Chapter 33 – A Dozen Lucky Bags Unpacked

Chapter 33 - A Dozen Lucky Bags Unpacked

At the Jiangzhou Film and Television Base, at one in the morning, in the semi-open indoor set of the Spirit Wave Frenzy production team A.

The place was brightly lit and bustling with people, forming layers upon layers around the open area.

Tang Fei was currently shooting a weaving scene, without any dialogue. The footage would be used for flashbacks and interludes, and since live sound recording wasn't needed due to the noisy environment, it allowed for this chaos.

Before the shoot, Tang Fei's discussion with the props team on adjusting the loom had attracted a circle of prop masters from the team.

They watched as Tang Fei engaged in an intense conversation with the technician hired by the props team to handle the loom. After their chat, they even worked together to fix the machine. The crew became curious and decided to stay to watch.

Turned out Tang Fei was an expert in this field!

Did Tang Fei know how to weave? !

What would it look like when Tang Fei actually started weaving?

The weaving teacher, who was originally hired to be Tang Fei's stand-in for the weaving scene, wearing Li Xiuyun's costume and with a robust build, approached with her arms crossed, eager to witness the weaving skills of the female star.

Nowadays, there are few who still master traditional crafts, let alone young female celebrities. One wonders how skilled Tang Fei is in this regard.

Xu Jianguo, seated beside the monitor, called out "Action," and six cameras, both near and far, focused on Tang Fei. The loom thumped to life as the oil lamp on the windowsill flickered like a tiny bean. A gentle breeze caused the flame to dance, prompting the lighting technician to adjust the illumination. In harmony with the filmed flame, the studio lights flickered in unison, enhancing the scene's authenticity.

In the fluctuating light and shadows, Tang Fei, embodying Li Xiuyun, revealed a weary expression. She rubbed her forehead, and her eyes, strained in the dim light, began to blur.

A gentle mist of warm water had sprayed across her face, and the strands of hair that brushed against her forehead and neck were damp with moisture. Li Xiuyun had been working tirelessly from dawn till well past midnight, and both her spirit and body bore the signs of exhaustion.

Glancing out the window, as if reminded of someone, a sweet smile blossomed across her face, invigorating her spirits. She gave her lower back two hearty taps and resumed her work at the loom with renewed vigor.

With the necessary performance scenes captured, it was time for close-up shots of the weaving process. Xu Jianguo waved his hand, suggesting, "Film Tang Fei weaving."

The filming of this weaving close-up on the backdrop lasted over three hours. As more and more people gathered to watch, almost everyone from the production crew who had spare time came over.

Tang Fei's arms danced skillfully across the loom, taming the machinery with ease. The shuttle darted through threads, while the reed danced amidst various colored silk. The rhythm of her foot pedals resembled a lively rhythmic beat: Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling, let's not talk nonsense, let's sing about the psychic girl Tang Fei weaving. The onlookers couldn't help swaying to the tune.

Tang Fei's muscles and mind were like a child discovering a new toy, tirelessly engaged in the activity for over three hours. She produced a meter-long piece of fabric, featuring a pointed V-shaped pattern in black, white, gray, and three shades of blue, forming six colors in total.

The arrow-like vertical stripes looked quite appealing against the white background.

"How did you do that? With your hands weaving back and forth, the fabric just appears with a clacking sound."

"The pattern is so lovely."

Xu Jianguo paused and said to the assistant director in charge of props, "Did you see the pattern Tang Fei is weaving? Ask the costume department to make a garment with a similar design for Su Yang."

Director Xu had an inspiration on set. Not only did he plan to add a close-up shot for Tang Fei's character, but he also thought of a sentimental token that could run through the storyline. In the era of men farming and women weaving, a cloth woven by a girl and worn by a man symbolized their union as a couple.

Li Xiuyun and Su Yang hadn't married before the unexpected happened. The clothes made from the fabric Li Xiuyun wove herself being worn by Su Yang represented her seeing him as her husband and his acceptance of her as his wife.

Tang Fei's hands moved swiftly, the fabric growing bit by bit. Her agile fingers danced gracefully among the threads like a butterfly fluttering through a garden.

Someone from outside couldn't squeeze through the crowd, so they stood on tiptoe to peer at Tang Fei's actions. They deliberately approached the weaving teacher and asked, "Master, how difficult is it to learn hand weaving? How long would it take?"

"Are you interested in learning the full process or just trying it out for fun? There are over seventy steps in the complete process, so it can't be rushed. If you want to learn one pattern and operate the loom without delving into the details, it'd take about a week or so."

The weaving teacher still wore Li Xiuyun's clothes, his frame towering over three Li Xiuyuns. He glanced at the questioner with a sidelong look.

With a sharp-featured face and a thin build, the person didn't inspire much warmth at first sight. They were swathed in a long black cotton coat, resembling a bamboo pole stuffed inside a garbage bag.

The man's eyes gleamed with excitement upon hearing this, feeling as if he had stumbled upon a valuable secret. He stealthily took out his phone from his pocket and started recording, inwardly smugly thinking, "It hasn't even been a week since the casting began, and now the insider pick is ruined at nine o'clock."

As the weaving teacher nudged her elbow backward, the man's phone hit his chest, making him exhale sharply and cough tearfully for several times. Several people turned to look at him. He sheepishly put his phone back in his pocket and gritted his teeth, cursing, "Old man, are you crazy?"

Seemingly aware of his ulterior motives, the teacher advised, "Young man, don't have a dark heart. When I said one week to learn, it means from knowing nothing to just pretending to know. To reach Tang Fei's level, it would take at least ten years."

"In ten years, how old would she be? You're lying, ha!"

"Well, one can start learning weaving at a young age. It's not strange to begin at five," the master weaver replied, looking at the man with a mixture of pity and condescension, as if he were looking at someone mentally challenged.

Angered by the weaving teacher's disdainful gaze, the man's face flushed with humiliation. He couldn't help but retort, "Tang Fei is incompetent. There's no way she started learning from a young age. They must have some secret deal going on."

His outburst revealed his true thoughts, and although his voice wasn't loud, those around him recognized him.

"I remember you, you're Xiao Yuan's manager, Gao Mang. Looking so pathetic when you can't accept others' excellence."

"Xiao Yuan is already twenty-six, playing cute little sisters for eight years without being able to transition. Are you jealous that Tang Fei, who debuted at the same time, has a brighter future?"

"You're causing trouble in the production team. If word gets out, who would dare to hire your artist?"

The cacophony of insults grew louder. Sensing the situation turning sour, Gao Mang, with a smile, apologized to those around him for his slip of tongue and gradually retreated out of the circle of people.

He moved over a hundred meters away, hiding in the shadows, and spat fiercely on the ground before stomping on it. "What nonsense. Blind fools fawning over Tang Fei."

In the president's office of the Yaohui Building, the PR director, Wang Xin, sat on the sofa with his hands nervously entwined. "President Shen, we've reached out to the authors' association, the film and television association, the actors' association, and the association for behind-the-scenes professionals. All of them claim this isn't a significant issue, and there's no need for them to intervene.

I tried to inquire from acquaintances, but nobody would tell me the reason.

Tang Fei now has support, and if her past misdeeds resurface, we'll be at a disadvantage. Apart from marketing accounts and controllable fan groups, everyone else is standing by Tang Fei.

Her influence has already affected our reputation among fresh graduates. The artist management department has lost six potential signees due to the Tang Fei incident.

President Shen, I suggest we communicate with Zhou Xianfeng to peacefully resolve this matter."

Shen Fan slammed his palm on the table. "The company has invested so much money and effort, giving you all the support possible, only for you to tell me to go beg for reconciliation?

Even if the show does get produced, we'll force them to use AI to replace her face!

If the associations refuse to speak up in support, we'll approach those obscure newspapers and magazines. Who can't grab attention and make money?"

At nine o'clock in the morning, he's already behaving so arrogantly after transitioning to TV dramas. If we don't put him in his place now, he'll be stepping on my neck in two years.

Old Wang, as the public relations head for Yao Hui, you need to remember one thing: 'appeasement' should no longer exist in your vocabulary.

Tell someone to ask Zhou Xianfeng if they plan to give up on overseas distribution and awards. Make them think this through thoroughly!

Get New Cinema World to speed up their connections. Have the other collaborating stars continue leading their fans to speak out, creating an illusion that everyone in the industry supports Yao Hui. Let everyone know that crossing Yao Hui means crossing everyone else.

To survive in this business, one must bow down to Yao Hui! What about that journalist who shot the footage of Tang Fei tackling Guan Yin? Talk to him, find a breakthrough there, make him speak out."

Shen Fan couldn't be bothered with Guan Yin anymore. The image of Yao Hui being invincible must not be shattered. If sacrificing some of Guan Yin's privacy and reputation served a purpose, then so be it.

"Yes, Mr. Shen."

Shen Fan dismissed Wang Xin. After being interrupted during his heated discussion and hearing a string of bad news, he had lost interest in Song Li's arrival. "Forget it. Go check on Guan Yun. How long is she going to hide at home, turning down all her schedules and projects? Next week, her 'Fly, Tennis' will enter its promotional phase. As the lead actress, she can't miss out on promotional shows and interviews."

"Tang Fei's 'Zhu Xiansheng' is also about to air soon. The two dramas will be competing against each other. Guan Yun's competitive spirit will surely rise. Don't worry."

Song Li played with her hair, wanting to say more, but her phone rang with a distinctive melody. It was a special ringtone she had set for a particular person, accompanied by a lively and cute avatar flashing on her screen.

She hastily picked up the call. The sweet and innocent "Mom" on the other end of the line caused her heart to tense up. Looking around, the enclosed environment of Shen Fan's office allowed her to relax. "Good girl, remember to call your sister if Mom isn't home, okay?"

"On... sister," the voice on the other end spoke with a hint of disappointment.

"Listen to Auntie, and sister will come back to see you when I'm done. Don't call me unless it's necessary," Song Li soothed in a low voice before hanging up the phone.

Shen Fan frowned. "You're still causing trouble here?"

Song Li's expression turned unnatural, and she reluctantly put away her smile. "President Shen, she's just a child. I won't be at ease sending her away."

"Don't get into any trouble, or even I won't be able to protect you," Shen Fan warned sternly with a darkened face.

Song Li acknowledged with a nod, then left the office rather coldly. Shen Fan watched her retreating figure. "Grass by the nest may taste good, but it's not easy to digest."

At the Jiangzhou Film Studio, Tang Fei wrapped up her day's shooting. The eye-catching and domineering Hummer limousine, driven by He Zhou, had already arrived at the location for the next day's shoot. He made sure Tang Fei was sound asleep before stepping out and boarding a car arranged by the production team back to the hotel.

Four or five minutes after He Zhou left, Tang Fei's brow twitched slightly. She cracked one eye open to sneak a peek. The dimly lit compartment was now devoid of He Zhou. She let out a sigh of relief and sat up from the bed.

Before her eyes were layers of admiration from her peers, small red brocade bags that, when lined up, formed the number twelve.

Colleagues admired her acting skills too much, so she took a unique path and gained admiration for her textile craftsmanship instead?

If there was ever a show showcasing boxing skills in the future, she would definitely participate and surely earn loads of admiration.

Twelve lucky bags!

A twelve-in-a-row draw!

Tang Fei exhaled on her fingertips, employing the speed she used to snatch red envelopes in the chat group. Within three seconds, she opened all twelve.

Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap!

The consecutive sounds of opening the lucky bags were delightfully pleasing to the ear.