Chapter 6: Outlaws
Agent Feng Man finally managed to give herself a short vacation, but then a fire broke out in the backyard.
According to a tip-off from a close friend who works in costume and makeup, Xia Chi, a relatively unknown actor who was thrust into the cast of "Monster Hunting in Mountains and Seas" through connections, bumped into the leading actress Sen Ya during the filming of the final scene. Sen Ya was then rushed to a private hospital.
It hasn’t come out yet.
Feng Man stared at the phone screen, her fingers trembling slightly.
What does it mean to crash? How badly would a desperate Senya, someone who could persevere even after breaking ribs while hanging on wires, have to crash so badly that she'd have to stay in the hospital for a whole week?
What's even more puzzling is that Du Binquan went to the hospital that night, and when he came back, he immediately rescheduled all the scenes after Sen Ya, canceled all the big night scenes, and used doubles for all the shots that could be used...
Things seemed to be heading in a strange direction.
Before the holiday was over, Feng Man rushed to City A, where the film and television base was located, and slammed the door of Xia Chi's rental house until it was deafening.
"Xia Chi! Get out here right here!"
Xia Chi, who was playing games in airplane mode in the room, was so scared that he rolled off the bed.
"Damn, why is the evil spirit here?"
Back then, when Xia Chi was at the end of his rope, it was Feng Man who signed him despite the pressure. Xia Chi was grateful for her recognition, but this girl's mouth was like a poisoned controlled knife. When she opened her mouth, the hearts within a ten-mile radius would shatter into QR codes.
Glancing at the more than twenty missed calls on his phone screen, Xia Chi opened the door under tremendous pressure and pretended to be surprised.
"Hey, Sister Man, why are you back? Aren't you... on vacation at the beach?"
Feng Man: "You still have the nerve to smile, you did a great job!"
"...Uh...it's just...doing one good deed a day...hahaha..."
Xia Chi's voice was as soft as a mosquito's, and his tongue was so soft that it made two dishes of food fry, but Feng Man still couldn't understand what he said.
Feng Man had a bad temper and she grabbed Xia Chi by the collar, her nails almost digging into his flesh.
"Did your brain get stuck in a door, or are you just born with a boner? I risked my dignity and kowtowed to you to get you into the crew. I didn't ask for you to become famous, I just asked you not to embarrass me. And what do you do? I gave you a stick and you're going to make a big fuss, right? I'm the most precious ancestor of the entire crew, and you insist on provoking bad luck?!"
Xia Chi was pressed against the door panel, and he knew that he couldn't tell the truth. Fortunately, this woman had a sharp tongue but a soft heart, and she would calm down after she scolded her enough. So he pretended to be obedient and invited her into the house.
But Xia Chi's unlucky face showed a guilty conscience. His panic, flattery and helplessness instantly ignited Feng Man's anger, and she never stopped talking.
"You're so fucking deluded! What's Sen Ya worth? Yuan Yuzhen spent a fortune hiring this cash cow, but even a hair of hers would be enough to buy ten of your worthless lives. And Du Binquan is even worse. He's number one of the four most evil people in the entertainment industry, don't you know? Killing you would be as easy as killing an ant. If you're looking for death, don't drag us down with you."
"oh."
Xia Chi was standing in front of the water dispenser getting water, muttering quietly to himself.
[You believe in rumors, how naive.]
Feng Man: “???”
This kid has grown up and dared to play tricks on me in person.
He slammed the table and said, "What are you talking about?"
Xia Chi turned around silently and handed the hot water to the table, as honest as he could be.
"Sister Man must be thirsty, drink some water."
Feng Man: “?”
Something doesn't seem right.
The rental house was small, with only one chair. Feng Man sat in the middle, like a dignified mistress of the house. Xia Chi stood beside her with his head down, looking as if he was ready to beat or scold her and let her do whatever she wanted.
Although he seemed to admit his mistake, his eyes inadvertently revealed a hint of rebellion and disdain.
This stuff is being installed here.
Feng Man's anger surged to her head, and she slapped the coffee table so hard that it made a loud noise.
"Are you fucking cocky? You're already acting like a vegetable before you even get to the table. If I hadn't been kind enough to pick you up, you'd still be slacking off in that hellhole of a giant sea. Besides this face, what's so valuable about you? You can't even climb a tree!"
【This super-masculine woman is controlling me again. 】
“…”
Feng Man almost choked on her saliva.
What's going on?
I haven't seen you for just a few days, why are you so crazy?
What stimulated it?
Feng Man remained motionless, looking at Xia Chi.
But Xia Chi couldn't do it.
I haven't even started to exert my strength yet, but it's already halftime, Sister Man, I'm not in a good mood today...
He put on a flattering smile and pushed the hot water towards Feng Man.
"Sister Feng, calm down. I really didn't mean to do that. It was just an accident."
"Accident?" Feng Man gritted her teeth. "You're in heat and you're jumping on a female celebrity?!"
"God, I swear!" Xia Chi waved his hands in panic. "My back was to her at the time. I didn't even touch the corner of her clothes! Everyone in the crew can testify to this!"
"You don't have the guts to do that."
Feng Man knew this kid well. He was a little silly, but also very timid. He wouldn't do anything extraordinary.
But I always feel something is weird.
"No matter if it's a misunderstanding or not, come with me right now and apologize."
She grabbed Xia Chi's arm and said, "Senya, director, producer, don't let any of you down! If your reputation of harassing female celebrities gets out, you'll be completely wiped out from the industry!"
After saying that, she dragged Xia Chi out, and in a moment they were downstairs on the hot wheels. Xia Chi stumbled after them, "Sister Feng, don't be anxious. Where do you want to go?"
Feng Man: "Let's go to the film and television base to find Du Binquan first!"
Xia Chi: "Kekeke, Director Du is not at the film and television base..."
[At this hour, I'm probably kneeling on the washboard at home.]
Feng Man braked suddenly.
Just now...were there two voices...speaking at the same time?
Did I hear it wrong?
She turned away silently, narrowing her eyes suspiciously: "How do you know so clearly?"
Xia Chi: "I heard from the script supervisor that Du Binquan asked for three days off from the crew, saying that he had some family matters to deal with."
"Then let's go find the producer first!" Feng Man's mind was a little confused: "I've seen Yuan Yuzhen's circle of friends, she recently came back."
Sen Ya had an accident in the morning, and Yuan Yuzhen flew back to City A in the afternoon. In the evening, she posted a photo of the scenery outside the hospital window without a single word underneath.
This noise is really unsettling.
Feng Man couldn't communicate with Sen Ya, but fortunately she still had some friendship with Yuan Yuzhen as a classmate, so she decided to find Yuan Yuzhen first to find out the situation so as to know the next countermeasures.
Feng Man picked up her phone, and Yuan Yuzhen called. She took a deep breath and answered the call. Yuan Yuzhen's unique Wu dialect came from the receiver: "Hey Manman, did you have a good vacation?"
When Feng Man heard the affectionate tone, her tense nerves relaxed a little.
"Zhenzhen, I was just about to call you. I came back early and am now in City A."
"That's great." Yuan Yuzhen said cheerfully, "We haven't seen each other for a long time. How about dinner tonight at our usual place? Oh, and your little actor, the one... Xia Chi, invite him along."
"Xia Chi." Feng Man turned to look at Xia Chi, not knowing what Yuan Yuzhen was up to. "Oh, this kid is so dumb and can't really talk..."
"Hey~" Yuan Yuzhen interrupted her, "I think this kid is good. Du Binquan praised him the other day, saying his acting has improved and that he wants to give him more roles. And Sen Ya also told me that this kid is likable and wants to support him more."
"Ah, really!"
Feng Man was a little confused and looked at Xia Chi up and down as if he were an alien.
It seems that the information given by my best friend was wrong and it was just a false alarm.
What kind of collision was that? It seemed like it saved a life.
The surroundings were quiet and Xia Chi heard all the sounds on the phone. He immediately puffed out his chest, like a red scarf who had done a good deed, waiting to be praised by the teacher.
[Sister Fairy is truly an angel. Sister Man should stop scolding me now, right? The mud in your house has already climbed up the wall, the pigs can climb trees, and the rice bucket can even produce food on its own. Surprise, isn't it?]
[Was Dubin impressed by my superb acting skills? Which scene did you perform so well that caught the director's attention?]
Let me think about it...
Xia Chi really started thinking about it.
Feng Man on the opposite side was petrified on the spot.
Are my ears and eyes misaligned?
Why are what I hear and what I see different frequencies?
"Manman, Manman?" Yuan Yuzhen continued to urge: "It's settled. See you at the old place."
"Oh, okay." Feng Man hung up the phone.
Feng Man took off her glasses and began to wipe them.
"Sister Man, Sister Man, did you hear that? The director said he wants to give me more scenes." Xia Chi yelled.
Feng Man: "Yeah."
Xia Chi: "Senya also said that she wanted to help me."
Feng Man: "Yeah, I heard it."
There was not a trace of joy on Feng Man's face. She wiped her glasses meticulously, her hands trembling slightly.
Xia Chi: "Sister Man?"
Sister Man ignored him.
Xia Chi was worried.
[What's wrong? You look so unhappy.]
[Are you afraid that I'll grow wings and fly away? Tsk, you're so narrow-minded.]
[It turns out that only women and villains are difficult to raise! ]
After thinking about it, I decided to forgive her.
[Although he has a bad temper and a sharp tongue, he has never betrayed me. He is much better than that cowardly grandson of Ju Hai.]
[Forget it, considering you saved me from the hell, I'll just have to make do with it.]
Xia Chi shamelessly shook Feng Man's arm.
"Manman, you are my biological sister. I will give you my filial piety first when I make money. I swore to earn five million for you. I have remembered it in my heart and will not give you a penny less."
Feng Man put on her glasses.
She was sure she had seen a ghost.
******
Tongfu Manor, nestled next to a film and television studio, offers an elegant setting and a tranquil retreat amidst the hustle and bustle. Producer Yuan Yuzhen arrived early, settled into her room, and then leaned against the second-floor observation deck to gaze out into the distance.
Not long after, I saw my old classmate Feng Manbuli hurriedly leading a young boy towards me.
The boy was thin, with fair skin, and a pair of bright eyes that looked around curiously, his expression revealing a bit of inexperience and confusion.
Is this Xia Chi?
Yuan Yuzhen had some impression of Xia Chi, but not much. She'd previously collaborated with Sweet Orange Entertainment, and had done a favor to get him on the crew, but she hadn't paid much attention to him since then.
But just a few days ago, she met Du Binquan in the hospital. Du Binquan said that this kid was suspected to be possessed by a god. Not only could he predict the future, but even Sen Ya swore that she heard some kind of voice in his heart.
At first she didn't believe it, but based on the clues Du Binquan got from his inner voice, Yuan Yuzhen used her connections to investigate overnight, and indeed found out that the rivals were planning various conspiracies in an attempt to make "Monster Hunt" abort.
She immediately took measures to save the crew from disaster.
Yuan Yuzhen wanted to meet the child.
She walked downstairs to greet him. Feng Man was walking in front, her face was more flustered than she had ever seen her before, and her steps were hurried, as if a ghost was chasing her.
Yuan Yuzhen greeted with a smile: "Hey Manman, you didn't get tanned when you went to Sanya this time?"
Feng Man's smile was uglier than crying. Just as she was about to open her mouth to speak, she heard a voice behind her.
[Hiss~ Why is the producer getting fat again? ]
Feng Man lost her balance in her high heels and fell to her knees before Yuan Yuzhen.