The Entire Entertainment Industry Knows the Best Actor Has a Crush on Me - Chapter 25

“Sister Jiao, why aren’t you speaking?”

Gu Jiao snapped back to reality, realizing she had been dazed for quite a while.

“Nothing. I’m not busy these next few days; do you need me to send anything over to the set?”

“No need, just get some good rest. I have everything I need here.”

In the distance, someone called Qiao Zhiyu’s name. After a brief exchange across the room, he turned back to the camera. “Sister Jiao, the director needs me for a second. I have to hang up.”

Gu Jiao nodded. “Focus on your acting. I’ll handle any excessive rumors online; don’t pay them any mind.”

“Okay, bye.” He waved and ended the call.

Gu Jiao leaned her head back against the sofa, lost in thought. The interaction between the two earlier was still vivid in her mind. She wanted her artist to have a good relationship with Pei Yuan, but she hoped that “goodness” stemmed from friendship, not love.

It wasn’t that she opposed it after all, when feelings come, no one can stop them. She was simply afraid that love would become Qiao Zhiyu’s stumbling block. He was still so young… and his career had only just begun to take off.

But maybe I’m overthinking? She sighed helplessly. Such is the life of a worrying manager.

“Director, was there an issue with the last take?”

The little old man waved his hand and handed the script to Qiao Zhiyu. The script was heavily used, covered in notes and lines. The director helpfully pointed to a specific spot.

“I plan to change this segment so that Chu Mingxin slaps Liu Yanshu. I’ve written the revised plot in the margin; take a look.”

Qiao Zhiyu was somewhat speechless. Are you referring to the tiny red scribbles that look like ants?

Seeing him silent, the director knit his brows. “What? Not satisfied?” His tone carried a vibe of: Even if you aren’t satisfied, there’s nothing you can do; oppose me, and I’ll give you a hard time.

“No… I’m just curious why you’re changing it.” In the original script, they met on the road, and Chu Mingxin talked back to the Crown Prince (Liu Yanshu’s son). The Consort used him as a punching bag and ended up slapping him.

The director got excited and analyzed it for him. “Chu Mingxin wants to use the flood crisis to gain merit and secure his footing. He went to the Emperor, but not only was he denied, the Emperor hinted he should know his place as a ‘woman’ and withdraw. He was already fuming from the Emperor’s treatment; being insulted by the Consort right after would make his anger boil over!”

“Chu Mingxin can endure and bide his time, but everyone has a breaking point. I feel it’s more appropriate for him to deliver the slap.”

After this analysis, Qiao Zhiyu found it quite logical. He asked, “Has Teacher Bei been notified?”

“I sent someone to find her. I’ll explain it to you both together once she’s here.”

However, by the time Bei Qianqing strolled over leisurely, Qiao Zhiyu and the director had been waiting for nearly twenty minutes. She completely ignored the director’s dissatisfied expression and sat down on a nearby chair.

“Director, can we avoid my break time next time? I must have my noon nap.”

Nap my foot! The director was fuming just looking at her. “The crew hired you to act, not to sleep! Can’t you distinguish between the primary and the secondary?”

“I’m not a donkey at a mill! Why shouldn’t I sleep?!”

Seeing they were about to argue, Qiao Zhiyu quickly cut in. “Teacher Bei!”

Bei Qianqing shot him a sideways glance, then looked away without speaking. For the sake of the script, I’ll endure her… Qiao Zhiyu thought. “It’s like this: the director plans to modify our scene. Here is the revised script.”

He handed the script over. However, Qiao Zhiyu suddenly felt that a fight was likely unavoidable. Sure enough, after less than two minutes, Bei Qianqing slammed the script onto the ground with a clack.

She pointed at the director’s nose and roared, “Why should he hit me? You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?!”

“Because I am the director!!!”

The director’s suppressed anger finally exploded. He was red-faced and panting. Truly thinks she’s the queen she’s going to be the death of me! The little old man’s chest heaved. “If you think it’s unreasonable, contact your manager to pay the contract termination fee. I won’t stop you from leaving.”

Bei Qianqing was stunned. She gave Qiao Zhiyu a fierce glare and turned to leave.

Qiao Zhiyu: “…” Innocently caught in the crossfire. He picked up the script and returned to his chair.

Pei Yuan and the others were currently eating fruit. Seeing him return, Pei Yuan tucked a box of strawberries into his arms. “I heard the director was angry. What happened?”

Qiao Zhiyu picked at the strawberries and told him about the incident. Pei Yuan didn’t offer much judgment, only saying: “It actually fits the character of the Noble Consort.”

“Worried she’ll actually leave?”

Worried wasn’t the right word; even if Bei Qianqing wanted to leave, she couldn’t. Her manager wouldn’t allow it. Her resources were getting worse, and her manager couldn’t afford to gamble. Qiao Zhiyu was only afraid of delaying the schedule.

Sure enough, even if Bei Qianqing was ten thousand times unwilling, she showed up for the afternoon shoot. Her face was sour the entire time, and one segment was Nced (No Good) three times. Just as they were about to finish, things went off the rails again.

A crisp slapping sound rang out, and Qiao Zhiyu’s head jerked to the side. He was dazed, his eyes full of confusion. He stood there stunned for a good while before the director’s angry roar snapped him back to reality.

Did Bei Qianqing just slap me?

He looked up. The woman before him had a look of mock concern and apology, though her voice was full of glee.

“Oh dear, Teacher Qiao, I forgot the script was changed. So sorry you had to take a slap for nothing.”

Qiao Zhiyu’s good temper evaporated, but he suppressed it. He told himself this wasn’t the place to get into a catfight. But even if he didn’t blow up, the director wasn’t going to coddle her.

“Are you trying to fly? Why don’t you be the director since you can’t remember the script?!”

“Forgetting isn’t my fault!”

Qiao Zhiyu called out to the crew: “Can someone help me fix my hair?”

The makeup artist immediately swarmed over to touch up his makeup and fix the styling. Pei Yuan was standing in the distance, watching him. Qiao Zhiyu gave a composed smile, signaling he was fine. Once the hair was fixed, they had to start the scene over.

The beginning went as before, and it seemed they would finish smoothly. But Bei Qianqing clearly didn’t even want to pretend anymore. As her hand swung down for another slap, Qiao Zhiyu reached out and grabbed it mid-air. Then, he swung back and delivered a slap to her face.

He didn’t pull his punch. No matter how thin he was, there was still a natural strength difference between a man and a woman. Bei Qianqing was sent straight to the floor.

Before she could react, Qiao Zhiyu quickly recited the rest of his lines, perfectly concluding the difficult scene.

“You [expletive] dare to hit me?” she roared from the ground, clutching her face. Any staff member who tried to help her was caught in her flailing.

“Hit you?” Qiao Zhiyu found it funny. “I was simply acting according to the script. On the other hand, Teacher Bei, despite being reminded of the changes, made the same mistake twice.”

“Whether it was intentional or an accident, you know the truth in your heart. None of us here are fools; you’d better stop with the useless petty tricks.”

“Time is precious. No one has time to play stupid with you.”

With those parting words, Qiao Zhiyu turned and walked away, leaving everyone with a cool, decisive silhouette.

The director remained sour-faced until work wrapped up for the night. Bei Qianqing had either skipped work or had her scenes suspended; she didn’t show up for the rest of the afternoon.

Back at the hotel, a hot towel was carefully pressed against Qiao Zhiyu’s face, the heat gradually dispersing the pain.

“Does it hurt?”

Qiao Zhiyu nodded. “A little…”

Pei Yuan stood by the bed, one hand cradling Qiao’s head, the other holding the towel against his cheek. His voice was deep and gentle. “Apply more heat tonight; it should be gone by tomorrow.”

He had already used an ice pack on set, so the swelling had subsided, leaving only a faint red mark.

“I hope so…”

The towel was wrung out and reapplied. After a moment of silence, Pei Yuan spoke again. “Since you could overpower her, why did you take the first one? Why didn’t you hit her back then?”

Qiao Zhiyu’s eyes darkened slightly. He murmured, “I didn’t react in time… and I thought a confrontation would waste everyone’s time.”

The first slap had caught him truly off guard. He had stepped back thinking she would stop at one “mistake,” but he was clearly wrong. Qiao Zhiyu wasn’t the type to get angry easily; in the face of professional duties, his own standing usually came second. But that didn’t mean he would endure forever. So, for the second one, he had paid her back twofold.

That handprint wouldn’t fade for at least three days.

“I think she’s holding a grudge now. Things might not be peaceful for the next few days. I need to warn Sister Jiao in advance.”

He tried to move, but Pei Yuan’s hand nudged him back.

“Finish the compress first.”