Black Technology Director Can Make Anything Come True (18): 

Si Lin was not very familiar with movies.

In his previous life, he had spent decades buried in research, never indulging in any kind of leisure or entertainment, so when it came to cinemas, he was completely in the dark.

When he was young, he had no money and no way to go. When he grew older, even though he had plenty of money, he could no longer find someone who would go to the movies with him.

So his impression of movies was limited to the short school film his older brother had made, which he had watched more than a hundred times.

As for whether a script was good or not…

To be honest, in Si Lin’s eyes, whatever his brother wrote was unmatched in heaven or on earth. Even if it was a complete mess, he would still treasure it as something precious.

Therefore, he was actually not very clear on how good this film really was.

Before opening the reviews, Si Lin secretly made preparations—if anyone failed to recognize its worth, he would simply rally a group of employees to flood in with good comments.

The result…

“Oh my god!!!!”

“I thought the trailer was already amazing, but now that I’ve seen the movie, that trailer looks like nothing—it didn’t even show one ten-thousandth of the brilliance of the actual film!!”

“I was like a lunatic the whole time, crying one moment, laughing the next. Except for the tender scenes with the younger brother, I never had a second to relax, always pulled along by the plot. The tension almost exploded right out of the screen.”

“A movie over a hundred minutes long felt like barely a hundred seconds—it was over in the blink of an eye.”

“It was countless times better than I imagined… I thought it would just be some large-scale commercial blockbuster, but it turned out to be an epic blending of commercial appeal and artistic depth. Truly breathtaking.”

“Si Qi really is a genius… how can such a person even exist? Whatever he does, he succeeds.”

“He made me feel the unevenness of the world…”

Si Lin had just opened the page, and the flood of praise left him grinning so wide his teeth showed. Chu Feng, eating bread beside him, happened to glance at Si Lin and suddenly thought of something. He also opened the reviews.

“Si Qi’s acting is incredible. It’s unbelievable that he’s a complete newcomer who has never acted before. It was as if a young man surnamed Si really appeared on the empire’s battlefield. His performance was so flawless it showed no trace of pretense! A bit more would’ve been overacting, a bit less would’ve been too weak, but as it is—it’s like his soul was possessed by the role. You can’t see him as a genius director or top-scoring student anymore, only as that character.”

“The younger brother and Lancelot acted really well too! Every actor in this movie fit their role perfectly. Si Qi’s eye for casting is impeccable!”

“This was actually directed by a first-time director?? Are all newcomers monsters??”

“Eh, I still haven’t recovered. Connor’s sacrifice was too heartbreaking. Especially the part when Si Qi heard that the research institute had developed the optical camouflage device, and the flashbacks showed his bond with Lancelot, and how Lancelot secretly hid his identity to help him… ugh, I’m going crazy, I’m so sad!! How could Connor be Lancelot, my Lord Lance!!”

“I cried through the entire second half. From the soldiers deciding to sacrifice themselves for their country, to the younger brother shouting with tears in his voice as he bid farewell to his older brother… just talking about it makes me tear up again. The visual language of this film is so powerful—any line of the plot instantly brings back the scenes, the dialogue, the music. All in all, I strongly recommend everyone to watch it with family and friends. You won’t regret it. Anyone can find resonance with this film.”

“Every character was three-dimensional. Even the emperor, who only appeared three or four times—there was one private conversation with Si Qi, and his lines were so striking. His bedroom was filled with books and unfinished government documents. Though barely in his early forties, his hair was already graying. It was nothing like the comfortable palace of an emperor, but rather the dwelling of a man burdened with worry, powerless to save his country. Truly pitiful.”

“And that thief in the tavern—when the federal soldiers caught him, even facing death and piles of money, he refused to reveal the protagonist’s whereabouts. When they strangled him to death, I really couldn’t hold it together…”

“So many people died, but strangely, it didn’t feel depressing at all. Instead it felt uplifting, passionate, my whole body burning with blood. I think our ancestors must have felt the same way when they faced invaders. More than sorrow, it was determination to drive the invaders out, even if it meant dying. I was so moved after watching.”

“By the way… was Lancelot secretly in love with Si Qi? Their love-hate dynamic was so addictive!”

“I think so. It’s just that Lancelot’s background and position didn’t allow him to be with Si Qi. Otherwise, at the end, he clearly could have returned to the empire with the documents himself. Why did he have to let Si Qi, who had lost everything and was branded a ‘spy,’ risk regaining the emperor’s trust? In the midst of a war, that was an unwise choice. Yet he still did it. Don’t tell me he had no personal feelings—I don’t buy that.”

“Come on, do we even need to analyze? Lancelot deliberately hid his identity to stay by Si Qi’s side, drinking with him under the moonlight. Just from the way he looked at Si Qi, you could tell his feelings. Otherwise, why would the proud Lancelot do such a thing? And that little brother obsessed with his older brother—every time he saw Chu Feng, he looked so wary. Obviously he sensed Chu Feng’s ulterior motives toward his brother! Otherwise why would he act like that, hahaha.”

Chu Feng’s face warmed as he read this, and he couldn’t help but turn his head to glance at Si Qi. He thought to himself, if even the audience could see it, then Si Qi must have noticed much earlier…

And yet, instead of rejecting him, Si Qi still chose to be his friend. Wasn’t that a kind of response in itself?

The online reactions were overwhelmingly positive, and both Chu Feng and Si Lin finally relaxed. Glancing at Si Qi calmly eating his breakfast (lunch), they thought of his confidence and quickly shared the good news with him.

“All good reviews?” Si Qi raised an eyebrow. “And besides the good reviews?”

Si Lin was puzzled. “Brother, what do you mean?” Did Si Qi actually expect there to be negative ones? His brother was so confident!

Si Qi thought for a moment and said, “Forget it. It’s only just been released. They probably haven’t reacted yet.”

Si Lin and Chu Feng looked at each other, not quite understanding what he meant.

…

Yuan Shikang and his wife were professors of astrophysics and mechanical physics. The couple spent most of the year buried in academic research. Today, urged by their daughter, they finally spared a day to take her to the movies.

“This is the film directed by Si Qi, the one who invented the AR glasses!” Their daughter was a diehard fan of Si Qi, and ever since he announced he was making a movie, she had been eagerly waiting. Now that the day had come, of course she wanted to bring her family along to support him.

The couple themselves had no interest in movies, and when they heard it was science fiction, they were even more indifferent—like how medical students can’t stand medical novels. Being professors in related fields, they couldn’t summon any interest in “sci-fi films.”

They were sure they would get pulled out of the story again and again, nitpicking the details.

But since their daughter was so excited… they didn’t want to spoil her mood. After all, movies are fictional. Why not just watch?

Thinking this way, the family of three sat among the packed audience. It seemed the film really was as highly anticipated as their daughter said.

The couple watched the big screen calmly. The lights dimmed, music began. On the black background, stars slowly appeared, more and more dazzling, as the camera swept quickly across the galaxy and zoomed down onto the barren land of a planet.

“Huh—?” Professor Yuan, who had resolved not to nitpick no matter how ridiculous the scenes were, couldn’t help but blurt out, earning a puzzled look from his daughter.

She whispered, “Dad? What is it?”

“…” Knowing it wasn’t appropriate to talk in a theater, Professor Yuan shook his head. “Nothing.”

It was just… those few flashes just now, the star distribution, the astronomy—they were identical to a remote star system he remembered…

Coincidence?

Barely five or six minutes into the film, muffled sobs began spreading in the audience. The couple, who were usually more rational than emotional, also felt their eyes heat and hearts stir.

On screen, the boy carried his unconscious younger brother, drenched in blood, picking up a fallen weapon to fight the invaders.

He was hurled by an armored adult, his body crashing into a garbage heap near the slums.

Wounded all over, he struggled to sit up, his gaze flickering as he noticed a few small pieces of metal by his side. With bloodstained fingers, he pulled them over and swiftly dismantled the electromagnetic gun he had seized earlier, revealing its intricate inner structure, and began modifying it on the spot.

His wife, watching beside him, suddenly also let out a “huh,” leaning forward as if trying to stick her head into the screen for a closer look.

“Mom… what now?” their daughter whispered.

But the professor didn’t even hear. Eyes fixed, brows furrowed, she stared unblinking at the exposed components.

On screen, the boy’s hands moved fast. Within seconds, before the enemies tracked him down, he finished the modifications.

He gently laid his brother down, lowered his body, and dashed out of the chaotic heap. With ruthless precision, he aimed and pulled the trigger.

A blast from the modified electromagnetic weapon burst out, countless times more powerful than before. The pistol exploded from overload, but the armored enemy had a hole blown clean through, the scenery behind it visible.

As the murderer who had slaughtered half the slums fell, the boy’s grief was written all over his face as he looked at his destroyed home.

The audience felt exhilarated, but the professor’s eyes widened, staring at the armor’s ingenious inner structure as if it were a priceless treasure.

When the camera quickly moved away, she even let out an urgent cry, making her daughter embarrassed.

But no matter her impatience, the story pressed forward. She leaned back, mind racing with what she had just seen, hardly remembering anything that came after.

Later, her husband suddenly exclaimed twice, while their daughter, exasperated, whispered, “What is wrong with you two?!”

Neither answered.

By the time the empire and federation engaged in massive battles, mechs and starships flying into space, both professors nearly leapt from their seats. They were more excited than young action-film fans, trembling, muttering words incomprehensible to others: “What? How could this be… isn’t this…!”

Their daughter gave up resisting, covering her face in embarrassment. But since other people were also shouting in excitement, she decided to let it go.

Still, she thought, how could her normally calm and composed parents get so worked up over a movie? It must be because her idol’s film was just that outstanding.

Comforting herself, the girl quickly immersed herself back into the story, sharing its joys and sorrows. When Lancelot finally sacrificed himself and Si Qi led the army to defeat the federation, she wiped away her tears, heart pounding, replaying the film’s images in her mind.

Many people in the theater did not get up. Most were still savoring what they had just experienced, while some excitedly or sadly discussed the plot. The daughter, her eyes still red, turned to look at her parents—only to find that they were even more agitated than she was, faces flushed red with excitement, muttering nonstop like lunatics. The girl was so startled she cried out, “Dad! Mom! What’s wrong with you?!”

The two of them raised their heads blankly, having no idea why their daughter was suddenly shouting.

They even said to her, “Don’t worry about that now. We need to watch this movie again. Go quickly and buy tickets for your mom/dad!”

The daughter grew nervous. “Y-you want to what? Buying tickets is no problem, but…”

But the way you’re acting so fanatical is terrifying!!

The parents frowned and urged her, “Hurry!”

The daughter, aggrieved, said, “…Fine.”

Watching it again was no problem—twice, even three times would be fine.

But getting tickets wasn’t so easy now, especially during the New Year holiday when theaters were packed, and especially since this was Si Qi’s first film.

The daughter came back looking guilty. “I… I couldn’t get tickets for the next showing, only for tomorrow at noon…”

“What?!” The two adults let out a heartbroken wail, unbearably disappointed.

Only then did they notice their spouse reacting the same way as themselves. They exchanged a glance, quickly realizing the reason. “You too?”

“Yes.”

It was as though they had exchanged secret signals. Their daughter stood by, utterly confused.

The two adults thought for a while, then even considered using their wide network as professors to ask around if anyone knew someone at the theater, to see if they could pull strings to get two tickets.

The daughter whispered timidly, “It’s three tickets…”

After a few phone calls, the professors managed to get the theater owner’s contact from a friend. One call later, a staff member came to meet them with a smile and led them to a screening room. “Two seats just opened up. After ticket check, no one came to claim them…”

The daughter was left standing alone in the empty lobby like a pitiful abandoned child, sighing.

What kind of parents are these? Weren’t they supposed to spend New Year’s together as a family, watching a movie?

The girl went to a tea restaurant outside the cinema, went online, and discussed the movie’s plot with netizens. Time passed quickly, and two hours later, the lobby was once again filled with people leaving the theater, their faces glowing with excitement, clearly satisfied with the film.

The daughter found her parents, but instead of looking satisfied, they immediately went back to that same staff member and said, “We want to watch it again.”

Not only did the staff find this unbelievable, but even the daughter couldn’t hold back anymore. She asked, “Dad, Mom, what’s wrong with you? No matter how good a movie is, it’s not to this extent!”

Especially since her parents normally weren’t the kind to use connections for small things. Yet today, just for a movie, they had done exactly that…

This was unbelievable!

Her parents looked at her seriously. In front of outsiders, there were some things they couldn’t say directly, so they only hinted: “This movie is not as simple as you think.”

The daughter was completely baffled.

—Huh??

While most people were immersed in Battle of the Twin Stars, raving about it online, experts around the world like Professor Yuan—specialists in their own fields—immediately sensed something was wrong. After watching the film several times, they urgently contacted relevant departments or institutes to report it.

“The movie contains undiscovered, world-class knowledge.” If anyone else said this, it would sound like a joke and be dismissed outright.

But if the ones saying it were professors who had been teaching at Imperial Capital University for over ten years?

Better safe than sorry. Officials took it seriously, obtained a copy of the film from the theater, and gathered top experts in a conference room to watch it.

They didn’t even need to finish the film. At the very first shot, the astronomers shouted for a pause. They stared at the frozen frame for a few moments, then exchanged glances and nodded firmly. “This is the star map of the G-Gamma sector.”

A staff member asked gravely, “What does that mean?”

The astronomer adjusted his glasses. “At present, the farthest region astronomy can detect is the G-Gamma sector. But with current technology, we cannot capture such a clear star map.”

Physicists and chemists, called in at short notice, frowned. “Couldn’t this just be fictional? Like using existing star photos and filling in the details virtually.”

The astronomers hesitated, then cautiously answered, “That possibility cannot be ruled out.”

The staff silently recorded everything and continued playing the film.

At the first appearance of the mecha, a mechanical engineering expert exclaimed, sitting upright, eyes fixed on the screen.

Several physicists had the same reaction.

By the time the battle ended, after seeing the laser cannon’s physical reactions, Si Qi dismantling an electromagnetic gun and modifying it with a few scrap parts, and the exposed structure of the powered armor, they couldn’t sit still anymore.

Even knowing the projection was fictional, they stepped up to the screen, analyzing the armor’s structure as if it were a priceless treasure. The more they looked, the deeper they were drawn in.

The staff asked, “Have you discovered anything?”

The experts turned their heads, still staring intently as if the staff themselves were the screen. “The internal structures fully conform to real mechanical principles—and they’re at least two levels beyond current technology! Who made this film? How could such important designs be casually shown in theaters?!”

The staff smiled bitterly. “That… we don’t know either.”

The censorship officials sitting in the corner shrank guiltily. Their job had only been to screen for political or sensitive elements. As for fictional weapons and armor—they had no clue what they were looking at!

Even if they were questioned now…

The experts pressed, “Send us this film afterward. We need to screenshot every frame, try to reconstruct the designs… If it really works…”

The more they thought about it, the more incredible it seemed. They muttered, “Could we actually recreate something like this?”

—Electromagnetic rifles and powered armor!!

The experts’ words made the staff tremble.

Unlike these academics who usually ignored the outside world, he had seen the trailer before and heard Professor Yuan’s account. He knew there would later be space battles, fleets of starships, and more.

Could those also be…

The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. He shook his head. Electromagnetic guns and armor were already outrageous enough. Starships? That was too far-fetched. Better not think too much.

The film played on. By the quarter mark, when the two leads met at the military academy, their instructor had them duel on the training ground. The tactics in the scene made the security guards—who were only there to protect the experts—look strange. One finally spoke up: “Uh…”

The staff said politely, “Please go ahead.”

The guard said, “These combat techniques… they aren’t flashy or fake. If I had to spar with that, I don’t think I could last more than a few moves before losing.”

The staff: “…?”

Wait—so not only was the hidden tech blowing experts’ minds, even the combat techniques were real?

Just what kind of extraordinary thing had Si Qi made?!