"Cut! Perfect!"
"Okay, okay, one more time..."
"Cut! That's a wrap!"
Luo Yao is a very special director. What makes her special is that she always manages to finish her work just before the deadline. She has the entire day's shooting schedule memorized, taking shots here and there, making everyone hold their breath, thinking that filming won't wrap up until midnight. But she always manages to miraculously finish filming in the last few minutes, without taking up everyone's time to go home.
After more than half a month, Luo Yao had become the backbone of the crew and was deeply trusted by everyone. His nickname had also changed from the joking "Camel" back to Director Luo.
The cast and crew of "Anna Doriya" was a harmonious group. However, with over a hundred people, there are all sorts of people, and as time went on, some rumors inevitably began to circulate.
First, the crew's supply purchasing staff complained privately that Yang Huanyi would ask them to buy honey and goat milk every few days. In this remote village near the sea, where could they find such things so easily? Then someone gossiped that although it was Yang Huanyi who was buying these things, he hadn't gained weight; on the contrary, Ye Chu had become plump, with her cheeks getting fuller.
The medical team members from the film crew came over and said that Ye Chu had a toothache a few days ago and had asked us for toothache medicine...
Then there was the film crew's driver, who one day remembered he'd left something in his car and went back to get it. He bumped into two figures in another car. One of them seemed to be nestled in the other's arms. It was two in the morning! The driver was a bit superstitious and thought he'd encountered a ghost.
The next day, as the driver was talking about it in a daze, Yang Huanyi passed by, yawning, and even sneezed.
Luo Yao's team was mostly assembled from Taiwan, and they were naturally inclined to gossip. However, although these rumors were circulating widely, few people actually believed them.
Director Luo recently gave Ye Yang and her co-star a thorough dressing-down, solidifying their image as tough, straightforward women. Ultimately, it's just that the filming location was so remote that everyone was bored and looking for something to talk about.
Filming is progressing smoothly, and "Anna Doriya" was expected to be completed within two months, which now seems to be on track.
Perhaps Shang Yechu's portrayal of Zhao Lele was too restless, which also provoked Luo Yao to lose her temper. After filming had been going smoothly for more than half a month, and with Christmas approaching, Luo Yao finally found an excuse to give the crew three days off to go back to Taiwan to see her "precious darling".
The film crew definitely needed some rest. Most of Luo Yao's crew members were young, and many were looking forward to spending a romantic Christmas with their boyfriends or girlfriends. Even the middle-aged actor who played Zhao Cheng awkwardly asked Luo Yao for a day off in advance to fly back to Taiwan to see his boyfriend.
In the blink of an eye, half of the crew had left. Shang Yechu and Yang Huanyi were finally no longer confined to that cramped room, staring at each other blankly.
Shang Yechu wanted to go and discuss the matter of "Heavenly Lord" with Ai Xiaodong, so of course she couldn't bring Yang Huanyi along. But leaving her alone on the beach would be really unfair.
Fortunately, just as Shang Yechu was in a dilemma, Yang Huanyi spoke up. She wanted to go back to the company. Apparently, a film project had approached her, and Yang Huanyi planned to go and investigate it herself.
Shang Yechu was very worried that the play was "The Heavenly Emperor". She tried to get some information from him, but failed. Fearing that Yang Huanyi would become suspicious, she had no choice but to give up.
On Christmas Day, the two ate breakfast in silence before embarking on their respective journeys.
The resort where Ai Xiaodong was located was also in Xiatan, only about 200 miles away from the filming location of "Anna Doriya". Shang Yechu drove there in half a day.
Unexpectedly, upon arriving in the village, Shang Yechu learned that Ai Xiaodong had already left.
"He said his teacher's birthday is coming up soon," said the cleaning lady with a heavy accent. "He went to Shunnan."
Ai Xiaodong travels around all year round, almost as if he's living anywhere in the world. Left with no other choice, Shang Yechu booked a flight from Xiatan to Shunnan and rushed over.
People from Qingping Entertainment had dealt with Ai Xiaodong many times, spending a considerable amount of money to have the original author persuade that stubborn old mule, Shao Guangji. Unfortunately, Ai Xiaodong wasn't interested in non-copyright revenue and politely declined the money.
Taking advantage of the film crew's break, Shang Yechu planned to try her luck again. If she could get the author's endorsement, the obstacles to Tianjun's gender reassignment would be much smaller.
Every year at this time, plane and train tickets to Shunnan are extremely difficult to obtain. Upon landing, you're greeted by crowds everywhere.
Although Shang Yechu had Ai Xiaodong's contact information, she never received a reply from him. No matter what she sent, it was like throwing a stone into the sea.
Fortunately, for Qingping Entertainment these days, recruiting Ai Xiaodong is not difficult. His location had already been transmitted to Shang Yechu before the plane even landed.
Ai Xiaodong was staying at a youth hostel called Aorunji. This hostel only offered eight-person rooms, and judging from the photos online, the conditions weren't exactly great. However, the price was incredibly high, bordering on robbery.
Although it seems unbelievable, this writer, who is not short of money, did indeed squeeze into a dilapidated and old guesthouse with seven or eight other people.
Without even guessing, Shang Yechu knew what was going on. Shunnan is always packed with people at this time of year, and hotels and guesthouses are swamped with customers. Ai Xiaodong had been enjoying himself in Xiatan this year and left late, so he could only snag this run-down guesthouse.
They had intended to book a hotel near Ai Xiaodong's place, but after searching for a long time, their three assistants couldn't find a single room available. They had no choice but to settle for a star-rated hotel located further away.
The greater one's fame, the less freedom one has to travel. Shang Yechu once again bundled up tightly, donned glasses and a mask, and embarked on his journey to capture Ai Xiaodong.
The guesthouse door was wide open. As soon as Shang Yechu arrived, she wrinkled her nose. A pungent odor hit her, indicating that Ai Xiaodong's athlete's foot hadn't improved at all despite the cooler weather.
Ai Xiaodong was lying on the lower bunk opposite the door, applying medicine to his foot, when he suddenly saw a person dressed like an assassin at the door. He glanced at him twice. After looking him over for five or six seconds, he frowned, slipped on his shoes, and walked towards the door.
"I really admire you." Ai Xiaodong pulled Shang Yechu into the corridor (Shang Yechu realized with despair that he was using the hand that had just been applying medicine to her foot to pull her, and screamed twice in her mind), "How did you find this place?"
Shang Yechu forced a weak smile behind her mask and said, "Teacher Ai, you recognized me?"
It seems the assistant's makeup skills need improvement.
Ai Xiaodong said, "Your eyes are quite distinctive, but that's not the point. What are you doing here? Don't bother me with matters related to 'Heavenly Monarch.' I only take what's due."
Shang Yechu was surprised that Ai Xiaodong rejected him after only three sentences. No wonder Qingping Entertainment's people have suffered defeat after defeat.
“No,” Shang Yechu subtly pulled her hand away from Ai Xiaodong’s and took a small paper packet from her pocket. “I was filming in Xiatan and bought a secret recipe for treating foot symptoms from the locals…”
"A black heart, two plans" is Shang Yechu's motto.
"Thanks." Ai Xiaodong took the paper package and casually stuffed it into his pocket. "How much is it? I'll transfer it to you. — Forget about 'The Heavenly Emperor'."
Shang Yechu: "..."
Shang Yechu persisted, "One meal is enough. Teacher Ai, how about you treat me to a meal?"
Shang Yechu had expected Ai Xiaodong to refuse three times in a row, but to her surprise, Ai Xiaodong gave her a strange look and then nodded: "Alright then."
Half an hour later, Shang Yechu realized how foolish she had been.
Ai Xiaodong invited Shang Yechu to a famous local hot pot restaurant. The hot pot broth was as red as a fire dragon, and large pieces of fish and meat were soaking in the red oil, grinning menacingly at Shang Yechu.
Shang Yechu's brow twitched. If she ate this pot of food, she would definitely wake up tomorrow morning with a mouth full of blisters, and Luo Yao would tear her apart.
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