The Feilong Ancient Village was a village near the forest. The customs and scenery here were unique on their own. The buildings with red pillars and cornices were all made of wood and there wasn't much modern furniture seen.
Song Qingli rubbed the flesh on her back that had been pinched and a bright smile bloomed on her face. She waved and greeted the few supporting actors who were gossiping about her.
"Hello, it's my first time here. My name is Song Qingli. Please be kind to me and I would deeply appreciate it if you could help me during the shoot."
"I don't think we'll be able to help you, Miss Song. You have such strong support with the luxury car and a military advisor. I'm afraid that useless characters like us don't even deserve to eat at the same table as you." The woman who spoke was called Xie Ke'er. She had been acting as the female villain in multiple movies. This was because of her sharp eyes, high-arched eyebrows, and thin lips which gave her a demeaning look.
Song Qingli had a good memory and she had already familiarised herself with the documents that Sister Li had given her in the car just now. So, she already knew the information of most of the actors present at dinner tonight.
The young girl happily walked towards Ke'er, the smile in her eyes never fading. "You are Xie Ke'er, right? Your role as the fourth senior in the Ancient Sword Technique was one of my favorites. I liked it so much. Can we take a picture together?"
Xie Ke 'er couldn't even hold back the corner of her mouth that was curling upwards. Her eyes were darting around and the other actresses who followed her lead and looked at her enviously. The woman raised her chin and looked very proud. If Song Qingli was just an ordinary movie fan, she naturally wouldn't be so arrogant but the person in front of her was still a mystery. However, from the way Song Qingli appeared tonight, it was obvious that she wasn't an ordinary person.
"I didn't expect you to have such good taste. Since you're a fan, I'll take a picture with you."
"Yay! I'll take this photo home and hang it on the wall." Song Qingli laughed in her heart and took out her phone to take a photo. She was beautiful with a sweet tongue and she immediately got along with the others with some flattery and compliments.
As soon as Li Zhen got out of the car, she looked for where the directors and producers were at. She has been in the industry for years and most of them no set would know who she was. She has worked with these producers and directors in the past and so they were naturally familiar with each other.
"Yo! Li Zhen! Today must be a good day! Have you returned as Xiao Yi's manager? In my opinion, you definitely made a loss when you left immediately after you made him popular." When Producer Su saw his old friend, he immediately took off his sunglasses and the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes piled up three or four layers. Several other directors beside him also came over to greet Li Zhen as well.
Li Zhen was not in a hurry to explain. She waited for them to finish before answering them, "I am no longer Xiao Yi's manager."
"Huh?" Producer Su and the directors were stunned, scratching their ears and cheeks in confusion. "On our set, other than Xiao Yi, is there anyone who would be able to hire Manager Li? Pardon me for being obnoxious but I can't seem to think of anyone else."
"Could it be the female lead, Su Qinqin? She's from a recently popular girl group variety show. She does have a lot of fans but she's not that popular." Assistant Director Li thought for a moment.
"That can't be right. This is Su Qinqin's first attempt at acting as well. I met her manager earlier. He's a man called Xiao Yu." Producer Su was getting confused.
Just as the producers and directors were wondering if there was any other famous celebrity in the show that they didn't know about, they suddenly heard the young girls screaming. As soon as Xiao Yi's nanny van entered, the other actresses on the show, no matter who they were, acted like monsters, screaming and shouting around the car.
One of the girls stood out the most as she was sitting firmly on a short tree branch and she was smiling so brightly that the corners of her mouth were almost reaching her ears. She waved at Xiao Yi with all her might while screaming, "Great Xiao! Great Xiao! He rules the world!"
The leaves cut the sunray into smaller gold pieces. The young girl's eyes were bright and she was smiling happily. She was wearing a peach-colored dress and didn't seem afraid of the insects on the tree. She hugged a short-necked branch and waved at him in disregard of her image, shouting and screaming for him.
The man's eyes were always sparkling as if there were stars in his eyes. He had a faint smile on the corner of his mouth and his dimples looked charming. Then, he took a good look at the young girl hanging on the tree.
People who were popular were often in trouble. No matter where they went, there would always be a crowd. Therefore, Xiao Yi rarely did any of his shoots outdoors. Most of the time, he would do them indoors. He was always surrounded by his bodyguards like an iron bucket and no one was allowed to get close to him.
As the crowd flashed past, Song Qingli still refused to come down from the tree. She looked at the place where her idol had gone with a smitten smile. It wasn't until she noticed several scrutinizing gazes shot over from the side. The young girl caught a glimpse of them. Her body trembled and she almost fell off the tree branch. Then, she saw Li Zhen's tensed lips and her mysterious and indistinct eyes hidden under her sunglasses.
Producer Su had asymmetrical eyes especially when his eyes were wide open. "Am I seeing things? Is that a person hanging on the tree?"
"That's the girl who's playing the second female lead, Nangong Li." Co-director Li pushed up his glasses.
Li Zhen crossed her arms and gritted her teeth. Her voice sounded pissed as she said, "That's my artist."
"..."
"..."
Li Zhen left the shocked producers and directors behind and strode to the short tree. She took off her sunglasses and frowned at Song Qingli. She suppressed her anger and said, "Get down here."
The young girl pursed her lips and lowered her head, like a naughty child caught by her parents. She had no idea what she had done wrong. Li Zhen walked closer, their noses getting closer and their eyes met. "Do you know what this place is? Do you see the machines over there? In the era of social media, everyone has a phone with them. What were you trying to do? Do you want to become a laughing stock?"
"I don't want to." Song Qingli lowered her head and admitted her mistake. Although she admitted her mistake verbally, she was still very unhappy with Li Zhen's overbearing attitude. Li Zhen could have said it nicely but she had to speak in such an unpleasant tone.
"If you don't want to, then stay here obediently." Before Li Zhen left, she shot Song Qingli a look and warned her to watch her manners.
After Li Zhen left, Xie Ke'er and some of the other actresses came over and spoke up for Song Qingli, "This is torture. Although Li Zhen is excellent, she's still a manager. How can she be so rude to you? She was threatening you!"
Song Qingli pursed her lips and could only swallow her words.
In the blink of an eye, it was six o'clock in the afternoon. The sun was hanging above the mountain, looking as if it was about to set. The directors were anxiously walking in circles. The dishes on the table were all served, and the aroma assailed their noses but the female lead, Su Qinqin, was still nowhere to be seen.
Song Qingli sat beside Li Zhen, looking as obedient as a little Samoyed. Her eyes were round and her lips were pursed into a thin line as she maintained her smile. Li Zhen, on the other hand, had a cold expression on her face. She had taken off her sunglasses and revealed a pair of sharp and piercing eyes.
With a glance from her, Xie Ke'er and the rest of the actresses sitting opposite her shivered.
"F*ck, the title of an 'old vixen' definitely isn't just for show. Why do I feel like Song Qingli has been kidnapped? She's smiling so much that her face looks stiff." Xie Ke'er might look mean and unkind but she was a typical type who didn't have a working brainstem. She wasn't a bad person but she just couldn't control her mouth. Song Qingli only realized this after conversing with them earlier.
At this moment, everyone in the room was waiting for the female lead; even Xiao Yi had already taken his seat. No one knew who this female lead was, who was being incredibly late.
Suddenly, there was the sound of wheels rubbing against the sand on the ground from outside the place. The directors and producers were like birds startled by the mere twang of a bow and they rushed to the door to welcome the person that had just arrived.
Song Qingli's gaze was fixed on the door, curious as to who the female lead was. Li Zhen, who was beside her, rolled her eyes and scoffed coldly. "It's difficult for an inglorious clown to show up with elegance."