Chapter 30: Measuring Up

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The filming of *A Mix-Up in the Flower Fields* began soon afterward.

And on the very first day, one surprise followed another.

Well... was the domestic entertainment industry simply too poor in those days, or was the capital's entertainment circle just too small? Either way, on the morning filming began, Lin Jianlu suddenly encountered several familiar faces from later generations.

Little Steel Cannon showed up.

So did the chubby, round-faced Yu Qian, who looked as though he could be squeezed for a whole basin of water.

The former had come purely to make up the numbers. The film he had been working on had just been urgently suspended by the Beijing Film Studio. Apparently, it was because of Wang Shuo. Wang Shuo had recently come under fierce criticism nationwide, and the film was adapted from one of his novels. He and Little Steel Cannon were also co-directing it, so naturally, production had been halted, with no end to the suspension in sight.

Little Steel Cannon was obviously bored out of his mind. With nothing to do and his future uncertain, he had heard that the superstar Lin Jianlu was handsome and manly, much better-looking in person than on television, so he had come purely to see a celebrity.

The latter was more interesting. After chatting with him, Lin Jianlu learned that Yu Qian really had enrolled in the Film and Television Directing program at the Beijing Film Academy. He had begun acting even earlier, however, appearing onstage several years ago and even taking part in *The Story of the Editorial Office*. He had formally studied crosstalk and was also an official member of a theatrical troupe, though he hardly ever went there. Instead, he made a living around the film and television industry, accepting minor roles whenever they came along. When there were none, he simply stayed with production crews, working as a production assistant, sound technician, driver—whatever was needed.

He, too, had heard that a production was starting and come over to see the star while earning a little pocket money.

Little Steel Cannon had not come alone. He had brought his wife, Xu Fan, with him.

To be honest, she was still a younger version of Xu Fan at this point, and she looked quite beautiful and charming.

Several others had also come to watch the excitement:

Jiang Wenli, Huang Lei, and Jiang Wu.

Jiang Qinqin had even brought along a classmate named Chen Shasha.

Oh, and there was one more thing. Gu Changwei had originally recommended two people to Lin Jianlu. Lin Jianlu had chosen Zhang Zien, who seemed better suited to costume dramas, but the other candidate, Zhang Yang, had come along too.

They really did seem to have nothing better to do!

When he saw so many familiar faces from later generations, Lin Jianlu could not help thinking instinctively: Was the domestic film and television industry really this short of work right now?

There was nothing much to say. He signed autographs for anyone who wanted one, then invited everyone to lunch. Lin Jianlu had never been stingy about such expenses, and besides, Rock Records would certainly be paying the bill.

He had none of the airs one might expect from a superstar supposedly famous throughout the mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. He simply rolled up his sleeves and ate with gusto. Unlike the group Gu Changwei had brought in earlier, most of this crew had never worked with him before. For many of them, this was the first time they had ever shared a meal with a major celebrity.

Wow. They were astonished.

So he was just like the rest of them.

He could even eat more than they could.

Quite a few people had helped move boxes and lights that morning. After lunch, many of them grew especially fond of Lin Jianlu's easygoing manner. He not only ate heartily at the same table with everyone, but was also an entertaining conversationalist. As a result, they all stayed on to help in the afternoon.

There was not much for them to do. The scenes that could be filmed inside the studio were finished before five o'clock. Even so, Lin Jianlu had Old Xue give everyone who had come a genuine CD as a memento.

After all, CDs were barely selling in the mainland, and there was a huge stockpile sitting around.

There were still no accurate figures for sales of the original cassette tapes, but it was certain that more than three million copies had been sold. By contrast, CD sales were estimated at only around 140,000.

* * *

Unexpectedly, Jiang Qinqin was an excellent actress.

She had almost no scenes in the morning. It was all Lin Jianlu, striking poses and lip-syncing, so he had not paid much attention. But when filming resumed in the afternoon, he was stunned. He nearly faltered at the very first shot.

He could not tell whether she was merely acting or whether she truly possessed that ability.

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Her eyes were bright and limpid, as though they could speak. When she gazed at him with quiet grievance and tender sorrow, Lin Jianlu instantly felt as if he must have betrayed her at some point in a previous life.

He had no clear memory of seeing her in any films or television dramas in his previous life. He only vaguely remembered that she often appeared in compilations of ancient-costume beauties on short-video platforms. At the time, he had considered her fairly ordinary. She was undeniably beautiful, especially in period costume—genuinely beautiful—but he had never expected to face that gaze head-on while acting opposite her.

If this continued, Lin Jianlu felt he might not last even three days.

How could anyone possibly avoid making mistakes?

“Qinqin, ease up a little. I can’t withstand the way you’re looking at me!”

Jiang Qinqin stood there, shy, timid, bewildered, and deeply embarrassed.

“I... I don’t know how else to act. When I was filming *Xishi*, Director Yang Jie told me that I looked best when I gazed at people like this, so I... I just...”

She was obviously becoming nervous.

This was Lin Jianlu's music video! She had never even dreamed that such an opportunity could fall from the heavens. Not only would she be appearing in Lin Jianlu's music video, she would also be paid six thousand yuan for three days of work. When she had filmed Director Yang Jie's *Xishi* for China Central Television, she had worked for nearly three months and received only 7,200 yuan in total.

Two days earlier, she had gone to the New Grand Metropole Hotel for an audition. After leaving, she had finally realized how foolish she must have looked. Upon seeing Lin Jianlu in person, she had become so tongue-tied that she could barely speak. For a while, she had been convinced that she had left a terrible impression and that they probably would not hire her.

And now, the moment filming began, he was already criticizing her!

Fortunately, Zhang Zien came over and asked what had happened.

Lin Jianlu spread his hands. “If she had lived in ancient times, she could absolutely have caused the whole ‘flames of war over a beauty’ incident. The longing in her eyes is unbelievable. One look from her and I feel certain I must have abandoned her in my previous life and married someone else!”

Zhang Zien burst out laughing.

Jiang Qinqin could not hold back either. She let out a little laugh, embarrassed and bashful at once.

Unexpectedly, Little Steel Cannon chimed in from the edge of the set.

“That seems unlikely. What beauty from Hong Kong or Taiwan have you never seen?”

Lin Jianlu thought to himself: What the hell would you know? Liu Ruoying and Su Huilun were both attractive enough. Chen Shuhua, Zhang Aijia, and Lin Qingxia were all stunning beauties. Liang Yongqi was exceptionally pure and fresh. But none of them had this kind of seductive charm!

Of course, to mainlanders of this era, the beauties of Hong Kong and Taiwan might seem more fashionable, prettier, and more alluring, while mainland girls appeared too rustic. But sorry—Lin Jianlu did not share that filter.

Without even turning his head, he tossed back a single line:

“You’ve had your fill. I haven’t even had a taste.”

The whole set erupted in laughter. Even Xu Fan blushed slightly as she laughed along.

Little Steel Cannon grinned even wider, exposing a mouthful of crooked teeth.

Jiang Qinqin, however, became even more embarrassed.

Oh, right. If he was being honest, there really had been one.

Gigi Lai had once gazed at him with that same tender, yearning look, and she too had made him feel enormous pressure. But that had been at the Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony, where he had been socially alert and on guard. Today, he had been completely unprepared. He had nearly fallen into the trap before he could react.

“I’m... I’m sorry. I’ve only acted in two productions. I’ll try a different approach.”

“It’s fine. Come on! I’m not a foolish emperor in this story. I can control myself!”

* * *

Jiang Qinqin was quite an interesting girl.

After working together for a while, Lin Jianlu gradually recalled that she had apparently later married Chen Jianbin. He could not remember why, but it seemed that she had barely acted in anything afterward.

And yet, in his memories, she also seemed to have enjoyed a period of real popularity—perhaps in the 1990s, or sometime in the early 2000s. In any case, Lin Jianlu had never watched a complete production starring her.

By the time he had begun watching television dramas, he was already watching *The Tang Dynasty Poet Immortal*.

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Thinking about it now, Faye might only be around ten years old at this point. Sigh. He had no idea what Yuan was doing now. Most likely, she was still in high school.

In his previous life, he had seen her film *The Bicycle of Seventeen*. He had no idea where the director had dug her up from. At least in the current capital entertainment scene, there was not yet any sign of her.

Bingbing had not even played a maid yet, and he did not know whether Sweetie had graduated from kindergarten.

It would still be many years before the five members of their family could be reunited.

“Brother Lu, have a popsicle!”

“Oh, thanks!”

The next morning, everyone assembled early and headed straight for the outskirts. They arrived in Huairou, at a place called Feiteng Film and Television Base, where they had rented locations for two days. Most of the filming would take place there.

The weather was another matter. It had only just passed the May Day holiday, yet somehow the temperature had suddenly become unbearably hot over the past two days.

Lin Jianlu had sent someone out early to buy popsicles. During a break in filming, he escaped to a shady spot and watched Zhang Zien direct the crew as they moved the equipment and rearranged the camera positions and lighting.

In the space of a moment, Jiang Qinqin appeared with a popsicle and held it out to him.

He tore open the wrapper and began eating with loud, icy hisses. Jiang Qinqin obediently sat down beside him. She enjoyed this position immensely. Even when it came to something as trivial as a popsicle, the chubby production assistant would take the initiative and say, “Would you mind taking one to Brother Lu?”

Bringing him a popsicle seemed to be her own special privilege.

This was completely different from the two productions she had worked on previously. Although she had played the female lead in both, she had still been treated as an ordinary actress. Aside from the prying eyes and calculated flattery of certain people, no one in those crews—from the directors to the most junior production assistants—had genuinely fawned over her.

Here, the closer she grew to Lin Jianlu, the more respectfully the crew treated her and the more they catered to her. She loved the feeling.

“Brother Lu, after we finish filming, can I still come and visit you?”

“Of course! You can come anytime!”

She immediately brightened at his answer and was about to say something else when Xue Zhongding, the production manager, suddenly hurried over and handed Lin Jianlu his ringing phone.

“Hello?”

A girl's voice came through the receiver. Jiang Qinqin instantly pricked up her ears.

It was Liu Ruoying.

“The music video for *Ten Years* has been delivered to the company. I watched it. It isn't as good as the one we made for *Fairy Tale*! *Fairy Tale* was so moving. This one isn't nearly as touching!”

“Tsk! That's because you're still young. You don't understand the art of wanting to speak but holding back.”

“I’m older than you!”

“Next time we meet, we'll find a ruler and measure it.”

“Pfft...”

Liu Ruoying burst out laughing on the other end.

Jiang Qinqin listened in confusion. It was not until more than half an hour later that she suddenly understood what “find a ruler and measure it” meant. She could not help feeling utterly astonished.

Was he... was he flirting with the girl on the other end of the phone?

* * *

The end of the month is here, and I still haven't managed to scrape together even a thousand monthly votes. How about giving me a few more?

It would be rather embarrassing to fall too far short, wouldn't it?

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