Chapter 17: The Camera

Cultivation is about one’s state of mind. In this tumultuous world, people get caught up in their emotions, fixating on this and that. Meng Ying had heard many stories on Buddha Mountain. Most of them were about how people couldn’t resist love and hate, how they were tortured by life and love, looking as frazzled as they could be, sometimes even more so than when she had pulled out that earring.

Even someone once wished for her ex-boyfriend to be hit by a car after they broke up, but the little apprentices just laughed it off and gave her another chance. A moment of anger or slip of the tongue would be forgiven, and what’s most important is to live better than before so that the tears shed aren’t in vain.

Meng Ying now just wants to live better than before.

And the reason things weren’t good before was all because of that person. When your heart isn’t your own, it only brings pain, because you can’t see things clearly or let go, so you struggle in every way. Most women who are hurt in love are those who loved too deeply. That’s why she’s now very cautious about love, and also very cautious about Gu Yan’s proposal, even feeling somewhat resistant. But unfortunately, there’s no room for hesitation now.

The Weibo post from Gu Yan’s studio went viral that night, surpassing the trending topic of fake news. The fans who had been insulting her were stunned. This was like a slap in their faces—Gu Yan was actively pursuing Meng Ying, so how could his fans have any face to insult her?

Reluctantly, the fans kept revisiting the post Gu Yan made.

They couldn’t help but feel that his “deeply cherishing her” was both touching and irritating, but also sweet. Their idol was such a warm person; they hadn’t made a mistake in following him.

Their comments began to shift.

“Gu Yan is a mature and steady person. If he didn’t like her, who could force him into a scandal? It’s clear that he’s willing, and those haters can shut up.”

“Who remembers that it was Gu Yan who first followed Meng Ying a year ago? And it was Gu Yan who initiated the interactions with her? His pursuit is obvious, yet you all are blind, can’t see it, and got swayed by haters.”

“Anyway, I’m still supporting their ship, but can Meng Ying just accept Gu Yan already? What’s wrong with him? Just let him improve…”

The last comment was pinned at the top. Meng Ying skimmed through it briefly before planning to log off, just as her phone rang. It was a little late, but seeing that it was Liu Qin calling, she answered.

Liu Qin spat on the other end, “Huaying is really… just bought ten trending topics, and the one about you and Gu Yan got pushed down.”

“So fast?” Meng Ying had just read it and hadn’t been paying attention to the trending topics.

“Yes, it’s late at night, don’t know what they’re thinking, buying so many trending topics. There are even two about the interstellar industry. One is about how the interstellar filming isn’t going smoothly, they can’t find suitable actors, and the other says Yang Rou’s acting has improved significantly, her scenes are progressing quickly…” Liu Qin’s tone was a bit regretful but also relieved. She could tell that Meng Ying wasn’t that interested in Gu Yan, but still hoped they would get together. In that case, the trending topic about Gu Yan pursuing Meng Ying might get a bump, then fade away, which made her feel more at ease.

“Also, the one about Yang Rou has dropped way down, you can hardly see it now… the number of people criticizing you has decreased,” Liu Qin added thoughtfully. “But as for interstellar…”

“It’s a bit of a pity,” she finished.

Meng Ying responded, “It’s fine, the company has gotten several new scripts recently, I’ll take a look tomorrow. And wasn’t Xian Ji looking for you to endorse their products? They’ve launched a new one and want to sign you for it. They’re considering making you a permanent spokesperson, but it depends on your future performance, so we need to work hard.”

Meng Ying smiled and said, “Okay.”

Liu Qin also smiled. She wasn’t worried about Meng Ying’s acting skills, but returning after a year of rest was still a bit difficult. She only had Xian Ji left among her endorsements, which was too few. As for other events, she hadn’t received any invitations yet, probably still waiting to see.

After they exchanged good nights, Meng Ying went to take a shower. As the hot water washed over her wrist, she noticed a slight red mark, a remnant from when she had forcefully pulled away from Xu Dian. Her skin was very fair and delicate, and even a little pressure could leave a mark. She rinsed it under the hot water, but it didn’t fade, so she just ignored it.

She put on her pajamas and came out.

While drying her hair, Meng Ying glanced at her phone, and another trending topic appeared on Weibo.

The topic was titled #Let’s Talk About This Year’s Adaptations of Popular Novels by Film Companies#. Meng Ying casually clicked on it and saw many fans sharing their opinions.

Some hoped for certain novels to be adapted. Others hoped for others to be made into films. There were also opposing voices, with fans urging film companies to release their previous adaptations instead of ruining the original works. After scrolling through several comments, a book title caught her eye: “Twins.”

Meng Ying furrowed her brow as she read another comment: “Oh my god, if this gets adapted, I’ll get goosebumps…”

“Tsk tsk, this story has such a grand scope, and to this day, no one knows where she went…”

Meng Ying casually glanced through a few more comments, then logged out of Weibo. Her hair had dried. She put down her blow dryer and phone, stretched lazily, yawned, and then went to bed, quickly falling asleep.

She had a dreamless night and woke up the next morning at her usual time. After drinking her collagen drink, she started her yoga routine. Once she finished, a light sweat covered her body. She wiped herself down with a towel and walked toward the kitchen just as the doorbell rang.

She peeked outside and saw Liu Qin entering, holding breakfast. When Liu Qin saw her, she smiled. “Bought this on the way here. Also…”

Liu Qin paused for a moment, put the breakfast on the table, then leaned against the table with both hands. “President Xu might have some issues. Yesterday, he threw us away, but today their director went directly to President Yu, asking if we could hurry up and sign the contract…”

Meng Ying paused mid-action as she wiped her hands. She looked at Liu Qin, who seemed to be waiting for a response, a hint of negotiation in her eyes. Meng Ying smiled and said, “Then let’s sign.”

Liu Qin hesitated for a moment before smiling back. “Alright.”

This movie had offered Meng Ying a very high fee, so President Yu was surely keen on closing the deal. As Meng Ying’s agent, Liu Qin had become a thorn in President Yu’s side, always being watched for when she could land more opportunities for Meng Ying.

“Let’s sign, then,” Liu Qin said as she unpacked the breakfast. “After all, they’re the ones asking for it.”

Meng Ying smiled. Yes, who cared about Xu Dian? After all, they were the ones asking.

After breakfast, Meng Ying went to Huaying again to sign a contract. Today, however, the contract was for the producer, and Xu Dian was absent. After signing, arrangements needed to be made to book tickets and prepare for the trip to the film city.

Meanwhile, Gu Yan’s assistant called, saying, “Mr. Gu is also heading back to the film city. Since we know Ms. Meng Ying has signed, the company thought it’d be best to arrange for both of you to travel together.”

Liu Qin paused and replied, “Alright, the tickets.”

The assistant chuckled and said, “First class…”

Liu Qin winced and hung up the phone, then said, “Since you’re traveling with Gu Yan, you’ll have to book first-class tickets.”

“Sure,” Meng Ying replied, “you can deduct it from my account.”

Liu Qin smiled and went to make the arrangements.

Meng Ying started packing her luggage, as this trip would be a long one, and she needed to bring everything she might need. At noon, Meng Ying cooked a meal and invited Liu Qin and Chen Jie along with Xiao Meng to eat together. Xiao Meng would not be joining the trip this time, as she needed to stay back in Li City and focus on improving her driving skills. Chen Jie and Liu Qin, however, would accompany Meng Ying to take care of her.

Their flight was scheduled for 3:30 PM. After lunch, the three headed to the airport. A black business car arrived at the airport entrance, followed by another black business car. As soon as both cars stopped, deafening screams erupted, as if they were about to lift the airport roof. Initially planning for Meng Ying and Gu Yan to enter together, Liu Qin discussed with Shen Chong and decided that Gu Yan would go first to divert some fans. Meng Ying would follow later.

After waiting in the car for a while, Shen Chong called to confirm, and only then did Meng Ying and her group step out. By this time, most of the fans had dispersed, though a few remained, cameras in hand, and quickly approached her with questions.

“Meng Ying, are you going to the film city with Gu Yan? Are you on the same flight?”

“How did Gu Yan pursue you? What tricks did he use?” The fans bombarded her with questions, but Meng Ying just smiled without answering. They then began whispering among themselves.

“Oh my gosh, her skin is so good. Is she not wearing makeup? Even bare-faced, she looks stunning…” Some female fans instinctively pulled up their masks, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

Amidst the trailing fans, Meng Ying and her group entered security. In the first-class lounge, Meng Ying, dressed casually in pants, walked in holding her phone. Her gaze first met Gu Yan’s smiling eyes, then swept lightly to a man holding a tablet—Xu Dian. His peach blossom-shaped eyes darkened slightly behind his glasses as he glanced at her briefly.

Meng Ying raised her eyebrows and shifted her gaze, smiling at Gu Yan. Her seat was further back, and as she passed the aisle between the two men, she walked on.

Gu Yan leaned forward to chat with her.

Meng Ying responded with a smile.

Xu Dian rested his hand on the tray table, his posture relaxed. His eyes were on the document displayed on the tablet, but his ears couldn’t help but pick up Meng Ying’s soft, gentle voice—a voice that seemed to drip with honey, laced with light laughter in her exchanges. Returning to his senses, Xu Dian leaned back in his seat, crossing his long legs. The back-and-forth conversation grated on his ears, particularly the man’s voice.

It grated so much that Xu Dian’s eyes darkened further, any hint of a smile vanishing. After a few seconds, he let out a soft chuckle and beckoned a flight attendant, saying, “A cup of mocha, please.”

“Of course,” the flight attendant responded.

When the coffee arrived, he took a sip, but the two continued their conversation. It had evolved into Meng Ying asking softly, “How’s your forehead now?”

“Much better.”

“Still need follow-ups?”

“No need. I can get the stitches out in a couple of days.”

“That’s good. I was worried it’d affect your filming.”

“With your care, I’ll recover in no time…”

With a bang, Xu Dian set the coffee cup back on the table. He tugged at his collar, a faint smile on his lips that didn’t reach his eyes. Turning his head slightly, he cast a light glance at Meng Ying, who was resting her chin on her hand while speaking.

Meng Ying seemed to sense his gaze and glanced lightly in his direction.

Her eyes curved with a faint smile.

Still beautiful.

But utterly unruffled.

Xu Dian squinted, then let out a faint laugh and looked away. In his broad chest, something seemed ready to break free. The man beside him radiated an overpowering aura. Gu Yan glanced at Xu Dian several times, his face emotionless but his demeanor equally assertive.

As more passengers boarded the first-class cabin, they were startled by the palpable tension between these two strikingly handsome men. A quick glance was enough to send them scurrying to their seats.

What was going on?

Were these two enemies?

---

The film city they were heading to was newly constructed. While it was in the same area as the Nine Heavens filming site, it was still some distance away. When Huaying had announced its massive investment in building this location a year ago, many had called it foolish. But in reality, Huaying wasn’t foolish—this one-of-a-kind filming site was now attracting numerous production crews eager to book it.

Meng Ying, as usual, fell asleep as soon as she boarded the plane. By the time they arrived at the film city, it was already past 7 PM. Exiting the cabin, Meng Ying was still groggy. Gu Yan slowed his pace to wait for her, and they walked side by side. Noticing her half-asleep state, Gu Yan chuckled and called Shen Chong to arrange transportation.

Meng Ying tilted her head, overhearing Liu Qin’s voice on the other end of the line. It seemed the two managers had already grouped up.

The corridor was long and brightly lit.

Behind them, Xu Dian carried his suit jacket over one arm and dragged a small black suitcase. His assistant trailed close by. Xu Dian’s gaze, hidden behind his glasses, remained fixed on the woman ahead who had her head tilted upward. She walked so close to Gu Yan that she seemed on the verge of leaning on him. Xu Dian’s steps were steady, his expression quiet, his gaze, unknowingly to himself, as cold as ice.

The slight reflection off his glasses hinted at something concealed within.

His assistant, following nervously, couldn’t help but feel frightened. Having worked with Xu Dian for years, he knew this man to be capable of smiling while breaking someone’s hand without batting an eye, his face expressionless as he watched others struggle. Xu Dian never revealed his emotions—smiling no matter the time or place.

Years ago, when his father had been humiliated and cornered by the company’s board of directors, Xu Dian had witnessed it firsthand. In that cramped office, the board thought they had his father in a deadlock, trying to drive him mad with one insult after another.

Xu Dian, then still young and not yet in a position to take over the company, had stood silently at the door, watching his father’s humiliation and the board’s arrogance. Someone, noticing his calm demeanor, shifted their attacks toward him. With sharp sarcasm and overconfidence, they sneered, “Young Master Xu, do you think we’re in the right?”

Deliberately posing the question in front of his father, they intended to humiliate the father and son duo. However, Xu Dian’s response was unexpected—he curved his lips into a smile and said, “You’re absolutely right.”

The directors, emboldened, intensified their pressure on Xu Dian’s father. But by the next day, those same directors were groveling at Xu Dian’s feet like dogs.

Xu Dian, feigning curiosity, asked, “What’s the matter?”

What happened was that overnight, Xu Dian had acquired all their ledgers, exposing their dirty dealings to the public. He had struck at their Achilles’ heel, leaving them in a state worse than death. Even back then, Xu Dian maintained the same demeanor—his glasses reflecting a cold gleam.

At this hour, the airport was bustling with people, including many fans. As Meng Ying and Gu Yan emerged, a swarm of fans surged forward to take photos and ask if they were tired. Gu Yan’s fans, fond of Meng Ying by association, showed her concern as well. Meng Ying, wearing a mask, maintained a careful distance—not too close, not too far—and occasionally responded to their kind inquiries.

As they walked a bit further, a new wave of excitement erupted among the fans.

“Who’s that? So handsome! Is he a celebrity?”

“He’s wearing glasses—so refined…”

They were talking about Xu Dian.

But “refined” was far from an accurate descriptor. Meng Ying continued walking with an impassive expression, while Liu Qin glanced back and clicked her tongue. “When a woman is seductive, she’s called a fox spirit. What do you call a seductive man? A male fox spirit?”

She had a strong dislike for Xu Dian but couldn’t deny that he was exceptionally good-looking.

Outside, a vehicle sent by the production crew awaited them. Since Meng Ying and Gu Yan were together, they shared the same black business vehicle. As it merged into traffic, a black Hummer pulled up at the terminal entrance. Under the watchful eyes of lingering fans, Xu Dian boarded the backseat. Once inside, he removed his glasses, leaned back in his seat, and closed his eyes to rest.

The Hummer followed into traffic and eventually arrived at the hotel adjacent to the Interstellar production crew’s location. Xu Dian alighted and took long strides forward, only to catch sight of Meng Ying laughing and chatting with Gu Yan as they entered the restaurant next to the hotel. Squinting slightly, he fixed his gaze on her retreating back before putting his glasses back on and stepping into the hotel lobby.

Ascending the stairs, he kept a faint smile on his lips but tugged at his collar, undoing two buttons, leaving his shirt slightly open.

On the restaurant floor, his assistant hurried to arrange a meal. This hotel, unlike the one booked by the production crew next door, boasted various types of restaurants.

Seated by the window, Xu Dian rested his head on his hand and gazed outside. The chair opposite him shifted slightly, drawing his attention. When he saw who it was, his lips curved into a smile. Leaning back unhurriedly, he asked Yang Rou, “Did you go to the hospital?”

The cold gleam in his glasses was unmistakable.

Yang Tong and Yang Rou both initially felt a chill. At that moment, Yang Tong was even more reluctant to speak. She nudged Yang Rou, who regained her composure and replied gently, “No, I didn’t go. It doesn’t seem serious…”

“Oh.” Xu Dian raised an eyebrow and nodded, his hands clasped together. He still wore a smile, but the low pressure around him was palpable.

Yang Tong frowned, steeling herself as she pulled out a chair and pushed her sister into it. She then took the seat beside her. The two sisters didn’t look much alike—one resembled their mother, the other their father. Yang Tong had a brighter, more striking appearance, while Yang Rou was delicate and soft-spoken.

Xu Dian sipped his coffee, his gaze lingering briefly on Yang Rou’s face—particularly at her plain, makeup-free eye corners. Unlike someone else, who even without a smile seemed to carry a shimmering spring of light in her gaze. Setting the coffee down, Xu Dian shifted his focus, lightly tapping his fingers on the table in a steady rhythm. Yang Tong, frustrated with her sister’s timidity, nudged her again, urging her to speak.

Before she could, Xu Dian broke the silence. “Regarding the T-brand business collaboration, go apologize.”

Yang Tong froze, her expression shifting after a few seconds. She wanted to retort but caught the faint coldness in Xu Dian’s eyes and promptly shut her mouth.

She nudged Yang Rou again, but Yang Rou, faced with the man before her, was at a loss for words. Just then, the assistant returned with their food. Seeing the two sisters frozen in place, he paused momentarily before serving the dishes in front of Xu Dian.

Xu Dian glanced up and smiled faintly at the assistant, who hesitated for a second before turning to the sisters and asking, “Ladies, have you eaten yet?”

Yang Tong gave up on pushing Yang Rou any further. She opened her mouth to say they hadn’t eaten, but when her eyes landed on Xu Dian’s nonchalant smile—too indifferent, almost like dismissing them—she froze, shivered slightly, and said, “We’ve already eaten.”

“Since you’ve eaten, I won’t keep you. Mr. Xu has been busy and still needs to handle some matters after his meal…” The assistant chimed in just then, cutting her off.

Yang Tong clenched her teeth and tugged on Yang Rou, who, after a moment, looked toward Xu Dian once more. Xu Dian took another sip of coffee, still smiling, not even bothering to extend the courtesy of keeping them.

Yang Rou felt a bitter lump in her throat. Her gaze hurriedly darted over Xu Dian’s long fingers, remembering that only once, when she was sixteen, had they crossed that boundary—just that one time.

She stumbled toward the door, and Yang Tong, brow furrowed, was incredulous. “Sis, you’re divorced now. Why is he still so indifferent to you?”

“When you were married, I could understand his coldness, but now that you’re divorced, why isn’t he more warm? Why…”

Yang Tong had always thought that Yang Rou was special to Xu Dian, but now, seeing how Xu Dian treated her, it seemed no different from how he dismissed other women who admired him. Yang Rou remained silent, her hands trembling slightly in her sleeves.

At that moment, her phone buzzed. She looked down and saw a message from Liu Yan, who had sent a link. “Take a look.”

Frowning, Yang Rou hesitated. She and Liu Yan had never really gotten along, and she wasn’t sure what the link was about. But eventually, she opened it.

The link flashed, revealing a line of text:

“If he truly loves you, why would he need a substitute…”

With a soft thud, her phone slipped from her hand.

---

After finishing their meal at the restaurant, Meng Ying and her group returned to the hotel. Due to their different statuses, Gu Yan stayed on the eighth floor, while Meng Ying was on the sixth. The two groups parted ways, and once back in their rooms, Chen Jie and Liu Qin started tidying up. Meng Ying went first to take a shower, then headed to the training ground to meet her martial arts instructor. He began to teach her the movements for tomorrow’s performance. She also worked on some power-based yoga exercises, which she handled decently. After more than an hour of training, she was drenched in sweat. The instructor praised her progress, and Meng Ying thanked him before throwing on her jacket and heading back to the hotel.

She had a good night’s sleep that night. Because she didn’t bring many people, the crew arranged a suite for her, a two-bedroom and one-living room type, where Chen Jie and Liu Qin stayed together.

The next day, before dawn, Liu Qin came to call Meng Ying, but found that Meng Ying was already exercising. Liu Qin praised her: “Truly dedicated.”

Then she went out to make breakfast with Chen Jie. After breakfast, it was just dawning. Meng Ying wore a coat, and the three of them went to the set. Gu Yan was even earlier than her and was already getting his makeup done.

Meng Ying greeted him and then returned to the makeup room for the second, third, and fourth female leads. Because there was no dedicated makeup artist, they used the crew’s.

Next door was Yang Tong’s room. She brought her own makeup artist, and her team was quite large.

The fourth female lead, Jiao Lan’s, clothes were initially a dress, but later, after the alien change, they were changed to casual pants and a T-shirt. Today, her dress was still the more fairy-like type. Jiao Lan had been practicing boxing and had a cheerful personality, but she had never had a boyfriend. On the day of the Earth’s changes, she was changing into a fairy dress for a date with a boy she liked. She put on a dress that she didn’t usually like very much, but on that day, the boy she liked was entangled and killed by the alien dodder…

She herself also fell into a coma next to the dodder and was eventually transformed by the aliens. At this time, many places around the world had actually been plagued by the virus for two or three years. Humans were still fighting the virus, but plants had begun to grow rapidly, the ocean was rising, glaciers were thinning, volcanoes were collapsing, and high walls were being built.

After changing into a suspender dress and letting her hair down, the makeup artist also put two headdresses on Meng Ying’s ears, making her look even more radiant. The current filming progress focused on Meng Ying and Yang Tong. The coordinator was already urging them. Meng Ying got up, picked up her skirt and walked out. As soon as she went out, she happened to meet Yang Tong coming out.

Yang Tong was also wearing a white dress. When she saw Meng Ying, she was stunned for a moment. Then, remembering her current acting skills, she sneered and, as she brushed past, softly called out “substitute.”

Meng Ying paused, then smiled and glanced at her lightly, picking up her skirt and walking towards the set. Gu Yan had already changed into his uniform. His military uniform made him look very tall and straight, with a gun at his waist. He looked back and smiled at her.

Meng Ying also smiled at him. Chen Jie tidied up the rest area, which was next to Gu Yan and Yang Tong, right between the two of them. Meng Ying walked directly to Director Liu.

This scene.

Was Meng Ying’s important scene of being transformed by the aliens, which was also the one from the previous audition. Director Liu said: “I hope we can do it in one take. Show me the level you had at the audition…”

“Okay.”

Meng Ying nodded.

Director Liu gestured, and she walked to the front of the camera. The surroundings were full of dodder props. She knelt in the middle, facing the rest area.

Yang Tong stood there, arms crossed, looking at her coldly with her chin raised.

Gu Yan was also quite nervous.

The clapperboard was hit.

“Start.”

Meng Ying lowered her head, her hands grasping the ground, her wrists completely entangled with the props. Then she began to struggle and cry. She was wearing a suspender dress, so her collarbone was exposed, accentuated by her movements. Her beautiful neck was raised high. This scene was extremely impactful. The camera zoomed in on her, watching her struggle.

The crew members who had questioned Director Liu’s insistence on using Meng Ying were shocked at this moment. They finally understood why Director Liu didn’t want those other actresses and was so picky, because Meng Ying’s acting was really in place. She portrayed the weakness of the dodder and also portrayed Jiao Lan’s struggle and unwillingness. The crying was not one-time, but layer by layer… finally adding the physical performance explosion.

Not far away, a man held a camera, filming Meng Ying. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and the smile at the corner of his lips gradually faded… but the focus in his eyes deepened.

His slender fingertips rubbed the camera, as if to wipe something away.

Director Liu shouted.

“Cut, very good.”

Everyone’s mood relaxed, and Meng Ying breathed a sigh of relief and walked towards the rest area, but saw Xu Dian holding a camera.

She picked up her skirt, completely ignoring him, and walked past him indifferently, taking the water that Gu Yan handed her, unscrewing it and taking a sip. Gu Yan smiled and praised her: “Very impressive.”

Meng Ying smiled with her eyebrows curved: “Thank you for the compliment.”

In front, Xu Dian, holding the camera, stood quietly in place, the wind blowing, making his shirt collar flap.

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