Chapter 122: Children’s Laughter (2)
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
Since it was a collaboration between both production teams, they couldn’t afford to be lax like regular friends visiting.
Zhang Wubing set the time for the guests to visit the set and also booked rooms for them at the hotel where the cast and crew were staying, treating it with the same seriousness as shooting a regular episode, with no shortage of formalities.
Of course, this time was a bit different from normal shoots.
Because the movie trailer hadn’t been released yet and the filming was still in the secrecy phase, Zhang Wubing emphasized this to each guest, reminding everyone not to casually shoot on set.
To avoid capturing anything that shouldn’t be leaked, the split-screen live broadcast of the guests was also disabled this time, with only the main camera of the production team filming.
The production team also sent over an assistant specifically to brief the guests on the areas where secrecy and caution were needed.
Despite the cumbersome preparations, several guests were still excited beyond measure. An Nanyuan, in particular, seemed to be devoid of any sense of reality, unable to contain the curve of his lips, while the variety show celebrity was so thrilled that he couldn’t sleep well for several days, eagerly awaiting departure for the set with the production team.
On social media platforms, fans who failed to secure pre-order tickets continued to lament under the official account of the show. Zhang Wubing, who was participating in such a promotional activity for the first time, felt somewhat embarrassed.
Zhang Wubing had learned about the fans’ wish to obtain Yan Shixun’s only poster, and he felt tempted to increase the quantity, but he was refused by the renowned director.
“My initial plan was only eight hundred thousand copies, but now five million have been sold. Based on this pre-order ratio and the predicted scope of promotion, the estimated box office by the analysis department has reached my target value. This movie has already passed the threshold.”
The reason given by the renowned director was quite sufficient: “Since we have already ensured the basic stability of the film and balanced the income and expenditure, there is no need to continue. After all, the movie won’t be released for at least another year, and having too many pre-sales for such a long time is not ideal.”
Although Zhang Wubing felt somewhat regretful, he understood that this was the decision of the responsible person for the movie, and he had no right to interfere. Thus, he announced this somewhat “sad” news on the official account of the production team, declaring the end of the activity to increase posters with pre-ordered movie tickets, thanking everyone for their support and attention.
As a result, those fans who missed out were completely dumbfounded.
It’s worth noting that there were already twenty million fans who had received the Yan Mai badges alone, not to mention many other Yan Mai who were more passive and didn’t participate in daily check-in activities. Altogether, there were around thirty million fans. Furthermore, there were also many fans of An Nanyuan and other guests, as well as those who were drawn by the director and the movie itself. All in all, there were at least fifty million people who wanted to buy the poster and pre-sale tickets.
However, there were only five million slots available in total, making it a ratio of ten to one.
The fans’ tears seemed to flood the tags and official accounts.
“Darn it, I’m an unworthy Yan Mai! I missed out on Brother Yan’s first poster! I’m utterly devastated!”
“Sobbing! I almost got it, but then I got a phone call right when I was about to pay. By the time I hung up, they were all sold out. I almost cried!”
“It’s so tough. This poster is really beautiful. Even if you’re not a fan, you’d want it. It’s no wonder it’s from the hands of a renowned director. The shot is so full of story and artistry, it’s incredibly valuable! Will there be separate sales of this poster later? Price is not an issue.”
“AHHHHH!! I’m crying my heart out! I wanted to put up this poster at home for protection against evil. So sad.”
“Director Zhang, you’re the most handsome person in the world! So, could you please pull some strings and add a few more tickets for us? Sobbing.”
Inside the business tourism van, Yan Shixun listened to the fan comments being recited by An Nanyuan beside him and couldn’t help but laugh. “Xiao Bing, did you hear that? They said you’re the most handsome guy in the world.”
Since this was not a formal shoot, the original staff of the program did not all come along. Apart from the camera department, only a few logistics personnel responsible for coordination and contact came along. So, it was natural for Zhang Wubing to sit in the same car with the guests.
Despite appearing clueless and confused when doing his directorial duties, Zhang Wubing, as the heir of a wealthy family, knew how to have fun. Deep down, he was just a young goofball. So, no matter what jokes the guests threw at him, he could catch them with ease, maximizing the entertainment value and causing bursts of laughter in the car from time to time.
Even the entertainment celebrities were rubbing their aching bellies from laughing too hard, marveling in amazement, “The variety show god has descended!”
But upon hearing Yan Shixun’s voice, Zhang Wubing, who had just been joking around with An Nanyuan in the back, almost leaped to the front of the car in excitement. He grabbed onto Yan Shixun’s thigh and exclaimed tearfully, “Brother Yan, you’re definitely the most handsome in my eyes! You have to believe me!”
Yan Shixun: “…”
With his hand supporting his head, he seemed not very interested in dealing with Zhang Wubing.
The guests had long noticed the special friendship between Zhang Wubing and Yan Shixun. Early guests knew that Yan Shixun had joined because Zhang Wubing couldn’t find enough people, so everyone enjoyed watching the peculiar yet harmonious interaction between these two.
Song Ci laughed heartily, “Who would have thought that Zhang Wubing and Brother Yan have this kind of relationship?”
Equally surprised were the viewers in front of the screen.
Since there was no split screen this time, the main camera was set up inside the car, directly facing everyone. Therefore, the audience could clearly see Zhang Wubing’s frantic behavior of clinging to Yan Shixun’s thigh, leaving them dumbfounded.
[Director, what are you doing! It’s heartbreaking! You’re the first variety show director in years to collaborate with that renowned director. Show some courage!]
[I’m laughing to death, where Brother Yan is, even the mighty director turns into a whiny little creature.]
[Although, if I were there in person, I would definitely choose to cling to Brother Yan’s thigh! That’s the golden thigh that can save lives and take you to new heights. Didn’t you see the data shared by that analytical influencer? Without Brother Yan, this show wouldn’t have gained much traction. And you can tell from the director’s early filming techniques that it was quite amateurish. Brother Yan really revived this show.]
[Even without all the fancy stuff, I’d still be willing to cling to Brother Yan’s thigh! Getting up close and personal with Brother Yan…hehe, those muscles…]
[Hey, wipe your drool, will you?]
[Stroking my chin…I’ve always felt that the way Director Zhang and Brother Yan interact reminds me of something familiar. It wasn’t until today that I suddenly remembered, isn’t this just like the way I interact with my sons in the dorm!]
[Father, father and son?]
[Psst, rumor has it that Brother Yan and Director Zhang were actually roommates back in college.]
[Jealous! If I call Brother Yan “dad,” will he take me under his wing too?]
[??? Hey, up there, did you drop your dignity? Pick it up quick!]
Inside the car, laughter filled the air. Despite not doing anything, Yan Shixun managed to amuse all the guests.
Yan Shixun felt somewhat helpless about the situation. Suddenly, he realized that in this whole car, the only normal person is the peculiar Ye Li beside him.
Everyone else….. seemed infected by Zhang Wu Bing’s silly virus.
Turning to Ye Li with an indifferent expression, Yan Shixun asked, “So, why did you apply to be this guy’s assistant? Aren’t you bothered by all this noise?”
Ye Li, sitting calmly by the window, exuded a strong presence with his tall and sturdy stature. Despite the luxurious and spacious car seats, his thigh was touching Yan Shixun’s, radiating a warm and comforting temperature, which put him in a good mood.
“Because it’s fitting,” Ye Li replied, resting his head on one hand, his ink-black hair cascading down his sturdy shoulders. He glanced at Yan Shixun, smiling gently. “You’re like a lone wolf, refusing others’ gratitude and not entangling yourself in karma with anyone else. The only connection you have is with that lump at your feet. So, by getting close to him, one gets close to you.”
Yan Shixun: “…Hmph.”
It made perfect sense, irrefutable. If he wanted to get close to someone, he would do the same.
The lump at Yan Shixun’s feet, which had been feigning crying, stopped abruptly and raised its head in confusion. “Ga!”
Were they talking about him?
The location chosen for filming by the crew was in the old concession area of Binhai City, where the cultural relics were well-preserved, maintaining the style of old Binhai from a hundred years ago, exactly the kind of scenery the crew needed.
The business car smoothly crossed over the bridge, and after crossing the river, it entered the old concession area.
The variety show celebrity looked up at the elegant and time-honored old buildings outside the car window, feeling nostalgic. “When I first moved from Wild Wolf Peak to Binhai City, I was just a clueless youth. At that time, I sat on a sightseeing bus like this, listening to the director talk about the history of Binhai City, filled with excitement.”
Zhang Wubing smiled and continued, “Director Li and the others have rented out the entire East District of the old concession area. If you want, you can walk around and take a look these few days. These buildings are usually protected and off-limits to the public.”
The variety show celebrity shook his head with a smile. “Back then, I never imagined there would be such a day…”
Midway through his sentence, the variety show celebrity suddenly paused, his gaze following a particular spot outside the car window. “That car…” He pointed at the car glass, hesitating. “Isn’t that her ride?”
Others turned to look at the direction he pointed, coincidentally, the car he referred to passed by them, its driver’s seat aligning with their line of sight.
The black reflective car window obscured the person’s face inside, but just from the blurry silhouette, one could tell it was a remarkably beautiful woman.
Almost everyone’s mind immediately echoed with a single name — Chi Yan.
To be able to enter the area rented out by the film crew, driving such a valuable and rare luxury car, and being a woman, there could only be one possibility — the female lead of this movie.
“Oh my god… it’s Sister Chi Yan.” Bai Shuang quickly covered her flushed cheeks, almost disbelieving. “To actually see Sister Chi Yan in person, I must be so lucky!”
Upon hearing this familiar name, Yan Shixun couldn’t help but glance over.
At that moment, the window of the luxury car also rolled down, and the woman wearing sunglasses turned her gaze towards them.
She had large wavy curls, lips as fiery as flames, exuding a bold and domineering beauty, as if the entire entertainment industry bowed down at her feet.
It seemed that due to the same driving route, Chi Yan confirmed that the car next to them was also part of the film crew. However, she couldn’t see who was inside the highly secretive reflective car windows. So, she politely waved to the business car, keeping up appearances flawlessly.
The older variety show celebrity were fine, but young people like Bai Shuang and Lu Xingxing couldn’t help but blush, struck by Chi Yan’s overly striking beauty.
“Wow! She’s amazing!”
Bai Shuang acted like a little fangirl, waving and greeting enthusiastically, even though she knew the person outside the car couldn’t see. Her eyes sparkled. “Big sister is so beautiful!”
Beside her, Zhao Zhen smiled kindly. “The female lead of this movie has long been decided to be her. I heard the director has been preparing this script for a long time but couldn’t find the right lead actress until Sister Chi Yan came back from vacation abroad, freeing up her schedule. That’s when the director finally started filming this script.”
“That hardcore? That’s Director Li Xuetang for you!” Others exclaimed in astonishment.
“The director said he saw in Sister Chi Yan the kind of aura he had been searching for all along,” Zhao Zhen praised without reservation. “Sister Chi Yan is the only actress in the country to have won all the major film awards. Whether it’s story control or acting skills, she’s flawless. She deserves it.”
So, a renowned top-tier actress, hiding from everyone, exhausted herself searching for a lifesaving solution?
Yan Shixun withdrew his gaze indifferently, seeming out of place with the other guests, displaying a detached indifference.
Under Yan Shixun’s gaze, Ye Li ignored the top-notch beauty of Chi Yan. Instead, a hint of disgust flashed across his stern face. He turned his head away, refusing to spare her another glance.
……
Upon receiving the schedule from the production team, the director had promptly dispatched assistants and cameramen to the entrance. After all, it was a collaborative effort, and as the host, he naturally wanted to welcome the production team for the set visit.
However, the assistant hadn’t expected to find not only the production team’s business car but also an ostentatious luxury car parked in front of him.
The luxury car performed a graceful drift, coming to a smooth stop in front of the assistant amidst the cold air of late autumn, leaving behind a gradually dissipating white mist.
In the assistant’s astonished gaze, the luxury car’s door swung open, and Chi Yan stepped out with elegance, her red-soled high heels touching the ground before she gracefully exited the vehicle.
“S-Sister Chi? Didn’t your agent say you had other commitments and wouldn’t be attending the opening ceremony?” The assistant quickly lowered his head, frantically flipping through his memorandum, fearing he had overlooked work-related communication and missed the notification of Chi Yan’s arrival.
If he could make such a mistake even with a top movie star, he’d surely be fired by the director tomorrow.
“No,” Chi Yan intervened, pressing down the assistant’s gesture with a smile playing on her lips. “I changed my mind. After all, being the lead actress of the movie, it wouldn’t be right to skip the opening ceremony.”
The assistant felt like he had been granted a reprieve and nodded vigorously. “Okay, I’ll inform Director Li right away.”
As for the production team he was originally supposed to receive, they had completely slipped his mind.
Even Zhang Wubing, who usually had the temperament of a marshmallow, furrowed his brows upon witnessing the scene from inside the car, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
With his straightforward nature, Lu Xingxing didn’t mince words. “We know it’s a common practice in the entertainment industry to flatter the powerful, but does it have to be so blatant? We just helped them sell five million movie presale tickets.”
Yan Shixun, however, didn’t seem to pay much attention to it. He was the first to slowly stand up, signaling to the driver to open the door. Straightening his slightly creased coat, he prepared to step out of the car.
“Lu Xingxing, we’re live,” Yan Shixun glanced at Lu Xingxing with a smirk. “Aren’t you afraid of being scolded by Taoist Song if he sees this?”
“We’re all adults here. Don’t we have legs to walk over by ourselves?”
Yan Shixun’s magnetic voice carried a nonchalant laziness that was unassailable, quelling the displeasure of the other guests and causing them to relax, realizing they might have overreacted.
Lu Xingxing, who had been indignant just moments ago, suddenly shrunk back and hid behind Zhao Zhen, keeping quiet.
With Yan Shixun’s reminder, the other guests, who were also in a sour mood, remembered the purpose of their visit and eased their emotions, choosing not to dwell on the incident.
However, just as the assistant turned to leave, he was stopped by Chi Yan.
“I didn’t discuss my attendance at the opening ceremony with you in advance, so who were you waiting for?”
With Chi Yan’s reminder, the assistant suddenly remembered his original task and quickly glanced towards the business car that he had previously ignored. Upon seeing someone already preparing to disembark from the vehicle, only one thought flashed through his mind.
— This is bad.
This time, he was truly going to be fired.
After all, “Heart-Pounding Journey of Ninety-Nine Days” was a live broadcast program, with no opportunity for post-editing, meaning mistakes couldn’t be rectified. And in the entertainment industry, any celebrity with even a hint of status hated being ignored, feeling overshadowed by others.
Treating everyone equally was the unwritten rule for people like him.
And now, he had just left such a large program group, totaling nearly a hundred million fans, on the sidelines. It was possible that everyone had already seen what he had just done through the live broadcast.
Those fans were probably going to tear him apart.
The assistant was at his wits’ end, feeling like crying but having no tears left. He quickly tried to make amends, beckoning the nearby cameraman to run over with him.
“Director Zhang! Everyone’s been through a lot of trouble getting here. Our director is already waiting inside for everyone’s arrival…”
As he spoke, lifting his head, he locked eyes with a face that stood out even among the many handsome and beautiful people in the entertainment industry.
The man’s sharp brows and eyes were so distinctive that the assistant instantly realized who the person who had stepped out of the car first was.
Recently, Yan Shixun’s name had quickly gained popularity on the internet. Without any capital injection or studio operation, he had gathered nearly thirty million fans, all of whom were active fans. Although they were mostly rational on regular days, their cohesion was not to be underestimated.
No smart company or artist wanted to antagonize Yan Shixun, fearing his thirty million fans.
I probably just became the number one person who offended Yan Shixun.
As the assistant thought this, a wave of despair surged in his heart, as if he could already see himself being torn apart by the fans, wishing he could faint on the spot.
It should be said that the assistant, unlike Zhang Wubing and other half-baked celebrities in the entertainment industry, is very adept at gauging the direction of public opinion online.
Seeing the program crew being ignored and left aside during the live broadcast, some of the audience members became a bit angry. When they saw the assistant bowing and scraping to Chi Yan, showing utmost respect, but treating the program crew with indifference, some of them exploded.
[What’s the meaning of this? Can see Chi Yan but can’t see us? Is it fun to look down on people?]
[Buddy, you’ve really stepped into it now, tactical backpedaling, .jpg. Standing before you is the leader of demons, the slayer of gods, the king of exorcism—Yan Shixun. Acting like this will get you devoured by ghosts, pointing fingers, .jpg.]
“You focus on your job, and we’ll focus on ours, so go ahead.”
The assistant stared blankly at Yan Shixun, his mind completely empty, unable to process the immense gap between them.
He had heard that Yan Shixun had a bad temper, and was fierce even before the live broadcast. Even famous troublemakers in the music industry like Lu Xingxing were afraid of him. How…
While the assistant was still in a daze, the guests had already followed behind Yan Shixun, one by one getting off the car. As they passed by the assistant, their eyes were filled with sympathy.
He had done such a poor job.
Even the astute ones like the variety show celebrity subtly shook his head: Such a person won’t go far in the industry.
Chi Yan didn’t originally know who was in the business car, but at this moment, she looked over because of the assistant’s incident and unexpectedly saw a familiar figure.
Her eyes, hidden behind sunglasses, widened in disbelief, followed by overwhelming joy.
“Yan Shixun?”
Chi Yan took the initiative to approach, extending her hand generously towards Yan Shixun, introducing herself, “I’m Chi Yan, your fan.”
The guests who had just followed up: “???”
The audience who had only vaguely heard a bit before the live broadcast: [!!!]
Yan Shixun’s steps halted, but his gaze towards Chi Yan did not soften because of her words. It still carried the aloofness and wariness towards strangers.
Others were not aware of the whole story, but Yan Shixun’s excellent memory reminded him of how Chi Yan had reached out to him through layers of connections, sending him an almost pleading invitation letter.
Yan Shixun was different from his colleagues in many ways, and the most important one was that he couldn’t be bought with money.
Before he became popular with this show, many rejected clients and colleagues heard Yan Shixun’s principles and felt that he couldn’t recognize himself, daring to speak with such arrogance. Many clients even declared in anger after being rejected by him that they wouldn’t seek Yan Shixun even if they were paid.
—— Of course, some of those clients who were still alive, upon seeing Yan Shixun’s strength displayed to everyone through this show and the special treatment he received from Haiyun Temple, regretted bitterly. They wished they could turn back time and give themselves two slaps for not recognizing his worth.
But now, this principle has become one of the reasons why many elites love and hate Yan Shixun.
Including Chi Yan.
However, standing in front of Yan Shixun at this moment, she concealed her thoughts very well. Her affable attitude, coupled with the proactive gesture of extending her hand, clearly conveyed her posture.
Yan Shixun’s gaze swept over Chi Yan, unhindered by any screens or photographic devices. He could see more information than what was written on the invitation letter.
For example, Chi Yan’s current state of mind.
However, even for Yan Shixun, he wouldn’t allow a lady to keep her hand extended without a response in front of everyone.
According to social etiquette, it should be the gentleman who takes the initiative. But for a woman of Chi Yan’s high status to make the first move was already friendly enough. If Yan Shixun didn’t respond, what others would see wouldn’t be Chi Yan’s embarrassment but Yan Shixun’s rudeness.
Many people who didn’t fully understand human nature couldn’t see through Chi Yan’s intentions, but Yan Shixun saw it clearly.
She was using the opinions of those around them to compel him to approach her.
Interesting. Despite needing something from him, Chi Yan, in what seemed like a humble gesture, elevated herself to a position so high that it forced him to come closer.
Because he didn’t respond to the invitation letter, did Chi Yan change her approach? She seemed very determined.
Yan Shixun lightly curved his lips, but his smile lacked warmth.
He extended his hand, but quickly withdrew it after touching Chi Yan’s hand: “I’m Yan Shixun. Hello, goodbye.”
His smile quickly disappeared, and he walked past with an expressionless face.
The guests behind him, who were still recovering from their shock, quickly caught up.
Together, they headed towards the location of the film crew.
Due to the protection of cultural relics, private vehicles were not allowed to enter the entire area. Even if the film crew rented the place, all their large equipment had to be manually carried in. In order to protect the century-old bricks on the ground, the management required the crew to cover the ground with protective cloth.
A significant budget was spent by the film crew for shooting on location here.
This also led to high costs for the production team, prompting the director to seek cooperation with the program group.
“Director Li is a perfectionist. Not only does he possess a profound soul, but he also tirelessly pursues artistic excellence. He is exactly the kind of person I admire.”
As they walked along, Chi Yan took on the role of a tour guide for the program group, introducing the history of the buildings along the way to the guests. She sincerely expressed her admiration for the director before the live broadcast, but without any sense of flattery, making everyone feel comfortable.
This quickly changed the impression of Chi Yan for the guests, who had previously formed negative opinions due to the small conflict when they first met. They quickly warmed up to her.
And the audience before the live broadcast, who had previously felt disgusted with Chi Yan due to the differential treatment by the assistant, became obsessed with her.
[Sister Chi Yan is amazing! She’s so friendly, not putting on airs at all.]
[Her character is impeccable. I’ve bo regrets becoming her fan.]
[An international superstar, she’s won every film award imaginable, with exceptional acting skills and impeccable professionalism. She’s practically perfect in every way. Those who used to badmouth her must be feeling quite embarrassed now.]
[Just like the journalist in the magazine interview said, she’s like a queen. Oh, Chi Yan is so cool, I’m about to bend like a mosquito coil.]
Because Chi Yan’s actions and demeanor were so natural, others hadn’t noticed that she was steadily getting closer to Yan Shixun, trying to enter the blind spots of the live camera angle.
It was as if she urgently needed to tell Yan Shixun something, and couldn’t wait another moment.
But nothing could escape the watchful eyes of Ye Li. Especially when it came to anyone talking to or getting close to Yan Shixun, he paid extra attention.
Though mindful of Yan Shixun’s sensitivities, Ye Li didn’t take any harsh actions, but he stood like an insurmountable mountain, blocking Chi Yan from getting closer to Yan Shixun.
This made Chi Yan a bit anxious. She glanced at Ye Li several times behind her sunglasses, and finally couldn’t help but smile and say to everyone, “Am I being a bit too attention-seeking? It seems like I’ve deprived you all of the pleasure of freely exploring. To avoid you feeling annoyed by my chatter, I’ll give the stage back to you all.”
Chi Yan smiled and made a zipper-pulling gesture in front of her red lips, her beauty accompanied by a playful intimacy, not making anyone feel distant. She subtly shifted everyone’s attention to the buildings without drawing attention to it.
Meanwhile, she completely stepped away from the edge of the live camera, walking at the back of the group, close to Yan Shixun.
“Mr. Yan, please forgive my rudeness. Perhaps my unauthorized approach made you uncomfortable,” Chi Yan said with an open expression, lowering her voice. “Please believe me, I’ve been busy with strange matters at home recently, and I didn’t know you would visit the set. I originally didn’t even have time for the opening ceremony, but decided to come at the last minute. It wasn’t intentional to get close to you.”
“You should have seen the letter I sent to the Zhang family and know what has been happening to me recently.”
Chi Yan sighed. “To be honest, I’ve been living in fear every day, feeling exhausted, and it’s not much different from being dead.”
Yan Shixun remained unmoved, staring ahead blankly. “Forgive my bluntness, but with Ms. Chi’s reputation and financial resources, solving a problem should be easy for you. Since you know I’ve seen the letter and haven’t responded, you should understand that I’m rejecting you. You don’t need to say these things to me. Just state your needs, and plenty of renowned experts would be willing to help you.”
However, Chi Yan didn’t give up. She shook her head. “I’ve asked around, both domestically and internationally. I’ve consulted mediums and priests. Last month, I even went to Hongcheng and visited several esteemed masters with family legacies, but they were all powerless.”
“I had already returned to the country to await death. It was only by chance that I saw Mr. Yan and decided to give it one last try.”
Chi Yan’s face carried a plea: “If Mr. Yan refuses to help me, I’ll be at a dead end.”
The beauty furrowed her brows, evoking pity.
Especially since she had always been strong and sharp, never showing her vulnerability in front of others, yet now she was willing to lower herself and seek help.
Most people would find it hard to refuse her, seeing her disappointment.
But Yan Shixun remained indifferent, unmoved by her words: “I can’t meddle in your affairs, forgive my limited knowledge.”
“I never casually interfere in others’ karma,” Yan Shixun glanced deeply at her, then walked away, clearly expressing his refusal.
Chi Yan was stunned, not expecting Yan Shixun to be so heartless, which made her somewhat angry at his lack of gratitude.
But when she thought about the situation at her home, she shuddered and gritted her teeth, catching up to him. “Mr. Yan…”
Ye Li extended his powerful arm, loosely shielding Yan Shixun behind him. His towering figure exuded a strong sense of oppression, and he casually glanced back at Chi Yan, who was still stubbornly trailing behind. His gaze was cold, as if he were looking at a deeply sinful dead person.
Chi Yan’s gaze froze in place, hesitating for a while, but she still didn’t dare to catch up.
That unfamiliar man… she felt like he had seen through her soul, which was terrifying.
…
Due to the minor incident in between, the crew arrived at the filming location slightly later than originally planned, which annoyed the director.
Filmmakers like them, even if they didn’t say it out loud, tended to believe to some extent in supernatural forces, and they particularly abhorred any disrespectful behavior towards spirits and gods on set.
Especially since the location they rented this time was in the old concession area, where the houses were built during that era and had endured through those years. No one knew how many people had died inside. Even the road they were walking on had been soaked in blood at one point. It was said that to this day, traces of blood still lingered in the seams of the old bricks and stones because the spirits refused to leave, making it impossible to clean completely.
Therefore, the director was even more cautious than usual. He even demanded that the staff on set speak quietly, fearing they might disturb the wandering spirits inside the houses.
But despite the director’s caution, with the auspicious time soon approaching, the crew from the program arrived late.
“The watch of Director Zhang needs fixing,” the director said displeasedly, casting a glance at Zhang Wubing. Though he spoke tactfully before the live broadcast, the implication was clear.
Lu Xingxing was hot-tempered and wanted to retort that it wasn’t their fault, but rather the fault of the crew’s incompetence. He was about to start arguing when Zhang Wubing stopped him.
Zhang Wubing gestured to Lu Xingxing to look at the small assistant beside him, who was so nervous and on edge that he looked like he might faint at any moment, then shook his head slightly.
He apologized to his idol with a smile, taking the blame entirely on himself without mentioning the assistant’s issue.
Seeing Zhang Wubing’s good attitude, the director’s expression softened. “Was there traffic on the way? The traffic in Binhai City is really unbearable. Come on, the opening ceremony will start in five minutes.”
Spotting Chi Yan, the director squinted at her for a moment and snorted, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t come?”
“For such an important opening ceremony, how could I not come?” Chi Yan smiled as she walked over, naturally following the director to the forefront of the creative team. “My agent overloaded me with work, and I had to squeeze out these few days. Even if I had to postpone all my work, I couldn’t miss your event.”
As the female lead, Chi Yan deservedly stood at the forefront.
The director grunted again but didn’t say anything further.
As for Zhao Zhen, he got the role of the third male lead and stood slightly further back.
Once everyone had gathered, the other actors who were originally chatting on the open ground also dressed up solemnly, no longer laughing and talking, waiting for the director to start the ceremony.
People like Yan Shixun, who were ostensibly there for a set visit, stood aside to watch.
From Yan Shixun’s perspective, he could clearly see the roast pig on the altar, surrounded by fruits, incense sticks, and offerings, indicating that the director had not neglected any detail.
He quickly calculated and confirmed that it was indeed an auspicious time; the people the director had chosen were not wrong.
The director took the lead in lighting the first incense stick.
He received three incense sticks from the master beside him, respectfully bowed to the altar, took two steps forward, and inserted the burning incense sticks into the censer.
Smoke curled up and swirled around the surroundings.
Next up was Chi Yan.
But she seemed a bit uneasy. When the master handed her the incense, she seemed absent-minded. It wasn’t until the director frowned and called her several times that she snapped out of it.
Chi Yan smiled apologetically at the master and took the three incense sticks from his hand.
However, just as she bowed down, there was a “crack” sound.
The three incense sticks broke in half at the middle and fell to the ground in front of her, shattered into pieces.
There was an instant gasp from the crowd, and the other actors looked around in confusion and nervousness, whispering to each other. The atmosphere grew restless.
Many of the actors had attended numerous opening ceremonies before, but never had such a scene occurred.
The director’s gaze also turned over, his expression somewhat displeased, feeling that this incident was very ominous.
Chi Yan quickly composed herself, lifting her head gracefully and saying, “Look at me, so clumsy. Master, please give me three more incense sticks.”
Yan Shixun frowned, his attention also drawn to Chi Yan’s unusual behavior.
This time went smoothly, and the incense did not break.
Both Chi Yan and others breathed a sigh of relief.
However, just as Chi Yan was about to insert the three incense sticks into the incense burner…
“A whoosh!” All six incense sticks, including the three incense sticks placed by the director earlier, were extinguished simultaneously. Not only that, but the candles burning on the altar also went out.
Only white smoke mixed with the pungent smell of candle wax remained, diffusing in the air.
It was as if someone mischievously blew out all the incense and candles nearby.
The crowd grew more restless, and even the nearby crew members became uneasy.
“What’s going on? I’ve never experienced anything like this on any of my previous sets.”
“While superstition isn’t good, having accidents twice in a row… does that mean something isn’t right?”
“Could it be… there’s really something here preventing the incense from lighting?”
“Haha, could it be an issue with Chi Yan herself?”
The guests from the production team exchanged glances, uncertain about what was happening.
But Zhang Wubing, who had encountered ghosts for many years, shook his head upon hearing their speculations. He didn’t believe it.
With his years of experience, he didn’t sense any presence of ghosts here.
Zhang Wubing glanced at Yan Shixun beside him, intending to ask him for the truth. However, he saw Yan Shixun furrowing his brows tightly, staring at Chi Yan.
Whispers filled the air, blending into chaotic noise, and Chi Yan’s face turned pale.
“Quiet!” The director’s authoritative voice quelled the crowd’s restlessness, and he explained with displeasure, “It’s just the wind picking up in autumn. Your imaginations are quite vivid. The screenwriter might consider calling it a day.”
Chi Yan looked up, grateful to the director for stepping in, but her muscles were stiff with fear, making her smile appear forced and even somewhat eerie.
She reached out towards the censer, intending to remove the extinguished incense. However, as her fingers touched the incense, it suddenly shattered into pieces with a loud “crack,” some even turning into powder scattered around the censer.
…As if someone had been chopped into several pieces, or even reduced to ashes.
Chi Yan stared blankly at the scene, the blood draining from her face rapidly. Her outstretched hand remained frozen in place, forgotten in midair.
A chilling sensation crept up her spine, numbing her nerves along the way.
It felt as though someone had breathed down her neck.
— “Giggle.”
If you love what Ciacia is doing, then consider showing your support by supporting a cup of tea for her at Kofi. If you can’t wait for the next release chapter, subscribe to advanced chapters membership on her Kofi to get access to up to 10 chapters!
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
