Chinese entertainment: What's wrong with actresses wanting to improve?

Chapter 74 Visiting the Set

After spending two days on the set of "The Nameless", Fu Yibai did not return to Beijing, but instead boarded a plane to Zhejiang.

The Legend of Sword and Fairy 1 is currently filming scenes of Fairy Island in Lishui City.

Now that the filming of "Chinese Paladin 1" is more than halfway done, both Cai Yinong and Liu Yifei have invited him to visit the set several times.

Now that filming for "Thirty-Three Days" has wrapped up, he happened to have some free time, so he decided to come and take a look.

April 5, Lishui, Zhejiang.

After flying from Chongqing to Hangzhou and then transferring to Lishui, it was already 6 p.m. when we finally arrived at the hotel where the "Chinese Paladin" crew was staying.

The film crew booked two small buildings in a local resort, nestled against the mountains and beside the water, in a tranquil environment.

As soon as Fu Yibai's car came to a stop, he saw Cai Yinong already waiting at the door.

"Director Fu, we've been waiting for you to come."

Today, Tsai Yinong wore a light gray knitted cardigan, her long hair loosely tied up. She seemed much more relaxed than when we met in Beijing, and her smile seemed more genuine.

"I am flattered that President Cai personally greeted me."

Fu Yibai got out of the car and shook hands with her.

Cai Yinong smiled and withdrew her hand, then stepped aside to lead the way.

"Yifei has been talking about you since this morning when she heard you were coming."

After filming ended in the afternoon, she asked me if I had arrived yet, without even removing her makeup.

"That's my fault for making the young lady wait so long."

The two walked into the resort, chatting and laughing.

The crew has no night shoots tonight, and the actors have all finished work.

Cai Yinong led Fu Yibai through the courtyard, and they could faintly hear laughter coming from afar.

"Everyone should be in the restaurant, let's go over there."

Cai Yinong led him toward the restaurant.

The restaurant is the resort's largest private room, with two round tables pushed together, where the main cast and crew of the film crew sat around.

When the door opened, Liu Yifei was the first to react.

She was sitting near the door, fiddling with her phone when she heard a noise, looked up, and her eyes lit up the moment she saw Fu Yibai.

"Brother Yibai!"

She practically jumped up, the chair scraping loudly on the floor, but she didn't care. She ran to the door in a few strides, looked up at him, and smiled with her eyes crinkling.

"You've finally arrived!"

"If I said I would come, I definitely will."

Fu Yibai looked at her. Her face was thinner than when they last met, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes, obviously from the fatigue of filming.

But those eyes still shone like stars, filled with pure joy.

"She's lost weight, but she's still very pretty."

Liu Yifei was stunned for a moment, then her face turned slightly red, and she said softly.

"It's filming, that's normal..."

Cai Yinong laughed and joked from the side.

"Yifei, Director Fu just got out of the car and hasn't even had a sip of water yet, and you're blocking the entrance and not letting him in?"

Liu Yifei then realized what was happening, quickly stepped aside, and stuck out her tongue sheepishly.

"Come in quickly, come in quickly!"

She reached out to pull on Fu Yibai's sleeve, but pulled back halfway, just watching him walk inside with longing eyes.

Everyone in the private room had already stood up.

Director Li Guoli was the first to greet Fu Yibai, shaking his hands with sincerity.

"Director Fu, it's an honor to meet you! You've won so many major awards in Berlin, you've really made Chinese directors proud!"

"Director Li, you're too kind. It's a blessing for Tangren and Chenxi to entrust 'Chinese Paladin' to you this time."

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone sat down again.

Cai Yinong arranged for Fu Yibai to sit in the main seat, with herself to his left and Liu Yifei and her mother Liu Xiaoli to her right.

The little girl sat down next to Fu Yibai, her smile impossible to hide, but she tried her best to act as if she was just being polite, which made Hu Ge across from her secretly laugh.

The atmosphere at dinner was warm and harmonious.

Director Li Guoli is a veteran director from Hong Kong with rich experience. During the meal, he talked about interesting anecdotes from the filming of "Chinese Paladin", which made everyone laugh.

As the male lead, Hu Ge was encouraged by everyone to drink. He was young and had a low alcohol tolerance, so his face turned red after just a few drinks.

"Brother Yibai, please try this."

Liu Yifei used serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of steamed sea bass and carefully placed it on the plate in front of Fu Yibai, looking at him with bright eyes.

"The fish here are all caught fresh from the reservoir, they're incredibly fresh!"

"Thanks."

Fu Yibai took a bite and nodded.

"It's really good."

Receiving affirmation, Liu Yifei's smile deepened, and she served him another bowl of soup.

Liu Xiaoli sat next to her daughter, watching this scene, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

She wanted her daughter to marry someone like Jiao Yibai.

Young and promising, with resources at his disposal, and a Berlin Golden Bear-winning director, he would be more than capable of benefiting his daughter's career development.

But she doesn't want her daughter to get too close to the other person.

She knew the complexities of the entertainment industry and that someone like Fu Yibai was definitely not a reliable person to entrust her with.

Dinner ended around nine o'clock.

As everyone gradually left, Hu Ge was helped back to his room by his assistant to sober up. Director Li Guoli and several other main cast members exchanged a few pleasantries with Fu Yibai before also dispersing.

The restaurant gradually quieted down, leaving only the waiters clearing away the dishes and a few people who hadn't left yet in the corner.

"Director Fu, the room has been arranged. It's on the third floor, the one on the east side, with the best view."

Cai Yinong stood up and picked up her coat draped over the back of the chair.

"Shall I take you there?"

"Mr. Cai, you're too kind. Just have the waiter show you the way."

"That won't do, you're a distinguished guest."

Cai Yinong smiled, her gaze sweeping over Liu Yifei.

"Yifei, it's getting late. You should go home and rest. You have an early shoot tomorrow."

Liu Yifei was looking at Fu Yibai with a hint of hesitation, but upon hearing this, she pursed her lips and nodded obediently.

"Oh well."

She stood up, looked at Fu Yibai, her eyes filled with a hint of reluctance, but even more so with a docile anticipation.

"Brother Yibai, then... you should get some rest."

"If you're free tomorrow, could you come watch us film?"

"it is good."

With just one word, Liu Yifei smiled broadly.

"It's a deal then!"

She turned and walked out, with Liu Xiaoli following beside her. When she passed Fu Yibai, she nodded slightly as a greeting.

The mother and daughter disappeared through the doorway.

Cai Yinong withdrew her gaze and gave Fu Yibai a half-smile.

"Yifei is usually not very talkative on set, but she's completely different since you arrived today."

Fu Yibai remained expressionless.

"It's just a child's mentality; he's especially happy to see familiar people."

"Yeah?"

Cai Yinong smiled and did not continue the topic.

"Let's go, I'll take you upstairs."

The two walked through the courtyard; the night breeze was cool and carried the scent of mountain plants.

The resort's lights twinkled, and the distant croaking of frogs made the night seem even more tranquil.