Chapter 50: Returning to Shanghai

It was still that familiar film and television base.

But this time, from far away, Chen Nuo saw a crowd gathered at the base entrance. Upon getting closer, he saw Chen Kexin standing there with almost the entire film crew. Chen Nuo even seemed to spot Zhou Xun in the crowd.

While they were still some distance away, Qi Yuntian had the taxi stop. Because judging by the scene, if they really drove right up to the front, there was no guarantee someone wouldn't come over to open the doors for them. For two greenhorns like them, they really couldn't afford that kind of treatment.

They had just stepped out of the car when Chen Kexin and his group noticed them and walked straight over to greet them.

Chen Nuo quickened his pace, and he heard Chen Kexin’s Hong Kong-accented Mandarin coming toward him.

"Welcome, welcome! Nuo-zai, I knew it all along, you were bound to make it big! But, I didn't expect it to happen so fast!"

Chen Kexin walked up with a beaming smile, opened his arms, and gave Chen Nuo a hug. "Congratulations, congratulations! It really wasn't easy. A Berlin Best Actor—even Hong Kong doesn't have one of those."

Chen Nuo smiled sheepishly and said, "It was pure luck."

Chen Kexin shook his head and said, "In this circle of ours, there is no luck, only strength. When is it being released in the country? I really want to see it."

Chen Nuo shook his head and said, "I'm not sure if it can even be released domestically."

Chen Kexin laughed and said, "It definitely can! Even CCTV reported on it, how could it not? Come, no need for me to introduce you, you should know all these people, Chen Nuo. They all wanted to be the first to see the new Best Actor."

"Director Liu." Chen Nuo shook hands with Assistant Director Liu Wen, who was behind Chen Kexin.

Liu Wen said with a face full of smiles, "Congratulations, congratulations! I once went to Berlin with others to participate; the competition there is truly fierce. When the news came, we couldn't believe it. I'm happy for you, truly." At this moment, he was so overflowing with enthusiasm that he seemed like a different person, not at all like last time.

"Thank you, thank you."

Chen Nuo shook hands with the crowd one by one, then suddenly saw Zhou Xun standing slightly behind the crowd with a faint smile. Chen Nuo hurried over and gave her a light hug. "Sister Xun, why are you here joining in the fun?"

Zhou Xun said, "Just to see you. To see if you've changed at all after winning the award."

Chen Nuo laughed, "And do you think I have?"

Zhou Xun said, "Can't tell yet. You still have that punchable look."

Last time they were filming here, the actor Chen Nuo got along with best was Zhou Xun. Both their personalities and ages were quite similar, so whenever they both had scenes, they would arrange to eat together a few times and go to karaoke once. They were quite close.

The two chatted for a moment longer, then Chen Nuo turned back to continue greeting the other staff members. It took a full few minutes before Chen Nuo followed Chen Kexin into the set inside the film base.

Afterward, Chen Kexin and Zhou Xun chatted with Chen Nuo alone for a while. Then, Zhou Xun had something to attend to and left first, and Chen Kexin began to explain the shots Chen Nuo needed to film this time.

Chen Nuo understood after listening for a while. Just like with Qi Yun, it was about what he had guessed: just some extra close-ups and dance shots, almost unrelated to the plot. To put it bluntly, they just wanted to ride his coattails for some buzz.

Chen Kexin was not a director who put on airs; for the sake of the box office, he could do anything.

But this was also because they thought highly of Chen Nuo, which was why they were doing this.

So, Chen Nuo still listened very carefully. He even discussed with Chen Kexin how to film it. Chen Nuo didn't know much else, but as a short-video expert, he had done quite a bit of research on how to film his own face.

After some discussion, Chen Kexin couldn't help but pat him on the shoulder and say, "Nuo-zai, you're really something. You truly deserve that Best Actor title."

Chen Nuo could only thicken his skin and accept the praise.

After agreeing to come back the next day to film, Chen Kexin had Liu Wen see Chen Nuo and Qi Yuntian off.

Qi Yuntian looked around the set for a long time, then turned his head and asked, "Director Liu, among your dancers, there is a female dancer with the surname Xia. Did she not come today?"

Liu Wen was stunned for a moment and said, "You mean Cindy? She’s had some family matters recently and took leave. Little Qi, you know her?"

Qi Yuntian nodded with a smile and said, "Yeah. What happened to her family?" "Her father passed away."

"Ah?"

"Sigh, it's a pity. When the call came from her home that day, I was right next to her. Her face went pale in an instant; it was so frightening. But she was quite strong; she didn't cry at all. She took leave and drove back herself."

Liu Wen saw them to the entrance of the set. He had originally planned to arrange a car to send them off, but Qi Yuntian firmly declined.

After Liu Wen left, Qi Yuntian and Chen Nuo stood where they were, neither moving for a moment.

Qi Yun said, "Let's go see her."

Chen Nuo shook his head and said, "Forget it."

Qi Yuntian smiled, "Give it a rest. You think I can't tell?"

Qi Yuntian glanced at him and turned around, shouting, "Hey, Director Liu..."

"Shut up!" Chen Nuo grabbed him, "Wait for me to make a call."

But when Chen Nuo took out his phone, hesitated for a while, and then dialed the number, Xia Yehe’s phone was actually turned off.

Qi Yuntian asked in surprise, "How long has it been since you last contacted her?"

Chen Nuo calculated, "Damn, over 20 days."

Qi Yuntian glared at him and said irritably, "You wait here."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to find the girls and ask for the address."

More than 10 minutes later, he returned: "Got it. It's over in Jiang-Zhe, not too far... what are you doing?"

"Hailing a taxi to go there."

"OMG, if you go today, you definitely won't be back tomorrow. Why not wait until you finish filming in these two days..."

"...I'm going to go ask Director Chen for leave right now."

"Then go ask him to borrow a car, and we'll drive there."

Chen Kexin was a bit surprised by Chen Nuo’s return. Upon hearing that he wanted to postpone filming for two days, he readily agreed on the spot. In fact, according to the shooting schedule, he was supposed to be filming other scenes anyway; conversely, the filming for Chen Nuo’s part was something that had been forcibly changed at the last minute, so this didn't disrupt any arrangements.

"So, what about the car? Did he agree?"

"He agreed." Chen Nuo opened his hand to reveal a black, oval-shaped key with a shimmering silver three-pointed star on it.

The car Chen Kexin lent Chen Nuo was a G-Wagon, likely his own—at least Chen Nuo had watched him personally take the key out of his pants pocket. Chen Kexin hadn't asked anything at the time and just tossed it to Chen Nuo.

After Qi Yuntian started the car and got on the road, he couldn't help but click his tongue, "A G-Wagon! I've only driven one twice when I was abroad. As expected, being famous is great. Someone just hands you a million-dollar luxury car without a second thought. If it were before, borrowing a Chery QQ would be considered giving you face."

"Can you drive faster?"

"This is Shanghai, big brother, how do you want me to speed!? This is a G-Wagon, not a jumbo jet, okay?"

(End of chapter)