CHAPTER 97: LIKE A PIECE OF JADE

Zhuo Bingbing’s demeanor also perfectly matched the image of Princess Qinglian, and her acting was superb. Chen Hang was also a talented actor. The casting for this drama was excellent, with each actor possessing their own distinct style, making this scene particularly captivating to watch.

Director Zhang watched from behind the camera, nodding with satisfaction. "Good, excellent."

The wire work scenes would be filmed later, after this scene was completed.

This particular scene was filmed with a grand scale, a pivotal moment in the drama. The performance continued until Princess Xiangxiang fainted, with Crown Prince Nalan calling out her name in anguish before the director called for a break.

They took an hour’s break before proceeding to film the wire work scenes.

Having been reprimanded by Director Zhang for a considerable time that morning, everyone’s performance today was exceptionally good. The atmosphere during the break was particularly joyful, filled with laughter and playful banter. Wen Nuan, feeling hungry, playfully snatched snacks from Chen Xueru.

"Sister Xiaojing, you must have been mistreating her," Chen Xueru said with a smile, observing Wen Nuan’s eagerness for food.

While eating Chen Xueru’s mousse cake and simultaneously reaching for Zhuo Bingbing’s cherries, Wen Nuan nodded earnestly, emphatically confirming Cai Xiaojing’s alleged mistreatment.

Cai Xiaojing gave Wen Nuan a cool look. "She’s hungry because she was jealous this morning. It’s an appetite stimulant, aids digestion, helps with weight loss, so she’s hungry. Just ignore her."

Wen Nuan looked at her with wide, innocent eyes.

Everyone burst into laughter. Chen Xueru said, "The stomach is most delicate first thing in the morning. How could you drink vinegar? That’s not the right way to lose weight."

Wen Nuan looked bewildered. When had she drunk vinegar?

Zhuo Bingbing also chimed in with a laugh, "Yes, Xueru is right. Heavens, Wen Nuan, you’re already so thin and you still want to lose weight? What are we supposed to do then? Don’t lose any more; you’ll disappear!"

"But I really didn’t drink vinegar," Wen Nuan said innocently.

Cai Xiaojing nodded. "That’s right, everyone listen carefully. It’s ’eating vinegar’ [being jealous], not ’drinking vinegar’."

Everyone: "..."

"She’s been mistreating me lately; just ignore her."

The group gathered together, chatting and laughing. Peng Yuming and Cheng Ying particularly enjoyed being with these younger actors and joined them. Peng Yuming suggested, "We’ve been filming for so long, and Director Zhang hasn’t even treated us to a meal yet. How about we extort a dinner from him tonight after work?"

The mention of dinner made Wen Nuan feel uneasy.

Dining with the entire crew was, of course, no problem. But if investors, producers, or the likes of Brother Xiong and Brother Qiang joined them again, it would be truly dreadful. She definitely didn’t want that.

She was still afraid of Brother Xiong suing her for the injury she had inflicted on him last time.

Later, Cai Xiaojing had assured her that Ye Ershao would handle everything and that she didn’t need to worry about anything.

Only then did Wen Nuan feel relieved.

The mere mention of dinner made her as wary as someone bitten by a snake fearing a rope for three years.

However, she cleverly didn’t show her apprehension. Zhuo Bingbing asked anxiously, "It’s just our crew eating, right? No one else?"

"Of course! When the director treats, he wouldn’t bring along other people. If you can get Director Zhang to offer, you’ll be amazing," Cheng Ying, aware of the incident that had happened to them last time, said with a smile, trying to reassure Wen Nuan and Zhuo Bingbing.

Zhuo Bingbing nodded. "Okay, okay, I’ll ask Director Zhang later."

Chen Xueru asked the production assistant to bring them newspapers. People in their industry often read entertainment news. The crew received several reputable entertainment newspapers and magazines daily for them to read during breaks.

"Huh, isn’t that Ye Ershao and Han Bi?" Chen Xueru said in surprise. The one she was holding happened to be Anning International’s entertainment headline, with a very clear photograph.

It was unmistakably Ye Ershao and Han Bi.

The bar lights were hazy, the atmosphere particularly ambiguous, and the handsome man and beautiful woman kissing made the scene look like something out of an idol drama, unbelievably beautiful.

The large headline read: Scandal Emperor Confronts Scandal Queen.

This was strikingly similar to GK International Media’s entertainment headline.

Wen Nuan, recalling the television report she had seen that morning, also coolly picked up a newspaper to look. She glanced at it and then tossed it aside. What awful photos, they really spoiled her mood.

Peng Yuming and Cheng Ying weren’t interested in gossip.

But the younger actors were quite interested.

Li Chengming said, "President Ye’s speed in changing women is almost record-breaking, and each one is more significant and more beautiful than the last."

One of the junior actors asked with a smile, "Brother Li, are you envious?"

"Ask any man; who wouldn’t be envious?" Li Chengming openly pointed at Chen Hang.

Chen Hang hastily waved his hands. "I’m not envious at all! Don’t get me into trouble."

Cheng Ying glanced at Wen Nuan and smiled knowingly. "You’re not envious; you’re just trying to maintain your image to pursue someone, aren’t you?"

Everyone’s gaze turned to Wen Nuan.

Wen Nuan, chewing on a cherry, belatedly realized everyone was looking at her. Chen Hang, in particular, had a hesitant, wanting-to-say-something expression. She looked at Cai Xiaojing. "Why is everyone looking at me?"

Had she missed something?

Everyone rolled their eyes in unison, silently sympathizing with Chen Hang. Meeting such a slow-witted and oblivious woman was truly his misfortune.

Cai Xiaojing was even more speechless. Wen Nuan’s personality was such that if she believed something didn’t concern her, her reaction was always delayed. But if it did concern her, she was quicker than a rabbit, her reaction exceptionally fast.

The difference was too great.

Chen Hang liked Wen Nuan; it seemed only Wen Nuan herself in the entire crew was unaware of it.

Even Cai Xiaojing, an outsider, could see it. Wen Nuan was very simple and cute, at least that’s how she appeared to them, with the innocent look of a little white rabbit.

Such a woman easily evoked a man’s protective instincts.

Both on and off-screen, Chen Hang liked Wen Nuan.

Unknowingly, Chen Hang might have equated Wen Nuan with Princess Xiangxiang. In his mind, Wen Nuan *was* Princess Xiangxiang.

Intelligent, pure, wise, noble... beautiful like a piece of jade.

He had ambiguous feelings for Princess Xiangxiang in the drama, and he also had feelings for Wen Nuan off-screen, often staring at her in a daze.

Sometimes, when Cai Xiaojing saw the way Chen Hang looked at her, she wanted to go over and knock him on the head. "Young man, open your eyes! This isn’t the woman for you; she already belongs to someone else."

Besides, this girl wasn’t Princess Xiangxiang.

This Chen Hang was a top-tier domestic star with a bright future. He was 183 cm tall, handsome and upright, and also quite decent, rarely having any scandals. Such a man pursuing a woman would usually have an easy time.

But looking at Wen Nuan, Cai Xiaojing knew that apart from her family, she didn’t really care about anyone else for the time being.