A Glitch in the Entertainment Industry

Ye Xiaoxing shook her head. “I don’t know why she had a go at that actress, but I do know why she’s picking fault at everything you do.”

“Please, Your Highness the Princess, please let me know how have I offended Lu Maner. I must reflect upon my wrongdoings!” joked An Wen.

Ye Xiaoxing could not help but giggle. “The investor initially wanted Lu Maner to play Qing Sha, but the idea was refused by Director Ye. They had no choice but to settle for the second-best character: Yi Xinxin.”

“I see.”

“You’ll be filming the next scene with her shortly and you better adjust your state of mind. Director Ye’s in a bad mood today.”

Earlier, An Wen had already noticed that Director Ye was especially relentless with his reprimanding today. She wondered if the camera screen was drenched in his angry spit.

“I’ll not bring personal emotions into my acting, but she will.” Lu Maner had always caused trouble each time both of them had to film a scene together.

This scene was about Yi Xinxin coming to warn off Qing Sha on behalf of Ji Yuxi. The actresses were put in a special wire harness for the stunts in this fight scene.

Action!

Yi Xinxin dragged Qing Sha into the scene and abruptly flung her hand away. “Saintness, Sister Yuxi and my elder brother were sworn to marry each other since they were little. Why do you have to come between them?”

Qing Sha’s eyes glistened in sadness, but seconds later the great sorrow was replaced with a cold expression. “I’ve never intended to come between anyone. I’m only here to assist and nothing more,” she answered.

“Nonsense! If that’s the case, tell me why you went to Wuyuan today to look for spiritual herbs for my elder brother! The people of the Wuyuan tribe had never offered their spiritual herbs to outsiders. Why did you do that?” demanded Yi Xinxin.

“The Moyun Dynasty is now controlled by the Heiyun tribe and Xuan Yuanzun is the only one left in the Xuan Yuan bloodline. I’m only assisting him because of the Wuyuan tribe,” Qing Sha simply said.

“The Wuyuan tribe has always been neutral and independent. However, it seems like you’ve made up your mind to persuade the Wuyuan tribe to support my elder brother. Saintness, it’s clear that your actions are fueled by selfish reasons.”

“I can reassure you that I’ve no ulterior motives.” Qing Sha turned around to leave but Yi Xinxin charged forward with a sword. Qing Sha avoided it with great agility. However, that strike had the two of them engaged in a fight.

The stunts and movements for this fight scene had already been carefully designed beforehand, yet Lu Maner suddenly attacked An Wen’s face without warning. Although Qing Sha dodged the assault, Lu Maner did not draw in her claws but kept on striking at An Wen’s face. Again and again, Qing Sha fended off the attacks using her own sword.

“Cut!” Ye Qiaofeng screamed in annoyance, “What’s wrong with the two of you? Go catfighting or hair-pulling in the changing rooms all you want after we’re done filming. Don’t waste my precious time.”

“I’m sorry, Director, I’ve forgotten my moves earlier. I promise it won’t happen again,” apologized Lu Maner.

Albeit her words, Lu Maner continued striking her sword at An Wen’s face. An Wen could have easily been injured if it was not for her basic knowledge of martial arts. When Lu Maner’s sword came pointing towards her face, she noticed that the edge of the blade had been sharpened!

Lu Maner’s was determined to injure An Wen. The intense jealousy that was growing in her convinced her to throw the sword right at An Wen’s direction. The latter jumped and warded off the incoming sword with her own.

One of the cameramen was positioned at the spot where Lu Maner had thrown her sword. Fortunately, An Wen had hit the incoming sword away so it landed elsewhere. Terrified, the cameraman’s knees gave out from the shock and he fell to the ground.

“Cut! Lu Maner, what on earth are you doing?” Ye Qiaofeng’s deafening roar filled the room. “Get out of the room if you can’t act! You think I’ve no idea why you’re trying to scratch An Wen’s face? It’s low of you to bring personal grudges into this and dragging behind the crew’s process. Trust me when I say I’ll kick you and your backer out of this production!”

Ye Qiaofeng was so enraged he was ready to blurt out whatever that was on his mind. Assistant Zhang immediately went up to prevent that from happening. “What’re you doing, Ye?”

“What game is that woman playing? We’ve had to reshoot so many times!¹