Chapter 10

“Shen Yan, I won’t move, just add this one scene. Besides, isn’t it summer now? It’s not a big deal to jump into the water,” Li Jun said, trying to negotiate with the screenwriter. The relationships within the production crew were complicated, and Li Jun was in a difficult position, but for the sake of this drama, he had no choice but to navigate through it.

The screenwriter chuckled before replying, “You can change it however you want, you’re the director, I’m just a screenwriter.”

Li Jun said, “He Han’s boyfriend is investing.”

The assistant director, who was eavesdropping outside the door, gritted his teeth. He couldn’t believe He Han still wanted to add the scene of Shen Yan jumping into the water, just to torment her.

Ever since Zhang He invested in the drama Chen Fei, if it weren’t for the screenwriter’s strong interest in the character Lan Fei, Li Jun would have had to rely on the screenwriter to help promote it through online platforms. Despite Zhang He’s investment, the crew was still poor, and no one knew what Li Jun might do.

The assistant director continued listening.

Li Jun persuaded, “The investment will help us produce a higher-quality drama. You know that. Don’t be as confused as the assistant director. It’s just having Shen Yan jump into the water. How precious is she? She’s just a no-name star.”

“It’s not about whether Shen Yan is precious or not.” The screenwriter, a neatly dressed woman with black-framed glasses, said, “If it’s about making a sacrifice for the scene, Shen Yan has no problem with that. But this is clearly He Han trying to take out her anger using the film.”

“Then what do you suggest we do?”

“I…”

When Shen Yan returned to the hotel, she saw a familiar figure crouching next to the door. She walked over, and before she could say anything, the assistant director quickly made a “shh” gesture and then dragged Shen Yan away.

Inside the room, Li Jun heard the noise and immediately stood up, “Who’s there!”

Shen Yan and the assistant director ran quickly, so when Li Jun came out, he didn’t see their figures. He frowned and said, “Hurry up and revise the script. If you don’t want to change it, find a way to bring in an investor. We’re not changing the script then.”

The screenwriter didn’t respond. The assistant director could tell from the screenwriter’s expression that the matter was settled.

Inside the elevator, Shen Yan pressed the button for the first floor, and the assistant director explained the situation to her, “He Han wants to torment you and is using the film as an excuse. I think after she gets you to jump into the water, she’ll want to slap you too.”

Shen Yan asked, “Can you do me a favor?”

The assistant director responded, “I’ll talk to the director later and try to help you.”

“No, can you delay this scene, hold it off until my last day of filming?” Shen Yan said. By then, the stock would have dropped, and the crew would probably be too distracted to focus on filming.

The assistant director didn’t understand at first, “Delaying it still means it has to be filmed.” Then, his eyes lit up. “Wait, do you mean…”

Shen Yan saw the assistant director’s expression change and was somewhat confused. Then, she heard him excitedly say, “You mean to wait until the last day of filming, film the water scene at the end, and then you just run away? You’re really smart! That way, He Han won’t be able to torment you.”

Shen Yan: “…”

Not wanting to explain further, as the assistant director wouldn’t believe her anyway, Shen Yan simply said, “The best strategy is to leave when necessary. I’ll count on you then.”

The assistant director replied, “No trouble at all, no trouble at all.”

Perhaps due to Zhang He’s investment in Chen Fei, Zhou Ruo took some time to visit the crew. When she arrived, He Han was having dinner with Zhang He and Li Jun, so Zhou Ruo went straight to find Shen Yan.

After understanding the situation, Zhou Ruo asked, “So, many people in your crew bought shares in Yuran Industries?”

Shen Yan replied, “Yes, a lot of them bought shares.” When she was talking to Zhou Ruo earlier, Shen Yan didn’t mention anything about Chen’s company. After all, only she and the assistant director had bought shares in Chen’s company.

“Zhang He used to work in IT. He’s someone who got into stock trading halfway through. How could he possibly know if those stocks will rise? If they do, everyone’s happy, but if they don’t, who are they going to blame?” Zhou Ruo clearly didn’t want to get involved. She stood up and said, “I still have some things to do. If I have time next time, I’ll come back to visit.”

The crew trusted Zhang He because they didn’t know his background. They only knew that Zhang He had made money from stocks and had bought a lot of shares in Yuran Industries, so they followed suit and bought some too.

Shen Yan escorted Zhou Ruo downstairs and saw her off to the nanny car.

Her gaze fell on a magazine in the car, and Shen Yan paused for a moment.

It was a financial magazine with Meng Yi’an on the cover.

Zhou Ruo said, “Just focus on finishing your acting. I have a resource for you. You can go for the audition. It’s not for the lead or second lead, but it’s a supporting role in a TV series that could be aired on a major network. If the show becomes popular, it might help you become more recognizable to the audience, especially since you have the looks.”

She paused before continuing, “The TV series is funded by Meng’s Group, so take the audition seriously.”

No wonder there was a financial magazine with Meng Yi’an’s face in the car. Zhou Ruo must have bought it because the show was funded by Meng Yi’an.

Shen Yan said, “Sister Zhou, I don’t think I’ll go for the audition. I recently saw a great fantasy drama that’s selecting actors through auditions. I want to sign up for that.”

There was a brief silence in the car, and Zhou Ruo’s tone slightly darkened. “Send me your details. If it’s suitable, I’ll help you sign up. But for this TV series, you must audition. I managed to get this opportunity for you from someone else.”

With those words, Shen Yan had no way to refuse. This was an opportunity that Zhou Ruo had gotten for her, and if Shen Yan didn’t audition, it would be hard to continue working with Zhou Ruo in the future.

Shen Yan thought to herself, at worst, she could just go for the audition and make sure she didn’t get selected.

Shen Yan said, “Alright, but that fantasy drama really does look great.”

Zhou Ruo replied, “Okay, I’ll take a serious look at it.”

Because He Han had changed rooms, Shen Yan now had a room to herself.

Lying on the bed, Shen Yan thought about the audition opportunity Zhou Ruo had given her and furrowed her brows. Meng Yi’an hated her, and from now on, she needed to avoid any TV shows, movies, or endorsements related to Meng’s Group, especially avoiding encounters with Meng Yi’an.

In her past life, Meng Yi’an had managed to blacklist her, and he could still do the same in this life. Therefore, she had to make sure to stay out of his sight.

The assistant director had discussed with Li Jun about moving the scene where Shen Yan saves someone by jumping into the water to the last day of filming. Li Jun initially disagreed, but the assistant director was good at persuading.

The assistant director said, “Director, if we shoot the water rescue scene now, it’ll be awkward for Shen Yan to continue filming afterward. Why not move this scene to the end instead?”

Li Jun had just finished discussing a profit plan with Zhang He and had a bit to drink. So, he listened to the assistant director’s explanation and agreed. But after agreeing, he realized, “Aren’t you close with Shen Yan?”

The assistant director quickly replied, “I think I should still listen to you, after all, we have a special relationship.”

Li Jun burst into laughter, “Good, good, as long as you’ve figured it out.”

Afterward, the assistant director sent Shen Yan a message saying that everything was settled.

Li Jun said, “You don’t know, Zhang He is a straightforward person. Usually, no one would recommend stocks to others because they’re worried others might lose money or that both parties might profit. But Zhang He, for his girlfriend, recommended them to so many of us.”

If Zhang He heard this, he would shout that it wasn’t his intention. He had never thought of recommending stocks. Recommending stocks carried risks. It was all He Han’s idea—she wanted face. Since she didn’t understand stocks, she thought it would be fine to recommend them. Later, Zhang He believed that Yuran Industries would definitely rise, so he just went along with it.

“Trust me, sell off those shares of Chen’s company, and buy Yuran Industries with me. Got it?” Li Jun snorted, “Once I have money, I’ll invest in films and become a famous director.”

The assistant director responded with a series of “yes” and “okay,” and then seized the opportunity to quickly leave.

Li Jun muttered, “How did he know to add the water rescue scene for Shen Yan?” He then shouted, “It was you eavesdropping at the door!”

The assistant director ran even faster.

The assistant director didn’t know how Li Jun had persuaded He Han, but when filming started the next day, Li Jun didn’t bring up the water rescue scene for Shen Yan at all.

He Han must have been scared of being seen as losing to Shen Yan, so she didn’t go after Shen Yan. Instead, she just waited for the scene where Shen Yan would jump into the water.

The director agreed to let her jump into the water at least ten times. Thinking about Shen Yan’s embarrassed appearance, He Han was in a good mood.

To keep up appearances, the assistant director didn’t dare chat with Shen Yan during filming. However, he still added an extra chicken drumstick for her every time at lunch.

Days passed quickly, and soon it was Shen Yan’s last day of filming.

Early in the morning, He Han arrived at the set early. She went to discuss with the director, “Director, the weather is good now. Why don’t we shoot the water rescue scene now?”

Li Jun replied, “Let’s wait. It should be the last scene, or it will be too awkward.”

Shen Yan arrived at the set at her usual time, and the crew members looked at her sympathetically. They had no idea how He Han would torment Shen Yan today.

He Han, full of confidence, swayed her hips and walked up to Shen Yan. “Today we have a scene together. Later, I’ll be standing opposite you, watching you save someone.”

After sizing up He Han, Shen Yan said, “The skirt is a bit too long.”

He Han chuckled and replied, “This costume was specially made by the crew for me, and it’s much more glamorous than yours.”

Much more glamorous?

Shen Yan only thought that He Han running in this outfit might not be very practical, and hoped she wouldn’t trip over it.

Li Jun, holding a megaphone, sat down and shouted, “Alright, alright, everyone get ready quickly.”

Shen Yan’s scenes were few, so in just over an hour, everything except for the water jumping scene was filmed.

He Han excitedly ran over to sit in the pavilion, waiting for Shen Yan’s water jumping scene. Worried that Li Jun might go easy on Shen Yan, she even glanced over at him. Li Jun gave a slight nod, signaling for He Han to relax.

At that moment, someone rushed into the set, shouting, “It’s falling! It’s falling!”