Chapter 28
A huge pig's head was placed on the altar. The director, actors, and crew members went up to light incense one after another. Zhou Li also lit a stick of incense. The cameraman turned on the camera and took a group photo of everyone present. The director announced that the opening ceremony was successfully completed.
On the first day of filming, we will arrange a simple rivalry scene to get a good start.
Zhou Li had read the script and knew a little about the plot. A lot of the filming this time was done indoors, and there were also outdoor scenes, but they required traveling overseas.
The first scene is the rivalry between Chunshui and Lizhi. In the script, Tang Huai takes the initiative to solicit customers and brings them to her home. This place is both her place for prostitution and her only home.
"Cut! Very good!" The director clapped his hands with satisfaction, and everyone followed suit. Needless to say, the two actors were both talented actors, and the scene was over quickly. After they finished filming, the reporters who had been waiting for a long time came over.
"I heard there are two female leads this time. Who will be the first and second?"
"Chunshui, you haven't acted for three years. How do you feel about acting this time?"
"Lizhi, how do you feel about your first collaboration with Chunshui?"
Chunshui retracted the seductive smile Tang Huai had put on her earlier performance and instantly became herself. She was quick to enter and exit the role. Lizhi was still immersed in the performance she had just entered with Tang Huai. She rubbed her brows and replied, "Chunshui is my senior. I admire Teacher Chunshui very much."
Chunshui was about to leave, but when she heard this, a half-smile appeared on her face. The reporter's microphone came back at her: "What do you think, senior?"
Chunshui smiled faintly: "I'm honored."
"What about the ranking? Who is the first and who is the second?" the reporter asked again.
Seeing that the situation was not good, the director jumped in and replied: "There is no hierarchy in our crew, we are all friends."
Li Xia frowned as she stood by and asked Lizhi's agent, "What did I say when I invested? Lizhi must be number one!"
The agent nodded and said, "Director Zhang also agreed. On the poster, our Litchi's position and name will be on the left."
Li Xia laughed when she heard this: "Have you been an agent for so many years in vain? The position on the poster is obviously fooling you! What's the point of saying left is higher? The one on the right shouldn't be on the same poster with Lizhi! Go talk to Zhang Xiu! If he doesn't raise Lizhi's ranking, I will withdraw my investment from this drama!"
Li Xia glanced at Chunshui with a sneer, a malicious smile on his lips.
So what if she's back? I couldn't deal with her last time, but this time she won't let Chunshui go!
The reporters were kindly asked to leave by the crew. Chunshui sat in her own exclusive chair and drank water. She looked through the busy crowd and met Li Xia's gaze. A smile appeared on the corner of her mouth and she nodded lightly.
Li Xia frowned.
No one should know what she did. Her past with Chunshui happened three years ago. She asked someone to meet Chunshui, but she didn't expect to be directly rejected by Chunshui.
Li Xia's brows furrowed in a frown. Could it be that she had left some evidence behind? This shouldn't be the case. The driver back then...
Li Xia's brows relaxed, wondering if the driver would be released from prison soon.
Li Xia was thinking about it when Lizhi came over, took her hand and said happily, "Sister, this is the first time you've seen me act live! How was my acting? Was it good?"
Li Xia replied, "Not bad." But her eyes were fixed on Chunshui, wanting to know what she wanted to do.
Chunshui's eyes turned, and Li Xia followed Chunshui's gaze and saw Zhou Li standing beside him.
Zhou Li was talking to Bai Sufang, who had just dropped off her child and was able to come to the scene. She had obviously lost a lot of weight, and when she saw Zhou Li, she jokingly said, "A lot of people have been surprised to see me lately, asking me how I've lost so much weight. Doctor Zhou, I've helped you build a reputation for your hospital's weight loss program. How are you going to thank me?"
Zhou Li smiled and said, "Shall I practice with you for a while longer every day?"
Bai Sufang was so moved that she begged for mercy.
Chunshui put down the water bottle and walked towards Zhou Li. Li Xia became alert, but saw Chunshui standing next to Zhou Li with his back to her, treating her as if she were air.
It turned out that he was not greeting her just now. Li Xia felt a sense of loss in her heart.
Lizhi grabbed Li Xia's arm and asked curiously, "Sister, what are you looking at?"
"Nothing." Li Xia pulled her arm out of Lizhi's arms. "Just focus on your acting. I have something to do at the company. I'll be leaving first."
"Oh." Lizhi was disappointed. This was the first time Li Xia accompanied her to the crew. She thought Li Xia could stay longer. She waved her hand and said, "Drive carefully on the road."
Li Xia nodded, took out his sunglasses and put them on.
She came here today for no other reason than to see Chunshui. After three years, she was still as charming as ever, but since she was back, she couldn't escape this time.
Chunshui felt the gazes that were secretly watching her disappear. She turned her head and saw that Li Xia was gone. She retracted her gaze and went to find Director Zhang. Zhou Li deliberately asked, "Do you know Li Xia? She was looking at you the whole time."
Chunshui smiled: "Doctor Zhou is very observant."
The answer was flawless.
Zhou Li knew Chunshui would be difficult to ask, so she probed, "Linghang Entertainment is the leading company in the entertainment industry. With her support behind you, your future will be very smooth."
Chunshui laughed: "My future path? The path I have now is enough for me to walk." Lifting her foot, Chunshui said: "Whether the shoes fit me or not, only I can tell after I wear them." She pretended to be weak and said coquettishly: "Doctor Zhou, my legs hurt."
Zhou Li frowned and looked at Chun Shui. Chun Shui smiled and said, "Doctor Zhou, you don't even want to help me now? When we first met, you were willing to rub my legs."
Zhou Li sighed, she raised her arm and Chunshui caught it.
Zhou Li said, "Your legs are not very strong. Don't try to be stubborn. If you can't stand anymore, tell the director immediately and take a break."
Chunshui just nodded.
When filming, you can't stop whenever you want. It's all non-stop. Getting four hours of sleep a day is a luxury. In the past, in order to catch up with the shots, she often got up early and went to bed late. But Chunshui didn't complain to Zhou Li about this. She just smiled at her. She found that Dr. Zhou liked to see her smile.
After not seeing her for half a month, Zhou Li noticed that Chunshui Ai smiled a lot more. It wasn't the sarcastic, cold, and world-weary smile of the past. Her smile was more vivid, as if every smile was genuine. This made it even more difficult for Zhou Li to discern her inner thoughts. It was as if she habitually absorbed all the pain and suffering herself, leaving very little for others.
Zhou Li shook her head, unconsciously analyzing Chunshui again.
Chunshui was about to sit down when he heard Director Zhang roar, "What do you think I am? A vegetable market? I told you from the beginning that investors must listen to me! If you don't want to, get out! Take your actors with you! This kind of thing can't happen on my set!"
Lizhi's agent blushed, Chunshui looked at him with sarcasm, and that was the extent of Xu Yangtian's ability.
When he was her agent, he couldn't attract top resources, but Chunshui himself would attract these resources to his door. After leaving Chunshui, he still thought that these resources were his own ability. It seems that with Li Xia, his true colors were revealed, and he lived like a pug.
Director Zhang was angry: "Get out of here!"
Xu Yangtian dodged in embarrassment. He hadn't expected Director Zhang to be so stubborn and unwilling to give in on even the smallest of issues. He threatened, "If you don't agree, forget about our money!"
When Director Zhang said he wanted additional investment, Chunshui asked Fang Yan to say that he could invest across the board. Director Zhang, through an introduction, thought that choosing two investors could balance each other out, so he let Linghang Entertainment invest half and took Fang Yan's money for the other half. Fang Yan directly transferred all the money, but Linghang Entertainment held back and only transferred half of the funds.
Director Zhang was furious, his face red. On the first day of filming, they were already arguing about the ranking. If he compromised, there might be more trouble waiting in the future! He had to be firm!
He stiffened his neck and yelled, "Who the hell do you think you are? Let your boss come talk to me!"
Although she didn't know what had happened, Chunshui had a hunch that it was related to her. Li Xia saw her buzzing like a fly. She called Fang Yan and said, "Please find some time to talk to Director Zhang about the full investment."
Zhou Li stood next to her and she did not avoid him.
Zhou Li looked puzzled. Chun Shui hung up the phone and smiled, "How long do you plan to stay, Doctor Zhou? We'll be filming until very late."
"Wait for you to get off work." Zhou Li said.
"Then we can have dinner together." Chunshui said.
At noon, Zhou Li didn't mind the boxed lunch, and surprisingly, Chun Shui didn't mind either. However, as an actress, she still had to look good on camera, so she had boiled chicken breast and a vegetable salad, along with lychees. However, she couldn't eat lychees on set because her agent had just had an argument with the director, and she was caught in the middle, which was really difficult.
Back in the van, Lizhi complained to her agent, "Didn't you tell me to take this script in the first place? You said it had award-winning potential, that if I wanted to rise to the next level and emulate Chunshui's path, I needed to produce good work to speak for myself. What did you say back then? You said you'd support me, so why are you arguing with the director again today?"
The agent also looked embarrassed: "It was Director Li who asked us to fight for a role for you. I thought that since we are the investor, Director Li would give us some face, but I didn't expect him to be so harsh."
Lizhi whispered, "It's my honor to be able to film a movie with Chunshui. She's also my senior. Can we not fight for this ranking?"
"Well..." The agent looked worried, "That depends on what Mr. Li thinks."
Lizhi was angry, "Go down, I'll call my sister and tell her!"
Lizhi's real name is Li Zhi, and she is a cousin of Li Xia. After graduating from the Film Academy, she relied on Li Xia's operations to achieve her current status in the entertainment industry. Li Xia also relied on investing in Li Zhi to rise in status, and she worked her way up to the position of executive president of Leading Entertainment within the group.
Li Xia had just signed a bet agreement with shareholders two years ago, and this year she is working hard to build up Li Zhi's value. The more famous Li Zhi becomes, the higher the share price of Leading Entertainment will be. Li Zhi doesn't believe that she would be so stupid as to offend a famous director.
But Li Xia was really determined this time. She said to Li Zhi, "Don't worry about business matters. Just focus on your own performance."
Li Zhi had never been rude to this sister before, and this time was no exception. She complained, "How can I live my life on the set if you do this?"
"I'll be the bad guy, and you just do your job." Li Xia said.
Li Zhi felt warm in her heart and said coquettishly, "What if Director Li doesn't agree?"
Li Xia said, "These are all minor matters. It all depends on how you negotiate. Your agent is not good enough."
Li Zhi asked doubtfully, "Didn't you recommend him?"
Li Xia said, "I thought he would be very capable since he had led someone before."
Li Zhi knew that this someone was referring to Chunshui. She bit her lip and wanted to ask Chunshui how she had offended her sister to make Li Xia target her like this, but she didn't dare to ask. Her cousin had become very scary since joining the group, and she was someone Li Zhi didn't dare to resist.
She sat dejectedly in the car, looking at the chicken salad in front of her without any appetite.
Xu Yangtian asked with disgust: "What? Mr. Li didn't agree, right?" It was as if he had already known this outcome, and it couldn't be changed even if Li Zhi was Li Xia's sister.
Looking at Xu Yangtian's face, Li Zhi lost her appetite even more.
She said to Xu Yangtian: "You are just a dog beside Li Xia."
Xu Yangtian's face flushed red, but he didn't dare to scold Li Zhi. Li Xia behind her was his master, a master that even Feng Ziying from Hong Kong didn't dare to offend.
After leaving Chunshui, Xu Yangtian realized that he was not as important as he had imagined in the circle. The resources he had were all for Chunshui. People looked down on him and didn't know who he was. They gave him face in the past because his name was preceded by the words "Chunshui's agent", so he could only get some useless endorsements for Litchi. If it weren't for the fact that he was obedient enough and understood the things in the circle, and had stayed with Chunshui for a few years, people in the circle would have given him some face, and Li Xia would have replaced him long ago.
Xu Yangtian held back a fart for a long time before he let out a fart: "You eat, I won't disturb you."
Litchi snorted coldly.
Chunshui and Zhou Li sat next to each other on the stools and ate their boxed lunches. In this environment, they just followed the crowd and didn't pay much attention to details.
Director Zhang's anger subsided a bit when he saw Chunshui.
Rumors abound that Chunshui flaunts her status and disrespects screenwriters and directors, but Director Zhang thinks she's much more lovable than Lizhi. She just won Best Actress at an A-level film festival, yet she hasn't made any demands, hasn't taken advantage of the situation to inflate her salary, and has been very cooperative with the film's promotions. Lizhi, on the other hand, was a swarm of demands before filming even began, even arguing for a role on the first day! She's so arrogant, but she doesn't even consider whether she deserves it! Chunshui, a big-name actress, hasn't even mentioned this!
Director Zhang became angrier and angrier as he thought about it, and he almost broke the disposable chopsticks.
The screenwriter sat with him and said, "Old Zhang, you know the temper of Pilot Entertainment. Just give them some face, but if they really come to you, you better be careful."
Zhang Xiu also knew that Linghang Entertainment loved to use shady tactics. In order to make the data of the movies they invested in look good for the Lunar New Year films this year, they not only compressed their own theaters and did not schedule screenings for other movies, but also secretly stole box office revenue. However, Linghang Entertainment had its own theaters, so many directors had to hold their noses and swallow their anger, which was very frustrating!
Zhang Xiu had worked with Linghang Entertainment before when making commercial films. At that time, he felt very happy because of the wealth of Linghang Entertainment. But how happy he was in the past is now how frustrated he is. This time, he just wants to make a good work, not a popcorn movie that caters to the market, so he is unwilling to compromise with all parties, because compromise cannot make a good movie.
But it was not until he started that Zhang Xiu realized how difficult it was. A good script may not necessarily attract good investment, nor will it be favored by the market.
He said with a sad face: "No, I'll think of other ways."
"Do you really want to fight hard?" asked the editor.
Zhang Xiu said, "I heard a rumor in the industry that Li Xia has announced that Chun Shui will not be invited to any of Linghang Entertainment's commercial activities, including film projects. I'm worried that her goal isn't just to compete for a role, but to get me to replace Chun Shui."
The screenwriter was shocked: "Is this possible?"
Zhang Xiu sighed.
Zhou Li heard the murmurs of discussion around him and nudged Chun Shui with his elbow, saying, "Everyone else has gone to see Director Zhang. Aren't you going too? Don't you want to go and find out what's going on?"
Chunshui put down her chopsticks. She felt disgusted eating the chicken breast and vegetable salad combo, which was only for female celebrities. She stretched her body to loosen up her muscles and said leisurely, "I won't go. I'm afraid Director Zhang will be even more annoyed if he sees me."
Zhou Li was puzzled. Chun Shui didn't want Zhou Li to worry about her, so she asked, "Have you finished eating? I have a gift for you."
Zhou Li asked: "What gift?"
Chunshui pulled her up and said, "I see you don't want to eat anymore, so let's go. You'll know when you get it."
Chunshui asked Zhou Li to wait outside the nanny car. She went in and took out an exquisite gift box and handed it to Zhou Li.
Zhou Li raised it and looked at it: "So mysterious?"
Chunshui motioned for her to open it. Zhou Li untied the bow on the gift box, and a bottle of perfume lay on the raffia.
Chunshui smiled and said, "I've been using perfume. Don't you like it? I said I'd give it to you when I got back."
Zhou Li blushed, thinking of that drunken night in Spain. She quickly put the package back in place and forced it into Chunshui's pocket: "I don't need it."
Chunshui refused to accept it, "Don't you like it? I already have it, or do you not want to accept it?"
Zhou Li grunted, and Chunshui looked at her and smiled, "Even if we can't be lovers, Doctor Zhou, I still want to be friends with you, or do you look down on me?"
"No." Zhou Li finally accepted it.
Chunshui opened the door of the nanny car and sat in the exit area, which was quite spacious. She patted the door and said to Zhou Li, "Doctor Zhou, come and sit down."
Zhou Li hesitated.
Chunshui didn't force her. She put her hands behind her back to support herself and looked at Lan Tian. She slowly said, "Actually, I've been wanting to apologize to you, Doctor Zhou, for the past two weeks, but when I picked up the phone, I didn't know how to start. I also wondered if it would disturb your work."
She looked at Zhou Li, sat up straight, and said sincerely, "I'm sorry to have frightened you, Doctor Zhou."
Zhou Li opened her mouth, her fingers clenched around the gift box, the perfume bottle feeling heavy. She said awkwardly, "It's not so bad. No reporters are harassing me."
Chunshui's eyes flickered. "Doctor Zhou, do you think I deliberately confessed my feelings for you in front of so many reporters? Do you think I was just using you and didn't really love you?"
Zhou Li scratched her cheek. It seemed that her thoughts were seen through by the heroine. Chunshui was worthy of being an actor. Her mind was too delicate. She was once again exposed.
Chunshui lowered his eyes, his face dejected. "Doctor Zhou is a smart man. I did have a plan when I confessed my feelings. You guessed right."
Zhou Li's hands slowly dropped, and Chunshui raised her eyes: "I am indeed not worthy of Doctor Zhou's love like this."
Zhou Li's mouth moved, and he finally spoke out his true feelings: "Why did you tell me?"
Chunshui smiled: "Because I want Doctor Zhou to see me clearly and then decide whether he likes me or not. Doctor Zhou, during this time we've been together, have you ever been moved by me even once?"
Zhou Li was stunned. Chunshui's phone rang at an inopportune moment. She picked up the call and said to the phone, "Okay, I'll be right over."
Chunshui smiled and said, "It seems I won't get an answer today."
Zhou Li smelled the fragrance of white tea coming from the wind. Chunshui passed by her. Turning around, Zhou Li's head was a mess. The two balls of wool turned into three balls, and the three balls of wool were jumping in her heart.
Not long into the afternoon filming, the system returned and told Zhou Li, "Li Xia has a time-space imprint on her body. She may have briefly glimpsed the future."
Zhou Li frowned. All she knew was the future. In the future, Chunshui should be the heroine of the world, get her own honor, and stand on the top of the world. This was also the future of Chunshui, whom the Quick Travel Bureau sent her to save. Now that someone had spied on it, it meant, "It was Li Xia who sent someone to hit Chunshui." Zhou Li affirmed.
The culprit of Chunshui's car accident has been found.
The system said, "Yes, after Li Xia left here, she sent someone to visit the driver, Wang Yongan, who had hit Chunshui, in prison. She warned Wang Yongan not to talk nonsense after he was released, otherwise he could be sent back to prison. The heroine should also know the murderer behind the scenes. Wang Yongan told her about an account a month ago. That account belonged to an employee account under Linghang Entertainment. There was a record of large transfers between Wang Yongan's wife and her. "
Zhou Li still didn't understand why Li Xia wanted to deal with Chun Shui. After learning about the future, wouldn't the first thing people think of is to win over the Son of the World? Why did she do the opposite and even want to get rid of Chun Shui?
The system said: "Li Xia once harassed Chun Shui, and Chun Shui was very disgusted with her."
All of this makes sense, because Li Xia peeked into the future and was afraid that Chunshui would deal with her, so Chunshui was replaced in that movie and Lizhi took her place. Because she was originally from Linghang Entertainment, she tried her best to suppress Chunshui in the past three years, causing her to gradually fade out of the public eye.
There's still one thing Zhou Li can't figure out: "Who suppressed the news of Chun Shui coming out at the film festival?"
System: "Pilot Entertainment was successful. Li Xia personally ordered this."
This doesn't make sense. Logically speaking, isn't this kind of negative news the best way to ruin a person? Why did Li Xia take action again?
Zhou Li was thinking, it was time to get off work.
Director Zhang is still worried. Lizhi performs well and is the mascot, the treasure of the group. People in this industry are more or less superstitious, but Linghang Entertainment is too bullying. Director Zhang is unwilling to compromise with anyone in this movie. This movie was the result of several years of polishing by him and the screenwriter and shooting many commercial films.
Director Zhang waved to Lizhi after the shoot, and Lizhi said respectfully, "Director."
Zhang Xiu asked, "Lizhi, how many years have you been in this industry?"
Litchi said, "Three years."
"It's not easy to get to this point in three years." Director Zhang sighed: "What do you think of our drama?"
Lizhi didn't understand what Director Zhang wanted to say: "I think it's great."
Zhang Xiu said, "I think it's great too. You've only been in the industry for three years, but we've been polishing our script for five years. This movie is my life's work, and it's not easy to find the right actor, especially one who can play Tang Huai. There are many people in this world who can play Fu Le, but not many who can play Tang Huai."
Lizhi's heart tightened, Fule was the role she played.
Zhang Xiu waved his hand and said, "I hope you can think it over carefully when you go back tonight. There's no more scenes for you today, so go back and get some rest."
Lizhi looked unhappy, she pursed her lips and left the crew in a daze.
Director Zhang shouted with a loud speaker: "Those who are shooting the night scenes can stay, the rest of you can go home!"
Everyone cheered, and Zhou Li stood up from his small stool and stretched. Zhang Xiu walked over and said, "Doctor Zhou, you've worked hard today. We, the main creators, are going to have dinner together later. Would you like to come over, Doctor Zhou?"
Chunshui still had a night scene, so she went to change her clothes. Zhou Li nodded hesitantly.
The lights were adjusted, the camera was in place, and the night scene began shooting.
This scene is when Tang Huai just sent Fule away, and her husband, who tricked her into coming to the United States, walks in drunk. He lost money gambling with someone again today, and when he sees Tang Huai, he asks her for money.
If Tang Huai refused to give it to her, she would ask her to sell, steal, and rob, wantonly insulting Tang Huai's personality.
Zhou Li burst into tears when she saw this. She stood outside the light and couldn't stop crying.
Chunshui's performance is too real and too depressing, as if she is the heartbroken Tang Huai, who shouts that love is priceless, opposes arranged marriages, and resolutely follows the person she loves to smuggle abroad, but just steps into another trap. Here their personality is not respected, and they can only rely on cheap labor to earn a little money. Her originally high-spirited husband is also bent by life and becomes addicted to gambling. Forced by money, Tang Huai embarks on the path she most despicable. Fortunately, she meets Fule.
Zhou Li lowered her head and wiped away her tears. Not only did her acting make people immersed in the role, but it also moved the audience deeply.
The crew began to wrap up work.
Chunshui quickly left the scene, but the actor who hit her was still in the scene. After being called by his name twice, he waved his hands with a look of exhaustion, "I'm fine."
The exaggerated makeup on Chunshui's face was smudged into a mess, which had a comical effect. She wanted to remove it, but her distant and accurate eyes saw Zhou Li. She thought for a moment and walked towards Zhou Li across the crowd.
"Why are you crying?" Chunshui laughed.
Zhou Li felt his nose sore when he heard her voice, "You acted so well."
She wiped her eyes, looked up, and burst out laughing. "I was standing too far away and didn't see you. How come your face is so stained?"
Chunshui moved closer to let Zhou Li take a closer look: "Is it funny?"
Zhou Li nodded, not caring about being sad. Chunshui was always clean and tidy, never so sloppy. Her eyeliner was smudged into a ball, and a black line slid down her face along the direction of her tears. It mixed with the overly red blush in the middle of her cheek, making her look even more funny.
Chunshui pinched Zhou Li's face and pulled it away: "Don't cry, that's Tang Huai, not my life."
Her life will not be controlled by others. She is the master of her own life.
Zhou Li sniffed and murmured, "I know."
Chunshui let go, patted her head and said, "If you have the time, you might as well think about my previous question, Doctor Zhou."
Zhou Li's cheeks flushed red, and he stammered and was pinched again.
Chunshui held her face and said with a smile, "Is it so difficult to answer? Then I'll give Doctor Zhou some more time."
Zhou Li pulled her hands away and pushed her away.
"Go take your makeup off! You'll scare the kids to tears in the middle of the night if you come out with this makeup on!"
"Which child did you scare to tears? Doctor Zhou?" Chunshui teased. Zhou Li's blush didn't fade. She was thin-skinned and blushed at the slightest teasing. She said nothing, just pushed Chunshui away and talked about something else: "Director Zhang said there's a party, and I want to grab a late-night snack. Go quickly."
Chunshui patiently followed Zhou Li's strength and entered the dressing room. Zhou Li breathed a sigh of relief. She unconsciously bit the nail of her thumb and began to gnaw on it.
She could easily say that she didn't like Chunshui, without any burden, because she really didn't like him to the point of liking him. But Zhou Li couldn't deceive herself about whether she was attracted to him or not, because she was indeed attracted to Chunshui.
Hua Yun: Come and become my disciple, and I will teach you how to chase people!
Chunshui Pious: Teacher
Author: A big update!
All future updates will be after 21:00. If you haven't seen it, go to bed early! Don't stay up late!
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