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Dragging her weary steps, Chen Fei'er walked out of the Khan's Golden Tent, which was serving as a temporary filming set.
At that moment, the thing she wanted most was to return to the yurt where she was staying, collapse onto the bed covered with wool blankets, and sleep soundly without thinking about anything at all, then not wake up until broad daylight the next morning.
Location shooting was extremely troublesome and exhausting. Traveling thousands of kilometers from a prosperous, comfortable metropolis to film on the boundless Mongolian Great Steppe was undoubtedly a tremendous challenge for Chen Fei'er.
She had debuted as a wandering singer and had previously only made guest appearances in a few films. Autumn in My Heart was the first production in which she had played the heroine, marking her true entry into the film and television industry.
But whether it was Autumn in My Heart or Full House, although filming those urban romance dramas had been intense, the crews had taken excellent care of her. In addition, many scenes were completed in film studios, so the work had not been particularly grueling.
The Flourishing Dynasty's Long Ballad was completely different.
As CCTV's major annual drama, the series involved a huge cast of characters. Chen Fei'er was not among the top-tier stars in the production, so naturally she could not dream of receiving the best treatment.
Moreover, the drama's director, Zhang Ke, was well known throughout the entertainment industry for his strict demands on actors. He possessed seniority, fame, and the backing of the towering giant that was CCTV. No matter how famous the actor or actress was, if they made mistakes, he dared to criticize them bluntly, or even scold them outright.
If a scene failed to meet his standards, Zhang Ke would make the actors repeat it over and over until he was finally satisfied.
Through the experience of filming two dramas, Chen Fei'er's acting skills had improved enormously compared to before. Even so, she still clearly could not completely meet Zhang Ke's standards, and she had suffered quite a bit because of it.
Most importantly, even when enduring hardship and criticism, Chen Fei'er gritted her teeth and persevered. It was not merely because this drama could greatly elevate her status within the entertainment industry, she also wanted to prove her own abilities to everyone.
Naturally, that made things even harder for her.
At this moment, Chen Fei'er could not help thinking of Lu Chen far away in Hong Kong. He was probably living quite comfortably. Maybe he was even drinking coffee with some beautiful woman right now...
"Lu Chen!"
Just as Chen Fei'er's thoughts were wandering, the assistant following beside her suddenly cried out in surprise.
"Sister Fei, Lu Chen is here!"
Chen Fei'er froze for a moment, wondering whether she had imagined it.
How could Lu Chen possibly be here? This was not Capital City or Jinling Film and Television City, but the depths of the endless Mongolian Great Steppe, hundreds of kilometers from the nearest city.
Yet in the very next instant, Chen Fei'er saw Lu Chen running straight toward her!
It really was Lu Chen!
Chen Fei'er could hardly believe her own eyes. The enormous joy instantly blurred her vision with tears. All the exhaustion, grievance, and bitterness in her heart vanished completely, leaving behind only incomparable sweetness.
Not caring in the slightest that countless eyes were watching, she broke into a run and threw herself directly into Lu Chen's embrace.
Lu Chen caught Chen Fei'er in his arms. Compared to her, he remained much more rational, noticing all the strange looks coming from every direction around them. Thus, he forcibly restrained the impulse in his heart and did not make any excessively intimate gestures.
Patting his girlfriend gently on the back, he whispered softly, "You've gotten thinner."
The tears lingering in Chen Fei'er's eyes immediately spilled over. She wanted nothing more than to burst into tears in his arms, but fortunately, she had not completely forgotten where she was.
She gently freed herself from Lu Chen's embrace, somewhat embarrassed as she wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, then asked, "Why did you come here?"
Lu Chen smiled. "I missed you, so I came."
Ahhh,
The onlookers instantly felt overwhelmed by the sweetness of that line. Goosebumps erupted all over their bodies, and countless single people suffered ten thousand points of critical emotional damage at the same time. It was practically unbearable to keep watching.
"Chen Fei'er, is this your boyfriend?"
The approving remark came from a dark, thin middle-aged man. He appeared to be around forty to fifty years old, dressed in a dark gray jacket, with messy hair and prominent cheekbones. His pair of eyes shone sharply as he looked at the two of them.
Chen Fei'er hurriedly introduced him to Lu Chen. "This is our director, Director Zhang Ke."
"Hello, Director Zhang!"
Lu Chen immediately stepped forward and proactively extended both hands. "I'm Lu Chen. I've long admired your great reputation!"
Director Zhang Ke was someone practically everyone in the country recognized, and Lu Chen was no exception.
He was one of CCTV's core in-house television drama directors and had previously directed major historical serial dramas such as Qin, Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, The Great Ming Empire, The Opium War, and many others. Not only was he renowned domestically, but he also possessed considerable prestige throughout the Asian film and television industry.
In front of such a senior figure in the entertainment world, Lu Chen was still very much a junior, no matter how many TV dramas or films he had already made.
Zhang Ke shook Lu Chen's hand, and a faint smile appeared on his otherwise stern face. "I know about you. Zhang Wentian once mentioned you to me. Wan Xiaoquan is working with you now, correct?"
Lu Chen replied respectfully, "Yes. Director Wan is currently in Hong Kong preparing my first film."
Zhang Ke nodded. "Wan Xiaoquan hasn't had it easy either. You're quite good."
He glanced at Chen Fei'er and added, "As Chen Fei'er's boyfriend, you qualify."
Everyone burst into laughter.
At this moment, many people had gathered around them, including quite a few actors from the production crew. Most were still wearing their costumes. Those with higher status stood close by, while the extras could only watch from a distance, pointing and whispering among themselves.
The male actors looked at Lu Chen with admiration and envy, while most of the actresses seemed both appreciative and jealous.
Celebrity set visits were very common, but coming all the way out here to visit a set was not something an ordinary person could manage.
The laughter made even Lu Chen feel a little embarrassed.
Chen Fei'er pressed her lips together as she smiled, the curve of her mouth filled with unmistakable happiness. Then she continued introducing the other actors to Lu Chen.
"This is Big Brother Shi Lang."
"This is Teacher Yan Kang!"
"And Sister Ruan."
The principal actors Chen Fei'er introduced were all heavyweight figures in the film and television industry. The biggest star among them was undoubtedly Shi Lang, who played the male lead. He was a Grand Slam Best Actor winner of China's three major film awards and had starred in numerous beloved films and television dramas.
Shi Lang was tall and dignified in appearance, the sort of man who naturally looked like an upright heroic figure. His attitude toward Lu Chen was very friendly, without the slightest trace of superstar arrogance.
After everyone had been introduced, Zhang Ke said, "Alright, you two may go now. Just remember not to delay tomorrow's filming."
His tone was earnest, but filled with meaningful implication.
Several actresses immediately giggled, while Shi Lang and the others laughed with obvious teasing undertones.
Chen Fei'er's face instantly turned red from all the laughter. She quickly grabbed Lu Chen and hurried off toward the tent where she was staying.
(End of Chapter)