The shoot was about to begin, and each team was racing against time to set up, including more than forty rooms and countless small scenes. From large pieces of furniture to a single battered ballpoint pen wrapped in tape, the art director’s checklist totaled 6,300 items that needed to be checked one by one.

In fact, the crew had already been rooted in Chongqing for a month and a half. Aside from the preparations, the establishing shots for the drama had long since started filming.

A skinny young man ran out from Unit 1, a thick stack of forms tucked under his arm. When he saw John Brooks, he came to a sudden stop. He hurried over and said, “Our male lead is here, I’d better come and confess my sins.”

Jason Wright guessed, “Little Michael?”

“That’s me, that’s me.” Little Michael gave John Brooks a ninety-degree bow. “Sorry, it’s too chaotic today. After dispatching the cars, I went to help the props team with inventory. I’m really sorry.”

John Brooks had always been easygoing, also known as “thick-skinned.” He said carelessly, “No worries.”

“Thank you for understanding.” As Little Michael spoke, he pulled out a form. “Teacher Brooks, please sign in first, then I’ll show you around the place.”

Jason Wright asked, “Is Director Carter here? We’d like to greet him first.”

Little Michael said, “Director Carter went out to shoot on location. He said everyone will meet together tomorrow, so there’s no need to wait for him specially.”

John Brooks managed to avoid the most annoying part—putting on a show of respect. After signing in, he and Jason Wright got familiar with the crew’s environment. The scheduling office, storage room, and makeup room were all located within Unit 1.

Unit 1, Room 101, was a two-bedroom apartment, cleaned and softly decorated to serve as the director’s lounge. But the director was so busy, he basically never had time to rest.

Outside the back gate of the complex was an open area filled with large RVs of uniform size. Finding the one with John Brooks’s name on it, Little Michael said, “Actors rest in the RVs. If you need anything—supplies or food—just tell the crew’s assistant.”

Jason Wright asked, “After we wrap, do we have to walk through the alley to get to the shuttle van?”

“Right, the space is tight, so the shuttle van can only park on the next street over,” Little Michael replied.

Jason Wright asked suggestively, “Does everyone take the shuttle van?”

“All the same,” Little Michael said. “Teacher Brooks is the male lead, so I arranged a new car especially for him. But these days, all the actors are arriving at once. I even picked up the female lead at noon.”

Jason Wright wouldn’t give up: “I think there’s also a Porsche.”

“There is indeed a Porsche, but that’s Director Carter’s personal car. I don’t have the authority to arrange it,” Little Michael recalled. “Oh right, when you got off the plane and waited for the car, why did Director Thompson call me?”

Jason Wright said, “We ran into Director Thompson at the airport.”

Little Michael muttered, “What was Director Thompson doing at the airport?”

John Brooks and Jason Wright exchanged a glance. Using Director Carter’s car and having Director Thompson drive, even the crew manager didn’t know who it was for. If that person was really famous, there should have been fans at the airport. If it was a big star, they should have recognized them.

According to the industry’s unspoken rules, this kind of treatment was not for some unknown person. Most likely, it was someone with powerful connections.

Little Michael still had things to do. He said, “If you have any questions, just find me anytime. If not, Teacher Brooks, you should head back to the hotel and rest early. May I ask, are you staying at the hotel arranged by the crew, or handling it yourself?”

The crew would arrange accommodations, but actors often couldn’t stand the loneliness and went out for dates, hookups, or whatever. To avoid a lot of empty rooms, the crew manager would ask in advance.

John Brooks said, “I’ll handle it myself.”

As long as it didn’t interfere with filming, he always chose to stay elsewhere. After all, he was a D-list actor—if he ran into anyone from A to Q-list in the hallway, he’d have to greet them, which was a pain. Plus, his company had a partnership with a regular hotel, always keeping a room ready for him.

His phone rang—it was a message from the hotel.

They asked if he needed a car, if he wanted private dining, if he wanted to book swimming, movies, spa, and so on. A dedicated staff member would be arranged for him.

John Brooks declined everything, skimmed a few lines, and only checked the room number: high-floor river-view room, 6207.

Chapter 3

John Brooks and Jason Wright were both starving, so they left the crew and found a Chongqing restaurant.

After ordering, John Brooks looked over the detailed shooting schedule: tomorrow would be a full day of script reading at the hotel, and in the evening, the whole crew would have a kickoff banquet.

Jason Wright said, “Remember your daily makeup and call times. The hot water room is on the first floor. The boxed lunches are greasy—rinse them in hot water before eating. Common medicines and supplements are in the RV cabinet. If you feel unwell, take them right away.”

John Brooks didn’t remember a word: “Isn’t all that your job?”

“What if I’m not around?” Jason Wright propped his chin on his hand. “You used to be a bit player, nobody cared about us. Now you’re the male lead, I have to work hard to network.”

John Brooks said, “Like who?”

Jason Wright replied, “First, try to get a photo with the female lead.”

When the dishes arrived, John Brooks and Jason Wright raised their glasses to celebrate the start of work. From auditioning, to being selected, to negotiating and signing the contract, the two of them had already celebrated about eight hundred times.

Sometimes, just a glance between them would make them smile knowingly. If not for the huge difference in looks, passersby might think they were bursting with bromance.

Every time, Jason Wright would sigh, “The entertainment industry is really all about luck. So many people auditioned—some more famous than you, some with connections, some who knew the producers. And yet, you beat them all!”

And every time, John Brooks would repeat, “This is my first time competing so fiercely!”