Chapter 40: 040 It’s broad daylight, seeing a ghost
Shi Lan had her first scene to shoot in the afternoon, which was Gu Chengyu’s second scene, outdoors at the lawn of the Western-style villa belonging to Gu Chengyu’s character’s home, under a pouring rain.
The scene depicted the end of the wedding ceremony between the male and female leads, with Fan Yan, playing the bridesmaid, walking across the lawn with an umbrella and discovering the doctor dead on the lawn.
Fan Yan’s character, after being revised, turned out to be the male lead’s cousin and the female lead’s best friend, whose main purpose for returning from studying abroad was to seek revenge.
Thus, on the surface, she was a pampered and unreasonable rich heiress, but in truth, she was a cold-blooded, ruthless assassin.
Her presence also enriched the main storyline because her main role was not to serve as a foil to the romance of the male and female leads but to be the catalyst for the rise and fall of the two families.
She had killed the doctor, but she had to ensure that no one became suspicious; amidst the chaos, Fan Yan had to cover up while responding to Gu Chengyu’s questions.
The doctor’s death at the male lead’s wedding also unraveled many grudges from the past, marking the beginning of both families’ decline.
At that moment, Shi Lan, dressed in an apricot-colored jacket and skirt with a shawl over her shoulders, holding her script, was waiting for her scene on set.
It had to be said that Gu Chengyu had something special that allowed him to stand out among the young actors; he was a naturally gifted actor whose performance depended on his scene partners and the director’s guidance. It was precisely because of Director Tang’s strict demands that Gu Chengyu’s portrayal of Qin Zhenglin brought the character of the buffoonish young master to life.
The scene just then was his wedding to Chen Beini, a marriage for business alliance purposes, in which the absurd young master Qin played a trick on the bride, sowing the seeds of enmity between the two families.
The scene was full of tension; after the two finished shooting, Director Tang took the lead in applauding to affirm Gu Chengyu’s acting.
Shi Lan heard the applause coming from inside the tent, and the staff praising Gu Chengyu for his talent and promising future, but she was unaffected.
Not far away, the water truck was already in place, just waiting for Director Tang’s command.
Sun Ling saw Shi Lan’s makeup was off, and intended to find the makeup artist for a touch-up. Just as she was about to turn around, she froze.
Because she saw Yan Shixiu, dressed in a black casual suit, striding toward them with his assistant, carrying an air of sophistication and handsomeness, yet with a coldness that kept others at bay.
Sun Ling did not dare to look directly into Yan Shixiu’s eyes and quickly greeted him with a respectful bow, “President Yan.”
Hearing Sun Ling’s voice, Shi Lan turned to glance, saw that it was indeed the so-called gentleman but quickly turned her head away, unconcerned with his presence.
“Go ahead with your work,” Yan Shixiu signaled Sun Ling not to mind him.
Sun Ling acknowledged with an “Oh” and hastened away.
Yan Shixiu approached Shi Lan. Without saying another word, he took two steps astray and stood behind her.
Though one stood and the other sat without any interaction, there was an air of ambiguity flowing between them.
Shi Lan was not at all uneasy, for the things she was accustomed to in her previous life couldn’t make her feel constrained or nervous now, even if she tried.
This left Yan Shixiu’s assistant somewhat astonished.
For he felt that the way his boss interacted with this young actress was identical to how he used to be with his late wife.
In broad daylight, he thought he must be seeing a ghost. With this thought, the assistant couldn’t help but shiver.
A moment later, Sun Ling and the makeup artist approached Shi Lan.
The makeup artist timidly glanced at Yan Shixiu, then knelt down to touch up Shi Lan’s makeup, while Sun Ling stood further back, adjusting Shi Lan’s shawl for her.
After having her lipstick and eyebrows touched up, Shi Lan couldn’t turn around, so she reached back and asked Sun Ling for something, “Water.”
Sun Ling, who was a little away, didn’t hear her; at that moment, Yan Shixiu took the water bottle he had drunk from, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to Shi Lan…