Chapter 12 – You Don’t Know Him Well Enough
At that moment, the dozens of eyes from both crews were all fixed on Xiao Fang. Was this stranger really going to suck up to Director Zhang at a time like this?
Xiao Fang walked forward with a one-hundred-and-twenty-percent smile, stopping in front of the director. “Thank you, Director Zhang, for specially fighting for an entire afternoon for us.”
Director Hu and the others looked at Xiao Fang in confusion. Which ear did you use to hear Director Zhang agree to yield the location?
Director Zhang’s face, which had just softened, tensed up again after hearing the next sentence.
Xiao Fang acted as if he hadn’t seen a thing and said with great emotion, “Director, haven’t you understood Director Zhang’s good intentions yet?”
Everyone, including Director Zhang himself, mentally shook their heads. Wasn’t it just about not giving up the location?
Xiao Fang looked at the crowd with an expression of deep disappointment. He clutched his chest and said excitedly, “Director Zhang was testing our dedication as filmmakers! Do you think Director Zhang is some second-rate director who would disregard the quality of his work just to rush things? You have to understand, filming the subsequent scenes here would make it impossible to get into such intense emotions. Would Director Zhang allow such a flaw in his work?”
“I…” Director Zhang tried to say something, but Xiao Fang patted him on the shoulder with a knowing look, giving him an expression that said, “Bro, I get it, say no more,” and cutting off his chance to speak.
“Director Zhang, don’t say it. I understand everything. You’re just the type of person who keeps his righteousness hidden in his heart, unwilling to show it. But this time, I must explain on your behalf! You just wanted to see our determination to film, otherwise you wouldn’t have wasted your progress here instead of moving to the next set. Director Zhang, you are truly one of the most dedicated directors I have ever seen! Everyone, what are you standing around for? Applaud!”
Xiao Fang’s bout of nonsensical flattery successfully brought everyone back to their senses. His own crew immediately applauded generously. This gave Director Zhang plenty of face and a perfect way to back down.
Although Xiao Fang’s method was a bit contrived, this whole commotion managed to save Director Zhang from some unnecessary damage, like offending Xiao Qi.
The corner of Director Zhang’s mouth twitched as he struggled to maintain his composure.
“Right, right, right. What’s your name?”
Xiao Fang didn’t hide it and directly stated his name. “Xiao Fang. Xiao Qi is my younger brother. As expected, only an outstanding person like my brother could be led by someone like you, Director Zhang.”
After speaking, Xiao Fang gave Xiao Qi a fawning smile. Xiao Qi’s brow twitched. This demeanor was exactly the same as when he had agreed to his conditions. He was beginning to suspect that his brother had been replaced by an impostor.
This time, Director Zhang didn’t dare to give anyone a hard time. It turned out they were all connected.
Director Zhang gave Xiao Fang a deep look. “Since you understand this principle, we should head to the next set. I’ll look for you for a collaboration if there’s an opportunity in the future.”
Xiao Fang’s eyes lit up, and he excitedly shook Director Zhang’s hand. “Thank you, Director Zhang, for giving me this chance! What are you all standing around for? Start moving the equipment! Don’t waste Director Zhang’s good intentions!”
Everyone gave him a look that said, “Well done.”
“You got it!” the prop master responded, calling over a group of assistants to get started. Everyone dispersed and got busy again, leaving only a few of them standing in place.
Director Hu kept thanking Director Zhang. No matter what, he couldn’t afford to offend this kind of figure. Director Zhang could only listen with a forced smile.
Zhang Hang patted Xiao Fang’s shoulder as if nothing had happened and whispered in his ear, “Not a bad level of skill. Teach me next time.”
Xiao Fang looked at him innocently. Baby didn’t hear anything. Baby doesn’t know what you’re talking about.
Zhang Hang didn’t mind and lazily walked over to the makeup artist.
Xiao Qi watched their entire interaction, his fists clenched. He couldn’t help but call out to Zhang Hang, but Zhang Hang just waved his hand, seemingly uninterested in his “sister-in-law.”
Wen An’an gazed at Xiao Qi with a fervent look, but after a moment, she reluctantly walked away.
When Xiao Fang was left alone, he rubbed his hands together and walked over, tentatively asking, “Care to chat?”
Although Xiao Qi was a little embarrassed by what had just happened, he did have a lot of questions for Xiao Fang. So, he followed Xiao Fang up a slope to a small grove where they would be alone for the time being.
Looking at the brother he had always detested, he still couldn’t bring himself to like him, even now.
“The crisis at Yunyang Company is resolved.”
Xiao Fang nodded. “That’s good. He should keep his promises and not be despicable enough to go back on his word.”
Xiao Qi looked at him suspiciously and voiced the question in his heart, “What method did you use to solve this problem?”
“I just compensated him with a new one,” Xiao Fang said frankly.
Compensated?
Xiao Qi frowned. The protagonist was truly a protagonist; even his frown was captivating. Then, Xiao Qi looked directly at Xiao Fang. “Where did you find him a new Third Gender?”
For now, Xiao Fang didn’t plan to tell Xiao Qi that he himself was a Third Gender. The protagonist still held many grudges against him. If his flattery didn’t land right, his constitution could become his fatal weakness.
Xiao Fang fudged the issue. “He never said it had to be a Third Gender.”
Xiao Qi eyed him suspiciously, his expression shifting from confusion to understanding, and then to shock. Xiao Qi could no longer care about their awkward relationship. He strode forward and demanded sharply, “You got together with him?”
Xiao Fang nodded. “How else could I have found him a partner so quickly?”
“Do you even know what kind of person he is? To get together with him so easily? You’ll only find misfortune with him! He’s a man who would send his own uncle to prison for the sake of business. With your personality, being with a profit-driven person like him, are you trying to get the whole family buried with you? I thought you’d have some good solution, but now you’ve just swapped one person to go to their death for another! If that’s the case, it might as well have been me!” Xiao Qi said harshly, not even noticing how many lines he had crossed.
Xiao Fang’s eyes darkened for a moment, but he quickly recovered, smiling fawningly. “Don’t you worry about that. President Fei isn’t that bad. He might have a bad temper, but he probably won’t easily go back on something he’s promised.”
Xiao Qi looked at him with profound disappointment. Looking at such a brother, he suddenly felt that this person wasn’t much different from before. Aside from having a better temper and not speaking ill of him, he still did nothing but foolish things.
“You think he’s good? Isn’t it just because he’s rich enough? Can’t you think about something other than these things for once and just settle down? Dad wouldn’t have to worry so much about you. You’re always chasing meaningless dreams when you’d be better off with your feet on the ground. Do you really think he’d give up on me to like you?” Xiao Qi finally let out the words he had been holding back for a long time.
Although Xiao Fang really wanted to interject and state that he wasn’t such a good-for-nothing, arguing with the protagonist would be unwise. Since his little brother liked to lecture with love, he had to be a perfect listener. A roundabout strategy was definitely better than blind aggression. Thinking about his wonderful future life, Xiao Fang decided to endure this momentary unpleasantness.
Xiao Fang scratched his head. “I know, but it’s already been decided. He promised me it’s only for a year. If it doesn’t work out after a year, we can figure something else out.”
Xiao Qi forced himself to take a few deep breaths, feeling that he really wasn’t suited to live in the same space as his brother. “Don’t you regret it then.”
Xiao Fang grinned at him. Xiao Qi felt like he had punched a wad of cotton. Unable to take it anymore, he could only turn and walk away.
“By the way, Dad said he hopes you can come home for dinner this New Year’s,” Xiao Fang said, the only serious thing he’d mentioned during their chat.
Xiao Qi stopped in his tracks. His feelings for his father were still a blur of affection. “We’ll see,” he said, then left without looking back.
Xiao Fang sighed. This kid really was a first-class tsundere.
When Xiao Qi returned, the crew was still preparing. As it happened, he had no scenes in the afternoon. He thought for a moment and decided to wait and then invite Zhang Hang out for a meal. This was his first job. Although Yan Yunyang was quite sharp-tongued with his younger brother, he actually cared for him more than his own biological brother. He understood the situation in Yan Yunyang’s family, so naturally, he had to be a little nicer to this younger brother as well.
Xiao Qi walked towards the temporary dressing room where Zhang Hang was. The makeup artist was still applying some finishing touches to Zhang Hang’s makeup.
“Excuse me, could you let me talk to Zhang Hang alone for a couple of minutes?” Although Xiao Qi’s expression didn’t change much, his tone was polite. Coupled with his genius status, the makeup artist couldn’t help but blush. Despite being in the entertainment industry, it was still extremely rare to see such a big star.
“Be my guest,” the makeup artist said, putting down her tools and leaving. Before she left, her eyes swept over Xiao Qi one last time, reluctant to look away.
Zhang Hang glanced at Xiao Qi. “You’re not going to the next set with your crew?”
“I don’t have any scenes today, so it’s fine if I don’t go. And you, why take on a role like this right after debuting? You should have told me earlier. I could have gotten you a small role with a big director.”
“Hey, don’t say that. I quite like it here. You were able to find such a big director to film with right after you started out?” Zhang Hang interrupted him bluntly. It wasn’t that he didn’t have resources; he just didn’t want to take the conventional path.
Xiao Qi was suddenly at a loss for words with his future brother-in-law. He then remembered that besides Yan Yunyang, no one could control him. And when it came to this kind of thing, Yan Yunyang had always let him do as he pleased.
“You’re the second male lead?”
Zhang Hang nodded, which made it obvious who the male lead was.
Xiao Qi frowned and analyzed the situation. “You could probably suppress him with your acting skills in this drama, but with him as the male lead, it will inevitably affect you.”
That sentence completely wore away the last shred of patience Zhang Hang had. He looked at Xiao Qi with cold eyes. Why did this person always put himself in such a lofty position? He had never liked the idea of anyone being nobler than anyone else. Compared to this brother, the older one, while sometimes foolish and a bit of a sycophant, would never belittle someone because of his own strength. He always thought of everyone’s interests.
“Have you ever truly tried to understand the Xiao Fang of today?”
“Hmm?” Xiao Qi, who had been speaking, stopped and looked at him. What was there to understand or not understand? Hasn’t he always been this half-baked person?
Zhang Hang wasn’t one for idle chatter. He said directly, “Since you’re free this afternoon, you should go and watch. I think you don’t know him well enough.”