Elder brother's garrison

"A film studio...are they shooting a movie over there?"

"Yes."

"Directed by Chen?"

"No, in order to fully prepare for this idol project, the director has suspended the filming of all the company's films this year."

Who took that picture?

"It was another film crew; Director Chen was visiting as a partner."

"Oh—I see, you went to discuss business." Xiaobai turned her head with relief, looking at the scenery flashing by outside the car window.

The van zipped back and forth on the elevated highways of Yuncheng, eventually dropping Xiaobai and the others off at the edge of a scenic area.

This is a very lively scenic area.

Large numbers of young men and women crowded into the entrance of the scenic area like a swarm of bees. They held up all kinds of banners and stood guard outside the scenic area. The group at the front even held glow sticks and wore uniform black and red clothes. They were all excited and shouted slogans wildly.

"Miss Luming! I love you!!"

"I really want to be Miss Luming's dog!"

"The all-powerful girl isn't human; she's a celestial being descended to earth!!"

"Miss Luming, we love you—"

……

Even sitting in the car, Xiao Bai could hear the unified chanting coming from outside. This group of young men and women seemed to be shouting their voices into the scenic area to convey their message to someone, appearing incredibly fervent and devout.

"Who are these people..." Xiaobai covered her mouth as she looked at the sea of ​​people outside the scenic area.

"They're fans," the staff member explained with a smile. "This usually happens when a film crew hires a popular movie star; they come here just to see their idol."

"So many people..."

"Well, judging from the market in the past two years, this is the first time we've seen a fan base this large." The staff member continued to explain, "Ms. Lu, the film studio is located inside the scenic area. The film crew we visited has rented the entire day's usage rights of the scenic area, and unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter."

Should we get off the bus?

"No need, the road is still wide enough, let's just drive in."

"Didn't they say that unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter?"

"We are not irrelevant people."

"Oh..."

The van honked its horn at the crowd, and the fans gathered at the entrance of the scenic area immediately parted to make way for it. They watched the approaching van, tiptoeing and desperately peering into the vehicle, their chanting growing even more enthusiastic.

A dozen or so daring fans even stuck themselves to the van and kept waving glow sticks at the windows.

Xiao Bai, inside the car, instinctively covered his face.

"Ms. Lu, please rest assured, the windows of this car are one-way, so people outside can't see inside," a staff member quickly explained when he saw Xiaobai's actions.

"Oh... okay." Xiaobai finally put her hand down with relief.

The van arrived at the entrance of the scenic area amidst a crowd of fans. The windows were rolled down slightly, and the staff exchanged information with the security guards at the entrance amidst the cheers of the fans outside. Only then did the van successfully drive into the scenic area.

The cheers behind him surrounded Xiaobai's ears.

Compared to the crowds outside the scenic area, the area inside was much quieter. There was no one wandering around the vast landscape. It wasn't until the van had driven for another two or three minutes that Xiaobai finally spotted a set-up film studio in the distance.

There were many actors and staff members resting outside the studio. When they saw the van approaching, they curiously looked over.

The van stopped.

The car door opened, and Little White and Loki got out.

Upon seeing that the person stepping out of the van was neither a famous actor nor a director or screenwriter, the actors and staff outside all turned their attention away.

But before the group could lower their heads again, an excited and expectant voice suddenly rang out.

"Boss! You've finally arrived!"

Amidst the astonished gazes of those around him, Director Chen jogged out of the studio, shouting at the van as he approached, panting heavily.

Director Chen is a well-known director in the industry—or rather, quite famous worldwide. Aspiring actors who want to meet Director Chen and exchange a few words would line up from the Earth to the Milky Way. In the memories of these actors and staff outside the studio, Director Chen always appears dignified, composed, and magnanimous. This is the kind of temperament that belongs to his status, and it is a character setting that everyone finds reasonable.

How could such a successful and masterful director so openly and eagerly run towards a guest in front of everyone?

The actors and staff members who had met Director Chen several times before all looked stunned and incredulous.

However, compared to the actors' shock, Xiao Bai, who got out of the car, didn't seem to feel anything when he saw Director Chen's eager expression.

In Xiaobai's mind, Director Chen has always been this outgoing and friendly person, and his current behavior can only be described as consistent.

"Director Chen, it's been a long time!" Xiao Bai raised her hand to Director Chen as he arrived.

"Yes, yes, yes! It's been a week. How has the leader been resting at the accommodation I arranged for him?" Director Chen stopped in front of Xiaobai, panting, and asked with a smile, "The teachers in charge of teaching should all be in place by now, right?"

"Hmm, this is the first time I've stayed in such a high-class house." Xiaobai smiled at Director Chen. "The teachers' teaching is also on track. Judging from their reactions, the courses should be going quite smoothly."

"That's good, that's good!" Director Chen nodded in relief, then quickly slapped his forehead and said, "Oh! Look at my brain! How could I let you, the leader, stand outside! Come with me, let's go sit in the studio, let's go sit in the studio!"

"No need to be so polite."

Director Chen quickly invited Xiaobai into the studio.

Little White and Loki disappeared from the sight of the crowd outside.

For a moment, the air outside the studio was quiet.

The actors holding the scripts stared blankly, the actors resting on the ground were stunned, and the staff stood there dumbfounded, looking in the direction where Xiaobai and Director Chen had disappeared.

About ten seconds later, the crowd outside the arena gradually returned to normal, accompanied by a few gasps.

"I...I must be dreaming..."

"To think that Director Chen would receive us with such a humble expression..."

"Who...who is she?"

The crowd gasped in quiet amazement, looking at each other in disbelief.

……

The film studio within the scenic area covers a considerable area. When Xiaobai entered the studio, he was greeted by a dense crowd of staff members rushing to and fro. In the very center of the studio, where countless highlights were gathered, it seemed that a group of actors in costumes were rehearsing a grand scene.

"Boss, I'm so sorry I couldn't come out to pick you up in person," Director Chen said to Xiao Bai as they walked.

"It's alright, your status is special after all." Xiao Bai waved her hand, then asked, "Speaking of which, Director Chen, what did you call me here from home today?"

"It just so happens that a familiar film crew is starting production, and we wanted to invite you, boss, to come and experience it for yourself." Director Chen rubbed his hands together and continued to Xiaobai, "Speaking of which, boss, when you entered the scenic area before, you should have seen that huge crowd outside, right?"

"Yes, I see them. They're all fans, right?" Xiaobai nodded, then thought for a moment and said, "It seems to be an actress named... Miss Lu Ming?"

"Yes! That's right!" Director Chen nodded with delight. "Miss Lu Ming is the biggest rising star in our industry in the past two years. Although she can't compare with the veterans in terms of seniority, if we're talking about who has the strongest box office influence right now, Miss Lu Ming is definitely the only one!"

"Oh...that's amazing." Xiaobai looked at the expression on Director Chen's face.

"Has the leader heard of Miss Lu Ming before?"

"No..." Xiaobai shook her head.

"Miss Lu Ming—everyone who has met her says she's truly a prodigy." Director Chen hummed, shaking his head. "Boss, the reason I called you here is actually to take this opportunity to have Miss Lu Ming meet you. A rising star like Miss Lu Ming, with her huge influence, is the best at attracting attention. If we can invite Miss Lu Ming to our next project, it will be a perfect fit. We'll start immediately..."

As Director Chen spoke, he began to extoll his grand ambitions next to Xiao Bai.

Xiaobai listened to Director Chen's words with a wry smile, her gaze continuing to explore the scenic area ahead.

The cry of a deer...?

It's actually a pretty nice name.

She must be filming up there, right?

Xiao Bai searched among the actors rehearsing a large-scale scene and found a female figure being focused on by several cameramen.

Little White looked closely and saw what Lu Ming looked like.

"Eh?"

Xiao Bai's eyes widened.

Chapter 2273 Abrupt Art

Inside the large film studio, a large-scale rehearsal is underway.

It appears to be a war film being shot against a turbulent backdrop. Hundreds of extras dressed as soldiers are lying in trenches filled with yellow dust, while a white figure carrying a medicine box is rolling and wandering between the trenches.

She was a well-built female actress wearing a nurse's uniform splattered with mud.

Her chestnut-brown short hair was carefully styled, yet slightly disheveled; her face, covered in dust, was delicate and pretty; and her eyes were as clear as sapphires. Amidst the swirling yellow dust, her presence was exceptionally striking and eye-catching.

"Boss, what do you think? That's Miss Lu Ming." Director Chen, who was standing to the side, said proudly as he saw Xiao Bai staring at the stage with his mouth agape.

"I...I..." Xiaobai stammered.

"lead?"

“I…I know her…” Xiaobai turned her head and looked at Director Chen in surprise.

"Huh?" Director Chen was stunned.

"I, I've seen her in dramas! It's that one, that one... the very famous war drama!" Xiaobai gestured frantically to Director Chen. "She played a nurse who wanted to become a doctor in the drama, right!"

"Oh! Boss, you've already seen this, haven't you!" Director Chen laughed heartily upon seeing Xiao Bai's explanation.

"I...I really didn't know she was Miss Lu Ming..." Xiao Bai sighed awkwardly and smiled sheepishly. "I don't know anything about actresses, I've only seen her in dramas..."

"When watching a drama, there are bullet comments, right? Miss Lu Ming is often mentioned in the bullet comments."

"Uh... I watched this show on TV."

"There are still people watching TV these days!" Director Chen said, expressing his shock.

"Cough cough..." Xiao Bai blushed.

"So, boss, you haven't even looked at the cast list...?"

"Next time, I'll definitely watch it next time!" Xiaobai said quickly.

"Haha!" Director Chen burst out laughing. "But now, boss, you finally know Miss Lu Ming, right?"

"Yes...yes." Xiaobai breathed a sigh of relief and nodded to Director Chen with deep feeling. "Anyone who has seen that drama should find it hard not to like the character played by Miss Luming."

"So, the leader is now a fan of Miss Lu Ming too?"

"...I think it's better to just squat outside the scenic area with this banner." Xiaobai smiled and scratched his cheek sheepishly. "But I really want an autograph."

"Yes, that's great!" Director Chen clapped his hands, as if he had anticipated Xiao Bai's words, and gave Xiao Bai a proud smile. "I knew you would ask that, boss! However, signing an autograph is too simple. Leave this to me. I'll just bring Miss Lu Ming over for you two to have a heart-to-heart talk!"

"Huh? This is too much trouble, isn't it?"

"It's nothing, it's nothing. We came here to discuss a collaboration with Miss Lu Ming anyway," Director Chen said, striding off in one direction.

Xiao Bai quickly followed Director Chen's steps.

Director Chen led Xiaobai through layers of security personnel and staff, and went straight to a seat surrounded by monitors.

The word "Director" was written in large letters on the seat.

At that moment, a lean middle-aged man was sitting in the seat. When Xiaobai and Director Chen arrived, the middle-aged man was gesturing with his hands and talking to the staff around him.

"We'll rehearse this scene three more times. When we're actually filming, remember to remind the actors to prepare the cameras in all directions, and to ensure everyone's safety when we start filming the explosion scene—"

The middle-aged man seemed completely unaware of Director Chen's approach from behind.

"Old Zhang!" Director Chen took a deep breath and shouted at the middle-aged man.

"Bang!" The middle-aged man who was explaining the regulations shuddered. He turned his head, glared at Director Chen, and cursed, "Chen Ganxuan! Are you out of your mind?! I'm busy with important matters!"

"Hahahaha!" The middle-aged man's tone was fierce, but Director Chen seemed unconcerned. He laughed twice and showed the middle-aged man the little white dog and Loki behind him. "Don't be angry, Lao Zhang. Look who I brought you."

Just as the middle-aged man was about to continue his attack, his gaze fell on Little White and Loki, and he was immediately stunned.

"Hiss—this…" The middle-aged man stood up abruptly. He squinted at Little White and Loki several times before tentatively asking, "Are these two the ones you mentioned before…?"

“That’s right, it’s the big boss of the new job I took on.” Director Chen nodded.

"—!" Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man immediately straightened up, then took two steps forward, extending his hands to Little White and Loki, his attitude undergoing a complete 180-degree change. "Oh, it's you two! I'm so sorry, so sorry, I was very rude just now, my apologies—"

Xiao Bai shook hands with the middle-aged man in front of her, who was wearing a leek skirt and had an umbrella.

Director Chen took the opportunity to introduce Xiaobai.