Chapter 220

Jin Li thought for a moment and asked: "The female lead deserted, and 'Assassination' has been filming for a month; won't this cause trouble for the crew?"

Sui Lingfang said bluntly: "Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

A hint of interest flashed in Jin Li's eyes: "Tell me both."

Sui Lingfang: "I think this is a good thing for the crew. According to the news I received, because the new actress had no acting experience, even after a month of filming, the crew hadn't even finished the first major climax scene."

"With such obvious dead weight, kicking her out early means they can replace her with someone more efficient; maybe they can finish a major scene in a week. In that sense, changing people is actually better."

"However," Sui Lingfang changed her tone, "if a crew changes actors frequently, it's not a good thing for the director."

"It implies the director lacks the eye for talent, which will make people question whether he can film this movie well."

"If it were an old director, investors might be more at ease, but this is Yan Jianqiao's first time filming."

"From this incident, I highly doubt his ability; he has committed the common mistake that almost every new director makes."

Jin Li asked curiously: "Common mistake?"

Sui Lingfang said unceremoniously: "High expectations but low ability; always wanting to succeed in one step, wanting to walk the path others spent ten years struggling for in just one film."

Jin Li's eyes flickered; she roughly understood.

Fang Jie was criticizing Yan Jianqiao for having ambitions higher than the heavens.

Sui Lingfang: "New directors always like to imitate famous directors, wanting to unearth unique actors themselves, but they are just newcomers to filming movies themselves; how can they provide guidance to others?"

"If you ask me, Tianding Entertainment shouldn't have given Yan Jianqiao so much freedom; they should have tracked the script adaptation from the start, called a halt as soon as there was a problem, and had their internal staff come over to take over the film."

"Ideally, even the actors should have been chosen by Tianding, and Director Yan would only need to ponder the plot and think about how to film it well."

Jin Li shook her head and said softly: "Famous directors have the pride of famous directors, and new directors have the pride of new directors. If Tianding Entertainment had done that from the start, Yan Jianqiao might not have chosen to film it."

She paused and said without any bias: "He is a new director. For his first film, he managed to get Gu Cheng to act and received investment from so many people; it's normal to have some aspirations."

"If this film is bad, it's just a small wave entering the ocean, quickly to be submerged at the bottom; he's a newcomer, after all, and netizens are long used to that."

"But if it's filmed well, I have a premonition that it will bring a huge surprise to many people."

Sui Lingfang thought: Why does this sound so familiar?

Oh, isn't this the same rhetoric she used to persuade Jin Li to take on "Dream Builder" and "And Then There Were None"?

However, the situations of the two were still very different.

Jin Li was a popular actress taking on a niche script.

But for "Assassination," besides Gu Cheng, all the other actors were newcomers; this was clearly using a hot celebrity to carry newcomers!

If it weren't for the fact that the script was innovative and Gu Cheng was willing to film it, Sui Lingfang wouldn't have persuaded the company to invest.

She glanced at Jin Li, "You certainly know a lot about this director, Yan Jianqiao."

Jin Li shook her head again: "I've only met him once and had one meal with him; we aren't very close."

"The impression he gave me was that he is very persistent; perhaps he needs to take a hard fall before he can grow."

Sui Lingfang didn't speak.

Never mind directors; as long as you're an employee, who hasn't taken countless falls before gaining experience?

If this were any other artist, Sui Lingfang could maintain a calm mindset.

But Chenxi Entertainment participated in the investment for "Assassination," and as a company executive and the one who bridged the connection, she could get a share of the profits from "Assassination."

Thinking of Yan Jianqiao taking the company's investment money and wasting a month of time made her feel like her heart was bleeding.

In her mind, she had already transitioned from "If only I had called a mature actor to film," to "If only I had let Yan Jianqiao be a pure screenwriter, and we used the gimmick of Gu Cheng's participation to find a famous director," and then to "If only I hadn't invested in the first place"!

In the "And Then There Were None" crew.

Ren Zhangtao prepared a large bouquet of fresh flowers and walked toward the set; he remembered that today was Jin Li's wrap-up day, and he had already prepared a grand wrap-up banquet for her.

The set seemed a bit deserted, with only scattered staff members moving about busily.

Ren Zhangtao thought, did Deng Zexu dismiss a batch of people early?

As it turned out, when he arrived at the filming location, he only saw the veteran actor who played the judge filming the final execution scene!

Because special effects were needed, the crew had specifically set up a green screen, and to better capture the actor's expressions, the veteran actor had a bunch of ceramic pieces stuck to his face.

Most of the staff were gathered at the filming site, watching the veteran actor's wrap-up performance.

Some people saw Ren Zhangtao, especially the flowers he was holding, and their expressions were a bit strange.

Ren Zhangtao looked left and right but didn't see Jin Li, so he couldn't help but pull a staff member aside to ask: "Where is Jin Li?"

That staff member was stunned, "You're looking for Jin Li?"

He had a strong impression of Ren Zhangtao; after all, he was the first actor who would often run to the set even after wrapping up.

He said: "Why didn't you come in the morning? Jin Li's wrap-up scene was in the morning!"

Ren Zhangtao:...

"I stayed up all night playing games, and I was resting in the morning. I thought it would take all day, so I only got up at noon to prepare." His expression became increasingly ugly.

"Cut!!"

Suddenly at this moment, Director Deng in front shouted and laughed happily: "It's a wrap! It's over! Congratulations to Uncle Wei for wrapping up! Congratulations to the entire 'And Then There Were None' crew for wrapping up!"

Everyone cheered!

Uncle Wei, who had just been immersed in the performance with a serious expression, also felt a weight lifted and clapped happily.

This made Ren Zhangtao's gloomy expression stand out in the crowd, especially with the large bouquet of flowers in his hand.

Uncle Wei walked over and patted his shoulder: "I didn't expect to receive fresh flowers when this old bone of mine wrapped up; it's so surprising."

A staff member gathered on the side had a sudden inspiration and said: "Uncle Wei, this clearly shows you're still in your prime and can fight in the entertainment industry for another thirty years!"

Uncle Wei laughed and scolded: "No, if this old bone of mine can live to the day I collect my pension, that's already perfect."

Deng Zexu saw Ren Zhangtao and, without bothering to tidy up, walked over first.

His friend was still lost in thought, so he couldn't help but nudge him, reminding him: "Aren't you going to give the flowers to Uncle Wei?"

Ren Zhangtao woke up in a daze and mechanically handed the flowers forward.

Uncle Wei said with a smile: "Seeing these fresh flowers, I feel like I've become a few years younger."

Ren Zhangtao adjusted his mindset and said with a cheeky grin: "That's right, Uncle Wei, I think you're more beautiful than the flowers!"

Uncle Wei laughed and scolded him a few more times.

After the crowd dispersed, Deng Zexu pulled Ren Zhangtao to the side and whispered: "Why didn't you come in the morning?"

Ren Zhangtao twitched the corner of his mouth: "Blame me for not asking you about the wrap-up time; I was sleeping in the morning."

Deng Zexu patted him sympathetically.

"Actually, coming in the afternoon didn't cause any issues. Jin Li's wrap-up scene was very heavy, and I didn't expect it to be finished in one morning, but she was in a great state, daring to fight and struggle, and she finished it in the morning. I couldn't possibly keep her here."

He paused, "Also, actually, it's good you didn't come. In the morning, Jin Li's manager, Sui Lingfang, also came. That manager of hers is very sharp; she would definitely have known what you were up to."

Young people, whether chasing someone or in love, don't want to be watched by their elders, and they like it even less when elders interfere.

Hearing him say this, Ren Zhangtao felt a bit better.

"How are you going to handle the wrap-up banquet? Have you booked a hotel?" he asked.

Deng Zexu shook his head and wiped the sweat from his forehead, "For the past few days, I've been thinking about how to film the final climax scene day and night; where would I have time to think about where to hold the wrap-up banquet?"

His father was a famous director, and he had been taken to sets since he was a child. Influenced by this, Deng Zexu knew that every crew's style was different.

Some crews are very rigid, with everything following rules and regulations, and they hate variables the most.

Some crews are very human-oriented, accommodating where possible, and the quality of the filming isn't bad, but they often delay the set filming dates.

There are also crews that combine both, where everyone works together on set and is as close as brothers off set.

This was Deng Zexu's first time filming, and he didn't waste energy on things unrelated to filming; after shooting, he would look at the footage, thinking about how to edit it later—where would he have time to chat with others?

So, apart from the time Ren Zhangtao wrapped up and they went out to gather, and later when they ate a few more times from the harvest Jin Li provided, which counted as extra meals together, they hadn't had any other gatherings.

Ren Zhangtao: "Tonight at the Rongsheng Grand Hotel, I've booked the whole place."

Deng Zexu raised an eyebrow; needless to say, this was definitely prepared for Jin Li originally.

He patted Ren Zhangtao's shoulder again, "Good luck!"

Then he turned around and shouted to the busy crew members: "Everyone be quick, hurry up, and then we'll all go to the Rongsheng Grand Hotel to eat. Tonight's drinks are on Young Master Ren!"

The crew members immediately whistled, cheered, and applauded.

Jin Li didn't know that this had happened on set in the afternoon.

She had added all the actors on WeChat, but no one specifically told her; she only saw a veteran actor posting the flowers on his social media.

Jin Li liked it and commented: 【Uncle Wei is so handsome!】

Uncle Wei replied quickly: 【Haha, Xiao Ren sent them. You left too quickly; he prepared some for you too! We're going to the wrap-up banquet later, do you want to come?】

Jin Li: 【Already on the way back to the company, definitely next time!】

They still had about four hours of driving left.

Before long, her phone made a "ding-dong" sound; it was a message from Gu Cheng.

【On vacation?】

Jin Li: 【No, I wrapped up (grinning)】

Gu Cheng: 【... You wrapped up so fast. It's a pity I can't make it, otherwise I would have liked to attend your wrap-up banquet】

Jin Li: 【-_-|| No need to rush over. Even I didn't attend; I finished in the morning and was taken back to the company by Sister Fang in the afternoon. Director Deng was busy filming and didn't tell me about the banquet, so I didn't know they were going to hold one.】

Seeing this, Gu Cheng exited the message box and opened his WeChat social feed.

An hour ago, Ren Zhangtao had posted a status—

【A small gift prepared for the girl I like 【A large bouquet of roses. jpg】】

Ren Zhangtao was just a newcomer, and their only mutual friend was Jin Li, but Jin Li hadn't replied to this post.

And Jin Li had said she had already left long ago.

Gu Cheng pondered for a moment and took a screenshot of this post to send to Jin Li.

Gu Cheng: 【Who did he give it to?】

Jin Li: 【?? I didn't see this post of his, but I found this on his feed 【Uncle Wei holding flowers and smiling. jpg】】

A faint smile appeared on Gu Cheng's face.

Gu Cheng: 【It seems he respects this senior very much】

Jin Li: 【Should be】

Jin Li: 【By the way, how is the "Assassination" crew? Are you continuing to stay on set to film?】

Gu Cheng: 【Yes, recently the director has been filming the supporting actors' scenes first, and there are many of my personal scenes, so I just filmed them together. Don't worry.】

Jin Li: 【Did you find anyone?】

Gu Cheng: 【Not yet, but the director has been on the phone since morning; he should be able to find someone soon.】

Jin Li: 【Is Brother Guang very angry (dazed)】

Gu Cheng: 【He's so angry he wants to fire Yan Jianqiao!】

Jin Li laughed out loud; she could picture the scene.

By the time Jin Li returned to Nancheng, it was already six in the evening.

After sitting in the car all afternoon, everyone was a bit exhausted, and after a quick dinner, they dispersed to rest.

Sui Lingfang said to Jin Li: "Remember to come to the company tomorrow morning; I'll hold a small meeting with you."

Jin Li nodded; this could be considered a tradition at Chenxi Entertainment.

She left first, and Chen Qin was about to leave when she was called back by Sui Lingfang: "Xiao Qin, I have some things I want to ask you. How was Jin Li doing on set?"

She was just asking casually to understand the artist's life on set, but she didn't expect Chen Qin to look hesitant.

Hesitation spoke volumes.

Sui Lingfang's expression turned serious: "What exactly happened? Did Jin Li tell you not to tell me?"

Chen Qin immediately shook her head: "No, Sister Jin Li didn't tell me anything; it's just that I didn't know whether to say it... it's about that Ren Zhangtao incident; I think he seems to be chasing Sister Jin Li."

"Ren Zhangtao?" Sui Lingfang raised an eyebrow. The son of the Best Actor Ren, eh!

Can't say he doesn't have good taste.

Chen Qin: "That's him, the one who played the playboy in the script. He was the first to die, but he didn't leave the set after wrapping up. He always hangs around Sister Jin Li to curry favor, and he always bothers me, wanting to find out Sister Jin Li's preferences from me. I don't like him."

Sui Lingfang asked curiously: "Then does Jin Li like him?"

Chen Qin shook her head: "I don't know, but I think Sister Jin Li should have guessed it to some extent."

"Does Jin Li have much interaction with him?"

Chen Qin said honestly: "No, usually when he comes looking, I'm there, and Sister Jin Li hasn't avoided talking to him in front of me."

Sui Lingfang understood; Jin Li didn't think much of him.

She couldn't help but smile: "Xiao Qin'er, you can appropriately reveal Jin Li's preferences in the future; you don't need to guard so tightly. Just consider it letting Jin Li make another friend."

"Besides, my Jin Li's hobbies are clean and simple; she's just obsessed with burning incense, worshipping gods, and studying, which isn't a big deal."

Chen Qin nodded, half-understanding.

Sui Lingfang let her leave with satisfaction; she just didn't want to see some big bad wolf too easily snatch away the little white rabbit she had watched grow up.