Chapter 8

Chapter 8

With Xie Yiezhou's early return, the director kept Ning Yuyi on set to shoot scenes opposite him.

Once, twice, thrice, Zhang Xueyong called "cut" with a frown.

"Still not quite right," Zhang Xueyong sighed, beckoning the two over to review the playback. "On this side, Rongxi's reliance on Chengxuan is very strong. Is it because you two are not familiar with each other? It's always slightly off."

Ning Yuyi remained silent. After watching the playback, he felt something was missing and pondered deeply, furrowing his brow.

"Alright, both of you find that connection on the side. We'll continue in twenty minutes," Zhang Xueyong decisively gave them a break.

After all, these two didn’t need his guidance. He'd let them find that feeling on their own.

"What are we missing?" Ning Yuyi flipped through the script once more.

"Have you read the original work, 'Sword Path'?" Xie Yezhou set down the prop sword he was holding.

"No," Ning Yuyi shook his head.

He joined the cast the day after he got the role, having no time to delve into the original text.

"Chengxuan is an"

"orphan,"

"Found by his master who realized he had potential and took him to Sword Sect Mountain as an apprentice. Before becoming the eldest apprentice, everyone looked down on him, except for Rongxi." Xie Yezhou led Ning Yuyi under a shade tree, slowly narrating the original story. "Rongxi, as the sect leader's son, was frail since childhood. The author described him as delicate and precious. But this delicate young master treated Chengxuan, who everyone looked down upon, very well."

"And Rongxi, although the sect leader's son, was often neglected due to his father's busyness, making him a child starved of love. Other disciples respected him on the surface, but behind his back, they mocked him for being weak. Only Chengxuan treated him as an ordinary brother, making him the most special person in Rongxi's life."

"He can trust anything Chengxuan says unconditionally and can also risk his life for him without hesitation."

Ning Yuyi nodded thoughtfully, "Thank you, bro. I get it now."

After finally finishing the last scene, Ning Yuyi hugged the nearest prop, resting his forehead on it and murmuring, "So tired, so tired, so tired."

Xie Yezhou supported him with a resigned look, "Be careful, that prop is unstable."

"I'm so sleepy. How can Director Zhang still be so energetic reviewing the playback? Aren't we done yet?" Ning Yuyi covered a yawn, a tear squeezed out by his drowsiness.

"Alright, that's a wrap!" Zhang Xueyong finished the playback, his smile reaching his ears. "Ning, you go get some rest. Everyone else, wrap up the set and then head out."

"Finally, we can leave," Ning Yuyi let go of the prop, staggering away, "I could fall asleep right here."

"Wrong way, you haven't removed your makeup yet," Xie Yezhou caught the departing Ning Yuyi, "The dressing room is that way."

"Why do I have to remove makeup!!!"

……

Once everything was done and he lay down on the bed, Ning Yuyi immediately fell asleep.

The next day dawned.

Ning Yuyi had no scenes today, so he slept in till he woke up naturally.

"Awake now?" Zhou Erhe sat cross-legged on the living room carpet with his laptop on the coffee table. "It's 11 AM. Freshen up and let's head for lunch."

"Aren't we ordering takeout?" Ning Yuyi sniffled, feeling somewhat congested. "I don't want to go out."

"You have three minutes."

Ning Yuyi pouted and headed to the bathroom.

By the time he finished freshening up, Zhou Erhe had also shut down his laptop and was at the entrance, shoes on, waiting for him. "I'll take you to a newly opened place today."

"Sounds good." Mentioning food finally sparked some interest in Ning Yuyi.

Zhou Erhe drove his compact Audi, and within twenty minutes, they arrived at their reservation spot.

"Hello, we have a reservation under number 66."

"Very well, please follow me."

Ning Yuyi and Zhou Erhe followed the server upstairs, heading to a table at the far end. Along the way, Zhou Erhe pointed out the restaurant's specialty dishes to Ning Yuyi.

"Let me tell you, their crispy roast duck is truly unparalleled. I personally think it tastes better than the one in Beijing."

"Then let's pack a duck for tonight's gaming session."

"Absolutely not. How many times have I said you can't eat something so greasy at night?"

While Ning Yuyi and Zhou Erhe chatted, Ning Yuyi, distracted, felt a strong bump on his shoulder.

The words "I'm sorry" circled in his mouth but didn't come out.

Ning Yuyi took a deep breath, looking at the person he'd accidentally bumped into, his mind suddenly blanking.

Damn, it's Yu Sihan! The lead actor!

After the collision, Yu Sihan lifted his head with a hint of impatience in his eyes. His expression hesitated upon seeing Ning Yuyi.

"Ning?" Yu Sihan squinted, "What are you doing here?"

Yu Sihan's tone sounded odd, making Zhou Erhe step protectively in front of Ning Yuyi, retorting, "Why shouldn't we be here?"

"That's not what I meant," Yu Sihan sighed deeply, "Didn't you mention before about working in Mingshi? Why are you suddenly..."

"Oh, I found work here," Ning Yuyi interrupted.

Yu Sihan wasn't expecting the once-following junior to dismiss him so blatantly. The forced smile on his face vanished instantly. "Ning, we haven't seen each other for so long, have we become estranged?"

"Brother Yu, the server is waiting for us. We should go." Ning Yuyi smiled sweetly, "See you next time, Brother Yu."

Without another word, Zhou Erhe snorted coldly, leading Ning Yuyi away.

As Ning Yuyi turned around, Yu Sihan's expression instantly darkened, staring at Ning Yuyi's retreating figure for a long time before departing.

"Hey, Sister Wang, can you check for me if there's an actor named Ning Yuyi in the nearby filming crews?"

"If you find him, let me know."

"Thanks, Sister Wang."

……

"Who was that just now?" Zhou Erhe asked directly after getting Ning Yuyi seated.

Ning Yuyi then shared about Yu Sihan being from the same orphanage he was in when they were kids.

"But he was later found by his father and overnight, transformed into a young master with a net worth in the hundreds of millions, never returning to the orphanage." Not even when the matron, who cared for him at the orphanage, was diagnosed with cancer and needed money urgently.

He merely gave them a few ten-thousand bills, akin to throwing alms at beggars, a mere drop in the ocean compared to the substantial medical fees required.

Thinking of the matron who didn't survive long enough to see them gather the surgery fees, Ning Yuyi felt a sting in his nose.

"Better to keep a distance from him in the future," Zhou Erhe advised, drawing from his years of experience reading people. "He's not simple, and he's not that kind to you."

"Mm, I know."

"You shouldn't be swayed just because he was kind to you when you were kids... Wait, what did you say?"

"I said I know," Ning Yuyi replied with a resigned smile.

He wasn't the naive Ning Yuyi depicted in the original novel, whose only asset was his face. He might be a bit slow on the uptake at times, but he can discern genuine goodwill from ill intent.

"Don't worry, Brother Zhou, I'll keep my distance."

Hopefully, far enough to never see him again.

"That's good. It's rare for you to be obedient," Zhou Erhe remarked, then proceeded to cross out several dishes Ning Yuyi ordered.

Ning Yuyi: ???

"I've been so good, and you still won't let me eat more!" Ning Yuyi protested.

"If you're so good, then spare a thought for my dwindling savings," Zhou Erhe teased.

"..." Ning Yuyi deflated instantly.

"Alright, alright, I'll add them back," Zhou Erhe muttered, "Always acting like a spoiled young master."

Alright, Ning "Spoiled Young Master" Yuyi was invigorated again.

Yu Sihan received a text message from Wang Yinkou that very night, with just a few words.

—— No such person found.

Upon seeing the satisfactory result, Yu Sihan raised an eyebrow in smug satisfaction, taking a sip from his glass of red wine.

"Those poor orphans should better never cross my path again."

"Yet, of all people, that most irksome Ning Yuyi has followed me here."

"Well, he shouldn't blame me for what's to come."

Yu Sihan slowly poured the remaining wine out of the window.

The crimson liquid vanished into the night in an instant.

Author's Note: Tomorrow's update will be early.