Chapter 568: Dimensional Drop Cameo

Mu Youyu's attention was pulled back; she shook her head, "Sister, just play; I'm fine listening."

Mu Xianyan then turned and walked toward the center of the venue, her skirt swaying lightly with her steps.

Today the first scene began filming; Mu Youyu's gaze swept around the set.

Not far away, several staff members gathered around a monitor, discussing something.

She watched her best friend's set of movements and lines, then suddenly turned to the person beside her and said, "The post-production crew will have a hard time."

Jiang Liangjin echoed, "Indeed, it's tough."

Lin Shu overheard their conversation, raised her eyebrows slightly, realizing her interest likely stemmed from Lu Yuchu and Song Yan.

She followed the topic, saying, "Speaking of that, your brother Yuchu has been in the limelight lately."

Mu Youyu felt her topic jump was a bit big, "Is it still okay?"

They were chatting happily when suddenly a discordant noise came from outside the set.

A middle-aged woman in a dark gray coat stepped out from the side, walked straight through the crowd, intending to cross the boundary and approach Mu Xianyan.

A middle-aged man followed her, his expression silent.

Two meters behind them stood Shi Che, fully armed—hat, mask, sunglasses, none missing—like someone trying to conceal his identity but whose full gear made him even more conspicuous.

Jiang Liangjin heard the commotion, tugged at his girlfriend's sleeve, and Mu Youyu turned her head slightly.

"……"

Lin Ning, who had just finished a scene, glanced at the few people and frowned.

Mu Xianyan had only two scenes today, planning to wrap up after finishing them; she had only shot one so far.

She glanced in that direction, then turned back, "Sister Xianyan, is it those people again?"

The two of them had been bothered by these people at a gathering a few days earlier.

Mu Xianyan didn't turn back, merely reached out to touch the instrument case on the table, "Hmm."

Lin Ning saw she wasn't too concerned, gave a soft "tsk," and shouted, "Throw them out!"

"Sure." Lin Shu lifted her chin at the security over there, concise: "Throw them out."

The little assistant, puffing himself up, adopted a protective stance toward his master.

The security immediately turned and blocked the two people who were still trying to approach Mu Xianyan.

Shi Che at the rear, recalling his older brother's instruction, pulled up his mask, pressed down his hat, then steeled himself to step forward, signaling the bodyguards to block even more tightly: "Block them."

In the end, his own bodyguards prevailed, and the three managed to walk in.

The leading woman was dressed appropriately, her makeup refined, her face showing she had been well cared for, only her eye sockets slightly red, as if she were about to burst into tears any second.

She fixed her gaze on Mu Xianyan's face, voice trembling: "Yanyan, why are you in this kind of place? Why aren't you taking care of yourself? Are you short on money? Mom has it here; why must you suffer this humiliation? Yanyan, you've suffered..."

Mu Xianyan: "……"

Lin Ning: "Auntie, stop it; Sister Xianyan doesn't want to deal with you."

Jiang Liangjin, when previously investigating Shi Che, had remembered his family; these two are Shi Che's uncle and aunt, and also relatives by blood of Mu Xianyan.

The man's surname is Shi, the woman's name is Huo Lan; they had collaborated once many years ago.

Mu Xianyan didn't take the two seriously, lowered her eyes slightly, idly adjusting the guitar strings, "I'm not your daughter."

Huo Lan spoke even more rapidly, seeming to struggle for breath, stepped forward wanting to say more, but her husband soothingly restrained her shoulder: "All right, all right, we agreed not to get worked up."

The man beside her tugged at her sleeve, whispered something, and she then reluctantly closed her mouth.

Lin Shu didn't glance again in that direction, merely said something to her assistant beside her; the assistant nodded and hurried off.

Mu Xianyan felt somewhat annoyed inside, but showed nothing on the surface, only raising her hand to indicate she needed a break.

The director wasn't in a hurry either, "Sure, there's still time; take a break, come back this afternoon."

Lin Ning pulled Mu Youyu toward the interior of the set, "Come on, come on, let me show you my lounge."

Mu Youyu was dragged forward by her, her peripheral vision unintentionally glancing backward.

That middle-aged couple had already been stopped by security farther away, now lowering their heads as they spoke.

Besides Shi Che, she inexplicably felt the other two also looked familiar, wondering if she had seen them somewhere, yet thinking it unlikely.

She has always had a good memory; if she had seen them, she would surely retain an impression.

Jiang Liangjin's profile, "These people, Chu Ge probably has seen them; their family, in Y Guo, could be mentioned in the same breath as the Duke's Mansion."

Not having heard of it, Mu Youyu feigned sudden realization, "Oh, I see."

Lin Ning, hearing a few remarks, was surprised; knowing the strength of the Duke's Mansion, she asked, "That powerful?"

Jiang Liangjin gave no reply, only saying, "Now it's a reclusive clan; I don't know why they've come out to make a show."

Mu Youyu nodded vigorously, "Exactly, exactly!"

The group chatted as they all entered the lounge.

Yu Ci and Gu Xingnan were already playing games with the air conditioning on.

"Yo, how come your cousin is here too?" Yu Ci also recognized the person, raised his head in surprise, and whispered, "She doesn't usually take on this kind of work, does she?"

Gu Xingnan nodded.

Mu Youyu answered, "Ningning invited her to cameo in a role."

Lin Ning lifted her chin, "Just a matter of pulling strings and using money."

Yu Ci: "You really have something; Sister Yan hasn't even filmed a TV drama yet, and with her popularity..."

Mu Xianyan's fanbase level speaks for itself; for her, a TV drama supporting role or a musical cameo is a dimensional drop—no difficulty—just her name alone can make the show blow up before it even airs.

But this could instead double the pressure on the crew director and other actors, fearing the final product won't live up to her fame.

Lin Ning chimed in from the side, "I'm paying Sister Xianyan a sizable fee; if she isn't serious, I'll end up losing money."

Mu Xianyan hadn't said anything yet when Lin Shu entered from the door, speaking lightly: "What loss? The money is all mine."

Lin Ning immediately made a gesture to shut her up.

After Lin Shu entered, a smile landed on Mu Youyu's face, adding a touch of genuine warmth, "A You, when is your engagement banquet set?"

Mu Youyu didn't expect her to ask that, "The tenth of next month, on Little New Year's Day."

Lin Shu calculated the days, "That's soon; when the time comes, I'll go together with Ningning."

"We must go!" Lin Ning immediately went to her sister's side, linked her arm, pulled her to sit on the sofa, "Dear, have you decided on your outfit for the occasion? Do you want me to give you some advice?"

"Still choosing," Mu Youyu leaned against the sofa back, "I've looked over several design drafts back and forth, all feeling somewhat lacking."

Lin Ning was enthusiastic, "Didn't Yan Jiejie help you design a set?"

Yu Ci also thought it was okay, "Exactly, your eldest sister-in-law dotes on you the most; back then, for you, Nian Ge could even give up!"

Lin Shu previously attended the same school with Mu Nian and Yan Yuejiu, and was even a witness to their love; hearing this just felt funny.