Lu Wen looked at Sun Xiaojian, asking with his eyes: Who is Director Liu?

Sun Xiaojian quickly scanned the personnel information in his mind. There were quite a few people with the surname Liu, but only one could be called "Director." He was startled and leaned close to Lu Wen's ear, saying, "It seems the production director's surname is Liu."

"Holy crap?" Lu Wen's eyes widened. "The production director himself came to pick me up?"

They were whispering with their heads down and didn't notice someone approaching the car door. When the door was pulled open again, Lu Wen and Sun Xiaojian looked up in unison.

Director Liu appeared at the doorway. A refined Armani suit couldn't hide his burgeoning beer belly, nor could his gold-rimmed glasses conceal the surprise on his face. He froze for a moment, blocking the entrance and staring at the people inside the car.

The driver was the first to break the deadlock, saying, "Director Liu, you see..."

Sun Xiaojian reacted quickly, shifting off the seat and extending both hands. "Director Liu, hello, hello. I didn't expect you to come in person."

Director Liu returned the handshake lightly, but his gaze remained on Lu Wen, as if trying hard to recall who this was. Sun Xiaojian immediately said, "This is my artist, Lu Wen. He's joining the production today. We just got off the plane a moment ago."

Director Liu nodded in sudden realization. "Ah, it's Xiao Lu."

"Hello, Director Liu," Lu Wen said.

Director Liu asked, "Have you contacted the film crew? Who is the production assistant responsible for coordinating with you?"

"It's Xiao Zhang," Sun Xiaojian said. "Xiao Zhang is probably busy. We saw the crew's car parked here, so we got on by ourselves."

Director Liu took out his phone and said while dialing, "This Xiao Zhang is famous for being careless and making mistakes often. Wait a moment, I'll call and ask him."

Lu Wen clutched the bottle of Perrier, a bad feeling creeping over him.

"How do you handle things? You can even mess up dispatching a few cars, leaving an artist stranded after they get off the plane? Don't give me any nonsense about scheduling conflicts. Alright, don't apologize to me either."

Director Liu berated someone over the phone for a few sentences. After hanging up, he relaxed his brows and said, "Xiao Lu, here's the situation. I asked Xiao Zhang, and the car meant to pick you up is supposed to be another one."

Lu Wen: "Huh?"

"A lot of actors are joining the production these two days, so scheduling the cars has been difficult. It might be a little late," Director Liu said. "I've already scolded Xiao Zhang. When you get to the set, I'll have him properly apologize to you."

Lu Wen was a bit dazed. "Then what about us now..."

Director Liu smiled and replied euphemistically, "Then let's see each other on set."

Lu Wen's wheat-colored face flushed red. He had warmed up the seat, drank half a bottle of Perrier, and kneaded the Sichuan Embroidery pillow in his arms, only to be told this car wasn't for him?

It was like Cinderella, after putting on makeup, her dress, and glass slippers, was told the pumpkin carriage refused to take her.

This was the first time Sun Xiaojian had encountered such a situation in his career. If word got out, he would lose all face. He gritted his teeth and tried to fight for it, "There are extra empty seats, do you think we could go together?"

"I'm afraid that's not very convenient," Director Liu said. "Please try to understand."

He had no face left to begin with, and hearing these words was tantamount to inviting another round of humiliation. Lu Wen's head was buzzing. He shot up from his seat and strode out of the car with his long legs.

At this moment, Director Liu stepped aside, revealing Qu Yanting, who had been standing behind him all along.

Lu Wen came to a stop right in front of Qu Yanting. He lowered his head, looking at the person who was truly being picked up by a Porsche and the production director. However, Qu Yanting's sunglasses covered most of his face, and Lu Wen could only see his own reflection in the lenses.

Awkward, dejected, annoyed.

After just a one-second glance, Qu Yanting lifted his leg, got into the car, and sat down in the seat Lu Wen had just warmed.

The driver unloaded a few suitcases and loaded Qu Yanting's. Lu Wen and Sun Xiaojian stood side by side, watching as the car door closed, the engine started, and the Porsche prepared to leave them behind.

In that split second, Lu Wen rushed forward and knocked hard on the car door.

Qu Yanting hadn't had much patience left before getting in the car. He lowered the window a crack and asked, "What is it?"

Lu Wen held up the pillow in his arms. "I forgot to put this down earlier."

Qu Yanting said nonchalantly, "Keep it as a souvenir."

Before Lu Wen could react, Qu Yanting had already closed the window. The Porsche gradually drove away from the airport, leaving behind only a trail of exhaust fumes.

Sun Xiaojian held up his phone. "The license plate number has arrived."

Being snubbed in the past was one thing, but to still be treated so poorly now that he was the male lead... Lu Wen said speechlessly, "So fast. Was it sent with Internet Explorer?"

Sun Xiaojian placated him, "Let's let them off the hook for now. You wait here, I'll go find our car."

Ten minutes later, Lu Wen was finally in his own minivan. He didn't know who had been in it before, but a lingering scent of perfume filled the cabin. He hugged his elbows and admired the scenery flashing by the window, thinking with emotion, 'Chongqing has so many hills, no wonder it's making me experience such dramatic ups and downs right from the start.'

Lu Wen couldn't help but sing a line from a song: "Drifting and turning in the sea of people is but a dream..."

He had a naturally deep voice; singing overly sentimental songs made it sound like a phone vibrating. Sun Xiaojian said, "Singing again. Your identity now is an actor."

Lu Wen turned a deaf ear. "Deep love is passed down forever, floating above all worldly things..."

The car twisted and turned, and after more than two hours, it slid into an old neighborhood. The roadside was lined with old trees and residential buildings. After driving a little further, several minivans were parked ahead, looking like temporary parking spots rented by the crew.

"We're here?" Lu Wen didn't see anyone.

The driver was quite cool. "Follow me."

Lu Wen and Sun Xiaojian followed the driver through a narrow alley. As they emerged from the end of the alley, it was as if a page had refreshed—another old neighborhood and several residential buildings appeared before them.

The film crew had arrived.

The scene before them was highly similar to the one described in the script—

An old street, the road surface cracked and stained. A "No Entry" sign lay on the sidewalk, covered in rust spots, left behind from some construction project years ago. Passersby ignored it. A stray cat was sleeping directly under the sign, looking far more comfortable than someone in first class.

The street was crowded with five or six storefronts: a small supermarket, a barber shop, a photo studio that also offered printing services, and two snack shops that had been rivals for over a decade.

The residential complex across the street was quite old, with no gate or security guards; people came and went as they pleased. There were only two buildings in the complex. The paint on the buildings' walls was peeling off in large patches, and any slightly flatter areas were covered with small advertisements. There were seven floors in total. Some families hadn't enclosed their balconies, where drying underpants and air-dried sausages were displayed in equal measure.

The third-floor balcony was the cleanest, with a row of potted plants and two pairs of scrubbed-clean sneakers on the windowsill. One of the window panes was missing a piece, patched up with a math test paper. A big "39 points" was written on the paper.

Lu Wen looked up. He knew that was his "home."

The complex was right next to an abandoned elementary school, separated by the playground's wall. For easier access, a few bars had been removed from the fence. Every evening, old men and women would slip through to walk and dance in the playground.

In the innermost part of the complex was a grape arbor. Dense branches and leaves covered the frame, like a gazebo. Over the years, whenever someone moved out, they would throw away a few pieces of furniture. Slowly, a round table and four chairs were assembled under the arbor.

All day long, people played mahjong under the grape arbor. After playing, they would pay a two-yuan table fee, because the arbor had an owner. It was the only spot in the complex that was tended to by someone.

Lu Wen's mind went a little blank. Everything described in the script was appearing before his eyes, as if the fictional world truly existed.

Sun Xiaojian said from the side, "This is too realistic. Is it real or a set?"

A single sentence pulled Lu Wen back to reality. He realized this was the film set, and the two hundred-plus people coming and going all around were staff members from various departments.

Filming was about to start, and all the teams were rushing to set things up, including over forty rooms and countless small scenes. From large pieces of furniture down to a broken ballpoint pen wrapped in tape, the art director's checklist had a total of 6,300 items that needed to be verified one by one.

In fact, the crew had already been based in Chongqing for a month and a half. Besides the preparatory work, the establishing shots for the show had already begun filming long ago.

A lean young man ran out of Unit One, a thick stack of forms tucked under his arm. He screeched to a halt when he saw Lu Wen. He came over, saying, "Our male lead has arrived. I must hurry and offer my sincerest apologies."

Sun Xiaojian guessed, "Xiao Zhang?"

"Yes, that's me." Xiao Zhang gave Lu Wen a ninety-degree bow. "I'm so sorry. It's been too chaotic today. After dispatching the car, I went to help the props team with inventory. I'm truly sorry."

Lu Wen's temper always came and went like the wind, also known as being easygoing. He said casually, "It's fine."

"Thank you for your understanding." Xiao Zhang said as he pulled out a form. "Teacher Lu, please sign in first, then I'll show you around."

Sun Xiaojian asked, "Is Director Ren here? We'd like to go say hello first."

Xiao Zhang said, "Director Ren went to film on location. He said everyone can meet tomorrow, no need to wait for him specifically."

Lu Wen dodged his most hated part—having to act subservient. After signing in, he and Sun Xiaojian familiarized themselves with the set. The dispatch room, storage, and makeup rooms were all located in Unit One.

Unit One, Apartment 101 was a two-bedroom apartment. After being cleaned and furnished, it was used as the director's rest area. However, the director was very busy and basically had no time to rest.

Outside the back gate of the complex was an open area filled with large, standard-sized RVs. Finding the one with Lu Wen's name on it, Xiao Zhang said, "The actors rest in the RVs. If you need any items or food, just tell the crew's assistants."

Sun Xiaojian asked, "After we wrap for the day, do we have to go through the alley to get to the minivan?"

"Yes, the area is small, so the minivans have to park on the next street over," Xiao Zhang replied.

Sun Xiaojian asked suggestively, "Does everyone take a minivan?"

"It's all the same," Xiao Zhang said. "Teacher Lu is the male lead, so I specially arranged a new vehicle. But many actors have been arriving these past two days, we also picked up the female lead at noon."

Sun Xiaojian, still not giving up, said, "I think there was also a Porsche."

"There is indeed a Porsche, it's Director Ren's private car. I don't have the authority to schedule it." Xiao Zhang recalled, "Oh, right, when you were waiting for the car after getting off the plane, why was it Director Liu who called me?"

Sun Xiaojian said, "We ran into Director Liu at the airport."

Xiao Zhang muttered, "What was Director Liu doing at the airport?"

Lu Wen and Sun Xiaojian exchanged a look. Using Director Ren's car, making Director Liu personally go, and even the production assistant didn't know who it was. If that person were very famous, there would have been fans at the airport. If they were a big shot, they should have recognized them.

According to the industry's unwritten rules, this kind of treatment for a relatively unknown person meant they were, in all likelihood, someone with powerful connections.

Xiao Zhang had other things to do and said, "If you have any problems, feel free to find me anytime. If not, Teacher Lu, you should head back to the hotel and rest early. May I ask presumptuously, are you staying at the hotel arranged by the crew, or have you made your own arrangements?"

The crew would arrange accommodations, but actors couldn't stand the loneliness and would go out on dates, for hookups, or what have you. To avoid a large number of empty rooms, the production assistant would ask in advance.

Lu Wen said, "We've made our own arrangements."

As long as it didn't interfere with filming, he always chose to stay elsewhere. Because he was an eighteenth-tier actor, he would have to greet everyone from the first to seventeenth tiers if he ran into them in the hallway, which was incredibly annoying. Besides, his company had a partnership with a specific hotel, which kept a suite reserved for him year-round.

His phone rang. It was a message from the hotel.

It asked if he needed a car service, if he would like to select private dining options, or if he wanted to book the swimming pool, movie theater, spa, or other facilities, for which a dedicated staff member would be arranged to assist him.

Lu Wen declined everything, skimming past the lines and only glancing at the room number. A high-floor river view room, 6207.