☆、Chapter 20
Emperor Shixi stayed in the Yan Building all afternoon. As soon as he felt bored, he closed his eyes to rest. Yan Xuyao was busy the entire time. When it was 6 o'clock in the evening, Yan Xuyao looked up from his work and saw Emperor Shixi sleeping on the sofa. When he saw Yan Nuo like that, he smiled. Really a child!
"Xiao Nuo, get up, we're going home." Yan Xuyao looked outside and noticed that it was dark already, so he had no choice but to wake Emperor Shixi up.
"Ah." Emperor Shixi stretched as he sat up. He still looked half-asleep. Yan Xuyao waited until Emperor Shixi stood up before he turned off the lights. In the dark, Emperor Shixi felt clear-headed, but he still maintained a lazy expression.
…
Today was the day《Tu Shen》would begin shooting. Last night, Gao Jie persistently reminded Emperor Shixi that Director Li Yao was different from other directors, during shooting, he had a very bad temper. They would probably start shooting, as soon as the typhoon was gone. There would be no press conference because they had taken too long to prepare for the film. Shooting time would be very tight.
Emperor Shixi had been warned so much last night, when he finally closed his eyes, all he could hear was Gao Jie's voice. Somehow, the voice matched with Wu-gonggong's face, this had frightened him so much that he woke up in cold sweat.
After eating breakfast, Yan Xuyao asked the driver to send Emperor Shixi to the crew, so he wouldn't get lost.
When Emperor Shixi arrived at the set, everyone was so busy, nobody paid attention to him. Just then, a staff lady saw him. She thought he looked handsome, so she concluded that he was an actor. She approached him, pointed somewhere and said, "Are you looking for Director Li? He's over there."
From his position, he could see Li Yao fiddling with a camera, occasionally looking through its viewfinder. Emperor Shixi thanked the lady, walked over to Li Yao and stood behind him. When Li Yao finished with the camera, Emperor Shixi spoke softly. "Director Li, I've arrived."
"Oh, it's you!" Li Yao turned around and saw a really handsome face. There was no shortage of handsome guys and beautiful girls in the entertainment scene, but they would always have one or more flaws, such as freckles or acne. Although these issues are trivial, sometimes, they can’t be covered up by makeup. Therefore, in order to hide these shortcomings, most stars turn to plastic surgery. Li Yao could perceive a faint and sweet scent from Emperor Shixi, it was as tender and perfect as a baby’s.
Li Yao thought that Emperor Shixi needed a photocopy of the script, "Didn’t they give you a script? No matter, your scene won't be shot until later, so why not try to analyze how the others act ah. I have high hopes for you!" Li Yao said as he patted Emperor Shixi’s shoulder. "Be familiar with your script!"
The general script had been given in advance, but the God's script wasn’t finalized yet. So during today’s shoot, Emperor Shixi could only be able to play around the set, as his scenes would be filmed later.
While they were talking, a person arrived at the set. It's the new generation idol, Rong Yunhe. Li Yao turned to look at the person who had just arrived but didn’t move. The man saw Li Yao and leisurely walked over, "Yo, Director Li, this would be our first collaboration ah!"
Li Yao glanced at him but refused to acknowledge him. "I say, Yunhe, why aren't you called Biehe instead? I sincerely think you fit that name better!" This person was a master of stepping on trash.
Originally, Rong Yunhe was just a KY trainee. The higher-ups in KY fancied him, so they invested heavily in him. Who would have known that the KY people would suddenly go into debt, and get invited to drink tea at the police station? Back then, people were anxious. It was with great difficulty that things finally calmed down. Soon, Rong Yunhe was able to make his debut. He became a star artist. Isn't he just a kept man? One of the people that Rong Yunhe was implicated with, was a friend of Li Yao's, so Li Yao really couldn’t tolerate Rong Yunhe.
This time, if it wasn’t for the investors choosing Rong Yunhe to act as the second male lead, he would never have collaborated with such a person.
Rong Yunhe’s smile brightened a bit. He even deliberately ignored Li Yao’s disdain and pinched his chin, “Too bad you aren't my master, huh?”
“Mind your manners!” Li Yao glared as he knocked Rong Yunhe’s hand away.
While the two men bickered, Emperor Shixi was immersed in the script. This man was really amazing. He could create such a fantastic story and use such exquisite words. The language was concise, the plot was tremendous, and the protagonist’s fate had its ups and downs. An ant-like figure entering a huge fantasy world. The plot was well detailed… Emperor Shixi could just imagine it. Tu Shen, Tu Shen! It was truly overbearing. This good story had sounded really dull from Gao Jie. For Gao Jie, the characters and the plot were lackluster, but for Emperor Shixi, who had not seen any of these things, it was something new.
Emperor Shixi read ten lines with a single glance before looking around. He saw that Li Yao and the man were still talking, so he didn’t interrupt. He walked towards some people, who were moving piles of black boxes. He knew that he didn’t understand a lot, so he chose to watch and listen more.
While Emperor Shixi watched, another person came in. However, this person was different from Rong Yunhe. If Rong Yunhe was the follower of an aristocratic family, then just by standing, he could attract a lot of attention. However, when this man came in, he stopped to say hello to a set worker. When Li Yao spotted this man, he ignored Rong Yunhe and quickly went to greet this man.
“Look, it’s Su Jian Mo, ah! Emperor Su!” Several women exclaimed. Emperor Shixi became alert. When he heard the word “emperor”, he looked up. He carefully observed the person who arrived, ‘This man, he just came in a relaxed manner…was he the emperor of this world?’
“Jian Mo, you’ve arrived! LCome, let’s get your makeup done first!” Li Yao greeted enthusiastically. This attitude! Rong Yunhe gritted his teeth. Aren’t you just trying to embarrass me? Isn’t this showing favoritism? Am I not equal to him? In a terrible mood, Rong Yunhe sat down and refused to look over there.
“Some people only managed to achieve a little, yet they are already beginning to act big…” Although Li Yao whispered this to Su Jian Mo, he was actually pointing at the mulberry tree but cursing the locust tree. Su Jian Mo followed his gaze and spotted Rong Yunhe. He understood and didn’t speak about it, “Director Li, I’ll go on my own. You must be busy. I’ll go to my lounge first.”
Superstars had their own makeup lounge. Rong Yunhe ignored him. Why should he listen to such unfounded words? In the entertainment industry, if he couldn’t handle this much, then he should just go home, wash up, and sleep early.
Li Yao didn’t pay Rong Yunhe any more attention and stopped targeting him. Afterall, he had just satiated his craving for a little revenge. He didn’t think much of Rong Yunhe after all.
Emperor Shixi, who had always been the protagonist of the crowd, had already lost his imposing manner and composure. He couldn’t understand this circle at all. If one didn’t understand something, then they would have to hide and learn little by little!
They had been shooting nonstop, the entire day. Emperor Shixi paid them no mind. He had helped the set staff move several small boxes. But, If it wasn’t for the people here, he would have long opened a box to see what was inside. As Li Yao was ready, Su Jian Mo went and put on his costume. He was clearly a farmer’s son. He looked inarticulate, straightforward, and determined. Where was the calm and collected look from before?
An assistant picked up the clapper board and noted, “《Tu Shen》‘s first episode, take one. ACTION!”
Biehe – Li Yao was mocking RYH, instead of being called "云鹤" or Yunhe, why not "别鹤" which is, I think a reference to the idiom "别鹤孤鸾". Well, that's what I think.
Drinking tea at the police station – code for an informal interrogation in China.
Pointing at the mulberry tree but cursing the locust tree – to scold somebody indirectly; to make oblique accusations