When Director Chen lost his temper, no one dared approach him except the assistant director, who went over to calm him down.
"Director Chen, don't be angry. You know his background. It's not unusual for him to arrive late. Let's just not argue with him."
Director Chen forced down his anger. Telling the actor to get lost had only been said in the heat of the moment. The other party was not only a popular celebrity but also came from a family with some influence. Director Chen truly could not afford to offend him.
Still, the situation was infuriating.
"Forget him. We'll shoot Xia Qing's scenes first. Go tell Feiyan to get ready."
"Right away, Director Chen. I'll notify Feiyan."
The assistant director headed toward the production van outside.
He privately felt fortunate that when filming had begun two days earlier, Zhuo Fan, the male lead, had performed reasonably well in the very first scene. If he had been as outrageous as he was today, Director Chen might have started shouting about replacing the lead.
After the assistant director went outside, Chu Qing walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window. He saw him knock on a van window and say something.
The door opened, and a slender young woman with delicate features stepped out. She wore a honey-colored coat.
"That's Fang Feiyan, one of the newly popular young actresses. My classmates talk about her all the time. I wish I could be as lucky as she is."
Chu Qing turned toward the young woman he had seen in the makeup room.
She had an oval face, but not the unnaturally pointed kind produced by cosmetic surgery. Her cheeks still held a little baby fat, making her look cute.
Seeing him look over, she introduced herself. "Hello. I'm Su Xiaona. I just graduated from an acting academy, and I'm playing An Ying."
"I'm Chu Qing. I play Lu Ning. Nice to meet you."
As he finished, Fang Feiyan entered. "Let's go over and watch."
Both Chu Qing and Su Xiaona had scenes in the afternoon. Watching the others film first would help them adapt to life on set.
Su Xiaona had no objection and followed him to stand in a corner.
The current scene showed the heroine, Xia Qing, returning home exhausted after a frustrating day of job hunting.
Because Xia Qing's home was simple and modest, the crew could simply build an interior set.
Locations such as the male lead's villa, his office, and banquet scenes, however, had to be rented for filming.
Fang Feiyan had already finished her makeup and changed clothes in the van, so once everything was prepared, filming began immediately.
"*Warm Sunshine in Midsummer*, Scene Two, Take One—action!"
Chu Qing watched Fang Feiyan walk into the room and naturally collapse face-first onto the sofa. With a kick, she sent her shoes flying.
"I'm exhausted."
Xia Qing spoke weakly. The moment she rested her head on a cushion, the phone inside her bag began ringing.
She was so tired that she did not want to move, but she still rolled over, pulled the phone from her bag, and answered.
Watching Fang Feiyan's movements, Chu Qing thought she must have studied physical performance specifically. Even while turning to take out the phone, she maintained an attractive posture while still conveying the heroine's exhaustion and laziness.
She was talented.
No wonder she had become a rising popular actress at such a young age. She might be lucky, but she genuinely had ability as well.
• • •
"Pass. We'll add a close-up later."
Although Fang Feiyan had performed well, they still filmed additional close shots.
By the time she finished, Zhuo Fan, who played the male lead Sheng Ye, finally arrived late.
"I'm sorry, Director Chen. Something delayed Zhuo Fan. I apologize on his behalf."
The person apologizing was a mature woman in a professional suit, wearing a contrite smile.
She was Zhuo Fan's manager, Han Ying, one of Yaxuan Entertainment's top managers.
Zhuo Fan stood behind her with his chin slightly raised, looking somewhat rebellious.
Director Chen stared at them with a tight expression. "I hope there won't be a next time." After a pause, he added, "If Mr. Zhuo truly can't get up in the morning, he can sleep at the hotel arranged by the production."
Zhuo Fan lifted his chin. "I don't like sharing a room with someone else."
When Han Ying saw Director Chen's expression darken, she leaned toward Zhuo Fan and whispered, "Behave. Otherwise I'll tell President Gu that you're causing trouble again."
The moment Zhuo Fan thought of Sister Gu pinching his ear, his arrogance immediately deflated. He became obedient at once.
Han Ying turned back to Director Chen with a smile. "Don't worry, Director Chen. Zhuo Fan will definitely cooperate with filming and won't cause trouble."
Director Chen's expression improved somewhat. He looked at Zhuo Fan. "Go get your makeup done. You have scenes later."
Han Ying accompanied Zhuo Fan to the makeup room and told his assistant, Li, to keep an eye on him.
As she stepped out, her phone rang.
She took it out and saw a call from President Gu. "Hello, President Gu."
Gu Yazhen's voice came through. "Zhuo Fan hasn't caused trouble, has he?"
"No. He's behaved these past few days."
"Good. If Big Brother Zhuo hadn't asked me personally, I wouldn't have assigned you to manage him. Please be patient with him."
"You're too polite, President Gu. It's part of my job."
Gu Yazhen paused as though thinking, then asked, "The production has started filming, right?"
"Yes. Filming began two days ago."
"I'll go take a look in a couple of days."
Han Ying laughed. "That would be excellent. Director Chen will certainly be happy to see you."
"All right. I'll hang up first."
Only after Gu Yazhen ended the call did Han Ying continue outside.
As she passed the set, she noticed a clean-cut young man standing in a corner beside a young woman, watching Director Chen film.
He had an excellent temperament. She wondered whether he had signed with a company.
Han Ying almost walked over, then remembered that she was already managing the troublemaker Zhuo Fan as well as a newcomer named Xu Shuting. Her time and energy were limited, so she withdrew her foot and left.
• • •
Chu Qing sensed someone looking at him and turned curiously, only catching the back of a woman in a professional suit.
He looked away and continued watching Fang Feiyan act.
A while later, Zhuo Fan finished his makeup.
The crew took their vehicles to the villa they had rented for filming.
It was an elegant garden-style villa.
Once inside, those who were not accustomed to luxurious places could not help looking around.
"Be careful and don't touch things recklessly. If you break anything, you'll have to pay for it," the assistant director warned.
"We know. Can we go upstairs and look around?"
The assistant director knew the villa owner had already removed the most valuable items, so he casually nodded. "Go ahead, but don't damage anything."
"Don't worry. We'll remember."
Several staff members headed upstairs.
Su Xiaona also wanted to look. She turned to Chu Qing. "Brother Chu, shall we go upstairs too?"
Chu Qing paused, surprised she called him Brother Chu, but did not comment. He nodded and accompanied her to the second floor.
Then someone exclaimed, "Come look! That garden villa over there is beautiful!"
Chu Qing and Su Xiaona went to the window and saw an even more beautiful garden villa in the distance.
A staff member said, "Whoever lives there must be extremely rich or powerful."
Chu Qing noticed security personnel patrolling the grounds. "Whoever lives there, it isn't our place to pry. Let's go back downstairs before someone misunderstands."
Several staff members also noticed the security and nodded, calling the others to go down.
• • •
Everyone gathered downstairs to prepare for filming.
Two scenes remained for the day. The first showed the male lead returning to the family residence to visit his sick mother and eat with her.
In the second, the male lead received a call from the company and asked someone to bring documents to the villa.
Chu Qing's Lu Ning was an employee from the relevant department bringing the documents for Sheng Ye to sign. Su Xiaona's assistant character, An Ying, would accompany him to the villa, then go with the male lead and his mother to the hospital for a checkup.
They filmed Sheng Ye returning home first.
Chu Qing watched from the side. Zhuo Fan stumbled through several takes before finally finding the right feeling and finishing successfully. He was clearly not professionally trained. Still, although Zhuo Fan was somewhat arrogant, he did listen when Director Chen explained the scene.
By the time they finished, it was already noon. Seeing everyone was tired, the director told them to rest and eat boxed lunches.
Chu Qing accepted a meal from a staff member. It contained rice, stir-fried pork with green peppers, a little eggplant, and stir-fried celery.
He had just taken one bite when he heard Zhuo Fan complain unhappily.
"What kind of food is this? It tastes awful."
"Brother Zhuo, what do you want to eat? I'll buy it," his assistant Li asked.
Zhuo Fan named several dishes, and Li nodded before leaving to buy them.
Chu Qing glanced over twice, then lowered his head and continued eating his boxed lunch. He did not think it tasted bad. It was fine. Certainly better than chewing dry instant noodles.
After finishing, Chu Qing still had not seen Zhuo Fan's assistant return, so he decided to take a walk outside.
He had not gone far when he heard a dog barking.
Curious, he changed direction and walked toward the sound.
Before long, he saw a middle-aged woman in her fifties wearing an expensive but understated coat. She had one hand braced against her lower back and seemed uncomfortable. A Golden Retriever circled anxiously around her legs, barking from time to time.
Chu Qing quickened his pace. "Auntie, are you all right?"
The woman raised her eyes toward the handsome young man who had suddenly appeared. "I'm fine. I just twisted my back a little."
"Let me help you to that bench so you can sit for a while."
There were surveillance cameras nearby, so Chu Qing was not worried about encountering someone unreasonable. Besides, the woman did not look like that type.
She likewise showed no fear and extended an arm for him to support her.
Chu Qing helped her to the bench, then walked over to the Golden Retriever, picked up its leash, and led it back.
"How do you feel now?"
"Much better."
"Where do you live? I can call a taxi to take you home."
"No need. I live in that garden villa over there." She pointed toward the villa in the distance.
Chu Qing was surprised. He had not expected the woman before him to be the owner of that elegant, traditional-style villa.
"Would you like me to walk you home?" he asked seriously.
When she nodded, Chu Qing helped her up and walked with her toward the villa, holding the Golden Retriever's leash.
This garden villa was much larger than the one the production had rented.
"Madam, are you all right?"
Two security guards noticed them and came over. One watched the unfamiliar young man warily while the other asked about the woman's condition.
She shook her head. "I'm fine. I just twisted my back. Fortunately, I met this young man." She looked at Chu Qing. "Would you like to come in and sit for a while?"
Chu Qing shook his head. "No, thank you. I have to get back to filming, so I won't disturb you."
He handed the leash to one of the guards and turned away.
"What a good child," the woman said. She asked the guards to look after the Golden Retriever, then slowly went inside.
At the entrance hall, she saw her husband in the living room with his head lowered over a newspaper, not even looking at her.
She immediately called out, "Gu Minghan, hurry over and help me!"
