Chapter 101 Film and Television Base

Chapter 101: Production Lot

But Ling Song quickly refocused on the script. This was his first starring role, and he wanted to pour everything into it. Even if Han Ming came down harder on him later, even if he were left with nothing again, at least at this moment, his spirit was content.

Just as the dust settled, Jian Sha signed a copyright transfer agreement with Jiang Huaiyuan’s company. Meanwhile, Rockheart Publishing also passed the final review, and *West Window Strange Tales* was greenlit for print.

It was two wins at once for Jian Sha, and her creative drive surged even stronger.

Lu Guifan’s patent fee arrived in his account. Staring at the figure, he went out of his way to Jiang Ruotang’s home and laid out every detail without holding back.

Jiang Ruotang’s eyes lit up instantly. “Eighty-five million dollars? You’re amazing! I’m so impressed!”

Lu Guifan felt a restless impulse under Jiang Ruotang’s wide, shining eyes. In the past, he hadn’t understood things like hormones or impulses. But now he knew—when Jiang Ruotang got close to him, his dopamine flooded his system, and his brain was in a state of pure bliss. Before Jiang Ruotang could react, Lu Guifan leaned in and kissed him.

The surprise kiss nearly made Jiang Ruotang’s heart leap out of his chest. To make matters worse, a knock sounded at the door—it was Sister Juan bringing fruit.

In contrast, Lu Guifan remained as stone-faced as if nothing had happened. He even took the plate from Sister Juan and thanked her calmly.

For the first time, Jiang Ruotang deeply realized that Lu Guifan was truly a master at keeping a straight face. This stone-faced composure… even the most cunning old foxes on the board of directors couldn’t pull it off.

“I’ve thought about it. I’ll set aside two million USD for my parents. With the rest, I want to buy a cozy apartment between Capital Science and Technology University and the art academy—in both our names. It can serve as your studio and… if I’m not in the lab, we can spend time together there. Of course, if you don’t want to… that’s fine too—”

Jiang Ruotang nodded eagerly. “I do! I do! Of course I do!”

A small smirk tugged at Lu Guifan’s lips, and Jiang Ruotang suddenly realized if he’d been too eager.

“But… who buys a house in their boyfriend’s name? Even if we do, it should be in your parents’ names.”

Lu Guifan tilted his head slightly, and even through his glasses, Jiang Ruotang could sense the teasing in his gaze.

“Putting the house in your name is my way of asking you to be accountable for me.”

“Huh? Accountable?” Jiang Ruotang thought—*already?*

Though he’d already imagined them getting married elsewhere after graduation, hearing it from Lu Guifan’s lips now made him a little shy.

“Mm. In the studio I prepare for you, you can only paint me—no other subjects, male or female, young or old.”

Jiang Ruotang paused, finally realizing that Lu Guifan was still bothered by the incident of Ling Song falling asleep in his studio.

“You’re jealous because I painted another man?” Jiang Ruotang leaned in, scrutinizing Lu Guifan’s expression.

He had always thought Lu Guifan was rational and composed, someone who would understand that Jiang Ruotang couldn’t possibly paint only him—there would always be different models. Getting hung up on something like this didn’t seem like Lu Guifan’s style.

To his surprise, Lu Guifan admitted bluntly, “Yes, I mind.”

“Huh? Wh—why?”

“Isn’t the answer obvious? Because the man who fell asleep on your studio sofa is handsome, well-built, and has a distinct vibe—exactly your type. I know I can’t dictate what you paint, but in a space that belongs to you and me, I want to be your only subject. Is that too much to ask?”

Lu Guifan’s expression was solemn and earnest. Even under the warm glow of the desk lamp, his amber eyes seemed bottomless.

A slow smile spread across Jiang Ruotang’s face as he played with the hem of Lu Guifan’s shirt. “Well… then you’ll have to make sure I can see you… and touch you.”

Lu Guifan exhaled in defeat and closed his eyes. He instinctively tried to close his knees, but Jiang Ruotang deliberately held them apart, lowering his gaze with a smirk. “Let me look!”

Lu Guifan pressed a palm against Jiang Ruotang’s forehead. “Do you really think just looking will be enough?”

“Then… you should learn.”

Even though he knew Jiang Ruotang was just provoking, Lu Guifan’s heart still pounded wildly.

“Fine. I’ll study hard. But don’t run away once I’ve learned.”

At that, Jiang Ruotang suddenly grew nervous. He covered Lu Guifan’s eyes with his hands. “If you’re going to learn, no watching R-rated movies, no looking at other people’s bodies. You… you can just read academic journals.”

Lu Guifan let out a soft laugh. “I didn’t know there were academic journals on this?”

“You’re so smart—I’m sure you’ll find some!”

Lu Guifan’s smile deepened as he kissed Jiang Ruotang’s palm.

Jiang Ruotang felt incredibly happy. Ever since they got together, Lu Guifan had been smiling so much more.

But since Lu Guifan had admitted to minding Ling Song, there were some things Jiang Ruotang needed to clarify in advance.

“Um… I’m planning to start a talent agency with Hongtian Borui, Chicheng Pictures, and Mu Xianqing. Qin Zhanchao has already taken the lead in influencer marketing. But I… I want to nurture and support young actors with real talent—focus on quality. The first artist we want to sign is Ling Song.” Though Jiang Ruotang watched Lu Guifan’s expression carefully, he laid it out plainly.

Lu Guifan nodded faintly. “I don’t know much about talent agencies, but if you sign him, you’ll be his boss, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then go ahead. Employees are more reliable than models—after all, in your value system, you keep work and personal matters strictly separate. Once he becomes your employee, even if he pines desperately for you, you wouldn’t be tempted.”

Lu Guifan’s tone was calm and natural, but what truly surprised Jiang Ruotang was that he had never voiced this belief before. Yet Lu Guifan had seen right through his thoughts and boundaries?

“In that case… could you come with me to talk to him?” Jiang Ruotang rubbed his neck, looking at Lu Guifan with slight embarrassment.

For once, Lu Guifan looked puzzled. “Why? I’m not skilled at persuading people to sign contracts.”

Jiang Ruotang briefly explained how Ling Song had been suppressed and retaliated against by Han Ming of Cefeng Pictures.

“So if you come with me, I’ll introduce you as my boyfriend—to reassure him that my heart is already taken, and I won’t… bully him like Han Ming did.”

Jiang Ruotang substituted “bully” for “exploit,” though Ling Song’s ordeal had gone far beyond mere exploitation—it was more like Han Ming’s showbiz power play.

But when he said “my heart is already taken,” the corners of Lu Guifan’s lips seemed impossible to suppress.

“Alright, I’ll go with you.” Lu Guifan nodded.

Jiang Ruotang’s smirk was downright smug.

*Drunken Immortal Terrace* was still in production, so if Jiang Ruotang wanted to meet Ling Song, he’d have to make a trip to the production lot in the outskirts of Sheng City.

Originally, Xiao Gao was supposed to drive them, but Jiang Ruotang knew his own habits too well—now that he’d finally gotten Lu Guifan, he would be all over him. Even in the back seat, Xiao Gao could still see them through the rearview mirror, and Jiang Ruotang would have to hold back from groping Lu Guifan.

So, Jiang Ruotang decided to take the bus to the production lot instead.

“The bus? We’d have to go to the station first, then ride for an hour and a half. Can you handle that?” Lu Guifan lowered his gaze, checking the bus schedule for tomorrow on his phone.

Jiang Ruotang smirked with a devilish grin. “I can handle it, don’t worry. The question is—can you?”

“Hm? Why wouldn’t I be able to?”

“Guess.”

What Jiang Ruotang wanted was to covertly tease Lu Guifan—to watch him squirm but stay composed, preferably with a sheen of sweat on his temples and flushed cheeks, telling him, “Behave yourself.”

Jiang Ruotang toyed with the fruit on his plate, looking cockily satisfied with his little scheme, completely missing the knowing smile on Lu Guifan’s lips.

Since they were heading to the film/tv set the next day, Jiang Ruotang made Lu Guifan stay over.

After showering that night, Lu Guifan came into the room towel-drying his hair and saw Jiang Ruotang sitting cross-legged on the floor, packing snacks, fruits, and drinks into a backpack. A baseball cap from the same brand was also placed on the table, which made Lu Guifan laugh.

"Ruo Tang, you look like a grade-schooler preparing for a field trip," Lu Guifan said as he walked over, hunkering down hands-on-knees to peer at him.

"Really?" Jiang Ruotang patted the backpack. "But you're the one carrying it."

Lu Guifan crouched beside him and quietly tossed in sunscreen and other essentials.

"Why aren’t you saying anything?" Jiang Ruotang cocked his head.

"It’s just… I really like the vibe of ‘I’ll carry your bag because you’re my boyfriend,’" Lu Guifan replied.

The next second, Jiang Ruotang suddenly pinned him down and sat on top of him, grinning like a troublemaker.

"That’s right, I’m your boyfriend. You just came out all shower-fresh—mind if I check you out?"

Lu Guifan sighed helplessly, tilting his head back before grabbing Jiang Ruotang by the waist. "Why are you so obsessed with ogling people’s abs? Is it a habit from studying muscle diagrams?"

"I don’t like looking at other people’s abs—just yours. How does a bookworm like you have such rock-hard abs? Do you secretly do crunches at home every night?"

"Sometimes when I’m bored, I do. But I can’t make too much noise, or the downstairs neighbors will bitch, so crunches are a good option."

Jiang Ruotang pulled a jealous face. "Look at this! While the rest of us were getting our souls crushed from the college entrance exams, you just happened to develop your abs out of boredom!"

"Later, I spent every night recording videos to tutor you, so I barely had time to exercise."

"Ah… Did I hold you back?"

"Alright, look if you want. After that, we should sleep. We have to wake up early tomorrow to catch the bus."

With that, Lu Guifan adopted an "I’m all yours" stance, waiting for Jiang Ruotang to lift his pajama top.

"I want to see your abs… and Little Boat Lu too."

"Huh? What’s Little Boat Lu?"

Just as Jiang Ruotang shot him a devilish grin, Lu Guifan suddenly realized and grabbed his wrist.

"What are you doing?"

"Ah, well, a little boat must eventually sail into the ocean! And my eyes are that ocean!"

"Dream on."

Lu Guifan flexed his core and flipped Jiang Ruotang over effortlessly.

"You’re so young—what’s going on in that head of yours all day…" Lu Guifan trailed off as he noticed Jiang Ruotang curling up.

"What’s wrong? Did you bump into something? I didn’t use much force…"

Jiang Ruotang curled up even tighter, his head nearly buried in his knees.

Only his exposed neck was flushed bright red.

In that instant, Lu Guifan understood what had happened. He found it amusing—how could Jiang Ruotang, the one who loved teasing others, lose control first? At the same time, his throat tightened with the urge to devour Jiang Ruotang curled up like a shrimp.

Leaning down, Lu Guifan traced Jiang Ruotang’s ear with his nose before his lips, his lips quirking, disappeared into the crook of Jiang Ruotang’s neck.

"Ruo Tang, how dare you start sailing without me?"

Jiang Ruotang stubbornly maintained his "Try and make me budge" attitude.

The sheer strength Lu Guifan had displayed when flipping him over had just wrecked him.

One more second, and the more he thought about it… the hotter it got. Then, Jiang Ruotang’s ship came in.

Lu Guifan kissed Jiang Ruotang’s chin, his voice soft but steady. "How about you show me first?"

Jiang Ruotang remained silent, still playing stubborn.

Seeing this, Lu Guifan whispered into his ear, "Hmm, should I Google what to do right now?"

Jiang Ruotang’s ears turned even redder. *You clearly know I’m about to set sail—why don’t you just leave and close the door, letting me have my sea?!*

Lu Guifan held the curled-up Jiang Ruotang in his arms while using his other hand to search on his phone. After a while, he gently shook his human shrimp. "Found it. I know what to do now."

*Like hell you do!*

Jiang Ruotang reluctantly lifted his gaze slightly and saw Lu Guifan propping himself up with one hand while the other hovered in front of him. His long fingers pantomimed grabbing something, his expression as serious as if he were solving a century-old math problem on a blackboard.

A buzzing noise filled Jiang Ruotang’s head as he instantly understood what Lu Guifan meant. Just imagining the other’s breath against him made Jiang Ruotang lose it completely.

With sudden strength, he shoved Lu Guifan away, almost eating floor before Lu Guifan swiftly caught him.

"I—I’m going to shower—"

With that, Jiang Ruotang struggled free from his arms, dashed into the bathroom, and slammed the door shut.

Lu Guifan stood there, glanced at his hand, and sighed helplessly.

"All bark and no bite."

That night, Jiang Ruotang lay unusually still, maintaining one position with his back against Lu Guifan, unmoving—so much so that Lu Guifan was thrown off.

Extending an arm, Lu Guifan pulled Jiang Ruotang into his embrace.

The moment Jiang Ruotang tried to turn away, Lu Guifan spoke. "If you keep squirming, I’ll try that trick I looked up on you."

Jiang Ruotang froze immediately.

Satisfied, Lu Guifan closed his eyes.

The next morning, Xiao Gao drove them to the bus depot. The entire way, Jiang Ruotang dozed against Lu Guifan’s shoulder.

"Honestly, if you’re going to the film/tv set, I could’ve just driven you there. The bus won’t be faster than me," Xiao Gao said, shaking his head in confusion.

Lu Guifan chuckled. "But then we’d miss out on the fun of a class field trip."

"Ah… Hahaha… Ruo Tang really is like a child sometimes!"

At the station, Lu Guifan guided Jiang Ruotang’s sleepy head, steering him to the ticket counter. While waiting for the bus, Jiang Ruotang blatantly snoozed in Lu Guifan’s arms.

During summer break, the film/tv set attracted not only older folks but also students hoping to spot celebrities.

Lu Guifan, with his tall frame and the stylish layered shirt Jiang Ruotang had picked for him, looked sharp. His long legs added to his charm, and even his usually thick black frames now looked fashionable.

A girl approached using the excuse of asking about the bus schedule before attempting to ask for his number. Lu Guifan simply buried his face in Jiang Ruotang’s hair in response.

"Sorry, my boyfriend's a bit jealous."

The girl had initially hoped the person in his arms was just a tired friend, but turns out it really was his boyfriend!

Jiang Ruotang muttered and turned his head in Lu Guifan's (Gui Fan) embrace. "I'm not jealous!"

"Then I'll just give her my number."

"No." Jiang Ruotang rubbed his eyes, still groggy, but when he lifted his head, there was a hint of warning in his eyes.

The bus arrived, and Jiang Ruotang dragged Lu Guifan to the very back corner seat.

Soon the entire bus was packed. Most of the older folks gathered in the front rows, chatting away.

In contrast, quite a few young people ended up sitting around Lu Guifan.

Jiang Ruotang deliberately pulled his baseball cap low, adjusting the angle so others couldn’t see his eyes. He pretended to sleep while keeping an eye on everyone.

For example, diagonally across from them, someone had turned sideways, placing their phone between the two seatbacks—clearly trying to snap a photo of Lu Guifan.

That guy looked like a photographer or something, with a professional camera hanging around his neck. Probably a fan cameraman.

Jiang Ruotang thought, *To see through those old-man glasses and recognize Lu Guifan’s good looks—you’ve got taste. Here’s a couples’ shot for you.*

Right as the guy snapped the photo, Jiang Ruotang tilted his head, letting it drop perfectly on Lu Guifan’s shoulder. Lu Guifan looked down at him, and that exact moment was captured.

Next to Lu Guifan sat two girls, one of whom had earlier tried to ask for his number.

Even though they knew he had a boyfriend, that didn’t stop them from enjoying the view.

Just how good-looking Lu Guifan was, Jiang Ruotang knew better than anyone. So he interlaced their fingers and gave a firm squeeze.

Lu Guifan lowered his head and chuckled, then turned to the girl politely. "Look at the view, not me."

"Huh?" The girl froze, blushing instantly, and apologized repeatedly.

Lu Guifan raised the hand Jiang Ruotang was holding. "It’s fine. I just don’t want to upset him."

The girls paused, then suddenly started laughing.

"But we all think you’re really handsome! Once we get to the studio lot, some agent will definitely scout you and ask if you want to be an actor."

"Yeah, you’re so tall too! If you wore historical costumes, you’d look so elegant!"

"Your nose is so well-defined! My uncle has the same black-framed glasses, but his always slide down. Yours stay perfectly in place—has anyone ever told you your eyes are really nice?"

Hearing this, Jiang Ruotang felt both proud and happy.

"Yeah. The first person in the world to praise my eyes was my boyfriend."

Mentioning Jiang Ruotang, Lu Guifan smiled—a rare occurrence.

The girls giggled. "Well, your boyfriend’s a looker too! A very sleepy hottie!"

Jiang Ruotang could sense their kindness and acceptance, and it inexplicably cheered him up.

Halfway through the ride, one of the girls started feeling sick and ended up vomiting at a gas station.

Jiang Ruotang nudged Lu Guifan with his elbow. "There are anti-nausea patches in the bag. Get one for her."

Lu Guifan lowered his head, studying Jiang Ruotang’s expression closely. "Since it’s your kindness, why don’t you give it to them yourself?"

"They’re only feeling worse staring at you. Just standing in front of them would be enough to lift their spirits."

Jiang Ruotang pushed Lu Guifan again, urging him to go.

Compared to the misunderstandings Lu Guifan faced in high school, Jiang Ruotang loved seeing him accepted and understood by others.

Lu Guifan gave his hair a quick ruffle, then took the anti-nausea patch to the girl who looked queasy. Jiang Ruotang stood nearby with the bag, unsure what exactly Lu Guifan said, but the two girls soon waved at him with smiles, thanking him when they got back on the bus.

Just as Jiang Ruotang wished for the world to treat Lu Guifan with kindness and understanding, Lu Guifan wished the same for him.

After a while longer, they finally arrived at the studio lot.

Just the ticket line at the entrance was packed. Jiang Ruotang glanced at Lu Guifan, sensing their trip wouldn’t go smoothly.

Sure enough, inside, multiple crews were filming, and fan cameramen and fans were doing whatever it takes to catch glimpses of their favorite stars—some even climbing trees, leaving Jiang Ruotang stunned.

Everywhere was crowded, with tour group flags waving around. Photo spots had long lines—"two minutes on the throne, two hours waiting" was no joke.

While crossing an arched bridge, Jiang Ruotang’s hat got knocked off by a tourist’s parasol, nearly falling into the moat below. Luckily, Lu Guifan, quick as lightning, stretched out an arm and caught it, placing it back on Jiang Ruotang’s head.

Someone on the opposite bank saw this and exclaimed, "So smooth—"

Jiang Ruotang grinned, reaching back to grab Lu Guifan’s hand—only to hear a boisterous laugh.

"Hey, young man, trying to hold your lover’s hand? Wrong one!"

Jiang Ruotang quickly withdrew his hand, muttering apologies. Just then, someone squeezed beside him, an arm slung over his shoulder and pulling him forward.

As expected of Lu Guifan—his arm strength was still unmatched, exuding safety.

They finally escaped the crowd, though the auntie’s laughter seemed to linger.

Jiang Ruotang rubbed his nose. "Maybe... we should head to Dad’s filming set first..."

Lu Guifan couldn’t bear to see Jiang Ruotang pushed around anymore. "Sure. I’ve never seen a filming set anyway."

Jiang Ruotang smiled again, whipping out his phone to text Jiang Huaiyuan: *Dad, the studio lot is jam-packed. Gui Fan and I are getting squished. We’re coming to your set—let the crew know to let us in, okay?*

They waited a while, but Jiang Huaiyuan didn’t reply—probably mid-shoot and wouldn’t check his phone until the scene was done.

Jiang Ruotang gave Lu Guifan an apologetic look, but Lu Guifan just shook his head, pulling out tissues to wipe the sweat from Jiang Ruotang’s neck.

"How about we grab a bite over there and rest?"

Jiang Ruotang looked up. It was a mock-ancient building with a tall tower. People at the top seemed to be drinking and taking photos, with a view overlooking the entire studio lot.

"I remember... it’s pretty expensive there."

"Really? They’ve gotta have ice cream." Lu Guifan didn’t care, pulling Jiang Ruotang along.

When the crowd thinned, his hold relaxed a little, but the moment it thickened, his fingers tightened.

Every time, Jiang Ruotang would instinctively glance at Lu Guifan’s back, wishing the crowd would get even thicker—so Lu Guifan would squeeze even tighter.

Truthfully, Lu Guifan didn’t need to worry about holding too tight and hurting Jiang Ruotang.

Sometimes, that little pain made this happiness feel real.

Finally arriving at their destination, they were surprised to find an elevator inside the building. To reach the tower's top, they had to make a reservation—otherwise, it would cost an extra hundred yuan per person as a sightseeing fee.

Jiang Ruotang almost wanted to shout, "This is highway robbery!" The TV tower in Sheng City only charged thirty-eight yuan to go up to the 88th floor!

But then Lu Guifan gently patted the top of Jiang Ruotang's head through his baseball cap and said, "Since we're already here, let's go up. I've never seen the entire film set from above before."

After paying, they stepped into the elevator. The blast of cool air inside made Jiang Ruotang let out a relieved sigh, as if he had finally been rescued.

Lu Guifan gave a soft chuckle.

"What are you laughing at?"

"I was just thinking, if you were a puppy, you'd be tongue hanging out by now."

"You're the puppy!"

When the elevator doors opened, they found the top floor was rather cramped—no wonder they had to limit the number of visitors.

The interior had a classic antique style, while the exterior featured a semi-open area.

There were quite a few die-hard fans willing to splurge, each with cameras and long lenses propped up against the outer walls, though it was unclear what exactly they were trying to capture.

Jiang Ruotang, completely drained from the sun, slouched over a small table, eyes heavy-lidded as he soaked up the AC. Worried he might catch a chill, Lu Guifan draped a sun jacket from his backpack over him before going to buy ice cream.

The ice cream set here was impressively crafted, shaped like a tiered ancient building and served on an antique-style tray.

When Lu Guifan set the tray down, Jiang Ruotang picked up a spoon and hesitated, reluctant to ruin the delicate design.

"If you don't eat it, it'll just melt anyway," Lu Guifan said with amusement before knocking off the "roof" of the palace-shaped dessert and holding it out to Jiang Ruotang. "My liege, please take the first bite."

"Heh." Jiang Ruotang opened his mouth and ate the "palace roof."

Once it was in his stomach, it felt like he owned it forever.

They stayed there for a while longer before Jiang Huaiyuan finally replied to the message: [Son, where are you? I’ll have Xiao Xu pick you up!]

Jiang Ruotang lazily typed back: [We’re at the tallest tower in the film base.]

Soon after, Xiao Xu arrived on a golf cart to pick them up.

Jiang Ruotang and Lu Guifan sat in the back, shaded from the sun as the summer air washed over them, heavy with summer heat. Jiang Ruotang leaned back against the seat, eyes heavy-lidded, his fringe fluttering with the cart’s movement over the cobbled path. Lu Guifan watched him, suddenly hit by the urge to pull him into an embrace. But with Xiao Xu driving ahead, he had to settle for casually draping an arm over the backrest, letting it casually rest behind Jiang Ruotang.

Jiang Ruotang dozed off, only to jerk awake when the cart hit a bump, his head landing on Lu Guifan’s arm.

Blinking, he turned to look at Lu Guifan, expecting him to be gazing at the scenery—but instead, Lu Guifan was staring directly at him, unashamed.

Jiang Ruotang grinned and crooked his finger at him, as if he had something to say.

Though Lu Guifan could already guess what he wanted, he leaned in anyway, face impassive.

Sure enough, Jiang Ruotang gave him a peck on the cheek, then wore a triumphant grin.

He expected Lu Guifan to blush and pretend nothing happened, but instead, Lu Guifan kept his eyes lowered, his gaze growing more intense. Then, as the cart jolted again, Lu Guifan suddenly tugged down the brim of Jiang Ruotang’s baseball cap and kissed him—so quickly that Jiang Ruotang hardly had time to process the teasing flick against his upper lip before it was over.

As the cart smoothed out, Lu Guifan straightened the cap back into place, but Jiang Ruotang’s heart still pounded like a drum.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go!

He had meant to make Lu Guifan blush—so how had he ended up falling into Lu Guifan’s trap?

Worse, sneaking a kiss under a baseball cap had been Jiang Ruotang’s idea from the start. But with Lu Guifan drawing so much attention on the bus earlier, he hadn’t found the right moment to execute it. Turns out, he wasn’t as shameless as he thought.

And now, on this cart, Lu Guifan had beaten him to it, making full use of the cap’s true purpose.

How unfair!

Jiang Ruotang shot Lu Guifan a glare, but Lu Guifan’s face remained unreadable.

What an actor!

The cart bypassed the tourist areas, circling the outer edges of the film base until they reached Jiang Huaiyuan’s set.

This scene was called "Celestial Palace," and the filming was tightly controlled. Since *Drunken Immortal Terrace* didn’t have any big-name actors, there weren’t many fans or paparazzi lurking outside.

Inside, everything was uniform white—though up close, it looked a bit cheap. Still, with some post-production effects, the visuals would probably turn out fine.

Jiang Ruotang tugged Lu Guifan along as they followed Xiao Xu to the filming area.

A twisted pine tree stood at the center, surrounded by camera tracks and multiple setups. The actors wore ancient-style robes and wigs, but several of the men had their lower hems open, revealing Hawaiian shorts and flip-flops—a jarring contrast between celestial elegance and total casualness that made Lu Guifan, a first-time visitor to a film set, push up his glasses in surprise.

Jiang Ruotang, however, was used to it. He pulled Lu Guifan along while scanning the area for Ling Song.

Huh, where was he? Did the male lead not have any scenes today?

But when they’d arranged to meet, Ling Song had said he’d only be free after wrapping for the day.

As they approached Jiang Huaiyuan, they found him going over the scene with the female lead.

Her eyes were red, and she kept wiping at them with a tissue while a makeup artist touched up her face. An assistant stood nearby, holding an umbrella and a handheld fan for her. Though she wasn’t famous, she still had all the amenities.

Jiang Ruotang knew his father well—normally easygoing, but on set, he was as strict as the King of Hell.

He sidled up to the assistant director, whom he was familiar with, and whispered, "Uncle Liu, what’s going on? Did my dad yell at the female lead?"

"Not at all. Cheng Man couldn’t keep up with Ling Song’s acting, so the director called 'cut' repeatedly. Then Ling Song just said, ‘Could you try to be more emotionally invested?’ and she started crying."

Jiang Ruotang chuckled, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "She should be thanking Ling Song. If he hadn’t spoken up, my dad wouldn’t have gone easy on her—she’d be feeling even worse right now."

The assistant director nodded. "You really do know your dad. But now that Cheng Man’s crying, Ling Song ended up looking like the bad guy. He probably didn’t want her resenting him, so he went to the back to read the script."

Jiang Ruotang said "Oh" and immediately dragged Lu Guifan toward the back.

After searching for a while, they finally found Ling Song in a corner, sitting on a small stool. His long legs were bent to avoid tripping passing crew members, and to keep his robes from getting dirty or wrinkled, he had tucked them into his lap. With only the eaves for shade and no fan, he embodied the phrase "mind over matter," quietly reading his script as if in his own world.

He was so absorbed that he didn’t notice Jiang Ruotang approaching—until the sunlight reflecting off the script pages dimmed slightly, as if someone had blocked it with an umbrella.

Looking up, he saw Jiang Ruotang holding a black umbrella over him, smiling mischievously.

"You… why are you here?"

"If I didn’t come, how would I know what’s really going on with you on set?"

Ling Song hesitated, at a loss for words.