CHAPTER 303: CHAPTER 302: TOUR BY BOSS

Rex’s expression hardly changed through it all. But then, as Steven bent himself lower, flattering with everything he had, Rex’s lips curved ever so faintly... just the barest trace of a smile.

To anyone else, it would have been nothing. To Steven, it was salvation. His chest loosened as if a mountain had been lifted from his shoulders, and for the first time since this encounter began, he managed to draw a steady breath. That faint smile meant one thing... Rex was satisfied.

Clasping his hands together, Steven leaned in, his tone reverent.

"May I ask, sir, what brings you to my humble studio today?"

Rex’s voice was calm, unhurried, as though he were discussing something trivial.

"It’s for a university project. I needed information about a Hollywood studio, and my friend happened to select this one."

The words were simple, but to Steven they were like divine music. His heart leapt, his eyes almost shining with excitement. A project... yes, just a project, yet the heavens themselves could not have arranged a better gift.

"It is our absolute honor to have you here!" he exclaimed, bowing his head slightly, voice trembling with eagerness. "Truly, you could not have chosen a better place. Please, allow me to personally give you a tour. Nothing will be hidden from you."

Without waiting for a reply, Steven gestured grandly, already walking beside Rex with the air of a loyal guide. He began explaining every detail of the studio’s workings... the departments, the budgets, the schedules, the internal politics, things he would never dream of sharing with outsiders. His words poured out in a torrent, polished yet sincere, his tone reverent as if each explanation was a tribute to Rex.

Behind them, the employees stood frozen. Their jaws slack, their eyes wide, they looked like a group of people who had just witnessed a collective hallucination. Moments ago, Steven was their untouchable, domineering boss... the man who would never bow to anyone. And now, he was practically groveling, smiling nervously, showering another man with praises like a humble servant.

Even though curiosity gnawed at them, even though whispers buzzed beneath the surface... about the mysterious party, the sudden visit, this unknown "big shot"... no one dared to speak aloud. At least, not where Steven could hear.

On the surface, they returned to their work, shuffling papers, tapping keyboards, pretending as though nothing had happened. But their private group chats told another story. Within minutes, every secret employee group was flooded with messages, rumors, and frantic speculation. Screens lit up as theories spread like wildfire... who was he, what was happening, why was Steven acting like this?

For the employees, it was madness. For Steven, it was destiny.

Steven walked with brisk steps, every gesture showing respect, like a courtier guiding a king through his palace. Rex followed with the same calm composure, hands loosely behind his back, his expression betraying neither surprise nor excitement.

"This way, sir," Steven said, pushing open a pair of glass doors that led deeper into the studio complex.

They entered a wide hallway lined with framed posters of past productions... some blockbusters, some modest television projects. Steven motioned proudly.

" "These posters? They’re not just decoration. They’re assets. These... these are our legacy. Every studio lives or dies by the strength of its library. Distribution rights, streaming deals, syndication... they’re the real lifeblood. A movie might bomb in theaters, but twenty years later, it’s still feeding us through cable and overseas television."

Rex gave the faintest smile again, and Steven’s chest loosened with relief. He carried on.

Steven then ushered him toward a large set floor. Inside, towering set pieces stood half-built, lights hung from cranes, and a camera rig gleamed under work lamps. Crew members froze at the sight of Steven escorting Rex personally, their jaws almost dropping, but Steven didn’t notice, or didn’t care. He gestured broadly.

"This is Stage Four. We shoot most of our mid-budget projects here. You see, every soundstage is a sealed box... you control everything, light, sound, weather. In fact, it costs us nearly fifty thousand dollars a week just to keep this one operational."

The girls trailed behind, wide-eyed. To them, this was like stepping into another world, one they had only seen through gossip sites and behind-the-scenes clips. One whispered to another, "I thought Hollywood was just actors and cameras... I didn’t know it was all this," and they all nodded, awestruck.

He lowered his voice slightly, leaning in as though sharing a state secret.

"The truth is, very few films make a profit on theatrical release. That’s why we partner early with distributors, secure pre-sales in foreign markets. Germany, Japan, and China are crucial. Without those deals, even the biggest stars won’t save you."

They walked past racks of props, some half-finished set pieces, and a camera rig worth more than most houses or fancy sports cars. Steven pointed at it eagerly.

"That’s a Panavision Millennium DXL2... custom sensors, industry standard for big features. Renting it is about a thousand dollars a day, and that’s without the lenses. A single lens can cost over two hundred grand."

Rex’s expression didn’t change, but Steven, mistaking silence for deep interest, pressed on.

Next, he led Rex into the post-production wing. Here, rows of editors sat hunched over glowing monitors, cutting and stitching together footage. The air smelled faintly of coffee and stress.

"Post-production is where the magic happens," Steven explained. "Even a bad shot can be salvaged with color grading, CGI, or ADR. Do you know, most dialogue in films isn’t even what was recorded on set? We re-record it in a booth later. With CGI, we can erase entire buildings or add them. Sometimes the final cut looks nothing like what was shot."

Steven, riding high on Rex’s faintest smile, decided to go all in. He waved them out of the post-production wing and into a quieter corridor where the walls were lined with glass offices. Executives in expensive suits sat inside, talking too fast into headsets.

(End of Chapter)