Zhuang Qinqin was indeed caught completely off guard by Shan Shan’s reaction, but she did not give up. Instead, she walked straight over to Director Luo, her face wearing a gentle and kind smile. “Hello, Director Luo.”
“Hello,” Director Luo replied. His tone was neither warm nor cold. In fact, this was exactly how he treated everyone outside of filming with the exception of actors he held in high regard and had known for a long time, such as Yin Kairui. “Is there something you need?”
“There are a few scenes I’ll be filming in the next couple of days that I’m still unsure about. I was hoping I could ask for your guidance,” she said.
The moment the topic turned to work, Director Luo’s expression became serious and attentive. “Which scenes are you having trouble with?”
“It’s these particular moments for my character…”
Zhuang Qinqin went on to describe two specific scenes in detail, and even acted them out briefly to show him exactly where she felt uncertain. It was clear that her understanding of the roles and the story was slightly off.
“You’ve misunderstood the intention of these scenes,” Director Luo said. He knew the script inside and out. While he might not be able to perform the roles himself, there was no problem or issue he couldn’t identify and explain clearly.
He walked her through the scenes line by line, explaining the emotions, motivations, and context behind every moment. Zhuang Qinqin listened carefully and intently, her expression shifting from confusion to realization. “Oh… is that how it’s meant to be played?”
She adjusted her performance and acted out the scenes again, this time capturing exactly what was required. Director Luo nodded in approval. “Yes, that’s exactly right.”
Zhuang Qinqin smiled softly, her eyes full of gratitude. “Thank you so much for explaining this to me. I actually thought about asking Senior Yin for advice first, but I’ve noticed he’s been feeling quite sensitive and upset lately because of all the rumors trending online. I didn’t want to bother him when he’s already going through so much. That’s why… I thought I’d try a different approach and get to know the little girl first, hoping that would help build a connection with him indirectly.”
In theory, any responsible director would be pleased to see an actor who was eager to learn and improve, and Zhuang Qinqin believed that her words would make Director Luo think highly of her.
But in reality, Director Luo’s expression remained completely unreadable. He simply waved his hand dismissively. “I don’t think you have any scenes scheduled for today, do you?”
“No, I don’t,” Zhuang Qinqin replied earnestly. “But there are still many parts of my role and the story that I haven’t fully understood yet. Director Luo… would you be willing to give me a chance? Let me help take care of this little girl for a while. If I spend time looking after her, I’m sure I’ll feel more comfortable asking Senior Yin for advice and guidance later on.”
Shan Shan, who had been holding her nose tightly this whole time and watching Zhuang Qinqin with a look of deep wariness and distrust, opened her eyes wide in alarm. She squirmed and pushed herself as far back into Director Luo’s arms as she possibly could, every part of her body showing clear signs of rejection and refusal.
The smile on Director Luo’s face faded slightly. He looked down at Shan Shan, then spoke in a calm but firm tone that left no room for argument. “I can see very clearly that she doesn’t like you at all. And besides, she is a well-behaved, sensible child. We don’t need you or anyone else to take care of her for us.”
A flash of embarrassment crossed Zhuang Qinqin’s face, but she quickly recovered and spoke in a soft, hurt voice. “I really don’t have any bad intentions at all. Has the little girl misunderstood me somehow? Did she hear something negative about me from someone else?”
“Enough,” Director Luo said, his voice growing sharp and impatient. “If you have that much time and energy to spare, you’d be better off studying your script more carefully and making sure your acting stays true to the characters and the story we’ve created.”
His words were clear: stop putting on an act for his benefit and pretending to be someone you are not.
Zhuang Qinqin’s face flushed bright red with a mixture of shame and anger.
Director Luo had never intended to speak harshly to such a young actress. In all his years in the industry, he had seen every kind of person and every kind of scheme. As long as people didn’t cause trouble for him personally, or try to create problems within his production, he was usually willing to look the other way and let things slide.
But Zhuang Qinqin was clearly trying to play tricks and manipulate people right in front of him and worse still, she was trying to use a small child only three or four years old as part of her plan. This was something he simply could not tolerate.
And on top of that, Shan Shan had already made it perfectly clear how much she disliked and distrusted her, yet Zhuang Qinqin was now suggesting that it was only because Yin Kairui or others had said bad things about her that Shan Shan felt this way.
Director Luo knew very well that this was not the case. When Shan Shan had run straight to him for safety earlier, even Liu who had been standing right beside her had looked completely shocked and surprised by her reaction.
“Here on this set, your only job is to act well and do your work properly. You don’t need to concern yourself with anything else,” he said firmly.
It was only because Zhuang Qinqin showed real talent and potential, and because her appearance and demeanor fit the role of the third female lead perfectly, that Director Luo had bothered to say anything at all. While his words were a clear warning, they were also a form of guidance and advice.
Zhuang Qinqin’s face turned red once again. She bit her lower lip and spoke quietly. “Thank you for your guidance, Director Luo. I understand what you mean, and I promise I will do my best.”
With that, she turned and walked away quickly.
Watching the whole scene unfold, Shan Shan’s eyes lit up with admiration. “Wow… Uncle is so amazing!”
Director Luo, who had been speaking with such stern authority only moments before, broke into a warm smile at her words. “Oh really? Do you dislike her that much then?”
Shan Shan nodded her head vigorously, her expression completely unapologetic and firm. “Yes! I really don’t like her at all!”
Director Luo chuckled, looking as cunning and clever as an old fox. “Can you tell me why you don’t like her?”
“Come closer, and I’ll whisper it to you,” Shan Shan said mysteriously.
Director Luo actually leaned down and brought his ear close to her mouth, playing along perfectly.
And then he heard Shan Shan speak in the softest, quietest voice she could manage. “It’s because she smells really bad. That’s why I don’t like her!”
Director Luo blinked in confusion. “???”
Does she have body odor or something?
But that couldn’t be right he had been standing very close to her just moments ago, and he hadn’t smelled anything unpleasant at all.
Shan Shan shook her head, but the moment she looked back up at Director Luo’s face, her expression suddenly turned serious and grave. “Oh no… Uncle, you’re covered in dark black energy too! Something bad is going to happen to you soon!”
Director Luo stared at her in bewilderment. “???”
He certainly wasn’t going to get angry or upset with a small child for saying such things children always spoke in strange, confusing ways, and they didn’t always understand what they were saying anyway. Besides, he had always had a naturally dark complexion. He was big and strong and sturdy, and everyone who knew him well even jokingly called him “Luo the Dark.”
He just hadn’t expected Shan Shan to be so superstitious and strange, going on about bad luck and disasters. He couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. He gently patted Shan Shan on the forehead. “You silly little thing… you mustn’t go around telling people that something bad is going to happen to them. People will think you’re putting a curse on them, and they’ll get very angry with you, do you understand?”
“But I’m not cursing you or anything like that!” Shan Shan protested. She could clearly see that the dark haze gathering above Director Luo’s head was growing thicker and darker by the second, and this only made her even more certain that trouble was heading his way.
Director Luo had helped her and protected her from Zhuang Qinqin just now, and he had also been nothing but kind and friendly toward her. Shan Shan thought carefully for a moment, then looked up at him with big, earnest eyes. “Uncle… can I hold your hand for a little while?”
Director Luo held out his hand. “What do you want to do?”
Shan Shan took his hand and turned it over so his palm was facing upward. She pressed her thin, delicate index and middle fingers together, and began drawing lines and patterns on his skin while muttering soft words under her breath. “I think this is how it’s supposed to be drawn…”
Her small fingers moved lightly across his palm, tickling his skin and making him twitch slightly. It felt strange and itchy, but not unpleasant.
Director Luo couldn’t make out exactly what she was drawing, but he watched as she finished her design and immediately her eyes lit up with delight and satisfaction. “There! I did it perfectly!”
Curious about what she was doing, Director Luo asked, “Shan Shan… what were you doing just now?”
“I was…” Shan Shan began, but just as she was about to say that she had sealed some of her own spiritual energy inside his palm, she suddenly remembered her promise to Yin Kairui never to tell anyone about her special powers or abilities.
She quickly changed what she was going to say and spoke instead, “I was drawing a protective charm for Uncle!”
“You know how to draw magic charms and spells?” Director Luo laughed, finding the whole thing utterly adorable.
Shan Shan nodded her head confidently.
This was the only kind of spell or charm she knew how to make. To be more accurate, it wasn’t really a charm at all it was actually a sealing technique. This time, she had used it to store a portion of her spiritual energy right there in the center of Director Luo’s palm. This way, if he ever found himself in danger or met with an accident, the energy would activate automatically to protect him, ensuring that he would never suffer more than minor injuries at worst.
Thinking about this, Shan Shan let out a small sigh.
If only I hadn’t fallen asleep every time my older brothers and sisters were talking about magic and spells in the past… I’d know so much more than I do now. Instead, this is the only technique they ever taught me, and they only did it as a joke to make me happy! Now I don’t even know how to use a simple tracking spell or location magic when I need it…
“So if this is a protective charm, what does it actually do?” Director Luo asked, still amused by the whole idea.
“It protects Uncle and keeps you safe from harm,” Shan Shan replied seriously.
“Wonderful then! I’ll count on you to keep me safe and sound, little one!” Director Luo said with a warm laugh.
Shan Shan nodded firmly, completely serious about her promise.
Before long, Yin Kairui finished filming his first scene. Wearing heavy period costumes and a long, elaborate wig in this sweltering heat was exhausting and uncomfortable, and he was eager to sit down and rest the moment he was free. Liu quickly handed him a bottle of chilled mineral water, and as he took a sip, Yin Kairui suddenly felt a cool, refreshing breeze blowing gently against his face.
He turned his head and saw Shan Shan standing beside him, holding a small electric fan pointed directly at him.
Strangely enough, even though the air all around them was hot and stifling, the wind blowing from the small fan in Shan Shan’s hand felt cool and crisp, as if it had been chilled in ice.
“Sit down properly,” Yin Kairui told her gently. Then he turned to Liu and asked, “Was everything alright while I was filming? Did anything happen?”
“Everything was fine,” Liu replied, knowing exactly what he was asking about. “Shan Shan is a smart little thing she knew exactly what to do and ran straight over to Director Luo for help when she needed it.”
“Just make sure you keep an eye out and don’t let her go anywhere near that woman,” Yin Kairui said. He found Zhuang Qinqin strange and suspicious, and he had absolutely no interest in interacting with her at all.
He had only ever felt dislike and wariness toward Zhuang Qinqin, so he had no idea what was coming next. The moment he lowered his head, he found himself looking straight into Shan Shan’s bright, sparkling eyes.
“Brother is the best person in the whole world!” she declared happily.
Yin Kairui blinked in confusion. “???”
He had no idea what had suddenly made her say such a thing, and he was too tired to ask or think about it too deeply. “Are you happy staying here and watching us work? If you get bored or don’t feel well, you can go back to the hotel and rest. Uncle Liu will go with you and keep you company.”
“No way! I want to stay with Brother!” Shan Shan shook her head fiercely, refusing the offer completely.
“I’m a grown man, you know. I don’t need anyone to stay by my side all the time,” Yin Kairui said, acting as if he didn’t need or want her company.
Shan Shan glanced up at the dark, heavy cloud of energy that was once again gathering above Yin Kairui’s head. She moved closer and pressed her body gently against his side. “But I want to stay right next to Brother!”
The moment she touched him, the dark, ominous energy began to vanish instantly, just like snow melting in the heat of the sun. Shan Shan smiled with deep satisfaction and happiness, feeling incredibly useful and proud of herself.
Shan Shan was so caught up in the joy of staying close to her brother and protecting him that she didn’t notice what was happening elsewhere. While she was clinging happily to Yin Kairui, Director Luo had received an urgent phone call and had hurried out of the room. And the moment he stepped outside, the dark energy hovering above his head suddenly became so thick and black that it looked almost solid.