Chapter 5

A good production team can indeed provide tremendous support to actors.

Meng Kaiyan could feel that almost everyone in this crew, from the director to the extras, was sincerely dedicated to their work. Even the actors who usually drifted through fast-turnaround dramas had, in this environment, temporarily suppressed their restlessness.

“The most important thing in a drama is the core team,” said Jian Zhenzhu. “I was talking with Yang Da earlier today and finally understood how chaotic drama crews can be nowadays. The male lead brings his own screenwriter, the female lead has hers too, and even the second male and female leads scramble to hire writers to add scenes. No matter how good the script is, it ends up ruined.”

Another day’s filming wrapped up. After soaking in the bath, Meng Kaiyan lay on her bed while Jian Zhenzhu massaged her.

“Yang Da also mentioned that Director Chen signed three dramas with Grain Film and Television. Unless something unexpected happens, the next two will be one period piece and one modern. We have to remember this so we don’t miss the auditions.”

She continued, picking up a glass jar and using a dropper to apply a few drops of tea seed oil onto Meng Kaiyan’s back, then rubbed it in firmly. Tea seed oil promotes blood circulation and relieves bruising—just what Meng Kaiyan needed after two days of action scenes. Seeing her daughter’s skin bruised and blue, Jian Zhenzhu’s heart ached.

Meng Kaiyan bit back the pain, burying her head in the pillow, and muttered quietly, “Mm.”

When the pain subsided, she said, “This drama won’t wrap until February next year at the earliest. Director Chen won’t be starting a new project that soon.”

After spending a few days with Chen Man, Meng Kaiyan sensed she was a perfectionist, evident from how she constantly scrutinized details during filming.

She noticed everything—from props and actors’ accents to even the costumes of the extras. Rarely asking for reasons, she would just pick up the megaphone and scold loudly whenever a mistake occurred.

Meng Kaiyan herself had been reprimanded twice for hand gestures and accent issues. She was terrified at first but later realized Chen Man scolded everyone, including the assistant director Jiang Baiyang, who had been yelled at so fiercely it was almost comical. That put her more at ease.

A director so exacting about her work wouldn’t start a new project anytime soon.

Jian Zhenzhu curled her lips. “I doubt it’ll wrap by February. You still haven’t finished that fight scene after three days of filming. Watching it makes me anxious.”

Meng Kaiyan replied, “Director Chen said I don’t know how to fight; I’m acting too emotionally during the fight. She even sent me some fight videos to learn from.”

Jian Zhenzhu chuckled, “You’re too honest, girl.”

Meng Kaiyan blinked. Honest? Not really.

She always felt there was a wild and unruly spirit living deep inside her. The recent scenes of madness gave her a release.

Like a wine jar sealed with mud suddenly cracked open with a bang, the wine long fermenting in the dark rushed out in a flood.

The exhilaration was indescribable. She loved it.

The next day.

They were filming outdoors again.

No one in the crew wasn’t afraid of outdoor shoots. Filming outside in this weather was torture, pure torment. Meng Kaiyan’s clothes were soaked through after filming.

The heat was bearable; Meng Kaiyan could endure that.

What she feared most was getting tanned. She had just managed to build up enough starlight value to improve her complexion and couldn’t risk it darkening again.

The system was unreasonable, offering no repair function. Meng Kaiyan could already foresee that skin care would become a major expense.

Fang Qun was a health enthusiast. Even though the temperature soared to 38 degrees Celsius, her thermos still contained warm water.

“Xiao Meng, let’s rehearse first,” she beckoned Meng Kaiyan. “It’s cooler over here. Come this way.”

Meng Kaiyan shielded herself from the sun with her script and ran over.

Fang Qun handed her a small fan. “These scenes are complicated. Let’s try to get them done today.”

“Okay.” Meng Kaiyan took the fan. “Thank you, Teacher Fang.”

“Alright, let’s begin. You’ve memorized your lines, right?”

“Perfectly!” Meng Kaiyan had them down cold.

Clearing her throat, Fang Qun’s demeanor instantly shifted, half slipping into character.

“Cuicui, I’m your aunt. I would never harm you! You have to break up with Fang Ming quickly, or else—otherwise, I’ll send you back to the countryside. Don’t even think about working anymore.”

Meng Kaiyan sneered coldly, “How can you say you won’t harm me? Haven’t you already hurt me enough? You made me take charge here, and now you want to send me back to the countryside. What, am I a dog? Just because you want me to come, I have to? If you want me to leave, I have to?”

Fang Qun’s expression changed dramatically as she leaned back. “How could you think that of me? I’m doing this for your own good! Fang Ming’s weak and useless. What good can come of being with him? If you like that pretty boy, there are plenty at the aunt’s workplace.”

Meng Kaiyan scoffed, “I’m not after that.”

Fang Qun frowned. “Then what are you after?”

She picked up another small fan and blew on herself, her expression unchanged.

Meng Kaiyan said, “I’m after that he’s weak, that he’s useless, that he has no parents or relatives.”

Fang Qun was shocked.

A triumphant smile spread across Meng Kaiyan’s face as she lowered her voice: “Aunt, you don’t know, but the story about his family’s compensation money being stolen is a complete lie! He did it on purpose. The thief never stole anything from them. The thief who got caught was shot, and no one knows if that man has even reincarnated in hell.”

A few years ago, the alley was burgled. That night, Fang Ming was beaten by thugs. When he came home and heard about the theft, he seized the opportunity to claim his family’s compensation had been stolen and that he’d been beaten.

Coincidentally, three thieves had come, two escaped, and the one caught couldn’t say whether the others had stolen anything.

When the stolen amount was found to be huge, they faced at least 20 years of forced labor. The thief then held an old man hostage while trying to escape but was shot dead on the spot by the police.

The matter caused a big stir. Fang Ming was later comforted by the neighborhood committee and factory leaders, who also gave him an extra 200 yuan.

It was Fang Ming’s own fault. Since then, his health deteriorated, requiring frequent hospital visits. Coupled with the “stolen” compensation, no decent family dared to marry their daughter to him.

Year after year dragged on until Cuicui’s arrival.

Fang Qun’s expression was complex.

Confused, stunned, disappointed, sorrowful.

No joke—Meng Kaiyan was out of character again. The script only said “expression complex,” yet Fang Qun performed it so vividly and authentically.

She made the words on the page come alive with ease.

How did she do it? Meng Kaiyan was very curious.

Fang Qun wasn’t influenced by Meng Kaiyan. She took a deep breath, suppressed the turbulent emotions rising inside her, placed her hands gently on Meng Kaiyan’s arms, and spoke softly as if teaching a child:

“Cuicui, we can’t do this. If you want money, you can earn it yourself. If you don’t like this job, we can find another! If you don’t want to work, you can stay home. Aunt will give you money. But you— but you can’t resort to these means... You have to cherish yourself.”

After speaking, Fang Qun wiped away all her emotions.

She sat down and smiled. “Xiao Meng, your lines are good. Your enunciation is clear, your rhythm and emphasis are spot on. Do you often participate in stage plays or similar activities?”

Meng Kaiyan nodded. “I go to the local drama troupe almost every month for two days.”

Fang Qun took a sip of water. “I thought so. You have a professional aura. Planning to take the arts entrance exams?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Which schools are you aiming for?”

Meng Kaiyan smiled bashfully. “For now, I’m applying to Beijing Film Academy, Central Academy of Drama, and Shanghai Theatre Academy. I just don’t know if the schedules will clash.”

Fang Qun said, “Ah, just coordinate yourself. Casting in many places is safer, though it will be tougher for a while. But your voice, stage presence, and expression are good. You’ll likely get into one of them.”

“Thank you for your kind words, Teacher Fang.”

They didn’t chat long before resuming rehearsal. After about half an hour, Fang Qun’s assistant called them over—the set was ready, and filming was about to start.

Thanks to their rehearsal, today’s shoot went smoothly, and Chen Man treated them to milk tea.

Time at the set passed quickly, and Meng Kaiyan’s scenes in Nanjing were nearly finished.

Cuicui hadn’t been swayed by Qiao Hua, but Qiao Hua’s interference prevented her plan to ruin Fang Ming from succeeding. Fang Ming even got reported by Qiao Hua.

Seeing Cuicui about to stray again, Qiao Hua made a decisive move, securing her a position supporting Northwest construction.

Qiao Hua petitioned to have Cuicui assigned to a factory supported by their steel plant. Though the factory was in a mountainous area, it was guarded by the military and thus safer than other places.

Today, Meng Kaiyan was filming the final scene.

Cuicui cried, “Are you crazy? Sending me to the Northwest? Do you know I might die there?”

Qiao Hua said, “Cuicui, you have to get educated. Don’t worry about dying. The factory provides food, shelter, a medical room, and 32 yuan monthly wages. It will only increase, not decrease. This is better than you constantly trying to get money through crooked means.”

Cuicui was living a rare good life with Qiao Hua and wouldn’t want to leave. This scene was another emotionally charged one that Meng Kaiyan loved.

But she was probably too excited and failed to control her emotions, causing the director to call “cut” three times.

Chen Man said, “Xiao Meng, your emotions are too much. Too bland before, now too full. Tone it down a bit.”

Fang Qun laughed, “Xiao Meng is enjoying acting.”

Meng Kaiyan’s skin was thicker now; she no longer blushed easily and let them tease her.

After calming down for five or six minutes, on the fourth take, Meng Kaiyan finally found the right emotion and smoothly completed the scene of the big fight at Qiao Hua’s home.

Chen Man called “cut” and declared “pass.” Standing there, Meng Kaiyan’s heart raced wildly, her intense emotions lingering.

She wanted to keep acting. She could keep acting.

The crew immediately cleared the set, and everyone stepped out of their roles. The set buzzed with lively chatter.

Meng Kaiyan stretched her aching legs and leaned against a prop stone mill, reluctant to leave.

Jian Zhenzhu wiped her sweat with a tissue. “What’s wrong, girl? I bought a ticket for the six o’clock train. Let’s go home for dinner.”

Meng Kaiyan was silent for three seconds. Her gaze passed through the crowd, cheeks flushed. “Mom, when do you think I’ll become a lead actress?”

Jian Zhenzhu paused. “That depends on luck.”

“Yeah, it depends on luck,” Meng Kaiyan whispered. “Mom, you know what? I have very good luck.”

She was sure she would become a lead actress someday.