“Ah, I don’t need to accompany.”
Director Tang crossed his arms and turned around, as if searching for something. Qi Yuan felt puzzled but followed politely.
Both the director and assistant director, seeing Director Tang’s stature, hesitated before wanting to greet him.
They moved to another set. Here, green screens were draped, and a fight scene was being filmed. On the ground lay an airbag that hadn’t been fully inflated yet.
For effect, fans roared as a crew member pushed one around, blowing air toward Wen Chu, who was suspended midair by wires.
Below, the martial arts instructor was guiding, while on the other side were special guest actors, all dressed in costume. The instructor looked up and demonstrated moves to Wen Chu hanging in midair.
Wen Chu couldn’t get down and listened carefully. The wires had already numbed her shoulders and weakened her legs. But in her stunt career, this was routine; she knew she’d feel better once she landed.
Seeing this set, especially Wen Chu hanging from the wires, Qi Yuan’s heart tightened. She glanced discreetly at Director Tang.
His gaze swept over the airbag on the ground. Furrowing his thick brows, he pointed at the airbag and said to the assistant director beside him, “This won’t do. If safety isn’t ensured, actors won’t be protected. We can’t be careless just because the actor is unknown or unimportant.”
The assistant director wiped the sweat off his forehead and nodded, “Director Tang’s right. It was our oversight.”
He hurried over to shout at the safety crew. A few people ran forward to reinflate the airbag. Qi Yuan smiled, wanting to say something, but when she turned, Director Tang was looking at Wen Chu hanging in midair.
He slowly turned his head and said, “Teacher Qi, I heard you have a stunt double, right?”
Qi Yuan’s smile stiffened slightly. She paused for a few seconds, hesitating whether to admit it. Director Tang saw this and guessed her thoughts, his tone gentle: “Having a stunt double is normal. Which popular star doesn’t have one or two? There’s no need to be ashamed to admit it.”
Qi Yuan pressed her lips tightly and forced a smile.
“Yes, I have one. Due to a back injury in the past two years, I had no choice but to sign one.”
“Only signed in the past two years?”
Director Tang glanced at Wen Chu, who was already performing the fight scenes on the wires. Every move still carried traces of the last sword dance of the female hero.
Of course, only someone as sharp-eyed as him could notice; others wouldn’t.
His tone was leisurely: “Teacher Qi is lucky to have found a stunt double who graduated from a professional academy.”
Qi Yuan clenched her teeth, staring at Wen Chu, almost wanting to pull her down. She restrained her trembling hands.
At that moment, Shu Mei arrived holding coffee, smiling: “Director Tang, here’s the coffee, have a taste…”
Before she finished, seeing Qi Yuan’s expression, Shu Mei froze, wondering what was going on. Director Tang said, “You’re just in time.”
He turned and took the coffee from Shu Mei, asking, “Is the stunt double signed with your company? If I want a stunt double to audition for my ‘Wind and Moon Night,’ can you arrange that?”
Shu Mei froze in place.
What was he saying? She didn’t understand. She quickly regained composure, suppressing her panic, and asked politely, “Director Tang, surely you’re joking? How can a stunt double audition for your drama? Qi Yuan is top three in the entertainment industry; no one dares to say otherwise. Let alone other more outstanding actors. What about them if you do this?”
Director Tang smiled slightly: “Agent Shu, you don’t understand me. I, Tang Ren, don’t care about those things. I only answer to my works and choose actors who fit the roles, regardless of fame.”
He looked at Shu Mei: “The stunt double belongs to your company, your asset. Sending her to the screen benefits you too. Isn’t having another cash cow a good thing? Think about it, Agent Shu.”
Shu Mei hadn’t faced such pressure in years. She instinctively bit her nail into her clothes to stop herself from saying anything harsh. She smiled, “Since Director Tang has said this, I’ll take it back and have a look.”
Qi Yuan sneered sharply beside her.
Director Tang glanced over.
Qi Yuan took out a cigarette, lighting it, and smiled at Director Tang: “Director Tang probably doesn’t know that her contract serves me. It’s not so easy for her to get in front of the camera. Just wait.”
Tang Ren knew Qi Yuan’s identity wasn’t simple—she was the daughter of the Qi family. Actors with status could walk arrogantly in the circle. Sure enough. He didn’t bother arguing with Qi Yuan further.
After watching her recent roles, all that was left was an empty shell. He disliked that the most. That article was right.
As the wires were lowered, the stunt double, drenched in sweat, with clothes clinging to her back, landed on the ground. Director Tang walked over to her.
Wen Chu was once again too tired to speak. Silently, she unhooked the waist harness. Droplets of sweat hung on her bangs, ready to fall.
Checking the time, there was still a second half to shoot. She could rest for half an hour. She had done all her own fight scenes just now, but the special guest actors hadn’t. One against four, their moves had to be perfectly coordinated, so they had to retake many times.
She wiped the sweat off her forehead, preparing to leave.
A middle-aged man wearing a Zhongshan suit stood nearby with a warm smile watching her. Wen Chu guessed he had some status by his attire, but she didn’t know who he was.
She didn’t want to make small talk, so she nodded slightly and was about to walk away. The man hurriedly pulled out a business card and handed it to her, saying, “I’m the producer of Tang Ren Productions and also the chief director. I’m interested in having you audition for the female lead role in my ‘Wind and Moon Night.’ Think it over and contact me at this number.”
He pointed to the name and phone number on the card.
Wen Chu was stunned when she received the card and heard his lengthy introduction. Her mind buzzed as if in a dream.
She looked up quickly, trying to greet him: “Director Tang, you…”
Before she could finish, he turned and left. Wen Chu clenched the card, trying to catch up, wanting to confirm if there was some mistake—she was just a stunt double. But people around her quickly gathered.
“Teacher Wen, when did you meet Director Tang?”
“Oh my, even stunt doubles get their chance. This is truly inspiring.”
“I heard Qi Yuan and Agent Shu were furious just now, arguing with Director Tang.”
“Was it that serious?”
“Yes. Wasn’t the role supposed to be for Qi Yuan? Now it’s not, and they’re contacting her stunt double. How can she not be angry?”
“Qi Yuan is so vindictive. What will happen to Teacher Wen?”
They began to worry for Wen Chu.
Shu Mei took the business card from Wen Chu’s hand. Wen Chu looked up as Shu Mei glanced over the card’s details, put it away, and looked at Wen Chu: “You’re signed with the company. Whether you get to audition is up to us.”
Wen Chu pressed her lips and said, “You promised me before you’d find me a role in a few years. What about now?”
Shu Mei hadn’t expected Wen Chu to confront her openly. She said, “We’re looking, just wait a bit.”
Her words were perfunctory.
Wen Chu didn’t believe it at all, but she was too tired and just wanted to rest. She walked back to the lounge and sat down. Her eyes met Qi Yuan’s, who was smoking and staring at her with bright disdain.
Leaning against the chair, Wen Chu closed her eyes to rest.
The makeup artist approached, wiping her sweat and touching up her makeup.
But Wen Chu had already memorized Director Tang’s number.
After finishing the second half of shooting—which dragged on until nearly nine o’clock—she wrapped up.
Gu Cheng had a morning meeting, so he couldn’t pick her up. Uncle Chen came instead. Wen Chu changed into her own dress and, blowing on the car’s AC, quietly repeated Director Tang’s number like clutching a lifeline. She was excited, like a drowning person finally getting a chance to surface, filled with tension.
She leaned forward and smiled at Uncle Chen, “Uncle Chen, find me a cake shop. I want to buy a cake.”
Uncle Chen rarely saw Wen Chu eat cake since she controlled her weight. But now she smiled, obviously happy. He didn’t know why, but happiness itself was a good thing. He replied with a smile, “Alright.”
Wen Chu didn’t usually eat cake, but that didn’t mean she didn’t like it. The display window held all kinds of dreamy cakes she adored. Uncle Chen stopped at a street corner. Wen Chu jumped out and bought a star diamond cake, then went home.
At home, the housekeeper was cooking, timed perfectly. She praised, “Wow, what a beautiful cake.”
“But wash your hands first, then eat.”
She brought the dishes to the table. Wen Chu smiled and placed the cake on the island, then went to wash her hands and change into loungewear.
Returning to sit, she looked at the dishes—just one portion, meaning Gu Cheng wouldn’t be eating with her. The housekeeper put the stew in front of her and lifted the lid, saying, “Drink some soup first.”
“Okay.” Wen Chu habitually took her sugar-controlled pills before meals.
The housekeeper smiled at her like this but still bought the cake. It seemed something good was happening or she really wanted it. She asked if Wen Chu wanted the cake refrigerated.
Wen Chu said yes.
The cake was put away, and Wen Chu focused on eating.
After dinner, the housekeeper tidied up and left. She would come back if Wen Chu was home at dinnertime. Wen Chu sat on the sofa with a cup of juice, took out her phone, and opened the friend request.
She tried to input Director Tang’s number. It came up, and adding him was not difficult. Nervous, she politely introduced herself and sent the request.
Then she messaged Gu Cheng: When will you be home?
He replied quickly: Meeting a client this afternoon. Will come back after.
Wen Chu: Okay.
She put down the phone and picked up the script to flip through. The latest fashion magazine had just arrived but was unopened. The last issue featured Qi Yuan, this one another female star.
Wen Chu hadn’t bought the last issue. These were all ordered by Gu Cheng through the app. She only needed to select what she wanted, and it would be delivered.
Wen Chu opened the magazine and saw the star on the cover. She’d seen her once before—Meng Ying, the actress from Li City, an award-winning actress whose husband was Xu Shao from Li City, Gu Cheng’s friend.
Their story was legendary.
Wen Chu flipped the magazine to Meng Ying’s column near the back. She skimmed some fashion info first, planning to read the column last.
Sunlight poured in, soft and warm.
The sound of the door opening broke the quiet. Wen Chu immediately put down the magazine. A gust of wind flipped a page, landing on Meng Ying’s column.
Wen Chu stood and went to the fridge, took out the cake, opened the box, and walked around the island.
Gu Cheng, removing his cufflinks and having changed shoes, lifted his gaze to see the woman in front of him—a long apricot-colored dress, smiling with curved eyes, holding the cake by the island, stunningly beautiful.
The sunlight behind her formed a perfect picture.
Gu Cheng looked at her, slightly dazed, but seeing the curl of her lips, a smile only she could have, his eyes overflowed with tenderness.
Wen Chu caught his momentary daze, her gaze seeming to pierce through him. But he quickly recovered. His gentle eyes were familiar to her. Gu Cheng chuckled softly, “Is something good happening?”
Wen Chu smiled brightly and stepped forward, holding up the cake: “Of course, this is the eighth year since we met.”
Gu Cheng blinked, then recalled, “The first time we met was eight years ago.”
Wen Chu smiled, “Yes, a full eight years.”
Gu Cheng’s lips curled lightly, “That day you wore an apricot-colored dress, just like this one.”
“You still remember.”
Wen Chu stepped closer, looking up with sparkling eyes, “There’s another good thing I want to tell you.”
“Hm? Go on.” He raised a hand to brush her hair aside.
Wen Chu looked into his eyes and said, “Do you know Tang Ren Productions? Director Tang visited the ‘Qing Ping Legend’ set today and gave me a business card, hoping I’d audition for the female lead in ‘Wind and Moon Night.’”
Gu Cheng, hearing it was Director Tang from ‘Wind and Moon Night,’ paused. His expression turned complicated as he looked at Wen Chu.
Wen Chu was excited to continue but saw his look and realized he wasn’t happy for her. She turned and said, “Don’t believe me? I’ll get my phone.”
Gu Cheng held her wrist and said, “I remember this was originally Qi Yuan’s drama.”