Skin like creamy jade, complexion like snow, brows and eyes like a painting, gaze like autumn waters, every glance radiant—she seemed like an immortal from a painting.
Zhang Yang had a vivid memory of Liu Yifei from when he'd seen her in person: she'd been seventeen, filming Chinese Paladin 1 in 2004. She'd been beautiful, but a little green, and Aunt Liu had had more mature charm.
Zhang Yang had always known Liu Yifei was beautiful, but he'd also thought some people online went overboard praising her. It wasn't until he saw her in person again today that he felt the full visual impact.
There was no need for excessive praise. He could only say that she truly lived up to the woman who used the CCTV camera as a mirror.
"Chao Ge's stunt double fell, so tonight's shoot will definitely be delayed." Zhang Yang naturally drew his gaze back and picked up the conversation where Liu Yifei had left off.
Deng Chao was the male lead in the film The Four Great Constables. He was caught in a love triangle with Wuqing, played by Liu Yifei, and Ji Yaohua, played by Jiang Yiyan.
The scenes being filmed at the palace involved the Four Great Constables battling the villain An Shigeng. Deng Chao had the most fight scenes, so they needed a capable stunt double.
"Hey, tell me about it." Liu Yifei wasn't aloof at all, and her expressions were animated. Her lovely brows furrowed. "From what I heard from the director, if they can't find a suitable stunt double in the next couple of days, they'll have to put these scenes off until May. That'll be a real headache."
This matched what Zhang Yang remembered. As far as he recalled, the climactic battle in The Four Great Constables really had been filmed at the end of May. He'd been wondering if his being reborn had caused a butterfly effect.
Now it seemed that, in the original timeline, the production had changed its shooting schedule because Deng Chao's stunt double had been injured in a fall.
At that thought, Zhang Yang met Liu Yifei's gaze again and said, "You'll be busy promoting A Chinese Ghost Story in April and May, won't you? You'll have your hands full."
He remembered that quite a few of Liu Yifei's scenes in The Four Great Constables had been cut because of this, with some added to Jiang Yiyan's role as Ji Yaohua.
"Hm?" Liu Yifei blinked her beautiful eyes and studied Zhang Yang's face. "You seem to know a lot about my schedule. Are you a fan of mine?"
"If I were your fan, wouldn't I have asked for your autograph and a Group Photo right away?" Zhang Yang chuckled, then boldly asked, "Would you count a Husband fan as one of your fans?"
With a woman like Liu Yifei, the best approach was not to play by the rules.
No one dared flirt with her. If someone did, she'd remember him.
A Husband fan?
"..." Liu Yifei let out a sudden laugh. When she turned and smiled, she was breathtaking.
If you ignored her Gummy Smile.
"Male stars are the ones who have Husband fans. Are you saying you want to be my husband?"
Zhang Yang shrugged. "What's wrong with that? Either way, I'd be the one benefiting."
"Then you might be my first Husband fan." Liu Yifei found Zhang Yang very amusing, and couldn't stop smiling.
"But I don't know A Chinese Ghost Story because of you," Zhang Yang said, changing the subject. "I'm a fan of Louis Koo."
Liu Yifei's eyes shifted as she teased him. "Don't tell me you're Gu Zai's Husband fan?"
Zhang Yang: "..."
As expected of the quick-witted Liu Yifei. She had a good sense of humor and knew how to turn his joke around.
"I'm a fan of his looks, I guess." Zhang Yang touched his face. "He's nothing special-looking. Compared to him, I've only got a narrow win."
Liu Yifei: ?
Louis Koo was nothing special-looking?
Zhang Yang was good-looking, sure, but he'd only narrowly beaten Louis Koo?
There were so many things wrong with that claim, she didn't know which one to call out first.
"Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about the phrase 'nothing special-looking'?" Liu Yifei fought the urge to roll her eyes.
"You wouldn't understand." Zhang Yang gave Liu Yifei a long look. "But one day, you will."
Louis Koo, plain and unremarkable; Liu Yifei, a country woman.
The best-looking people often got the plainest descriptions.
"I knew you were pretty full of yourself." Liu Yifei rolled her eyes after all.
As a female celebrity, she had to maintain her image in front of strangers. Unless—
She couldn't help herself!
Zhang Yang smiled. He'd been about to say something else, but when he saw someone approaching in the distance, he changed course.
"I've got to go. Bye, Sister Yifei."
Liu Yifei watched him turn briskly and head behind the tent. She blinked her beautiful eyes. "There's something I want to ask you."
"Hm?" Zhang Yang turned back to meet her gaze.
"Haven't we met somewhere before?"
Under the lights, Liu Yifei's face shone like jade, her beauty dazzling.
"Sister Yifei, I know I'm very handsome." Zhang Yang's lips curled, amusement in his eyes. "But isn't that a pretty old-fashioned way to hit on me?"
Liu Yifei: Hit on him?
For the first time, she felt like swearing.
"My memory's very good. You're not part of our production crew, but I'm sure this isn't the first time I've seen you." Liu Yifei bit her lip.
Zhang Yang was strikingly handsome. If he'd been part of their crew, she would have remembered him. Still, she was sure she'd seen him before.
Liu Yifei's words surprised Zhang Yang a little.
The last time he'd met her had been seven years ago. He'd grown from fourteen to twenty-one, and changed quite a bit.
For Liu Yifei to remember him at all meant she really did have a good memory.
Of course, his "nothing special" looks probably helped too.
"We really have met before."
Zhang Yang's answer made Liu Yifei feel a little smug.
See? She'd known she wasn't mistaken.
"As for when we first met, if we get another chance to see each other, I'll tell you."
With that, Zhang Yang quickly left, slipping behind the tent and disappearing in the blink of an eye.
"?" Liu Yifei's smile froze before it had a chance to blossom.
Seriously, she'd only been curious. If he didn't tell her, she wouldn't have cared at all.
Why was he making it seem like she was desperate to know when they'd first met?
Liu Yifei suddenly felt a little gloomy.
That man was kind of annoying.
"Xixi, who were you talking to?" Liu Xiaoli's gentle voice drifted over.
Liu Yifei snapped out of it and turned to hug her mother's arm. "No one. Just a staff member asking what happened."
Liu Xiaoli didn't question her. She gently straightened Liu Yifei's collar. "Director Chen said today's filming has been put on hold. Tomorrow, he'll ask some friends if they know anyone suitable. If they can't find someone within three days, they'll go film in Xiangshan first."
"Let's hope they find someone." Liu Yifei turned her attention to the matter at hand.
As for that little thief from earlier, he wasn't important.
It was nothing more than an interesting encounter.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yang left the set to the surprise of many people near the entrance and exit.
On the way back to the hotel, he got a call from Lin Feng. "Brother Lin, it's nothing. I was just wandering around the film city, and the Four Great Constables production was making a lot of noise. I wanted to ask if you knew anyone who could get me in for a look."
"I don't need to now. I already got in. Deng Chao's stunt double fell."
"Okay, okay. Enjoy your meal with the older brother and sister."
Only after Lin Feng hung up did Zhang Yang put his phone away.
Back at the hotel, he stayed in his room until nine-thirty, then got ready to go find Nazha.
Halfway there, Lin Feng called him again. "A'Yang, I asked Director Chen about it. Deng Chao's stunt double really did fall."
Zhang Yang: "..."
It wasn't like he cared about this, either.
And you went straight to Director Chen to ask? Impressive!
"Director Chen asked if I knew anyone suitable to recommend. I was going to say no, but then I thought of you." Lin Feng asked, "I already put in a good word for you. Are you interested?"
A stunt double? Not interested.
"Director Chen, I'm a contracted artist with Tangren," Zhang Yang said politely, declining.
"I know." Lin Feng's voice came through again. "The stunt double also has to play a supporting role, with scenes opposite several of the leads."
Zhang Yang: "..."
"Even though I'm a Tangren artist, I can't turn down your kind offer, Brother Lin."
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