If the favor was owed to Chu Tian... then owing one was no big deal

The director and Zhang Yang did not actually have much of a connection, if one got down to it. Zhang Yang had merely appeared in one of the director's dramas when he had just debuted—a child extra with only two or three shots in total.

Zhang Yang used this as a chance to express his gratitude for the director's support back then, and the director was happy to play along.

But now that the scene they were supposed to put on was over, why had Zhang Yang not tactfully taken his leave?

"I just got back to the country and haven't been in touch with the entertainment industry for a long time." Zhang Yang forced out a stiff smile. "Since I happened to catch this, I wanted to watch the filming for a few days and study some acting. As long as I don't interfere with your normal shooting, I hope you won't find me a nuisance, Director."

Having just eaten the little desserts Zhang Yang had brought for the set visit, the director could hardly turn hostile at once. He nodded his agreement without much concern.

When he turned to Chu Tian again, the smile on his face became several degrees more genuine.

"Do you have any other work arrangements coming up? I'll reorganize the shooting schedule and group your scenes together so we can finish them as soon as possible, so they won't hold up your business. Little Gu has quite a few scenes opposite the role you'll be playing. His character isn't developed enough, so I'll have the screenwriter give it some more thought."

Given that Chu Tian had agreed to make a guest appearance, the director was hinting that he intended to add more scenes for Gu Shiyan.

Zhang Yang shot Chu Tian a mocking glance. He had just laughed at Zhang Yang, but wasn't he pursuing the exact same goal himself?

Gu Shiyan had refused him, so he definitely would not agree...

"Then we'll have to trouble you, Director." Gu Shiyan did not refuse. "We won't disturb you any longer. I'll take him around and let him get familiar with the crew."

Zhang Yang: "..."

Even after Gu Shiyan led Chu Tian far away, Zhang Yang remained rooted where he stood, as if struck by lightning, unable to recover.

Chu Tian held it in for a long time, but once they reached an empty corner, he could no longer restrain himself and burst into giggles. "Did you see Zhang Yang's expression just now? It was way too funny, hahaha..."

Gu Shiyan watched Chu Tian laugh so hard he nearly doubled over, amusement in his eyes. Afraid that Chu Tian might laugh himself into a fall, he discreetly held a hand behind him in support.

After Chu Tian had laughed enough, he wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes and poked Gu Shiyan's arm as he warned him.

"Zhang Yang came for you. I don't know what exactly he wants, but I've done the math, and this guy isn't simple. Stay away from him."

"Mm." Gu Shiyan answered as he led Chu Tian toward the filming site. "I should also thank you. On your own, you got the director to take the initiative to add scenes for me for your sake."

Although Gu Shiyan had gained a bit of popularity on social media, he had no connections and no backing. In the entertainment industry, he was still a complete newcomer.

Being able to skip straight past insignificant roles like corpses and servants and become a minor supporting character worthy of being listed in the cast had already left Gu Shiyan very satisfied.

He had politely declined Zhang Yang's offer to help him get more scenes because he did not want to owe Zhang Yang a favor.

But if the favor was owed to Chu Tian... then owing one was no big deal.

"What are you being polite for? We're practically family." Chu Tian grandly waved a hand, speaking with heroic flair. "Don't worry. We're grasshoppers tied to the same rope now. As long as I have a bite to eat in the future, you'll definitely get a sip of soup!"

Gu Shiyan laughed and cooperatively flattered him a few times.

As they chatted and laughed, they seemed to grow much closer. Chu Tian no longer acted as nervous and fearful around Gu Shiyan as he had before, as though he were afraid of something.

Compared with that timid, restrained version of him, Gu Shiyan preferred the way Chu Tian now spoke and laughed with him so freely and easily.

Gu Shiyan had no background to speak of. His company had not even assigned him an assistant, while Cao Ying, his agent, acted like he was above everyone else and only took jobs for Gu Shiyan to earn commissions, never even showing his face.

People in the industry were especially good at fawning over the powerful and trampling on the weak. Over the past two days, Gu Shiyan had been like an invisible man on set. When he had scenes, he acted; when he did not, he left. He barely interacted with anyone and operated entirely alone.

After following him around the set once, Chu Tian had guessed his circumstances, and it left him feeling somewhat upset.

When Gu Shiyan was filming, Chu Tian sat on half a little stool at the edge of the set and watched.

The female lead, who was waiting for her scene, looked at the well-behaved Chu Tian sitting there. In the end, she could not resist the temptation of that face and dragged her chair over to sit beside him.

"Hi. Are you a new actor? Which character are you playing?"

Chu Tian turned to look at her and recognized her as the female lead Gu Shiyan had pointed out to him earlier. He gave a quiet little exclamation in his heart.

One of the people at the center of the gossip!

"Hello." Chu Tian answered with an obedient smile. "I'm Gu Shiyan's boyfriend. My name is Chu Tian, and I came to visit the set today."

"Oh, oh." The female lead suddenly understood and immediately made the connection. "The coffee was delicious. Thank you."

"You're too polite." Chu Tian said shyly. "We'll be colleagues soon, so please take care of me, Sister Meimei."

"Sister Meimei" was what fans called her. Guo Fumei was instantly delighted. "You know me?"

Chu Tian said, "Of course. I watched the drama you starred in that was popular recently, Sister Meimei. Your acting was excellent. I still have a lot to learn from you."

Guo Fumei was so dazzled by his sweet talk that she could not stop smiling. Before long, the two were calling each other sister and brother.

"Little brother, you're ridiculously gorgeous. With that face of yours, you could crush everyone in the domestic entertainment industry," Guo Fumei exclaimed as she admired Chu Tian's face. "After seeing so many ugly men in the industry, looking at you is like washing my eyes!"

Chu Tian: "..."

Before interacting with her, he truly had not expected Guo Fumei to have this kind of personality.

Thinking about how this candid and generous Guo Fumei was love-brained and had a cheating boyfriend, Chu Tian's gaze toward her filled with sympathy... Even beauties could end up with the wrong person.

Before coming here, Chu Tian had looked up Guo Fumei's information. He knew that she had debuted five years ago and had clawed her way up from small supporting roles to where she was today.

Because she was a skilled actress with a mature, dignified look, she had landed quite a few scripts for more serious dramas and earned a great deal of praise.

This ensemble drama set in the 1980s was Guo Fumei's first project as the female lead. But after her boyfriend's cheating was exposed, she had been deeply troubled and devastated by it, and her role had been replaced.

She had been busy fighting the second female lead, whom she believed to be the mistress, like sworn enemies, completely unaware that the person who had replaced her was her boyfriend's new lover.

The whole affair was full of twists and turns, almost too dramatic to be real.

"Sis." Unable to hold back, Chu Tian quietly leaned closer to Guo Fumei and lowered his voice to remind her, "Is your boyfriend on this crew too? Have you spent any time with him in private lately?"

Guo Fumei froze, and her expression changed instantly.

She had never made it public that she had a boyfriend. How did Chu Tian know?

"Don't misunderstand, Sis. I don't mean any harm." Chu Tian raised both hands to show his innocence. "I just heard some things and wanted to give you a warning. If you get the chance, you should check your boyfriend's phone."

Guo Fumei's face darkened, and her tone turned cold and hard. "What do you mean?"