Chapter 43

"Oh, I'm a director, but that's just my dream—right now I'm a stunt performer."

Fang Hong spoke without changing expression, switching identities casually.

Ye Weixin sized him up, had never heard of him, never seen him—a nobody.

He didn't take his suggestion seriously; if such a simple scene needed a stunt double, what was the actor for?

Seeing Ye Weixin ignore him, Fang Hong remained calm—these Hong Kong people were just so arrogant!

At this moment, several makeup artists surrounded Liu Tianxian, touching up her makeup.

But Fang Hong couldn't just sit idle; who knew if Yu Shaoqun would get diarrhea again next time? This lack of control made him deeply uncomfortable.

He liked to control everything—it gave him a sense of security.

While the crew was resetting the set, Fang Hong found Lu Dabo again and gave him a few instructions.

"Boss, you keep making me do this kind of thing—I really can't handle it!" Lu Dabo looked troubled.

"Don't call me boss—I like people to call me Principal."

"Principal?!"

Lu Dabo felt the name was strangely familiar—wasn't that the guy the media had been screaming about?

He hadn't seen the movie Those Years, but the name "Principal" was thunderously infamous—thunderously vilified.

"Yes, that's me. I'm telling you this secret alone—keep it confidential."

A pseudonym only reduces trouble, but the trouble still exists—he just didn't feel like dealing with it now.

Lu Dabo swallowed hard, stunned—he never expected to meet the "Principal"!

This was a major figure; compared to someone like him, the Principal was utterly unattainable.

"I'll do it!"

"Good, I have high hopes for you." Fang Hong clapped him on the shoulder.

What a coward—he needed the "Principal" as his backer just to muster courage.

After waiting a long while, Yu Shaoqun finally returned from the restroom, but he looked terrible—pale and weak.

Even if he looked bad, they had to shoot; Ye Weixin shouted: "Shoot it well—aim for one take."

"Alright, I'll try my best." Yu Shaoqun promised.

"Not 'try your best'—you must do it!" Ye Weixin pointed at him.

Yu Shaoqun fell silent—he wanted to nail it too, but his body wouldn't allow it.

"Take it slow, don't rush," Liu Tianxian comforted him in front of him.

"Mm!"

Yu Shaoqun nodded, his eyes filled with affection.

Rumor had it he liked Liu Tianxian—he'd said so himself on a show.

Don't think Liu Tianxian had no admirers, no suitors—many chased her, including rich second-generation heirs; it was just that her mother had kept a tight grip earlier, but now her mindset had changed drastically.

Only someone with true soul-deep harmony could move her.

Filming resumed; Fang Hong crossed his arms, one hand covering his mouth, utterly silent.

On set, the two continued acting—Yu Shaoqun moved to kiss her again.

"Ouch!"

With a cry, filming was interrupted.

Everyone turned to look—it was an unknown low-level crew member, completely unrecognizable.

It was Lu Dabo, clutching his stomach: "Sorry, I've got a stomachache."

Such a cry meant they couldn't continue—too much background noise would ruin the audio.

"Which department? Get the hell out! Fuckin' loser!" Ye Weixin finally lost his temper.

The insults were brutal!

Lu Dabo, terrified, didn't dare speak—he quietly left the set and vanished—not fired, but off doing something else.

This was the tragedy of minor players: the lead actor, Ye Weixin, might tolerate it—but minor players wouldn't tolerate anything at all!

This shoot had been full of twists and misfortunes—bad luck everywhere: one problem after another.

But they still had to shoot—the investors were pressing hard!

Filming resumed, but the delay had caused Yu Shaoqun's stomach to act up again—he couldn't hold it and needed the restroom once more.

"Yu Shaoqun, can you shoot today or not? Give me a straight answer!" Ye Weixin snapped.

Every delay wasted the afternoon; soon it would be lunchtime, and judging by his condition, they might not even shoot tonight.

"Director, I'm sorry—I think I need to rest today. I really can't take it anymore." Yu Shaoqun clutched his stomach and apologized.

"Get out! Get out!"

Ye Weixin refused to speak to him further—useless, good for nothing.

He called over the assistant director: "Find someone who looks similar to him to finish this scene."

They still needed a stunt double.

Yu Shaoqun had no choice—he glanced at Liu Tianxian, who signaled him to go rest properly.

In truth, Yu Shaoqun wanted to kiss Liu Tianxian too—but his body wouldn't allow it; he simply wasn't worthy.

"Director, no need to find anyone—look at me," Fang Hong reappeared before Ye Weixin, pointing at himself.

Ye Weixin doubted: "Can you act?"

"Not as good as Tony Leung or Liang Jiafei, but better than Liu Tianwang," Fang Hong said brazenly.

"In my life, I hate young people who don't know their place—nothing to their name, yet they talk big."

To say he's better than Liu Tianwang is talking big—is your prejudice really that severe?

"Since you don't believe me, Director, then don't use me as an actor—just use me as a stand-in." Fang Hong said.

That remark was fair enough; a stand-in really didn't need much acting skill.

Ye Weixin glanced toward the assistant director's direction, saw no one there, saw that this fellow's build was also suitable, and decided: "Then give it a try. Go change clothes."

Rather than wasting time here, it was better to let someone try; if by some chance it worked, it would save a lot of trouble.

On set, the lighting and camera were in position; around Liu Tianxian stood several makeup artists fixing her hair and makeup.

Fang Hong had already changed into the scholar's robe, and was even wearing that kind of scholarly cap—he looked the part!

"Yifei, come here!"

Ye Weixin beckoned; he felt it necessary to explain the filming process.

"Director."

Liu Tianxian walked up to the director and looked at Fang Hong beside him with some puzzlement.

How had it taken just a short while for this fellow to change into Yu Shaoqun's costume?

Fang Hong wore a calm, composed expression, as if he didn't know her.

"Yifei, when you film in a bit, you two kiss a little deeper, and tilt your head slightly away from the camera—that way the camera can shoot you two from the side, and won't catch your full face." Ye Weixin explained.

The idea was, when the two kissed, the camera would be right beside them; if they kissed a little deeper, they could bury their faces.

Then through makeup and post-production color grading, it would basically be impossible to tell it was a stand-in.

"Understood, Director."

Liu Tianxian agreed, then looked at Fang Hong again.

Fang Hong still wore that calm, composed expression!

"Alright, you two go on, get ready to shoot." Ye Weixin said.

The two exchanged a greeting, then walked side by side toward the filming location. Liu Tianxian asked: "How did you end up as a stand-in?"

"I just can't afford to eat, so I'm earning some extra cash." Fang Hong said.

Liu Tianxian was speechless—that excuse was too clumsy. She said: "Did you see me kissing someone else, so you played a trick?"

This woman was too sharp; all those past jokes about her being dumb were clearly misunderstandings.

"You're flattering yourself." Fang Hong wouldn't admit it.

"Really?"

Liu Tianxian stopped walking, stood in front of him, and studied him with a pair of phoenix eyes.

Fang Hong felt a little guilty, didn't meet her eyes, looked elsewhere, and deflected: "Today's Valentine's Day!"

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(End of chapter)