Huayu: I know the scripts of the entertainment industry inside and out!

Chapter 39 Yang Mi's Powerful Female Lead Aura!

"Ziyi, you really dared to come all this way alone!"

"What's the big deal? We've been chatting online for so long, I know everything about you, I'm not afraid you're some kind of bad person."

"How did you feel after watching for a while?"

"It's a completely different world from rehearsing skits at school! Teachers teach theory, but here... here is the entire industrial system in operation. Everyone, every department, just to get those few shots right, it's so impressive."

"Remember this: observe more and speak less. By the way, who brought you in?"

"Teacher Qiao Zhenyu!"

"Um... When I'm filming, if you have any professional questions, you can ask him."

"Xu Lang, were you nervous about your fight scene with Yang Mi? She's a superstar right now..."

The electric scooter weaved through the streets of the county town, the two chatting casually, their conversation always revolving around the film crew and performances, tacitly avoiding any potentially ambiguous topics.

Meng Ziyi seemed to have a hundred thousand questions in her mind, one after another, and Xu Lang answered them all patiently.

We've arrived at the hotel!

She looked around curiously too!

"What are you looking at? Never stayed in a hotel before?" Xu Lang was a little speechless.

Meng Ziyi continued her curious inspection:

"This hotel is nice, not as bad as you said before."

So that's what your question was about.

"The accommodation standards are based on the star power and budget. This is an outdoor filming location, the time is short, and the local hotel prices are not high, so the crew arranged everything together to save trouble."

"In a place like Hengdian, the lead actors, important supporting actors, and staff might all stay in different hotels."

Jinyun is a county, and although there are quite a few hotels and guesthouses, the room rates are not expensive. The film crew wanted to save trouble, so they arranged for everyone to stay in one place.

In Hengdian, actors of high caliber like Xu Lang, Yang Mi, and Qiao Zhenyu stayed in different hotels, but they were in the same vicinity.

This is the unspoken "hidden rule of status" in the industry.

Although Xu Lang has acting skills, as a newcomer who has not yet had any works broadcast, he is still enjoying the treatment of a newcomer.

"Let's go back to the set first. We're done filming. I'll find the front desk and get you a room."

The two then drove back to the film set.

The main gap between the two is during the round trip, where they can talk about many things and deepen their familiarity with each other.

Back on set!

Back in the filming area, Xu Lang reiterated, "Remember the rules: don't wander around, don't touch the equipment, and especially—absolutely no taking pictures!"

"I know, Teacher Xu! You've read it eight hundred times already!" Meng Ziyi stuck out her tongue.

Xu Lang quickly returned to work mode, reported to the director, followed instructions, and instantly immersed himself in the role of "Yin Qianshang".

Meng Ziyi continued to observe everything on set, the camera work, the movement of the track cars...

The entire film set was like a precision instrument, with each department working together efficiently and operating silently.

She's interested in everything!

A highly recognizable voice rang in my ears:

"Oh, a new face? Which teacher brought you?"

Meng Ziyi suddenly turned around, looked at Yang Mi, and was somewhat excited. Yang Mi was one of the most popular young actresses at the time. She said:

"Teacher Yang Mi, I... my name is Meng Ziyi, I'm Xu Lang's friend, I didn't take any photos..."

"Um... I really like you. I especially like your portrayal of Guo Xiang, Xue Jian, and Luo Qingchuan in 'Palace'..."

"Stop!" Yang Mi interrupted her, turning to look at Xu Lang, who was filming, before returning to her:

"You're friends? What kind of friends?"

"Uh... ah?" Meng Ziyi was a little confused. Did she have to ask such detailed questions?

So you like Xu Lang?

"We're just... ordinary friends, we just got along really well..."

She felt Yang Mi's "leading lady" aura spreading silently, as if she had become a little palace maid being interrogated.

"Is he pursuing you?"

Yang Mi interrupted her, asking more directly with a scrutinizing look in his eyes.

"No, no!" Meng Ziyi hurriedly waved her hand in denial.

She maintained contact with Xu Lang, and if anyone had such thoughts, it was her; Xu Lang had never expressed any romantic feelings towards her.

So even if there was a pursuit, it was her pursuing Xu Lang, not Xu Lang pursuing her. If Yang Mi really liked Xu Lang, she believed she had no chance of winning in this competition.

"Teacher Yang Mi, you've misunderstood. Xu Lang isn't pursuing me; we're just ordinary friends."

She felt it necessary to explain, because if Yang Mi misunderstood, given the other party's status and influence in the industry, her future path as a nobody who hadn't even debuted would probably be difficult.

Yang Mi's gaze softened slightly as he looked her over.

She is strikingly beautiful, the kind of person who stands out in a crowd and is instantly recognizable.

He recalled Qiao Zhenyu's earlier teasing remark about Xu Lang "keeping a mistress in a golden house."

How did you meet Xu Lang?

Meng Ziyi, already overwhelmed by the strong female lead, subconsciously replied:

"We are in..."

She answered without reservation, revealing the innocent and guileless nature of a pure female college student, her eyes sparkling with clarity.

Yang Mi was pleased with her honesty, but also felt that the girl was a bit silly.

She's beautiful, but not very bright.

"Xu Lang has a younger sister named Yang Chaoyue? Is she really his sister or his girlfriend?"

Mencius felt a surge of excitement, as if they were kindred spirits:

"At first I thought it was his girlfriend, but when I asked, I found out that the girl was only fifteen years old and still a minor."

Fifteen years old, a minor.

Yang Mi conjured up some bizarre images in his mind, then looked at Xu Lang, whose handsome and sunny face seemed a bit too much.

He shook his head slightly, trying to banish this grotesque image from his mind, believing that Xu Lang would never lay a hand on a fifteen-year-old girl.

Choose to trust him!

"Could it be her? The Milk Tea Sister?"

She recalled what Dilraba had told her not long ago: Xu Lang had ordered milk tea for everyone on the set, and it was delivered by a little girl.

"Mr. Yang Mi, may I take a photo with you?"

Meng Ziyi felt like a fan meeting her idol. Although she hadn't considered Yang Mi an idol before, he was still a top-tier celebrity. Taking a photo with him would be something she could brag about to her roommates and classmates.

"Can!"

As the conversation continued, Meng Ziyi gradually felt the oppressive aura of the female lead dissipate, and they gradually became closer to friends.

Yang Mi's hostility towards her gradually dissipated.

She doesn't see Meng Ziyi as a competitor; she has a boyfriend, and their relationship is going well.

She was adopting Dilraba's perspective.

Although she was in Shanghai during this time, she knew that Dilraba had become Xu Lang's shadow.

It's obvious to anyone that Reba, this inexperienced young girl, probably already has feelings for Xu Lang, but she's unaware of it.

Dilraba is her person, so she has to protect her.

Fortunately, this person was not Xu Lang's girlfriend, and Xu Lang was not pursuing her.

Not long after!

Lunchtime arrived, and the crew strictly controlled the boxed lunches, so naturally no one was prepared for Meng Ziyi.

Xu Lang gave his boxed lunch to Qiao Zhenyu, and then took her to a nearby small restaurant to cook two dishes.

After you finish eating, hurry back to filming!

With tight deadlines and heavy workloads, the production team was burning through cash every minute.

In the afternoon, Meng Ziyi continued to observe quietly. The initial enthusiasm and novelty gradually subsided, but her gaze as she watched Xu Lang act became increasingly focused.

That immersion in the role, and the handling of every subtle expression, benefited her immensely.

Xu Lang would occasionally come over to chat with her during breaks from changing scenes or touching up makeup, or quickly rehearse his lines with his co-stars, keeping him as busy as a spinning top that never stops.

It wasn't until almost nine o'clock at night that the director finally uttered that heavenly voice:

"Okay, that's a wrap for today!"

The entire crew was immediately filled with an atmosphere of exhaustion and relief; everyone just wanted to go back and lie down as soon as possible.

"Finally finished work, let's go back to the hotel!" Xu Lang led her into Qiao Zhenyu's car and headed to the hotel.

"Xu Lang, do you guys film this late every day?" Meng Ziyi asked with some concern.

"You all look so tired. I used to think filming was a lot of fun."

Xu Lang gave a wry smile and chuckled twice:

"Any job is hard, it's just that the pay is higher in the acting industry."