Chapter 1

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“Substituting someone at this time?! Director Chen, this must be a mistake! Brother Shen joined the team by signing a contract – how could you possibly let go of him for no good reason? It’s not like he’s a lesser-known artist…”

In the temporary resting-tent set up by the crew, the assistant was still arguing with the director. Beside them, pulling down the tent’s framework, was the deputy director; although he wasn’t watching them himself, he could still feel they were about to overturn the tent.

Sitting on the chair given to him by the grips1, Shen Mingbei’s back was straight, disregarding the people around him.

He was still wearing the costume he’d changed into earlier; a dark, buttoned Chinese jacket with long sleeves, where a pair of fair hands holding a phone stretched out from. Staring at the unanswered news page, nobody knew if he was in a daze or thinking.

After a while, a grip saw Shen Mingbei’s complexion become unnaturally pale; he frowned, and came over to ask, “Did you not eat anything for breakfast?”

Shen Mingbei nodded; Director Chen was a very demanding person. In order to not delay the morning shooting, he made an appointment with the make-up teacher at 5 in the morning for styling; there wasn’t any time for food.

Usually, the assistant would’ve already prepared his breakfast, but Xiao-Zhang was busy helping him argue…

The grip understood and, after another while, sent Shen Mingbei a piece of candy; he even told him some gossip.

“I heard it was requested by the producers; Brother Shen, did you really not catch wind of anything before this?” Although he had good intentions, the grip also wanted to gossip as well.

Shen Mingbei wasn’t in very high spirits. He unwrapped the candy and ate it; only after a moment passed did he look up at the grip. He first said ‘thank you’ before indifferently saying, “I didn’t. I only knew this morning.”

If he’d known earlier, he wouldn’t have woken up so early for styling today.

Still, it’d been so long; they’d been arguing since 6, and it was almost 8.

Shen Mingbei looked at the time. Cai Feng hadn’t replied yet – his insight was truly too poor and his brokerage far too incapable. This problem could only be dealt with himself. Shen Mingbei stood up and, from outside the tent, beckoned Xiao-Zhang over with a wave.

Xiao-Zhang fought very arrogantly, but the moment Shen Mingbei beckoned him, he ran over and asked, “Brother Shen, what’s wrong?”

“Go and arrange a car. Let’s leave.” After Shen Mingbei finished speaking, Xiao-Zhang was taken aback and his expression became unpleasant.

“We can’t just leave like this. If they don’t give us an explanation, then nobody will start work today!”

Xiao-Zhang felt like he was going to be angered to death.

In order to shoot《Feng Yue》, let’s not mention how many announcements were delayed for time and how much money was lost. Just to fit the role, Brother Shen especially practised at a martial arts school for three months so he could play the role beautifully.

Now, unwilling to even give a decent explanation, they wanted to substitute him, saying how they’d pay him to leave; no matter how he thought about it, it was absolutely infuriating!

As soon as Xiao-Zhang’s voice fell, the director and deputy director came over; their faces were filled with smiles directed at Shen Mingbei while their mouths were shouting “Mr Shen!”

But their attitudes were firm. They could pay money and pay for his martial arts tuition fee, but this role must not be given to Shen Mingbei.

“Alright. How are you going to pay?” Shen Mingbei raised his phone up slightly and showed them his screen – which was displaying a voice-recording app – and explained. “I’ve been scammed before; people would only suffer less after they’ve paid their ‘tuition’.”

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