Chapter 180 180 Filming Routine

Chapter 180: A Day on Set

Life on set is way more boring than people think. If the filming location is in the middle of nowhere, there’s practically no entertainment beyond shooting scenes all day.

The filming location for *Night Sky Observations* was chosen in several scenic spots across the country with unique landscapes and beautiful views. The area was pretty well-equipped, so it wasn’t as rough as the shoot for *Fearless Life*.

Lu Xu didn’t bring his bicycle this time.

The filming sites were either in the mountains or nothing but hills. Even if he could ride, it’d be a pain, and wiping out wouldn’t be fun.

"Still better than the drama Shao Yao filmed last time—she got so sunburned you could barely tell it was her," Zheng Xiao remarked. "You should’ve brought a camera."

Lu Xu hadn’t brought one initially but just grabbed one there. On days without filming and under clear skies, he’d wander around the scenic area taking photos. To be honest, he was… not great at taking photos. When he showed the photos to the crew’s cinematographer, the latter gave a diplomatic reply, likely since he was the star.

Lu Xu: "...Alright then."

He wasn’t a professional, after all.

From the day Lu Xu started carrying his camera around, the hashtag #SpottedLuXu quietly appeared on Weibo.

"NO WAY guess who I saw at XX scenic spot today?! I heard the tour guide mention a crew filming nearby this morning but didn’t think much of it—until—AAAAAHHHH first time seeing Lu Xu in person! He totally glows in person!"

"...Still clueless he’s famous, classic. LMAO."

"As someone working in C City, I rent near Lu Xu’s place but have never seen him cycling by. Then I take one trip back home, and boom—Lu Xu shows up right outside my house! Hahaha, got both an autograph and a selfie."

"So jealous of everyone who got his signature!"

"Of course, I didn’t bother him. The crew rarely gets days off, and since there aren’t many locals around—mostly tourists—Lu Xu gets spotted often but isn’t harassed by paparazzi. I even saw him and Li Yan strolling through a nearby market together. Two-for-one celeb sighting!"

"AAAAAHHHH Li Yan too?! Beyond jealous!!"

Lu Xu was the one spotted most often. As for Li Yan—after spending some time together, Lu Xu realized the man was actually a total introvert. Though he’d learned to work a room after years in the industry, at his core, he preferred peace and quiet, steered clear of crowds, and kept it short unless he had to talk.

Still, he’d occasionally agree when Lu Xu invited him out for a walk.

Soon, the hashtag #SpottedLuXu evolved into #SpottedLuXuAndLiYan.

Both Lu Xu and Li Yan were now in their 30s. Lu Xu, having debuted in an idol group, still had passionate fans, though their hype died down as his career stabilized and his public appearances became less frequent. His fanbase was steady but nothing like the crazy fans of younger stars.

Lu Xu never considered himself part of the "mature" celebrity crowd—after all, many of the current leading men in hit dramas were only a few years younger than him.

Occasionally, though, he’d check the hot searches and realize he didn’t recognize half the names. Some were new actors, others were idol groups launched by agencies—like Ling Ge Entertainment’s latest attempt to replicate Verse’s past glory. Then there were those who entered the industry through variety shows, talent competitions, or as influencers—total strangers to Lu Xu.

At times like these, he had to admit there was indeed a generation gap between him and younger stars.

When he shared this thought with Zheng Xiao and Shao Yao, they both agreed: "...Don’t worry, we don’t know them either."

Lu Xu was satisfied with that.

Though neither he nor Li Yan had rabid fanbases, both enjoyed high general public favorability in the entertainment industry. So under #SpottedLuXuAndLiYan, photos with them weren’t just from young fans but also beaming aunties and uncles.

"One tourist from Bai Qianshan’s hometown took several photos with Lu Xu, saying their whole family adored his portrayal of Bai Qianshan and had watched the movie multiple times in theaters."

"That area barely had visitors before, but this year, it’s seen a surge in tourists—many of whom came after watching *Fearless Life*."

"That’s the power of a great character. Go pup!!"

"When Lu Xu took on that fantasy movie, I was actually quite worried for him. But seeing him stand next to Li Yan, I suddenly felt at ease. Who else understands this feeling?"

"Same here. These two working together is twice as reassuring."

"Hahaha, let’s not hype it up too much yet. What if it flops like *Sanctuary*? Fantasy films haven’t had a box office hit in years. Don’t be overconfident—Lu Xu isn’t *that* amazing."

"...Even if it flops, he’s still got the *Contention Award* for Best Actor and *Fearless Life*, *Reversal City*, and *Feather of Youth* to fall back on."

"LMAO, as if Lu Xu’s past films never happened? What about *Deception*, which grossed over $4 billion worldwide? And if you’re willing to acknowledge TV actors, there’s also his *Best Actor in a Television Series* award and multiple hit TV shows. Every step Lu Xu has taken counts, okay?"

Online, there are always voices doubting Lu Xu. Fans used to argue back, but now they just ignore them—Lu Xu’s achievements are solid, yet some still willfully ignore them. Why bother waking someone who’s pretending to sleep?

No matter what Lu Xu films, these people will list countless *Reasons Why Lu Xu Is Doomed to Fail*. A couple of years ago, fans even compiled statistics: if all the premature criticisms of Lu Xu since *The Noble Son* were printed, the PDF alone would run over a thousand pages.

...

Occasionally, Lu Xu posts his photography online.

Fans: "Well... let’s force some compliments. At least he’s trying?"

"Such great shots, so brilliant, really highlights the subject."

"...How about a selfie to prove your skills?"

The reason fans say Lu Xu’s photos "highlight the subject" is because he gets obsessively close to flowers and plants—vibrant colors, but composition? Practically nonexistent.

Soon after, fans noticed Zheng Xiao and Shao Yao seemed to have coordinated with Lu Xu, posting their own photos too.

"Now we know why the Shandi Group are such good friends. A trio of so-called 'geniuses,' huh?"

"...Nice shots. Never do it again. Just stick to biking, you three."

"LMAO, give Lu Xu a break. He’s the first puppy in history who can take his own photos. Besides, he barely promotes as it is. If he starts photographing more, we’ll be bumping into the pup everywhere."

So fans collectively decided to forgive Lu Xu. The top comments on his Weibo were all praise, fueling his photography enthusiasm even further.

Fans: "..."

Fine.

He’s handsome. We’ll let it slide.

Fans especially love seeing Lu Xu like this—no matter when, as long as it’s related to acting, he’s always full of energy, always shining.

Whether watching his work or seeing him at promotional events, fans rarely catch a glimpse of exhaustion on his face. His joy is contagious, so they know—Lu Xu is truly happy as an actor.

...

Thanks to the chemistry between Lu Xu and Li Yan, *Night Sky Observations* finished shooting faster than expected. For Lu Xu, the role itself wasn’t overly challenging—Wei Qingfang didn’t require deep analysis, and his character background was simple.

But with many special effects scenes, Lu Xu had to act against green screens. Beyond that, the filming locations were stunning. Yue Chen insisted on capturing the most beautiful natural scenery, so actors often waited hours for the perfect shot.

Lu Xu didn’t consider *Night Sky Observations* an unchallenging project. On the contrary, since every director’s approach differs, Yue Chen’s style offered a fresh perspective. Lu Xu got to witness firsthand how a VFX-heavy film comes to life.

Even the settings carried meaning. *Fearless Life* used desolate landscapes near research bases to mirror Bai Qianshan’s psyche and the scientists’ struggles—environment reinforcing perseverance. But *Night Sky Observations* aimed purely to awe the audience with beauty.

As the lead, Lu Xu wasn’t overly busy. The director and crew bore the heavier workload. On Lu Xu’s off days, the director juggled endless tasks, coordinating with VFX teams and revising plans. New ideas meant all-nighters.

Lu Xu felt that, though the film industry was complex, the directors he’d worked with were all genuinely good people.

People may have different personalities, but when it comes to their work, they never slack off.

Yue Chen is an old hand at fantasy films, yet Lu Xu feels that he’s so meticulous it’s like it’s his first time directing.

Yue Chen is incredibly dedicated, and the whole crew is just as committed. The cinematographers and screenwriters have tons of experience, and the special effects makeup artists’ techniques are so impressive that even Lu Xu is amazed by the various looks they create for him.

Though filming is still underway, Lu Xu can’t wait to see the final cut of *Night Sky Observations*.

He personally believes the script could really hook the audience. As an experienced actor, Lu Xu has full confidence in his judgment.

……

From spring to summer, *Night Sky Observations* progressed steadily, with filming being extremely meticulous. Spring was manageable, but in summer, Lu Xu occasionally had to wear motion-capture sensors and attach tracking dots to his face, which made the heat almost too much to handle.

Since Wei Qingfang is human, Lu Xu didn’t have to wear tracking dots too often, but the actors playing supernatural creatures had a way tougher time. Yue Chen tried scheduling these scenes for cooler periods, but by late April, the heat stayed hot well into September, and even October wasn’t much cooler.

Additionally, the script included fight scenes and various one-time props designed for visual effects. While the audience would find them stunning, the actors said filming those scenes was downright brutal.

In July, one scene required dense smoke effects. The crew went over safety precautions again and again, and everything seemed secure. Lu Xu happened to be acting opposite an actor playing a monster, and both ended up choking on the smoke. Lu Xu got out fast, but the other actor, weighed down by a thick costume, coughed for days afterward—fortunately, his lungs were unharmed.

Yue Chen had no choice but to postpone filming that scene.

Lu Xu didn’t lose weight during *Fearless Life*, but after joining *Night Sky Observations*, he lost almost eight pounds. This made Zheng Xiao incredibly envious: "How do you two lose weight so easily?"

Zheng Xiao isn’t prone to weight gain, but he bloats up, sometimes looking a little puffy on camera if he’s not careful. Lu Xu jokingly suggested he endorse hyaluronic acid, but Shao Yao misheard it as "uric acid" and thought he was endorsing urea.

Zheng Xiao: "...If I ever endorse urea, the first bag will be diluted to water my peonies."

Lu Xu: "..."

Now he’s started calling Shao Yao "Peony" like Zheng Xiao does. Zheng Xiao keeps emphasizing urea so much that Lu Xu worries he might accidentally call Zheng Xiao "Urea" one day.

Zheng Xiao: "...Think better of me."

He’s come to realize—there’s not a single normal person in this group.