"Mom, this contract is so unreasonable!"
"What's wrong?"
"They've given so much, how come they only get such a small share of the money?"
“Annie, your starting point is the actors, but think about the investors, think about your Uncle Wyatt? He's invested so much, and it's not even certain he'll make a profit. If most of it goes to the actors, then what will he earn?”
And if the movie isn't popular, he also risks losing money.
Then the next scene began, which was a bath scene. The water couldn't be too hot, for fear of steam. Zhang Hongmei explained this to Annie.
You see female celebrities strip naked and step into the bathtub. They're expected to look extremely comfortable.
When she got up, her assistant wrapped her in a blanket.
"Mom, how can a girl take her clothes off in front of strangers?"
"Because it's necessary for the plot."
"Mom, I think this is so disrespectful to herself. Couldn't she just refuse?"
Zhang Hongmei shook the contract in her hand. "Don't pity her. This is her own choice. She must have read the script before signing the contract and knew that this scene was there. She signed it herself. No one forced her."
The two spoke in hushed tones, so as not to disturb anyone else. It was already eight in the morning, and although it was light, it was still just as cold.
Staff members brought them breakfast, and Wyattroy also brought them two cups of hot milk.
Anne kept staring at the actress, noticing that she had changed into her own thick clothes and only drank a cup of hot water. She didn't eat anything else.
"Mom, she's the same as me, she doesn't want to eat breakfast either."
"That's not how it works. If you don't believe me, go ask her. She's afraid of gaining weight, so she doesn't dare to eat anything. Here's what we'll do, Annie. Go and bring her some chocolates."
Annie took the chocolate Zhang Hongmei offered and walked over to the actress. She handed her the chocolate, saying, "I noticed you haven't eaten. Eat this; it's especially delicious."
The actress refused the chocolate, replying curtly, "I don't eat it, it's too fattening."
"Then you can eat, right? Eating won't make you gain weight."
"I eat only half a loaf of bread a day, nothing else."
Annie walked back dejectedly. "Mom, she really won't eat. And it's not as wonderful as it looks on TV."
"Don't be sad, if she doesn't want to eat, she doesn't want to eat. Let's do some exercise, we'll start again soon." Zhang Hongmei knew that everything that had happened had overturned Annie's understanding of the world.
The two of them didn't go out, but just wandered around in the studio. Although it was cold there, at least there was no wind.
After a one-hour break, the props department changed the shooting location and started filming again. There was nothing special about these two scenes, but we were still wearing skirts.
"Mom, my hands are frozen."
Zhang Hongmei rubbed her hands together vigorously, then pulled hers over to warm them.
"Mom, I'm wearing so many layers and I'm still so cold, but she's wearing a dress and she can still laugh so happily?"
"Didn't I already say that it's her job? If she's not serious about her job, how can anyone like her?"
Wyatt sat next to the director. Normally, he would have gone home long ago, but since the two girls wouldn't leave, he decided to stay and keep them company. Turning around, he saw Zhang Hongmei warming Annie's hands. He waved for the driver and instructed him to bring a new quilt for the two girls.
Zhang Hongmei wrapped Annie up completely and hugged her.
"Annie, you can't sleep, or you'll get sick."
"Mom, I feel a little dizzy. But I can manage."
Zhang Hongmei really felt sorry for the child, but in order to dissuade her from the idea, she gritted her teeth and persevered in the end.
It was soon noon, and the afternoon filming was canceled. Wyatt invited everyone to go to a restaurant for lunch.
Anne looked at the actress with great delight. After changing into her own clothes, Anne still felt she wasn't dressed warmly enough.
Wyatt Roy was discussing it with Zhang Hongmei, mainly because he was worried she wouldn't go. The female celebrity walked over with an exaggerated sway, saying, "Young Master Roy, it's a great honor to have dinner with you." As she spoke, she took his arm.
He dodged her, glanced at Zhang Hongmei, and only smiled happily when he saw her nod.
The man was very unhappy and tried to approach again, but Wyatt ignored him once more.
Anne felt very disappointed. Her mother said it was work, but that famous actress acted like any other woman who wanted to be her father's stepmother when she met Uncle Wyatt. It was so repulsive.
So she leaned against Zhang Hongmei, feeling sullen.
Zhang Hongmei didn't try to persuade her, and they continued until they arrived at the restaurant. Annie was still listless and lacked energy.
The entire crew consisted of more than 30 people, and they opted for the buffet.
"Annie, it's a very bad thing to be unhappy while eating."
"Mom, I understand." After Zhang Hongmei and her companion chose their favorite dishes, they sat down to eat.
After finishing her meal, Anne held her hot drink and observed the group. She saw the actress drinking with a lot of people, and she was leaning against the director.
"Mom, she was just trying to link arms with Uncle Wyatt, how come she's leaning on the director now?"
Zhang Hongmei shook her head, unsure how to explain it to her.
Wyatt came over and sat down. "Honey, are you full?"
"Um, Uncle Wyatt, didn't that guy want to come with you just now? Why is he acting like this now?"
Men are generally less perceptive and didn't think too much about it, so they bluntly stated, "Most actresses are like that. They only get good contracts by sleeping with men."
“Wyatt!” Zhang Hongmei called out to him, glaring at him. “Don’t say that in front of Annie.”
Wyatt Roy shrugged. "It's true, there's nothing wrong with saying it. Anne, most of them are like that."
Although Anne is young, the people and things she encounters make her more mature than most children, so she understood what Wyattroy said, and this time she was even more disappointed.
“Annie, all I can tell you is that you can’t judge a book by its cover. Don’t be fooled by their glamorous public image; you’ve only seen a small part of what happens behind the scenes, and there are much darker things going on.”
Don't be disappointed, okay? Actually, everything is like that. It's just that the reality isn't as dark as it seems.
With teary eyes, Annie leaned against Zhang Hongmei and threw herself into her arms.
"Mom, these people have disappointed me so much."
"It's okay, just focus on their strengths."
"Mom, let's go home. I don't want to stay here anymore."
"Okay, let's go home. I'll call home and have the driver come pick us up."
"Let me see you off, otherwise I'll worry about you. I'm leaving anyway."
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