Chapter 33: Empathy

After Li Yuan’er stirred things up, the whole cast knew that it was Tang Yi and Yang Rou who had sent Meng Ying to the trending list by posting videos. Immediately, everyone’s attitude towards the two of them changed.

Tang Yi and Yang Rou didn’t dare return to the set. After finishing the second half of the script with the other three screenwriters, the two of them returned to Licheng.

Tang Yi was relentlessly questioned by book fans.

She was scolded by Meng Ying’s fans.

CP fans bombarded her with criticism.

She was in a terrible state, feeling like she had fallen from grace.

After returning to Licheng, they didn’t dare post on Weibo casually, fearing that no matter what they said, fans would be following them with questions. Yang Rou’s Weibo was even more quiet, she didn’t even dare like posts.

A few days after they left Songshan.

Li Yuan’er returned to the set and rushed in early in the morning to greet Meng Ying. She even brought a pile of snacks for her: Xiangpiaopiao milk tea, spicy strips, egg tarts, fried chicken, and homemade lemon chicken feet, then left. People in Meng Ying’s dressing room were confused, especially Liu Qin and Chen Jie.

Liu Qin: “When did we become so close to her?”

Chen Jie shook her head: “I don’t know, Meng Ying never contacted her.”

Meng Ying had a new friend request on her phone.

She opened it to check.

It was from Li Yuan’er, along with a message saying:

“The snacks I just gave you were bought by CEO Xu. Add me quickly, you acted really well.”

Meng Ying hesitated for a few seconds.

Then, she clicked “accept.”

After accepting, Meng Ying replied: “Thank you for speaking up for me.”

Li Yuan’er: “You’re welcome, it was all arranged by CEO Xu.”

Meng Ying: “If you didn’t mention CEO Xu, I might like you more.”

Li Yuan’er: [Black question mark emoji]

Seeing the emoji Li Yuan’er sent back, Meng Ying didn’t reply further. She smiled, put down her phone, closed her eyes, and let the makeup artist apply her makeup.

Since Li Yuan’er had returned, the unfinished scenes were reshot. Director Lin no longer sighed in frustration, and the atmosphere on the set became harmonious. To keep up with the filming schedule, Meng Ying no longer focused on technique and instead concentrated on empathy.

One of the scenes was a kissing scene.

Qin Jun only lightly touched Meng Ying’s lips, without going any further.

Before filming.

Director Lin thought for a moment and said, “We can use a stand-in.”

Qin Jun looked up from the script, hesitated for two seconds, and said, “A stand-in?”

He looked at Meng Ying.

Meng Ying put down her thermos and said, “Let’s do it for real.”

Director Lin was hesitant. He looked at the production manager, who shook his head, signaling that they absolutely couldn’t do it for real. Li Yuan’er also walked over and leaned in to whisper in Director Lin’s ear, “We can’t do it for real, use a stand-in… Besides, this scene isn’t focused on the kiss.”

Director Lin: “Makes sense.”

So, he snapped his fingers and arranged things. Meng Ying got up and walked to the sofa, while Qin Jun’s script was taken away by his assistant. He reclined on the sofa, and Meng Ying knelt on the sofa, holding the pose. When she got closer, she realized that Qin Jun’s eyes were also almond-shaped. Compared to Xu Dianman’s indifferent smile with a hint of coldness, Qin Jun’s gaze was much gentler and more charming, and at that moment, he was looking at her with a smile.

In Meng Ying’s beautiful eyes, Qin Jun’s almond-shaped eyes seemed to merge with Xu Dian’s, and in that moment, she felt a surge of emotion, unable to see Qin Jun’s true face clearly, yet feeling as if she was seeing Xu Dian.

Director Lin’s voice came from behind: “Start.”

The slate was struck.

“Scene 20, the sofa kiss, begin.”

Meng Ying lowered her head, seemingly frozen in place.

The camera zoomed in, capturing her long eyelashes and delicate profile. Qin Jun leaned back, then straightened up and moved closer to Meng Ying.

According to the camera’s instructions, they were supposed to fake the kiss, but unexpectedly, Meng Ying slightly tilted her head, and their lips touched.

Qin Jun stiffened.

Director Lin stiffened.

The production manager stiffened.

Li Yuan’er stiffened. She clenched her phone and sent a WeChat message to Xu Dian.

Li Yuan’er: “Mr. Xu, Meng Ying kissed Qin Jun.”

Li Yuan’er: “She’s not following your orders.”

On the other end.

Xu Dian read the messages in silence, placing his phone on the table. His expression darkened, and those in the meeting room were stunned. What was going on?

Especially Jiang Yi.

Did I say something wrong?

He swallowed nervously and continued speaking.

Xu Dian’s face remained grim.

Just then, Xu Dian’s phone buzzed again.

Li Yuan’er: “Mr. Xu, are you sure Meng Ying likes you? It doesn’t look like it at all.”

Bang—

The phone was flipped over. Xu Dian clasped his hands together, looking at the podium. Seeing Jiang Yi stop, he furrowed his brow and said, “Continue.”

“Okay…” Jiang Yi straightened up and quickly continued, speaking three or four times faster than before.

The meeting lasted until after four in the afternoon. Everyone remained in the room, waiting for the boss to leave, but no one dared to leave. Jiang Yi packed up his tablet, glanced at Xu Dian, and after a moment, Xu Dian adjusted his tie, picked up his phone, and stood up. The others sighed in relief as Jiang Yi grabbed the tablet and documents and followed him.

As they walked, Jiang Yi checked his watch and reminded him, “Mr. Xu, your flight to Songshan is at 6:30.”

Xu Dian paused for a moment, then after a few seconds, he opened the office door, walked to his desk, grabbed a cigarette and a lighter, and stood by the desk, lighting the cigarette while lowering his head to smoke.

The phone screen was still displaying the chat messages from Li Yuan’er.

Li Yuan’er: “Mr. Xu, are you sure Meng Ying likes you? It doesn’t look like it at all.”

His throat felt dry, and he muttered, “I’m not going for now. Cancel it.”

Jiang Yi paused for a moment, then sighed.

“Alright, then about Mr. Qian from Liao Shan…”

“Next week. Have him send the email first,” Xu Dian said, pinching the cigarette and blowing out a puff of smoke, his voice low.

“Okay.”

Jiang Yi turned to make arrangements.

Xu Dian grabbed the car keys, extinguished his cigarette, and turned to leave. Not long after, a black Hummer drove out of the Xu Group building, heading towards the Mountain Water Villa.

He tossed the car keys on the cabinet.

Aunt Chen came out of the kitchen, and upon seeing him return, she froze. “Aren’t you supposed to be on a business trip today? I didn’t prepare anything to eat. What would you like?”

“Wake…” Xu Dian paused, lifting his eyelids and replied, “Anything is fine.”

Then he let out a quiet laugh, very low and soft.

Aunt Chen stood behind the sofa, watching him, and said, “You want some hangover soup again? Haven’t you chased that girl back yet?”

Xu Dian sat down on the sofa, leaning back.

He smiled briefly and said, “I want some.”

“Forget it, Aunt Chen will just make some wontons.”

Aunt Chen watched him for a moment.

This young master had always been successful with women, but recently, he couldn’t even get a bowl of hangover soup. She didn’t know what kind of girl she was.

She sighed and turned back into the kitchen.

As time went on, the emotional scenes in the drama became harder to perform. Meng Ying’s empathy was so deep that, even after finishing the scene, she maintained that state, unable to snap out of it immediately. Several times, Liu Qin and Chen Jie had to speak to Meng Ying softly or play some music to help her regain focus.

Especially when they were approaching the scene where Yue Yan sacrifices herself for Zhang Heshen. That moment reminded Meng Ying of the time a year ago when she removed her earring and let it go.

It was the same kind of emotion, but Yue Yan’s was tinged with a sense of tragic heroism.

Liu Qin, worried about Meng Ying, sat with her on the sofa and softly said, “Why don’t you ask Director Lin for a few days off? We can take a break.”

Meng Ying lifted her head.

Her gaze, however, drifted toward the door. Recently, whenever she saw Qin Jun, she couldn’t help but associate him with Xu Dian, which made the filming progress faster.

She knew she had become emotionally involved.

But she wasn’t planning to pull back. She picked up her phone and scrolled through it until she found Xu Dian’s number.

She dialed.

The phone quickly connected.

Xu Dian’s deep voice came through. “Meng Ying?”

“Zhang He…” Meng Ying suddenly cut herself off mid-sentence. She cleared her throat and softly said, “Xu Dian, come over.”

Xu Dian was silent for a second on the other end of the line.

Then, he raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with surprise. But soon, he curled the corner of his lips and said, “Alright.”

Hearing his response, Meng Ying hung up the phone, placed it beside her, leaned back, and closed her eyes. Liu Qin, who had been listening nearby, hesitated before asking, “Meng Ying?”

“I know. I understand what I’m doing,” Meng Ying said gently.

Liu Qin fell silent, trusting Meng Ying.

She called Chen Jie to heat up some food, and since there would be a heavy storm in Songshan, they decided to rest the afternoon and evening. After Chen Jie warmed up the meal and set it on the table, the three of them ate. Afterward, Chen Jie and Liu Qin stayed with Meng Ying for a while longer, chatting, before they left.

Once the door closed behind them, Meng Ying crossed her arms and paced around the room. The sky outside was gray, the wind howling, making the curtains flap loudly. Meng Ying gazed at the distant overpass.

She then stopped and began practicing yoga.

As she exchanged breaths, a few lyrics softly escaped from her throat:

“Empty, leaving regret, so difficult and troublesome, letting go, lazily, fully enjoying, after the wind of time dries, you and I are no longer related…”

Sweat started to form on her body.

After finishing her yoga poses, Meng Ying took a short rest. When the sweat dried, she grabbed her pajamas and went to take a shower. By the time she finished, it had become darker outside.

There had been heavy rain in Songshan for several days, and it was expected that the crew would rest for another day or two. The indoor scenes were almost complete; only the outdoor scenes remained.

Meng Ying turned on the aromatherapy diffuser and the bedside lamp, sinking into sleep.

In a drowsy haze, Meng Ying was stirred awake by the sound of heavy rain and wind outside, accompanied by knocking at the door and the ringing of her phone.

She picked up her phone to check.

It was an unknown number. She held the phone, sitting up, wearing slippers, and walked to the living room.

The knocking at the door continued.

She walked over, opened the door, and saw Xu Dian standing outside, holding his phone. He looked up at her.

He wasn’t wearing glasses, and his peach blossom eyes held a hint of charm.

Still groggy, Meng Ying softly called out, “Zhang Heshen…”

The smile in Xu Dian’s eyes instantly faded, and he gritted his teeth. “What did you just call me?”

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