101: Chapter 101 Visiting the Film Crew

The second-generation heirs suggested gathering that evening for dinner, drinks, and clubbing.

Everyone was enthusiastic, but Chen Hao still had matters to attend to, so he pushed Sun Nana to the front.

"You guys go have fun; I still have things to do, so I won't be joining you."

Young Master Xiao smoothed things over, saying,

"Let us young people have our fun! Let's get hyped!"

As they left the hotel together, Chen Hao told Sun Nana to be careful while she was out having fun.

After saying his goodbyes, Chen Hao drove straight to the previous coffee shop to meet Movie Queen Zhao Yifei.

The coffee shop was closed today. Chen Hao waited in his car for a long time. It got dark, the city lights came on, but no one came to open the door.

Chen Hao sent messages urging her, but the reply from the other end was always just two words.

"Be right there!"

Just as Chen Hao was growing impatient waiting, a lexus commercial van stopped at the coffee shop entrance.

A black-clad Bodyguard got out of the vehicle. Chen Hao recognized him as one of Zhao Yifei's Bodyguards and walked toward him after getting out.

"Mr. Chen, Ms. Zhao asks you to come into the car."

"Screech."

Chen Hao got into the car. No one was inside, and he asked suspiciously,

"Where is your boss?"

The Bodyguard, who was also the driver, said,

"My boss is at the film set. Today is the final costume fitting, and filming starts tomorrow. She really cannot leave, so Ms. Zhao invited you to the set for a gathering."

Chen Hao didn't dwell on it. He had seen commercial film crews before, but never a movie set. Since he had nothing else to do, visiting the set wouldn't hurt.

Guangcheng had Nanhai Film and Television City, covering an area of one million square meters. It was an antique architectural complex set against the backdrop of the Ming, Qing, and Republican eras, ranking alongside Hengdian World Studios as one of China's four major film production bases.

About an hour later, the commercial van entered the Film and Television City. It was brightly lit, and the various buildings in the complex gave Chen Hao the feeling of constantly time-traveling between modern and ancient times.

There were quite a few pedestrians on the streets—some in ancient costumes, some in modern attire, and some in Republican-era clothing.

The van stopped steadily in the parking lot. When Chen Hao got out, the entire parking area was filled with various RVs and commercial vans.

The Bodyguard led the way into a factory-like warehouse. Inside, it was brightly lit, filled with busy crew members. Countless clothes hung in the warehouse, and props were piled up, casually tossed on the floor.

In the nearby costume area, more than a dozen crew assistants rushed back and forth. Actors tried on various looks in simple changing tents, and staff members worked in categorized teams to help the actors match their costumes.

Chen Hao saw the celebrated Movie Queen Zhao Yifei, and he also saw the ignored Zhu Shasha.

There were many other main actors, both male and female, mixing together, coordinating with the crew assistants to finalize the costumes for each scene.

Chen Hao stood on the periphery watching. The Bodyguard jogged over to Zhao Yifei's side and spoke to her quietly.

Zhao Yifei turned her head to look toward the periphery. Upon seeing Chen Hao, she raised her hand and signaled him.

Just as Chen Hao was about to raise his hand in response, a crew staff member walked past him and questioned him sharply,

"What are you doing here? You aren't allowed in this restricted area of the film set. Get out!"

Seeing that Chen Hao hadn't moved, he turned around and shouted,

"Crew assistants, what were you doing guarding the gate? You didn't even notice someone sneaking in!"

The crew assistant scurried over immediately.

"Assistant Director, I apologize. I'll drive this person out right now."

Just as he was about to take action, Chen Hao quickly said,

"I'm here for a visit. I'm looking for Zhao Yifei."

"You? You dare to boast that you know our Movie Queen?"

The Assistant Director firmly refused to believe it, pointing at Chen Hao’s nose and roaring,

"Don't get in my face. If you know what's good for you, scram quickly, or don't force me to hit you!"

In the distance, Zhao Yifei also saw that trouble had broken out. She lifted the wide hem of her skirt and ran toward them.

But before she could reach them, a fat man moved much faster than Zhao Yifei and rushed forward, raising his hand to strike.

"Bang!"

The person who rushed over was Director Zhang. He was holding the script rolled up into a tube, and the blow was not light. The Assistant Director, in pain, turned around ready to curse,

"Who is it? Director Zhang!"

"Who dares to yell at someone? This is Mr. Chen. Apologize immediately."

After Director Zhang reprimanded him sternly, the Assistant Director quickly bowed and apologized profusely to Chen Hao.

"I'm sorry, it was my fault for judging a book by its cover."

While apologizing, he slapped his own face.

Chen Hao didn't press the matter.

"It's fine. I'll just look around. You all carry on with your work."

Director Zhang grabbed the Assistant Director by the collar, kicked him aside, and then bowed and asked Chen Hao humbly,

"Is there anything I can do to show you around?"

"No need, Director Zhang. You focus on your work. Don't mind me."

"Got it!"

Director Zhang turned around and shouted,

"What are you looking at? Get back to work!"

The onlookers dispersed instantly. From the back of the crowd, Zhao Yifei, still in costume, finally walked over.

"It's really too busy today. I apologize for making you make the trip."

Chen Hao asked directly,

"Where is the item?"

"It's in the car. Wait for me for a moment; I'll get it for you after the costume fitting is done."

Chen Hao wasn't in a hurry and waved his hand, saying,

"Go ahead and get back to work."

After Zhao Yifei returned, Chen Hao saw Zhu Shasha quietly leaving in the distance.

Actors were assigned assistants and crew members based on their popularity and status.

Some had assistants from their own companies, and some were assigned by the film crew.

Zhu Shasha was marginalized by her company, so her only assistant was a makeup artist—one that others had rejected. Even Zhu Shasha's makeup mirror was much simpler than others'.

Chen Hao walked straight over. The staff members only glanced at him; no one dared to say anything further.

Zhu Shasha was applying her own makeup, drawing her eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil, and asked,

"Why are you here so late at night?"

Chen Hao walked up, placed his hands on her shoulders, and massaged them while saying,

"I came to discuss business, and to see you while I was at it."

The crew assistants nearby were stunned. They didn't know whether to look or not to look.

"Stop fooling around. So many people are watching."

Zhu Shasha shrugged her shoulders, shaking off Chen Hao's intrusive hands.

Chen Hao asked knowingly,

"Why do you have so few assistants with you?"

She was quite frank.

"It's good enough that I have anyone at all. What more could I ask for?"

The reason Chen Hao asked this was not for Zhu Shasha, but for the crew staff to hear.

"Yifei, lend me a few people. I need some help over here."

Chen Hao spoke frankly, which instead made Zhu Shasha a bit flustered.

"Stop messing around. She's the Movie Queen; why would she pay attention to a small fry like me?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Zhao Yifei's voice commanded,

"Send a few people over to Little Zhu to help out."

Four or five people swarmed over at once: a makeup artist, a stylist, and a costume designer all came.

Chen Hao stepped back to yield the floor. The others took over the tasks of costume fitting, changing clothes, taking measurements, makeup records, and so on, working so fast they didn't even have time to sip water.

Chen Hao turned and went back to Zhao Yifei's side. As the Movie Queen, she had at least ten crew members attending to her. Lending a few away meant she was still one of the most important people present.

When Chen Hao approached her, she said with a hint of jealousy,

"You treat her quite well."

Chen Hao stated plainly,

"You aren't unaware of my relationship with her."

Zhao Yifei added,

"With you saying that, I will take care of things."