Huayu 2021: Isn’t he in the technology field?

Chapter 241 Wild Child Arrives, Winning First Doesn't Mean Winning Later
After Jiang Qing returned to the crew, filming went on a fast track again. With everyone in great condition, the filming of the lighter went very smoothly.

Time flows slowly, and a week passes in the blink of an eye.

At 2:15 PM on November 21st, Luyang Xinqiao International Airport.

The plane landed smoothly, and the slight vibrations from taxiing woke Zhou Ye, who was sitting by the window, from a light sleep.

She rubbed her eyes and looked out the window.

In the late autumn afternoon in Luyang, the sky is high and the clouds are light, and the sunlight carries a clear warmth.

The sweet announcement of the plane's arrival came over the loudspeaker, and her heart leaped with joy.

finally reached.

The thought of meeting the person she had been longing for made Zhou Ye's lips curl into a smile.

She could even imagine the look of surprise and delight on Jiang Qing's usually composed and smiling face when he saw her suddenly appear.

This leave request was made on a whim, and she didn't tell anyone, not even her assistant Zhang Wen, who was only notified just before boarding the plane.

What she wanted was this unexpected surprise, to see Jiang Qing's true reaction.

However, this pure joy was inevitably mixed with a shadow of doubt.

Zhang Jingyi...

The name was like a tiny thorn, stuck in her heart.

She opened a photo saved in her phone's album, a poster featuring a "lighter and princess dress" that the production team had recently announced.

In the photo, Jiang Qing sports a flamboyant blonde hairstyle, while Zhang Jingyi stands next to her with a stubborn expression.

The two people on the poster stand side by side, creating a strong sense of atmosphere.

Zhou Ye's fingers unconsciously traced Zhang Jingyi's face. Speaking of which, this was her junior at the Beijing Film Academy, one year younger than her, and even... bore a resemblance to her in some inexplicable way.

More importantly, the companies behind these two women, Hesong Media and Dong Shen Future, are owned by Li Bingbing and Zhou Xun respectively, which inherently create a subtle competitive relationship.

She was well aware of the overt and covert competition between the teams.

Sometimes, she would even unconsciously care about the other person's development, such as last year's "The Wind Rises" and this year's "I Want Us to Be Together". The latter's box office and word-of-mouth, in particular, put a lot of pressure on her.

However, she happened to be recording Peach Blossom Village at that time. Because of Jiang Qing, she quickly stopped paying attention to these things and focused all her attention on Jiang Qing. She had no time to care about Zhang Jingyi.

Unexpectedly, after all the twists and turns, Zhang Jingyi once again competed with her remotely in this way.

In the words of netizens, she and her partner are like a continuation of the grudges of the previous generation, a fateful showdown.

Why did Jiang Qing take on this role?
Was it really because the script attracted him, and the character's background was similar to his own experiences?
Or... is it because the person he was acting opposite was Zhang Jingyi?
Looking back on Jiang Qing's experience of meeting Zhang Jingyi, she realized that it was also a kind of fate.
In particular, it was such a coincidence that the two of them happened to meet at the concert, and soon after, Jiang Qing accepted the lighter.

Now that I think about it, nothing seems right!
She couldn't help but recall some unsubstantiated analysis posts she had seen online before, and the doubts in her heart rose up like bubbles at the bottom of the water.

So she had to see it for herself!

"Ono, it's time to get off the plane."

Assistant Zhang Wen whispered a reminder.

"Ah."

Zhou Ye took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing his chaotic thoughts.

She put on sunglasses and a mask that covered half her face, picked up her small bag, and, accompanied by Zhang Wen and another assistant, followed the flow of people down the gangway.

The airport jet bridge connects to the spacious and bright arrival hall. Zhou Ye walks gracefully among the crowd. Even though she is bundled up, her unique temperament still attracts attention.

She had dressed up carefully for her meeting with Jiang Qing today.

A bright yellow long trench coat with a clean cut and excellent fit, its vibrant color making her already fair skin appear even more radiant.

The trench coat belt was loosely tied, outlining a slender waistline.

She wore a simple black long dress underneath and a pair of black pointed-toe boots, looking both elegant and sophisticated.

Upon reaching the drop-off platform outside the airport, she removed her mask and sunglasses, revealing her impeccably beautiful face to breathe.

Her makeup is the currently popular "no-makeup" look, with a clear base that perfectly showcases her naturally beautiful skin. Her eye makeup is light, but the thin inner eyeliner and well-defined lashes make her already bright and expressive eyes appear larger. Her lips are a soft dusty rose color with a natural sheen, adding to her charm.

Her thick, smooth long hair was carefully styled and naturally draped over her shoulders, swaying slightly with her steps, exuding a lazy yet charming aura.

Her features are delicate yet three-dimensional, with a straight nose and full lips. Together, they create a natural sweetness and elegance, like a bright flower that has been carefully cultivated and is blooming in late autumn.

Passersby frequently turned around, their admiring gazes almost glued to her.

"Have you arranged a car?"

Zhou Ye's voice carried a hint of urgency.

"It's all arranged, they'll be there soon."

Zhang Wen answered quickly.

"Go straight to the film set."

Zhou Ye put her sunglasses and mask back on, hiding her striking face once more, leaving only a slender and mysterious bright yellow silhouette.

Five minutes later, the car left the airport area and merged into the traffic heading into the city.

Zhou Ye gazed at the rapidly receding street scene outside the window. The late autumn in Luyang had a unique charm; the sycamore leaves were golden, and the warm sunlight poured down, making it very comfortable.

But at this moment, she had no time to appreciate it; her mind was already on the film set.

She took out her phone and looked through the messages Zhang Wen had sent her.

"This afternoon, the crew filmed scenes at the Blue Time Bar, located two streets away from the west gate of the University of Science and Technology of China. The scenes mainly consisted of Ren Di's (played by Zeng Keni) band performance and scenes of Li Xun (played by Jiang Qing), Zhu Yun (played by Zhang Jingyi), and others interacting in the audience..."

Bar... Interaction...

Zhou Ye's fingers unconsciously slid across the screen, his eyes slightly narrowed.

She wanted to see what kind of "interaction" existed between Jiang Qing and Zhang Jingyi. 3:40 PM, Blue Time Bar.

The place has been booked by the film crew. A sign that says "Temporarily Closed" hangs on the storefront, but inside it is brightly lit and filled with the sounds of people and music.

"Great! The band is in great form! Ren Di, keep it up! Get ready, everyone!"

Director Liu Junjie's voice echoed through the walkie-talkie in the dimly lit bar setting.

In the center of the stage, Zeng Keni, who plays Ren Di, holds an electric guitar, her long hair swinging with the intense rhythm, and the sound of the drums and bass makes the floor beneath her feet tremble slightly.

Below the stage, around a small round table covered with a checkered tablecloth, the characters from the play sat scattered.

The surrounding tables were also filled with extras, all of whom were drinking, chatting, and talking, creating a lively scene reminiscent of a late-night bar.

Jiang Qing, who plays Li Xun, lazily slumped in the booth sofa, wearing a black motorcycle jacket, unconsciously twirling a silver lighter between her fingers, making a crisp metallic clanging sound.

In front of him was a glass of beer that had barely been touched.

Zhu Yun, played by Zhang Jingyi, sat next to him, with Gao Jianhong, played by Zhao Zhiwei, and other supporting characters from the base nearby.

The focus of the filming wasn't on the band at that moment; Liu Junjie, behind the monitor, was intently watching the figures sitting in the booths below the stage.

Especially between Jiang Qing and Zhang Jingyi, there was an aura that seemed to flow silently and tangibly.

Zhang Jingyi, who plays Zhu Yun, is tilting her head slightly, intently watching Ren Di sing on stage.

She held a brightly colored cocktail in her hand, with a thin straw inserted into the rim of the glass.

Whether it was for the sake of the plot or her improvisation, she unconsciously bit the straw lightly with her teeth, leaving shallow marks on the straw with her small, pearly teeth. Her pink lips pouted slightly, exuding an innocent yet alluring charm.

Her profile appeared exceptionally soft under the changing stage lights of the bar, and her long eyelashes fluttered occasionally with the rhythm of the music, like the wings of a startled butterfly.

Jiang Qing's gaze, which was originally casually falling on the direction of the stage, was somehow drawn to the action of her biting on the straw.

That gaze was no longer Li Xun's usual scrutiny or aloofness, but rather carried a hint of inquiry, a hint of focused attention unintentionally stirred, and even... a hint of barely perceptible tenderness.

His fingers stopped twirling the lighter, and he just held it loosely.

Perhaps sensing that gaze, Zhu Yun, played by Zhang Jingyi, suddenly fluttered her long eyelashes and quietly shifted her gaze away from the stage, glancing quickly at Xie Jiangqing with a natural mix of curiosity and shyness.

Jiang Qing alertly looked away, but then looked back at her after she looked away, his eyes full of doting affection and a smile spreading across his face.

Zhang Jingyi suddenly turned her head, and their eyes met unexpectedly in the air.

It was only for a fleeting moment, like a dragonfly skimming the water.

Zhang Jingyi herself, however, looked like a little animal caught red-handed. She immediately lowered her eyes, let go of the straw she was biting, and two very faint blushes appeared on her face. Her fingers subconsciously tightened around the cup.

The moment Jiang Qing looked away, he quickly looked back at the stage. His Adam's apple seemed to bob slightly, and his fingers began to unconsciously twirl the lighter again, only this time at a faster pace.

All of this was witnessed by a slender figure wearing a baseball cap and mask, and a bright yellow long trench coat, standing in the shadows at the bar entrance.

Zhou Ye's heart felt like it was being clenched tightly by an invisible hand, both sore and swollen.

She had traveled a long way and dressed up carefully to surprise Jiang Qing, but the moment she stepped into the dimly lit space, her gaze was fixed on the silent ambiguity flowing in the booth.

Jiang Qing looked at Zhang Jingyi with such focus, such a moment of being captivated, she was all too familiar with it.

That was definitely not the look between ordinary colleagues or friends. There was also Zhang Jingyi's little gesture of biting the straw, and the shy glances she stole back...

Zhou Ye's fingers curled tightly in his trench coat pocket, his nails almost digging into his palm.

She's an actress too; she can tell the difference between what's real and what's acting.

Her meticulously drawn red lips were pressed into a cold, straight line under her mask, and her small face instantly seemed to be covered with a layer of ice.

"Cut! That take with the band is done! We'll take a ten-minute break. Ren Di is going to join Li Xun and the others in the booth. We'll film the interaction from the booth later!"

Liu Junjie's voice broke the rhythm of the scene.

The lights came on, and the tense atmosphere of the performance in the bar instantly relaxed.

The staff began moving around and adjusting the equipment.

The actors relaxed their postures, Zhao Zhiwei stretched, and Zeng Keni jumped off the stage.

Just then, a clear and slightly coquettish voice pierced through the noise of the film set and rang out.

"Jiang Qing!"

The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed to have a magical power, instantly attracting the attention of almost everyone.

Jiang Qing paused, looked up at the sound, and looked in the direction of the sound.

When his gaze passed through the swaying figures and landed on the bright yellow figure standing at the entrance, who had taken off his mask to reveal a delicate face, his expression instantly changed from Li Xun's indolence in the play to pure surprise, followed by immense joy.

He stood up instinctively, his movements a little hurried.

At this moment, Zhang Jingyi turned her head and saw who it was. The shyness that hadn't yet dissipated vanished almost instantly.

Her eyes narrowed.

The meeting, which I had anticipated, came somewhat unexpectedly, but I wasn't too surprised.

She had been curious about this senior student with whom Jiang Qing had an ambiguous relationship for a long time.

It's even possible that this senior student is already with Jiang Qing.

But she showed no sign of nervousness when facing the person in question; in fact, she was quite excited!
She only believed in her destiny with Jiang Qing, and that he was just taking advantage of her.

If she hadn't missed out on Jiang Qing at the bar, this senior would have had nothing to do with her.

What's more, this is her home turf!

Thinking of this, a faint smile appeared on her lips as she slowly stood up to face the person who had come.

Senior, winning first doesn't necessarily mean winning.

(End of this chapter)