The televisions installed throughout the club simultaneously switched to a certain cable station, and an artistic drama began to air.


    The film''s main selling point was its cast of handsome men and beautiful women, with looks and figures that were absolutely top-notch.


    As for other aspects, it''s better not to mention them.


    After all, even the background music was royalty-free ssical music.


    Kelly, in good spirits, joked on purpose, "I remember, the supporting actress battles zombies?"


    Martin went along with her and said, "Invest in one, and I''ll perform for you how I battle thedy zombies specially."


    After downing a ss of wine and feeling slightly tipsy, Kelly said, "I''ll discuss it with Benjamin, have him write a script, so that your... How do your crew says it?"


    Sheughed so hard she doubled over, "Barrage them without mercy!"


    Martin asked, "Catherine? Or Benjamin? I need to settle the score with themter."


    Kelly looked up at the television, "Your scene is starting."


    On stage, Hart''s voice reminded the audience, "Our hunk, Martin is making his appearance, look! He''s holding a gun, charging at the beauty, ready to snatch her away!"


    He spoke with extra exaggeration, "Cheer for Martin, the thrilling moment has arrived, we''ll soon get to enjoy Martin battling..."


    Hart couldn''t finish his sentence, as the character Martin yed was shot in the head by the protagonist on the TV screen and died on the spot.


    Even more tragic was the fact that he died with his eyes wide open, as the male lead and the supporting actress staged an epic battle right in front of him, costing billions.


    Bruce was sympathetic and came over tofort him, "Others do and you watch..."


    Martin consoled himself, "I had a close-up shot! Did you see? My very first film and I got a close-up!"


    The deranged director, Benjamin-Calvin, to emphasize the contrast, actually gave a close-up shot to a background character.


    Seeing the atmosphere cool down a bit, Hart, not wanting to make Martin feel bad, came up with a quick-witted joke, "Martin Davis, you really do want to blow up the Earth!"


    The entire ce was shocked, then burst intoughter.


    Kelly wasughing so hard she covered her face with one hand and kept pping the bar counter with the other.


    Full of indignation, Martin said, "Is it that funny?"


    "Sorry." Kelly tried to hold back herughter, but when she raised her head and saw Martin''s handsome face, she remembered his panicked expression as he stared at the leads and startedughing again.


    Martinmented, "That''s it, my good reputation is gone!"


    Kelly put away her smile, suddenly stood up, asked for a microphone, and announced loudly, "I''m buying everyone a drink, to Martin Davis, he''s a good actor!"


    What had been a room full ofughter turned into apuse and cheers, encouraged by the prospect of a free drink courtesy of Kelly.


    "Martin, your acting was amazing!"


    "That look of terror on your face will stay with me for a week."


    Many, however, were still damn inappropriate.


    "Handsome, I''m the Earth,e over here!"


    "Auntie will help you maintain your weapon!"


    "I want to check your ammo reserve!"


    The servers began to carry out the beers, and finally, the noise subsided.


    Martin poured himself a ss of whiskey and poured Kelly a ss of fruit wine, "Too scary, Hell has emptied, and the demons are among us."


    Kelly eximed, "You''re lucky to have made it this far."


    "Because no matter how much money they throw at me, or how they tempt me, I don''t budge." Martin was full of integrity, "I know what my goal is."


    He was always honest, "I want to be an actor, a star!"


    Kelly cautioned him, "That''s a tough journey."


    Martin clinked sses with her, "For someone like me, what road is easy? An easy road is to join a gang in the slums, be ackey selling flour and seaweed, not knowing when I might die in a filthy ditch."


    He shrugged, "The hard road and the easy road, to me, are actually the same, all damn near impossible."


    Kelly didn''t mind Martin''s coarsenguage, instead, she felt a twinge of emotion to his genuine expressions, "Life is always such a bitch."


    Martin downed his drink in one gulp, "Always a bitch."


    Kelly finished her fruit wine, settled the beer tab with Bruce, and turned back, "Martin, talking to you is rxing, you''re an interesting guy." She took out 20 US dors and ced it on the bar, "Same old rule, the drinks are on you, the tip is on me."


    Martin pocketed the money, "I won''t stand on ceremony then."


    "You''ve bought me drinks twice, I''ll treat you to a meal next time. Forget it, I can''t say when I''ll be free, I''ll call you," Kelly said before leaving, suddenly gesturing Martin over with a crooked finger. When he leaned closer, she whispered, "One of these days, I''ll introduce you to someone."


    Martin naturally wondered, "Who is it, so secretive?"


    Kelly waved it off, "You''ll find out when the timees."


    If nothing else, just for that one Paper ne cocktail, thedy lush would definitelye over.


    As the crowd gradually dispersed, Bruce asked, "That''s it, she''s leaving?"


    Martin was bemused, "If not leaving, should she stay?"


    Bruce nodded, "I get it now, your real talent is all in your mouth."


    Martin, much thicker-skinned than Bruce, immediately shot back, "Of course, not like you, all on your tongue."


    The bar business was still booming, with a footfall increase of more than a thirdpared to before. By closing time, Martin''s two jacket pockets were stuffed with two big piles of tips, and he called Bruce, who hitched a ride, to head back to Marietta with him.


    Bruce''s old pickup couldn''t take it anymore, and he was also nning to get another car.


    Arriving at the Bakka Community, Bruce got out of the car, and seeing that his house was lit up, Martin called out deliberately, "Old Cloth, don''t go round the back."


    Bruce left behind a proudly raised middle finger.


    Martin returned home to see lights on in the front yard of the Carter family and hurried over.


    Elena and her siblings were in the yard having a midnight snack.


    Martin asked, "Feeling lively?"


    Elena tossed a beer can his way, "We were waiting for you."


    "Waiting for me?"


    "Quit your yapping," Elena said to Harris, "Watch the house!"


    Then to Lily and Hol, she said, "You two,e with me."


    Martin asked, "Where are we going?"


    "You drive, we''re waiting. You''ll find out when we get there," Elena replied.


    Without objection, Martin drove the car from the back yard to the front door.


    The three got in the car, and Elena wound down the passenger window, "To the church graveyard."


    Martin started the car and headed in that direction, asking, "Wood?"


    "Worthless stuff, Scott the bastard wouldn''t steal it," Elena said.


    Protect against fire, thieves, and old man!


    This was the area where the poor congregated, the Methodist church''s graveyard was enclosed by a simple wooden fence. Poor people, vagrants, stray cats and dogs, and the like had long since riddled the wooden fence with holes.


    Martin turned off the car lights early and drove over leisurely. Four people got out and began to dismantle the wooden fence.


    Lily nced into the graveyard and asked in a low voice, "Could a female ghoste out and snatch Martin away?"


    Pointing to the nearest hole, Martin said, "Idiot, do you see that? That''s a grave."


    Lily turned pale with fright, "A female ghost ising out?" Her voice trembling, she said, "Hey, can you hear me? Take Martin with you, don''t take us..."


    In a sinister tone, Martin said, "If you don''t shut your trap, I''ll bury you in that hole!"


    Lily dared not speak anymore.


    The four of them, dismantling and smashing away, carried off half the trunk full of wooden fence, and retreated into the night.


    Holle suggested carrying back a coffin nk for Harris to use as a bed board, but Martin pped him on the back of the head.


    Holle was indignant, not wanting to see that fool Martin anymore; he got in the car andy in the back seat, watching behind.


    In the distance, a big house not far from the graveyard suddenly shed its lights, and Holle caught a glimpse of a girl running out, chased by someone else.


    Before he could get a clear look, the lights went out again.


    Holle scratched his head and thought nothing of it.


    Poor people can''t even take care of themselves.