Chapter 59
Zhang Chaohe's last scene is Gu Yinqiu's first encounter with Chang Xiaoyue.
When Gu Yinqiu visited the Prince's mansion, the Prince invited him to tour the garden. Suddenly, he heard someone singing opera. After walking around the artificial hill, he found Chang Xiaoyue playing with Princess Minrong. He listened quietly for a while, then turned and left. Chang Xiaoyue seemed to sense something and looked up again.
Although it was their first meeting, they only exchanged glances from a distance.
He felt that Director Chen was actually quite good at arranging scenes—placing the first encounter at the moment of parting was actually a very interesting thing. This scene was the one Director Chen had specifically written with the line "looking at each other from afar on the wall and horse," and Chen Xingting also had very high expectations for Zhang Chaohe—
And then, as expected, the plane crashed!
After all, Zhang Chaohe could only "look at each other from afar," let alone "heartbreak." He seemed like he could immediately send out ten thousand armed men to bombard the Prince's mansion.
Chen Xingting lamented, "Atmosphere! Atmosphere! You have to express that sense of melancholy and helplessness regarding the foreshadowing of the future!"
However, his guidance was like casting pearls before swine to Zhang Chaohe. Zhang Chaohe looked at the cool, warlord-style prop whip in his hand and started blaming his poor test score on stationery: "Why do I have to have a whip?"
Chen Xingting bluntly stated: "Because I want to show off."
Zhang Chaohe immediately dropped the riding whip, feeling that the action was too staged. So he discussed it with Director Chen and suggested using other interactive actions instead.
"That way, it doesn't seem too abrupt."
Chen Xingting thought for a moment: "Okay, at least it can fill the gap in the action - not bad, Mr. Zhang, you've actually figured it out in just a few days?"
Zhang Chaohe: Actually, I directly copied the analysis of the Best Actor performance in the movie back then.
Sorry, Best Actor!
Cheng Jixue and Jian Xinlan returned to the stage in the Prince's Mansion, and all the crew members resumed filming.
The veteran actor playing the prince immediately got into character, his eyes changing. Although he walked with his chest out and back straight, his steps were hunched and his waist low, creating a stark contrast with the imposing and domineering commander beside him.
Whoever has soldiers and power has the backbone. Perhaps a prince who is proud of his status looks down on commoners, but times have changed. When a commoner can shoot him dead at any time, even a prince has to bow his head.
Gu Yinqiu led a group of adjutants and servants of the Prince's mansion around the artificial hill. The Prince himself led the way for the commander, but the commander suddenly picked a peony from the flowerbed by the roadside.
The peonies had already finished blooming; although the flowers were full and vibrant, the petals were drooping and lifeless. Gu Yinqiu stared at them silently in the sunlight for a while, lost in thought.
The prince, observing the situation, said, "Unfortunately, these flowers bloomed a few days ago. If the commander likes them, I will have the flower room cultivate some new ones and send them to the mansion!"
With a flick of her finger, Gu Yinqiu caused the calyx to shatter, and the sap instantly splashed a thin trail of liquid onto the prince's cheek. The prince instinctively flinched, then struggled to control himself—he stared at Gu Yinqiu's hand with a mixture of shock and anger, before finally managing to force a fawning smile: "Commander..."
The adjutant stepped forward, took a handkerchief from his breast pocket, and handed it to Gu Yinqiu. Gu Yinqiu remained silent, slowly and carefully wiping her fingers, which were stained with flower juice. The prince, filled with apprehension, was suddenly struck by a clear, melodious voice coming from nearby:
"My lord, you've heard that the Western Xia are terrified, but I don't think Wang Wen is any less formidable!"
Gu Yinqiu raised his eyes with interest and saw a man in a red robe with brocade persimmons standing on the stage. He stood there with a confident and imposing air.
Through the tangled willows and vines, Gu Yinqiu couldn't see his face clearly, so she turned towards the edge of the rocky hill. She could hear his steady breathing, his voice sweet and crisp like shattered jade: "You demand peace and surrender, but I will fight the enemy and protect our land! How can the Yang family generals tolerate such praise or criticism? The precious sword of Tianbo Mansion lies buried in dust, its blade still sharp. If the Old Madam takes command, Mu Guiying will be the vanguard!"
Gu Yinqiu gave the prince a meaningful look. The prince, upon closer inspection, realized it was his wretched daughter playing around with an actor. He broke out in a cold sweat and repeatedly explained, "It's a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding..."
He turned to his servant and ordered, "Quickly, make them both get down here!"
However, no sooner had he finished speaking than Gu Yinqiu pointed two fingers, and the adjutant immediately grabbed the servant who was about to leave. The person on the stage, oblivious, continued singing: "Shaking the silver spear, we march out of the mighty pass, ride the warhorse, tread through the smoke of war, and wherever the banners point, the enemy trembles in fear. We guarantee that the victory report will be delivered three times a day!"
Gu Yinqiu suddenly smiled, his eyes narrowing slightly. The prince looked at him nervously, cold sweat beading on his forehead, only to see Gu Yinqiu playfully tap his shoulder with his index finger: "You live a life of luxury and privilege, yet you're not even as good as an actor."
After he finished speaking, he straightened his cloak and headed straight for the front hall. Just as he turned around, Chang Xiaoyue also looked up as if he sensed something—he looked into the distance, but only saw a gray hem of clothing disappear into the depths of the stone forest.
The camera immediately followed, and Chen Xingting only called "Cut!" when Gu Yinqiu entered the front hall.
After the long take was filmed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and returned to their positions for reshoots from Chang Xiaoyue's perspective. Once all the reshoots were finished and the lighting was turned off, the entire crew erupted in cheers, bidding farewell to their sponsor for the wrap!
Director Chen personally presented flowers to Zhang Chaohe. Considering that Zhang Chaohe might have PTSD from 999 red roses, the crew specially chose a bouquet with lilies and daisies. Zhang Chaohe, dressed in a cool and formal military uniform, was holding a delicate bouquet of flowers, which looked awkward yet adorable.
Everyone took photos together, and Assistant Chen prepared a wrap party in advance. The star-rated hotel delivery service was as efficient as ever, and the whole set was filled with laughter.
Zhang Chaohe couldn't quite describe his feelings; it was probably like the feeling after the college entrance exam—a sense of relief that everything had settled, along with a lingering sense of loss. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this might be the only time he'd ever acted, and the end of this extraordinary journey left him with a profound sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, mixed feelings).
Just as Zhang Chaohe was about to give his remarks, Caiye came running over, wobbling unsteadily. He knelt down, holding the flowers, intending to pinch Caiye's fuzzy leaves, but then, as fate would have it—Caiye rushed up and took a bite, devouring a whole bunch of swaying, adorable daisies on the spot?
Zhang Chaohe: One of the staff members even jokingly added the voiceover: "OMG, little daisy—"
The entire set burst into laughter. Chen Xingting came over and shook hands with Zhang Chaohe solemnly: "Don't worry, Mr. Zhang, we will definitely film well while you're away and make sure we live up to your 200 million investment!"
"We guarantee it'll double!" someone egged on.
"They're definitely going to win an award!!" someone added fuel to the fire.
Zhang Chaohe was very happy and said with emotion, "I will definitely come back to visit everyone after all the filming is finished!"
Next came the very usual cake-cutting ceremony. Because the cast and crew of "The Golden Hairpin" were simple and there didn't seem to be any popular celebrities who needed to diet, the six-tiered, luxurious giant cake was eaten on the spot, leaving only a bare, transparent plastic frame.
Zhang Chaohe secretly remarked to Cheng Jixue, "Our crew is truly simple, unpretentious, and down-to-earth."
Then he took a bite of the extra-sweet cake he had in his hand, which included a yellow peach and a custard apple.
Cheng Jixue didn't like sweets, so she gave the fruit pieces from his cake to Zhang Chaohe. The two of them passed the fruit from plate to plate like kindergarten children, successfully completing the migration ceremony of the peach flesh.
However, when Zhang Chaohe looked up, he saw Zhang Xijing looking at them with a complicated expression. They stared at each other, and Zhang Xijing, in an attempt to ease the awkwardness, said, "You two have made up again?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he wanted to slap himself.
Zhang Chaohe: "Hmm."
At the same time, Cheng Jixue said, "We haven't had any conflicts."
"Uh..." As soon as the words were spoken, the two looked at each other and condemned each other with their eyes.
Feeling awkwardly subjected to another dose of strange public displays of affection, Zhang Xijing quickly made a gesture and left the scene: "Sorry, please do as you please."
For the other investors' on-site staff, Mr. Zhang's departure was definitely a good thing—after all, Mr. Zhang was originally the major investor, with his investment share far exceeding that of the others. However, Mr. Zhang not only personally participated but also followed the team every day, making the other investors lose face.
Unexpectedly, after hearing everyone's farewell remarks, Mr. Zhang gave a wicked smile and said, "I've been renting this place for three months, so I'll definitely come back to visit often."
"After all, the vegetable leaves are still here."
First, there were the lovely ladies on set giving her hugs and cuddles, then there was Director Chen's "Goose-Catching Fist"—Caiye is now an adorable goose who only adheres to the new era's goose ethics. Plus, the film set occupies a large area, so Caiye can run wild all over the mountain every day under the watchful eyes of numerous godparents, making her so happy she doesn't want to leave!
Zhang Chaohe figured that Caiye was, after all, a country goose who liked freedom, so he might as well let him stay on set a little longer, since Jiasheng hadn't sent any staff to accompany him anyway.
The Crown Prince overseeing the project—what a prestigious position!
So much so that after the entire series was completely finished, some cast and crew members went live and said that she was "Little Zhang's sworn brother"—Caiye's godmother, which means she was Caiye's biological father's sworn brother.
Before leaving, Zhang Chaohe made a special farewell to Cheng Jixue, saying that he would come back to see him after going out for a while. Cheng Jixue sighed: "You are usually so busy with work, so you don't need to worry about me too much. I will be finishing filming in another week. See you when I return to H City."
Moreover, Cheng Jixue added pitifully, "Really, there's no need to trouble you. Although I don't have any other family or friends, Director Chen has been very good to me, as you've seen."
Ji Boyang, who was suddenly told that he had "no other family or friends": Am I not human?
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chaohe immediately made a solemn promise to come and pick up Cheng Jixue after filming wrapped up—how pitiful he was, even though he was the main character, he had no other friends!
I will definitely be his good friend!
Zhang Chaohe made a painful decision.
After giving his instructions, Zhang Chaohe temporarily left the group and rushed to Tongsheng Hengfeng.
⚹
For his good boss, whom he hadn't seen for over a month, Assistant Jiang quickly produced a stack of documents as a welcome gesture.
Mr. Zhang seemed quite resigned to his fate, sighing as he sat down to review recent work documents one by one. But as he looked through them, he suddenly let out a goose-like honking.
"Shushu Taxi?"
Are you hungry?
"Jida Express?"
Zhang Chaohe asked incredulously, "We invested in all of this??"
These industries and brands are closely related to daily life, and are essential businesses that drive the development of diverse industries. Even in the past, they would have been incredibly profitable and booming sectors!
"Yes, after research, the team believes that these industries have a very promising future, especially food delivery. The food delivery industry is still underdeveloped and not yet perfect, so I think it is worth investing in."
Jiang's assistant also made a special explanation.
Zhang Chaohe recalled the heartbreaking scene after arriving in this world: ordering a lobster pizza delivery at 7 PM only to find it undeliverable. He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Great idea!"
Investing in food delivery is a long-term benefit; investing in express delivery will benefit generations to come!
Assistant Jiang remained calm, already used to Zhang Chaohe's exaggerated reactions: "It's mainly because you're rich, Mr. Zhang."
She held out her palm and said in a serious and clear voice, "Modo, Modo."
Zhang Chaohe never imagined that one day he would be being pressured for money. He couldn't believe it: "We're not out of money, are we?"
Assistant Jiang quickly tossed over a financing and investment report. Zhang Chaohe glanced through it and found that the returns from the previous phase of cooperation had been quite substantial. Overall, the company's financial statements still looked reassuring.
He pointed to the report, signaling Assistant Jiang to explain. Assistant Jiang coughed and said, "The more the better."
Got it. Zhang Chaohe thought ruthlessly: Playing the poor card is just a formality; those who know, know.
He was about to run away quickly, lest Assistant Jiang drag him out and shake out the money later. As he went downstairs, he asked about Fu Xuezhu, the girl who had greeted Assistant Jiang earlier.
As soon as Fu Xuezhu was mentioned, Assistant Jiang instantly became furious. She sneered and started spewing venom: "President Zhang, don't just throw everything at me. Look at his resume and work ability, even my juniors who haven't graduated yet are better than him!"
Zhang Chaohe was very shocked: "His resume looks quite impressive."
He wasn't really aware of some of the awards and honors in the finance department, but he did know that the article he wrote was quite long.
Besides, he's a key member of the Ji family... he can't be too bad, right?
Assistant Jiang had already escorted him to the door when she heard this. She immediately pulled up the resume PDF file on her phone, opened it, and explained line by line to her naive and innocent boss: "See this? These are all super popular awards."
“This, this, this,” Assistant Jiang exclaimed, then deleted several more lines, “These are all prizes that I bought with money.”
She then selected several investment projects signed by Fu Xuezhui: "These are at best participations, not even leading ones!"
"You think you can get into Tongsheng Hengfeng?" Assistant Jiang protested loudly, "This isn't a garbage dump; I don't scavenge for scraps from trash cans!"
"Oh, by the way, I think his professional skills are lacking, but he's quite good at acting! Mr. Zhang, why don't you just get him to debut at Jiasheng? You'll definitely make a fortune." Assistant Jiang sneered sarcastically, "On his second day at the audition, he told me he had fallen deeply in love with me and wanted to pursue me. What an idiot."
Zhang Chaohe: "Huh??"
He was naturally protective of his own, so when he heard Assistant Jiang launch into a barrage of attacks on him and then say that the other party was inexplicably pursuing her, his first reaction was: "Is he harassing you?"
Assistant Jiang said solemnly, "No, after all, my sister has connections. I found a young pup to beat him up that very day."
Zhang Chaohe: Very good, that's very much in line with the consistent spirit of the Goose Team!