The initial awkwardness of the first day of filming seemed to have quickly become a thing of the past, as Chen Hero gradually got into his element during the shoot.

Taylor had also noticed that director Medjani said Chen Hero's strength was improvisation, not flattery, but genuine emotion. Because Chen Hero's improvisation skills were indeed very strong. He always had a lot of ideas. Some thoughts he brought directly into the performance, while others he would discuss with the director, "Karim, do you think this would be better?"...

Taylor also discovered a problem: as the female lead, she would always be unconsciously influenced by Chen Hero's improvisation during the shoot… Just like that initial startled step back.

She was completely subconsciously reacting to Chen Hero's actions, and most of these reactions were very effective, earning the director's praise. And it really wasn't the director just saying nice things. She would watch the playback with Chen Hero and the director, and even she had to admit that her subconscious reactions brought out by Chen Hero really enhanced the scene… Some performances even surprised her—did I really do such an excellent job? Don't they all say my acting is terrible?

She suddenly understood Chen Hero's claim to be a "performance genius." Because after watching these scenes, even she thought he was born to act, not sing…

This was a lighthearted film, and the two of them made that atmosphere even more obvious with their performances.

No wonder director Karim Medjani had been in a better mood these past few days…

※※※

The sudden smoothness of the filming made those who had been dissatisfied with Chen Hero uncomfortable.

The crew had nothing to say; a smooth shooting process was a good thing for them.

The media, however, felt somewhat bored…

Lacking sensationalism!

Previously, they had planned to make a big fuss about Chen Hero's clumsy performance, thereby creating a lot of topics, such as the director's conscience and the influence of investors on the film…

Now it was all in vain. Chen Hero's performance was repeatedly praised by the director, which was really… disappointing for them.

Naturally, they had to dig up something new, so they tried every means to visit the set and investigate… and they actually found a topic.

※※※

Although the filming was going smoothly, the relationship between Chen Hero and Taylor did not improve and get better over time, as Medjani thought it would.

Besides acting, they didn't have much interaction. Unlike some actors, they didn't huddle together during breaks to discuss how to act in the next scene, or what could be done better… After they were done, they went their separate ways.

But when it came to actual filming, their performances were seamless and perfectly matched… If you didn't know their relationship, you would probably think that they were so in sync that they could understand each other without words.

This made Medjani secretly surprised many times.

It wasn't just the director who was surprised. Taylor Swift was also surprised.

Because she felt that it was unscientific… She clearly didn't have any interaction with Chen Hero, so why did she feel so in sync every time she performed?

Her attitude toward Chen Hero had successfully transformed into her attitude toward Chen Hero's character…

In the first half of this movie, Amy was very unimpressed with the football superstar who accompanied her to Liverpool, and even had some resistance.

This was quite in line with her current mood.

Was this the reason why she and Chen Hero seemed so in sync?

She really couldn't understand Chen Hero now. She had no idea what definition to give him. Because she didn't understand him at all, she didn't know how to approach him, so Taylor Swift simply didn't approach him.

However, in the eyes of the media, this scene meant something else…

Of course, the results guessed by the media were actually similar to the truth, but they were habitually exaggerated, making the degree much more serious…

Soon, news of the strained relationship between Chen Hero and Taylor Swift appeared on the official website of an entertainment magazine.

"...According to insiders, the relationship between the two has become so strained that they don't speak at all. The two are only together during filming, and are separated at other times, with no communication between them. We don't know what happened between the two, but the fact that their relationship is not good is undeniable..."

Then more entertainment media joined in, and the relationship between Chen Hero and Taylor Swift had developed from not speaking to "fierce arguments," "one of us has to go," and "Hero's agent and Taylor's assistant even had physical altercations"…

Chen Hero thought such reports were exaggerated—I am annoyed with that woman, but not to this extent, right? Besides, Dekura fighting with that assistant? With that assistant woman's small frame, Dekura could slap her to the North Pole, right?

Such rumors spread more and more widely, to the point where they seriously affected the normal work of the crew. Because every day, many fans from both sides came to support their idols… What could they do? Medjani was anxious, fearing that what was originally nothing would be turned into real fire by these media and fans. At least everyone could get along on the surface, but now, with this mess, they might not even be able to maintain the pretense.

This could not continue. He had finally gotten on the right track, and his first film was moving toward his desired goal. How could he let these people ruin it?

The crew held a press conference to clarify these rumors. Medjani said that the relationship between the two leads was very harmonious. They had little contact because neither of them were professional actors, and they had to study their acting skills and thoroughly understand the script in their spare time. Naturally, they had no time to talk about romance.

However, such a denial had no effect. The outside world continued to spread whatever they wanted, because the crew's denial was too weak. They didn't even invite the two parties to meet with the media and show their love… er, no, to show their friendship to prove that all the outside news about their discord was a rumor.

Since they weren't invited, it meant they had something to hide. If they had something to hide, what was it? Of course, it was still because they were not on good terms…

※※※

Medjani saw that his denial was like pouring oil on a fire. Not only did it not dispel the rumors, but it made them spread even wider.

He was very distressed—if this continued, his filming plan would really be disrupted! Just dealing with the media who came to verify the truth every day was enough to make him upset. How could he make a movie?

He thought about it and couldn't think of any other way to solve this problem. As the saying goes, "The one who tied the bell must untie it."

To dispel the rumors, he was afraid that he would have to start with Chen Hero and Taylor.

But his relationship with Taylor Swift was very ordinary. If it weren't for this movie, he would never have had any contact with Taylor. She was a high and mighty pop queen, and he was a director who made commercials, an unknown person who came to Hollywood for his film dreams.

Of the two leads, the one who had the best relationship with him was Chen Hero.

So he could only go to Chen Hero.

He could only ask Chen Hero to help with this kind of thing…

He told Chen Hero the pros and cons, saying that he really had no other way.

"I'm saying, just do me a favor, bear with it, sacrifice your looks…"

"Hey!" Chen Hero saw that he was getting more and more outrageous. "Let me tell you, I will never do anything like going to bed with her! Although I like beautiful women, I have my principles and dignity…"

He said it with a righteous face, and Medjani next to him didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Who asked you to conquer her with your body! I'm saying you should just go out on a date with her for a day, go wherever there are a lot of people, and let the whole world know that you two have a great relationship! There is no such thing as a strained relationship, right?"

"Date?" Chen Hero was stunned for a moment, then shook his head vigorously: "This is even more impossible! If I go on a date with her, wouldn't it become that I'm trying to pick her up? That's a bigger rumor than a strained relationship! Karim! If this gets out, what will my girlfriend think? Do you want my backyard to catch fire?"

Medjani had no other way now. He was like a drowning man who would grab at a straw to struggle, let alone if he grabbed a thick piece of wood…

"Please help me, Hero! Haven't you always been very generous and loyal to your friends? Can you not help a friend in need? I'm in need now!"

"Isn't this a good thing? They're hyping it up, and our movie's reputation will get better and better. Don't a lot of production crews try to create something to hype up? Why aren't you happy that someone is offering to hype us up?"

Medjani said with a serious face: "I am a director with ideals. I just want to focus on making my movie well. I don't need this kind of negative news to hype it up!" Chen Hero was about to give him the middle finger and roll his eyes, but the expression on his face immediately changed. "Ah! Just do me a favor, Hero! I can only turn to you. I can't possibly go to Taylor, right? I have a good relationship with you, but I don't with her! Of course I would only think of you if something happened! If you don't help, I really have no way!"

These words made Chen Hero feel comfortable—no matter how big of a star you are, in the director's mind, I am still more important!

Thinking of this, Chen Hero hesitated. Director Karim Medjani was indeed his friend. Now that his friend was in trouble and needed his help, wouldn't it be too heartless and unreasonable if he didn't help?

We Chinese people value chivalry!

We must be warmhearted.

We must not chill our friends' hearts!

Chen Hero's lofty and righteous thoughts came one after another, as if he was cheering himself up. His momentum rose.

He immediately slapped Medjani on the thigh.

He said heroically, "Okay! Isn't she just a little girl! Am I afraid of her? I promise, I'll go on a date with her for a day!"

Although Medjani was wincing from Chen Hero's slap, he still endured the pain and shouted loudly, "That's the spirit, Hero!"

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Chen Hero stand up.

"Uh, what are you doing?"

"Of course I'm going to ask her out!"

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Hero had already left…