Chapter 50: The Storm Before the Start

**Chapter 50: The Calm Before the Storm**

The day before filming began, Huo Kai got a message from Yi Siyu asking him to keep an eye on Jian Ye in S City.

Yi Siyu’s wedding had been fairly low-key within their circle. Aside from Xie Fei, who was a groomsman, everyone else had been unable to make it for various reasons.

This was the first time Huo Kai had heard the name of Yi Siyu’s wife.

It all started when he mentioned in the group chat that Director Wu Xiaozhi was signed under his family’s film company. Yi Siyu noticed and sent him a private message.

"Retired Flower-Growing K": Don’t worry, Boss Yi! I’ll drop everything today and swing by their set myself—how’s that for sincerity?

"Yu": Don’t tease him or scare him—he gets shy easily.

"Retired Flower-Growing K": Hey, what’s that supposed to mean? I’m not some weirdo like Xie Fei!

"Yu": Thanks.

"Retired Flower-Growing K": Brothers don’t say thanks. Old Yi, you’re getting soft since the wedding.

After chatting with Yi Siyu for a bit, Huo Kai tucked away his phone and drove himself to the set.

He’d asked Director Wu earlier—the first scene was at Riverside Bridge. Today was just about doing lighting tests, not the real thing. Tomorrow would be the official start.

...

Several actors had already arrived early, but Jian Ye showed up even earlier than most. His scenes were mostly internal, with very few spoken lines.

Unlike other cast members who needed to do read-throughs together, his part was solo work—more about deep immersion and personal emotion.

In the morning, he arrived with Mo Huan.

Jian Ye glanced at the sky—still gray, the air heavier than yesterday, the wind eerily still.

When Director Wu saw Jian Ye, he broke into a grin. “Xiao Ye’s here… Oh, and Xiao Mo too? You two are joined at the hip.”

Jian Ye nodded. “Just came to check things out. Is tomorrow’s shoot the bridge scene? Doesn’t look like great weather.”

“Forecast calls for rain,” Director Wu explained. “Perfect for the scene.”

“Wait—wasn’t that supposed to be a clear day?” Jian Ye remembered the script described a bright, cloudless sky.

That contrast—such a beautiful day right before the college entrance exams—made the loss of this young life hit even harder.

Director Wu blinked in surprise. “Nope. Who told you we’re doing the jump tomorrow? That’s way later. Tomorrow’s scene is after Luo Ying gets bullied by students, has his umbrella stolen, and walks home alone in the rain. Along the way, he finds a soaked kitten and wraps it in his last jacket.”

Mo Huan thought Jian Ye might be nervous and jumped in, “They won’t dump a heavy scene on a newbie right off the bat. You’ve got time to get used to things. Just follow the camera a few times—you’ll be fine.”

Director Wu smiled but kept quiet.

Mo Huan didn’t realize yet how instinctive the actor he’d recommended was. Only Director Wu knew Jian Ye wasn’t nervous at all—solitary scenes like this were his bread and butter.

As Director Wu spoke with Jian Ye, the background actors playing students eyed him enviously.

They’d caught wind of Jian Ye recently—a freshman who’d suddenly gone viral online.

And here was the usually strict Director Wu actually smiling at him? They never got that kind of attention.

The extras felt awkward approaching Jian Ye, but to their surprise, he walked over and greeted them first. They were thrilled.

They thought a newcomer who suddenly became popular might be a bit arrogant, but they didn’t expect him to be so down-to-earth.

“You and Director Wu seem really close,” one of the background actors whispered.

Jian Ye was taken aback. “I only met Director Wu a few days ago.”

“Wait, really? I’ve worked with Director Wu before—he’s crazy strict and intimidating.”

Mo Huan jumped in. “Director Wu takes his work seriously, but since filming hasn’t started yet today, maybe he just couldn’t stay mad at Xiao Ye because he’s so good-looking.”

The half-joking remark made the aspiring actors around them laugh.

Just then, a fancy car pulled up not far away.

A tall, well-dressed guy stepped out, carrying himself like someone important.

Everyone watched as Director Wu greeted him warmly, though they couldn’t hear what was said.

“Who… is that? Even Director Wu is acting so friendly?”

“A money guy?”

“That young a money guy?”

“He doesn’t look like any famous actor either…”

Where there are young people, people love to speculate.

Jian Ye also glanced over, feeling the guy’s eyes on him for a moment.

Before long, as the group dispersed, the man everyone had pegged as the “money guy” approached him directly.

Jian Ye got defensive, instinctively stepping back a few paces.

Huo Kai had to laugh—the boy was guarding against him like he was some kind of creep—probably something Yi Siyu had warned him about at home.

Like: don’t talk to strange men outside, and if you do, keep at least a meter’s distance.

Huo Kai decided to cut to the chase and held out his hand. “Hey, I’m Huo Kai. You could say I’m a childhood friend of your guy.”

He coughed lightly, lowering his voice slightly on the words “your guy.”

Jian Ye did a double take, lips parting slightly. “Did… Brother Siyu tell you I was filming here?”

Huo Kai nodded with a smile. “Don’t blame him. We were all just curious about the ‘little one’ he won’t shut up about.”

Jian Ye remembered—Yi Siyu had mentioned his old friends. This must be one of them.

“Won’t shut up about me?” The boy tilted his head.

Huo Kai slapped his mouth playfully. “My bad. Not bragging—just… flexing.”

Jian Ye: “…” Peak nonsense.

“Director Wu works for my production company. When I heard you were in this project, I swung by to check it out. Just pretend you don’t know me—no pressure.”

Jian Ye’s mind was blown again.

So he wasn’t just some investor… but the big boss. No wonder even Director Wu had to kiss up to him.

Yi Siyu’s connections had a way of surfacing when you least expected them.

If others found out he had this kind of indirect relationship with the boss of a film company, no one would buy that he landed the role on audition merit alone, right?

Huo Kai had obviously thought this through, which was why he chose more secluded spots to talk to him.

Their chats were always brief too, flying under the radar.

After exchanging introductions, Jian Ye and Huo Kai went their separate ways.

Huo Kai didn’t bolt right away. The second he hit the car, he was already spilling tea with the others in their group chat.

*Group Chat*—

**Retired Gardener K**: Hey! Met Old Yi’s little sweetheart up close. Even I was shook—kid’s unreal cute.

**Old Wang Wants to Go Home**: @Yu

**CEO Qi Who Doesn’t Want to Be CEO**: @Yu

**Gentle as Water, Adaptable as Square and Round**: @Yu

**Yunjing’s Second Finest**: @Yu

**Yunjing’s Second Finest**: Siyu, someone’s got their eyes on your wife. Better lock that down.

**Old Wang Wants to Go Home**: Shit, now I’m tempted to hop a flight to S City.

**Gentle as Water, Adaptable as Square and Round**: Y’all are disgusting. How can you joke about a kid like that?

**Retired Gardener K**: Ren Fangyuan, quit pretending. You’re probably thinking, “Move over, I’ll take it from here!”

Then Yi Siyu popped up.

**Yu**: If you have time, take some photos and videos. Haven’t seen him in days.

Everyone: …

So the real pervert was here all along. The lovey-dovey vibes are leaking through my phone.

**Retired Gardener K**: Ugh… downgraded from CEO to stalker. For you, bro.

…

Jian Ye was blissfully unaware of the dude brigade gossiping about him.

Right now, he was walking alone on the bridge.

The road was blocked off early for the shoot, so there was no one around.

It was 3 PM, and the wind was way gnarlier than at noon, just like his first day in S City.

Someone from the crew shouted in the distance, “Secure the tent! It’s gonna blow!”

No sooner were the words out than the sky dropped like a curtain—Jian Ye had never seen clouds roll in that fast—no buildup, just boom.

He knew right then—this wasn’t just rain… this was a deluge.

The director was already yelling at crew to batten down the gear as the wind kicked up another notch.

The sky was already rumbling, as if heavy clouds were violently clashing.

One drop, two drops, three drops… then came the downpour, coming down in sheets without warning.

"Pack up the equipment!" Everyone frantically carried various props and gear into the vehicles.

Jian Ye also covered his head with his hands, looking for cover from the rain.

Not far away, Mo Huan was running toward him with an umbrella, shouting, "Xiao Ye!"

But soon, Jian Ye watched as Mo Huan's umbrella was torn apart by the gale-force winds.

The storm had arrived so fiercely—why didn’t the weather report warn us? It was as if the heavens had arranged it on purpose.

On purpose?

Jian Ye felt ice in his veins. Only now did he suddenly realize—he was trapped in a novel’s world.

Some things truly made no damn sense.

System 748: Host, a plot event is about to occur here. However, since it involves an insignificant side character, the author brushed past it in one sentence.

Jian Ye: What plot event?

System 748: According to the rules, to unlock future plot points you don’t know, you’ll need to exchange Green Tea Points.

Jian Ye: How much? Just do it now!

For some reason, he felt this plot event was important—an inexplicable intuition that set his nerves on edge.

System 748: 250 Green Tea Points will suffice. You currently have 2,000. After deduction, 1,750 will remain. Making the exchange now. Please wait…

While the system was making the exchange, Mo Huan had already reached Jian Ye. He grabbed his arm, "The bridge has no cover. There’s a building about a hundred meters ahead where we can take shelter."

The boy’s clothes were drenched, his glasses covered in water streaming down.

Jian Ye was pulled along for a few steps before the system in his mind began revealing the exchanged plot.

System 748: In the original book, the villain’s half-sister dies today. Cause of death: drowning.

Jian Ye: What?! You don’t mean… in this river, do you?

System 748: After his sister’s death, the villain goes completely off the rails. Later, in Yun Jing, he becomes mortal enemies with the Top Protagonist, locked in brutal conflict over the Bottom Protagonist.

Jian Ye: ???

Holy shit! What soap opera nonsense is this?!

Jian Ye’s mind flooded with an image—two men going at each other's throats on a rooftop, the Bottom Protagonist pleading from the sidelines: "Stop fighting, you two!"

Author’s Words

CEO Yi: Day two of missing my wife.

Jian Ye thought: Your wife’s as good as gone.