Huayu Entertainment: Starting with Exorcising Evil from a Film Queen

That night, Liu Shishi tossed and turned, barely closing her eyes.

The noise from next door lasted for a long time, paused for a moment, and then started again, repeating itself endlessly.

The next morning, when Liu Shishi appeared on set with obvious dark circles under her eyes, she looked rather listless.

The makeup artist used twice as much concealer as usual to barely cover up the haggard look on her face.

She had just sat down when she saw Zhang Ze and Zhao Liying walking over one after the other.

Zhang Ze still looked refreshed and energetic, holding today's call sheet in his hand, and was explaining something to the photographer.

Zhao Liying followed behind him. Although she was also wearing makeup, the rosy complexion that radiated from within was something that no amount of cosmetics could fake.

Her walking posture was slightly unnatural, but when she looked at Zhang Ze's back, her eyes and brows were filled with satisfaction.

Liu Shishi's gaze shifted back and forth between the two, her hand gripping the script so tightly it became deformed.

Zhao Liying noticed her gaze, turned her head, met Liu Shishi's eyes, and gave her a kind smile.

Liu Shishi lowered her eyes, slightly avoiding the other person's gaze.

The ordeal she endured last night actually made her finally make up her mind.

Tang Yan can do it, Zhao Liying can do it, so why can't she?

A man like Zhang Ze could never have only one woman by his side.

She didn't ask to have him all to herself, but at least she wanted to have a place by his side.

She took a deep breath, stood up, and put on a gentle and quiet smile again, walking towards Zhang Ze.

"Good morning, Aze." Her voice was gentle and tender.

Zhang Ze was discussing lighting plans with the lighting technician from Group B when he heard the sound and turned around.

Good morning, Shishi.

He nodded, his attitude warm but maintaining a professional distance. "Didn't you sleep well last night? You don't look too good."

"It's nothing, I'm probably just having trouble sleeping in a new bed." Liu Shishi made an excuse and handed over the thermos she was holding. "I made some jujube water this morning, it's good for warming the stomach, Director Zhang, you should have some too."

This action drew the attention of the surrounding staff.

Zhao Liying, who was standing not far away, lost her smile.

She crossed her arms and looked at the thermos in Liu Shishi's hand with a scrutinizing gaze.

Zhang Ze did not reach out to take it.

"Thank you, but I usually drink tea in the morning."

He pointed to the thermos in his assistant's hand, politely declining Liu Shishi's offer.

"You have two important scenes today, so be sure to stay in top form."

"Go and prepare as soon as possible."

Zhang Ze politely declined with a smile.

Liu Shishi paused for a moment in mid-air as she handed over the thermos, then casually withdrew it.

"Okay, Director Zhang. I'll go go over the lines now."

She turned and left, her back still straight.

As Zhao Liying watched this scene, the corners of her mouth turned up again.

After the lighting crew left, she walked over to Zhang Ze and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "It seems our Director Zhang has quite the charm; it's only the second day and someone's already showing him kindness."

His words carried a hint of bitterness.

Zhang Ze turned his head to look at her and couldn't help but tease her, "Then you'd better hurry up and make a move, or I might run off with someone else."

"Didn't you feel what I meant last night?" Zhao Liying retorted, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

Zhang Ze's gaze lingered on her for a moment, then he leaned close to her ear.

"One night isn't enough, I'll wear black stockings tonight."

The words "black stockings" made Zhao Liying's ears turn bright red instantly.

She glared at Zhang Ze, then turned away, her heart pounding.

The morning's filming officially began.

Group B's task today is to film a group scene depicting the first encounter between the main characters in the palace.

Besides Zhao Liying and Liu Shishi, there is also Feng Shaofeng, who plays the Eighth Prince, and Lin Gengxing, who plays the Fourteenth Prince.

These are all rising stars that the company is heavily promoting. They are young and energetic, so it's inevitable that they will be a bit lively when they get together.

Zhang Ze sat behind the monitor, but his brows furrowed.

"Card!"

He called a halt.

This is the third take for this scene.

"Lin Gengxing, you're overreacting!"

Zhang Ze picked up the megaphone; his voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable force.

"You are the Fourteenth Prince, a prince, not a street thug. When you see Ruoxi, your reaction should be one of amazement and curiosity, not flirting! Put away that frivolous attitude!"

Lin Gengxing, a tall boy who was called out, looked a little embarrassed.

This was his first time working with Zhang Ze. If Zhang Ze were an actor, he would have no complaints, but as a director, he really didn't think Zhang Ze could handle it well.

"Director Zhang, I think my acting style better reflects the Fourteenth Prince's unruly personality," he tried to explain.

Zhang Ze stood up from behind the monitor and walked directly in front of him.

"Unruly behavior is not the same as rudeness. You are the son of Emperor Kangxi, and you received the strictest royal education from a young age. Your unruly behavior is ingrained in your bones, a contempt for rules, not something that is expressed in frivolous manners."

He looked into Lin Gengxing's eyes and continued, "Think about it again. When you first meet a girl who makes your heart flutter, do you immediately go up and make advances, or are you first attracted to her and want to get to know her? Your eyes, your posture, should all be tentative. Do you understand?"

These words left Lin Gengxing speechless.

Zhang Ze's words made him feel a little embarrassed, but what Zhang Ze said was reasonable and well-founded. His understanding of the script and the characters was far more profound than that of him, the lead actor.

Lin Gengxing didn't know how to refute it.

"I...I'll try again." Lin Gengxing's momentum weakened.

Zhang Ze didn't say anything more and turned back behind the monitor.

"All departments, get ready! Let's do it again!"

This time, the atmosphere on the field was clearly different.

Lin Gengxing became much more restrained. When he looked at Zhao Liying, his eyes held a hint of youthful curiosity and appreciation, while also displaying the noble bearing befitting a prince.

"Okay, passed!"

When Zhang Ze's voice rang out, the staff of Group B all breathed a sigh of relief.

While Lin Gengxing was touching up her makeup, Zhang Ze made a special trip over to her.

When Lin Gengxing saw Zhang Ze coming over, he hurriedly said, "Director Zhang, what brings you here?"

Zhang Ze patted his shoulder to signal the makeup artist to continue, then said in a gentle tone, "My tone wasn't very good when I was explaining the scene just now, don't take it too seriously."

Lin Gengxing felt a warmth in his heart and hurriedly said, "Director Zhang, don't say that. It was my fault. I didn't act well."

Zhang Ze said with a smile, "From now on, don't call me Director Zhang anymore. I'm a few years older than you. You can just call me by my name or call me 'brother'."

Lin Gengxing was immediately overjoyed and shouted, "Alright! Brother Ze!"

In the corner, Liu Shishi looked at Zhang Ze, who was chatting happily with Lin Gengxing, with an even more complicated expression.

She can strategize behind the monitor and win people over in the dressing room.

This man is more attractive to her.

She gripped the thermos tightly in her hand, her resolve to win Zhang Ze's heart growing stronger.