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Chapter 90: Superstar Style
“Ready to shoot. All departments are in place. Three, two, one, action!”
The rocker camera slowly raised and merged into the sun. A group of young men in flight suits stood in formation. In front of them, a middle-aged man in a military uniform put his hands on his waist and said: “Today’s the day you’re entering the battlefield. All eyes of China are watching you. Fly high and crush those Japs and come back to me safe and sound. Squadron leader…”
Squadron leader Liu Gang stepped forward: “Here!”
“I’m trusting you with this group of outstanding men. Remember, your lives are far more important than the planes. We must bring everyone back safely!”
“Yes!”
Everyone went to their own fighter jets. Chen Zheng walked in hurried steps catching up to a young man: “Ye Wen!”
Ye Wen turned his head and grinned: “We are finally going to fight.”
“Did you hear what the instructor said just now?” Ye Wen and he was about the same age, both 20. Due to this they have the best relationship in the group. While Chen Zheng was calm, Ye Wen’s personality was hotheaded. He wasn’t afraid of anything.
Ye Wen: “Don’t worry. Even if I die, I will use my last breath to take down those Japs!”
Chen Zheng said: “The instructor said that our lives are more important than the plane’s. If the plane is bombed, you must try to protect yourself. Don’t be too combative. As long as you survive, you can take down more of those little devils in the future!”
Ye Wen smiled and nodded: “Don’t worry, I know it in my heart.”
He gave a casual military salute and said: “I’ll see you in the skies!” After he finished speaking, he climbed into his fighter jet with eagerness.
Chen Zheng glanced at him before climbing into his fighter jet.
The instructor patted Liu Gang on the shoulder: “The enemy’s Type 96 is 60 kilometers faster than our Hawkeye. If you can’t hold it, you must first pay attention to your own safety. Did you go home to see your wife and child yesterday?”
Liu Gang smiled and said: “No, but during training yesterday, I flew around my house. My wife and daughter must have seen it.”
Liu Gang got into his fighter jet, looked at his teammates next to him, and shouted: “The Chinese Air Force, the Fourth Brigrade, is taking off!”
Aircraft after aircraft flew off the ground one after another. Liu Gang led his group of Hawkeyes, towards the distance leaving behind the rumbling sounds. Their first mission was to raid a Japanese airbase.
After this scene was filmed, the crew had officially moved to the Republic of China Film and Television city to shoot three consecutive air battles. Each was more tragic than the other.
Ye Wen had died during the first battle. He was planning to refuel at an airbase. Before the plane landed, he received a call from the captain saying that the enemy planes were besieging the base. Hearing this, he took off again before landing. He fought with the enemy planes for a few minutes before his plane was shot causing him to eject from it. Chen Zheng had provided him cover so he could safely skydive to the ground. Unfortunately, he strayed into the enemy’s position. Remembering Chen Zheng’s words that he must stay alive, Ye Wen yelled: “We cannot let ourselves be captured alive! For China!”. He then took out a gun and shot himself in the head with the last remaining bullet.
Li Meilan cried while reading the script in the car. This story was adapted from history, so it was easy to make people emotional. She was worried that Shen Jintai will enter the play too deeply, especially given that the adaptation was based off of real events and Chen Zheng was also a historical prototype. This kind of movie was more exciting than The East Palace because Lu Ming had made <Pilot> extremely bloody and cruel.
In the next scene, Chen Zheng had to mourn for his brother who had tragically died during the battle.
“I’m fine,” Shen Jintai said as he lay exhausted in the car: “Most of them are war scenes, and many of them are scenes of flying planes against the green screen. At the juncture of life and death, there is not that much time to be sad.”
The script was passionate and hot. The movie can be regarded as a tribute to this group of heroic pilots of the past.
“Have you bought the gift I asked you to buy?” Shen Jintai asked Li Meilan.
Li Meilan wiped her tears and said: “After so many years you still doubt my abilities? I already bought it and it’s shipped to Nancheng.”
Shen Jintai had asked Liu Peng, a master of stone carving art, to craft him a Phoenix Tree.
—
Yan Tiefeng’s 50th birthday was very grand. Mrs. Yan and the others had started planning the matter a week in advance. Even Yan Yaoxuan had flew back from abroad to help his mother organize it.
“Your brother has been very busy recently. He hasn’t been home for several days.” Mrs. Yan said.
Yan Yaoxuan: “What gift did brother prepare for dad?”
“Probably the usual. When it comes to gifts, he’s not very creative. For me it would be jewelry. If it’s your father, it would be the four treasures of the study. For you, it’s probably a car.” Mrs. Yan smiled and said: “You little clever devil. What are you giving your dad this time?”
“Mine should be kept secret as a surprise.” Yan Yaoxuan said complacently.
“Okay, fine. You don’t have to tell me.” Mrs. Yan took out her phone and said: “I have to call your brother and ask him to pick up Xiao Jin from the airport today, so he doesn’t forget.”
“Is Xiao Jin coming back too?” Yan Yaoxuan’s eyes immediately became radiant.
“He’ll be back this evening.” Mrs. Yan said: “I’ll tell you some good news. Your brother is chasing Xiao Jin.”
Yan Yaoxuan was stunned: “What… brother?”
Did his brother take the initiative to chase Shen Jintai?
Yan Yaoxuan was in utter disbelief. In fact, he would be surprised if his brother took the initiative to chase anyone let alone Shen Jintai. In his heart, even if his brother secretly loves another, he didn’t seem like the kind of person who would take the initiative.
“Didn’t Xiao Jin stopped liking him a long time ago?” Yan Yaoxuan said quietly.
Mrs. Yan: “He did, but I still have confidence in your brother. He’s a good man so he should be able to net him back if he wanted to, right? Xiao Jin used to like him so much, so the emotional foundation is still there.”
Mrs. Yan called Yan Qiuchi. When he answered she said: “Xiao Jin is coming back today so go pick him up at the airport. Don’t forget about it when you get too busy with work.”
“How could I forget,” Yan Qiuchi said: “I’m already on my way to the airport.”
After hanging up the phone, Yan Qiuchi looked out the window. The car had reached the northern suburbs of Nancheng. He raised his eyes to see a field, and in the distance, he could see the undulating mountains of Yuqing.
It had only been 10 days since the set visit. These 10 days had been more difficult than the previous 10 years. Perhaps it was due to his enlightenment. Knowing how wonderful the taste of holding Shen Jintai was, his heart had become greedier, and he couldn’t hold back his needs. The days of fasting and eating vegetarian food will no longer suffice. The palm of his hand still remembers the touch of Shen Jintai’s skin, and his chest still remembers the outline of Shen Jintai’s figure. The most irritating thing is the moment he pressed onto Shen Jintai, he felt a cool feeling that he almost couldn’t help but want to burst. He endured and the uncomfortable and enraged feeling had been lingering in his heart.
He had always been sexually disciplined and wasn’t a man who indulges in obscenity, so he restrained himself and completely buried his thoughts towards work. He knew that a large part of his personal charm was due to his successful career. He cannot be a man that was driven only by love. Shen Jintai’s career was improving with each passing day and thus he must also improve as well.
Now that person he likes is coming back, at the thought of seeing him, his demeanor changed from the icy president Yan to a passionate youth with exciting thoughts. He was relatively low-key this time as he drove a commercial vehicle. He didn’t get out of the car and opted to wait inside.
Shen Jintai’s itinerary was public. He hadn’t appeared in the public since he joined the crew to film <Pilot>. The gold powders were very anxious and wanted to see him. Monsoon Entertainment also felt that he should show his face to consolidate his popularity.
“Looks good?” Shen Jintai asked the makeup artist.
The makeup artist helped him straighten his hair again. His clothes and hair were meticulously managed to match carefully. Usually, when celebrities exit the airport, they like to give the image of “I didn’t dress up today and want to keep a low profile so please don’t take pictures of me”. However, Shen Jintai didn’t do that. Thinking that since his fans wanted to see him, he must let his fans see his most radiant side. Recently, he had been filming night scenes, so he put on sunglasses to cover his tired eyes as he exits the airport.
The gold powders have long crowded around the airport. There were tons of airport security to help maintain order. Unlike the previous few times, this time there was advance notice. The gold powders were well prepared. Under the leadership of several big fans, order was maintained very well. Before Shen Jintai came out, they all waited there quietly.
Suddenly they saw Xiao Tang. They were familiar with the assistants that were around their cooking so when they saw him, the crowd immediately roared: “He’s coming! He’s coming! He’s coming!”
Almost instantly, many people raised their phones at the same time.
Shen Jintai was now facing a popular fried chicken* battle. His team surrounded him while two bodyguards in black suits led the way. He was dressed casually with his sunglasses on as he walked in a chic pace with a smile on his face.
*Popular Fried Chicken (当红炸子鸡) = buzzword to refer to a person or thing that had become popular recently.
“Shen Jintai! Shen Jintai!” Someone screamed.
People at the entire airport was attracted to all the commotion. Many unsuspecting passersby turned their heads to look at the scene. Amidst the surging crowd, they saw a handsome young man in a white T-shirt and black pants. He taken off his sunglasses and bowed to everyone causing the crowd to scream endlessly.
A lady nearby who had just learned about what was going on excitedly pulled her husband’s arm and shouted: “It’s Li Xu! It’s Li Xu!” There were some people who didn’t know the name Shen Jintai, but everyone knows who Li Xu was.
Yan Qiuchi was sitting in the car as he heard the screams of the star-chasing girls. He looked up and saw nothing at first but could feel the commotion in the air. Suddenly a group of young girls started pouring out. Then he saw Shen Jintai within the hoards of people. He was surrounded by Xiao Tang and his team as he was holding a few bouquets in his arms, struggling to move forward against the crowd.
Star chasing could become contagious as Yan Qiuchi felt the excitement of these girls in that very moment. An assistant had already reached the car and stretched out his hand to usher Shen Jintai in. As soon as he stepped into the car, his body was suddenly wrapped with the faint smell of cologne. Yan Qiuchi exchanged a glance with him, and his heart accelerated instantly. Shen Jintai immediately turned his head and waved his hand outside the car. Facing hundreds of phones, he bent over and nodded slightly as he reach out and closed the door.
He was already a superstar.
As soon as the car door closed, it instantly blocked the commotion from outside. Shen Jintai hadn’t experienced this kind of battle in a long time. A thin layer of sweat appeared on his body as he took off his sunglasses and leaned on his seat to catch his breath. Only then did he have time to greet Yan Qiuchi: “Long time no see.”
To Shen Jintai this was just a polite greeting but for Yan Qiuchi, it truly had felt as if it was a long time since he’d seen him. Because he often doesn’t get the chance, he had to seize the opportunity every time he meets Shen Jintai.
The author has something to say：
Rush.
Kinky Thoughts: Mrs. Yan: “I’ll tell you some good news. Your bro has the hots for Xiao Jin now.”
Yan Yaoxuan: “…I rather have bad news…”