Chapter 294: Female Lead Starts Filming, Three Little Flowers “share The Stage”
Early April.
XJ, Mars Rescue film crew filming location with tents set up.
Liu Qi and Guo Chen, Deng Ziman, several newcomers who had just signed with Chi Ye Studio not long ago, were sizing up the desolate desert before them.
At a glance, it was a sea of blood red, with sand and gravel like a stunning painting, the gaze toward the distance seeming to flow like rippling water.
——Such a scene had only been seen on television before.
Hmm… actually, not even that.
Only by coming here in person could one understand how “serious” the Mars Rescue film crew truly was; to prepare this sci-fi film, Chi Ye had pulled in almost all the resources and energy he could currently mobilize.
If Influenza was still a top-tier project co-produced with Taiwan, relying heavily on “outside help,” and thus crazily criticized by certain haters and rivals in the mainland.
Then the soon-to-start filming Mars Rescue was a work truly created with the “Chi family class” at its core.
No one knew the final box office performance of this movie, nor did anyone know if Chi Ye could succeed on his own after “first” detaching from outside help.
Everyone in the industry was watching, and all the core team members of the film crew were also observing while working, including newcomers like Liu Qi who were just starting out.
“I heard this movie received technical support from several research institutes, one of the few sci-fi projects specially approved from above.”
Deng Ziman, who had quite informed news, lowered her voice, her beautiful eyes blinking: “The few in the same batch as this project are the next movies from Great Director and Wu Jing, Shen Bin.”
“Fuck, that’s intense?”
Guo Chen couldn’t help but swear.
For these students fresh out of the ivory tower, Wu Jing, Shen Bin, Teacher Zhang, even Director Lu… were all super big stars far out of reach.
Especially Wu Jing and his group of first-tier film circle stars, no need to say more.
China’s film market over the past decade had been almost entirely dominated and controlled by them, with several having box office draw on their own; any movie they starred in, even if reliant on them, like Climbing, ultimately yielded returns beyond expectations, with box office scores of billions+.
“That’s nothing, President Chi’s status in the industry is very high now, Influenza exploded too much, Zhu Yao Lin and Lin Xiang Qian Rui’s star power is probably not as high as his now.”
“…The more awesome the boss is, the better, that way I have development prospects.”
Guo Chen’s words continued rough: “Right now, I just hope that one day I can truly become ‘Little Chi Ye’.”
“You?”
Deng Ziman glanced at him twice, disdainfully curling her lip: “You probably have no chance… your face isn’t good enough.”
Guo Chen didn’t get angry upon hearing this, just smiled.
Liu Qi saw the two chatting about topics unrelated to themself, couldn’t help correcting: “Hey, who do you think the female lead is this time? I heard Ling Bingbing even came for audition.”
“I saw her yesterday, even got an autograph.”
Deng Ziman said smugly, then shook her head: “But it doesn’t seem to be her…”
“Then who is it?”
Guo Chen lowered his voice: “Filming is about to start, and the female lead still isn’t finalized… this… could it not be completely locked in yet?”
“—Could it be Shi Jinwei?”
“Why say that?”
“I saw her seem to come by this morning…”
“No way, Shi Jinwei isn’t suitable, and Sister Shi just collaborated with the boss on a TV series, this… could these two…”
“Hey hey, don’t talk nonsense, don’t you know Chi Ye Studio follows Jin Xia? Don’t drag us down if you’re asking for death!”
“…”
The few chatted and veered off topic, but regarding who the Mars Rescue female lead ultimately was, not just them, most of the film crew members at this moment, including Shi Jinwei who had arrived in the morning, were also very puzzled.
Hmm… Sister Qianzi was very puzzled, she felt Chi Ye wasn’t as “decisive” in selecting people this time as before, or was it too many candidates, and he was still hesitating?
As for Chi Ye selecting her as the female lead in the new movie… don’t be ridiculous, she hadn’t received any notice at all, the script she got was for a small role in it… not her at all!
Hah, men.
“Sister Shi, are we just going to keep standing here? How about we go in…”
Outside the temporarily set-up room, the assistant stood beside Shi Jinwei, feeling the oncoming red sand and flying dust, thinking that just opening their mouth would fill it with sand, and after a few words, they might not need dinner—full already.
The climate and environment here were indeed quite different from other places in the mainland, rather special.
This also showed that Mars Rescue was truly going all out for this filming quality.
The entire film crew had to stay here for at least one or two months.
“Go in? No.”
Qianzi raised an eyebrow, lowered her head to adjust her mask, her pair of treasure-blue eyes sizing up the distance: “Today, I want to see who he ultimately selected.”
“…Sis, are you jealous?”
“?”
Shi Jinwei turned back and glanced at the assistant: “Jealous? Of who?”
The assistant fell silent: “…I’m jealous.”
“…No need to take the blame for this, it’s not related to jealousy.”
Qianzi was getting tougher with practice, plus she had just finished collaborating with Chi Ye and was in a good mood, so she rarely smiled while answering this “sensitive” question: “I’m just curious, he didn’t select Sister Shang, Jin Xia… Jin Xia wasn’t selected either, is that reasonable?”
“Forget me and Sister Shang, he didn’t even select Jin Xia, Ling Bingbing’s audition yesterday seemed like just coming to play… you say, who will it ultimately fall to?”
“…Now that you say it, I’m a bit curious too.”
The assistant listened, feeling itchy and restless, suddenly had a wild idea: “Hey, could it be… is it…”
“Who?”
Shi Jinwei asked.
“Shi Daifu?!”
Shi Jinwei: “?”
“Besides you few, Chi Ge has the best relationship with Shi Daifu, and Shi Daifu’s appearance is very high too, her figure is so good, I think…”
While the assistant was rambling, a commotion suddenly came from the film crew members not far away.
Immediately after, a figure both strange and familiar walked over.
Tall figure, long hair, slightly chubby, gentle face shape, very big eyes, extremely high appearance, but without the aggressiveness of Empress Dowager and Shi Jinwei, slightly chubby figure, but different from Sister Shang’s all fat, it was muscle-wrapped fat.
Overall temperament very outstanding, pure with a hint of half-ripe charm.
This is…
Shi Jinwei opened her mouth, surprised: “Li Qian?!”
“Weiwei?”
Li Qian, greeting film crew members on one side while being surrounded by her team, saw Shi Jinwei and was slightly stunned, then showed a very cheerful smile: “Hi, are you here for a cameo?”
“Uh…”
Shi Jinwei paused, then reacted, already understanding something, her expression complex: “You’re the female lead?”
“Yeah, I came for audition before, didn’t expect to actually pass.”
Li Qian gracefully extended her hand: “Please take care of me.”
Shi Jinwei shook her hand, inwardly curling her lip: What’s the use of me taking care of you, you’d better have Jin Xia take care of you more.
But complaints aside, from the moment Li Qian appeared, she roughly understood Chi Ye’s intention and choice.
It seemed this movie was indeed Chi Ye’s first all-around activation of the “Chi family class” since debuting, a test piece, while also carrying a flavor of formally entering the “market”.
Because Li Qian was the big princess from the Northwest Circle, her star power not yet first-tier, but reaching quasi-first-tier status.
At the same time, her personal seniority and awards were substantial, having once won the Film Empress award at Golden Horse.
And the Northwest Circle, though a few there always felt Chi Ye acted too independently, compared to the Beijing Circle, had never had any direct conflicts with Chi Ye.
In fact, not only no conflicts, Guoshi and Jin Xia had collaborated several times, and had wanted to work with Chi Ye several times before.
Plus, the Northwest Circle’s status in the industry was also very high now.
So, if formally entering the fray, the Northwest Circle was obviously an excellent cooperation partner.
“Going in together?”
Li Qian didn’t know what Shi Jinwei was thinking, but her mood had been quite good recently, especially after receiving Chi Ye’s notice, that kind of elation couldn’t be described in words.
Don’t look at the industry always being “extremely respectful” to her, but in reality, Li Qian’s star journey and star power were far from as high as the industry hyped; outside the industry circle, she was already in a “person not found” state.
From when?
Hmm… probably after dating Ji Hemming back then, she was a bit love-brained; fine before confirming the relationship, but once confirmed, she would wholeheartedly devote herself to one man.
The result… no need to say more about what happened later.
Ji Hemming approached her purely for her RT and background, completely different person in public and private, the things he did behind the scenes were outrageous, leading to him ultimately being “sent” to prison by Chi Ye.
After that incident, Li Qian gradually “retreated from the spotlight” in the industry; though occasionally starring in Northwest Circle works, she was no longer the radiant quasi-first-tier little flower from before.
—Still that phrase, she was just love-brained; after all, for an object she invested so much true heart in, plus previous failed romances, and with age increasing, her constantly gaining fat figure, netizens’ hate spilling over with daily abuse, pulling her completely into self-doubt and anxiety.
When she appeared in public view, it was more often a haggard and fattened appearance, always with negative hot searches.
So, this time receiving Chi Ye’s “helping hand,” getting this big pie of Mars Rescue… the Northwest Circle side, including Li Qian’s several relatives, all changed their attitude toward Chi Ye—
As long as you can make Qianqian regain her cheerfulness, you’re my god!
“Then let’s go.”
Shi Jinwei looked at Li Qian who seemed revitalized, silent for a moment, then nodded and followed her toward the room.
At the same time, couldn’t help inwardly complaining, Chi Ye ah Chi Ye, I advise you to consider, having provoked so many people, don’t provoke other women anymore…
Li Qian was a woman with very bad luck; from debuting until now, nothing had gone smoothly in relationships, scammed countless times.
She heard that at the worst, Li Qian had tendencies toward self-harm… if collaborating with Chi Ye once, only to find Chi Ye’s eyes only on Jin Xia, she’d probably be depressed for life?
As for why depressed for so long…
Shi Jinwei asked herself, as someone who watched Chi Ye go from an unpopular star to now, almost never “losing” each time, walking higher and higher as an observer, putting herself in her shoes, she felt someone with Li Qian’s personality definitely couldn’t handle it.
Hmm… not scum, but already worse than a scum man.
“Weiwei, I heard Shang Youshu is coming for a cameo this time too?”
Li Qian proactively linked arms with Shi Jinwei: “This lineup is really big, first time seeing you few gathered to film a movie.”
Shi Jinwei: “…Someone has big energy.”
“You mean Chi Ye?”
Li Qian blinked her eyes, letting out her signature laugh: “Haha, indeed, he’s really amazing; the first time I met him was on a variety show, really didn’t see it then, just thought this guy’s face was so good-looking, didn’t expect… oh, thinking back now, him being talented and rising is only natural.”
Shi Jinwei: “…”
Done, not even started filming and already fangirl eyes, if they get along for months…
Eh, her role shouldn’t have that much screen time, right?
Sister Qianzi inexplicably felt a bit off, couldn’t help reminding her: “Maybe Jin Xia will come for a cameo too.”
“Then you three would be together?!”
Li Qian surprised: “Exciting just thinking about it.”
Shi Jinwei: “…”
The two chatted while entering the room; Chi Ye had heard the voices outside and stood up: “Welcome, Boss Li.”
“President Chi is too polite.”
After entering, Li Qian straightened her attitude; her team assistant hurriedly came forward to greet: “President Chi, really sorry, traffic jam on the road, late by ten minutes, apologies apologies.”
“No problem, as long as you’re here.”
Chi Ye looked up and glanced at Shi Jinwei standing there not speaking, just arms crossed watching him, displeased: “What are you standing there for, since you’re here, don’t idle, didn’t you see Boss Li has entered? Go pour a cup of tea.”
“…?”
Qianzi opened her mouth, incredulously pointing at herself: “You…”
“No need no need, I’ll do it myself, I just ran into Weiwei outside, she’s also rushed a whole day on the road, I’ll do it myself.”
Li Qian hurriedly stood up.
Shi Jinwei glanced at her, gritted her teeth; the assistant beside her eyes turned, turned to pour tea, and conveniently asked Xiao Liu: “Where are the tea leaves?”
Xiao Liu holding back laughter: “Hmm… in the third drawer… I’ll do it.”
“Thanks Sister Liu… still, I’ll do it.”
“Why be polite with me.”
Xiao Liu knew Chi Ye was teasing Shi Jinwei, how could she let the guest work, busied herself.
“No problem, sit sit.”
Chi Ye gestured for Li Qian to sit, then looked at still-standing Shi Jinwei: “I told you to come last week, why are you only here now?”
“…”
Shi Jinwei held back for a long time, seeing so many people around, not wanting Chi Ye to lose face nor to “yield,” her eyes frantically signaling the assistant.
“…Chi Ge, Sister Shi rushed three all-nighters in a row to finish announcements…”
“…” Chi Ye paused, seeing Shi Jinwei’s face with undisguisable fatigue, said no more, just: “Just finished filming and took on so many jobs… alright, let it go this time, no next time.”
