Chapter 279: Chapter 279: Returning to 20 Years Ago (14)

Zeqiu still wanted to say something to her, but the director was already calling his name through the loudspeakers.

“Teacher Ji, it’s your turn to act now!”

“Tell the director to wait a moment. I haven’t finished my call yet,” Zeqiu told his assistant.

Then, hearing their conversation, Lin Xu spoke up to persuade him, “You should go and film first, we can talk later.”

“But…”

“Do perform well, I’m looking forward to the release of your new drama.”

As Lin Xu’s words fell, a flame of determination lit up in Zeqiu’s eyes.

The scene was not difficult; it consisted mostly of reciting scripted lines.

Zeqiu took his position, holding the script and glanced at the lines again.

“Teacher Ji, the newcomer you’ll be acting with shortly, could you please take care of her later? Let’s try to wrap up early,” the director asked.

“Okay,” Zeqiu nodded.

It was a minor favor, and finishing early would be good for everyone.

Upon receiving his agreement, the director’s eyes crinkled with a smile, then he turned and shouted loudly, “Where’s that supporting actress? Hurry over and start filming. Don’t keep the entire crew waiting.”

The girl hurried over, her face bearing a trace of apology, “Sorry, Director, I just went to the restroom.”

“Not before, not after, but you had to go right when we started filming,” the director’s eyes almost spat fire.

The girl trembled, her head nearly shrinking into her neck.

“Director, let’s start filming. Everyone is waiting,” Zeqiu said, seeing that the director was about to continue scolding the girl.

The director thought for a moment, agreed, then returned to sit by the monitor, “All departments, get ready!”

The girl sighed, still looking a bit dejected.

Hearing her sigh, Zeqiu looked at her and found her face vaguely familiar, “Have we met before?”

The girl froze, her expression turning somewhat surprised, “You remember me?”

From her tone, it seemed they had indeed met before.

“I don’t quite remember,” Zeqiu said.

“It’s been many years; it’s normal to not remember,” the girl said with a smiling gaze, “My name is Shen Qingtang. We met in a shopping center a few years ago. Your mother was a friend of my grandmother.”

That day after returning from the shopping center, she had gone to ask her grandmother about that friend, wanting to thank the young man for paying her bus fare.

However, her grandmother remembered nothing, leaving Shen Qingtang with no choice but to let it go.

She thought she’d never see Zeqiu again, but unexpectedly, she saw him again one day on the TV screen.

Seeing that familiar face, Shen Qingtang’s heart stopped for a moment, then her heartbeat became irregular.

At that time, her grandmother had become seriously ill and needed a lot of medical funds, which she could not afford alone.

She looked at Zeqiu on the screen again, unsure whether it was to earn money for her grandmother’s medical bills or to see Zeqiu that she entered the entertainment industry and became an actress.

And just coincidentally, during the filming of her second drama, she met Zeqiu.

Shen Qingtang’s lips slightly curled up.

Hearing her mention Lin Xu, Zeqiu’s eyebrows raised slightly.

It seemed there indeed was such an incident.

A dim impression lingered in his mind.

Seeing his silent demeanor, Qingtang seemed afraid to inconvenience him and hurriedly explained, “It might have been a long time ago, it doesn’t matter if you don’t remember. I’m not trying to claim any connection with you.”

Ji Zeqiu nodded but did not say anything else.

His attitude was somewhat indifferent, Qingtang pursed her lips, unable to describe what she felt inside.

At that moment, the director had picked up the megaphone again and began shouting, officially starting the filming.

Qingtang immediately cleared her mind and entered the state of her character.

However, perhaps because she was nervous facing Ji Zeqiu, or perhaps due to her own lack of skill, she made frequent mistakes during the filming.

The director’s face darkened, glaring at Qingtang with anger, “Can you even act? You can’t even perform five or six lines properly. If you can’t, I’ll replace you. There are plenty of others who can.”

“I’m sorry, director, I won’t make a mistake this time.” Qingtang clutched the hem of her clothing, feeling her cheeks burning hot.

Thinking that Ji Zeqiu was still watching, she felt so embarrassed she wished she could disappear.

“Go back, if it’s not good this time, I’m replacing you immediately,” the director waved his hand, holding back a surge of anger.

With her head lowered, Qingtang walked back, looking listless.

“You’re too tense; you can relax a bit while acting,” Ji Zeqiu’s voice sounded.

“I know…” Qingtang’s expression was despondent.

But she simply couldn’t manage.

“If you don’t know what to do, you can follow my lead later,” Ji Zeqiu suggested.

“Okay.” Qingtang nodded, patted her cheeks, and tried to calm down.

“Action!” With the director’s command, the filming started again.

Ji Zeqiu almost instantly got into character, his eyes sharp as a blade, carrying a hint of ruthlessness.

Qingtang’s cheeks paled, and soon, he had drawn out a sense of fear from her.

…

The scene between Ji Zeqiu and Qingtang was brief; after five minutes, it smoothly came to an end.

“Very good, very good! Truly worthy of Teacher Ji, such exceptional acting skills,” the director praised Ji Zeqiu cheerfully.

Ji Zeqiu gave a faint smile, “I should have finished all my scenes for today. I’ll be heading back then.”

“Okay, okay, Teacher Ji, please be careful on your way,” the director waved.

After changing and removing his makeup in the dressing room, Ji Zeqiu did not expect to run into Qingtang who had just been scolded.

Her manager was poking her head and scolding, “Today you messed up so much just playing a nameless extra, what useful roles can you play next?”

“I’m sorry, Sister Han, I will definitely improve my acting skills when I get back,” Qingtang’s eyes reddened, looking extremely pitiful.

Although it was a private matter of another company, thinking that she was his mother’s friend’s granddaughter, Ji Zeqiu thought for a while and still approached her.

Just as the manager was about to scold her a few more times, Ji Zeqiu spoke first, “Qingtang, are you heading back?”

“Ah? I am…” Qingtang hesitated and glanced at her manager.

She had indeed finished her scenes and could go back, but Sister Han was still talking to her.

“Let’s go together. I have a script I’d like to discuss with you. The second female lead role should be quite suitable for you,” Ji Zeqiu said.

Hearing this, the manager’s anger instantly faded, and she smiled, pushing Qingtang forward, “She’s heading back now. Go on, don’t keep Teacher Ji waiting.”

Qingtang stumbled over to him and whispered a thank you.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on N𝘰vgo.co