The Tycoon's Enchanted Mermaid

Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Setting Off to the Film Crew

This time, Song Ma had arranged for someone other than Long Qi to pick her up; Ah Da wasn’t surprised, just a bit curious. Last night, Qin Yu had mentioned that Long Qi’s mistake in guarding her had led to being filmed and posted online, and deleting the video was Long Qi’s way of making amends.

By making amends, he probably wouldn’t have to be punished, right?

She hoped he was alright. Although he always had an icy expression, he was definitely a subordinate who gave his all.

The car drove along the road. Ah Da leaned against the window, fully engrossed in fussing with her Douyin live broadcast—she was going to give it a try tonight. If it still didn’t work, she would have no choice but to seek help from Qin Yu.

But if she were to seek his help, she couldn’t let him help for free; she at least had to pay him some form of compensation.

Sigh, just thinking about it felt like a considerable expense. Ah Da increasingly doubted whether her savings could withstand it.

All the way to the film and television city, there were checkpoints set up at the entrance. Ah Da saw that the roadsides were filled with people, both men and women, holding cell phones and small flags. Behind them, there were also fresh flowers and some large photos on display, clearly there to see their idols.

Fans really went to great lengths.

Seeing a car entering the film city, many fans looked over, curious about who was inside.

This was the first time Ah Da had been observed by so many people, their eyes filled with hope and anticipation. It felt really strange, and she suddenly sensed that in this era, stars were regarded as gods by their fans.

It was truly astonishing.

Suddenly, two people in uniform strode forward with an imposing demeanor up ahead of the car.

The bodyguard in the front passenger seat slowly lowered the window with a cool expression and an overwhelming presence.

The uniformed personnel softened their attitude at the sight, speaking amiably about how there were clear regulations in the film city that barred the general public from entering without a pass.

Hearing this, Ah Da prepared to show the message from Su Qingtong, which contained a picture of the pass, to prove that she was there to find someone.

The next second, the bodyguard showed them something on a mobile phone and mentioned something about Director Wang, though Ah Da didn’t catch the first few words. Following that, the uniformed people immediately changed their expression, smiling from ear to ear, nodding and bowing at the bodyguard.

“Much apologies, please come in.”

Before closing the car window, the uniformed staff took a glance at the back seat, where a barrier divided the car’s interior. Ah Da could tell from their disappointed expressions that they couldn’t see her.

That meant the car partition allowed one-way visibility, something she hadn’t noticed before. Ah Da couldn’t help but stretch out her hand to touch it. It was quite hard, and she wondered what material it was made of.

After a while, Ah Da withdrew her hand, reflecting that there was so much for her to learn. The world was much more complex than she had imagined; what she had observed in the incense burner was just the tip of the iceberg.

She definitely had to study hard in her next class!

Ah Da cheered herself on.

The car smoothly entered the film city, with the asphalt road transitioning to uneven blue stone slabs. Ah Da turned to look at the ancient buildings swiftly passing by. She couldn’t help but feel a strange sensation.

Being amongst them, it felt like she had really gone back to ancient times. Nowadays, construction was amazing—anything could be replicated. It was incredible that this place could recreate an entire ancient city.

Su Qingtong said she was filming and had asked her assistant to meet Ah Da. The agreed meeting spot was at the side gate.

When the car stopped, Ah Da saw a girl standing at the doorway holding a drink and a cell phone. She was young, just over twenty, with a ponytail, wearing a short-sleeved shirt and jeans, and she had an oversized cross-body bag slung over her shoulder.

Ah Da thought to herself that this must be Bronze Sword’s assistant.

The bodyguard opened the car door, and Ah Da, phone in hand, stepped out of the vehicle and approached, asking, “Are you Sister Qingtong’s assistant, Xiao Zhu?”

Zhu Jia stared at the stunning girl before her, speechless with amazement. Sister Qingtong had asked her to come out and receive someone, but she hadn’t mentioned it was such a beautiful girl.

Furthermore…

Ever since she arrived at the side gate, she had been looking for someone. Sister Qingtong mentioned it was a distant cousin of hers. Thinking of Su Qingtong’s background, Zhu Jia assumed she was just an ordinary relative, so she didn’t pay any attention to the Rolls-Royce parked nearby.

Even when she saw the car, she muttered to herself, speculating which rich young miss or young master had come to the entertainment industry for amusement, which was all too common.

In the entertainment industry, which star doesn’t have someone behind them? Put nicely, it’s investment; more crudely, it’s being kept. If in other circles, such affairs might be kept secret, in the entertainment industry, most are open about it.

Whether you’re willing or not is a personal choice; the entertainment industry is full of opportunities, and if you’re willing to go for it, anything is possible.

Zhu Jia felt that Su Qingtong had prospects precisely because she was “quite promising.” If she was willing to take a chance, the entertainment world would gain a rising star.

Now, all that’s needed is an opportunity. If she had been told to meet a rich young master today, Zhu Jia wouldn’t have been surprised, but the sight of this noble-looking stunning girl left her silent, even pondering the possibility of different sexual orientations.

Ah Da, seeing the assistant staring blankly without speaking, slightly furrowed her delicate brows. Could it be a wrong inquiry?

“Excuse me, are you Su Qingtong’s assistant?”

Ah Da asked again.

Zhu Jia snapped back to reality, looking at the puzzled girl before her. She took a half step back awkwardly and hastily replied, “Yes, yes, I am Su Qingtong’s assistant. My name is Zhu Jia. Please follow me.”

With that, she gestured invitingly backwards.

Ah Da nodded amiably and walked toward the house, her two bodyguards closely following.

Upon entering, there was a retro corridor, with a lotus pond on the left and a small garden on the right. Today, the film crew was shooting at Jing Prince Mansion, so the actors’ resting rooms were arranged in the back courtyard.

Zhu Jia walked alongside with small steps, not daring to get too close, nor wishing to stay too far, and couldn’t help but glance up at the bodyguards sneakily. Both had foreign faces and were around one-meter-ninety in height, the well-fitted suits barely concealing their bulging muscles.

Zhu Jia had only seen the phenomenon of traveling with bodyguards in TV series, even Wang Qingyi, the well-talked-about Capital City socialite in the entertainment industry, didn’t have this much fanfare.

What identity does this girl have, and what is her relationship with Su Qingtong? Is she really just a distant relative?

It didn’t quite seem so.

Zhu Jia pondered with curiosity as she walked unfocused, until another question from the girl ahead jolted her.

“Is it here?”

Ah Da stopped at the door and asked, looking at the resting room.

The resting room was actually a large hall used for ancient banquets, furnished with just a mirror and some chairs and tables, and lights hanging around. The floor was littered with various items, making it look very messy.

Zhu Jia jogged over, “Sister Qingtong’s is over here.”

She then led Ah Da past the main hall toward a side room. It was a small triangular-shaped room, one side covered with black blackout curtains, and the floor scattered with various items like brushes, hairdryers, and the like.

“Because we have to change locations frequently on set, all actors except the leads share a temporary resting area, and makeup is done together too. This little room was only secured as a separate space because we arrived early today.”

Zhu Jia placed the milk tea beverage and cellphone she was carrying on the table and turned to remove the clothes and backpack from the chair, pulling it to the center position, looking anxiously at the girl standing at the door.

“You can sit here for a while, Sister Qingtong is inside filming, it might be a while before she can come out.”