I, the number one master of metaphysics, have achieved legendary status in the entertainment industr

Upon hearing this, Lu Fan looked at Ding Xingyou in disbelief: "Director Ding, I didn't beg you to let me come to film this. You called me several times to ask me to come. Now you're talking as if I owe you a huge favor!"

Lu Fan couldn't understand Ding Xingyou at all, and his voice couldn't help but get louder: "What's the difference between an actor who doesn't have his own thoughts and insights and a walking corpse?"

"I'm feeling really frustrated acting right now! I don't know what I can do to satisfy you! Or is it that, Director Ding, you simply don't like me, and everything I do is wrong?!"

"Lu Fan! You bastard!" Ding Xingyou was so angry that he was trembling all over. He pointed at him and his eyes suddenly turned red, whether from anger or grievance, it was hard to tell.

Xu Haotian stood to the side, glancing at Lu Fan and then at Ding Xingyou.

He touched the talisman in his pocket. In the past two days, he had to believe Lu Fan's words. Since he got the talisman, he slept better at night and was more focused when filming during the day.

He often recalled his hostility towards Lu Fan a few days ago, and he felt somewhat ashamed. He wasn't usually the type to target others, but for some reason, he couldn't help but want to get angry this time.

Seeing Ding Xingyou's appearance now, he felt as if he were seeing Ding Xingyou's appearance from a few days ago.

And then there's Lu Fan. Before, even when he targeted him like this, Lu Fan hadn't given him the time of day. But today, he and Ding Xingyou were practically locked in a fierce confrontation.

He touched the talisman, which was slightly warm to the touch, took a deep breath, and braced himself to step forward.

"Director Ding, Teacher Lu," Xu Haotian said softly, "I actually thought the last take was pretty good. Teacher Lu's pause really heightened my emotions. How about... we watch the replay first?"

Ding Xingyou seemed to be stunned for a moment. He looked at Xu Haotian for two seconds, then at the silent staff around him. His intense anger dissipated in an instant, leaving only a deep sense of exhaustion and an indescribable bewilderment.

She didn't look at Lu Fan again, turned around and walked back behind the monitor, her voice low and hoarse: "Ready, one more take."

The subsequent filming took place in a subdued silence.

Lu Fan didn't make any further changes to the details and performed strictly according to the storyboard, but his whole demeanor was very stiff, and he couldn't recreate the feeling he had before.

Ding Xingyou's instructions became brief and curt, and there was no longer any communication.

The atmosphere became even more somber during lunch break.

In Ding Xingyou's shed, she stared blankly at the lunchbox, her brows furrowed.

Xu Haotian knocked on the curtain and poked his head in: "Director Ding, may I come in?"

Ding Xingyou raised his somewhat tired eyes and nodded.

Xu Haotian walked in, pulled up a chair, and sat down: "Haven't eaten much yet?"

"I'm not hungry." Ding Xingyou rubbed his temples, his voice tired. "Is there something you need?"

Xu Haotian paused for a moment, then asked cautiously, "Director Ding, are you... too tired lately? You don't look well."

Ding Xingyou smiled bitterly: "Tired? My heart is even more tired."

She paused, then looked at Xu Haotian: "You saw what happened this morning. Was I too harsh on Lu Fan?"

Xu Haotian didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Do you really think that change Professor Lu made this morning was bad?"

Ding Xingyou paused, his eyes somewhat blank: "Thinking about it now, it was actually quite good. That pause made the villain's departure more significant, more desperate. But at the time..."

Ding Xingyou frowned: "At that moment, I felt that he was going against me and questioning my judgment. I got angry instantly and couldn't control myself."

She leaned back in her chair, looking at the tent ceiling: "I don't understand what's wrong with me. I find fault with everything, and I explode at the slightest provocation. Especially with Lu Fan, it seems like whatever he does or says, I can't help but find fault and argue back."

Looking at Ding Xingyou, Xu Haotian had an idea in his mind.

He stood up: "Director Ding, you take a rest. I'll go see Teacher Lu and talk to him about his thoughts."

Ding Xingyou nodded and watched Xu Haotian leave.

After Xu Haotian came out, he saw Lu Fan sitting on the steps away from the crowd, with his lunchbox placed aside and barely touched.

Xu Haotian, holding his lunchbox, hesitated for a moment before sitting down next to him.

"No appetite?" Xu Haotian asked.

Lu Fan didn't look at him, his gaze fixed on the ground: "No."

"Don't take what happened this morning to heart," Xu Haotian said vaguely, taking a bite of rice. "Some strange things have been happening on set lately, and Director Ding is under a lot of pressure."

Lu Fan twitched the corners of his mouth, his smile somewhat cold: "Under pressure? Just because you're under pressure doesn't mean you can take it out on anyone? It means you can completely dismiss someone else's expertise?"

Xu Haotian paused with his chopsticks: "That might not be what she meant."

"So what does she mean?" Lu Fan turned to look at Xu Haotian, a suppressed fire in his eyes. "Since filming started, how many suggestions have I made? Every time it was for the sake of making the film better. She used to listen and discuss it. But now? As soon as I say 'I think,' she acts like she's been stepped on, like I'm challenging her or being disobedient."

He paused, his voice lower, carrying a sharpness he himself didn't realize: "Or do you think she's actually disliked me for a long time? That I'm no longer useful, or that I bring more trouble than value?"

Xu Haotian was stunned. He hadn't expected Lu Fan to think that way: "Teacher Lu, don't overthink it. Director Ding isn't that kind of person. Everyone could see how much she valued you before."

"That was before." Lu Fan looked away, his tone tinged with self-deprecation. "People change. Especially under pressure."

Xu Haotian suddenly looked around and said in a low voice, "Teacher Lu, I think Director Ding might have some problems."

Lu Fan paused, then looked at him: "What's the problem?"

"Hmm." Xu Haotian nodded, his voice even lower. "I thought about it, and Director Ding's temper is usually fine when she comes in the morning, but as soon as she sits down, her temper gradually worsens, especially when filming at night, her temper becomes even worse."

Xu Haotian paused for a moment, then continued, "Lu Fan, the talisman you gave me is really useful. Do you think Director Ding might feel the same way?"

Lu Fan glanced at Ding Xingyou's shed subconsciously, then shook his head: "I didn't find anything on her, but I saw it on you at a glance."

Xu Haotian pondered for a moment, then continued, "Lu Fan, to tell you the truth, I feel it's not just Director Ding who's been infected; I feel you've been infected too, which is why you haven't noticed. Anyway, these past few days, both you and Director Ding have been acting very strangely."

Xu Haotian's words shocked Lu Fan.

If what Xu Haotian said is true, then things have become quite serious.

He glanced at Xu Haotian and lowered his voice, saying, "Teacher Xu, don't tell anyone about what you discovered today, except for me and Director Ding, including your assistant."