Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Director Liu stood quietly with his hands behind his back for a while, watching the scene unfold, the smile on his lips growing wider and wider.

He forced a smile, touched his head, turned and left, no longer observing, thinking to himself: It seems that Jiang Mingyue is not only a good actress, but also very smart.

She knows exactly how to avoid stealing the spotlight.

Jiang Mingyue's acting skills far surpass Yin Manman's.

Director Liu and Zhang Xin were worried that Yin Manman would discover the issue of suppressing the filming, and then threaten the crew, forcing them to put pressure on Jiang Mingyue, demanding that she restrain her acting skills and perform poorly, which would lead to a conflict.

Therefore, they specifically sent a message to Fu Qian, vaguely expressing their hope that Fu Qian could represent the Fu family to come to the film set to check on the filming progress.

This action is actually very easy to misunderstand.

Director Liu could easily imagine what Fu Qian's thoughts were like when he received the call.

—Those rich young men all had the same idea: they thought they were rich and powerful, and everyone should be clinging to them. The production crew invited him over just to act as a pimp, to send Jiang Mingyue to his bed after filming was over, in exchange for Fu Qian speaking well of him to Fu Xiachuan so that Fu Xiachuan wouldn't block the production crew's investment.

Fu Qian didn't care what he thought, since the film crew only had about ten days to shoot in Ningcheng anyway.

Once Jiang Mingyue finished filming her scenes here, she flew to Hengdian. Fu Qian couldn't reach her, so all his thoughts were in vain.

As long as Fu Qian behaves himself as the "beast-suppressor" here, keeping Yin Manman in check and preventing her from losing her temper, no amount of cursing from Fu Qian will work. They never said they wanted to be pimps.

This was Director Liu's original plan, but after seeing how Jiang Mingyue handled the issue of suppressing scenes, Director Liu felt that all the previous maneuvers were unnecessary.

Jiang Mingyue never challenged Yin Manman's position as the absolute protagonist, always keeping Yin Manman at the center of the shot.

However, Yin Manman's acting skills are basically limited to standing still and performing.

When Yin Manman and Jiang Mingyue were in the same frame, Jiang Mingyue behind her was always doing something. Her expression was clear and distinct as she moved around in front of the camera.

Furthermore, she always kept herself in Yin Manman's blind spot.

Therefore, no matter how much Jiang Mingyue showcases her acting skills, Yin Manman will never notice that she is being overshadowed!

Only actors who have played supporting roles for many years understand how to use this technique. Where did Jiang Mingyue learn it from?

This cannot be explained simply by having high talent!

"That's right, she mentioned that she grew up with a performing arts troupe, so she must have learned it by accident before." Director Liu slapped his forehead, realizing he had found the explanation.

As Director Liu walked back, he finally felt completely relieved.

The subsequent filming went exceptionally smoothly.

Jiang Mingyue said she wanted to compress her scenes into three days, and she actually did it.

"Okay, you kept your word. Take a rest. I'll discuss with Director Liu which day to send you to Hengdian. Just be back before dinner. Remember to let the production crew know where you are when you go out."

A smile instantly filled Jiang Mingyue's face, and she immediately grabbed Zhang Xin's hand and shook it vigorously: "Thank you, Director Zhang, I'm going home for a bit."

After saying that, her slender figure rushed back to the hotel.

"So impulsive, just like a child." Zhang Xin shook his head and sighed with a smile.

After quickly finishing her skin cleansing and care routine, Jiang Mingyue casually tied her hair into a low ponytail and changed into a long T-shirt and comfortable stretch shapewear.

She was about to pack her bag and leave when her phone battery dropped to 16%.

...I won't make it home.

Jiang Mingyue sighed regretfully, first plugging in her phone to charge, then using the hotel's landline to call Liang Shuanglan: "Mom, it's me. Has the Han family contacted you to do a paternity test with Han Jialan? It's been several days, the report should be out by now."

A barrage of questions were presented to Liang Shuanglan, but her eyes only held a smile.

She leaned back on her hospital bed and, under the gaze of the patient in the nearby bed, proudly announced, "My daughter called me."

Jiang Mingyue could clearly hear Liang Shuanglan's voice through the microphone, "Mom, you're in the hospital?"

Liang Shuanglan's voice was a little weak: "Well, since you're not home, the doctor told me that the old lady who kept calling out at night has been discharged and won't bother me to rest anymore. I figured it would be convenient to eat at the hospital, so I came to stay for a few days. I'll go home when you come back."

...So I stayed in the rented room specifically to cook for her.

Jiang Mingyue felt a lump in her throat and decided not to mention that she had a half-day off. Instead, she continued to ask about the paternity test.

"The results aren't out yet," Liang Shuanglan sighed into the phone, complaining. "Tell me, how can they do things like this? Stealing someone else's daughter's genetic sample is so easy, but when it comes to their own child needing a paternity test, they make excuses and drag their feet on giving us the results."

Jiang Mingyue was surprised that the Han family was delaying the issue of Han Jialan's background: "They just said they were unwilling to do it?"

"They just called me this morning and said I'm currently undergoing treatment and they're worried about the medication I'm taking and the results of my imaging tests. They said we should wait until I'm fully recovered before doing a paternity test together."

The more Liang Shuanglan wanted to know the whereabouts of her biological daughter, the more disgusted she became with the Han family's current actions.

The Han family wanted their daughter, and even though it was illegal, they obtained Jiang Mingyue's hair or blood to verify her identity. But when it came time for the Han family to return their daughter—if Han Jialan really was their daughter—they didn't want to give her back, so Liang Shuanglan could only wait without even a specific date being given.

Jiang Mingyue softened her voice and persuaded, "Mom, actually I was quite happy to hear that they didn't produce a paternity test. If there's no result, I can never have anything to do with the Han family again. They're all quite cunning."

"Hope?" Liang Shuanglan didn't understand the internet slang from a few years later.

"Sentenced."

"Haha, you silly child." Liang Shuanglan was immediately amused.

Liang Shuanglan shifted, leaning back against the headboard to make herself more comfortable and relaxed: "Let them check if they want, Mom doesn't like the Han family either, she thinks they're irresponsible. I don't want my child to be raised in a family like that."

After she finished speaking, she couldn't help but yawn.

Jiang Mingyue immediately said, "Mom, you rest, I'm going to get back to work."

After hanging up the phone, the battery level had dropped to 53%.

Jiang Mingyue told the stage manager that she was going to the hospital, put on her baseball cap, and left with her backpack.

Jiang Mingyue appeared in the oncology department of the inpatient ward, carrying bananas and grapes.

"Why is Mingyue here!" Liang Shuanglan exclaimed with delight.

"I finished filming ahead of schedule, and the assistant director gave me half a day off. I'm going to wash some fruit." Jiang Mingyue put her bag on the bed and immediately washed the grapes she had brought, handing them to Liang Shuanglan.

She found discarded clothes stuffed under the hospital bed, so she took a basin into the washroom and washed Liang Shuanglan's clothes and pants, then hung them out to dry on the balcony.

The old lady lying in the bed next to Liang Shuanglan's looked on with shining eyes, praising Liang Shuanglan incessantly: "Shuanglan, your daughter is so beautiful! Is she dating anyone? My grandson is a nice guy, let the children meet him."

Liang Shuanglan refused outright: "No need, Mingyue is still too young."

"Don't be so quick to refuse. My grandson is very handsome, and he'll be here soon. Why don't you take a look and see—"

"Ms. Zhou, I've come to see you." A young man, also wearing a baseball cap, entered the ward carrying a fruit basket.

He took off his mask and placed the fruit basket on the bedside table. "Ms. Zhou, these are your favorite strawberries and red grapes. I didn't make a mistake this time, so don't blame me."

His presence in the room made the ward feel crowded.

Jiang Mingyue turned around and saw Lan Xu, a popular singer who had recently become a sensation after being sent to a talent show by GIGABYTE Entertainment Media.

"Why didn't you remind me when there were young women around?" Lan Xu hurriedly pulled her mask back onto her face.

Grandma Zhou slapped her grandson on the leg: "You little devil! Take off your mask. Do you really think everyone loves your face? Besides, the girl is pretty, who cares about you?"

How good-looking can an average person's face be?

Jiang Mingyue walked back from the balcony, and Lan Xu finally saw her face, which was backlit.

There are plenty of good-looking faces in the entertainment industry, but why does someone look like this?

Holy crap, can something naturally grow up to look like this? It's so beautiful!

Lan Xu stood there, mouth agape, stunned.