"Xin Yi, don't be so sluggish... you're ruining the whole concept of this scene!"
The director yelled clenching his fists. He sat down in front of his monitor at the video village. The other crew slumped in folding chairs, their faces pale under the tent's harsh light.
"I'm s-o so sorry director, I'll do better_" Xin Yi startled, replied feeling embarrassed.
"Xin Yi! look around you. Do you think you're the only one exhausted?. Even Chunhua is tired of retaking this part over, and over again." Liu Xia Hui cut xin yi off, trying to make the situation more difficult for her.
Standing beside Wu Chunhua, the film's protagonist and the most famous actress in country L. Liu Xia Hui felt invisible. She watched as she rested her head on the bloody set chair. Her face, visibly rough from the heavy makeup, held a smug look, hinting she was amused by something.
Xin Yi didn't say anything; she was just a rookie actress, privileged to work alongside with the star of country L. So what right does she have to say anything.
She stood there freezing cold from the wet, bloody set clothes she was asked to put on. And yet nobody cared about that because she was just a minor character.
"Let's take this again, and you better do it right Xin Yi," the director said, adjusting his chair. But before he could proceed...
"I don't want to!"
The entire set went dead silent.Every member of the crew and cast held their breath, waiting. They all braced themselves for what Wu Chunhua had to say.
Wu Chunhua stood up and walked slowly toward Xin yi, who dropped her head in respect. Wu Chunhua smirked with serious disgust and turned to the director.
"I won't take it easy again if something like this happens tomorrow" she pivoted sharply toward Xin Yi.
"And you, don't mistake your Wang family privilege for talent. Do your job well, Xin Yi!" Wu Chunhua yelled, sending chills through everyone.
Liu xia hui quickly ran to Wu Chunhua, she's determined to be on her good side so she can upgrade from this extra role already.
"Chunhua_"
"Use my full name you idiot!" Wu Chunhua barked at Liu xia hui. She ignored her before, but she had to know her place.
"Hmm" Liu Xia Hui forced an embarrassed brittle laugh. She had to swallow her pride for the sake of her future. "Senior Chunhua," she called out, her voice suddenly sweet and fake . "I just wanted to say... it's not like Xin Yi is a real Wang. She was just adopted"
Xin Yi stared at Liu Xia Hui. Her fingers curled at her sides, nails digging into her palms.Her eyes held tight, desperately keeping the tears from falling.
The absolute nerve. Xia hui lived in the Wang's mansion only by the grace of her mother's sister, Mei ling. She was just as much of an outsider as xin yi was. Everyone already knew she carried no Wang blood. She is very grateful they has taken her in and pulled her from suffering, but did xia hui truly need to rub it in so cruelly, all to gain favor.
"Liu xia hui!" Xin yi called out, suppressing the anger building up inside her.
"I totally forgot," Wu chunhua said, her voice filled with disgust. "No wonder you have nothing compared to how talented, and spirited a Wang is. Xin yi, I never liked you from the very beginning, but you trying to gain sympathy because the Wang gave you their name makes me despise you more_"
Xin yi felt the cold, familiar pressure behind her eyes. "I'm not trying to gain sympathy from anyone." Her voice was sharp, fueled by complete frustration. "When I act fast, you complain I'm too fast. When I act slow, you complain I'm too slow. What do you expect me to do Chunhua?"
Everyone, including Chunhua, stared at Xin yi, stunned, silent. For a rookie to talk back at a senior, especially one as famous as Wu Chunhua, was professional suicide.
The director slammed his hand on the arm of his chair and sprung up. If this escalated, Wu chunhua could walk away. The thought of her abandoning the remaining scenes, and the movie just been dead, sent him into a desperate fury.
"How dare you speak to your senior that way, Xin yi?" He hissed, his face red with panic.
"That's enough!"
They all turned to see who had the guts to yell at the director. Their mouths dropped open in shock, as if they had just seen a ghost.
It was none other than Wang Li Chang, the heir and CEO of the Wang international group. He had left the country five years ago with no one knowing when he would return. Seeing him now was a shock to all.
He walked like he owned the room toward them In his neatly ironed suit, with his shiny black hair perfectly styled, and his calm face.
"Director, this meeting is over. Xin Yi is coming with me." Without waiting for anyone's response, he took xin yi firmly by the hand, pulling her toward the exit.
Xin yi couldn't believe her eyes. She opened them wide in shock as Wang Li Chang dragged her to God knows where.
Five years. Five years of silence, of no words from him. Did he truly expect her to fall into his embrace now?
Fate can be cruel sometimes. Everything they had before was gone. It was too late.
"My love!"
****
INSIDE WANG LI CHEN CAR
His face was smooth and well sculpted: a defined jawline, plump lips, and long eyelashes framing his eyes filled with a quiet aura. Yet, all these striking features paled in comparison to his brother, Wang LI chang.
Xin yi sat quietly in the passenger seat as Wang Li chen drove. She hadn't expected to see him at the set, but she was immediately relieved he had arrived before Wang Li Chang could offer to drive her home.
The silence in the luxury sedan lingered, thick and uncomfortable, for several long minutes.
"How was shooting today?" Wang Li Chen finally asked, breaking the tension.
"Good," xin yi replied, managing a brief, pretentious smile.
Her mind, however, was miles away, neither was it present in the car or the horrifying shift that happened on set. She couldn't stop wondering what brought Wang Li Chang back. Five years. That's how long he completely isolated himself from his family.
"You're surprised to see Wang Li Chang right? So was I" Wang Li Chen said staring at her from the rearview mirror.
She barely listened to his words, lost in deep thoughts about the five years absence.
"Xin Yi yi!" Chen's voice was sharp this time.
"Uh, what?" Xin yi snapped back, blinking.
"We're home."
Everyone knew the Wang's controlled Asia's biggest entertainment network, a glamorous kingdom every artist fought to enter. But their true power, and their wealth of trillions, came from their deep-rooted financial and real estate empires, supported by a secretive network of unnamed businesses across the continent.
They all live within the Wang estate, a sprawling mansion comprising thirty rooms and served by a precise staff of nearly a hundred. Entry into the property was strictly regulated. No one crosses the gate unless formally invited, summoned on official business, or related by blood.
WANG'S MANSION
Xin yi rushed out of the car. Without waiting for Wang Li Chen, she dashed inside, desperate to wash off the bloody smell clinging to her body. Even the clean clothes she changed into couldn't completely hold back the horrific stench.
After a long shower, she came out for dinner, only to find Liu xia hui also heading downstairs.
The memory of what Liu xia hui did on set today fueled xin yi's anger. She tightened her jaw, ignoring the girl, and continued towards the dining room.
"Xin yi," Liu xia hui called out.
Xin yi paused, then slowly turned. "What is it, xia hui?"
"I hope you're not mad about today." Liu xia hui said, walking toward her with a calculated ease. "I just didn't want the crew to think you were being too proud."
Xin yi gave a slow, cold smirk. Did xia Hui think she was a fool? The lengths she would go to gain favor from Wu chunhua. She was ready to pour sand in xin yi's eyes, and now she's playing the concerned friend.
Xin yi turned her back immediately and continued to the dinning room without a word. The move visibly enraged Liu xia hui, but xin yi was too exhausted to care.
The Wang dining room was more like a King's hall. The gigantic dining table, designed for precisely twenty members of the family, served as a potent symbol of the dynasty's exclusiveness. Outsiders were absolutely forbidden from joining the family here. They used a separate, formal guest dining room.
Grandpa Wang Tian sat at the right head of the gigantic table, his broad smile fueled by the sight of Chinese delicacies the staff used to fill every inch. His large tummy was neatly tucked beneath the linen. He was above all, a man known up uphold to his family's traditions and absolute respect, a legacy he relentlessly enforced upon every generation that followed.
Grandma SHEN Mei sat at the opposite head of the dining table, and Xin yi occupied the favored seat immediately to her right.
She gave a glance at Grandma SHEN Mei, though she was seventy eight, her appearance defied her age. Her silver hair was drawn in a pointed ponytail, and her reading glasses rested well on the upright of her nose. Anyone unaware of her history would easily place her in her forties.
Soon the rest of the family slowly began to arrive. Wang li chang was the fifth to enter, and Xin yi couldn't tear her eyes off him. He was devastatingly handsome even in his casual silk nightwear. But why does he look so lean, like he had lost some weight?. She quickly lowered her gaze to her plate as Li chang passed her, taking the seat at Grandpa's left hand side.
"Hi love." A gentle kiss on her cheek brought her sharply back to reality. Wang Li chen dropped into the seat next to her, looking freshly showered.
"Hi love" xin yi said back, giving him a kiss also on his cheek.
Liu xia hui was the last to arrive , sliding into the seat between her mother and her sister, Liu caihong. The entire dinning room fell to a complete silence, waiting for the patriarch to start eating so they might follow suit, instead, he cleared his throat.
"Xin yi," he called out, his voice a deep, gruff rumble.
"Yes, grandpa," Xin yi answered sharply, her voice thin. She instantly shrank back, terrified the old man had found or heard some of her unknown transgressions.
"I heard you disrupted the progress of the shoot today. What happened?" His voice, though low, was perfectly amplified by the discreetly wired table.
"I was feeling sick today, grandpa. I'm so sorry, it won't happen again," xin yi quickly came up with something. She knew better than to reveal the cruelty she had faced on set, the old man rarely valued excuses, only obedience.
Grandpa Wang Tian gave no response. He simply picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.
Xin yi could only breathe a silent, shaky sigh of relief. She felt Chen's hand tightened over hers underneath the table, a solid, encouraging grip tightened on hers.
The family began to eat, but the meal was swift and tense. Once they were finished, Grandpa Wang Tian waved a hand, instructing the staff to bring in champagne. The reason for this toast that changed the tense atmosphere to an overwhelming celebration, was the return of Wang Li Chang.
Xin yi watched his mother's face. Though she didn't show it openly, She could see the joy in Jiang yun's eyes. She had clearly missed him desperately during his absence.
"And not just that" Grandpa Wang Tian's voice boomed as he revealed the true story. Li chang had spent his five years saving the core real estate company from collapsing in America. All this while, the family believed his absence was just to taunt them, or him voluntary trying to sabotage the family name, but it was a calculated act of corporate rescue.
"Cheers" Grandpa Wang Tian raised his glass high, a genuine, massive smile finally gracing his face. "Cheers!" The entire family echoed in forced unison.
Xin yi felt a sharp, immediate sting in her heart. So all this while, he was busy doing something good. But then, why didn't he call, text her, or replied to her messages. Had she meant nothing to him at all.
Everything they had shared, was it just a big waste?.
"And now, for the biggest family celebration," Grandma Shen Mei announced, her voice cutting through the lingering cheer.
"Wang Li Chen and Xin yi's engagement party Will commence next week. The official public announcement will be made tomorrow!".
What? Xin yi's mind went instantly blank, her head felt ready to explode. She turned her gaze to Wang Li chen, who was clearly aware of this, his smile broadening as he casually sipped his wine.
"Their wedding date will be picked on that day" Grandma Shen Mei continued, immersed in telling the family the news.
Xin yi looked around the table. Everyone was smiling, overjoyed by the big news, yet she was the last to know she was getting engaged next week.
Her eyes locked onto Wang Li Chang, who was seated across the table. His own surprise was sudden. Their gaze lingered, until Wang li Chen drew her closer, aggressively showering her face and lips with kisses.
"It's too late, Wang Li Chang. I'm getting married."