Chapter 31: Wrap

Outside Jiulongcheng, on the set of "Mr. Vampire."

Xiang Qian and Zhou Huimin had just stepped out of the car when they were stunned by the scene before them—the entire set had been arranged as a Republican-era funeral home, eerie yet tinged with a touch of absurdity.

"Qianzai, Ah Min, over here!" Lin Zhengying waved from afar.

The two hurried over in a light jog, with Xiang Qian bowing first: "Greetings, Brother Lin! Greetings, esteemed seniors!"

Zhou Huimin followed suit with a bow: "Hello everyone, I am Zhou Huimin; please guide me."

Wang Xiaofeng eyed the pair with a beaming smile: "Oh my, so these are our Qiu Sheng and Ren Tingting? What a perfect match!"

Yuan Hua, cigarette dangling from his lips, strode over: "Kid, heard you know real kung fu? Don't let this Zombie King scare you to tears later!"

Xiang Qian smiled and clasped his fists: "Brother Hua, please guide me."

The first day of filming featured a scene between Xiang Qian and Yuan Hua.

"Action!"

Wielding a peach-wood sword, Xiang Qian sidestepped Yuan Hua's lunge with a roll, then kicked out three times in swift succession, his movements clean and crisp.

"Cut! Perfect!" Liu Guanwei clapped in delight. "Qianzai, your moves are even more beautiful than Cheng Long's!"

Yuan Hua rubbed his kicked shoulder with a wry smile: "You little rascal, hitting so hard."

Xiang Qian hurried forward: "Brother Hua, I'm sorry, I..."

"No harm done!" Yuan Hua laughed heartily, slapping Xiang Qian's back. "That's the spirit!"

At lunchtime, Xiang Qian carried his boxed meal over to Lin Zhengying, who was smoking alone.

"Brother Lin, why aren't you eating with everyone else?"

Lin Zhengying exhaled a ring of smoke: "Getting old; I prefer quiet."

Xiang Qian hesitated for a moment: "Brother Lin... I have an impertinent request."

"Oh?"

"Would you... consider getting a comprehensive medical checkup?"

Lin Zhengying paused, then chuckled: "What, think my old bones are useless?"

"No!" Xiang Qian quickly explained. "It's just... your cough has been quite frequent lately..."

Lin Zhengying's gaze softened: "You kid... Alright, I'll listen to you; I'll go after we finish this film."

By the second month of filming, a heated argument suddenly erupted on set.

"Director Liu! We agreed I was the male lead! Now my scenes are even fewer than this newcomer's!" Xu Guanying slammed his script down, roaring.

Liu Guanwei's face remained cold: "Script adjustments are normal; your role is still very important."

"Important?" Xu Guanying pointed at Xiang Qian. "His fight scenes are three times more than mine!"

Xiang Qian stood awkwardly in place while Zhou Huimin quietly tugged at the hem of his shirt.

Liu Guanwei suddenly slammed the table: "Film if you want, or get out!"

Silence fell over the entire set. Xu Guanying's face turned ashen; finally, gritting his teeth, he said: "...I'll film."

"Cut! Ah Min, make your expression more terrified!"

Zhou Huimin, playing Ren Tingting, was being chased by a zombie, yet she always fell slightly short of the desired effect.

Xiang Qian walked over to her and whispered: "Imagine you're seeing a durian you hate."

Zhou Huimin burst out laughing: "Who teaches people like that!"

"Just give it a try."

When filming resumed, Zhou Huimin's scream echoed through the set: "Ahhh—!!!"

"Perfect!" Liu Guanwei gave a thumbs-up.

Wang Xiaofeng teased: "Qianzai, what bewitching soup did you feed Ah Min?"

Xiang Qian smiled without speaking, while Zhou Huimin, face flushed, hid off to the side.

Two months later, the film finally wrapped production.

At the celebration banquet, everyone exchanged toasts. Liu Guanwei, thoroughly drunk, stumbled over holding a wine bottle.

"Qianzai!" He threw an arm around Xiang Qian. "You kid... *hic*... must compose an interlude song for me!"

Xiang Qian politely declined: "Director Liu, this..."

"Not agreeing?" Liu Guanwei immediately poured a full cup of baijiu. "Then I'll drain this first as a sign of respect!"

With that, he tilted his head back and downed it in one gulp, then thrust the empty cup right in front of Xiang Qian.

Zhou Huimin watched Xiang Qian with concern.

Xiang Qian rose helplessly: "Alright, I'll sing. But I need Sister Xiaofeng to cooperate."

Wang Xiaofeng laughed loudly and walked over.

Standing atop a table, Xiang Qian pointed his finger skyward and began singing "Ghost Bride" a cappella: "Her gaze, her gaze, shines like, shines like twinkling stars..."

Liu Guanwei slammed the table in excitement: "That's it! Make it the film's interlude!"

After the banquet dispersed, Xiang Qian and Zhou Huimin walked side by side on the way back to the hotel.

"Qianzai," Zhou Huimin suddenly asked, "why are you so concerned about Brother Lin?"

Xiang Qian gazed at the starry sky: "He... is a good man."

Zhou Huimin keenly sensed there was more to his words: "Do you know something?"

Xiang Qian remained silent for a long while: "I had a dream... I dreamed of him..."

"Dreamed of what?"

"Back at the hotel, Xiang Qian found someone standing at the door—Xu Guanying."

"Brother Guanying?"

Xu Guanying handed him an envelope: "This is for you."

Xiang Qian opened it to find a handwritten set of lyrics.

"I wrote the theme song," Xu Guanying said awkwardly, "though... it would still be better if you sang it."

Xiang Qian was surprised to discover the lyrics were quite excellent: "Brother Ying, this..."

"Don't misunderstand!" Xu Guanying turned and walked away, "I just... didn't want to waste a good piece of work!"

Watching Xu Guanying's retreating figure, Xiang Qian fell into deep thought.

Early the next morning, the film crew officially disbanded.

Before departing, Lin Zhengying specifically sought out Xiang Qian: "Qian-zi, I've scheduled a medical checkup."

Xiang Qian felt a great weight lift from his shoulders: "That's wonderful!"

"Also," Lin Zhengying winked mysteriously, "I think you and Ah Min make a great match."

Xiang Qian's ears turned red: "Brother Lin!"

Amidst everyone's laughter, the filming of Mr. Vampire came to a perfect conclusion.