Chapter 252: Surprise Set Visit

In the thin morning mist of New Zealand, a modified "Scorpion" attack aircraft model sat quietly on the tarmac. Lin Qingxia, in a pilot's uniform, her neat short hair lifted by the morning breeze, was carefully inspecting the flight instruments.

"Ms. Lin, this control stick needs a bit more force," the action director gestured from the side, "You're playing a veteran pilot who's been through battles."

Lin Qingxia nodded, then suddenly vaulted cleanly into the cockpit in one fluid motion. The crew on site couldn't help but applaud.

"Action!"

Through the camera, Zhu Di·Chaken, played by Lin Qingxia, calmly pushed the control stick as the warplane slowly lifted off. Her gaze was focused and sharp, yet the corner of her mouth carried a faint, elusive smile.

"Maintain altitude 3000, heading 125," she said into the communicator, her voice steady and strong, "Target area spotted."

Suddenly, the "turbulence" created by the special effects team caused the cockpit to shake violently. Lin Qingxia stayed calm in the face of danger, her hands gripping the control stick firmly, the veins on her arms faintly visible.

"Cut! Perfect!" Chen Kaige shouted excitedly, "Ms. Lin, that on-set reaction was incredibly professional!"

Lin Qingxia wiped the fine sweat from her forehead: "I did quite a few action scenes when I was young, this little shaking is nothing."

Inside an abandoned mine, Cheng Long and Li Xuejian were doing their final rehearsal. This scene was the two men's ultimate showdown in the film, designed as a five-minute-long close-quarters combat.

"Mr. Li, for this shoulder throw later, you need to catch it like this," Cheng Long demonstrated the move, "I'll control the force."

Li Xuejian rolled his shoulder: "Don't worry, I can still take a beating."

"Action!"

Cheng Long lunged forward in one stride, his fist cutting through the air straight for Li Xuejian's face. Li Xuejian dodged sideways and countered with a backhand elbow strike. The two went back and forth, every move vicious.

On the seventh take, an accident happened. Cheng Long threw a sweeping kick, Li Xuejian staggered back and accidentally stepped on a loose slab of concrete.

"Careful!" Cheng Long's eyes were quick—he grabbed Li Xuejian's arm in an instant.

The set erupted in gasps. After steadying himself, Li Xuejian patted Cheng Long's shoulder: "Nice moves!"

Cheng Long let out a breath of relief: "Good as long as you're fine. Shall we do this part again?"

Li Xuejian laughed heartily: "Of course! This time I won't be going easy on you."

Outside the set, a black sedan slowly pulled up. Zhou Huimin led six-year-old Xiang Yang out of the car, the little one looking around excitedly.

"Mommy, is Daddy really filming a movie here?" Xiang Yang asked, looking up.

Zhou Huimin gently straightened his collar: "Of course, Daddy's filming a really impressive movie."

Coincidentally, Xiang Fei had just finished shooting a scene and, turning his head, spotted his wife and son. He ran over in pleasant surprise: "A-Min! Yang Yang! How did you get here?"

Xiang Yang threw himself into his father's arms: "Daddy! Kindergarten is on holiday!"

Xiang Fei picked up his son and spun him around in a circle; the special effects makeup on his face smeared blue all over the little guy. Zhou Huimin couldn't hold back a laugh, taking out wet wipes to clean them both up.

"You two rest for a bit first," Xiang Fei kissed his wife's cheek, "I still have one last scene here."

Xiang Yang's arrival livened up the entire crew. Liu Xiaoqing, as if by magic, pulled a candy from her pocket: "Little one, try a candy Auntie brought from China."

Leonardo crouched down and said in broken Chinese: "Ni-hao! Wo-shi-da-mingxing!"

Xiang Yang giggled: "You talk so funny!"

Lin Qingxia had just finished removing her makeup and walked over; Xiang Yang's eyes went wide: "Auntie, you were flying in the sky just now, that's amazing!"

Lin Qingxia crouched down to look him in the eye: "Do you want to ride a plane too?" Saying so, she lifted the little fellow above her head, pretending he was a little airplane.

"Wow! I'm flying!" Xiang Yang shouted happily.

During the lunch break, Chen Kaige had a sudden inspiration: "How about letting Yang Yang have a cameo as a small role?"

Xiang Fei's eyes lit up: "Great idea! He could play a Na'vi child."

The makeup artist quickly painted blue special effects makeup on Xiang Yang, and even fitted him with a miniature "neural braid."

"Action!"

Through the camera, Xiang Yang curiously touched a glowing plant; the plant suddenly lit up, illuminating his delighted little face.

"Cut! Perfect!" Chen Kaige gave a thumbs-up, "Yang Yang acted so naturally!"

Zhou Huimin was a little worried: "Will this part really be used?"

"Of course," Xiang Fei picked up his son, "This is the silver-screen debut of a future star!" (Xiang Fei probably never imagined that his son Xiang Yang would go to a parallel world and end up in the TV drama iPartment)

In the evening, Zhou Huimin prepared to take Xiang Yang back to the hotel to rest.

"Daddy still has to work late," she said softly to her son, "Shall we come visit the set again tomorrow?"

Xiang Yang clung to Xiang Fei's neck, reluctant to part: "Daddy, you have to beat the bad guys so badly they can't fight back!"

Xiang Fei kissed his little cheek: "Don't worry, Daddy's a super director!"

Watching his wife and son leave, Xiang Fei turned around to find Cheng Long and Li Xuejian standing behind him.

"Director," Cheng Long said with a smile, "For tomorrow's scene, shall we add some new moves?"

Li Xuejian also showed a rare smile: "I can still fight three hundred more rounds."

Under the setting sun, the three men's shadows stretched long. In the distant studio, the crew had already begun preparing for tomorrow's shoot.