Chapter 37: Some Birds Cannot Be Caged (Please follow for updates, please vote with monthly tickets)

"Bro, I think I had too much to drink last night—I had a really weird dream!"

On set, Wang Yanlin rubbed his head as he found Bai Liang, looking like he was questioning his entire life.

"We didn't drink that much, did we? What kind of dream did you have?"

"Haha, I just dreamed that you suddenly got an audition notice, and that you'd be going to the *Legend of the Condor Heroes* crew to audition for the second male lead. Isn't that wild?"

Bai Liang nodded, seemingly agreeing that this matter was indeed quite "wild."

But before Wang Yanlin could say anything more, he added: "But that actually happened."

"Hiss... I probably still haven't sobered up! I'm going to wash my face!"

Folks! My back molars are ground to dust!

After washing his face, Wang Yanlin came back with his big face pressed close, looking utterly mournful.

You don't fear your brother living in hardship—you fear your brother driving a Range Rover!

Yesterday, when Bai Liang refused Yang Xing's olive branch, he'd still been sighing inwardly that his "brother was being foolish," feeling sorry for him.

But now, he only felt that he truly deserved to die!

"That Mencius Yi... is she your girlfriend too? Never heard that name before. How did she help you land the audition invitation?"

"What do you mean 'too'... I don't have a girlfriend right now."

After correcting Wang Yanlin's mistaken assumption, Bai Liang explained: "She helped me submit a resume on my behalf. The crew happened to be in their casting phase, so they gave me an audition opportunity. It's not like I got the role outright."

"But why do I feel like the moment you go, you're guaranteed to be picked?" Wang Yanlin looked utterly baffled. He didn't know where this feeling came from, but it was definitely there!

Bai Liang thought for a moment: "Good people get good rewards?"

"May I ask what good deeds you've done?"

"Treated you to drinks~"

"That was settled by Boss Yang!"

"Then there's guiding lost young ladies, reining in overly wild young ladies, helping young ladies with dreams......"

"Basically, you just can't get along with young ladies, huh~" Wang Yanlin conceded, impressed.

Just as they were talking, the young lady arrived.

Chen Yao, looking perfectly obedient, hugged the script to her chest and asked softly as always: "Do we have time to run lines together?"

"Sure! Want some fruit?" Bai Liang greeted Chen Yao while shooting Wang Yanlin a look.

Get lost!

Wang Yanlin: If you say so~

He scooted out of the way nimbly, then swiped a bunch of grapes Bai Liang had bought.

Munching as he went, he muttered: This kid really knows how to enjoy life. They haven't even officially started filming yet, and he's already got a lounge chair, a little table, a fruit plate—the whole enjoyment kit—set up.

Other people live out their days; he lives life!

Thinking of this, Wang Yanlin's heart started itching, and he looked toward the crew's one and only RV.

This thing wasn't assigned to anyone specifically—it was mainly for convenience, generally used by the actresses.

These young male actors of theirs couldn't bring themselves to fight the actresses for the RV.

But that RV had a little kitchen, and after two days of eating the boxed meals the crew had ordered, Wang Yanlin was really getting the idea of cooking himself an extra dish.

A northeastern man—who can't whip up a couple of dishes?

Of course, the main reason was that last night, while drinking and chatting, Bai Liang mentioned he'd researched some recipes in the past.......

Those who know, know—a man's competitive spirit was roused.

Bai Liang had already won overwhelmingly with the young ladies—he had to win some face back in other areas!

So on the second day, when Cai Yinong finally arrived at the crew, she saw the scene of the leads gathered around the RV, "cheering."

"Chef" Wang Yanlin had been busy for ages and finally brought out two small dishes......

The presentation was average, but the taste was actually decent.

Bai Liang and Han Dongjun ate quite happily, gave Wang Yanlin high praise, and hoped he'd whip up a couple of extra dishes whenever he had the time.

Unfortunately, the young ladies didn't much care for northeastern food, but were very interested in a fruit salad Bai Liang had casually thrown together.

This was the "recipe" research content Bai Liang had mentioned to Wang Yanlin.

He was a man who liked to tell the truth, and occasionally liked to tell little lies.

But who says fruit salad doesn't count as a dish~

Young ladies just love eating this stuff.

Wang Yanlin: Some meals really are meant for you to eat, bro!

"Cai Zong's here!"

Nobody knew which sharp-eyed one shouted it, but the not-very-large crew instantly livened up.

Han Dongjun and the others were visibly a little flustered... like when the head teacher suddenly showed up back in school.

Only Bai Liang and Wang Yanlin, the two non-"roster" players, felt nothing. Let her come then~ They didn't have to go over and kowtow in gratitude.

Jin Cheng and Chen Yao hurriedly stuffed in two more bites of fruit and quickly wiped their mouths.

"Not wiped clean~"

Bai Liang handed over a napkin, making Chen Yao blush. She hastily wiped the salad dressing from the corner of her mouth, then looked up at Bai Liang as if asking: Anything else?

But Jin Cheng jumped in to steal the scene: "What about me? What about me?"

"Your mouth's so big, you stuffed it all in directly—where could it have gotten on you?"

Hey, the way you put it!

Jin Cheng rolled her eyes directly. "A big mouth has its big-mouth advantages..."

The car was halfway there when Cai Yinong arrived.

As for the leads cooking up a little private feast, of course she wouldn't blame them for it — at most she'd just find it a little odd, then she'd beam and start fussing over everyone, the very picture of a warm, caring family head.

But in truth, Cai Yinong was also muttering to herself: the vibe on this set seems a little different from before~

The original culprits, Bai Liang and Wang Yanlin, stood behind the crowd, quietly discussing what tasty thing to whip up tomorrow.

The filming schedule for "Wu Xin Fa Shi" really wasn't heavy — a web drama with only twenty episodes total, shootable in a single month.

But Tang Ren had actually allotted a two-month slot for it.

Han Dongjun, who'd been spinning like a top on the set of "Xian Jian Yun Zhi Fan," switched straight into vacation mode the moment he joined this crew.

If even the male lead was "vacationing," the rest naturally felt even less pressure.

Oh right, except for Chen Yao.

She was too much of a newcomer — even a second female lead put a fair bit of pressure on her.

Fortunately she really did suit the role of Yue Qiluo; when Bai Liang helped her analyze the character and the plot, he'd sighed that thought more than once.

Thinking of this, Bai Liang lightly nudged Chen Yao. "What do you want to eat tomorrow? Let Wang Yanlin make it for you."

Wang Yanlin:???

"No need to go to all that trouble…"

"I just feel that if you let your face fill out a little, it'd fit the role even better — right now you're getting by entirely on that bit of baby fat."

So they were still talking about the script and the character!

Although they'd known each other only a short while, with other people backing him up, and Chen Yao herself feeling his reasoning made sense —

she instinctively glanced at Wang Yanlin~ who of course immediately raised his hands in surrender — yes, yes, yes, whatever you want to eat, I'll make it.

Cai Yinong: Now I know why the vibe on this set feels off!

Caught you!

No time like the present — today, big sis is going to "deal with" you, kid.

Come on! Get in the trailer, let's talk!

Cai Yinong was an old hand at this game too; she didn't want any weird rumors going around afterward either.

Things like "Cai Yinong publicly forces fresh meat into the trailer" — that sort of absurd scenario.

So she deliberately called Chen Yao along too, under the noble pretext of discussing their CP storyline.

The reason was perfectly reasonable — not a single flaw in it.

Even Chen Yao herself thought they really were going to talk about that sort of thing; with an obedient, listening-to-advice look on her face, she was the first to climb into the trailer.

The others, though, could see what was up. Wang Yanlin sent up a prayer for his good buddy — sometimes being too popular isn't a good thing either.

Jin Cheng and Han Dongjun's approach was a little wilder.

Then let's open a book on it!

"I bet he definitely joins our company — President Cai made this trip specifically for him." Jin Cheng declared with absolute certainty.

Han Dongjun scratched his head, thought hard for a moment, then offered a different opinion: "I don't think he'll sign."

"Reason?"

"Just a feeling~ some birds aren't meant to be caged — you get what I mean?"

"Your fly's undone." Jin Cheng shot him a sidelong glance and shut him down in an instant.

Now you're quoting Shawshank, are you? Look at you, acting like you've seen so many movies!

"Huh?!"

He looked down and realized he'd been played, but Han Dongjun still stuck to his take.

They say women are more delicate in their thinking than men, but sometimes, a man understands a man best.

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