In the following days, the crew’s schedule was arranged to be somewhat overly packed.
Etiquette classes, character biographies, supporting role auditions, script discussions and read-throughs.
Those with higher expectations from Director Jin had to participate in everything throughout.
Liang Xiao was running ragged, collapsing into bed alone every night, exhausted. He was finally too worn out to have the energy to toss and turn thinking about President Huo.
At the Huo residence.
The butler blocked the office door, distributing hand warmers to the department heads who had rushed over to report their work: “Get in quickly, get in quickly…”
The Operations Department head lifted his shirt to stick on a hand warmer: “Is President Huo’s pheromone unstable again?”
The butler nodded vaguely: “It doesn’t affect work.”
“Should we renew a relevant contract with Mr. Liang?”
The head of the Secretary Department, who seemed to know about this matter, lowered his voice: “Previously, because of Mr. Liang, President Huo’s pheromones were very well controlled.”
The butler looked somewhat world-weary and sighed: “Now, isn’t it also because of Mr. Liang…”
The head of the Secretary Department was stunned: “What?”
“It’s nothing,” the butler snapped back to reality. “Everyone, summarize what you need to say, be as concise as possible. President Huo is not in a good mood.”
The butler remembered something: “Resources Department–”
“Submitted,” the Resources Department head said. “All of Mr. Liang’s resources for ‘On the Road’, including the final cut, unedited original, and color-graded versions… There are some fan-made MV edits now, do you want those too?”
“Yes,” the butler nodded. “Also.”
The butler took out a notebook and read from it: “Episodes 7, 9, and 13 of ‘Heroes’ Chronicle’, episodes 9, 16, 25, and 37 of ‘Rippling Waves’, and the male lead’s scenes from ‘Under the Willow’.”
The Resources Department head wrote quickly: “Which shots do you want, front view or side view?”
The butler: “Not the face shots.”
“…” The Resources Department head was surprised: “What are they for?”
The butler wasn’t sure of the purpose either, just relaying orders: “Preferably shots on rooftops, with wire stunts, and long shots too.”
The butler added: “As comprehensive as possible.”
The Resources Department head looked a bit confused but nodded in agreement, turning back to ask people to go through the footage and edit it.
The butler stood guard for a while, waiting for all the department heads to quickly report their work and leave. He lingered at the door for a moment before knocking and entering the office.
Huo Lan was leaning back in his swivel chair, eyes closed, supporting his forehead motionlessly.
The department heads’ reports were stacked on the edge of the desk, untouched.
The butler hesitated for a moment, then approached quietly: “President Huo?”
Huo Lan didn’t respond. The butler wasn’t sure if he was resting his eyes due to a headache, so he only mentioned the most important matters: “The branch family matter is basically resolved.”
“Not everyone on the branch family side is brainless.”
The butler said in a low voice: “There were a few gullible ones who, instigated by Longtao’s people, came to make trouble out of greed… Yesterday, they were already sent back by their own families.”
Huo Lan didn’t react.
The butler glanced at Huo Lan’s expression and didn’t say more about this matter, instead tidying up his desk.
There was a saying that it was better for both the main family and the branch family to save face, to avoid being laughed at by outsiders.
In reality, everyone knew what was really going on.
These days, Huo Lan had gradually reduced the cash flow to several subsidiary companies, and by yesterday, it had finally taken effect.
The branch family had been comfortable for years, almost forgetting their roots, until the company’s funds were cut off and they truly panicked.
The butler felt a chill in his heart but didn’t mention more about it, changing the subject: “Longtao lost three endorsements, and there are several artists considering leaving. We’re anonymously reaching out to them on our side.”
Huo Lan opened his eyes, took his coffee, and had a sip.
The butler thought for a moment: “The filming of ‘Year-End’ is in its final stages. The initial editing is complete, and with post-production and marketing, it’s set to air on satellite TV during the high-traffic period in the second half of the year.”
Huo Lan put down his coffee cup and opened a report.
The butler: “Mr. Liang–”
Huo Lan: “Is Mr. Liang done with his work?”
The butler: “…”
The butler successfully found his trigger: “Not yet. According to the team, Mr. Liang has been extremely busy these past few days.”
The pre-production preparation for the crew’s start is actually more intricate and detailed than the formal shooting after the start. For an actor to be involved in the crew’s preparation is an especially precious and rare experience.
Director Jin values talent and intends to pave the way for Liang Xiao. Xingguan is more than happy about this and wouldn’t interfere.
The butler was silent for a moment, not having the heart to tell their President Huo that Mr. Liang might not have had time to think about home yet due to his busy schedule.
“It’s a rare opportunity,” Huo Lan had heard a general overview from him, and his expression actually improved a bit. “Mr. Liang really needs this level of involvement and say in the crew.”
The butler breathed a sigh of relief and nodded quickly: “Yes.”
For Liang Xiao, reaching this point is far from hitting the bottleneck of his acting skills and abilities.
Liang Xiao’s popularity is still in its early stages, with only one notable work, ‘Year-End’, which hasn’t even officially aired on satellite TV yet.
Being able to actively participate in the crew’s planning, have a say during the performance process, and formally enter the mainstream circle of film and television production is actually much more important for Liang Xiao than taking on a few endorsements or shooting a few magazine covers.
The butler thought for a moment, trying to reassure him: “Everything is going well with the crew, you don’t need to worry.”
The butler continued: “Mr. Liang is getting along very well with the entire crew, sharing meals and lodging, not putting on airs, showing his capabilities, and several well-known and experienced industry veterans also have an eye for talent…”
Huo Lan frowned slightly.
The butler didn’t realize he had said anything wrong and hesitated: “What’s the matter?”
Huo Lan: “Sharing meals and lodging.”
“They’re all staying at the hotel booked by the crew,” the butler quickly explained. “The crew provides boxed meals.”
Huo Lan pulled up the original footage of ‘On the Road’, dragged the progress bar to a specific point, and scanned through a few frames.
It was Liang Xiao’s casual chat with the director while making breakfast, which contradicted the show’s set “calmly observing life’s various states” persona, so it wasn’t included in the final cut.
While frying bacon, Liang Xiao had mentioned once to the director that although he could eat anything, he didn’t particularly like eating the crew’s boxed meals if there was an alternative.
The director had joked that Mr. Liang, being from Jiangnan, preferred light and slightly sweet flavors, and might need to rinse off the heavy oil and salt of Northern cuisine with water.
Huo Lan was silent for a moment, then closed the laptop and stood up.
These reports weren’t urgent to deal with anyway. The butler was pleasantly surprised to see him put down work for once: “Are you going out for some fresh air?”
Huo Lan shook his head: “No.”
The butler was slightly stunned: “Morning run?”
Huo Lan: “…No.”
The butler thought carefully for three seconds, then pulled out a large bag of thin-shelled walnuts with small cracks already made, carefully placing it on his desk.
Huo Lan: “…”
Huo Lan closed his eyes for a moment, suppressing his temper: “Where’s the kitchen?”
–
At the film set.
The crew member carried steaming boxed meals, distributing them to everyone.
With the start of filming imminent, only the final round of interviews for the main supporting roles remained. The strictly closed filming location was gradually opening up, with media and others starting to visit the set.
Liang Xiao is currently in a crucial period of his rising career. The information released about him must be limited and carefully curated. Xingguan has taken charge and blocked a wave of interviews, resulting in him appearing less busy compared to others.
Taking advantage of this rare moment of tranquility, Liang Xiao, along with his manager and assistant, found an inconspicuous corner away from the crowd.
“Finally, we’re about to start filming,” an older actor remarked as he approached with his lunchbox. “Every time we work with Director Jin, we eagerly await the start of filming, looking forward to a chance to rest and catch our breath…”
Liang Xiao, his voice slightly hoarse, made room for the older actor and said, “It must be tough for you.”
“We’re doing alright. It’s you that Director Jin is going to put through the wringer this time. You’ll have to endure quite a bit,” the older actor replied.
The older actor sat down with a smile and waved to the others, “Let’s eat together. It’s more lively that way.”
The young assistant, curious about the older actor’s lunchbox, asked, “Mr. Jiang, did you bring your own food?”
The good-natured older actor replied, “No, it’s from my health doctor.”
“They regulate everything, not allowing me to eat this or that,” the older actor continued, sighing contentedly. “There are so many rules, whether it’s high cholesterol or high blood sugar…”
A middle-aged actor playing the role of the guard captain joined them, saying with a smile, “I’m lucky. My family came to visit the set today and brought me plenty of meat.”
As he sat down and opened his lunchbox, the middle-aged actor couldn’t help but comment quietly, “The meat in the crew’s boxed meals is so scarce, by now that cow they used might have just been slightly injured.”
“It’s the same with every production. At least we got some sausages yesterday,” a stuntman sighed, seeming satisfied as he took out his own lunchbox. “Fortunately, we can have visitors today. My dad brought me food, saying I’ll be getting beaten up again, so I should eat more to endure it.”
Duan Ming looked around, holding his chopsticks, and then glanced at the simple disposable lunchbox in Liang Xiao’s hands. Feeling unsettled, he suggested, “I’ll go buy you a lunchbox. You can transfer the food into it to eat?”
Liang Xiao looked up, somewhat moved, and asked, “Should life have a sense of ritual?”
Duan Ming thought to himself that it had nothing to do with ritual. Listening to everyone happily eating lunch together, he looked at the particularly bland pieces of meat in Liang Xiao’s lunchbox and sighed softly, “It’s my fault. I should have prepared earlier.”
Just then, Huo Lan appeared, dressed in a trench coat that made him stand out in the crowd. Feeling uncomfortable with the noise, he took a few steps back.
Huo Lan was holding something in his hand. His gaze swept across the area before landing on Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao stared at him in surprise.
Huo Lan quickly walked over to Liang Xiao without his butler following and handed him what he was carrying. It was a steel lunchbox that perfectly matched Huo Lan’s aesthetic.
Huo Lan met Liang Xiao’s gaze and after a moment of silence, said softly, “If you’re not eating well… you should contact me.”
Liang Xiao was stunned for a few seconds, his eyes suddenly stinging with emotion.
Huo Lan raised his hand and passed the lunchbox to Liang Xiao.
The older actor, understanding the situation, smiled and smoothed things over, “Is President Huo friends with Mr. Liang?”
Liang Xiao’s ears turned red, and he was about to acknowledge it when Huo Lan spoke up: “More than that.”
Everyone present, being seasoned professionals in the industry, understood the implication and discreetly moved aside to give them some space.
Huo Lan frowned slightly, then compromised by sitting down and placing the lunchbox on his lap.
Before Liang Xiao could take it, Huo Lan opened the lunchbox, picked up a piece of tender chicken leg meat, and carefully fed it to Liang Xiao.
