Chapter 22: Deliberate or Accidental?

On set, Qi Hui held the script in one hand and his phone in the other, his eyes shifting between the two.

【Yang Mi: I've followed your Weibo. Follow me back quick.】

【Qi Hui: Oh, send me the link.】

【Yang Mi: Link?】

【Qi Hui: ……Never mind, my computer's not nearby.】

He chatted with Yang Mi half-heartedly, then suddenly remembered a feature phone couldn't send links.

Actually, Qi Hui didn't want to spend too much time chatting with Yang Mi, but she kept sending messages every now and then.

It made Qi Hui want to find some resources and send them over to Yang Mi.

Speaking of which, the current Dark · Kurosawa Zhiling Hatano sensei is still very fresh and tender……cough cough, can't talk about this.

"Qi Hui, you're up." From afar, Director Jiang shouted, cutting off Qi Hui's wandering thoughts.

"Coming." Qi Hui closed his phone and walked over quickly.

The props team handed Qi Hui a suit inner lining and a white shirt.

This scene takes place at "Xie Ruolin's home," so naturally he had to dress more casually.

The scene's content is Xie Ruolin and Mu Wanqiu getting into an argument, then Xie Ruolin accidentally injuring Mu Wanqiu, followed by Cuiping helping to bandage the wound.

However, Cuiping's practiced bandaging technique aroused Xie Ruolin's suspicion.

Cuiping's identity is that of a rural woman; she shouldn't have such a skilled bandaging technique.

This scene is mainly to foreshadow Xie Ruolin's suspicion of Yu Zecheng's identity.

In "Lurk," Xie Ruolin is the first person to suspect Yu Zecheng's identity and launch an investigation.

Moreover, he almost succeeded in the end.

However, Zhu Jie's lines in this scene are somewhat explosive and mind-blowing, like a Qiong Yao drama.

Director Jiang Wei explained the scene to Qi Hui, Zhu Jie, and Yao Chen. He wasn't just the director but also the screenwriter, and he held absolute authority over the entire production.

While Director Jiang explained the scene, the props team was also busy with the setup.

The leather suitcase and jewelry Qi Hui needed were placed on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

The peanuts and peanut shells Zhu Jie and Yao Chen needed were placed on a table.

An old-fashioned white ceramic water cup sat beside the table; the whole house was arranged with a very lived-in feel.

"Understood?" Director Jiang finished and asked.

"Understood." Qi Hui and the other two nodded.

Director Jiang Wei looked at Zhu Jie: "Xiao Zhu, don't act like last time, all flirty like a lovers' tiff."

"Got it, Director." Zhu Jie looked a bit awkward.

"Good, let's aim to get it in one take." Jiang Wei said. "Lurk" was already in post-production; he needed to finish shooting the remaining shots as soon as possible so it could be released quickly.

Soon, the actors were in position, the cameraman was in position, and the first assistant director looked toward Jiang Wei.

Just as Jiang Wei was about to nod, he sensed something odd behind him.

He turned his head and saw it was Feng Enhe, Wu Gang, Teacher Zu Feng, and Sun Honglei again.

"Director, we just came by to look around." Wu Gang greeted him with a smile.

"Your scenes aren't for another few hours," Jiang Wei said. "Why not get more sleep?"

Last night's shoot was a night shoot.

"Getting old, sleep isn't great." Feng Enhe laughed. When he was born, the Battle of Menglianggu hadn't even been fought yet.

"Came to learn a bit." Teacher Zu Feng chuckled. These past few days the shooting schedule wasn't heavy, and they had nothing to do.

Coming to the set was just a way to kill time.

Sun Honglei shrugged and said nothing.

"Fine then." Jiang Wei immediately stopped paying attention to the three of them and nodded to the first assistant director.

After receiving permission, the first assistant director clapped the slate:

"Scene 203, Take 1, action!"

As the sound fell, filming officially began.

Qi Hui walked in from off-camera, looked at the two women by the table and smiled: "The peanuts are alright, right?"

Yao Chen, shelling peanuts as she spoke, laughed: "Mr. Xie, you really have skills. There's fighting everywhere now, and you can still get peanuts."

The camera swept past Mu Wanqiu's expressionless face, then quickly followed Qi Hui to the sofa, settling on the jewelry and leather suitcase on the coffee table.

"Your Mr. is even more capable, it's just……he won't trade his skills for money." Xie Ruolin said.

Mu Wanqiu, with a hint of displeasure and disdain: "Mr. Yu has ambition, unlike you, who only cares about money."

Xie Ruolin: "He~ he's been brainwashed. Once peace comes, there won't be any -isms anymore."

"What……what is there? Only money. Believe it or not?"

Yao Chen, playing Cuiping, gave an awkward smile, but inwardly was somewhat surprised by Xie Ruolin's lines.

Have to say, these lines are pretty sharp, spoken as if they were real.

Entering the new millennium, hardly anyone discusses those things anymore; everyone talks about money.

Not just this line, but also the lines from the previous scene: all -ism on the lips, all business in the heart.

Thoughts flickered through Yao Chen's mind; she knew Xie Ruolin wasn't just some ordinary supporting character.

But a very standout supporting character.

This completely unknown kid Qi Hui is probably going to officially debut through this role……A flicker of displeasure rose in Yao Chen's heart, she thought to herself.

Filming continued.

Mu Wanqiu: "I don't believe it. A person with ambition will always have an -ism."

Cuiping chuckled: "It's not quite as you say—sometimes I still wish I had more money."

"Ignore him, you little Money brat," Mu Wanqiu sneered.

Xie Ruolin: "Don't be so bitter—back then you chased after someone to be their little…"

Soon, it was Mu Wanqiu's turn to deliver her explosive line.

Mu Wanqiu: "This is the new era—you'd have accepted being a little one back then, so what? You wouldn't even have gotten the chance."

"You begged me on your knees, crying and sniveling, begging me to marry you."

Xie Ruolin flew into a rage: "Worthless slut, shameless piece of trash!"

He hurled a chalk ring at her—it struck Mu Wanqiu on the forehead.

"Ah!" Mu Wanqiu cried out, clutching her forehead.

The camera cut to Yao Chen.

Seeing Mu Wanqiu hurt, she slammed her fist on the table and snatched up something from it, hurling it at Qi Hui:

"Xie, behave yourself!"

But whether by accident or intent, Yao Chen grabbed the ceramic cup.

According to the shooting plan, she was supposed to grab the basket full of peanut shells.

With a whoosh, the cup and its lid flew straight at Qi Hui's head.

Qi Hui's face changed—he instinctively turned his head aside.

Crack! His forehead went cold, then warm, then searing pain exploded.

He dodged the cup, but not the lid.

"Damn, he's bleeding!" Sun Honglei shouted.

Yao Chen's face paled; she stood frozen.

"Cut!" Jiang Wei gasped, leaping from his chair: "Quick, call a doctor!"

"No, keep shooting!" Qi Hui cried, pressing his forehead: "Only one or two shots left—keep going!"

He couldn't let his blood spill for nothing.

At his words, the noisy crowd fell silent; Zhu Jie, rushing toward him, halted mid-step.

She was faking injury—but Qi Hui was truly hurt.

A short distance away, Teacher Zu Feng sat upright, his expression grave, his gaze toward Qi Hui now filled with surprise and respect.

Feng Enhe and Wu Gang exchanged glances—this man's no coward!

"Fine, keep shooting!" Jiang Wei gritted his teeth and ordered:

"Three, two, one, action!"

"Xie, behave yourself!" Yao Chen pointed at Qi Hui, threatening him—her acting was flawless, utterly convincing.

Qi Hui clutched his forehead with one hand, swiftly gathered the jewelry on the table, then stormed out, slamming the door.

He perfectly embodied the phrase: money over life.

A few seconds later, he turned back, peering through the door crack, watching Mu Wanqiu—his "injured wife."

But he spotted Cuiping's expert bandaging technique—and instantly grew suspicious, his expression shifting uneasily.

"Cut!" Director Jiang shouted:

"Quick, stop the bleeding, bandage him!"

The clapperboard snapped—the scene was done. The crew's doctor rushed over and swiftly bandaged Qi Hui's forehead, working frantically.

He'd need stitches.

Zhu Jie glanced over, then hurried after him.

"Aren't you going to check on him?" Sun Honglei walked up to Yao Chen.

Yao Chen hesitated, then shrugged: "He's the guy who captures escaped convicts—he's not that fragile. Just a scratch."

Sun Honglei glanced at her, frowned slightly, and stepped back quietly.

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