Chapter 87

The next morning, at the Yanjing Film Studio.

The "Return of the Pearl 3" production team was shooting inside the studio.

Mai Xiaoyu sat nearby, watching the crew shoot the scene. Soon, Li Xue and Liu Tao returned with two assistants.

"Everything done?" Mai Xiaoyu asked casually.

"Yep." Li Xue nodded.

The "Return of the Pearl 3" production had been running for some time, and they were currently shooting palace scenes at the Yanjing Film Studio. Liu Tao didn't have any scenes for the moment.

In a couple of days, the production would move to the World Park in Huaxiang DaobaoTai to shoot the Myanmar scenes, where Liu Tao, playing Princess Musa, would have a significant role. According to the contract, she was supposed to join the production by today.

Just now, Li Xue had accompanied Liu Tao to meet the director and then helped her with the joining procedures. From today on, Liu Tao would live and eat with the production team and wouldn't return to her home at Guomao Youth Apartments.

Liu Tao discreetly nudged Li Xue, who then remembered something and asked, "Mr. Mai, what happened to your face?"

"I got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night and fell."

"Did you fall so hard that you have bruises on your hands too?"

"I drank too much and fell several times."

Mai Xiaoyu looked at Liu Tao helplessly, shook his head slightly, and indicated that he was fine.

Last night, after the fight, he went to the restroom to clean up. When he returned to the private room, everyone was quite high, and Liu Tao had passed out, so no one noticed.

This morning, while having breakfast with Liu Tao, she noticed the bruises on his face and body and asked what happened. He used the excuse of being drunk and falling in the middle of the night to avoid the question.

Liu Tao isn't stupid. When she and Li Xue were going through the joining procedures, she asked Li Xue to ask again.

"Try not to always fight. Be careful not to hurt yourself. Some things don't necessarily need to be solved with fists," Liu Tao said privately to Mai Xiaoyu when they had a moment alone.

"Okay, I'll try."

"These next few months, I won't be home. Take care of yourself. Don't always eat out; too much MSG is unhealthy."

Mai Xiaoyu: "..."

I've been taking care of myself for years, and I've been doing pretty well, haven't I?

At this moment, a scene was finished, and the assistant director loudly announced: "Everyone, good job! Take a twenty-minute break!"

Oh!

Actors and crew members scattered to find places to rest, and their status within the production became immediately apparent.

Extras gathered in groups, finding shady spots under trees or by walls to rest. Signed actors with some standing had designated rest areas. Famous lead actors like Liu Qianqian usually had their own private rest rooms.

Seeing Liu Qianqian enter her rest room with her assistant, Mai Xiaoyu called out to Liu Tao and Li Xue, "Come, let's go visit Teacher Liu Qianqian."

Li Xue held him back, "She won't see us."

"Why not?"

Why not?

She's a big star, and what are we?

They had just finished a few scenes and needed to rest.

Why go and get turned away?

Mai Xiaoyu smiled, "Let's try. If we don't try, we won't succeed."

"Isn't it up to fate?"

As Li Xue predicted, it was hard to get in.

They knocked on the door, which opened, and Liu Qianqian's assistant, standing like a gatekeeper, blocked the entrance, "Who are you looking for?"

Mai Xiaoyu gestured to Liu Tao, who smiled and said, "Is Teacher Liu Qianqian inside?"

"Who are you?"

"My name is Liu Tao. I just joined the production today, playing Princess Musa. I came to visit Teacher Liu."

"Teacher Liu is tired and resting. We can talk later."

This wasn't Liu Qianqian being arrogant.

Actors get very tired from shooting, and when they finally get a break, they generally don't like being disturbed by strangers.

Otherwise, one person would come for an autograph, another for a photo, and even ordinary people would find it unbearable.

Moreover, in the entertainment industry, the hierarchy among actors is very clear. If you don't reach their level, it's hard to build a relationship with them.

Liu Tao looked helpless, and Li Xue's face said, "See, I told you."

"Don't be afraid, I'm here!"

Mai Xiaoyu smiled and said this out of nowhere, in a particularly loud voice.

Liu Tao and Li Xue looked at him in confusion; the gatekeeper assistant became highly alert.

A moment later, Liu Qianqian's voice came from inside the rest room, "Xiao Zhang, who's outside? Let them in."

Just like that... they were in?

Liu Tao and Li Xue were completely confused. When they went in and saw Liu Qianqian, they were even more puzzled.

Not because of Liu Qianqian, but because of Mai Xiaoyu!

Mai Xiaoyu stayed in the rest room for only three minutes, and what he said was not very substantial.

He said things like how much he liked the TV dramas and films Liu Qianqian had starred in; how lucky Liu Tao was to have the opportunity to work with Teacher Liu; how he hoped Liu Tao could learn from Teacher Liu during the shoot; and how Liu Tao hoped to learn from Teacher Liu.

Throughout the process, only Mai Xiaoyu spoke, and it was all superficial pleasantries. Liu Qianqian only nodded occasionally, without much response.

Not only did Liu Tao and Li Xue not understand, but even Liu Qianqian's agent, Mr. Tong, shook his head in disapproval.

It's called a visit, but it's really about building relationships.

I don't know why Qianqian gave you this opportunity, but you're not making the most of it.

What you said was all meaningless. Does it have any significance?

Mr. Tong didn't think much of Mai Xiaoyu, but he did look at Li Xue a few times—she reminded him of someone.

After three minutes, Mai Xiaoyu handed over his business card and left with Liu Tao and Li Xue.

Outside, Li Xue asked, "Mr. Mai, should we visit anyone else?"

It's not appropriate for Liu Tao to only visit Liu Qianqian, as she's not the only lead.

"There's no need. They probably won't see us."

Liu Tao also asked, "We finally got to see Teacher Liu, why not chat more?"

"Ha ha, the gesture is enough. If Liu Qianqian asks you to do something later, just do it."

What will she ask us to do?

Liu Tao and Li Xue were very curious, but Mai Xiaoyu just smiled and said nothing.

He reminded Liu Tao to take care of herself and told the two assistants to take good care of her. If she was bullied, she should call him immediately. He also told Li Xue to take advantage of the opportunity to exchange business cards and build connections in the industry for future work.

After giving these instructions, Mai Xiaoyu walked out of the Yanjing Film Studio with a light step.

But he didn't rush back to the company. He sat in the car, turned on the air conditioning, and waited.

A few minutes later, his phone rang as expected. It was Liu Qianqian.

"Mr. Mai, thank you for that day," Liu Qianqian said straightforwardly.

She had let them in because she recognized the familiar phrase, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

"Teacher Liu, I'm not sure what you mean. Did you mistake me for someone else?"

There was a moment of silence on the phone, then Liu Qianqian's voice came again, much brighter, "Ah, I might have mistaken you. Sorry."

"Ha ha, it's common for people to look alike. I often mistake people too. Is there anything else, Teacher Liu?"

Done, finished!

PS: Recommend a new book.

Title: "King of the Arts"

Book ID: 1003463200

Link: /book/

A new book by Baihubay, the author of "Richest in the Countryside." The author's writing is mature, with a gentle literary style and a great story. Highly recommended.

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