Zhang Yang wasn't surprised to see Liu Yifei again so soon.
He was very confident he'd land the role of Cen Chong in The Four Great Constables.
He'd planned to give Liu Yifei a "surprise" when the time came and show off a little.
He hadn't expected Liu Yifei to surprise him first.
"A'Yang, you know Yifei?" Lin Feng asked, surprised.
Tangren and Liu Yifei had a falling-out. Even people outside the industry had heard about it, let alone those of them in the business.
The gist was that while Chinese Paladin 1 was filming, Cai Yinong had been very impressed with Liu Yifei and wanted to sign her. But Liu Yifei didn't need to, with a powerful backer supporting her. Her mother, however, didn't outright refuse because she wanted to stay on good terms with the production company, giving Cai Yinong false hope.
After filming wrapped, Liu Yifei's mother clearly turned down the contract. Cai Yinong felt she'd been played, so she paid for articles to smear Liu Yifei. Later, to promote a "little Liu Yifei," she went even further, riding Liu Yifei's coattails while putting her down.
Things like this were common in the entertainment industry. At the end of the day, it all came down to self-interest. There was no simple right or wrong; people mostly acted according to their own positions.
Chinese Paladin 1 did well after it aired, and Zhao Ling'er became one of Liu Yifei's signature roles. But she never mentioned the show in front of the media, as if she'd forgotten she'd ever acted in it.
Zhang Yang was still in college, and he probably hadn't been signed with Tangren for long. How did he know Liu Yifei?
The others were curious too, watching Liu Yifei and Zhang Yang.
Liu Yifei gave Zhang Yang a look, telling him to answer.
"We met while filming Chinese Paladin 1. It's been a few years." Zhang Yang didn't dodge the question. He also gave Liu Yifei the answer he'd owed her since last night.
"Chinese Paladin 1?"
Before anyone else could react, Liu Yifei was the first to look surprised.
She took half a step back and gave Zhang Yang a searching look. Her brows furrowed, then relaxed, then furrowed again. Finally, she asked tentatively, "Are you... Zhang Yang?"
"It's me." Zhang Yang smiled at Liu Yifei. "We just saw each other last night, and I called you Sister Yifei right away. That was a pretty big hint."
They'd met last night!?
Nazha's sense of danger grew even stronger.
Zhang Yang had met Liu Yifei without her knowing.
"How was that a hint?" Liu Yifei thought, exasperated.
The Zhang Yang standing before her now was tall and handsome, with an impressive presence. Their brief interaction last night had left her thinking he was funny and bold.
Back when they filmed Chinese Paladin 1, Zhang Yang had been shy and easily embarrassed, a fresh-faced boy just starting seventh grade who followed her around calling her "big sister."
It was hard to connect the two boys, except for those bright, beautiful eyes.
"If you wanted to hint at it, you should've called me Sister Xixi."
"So you're still keeping me in suspense, huh?"
Liu Yifei suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Zhang Yang by the hair, ruffling it. Her dark eyes held a hint of smug satisfaction.
Zhang Yang had been the youngest actor on the Chinese Paladin set. With his rosy lips and pearly teeth, he'd been so cute that he was practically the darling of the entire crew.
And the one who'd "spoiled" him most was her, Liu Yifei. Zhang Yang was underage like her, but even younger, which let her put on airs as his senior and big sister.
Her mother, Liu Xiaoli, had liked Zhang Yang a lot, and Zhang Yang's mother had liked her too. The two mothers often made special meals for the two of them, and whenever she had the chance, she enjoyed picking on her little brother.
But then Cai Yinong had people smear her, leaving her deeply depressed for a while. Zhang Yang was a Tangren contract actor, and from then on, they'd had no contact.
She'd liked Zhang Yang from the moment she saw him last night. And her hands had been itching to ruffle his hair, making her want to go home and pet a cat. Now she finally understood why.
"Sister Xixi, I'm not the same person I was back then." Zhang Yang half-heartedly shielded himself from Liu Yifei's wicked hand, looking exasperated. "Don't make me fight back."
"Go ahead and try." Liu Yifei raised an eyebrow, acting like a little hooligan.
What happened to the Fairy Sister image?
"So many people are watching. Have some dignity." Zhang Yang reminded her helplessly, though he was quite happy inside.
It seemed Liu Yifei still remembered the bond they'd shared as the big sister and little brother on set.
"It's fine. Just pretend I'm not here." Deng Chao, a Chosen Ancient Person and a born gossip, said he was happy to quietly enjoy the show.
Chen Jiashang, Lin Feng, Wallace Huo, and the others were watching with amusement. Only Nazha felt miserable.
"We're all old acquaintances here. Who doesn't know what I'm like?" Liu Yifei was a tomboy at heart, quite different from her public image.
Put more nicely, she had a pretty face and an interesting soul.
"My mistake, my mistake. I should've introduced myself right away." Zhang Yang immediately surrendered. In truth, he thought it was about time.
Liu Yifei stopped ruffling his hair. She lived as she pleased, but she still had the basic professionalism expected of a celebrity.
"I'll let you off this time." Liu Yifei pretended to shake her fist, then whispered, "Otherwise, your big sister will show you what a sword-wielding heroine can do."
Zhang Yang: "..."
How was this not bullying?
Was being a sword-wielding heroine really such a big deal?
Zhang Yang secretly signaled to Lin Feng, who understood and said, "Let's start shooting today's scenes. Director Chen, Deng Chao, and Yifei are visiting the set, so A'Yang, you'd better put on a good show."
No one had any objections. They were all in a hurry.
At Lin Feng's direction, the whole crew sprang into action and began setting up the scene.
Zhang Yang went into the makeup room next door to have Sister Sun do his makeup, then changed into silver armor. His gaze and bearing changed as well.
When he appeared again, everyone's eyes lit up.
"I had that kind of presence back in my day," Deng Chao said with a laugh.
Everyone: "..."
Deng Chao was handsome, sure, but honestly, historical costumes didn't suit him.
Some people looked great in modern clothes but awful in period costumes.
Others looked ordinary in modern clothes, but were born for historical costumes, like Wallace Huo.
Then there were people like Liu Yifei, Zhang Yang, and Yan Yikuan: they looked great in modern clothes and even better in historical costumes.
"Brother Hua and Mr. Yan Yikuan can say that, but you..." Liu Yifei gave Deng Chao a look that said it all.
Deng Chao: "!"
Who the hell had been calling her the Fairy Sister?
She was clearly Gummy Smile, Gummy Smile, Gummy Smile!
Of course, Deng Chao only dared to grumble about it silently.
"He really does have the right look." Chen Jiashang looked pleased. "That face is perfect for the big screen. As long as his acting isn't a problem, he could even replace Mu Panlong."
He hadn't liked the young Japanese actor the investors had arranged for the role in the first place. The guy did have some ability, but now that he was injured and needed one or two months to recover, Chen Jiashang had a perfectly good reason to find a replacement.
At least in terms of appearance, Zhang Yang was streets ahead of Mu Panlong. As long as his acting wasn't hopeless, they could even pay him less.
"Everyone, get ready."
A few minutes later, Lin Feng sat in front of the monitor with a megaphone in hand and began giving directions.
"Scene X, shot X."
"Akesheng!"
In the square at the city gate.
Bang!
The drums sounded.
Hundreds of armored soldiers sprang into action.
Zhang Yang sat astride a white horse in the middle of the encirclement. He yanked the reins and swept his sharp gaze around.
The white horse let out a long neigh and reared up on its hind legs.
Several soldiers nearby threw themselves backward in sync.
At that moment, several mounted soldiers charged forward, long lances in hand.
Zhang Yang's eyes narrowed. He reached back and grabbed the Coiled Dragon Staff, then swung it out with a simple, powerful motion.
His staff swept across, sending two soldiers flying. He leaned back to dodge two thrusting spears, then knocked them aside with the staff and swept it around.
"Whoosh!"
Two more soldiers were sent flying.
Only then did Chen Jiashang and the others watching realize what weapon Zhang Yang was holding.
Liu Yifei asked in confusion, "Why is he using a staff?"
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