Chapter 26: Candy on Drugs

A week later, the filming of Under the Sky officially began. Apart from Shen Yan, all the other cast members had arrived.

By the third day, it was time to shoot Tang Xin’s scenes as her character, Su Xin. Her first scene was with Lin Shiyin, who played the female lead, Xue Ruling. The scene involved an outing interrupted by an assassin attack, where the male lead happened to pass by and save them.

This scene primarily highlighted the first meeting between the male and female leads, with Su Xin, the supporting character, serving as mere background decoration.

However, even as a background character, any appearance, especially with dialogue, required some acting skills. Tang Xin’s acting skills, though…

Well, to put it bluntly, they were utterly indescribable.

During Tang Xin’s first scene, Yue Yuze came to observe. Though he watched from the monitoring room, ensuring no one knew he was there.

“Boss, Miss Tang’s acting is really…” Fan Bei initially wanted to criticize but, sensing the boss’s unfriendly gaze, forced himself to say, “Improving rapidly!”

Tang Xin’s acting was terrible, especially when seasoned actors chose to suppress her performance instead of guiding her. Under such pressure, her struggles became even more apparent.

Fan Bei could see that Lin Shiyin made no effort to “support” Tang Xin’s performance; instead, she deliberately outshone her.

If Fan Bei could notice this, the boss certainly could too. Otherwise, Yue Yuze wouldn’t have arranged for Shen Yan to return and “support” Tang Xin. However, in the current situation, Lin Shiyin’s intentional pressure had nearly rendered Tang Xin unable to deliver her lines.

It seemed the director was on the verge of losing his temper…if only Director Liang hadn’t already guessed Tang Xin’s unique status and held back his frustrations.

Yue Yuze stood up and instructed Fan Bei as he walked out, “Ask Director Liang to meet me in the VIP room.”

“Understood.”

The scene took place in an inn, shot in a studio set. After Tang Xin was NG’d several times, Director Liang’s expression grew increasingly grim. But he dared not truly scold Tang Xin—she was the boss’s darling, and he simply couldn’t afford to.

Frustrated and unable to vent, he felt utterly stifled!

Just then, an assistant approached and whispered a few words into his ear. Director Liang’s expression shifted slightly as he glanced at Tang Xin on set, quickly saying, “Alright, Tang Tang, take a short break.”

The boss had actually shown up… Good thing he restrained himself from scolding Tang Xin earlier!

That was close.

As expected, the boss valued Tang Xin far more than he had imagined.

When Director Liang arrived at the VIP room and saw the boss, he immediately shook hands and, without waiting for Yue Yuze to speak, began praising Tang Xin profusely. “Everyone says Tang Tang’s acting is bad, but I think she’s doing quite well! With proper guidance, she has great potential!”

Fan Bei: …Director Liang, does your conscience not hurt?

Yue Yuze, having personally witnessed his wife being NG’d six times: …I honestly don’t know what to say anymore.

Yue Yuze gestured to the sofa, signaling Director Liang to sit, and said, “Her acting isn’t good. You don’t need to defend her; I’m fully aware. I just ask for your patience in guiding her.”

Director Liang wiped his brow. “Not at all! I truly think she has potential. Besides, when Actor Shen returns, most of her scenes will be with him. He’s known for skillfully guiding his co-actors, isn’t he? Isn’t that why you brought him back to play Lu Zhanqi?”

This was a test.

Director Liang had long suspected Tang Xin’s special connection to the boss. Now that Yue Yuze had come to talk to him personally, it confirmed his suspicions. The question now was whether the boss would admit to bringing Shen Yan back specifically for Tang Xin.

After all, this was the first time Shen Yan, a leading actor, had agreed to play a supporting role.

Yue Yuze glanced at Director Liang but didn’t deny it. He simply said, “Let’s hope so. Xin’er struggles with her acting and finds it even harder against seasoned actors who suppress her performance. What do you think, Director Liang?”

Uh…

Director Liang’s heart skipped a beat.

As a director, how could he not notice Lin Shiyin’s deliberate dominance during their scenes?

But such power plays among actors were common.

In this industry, no matter how friendly actors appeared on the surface, competition always lurked beneath. Lin Shiyin was an award-winning actress; Director Liang had no intention of jeopardizing their relationship over a mediocre performer like Tang Xin. So, he had chosen to turn a blind eye.

What he hadn’t expected was for Yue Yuze to notice—and even intervene!

Seeing this, Director Liang chose not to argue and nodded immediately. “Please rest assured, Mr. Yue. I will take good care of Tang Tang.”

Yue Yuze nodded in satisfaction. “Thank you, Director Liang. I’ll treat you to dinner sometime.”

“Thank you, Mr. Yue.” Director Liang smiled, knowing when to stop.

“If there’s nothing else, you can get back to work. I won’t keep you.”

“You’re too kind, Mr. Yue.” Not that I’d dare say otherwise.

–

After taking a break, Tang Xin was approached by Qi Shu, who handed her a cup of warm water.

He spoke softly, “Lin Shiyin is deliberately suppressing you. Don’t follow her rhythm. Relax and listen to Director Liang’s guidance.”

“I know.” Tang Xin sighed softly.

As expected, the heroine she created was truly formidable!

She couldn’t help but admire herself…

In the original story, Tang Xin’s character Su Xin was obtained by pleading with Yue Yuze.

Thus, when Yue Yuze secured the role for her, Tang Xin wasn’t surprised. She simply thought it was fate aligning her with the original plotline.

Unexpectedly, it wasn’t just the male lead who followed the original plotline—so did the female lead.

In the original story, the female lead and the supporting female character naturally didn’t get along. Tang Xin deeply resented Lin Shiyin, while Lin Shiyin likewise disliked Tang Xin, who bore the title of “wife” to the man she loved.

Tang Xin’s lackluster acting skills were a known fact. During their scenes together, Lin Shiyin would intentionally suppress her, making it impossible for Tang Xin to continue acting. Eventually, the role of Su Xin was forcibly recast.

In the original storyline, the character Lu Zhanqi—Su Xin’s love interest—wasn’t played by Shen Yan. Thus, no one bothered to guide Tang Xin through her performance.

But this time, things were different.

Tang Xin understood that as long as she dealt with Lin Shiyin, things would go much smoother for her.

“Tang Tang, what’s your plan?” Qi Shu, sitting next to her, leaned in and whispered, “I think Lin Shiyin must already know about your relationship with Yue Yuze. And yet, you’re still clueless… thinking she’s being kind.”

“Who said I thought she was kind?” Tang Xin glanced at him and sighed softly. “I’ve always known. But what can I do? In this world… what mother doesn’t love her children…”

The last part she mumbled to herself.

To every author, every book they write is its own world, and every character is like their own child. Yue Yuze, Lin Shiyin—they were all her beloved children as their creator.

Thus, Tang Xin couldn’t help but feel a sense of familiarity whenever she saw Lin Shiyin. Even though Lin Shiyin was undeniably a “bad child” to the current “Tang Xin,” she was still one of the author’s children.

About ten minutes later, Director Liang returned.

Afterward, he had a conversation with Lin Shiyin.

When filming resumed, Tang Xin noticed that Lin Shiyin was no longer suppressing her. She guessed Director Liang must have said something. But why would he help her?

That day, Tang Xin and the female lead shot six scenes—three in the morning and three in the afternoon. The latter scenes took place in Su Xin’s home, the Princess’s Mansion.

With Lin Shiyin no longer exerting pressure, everything finally progressed passably.

For Director Liang, his only requirement for Tang Xin was that her acting be barely acceptable and that she successfully deliver her lines.

Around 6 p.m., after leaving the set, Tang Xin received a mission from the “Little Beauty” system:

Little Beauty: Ding! Please invite the male lead out for dinner. When he asks why, be sure to use the most flirtatious sweet talk to get him to agree. Completing the mission will unlock 55 fragments of the Answers Gift Pack.

Tang Xin guessed most of these tasks were centered on collecting fragments.

It seemed… the answers would soon be unlocked.

This mission had to be completed!

Just as Tang Xin pulled out her phone to call Yue Yuze, Qi Shu, who was driving, said, “By the way, I saw something this morning. Mr. Yue came to the set.”

“Huh?” Tang Xin looked at him in surprise. “Yue Yuze?”

“Yeah. Then Director Liang left for a while… I have a feeling Director Liang’s later conversation with Lin Shiyin, and her decision to stop suppressing you, might have something to do with Mr. Yue. Do you think… he came because he suspected you’d run into trouble and wanted to help?”

“Really? Yue Yuze… so kind-hearted?” Tang Xin frowned slightly, thinking.

Ah, this gave her the perfect excuse to call Yue Yuze!

Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be Yue Yuze—Qi Shu, sitting beside her now, would also find it suspicious if she suddenly invited Yue out to dinner.

But now, it was different. She could use gratitude as her excuse!

“I actually think Mr. Yue treats you… really well,” Qi Shu said, glancing deeply at her after speaking.

He was curious about her attitude toward Yue Yuze’s recent changes.

Tang Xin leisurely picked up her phone. “Really? Looks like I’ll need to call Yue and thank him. Oh, he’s truly my dear sweetheart~~~~~~~”

Qi Shu: “…” Sweetheart? What in the world?

But soon, he learned what that meant.

Tang Xin dialed Yue Yuze’s number, and within seconds, the call connected. The man’s deep and magnetic voice came through: “Hmm? What’s the matter?”

“Mr. Yue~~~” Tang Xin’s voice was soft and sweet. “How about dinner tonight?”

The man paused briefly before asking indifferently, “Reason?”

“Reason…” Tang Xin began, but the system’s voice chimed in:

Ding! Reminder: Be sure to use sweet talk.

Tang Xin: “…” What if I can’t say it?

Especially with Qi Shu sitting right next to her… If she went too far, Yue Yuze might brush it off as another one of her eccentricities or attempts to flirt with him. But Qi Shu would probably think she was insane!

“Mr. Yue, you’ve been so helpful to me lately, especially today… Mr. Yue, you’re truly my confidant, my darling, my little sweetheart. I’m absolutely thrilled—you’re just the sweetest sugar plum!”

Qi Shu: “…” What the hell is a sugar plum?

Qi Shu tightened his grip on the steering wheel. As the car slowed to a stop at a red light, he turned his head to stare at the silly woman beside him with a look that screamed Are you the dumbest person alive?

“…” Did you sneak some drugs when I wasn’t looking?

Do you even realize who you’re flirting with?!

This girl really had a talent for courting death. Qi Shu felt like he could already see the inevitable outcome: Yue Yuze coldly hanging up on her without mercy.

But reality completely defied his expectations…

Not only did Yue Yuze not hang up, Qi Shu even faintly heard the sound of a soft chuckle from the other end of the line.

“Oh? Sure. Let’s meet up so I can hear how your shoot went today. I took quite the gamble giving you such a good role, you know—I can’t afford for it to go to waste,” Yue Yuze said.

Tang Xin smiled brightly and replied, “Alright! So, where should we eat?”

Yue Yuze then mentioned a location.

Tang Xin’s face twitched. “Oh, um… sure, that works.” Why did he have to pick the most expensive restaurant? This annoying man!

“Yue Yuze actually agreed to have dinner with you?” Qi Shu was dumbfounded.

This was… unbelievable.

Could it be that Yue Yuze actually had feelings for Tang Tang?

But no, Qi Shu couldn’t believe it. Not long ago, Yue Yuze seemed to completely dislike Tang Tang.

And yet… who knows?

Love is such a baffling, chaotic, utterly incomprehensible mess!!

“Ashu, could you please take me to the Emperor Hotel?”