Chapter Sixty-Nine: Perhaps This Is What It Means to Be a Master

More than half a month ago, Jiao Chendong had already chosen the filming locations.

There were not many key settings in “Riding the Wind,” just three: the environment where Qiao Hong lived before entering the gymnastics team, the gymnastics team's training center, and the competition venue.

The competition venue would be easy to arrange—there were only two scenes, and any large stadium would suffice. For Qiao Hong’s home and the training center, they had selected the Old Times Film Base and the Old Sports Stadium in Rongdian.

On the first official day of shooting, Li Shixin arrived at the Old Sports Stadium in Rongcheng just after six in the morning.

According to the shooting schedule, the first scenes were all his. As the prop master, he also had to assist with costumes and props to prepare for filming.

By half past seven, the actors who had received the call sheet began to arrive.

The actress playing the female lead, Qiao Hong, was named An Xiaoxiao.

A student in the acting department at the Northern Dance Academy, An Xiaoxiao had been chosen by Jiao Chendong to star in his new film and become the leading lady in this women’s inspirational drama. Having just celebrated her sixteenth birthday last month, she was still in a daze from the excitement.

Heeding her family’s advice, she got up early that morning and bought a bag full of fruit, arriving at the set well ahead of time.

As soon as she walked through the studio gates, she could no longer contain her excitement.

Such a grand production! Such a big crew! And I’m the female lead!

Oh, wow!

After three tough years at the Northern Dance Academy, I’m finally going to make it!

For a moment, standing at the entrance to the stadium, An Xiaoxiao felt a rush of pride—“Look, this is the world I’ll conquer.”

Glancing around the set, which was still a little quiet since not everyone had arrived, she gave herself an encouraging pep talk, then, carrying her big bag of fruit, launched her covert social maneuvering.

In the middle of the set, she spotted an old man sitting on a folding chair, clutching a thermos cup, directing two prop masters who were writing the slogan “Develop sports, strengthen the nation’s health” on bright red paper.

Ha! Such an ordinary prop master, let’s go!

Narrowing her eyes, An Xiaoxiao strode over.

“Good morning, sir! I’m An Xiaoxiao, the actress playing Qiao Hong!”

Li Shixin looked up, studied her carefully, and nodded. “Good morning.”

An Xiaoxiao promptly stuffed two big apples into Li Shixin’s hands as an icebreaker and grinned, “Sir, what is your role on the set?”

Looking at this fresh-faced, though perhaps not overly bright, young girl, Li Shixin chuckled. “I’m the prop master for now.”

“Good morning, sir!” The moment she heard his title, An Xiaoxiao straightened up, bowed again, and offered him two more apples.

Feeling that four apples was enough to seal the deal with this instructor, she raised her eyebrows and leaned in. “Sir, I just arrived in Rongdian yesterday and only met Director Jiao and Mr. Wang. I don’t know the other senior folks in the crew yet. Could you tell me which big shots are already here?”

Li Shixin lifted his eyebrows, sipped his goji-infused water, and lowered his voice. “The actor playing Coach Liu, our male lead, and the actor playing Qiao Hong’s father, our third male lead, have both arrived. But neither of them likes apples. Go out and buy some bananas and tangerines.”

Got it!

An Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened, and she clapped her hands, giving Li Shixin a big thumbs-up. “Thank you for the tip, sir!”

With that, she dashed off.

Moments later, An Xiaoxiao, panting, returned to the set with a bag of bananas and hurried back to Li Shixin.

“Sir, where’s the teacher playing the third male lead?”

Li Shixin raised his eyebrows and pointed at his own nose. “Right here.”

What?!

An Xiaoxiao’s jaw dropped in shock.

The third male lead is also the prop master?! Is the crew that strapped for cash? No, no, no—focus!

Darn it! That little old man tricked me!

“But, sir, why didn’t you say so earlier?” Realizing she’d been played, An Xiaoxiao pouted.

Li Shixin chuckled as he took the bag from her hands. “If I’d told you, would I have gotten the bananas?”

Ah! This wily old fox!

An Xiaoxiao grumbled inwardly, then, turning with her bag of tangerines, bowed to another prop master. “Excuse me, could you tell me where the male lead is?”

Having been busy all morning, Li Xiaomeng wrinkled her nose and casually pointed at Li Shixin. “Isn’t he sitting right there? Didn’t you just talk to him? You’re looking for your donkey while riding it, aren’t you?”

With a plop, An Xiaoxiao dropped her bag of tangerines, sending the fruit rolling everywhere.

Looking at the old man on the folding chair, squinting and smiling as he ate a banana, An Xiaoxiao was thoroughly bewildered.

Actors continued to arrive as Li Shixin stretched his back.

Putting aside his mischief, he got up, reached out his right hand to the stunned An Xiaoxiao, and said, “Let’s introduce ourselves properly. I’m Li Shixin—prop master, male lead, and third male lead of the ‘Riding the Wind’ crew.”

“Gr-gr-gr-great to meet you, sir! I’m An Xiaoxiao, just turned sixteen! Student at Northern Dance Academy’s acting department, class of 2016. Height: 162 centimeters, weight: 38 kilograms, measurements: 80-54-82! I’ve done print modeling and commercials, but never acted before. Please take care of me!”

Completely overshadowed by Li Shixin’s presence, An Xiaoxiao trembled, her eyes filling with tears.

Oh no, oh no—does this mean the male lead, third male lead, and prop master are all the same person? Am I facing a legendary stage tyrant?

...

At eight o’clock sharp, Jiao Chendong arrived on set.

Seeing that the set design was complete, and that the period details were so immersive it felt like stepping into another era, he was extremely pleased.

After giving a few instructions to the assistant director and crew heads, he entered the set.

Spotting his promising Northern Dance Academy recruit standing behind Li Shixin, massaging his back like a maid, Jiao Chendong was momentarily stunned.

“Oh, you two have already met?”

“Good morning, director!” An Xiaoxiao quickly bowed when she saw him.

Catching a glimpse of Li Shixin still sitting comfortably in his chair, An Xiaoxiao secretly clicked her tongue and congratulated herself.

Smart move! Know your place!

At that moment, Jiao Chendong called the cast to the center of the set.

“Old Li, once the set is ready, you and Xiaoxiao head to makeup. Today’s our first day shooting, the company’s invited the media, and the original author, Qiao Hong herself, will be here for the opening ceremony. To coordinate with the publicity, we’ll start with the key scene in Act 2, Scene 3—Qiao Hong joining the team. In this scene, Qiao Hong hears the gymnastics team is training in town, rushes over determined to join, and Coach Liu gives her a hard time, making her hold a split and count to a thousand. Qiao Hong grits her teeth through the pain and stubbornly finishes. You two get familiar with the script and your lines, and put on a good show for the opening. Got it?”

Li Shixin and An Xiaoxiao both nodded at Jiao Chendong’s instructions.

As Li Shixin headed to the makeup room, a commotion erupted at the door.

The producer, Wang Hai, CEO of Tianmeng Entertainment, arrived with a group of entertainment reporters, escorting the real Qiao Hong herself in a wheelchair.