Chapter 100 Filming

Ning Xiaoruan, the sidekick, has witnessed something quite amazing lately. Xu Jiaojiao, without doing anything particularly unusual, has become incredibly friendly with everyone on set.

Where's the expected exclusion? Where's the expected backstabbing? Where's the expected double-dealing?

None of the things that might happen on other film sets have occurred on the "Saving My Boyfriend" set. Everyone is harmonious, and even the director says it's the best-atmosphere film set he's ever worked with. Even if there's competition between the newcomers, it's only during acting; off-screen, they're all good friends!

"Action!" the director shouted.

Today's highlight is a meet-up organized by the game developers for online fans.

Zhen Xin implemented all the rescue plans she and her roommates had devised, but they all ended in failure. Even threatening to break up with him couldn't get her boyfriend to quit his internet addiction. So, she decided to take a final gamble and start with the game. Through coercion and enticement of Liao Jiayi's roommates, she learned about Liao Jiayi's whereabouts in the game. Then, she approached him through the game, helping him overcome levels and defeat bosses, fulfilling their wish to see mountains, rivers, and beautiful scenery together in the game.

For Liao Jiayi, who didn't know that the person who appeared beside him every time he logged on was actually Zhen Xin, this online friend who understood him better than his roommates and was very understanding felt like a destiny from a past life. Although they didn't know each other, she understood him so well. Every minute spent with her in the game was comfortable. Gradually, he found that he had a place in his heart. He would feel anxious if he didn't see her online, and when he ate with his girlfriend, he would wonder if she was waiting for him in the game.

Finally, the online friend meeting arrived.

Liao Jiayi was looking forward to it, but also conflicted.

Zhen Xin felt the same way as Liao Jiayi.

At the online friend meet-up, Liao Jiayi was completely stunned the moment he saw Zhen Xin.

Zhen Xin was specially dressed up; her straight hair had been styled into long curls, her face was covered in exquisite makeup, her eyelashes were perfectly curled, and her lips were coated with a bright lip gloss. She wore a light green off-the-shoulder long dress, and her tall stature made her the center of attention the moment she appeared.

She was the tallest girl in the room, and all the other girls were completely overshadowed by her presence.

"Beautiful lady, did you come to the wrong place?" someone asked.

"Isn't this the online friend meet-up?" Zhen Xin smiled slightly, but her gaze was fixed on Liao Jiayi.

"Yes, so who are you?"

"Me—" Zhen Xin suddenly didn't want to reveal her identity. She glanced at her roommate's casual game name and said, "Xi Xi'an."

"Xi Xi'an? Don't know that."

The female players dispersed, only the male players surrounded her, asking her all sorts of questions.

Liao Jiayi was quite surprised to see his girlfriend appear. He had no idea that Zhen Xin also played this game. He knew of a person named Xi Xi'an; there was a newbie in his guild named Xi Xi'an. If Xi Xi'an was Zhen Xin, then wouldn't Zhen Xin have seen his interaction with Xian Qianqiu in the game?

"Why hasn't Xian Qianqiu appeared yet?" Qian Jiao Bai Mei, the female player known as the most beautiful woman in the server, who had been utterly defeated by Xian Qianqiu in the game, looked around.

"Yeah, I'm also looking forward to seeing her." A voice came over.

Liao Jiayi froze, watching his girlfriend walk over with a smile and graceful sway. He felt utterly helpless. Zhen Xin had indeed found out.

"Wow, she's even prettier than our server's most beautiful woman!"

"If she had posted a photo during the beauty ranking event, Qian Jiao Bai Mei wouldn't have gotten first place."

Someone gossiped nearby, their voices faintly carrying over.

Qian Jiao Bai Mei's face was unpleasant as she glared resentfully at Zhen Xin as she approached.

"Cut! That's a wrap!" the director shouted.

Everyone present relaxed. Song Yan, the actress playing the charming and alluring character, was still somewhat immersed in her role and hadn't quite caught up.

Sheng Jiaoyang lifted Song Yan's chin and teased her in a flirtatious tone, "Beauty, if you look at me like that, I'll think you've fallen for me."

Song Yan instantly snapped out of character and laughed heartily. After laughing, she exclaimed, "Jiaojiao, your entrance just now was truly radiant! You could feel your glow even without post-production effects. I almost forgot about acting; I had to mentally rehearse to adjust my expression in time!"

The actresses present probably all imagined what they would look like if they played Zhen Xin, but even their beauty couldn't compare to Xu Jiaojiao's portrayal. Those long legs, that height—wow! She completely outshone them in terms of height alone.

As for the male actors' amazement, it was genuine. Everyone else didn't need to pretend; they were all truly stunned when Xu Jiaojiao, as Zhen Xin, walked in from outside. Zhang Yue, who plays the male lead, has a tougher time. He needs to express more complex and nuanced emotions, and each emotion must be portrayed perfectly. When the camera zoomed in on him for a close-up, he almost didn't realize it was time for a retake.

After a short break and listening to the director's instructions again, they quickly got the scene right after two takes.

The next scene is the conversation between the male and female leads after their online meet-up.

Liao Jiayi, who hadn't seen Xian Qianqiu, felt restless and uneasy. When Zhen Xin said she wanted to talk to him, he initially wanted to refuse, but then realized that running away wasn't a solution, so he decided to be honest with her.

"Jiayi, before, you were always focused on your games, never distracted when we were together. But lately, you even get distracted when we eat together. That's why I went into the game to see what you do there, to see what's affecting your life. And you know what I saw without me having to say more!" Zhen Xin said expressionlessly.

Liao Jiayi was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, Xin Xin."

"I'm sorry?" Zhen Xin gave a bitter laugh. "We've been together for so many years, can an 'I'm sorry' really make it all right?"

Seeing Zhen Xin's sadness, Liao Jiayi wanted to reach out and hug her, but his hand was pushed away.

“Tell me, will you choose her in the game, or me!” Zhen Xin questioned firmly.

“I don’t know.” Liao Jiayi scratched his head, utterly frustrated.

“Okay, Jiayi, I’ll give you time to think it through, but don’t keep me waiting too long. I expect you to give me an answer in three days.” Zhen Xin gave Liao Jiayi a deep look before turning and leaving.

“Cut! Today went exceptionally well. It seems you’re all in good shape. Let’s continue later,” the director said.

“All departments, get ready. We’re shooting the breakup scene in the rain in a bit.”

“Wasn’t the breakup scene supposed to be shot tomorrow?” Zhang Yue, who was planning to go back and work on the breakup scene that night, was somewhat surprised.

“Today’s overcast weather is perfect for shooting the rain scene, and you’re all in such good shape. Why wait until tomorrow? What? Do you have a problem?” The director had a look that said, “Even if you have a problem, I’m not listening.”

Seeing the director's expression, Zhang Yue felt like she'd just had a lemon shoved into her mouth—the sourness was intense…

Crying scenes in the rain are a real test of an actor's skills; they can't be too exaggerated, yet the audience has to feel a connection. The key is that in the rain, tears are missing as an added bonus.

"Jiaojiao, let's rehearse." Zhang Yue approached Sheng Jiaoyang, who was munching on an apple.

"Okay." Sheng Jiaoyang continued biting into her apple.

"You've even eaten your hair." Zhang Yue reached out and pulled a wig out from the corner of her mouth.

The assistant director, who was filming behind-the-scenes footage, captured this moment.