In the days to follow, while problems arose here and there at work, but it mostly went smoothly. What was unexpected for Liu Yuâan though was that Ding Mingyao actually joined them.
âIsnât he a show host?â
Xu Qingqing, of course, being the assistant of Liu Yuâan would know about why Ding Mingyao was actually taken off Celebs Wilderness Survival.
She is pretty tense seeing him here. Even xiao-Zhang who is usually expressionless is furrowing his brows.
He entered the entertainment industry earlier than her, and, on Shao Yanxiâs orders, he not only had to care for Liu Yuâan, but also learn about recent movements in the entertainment industry, especially those related to Liu Yuâan.
He has, therefore, of course, looked into the character of Ding Mingyao, and knows that while he appears energetic, upbeat and easy-going on the surface, heâs actually a pretty petty person, and would often play tricks behind people he has a grudge on.
While they obviously donât fear any direct attacks, itâs hard to defend against anything shadier. So, Xiao-Zhang asks Liu Yuâan, âAn-ge, should we tell Mr. Shao about this?â
Since Shao Yanxi has invested in this TV drama, he can have the person kicked away.
âNo need,â Liu Yuâan tells Xiao-Zhang, âI know that Yanxi is your employer. I donât mind that, but you should know something; I donât want everything reported to Yanxi, because heâs already busy enough day in, day out. He shouldnât be further troubled by whatever trivial mess is happening on my sideâŚâ
âAn-, An-ge, alright, understood,â Xiao-Zhang is spooked. He didnât realise he had been busted already. He thought if he might have let it slip before, but then again, thinking about how close the two of them are, and Liu Yuâanâs tone, he must have known from a long time ago?
Thankfully he doesnât seem bothered by it, which means he can keep this job which pays more monthly than he used to receive yearly.
Xu Qingqing is also surprised. She thought xiao-Zhang was another normal assistant like her, at most having been with Liu Yuâan a few years more than her, but to actually be employed by that wealthiest man on EarthâŚ
She looks at him much differently than before, saying, âwoah, Zhang-ge, you were actually hired by Mr. Shao?â
She is looking at him with such a fiery gaze that Xiao-Zhang âmmâs and then shifts a little towards Liu Yuâan, distancing himself away from her.
Xu Qingqing ââŚâ
Though Liu Yuâan couldnât protect him for long, as Ding Mingyao is heading their way, greeting him, âAn-shao, nice to meet you again.â
The An- shao makes others gaze shift towards them.
âLong time no see,â Liu Yuâan ignores everyone elseâs reaction and smiles, replying, âdidnât expect Ding-ge to come over here.â
âOh, you know, I didnât find any job openings for a show host, so since Iâm free and the director said thereâs a character I could try, I came over.â
Xu Qingqing, Xiao-Zhang ââŚâ
He is accusing An-ge of taking his job away, isnât he?
Theyâre both unamused by that remark. If it wasnât for him saying things without thinking first in the first place, the CEO wouldnât have cared about him.
Liu Yuâan pretends he doesnât know what heâs implying, and says, âthen congrats to you, Ding-ge.â
âItâs just a minor role; I should be the one congratulating you.â
Everyone else ââŚâ
This conversation sounds awfully pointed.
Thankfully, the director is ordering Liu Yuâan to prepare for his next scene, so he could leave, saying, âthen Ding-ge, do make yourself comfortable; Iâll be working,â and heads for the director.
This is a fighting scene that needs Liu Yuâan to be hooked to a wire. The leads and the other actors are all planning to use stunt doubles.
The director originally wanted to have Liu Yuâan use one as well; itâs both dangerous and theyâre obviously less skilled at fighting and fighting poses than professionals.
Though Liu Yuâan refused. You kidding? Heâs been the Emperor of the Yaoguai for a whole century. Even if the actual power of the technique is gone his memorised stances are still there. He can guarantee that of those present he is the one best suited to reenact the Emperorâs techniques.
And, most importantly, the Emperor, the narcissistic, perfectionist of an Emperor.
His technique must be as beautiful as his own self. Therefore, they are all needlessly extravagant â suited for TV, unlike his former underlings, whose simple one hit, one kill techniques are definitely not.
Of course, the director doesnât know these. While heâs impressed by his commitment, heâs still worried that the effect would not look good enough on camera. Though, Liu Yuâan is also basically someone he should try not to provoke. So, he decides to agree, while telling the martial arts choreographer on-site to help direct his moves while he is shooting the scenes with the other leads, hoping it would not look that terrible by the afternoon.
Yet the director is, of course, in for a big surprise. Though the one most surprised is actually the martial arts choreographer, who, at age sixty and having practised his whole life while getting a job as a choreographer, would think that his achievements are quite something even if he might not be the best around.
When he looks at Liu Yuâanâs moves, though, the choreographer is starting to doubt himself for the first time ever.
Perhaps, he actually isnât as skilled as he thought he was; heâs old now, and the younger generations are becoming stronger and stronger still. Maybe he should think about retirement soon.
Though before that, realising the profound depth and understand Liu Yuâan holds over martial arts in general, he isnât directing his moves anymore. Instead, he is getting more and more enthusiastic in their discussion, and ended up shamelessly asking for his WeChat and then forcibly recognising him as his master.
Thus, this is what the director sees when he comes over â watching them not teaching moves and are instead sitting down, chatting. Then, he is informed that the choreographer has become Liu Yuâanâs disciple.
A sixty-something is calling a twenty-something â shifu â â shifu â all over, sounding quite happy too, completely oblivious to the oddly quiet surroundings.
Director He ââŚâ
While heâs pretty speechless, but given Liu Yuâanâs apparently pretty impressive background, the old man is pretty lucky too to have managed to secure such a thick thigh for himself unknowingly.
Then the director suddenly feels like asking if Liu Yuâan is interested in becoming sworn brothers; discipleship is a no-no though, he would still like his face, thank you very much.
Though it would have to stay a thought. Sworn brothers? Of course not.
Anyway, with how the situation is heâs starting to look forward to Liu Yuâanâs fighting.
He knows that the old man has been a martial arts choreographer for dozens of years now and is definitely quite the expert, having mentored even national level actors and actresses. No normal celebrity would be able to impress him that much. For him to try to recognise Liu Yuâan as his master, that meansâŚ
He calls Liu Yuâan as soon as the protagonists are done with their part.
Liu Yuâan walks over, and xiao-Zhang is checking the wire once again thoroughly on top of the staff having already checked it. And not just the wire, but also every single other tool Liu Yuâan needed.
The director doesnât say anything, though the others are looking at each other nonplussed.
Still, you canât really fault someone for trying to be as safe as possible.
After that, during the actual scene, not just the director, but almost everyone is dazzled by the experienced, and mesmerising movements of Liu Yuâan. The show he has put on would definitely look awesome onscreen.
âWas Liu Yuâan a stunt double?â
âThat canât be, can it?â
Another person bonks him on the head, âyou know how he came in, landed from the investment itself, he has the resources to be put here, you understand? Such a person being a stunt double?â
âHey, what do you know? Maybe he was a stunt double when he was poor, before he got a sugar daddyâŚâ
Everyone looks at each other and chuckle at the remark; itâs painfully obvious what they are thinking.
Ding Mingyao smirks dismissively on the side. Ho, bunch of dummies.
Though more people are already immersed, enchanted by the beauty of martial arts, especially the younger girls, who are practically starry-eyed by now.
âAmazing! Wow! So handsome!â
âOh my god! I suddenly feel an urge to live inside a Shaolin Temple. I canât hold back my heart anymore. This is too damned beautiful.â
âIt really is cool.â
Even though the background is a jarring, blank green piece of fabric, but it is as if Liu Yuâan is fighting in the most scenic and precarious of locations â through his actions, they can picture him on a clifftop, by a waterfall, and above the reed of a pond, soaring through the air with his fan in hand.
The director canât help but smile hearing all the yips and yelps. And this is even without any special effects. With postproduction done this will definitely draw in more audience.
The director has already decided to add this fighting scene into their promotional teaser.
Someone else is unhappy in the meantime; not just Ding Mingyao, but the male lead Zhang Jiahe as well. Even though heâs the male lead, and everything goes smoothly when Liu Yuâan isnât on-scene, but whenever heâs here, everything seems to go bad for him.
On the first day, Hou Yueting had to excuse herself. He thought he would be able to have the honour of having the first shot, but Liu Yuâan had it instead.
Even if he also put on brilliant acting today, Liu Yuâan has grabbed all the attention with his fighting.
The third male lead dominating the male lead so much and the director even seems so happy about itâŚ
He canât help but feel angry. Angry at the staff, the director, and even at himself for how pathetic he is to think like this.
He is nowhere near as bright and dazzling whenever he is put next to Liu Yuâan. He feels jealous, really. Jealous about the starry-eyes from onlookers, and jealous about the kind and gentle attitude the director has.
Though, jealousy aside, he doesnât dare do anything really, as he is one of those that have concluded Liu Yuâan is at least of a rather troublesome-to-deal-with background.
Not that Liu Yuâan really cares what he is thinking of or angry or jealous about. In this world, besides Shao Yanxi he doesnât really care much about anything else.
Of course, he is being an actor because it is an inherited setting. And while he doesnât really care for the job, he is the kind to be serious about whatever role he is assigned.