The Martial Arts Stunt Double of the Entertainment Circle – Chapter 30
by Little PandaFei Dong had shot action sequences back when he was still an assistant director running errands for the head director, but the experience was nothing like working with Tuoba Yan now. Back then it was all wire rigs, CGI touch-ups, and special effects — shooting segment by segment, then stitching it together in post-production just to produce those fiercely intense fight scenes. Nothing could have been more tedious and exhausting.
“That’s a wrap, everyone! Great work this morning!”
Fei Dong called the wrap, reluctantly dragging his gaze away from the monitor.
This girl Tuoba Yan was an absolute monster — her skills and stamina were freakishly beyond reason, and she grasped Zhang-jie’s choreography, moves that made Fei Dong himself gasp, after watching them just once. The two women had been poring over the sequences with blazing eyes, deep in animated discussion, while the young male stunt double paired opposite Tuoba Yan sat drenched in sweat on a small folding stool, chugging water — and she was still bouncing around, spear in hand, sparring with Zhang-jie.
Fei Dong had spent the entire morning filming in a state of pure exhilaration. The grin hadn’t left his round face once, and he practically floated when he walked.
Chen Wanwan had been waiting on the sidelines. The moment Tuoba Yan unclipped her wire harness, she shot over, thrusting a towel and water bottle at her, and began dragging her out: “Come on, come on, let’s go eat, my treat!” She also shot a vicious glare at the male stunt double who’d been trying to chat up her little mop. The poor fellow stopped in his tracks, thoroughly wronged — he’d only wanted to ask the goddess for some pointers…
Tuoba Yan wiped the sweat from her face and firmly pulled Chen Wanwan back. “Wanwan, you’ve helped me so much already. I can’t keep letting you buy me meals.”
Chen Wanwan thought to herself: this was a direct order from Eldest Cousin. She’d climb mountains of knives and descend into seas of fire1 to get it done, or who knew how Eldest Cousin would punish her. The two of them were still going back and forth, tugging at each other, when Chen Wanwan’s phone buzzed in her bag. She pulled it out, and her expression changed instantly. She trotted off to take the call, leaving Tuoba Yan completely bewildered.
Li Yanrao loosened her cloud-dark hair and carefully combed through it with one hand while opening her wardrobe with the other.
The clothes inside hung in neat, orderly rows — a decent number of them — but as Li Yanrao rummaged through, it was an unbroken sea of black. Black shirts, black jackets, black trousers, black skirts. She’d never thought twice about wearing them before, but today, President Li suddenly didn’t want to wear black.
She finally dug out a black-and-grey color-blocked dress — a birthday gift from Chen Wanwan two years ago, she vaguely recalled. She held it against herself and the fit was perfect. A quick pass with the garment steamer, and she put it on, pleased as could be.
Once Li Yanrao had finished washing up and getting dressed, she saw that the appointed time had arrived and called Chen Wanwan.
“Wanwan, is the thing I asked you to do sorted out yet?”
On the other end, Chen Wanwan reported cautiously, “Um, there’s been a little snag…”
Chen Wanwan got chewed out until she was thoroughly deflated and hung up with a pitiful whimper. The moment it was about little mop, all sweetness and warmth — but the second she heard the invitation hadn’t worked out, it was a completely different face. Eldest Cousin, you’re so mean!
By the time she returned to the set, Tuoba Yan was already on her second boxed lunch.
Chen Wanwan fumed: “All you do is eat!”
After an hour-and-a-half break, filming resumed. The afternoon was mostly supporting cast subplots. Zhang Huaye and Tuoba Yan sat together discussing fight choreography. Qi Bin, the baby-faced young male stunt double who should have gone home to rest — reportedly a graduate of some renowned martial arts school — sat obediently on a stool beside them like a child attending a teacher’s lecture, studying attentively.
Then a commotion erupted at the entrance. Chen Wanwan, who’d been slumped behind Tuoba Yan looking listless, instinctively looked up toward the set entrance — and there was Li Yanrao, striding in with her lackey Secretary Liu in tow! Only then did Chen Wanwan remember: Li Yanrao was this drama’s investor. She had every right to be on set.
The moment she saw Li Yanrao heading straight toward her with unmistakable purpose, Chen Wanwan’s heart lurched. Was Eldest Cousin here to deal with her?
Li Yanrao walked with elegant posture and blistering speed. Before Chen Wanwan could even react, she was already beside her, looking down at her little cousin from above. Chen Wanwan’s timid “Eldest Cousin—” hadn’t even left her lips when Li Yanrao tossed something at her. Chen Wanwan fumbled and caught it.
Egg tarts from Guijia! A box of six!
Chen Wanwan was practically weeping with gratitude. Eldest Cousin still loved her! Everyone knew how impossibly hard it was to get anything from Guijia. Chen Wanwan immediately pictured Li Yanrao standing in a long queue outside the Guijia storefront, patiently waiting to buy her this box of egg tarts steeped in love and deliciousness…
But then Li Yanrao shifted, planting herself in front of Tuoba Yan. She removed her sunglasses and, with a warm smile, presented Tuoba Yan with an exquisitely crafted wooden box. She lifted the lid to reveal Guijia’s newly released three-tiered luxury afternoon tea gift box.
Chen Wanwan: “…”
Once the surrounding crew had the good sense to disperse, Tuoba Yan got straight to the point. “Are you pursuing me?”
Li Yanrao said, “I am.”
Tuoba Yan wasn’t a fool. Back in the palace, there had been palace maids and concubines who couldn’t endure the loneliness and paired off as mock couples for mutual comfort — far better than dying alone. Truth be told, she wasn’t opposed to the idea. It was just that right now she wanted to focus on her career and had no interest in spending time on romance.
Besides, she and Li Yanrao had only met twice. How much could she possibly know about the other woman? What about her had attracted someone so clearly wealthy and powerful?
Tuoba Yan asked, “Wanwan insisting on taking me to lunch just now — that was you too? Miss Li, we barely know each other. I don’t believe I have anything worth scheming over, and I certainly don’t believe in love at first sight. If you’re pursuing me, you should at least give me a reason that can convince me. Otherwise, I won’t be able to set my mind at ease.”
“Intuition. My intuition is rarely wrong. Along with some investigation.” Li Yanrao was candid. She laid everything out in the open. “I apologize — Li Dingchen is my grandfather, and his status is sensitive. I couldn’t not look into someone who suddenly appeared at his side. So I know more about you than you’d imagine. Of course, the fact that I’m declaring my intentions today means I won’t do anything like that again — no further invasions of your privacy.”
“You’re the most captivating person I’ve met in years. I don’t expect you to accept me right away. Honestly, the fact that you’re willing to have this conversation openly already exceeds my expectations. All I ask is for the chance to court you. I believe feelings can grow through spending time together.”
Tuoba Yan looked at Li Yanrao and suddenly smiled. “That reasoning won’t convince me. But as long as it doesn’t interfere with my work or my life, enjoying the feeling of being pursued isn’t bad.”
Li Yanrao was amused by her bold, straightforward words.
Chen Wanwan stood guard a few meters away, seething with resentment, her cheeks puffing rhythmically as she chewed her egg tarts. Passing crew members kept casting glances their way, yet those two showed not the slightest intention of being discreet.
Li Yanrao’s schedule was packed. She’d visited Li Dingchen at Yuchuan Hospital that morning, then rushed to the set in the afternoon to ply her attentions. Secretary Liu had already hinted several times that it was time to leave.
Li Yanrao, having successfully taken the first step in her pursuit, was in excellent spirits. As she passed Chen Wanwan, she didn’t forget to instruct: “You’re the senior here. Look after Xiao Yan a bit more. Don’t let any riffraff bother her.” The last part was the real point, of course.
Chen Wanwan puffed her cheeks: “Oh, got it.”
Li Yanrao smiled and reached over to pat Chen Wanwan on the head like a dog, then dangled a cream-yellow card in front of her eyes. Chen Wanwan instantly came back to full life, eyes wide, reaching to snatch it: “This — is this—”
Li Yanrao, taking advantage of her height and the heels she was wearing, teased Chen Wanwan until she was jumping up and down. Just as the latter was about to blow her top, Li Yanrao slipped the card into her hand.
“Guijia’s VIP card. You didn’t manage to get the job done for me, but I’m in a good mood. It’s yours.”
Sweet-toothed Chen Wanwan clutched the card, drooling with desire. Whatever anyone said to her went in one ear and out the other — she just kept nodding.
Li Yanrao walked to the set entrance, turned back, and met Tuoba Yan’s gaze. Across dozens of meters, the two looked at each other, then both raised a hand and waved.
Tuoba Yan picked a round pink filled pastry from the tea box and took a bite.
So sweet.
But not bad, actually.
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