zheng Xiuyan said softly.

"It's good, it's good. You two kids are really bold and reckless." Director Quan sighed and said, "Come, let's go to my office for a cup of tea to calm down."

"Thank you, Director Quan." Xia Hou Zhong Ying smiled and nodded in thanks.

"Call me Uncle Quan." Director Quan smiled and said.

"Okay, Uncle Quan." The two nodded and called him.

Back in the office, Director Quan poured them tea and chatted about their movie.

Xia Hou Zhong Ying explained the content of their movie to Director Quan, who nodded continuously and then sighed, "Zhong Ying, the content of your movie is really good. I'll definitely bring my family to the cinema when it's released."

"Uncle Quan, you don't need to go to the cinema. You can watch it at home." Xia Hou Zhong Ying smiled and said, "Our movie isn't a commercial film; it's a public service film that will be released online, not in theaters, and it won't make money."

"Remarkable." Director Quan praised Xia Hou Zhong Ying and Zheng Xiuyan, saying they were truly kind-hearted for warning against social ills without personal gain. Such people were rare nowadays, as most had been corrupted by money.

Director Quan's praise made Xia Hou Zhong Ying blush. Although the movie wouldn't make money, he had other motives. He had started the project to boost Zheng Xiuyan's and other girls' fame, not for the reasons Director Quan mentioned.

"By the way, Uncle Quan, after the girl named Guo Rongrong calms down, I'd like to see her again. I have a few things to say to her." To avoid further awkwardness, Xia Hou Zhong Ying changed the subject.

"You want to see her again?" Director Quan looked at Xia Hou Zhong Ying in surprise.

"Yes, I have a few things to say to her. Is that okay, Uncle Quan?" Xia Hou Zhong Ying nodded and said.

"No problem." Director Quan nodded and called his staff to bring Guo Rongrong to his office once she calmed down.

After a short while, there was a knock on the door, and Director Quan's subordinate and Guo Rongrong entered.

When Guo Rongrong learned that Xia Hou Zhong Ying wanted to see her again, she was stunned, her eyes filled with confusion.

"Guo Rongrong, after you leave here, would you like to work at my studio?" Xia Hou Zhong Ying hesitated for a moment and asked.

"Work at your studio?" Guo Rongrong's voice trembled.

"Yes." Xia Hou Zhong Ying nodded, "I will be making more movies in the future and need help. Our studio is small, but if you don't mind..."

"I'm willing." Before Xia Hou Zhong Ying could finish, Guo Rongrong agreed, tears streaming down her face, unable to speak further.