Huayu: This director is so eager to improve.

Chapter 36 Boss Cai's Arrest and Questioning

"Is Nazha spending all her time on the set of 'Day and Night'? Serving tea and water to people? And she seems to enjoy it?"

When Cai Yinong, the owner of Tangren Media, received an exaggerated report from Gulnazar's agent, she was so angry that she almost smashed her phone.

The company's past mistakes kept flashing through her mind.

Liu Shishi and Wu Yifan fell in love while filming "Scarlet Heart" and are about to get married. Sun Li chose to return to her family during the peak of her career to be a wife and mother... Now it's Nazha's turn? And with the director no less!

Are all the female artists from Tangren Media love-obsessed?

No! We absolutely cannot let her repeat the same mistake!

As a promising new actress whom Tangren intends to promote, Boss Cai will not allow the situation of her dying before she even blossoms to happen again!

Acting swiftly, Boss Cai immediately booked the earliest flight and headed straight to the filming location of "White Night" in Tianjin Port.

She wanted to see for herself which fool dared to bewitch the rising star she was grooming.

After getting off the plane, I took a taxi straight here.

The crew was in the middle of a major scene transition, and the scene was bustling with people and moving equipment, making it somewhat chaotic.

Cai Yinong, wearing high heels and a designer suit, exuded a powerful aura, but for a moment she couldn't find her way.

She looked around and saw a girl in a theatrical costume sitting to the side, reading a script. She walked over to her.

"Young lady, where's your director? Where's Qi Yue?"

Li Qing was immersed in the emotions surrounding "Zhou Shutong" when she was startled by the sudden appearance of this older sister. She looked at the other woman with some wariness.

"What can I do for you, Director Qi?"

Cai Yinong took out a business card from her handbag and handed it over, her tone softening slightly.

"I'm the owner of Tangren Media. I'd like to talk to Director Qi about something."

Li Qing glanced at the female boss in front of him, who seemed to have come with ill intentions, and then at the ongoing filming in the distance, feeling somewhat conflicted.

But since the other party had already revealed their identity, she couldn't refuse.

"President Cai, Director Qi is currently filming in Area B. Let me take you there," Li Qing said.

"This is troublesome."

Cai Yinong nodded and followed Li Qing through the messy backstage area.

As soon as I entered Area B, I heard Qi Yue's voice coming through the loudspeaker.

"Stop! Naza, come here."

Nazha, who was filming a tentative conversation between Liu Yin and Zhou Xun, paused for a moment and walked nervously to the monitor.

Qi Yue pointed to the replay footage, his tone calm, but every word struck a nerve like a hammer blow.

"Who is Liu Yin? She's a shrewd bar owner who walks the line between right and wrong, a master of social maneuvering. She's wary of Zhou Xun, but also curious, and wants to get some information out of him. And you? What are you playing? A model student reciting a text in front of the teacher! I want 'Liu Yin' to navigate the complexities of 'Zhou Xun,' not 'Nazha' acting as 'Liu Yin' acting opposite 'Duan Yihong'! How many times have you watched 'New Dragon Gate Inn,' which I recommended to you?"

"I..." Nazha lowered her head involuntarily.

"That movie was a bit boring. Neither Tony Leung nor Maggie Cheung knows how to have a romance. I fell asleep halfway through yesterday's movie."

Seeing that Qi Yue almost fainted, she quickly added...

"I'm sorry, Director Qi, shall I try again..."

"What I want isn't an apology!" Qi Yue's tone became more forceful.

"You have ten minutes to clear your mind of all this nonsense! Think about Liu Yin's background, why she opened this bar, and her complex feelings towards the police. Think it through! If you can't figure it out, we're not filming this scene today!"

These were very harsh words. Naza finally couldn't hold back her tears, and they streamed down her face.

The set was silent. The crew members whispered among themselves, and Duan Yihong frowned slightly, but he understood the director's requirements for the scene and said nothing.

This scene was witnessed by Cai Yinong and Li Qing, who rushed over.

Cai Yinong's expression wasn't as bad as when she arrived; instead, she looked more surprised.

"Is your Director Qi usually this strict?"

"Is it strict?" Li Qin blinked, seemingly thinking for a moment, before answering naturally.

"I think it's alright. Director Qi has high standards for actors, so it's fine if he's a bit strict."

She paused, then added,

"Actually, I wish Director Qi would scold me more often. Every time he scolds me, I always discover some problems that I hadn't realized before, and I improve very quickly."

Cai Yinong: "..."

How can being criticized generate anticipation? Are the people in this production crew all a bit off their minds?

She looked over there.

Naza had wiped away her tears and was looking down, holding the script in her hand and muttering to herself, seemingly trying to understand the character again.

Qi Yue, however, was no longer paying attention to her; he was communicating with the camera lighting crew, explaining the details of the next shot.

"From this angle, darken the figure's silhouette a bit more to emphasize his sense of isolation, being squeezed from both sides."

"The sidelight on Liu Yin's side can be a little warmer, but not too much, to create a contrast with the coldness in her heart."

"When the next shot zooms in, the focus shifts from blurry to sharp, simulating Zhou Xun's scrutinizing gaze..."

His expression was focused, and every instruction was clear and precise. Under his leadership, the entire crew quickly recovered from their earlier silence. Everyone performed their duties efficiently.

Five minutes later.

"Scene 65, Shot 3, begin!"

The sound of the clapperboard fading.

Nazha, who plays Liu Yin, leans against the bar counter, seemingly casually fiddling with a wine glass in her hand.

When she looked at Zhou Xun, played by Duan Yihong, her eyes were less vacant than before, and more shrewd like a bar owner.

Although some of her inexperience is still evident, her dedication to "trying to become the character" is significantly stronger.

The lines also flowed much more smoothly, no longer reciting mechanically.

"Captain Zhou, my small business can't afford your daily 'patronage'."

......

Qi Yue stared intently at the monitor without speaking, but his tense jawline relaxed slightly.

"stop!"

The scene fell silent as everyone waited for Qi Yue's next words.

Qi Yue's voice came through the loudspeaker, calm and even.

"That take is good, let's get ready for the next shot."

A slight sigh of relief could be heard on set.

Naza glanced furtively at the monitor, then quickly looked away, a smile like that of a little girl who had just received candy spreading across her face.

"President Cai, should I invite Director Qi over?" Li Qin asked quietly from the side.

Cai Yinong snapped out of her daze, glanced at Nazha who had recovered and was preparing for the next shot, and then looked at the young director in the distance who was once again surrounded by the heads of various departments.

It seems things aren't as "bad" as the agent made them out to be over the phone.

At least there should still be hope for Naza.

"Never mind," Cai Yinong waved her hand, her tone returning to its usual capable manner, "I won't disturb your filming any longer."

"Please tell Director Qi that I've been here."

After saying that, she left the set decisively with her assistant.