Filming began

Shen Lian ate his boxed lunch with tea and saw nothing wrong with it.

Before long, Huang Jiacan came over and asked with a smile, "Why aren't you eating with them?"

She meant the group gathered around Zheng Ge.

Why would I go looking for that kind of bad luck? Shen Lian thought.

What he actually said was, "We don't know each other well yet. Once we've filmed together, we'll have something to talk about."

You don't know each other well? Huang Jiacan thought. After that massive online fight?

"Jiacan! We saved you some braised prawns! Come over!" someone called.

Zheng Ge looked their way too, but his gaze was gentle, without the slightest hint of hostility.

Huang Jiacan felt somewhat awkward, while Shen Lian tipped his chin toward them. "Go on, Noble Consort Huang."

Years ago, Huang Jiacan had played a noble consort in a wildly popular palace intrigue drama. Stunningly beautiful, clever, and perceptive, she had won viewers' hearts and ranked among the top three on a list of favorite actresses. Fans had joked, "XXX is my empress, but Huang Jiacan will always be my noble consort."

And so the nickname Noble Consort Huang had stuck.

Huang Jiacan chuckled at once. "Oh, you. I'll head over, then. Let me know if you need anything."

Understanding that Huang Jiacan was deliberately extending a hand in friendship, Shen Lian accepted it. "Sure, sis."

Huang Jiacan walked away with a hand over her smiling lips. She wasn't particularly sensitive about her age. On the contrary, Shen Lian looked as fresh-faced as a college boy, so hearing him call her "sis" felt rather nice.

"What were you talking about with Shen Lian, Jiacan?" Zheng Ge asked softly.

"Just chatting. Nothing much." Huang Jiacan took only two braised prawns. They were rich in protein, and she still needed to watch her figure.

Zheng Ge nodded, but Wei Fanchen, beside him, couldn't resist speaking up. "Jiacan, Shen Lian has bad intentions. You'd be better off keeping your distance."

His voice brimmed with feeling, as though he had only Huang Jiacan's best interests at heart.

Zheng Ge kept his head down and ate without a word.

"Is that so?" Huang Jiacan was leagues above Wei Fanchen in status. When her gaze darkened, she still exuded the intimidating air of a battle-hardened veteran facing a raw recruit.

Wei Fanchen faltered, and Huang Jiacan strolled off to find Director Dai.

"What was that about?" Wei Fanchen muttered.

Zheng Ge smiled at him. "It's all right."

After lunch, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.

Shen Lian read the script for a while, then checked the time. Deciding it was about right, he messaged Chu Yilan: [Master Chu?]

It took a few minutes for a reply to come: [?]

[Miss me yet?]

The corner of Chu Yilan's mouth twitched. He'd known it!

[No.]

But despite what he said, when he finished work that evening, his movements were noticeably slower.

There was no greeting when he walked through the door, and no one immediately came forward to take his coat. Without that constant chatter, the villa felt empty, though Aunt Fen had taken excellent care of the flowers on the balcony.

Chu Yilan had a slight headache. Normally, Shen Lian would have noticed no matter what and massaged his head for ten minutes or so.

Now, none of that was there.

Chu Yilan gradually realized why Shen Lian had given him that slightly sly look before leaving for the set. He had known just how frightening a habit could be.

But Chu Yilan stubbornly refused to admit it, determined not to give him the satisfaction.

Shen Lian wasn't upset either. He sent three kissing stickers in a row. [But I miss you. Filming will keep me busy these next couple of days. I need to do well in front of Director Dai.]

As long as he knew to work hard. Chu Yilan typed: [Your new assistant will report to the set tomorrow.]

Shen Lian was a little surprised. That could have been left to Hu Kailan. Chu Yilan dominated the business world but rarely concerned himself with anything in entertainment.

He wanted to tease him a little more, but worried he might annoy him. Instead, Shen Lian said a few sweet things, then exchanged good nights with Chu Yilan.

With nothing weighing on his mind, he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Poor Master Chu tossed and turned until two in the morning.

At seven thirty the next morning, everyone began getting up.

Li Haicheng, who played the third male lead, had just finished washing his face at the sink when he sensed someone walking past behind him. He turned around and was surprised to find Shen Lian looking fresh and already fully ready.

"You're up this early?"

"Yeah." Shen Lian filled a cup with water. Although he accepted the conditions on set, shared facilities still really bothered him. He usually used them first, then rinsed everything clean.

After that came makeup and wigs, with everyone getting ready separately. Shen Lian finished quickly and changed into the Flying Fish Uniform worn by his character in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He stood there holding his phone, replying to Hu Kailan's messages, when he suddenly heard women giggling.

Alert as ever, Shen Lian looked up to find Huang Jiacan and several other actresses covering their mouths, their faces animated as they kept stealing glances at him.

Shen Lian couldn't help smiling too.

"Looking handsome!" Huang Jiacan offered her praise freely, giving Shen Lian a thumbs-up.

He really did look handsome. Shen Lian hadn't even used height-lifting insoles; he was dressed normally. The Flying Fish Uniform fit him perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and long frame, especially his waist. Its proportions and slenderness were just right, inevitably setting imaginations wandering: what would it feel like to touch him, to lean against him...

Shen Lian hadn't been idle during his time at home. He might have looked laid-back, but he actually spent two hours in the gym every day, so the definition of his abdominal muscles showed faintly through the embroidered fabric whenever he turned or moved.

As soon as Director Dai approached, he couldn't help remarking, "Shen Lian, you're practically exploding with sex appeal."

Zheng Ge had been about to say something to Director Dai, but his smile stiffened at those words.

Shen Lian said, "...I'm just standing here."

If there had been a spare stool, he wouldn't even have wanted to stand.

Shen Lian wore the Round Hat, with the cloak's ties knotted beneath his chin. His hair was combed impeccably, making his handsome features stand out all the more.

Many male celebrities looked strikingly handsome in everyday life, only to have their shortcomings exposed the moment they changed their styling.

Wei Fanchen was one example. He played the dissolute Duke's Heir, who seemed unconcerned with court affairs but later proved a great help to the male lead.

The loose, multilayered brocade robes weighed him down, making him look several centimeters shorter. His hair was gathered beneath a conventional Jade Crown, but that exposed his overly broad cheekbones. Wei Fanchen asked for two locks of bangs to disguise his face shape. He would have been better off without them; once added, they made him look like an alternative-fashion wannabe.

The makeup artist let out a heavy sigh. Honestly, if he couldn't even pull off a look like this, the clothes weren't the problem!

By comparison, Zheng Ge looked decent enough. Dressed in white with a folding fan in hand, he resembled an elegant young gentleman.

As for the actresses led by Huang Jiacan, each had her own beauty, like a garden of flowers in full bloom.

Silent Words had plenty of fight scenes. Zheng Ge's stunt double was already ready, but after some thought, Shen Lian decided to try doing his own.

He had just told the director what he wanted when he heard a quiet scoff.

Unsurprisingly, it came from Wei Fanchen.

Ever since Shen Lian had stopped letting himself be controlled, Wei Fanchen had made no attempt to hide his hostility toward him.

As far as Shen Lian was concerned, that made him an idiot.

Dai Tong frowned and glanced at Wei Fanchen, then asked Shen Lian, "Are you sure?"

"Let me give it a try," Shen Lian said with a light smile.

Dai Tong nodded. "All right! Give it a try!"

Shen Lian spoke with the Martial Arts Instructor for a while and ran through a few moves on the spot, then said he was ready to try them in action.