Seven o’clock in the evening.
After a long, exhausting day, Xu Ke dragged his weary body back to the hotel.
He honestly felt that he was getting old.
Just a few years ago, when had he ever gotten off work this early?
After shooting the daytime scenes, he’d just continue filming the nighttime ones right after.
He’d work until one or two in the morning, and only after privately coaching an actress on her performance could he finally get some sleep.
But now?
Just sitting around on set for a single day had left his back aching, his body drained, and his spirit completely sapped.
“Sss… ah… I’m getting more and more useless.”
Taking a sip of scalding Five-Treasure Tea, Xu Ke sighed deeply with emotion.
Then he sat down at his desk, put on his glasses, plugged the USB drive into the computer, loaded the footage, and began editing.
It was already mid-October.
The production company was demanding he finish the film before January to catch the New Year holiday movie season.
Meaning, in this short span of less than a hundred days…
Xu Ke not only had to finish shooting the entire film, but he also had to edit it and get it approved by the censors.
To be honest, this was beyond asking for a lot.
This was purely making things difficult for Xu Ke.
But there was no helping it. One word from above, and the people below have to run themselves ragged.
To make sure the film was released on time, Xu Ke could only burn the midnight oil. After wrapping up the day’s shoot, he’d return to the hotel and edit on his computer.
And in all this, the one thing that brought Xu Ke some small comfort was Jiang Nian.
That guy was a real timesaver!
Not only was his acting superb during shooting, with every take nailing it on the first go…
His sense for the camera was also exceptionally good.
A little trim here and there, and the footage was basically good to go.
“Choosing him to play Yu Huatian was definitely the best decision I made on this film!”
Xu Ke exclaimed with feeling.
Thank goodness Yang Mi had found him and recommended Jiang Nian.
And that he, Xu Ke, hadn’t looked down on him just because he was a newcomer.
Otherwise, who knows what kind of mess he’d be in right now!
“Now that I think about it, I feel a bit more motivated.”
“Let’s keep editing.”
Xu Ke muttered to himself, ready to dive back into his work.
However, he’d barely been editing for long.
“Ring-a-ling—”
“Ring-a-ling—”
A sudden, urgent ringtone filled the air, making Xu Ke frown.
Wondering who could be calling him this late, he picked up his phone and glanced at the screen.
And when he saw the caller ID, his eyes nearly popped out of his head—110!
“???”
Xu Ke was completely stunned.
His mind filled with “what the hell.”
No way, what the hell happened?
Why was 110 calling him?!
Xu Ke didn’t dare to hesitate and immediately answered.
He heard a “Hello?” from the other end, followed by: “Hello, this is Hengdian Police Station. Is this Director Xu Ke?”
Xu Ke quickly nodded. “Yes, yes, this is he. May I ask what this is regarding?”
“It’s like this, Director Xu. Jiang Nian and Zhang Xinyu from your film crew are currently here at our station. We need you to come and pick them up.”
“Jiang Nian? Xiao Zhang?”
Hearing these two names, Xu Ke’s heart immediately lurched.
Wait, he was just singing Jiang Nian’s praises a moment ago.
And the next thing he knows, the guy’s gotten himself thrown in the slammer!
And with Consort Li too?
What the hell…
In an instant, all sorts of scenarios flashed through Xu Ke’s mind.
“Um, may I ask what they were brought in for?”
Xu Ke asked cautiously.
Hearing this, the operator on the other end didn’t hide anything and said frankly: “Oh, that. Ms. Zhang Xinyu was being harassed. Jiang Nian was acting in self-defense and accidentally injured the person harassing her. Our investigation is now complete, and the case is closed.”
Only then did Xu Ke breathe a sigh of relief. “Ah, so that’s what it was. Good, good.”
He’d been terrified that Jiang Nian and Zhang Xinyu had gotten caught up in some messy affair. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
“When can you come to pick them up?”
“Right away, right away. I’m on my way now!”
Xu Ke said hurriedly, then hung up the phone. He saved the content on his computer, threw on some clothes, and rushed out the door.
It was half an hour later by the time he arrived at the police station.
“Hello, Officer. Could you tell me where Jiang Nian and the others are right now?”
Xu Ke asked at the front desk.
The officer on duty knew the person responsible had arrived, said “Just a moment,” and went to the holding room to get them.
Watching Jiang Nian and Zhang Xinyu being led out together by the officer…
Xu Ke completed the necessary paperwork under the officer’s guidance, then left the station with Jiang Nian and the others in tow.
“What exactly happened?”
Once they were outside the police station, Xu Ke immediately started asking questions.
How had a perfectly normal day turned into this?
Hearing his question, the two didn’t hide anything and proceeded to recount the day’s events.
Upon learning that Zhang Xinyu had been accosted by an obsessive fan who even pulled a knife…
Xu Ke’s face darkened with anger, a surge of fear rising in his heart.
“That goddamn bastard!”
“Mr. Jiang, thank goodness you were there!”
Xu Ke cursed under his breath, then looked at Jiang Nian with sincere gratitude.
Thank heavens Jiang Nian had been there today, preventing that man from succeeding.
Otherwise, would they still be able to film?
Film my ass!
If a death had occurred, the entire crew would have to disband.
And even if they hadn’t, no one would want to watch a movie in a theater—whether during the New Year or any other time—where someone had died during production!
One could say, Jiang Nian’s action had indirectly saved their entire “Flying Swords of Dragon Gate” production.
Hearing this, Jiang Nian waved it off casually. “No need to be so polite. It was just a small thing.”
Xu Ke nodded.
Then he looked at Zhang Xinyu, a headache brewing.
As the “woman behind Yu Huatian” in “Flying Swords of Dragon Gate,” Consort Li didn’t have much screen time.
All told, she only appeared in two scenes.
Given what had happened, logically, Xu Ke should just shoot Consort Li’s two scenes as quickly as possible and send her on her way.
But that was precisely the problem.
Zhang Xinyu’s management company was one of the investors in this film.
That investor’s only condition was that, no matter what happened, Zhang Xinyu must stay with the production until it wrapped entirely.
Their motive was simple: to let Zhang Xinyu rub shoulders with big names like Li Lianjie and Zhou Xun and expand her network.
This meant Xu Ke couldn’t just quickly finish her scenes, let her wrap early, and send her off the set.
But if she didn’t leave, something similar was bound to happen again.
“What a hot potato!”
Xu Ke thought to himself. After a moment’s thought, he turned to Jiang Nian. “Mr. Jiang, could I trouble you with something?”
“Go ahead.”
“See, with Zhang Xinyu’s situation as it is… if you have the time, could I bother you to escort her home?”
Xu Ke suggested.
If anyone on their set radiated the most security, Jiang Nian was number one; no one dared claim otherwise.
He could even easily subdue a knife-wielding crazy fan, so asking him to look after Zhang Xinyu a bit shouldn’t be a problem.
Hearing this, Zhang Xinyu’s eyes lit up, clearly very taken with Xu Ke’s suggestion.
But Jiang Nian just narrowed his eyes slightly.
Him, babysit Zhang Xinyu?
“Better not. I’m not fond of trouble.”
Jiang Nian waved his hand, refusing without a moment’s hesitation.
You must be joking. He barely had enough time for his daily training; how could he spare any to look after someone else?
At his words, Zhang Xinyu immediately panicked.
She quickly grabbed Jiang Nian’s arm. “No, no, please, Mr. Jiang. I’m no trouble at all, really low-maintenance. Right, Director Xu?”
“Huh?” Xu Ke froze. Why was he being dragged into this?
Then, catching the desperate signals Zhang Xinyu was frantically sending him with her eyes, he nodded. “Right, Mr. Jiang, Xinyu here is very easy to look after. Please reconsider.”
Hearing this, Jiang Nian looked at Zhang Xinyu suspiciously. “Really?”
“Really. And, I won’t let your efforts go unrewarded, Mr. Jiang.”
Leaning close to Jiang Nian’s ear, Zhang Xinyu traced a hand over his reassuringly solid muscles and whispered softly.
Jiang Nian wasn’t a child. He instantly understood what she meant.
His breathing became slightly heavier. “Are you serious?”
“Absolutely!” A victorious smile bloomed on Zhang Xinyu’s face.
“Fine!”
Jiang Nian agreed. Then, he abruptly grabbed Zhang Xinyu by the shoulder. “In that case, you’ll have to see yourself home from now on. I have things to do, so I’m off. Bye.”
With that, he pulled Zhang Xinyu aside, strode right past her, and headed for home.
Watching his departing figure…
The smile on Zhang Xinyu’s face froze instantly.
“???”
Wait, she’d gone this far, and you were still unmoved?
Are you actually a eunuch?!
