Chapter Fifty-Five: Such Shamelessness!

Around eight in the morning, Zhao Wu, Bai Xiaoke, and the others arrived downstairs at Xu Buyear's company as agreed. When they saw the impressive, high-end office building before them, they were all filled with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

In fact, they had already been shocked yesterday upon learning that today’s shoot would take place in an office building. Just a few days ago, Chen Qi seemed intent on saving costs, picking any random spot to film. How had he suddenly decided to spend so much to rent such a place today?

Still, after these recent days of experiencing Chen Qi’s unpredictable methods, their curiosity didn’t translate into questions. His way of thinking was too novel for them to keep up with. After several days working together, they’d almost grown numb to surprises. Renting an office was nothing—if tomorrow Chen Qi decided to shoot a scene that required pixelation, they probably wouldn’t be shocked either.

After all, he’d already arranged for such eye-searing cross-dressing, was there really anything he wouldn’t—or dared not—do? They might as well go with the flow. As long as there was money to earn, they’d go along with however he wanted to shoot. None of them ever expected this project would actually reach a public audience.

Being able to earn some money was already more than enough for them.

Not long after they arrived, Chen Qi also turned up, carrying a stack of scripts.

“Let’s go,” he called out, skipping any formalities, and led them upstairs.

The elevator carried them up to the twenty-third floor. When Zhao Wu, Bai Xiaoke, and the others saw the sign for “Future Film & Media,” their steps faltered at once.

They watched as Chen Qi, completely at ease, pushed through the glass doors and walked into the company.

Zhao Wu and Bai Xiaoke were stunned.

They gaped, their disbelief plain on their faces as they stared at Chen Qi. In that instant, they were utterly dumbfounded.

They could hardly believe what they were seeing.

Heavens above!

A film company?

The kind of film company they’d dreamed of, yearned to join?

They were lost for words—completely bewildered.

They just stood there, rooted to the spot, gazing after Chen Qi, who had already gone inside, with eyes filled with incredulity.

They could never have guessed that he was actually with a film company.

It was simply too unexpected.

They’d thought he was just some regular student or something of the sort.

“What’s wrong? Come in!” Chen Qi, already inside, called back, puzzled at seeing them frozen by the elevator.

Zhao Wu and the others snapped back to themselves. Glancing at one another with wry smiles, they hurried forward.

Their feelings were complicated.

None of them had ever imagined they’d set foot inside a film company in such an unusual way.

Passing through the glass doors, they saw Chen Qi speaking with a bespectacled middle-aged man.

Seizing the opportunity, they looked around curiously.

To be honest, this was their first time observing a film company up close.

They’d never thought they’d have a day like this.

Surrounded by artistic decor, Zhao Wu, Bai Xiaoke, and the others couldn’t help but reveal a trace of undisguised envy and longing in their eyes.

This feeling of belonging… it was wonderful.

Not far away, Xu Buyear was also regarding this makeshift crew with surprise.

“Just this few people?” he asked Chen Qi, hardly able to believe it.

Wasn’t this a bit too simple? Did he really have no money, or what?

“This is enough,” Chen Qi replied unconcernedly. “We’ll shoot here for two days—it shouldn’t get in your way, right?”

“Go ahead, it won’t affect me,” Xu replied.

“Alright,” Chen Qi answered, not standing on ceremony, and immediately started organizing the group.

“Same as usual—makeup for Xiaoke first.”

“We’ll shoot the first scene here. Set up and test the equipment.”

Chen Qi arranged everything in good order.

Whether it was because they’d just learned Chen Qi was backed by a company, Zhao Wu and Bai Xiaoke’s demeanor changed. Their gazes toward him now carried a faint trace of apprehension.

They got to work quickly.

Xu Buyear wisely found an unobtrusive corner, folding his arms and leaning back to watch quietly.

Seeing this small crew operate smoothly under Chen Qi’s direction, a smile crept over his lips.

He knew he wouldn’t be disappointed.

He’d read the script—not that he understood it, or could make sense of it—but after working on “Blueprint,” he simply trusted Chen Qi.

Meanwhile, those who had been working together for days coordinated seamlessly.

Since the story was set in modern times, makeup and such was simpler, so time was ample.

This episode’s plot involved the director’s absence, leaving the rest of the crew to figure out how to fill an episode’s runtime to fool the audience.

Here, “the rest of the crew” naturally meant the stylist and makeup artist would play a cameo.

“This scene goes like this—does everyone understand?” After all preparations were made, Chen Qi spent nearly an hour explaining the play.

Zhao Wu and the others nodded slowly.

Although Chen Qi’s background brought some pressure, they were professionals and could handle it. It didn’t affect their performance.

“How about you two?” Chen Qi asked the stylist and makeup artist.

“No problem,” they nodded as well.

With only a couple lines each, it was hardly a challenge for these not-so-inexperienced cameo actors.

Yet at this moment, whether it was them or Zhao Wu and Bai Xiaoke, the questions in their hearts only grew.

They truly couldn’t figure Chen Qi out.

If he was just playing around, why did he have such a professional film company backing him? They didn’t recognize the name, but the scale spoke for itself.

But if he was serious, nothing else seemed to fit. The chaotic plot aside, he even had the stylist and makeup artist acting…

There was no time to think further—Chen Qi clapped his hands.

“Alright, ready!”

“Action!”

Filming began quickly.

The first shot was Zhao Wu, Bai Xiaoke, and the others sitting around, discussing how to pad the episode’s length.

“The director’s gone out looking for inspiration again.”

“Inspiration my foot! He’s probably out on the street ogling pretty women again!”

“No way! The director’s never lied to me. He’s a righteous man, an honest man, someone who’s above trivial temptations, willing to do anything for the audience…”

Hearing these shameless lines, Xu Buyear, watching from nearby, couldn’t help the growing smile on his lips after a moment’s surprise.

He suddenly realized he didn’t know Chen Qi as well as he thought.

He’d never realized before just how thick-skinned Chen Qi could be!

“Good, that’s a wrap!”

“Get ready for the next scene.”

“Director Xu, can I borrow your computer for a moment?”

After wrapping up the scene, Chen Qi immediately threw himself into preparing the next one.

Thanks to this orderly arrangement, by a little after three in the afternoon, they had finished shooting the entire episode.