Chapter 14: The Longer I Talk with You, The More They’ll Think Highly of You

Yun Xingcan instinctively dodged to the side.

Meng Chengxiao innocently flicked the incense ash from his collar.

“What were you thinking? There was incense ash falling into your collar.”

Realizing her misunderstanding, Yun Xingcan’s face instantly flushed red as she pushed Meng Chengxiao aside.

“Go unveil the red cloth now. I think Director Lu specifically saved this for you.”

Meng Chengxiao kept his hands in his pockets, glancing at the people watching them without any urgency.

“No rush. The longer I talk with you, the more they’ll think highly of you.”

Yun Xingcan was speechless. Such an important matter couldn’t afford delays, so she pushed him forward.

“Sorry Director Lu, I’m late today. I’ll treat the crew to dinner later.”

Lü Feifan thanked Meng Chengxiao quite politely, exchanging a few pleasantries.

After unveiling the red cloth and taking some photos, the film crew officially began production.

The afternoon marked the start of actual filming.

Lü Feifan’s team always adhered to one principle: fast, precise, and steady.

Speed must be quick, acting must be precise, and mindset must be steady.

Working under Director Lu left no room for slackness. Though exhausting, one could truly learn a lot.

The first scene scheduled for the afternoon was the most crucial in the entire script, and Yun Xingcan’s most important scene.

Han Feng’s ascension to the throne.

Being thrown into such a significant scene right away made Yun Xingcan somewhat nervous.

But Lü Feifan showed exceptional faith in her, continuously offering encouragement from the sidelines.

Meng Chengxiao also sat behind the monitor, watching Yun Xingcan’s live performance.

Seeing the man remain there, Yun Xingcan instantly dared not continue feeling insecure.

She had once said that to keep this man’s attention, only one thing was needed: you must be capable, exceptionally capable.

Yun Xingcan composed herself, and at Lü Feifan’s call of “Action!”, she immediately slipped into character.

The extras professionally played corpses, lying scattered across the ground.

Yun Xingcan stepped over their bodies, holding a blood-stained long sword, walking step by step toward the Dragon Throne at the hall’s forefront.

Yu Lin, playing the Eighth Prince, charged in with a squad of soldiers, angrily denouncing Han Feng’s actions.

Han Feng’s eyes held indescribable complexity, his fingers instinctively reaching toward his waist before giving up and dropping to his sides.

“Eighth Brother, the Dragon Throne is too hard.”

A trickle of blood escaped from the corner of Han Feng’s mouth. He clutched his abdomen in pain before finally collapsing onto the spacious Dragon Throne.

“Cut! That’s a wrap!”

At Lü Feifan’s shout, Yun Xingcan rose from the Dragon Throne, wiping the blood from her lips.

Getting the first scene right in one take left Yun Xingcan quite satisfied with herself.

Even Yu Lin, her scene partner, was unusually pleased.

He was not only demanding of his own acting but equally fastidious about his partners’ performances.

Yet this time, he felt the entire scene flow exhilaratingly smoothly.

“Starry Splendor, great acting.”

Yun Xingcan offered him a polite smile. Coming from someone who rarely showed amusement, combined with her blood-red lips, Yu Lin suddenly felt his mouth go dry, uncomfortably pressing his lips together.

Meng Chengxiao, who had been watching Yun Xingcan the whole time, certainly noticed this.

“Can Can.”

Meng Chengxiao intimately called out to Yun Xingcan in front of everyone. Startled, she jumped up and rushed over, as if trying to push the words back into his mouth.

“What are you doing!”

Meng Chengxiao paid no attention, pulling her down to sit on the chair beside him.

“Sit here, let Director Lu give you some guidance.”

Lü Feifan glanced at Meng Chengxiao, then decisively pointed out several minor flaws in Yun Xingcan’s recent performance – flaws that weren’t really flaws at all.

Yun Xingcan obediently sat nearby, listening with an open mind.

Before long, Meng Chengxiao decisively interrupted their conversation.

“Director Lu, does Starry Splendor have any more scenes today?”

Lü Feifan glanced at the paper in his hand. “No.”

“Then I’ll take him with me now. He’ll come back tomorrow.”

Yun Xingcan was dragged by the back of his collar toward the dressing room by Meng Chengxiao.

Lü Feifan wanted to stop them but was deterred by a single look from Meng Chengxiao.

Yun Xingcan tried to struggle a few more times, but Meng Chengxiao seemed to have been raised on bull meat – his strength was enough to rival a dinosaur’s.

As soon as they returned to the car, Meng Chengxiao pulled Yun Xingcan into the back seat, pinning him beneath his body.

Trapped between the seat and Meng Chengxiao in the confined space, Yun Xingcan couldn’t help but swallow nervously.

“What… what are you doing?”

Meng Chengxiao carefully examined every inch of Yun Xingcan’s skin. His eyebrows, his eyes, his lips – all were delicate, much like the person himself.

Ethereal, like a cloud – visible but untouchable.

“From now on, you’re only allowed to have me.”

Hearing Meng Chengxiao’s deep voice uttering such domineering words that sounded like a declaration of ownership, Yun Xingcan’s heart trembled.

“Do you love me?” These three words nearly escaped his lips, but Meng Chengxiao’s eyes didn’t contain the deep love he hoped to see. Instead, they held a hint of confusion.

“What if you don’t want me anymore?”

“That won’t happen.”

“President Meng, do you mean what you say?”

Meng Chengxiao gave a low hum of affirmation, then moved to the adjacent seat and called the driver back.

As the car slowly headed toward the apartment, Yun Xingcan, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke, his first words being a request to his sugar daddy.

“I want a mobile home.”

“Okay.”

“I also need a makeup and styling team. I’ll definitely be attending many events in the future.”

“Okay.” Meng Chengxiao agreed very readily.

“I want a dedicated agent.” Yun Xingcan glanced sideways at Meng Chengxiao, his gaze like clear water – calm on the surface but containing deep emotions beneath.

Meng Chengxiao hesitated for a few seconds before agreeing. “…Okay.”

Meng Chengxiao didn’t have strong feelings about these three requests from Yun Xingcan.

Aside from thinking briefly about Lin Ming’s final placement regarding the last request, he agreed without any hesitation.

The next day, a brand-new mobile home indeed appeared on the film set.

Yun Xingcan even bought milk tea for everyone, causing the crew’s fondness for this coldly beautiful person to skyrocket.

From treating everyone to meals on his first day yesterday to buying milk tea today.

No matter what, Yun Xingcan had left a good impression on everyone’s minds.

Lin Ming sat under the sun umbrella, staring intently at Yun Xingcan’s brand new mobile home.

Yesterday, he had received notification that his agent had been changed from Meng Chengxiao to the company’s female devil, Lisa.

“Lin Ming! Today’s my first day managing you. Some of your previous engagements have been canceled by President Meng, just letting you know.”

Behind him, Lisa’s domineering voice shattered Lin Ming’s jealousy, forcing him to put on a strained smile.

“Sister Lisa, those engagements were all under contract. This sudden cancellation…”

“That’s none of your concern. President Meng asked me to inform you. If you have issues, take it up with him.”

“From now on, I’ll be arranging new work for you, and I’ll need your full cooperation!”

Lisa was utterly unapproachable. Meng Chengxiao had assigned her an artist who wasn’t particularly popular, which already put her in a bad mood.

Lin Ming couldn’t refute this she was the company’s top agent, and Meng Chengxiao hadn’t exactly treated him poorly.

Lisa managed three artists in total, all of whom had risen from obscurity to become first or second-tier celebrities.

Naturally, Lin Ming wouldn’t let this golden opportunity slip by.

“Alright, Sister Lisa, just notify me of any work. I’m not picky.”

“Mhm.”

After giving a perfunctory response, Lisa hurriedly left the seat.

With multiple high-profile artists under her management, she was always busy.

Yun Xingcan didn’t have many scenes today, spending most of his time in Mobile Home studying the script or rehearsing with other actors.

Guo Meng, acting on Meng Chengxiao’s orders, was supervising Yun Xingcan to ensure he ate properly.

Yu Lin and Hua Xinya, who were eating with them, were green with envy.

Hua Xinya completely abandoned her image, slumping over the table with a dramatic wail.

With her larger frame and tendency to gain weight easily, she survived on a diet of bland, low-calorie food every day.

Watching Yun Xingcan enjoy the crew’s flavorful and visually appealing boxed meal made her unbearably jealous.

“Our crew’s boxed meals are way too luxurious! It makes me want to eat so badly ”

Yu Lin silently swallowed a mouthful of boiled greens; her eyes fixed on the lion’s head meatball in Yun Xingcan’s bowl.

“I can swap with you.”

“No, no! See my agent over there? He’d kill me.” Hua Xinya waved her hands frantically in refusal.

Yun Xingcan glanced at his meal, then down at his stomach, feeling like he’d gained weight.

Lin Ming, sitting nearby, rolled his eyes and joked, “Stop staring you wouldn’t gain weight even if you ate a whole pork knuckle every day!”

Yu Lin perked up with interest. “Starry Splendor has a metabolism that doesn’t gain weight?”

Before Yun Xingcan could explain, Lin Ming cut in.

“You have no idea back when we were in the same group, he ate like a beast but never put on weight!”

Yun Xingcan listened quietly as Lin Ming embellished his image as a big eater and food lover.

Once Lin Ming had said his piece, Yun Xingcan calmly added, “I grew up in a Taoist Temple. My master taught me from childhood not to waste food. During my trainee days, I often forgot to eat because of training. Later, to maintain my figure, I ate very little, so I especially cherish every meal.”

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