Chapter 33: I suppose I shall have to call you Mistress from now on.

[Page 1 of 3]

With Little Song Jia suddenly delivering a stunning performance, the production moved unusually quickly that day.

Although Tang Yan could not keep up with the scene, Guo Jingfei managed to carry it, which was enough.

When filming ended, Little Song Jia did not even glance at Xu Ming. She simply returned to the commercial van to rest.

Xu Ming rubbed his nose sheepishly but was not discouraged. He turned and went over to Tang Yan and Li Nian instead.

He understood one principle perfectly: fawn over one woman and you are a lapdog; fawn over ten and you are a wolf; fawn over a hundred and you become a battle wolf.

“I heard you went to film Tangren’s Chinese Paladin 3. I used to love the first one. How’s the sequel turning out?”

Xu Ming was not merely making conversation. He was genuinely interested.

For a while, he had been puzzled by the title and spent ages looking for Chinese Paladin 2, only to learn later that there had never been a second installment at all...

“It’s pretty good,” Tang Yan said. “Tangren is taking the show very seriously, and we’re all around the same age. Since everyone gets along so well, filming never feels dull.”

Naturally. Over the next decade, the three of them, joined by Liu Yifei from the first series, would form the so-called Great Tang Poetry Immortals—a combination impossible for the Chinese entertainment industry to ignore.

Xu Ming did not believe for a moment that the agencies behind those actresses had not helped push the group into the spotlight.

Otherwise, why had An Ruoxuan, who had also been the female lead in the first installment, not been included?

Wasn’t it because her Taiwanese background had worked against her? Her age had probably been another factor.

After all, once the four of them were linked together, even if one failed to make it, any mention of the other three would inevitably bring that person up as well. Their fame would naturally reinforce one another.

It was much like the Four Great Actresses and Two Bings who had dominated the industry in recent years.

As long as one managed to squeeze into that circle, one’s standing in the entertainment world rose by an entire level.

People said there were five Heavenly Kings, but Ekin Cheng, who had been dubbed the “Fifth Heavenly King,” ultimately never secured a place in the public’s heart.

At the very least, when Andy Lau was mentioned, everyone could name the other three. But how many people would think of Ekin Cheng as well?

As these thoughts turned in his mind, Xu Ming replied aloud, “It’s great that you’re all around the same age. With the foundation laid by the first series, this one has every chance of becoming a huge hit. I suppose I should congratulate you in advance on your coming success.”

The two women fought hard not to roll their eyes.

They might have believed that coming from someone else.

But this was Xu Ming—the man who had starred in Not Short of Money.

Who could possibly become more popular than him?

Even if the entire cast of Chinese Paladin 3 were combined, they probably still could not match Xu Ming’s fame alone.

Old Hu?

[Page 2 of 3]

Before the car accident, Hu Ge had indeed been at the height of his popularity. Now, though, his momentum had faded.

“Hmph, what’s so great about it?” Li Nian said indignantly on behalf of her companion. “The costume photos had already been taken, and then, right before filming began, they replaced the female lead they had promised her. If you ask me, Tangtang is simply too good-natured. If it had been me, I would never have put up with it.”

In terms of potential, Li Nian was currently the most promising of Orange Sky’s Seven Princesses.

Most notably, Director Teng’s Dwelling Narrowness was scheduled to air in July that year, and she was one of its female leads.

The production team consisted of the same people behind the hit series Double-Sided Tape two years earlier: Director Teng Huatao and screenwriter Liuliu.

The series had indeed made a tremendous impact after its premiere, though unfortunately it was later taken off the air.

In that regard, it could not match the quiet, enduring success of Chinese Paladin 3.

“Oh, it’s fine,” Tang Yan said with a strained smile. “The director probably thought Mimi was better suited to the role than I was. Besides, we became friends afterward.”

Who could have no resentment after having a perfectly good leading role taken away?

It was simply that Tang Yan truly could not compete with Yang Mi. The latter was too favored by Cai Yinong, and casting her as Xuejian had been a gesture of sincere goodwill.

What Tangren had not expected was that Yang Mi would accept the sugar-coated offering and send a cannonball back in return. Once her contract with Rong Xinda expired, she promptly jumped to Hong Kong Meiya Entertainment.

From the two women’s reactions, Xu Ming could more or less understand what had happened.

It was probably why Tang Yan’s later career proceeded more smoothly than Li Nian’s: she could endure what ordinary people could not.

“I think Tangtang has the right attitude,” Xu Ming said. “As the saying goes, gaining something is a blessing, while losing it is fate. Having a role taken away is utterly commonplace in this industry.”

After offering a few words of comfort, he managed to ease Tang Yan’s embarrassment considerably, and a faint sense of gratitude arose in her heart.

On the other side, Teng Huatao saw what was happening and hurriedly called Xu Ming away again.

The moment he took his eyes off the boy, Xu Ming had already found another opportunity. Judging by the look of things, another young woman was about to fall into his clutches.

Fortunately, Xu Ming could not hear what the man was thinking. Otherwise, he would have spat in his face.

How dare an old lecher like you accuse anyone else of being promiscuous?

Li Nian nudged Tang Yan with her elbow and said with a grin, “Haven’t you noticed how much attention Xu Ming pays you? Maybe he’s interested in you.”

“What? He treats both of us pretty well.”

It was not that Tang Yan had failed to notice Xu Ming’s concern. She simply could not tell whether he behaved that way toward everyone or only toward her.

“He never said what I was filming, yet he knew you were in Chinese Paladin 3.”

Li Nian gave a soft laugh, then paused before adding, “But you need to handle it carefully. A young man in his early twenties falls in love quickly—and gets over it just as quickly.”

“What are you talking about? We’ve only just met, and I don’t like younger men,” Tang Yan said, unconcerned.

Li Nian did not press the matter. With Xu Ming’s warmth, along with the kindness and humor he displayed in conversation, few young women could resist him.

[Page 3 of 3]

Especially since he was handsome and famous.

And everyone knew that being famous usually meant being wealthy as well.

As they spoke, a voluptuous woman walked onto the set carrying a rice cooker.

After greeting several acquaintances from Benshan Media, she swept her gaze around. When she spotted Xu Ming, her eyes lit up, and she walked over to him.

It was Guan Tingna. Smiling, she said, “I finished stewing the softshell turtle soup for you. I heard you’ve been too busy on set to get away, so I brought it over specially.”

“Thank your uncle for me. This stuff isn’t easy to find in early spring.”

Xu Ming could feel the gazes being directed at him from all around, so he accepted the cooker naturally.

Couldn’t she have come a day earlier or later? Why did it have to be today—and at this particular moment?

His mind raced as he said, “How’s the casting for Benshan Media’s Country Love 3 going? Have you set a start date?”

“It’s been renamed. It’s called Country Love Story now. From what Master says, filming will begin in August at Ivory Mountain. I’ve been cast as Yang Xiaoyan.” Guan Tingna looked embarrassed.

Ever since the script had been completed, everyone at the company had been wondering who would play Yang Xiaoyan.

After all, she would be acting opposite Master in a romantic storyline.

“Oh, in that case, I’ll have to start calling you my mistress.”

Xu Ming raised his voice cheerfully, as though he had just heard wonderful news.

Mistress?

Everyone else on set pricked up their ears.

So she was Master’s mistress.

Little Song Jia withdrew her gaze, and Li Nian and Tang Yan did the same.

For some reason, Tang Yan felt a little relieved.

It was like having a lapdog who had always fawned over you suddenly start fawning over someone else. Even if you had never felt anything for him, something was bound to stir.

“Why are you shouting?” Guan Tingna said crossly. “This hasn’t been announced yet. Don’t make it look as though I was the one who leaked the news.”

She had no idea how much misunderstanding that single word had caused.