"Everyone is looking for you Yang Muchen, why are you out here?" His voice was soft as he spoke, glancing at the man who swung a glass of whiskey in his grip.
"I..," Yang Muchen searched for the right word to say, "I just needed air, I needed a break."
"Shall I keep you company?" He asked gently.
"No." Yang Muchen shook his head, "go inside Lin Haoran."
"We are a couple Muchen, a team, yet you always shut me out." Anger simmered in Lin Haoran's words.
"It's not like that Haoran, I care about you." Yang Muchen sighed.
"You care about me?" Lin Haoran laughed, "all you have ever done is hurt me, while I have loved you devotedly, I try my best to make this marriage work and all you do is come out here.." he laughed, the sound angry and pained, "and take a break."
"I try Haoran, I really do, but it's hard." Yang Muchen tipped the burning liquid down his throat.
"Try harder Muchen," Lin Haoran seethed, "I want a husband, a man who loves me, who cares about me, not some fool still pinning over a prostitute."
"He's not a prostitute." Yang Muchen yelled, "don't talk about him like that."
"Even now, you still choose him over me, over us." Lin Haoran yelled in anger.
"Cut." A loud voice rang through the quiet atmosphere, causing whispered murmurs to break out in the surrounding.
"Zhao An Na, you aren't getting it right." All eyes turned to the male at the director's words.
"Lin Haoran has just learnt the news of his pregnancy, he plans to tell this news to his husband and hopefully they can build the happy family he's always dreamed of, but Yang Muchen is still clearly in love with his ex." Director Zhang spoke calmly. "What emotions is Lin Haoran supposed to portray in this scene."
"Anger and pain." Director Zhang frowned at Zhao An Na's words.
"Yes Lin Haoran feels angry and hurt, but deep down he's tired and sad, he's fast realizing that his dream of a happy family will always remain a dream, despite all his efforts he can't win the heart of the man he loves." Zhao An Na nods at the director's words.
"I want you to portray not just that anger and pain, but also that feeling of weariness and sadness." Director Zhang plopped back into his seat.
"I understand Director Zhang." Zhao An Na bowed politely.
Two women rushed to the stage, touching up the actors make-up and cleaning their sweat while someone refilled Chen Qiang's glass of whiskey.
"Chen Qiang hold onto those emotions." Director Zhang said to Zhao An Na's co-actor. "Alright, everyone get in position, let's take it from the top."
******
"Cut." An angry Director Zhang rose from his seat.
"When I told you to portray Lin Haoran's sadness and tiredness, I didn't ask you to act downright depressed." Director Zhang pinched his brows in frustration, "haven't you read the script at all? With this acting skills I wonder how you are Glow's number one artist, your acting is either flat or over the top, you act like...." A loud cough from assistant director Yue prompted Director Zhang to stop his scolding.
"It's obvious you can't portray this scene right now Zhao An Na, go rest, read the script and gather your emotions, we will shoot this scene later." Zhao An Na made to argue, but Director Zhang had already turned away from him.
"Meng Tianyu get ready, we will shoot your scene next," director Zhang turned to Chen Qiang, "go chang your clothes, let's shoot you and Meng Tianyu's kissing scene."
The whole set bustled with noise as everyone rushed to prepare for another scene.
"Don't feel down Zhao An Na, Director Zhang just has a harsh tongue." Chen Qiang patted his shoulder.
"I know, brother Chen." Chen Qiang smiled, as he left.
Zhao An Na sighed and also left the set, he could feel a hundred eyes focused on his back and he balled his hands into fists as he heard someone whispering, such wooden acting skills.
******
"Seriously I understand that Director Zhang is a renowned director and all, but still he's a but too harsh." Zhao An Na frowned when Kang Kexin pressed down harshly into his shoulder.
"Easy." Kang Kexin muttered a sorry and eased his grip. "Director Zhang is right, I should try to understand the character properly."
"Brother Zhao you're too soft." Kang Kexin snorted. "Director Zhang literally embarrassed you in front of the entire staff, I bet they are all running their mouth widely behind your back." Kang Kexin's hands travelled lower, massaging his shoulders gently.
"Let them talk, is there any artist who isn't gossiped about?" Zhao An Na opened his eyes, his gaze locking with Kang Kexin's in the mirror. "It's normal for Director Zhang to be a bit harsh, it's a huge production, millions are being invested in this movie, naturally he will want perfection, I am the one who isn't perfect."
"Brother Zhao you..." A knock on the door cut their conversation off.
"Brother Zhao." Zhao An Na relaxed at the sound of his second assistant's vocie.
"Come in Jun Hie." The door was pushed open to reveal a man with dark red locks spilling onto his shoulder, his scarlet-painted lips stretched into a wide smile, cat like eyes sparkling with slyness.
Jun Hie shut the door behind him, as he gripped Kang Kexin in a tight hug. "I missed you KK."
"Owww, don't hold me so tightly, you will get your thick powder all over my shirt." Kang Kexin pouted when a hard knock landed on her head.
"My make-up isn't snow, it won't fall of." Jun Hie glared at her. "Brother Zhao, Young Master Lu is waiting for you downstairs." He smiled teasingly.
"Both of you wait for me here." Zhao An Na paid no heed to their teasing as he hurried out of the room.
******
"Alright, that's a pass." Everyone let out the collective breath they had been holding, with how delicate Director Zhang's temper was they were afraid this was going to be another NG.
"It looks nice." Assistant director Yue nodded as they watched the replay on the screen together.
"My neck is so damn stiff Yue Jingyi, at this rate we will be filming late into the night." Director Zhang grumbled.
Yue Jiny chuckled. "President Gu called today, he would like for Ruo Xuan to play the role of Rose since you haven't found a suitable actor yet."
"Ignore him," director Zhang frowned, "I was there at Ruo Xuan's audition and while his acting was not bad, something is still missing, he's not Rose."
"Seriously Zhang Haoyu when will you find this Rose? Shooting has started and we are still missing a major character." Only Yue Jingyi who was close to Zhang Haoyu would dare speak to the man so carelessly.
"If we have finished shooting one-third of the film and I still can't find the one then we will use Ruo Xuan, but for now Glow Entertainment isn't going to shove another of their actor down my throat," Zhang Haoyu frowned, "look at the problems the first one is causing me."
"Zhao An Na is Glow Entertainment's number one." Yue Jingyi teased.
"If you ask me, Glow Entertainment has only had one number on star, Fu Xiang, but alas he's end was tragic." Zhang Haoyu shook his head. "Meng Tianyu, Chen Qiang, both of you should come and watch the replay."
******
"Zhao An Na is so overrated, Meng Tianyu had better acting skills than him, look how easily he finished his scene in one take meanwhile Zhao An Na couldn't get his right in six takes." Zhao An Na halted his movement, dark eyes trained on the two women who stood a few feet from him, making coffee at the coffee machine.
"At this rate we will be filming even by night time," the one with pink hair sighed, "I have a headache thinking about the argument I amd my mother are going to have when I tell her she will have to help me babysit my baby longer."
The one with orange hair snorted, "it's all Zhao An Na's fault, if he had acted properly we would all be going home early."
Pink hair lifted her head, eyes widening as they locked with Zhao An Na's, she began to cough.
Orange hair didn't take the hint, she continued yammering, "what does he think he is, because he's rich and he has a wealthy boyfriend he...why are you coughing?" She seems to finally take the hint in pink hair's eyes, turning slightly, her face paling at the sight of Zhao An Na.
"I..I.. uh." They both stammered.
"I am sorry." Zhao An Na's words had both women sharing startled looks. "I am sorry if my actions have caused you people to be inconvenienced."
If Zhao An Na had reacted like any normal artist simply getting angry and scolding them, then both women would have felt better. Who apologized to people gossiping about you? Not knowing how to react, they both gave him awkward smiles as they grabbed there coffee and hurried away.
******
When Zhao An Na got to where Lu Yang was the sight before his eyes made his blood boil, why was the day against him?
First he was scolded by the director and now some actress was trying to get her slimy hands on his man.
Lu Yang was handsome and rich, naturally he was a catch and this green tea bitch who was smiling sweetly at him definitely had plans. Zhao An Na stumbled over his own feet, purposely falling on the ground
"Oh my gosh! Brother Zhao are you okay." The nosie snapped Lu Yang's attention from the actress to Zhao An Na was laid on the floor.
"An Na, you're bleeding." Lu Yang cradled him in his arms, eyes gazing worriedly at Zhao An Na's bleeding palm.
"It's okay, I was just scratched by stones." Zhao An Na smiled at Lu Yang. This man was his, his anger, his pain, his worry, his love, his life, everything belonged to him.
His eyes met those of the actress and she smiled wobbly at him, he returned her smile, his own as sweet as honey.