Chapter 2: Wansheng Film and Television

Zhang Laifu was hired.

The other party had even brought over the contract!

Zhang Laifu flipped through the document, heading straight for the compensation clause. "One hundred and sixty a day, right?"

"That’s your attendance pay," Old Song said, flipping the contract to page nineteen. "Your monthly salary also includes a base salary and performance bonuses. Since this is your first day, you’ll get the full base salary for the month and half the performance bonus. After deducting the five insurances and one housing fund, you’ll have a bit over twenty thousand left."

"You pay monthly?" Zhang Laifu had never encountered a production crew like this. In the world of background extras, it was usually daily pay.

"We are a legitimate organization. Of course we pay monthly!" Old Song began packing up, stuffing the documents from the table into his bag.

"Twenty thousand? Plus benefits?" Zhang Laifu hadn't quite processed it yet. He was busy calculating how many chickens twenty thousand yuan could buy.

Twenty thousand was such a large number that one hundred and sixty actually felt more familiar and comforting!

Holding the registration form, Old Song asked Zhang Laifu, "The bank card number on here is real, right?"

"It’s real," Zhang Laifu verified it carefully. "About that—you don't need to transfer the hundred and sixty to the card. You can just—"

"Old Zheng, transfer the money to his account."

"Got it." Old Zheng answered and made a call to finance. A moment later, Zhang Laifu’s phone chimed.

A salary payment of 21,832 yuan had arrived in his account.

They actually sent it?

Zhang Laifu looked at his phone, then looked up at Old Song.

Something wasn't right.

Zhang Laifu wasn't a drama student; he had never even played a role with a single line of dialogue.

Even if they wanted to give him a formal job, shouldn't they at least wait until he graduated?

Even without an internship period, a monthly salary of twenty thousand was impossible.

"Where is your company located?"

Old Zheng replied, "Not far from here."

"Not far?" Zhang Laifu was deeply skeptical. "Is it... within the country?"

"Don't worry, we brought a car. It’ll be here soon." Old Zheng took down the banner and disconnected the power. It seemed this temporary office was being abandoned.

Zhang Laifu coughed twice. "I’m a little excited. I’m going downstairs to buy a bottle of water."

Old Song handed him a bottle. "Calm your nerves first. If there are no issues, sign the contract."

Zhang Laifu twisted the cap but didn't drink. He placed the bottle on the table and carefully scanned the contract in his hands.

Old Song checked his watch. "You can look at the details on the way. Right now, you need to get into a working state as quickly as possible. Come to the set with me."

Zhang Laifu asked, "Going to the set right now?"

Old Song nodded. "Didn't I say? The set is short-handed."

Zhang Laifu tucked the contract into his shirt. Then, he looked up and addressed Old Song and Old Zheng with a solemn expression. "I’ve read the contract; there are no major issues. Old Song, Old Zheng, you’ve worked hard these past two days. Go back and pack your things. The set is short-handed, so we’re preparing to start work tonight."

"Uh..." Old Zheng looked at Zhang Laifu with a face full of confusion. "What was that supposed to mean?"

Zhang Laifu frowned, looking Old Zheng up and down. "Which part didn't you understand? I just said we're starting work tonight. Do you have an objection?"

Having said his piece, Zhang Laifu walked out indignantly.

Old Zheng stood frozen in place before turning to Old Song. "Second Master, the way this kid talks has the air of a Great Leader. Could he have been sent by the Chief..."

Old Song was still busy packing. He pointed impatiently toward the door. "Sent by the Chief my foot! He’s trying to run! Go get him!"

Old Zheng wasn't the brightest man, but Old Song didn't like people who were too clever anyway.

Zhang Laifu was jogging down the stairs when a snatch of song suddenly drifted into his ears: "Sigh~ Cold! A bitter summer wind blows~"

Old Zheng sang as he walked up beside Zhang Laifu.

He was singing?

No, it didn't sound like a regular song.

It sounded like something he had heard before.

His voice was beautiful.

Zhang Laifu felt like he had never heard such a wonderful melody in his life. The tune seemed to burrow into his ears, hooking onto his very soul.

He didn't have time to listen to music; he had to get out of there.

But he couldn't move!

It wasn't just his ears that were hooked; it was his legs. When Old Zheng moved fast, Zhang Laifu followed fast. When Old Zheng stopped, Zhang Laifu stopped.

What kind of technique was this? Psychological suggestion?

Zhang Laifu fought to control his own legs. Old Song walked up beside him, looking at him with a beaming smile. "Sounds good, doesn't it? Want to hear more? Never heard anything like it before, have you?"

People are most sincere when they are afraid, and Old Song dearly wanted to see Zhang Laifu’s fear.

Zhang Laifu remained calm—at least his face did. "I’ve heard snippets online. This is called Pingtan, right?"

Old Song was surprised by his composure. "You’ve got a good head on your shoulders. Can you understand it?"

Zhang Laifu shook his head. "I can't understand the lyrics."

Old Song advised him, "It doesn't matter if you can't understand. But as an excellent actor, even if you don't understand, you have to act like you do. You have to get into character!"

"Yes, I’ll be in character very soon."

Zhang Laifu had to face reality; he was currently being controlled by Old Zheng.

While he was talking to Old Song, his legs were still moving in sync with Old Zheng.

This person had special abilities. Escaping from him wouldn't be easy.

Where did their powers come from? Was it some kind of high-tech tool?

What did they want with him? Was it necessary to use such an advanced tool on someone like him?

It certainly wasn't for money; you don't target a poor student for wealth.

Perhaps they wanted his life? But he had no grievances with them.

Could they be organ harvesters?

The three of them left the temporary building and approached a business van.

The driver, Old Yu, opened the door. Zhang Laifu stepped forward as if to get in, then suddenly turned around. "I left my ID on the table. I forgot to grab it."

He wanted to use the excuse of getting his ID to make a break for it. But when he turned around, the Wansheng Film and Television building was gone.

How could a two-story prefab building that large just disappear?

He wanted to go back to where the building had stood to check, but Old Zheng started singing again.

"The beauty of Yilin~ A shimmering jade!"

Zhang Laifu really didn't understand Pingtan; he didn't understand a single word.

But Old Zheng sang so well—every note and rhyme felt like it was flowing from the strings of a lute. It made Zhang Laifu’s legs heavy and caused the wariness in his heart to slowly dissolve.

Where was that lute coming from?

Old Zheng wasn't playing one, yet the faint accompaniment of a pipa was audible within the song!

*I can't let my guard down. I can't let Old Zheng distract me. Where did that building go?*

"It's right here!" Old Song pulled the ID out of his bag and handed it to Zhang Laifu. The bag was made of cloth, its grey-white color somewhat similar to the exterior of the prefab building.

"I saw you leave it on the table. You have to fix this habit of forgetting things. Our set is very large. If you lose your ID there, it won't be easy to find."

*Splash~*

Old Song looked down to inspect the car. "Where is that water leaking from?"

Old Yu, the driver, looked at Old Song. "Your bag! It's leaking from your bag!"

Old Song lifted it up; the grey cloth bag was gushing water.

He pulled a water bottle out of the bag and realized it had no cap.

"Laifu, didn't I give this water to you? This forgetfulness of yours is going to cause big problems in the future. Look what you did to my bag."

Zhang Laifu knew that "big problems" had already arrived.

Old Song had indeed given him that water. Zhang Laifu hadn't drunk it; he had twisted off the cap and left it on the table.

He remembered clearly: Old Song had not put the bottle in his bag. No sane person would put an uncapped bottle of water in a bag.

So where did this bottle come from?

Old Song took out an apple and began to lecture him while eating it. "You aren't a temporary extra anymore. You are a formal employee of Wansheng Film and Television. You must maintain the basic qualities of an excellent actor at all times. Do you know what those are?"

Zhang Laifu thought about it. The extras' guild had mentioned this. "Arriving at the set on time and ensuring I’m never late?"

Old Song shook his head repeatedly. "That’s just labor discipline; that’s not 'quality.' If you want to be an excellent actor, the most basic requirement is to get into character. From now on, you must have the 'play' in your mind at all times."

Zhang Laifu looked first at the amiable Old Song, then at the kind-looking Old Zheng, then at the stern-faced driver, Old Yu, and finally at the surrounding wilderness.

He pulled out his phone.

"I really didn't expect that a background extra like me would get the chance to become a formal employee of Wansheng. I’m just so excited. Can we take a group photo together?"

Old Song shook his head. "Why take a photo now? Wait until the film wraps."

"Then can I take a selfie?"

"There’s nothing worth photographing here. Let’s get moving."

Old Song tried to stop him, but Zhang Laifu insisted on taking a picture.

He lit up his phone screen and checked it first.

No signal.

When he received his salary earlier, the signal had been full. Why was it gone now?

They had a signal jammer.

Zhang Laifu opened the camera and snapped a few photos.

He needed the license plate and photos of these men. These were vital clues for a rescue.

Old Song and Old Zheng had already gotten into the car. Only Old Yu was still waiting by the side, but he actively dodged Zhang Laifu’s lens. Not a single photo caught Old Yu’s face.

Once he was done, Zhang Laifu suddenly shouted, "Something is wrong with your tailpipe! Did someone stuff something in there?"

"Who did it!" Old Yu immediately cut the engine and went to check the exhaust.

Zhang Laifu noticed that Old Yu was highly vigilant; he seemed worried about being ambushed.

After checking the tailpipe and finding nothing, Old Yu looked up to see that Zhang Laifu had already run off into the distance.

"That little brat!" Old Yu started to give chase but saw that Old Song had already caught up.

Old Yu turned to Old Zheng. "Is this kid actually an idiot or not?"

Old Zheng found it hard to judge. "I think he is, but sometimes I feel like he isn't."

Old Yu really couldn't understand why they had picked this guy. "In a place as big as the Outer Provinces, aren't there plenty of fools? Why did the Second Master have to come all the way here to find one?"

Old Zheng shook his head. "An ordinary fool won't do. We need a fool who doesn't look like a fool. The Second Master said that the film city is full of idiots like that."

"Isn't that just talk to fool the Chief?"

Old Zheng waved his hand dismissively. "It’s no trick. It’s the truth. We must have a fool who doesn't look like one to perform the 'Opening the Bowl' for the Chief."

Old Yu frowned. "This guy knows how to run. He's definitely not a fool!"

Old Zheng didn't agree. "When you slaughter a pig, the pig knows to run, too. Does that mean the pig isn't stupid? It depends on his level of stupidity."

Old Yu cracked his knuckles and rolled his wrists. "Have you ever killed a pig? You have to tie it up properly before you start. Let's just tie the kid up and carry him back. Job done."

"Don't be so impatient. Wait until we’re on the train."

A moment later, Old Song led Zhang Laifu back, praising him non-stop. "Laifu, that performance just now was very smooth, very natural. It really showed the quality of a professional actor."

Zhang Laifu gave a simple, honest laugh. "I was pretty nervous. I feel a lot of pressure in front of seniors like you. That bit of acting just now was mainly to convey a sense of urgency and crisis in an emergency!"

The pressure was indeed high. He really hadn't expected Old Song, a middle-aged man, to run much faster than him.

Not only was he fast, but Old Song had only touched him once, and Zhang Laifu felt as if he were stepping on cotton. He had been unable to run another step.

With Old Song around, escaping was going to be extremely difficult.

"Both of you seniors were really in character," Zhang Laifu smiled at Old Yu and Old Zheng.

Old Yu said nothing.

Old Zheng opened the car door. "Yes, everyone is in character. Get in the car."

In the van, Old Zheng and the driver sat in the front, while Zhang Laifu and Old Song sat in the back.

Once the car started moving, Zhang Laifu took out his phone. Still no signal.

Old Song tapped on Zhang Laifu’s phone. "Laifu, it's working hours. Don't play with your phone. Pay attention to labor discipline. We’re heading to a shoot right now, and we start work the moment we arrive. Change into your costume first."

Old Song pulled out a blue, side-buttoned robe and a white felt hat, handing them to Zhang Laifu.

Zhang Laifu took off his jacket and put on the robe. Having been an extra for over a year, he was an expert at changing clothes—no matter the occasion or location, he could swap outfits in a flash.

He didn't have much of a choice anyway; Old Song and Old Zheng were watching him intently.

With the robe, the felt hat, and a pair of round-framed sunglasses, Zhang Laifu looked like a merchant from a century ago.

Old Song marveled, "Fine feathers make fine birds. Once the costume is on, it’s like turning dross into gold!"

Zhang Laifu looked at Old Song. "I don't think 'turning dross into gold' is the right idiom to use there."

"How is it not right?" Old Yu chimed in. "Our Second Master is a man of learning!"

Zhang Laifu looked left and right. "Who is the Second Master?"

Old Song explained, "When the cameras are rolling, we use character names instead of our own. My character in this drama is the Second Master. The character is set as a scholar."

Zhang Laifu asked, "And who am I?"

Old Yu felt there was no point in hiding it anymore now that they were this far. "You’re the Seedling."

Zhang Laifu still didn't understand. "What’s a Seedling?"

Old Song felt the play had to continue. "Seedling is the character's nickname. Just like Old Yu’s nickname is Yu the Calculator, and Old Zheng’s is Zheng the Lute. You’ll meet Old Liang in a bit; his nickname is Liang One-Heart. If you hear people calling each other by nicknames, don't be surprised. It’s all in the script."

Old Yu’s hand rubbed the steering wheel. "Yu the Calculator really is my nickname. I’m quite good at reading the signs."

Old Zheng laughed. "They call me Zheng the Lute because I love singing Pingtan, which requires a lute for accompaniment."

Zhang Laifu smiled too. "They call me the Seedling because I know how to plant seedlings?"

Old Song nodded repeatedly. "Exactly. You’re meant for planting. When we’re filming, we’ll call you Seedling. When we aren't, we’ll call you Laifu."

Old Song and Old Zheng also changed their clothes. Even Old Yu managed to swap his outfit while waiting at a red light. All three wore robes and felt hats, though the styles varied slightly. Old Song’s clothes were made of better material and finer craftsmanship.

Once they were changed, Old Song looked at Zhang Laifu’s hair with dissatisfaction. "We need to fix your hair. It has to fit the era of the script."

Zhang Laifu specifically asked, "I don't have to shave it, do I? Shaving the sideburns is an extra ten yuan, and a full shave is forty. Those are the rules."

Old Song ate his apple and said, "You have to lose those habits of a temporary extra. You are a formal employee now. Everything must be done according to the rules and regulations. You must take the initiative to overcome difficulties in your work. If the production's requirements affect your image, the company will provide appropriate compensation through performance bonuses."

Zhang Laifu asked, "What kind of regulations are there?"

"I can't just give a vague introduction. Once we reach the company, you’ll undergo systematic training."

Zhang Laifu looked at the apple in Old Song’s hand. Although it wasn't anything rare, the fragrance was incredibly enticing.

"Where did you buy that apple?"

Before Old Song could answer, Old Yu replied, "This was sent by our Quartermaster. Every piece of fruit contains the Quartermaster's deep, bloody affection!"

Zhang Laifu hadn't heard that term before. "What is a Liangtai?"

"A Liangtai is the person in charge of money and grain—"

Old Song cut in. "Quartermaster is the nickname we gave him. He’s a middle-manager in our company, the Director of Logistics."

After finishing one apple, Old Song took out another.

A look of realization dawned on Zhang Laifu. "This Logistics Director must be a woman. She gave you so many apples; you two must have a very deep relationship."

Old Zheng, the assistant, turned back to look at Old Song.

Old Yu, the driver, watched Old Song through the rearview mirror.

Old Song looked at his apple and pursed his lips.

"Actually, it's just the bond between colleagues. It's all for the sake of the acting..." Old Song handed the apple to Zhang Laifu. "Laifu, you have talent. You’ve really got the 'play' in your heart."

...

The van left the film city and drove to a distant suburb, stopping at an office building. Zhang Laifu followed Old Song out of the car.

The building was twenty or thirty stories high. Judging by its grand appearance, it seemed to belong to a legitimate company. The sound of Zheng the Lute’s Pingtan continued to swirl in his ears, and Zhang Laifu realized his wariness was fading.

"Such a beautiful building! I have to take a photo!" Zhang Laifu pulled out his phone again, and Old Song didn't stop him.

He had to take a photo of the building. Like the license plate, it was a vital piece of information for a rescue.

After taking a dozen photos, Old Yu urged, "Time to go. Everyone is waiting for you!"

Zhang Laifu put away his phone and asked Old Yu, "How many floors does this building have?"

Old Yu glanced up. "Thirty-one."

He counted that fast?

He was clearly just guessing.

Old Yu was obviously unfamiliar with the building.

Zhang Laifu had just counted; the building had thirty-two floors.

Old Zheng, standing behind them, counted seriously. "It really is thirty-one floors."

Zhang Laifu said nothing. It seemed none of them were familiar with the place.

So why were they here?

As they reached the entrance, Old Song instructed, "Laifu, since it’s your first day, you don't have a work ID yet. When we pass through the turnstiles, stay close to me."

"Okay!" Zhang Laifu looked up at the office building again. It seemed to have become shorter.

Old Yu urged from behind, "What are you looking at? This is a legitimate company. Follow the Second Master."

Old Song reached the door, pulled out a card, and passed through the first turnstile.

Before the gate could close, Old Yu gave Zhang Laifu a nudge from behind, pushing him through the turnstile right after Old Song.

Ahead lay a vast lobby, more spacious than any office lobby Zhang Laifu had ever seen.

Furthermore, the decor didn't look like an office building at all.

The floor was made of square stone slabs, surrounded by thick stone pillars. The ceiling was high, resembling the dome of a Western cathedral, with glass windows set high in the walls, letting in a few rays of dim, yellowish light.

What kind of place was this?

It looked familiar, yet not quite.

People were coming and going in the lobby. Some wore Western suits, some wore Sun Yat-sen suits, some wore long robes, and others wore short shirts with cloth buttons.

A person in a uniform hurried past. Zhang Laifu wanted to go and ask a few questions, but a dozen people blocked his path. They all bowed in unison to Old Song.

Old Song looked at Zhang Laifu. "These are all actors. They are your seniors in the company; you should learn from them. On set, we address each other by our character names. This is Old Yan, this is Old Zhao, this is Old Gu, this is Old Qiao, and this is Old Liang. These two are..."

There were two new faces in the crowd. Liang One-Heart stepped forward to introduce them. "This is Little Han, and this is Little Meng. These are the two new actors we recruited."

Old Yu looked at Old Liang. "Why are you recruiting actors? Didn't we agree that this was our job? You didn't need to worry about it!"

Old Liang smiled. " I was afraid you wouldn't make it in time, so I recruited them from another set. Don't worry, it's not the same filming base; there won't be any trouble..."

Old Song waved his hand. "It’s fine. It’s all for the good of the company. These two newcomers look quite good."

Little Han was a man in his late twenties, dressed in a sharp suit and looking every bit the professional actor.

He was very respectful toward Old Song, bowing repeatedly while shaking hands. "Manager Song, my name is Han Yucheng. It is an honor to meet you today."

Zhang Laifu spoke up from the side. "No need to be so polite. You can just call him Old Song."

Old Zheng glared at Zhang Laifu. "Mind your manners in the workplace."

Zhang Laifu quickly corrected himself. "Right, in the workplace, you have to call him Second Master. I’m called Seedling."

Song Yongchang gave a dry laugh. "We’re talking about characters..."

Hearing Zhang Laifu call himself "Seedling," the crowd burst into praise.

"The Second Master is amazing. This young man looks decent enough, but he really is a fool."

"The Second Master’s eye is never wrong. He’s a man of learning, after all!"

Zhang Laifu said to Han Yucheng, "I said my name is Seedling. Did you hear me?"

Did this guy named Han even know what was going on?

Han Yucheng ignored Zhang Laifu and continued talking to Old Song. "Manager Song, I’ve just returned from abroad. During my time as an international student, I primarily studied acting, though I’ve also dabbled in directing and screenwriting. My main goal in returning is to gain experience at the top of the domestic industry. If I fall short in my work in the future..."

Han Yucheng talked too much, cornering Old Song and refusing to stop.

Little Meng was a young woman, very beautiful, and about the same age as Zhang Laifu.

"Hello, Manager Song. My name is Meng Xuanxuan. This is my first time acting."

As she spoke, Meng Xuanxuan blushed from her cheeks all the way to her ears. She held Old Song’s hand gently, not letting go for a long time.

She was clearly treating Old Song like a potential benefactor. Old Song understood her intentions and merely smiled without speaking.

Zhang Laifu couldn't stand it anymore. He glared at Meng Xuanxuan. "Don't be like that. Our Second Master already has someone in his heart."

Meng Xuanxuan pretended not to understand. "Who?"

"Our Quartermaster! Do you understand? The one in charge of grain and money. Our Quartermaster has apples..."

Old Song took an apple and stuffed it into Zhang Laifu’s mouth, then ordered Old Yu and Old Zheng, "Go and get the transit passes for the new employees."

The two of them went together, though Old Yu hadn't understood Old Song’s command. "What transit passes?"

Old Zheng laughed. "He means buy the tickets."

"If you mean buy tickets, just say buy tickets. Why all the runaround?"

"It’s because we don't want them to overhear. We can't have them getting suspicious."

"Old Liang is such a show-off. This wasn't even his business, yet he had to go and find two more fools!"

"Two more fools means a bit more insurance. What if something goes wrong on the way?"

"If you don't want anything to go wrong, we should do as I said: tie them up, gag them, throw them in sacks, and deliver them straight to the mountain."

Old Zheng laughed. "You’re going to carry three sacks onto a train? Do you think they’ll let you on?"

"Then you can sing your song and have them follow you."

"Sing the whole way? Do you want to kill me from exhaustion?"

"Then let our Second Master use his methods..."

Old Zheng shook his head with a smile. "You’re being impatient again. The ticket inspectors at the station aren't easy to trick. If you use those tricks, they’ll notice. Wait until we’re on the train."

The two of them returned with the tickets. A group of over a dozen people walked through the lobby and into a corridor, which was lined with over a dozen elevators on each side.

Zhang Laifu said in shock, "Why are there so many elevators?"

Little Han and Little Meng didn't want to talk to Zhang Laifu. He spoke nonsensically, had no filter, and made a scene over an elevator. They wondered how an idiot like him had even gotten into the crew.

Old Song patiently explained to Zhang Laifu, "Our company is a leader in the industry. We have dozens of shows filming at the same time. To keep everything running smoothly, we naturally need more elevators."

The elevator doors opened. Old Song gave Zhang Laifu a ticket. "Hold onto this. Give it to the elevator operator."

In this day and age, they still had elevator operators?

"What is this ticket for?"

"Never heard of a work pass? You need a work pass to enter the set. We are a legitimate company." Old Song handed his ticket to the operator, who used a pair of pliers to punch a hole in it.

Zhang Laifu looked down at the ticket in his hand. The blue cardstock was covered in fine print.

He could only make out the four largest digits: 1168.

Before he could read further, Old Yu urged him from behind. "Hurry up and give them the ticket. What are you lingering for?"

Zhang Laifu handed his ticket to the operator. The operator punched a hole and was about to hand it back when Old Song snatched it away.

Little Han and Little Meng’s tickets were also taken.

The operator called out, "Everyone for 1168?"

Someone answered, and while some remained silent, no one denied it.

The operator pressed the digits 1168 on the touchscreen. The elevator shuddered and began to ascend.

The office building only had about thirty floors. Zhang Laifu didn't understand what 1168 meant. He asked, "Are we going to the one-thousand-one-hundred-and-sixty-eighth floor?"

Han Yucheng didn't even want to look at him.

The man was a complete moron. How could a building have over a thousand floors?

Old Song laughed too. "What building has over a thousand floors? 1168 is our production’s code. Our set is on a designated floor."

*Clang!*

The elevator doors opened.

The operator shouted, "1168, we’ve arrived!"

Outside the elevator was a long, narrow corridor with doors lined up closely on both sides.

Zhang Laifu asked, "Is this our set?"

Old Song nodded. "We’ll go to the set first. Filming starts in a moment. You need to get into character immediately."

Everyone took their tickets, checked the numbers, and looked for their corresponding rooms.

Old Yan and Old Qiao took Han Yucheng into Room 16. Old Song, Old Yu, and Old Zheng took Zhang Laifu into Room 17. Old Zhao and Old Liang took Meng Xuanxuan into Room 18.

The layout of Room 17 looked very familiar: two beds, a table, a wardrobe, a coat rack, and things like water cups and teapots. It looked exactly like a twin room in a hotel, except there were no windows. At the far end of the room was a green wooden door.

Old Zheng and Old Yu each claimed a bed. Old Song led Zhang Laifu through the green door into an inner room.

It turned out to be a suite.

The inner room also had two beds, but it was more spacious than the outer one. The beds were larger, with bedside tables, paintings on the walls, a bookshelf in the corner, and two floor-to-ceiling windows.

Zhang Laifu stood by the window and opened it.

The view outside was beautiful. Green mountains were partially hidden in the mist, and the light drizzle added a poetic, hazy atmosphere.

He looked down, but because of the fog, he couldn't see the ground.

Estimating the height, Zhang Laifu began to wonder if he could jump out.

"Laifu, be careful. Watch out for a fall." Old Song was packing his things and gave a casual reminder.

*Whoosh!* A shadow flashed by.

Zhang Laifu looked up sharply. It felt as if something had just flown past.

Old Song sat on the bed by the window and pointed to the one near the door. "Laifu, stop looking. Filming is starting. You sleep in this bed."

Zhang Laifu turned around. "Aren't we here to act? Why are we sleeping in a hotel?"

Old Song said earnestly, "Laifu, if you want to achieve something in your acting career, you have to discard the habits of a temporary extra. You must find your place and have the right attitude. Is sleeping not acting? Can you not be in character while sleeping? Look at the state of these seniors. Can you find a single trace of 'acting' in them? You are playing a regular hotel guest. You must be like these seniors—seamlessly embodying the role!"

As he spoke, Old Song pushed open the green wooden door. Old Zheng and Old Yu were already asleep in the outer room.

Zhang Laifu also got into bed and pulled the covers over himself, posing as if he were sleeping.

He took out his phone under the blanket and checked it again. Still no signal.

*Vroom!*

"What was that sound?"

Zhang Laifu turned his head and realized the scenery outside the window was moving.

Old Song lay on his bed, waving his hand impatiently. "It’s nothing. It’s just sound from the other sets. Get into character."

Zhang Laifu got out of bed and took a step forward.

First, his legs felt heavy, making it hard to move.

With great effort, he managed two steps, only to feel his body become light and weak.

He took three steps forward but slid two steps back. It felt as if the entire room was tilting.

With immense effort, he reached the window and leaned out.

*Vroom! Vroom!*

The mist outside was even thicker than before.

The distant scenery was slowly receding.

He turned his head to look at the floors above and below, and his eyes widened in shock.

"This floor... it’s flying out..."