A top star in the Chinese entertainment industry, but also a Taoist priest.

"After you pulled Nazha away, she didn't seem very happy."

Chen Shouyi suppressed the urge to laugh and continued:

"so--"

He paused deliberately.

"She recorded your performance in the second half."

Chen Yao's face turned visibly red, not the kind of red that slowly spreads, but the kind that suddenly rises from her neck to her forehead.

Even if she doesn't remember the details, judging from what Chen Shouyi said, something must have happened that she couldn't recall.

Or worse—things that you can't even recognize when you recall them.

Chen Shouyi glanced at her; she really does blush easily.

"If you want to know what happened, I suggest you go and see Nazha."

Chen Shou paused, looking at her blushing face, and kindly reminded her, "However, I think it might be better if we don't know."

Chen Yao finally recovered a little from her blushing and glared at him irritably:

"Didn't we agree that we should have fun and not take pictures in the karaoke room?"

"That's what Nazha agreed to," Chen Shouyi said in agreement.

"and you--"

"You were there too, Taoist priest! Why didn't you stop her!"

Chen Shouyi shrugged, looking quite innocent: "Benefactor, she drank quite a bit of wine, and I couldn't stop her."

The reason was quite reasonable, but Chen Yao always felt that his face clearly said, "Why should I stop you? I want to see too."

Chen Yao took a deep breath, about to continue his accusations, when a cacophony of voices came from not far away.

She turned her head to look.

At the entrance of the shed area, a group of actors were walking in, chatting and laughing.

Naza walked in the middle, talking to Tang Yixin beside her as she walked, her eyes crinkling with laughter.

Xiao Caiqi followed behind, looking down at her phone. Behind her were several other actors, and laughter occasionally broke the silence of the crowd.

Chen Yao's gaze fell on Nazha, and he stared at her for a few moments.

As if sensing something, Nazha glanced in this direction, then waved to Chen Yao with a bright smile.

Chen Yao's face flushed even more.

Chen Shouyi checked the time; it was already 6:30.

"Benefactor, you should make preparations."

Chen Yao glanced in Nazha's direction again, took a deep breath, and temporarily suppressed those chaotic thoughts.

The opening ceremony is the most important thing; everything else—we'll talk about it tonight.

She gave Chen Shouyi a slight bow: "Daoist Master, I'll head over now."

"Go."

Chen Yao turned and jogged towards the actors. After running a few steps, she looked back at Chen Shouyi, her lips moved, but she didn't say anything. She quickened her pace and ran away.

Chen Shouyi stood there, watching her figure blend into the group of actors, a smile still on his lips.

It was quite amusing to see her blush so much.

Chen Shouyi withdrew his gaze and was about to call Shouzhuo to tidy up the offering table when he saw his apprentice walking over from the crowd.

He stood with his hands behind his back, chest puffed out, chin slightly raised, his face full of smugness.

Guo Hu had just pulled him aside and asked him all sorts of questions, calling him "Master Shouzhuo" repeatedly, which made him feel very comfortable.

Chen Shouyi glanced at him.

"Don't just stand there, go help Master Zhou tidy up the things around the offering table."

Shouzhuo's chest deflated instantly: "...Yes, Master."

He walked dejectedly toward the offering table, but after a few steps he looked back and saw that his master was looking down at his phone, so he had no choice but to quicken his pace.

The main cast and crew had already gathered under the eaves not far away.

Lin Yufen and Li Guoli stood at the front, next to several unit directors: Gao Linbao, Xu Huikang, Yu Cuihua. Cai Yinong hadn't arrived yet, but her seat had already been reserved.

The actors gathered in twos and threes.

Jin Chen finally returned after finishing her makeup. Her eyebrows were now symmetrical, and she looked much more energetic.

Nazha and Tang Yixin were talking about something, while Xiao Caiqi stood beside them, occasionally chiming in.

Chen Yao stood next to Nazha, her blush still lingering. Her gaze kept drifting towards Nazha, and her lips moved slightly before she pursed them again.

She really wanted to ask about the video, but there were too many people around. She took a deep breath and decided to talk about it when she got home that night.

Wanhao was standing among the male actors, talking to Yao Yichen.

He was dressed in a dark theatrical costume, with a sturdy build and strong features. Standing there, he certainly had the air of a fox clan chief.

Yao Yichen stood next to him, slightly shorter, with delicate features, listening quietly.

The crew began guiding the main cast and actors to the venue for the opening ceremony.

The offering table had been moved to the side, and a red banner was hung in the center of the venue, with the words "Good luck on the start of filming of 'Legend of Nine Tails Fox'" written on it.

Media reporters also set up their cameras and microphones behind the construction site, with flashes going off constantly.

Director Lin Yu-fen stood at the front, whispering something to producer Li Guo-li. The unit directors Gao Lin-bao, Xu Hui-kang, and Yu Cui-hua also arrived one after another, standing behind Lin Yu-fen.

The actors lined up in two rows as guided by the staff.

Wanhao and Gulnazar stood in the front row in the middle, with Jin Chen, Chen Yao, Tang Yixin, and Xiao Caiqi lined up in order. Yao Yichen stood in the back row, next to several young male actors.

The sound of camera shutters clicking rapidly from the media reporters became intense.

A black minivan slowly came to a stop at the edge of the venue.

The car door opened, and a woman stepped out.

He was in his early forties, with neat short hair, well-defined facial features, wearing a well-tailored gray suit jacket over a simple white shirt, and low-heeled black leather shoes.

She was efficient and neat, without any unnecessary embellishments.

Cai Yinong's gaze swept across the venue of the opening ceremony, lingered for a moment on the red banner, and then fell on the purple figure at the edge of the crowd.

Zhao Mingyuan was the first to greet him, his face beaming with smiles: "President Cai, you've arrived! You must be tired from your journey!"

Cai Yinong nodded slightly, but her gaze remained fixed on Chen Shouyi: "Is that the Taoist priest you invited?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Zhao Mingyuan quickly introduced, "Master Qingquan is the abbot of the Zifu Temple in the capital. I specially invited him from the capital. You missed the ritual just now, it was truly—"

"I've heard about it," Cai Yinong interrupted him. "Director Lin already told me."

She didn't ask any more questions and walked towards the ceremony venue.

Lin Yufen saw her and nodded slightly. Cai Yinong walked to the side of the director's team and stood still, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards the purple figure again.

The opening ceremony proceeded smoothly according to plan.

Director Lin Yufen gave a speech first, followed by producer Li Guoli, and then representatives of the lead actors, Wanhao and Gulnazar. The media's flashbulbs never stopped from beginning to end, and the sound of camera shutters was as dense as rain.

Not far away, Chen Shouyi stood under the eaves. The offering table had been cleaned up by Shouzhuo and Lao Zhou, and the incense burner and ritual implements were being put into boxes one by one.

Shouzhuo walked up from behind, carrying a large canvas bag on his back and a compass box in his hand.

"Master, everything's packed up. Are we almost done with our work?"

"Okay." Chen Shouyi nodded. "The ritual is over. All that's left is to stay on set for a few days and see if there's anything we need to do after-sales service."

Shouzhuo breathed a sigh of relief, put his bag down at his feet, and sat down on the prop box next to Chen Shouyi.

Chen Shouyi took out his phone and glanced at it.

Fang Xu's message lay quietly on the screen.

"Master, all the medicinal herbs have been purchased. I'll bring them over tonight. When would be a convenient time for you?"

Chen Shouyi typed two words and sent them.

"Very well. You may contact me when you arrive."

He put his phone back into his sleeve and looked back in the direction of the ceremony.

The main cast was offering incense together. Wanhao and Nazha stood at the front, each holding three incense sticks, bowing three times before the offering table. Then came Jin Chen, Chen Yao, Tang Yixin…

Smoke rose from the incense burner and was dispersed by the morning breeze.

The opening ceremony officially ended at around 9:00 AM. The media gradually left the scene, the staff began clearing the area, and all departments of the production team officially began operating.

However, today is the first day of filming, and as usual, we won't be filming all day.

The rest of the morning was mainly spent on actor makeup and costume fittings, set adjustments, and coordination between various departments. Filming wouldn't actually begin until the afternoon.

When Jin Chen had some free time, he immediately spotted Chen Shouyi standing under the eaves and quickly walked over.

Chen Yao was talking to Xiao Caiqi when he caught a glimpse of Jin Chen out of the corner of his eye. He stopped halfway through his sentence, told Xiao Caiqi "We'll talk later," and walked in that direction as well.

Nazha and Tang Yixin were huddled together looking at their phones when Nazha looked up and saw Jin Chen and Chen Yao walking in the same direction. She immediately tugged at Tang Yixin's sleeve.

"Let's go take a look."