`Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Shi Yin’s filming on the Jianqiao set gradually entered a steady rhythm.

This month, her scenes were almost entirely tied to Su Feibai. Xu Qingsui had issued a strict order: all the dialogue scenes at the airport must be finished by the end of the month—after all, once the aerial combat scenes began, the “Jianqiao Airport,” built at enormous expense, would be “heroically destroyed” amidst deafening explosions, and restoring it to its original state would be nearly impossible.

After more than half a month of coordination, Shi Yin and Su Feibai gradually became familiar with each other, finally shaking off the “Teacher Su” and “Teacher Shi” formalities. After offering three, four, five, six cups of coffee back and forth, the two evolved into ordinary colleagues who could occasionally chat casually.

“Clear the banquet hall area! Unauthorized personnel step back!”

“Camera crew, final confirmation of positions!”

“Lighting, prepare—”

The assistant director’s commands echoed throughout the set via walkie-talkie.

The scene they were filming that day was particularly interesting. The production had lavishly built a vintage banquet hall for “dual use”: first to shoot Cheng Daisy’s debut at a social event after returning from studying abroad, and then the major sequence where Ge Huijun canvassed for anti-war fundraising.

The stylist was making the final adjustments for Shi Yin, carefully pinning an antique pearl hairclip behind her ear. Shi Yin looked at herself in the mirror—her hair elegantly curled and pinned up, a sapphire velvet qipao outlining her slender figure. She looked as if she had stepped out of the 1930s as a distinguished young lady from a noble family.

Once Shi Yin’s makeup and costume were complete, Xu Qingsui raised her hand and waved: “Come, let me explain today’s scene to you…”

She pointed at the pre-set movements on the monitor. “This is Cheng Daisy’s debut. I want her to be stunning. Remember, Cheng Daisy is not an ordinary socialite. She is a Western-educated modern woman, but at her core carries the nobility of an Eastern heiress. You have to make the audience believe at first glance that this world of fame and fortune is naturally hers.”

Shi Yin listened attentively, nodding obediently.

Half an hour later, everything was ready.

Shi Yin linked arms with the actor playing her father, standing quietly at the entrance of the luxurious banquet hall. Three cameras were in position: one facing her directly, one capturing her profile from the left, and a third mounted high on a crane, ready to capture a top-down wide shot of her entering the hall.

The clapperboard snapped crisply—

“Scene 42, Take 1, Action!”

Shi Yin closed her eyes, and when she opened them, her entire aura had transformed.

The crystal chandeliers cast golden glows, jazz music lazily mingling with the scent of perfume and the rustle of fine clothing. The banquet hall was filled with the rich aromas of cigars, perfume, and food. Gentlemen and socialites raised champagne glasses, chatting and laughing—a living painting of 1930s Shanghai high society.

Cheng Daisy, in a Su-style qipao with a silver fox-collared black wool coat over it, lifted her chin slightly like a proud little peacock, walking elegantly into the room.

“Follow-shot ready,” Xu Qingsui instructed through the walkie-talkie.

The camera slowly advanced, capturing every subtle expression of Cheng Daisy.

“Director Cheng, this must be the renowned heiress? Truly exceptional elegance,” a gentleman wearing gold-rimmed glasses toasted.

A perfect curve formed at the corner of Cheng Daisy’s lips: “I’ve long admired President Zhang. My father often spoke of your achievements in finance.”

Her voice was clear and pleasant, carrying the articulation unique to students educated abroad.

“I hear Miss Cheng studied Economics at Jianqiao? Quite rare,” a lady in a Western evening gown approached and spoke.

“Yes, Madam,” Cheng Daisy turned elegantly, lightly waving a feathered folding fan at her fingertips. “But my major was Monetary Banking.”

As she reached the center of the banquet hall, her pace naturally slowed.

The main camera adjusted its rhythm to capture all the subtle shifts in her expression.

While her father and several bankers engaged in animated discussion, the camera cut to close-up. Cheng Daisy maintained a polite smile, but the frequency of her blinking unconsciously increased. Her gaze flitted across the crowd like a curious butterfly, lingering briefly on the buffet table before quickly withdrawing. When the conversation turned to complex currency reserves, she partially covered her face with the feathered fan, letting out a restrained small yawn, then nonchalantly resumed her poised demeanor.

“Very good, maintain that,” Xu Qingsui nodded from behind the monitor.

Shi Yin’s performance was full of lifelike ingenuity. Every microexpression, every small movement was meticulously designed yet flowed naturally, portraying the proud yet playful young heiress who outwardly navigated high society with ease but inwardly was detached from its superficiality, with depth and precision.

This scene required Cheng Daisy to navigate different circles: discussing literature with scholars, exchanging pleasantries with political figures, and talking economics with financiers. Her overseas education allowed her to handle every situation effortlessly, and the casualness hidden beneath her poise became the character’s most captivating accent.

A three-minute long take was successfully completed. Xu Qingsui rubbed her chin, watching the playback for a long time.

“Do we need another take?” the assistant director asked softly.

Xu Qingsui shook her head: “No, this take is solid. Prepare for a transition; we’re filming Ge Huijun’s scenes next.”

After speaking, she raised her voice toward the set: “Xiaoshi, come over here!”

Shi Yin lifted the hem of her qipao and ran over in small, anxious steps. “Director, was there a problem with my performance just now?”

“This take is fine,” Xu Qingsui said, her gaze still on the monitor.

Shi Yin blinked her exquisitely outlined eyes and asked cautiously, “So… which part didn’t work?”

Xu Qingsui finally turned her head, scrutinizing Shi Yin carefully: “It just feels a bit lacking in energy.”

She reached out and tapped the monitor: “Look, we’ve been filming for almost a month. You handle the later, more complex Cheng Daisy really well—the transition from spoiled heiress to wartime financier is layered. So why do the earlier scenes feel… underwhelming?”

Yen Wen, quietly flipping through her script, suddenly clapped her hands: “I got it!”

She smiled at Shi Yin: “Xiaoshi, tell me, what kind of person do you think Cheng Daisy is?”

Shi Yin thought seriously for a moment, then answered fluently: “Cheng Daisy’s battlefield isn’t in the sky, but in the smoke-free financial world. She has a career highlight independent of Shen Wangshu, yet it intersects with the pilot storyline. Through family connections, she navigates all kinds of high-society dinners, fundraising for the aviation school, transporting materials and supplies. In the process, she learns to work with people of different classes and gradually sheds her spoiled nature…”

“Exactly,” Yen Wen interrupted, “that’s it—spoiled. To exaggerate a little more, your portrayal isn’t bossy enough.”

Shi Yin was clearly taken aback for a moment and subconsciously repeated: “Bossy… energy?”

“You’re missing a little of Cheng Daisy’s innate arrogance.”

Yen Wen circled Shi Yin, lightly tapping her shoulder: “You’re too well-behaved, not at all like a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old rich girl. You have to understand, girls that age, especially those with some means, all want to soar to the sky. And you?”

She smiled and pinched Shi Yin’s cheek again: “Your mindset is as steady as an actor who’s been in the entertainment industry for over ten years. You can float a little more, you know?”

Shi Yin murmured thoughtfully: “Float a little more…?”

She had never heard such an absurd requirement.

Seeing Shi Yin’s confused expression, Yen Wen couldn’t help but chuckle: “You’re a method actor, right? Observe the people around you. Is there anyone who’s been spoiled by their family and raised as a privileged child? Take note of their expressions and movements, and integrate them into your performance.”

Shi Yin paused slightly, her gaze unconsciously drifting into the distance.

A privileged child, huh?

Perhaps there really was one, but that person was not at all arrogant; on the contrary, they had the best temperament she had ever seen.

The thought flashed and Shi Yin quickly withdrew it, obediently nodding at Yen Wen: “Okay, Teacher Yen, I’ll observe carefully.”

Shi Yin spent the entire afternoon figuring out how to “float,” while on the other side of the set, Xu Qingsui’s roars nearly shook the studio apart.

“Cut! Ge Huijun has backbone, not a beggar on the street! Lift your head!”

“Cut! Again! Look into the other person’s eyes when you speak!”

“Louder! What’s all that mumbling? Straighten your tongue!”

After more than ten consecutive NGs, Zhen Xue was scolded mercilessly. The onlookers on set grew more numerous. Her face flushed bright red as she kept bowing her head apologetically: “Sorry, director, I’ll try again…”

“Ten-minute break!” Xu Qingsui threw the walkie-talkie onto a chair and rubbed her rapidly beating temples. “Try to find the feeling again.”

Finally, when filming wrapped, Shi Yin sat silently in the rest chair, quietly watching Zhen Xue strut past her with her dazzling charisma minus two, not even sparing a glance.

Shi Yin let out a soft sigh. She had already given up on trying to get along with Zhen Xue; now she just hoped to avoid conflicts.

Perhaps after being scolded so often, this girl treated everyone on set with equal animosity—including her “revolutionary partner” Zhongli Yu and even Xu Qingsui.

~

“Little Prince, your personal study companion is here!”

After several days away from Minghu Villa, Shi Yin rushed in and shouted as soon as she entered.

Almost instantly, from a distance came a flurry of “pat pat pat” footsteps, approaching fast like a small whirlwind.

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Prince slid to a stop in front of her with his usual momentum, his fluffy tail happily swirling behind him.

“Woof woof! Woo~”

“All right, all right, I know you missed me.” Shi Yin squatted down, hugging her overly enthusiastic dog and rubbing its little head. “What are we playing today? Kevin said you want to swim?”

At the word “swim,” Prince’s ears immediately perked up, and excitement sparkled in his brown eyes. He spun and ran toward the backyard pool, then glanced back at Shi Yin, signaling her to follow.

Today’s activity was indeed swimming. Kevin had already changed and waited at the poolside. The heated pool rippled invitingly as Prince took a running start and leapt into the water, moving with the grace of a dolphin.

He splashed around with all four paws, like a tireless motor, his tail spinning like a propeller. Each splash drenched Shi Yin on the poolside, soaking her completely.

“Prince!” Shi Yin wiped the water droplets off her face and looked at the little guy in the water, both exasperated and amused.

Hearing her “complaint,” Prince blinked his innocent brown eyes and quickly swam back to the shore, wet head snuggling into her arms, making soft whimpering noises. With his affection, Shi Yin’s feigned displeasure evaporated instantly; she couldn’t even bear to be annoyed and could only poke his forehead helplessly: “You really are a master of cuteness!”

After playing enough in the water, Shi Yin and Kevin gave this “drowned dog” a fragrant bath. Prince cooperated obediently the entire time—lifting his paws when asked, turning when prompted, even closing his eyes in enjoyment, looking utterly satisfied, as if thinking, “This prince is very pleased.”

Cleaned up, Shi Yin remembered the butler’s instructions: Li Xuan had told her she could use the media room freely, so she planned to watch a movie before going home. She had just settled into the soft, comfortable seat when the door “clicked” open a crack—Prince strolled in with his favorite chew bone in his mouth.

Shi Yin and he stared at each other: “I thought I closed the door.”

Prince sat in front of her, tongue out, looking completely innocent.

Shi Yin realized, eyes wide in shock: “Wait… you can open doors by yourself?”

Prince played dumb, focusing on licking his front paw, pretending he hadn’t heard anything.

Shi Yin laughed: “…Alright, this is your home, Your Highness, you get to decide.”

Having received her silent approval, Prince leapt lightly and expertly onto the spacious seat. Shi Yin had just shifted to make room for him when he pressed in closer, warm body snug against her, head sliding precisely into her palm.

“So clingy?” Shi Yin chuckled, stroking his smooth back fur, marveling at the texture. She picked up the tablet, pretending to consult him: “What should we watch? How about a foreign film? Considering you’re imported, can you understand the original audio?”

“Woof.”

Prince responded loudly, tail thumping against the seat.

“Don’t like it? Then… domestic comedy? Or action?” Shi Yin spoke casually, rubbing the base of his soft ears with her free hand.

Prince seemed to enjoy it immensely, lifting his head excitedly and rubbing against her hand holding the tablet. Shi Yin’s palm tingled from his rubbing, and she nearly lost her grip, causing the tablet to flicker and jump to the user management page.

She was about to switch back when her gaze was caught by a row of statistics:

User viewing ranking:

“Marriage Purchase” total plays: 392

“Danger Peak” total plays: 73

“Soaring Blue Sky” total plays: 60

“Perfect Landing” total plays: 36

“Ambition High” total plays: 22

Shi Yin’s fingers froze mid-air, staring at the scorching number 392 and the string of movie titles, unmoving for a long moment.

“Woof.” Prince urged her, gently nudging her hand with his cool, wet nose.

Shi Yin snapped out of it, skipped the familiar top movie, and hastily pressed play. The triumphant opening of “Ambition High” echoed through the media room. Prince found a comfortable spot, resting his head on Shi Yin’s lap, tail lazily brushing the seat—clearly an experienced viewer.

The flickering light from the screen illuminated Shi Yin’s dazed profile. About twenty minutes later, the door slid open, and a slim figure in a silver wheelchair quietly entered.

Li Xuan glanced at the content playing, his eyes flickering slightly.

Author’s note: No cheating, the male lead has arrived.