Chapter 35: Of Course He

“I’m so glad to work with you again—your outfit looks even more handsome than before.”

Yang Mi’s eyes never left Qi Hao.

She didn’t need to feign infatuation—she already looked utterly enchanted.

“Teacher Qi, hello, I’m Liu Shishi.”

Liu Shishi, dressed in red, hurried over; since they weren’t yet well-acquainted, everyone seemed stiff and reserved.

Only Yang Mi and Qi Hao were different.

They had collaborated before, as a duo with plenty of dramatic scenes, like Yang Guo and Guo Xiang.

Yang Mi’s portrayal of Guo Xiang was actually excellent.

In that TV series, the way she looked at Qi Hao felt utterly real—not acted at all.

But there was An Feng in “The Legend of the Condor Heroes.”

Under Zhang Jizhong’s manipulation, the gossip between Qi Hao and An Feng became household news; Yang Mi could only watch as her big brother and his aunt flew off together.

“Hello, your outfit looks great too…”

Complimenting the costume is always safe, especially since the costume design for this drama is quite good.

“Just the costume? What about you?” Liu Shishi smiled.

“Hah…” Qi Hao was speechless.

Yang Mi widened her eyes—this little lamb had just seemed so soft, yet now she dared to flirt with Qi Hao, a stranger.

Feigning nonchalance, but actually planned all along!

She was truly underestimated!

“Just joking—I’m thrilled to work with you, Teacher Qi!” Liu Shishi extended her hand.

Qi Hao shook it briefly: “Don’t be so formal—call me Qi Hao. Where’s the director? I’ll go say hello.”

For some reason, Qi Hao always felt like an elder monk facing a seductive demoness—and thinking of that “wealth-bringing wife” trope made him even less inclined to stay near female stars.

These women are definitely not good people!

“Oh no, sorry, am I late?!”

Rushing in was Tang Yan, the actress playing Zi Xuan; Qi Hao had to pause and greet her, postponing his visit to the director.

Fortunately, she wasn’t alone.

Soon several supporting actors arrived: Huang Zhiwei as Chong Lou, Lin Zicong as Xu Maoshan, Liu Jiahui as the Evil Sword Immortal, Yuan Hong as Yun Ting, and Yue Yueli as Lord Tang, among others.

These people likely came by bus, unlike Qi Hao, who had a dedicated car.

Many of them were stars from Hong Kong and Wanwan.

Tang Ren has deep capital ties to Hong Kong and Taiwan and loves casting actors from across the three regions.

If Hu Ge hadn’t been in that accident and hadn’t fully recovered, and if they hadn’t finally convinced Qi Hao to take the role, the actor playing Xu Zhangqing might have been a Hong Kong or Taiwanese star.

Like choosing from Gu Juji, Qiu Ze, He Junxiang, or Hu Jianhua.

Tang Yan merely shook hands with Qi Hao and had no time to say more—he immediately went to greet others.

Sigh, I should’ve woken up even earlier!

At this moment, producer Cai Yinong, director Li Guoli, and lead actor Hu Ge heard the chatter outside and hurried out.

Almost everyone had arrived.

Qi Hao wasn’t early—he could afford to arrive slightly late given his status.

“Qi Hao!” Li Guoli naturally greeted him first.

“Director Li, it’s an honor—I took this role purely because of your reputation. I’m finally meeting you.”

Qi Hao gripped Li Guoli’s hand tightly, spouting nothing but flattery.

Li Guoli acted just as excited.

Like two souls who had long admired each other from afar, overcoming countless obstacles to finally collaborate.

Not a word was said about the script revisions or Hu Ge’s triple salary.

In truth, most behind-the-scenes stories in film and TV are manufactured—the real ones are often full of corruption and deals.

Nothing like the polished image promoted by the studio.

With Qi Hao saying this, Cai Yinong had nothing to say.

She couldn’t admit she’d hired him at great cost to stabilize the project because she didn’t trust Hu Ge.

“Big Brother Hao!”

Hu Ge wore his costume, his bangs hiding the remaining scars on his face.

Facing this senior actor, whose status was his goal, he was extremely humble.

Of course, the pressure was suffocating.

“Things will get better!” Qi Hao studied him, then smiled and patted his arm.

This warmth nearly made Hu Ge’s nose tingle—he almost collapsed onto Qi Hao’s shoulder and wept.

Big Brother Hao… he’s comforting me.

Waaah, the Film Emperor is so down-to-earth…

Seeing this, Cai Yinong quietly sighed in relief.

She’d feared Qi Hao, with his status and acting prowess, would look down on Hu Ge, his co-star, and bully him on and off set.

Yet Qi Hao, though seeming aloof, got along well with the cast without putting on airs.

Everyone has changed into costumes, right? Come on, teachers, let’s do one final check—see if anything’s amiss.

After the pleasantries, Li Guoli called the actors in for inspection.

During the inspection, they’d take costume stills.

These would be used later for promotion.

Meanwhile, the main gate of Tang’s Manor had been closed—only crew members could see inside; fans were kept out.

This was to prevent fans and passersby from sneaking photos.

Their skills were limited, and they didn’t know how to angle shots—if they posted ugly photos online, it would harm future promotion.

Tang Ren’s behind-the-scenes team was exceptionally strong.

Chen Gufang, who won the Golden Horse Award for Best Costume Design in 1987 for “A Chinese Ghost Story,” Liang Shengquan, former assistant director at Shaw Brothers, Song Xiaotao, nominated for Best Costume Design at the 44th Golden Horse Awards, and He Jiansheng, who served seven years as art director at Shaw Brothers—all gathered around to give feedback on the actors’ appearances.

They all gathered around, offering feedback on the actors’ on-site looks.

Yang Liu diligently placed a chair for Qi Hao.

She wore a hat and loose sportswear, concealing her figure—standard low-key attire for a crew assistant.

She aimed to cause her employer no trouble.

Qi Hao sat resting, his costume simple—not the kind requiring rigid posture.

First, some supporting actors quickly passed through for quick shots.

Then the leads were photographed extensively, from which the best images would be selected.

Three actresses with excellent looks went first, then Hu Ge took his turn.

Qi Hao was last.

The stylist and director would ask him to pose in specific ways, showcasing his attractiveness and aiding future framing.

Then came group photos.

These were casual—actors usually paired off themselves.

“Big Brother, let’s take a group photo together!”

Yang Mi played Xuejian but insisted on a photo with Qi Hao; since they’d collaborated before, this was a key promotional point, so no one could object.

“Sure!” This was unavoidable—Qi Hao agreed readily.

When the director told him to put an arm around her, he didn’t hesitate.

I’ve been everywhere, touched girls’ long legs—what big scenes haven’t I seen?

He could already picture how the studio would promote it.

Phrases like “The lute still sings on Shaoshi Peak, the wind still whispers at Fengling Ferry. True love never fades, even as beauty turns to white hair,” or “After parting, longing fills one river; returning, I look back—three lifetimes have passed.”

If they didn’t hype Yang Guo and Guo Xiang’s reunion, they’d be wasting the salary they paid him.

I wonder if the studio considered casting Yang Mi as Zi Xuan.

That would truly be a three-lifetimes entanglement.

Yang Mi kept shooting, until even the director couldn’t bear it: “Yang Mi, go take photos with Hu Ge. Tang Yan, you take photos with Qi Hao.”

“Big Brother Qi Hao, let’s take photos by the window!”

While Yang Mi was shooting, Tang Yan hadn’t been idle—she’d already chosen a backdrop and planned her pose.

She remembered her agent’s advice: avoid any improper thoughts toward Qi Hao.

But these costume stills would affect future promotion—she had to seize the spotlight when she could.

Yang Mi called him “Big Brother”—she called him “Big Brother Qi Hao.”

As long as they weren’t awkward, it was Qi Hao who’d be embarrassed.

“Ladies, lean closer—just like Yang Mi and Qi Hao did. You’re a couple, so be a little more intimate…”

Li Guoli, while watching, was also crafting the characters’ romantic chemistry.

Even with the same script, different actors would inevitably emphasize different dynamics.

Sometimes, filming must follow instinct.

“Qi Hao, pull Tang Yan’s sleeve slightly. Tang Yan, show a bit of your shoulder…”

Li Guoli looked here and there, his mind brimming with inspiration for filming.

“Be gentle, don’t tear my clothes…” Tang Yan turned her side in perfect cooperation.

“…”

Qi Hao wanted to hit someone—he heard someone going “ooh ooh ooh,” and he couldn’t control himself.

Still, he eased his movements slightly, avoiding tearing Tang Yan’s clothes outright.

The enemy flees—I strip her clothes!

Hey, miss, your outfit looks great—can I see what’s underneath?

As Qi Hao applied slight pressure, Tang Yan’s light gauze garment slipped down a bit, revealing a pale shoulder.

Definitely an old shoulder, smooth as silk.

“OK, pause—yes, turn your head toward Qi Hao, just smile, don’t overdo it—good, Qi Hao’s expression is perfect!”

Li Guoli, beside the cinematographer, was completely hooked.

He longed to start filming immediately.

He hadn’t launched the “Immortal Sword 3” project without pressure—given the masterpiece of “Immortal Sword 1,” if the sequel was even slightly bad, he’d be torn apart by critics.

And it wasn’t just him being insulted—Tang Ren would suffer too.

For him, this was double damage, since he wasn’t just the production supervisor of Tang Ren, but also a shareholder.

Unfortunately, according to the shooting schedule, Qi Hao and Tang Yan’s scenes had to be postponed.

After seeing Qi Hao finish his scenes with Tang Yan, Liu Shishi was also encouraged by Cai Yinong to come over.

One sheep is herded, three sheep are herded too.

If Yang Mi and Tang Yan could do it, why not Liu Shishi? If she wants to shoot, let her shoot.

Too few people, and it’s not fun enough; too many, and I’ll be killed!

For the crew, taking group photos was also a process of getting to know and syncing with each other.

After finishing his photos with Liu Shishi, other supporting actors came over for pictures too; Qi Hao accepted them all and quickly bonded with the cast on set.

The photos were nearly done; everyone gathered together for a group shot while firing celebratory confetti cannons.

It announced the official commencement of “Immortal Sword 3.”