CHAPTER 522: 206 THE LOST PEARL IN THE VAST OCEAN_3

"Even you are mocking me, aren’t you?" Xu Na glared angrily and slammed her hand down.

Her palm landed on a marble countertop, and her expression instantly changed, her face contorted in pain.

Before security could arrive, Xu Na hurriedly slipped away from the hotel in embarrassment.

~

Shen You’an entered the film set quietly, accompanied by Gao Yuyue.

Huang Chu was leading the team in filming a fight scene in the bamboo forest.

The female lead was being chased by the military forces of the government, engaging in a desperate battle amidst the bamboo trees.

Shen You’an stood by the side of the set, observing for a while, his gaze fixed on a slender, dark figure within the scene.

The actors playing the soldiers were practicing the fight choreography under the guidance of the martial arts director. These rehearsals helped them get familiar with the movements so that the actual filming would go smoothly.

Huang Chu observed from the sidelines, occasionally offering his insights and advice.

The crew members, seeing Huang Chu’s calm demeanor and even a slight smile, felt as though the oppressive skies above had parted, revealing a clear day at last.

Sun Qianqian, while part of the crew, was unwilling to endure hardships. Every fight scene she had was performed by her stunt double; she only showed her face briefly for close-up shots. For a director with ambition, this was nothing less than a disgrace to his career.

With too many stunt double shots, the footage inevitably became disjointed during editing. This was a wuxia drama—action scenes were its soul. If the fight sequences failed to impress the audience, the show was effectively ruined.

No one wanted the fruits of their hard work over so many days to be destroyed. After all, whether they soared or sank, everyone was tied to the same fate.

Sun Qianqian was kicked out, and there was collective rejoicing from the crew.

The newly hired Xiao Yue was an unknown to everyone, leaving them rather anxious.

However, her very first scene yesterday stunned everyone.

The martial arts director had demonstrated the routine once, and she picked it up immediately, employing it with precision and skill. She needed no stunt double, performing her moves personally, and both her choreography and acting left nothing to criticize.

Huang Chu was so elated that he exclaimed "Great!" three times in succession—clearly evidence of the torment he’d endured from Sun Qianqian.

By the end of the day, everyone understood what it meant to discover a hidden gem.

This morning’s pivotal scene saw Xiao Yue arriving on set at 4:30 AM. The moves taught by the martial arts director the night prior—she had tirelessly practiced them alone. By 6:00 AM, when the rest of the crew arrived, she rehearsed seamlessly with the actors playing soldiers.

Everyone silently marveled: opportunity is indeed for those who prepare.

Xiao Yue, who had remained obscure for years, was poised to rise to fame with this project.

"Cut. Excellent. Everyone, take a break. We’ll officially start filming in ten minutes," Huang Chu glanced at the sunlight filtering through the bamboo canopy and began discussing with the cinematographer the best angles to capture the perfect interplay of light and shadow.

"Thank you for your hard work, teachers." Xiao Yue’s beauty wasn’t the striking kind—at first glance, it appeared somewhat understated. But her eyes spoke volumes. When she didn’t smile, there was a trace of cool determination, yet when she did smile, her almond-shaped eyes curved delightfully, spirited and innocent.

Compared to Sun Qianqian, she had a far better grasp of interpersonal relationships, greeting everyone warmly and addressing them as "teacher," radiating both humility and eagerness to learn.

Walking alone to the side of the set, she pulled a flask out of her bag and guzzled water voraciously, as if she were parched to her core.

It was somewhat pitiful—she didn’t even have a personal assistant despite being the female lead.

She felt a pair of eyes lingering on her. Truthfully, many were secretly watching her, but these particular eyes felt distinctly intentional.

Instinctively, she turned her head, locking eyes with someone at the edge of the set.

She froze for a moment.

The person was wrapped in darkness, their figure slender. Though their face was obscured, her intuition told her this was undoubtedly someone strikingly beautiful.

In the industry, she’d encountered countless beauties. Advanced technology could produce legions of perfect faces, but a true beauty possessed a natural aura incomparable to any fabrication.

As the saying goes, "Even draped in a burlap sack, their radiance remains unmistakable."

Wiping her lips with her sleeve, she allowed the makeup artist to approach and touch up her look.

Sitting still, she submitted to adjustments as the stylist refined her appearance.

In a seemingly offhand manner, she asked, "Is that person also one of the cast members?"

Cai Ling glanced over and immediately understood. "You’ll find out later."

The director, upon noticing the figure, approached eagerly. The two stood at the edge of the set, engaged in a conversation whose content remained unknown.

The person in black maintained remarkable composure throughout, in stark contrast to the director, who gesticulated wildly, clearly overwhelmed with emotion.

Xiao Yue lowered her gaze.

The opportunity she’d fought so hard to obtain—she had to seize it with all her might.

She would learn from Sun Qianqian’s mistake. On a film set, one must avoid making enemies at all costs.

Her left thumb slowly traced the calluses across her right palm, a reminder of the trials and tribulations she’d endured throughout the years.

Ten minutes later, Xiao Yue returned to the center of the action, ready and waiting. The cinematographer adjusted his position.

Xiao Yue assumed her stance, her gaze filled with steadfast determination.

Shen You’an watched from the sidelines, smiling as he nodded approvingly, "She’s a promising talent."

In an industry dominated by capital and plagued with mediocrity, how many talents have been buried, lost in the chaos?