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Qingdao Liuting Airport.

Su Ning was wearing a loose black coat, and the main cast and crew waved to him from afar: "Director Su, good morning! This trip to Bangkok depends on you to lead us in 'making things happen'!"

Su Ning greeted them with a smile. Behind him, Lao Wang was counting heads with a list, his voice booming: "Teacher Guo, Teacher Mei, Teacher Liu, have you all put the crew tags on your luggage? The equipment will be shipped via logistics, we'll only bring valuables and the script with us."

Teacher Mei adjusted her shawl around her shoulders, her eyes filled with curiosity about this foreign land: "Everything's ready, Brother Wang. I just heard Bangkok is especially hot, so I deliberately brought fewer warm clothes."

Teacher Liu pushed her suitcase, her gaze sweeping over the team members behind her glasses, and added with a smile, "I also brought mosquito repellent. I checked the travel guides beforehand and they said the mosquitoes there are fierce, so I don't want to delay the filming."

The group of over twenty people formed a unique sight at the airport, attracting the attention of many travelers.

Su Ning stood in the center of the crowd, chatting with the three lead actors about the details of the script while glancing at Lao Wang from time to time.

He knew that every detail had to be perfect for this international filming project.

The flight took off on time at 9:00 AM.

Through the porthole, Qingdao's coastline gradually shrank and eventually disappeared into the clouds.

Su Ning took out his tablet and opened the location scouting information for Bangkok. Old Wang, who was next to him, leaned over and said, "Director Su, the filming company sent a message saying that we can meet a Thai-English bilingual guide as soon as we get off the plane. The customs procedures have all been reported in advance, so it won't take up much time."

"Thank you for your hard work, Brother Wang." Su Ning looked up and smiled, feeling much more at ease.

With Suning's current English proficiency, there shouldn't be too much of a problem with the communication going forward; the translator, however, is there for the actors.

……

Four and a half hours later, the flight landed at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

The moment the cabin door opened, a gust of warm, humid air rushed in, carrying a faint scent of lemongrass and spices, instantly dispelling the fatigue of the journey.

Teacher Guo was the first to step out of the cabin, taking an exaggerated deep breath: "This smell is strong! Much stronger than the sea breeze in Qingdao!"

Under the guidance of Ajarn, the team passed through the checkpoint with exceptional ease.

Ajarn, a Chinese man in his forties, spoke fluent Mandarin, making communication effortless: "Director Su, Director Wang, the cars are waiting outside. Let's go straight to the hotel. On the way, I'll tell you about Bangkok's traffic. The area we're filming in next will be a bit congested during rush hour, so we need to plan our time in advance."

"Okay! Thank you for your hard work."

"Director Su, you're too kind! It's all I should do."

As I walked out of the airport terminal, several black luxury vans were neatly parked on the side of the road.

After everyone got on the car, it slowly merged into the traffic.

Suning sat by the window, watching the scene rushing past: brightly colored billboards printed with Thai and English, tuk-tuks weaving nimbly through traffic, fruit stalls displaying bright red mangosteens and golden mangoes, and the broad leaves of tropical plants shimmering in the sunlight.

“This location will definitely create a great feel for the film.” Director of Photography Lao Zhou leaned over and pointed to the street scene outside the window. “Look at the light and shadow. The sun at four o’clock in the afternoon shines at an angle, which can create a particularly good sense of depth, which perfectly matches the suspenseful atmosphere in the script.”

Su Ning nodded and took out her phone to take pictures of the street scenes along the way: "When we get to the hotel, we'll settle in first, and then we'll go look at those apartments this afternoon."

"it is good."

……

The film crew stayed at a hotel in the Sukhumvit area, away from the tourist hotspots, quiet yet conveniently located.

Stepping into the lobby, you are immediately enveloped in a rich Thai ambiance: the dark wooden furniture is intricately carved with patterns, crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling reflect the Buddha images on the walls, and a faint fragrance wafts through the air.

Assistant director Lao Wang had already coordinated with the hotel in advance, and most of the check-in procedures had been completed.

He handed out room keys to everyone: "Director Su is staying in an executive suite on the 18th floor. It has a good view and is convenient for meetings. Teacher Guo, Teacher Mei, and Teacher Liu are staying in suites on the 17th floor. They all face south and are quiet. The other people's rooms are on the 15th and 16th floors. You can contact me anytime if you have any questions."

Suning took the room key and headed towards the elevator.

The executive suite is spacious and bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of distant high-rise buildings and vast tropical forests.

He put down his luggage, washed up quickly, and was just about to rest for a moment when his phone rang.

It was Assistant Director Lao Wang calling to say that lunch had been arranged and we would meet at the hotel restaurant in half an hour.

Lunch was a simple Thai meal, with the sour and spicy flavor of Tom Yum soup stimulating the taste buds.

Just as he put down his chopsticks, Ajarn came over with a location map: "Director Su, Brother Wang, let's go see those three apartments this afternoon. The first one is in the city center, on the top floor, with a great view. It's a bit expensive, but it fits the 'high-end apartment' setting in the script."

“Let’s go to that one first.” Su Ning wiped her mouth and stood up. “Old Zhou, art director Sister Li, let’s go together and take a closer look at the lighting and spatial layout.”

The first apartment was located in an upscale neighborhood in downtown Bangkok. The moment the elevator doors opened, Suning's eyes lit up.

The living room is spacious and bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering an unbeatable view of the city at night, as the setting sun paints the sky orange-red.

He walked into the kitchen and gestured for the camera positions: "We need to film the scene where the 'wife' and 'lover' are dealing with the situation here. The space needs to be large enough, and the lighting needs to be dim to create a sense of oppression."

Old Zhou took pictures around with his camera: "The kitchen window faces a good direction; the afternoon sidelight can capture the outlines of people, which perfectly highlights their tension. The sofa in the living room needs to be moved to make it easier to set up the track."

Art director Sister Li noted in her notebook: "The wall color is too bright, it needs to be painted dark gray, and a few paintings in cool colors should be hung to match the darkness in the 'wife's' heart. The bedding in the master bedroom should be changed to dark colors, and the curtains should be heavy to completely block out light, which will make it easier to shoot night scenes."

Over the next two hours, the team went to see two more apartments, but neither was as suitable as the first one.

Suning immediately decided: "We'll take this one. Rent is no problem. We'll communicate with the property management about the shooting time and try to avoid the owners' rest time."

It was already dark when I left the apartment.

Ajarn drove everyone to the old town to find the filming location for "Blind Massage Center".

The old town has narrow streets and alleys lined with low shops with red lanterns hanging on them, full of life.

They found a Thai massage parlor that had been open for over ten years. The owner was a kind old lady who readily agreed when she heard they were going to make a movie: "As long as it doesn't affect business, you can film whatever you want. I can even have my employees act as extras!"

Sister Li excitedly circled the massage parlor: "The decor here is perfect! The wooden tables and chairs, the old photos on the walls, all blend in with the Thai elements without feeling out of place. The sign at the entrance needs to be changed to 'Blind Massage Center,' and the font should be more retro."

……

The crew's schedule was packed for the next few days.

Su Ning and assistant director Lao Wang would go out every morning to liaise with the local film union staff and test the equipment that had been shipped from China.

The humid tropical climate caused some minor problems with the equipment, and it took Lao Zhou and the technicians a whole day to fix them.

They also confirmed the parking locations of the logistics support vehicles, repeatedly communicated with the local government to obtain road closure permits, and even went so far as to confirm the number and location of portable toilets.

Every night after returning to the hotel, Suning would have meetings with Lao Wang, Lao Zhou, and others until late at night.

They sat around the table, meticulously reviewing the storyboard and adjusting the shooting plan based on the actual conditions.

"The scenes in this alley need to be filmed with a handheld camera to increase the tension of the chase."

"The lighting in the massage parlor scenes should be warmer to contrast with the cool tones of the apartment."

"For the special effects makeup after the 'husband's' death, Sister Li had to communicate with the actors in advance, and the makeup test was scheduled for three days before filming started."

One late night, after the meeting, Suning stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the night view of Bangkok.

Neon lights shimmered on the streets, cars sped by, and in the distance, the temple pagodas gleamed golden under the lights.

He took out his phone and sent a message to Director Kong: "Director Kong, everything is going smoothly. The apartment and massage parlor have been booked, and the team is working well together. We're just waiting to start filming."

I quickly received a reply: "Take care and don't overwork yourself. Looking forward to your finished product."

Suning smiled and put away his phone.

Then Su Ning called his girlfriend Fan Lin, but Fan Lin hung up on him.

Then he sent another message, only to receive an "oh" in response, which made Suning's mood complicated once again.

However, knowing that the upcoming filming would be even more arduous, he stopped thinking about Fan Lin.

But seeing the problems solved one by one and the filming plan turn from paper into reality, he was filled with a sense of accomplishment once again.

The Bangkok breeze blew in through the window, carrying the scent of humidity and the promise of dreams taking flight.

The filming trip to Bangkok thus officially began amidst a tense, busy, yet efficient pace.

All preparations are underway, awaiting the day the machine will be launched.

……

After the launch mobilization meeting.

Su Ning looked at the team of more than thirty people in front of her...

The Chinese creators, the Thai production assistants, the technicians holding the recording boom, and the script supervisors clutching the scripts—everyone had anticipation in their eyes.

He took a deep breath and pointed to the clapperboard in the center of the living room: "Safety first, quality paramount. Let's begin."

The script supervisor girl quickly stepped forward and held up a sign that read "The Massage Therapist, Scene 1, Murder Scene, Frame 1" in front of the camera.

The crisp "snap" sound was particularly clear in the quiet apartment.

Suning sat behind the monitor, his eyes fixed on the screen...

The camera slowly zooms in, passing over the half-empty bottle of whiskey on the bar, and rests on Wang Li, played by Teacher Mei.

She was wearing a silk robe, her fingertips gripping a glass, her knuckles white.

Hearing footsteps behind her, she didn't turn around, but simply placed the cup gently on the table, making a soft sound.

"You've come." Her voice was flat, but there was a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

Teacher Liu, playing the lover, emerged from the shadows, his suit still dusty. He reached out and put his arm around Wang Li's waist, his voice gentle yet icy: "Is everything taken care of?"

"Click!" Su Ning suddenly spoke, his voice breaking the tension in the room. He stood up and walked to Teacher Liu: "Teacher Liu, the gentleness here needs to be a little more fake. When you hug her, you should be thinking about how to cover up the marks, not comforting her. Your eyes should be empty, like you're doing accounting."

Teacher Liu nodded and adjusted her posture.

When filming resumed, his arm was still around Wang Li, but his eyes turned cold, as if he were holding not a lover, but an object that needed to be disposed of.

Suning smiled with satisfaction behind the monitor—this was the tension he wanted.

……

The air conditioning in the apartment had been turned off long ago, and even the windows were sealed tightly to ensure the recording quality.

With the lights on, the indoor temperature quickly soared to forty degrees Celsius, and the air was filled with a mixture of sweat and cosmetics.

Ms. Guo, dressed in a shirt, lay motionless on the floor, playing the role of the "husband's" corpse.

The makeup artist came over every ten minutes to touch up the "bloodstains" on his face and wipe the sweat from his forehead.

"Teacher Guo, please bear with it a little longer, just one last close-up." Su Ning walked over and squatted down beside him.

Teacher Guo opened her eyes, smiled and waved her hand: "It's alright, Director Su, just keep filming. Even lying down is acting, you have to have the 'composure' of a corpse."

The camera focused on Mr. Guo's hand; his fingers were slightly curled, and scratches from his struggle remained under his fingernails.

Teacher Mei squatted down beside him and reached out to touch his face. As soon as her fingertips touched his skin, she pulled back abruptly, as if she had been burned.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, but there were no tears, only a complex emotion mixed with fear and relief.

"Perfect!" Suning called a halt, and a soft sigh of relief rang out from the audience.

Ms. Mei stood up, and her assistant immediately handed her a towel and ice water.

She wiped her sweat and looked at Su Ning: "Director Su, was that hand-pulling gesture just now something you came up with on the spot? Was it too abrupt?"

“No,” Su Ning shook her head and showed her the replay. “Look, this action perfectly illustrates Wang Li’s contradiction—she’s afraid, but she also wants to confirm whether he’s really dead. It’s incredibly realistic.”

Teacher Mei looked at the screen, breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile appeared on her lips.

……

When it was Suning's turn to play, he changed into Amin's clothes.

A faded white shirt, old leather shoes, and a white cane in his hand.

The makeup team put a thin layer of colored contact lenses on him, making his pupils look somewhat cloudy. Then, with the addition of sunglasses, the image of a "blind masseur" was immediately established.

"When Amin walks into the apartment, he should walk slowly and test the waters with every step," Su Ning instructed the assistant director, Lao Wang, in front of the monitor. "Use out-of-focus shots and film from his perspective so that the audience feels that everything in front of him is blurry."

"Okay! I understand."

As the clapperboard fell, Su Ning's masterful acting skills immediately came to the fore as he walked into the living room step by step, leaning on his white cane.

His hand gently brushed against the wall, the sensation at his fingertips causing him to frown slightly.

"Ms. Wang, your home's decor is truly unique," he said with a smile, his voice carrying just the right amount of humility.

Teacher Mei stood not far away, her eyes fixed on his every move.

Just as Amin's hand was about to touch the coat on the sofa, she suddenly spoke up: "Master Amin, let me pour you a glass of water."

As she spoke, she deliberately placed the water glass far away from Amin and "accidentally" knocked over the kettle, causing the water to flow down the floor towards Amin's feet.

Su Ning could feel the icy water seeping over the soles of his shoes, but he didn't immediately move away. He paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Thank you, Ms. Wang. It seems the water has spilled."

His hand groped for the sofa, and he slowly sat down, but his fingers secretly clutched a fallen button behind his back—a clue that his lover had carelessly left behind.

"Cut!" Old Wang called for a stop, his eyes filled with admiration. "Director Su, you captured the details so perfectly! The action of clutching the button was subtle yet conveyed to the audience that Amin had discovered the clue. I never imagined your acting skills had become so superb."

Suning took off her sunglasses and rubbed her eyes; the colored contact lenses were a bit uncomfortable after wearing them for so long.

He looked at the monitor, where Amin remained calm, with only the slightest movement of his fingers betraying his tension.

"One more take. Your breathing was a bit rapid just now. Amin needs to be more steady."

"it is good."

……

The day the apartment scenes were filmed, Bangkok was hit by a torrential downpour.

Suning stood by the window, watching the rain hit the glass, blurring the horizon outside.

Assistant director Lao Wang came over and handed him a cup of hot coffee: "You've finished filming. Get a good night's rest. Tomorrow we'll move to the old town to film outdoor scenes."

"I didn't expect filming to be so tough?"

"What? Regretting it? Who told you to mess around like that?"

"Hehe, if you don't make a fuss when you're young, you won't have the chance when you're old."

"That's true! But how did you hone your acting skills? They seem much more refined than in 'Our Parents' Love' and 'Under the Zhengyang Gate'."

"Probably talent!"

"Tch! Narcissist!"

……

The next morning, the rain stopped, and the air was filled with the scent of damp grass.

When the film crew's car arrived in the old town, the streets were already bustling with activity.

Fruit vendors push their carts and call out their wares, tuk-tuks weave through the alleys, and students in school uniforms walk by with their backpacks on their backs.

Suning changed into Amin's clothes and walked down the street with a white cane.

The camera followed behind him, capturing the surrounding scene with a handheld lens: brightly colored signs, crowded people, and fragrant food stalls.

As Amin walked past a music store, a Thai song was playing. The upbeat melody contrasted sharply with the solemn expression on his face.

"Stop for a second!" Su Ning suddenly spoke up, pointing to a fruit stand not far away. "Sister Li, could you ask the owner to put the mangoes a little closer to the front? The brighter colors would highlight A-Ming's loneliness."

"Understood." Art director Sister Li immediately ran over to communicate.

When filming resumed, Ah-Ming walked past a fruit stand, and the owner greeted him warmly: "Sir, would you like to buy a mango? It's very sweet!"

Amin smiled and shook his head: "No, thank you, I can't see."

He didn't stop walking, but he quietly slowed down after passing the stall.

He heard familiar footsteps behind him; it was his lover's.

A crowd of residents gathered to watch the spectacle, some taking photos with their phones, others whispering among themselves.

Ajarn, along with several Thai staff members, maintained order and ensured that the filming was not disturbed.

When the last shot was filmed, applause erupted from the crowd, and someone even said in broken Chinese, "Well done!"

……

The wrap party was held at a Thai restaurant, with warm lighting and the aroma of lemongrass and coconut milk in the air.

Su Ning, holding a wine glass, walked up to the three lead actors: "Teacher Guo, Teacher Mei, Teacher Liu, thank you for your support. Without you, there would be no 'The Massage Therapist'."

Teacher Guo smiled and clinked his glass with his: "You are the one who should thank me, Director Su. This script and this team have given us the desire to create."

Teacher Mei nodded: "It's my good fortune to be able to play a role like Wang Li. I look forward to the finished product."

Teacher Liu looked at Su Ning with approval in his eyes: "Young man, you have ideas and patience. Remember to come to us again if you have any good scripts in the future."

Su Ning raised his glass and said to everyone, "Thank you all! You've all worked hard these past few days! I wish 'The Massage Therapist' a huge box office success!"

Everyone raised their glasses, and cheers echoed throughout the restaurant.

Looking at the lively scene before him, Su Ning felt a sense of satisfaction.

He recalled the nervousness when he first arrived in Bangkok, the exhaustion when filming crime scenes, and the sweat when filming on the streets.

All the hardships have become meaningful at this moment.

Late at night, Suning stood outside the restaurant, looking at the dazzling lights of Bangkok.

A message from Director Kong came through my phone: "I heard filming wrapped up? Looking forward to seeing your finished product."

He replied with a smile, "I definitely won't let you down."

A gentle evening breeze carried a humid, warm scent.

Suning knew that filming was only the first step; there was still editing, color grading, and music composition to come...

But he was no longer nervous, only expectant.

He looked up at the night sky, as if he could already see the moment when the words "The Massage Therapist" lit up on the screen on the day the movie was released.

However, Su Ning was not in a good mood. During the time he was filming in Bangkok with his crew, his girlfriend Fan Lin did not show any concern.

Su Ning knew that Fan Lin thought he was just wasting money, because Fan Lin didn't approve of his behavior, which became the first conflict between Su Ning and Fan Lin.

...(End of chapter)