As soon as Qin Qiao'er voiced her thoughts, she immediately won Tu Qinqin's approval.
"After hearing what you said, I feel relieved. I was really afraid you'd be so naive as to let Song Qianqian take advantage of you." Tu Qinqin sighed with a tinge of sadness, thinking that every stage of Qin Qiao'er's growth was accompanied by indescribable hardships.
"Anyway, Qiaoqiao, no matter what you do, you have to think about yourself, Chenchen and Wanan. They have no one but you."
"I know, Sister Qinqin." Qin Qiao'er's eyes were firm. She vaguely understood Qin Yalan's naivety. Maybe Qin Yalan wanted to enter the Song family not only for love but also to give their mother - daughter relationship a legitimate status.
The new drama was a time - travel show with martial - arts scenes.
That wasn't a problem. The problem was the drama's director, Director Zhang. He was a perfectionist, striving for nothing but the best. He personally oversaw everything from the costumes, props, and set design to the characters' makeup. As soon as Qin Qiao'er and the others entered the crew, they faced their first test - Director Zhang wanted to assess everyone's proficiency in martial - arts scenes.
"None of you is worth watching. Starting today, there'll be martial - arts training."
That was exactly what Director Zhang said.
Director Zhang boldly set aside half a month for everyone to train in martial arts. The martial - arts master he hired was extremely dedicated. After fulfilling the tasks assigned by the master, Qin Qiao'er felt as if she had been run over by a truck. As soon as she got back to her hotel room, she'd flop onto the bed, too exhausted even to video - chat with the twins.
After Qin Qiao'er had stood the twins up for several days in a row, Tu Qinqin came to find her.
"What have you been up to these days? Chenchen and Wanan miss you so much that they've come to me..." Tu Qinqin stared at Qin Qiao'er in puzzlement. She had specifically walked around the crew and knew that the director hadn't assigned any shooting tasks. "Look at you. Do you look like someone ready to shoot a drama?"
"Sister Qinqin, don't scold me for now. I've been really busy in the crew these days."
Qin Qiao'er told Tu Qinqin about Director Zhang's unique arrangement and the strict requirements of the martial - arts master. "Just this training is already pushing me to my limits. All I want to do when I get back to the hotel is sleep. I don't want to talk to anyone. But, Sister Qinqin, you know what? After training according to the master's instructions for a few days, I feel my complexion has improved a lot..."
"Really? Let me take a look. You do look better." Tu Qinqin sized Qin Qiao'er up and decided to go to the crew to see the situation for herself.
The martial - arts master wouldn't relax his requirements just because an agent came to visit. As soon as Qin Qiao'er arrived, she was arranged to do a horse - stance. She even joked with Tu Qinqin, "Agent Tu, do you want to join us and experience it? It's really beneficial to exercise your body. I think your breathing is a bit unsteady when you walk. You should train more..."
"I'll pass..." Tu Qinqin was taken aback. "I'm just here to take a look. I won't bother Qiao'er."
Tu Qinqin came to the crew not only because of the twins' plea but also because of Song Qianqian. Although Qin Qiao'er said she could handle the situation, Tu Qinqin, who was as caring as a mother hen, always felt that Song Qianqian wouldn't let it go easily. She had to see it with her own eyes to be at ease.
Just as she took a few steps, Tu Qinqin saw Song Qianqian.
"Ouch, I've sprained my ankle. How can I continue training like this? I have to go to the doctor..." Song Qianqian shouted with red eyes, glaring fiercely at everyone. She looked as if she was going to remember everyone so that she could settle the score with them when she became successful again in the future.
The assistant looked at Song Qianqian timidly, not daring to say a word.
The martial - arts master was personally hired by Director Zhang and didn't give in to Song Qianqian at all. "Song Qianqian, can you continue training or not? You're a famous actress, and so is Qin Qiao'er. Why are you so delicate? If Qin Qiao'er can persevere, why can't you?"
"I really sprained my ankle, Master." Song Qianqian stared hatefully at the ground.
She felt that ever since the Song family had fallen from grace, even a lowly martial - arts master dared to challenge her. She hated Qin Qiao'er a bit more. If Qin Qiao'er had promised to take care of her in the crew, things wouldn't have turned out like this. It was all Qin Qiao'er's fault. In her anger, Song Qianqian forgot that Qin Qiao'er was training according to the master's requirements.
Seeing this, Tu Qinqin quickly turned around and left the trouble - prone area.
She didn't want to draw more hatred for Qin Qiao'er. At the same time, she became more vigilant towards Song Qianqian and decided to give Qin Qiao'er a good warning. Having made up her mind, Tu Qinqin did what every agent would do: she showed kindness to the crew members. Although the gifts weren't very valuable, they could make Qin Qiao'er's life in the crew easier and help her gain a good reputation.
As the saying goes, it's the small fry that are hard to deal with, but Tu Qinqin never bothered with such trivial details.
"Are you Qin Qiao'er's agent? Go and have a look quickly. Something's happened on the set!" As soon as Tu Qinqin returned, she was grabbed by a crew member. The crew member looked at her guiltily and anxiously. "I don't know which blabbermouth was gossiping in front of Song Qianqian and angered her. Now Song Qianqian insists on competing with Qin Qiao'er in using the wire - rigging..."
"What! You take these things. I'll go and check on Qiao'er right away."
In a hurry, Tu Qinqin stuffed the things into the crew member's hands and rushed to the set. There she saw Song Qianqian and Qin Qiao'er surrounded by people, confronting each other, neither willing to back down.
"Qin Qiao'er, are you afraid to use the wire - rigging because you're worried I'll play dirty tricks on you? If you don't trust me, I'll go first..." Song Qianqian, talking to herself, snatched the wire - rigging equipment and started to put it on herself.
The prop master looked at Song Qianqian helplessly, wanting to help but not knowing how. "Song Qianqian, this equipment hasn't been inspected yet. It's really not suitable to use the wire - rigging now."
"Humph, I think you're just biased towards Qin Qiao'er. I'd like to see who dares to stop me today!"
Song Qianqian got even angrier. Her eyes were like knives, almost ready to cut people to pieces. Qin Qiao'er, the main target of Song Qianqian's hostility, didn't care. She was used to such looks from the Song family. She'd even feel a bit strange if she didn't see them one day.
Song Qianqian's commotion caught the director's attention.
"Prop master, help her with the wire - rigging. If she dares to back out today, pack her things and get her out of my crew." Director Zhang also had a temper. He knew about Song Qianqian's behavior of throwing tantrums and fawning on the powerful while looking down on the weak. He felt that the atmosphere in the crew was being spoiled by people like Song Qianqian.
Since Song Qianqian was a supporting actress forced into the crew by the investor, Director Zhang had chosen to turn a blind eye. But now Song Qianqian had gone too far and even involved the leading actress. Even if the investor came, Director Zhang didn't think he should show any mercy.
"Isn't it just using the wire - rigging? I, Song Qianqian, have never been afraid of anything."
In a fit of anger, Song Qianqian refused the prop master's help and insisted on setting up the equipment herself.