CHAPTER 98: CHAPTER 98: NATALIE’S FIGHT SCENES

Director Gable is famously strict in the industry, with a notorious temper, yet it’s precisely this temperament that results in top-notch work.

Initially, he harbored some dissatisfaction with Natalie Vaughn, but after she spoke, his dissatisfaction vanished completely.

Where on earth did President Langdon find this young girl? Not only is she good-looking, but she’s also so interesting.

She suits his taste.

"I wouldn’t dare to criticize President Langdon."

No matter how refined an artist is, they need money to create art. Who dares to criticize their benefactor?

Natalie Vaughn’s eyes curved into a playful smile.

"So, will Director Gable scold me?"

Director Gable clapped his hands and laughed heartily.

"Even if your acting is terrible, I’ll still teach you."

Will he scold her? He wasn’t sure. If her acting was truly terrible, he probably would, but based on how she has presented herself, he doubted her acting would be bad.

Besides, Felix Langdon is a capitalist. Would he randomly place someone in the crew?

No, he wouldn’t.

Natalie Vaughn pursed her lips and smiled.

She’s a curious person, interested in many things, and loves to have fun, often adding a twist to her play. Like mixing drinks, she learned well, to the point where Phoebe Quinn can’t drink anyone else’s cocktails.

Natalie thought, maybe she could add cocktail making to the surprises prepared for Zane Thorne.

The same goes for acting; she’s not aiming for particular achievements, but she must pass Director Gable’s scrutiny. Passing his test is like holding a trophy in hand.

That’s how confident she is.

Natalie patiently engaged in some small talk, only to realize that Quinn Langley, the quiet Actress Langley, had been silently staring at her. Quinn Langley was a great beauty, and Natalie wasn’t narcissistic enough to believe her looks warranted such attention from her.

She turned her head and gave a slight nod in her direction.

"Is there something you want to tell me, Ms. Langley..."

Natalie paused, as if something occurred to her, and the corners of her eyes curved into a smile.

"Sister."

Natalie’s voice was sweet and soft, and this "sister" made the slight frown on Quinn Langley’s brow relax.

Such an intriguing girl, surely she and Felix aren’t involved in that sort of relationship?

Quinn Langley knew about the stuff on Weibo, but Natalie had covered up the man’s face in the photo.

When Quinn learned that Felix had placed Natalie in the crew, she speculated, doubted, and even when she saw that post assumed the covered person was Felix.

However, after Natalie called her "sister," she changed her mind.

Felix can’t handle someone like her.

Thinking of this, Quinn gave Natalie a gentle smile and shook her head.

"I just find Miss Vaughn very adorable."

Natalie usually doesn’t like being called cute, but if it’s a beautiful sister saying it, she enjoys it.

"Ms. Langley, you can just call me Nina."

This level of familiarity somewhat exceeded Quinn’s expectations, and she only responded with a smile and nod.

Natalie had learned from Zoe Chandler that Quinn was Felix’s ex-girlfriend. Very few people knew this in the circle, and even Zoe only found out by chance when she stumbled upon Felix and Quinn entangled.

How could anyone in the circle know? Quinn’s company is a rival to The Langdon Group, and Felix had intercepted many of Quinn’s resources on several occasions; even when he couldn’t, he’d send someone to irritate Quinn.

Everyone thought Quinn had offended Felix.

If breaking up with Felix was offending him, then she indeed offended him badly.

After learning this, Natalie didn’t directly question Felix but instead asked Theodore Langdon. After learning about Quinn’s entanglement with Felix, she finally understood why Felix lured her into acting.

Turns out he wanted her to be his wingman.

Felix is truly timid; not only is he unable to let go of his ex, but he also comes up with ridiculous schemes to reconcile. If this tactic wins her back, she’ll take his last name.

However, Quinn’s appearance is also to Natalie’s liking.

Her features aren’t particularly delicate, but she exudes a unique aura, serene like water, and her figure, honed by years of dance, is as fluid as water—something Natalie, with her years of karate training, can’t compete with.

If she could help Felix win back such a beauty, could she not extort a hefty sum from him?

Natalie suddenly realized that in the two months she’d be filming, Felix wouldn’t miss any opportunity. In the eyes of the crew, she and Felix were quite close, though they didn’t know in what way. But it meant Felix could openly visit her on set.

Thinking of this, while the makeup artist was doing her makeup, Natalie sent a message to Felix.

"Quinn Langley is indeed a great beauty."

Felix replied instantly, as if he had been waiting.

"Have you talked to her? What did you chat about?"

Natalie snickered. Who would have thought that this sly businessman is a naive bunny in matters of love?

"President Langdon, you’re quite insincere, expecting me to play your wingman for two months."

"Sis-in-law, we have a legitimate deal."

"Just for a name change, I’m getting the short end."

"...What else do you want?"

"Which hospital is he in Altara?"

There was silence on the other end.

Natalie wasn’t in a hurry, knocking out her next line slowly.

"Quinn was watching me for quite a while earlier, as if she had something to say to me."

Felix sent an address over immediately. Natalie saved it, chuckling quietly; why is Felix such a mess in love?

Little did she realize that, from another perspective, she was just as much of a mess when it came to Zane.

When had the proud heiress of the Vaughn Family ever played wingman for someone?

"What did she say?"

"She didn’t say anything."

"...Sis-in-law, that’s not fair."

Natalie felt no guilt at all.

"Does she have to speak just because she wants to?"

Her makeup was almost done, and Natalie didn’t want to continue discussing this with Felix. Yet, before putting down her phone, she sent one more message.

"Remember to bring him when you come to visit."

This "him" undoubtedly referred to Zane Thorne.

The proud heiress of the Vaughn Family was unwilling to reach out to Zane herself.

Two months apart wasn’t life-threatening, but longing was difficult to bear.

...

Natalie’s first scene was a fight scene, specially arranged by Director Gable.

He had watched videos from her account and knew she had been training with a martial arts instructor for nearly half a month, all with positive feedback.

He hadn’t seen a female actor in good action scenes for a long time and was eager to see what Natalie Vaughn’s skills were like.

Actors suffer due to filming winter scenes in the summer and summer scenes in the winter.

Natalie was currently playing an innocent junior sister, dressed in white attire, dusted with pink chiffon clouds, with a fluttering skirt. A pink ribbon was tied on her head, and her hair fell to her waist.

She learned this fight scene first; the moves were easy for her. Now she just needed to familiarize herself with the set.

The rain had stopped, but it was still cold.

Natalie refused Zoe Chandler’s offer to stick warm patches on her; it wouldn’t be long before she warmed up while fighting.

She stood in the forest, back to back with her fellow apprentice, eyes stern.

The wind picked up, leaves fell, and the moment Natalie leveraged Qinggong to soar, she drew her sword from its scabbard, blocking off to the upper right, and swiftly swung her arm—a forward block, a side cut—and then kicked off the tree, spinning around for a kick, all while slicing with her sword.

Suddenly, she stepped back a few paces, swung her sword to deflect the enemy’s needles, then stepped on the ground, gaining momentum to rise, sprinting up a tree before diving down, skewering the enemy with her sword.

Throughout the process, Natalie was on wires, yet stepping on tree trunks and soaring, her body nearly parallel to the ground, required tremendous core control.

However, Natalie executed it very well, even her swordplay looked extremely graceful.

Director Gable couldn’t help but clap in admiration.

"Bravo!"

It wasn’t perfect, but that entire sequence was already quite smooth. With a few more takes, it would surely be flawless.

Natalie declined the suggestion to rest, filming the scene four or five consecutive times until it was nearly perfect before stopping.

Zoe came forward with a coat, noticing Natalie didn’t look well.

"What’s wrong?"

Natalie shook her head.

The wires were too hard, the clothes too thin, her skin too delicate.

Her waist was painfully pinched.