“That’s great! I happen to have a night shoot tonight too. Since Second Master Yan isn’t going back, I don’t need to go either, right? So after I finish work, can I go straight back to my own home?”
“What drama are you shooting?”
Wanqing paused for a moment before answering, “Villainous Black Lotus Chronicles!”
It seemed Qi Yan really didn’t pay much attention to the entertainment industry.
Lemon Platform’s S+ historical drama Villainous Black Lotus Chronicles was currently the hottest major IP, with a massive fanbase from the original novel!
The director was none other than the genius director Nie Bufang, whose every television production had been a massive hit, launching numerous stars to fame. Because of this, many actors were willing to lower their status just to get a role in his dramas.
When the casting announcement was made, the entire Weibo platform crashed!
Because the male lead opposite her was none other than top star Shi Si—the dream of nine hundred million girls!
A top-tier director + a male god-level top star + a goddess-level actress—this drama had been trending on hot searches regularly since its preparation began. Who would have thought Qi Yan didn’t even know about this.
There really was a wall between the business elite circle and the entertainment industry.
Qi Yan responded indifferently, “Hmm.”
Wanqing: “…”
What did “hmm” mean?
After another pause, she confirmed with him, “So… can I go back to my own home?”
She deliberately emphasized the words “my own home.” Qi Yan was so smart—he definitely understood what she meant.
Silence on the other end of the line.
Wanqing took a deep breath and tentatively asked in a small voice, “Second Master Yan, are you still there?”
Qi Yan: “I’m here.”
Wanqing: “…”
If you’re here, then say something!
After an inexplicable silence, his calm voice sounded again.
“Where is your own home?”
Wanqing closed her eyes in exasperation, collapsing into the soft bed. Her fair hand grabbed a pillow and pressed it against her face.
Unbelievable, truly unbelievable.
Second Master, I don’t even admire walls—I only admire you.
On the other end, Qi Yan commanded, “Speak.”
She forced a smile, trying her best to make her voice sound normal.
“Bro… Second Master, my home is at Xinghai Yunting~”
She had originally intended to call him “brother” to act cute and please him, but just thinking about last night made her feel like her brain was deprived of oxygen and she couldn’t breathe.
She simply couldn’t view the term “brother” with normal eyes anymore.
Qi Yan: “Hmm.”
Wanqing: “Hmm again?”
Qi Yan: “Check WeChat.”
Wanqing: “Oh…”
After hanging up, she opened WeChat and indeed saw a friend request—”Qi Yan.”
The name was his real one, and the profile picture was also of him.
What a boring man.
Completely failed to spark any desire to chat.
If it weren’t for the fact that the name “Qi Yan” was too distinctive, and his profile picture was exceptionally handsome…
She almost would have thought he had switched careers to become a real estate agent.
Su Sili arrived right on time, bringing the makeup artist along.
After hair and makeup were done, they arrived at the filming location in the studio city at four in the afternoon.
People in the entertainment industry were particularly superstitious. For most drama productions, before officially starting filming, they would choose an auspicious day to hold an opening ceremony.
For grand productions, they would even invite high monks to set up altars, chant sutras, and perform rituals. All actors would burn incense and walk three circles around the altar—it was said this would ensure high ratings.
But Director Nie never believed in such things. For the dramas he directed, the start and wrap-up were always casual affairs—no champagne, no flowers.
This time was even simpler: the crew just had a meal together as the opening ceremony.
Wanqing arrived at the set, greeted the crew warmly, and went to change clothes. However, when the costume designer brought over the outfit, she felt something was off.
“Sister Qing, why does this outfit look different from the official stills?”
She distinctly remembered that the costume paired with this hairstyle and makeup was a translucent, light-blue gauze ruqun with a front-opening collar, revealing more of her neck and chest—a touch of sensuality.
Although the outfit in front of her was also light blue, the collar had been changed to a cross-collar style, and the gauze had been replaced with wide-sleeved robes.
It was still beautiful, but it looked much more conservative.
The costume designer, Ah Qing, sighed as she helped Wanqing into the outfit and replied:
“Ah, I had to modify this dress at the last minute. At noon, Director Nie suddenly told me this one was too revealing. Sister, you know our drama is aiming for a TV broadcast, and showing too much skin won’t pass the censorship. So, I thought it’d be better to wrap you up a bit more!”
Wanqing thought to herself, that made sense.
Earlier this year, wasn’t there a historical romance drama where the female actors’ necklines were too low? To pass censorship, the production team cut all the shots below the neck, leading to viewers complaining that it felt like watching a series of headshots.
The makeup artist, however, didn’t see it that way. She was thinking, who was making her job more difficult!
With only five seconds left on the countdown, Director Nie picked up the walkie-talkie and announced, “All departments, get ready. Five, four, three, two, one, action!”
“Camera rolling.”
“Sound rolling.”
Script supervisor: “Large-scale historical drama The Villainous Black Lotus Chronicles, Scene 88, Take 1, Shot 4. Three… two… one, action!”
As the clapperboard snapped shut, the actors began their movements.
This scene depicted the moment before Wanqing’s character, “Taoyao,” turned to the dark side, being bullied by the malicious female antagonist.
“You wretch! You’re nothing but a lowborn child of a concubine. How dare you compete with me for Brother Beichen?”
After delivering her lines, Li Su’er stepped forward arrogantly, grabbed “Taoyao’s” hair, and slapped her twice with sharp, resounding blows across the face.
“Cut, cut, cut!”
“What’s going on!”
Wanqing was stunned, her ears ringing.
She hadn’t even had a chance to say her lines!
Su Sili’s expression darkened instantly. He rushed forward, shoving Li Su’er aside. Seeing the two glaring red slap marks on Wanqing’s fair face, his expression turned icy and terrifying, his right hand clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked.
“You fucking plastic bitch… Who do you think you’re messing with? You don’t know your place, and today I’m going to make sure you regret it!”
Li Su’er shuddered at his words, her hands and lips trembling as she took a few steps back in fear.
She had heard of Su Sili’s name—he wasn’t someone she could afford to provoke.
And her intuition told her he wasn’t joking.
Wanqing turned around and quickly grabbed his arm. “Oh my god, Xiao Susu, your expression is terrifying!”
She was also startled by Su Sili’s current demeanor, completely forgetting about the pain on her own face as she hurriedly tried to calm him down.
“Calm down, calm down. Let’s hear what the director has to say first. Don’t be hasty.”
What was going on? She was the one who had been slapped, so why was she the one comforting him?
Who was going to comfort her!
The other actors on set whispered among themselves.
“Unbelievable, she actually hit her. Wanqing is still a top-tier actress, isn’t she? Even if she broke up with President Fu, it’s not like some unknown third-rate actress can just walk all over her, right?”
“Yeah, this must be her first time acting, she doesn’t even know the rules.”
“Clearly she’s just trying to pick a fight!”