Chapter 64: Jin Xia: You’re Different From Others
“Jin Xia is coming to visit the set? Really?!”
“It seems like it’s from a Jian Ni outdoor episode, where guests find friends to visit the set. The next door film crew also has Jian Ni people going.”
“Child, you’re too young, isn’t this obviously covering up?”
“…I want Jin Xia’s autograph.”
Morning.
Circulation film crew.
Chi Ye didn’t have many scenes today, and he didn’t know if the director deliberately arranged it.
He had learned this news yesterday, so he wasn’t too surprised.
But Director Zhang and the entire Circulation film crew were very excited.
Jin Xia is a popular first-tier top streamer, one of the Four Little Flowers.
More importantly, the Circulation film crew actually has a pretty low lineup.
You can tell from the male and female protagonists: one is an unpopular star with a record of six consecutive flops, and the other is a child still labeled as a “child star.”
—This is Ran Qiao’s first lead actress role alone.
Even lower popularity than Chi Ye.
So, Jin Xia coming to visit the set is practically sending popularity.
Moreover, in terms of star halo, the Empress Dowager is obviously at the top level.
The entire film crew became restless, and everyone’s gazes toward Chi Ye became a bit ambiguous.
“What are you looking at?” Chi Ye noticed the weird looks from Ran Qiao and others, displeased: “It’s just a set visit, is it worth making such a fuss?”
Slurp~
Ran Qiao slurped a sip of goji berry tea and shook her head: “I’m Xia Xia Jie’s fan, can you help me get an autograph?”
“That’s a different price.”
Ran Qiao: “…”
“Young man, not bad, youth is great.”
Teacher Liu smiled like a kind father, patted Chi Ye, and turned to leave.
He was a senior, so he wouldn’t lose composure like the young ones in the film crew.
And the film crew didn’t wait long.
Soon, a commotion came from outside the film crew, and then four or five staff members filed in, with people behind pushing various small carts.
They were loaded with milk tea, self-heating hot pots, blankets, hand warmers, and other winter supplies.
Director Zhang’s young face was like a blooming daisy, following beside Jin Xia with small steps: “Oh, too much trouble for Teacher Jin Xia, no need to bring so many things…”
“It’s fine.” Jin Xia had an elegant posture, a noble little face, and reminded: “These things are all sent by Teacher Chi to all teachers and colleagues in the film crew.”
“…Got it, I got it!”
Director Zhang was stunned and immediately understood.
He called to the staff who had been peeking: “Come, distribute the things, Chi Ye, Teacher Chi, treating the whole film crew to milk tea, bought blankets, hand warmers, and snacks for everyone!”
“Thank you, Teacher Chi!”
The staff from various groups in the film crew cheered, and the lead team leaders immediately came over to organize the distribution.
When each team leader distributed things, they would shout understandingly: “Teacher Chi is treating everyone to milk tea, bought blankets and hand warmers for everyone!”
“Teacher Chi is treating everyone to milk tea, bought blankets and hand warmers for everyone!”
The entire film crew started shouting.
“Thank you, Teacher Chi!”
“Teacher Chi is so nice!”
“I was just saying yesterday, this place is newly built, inconvenient to buy anything, hand warmers are a lifesaver!”
“Teacher Chi is really great, good at acting, and so caring.”
The film crew members were all beaming, and the extras’ impressions of Chi Ye gradually changed.
—Who says Teacher Chi is stingy? Teacher Chi is so nice!
With this wave, it wouldn’t be long before Chi Ye’s reputation in Hengdian and the film crew would subtly improve.
Chi Ye watched slightly dazed from the side.
“Xiao Chi, thank you.”
Teacher Liu also took a portion of milk tea and walked over with a smile: “I quite like drinking this.”
“Yo, pretty expensive.” He glanced at the price and brand: “Shanghai Auntie, so many carts, quite a spend.”
Chi Ye: “…”
“I’ll give to big auntie, goji berry tea is fine for me.”
Ran Qiao on the other side happily took two portions and gave them to big auntie.
“Big auntie, drink more, stay healthy.”
Big auntie: “…Girl, you’re so good to me.”
Chi Ye had already walked to the Empress Dowager, seeing Jian Ni Director Li not far behind her…and Teacher Yang Zi!
They didn’t come over, probably respecting film crew rules, or simply not wanting the Empress Dowager to hold a grudge…
“You come and buy so many things for what…” Chi Ye said this, but in his heart he already understood—when it comes to film crew social norms and habits, the Empress Dowager outclasses him.
“Hmph hmph.”
Jin Xia glanced at Chi Ye, seeing so many people around, could only nod lightly and lower her voice: “Teacher Chi, you still call me silly, you’re the silly one!”
Chi Ye: “…”
Film crews are different from other places; elsewhere, giving small gifts won’t spread everywhere.
But film crews are like a closed little society; many big stars actually like on the first day of joining to give the entire staff and extras things like beverages or popsicles.
Two purposes: one to notify everyone and make presence: “I’m the male/female lead, I’ve joined the crew.”
Secondly, for this kind of effect.
It’s the streaming media era now; many extras like to live stream on Douyin, and how a star is privately often spreads from here.
Chi Ye had never stayed in a film crew before, so his habitual thinking lacked experience.
But the Empress Dowager is different; Jin Xia has spent more time in film crews and seen more.
Here, after the Empress Dowager finished talking with Chi Ye, she saw Teacher Liu, and the green robe Fang Min Teacher Fang who plays the female bureau chief in Circulation.
“Hello Teacher Liu, hello Teacher Fang.”
Jin Xia was calm like chrysanthemum, politely greeting.
“Xia Xia, stay and play a bit longer this time.”
“Haven’t seen you for a while, girl you’ve become prettier.”
The two teachers were very polite to Jin Xia, and both had collaborated with her before, very familiar.
The Empress Dowager maintained her public persona, nodding composedly and making small talk: “Is filming going smoothly since starting?”
Everyone exchanged glances.
Director Zhang immediately nodded: “Chi Ye is great, Chi Ye’s acting skills are amazing!”
“Teacher Chi’s acting is explosive, switching five emotions in ten seconds.”
“Xiao Chi has been acting great since starting.”
“Teacher Chi is Movie Emperor!”
Chi Ye: “?”
Am I a chameleon?!
Several people didn’t hold back praising Chi Ye; a supporting actor even said outright that Teacher Chi is Movie Emperor!
Chi Ye listened with a darkening forehead.
Teacher Yang Zi, who had walked over uncontrollably, heard and smirked.
Chi Ye has acting skills? Then I could win Movie Emperor too!
After all, he received an invitation to Actors Please Take Place, going right after Jian Ni, industry “recognition”!
The Empress Dowager was greatly satisfied, almost breaking character, nodding repeatedly: “Yes yes! Good good, didn’t expect Teacher Chi to have such strength.”
Chi Ye: “…”
He pulled the Empress Dowager over and lowered his voice: “Stop, keep going and I’ll win Oscar.”
Jin Xia’s peach blossom eyes smiled at him, then looked at the others: “Um… the Jian Ni program team isn’t convenient to come in…”
“Oh, no problem no problem.”
Director Zhang cheerfully glanced at Chi Ye and assured Jin Xia: “Got the news last night, specially gave Teacher Chi a day off today, you can look around and play, if time’s not enough tell me, keep giving days off!”
Chi Ye eyed him sideways.
The Empress Dowager kept a straight face: “Filming is important, I’m just here to see… Jian Ni side really misses Teacher Chi, we’ll be back soon.”
“Good, good.”
Several people saw they had things to say, didn’t disturb, and tactfully found excuses to leave.
Before leaving, the producer suspiciously looked back at Chi Ye twice.
—Since starting filming, he hadn’t given Chi Ye a good face.
“Now you know why I approached him?” Director Zhang slyly persuaded: “When the time comes, think, once they go public, our drama isn’t guaranteed to explode?”
The producer suddenly realized, pointing at Director Zhang: “Xiao Zhang, you’re really not a good guy.”
Director Zhang: “…”
Why does this sound familiar?
…
The other side.
The film crew dispersed; some secretly recording with phones were ignored… if not ride popularity now, when?
Chi Ye and Jin Xia went outside; Director Li and Teacher Yang Zi still didn’t follow.
“How did you suddenly come? No announcements?”
Chi Ye handed his cup of milk tea to the Empress Dowager: “So many people, you didn’t dare hide it yourself?”
Jin Xia’s little face piled with smiles, humming as she took it: “Such an open ’embezzlement’ opportunity, how could I not hide!”
“But those are cold.”
“Then drink mine, mine’s cold.”
Chi Ye glanced at Director Li and Teacher Yang Zi not far away: “What’s the program team’s situation?”
With her back to the crowd, the Empress Dowager bit the straw and sucked a big mouthful, her pretty peach blossom eyes squinting in satisfaction: “Mm~ It’s fine, the program team saw popularity not as good as when you were there, now in the latter half of recording, so they planned an outdoor episode.”
Chi Ye nodded thoughtfully.
The Empress Dowager just returned to Jian Ni today, and the program team does this outdoor… hard not to suspect it’s intentional.
Thinking of #Chi Pan Xia Yu# CP having more splash than #Jump into River#, and Jian Ni airing soon.
Not hard to guess the program team’s intentions.
“Riding my popularity? Program team is really sly.”
Chi Ye spat.
Director Li and Teacher Yang Zi not far: “…”
Damn, look at you acting big, why not say we’re riding Jin Xia’s popularity!
“Don’t mind them, Teacher Chi.”
In this short time, the Empress Dowager had drunk half a cup, took the tissue to wipe her little mouth, then pulled Chi Ye to a secluded spot, looked around, realized she forgot something, and waved in a certain direction.
A young girl in her twenties walked over nervously, pulling a suitcase.
“She’s the new assistant Keke found for you, brought her along when coming.”
The Empress Dowager introduced; the little assistant was a bit nervous, simply greeted Chi Ye, then tactfully left.
“Teacher Chi, here.”
Jin Xia moved the suitcase to Chi Ye’s side, saying cutely: “It’s a gift for you!”
Chi Ye: “?”
“What’s in it, even needs a suitcase.”
He curiously opened the suitcase and saw it filled with various English-labeled small snacks.
“These are what I secretly hid; you’re always so stingy, unwilling to spend in the film crew, and inconvenient to buy here now, eat these when hungry, all very healthy!”
Seeing no one around, Jin Xia squatted down too, a strand of long hair falling, tone naive and coquettish: “You’re a level above them, these are all yours.”
Chi Ye closed the suitcase and looked up: “Just one level above?”
“Ah?”
Jin Xia blinked her peach blossom eyes, thought, and added: “Then… ten levels? A hundred levels is fine! Anyway, whatever you say, it is!”
Chi Ye smelled the faint fragrance from her hair, looking at this exquisite little face so close, decided: “Then I’ll write you ten songs, a hundred songs.”
“Ah…”
Jin Xia surprised: “O-one hundred songs?!”
“Teacher Chi, you… don’t do this.”
“Do what?” Chi Ye curious.
“This is too tiring! Though I like listening, a hundred is too much!”
Chi Ye serious: “But I want you happy forever.”
Jin Xia stunned, a blush suddenly climbing her charming little face, turned her head away from Chi Ye’s gaze, lowered her little head, humming: “Ah, you… don’t say that… I… um…”
She thought for a long time, then lifted her head again, seriously looking at Chi Ye: “Teacher Chi, I’m already very happy now!”
“…”
Chi Ye stood up, saw the Empress Dowager stand too, then said: “Then let’s do some even happier things.”
Jin Xia: “?”
“Come, let’s go tease Teacher Yang Zi!”
Jin Xia: “…”
Teacher Yang Zi, crazily wanting gossip but hesitant, sneezed…
“Damn, must be Chi Ye, badmouthing me again!”
He instantly locked the “culprit”.
Director Li beside eyed him: “That’s enough.”
“By the way… us standing here is really inappropriate, if not, go to next door group, heard Jiang Cheng and Wen Tiaotiao’s group is visited by Deep Sea film crew.”
Teacher Yang Zi saw Chi Ye’s popularity hard to ride, immediately turned thoughts: “That’s Chu Han Zhou and Shi Jinwei leading, two top streamers, double first-tier, big production spy drama! I haven’t seen on-site filming yet!”
“…”
Director Li was also thinking now.
This Jian Ni program team planned outdoor set visits just to ride popularity!
No way, after Chi Ye left Jian Ni, it was far more “serious” than he thought.
Not a popularity issue, since Jian Ni has high popularity now; live stream popularity dropped a lot, but foreseeable at least first few episodes explode.
—What they care about is program effect.
Didn’t realize before, thought Chi Ye an unimportant unpopular star.
But after he left, chief director realized no chemistry between guests, no sparks!
Not to mention Jin Xia, just Teacher Yang Zi, Teacher Huang, Teacher Lu, Lin Jingyi and others.
Without Chi Ye, they hypocritically praise each other even going to toilet every day: you poop smoother than me.
Where’s the teasing? Where’s the sharp tongue? Where’s Chi Ye’s various antics?
Gone, all gone.
So this set visit is for near finale, a “complete” ending.
In plain words, want some effect.
“Next door group… we’ll go together later, no rush, they won’t get too clingy, all people around, what if it leaks?”
Director Li was calm.
