Huayu: This director is so eager to improve.

Chapter 93 Impersonating a Director

Half a month later,

In Beijing, the early summer heat is already beginning to show its power.

On the set of a modern urban drama, "The Return of the Heiress"

Inside a makeshift film studio converted from an old warehouse, it looked just like a pressure cooker being simmered over a low flame, but the lid had been forgotten.

It was hot and humid, and I felt restless and on the verge of exploding.

The shed was airtight, and the few industrial fans that were there were spinning weakly, blowing out hot air.

The set was a corner of a meticulously constructed "luxury" banquet hall, with crystal chandeliers shimmering with a cheap light, and realistic-looking food and drinks on a long dining table.

However, the real torment was felt by the female protagonist, Li Qing.

She wore a gorgeous and elaborate floor-length evening gown, with layers of tulle and satin that accentuated her slender waist but also enveloped her in a stuffy, oppressive heat.

Her head was adorned with heavy hair ornaments and a wig, covered in rhinestones, which looked beautiful but also resembled a miniature oven.

To match the banquet setting, her makeup was also heavier than usual.

Sweat had already soaked through the stray hairs on her forehead and the shirt behind her neck. The makeup artist had to carefully touch up her makeup again and again, pressing with blotting paper, but a thin layer of sweat would soon rise up again.

She sat on the chair that had been specially brought in, equipped with a small fan, her brows slightly furrowed. She gently fanned herself with the script, but it was a drop in the ocean.

She couldn't just take off her dress, and her hair accessories often took an hour or two to put back on properly, so she had no choice but to endure it.

The other actors weren't much better off. The men were dressed in suits and ties, and the women were in flowing skirts, all looking glamorous and sophisticated, like a group of ants thrown onto a hot pan, restless and anxious.

Some people complained in hushed tones, some kept checking their watches, and some simply closed their eyes to rest, but the tense atmosphere was obvious.

On-site assistant director Liu Hui was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

His shirt was soaked through on the back, and his walkie-talkie was practically dripping wet from his grip as he repeatedly made calls:

"Director Wang! Director Wang! The set is ready, the actors are in position, where are you? Please respond!"

The only response he received was a buzzing electrical noise.

"Oh shit!"

Liu Hui couldn't help but mutter a curse under his breath, then quickly put on a reassuring smile to comfort the increasingly impatient actors and staff:

"Hang in there, everyone! Director Wang is stuck in a huge traffic jam! You all know how bad the traffic is in Beijing! We'll be there soon! Almost there!"

"How long is 'soon', Director Liu? My makeup is almost ruined!" an actress playing a supporting role said irritably.

"Yeah, this shed is like a sauna, we're all going to get heatstroke if we wait any longer!" the lighting crew grumbled.

Liu Hui could only offer kind words, but in his heart he cursed that unreliable executive director a thousand times over.

He knew what kind of person Wang Wei was; relying on his seniority and connections, he often did things half-heartedly, but he dared to be late for such an important event today?

At this moment, a young stagehand responsible for external coordination rushed to Liu Hui's side in a panic.

"Director Liu, I just went to the hotel address Director Wang left. His assistant secretly told me... Director Wang was drinking with people until four or five in the morning last night, and right now... he's probably still fast asleep in his hotel room! His phone is definitely on silent!"

Liu Hui's mind went blank, and his blood pressure spiked instantly.

He desperately wanted to rush over and drag that guy surnamed Wang out of bed and beat him up!

Too much to drink? Overslept? Leaving the entire crew of dozens of people waiting in this sweltering studio?

But now is not the time to lose your temper.

Liu Hui suppressed his anger, knowing he couldn't delay any longer. He grabbed a stagehand and decisively ordered, "You all, bring that guy surnamed Wang over here, tie him up if you must!"

After saying that, he didn't even bother to wipe his sweat. He grabbed the stagehand and rushed out of the studio, heading straight for the hotel.

Inside the studio, everyone was completely baffled as the assistant director suddenly turned pale and hurriedly left, exchanging bewildered glances.

"What's going on?"

"Why did Director Liu run away too?"

"Is the director coming or not?"

"How much longer? My clothes are soaked with sweat!"

The various emotions grew like a snowball, and the staff huddled together whispering; the actors could hardly hide their impatience.

Li Qing couldn't help but whisper something to her assistant, who quickly handed her a small fan and an ice towel.

The entire studio was enveloped in a stifling, oppressive chaos. Time ticked by, each second feeling like being tossed in hot oil.

Just as the tense atmosphere was about to reach its peak, and several hot-tempered lighting technicians were preparing to quit—

"Sizzle..."

The walkie-talkie main channel, which had been silent and connected to the on-site loudspeakers, suddenly emitted a slight electrical interference sound.

Immediately afterwards, a calm male voice, amplified by the slightly distorted speakers, resounded throughout the studio:

"Silence."

The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed to carry shards of ice, instantly drowning out all the noise and discussion.

Everyone in the studio, whether they were complaining actors or chatting staff, looked up in surprise, searching for the source of the sound.

Director? Director Wang is back? Why does his voice sound a little different?

But before they could react, the voice rang out again, carrying an undeniable sense of command:

"Actors, get ready."

Almost reflexively, the actors standing in or near the set subconsciously adjusted their posture and suppressed their irritated expressions.

Li Qing also straightened up slightly. Although it was unbearably hot, her professionalism made her instantly ready.

The script supervisor looked around blankly, not seeing the director, but the instructions from the loudspeaker were clear and unambiguous.

He hesitated for a moment, but still raised the clapperboard under everyone's gaze.

Just as the clapperboard was raised, the voice gave the final command:

"The Return of the Heiress, Scene 45, Shot 1"

"start!"

"Snapped!"

The clapperboard fell.

The entire studio was completely silent, save for the slight friction of the camera tracks sliding and the low hum of the machines running.

In the center of the set, the extras and lead actors began their scenes.

The dialogue, the movement, the expressions... although they were a little stiff from the previous waiting and the stuffy heat, they were finally making progress.

In the director's studio, a man wearing a baseball cap and a mask stared at the monitor screen.

He was very calm, which was out of place with the stuffy and restless atmosphere in the shed, yet strangely, he became the only center of attention at that moment.

Li Qing was reciting his lines of angry questioning, following the script. His voice sounded somewhat shrill due to his emotions and the stuffy heat.

"Card."

The director's voice came through the loudspeaker again, interrupting the performance.

"Li Qing,"

The voice from the loudspeaker accurately called out names, paused briefly as if carefully choosing its words, and then came through clearly.

"Your emotions are not right."

Li Qing's heart skipped a beat.

That voice... why does it sound so familiar?