From Trash to Treasure: The Sinclair Family's Beloved Genius

Chloe Sinclair was taken aback by what Eight said.

Thinking about how she’d been completely engrossed in her experiments lately, barely even touching her phone, a guilty expression surfaced on her face.

"After we wrap. Director Lancaster will be posting on social media anyway."

She could make a post then to let her fans know.

Eight quickly nodded, its whole machine-self getting excited. If the situation allowed, Chloe Sinclair felt like Eight would probably be dancing inside the system.

Chloe Sinclair chatted for a little while longer before quickly getting back in the zone.

Coincidentally, Chloe Sinclair’s progress bar had just reached 50%, which meant she could now run a simulated shoot within the system.

Soon, the scene in the system transformed into one identical to reality. Chloe Sinclair stood on the edge of a cliff, marveling internally. ’As expected of high-tech from the future. The simulation is so realistic.’

’It would probably take humanity hundreds of years to achieve this level of technology.’

"The holographic technology of the future is this advanced."

Chloe Sinclair touched the stone cliff face next to her, surprised to find that it even had texture.

"I’d really love to meet the person who invented you."

Eight was silent for a moment before saying, "You’ll have the chance."

Chloe Sinclair raised an eyebrow, not understanding why Eight would say that.

But she had always known that Eight and the system had their secrets, a dividing line that separated them from her.

Though she had been suspicious for a long time, Chloe Sinclair had never asked about it.

’If the system wanted to tell me, it would have done so long ago.’

Chloe Sinclair didn’t press the issue, and Eight clearly breathed a sigh of relief.

Being a machine really was better.

Chloe Sinclair rehearsed the scene several times in the system. More than ten hours later, she was woken up by someone, her eyes slightly red.

As Chloe Sinclair opened her eyes, they immediately felt sore and achy, and an overwhelming sadness washed over her entire body.

In the gloomy mountains, Chloe Sinclair’s senses picked up the sound of heavy rain hitting the leaves and splashing onto the ground.

Director Lancaster was still rushing between locations to set up the scene. As he passed Chloe Sinclair’s tent, he happened to glimpse her reddened eyes and the inescapable emotion radiating from her. He stopped dead in his tracks.

A moment later, his eyes lit up with pleasant surprise. He walked over to Chloe Sinclair and said, "Chloe, that’s the emotion! Hold on to it. I’ll get the other actors ready right now."

Chloe Sinclair still hadn’t snapped out of it.

She glanced at Director Lancaster and was startled to realize that two hours had already passed in the outside world.

After a moment’s daze, she slowly nodded, the emotion in her eyes yet to fade.

Seeing this, Paul Lancaster hurried off to get the other actors ready.

The production crew had waited for over half a month for this rain. If they didn’t get the shot this time, they would have to wait for the next downpour.

After Director Lancaster left, Chloe Sinclair remained seated for a long time. It wasn’t until the makeup artist came over to check on her makeup that Chloe finally registered that she had left the system and returned to reality.

She had to admit, the system’s holography was just too real. From the surrounding trees and rocks to the non-existent people, once she started, she felt as if she truly were the character Vivian. The fear, despair, and unwillingness to die flooded through her.

"Chloe, the director is calling for you."

The makeup artist’s words pulled Chloe Sinclair back to the present.

The dazed look in her red-rimmed eyes made the makeup artist’s heart flutter.

"Okay, I’ll be right there."

Chloe Sinclair nodded at her and then stood up to leave.

She wasn’t wearing any makeup today. As soon as she stepped out, rain began to stream down her cheeks and drip to the ground.

The other actors were already in position. Paul Lancaster finished checking the equipment and saw Chloe Sinclair approaching.

Paul Lancaster was wearing a black leather raincoat, but it did little to shield him from the wind and the rain lashing against his face.

"Don’t be scared when you go up on the wires in a bit. If you have any problems, communicate them immediately, understand?"

Thunder rumbled faintly in the mountains, and the rain beat down relentlessly. Director Lancaster had to shout to make himself heard.

As he spoke, the stunt rigger happened to walk over.

Chloe Sinclair understood immediately and said, "I’m ready."

It was Chloe Sinclair’s first time doing wire work, and everyone was incredibly nervous.

Especially Gabriel Sinclair, who wouldn’t stop talking to the stunt rigger.

"Friend, did you check the wires carefully? Are you sure they’re safe?"

"Don’t let my sister get hurt, okay?"

"Chloe, don’t be scared. It’s normal to feel weird your first time on wires. Let me tell you, you’ll feel like your center of gravity is off, but that’s okay. You’ll get used to it after a couple of tries."

Even though Gabriel Sinclair was rambling on and on beside her, Chloe Sinclair didn’t show the slightest bit of irritation. In fact, she would occasionally murmur a reply.

Finally, seeing how anxious he was, she couldn’t help but comfort him. "Brother, don’t worry. I’ll be fine."

Gabriel Sinclair: "Okay, okay, I’m not worried."

After he said it, he felt like something wasn’t quite right.

When he came to his senses, he realized his little sister had just been humoring him.

Seeing Chloe Sinclair’s calm expression and red-rimmed eyes, Gabriel Sinclair was instantly at a loss for words. He took a step back and didn’t disturb her further.

Seeing that Chloe Sinclair’s emotional preparation was just about perfect, Director Lancaster walked over to the monitor, raised the clapperboard, and yelled, "Action!"

In the shot, the storm had drained the world of color, and thunder boomed overhead.

Rocks continuously broke loose from the mountaintop, tumbling down the cliff face to land at Vivian’s feet before falling to the chasm below. A long moment later, a dull thud echoed up.

Vivian walked along the path that had trapped the mountain’s people for generations, clutching a piece of equipment that weighed dozens of pounds. She held it tightly with both hands, shielding it from every drop of water.

CRACK!

Suddenly, a clap of thunder echoed directly over Vivian’s head. The next second, the ground beneath her feet gave way.

Vivian’s feet found only air, and she plummeted straight off the cliff.

A figure in white slammed repeatedly against the cliff face as she fell.

With a THUD, her body landed on the soft earth.

But from the back of her head, streams of crimson blood gushed out, soaking into the ochre-colored mud. No matter how hard the rain washed over it, it could not dilute the jarring red.

Vivian’s body trembled uncontrollably, a purely physiological reaction, but her only conscious action was to hold the equipment tightly in her arms.

Feeling that the equipment was still intact, Vivian seemed to let out a great sigh of relief. The next moment, her pupils contracted. Her bloodshot eyes stared blankly at the sky, and the life drained out of them.

A long time passed before Paul Lancaster snapped out of it, his eyes filled with shock. He quickly yelled, "Cut!" and ran over himself.

The staff had been on standby nearby. As soon as they heard the director call an end to the scene, they rushed over to help Chloe Sinclair up.

Chloe Sinclair was covered in mud and felt bad about letting others touch her, so she took the towel from a crew member and said, "Thank you."

Paul Lancaster ran over from the small slope where he’d been standing.

Chloe Sinclair looked up and asked, "Director, was that okay?"

Director Lancaster exclaimed, "Okay? It was perfect! A one-take wonder! No other take could possibly be better than that one."