The Secret of Second Marriage

When I heard the director's words, tears fell from my eyes. It turned out that my hard work was evident to all, and that my acting skills had not been in vain.

The director did not replace me because of Xia Weiwei.

I wiped away my tears, touched up my makeup, and immediately went to the film set to shoot.

When I arrived at the film set, Xia Weiwei's luxury car had already left.

Although the Xia family is very wealthy, it's a pity that Xia Weiwei's acting skills are really terrible. No matter what, she always acts like a noble socialite and can't bring herself to make any malicious expressions...

The director talked with Ms. Xia for a long time and had Xia Weiwei try out my role several times, but in the end they were still not satisfied.

For this drama, hundreds of millions of yuan have already been invested in the early stages, and the best filming team, as well as filming actors and actresses, have been hired.

It's impossible for them to decisively replace me, the second female lead with a significant role, just because of Xia Weiwei.

The director politely declined Xia Weiwei's offer, saying that they could work together again if there was a next project.

When President Xia and Xia Weiwei left the film set, President Xia's expression was very unpleasant.

It can only be said that the Xia family is rich, but the entertainment industry is never short of wealthy patrons.

If this production team were just a small, unknown, low-tier crew, they could easily replace me.

But this time, the production team I passed the interview for is one of the top production companies in the film and television industry. They have produced many hit TV series and movies, so they don't lack money or investors at all.

That's why the director is so arrogant.

I went up to the director and said, "Director, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to leave the set."

"It's okay, I'm only a dozen minutes late. Jiang Man, I know that in the entertainment industry, there's often an unspoken rule that newcomers get replaced in roles."

But don't worry, I'm the director. I've made over a dozen well-known productions in the industry. I'm in charge of this film. I've never had a bad experience with the actors. If I say you can do it, you can do it!

The director looked at me and said.

"Thank you, director. I will definitely work hard in filming and live up to your expectations."

I say.

The director nodded and asked me to rehearse with the male and female leads. After that, we started filming.

I went to rehearse with the female lead. The female lead, Tang Xueyan, was wearing a dress from the Republican era. She had fair skin, delicate features, and her eyes showed disdain.

I said, "Sorry, Sister Yan, I was late. I'm so sorry."

"Who do you think you are? Make me wait!"

Tang Xueyan sneered.

I stopped talking.

I just want to focus on making movies.

Seeing the two of us stuck in this awkward silence, the male lead came over to smooth things over, saying, "It's alright, this is Jiang Man's first time being late, it's understandable. Besides, everyone has urgent things to do, Xueyan, don't bring your personal feelings into your work when filming."

If you don't like Jiang Man, that's fine too. We're here to work, not to be friends. After this show ends and filming wraps, we'll all go our separate ways. There's no need to make things so awkward.

I glanced at Chu Ge with gratitude. He was the lead actor, but he was very approachable among us new actors. He often treated our crew to milk tea and hamburgers out of his own pocket.

I said, "I'm sorry I was late this time. I promise it won't happen again."

Seeing this, Tang Xueyan reluctantly started acting with me.

My lateness displeased the female lead of the show.

And coincidentally, the script stated that this scene was a slap scene.

Tang Xueyan slapped me and called me a vicious woman.

On set, actors are supposed to use camera tricks to fake fight scenes, but after the director yelled "action," Tang Xueyan started hitting me for real. She slapped me so hard that my face was swollen and painful, and I had several bright red finger marks on my face.

I was stunned. If she had hit me like that in real life, I would have retaliated long ago.

But this is acting, and I'm very professional. I endured the burning pain on my face and continued the scene, reciting my lines.

After I finished reading my lines, I didn't expect that Tang Xueyan would frequently make mistakes, and every time she made a mistake, she would ask the director to reshoot, and she slapped me several times.

My eyes were bloodshot with anger...

She's settling a personal score. I never imagined that the seemingly innocent, kind, and beautiful female celebrity in the eyes of outsiders would have such a filthy character in private.

I gritted my teeth and continued filming.

I could sense that she, a high and mighty actress, didn't care about me, a newcomer, at all during filming.

Finally, the director lost his patience and questioned her: "Do you even know how to act? Jiang Man has acted with you five or six times already, and the entire crew is waiting for you. Tang Xueyan, if you continue to be so willful and despicable, I might as well call your sugar daddy and replace you..."

Tang Xueyan was furious.

She knew that the director had strong moral values, a bad temper, and was unfamiliar with the ways of the entertainment industry. Everything he did was for the sake of the characters, but it was precisely because of his dedication that the shows he made had such high ratings.

Moreover, the director directly mentioned her sugar daddy, and Tang Xueyan chickened out.

She said, "I'm sorry, director, I'm not in good shape today. It's all this new actress's fault, because she was late and disrupted my filming schedule."

"Alright, let's focus on filming and avoid making any more mistakes. Also, don't look down on new actors. Everyone started as a newcomer, so why make things difficult for them?"

The director said something fair.

Tang Xueyan looked at me with even more displeasure.

But she didn't dare to cause any more trouble and finished filming the scene seriously.

After the director yelled "cut," she left the film set with a large group of assistants, including a personal assistant to help her with her clothes and shoes, a makeup artist to help her with her hair and makeup, and assistants to help her get dressed and buy her milk tea.

She went back to her RV to put on makeup, dressing up radiantly, ready to attend a fashionable dinner party in Shanghai that evening.

After she left, I felt that all the extras and staff members breathed a sigh of relief.

I heard that although Tang Xueyan is a film queen, she is very aloof in the entire crew. She looks down on the staff and new actors, and only occasionally chats and dines with the male lead, the director, and a few well-known actors in the industry.

Tang Xueyan paid for the director to go out for karaoke and dinner several times, but she never invited me.

She once mocked me on set, saying, "Our circle is not one you can enter."

What makes a divorced woman think she's qualified to enter the entertainment industry?

One should have self-awareness!

A toad is a toad; it'll never become a swan!

Say whatever you want, all I care about is filming.

I would sit alone with the script, and when I wasn't filming, I would find a quiet corner on set where no one was around, and memorize my lines and work on my acting.

Although I had nothing, I had a strong fighting spirit. At my busiest, I only slept three or four hours a day. I don't know how I managed to get through it all.

After finishing work that evening, I dragged my tired body from the film set back to the Hengdian Hotel, took a shower, and lay on the bed in a white nightgown, so sleepy that I could barely keep my eyes open.

However, President Jiang still sent me a message, asking how filming was going.

I fought off my sleepiness and sent a message to President Jiang, saying that I was doing well.

I've always been the type to only share good news and never bad news; I've always been this independent.

Mr. Jiang was very happy to see my reply and then added, "Man, I had Director Zhang connect with your director today."

I asked him how much the Xia family was willing to invest in this film. I said I could offer twice as much as the Xia family.

The director said they are still short 2000 million yuan in funding for this film. I have already asked my assistant to prepare the checks. We will sign the film and television contract in a few days.

You can focus on filming and don't have to worry about being replaced in your role anymore.

"Mr. Jiang, thank you."

I say.

President Jiang replied to me, "I know how hard you work filming, how much you've sacrificed for this film... You're my official girlfriend, and I'll support you no matter what you want to do."

No wonder the director treated me much better after I returned to the set today; after all, 2000 million is no small sum.

"Mr. Jiang, thank you."

I smiled wryly and said, "To others, she's just a divorced, single middle-aged woman raising her daughter alone."

How can I expect the production crew to completely trust a newcomer actor who hasn't even attended a proper arts school?

Of all the people I know, during the lowest point of my life, only you were willing to trust me unconditionally and help me. Thank you…

That's because you deserve it.

Mr. Jiang said, "Man, without me even realizing it, you've given me enough trust. I love you and I believe in you. Tell me, are you happy on set?"

"I am very happy"

I say.

After I finished speaking, I subtly asked President Jiang, "Do you know Tang Xueyan? What do you think of her?"

Mr. Jiang's tone revealed a hint of disdain: "I met her at a charity gala before. She wanted to add me on WeChat, but I refused."

There are so many women pursuing me, each one appearing beautiful, gentle, and understanding, but it's all an act!

I said, "Are you saying that when women send signals to attract men's attention, the reserved and gentle side they show is all an act? Not genuine?"

Mr. Jiang said, "I guess you could say that. If a woman is interested in a man, she will dress up beautifully, wear exquisite makeup and pretty clothes, speak softly, eat slowly, and talk gently when she first meets him."

But I don't really like women like that; I can't see their true selves. I still like you, Man. You cry, laugh, argue, and get angry in front of me, but that's real.

Moreover, during that trip to Xinjiang, we weathered those difficult times with limited food and water. Having gone through thick and thin together, what obstacle can't we overcome in the future?

I nodded; it seemed to be true.

I chatted with Mr. Jiang for a while longer. We're both middle-aged now. Mr. Jiang had a first love, and I had an ex-husband. It seems we've already missed the point where we could be crazy and do anything for someone, even to the point of destroying the world.

What we fell in love with was each other's solid sense of responsibility and character. I hope we can accompany each other on the road ahead.

After all, life is too long, and living alone can be so lonely. It's better to have a companion.

We said goodnight to each other.

I was so tired that I fell asleep without even bothering to apply the medicine to my face.

I didn't realize until I woke up the next day that I had become famous in our Hengdian chat group. I don't know which extra posted the scene where the female lead slapped me yesterday to the Hengdian chat group, and all the extras forwarded it.

When I found out, many of the groups that added me on WeChat asked me, "Sister Man, I heard you got beaten up yesterday? Why? Did you have a fight with the female lead?"