Provocation

"Chu, where have you been these past few days?"

After Yang Chu appeared, a middle-aged man clutching a camera in front of a high-end car parked near several trucks shouted at him.

"Brother Quan, I had some personal matters to attend to over the last couple of days."

Yang Chu stepped forward to greet the middle-aged man with the camera, sticking to the excuse Fish Head Xu had concocted for his absence from the set.

He didn't know the man's real name, only that everyone called him Brother Quan. Having spent two days on set previously, he knew the man was the head cinematographer in charge of the lens, holding a position of such prestige that even the director, San Bao, was always polite when discussing shots and scheduling with him.

"Heh, looks like you really were busy. How about it, did you get things sorted? You seem a lot more at ease today, kid."

The cinematographer known as Brother Quan looked Yang Chu up and down. People in his line of work had sharp eyes and were highly sensitive to a person's state of mind.

When they were setting up the scene at the pier last time, Yang Chu's performance had been impressive, but he had carried a faint sense of detachment—simply put, his personality had been a bit cold. Today, however, he felt much more approachable.

"Just about."

Yang Chu replied with a smile. He had been feeling a wider range of emotions lately, so it wasn't particularly strange for someone to notice.

"Go help out."

Brother Quan waved a hand at Yang Chu and placed the camera he was holding into the car in front of him.

"I'll learn more from you later, Brother Quan." Yang Chu smiled and walked away.

He no longer had a strong interest in the ins and outs of filmmaking, and barring any surprises, he likely wouldn't be returning to the set. He had already considered leaving temporarily after watching Xiahou Wu's duel with Fish Head Xu tonight.

Xu Xi had already told him that not only was Chen Guibin from the Major Crimes Unit tracking him, but people from Unit 701 would be coming for him as well. He felt no fear or anxiety about this, but after the incident with Uncle Kin, he didn't want to drag too many ordinary people into his affairs.

"Hey, Chu, you're just in time. Give me a hand."

As Yang Chu walked past a small truck, the stunt coordinator Jia Le spotted him and waved repeatedly.

Jia Le and several stuntmen and crew members were working together to move a piece of wire-rigging equipment.

The structure didn't look overly complicated, but the iron support frame and the dozens of meters of wrist-thick hemp rope were quite heavy.

"Jia Le, where are we shooting on location today?"

Yang Chu stepped in to help and asked casually.

"Sai Kung. Big Brother has rented an abandoned factory. Most of it will be indoor scenes, but we're bringing the wire gear just in case. We should be filming there for the rest of the production."

As everyone scrambled to load the equipment onto the truck, Jia Le let out a breath and patted the coiled hemp rope, which was as thick as a truck tire. He looked Yang Chu up and down and said, "Where have you been hiding? When Brother Xu called to say you weren't coming, Big Brother wasn't happy at all. If he hadn't been in a good mood later and someone hadn't introduced a new guy to take over as the lead's stunt double, he would've definitely blown a fuse."

"Something came up, I couldn't get away." A look of apology appeared on Yang Chu's face.

"Eh, let it go." Jia Le waved his hand. "Brother Xu came by this afternoon to explain. You should put in more effort; everyone likes you. Working with you is really smooth. I've been in the stunt business for a long time, and I've never seen someone who's only been here for two days get liked by everyone like you have."

"It's thanks to everyone looking out for me."

Yang Chu said with a smile. He glanced around and asked curiously, "By the way, Jia Le, where is Brother Xu?"

"Brother Xu?"

Jia Le looked left and right. A fierce-looking, lean young man whom Yang Chu had seen before chimed in, "Brother Xu came to see Master this morning, then he left."

Yang Chu had since learned the young man's identity: he was Big Brother's apprentice, who worked as a stuntman and actor. In this film, he seemed to be the secondary antagonist, primarily responsible for the fight scenes.

"Brother Xu isn't here?"

Yang Chu felt slightly puzzled but didn't press the matter.

"Let's go. Big Brother and the others are already at the factory. We're just setting up the scene and checking the lighting this afternoon; actual filming starts tomorrow. Everyone, move quickly, let's try to wrap up early."

Jia Le was already calling for the other stuntmen and crew members to prepare for departure.

Though he was young compared to many of the veteran stuntmen and department heads, his seniority and skill had earned him the role of stunt coordinator, so no one delayed in following his arrangements.

Once everything was packed, Jia Le pulled Yang Chu into the backseat of the small truck he was riding in, and they set off.

After the vehicle cleared Fu Shan Road, Jia Le leaned over to Yang Chu's ear and whispered, "Chu, there were too many people around earlier, so I couldn't tell you properly. You probably won't be able to double for the lead, Wu Zai, anymore. Big Brother has already arranged for the newcomer, Hong Ye, to take your spot. That was my suggestion, so don't take it the wrong way—it was an emergency, and we had no choice."

"How could I?"

Yang Chu smiled indifferently. He didn't mind at all, and since he was the one who had broken his word first, there was nothing to complain about.

"That's good."

Jia Le observed the expression on Yang Chu's face, nodded, and smiled, "Even though we've only known each other for two days, I really think you have talent. Whether it's stunt work or something else, you're bound to become a big star in the future."

"Thank you, Jia Le."

Yang Chu said softly. Even though he remained indifferent to such things, he could still appreciate the other man's good intentions.

The vehicle drove on, and before long, they arrived at an abandoned factory in the Sai Kung district.

As soon as he stepped out of the car, Yang Chu saw the film's director, San Bao, surrounded by a group of staff members who seemed to be watching something, with cheers erupting from time to time.

"Come on, let's go take a look."

Hearing the commotion, stunt coordinator Jia Le beckoned to Yang Chu and walked toward the crowd.

Yang Chu followed behind and reached the edge of the group, only to discover that the crew members were watching a young man in his twenties practicing swordplay.

The sword was an unsharpened steel prop from the set, yet in the young man's hands, it moved as if it were an extension of his own arm, appearing almost alive. Combined with the young man's agile, leaping movements, the cold glint of the blade and his swift, meteor-like strikes were truly a sight to behold.

Director San Bao, a stout man standing in the crowd, couldn't help but applaud once the young man finished his routine and stood to the side. With a beaming smile, he said, "Good! With Hong Ye's look and his foundation in martial arts, if there's a chance to start a new project in the future, he's sure to be a hit."

"What a fine talent; watching the swordplay he just performed, it truly feels like the description in that poem about the Sword Dance."

"Big Brother, our crew has brought in two top-tier talents in a row recently; there's going to be so much more we can film now."

"It's been a long time since we've had any newcomers, and now two have appeared at once—Hong Ye and Yang Chu. Both have the skills to carry the show."

Many of the surrounding stuntmen and crew members, having finished watching Hong Ye's performance, began to offer their praise as well.

A few of them caught sight of Yang Chu walking over from a distance and began to heap praise upon him as well.

Although Yang Chu hadn't been here long, the impression he left on everyone during that location shoot at the docks was simply too deep. He was the type who understood things the moment they were explained, and no matter what task he was assigned, he always exceeded expectations.

"Yang Chu is here?!"

Director San Bao heard the crowd and cast his gaze toward Yang Chu, who was walking his way. There wasn't a hint of anger on his face; instead, he said with calm magnanimity, "Ah Chu, how is it? Have you finished handling your affairs?"

"Just about."

Yang Chu didn't want to announce in front of so many people that he wouldn't be coming back to the set, so he just gave a perfunctory reply.

"That's good."

Director San Bao patted Yang Chu on the shoulder. Among the newcomers and apprentices he had brought under his wing over the past few years, very few had managed to make a name for themselves.

Someone like Yang Chu, who possessed such outstanding skills and could also manage the various needs of the different departments, was a rare find indeed.

"Oh, right, Ah Chu, this is Hong Ye."

Director San Bao beckoned the young man who had just been performing the sword dance over to them. "You weren't here that day, so he stepped in to take your place as Wu Zai's stunt double."

The young man named Hong Ye held his steel sword vertically behind his arm. As he walked over, he stared at Yang Chu with burning eyes. He wore a smile, though there was a hint of arrogance in it as he said coolly, "Ever since I joined the crew, I've been hearing everyone talk about a stuntman who came before me with impossibly good skills named Yang Chu. I wonder if I might be able to see them for myself?"

I would like to thank Changqing1040, Book Friend 20210520165558742, and Chaoyang Tianshi for their generous tips. Thank you to all the big shots for your support and for all your votes! There are too many to name, so I'll make a dedicated thank-you post when I have the time!

I will keep working hard on my writing~~~