Can't Hide My Love for You - Chapter 80

The television drama Like a Dream successfully secured its investment and began filming as scheduled.

The filming location was at the Zhenzhou Film and Television City, several hundred kilometers away from Jingning. Cheng Yixin had joined the crew the day before, flying directly to Zhenzhou from the site of an event.

The director placed great importance on this hard-won opportunity. Since the production of his previous project had been fraught with difficulties, he had learned his lesson and organized a traditional commencement ceremony to pray for a smooth filming process for Like a Dream.

The ceremony was set to begin at 10:00 AM, but Cheng Yixin had already woken up before dawn. At seven o’clock on a winter morning, the sky was not yet fully bright; as the group walked out of the hotel, they could hear the birds chirping outside.

Having arrived at the hotel only at midnight, Cheng Yixin felt as if she had just closed her eyes before being called up. She was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open. The setting of the drama was summer, and her costume was a Republican-era qipao. Even with several heat pads stuck under her down jacket, she was shivering from the cold.

Fortunately, the temperature inside the production van was appropriate. Xiao Yu brought a thick wool blanket to wrap around her.

“Sister, once the ceremony is over, you can head back to the hotel to rest.”

“Who knows when the ceremony will actually end,” Cheng Yixin muttered.

Chi Yi had wanted to accompany her yesterday, but Cheng Yixin’s schedule was too tight. Knowing she would be incredibly busy these two days, she didn’t want Chi Yi to travel all that way while she lacked the energy to attend to her.

She glanced at the scenery racing past the window. The sky grew brighter as they moved, and the sun began to peek over the horizon. It seemed today was indeed an auspicious day for a commencement.

The ceremony was held in an open area within the film city. When she arrived, staff members were already setting up the scene: dining tables, red cloths, a large pig’s head for the ritual, and posters.

Her co-star was a middle-aged male actor who had been a “pretty boy” in his younger years but had now transitioned into a “tough guy” role. In the drama, the two characters support and trust each other, but there is no romantic plotline. It was a much better logical structure than the typical war dramas where the leads fall in love at every turn.

After greeting the actor and exchanging pleasantries, she went to get her makeup done in a temporary tent set up by the director’s team. As she closed her eyes to meditate, the phone on the table rang. She lifted an eyelid, and the makeup artist looked at her. “Teacher Cheng, your phone is ringing.”

It was Chi Yi.

She was shocked to hear that Chi Yi had taken the earliest high-speed train to come see her. However, since the makeup artist wasn’t part of her personal team, she only spoke a few words to Chi Yi before ending the call. She then instructed Xiao Yu to pick Chi Yi up at the station and take her directly to the hotel where she was staying.

She wasn’t yet familiar with the crew’s situation, and there would be media reporters present today. Cheng Yixin wasn’t in a hurry to have Chi Yi visit the set; since they weren’t filming today, there would be free time later.

While the preparations for the ceremony were in full swing, a black business van was stopped by security at the entrance of the film city.

“This is the Film and Television City. Which crew are you with? Show your pass before I let you through.”

The secretary in the passenger seat rolled down the window. “We’re with Like a Dream, which starts today.”

“Oh. Let me see the pass.”

“We don’t have a pass.”

“Then you can’t come in. Call someone out to lead you in.” The guard glanced at the vehicle behind them. “Move the car first; don’t block the other vehicles.”

The secretary frowned, about to say something, when the rear window slowly lowered. A silver-haired old man, with sharp, eagle-like eyes, looked at the guard with a half-smile. “Asking me for a pass on my own land? Young man, you’re quite the thinker.”

The middle-aged guard was stunned by the smile and felt a chill on his scalp. “And you are…?”

“Ask your leader if a man surnamed Feng needs a pass.”

The guard didn’t recognize the name “Feng,” but he felt the old man’s aura was exceptionally powerful. Combined with the luxury car, he realized this wasn’t an “actor” but a significant figure. Without even making a call, he immediately opened the gate.

“I’m just afraid of paparazzi sneaking in to take photos; it’s bad for the actors,” he said with a sycophantic smile, stepping back. “Please, go ahead.”

The van entered the film city smoothly. The secretary was surprised by the breadth of the old man’s business interests and couldn’t help but ask, “Old Master, did our group invest in the film city as well?”

“I was bluffing,” Feng Nian said cheerfully. “This piece of land was sold over a decade ago; the film city was built later. It seems they’ve renovated it quite well.”

“…” He was bragging, but not entirely.

“Old Master, if the ceremony is too much trouble later, you can head back to the hotel after the group photo.”

“I won’t join the photo,” Feng Nian said. “I’ll wander around here myself. You go take the photo in my place.”

“Alright. The director’s name is Ma Zhou. I’ll introduce you.”

“No need.” Feng Nian thought for a moment. “Tell Ma Zhou not to reveal my identity. Just act like I’m a passerby here to watch the excitement.”

The secretary felt this was improper but didn’t dare argue. He could only comply. As long as the Old Master was happy, nothing else mattered.

The Old Master could be quite down-to-earth when he wanted to be. In the temporary rest tent, while the lead actors had production vans, the supporting roles and extras were all waiting for the ceremony to start. Staff members were rushing back and forth, far too busy to notice an old man slipping into the tent.

Feng Nian wanted to understand how young people survived in the acting world. He tried to mimic the locals by crossing his arms and tucking his hands into his sleeves, but the windproof, high-tech cuffs of his expensive coat made it a struggle to get his hands inside. He feigned a shiver, saw an empty spot, and sat down. He struck up a conversation with the person on the long bench next to him.

“How much longer until this ceremony starts?”

The person was playing on their phone and didn’t even look up. “Don’t know.”

First attempt at conversation: Failure.

“Hey, old man,” someone shouted from behind him. “That’s my seat.”

It was an extra dressed in coarse cloth costumes. Feng Nian stood up to give up the seat and stood to the side. The extra looked him over and asked, “You look unfamiliar. What role are you playing?”

He didn’t have a role. Feng Nian had a sudden flash of inspiration and said, “I’m from the crew next door. Just finished filming and came to see if there’s any work to pick up.”

“You’re at that age and still out looking for work?” The extra sneered, then added begrudgingly, “The assistant director is my cousin. I could say a few words for you and get you a role as an extra.”

Before Feng Nian could respond, the extra leaned in and whispered, “The condition is you give me half the pay. You’re out looking for work at your age; your family must be desperate for money, right?”

“You know I’m desperate for money, yet you want half? That’s quite a ‘black’ heart.”

“If I don’t recommend you, you won’t get a cent.” The extra grew impatient and waved him off. “Take it or leave it. Old geezers are so much trouble.”

“…” He hadn’t expected the world of extras to be so murky.

While he was looking for a place to sit, a nearby private tent opened, and the assistant director walked out, followed by an actress wearing a qipao with a down jacket draped over it.

“Teacher Cheng, there’s still a while before the ceremony. You should go rest in the van where it’s warm. I’ll call you before we start.”

“Alright.” Cheng Yixin nodded. Before heading to the van, she habitually glanced at the rest area tent.

The actors with their own vans had long gone to rest; those left were unknown bit players, crowded together on cold benches or standing in the sun to keep warm. Among the crowd of black-haired youths, a silver-haired old man was particularly conspicuous.

His face looked somewhat familiar, though she couldn’t place it immediately. A keen eye could tell his clothes were high-quality handmade pieces, but combined with his hands tucked into his sleeves, there was an indescribable awkwardness about him.

When the old man saw her, his shoulders seemed to slouch slightly, and he turned to resume his search for a seat.

Cheng Yixin took one look and headed straight for her van. Once inside, her second assistant immediately poured her a cup of warm ginger tea. After a sip, her stomach felt more comfortable. She sat in the plush seat for a moment, then pulled back the window curtain.

The old man in the tent hadn’t found a seat and had walked out to stand in the sun. Seeing this, a pang of sympathy rose in Cheng Yixin’s heart. He was at such an age, yet he couldn’t even find a place to sit among the strong young people.

She thought about it and asked her assistant to go down and ask if the old man wanted to rest in the van—but added not to force him if he refused.

The old man turned out to be quite the social butterfly. The moment he stepped into the van, he expressed his gratitude. “Thank you so much. It’s truly warm in here. I was standing outside for a while and couldn’t find a single seat.”

“You’re welcome.” Cheng Yixin gave a faint smile and pushed a disposable cup of ginger tea toward him. “It is indeed cold today. People your age should keep warm; it’s not worth getting sick.”

“Yes, indeed, indeed.” The old man nodded. Seeing that Cheng Yixin hadn’t recognized him, he took the initiative. “Have we met? At the wine exhibition before… you bought wine from me.”

With that hint, Cheng Yixin remembered. No wonder he looked familiar. “But aren’t you in Jingning? Why did you come all the way here? And… to the film set?”

Based on the aura she remembered from the exhibition, he didn’t seem like someone who would make a living as an extra.

“I was just too bored at home after retiring. I happened to have an acquaintance in Zhenzhou, so I came. He’s an extra in the crew next door and makes decent money. I wanted to try it too to earn some pocket money, but they said they weren’t hiring, so I came over here to try my luck.” The old man’s lies came naturally.

“At your age, if you come out to work, won’t your family be worried?” Cheng Yixin asked. “I’ll have someone send you back. If something happens, your family will be heartbroken.”

“I’m fine! My body is strong!” He patted his chest. “If I stay home, I have no one to talk to. I’d rather come out; it’s lively with all these people.”

“Is your family at work?”

“Yes. I have three children. My granddaughter is about your age. They are usually out and rarely come back.”

Another “empty-nest” elder. Cheng Yixin felt a surge of compassion. Elderly people being lonely at home—no wonder he wanted to come out.

“Have you acted before?”

He thought for a moment and replied, “I performed in shows when I was young.” (Referring to a primary school recital seventy years ago).

Cheng Yixin flipped through her script. “Then I’ll ask the director for you. There’s a role with only one or two lines; I’m not sure if the actor has been set yet. However, the pay for extras isn’t high.”

“That would be great,” Feng Nian agreed readily. “Do you want a kickback?”

“Do I have to give you half the money I earn?”

Cheng Yixin was caught between laughter and tears, and even her assistant burst out laughing. Did this old man have any idea how much her salary was? Why would she care about these “fly legs”? She was purely doing a good deed.

“I don’t want your money. Did you meet someone claiming to have ‘connections’ who told you to split the money? Don’t believe them. If the crew needs extras, they’ll notify you directly. Earning money isn’t easy; if you can keep it yourself, don’t share it.”

As she spoke, Cheng Yixin saw the director talking to someone near her van. She quickly got out to explain the situation to him.

“Director, has the actor for this role been set yet?”

“This one?” Ma Zhou took a look. “Not yet. That’s for the latter half of the shoot; there’s time to find someone.”

“I have a candidate to recommend. Would you consider him? You can look at his acting first; if you’re not satisfied, then forget it.”

Cheng Yixin figured that a quick recommendation wouldn’t cost her anything, and seeing the lonely old man was quite pitiful.

“Your recommendation?” Ma Zhou thought for a moment. “Sure. Bring him over later, and I’ll take a look.”

“He’s in my van right now. If it’s convenient, do you want to take a look now?”

Out of respect for the lead actress, Ma Zhou had to give her face. Besides, the role was only a single shot with a line or two; acting skill wasn’t crucial.

However, he hadn’t expected that when he stepped into the van and saw the person sitting there—

It was the very person his old classmate had warned him about—the low-profile and mysterious investor!

The multi-billionaire Old Master was actually using a connection to land a role as a bit-part extra. The director was so startled he nearly lost his soul on the spot.