The crew will wrap up early today and won't work tomorrow. We're taking a two-day break. Whether we resume work on time the day after tomorrow will be announced later.
Upon hearing Wu Mingxuan's words, Zhou Jieqiong's face changed. She didn't expect Director Wu to be so ruthless. Was he really not afraid of being replaced?
The investment company behind this drama, Good Story, is backed by Wanda. This means that as the female second lead, she's practically half the boss's wife. The female lead was deliberately brought in to serve as her stepping stone.
But Wu Mingxuan's move was indeed ruthless. If this got out, her reputation would be ruined. Who would dare to hire her for future projects? She might even face a boycott from outraged netizens. This was no small trouble.
Zhao Liying was also shocked by Wu Mingxuan's audacity. She had previously thought this second-rate director was as meek as a grandson, not daring to offend Zhou Jieqiong, that little bitch.
Now, it seemed he was quite the man. But then again, Zhou Jieqiong had gone too far. What did she take Zhao Liying for? She didn't know her place.
After speaking, Wu Mingxuan turned to leave. The cost of halting production for a day was not low. For a project like 'You Fei,' with its scale and investment, it would amount to at least three million yuan. Two days would mean six million.
The investment company had stationed financial personnel in the crew. They knew exactly what had happened today and would surely report it later.
When the time came, while Wu Mingxuan would bear responsibility, Zhou Jieqiong wouldn't fare well either. She was just Wang Dashao's latest plaything. It wasn't even certain how long they'd last, and they hadn't gone public yet. How dare she act so arrogantly? She must not know the meaning of the word 'death.'
As a former K-pop idol, Zhou Jieqiong knew she couldn't let the production halt. There were limits to how much she could push things.
It was clear she had crossed Director Wu's bottom line this time. If she continued to stir trouble, it would be a lose-lose situation. She wasn't about to make such a bad deal.
Zhou Jieqiong immediately stepped forward and grabbed Wu Mingxuan's sleeve, apologetically saying, 'Director Wu, let's talk this over. It's not a big deal. Let's just follow your arrangements. You call the shots.'
Looking at Zhou Jieqiong's anxious and nervous face, Wu Mingxuan became even more determined in his wild idea. But Zhou Jieqiong alone wasn't enough; the other one was no good either.
Appearing unassuming and not showing off, yet in reality, more cunning than anyone, the persona? That's just to fool the clueless bystanders.
"Shut down! There's nothing more to say. With hearts not united and each harboring their own schemes, how do you expect this drama to proceed? I don't care what's on your minds, but as long as I, Wu Mingxuan, am the director of 'You Fei', this crew operates under my command. Take two to three hours to think it over. It's 3 PM now. By 6 PM, come to my villa near the Qin Palace. The three of us will have a thorough discussion. You can compile all your demands and thoughts and present them to me at once. The crew will resume only when we've reached an agreement, with no objections, and no further issues. Otherwise, we'll remain at a standstill. If it comes to that, I'll perish, but neither of you will benefit either. I'm prepared to go down with both of you if necessary!"
After his declaration, Wu Mingxuan stormed off in a rage, exuding an unparalleled aura of authority. Many in the crew were witnessing such fury from him for the first time, which, in a way, confirmed that he had indeed been pushed to his limits by the two actresses and was ready for a fight to the death.
Zhao Liying hadn't anticipated Wu Mingxuan's rage to escalate to the point of mutual destruction. This drama marked her comeback after marriage and childbirth; any mishap could severely hinder her future prospects.
Zhou Jieqiong was utterly terrified. No matter how influential or well-connected she was, causing chaos on set was unacceptable. If word got out, who would dare to work with her in the future?
Take Yang Ying, for instance, formidable as she is, with a husband whose connections and wealth are unmatched in the industry. And yet?
Now, she finds herself with no roles to play. Many outright refuse to collaborate with her, regardless of the pay, a dire consequence of a completely tarnished reputation.
"Sister Ying, it was my fault earlier. Perhaps we should go and apologize to the director later. I promise not to act out again and will follow your lead. Please forgive me this once?"
Zhao Liying also had no desire to offend Wang Dashao, Zhou Jieqiong's powerful backer. These young masters value their pride highly. Her initial acceptance of this role was partly to curry favor with Wanda. Had it not been for this little vixen overstepping her bounds, she wouldn't have joined the fray, ultimately provoking the director's wrath.
Wu Mingxuan had arrived at a very remote old street in Hengdian, known only to those seasoned veterans who had been around for years. Particularly, a small, unassuming and rather shabby pharmacy here was the real 'good place'.
The Pharmacy Owner, recognizing Wu Mingxuan, immediately greeted him warmly, 'Yo, isn't this Brother Xuan? Haven't seen you in a while. Heard you've become a big director now, even got Zhao Liying as your leading lady. Not bad. What brings you here this time?'
'Give me some 'A Touch of Red' and some rosemary.'
Upon hearing this, the owner flashed a lewd smile that any man would understand. Despite the ancient-sounding names, these were far from being anything good.
'A Touch of Red' was a liquid aphrodisiac similar to Spanish fly, often injected into red wine through the cork with a syringe, hence the name 'A Touch of Red'.
Rosemary was a potent incense with strong aphrodisiac effects that could cloud one's mind. Used together with 'A Touch of Red', its power could turn even the most chaste nun or virtuous woman into someone more wanton than the most promiscuous, earning it the nickname 'The Flavor of Wantonness'.
Wu Mingxuan was a regular customer, introduced by Hu Ge. Despite being a new director, it was often such newcomers who dared the most, played the wildest, and were the most generous with their money. So, the owner suddenly produced a white porcelain medicine bottle.
'Brother Xuan, how about some of this? Made from rhino horn, I call it 'The Pillar of Heaven'. This stuff is way more powerful than Viagra, with minimal side effects. After taking it, you won't stop for three hours, and after resting for three days, you can use it again. It's really something. Want some?'
'Damn! Why didn't you mention such a good thing earlier? Give me some of everything then. If it's good, I'll be back.'
'Thank you for your patronage, that'll be twenty-three thousand in total!'
Wu Mingxuan didn't haggle with the owner. As long as the stuff worked, what was a little money? If he didn't thoroughly tame those two little sluts tonight, what kind of director Wu would he be!