Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

"Scene 4, Shot 2, Action!"

The clapperboard sounded, and Lu Wanqing entered the venue.

The wedding dress was made yesterday; it's a strapless style with an extremely narrow waistline and layers of skirt that cascade down the floor.

The attention of all the male extras around her was immediately drawn to her.

Shen Feng, wearing that feathered suit, walked in with light steps, holding a beer bottle, and stopped a meter away from Lu Wanqing, his eyes somewhat unfocused.

"Qiuya, I've prepared a song for you..."

It was Lu Wanqing's turn to take on a role.

Her eyelids twitched, and she was just about to speak—

"Click."

Ning Yuan took off his headphones: "Lu Wanqing, where are you looking? Why are you staring at his ears?"

There was a moment of silence. Lu Wanqing's face flushed, and she clutched her skirt. "I'm sorry, Director Ning, I'll try again."

"Article Two."

This time, their eyes met, but the words came out a beat too late.

Ning Yuan didn't speak, but turned his head to look at Jiang Fan and tapped the back of the chair with his fingers.

Thirdly, Lu Wanqing made a complete mistake in her positioning, walking around to the side of the veteran actor playing the groom, rendering the camera angle useless.

"Click—Lu Wanqing, your seat."

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Five routes were tried, but none of them were usable.

Ning Yuan stood up, put his hands in his pockets, and called all the actors away.

He didn't get angry at Lu Wanqing; his voice remained calm, but it was even more suffocating than when he was angry.

Lu Wanqing stood still. Her agent, Sister Zhou, leaned over and whispered a few words to her. She nodded, but her fingers kept gripping the piece of silk on the hem of her wedding dress.

-

Ma Yue walked over to Shen Feng with a bottle of mineral water and shoved it into his hand.

"This girl's performance today, do you have any issues with her performance?"

Shen Feng unscrewed the cap, took a sip, and waved his hand, "I'm fine."

He gestured towards Lu Wanqing with his chin, "This girl is under too much pressure. Didn't you see how pale she is? Every time she glances at Jiang Fan, she collapses."

"How difficult was Qiuya's scene? She only had two lines and one action, and all she had to do was stand there. But the simpler the scene, the easier it is to make a mistake."

Ma Yue turned her head and stared at Shen Feng for a long time.

"You seem to have quite a bit of experience."

"If I've been on stage for over a decade and can't even see this much, then I've wasted my time."

-

Ning Yuan pulled up a chair and had Lu Wanqing sit opposite him.

As the crowd dispersed, the lighting crew packed up their lights, and the stagehands pushed carts to move props, creating a noisy scene.

Lu Wanqing hadn't taken her hair out yet; her hair was covered in small hair clips, and she looked very nervous.

"I'll tell you where the problems lie today, based on five points." Ning Yuan's tone wasn't one of comfort; it was simply stating an objective fact.

"You've been thinking about how to act, and your lines sound like you're reciting a script. But Qiuya doesn't need to act anything in this scene. She's just a bride meeting classmates she hasn't seen in years at her wedding, that's all."

He leaned back in his chair and concluded, "You're overthinking it."

Lu Wanqing lowered her head, her hands on her knees: "I've got it. I'll try again tomorrow."

Ning Yuan glanced at her, then stood up: "Okay."

At this moment, Jiang Fan walked over.

Ning Yuan stepped aside.

Jiang Fan sat down opposite Lu Wanqing and asked without any preamble, "What are you thinking about right now?"

Lu Wanqing paused for a moment: "I'm thinking... about how to act this scene well."

"That's the problem."

She didn't quite understand this logic.

"Qiuya doesn't need to think about anything in this scene," Jiang Fan said, his tone different from Ning Yuan's lecturing tone. "Today, you're facing the camera, and the audience can feel it."

Lu Wanqing lowered her head and didn't say anything.

"Before filming tomorrow, don't think about where the camera is. When Director Ning yells 'Action,' you only need to do one thing—simply look into Shen Feng's eyes, that's all."

Ning Yuan added briefly from the side, "Got it?"

"I've got it."

-

Lu Wanqing changed into casual clothes and came out; Sister Zhou was waiting in the corridor.

As the two reached the elevator, Sister Zhou sighed, "Today was a bit of a disaster, but the fact that Director Ning didn't lose his temper on the spot is the best-case scenario."

Lu Wanqing didn't reply, but glanced back.

Over there, Jiang Fan was looking at his phone and talking to Ning Yuan, the two of them leaning against the wall in the corridor.

Sister Zhou followed her gaze for a second, adjusted her handbag over her shoulder, and pressed the elevator button.

Lu Wanqing stood still for two seconds, then pulled her coat collar up a little.

Ning Yuan said, "You're overthinking it."

indeed.

However, the things she was thinking about didn't have much to do with the play.

-

In the courtyard, the staff gradually finished their work.

Ning Yuan lit a cigarette and stood in the courtyard with Jiang Fan.

"Lu Wanqing has a good foundation, she'll probably be better tomorrow. If you really push someone to the limit, they might actually produce something amazing."

"Um."

Ning Yuan turned his head to look at him, the cigarette dangling between his two fingers: "But let me make this clear first. Don't get too close to her."

Jiang Fan didn't say anything.

"I saw clearly why that girl had a problem today."

"It's none of your business."

"I really can't interfere in your affairs," Ning Yuan flicked his cigarette ash, "but I can control my film. If you really provoke her and get her thinking about something else, then this scene won't be able to be filmed smoothly."

Jiang Fan glanced at him but did not deny it.

Ning Yuan stubbed out his cigarette, threw it into the nearby trash can, and clapped his hands: "Alright, I'm leaving now."

-

Back in his hotel room, Jiang Fan washed his face and sat down on a chair by the window.

The phone screen lit up, and Song Siyi's message was at the top.

"Song Siyi: Jiang Fan, Journey to the West will be available tomorrow."

"Song Siyi: The operations team has put all the resources into it, including homepage pop-ups, category recommendation slots, and in-site announcements for signed contracts. General Manager Chen told me to keep an eye on the backend data and report back as needed."

Song Siyi: Where are you now?

Jiang Fan: On set.

Song Siyi: ...You're writing a novel and making a movie at the same time?

Jiang Fan: What's wrong?

Song Siyi: It's nothing, I feel sorry for you.

Jiang Fan: Alright, let's get down to business.

Song Siyi: That's all for business. It will be available for purchase at midnight tomorrow. The data on the first day is very important, so please keep an eye on reader feedback when you have time.

Jiang Fan tossed his phone onto the bed, leaned back in his chair, and stared at the ceiling.

He knew exactly how people would react when Journey to the West first appeared on Earth.

This book has supported half of the entire classical mythology IP in its previous life, and countless animations, films, and games have grown from it.

He made a thought, and the system panel appeared.

[Target: Lu Wanqing; Compatibility: A]

A isn't high, but I'm currently overwhelmed with work on the film crew, the novel, and four divas, so I don't have the time or inclination to start anything new here.

He put the panel away, got up, and lay down on the bed.

Ning Yuan's words were still echoing in my ears.

That old geezer, he always wants to be completely transparent about everything.