His gaze darkened, anger rising inside him. They had not even seen the person inside the car before they started spreading rumors.
They said Ji Xiangyi was Fang Ning's financial backer. These people slapped labels on others without bothering to learn the truth. It was truly disgusting.
Fang Ning did not have a good reputation in the entertainment industry. Ji Xiangchen had heard about it. She seemed to have fallen out with Xia Qing, a currently popular young actress, over a drama. Xia Qing had plenty of fans, and over time, Fang Ning's reputation had become what it was.
Although he could not stand Ji Xiangyi, what right did these people have to talk about her? They were even insulting Fang Ning, the person who had helped tear up his umbrella.
At the thought, Ji Xiangchen's gaze darkened further. As it happened, he was holding an insulated cup.
He gently loosened his grip, and the insulated cup fell. The instant it hit the ground, it made a piercing sound, drawing the attention of those whispering nearby. Everyone who had been gossiping turned to look at Ji Xiangchen.
The young assistant was someone the company had hired for Ji Xiangchen.
She had heard that Ji Xiangchen had a somewhat explosive temper. Having just noticed a flicker of anger cross his face, then seen him deliberately drop the insulated cup on the ground, she thought he was dissatisfied with her. Confused, she took half a step back. "Teacher Ji, what's wrong?"
The question came at just the right moment.
In a voice neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone gossiping about Fang Ning and Ji Xiangyi to hear, Ji Xiangchen said, "Some people's mouths stink so badly that my hand got angry listening to them."
Chapter 13
What did stinking mouths have to do with his hand? He was clearly insulting the people who had just been gossiping. At his words, everyone shut their mouths and went back to work.
Fang Ning knew nothing about this little incident.
There was no one she knew in this production crew. After getting out of the car and greeting the director, she dragged her suitcase to her hotel room to unpack.
That afternoon, once the opening ceremony ended, filming officially began on the production's first scene.
Fang Ning's character was crucial to the unfolding mystery in "Great Chen Dynasty," so she had to appear in the very first scene.
After receiving the notice, Fang Ning went to the makeup room. While having her makeup done, she held her script and memorized her lines, not wanting to become the conspicuous one who kept ruining takes.
Director Wang and the assistant director watched from a distance.
The assistant director's gaze rested on Fang Ning's delicate face. "Old Wang, I don't understand why you wanted Fang Ning to play this role."
He truly did not understand why Director Wang had cast Fang Ning in this role. Having worked with Director Wang for so many years, he knew that the director had very high standards for the actors he cast. Both their appearance and their acting had to be right.
Fang Ning certainly had outstanding looks, but her acting, while not bad, definitely could not be considered good.
"Between Fang Ning and Xia Qing, Xia Qing is the better actress. She's also willing to invest some money, and she has a strong fan following. Wouldn't she be better?"
Director Wang folded his arms and looked up. "Xia Qing isn't right for it. Compared with Fang Ning, she lacks that air of restraint and cool detachment."
He had read Xia Qing's acting profile and watched some videos of her performances.
All of Xia Qing's acting had become rigid. She had appeared in too many commercial dramas, and whatever character she played, she used exactly the same formula.
The way she smiled and cried was the same in costume dramas as in modern dramas. There was no spark.
Xia Qing certainly had considerable drawing power among fans.
But this production of his was not a commercial drama, so he leaned more toward Fang Ning.
Fang Ning had not played many roles, but she could hold her own against anyone. Even opposite veteran actors, she did not come off worse.
Opposite those popular stars with poor acting skills, she still only held her own. It was an utterly astonishing phenomenon.
Fang Ning was like an uncut jade, a very challenging prospect.
After hearing Director Wang out, the assistant director still felt Fang Ning was unsuitable. There were plenty of people with a better presence than hers.
He wanted to say something, but just then, Fang Ning finished having her makeup done nearby.
She wore a red, red dress, her presence cool and aloof.
Before, her features had carried a faint melancholy, and her gaze had seemed fragile, like a flower raised in a greenhouse whose glass cover had suddenly been removed, leaving it helpless against the ravages of wind and rain.
But now, her features were cool and aloof, and her gaze no longer held its earlier fragility.
Instead, it carried a different kind of resolve, like a wild rose that had grown up among thorns in harsh surroundings. No matter how fierce the wind and rain, nothing could stop its wild, unrestrained growth. Tenacious and unyielding, she was very close to the character she played in "Great Chen Dynasty."
Looking at Fang Ning like this, the assistant director suddenly felt something.
He seemed to understand why Director Wang had chosen Fang Ning rather than Xia Qing.
Seeing Fang Ning like this, Director Wang found it increasingly difficult to conceal the approval in his eyes.
Ji Xiangchen also saw Fang Ning after her makeup was done. She looked far more stunning than usual, every bit a beautiful young woman.
She was a terrible match for Ji Xiangnian.
Ji Xiangchen lowered his eyes and kicked at the pebbles by the roadside. Today was another day of wanting to call Ji Xiangnian a scumbag.
Filming was about to begin on Fang Ning's first scene, and she would be acting opposite a veteran.
Filming for the first time, Fang Ning was very nervous. She was not afraid of ruining too many takes, but of being scolded by others for ruining too many.
Yet once she stepped onto the set, Fang Ning suddenly seemed like a different person.
Even facing a veteran actor, she did not panic in the slightest and performed opposite him with composure.
Of course, this was Fang Ning's first scene, and the process was not entirely smooth sailing. She ruined one or two takes, but overall, it was still quite good.
Director Wang did not hold back his praise either. "There are still some things you need to correct, but your performance was pretty good."
Fang Ning had indeed not disappointed him. With time and practice, she would definitely become a rising new star in the acting world.
The other crew members present were also very surprised. They had all braced themselves for Fang Ning to need dozens of takes.
But they had already gotten their pants off! Who would have thought she would actually be that good! Two or three takes were enough!