Though the voice was low, Lu Ren was certain he had heard it.
*…An idiot? What does being an idiot have to do with this?*
Lu Ren’s mind was a haze as he thought, *Big brother, this is clearly just being a coward…*
Just then, a deep male voice suddenly came from beside him.
“Teacher Lu, Teacher Yin, we’re done filming!” the man said. “You can officially wrap up now.”
Lu Ren turned his head blankly and only then noticed a cameraman standing behind him.
He hadn’t known when the man had arrived, but it seemed the thing he had been leaning against earlier was actually him.
Lu Ren asked, “…Wh-what are we filming?”
“Ah, didn’t Director Xu tell you?” Seeing him look over, the cameraman hoisted his equipment and gave him a simple, honest smile. “Teacher Yin and Teacher Xu said we could film some behind-the-scenes footage after the main shoot.”
“…Behind-the-scenes?” Lu Ren’s face flushed a chaotic mix of white, blue, and red. “So everything just now was… all for the behind-the-scenes footage?”
The cameraman nodded. “Yeah.”
Lu Ren’s vision went black.
*Fucking hell!*
*My heart, liver, and lungs were about to jump out of my chest, and you’re telling me this was just a blooper reel?!*
“You weren’t scared, were you?” Director Xu walked over, a rare smile on his face. “Bei Lin suggested not telling you. He said the most authentic reactions happen when you’re caught off guard, so I didn’t mention we’d swapped in a real sword.”
Lu Ren: “…”
Only then did Lu Ren fully grasp the situation.
*No wonder he had me take over Rao Mengmeng’s lines. This was all revenge!*
With this thought, he shot a gloomy glance at Yin Beilin, who was standing beside him.
Unexpectedly, Yin Beilin didn’t flinch. Instead, he crossed his arms and met Lu Ren’s gaze. His phoenix eyes held a hint of amusement amidst their usual calm. He tilted his head slightly, one eyebrow arched, his expression practically saying, *Yeah, I scared you. So what?*
Lu Ren’s lips twitched. *The audacity!*
*Forget it.*
*Amitabha. As long as he’s not trying to chop me up, it’s fine,* Lu Ren thought with a weary sigh.
As for the “idiot” incident… Lu Ren’s lips twitched again. *If this scare was enough to appease Yin Beilin about that “five million” matter…*
*Well, well, then he wouldn’t mind doing a couple more behind-the-scenes clips!*
Director Xu didn’t notice the exchange of glances between Lu Ren and Yin Beilin.
“Lu… Little Lu, right?” Director Xu nodded. “I saw your final reaction today. It was very natural and vivid.”
“We didn’t tell you in advance this time, but your immersion in the role has improved a lot.” Seeing Lu Ren’s still-pale face, Director Xu’s stern expression softened a bit more. “You really took my advice to heart.”
*He really has improved a lot.*
Without the habit of deliberately looking for the camera, Lu Ren’s entire aura had become much more spirited.
Even in that behind-the-scenes clip just now, with so many people surrounding him, this kid could still immerse himself so deeply… It was truly a rare talent.
Director Xu sighed with admiration. “No wonder Beilin recommended you. It seems he has a better eye for talent than this old man of mine.”
Yin Beilin, standing beside him, said calmly, “Director Xu, you flatter me.”
Having recovered, Lu Ren felt a bit embarrassed hearing Director Xu’s praise.
He rubbed his head and said, “Thank you, Director Xu.”
***
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Director Xu, Lu Ren found the set in a whirlwind of activity. With *Blade* finally wrapped, the crew was busy packing up cameras and cranes, dismantling the dolly tracks, and rushing about to finish their work.
Lu Ren had been heading straight to change out of his costume when he was suddenly stopped.
A few of the makeup artists were staring at him, their eyes sparkling. “Teacher Lu, could we take a photo with you?”
Lu Ren instinctively took a step back, feeling a bit shy and embarrassed. “Huh? What’s so special about taking a photo with me like this…?”
“You look amazing!”
“Teacher Lu, please, just one photo~”
“Please! We’ll only keep one copy. If you don’t like it, we won’t post it online.”
Seeing the girls’ hopeful, starry-eyed expressions, Lu Ren found it hard to disappoint them. “Uh… okay.”
Just as he thought they were finished, Lu Ren turned to go remove his makeup, only to feel a tap on his shoulder.
He spun around to find the male staff member he’d seen at the entrance earlier. The young man was blushing, his expression shy. “T-Teacher Lu, could I also take a photo with you?”
Teacher Lulu nodded again.
After taking a photo with the staff member, Lu Ren had barely taken a few steps before he was stopped again.
Turning around, he suddenly found himself facing a crowd of staff members, all blushing.
There were men and women, young and old.
Lu Ren’s lips twitched. “Uh… you guys also…”
The crowd shouted in unison, “Teacher Lu! I want to take a photo with you too!”
By the end of the photo session, Lu Ren had gone numb.
At first, he was a bit shy, but later, he just kept smiling—smiling until his face was frozen in a permanent grin.
When he finally got a moment to grab his clothes, he hadn’t even started changing before he checked his phone and saw several new WeChat messages.
He tapped them open, puzzled.
It turned out they were from twenty minutes ago.
The person he had pinned to the top of his chat list had sent him three messages.
【Come to my lounge.】
【Five million.】
“Holy shit!”
The people near the makeup van froze.
The next second, they saw Lu Ren lifting his skirt, running away in his high heels with a slight sway.
The crowd watched with dazed eyes as the red dress disappeared in the distance.
“How can Lu Ren look so good even when he’s running like that…”
***
Meanwhile, in the outermost visitor’s lounge of the *Blade* production set…
Outside the door, the noisy chatter of reporters could still be heard. Beyond the windows, many crew members passed by, their eyes filled with curiosity.
Huang Ying spoke gently. “You’re such a busy person, yet you made the trip to see Beilin. You’ve gone to a lot of trouble.”
And it truly was a lot of trouble.
The *Blade* production had moved its final shoot away from Hengdian. In this remote mountain village during the scorching summer, this place was called a “visitor’s lounge” only for the sake of appearances. In reality, it was nothing more than a makeshift shed. Flies and insects buzzed under the harsh lights—hardly a fitting setting for someone of Luo Jiuge’s status.
Luo Jiuge and her assistant sat together.
Recently, she had deliberately chosen to wear a simple, elegant, light gray dress. Though the garment was understated, her stunningly beautiful face did not lose its radiance.
Hearing Huang Ying’s words, Luo Jiuge’s enchanting eyes narrowed slightly.
“Sister Ying, you’re being too formal,” she said with a soft laugh, gently tucking a strand of black hair behind her left ear. “It’s no trouble at all.”
“Besides, Beilin and I haven’t seen each other in a long time.”
Both sentences were perfectly poised. Huang Ying smiled.
*As expected of a Film Empress,* she thought, nodding inwardly.
Even though it was already night, Luo Jiuge remained dazzlingly beautiful. She held her chin high, her smile flawless. The crystal pendant earrings she wore caught the studio lights, shimmering with an expensive glow.
Dazzled by the light, Huang Ying’s mind inexplicably drifted to Lu Ren’s face from that morning.
His fair skin, damp and completely bare of makeup, and those innocent eyes blinking.
Huang Ying fell silent.
She stole another glance at Luo Jiuge.
Luo Jiuge was still breathtakingly beautiful, her chin held high, her smile perfect, the crystal pendant earrings shimmering with an expensive glow.
Huang Ying shook her head inwardly.
*…I’ve gone completely mad,* she cursed herself.
*Lu Ren is just a bit more delicate-featured than most men… What’s there to even compare with Luo Jiuge?*
With that thought, Huang Ying stood up.
“Miss Luo, would you mind waiting here for a moment?” Huang Ying paused. “I was supposed to go find Bei Lin directly, but the crew just informed me he’s back in the dressing room, probably getting out of costume…”
Luo Jiuge offered a slight smile. “It’s fine, Sister Ying. We’re all artists, I understand.”
Huang Ying smiled back and walked away.
The moment she left, Luo Jiuge’s brow furrowed sharply. “Where’s the spray?”
Her assistant quickly retrieved the mosquito repellent from her bag. Luo Jiuge snatched it and began spraying herself relentlessly.
“Honestly!” Luo Jiuge complained, “I already messaged Yin Beilin, yet he still hasn’t shown up.”
“And that Huang Ying, too! Making me wait here with all these mosquitoes,” Luo Jiuge said, her beautiful brows furrowed tightly. “What if they bite my face?”
After she spoke, she frowned again and asked, “My makeup isn’t smudged, is it?”
The assistant, who was holding a small fan and blowing it on her, shook her head quickly. “No, no, you’re still beautiful.”
“Good,” Luo Jiuge finally relaxed a bit, a proud smile playing on her lips. “But just being beautiful isn’t enough. I want to be perfect.”
Just then, a group of crew members from the *Blade* set happened to walk by.
Seeing Luo Jiuge in the guest lounge, their expressions turned to astonishment as they stared, their eyes widening slightly.
Luo Jiuge was all too familiar with this “stunned by beauty” look. She had grown used to the praise people heaped upon her.
“So beautiful,” “So stunning”—she was sick of hearing those.
“The divine beauty of the entertainment industry,” “humanity’s wealthy flower,” “committing crimes with beauty”—she took the gasps of the passing crew members in her stride.
But…
Gradually, Luo Jiuge’s expression turned to one of confusion.
*…A red dress?* she thought, frowning. *I’m clearly wearing beige-grey today. Why are they saying a red dress looks good?*
***
Huang Ying walked down the hallway, occasionally hearing the flushed whispers of passing staff members. She found it strange.
*Luo Jiuge is still at the entrance, so how are these people already so captivated?*
Finally, she reached the door to Yin Beilin’s dressing room.
Huang Ying knocked. “Bei Lin.”
No answer.
*Maybe it’s too noisy in here,* she thought, raising her hand to knock again. Just then, a loud *thud* echoed from inside.
Huang Ying froze for a moment, then reacted instantly, grabbing the handle and twisting it open.
*Thank God, it’s unlocked!*
She let out a breath of relief, but the next second, her expression froze.
Inside the dressing room, there was a woman.
A woman sitting on top of Yin Beilin.
She was straddling him, cupping his face in her hands. Her long, wavy black hair cascaded down her back, and the straps of her red slip dress hung loosely off her shoulders, revealing vast expanses of snow-white skin. Under the lights, her complexion was so luminous it was almost blinding. Even without seeing her face, her figure and skin alone were enough to mark her as an incomparable beauty.
As if sensing someone at the door, the beauty suddenly looked up.
Their eyes met.
Huang Ying’s lips twitched. “…”
Lu Ren’s expression was one of sheer panic. “Holy shit?! S-Sister Ying?”
Huang Ying’s face was a mask of stone, a vein throbbing violently at her temple.
The next second, she drew a breath from her very core and roared, “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO DOING??!!”