Chapter 82: Wedding Ceremony

“Little beauty.”

Jia Jing walked over with her hands behind her back, unable to resist lifting the golden chain veil and tilting Gao Yuanyuan’s fair chin: “How about I kidnap you today? Forget that Chounanren Zhang Wuji.”

“You’re so annoying~”

Gao Yuanyuan stomped her foot, making the golden chain veil sway.

“Hahaha.”

Jia Jing laughed brightly, tilting her head back.

In the drama, she wore male attire often, and their relationship was already close, so she couldn’t help teasing Gao Yuanyuan.

“Your outfit looks great.”

Li Luo couldn’t help nodding in praise to Gao Yuanyuan.

She was truly beautiful.

Gao Yuanyuan was already strikingly beautiful; now, with her bridal makeup, a red dot on her brow, and her attire, she looked exactly like a graceful ancient beauty.

“You too.”

Looking at Li Luo, Gao Yuanyuan couldn’t help but compliment him.

Dressed in a red robe with cloud patterns, cinched with a golden belt, his upright posture made him look vigorous and dashing.

He perfectly carried off the red attire.

“Alright, alright!”

Jia Jing glanced around, scratched her cheek, and her eyes darted: “I know you two, the groom and bride, are gorgeous—but no, we need some funny face photos, or I’ll feel jealous.”

Li Luo and Gao Yuanyuan exchanged a glance and simultaneously shrugged.

They were all young; nothing was off-limits to play with.

And these photos.

Were also great promotional material!

At the big sister’s call, the crew’s photographer quickly came over.

First, Li Luo stood in the center, his hands lightly resting on Jia Jing’s and Gao Yuanyuan’s shoulders; the three of them took several serious group photos.

“Funny faces!!!”

Jia Jing shouted, sticking out her tongue far.

Like a hanged ghost.

Li Luo pushed his nose hard with his fingers, grinning grotesquely at the camera.

Turned into a pig-faced expression.

Gao Yuanyuan didn’t back down either—she hooked her pinky to the corner of her mouth and pulled hard outward, becoming a monstrous bride.

“Hahaha~”

Amid the makeup artist’s burst of laughter, the photographer captured the grotesque scene on film.

“I want to join too.”

Yang Buhui, seeing this, could no longer hold back.

“Together, together.”

Chen Zihan refused to be left behind; shouts and laughter filled the entire set as Zhang Wuji and his four beautiful companions left various funny-face photos in the Guangmingding hall set.

The Ming Cult followers nearby, summoned by Zhang Tielin, also came over to join the fun.

That guy was annoying to look at.

But sometimes, he could be quite good-natured.

Today’s scene was meant to be festive, so Lai Shuiqing let them run wild—though the fire soon reached his own head.

Under Jia Jing’s tugging, he and Yuan Bin reluctantly made funny faces too.

After all the fuss.

The day’s shooting finally began.

The Guangmingding hall was draped in red decorations; a giant “ Xi ” character hung on the inner wall.

A track was laid in the center for the camera to move along.

“Zhang Sanfeng and Bai Meiying take their seats first,” Lai Shuiqing instructed the actors: “Then the camera pulls back; Tie Lin, follow the shot as you walk. Everyone else, stand on either side.”

“Look happy, pretend to chat.”

“When the camera stops, all of you step forward together and smile outward.”

“One continuous shot—pay attention!”

The earlier scenes had nothing to do with Li Luo; he sent a quick text to Bian Xiaoxiao and continued watching the others perform.

Regarding last night’s act of covering for him and Jia Naiming.

Bian Xiaoxiao expressed strong indignation.

And sternly demanded that next time, he must prioritize her.

Li Luo, of course, had no objections.

“Action.”

As the words fell, the actors took their positions and began moving.

With so many people, mistakes were inevitable.

They were soon called “Cut.”

This was normal; a single-take shot was rare.

Watching Zhang Tielin’s smiling face, Li Luo felt a pang of reflection—though critics said he played every role as “Huang Amma,” that judgment was accurate, yet the man truly had skill.

At least when he was in that routine.

He was absolutely an expert-level actor.

After waiting over an hour, it was finally his turn.

At the assistant director’s call, Li Luo walked toward the entrance of the Guangmingding hall, joining Gao Yuanyuan, whose phoenix crown was veiled in red gauze; the two, handsome man and beautiful woman, complemented each other perfectly.

“They really look like a married couple!”

Zhang Tielin couldn’t help teasing: “Too bad there’s no candy to hand out.”

“Exactly.”

“Director, should we hand out some candy?”

Others kept egging them on, making Gao Yuanyuan blush.

“Enough chatter.”

Lai Shuiqing stepped before Li Luo and Gao Yuanyuan, waving his hand: “We’ll shoot this in three parts. First, a wide shot—you and Buhui and the others walking in from the entrance.”

“Also get a background shot.”

“Finally, close-ups focused solely on the two of you.”

“Just smile. A little more shy would be even better.”

That last remark was directed at Gao Yuanyuan—micro-expressions had always been her challenge.

“I understand, Director.”

Gao Yuanyuan nodded, the phoenix crown swaying with the motion.

Once the other actors were ready, Li Luo and Gao Yuanyuan exchanged a glance, smiled faintly, and walked inward.

Over a short distance of Shiji meters, they walked back and forth five or six times.

Finally, they passed.

Shooting continued.

At Bai Meiying’s cue, Zhang Wuji and Zhou Zhiruo turned together.

“Bow to Heaven and Earth.”

The voice of Fan Yao, the Right Messenger of Ming Cult, echoed through the hall.

The two newlyweds bowed deeply.

“Wait!”

Jia Jing shouted from her seat, helping them with their acting.

“Scumbag—the man beside you is a scumbag.”

Gao Yuanyuan silently repeated this phrase in her mind; as she rose from her bow, her smile vanished instantly into a blank expression, and she shot a resentful glance sideways.

Meanwhile,

Li Luo met her gaze with an awkward expression.

Finally, both, one confused and one furious, looked toward the camera together.

A week later.

Li Luo took an hour off from Lai Shuiqing, hopped on a borrowed bicycle, and sped straight to a café outside the film city.

As he parked the bike, he noticed a reporter sitting inside a car nearby.

A large lens extended straight out the window.

No attempt at concealment.

He was now used to this—walking this path meant losing personal privacy; he paid it no mind and stepped into the elegantly decorated café.

The air was filled with a faint fragrance.

Glancing around, Hu Zi and Xiao Hu Zi were unmistakable in the corner.

“Master Zhi.”

At the other's gesture, he walked over quickly: "Director Yu, hello. I should have been the one to pay you a visit."