CH 005

TL: Moonlit

Lin Hanchuan personally brought Ran Xing to the set of the drama «Sword Immortal». He changed out of his serious and rigid shirt, suit, and tie, opting for a casual suit instead. He looked much younger than his appearance in the office.

His hair casually fell on his forehead, giving him a relaxed and carefree look, and attracting the attention of many people along the way.

Ran Xing followed behind him, still feeling a bit dizzy.

After signing with Starlight Entertainment, Ran Xing thought he would be sitting on the bench for a while, playing supporting roles for a few years, and only after observation and tests, would he have a chance at the leading role. But who knew…

Lin Hanchuan didn’t notice Ran Xing’s dazed expression as he greeted the director with him.

The moment Ran Xing saw the director, his face stiffened.

The director was dressed in a simple plaid shirt, looking to be around forty years old. He wore gold-rimmed glasses, and his appearance could not be considered handsome, but he could be described as refined. His gaze lingered on Ran Xing’s face for a few seconds, and the director smiled and assured Lin Hanchuan, “Mr. Yan, rest assured, I will train this actor well.”

Ran Xing’s gaze flickered, hesitated for a moment, but didn’t say anything.

“I’m Qiao Qingsheng, you can call me Director Qiao.” Qiao Qingsheng introduced himself in a gentle tone. “What have you acted in? Can you perform a scene for me?”

After a brief exchange, Qiao Qingsheng asked Ran Xing to change into the costume and take a makeup test.

When Ran Xing came out after changing, everyone’s eyes lit up. He was wearing a coarse gray linen robe, with no accessories on his head, just simply tied up. Such a simple attire not only did not conceal his astonishing beauty but instead highlighted his naturally unadorned elegance.

Qiao Qingsheng’s gaze lingered on the fair and delicate nape of Ran Xing’s neck for a few seconds before he generously praised, “You are even more suitable for this role than Wu Tong. Your appearance is too perfect…”

Ran Xing couldn’t help but look at Lin Hanchuan, his eyes showing a questioning meaning.

Lin Hanchuan was also very satisfied with his appearance. “Not bad.”

Having seen countless handsome men and beautiful women, Ran Xing’s looks were considered top-notch among the people Lin Hanchuan had encountered. Especially with the exuberant vitality that he carried, like a wild and thriving weed, not requiring meticulous care, he could still struggle and emerge from any mountains and grains of sand.

With a smile, Ran Xing let the stylist and makeup artist apply and touch up his face, and he unexpectedly felt relieved.

Lin Hanchuan sat on the side, watching Ran Xing work and observing the atmosphere and situation on the set.

Perhaps because the big boss was present on the set, there was hardly any noise in the filming location. Everyone was working in an orderly manner, avoiding excessive eye contact, and working silently.

Lin Hanchuan curled his lips. Of course, he didn’t come just to accompany Ran Xing.

After deciding to pit «Sword Immortal» against Yanshi’s «Jiuge», Lin Hanchuan began preparations. The pre-release promotion and the marketing during airing were already equipped with the highest level of resources. But marketing was secondary; the most important thing was for «Sword Immortal» to have excellent original quality to win word-of-mouth and let it ferment.

The casting for «Sword Immortal» was personally controlled by the producer, selecting some talented actors who were both aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective, without relying on any well-known influencers or celebrities. The script of «Sword Immortal» is also of high quality, and as long as the script is not modified, the resulting effect will be excellent.

For a TV drama, having a strong script and a reliable cast is already winning half the battle.

After watching for a while, Ran Xing’s acting skills, honed from being an extra, had already conquered everyone. Lin Hanchuan no longer played the role of a supervisor and got up to leave the set.

At the moment of his departure, murmurs could be heard from behind.

“Who is that? His presence is intimidating; I dare not even speak in front of him.”

“I thought he was a newly selected fresh-faced idol. He looks like a model.”

“Don’t speak nonsense; he is our big boss…”

The murmuring voices quickly disappeared, and as Lin Hanchuan walked outside, he took a few breaths of fresh air and saw a person walking towards him from a distance. When that person noticed Lin Hanchuan, their footsteps slowed down, but in the end, they still walked up to Lin Hanchuan and cautiously greeted him.

“Brother… Mr. Yan.” Perhaps having been warned, Qiu Hongguang almost called him “Brother Lou” but changed it to a more formal address. “Are you here to visit the set?”

Lin Hanchuan glanced at the neighboring set, remembering that Qiu Hongguang was the male lead of «Jiuge» produced by the neighboring set.

Lin Hanchuan felt the urge to turn back, and he coldly replied, “Just passing by.”

Stung by Lin Hanchuan’s indifference, Qiu Hongguang’s eyes unknowingly started to well up with tears. He plaintively asked, “Why… Why did you… Why did you record our conversations?”

Whenever facing this person, Qiu Hongguang couldn’t assert himself, but as long as he thought about how he had come with so much tenderness and anticipation, only to be met with the cold recording and having those recordings used against him as weapons, leaving him emotionally wounded, all the flustered and sweet thoughts seemed laughable in an instant.

“In any situation, keeping records of conversations or physical evidence is a means of self-protection,” Lin Hanchuan’s eyebrows slightly furrowed as he responded with reason.

Lin Hanchuan wasn’t targeting Qiu Hongguang specifically; it’s just that after experiencing the ups and downs of the business world for so many years, he subconsciously preserved evidence whenever he encountered problems, giving himself room for maneuver.

With such an emotionally detached response, Qiu Hongguang felt an even greater chill in his heart. “Mr. Yan… do you not have a heart?”

From the time we met until now, I have put in so much effort, almost groveling, acting as his shield to fend off those buzzing around him, dealing with his parents, doing his laundry, and cooking… Everyone in Yánshi Film Industry knows about my sacrifices, except the one person who should have seen them. Qiu Hongguang felt a mixture of hatred and resentment, finding his past self particularly laughable.

There was a moment of silence from Lin Hanchuan, then he solemnly countered, “Is it because I didn’t respond to your one-sided affection that you say such things?”

Qiu Hongguang lowered his head, avoiding Lin Hanchuan’s gaze.

Lin Hanchuan’s expression turned cold as well. “We signed a contract between us, a contractual relationship in black and white. You handle my parents and pursuers for me, and I provide you with resources. There are no mutual debts. Despite my repeated rejections, you still continue to bring me meals at the company, causing a negative impact… Did the housekeepers and chefs of the Yan family all quit, that they needed an outsider like you to do these things for me?”

As he reached the end of his words, Lin Hanchuan’s voice also grew quieter. Qiu Hongguang considered himself gentle and considerate, but in reality, he had only caused trouble for Yan Weilou, yet he remained oblivious, willfully assuming his own misguided ‘sacrifices.’

Yan Weilou may have a cold demeanor but a gentle heart. He had never spoken harshly to Qiu Hongguang. Lin Hanchuan suddenly delivered this stern speech, leaving Qiu Hongguang wide-eyed and uncertain, and only later did he feel the embarrassment seeping in, his face burning with heat.