“Oh, all right!” Sister Sa nodded hesitantly. “Are you taking it then?”
“Taking it! Why wouldn’t I? This messy film and television industry, everyone’s looking to make a quick buck. A screenwriter who can endure and spend several years writing a script is as rare as a four-leaf clover in Chengdu, that’s how rare. Once you finally meet one, you naturally don’t miss the opportunity. If it weren’t for my contract with Liuyun Media, I’d take the role even without payment.”
“No, no, don’t say Chengdu!” Sister Sa quickly stopped her. “I can’t stand hearing the word ‘Chengdu’.”
“Why?”
Sister Sa rolled her eyes. “Why else? Lately, more and more guys from Chengdu have added me on WeChat, saying they want to be friends. In reality, they want to dock at my bay as a temporary haven to find a *shou* for themselves.”
Jiang Ling: “……”
Just as they were talking, Sister Sa’s WeChat pinged again with over a dozen new friend requests.
She picked up her phone and saw that all the locations were from Chengdu.
Several even included messages like: “Looking for a boyfriend? I can be!”
Sister Sa gnashed her teeth in anger. “These guys don’t want to be my boyfriend; they clearly want to be my girlfriends and then poach my guys. I can hear the calculation from over two thousand kilometers away. What kind of people are these? They make me so mad!”
Jiang Ling: “……”
The “temporary haven” indeed lived up to its name!
Sister Sa continued resentfully, “It must be that bitch Zhang Jingjing. Knowing my special constitution, that I easily attract men who turn gay, she deliberately posted my information online. That’s why so many little *sao* are adding me. That shameless Longines watch (a pun on her name, ‘Longines’ sounds like ‘traitorous bird’), if I ever meet you, I’ll send you to a foreign country for plastic surgery and a complete overhaul.”
“Okay, okay, stop cursing. Let’s get down to business!”
Jiang Ling knew that as soon as Sister Sa mentioned Zhang Jingjing, her mouth couldn’t help but start a profanity-laden tirade against her entire family. Every time she started ranting, it would last over half an hour, with sharp and vicious insults that were almost never repeated. Jiang Ling had been subjected to it several times and didn’t dare let her continue, quickly changing the subject.
Sister Sa, hearing this, finally pursed her lips. “Fine, let’s handle business first. When I have time, we’ll see how I deal with her.”
……
Sister Sa was highly efficient. As soon as Jiang Ling agreed, she acted swiftly. In just one hour, the contract signing was completed.
Since “Phantom Void” was set in the Republic of China era, the prosperity of Shanghai’s Bund was a major draw for filming. At this very moment, Dong Haisheng happened to be filming at a set built in Shanghai. Jiang Ling didn’t need to fly to Hengdian; all she had to do was call for the nanny van arranged by Liuyun Media, and she could quickly reach the film crew.
About thirty minutes later, Jiang Ling, accompanied by Sister Sa and Jian Zhou, arrived at the ancient-style recreated Bund in Shanghai. Dong Haisheng, knowing Jiang Ling was coming, had already arranged for the assistant director to wait.
Upon seeing Jiang Ling, the assistant director first offered a round of professional flattery. Then, he smiled and said, “Miss Jiang, this scene of yours is not easy to perform. Director Dong’s requirements are extremely high. Whether you can satisfy him depends on you.”
Jiang Ling smiled but didn’t reply. She knew it wouldn’t be easy. A film salary of fifteen million yuan for just a few seconds of a回头 (a backward glance) was a sky-high level of difficulty. It seemed she’d have to bring out her ultimate skills today! However, the higher the difficulty, the more exciting it was, and she loved a challenge. As soon as she walked in, she saw Dong Haisheng berating a young idol.