Provoking Fire [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 32

The crew’s meals had always been bland and watery, barely palatable. When word spread that there would be a special meal today, even the extras waiting to film couldn’t help but cheer.

The lunch boxes truly lived up to the hype. The eggplant was stuffed with rich, savory minced meat, and the braised sauce was thick and fragrant, making everyone’s mouths water. Another meat dish featured squid rings stir-fried with green chili peppers, accompanied by a side of leafy greens and fluffy white rice. The aroma was irresistible, a world apart from the usual fare.

Director Yang’s crew had always enjoyed decent meals, especially for staff members who didn’t need to watch their figures. But the lead actors had barely tasted a decent meal until now, and they were as delighted as if it were New Year’s Day.

Only one person seemed out of place in the jubilant atmosphere.

The actress, Gao Lu, played a minor role, perhaps fifth or sixth in the cast. She was usually quiet and reserved on set, focused on her duties. Today, while everyone else beamed at the sight of the special meal, Gao Lu sat quietly to the side with her lunch box, looking somewhat lost.

Her assistant, standing nearby, seemed conflicted. After discreetly circling the area and confirming that the lead actors had received similar meals, the assistant wore a troubled expression.

After a moment’s hesitation, she was about to approach the logistics department when Gao Lu grabbed her sleeve, pulling her back. Gao Lu waved to her assistant, and the two women quietly sat down at the table, blending into the bustling crowd. Su Yan, who had already collected her lunchbox, placed it on the table and walked over to them.

Soon after, Su Yan spoke briefly to Director Yang and asked him to have the car take her back to the hotel first.

Their hotel was a few kilometers from Film City—not the closest, but it offered excellent amenities and soundproofing. Director Yang never skimped on accommodations, prioritizing the actors’ well-being to ensure they remained in top condition.

The main cast had their own separate dining table. Though Su Yan’s departure wasn’t particularly dramatic, it still drew considerable attention.

Chu Xiyue, who had already gathered her utensils, glanced in the direction Su Yan had left and paused momentarily before casually opening her lunchbox.

But the empty seat across from her made the meal feel strangely unappetizing. Even the rich, savory flavors of the braised pork with eggplant and the crispy squid rings seemed muted.

However, Su Yan returned quickly, carrying two large unlabeled bottles filled with sauces—clearly not store-bought.

Su Yan first approached Gao Lu and, under her surprised gaze, pushed the two jars of sauce toward her, inviting her to choose first. Overwhelmed by Su Yan’s unexpected kindness, Gao Lu felt both touched and uneasy, her eyes even beginning to redden slightly as she repeatedly thanked her:

“Thank you, Teacher Su!”

“What about you? Would you like to try some?”

Su Yan smiled at Gao Lu’s assistant, who, flattered by the attention, didn’t hesitate to scoop a spoonful of sauce onto her rice, stir it in, and take a bite. Discovering the flavor was truly exceptional, she immediately gave Su Yan a thumbs-up.

Chu Xiyue watched as Su Yan made her way through the crowd, distributing the sauce amidst laughter and chatter. She overheard them asking:

“Where did you buy this, Teacher Su?”

“Homemade.”

“It’s so delicious! Did your aunt make it? She’s amazing! I’d love to buy some.”

“No wonder you turned out so well, Teacher Su. Your aunt has such a knack for cooking!”

Compliments and genuine praise rang in her ears. Chu Xiyue grew slightly weary of the flattery, her eyes fixed on the sauce as she waited for it to be brought to her. For a moment, she felt a pang of resentment. After all, when they had been eating bland, watery meals before, Su Yan hadn’t shared the sauce, even when her own appetite was waning.

Su Yan quickly shared the sauces with her, as if sensing her slight moodiness. She pushed the two jars forward, letting Chu Xiyue choose first.

Chu Xiyue examined them carefully.

Diced cucumbers mixed with millet peppers, light soy sauce, and pickled radish created a surprisingly unique flavor. It sounded odd, but it was incredibly appetizing.

The other sauce combined diced shiitake mushrooms and beef cubes, far more substantial than anything you’d find in stores. This one wasn’t spicy, but it was rich and savory without being overly salty, suggesting it hadn’t been heavily salted during preparation and likely wouldn’t keep for long.

Chu Xiyue chose both sauces and mixed them together, discovering the combination was surprisingly delicious. Even without the new dishes, she could probably eat her bland, watery meals with these sauces.

Paired with the minced pork eggplant and fried calamari rings, it was a perfect match. If not for the generous portions, she could easily have devoured two more bowls of rice.

Director Yang also praised the sauces enthusiastically. Seeing her praise, the assistant director joked:

“You’re only saying that because you’re eating their food. Don’t go throwing any more tantrums or making unreasonable demands later!”

Director Yang shot him a sharp glare. “You just can’t keep your mouth shut, can you?”

The two men were joking around, the atmosphere quite harmonious. But Chu Xiyue’s cheeks flushed slightly at the remark, her ears growing warm as if she had recalled something. Director Yang and the assistant director finished their banter and suddenly noticed Chu Xiyue looking a bit distracted, her cheeks faintly red. Thinking she might be overheated, Director Yang quickly asked:

“Xiao Chu, what’s wrong? Should we turn on the air conditioning?”

“…No, thank you,” Chu Xiyue replied, shaking her head hastily. To prove she was fine, she buried her face in her lunch, only to choke on a chili seed. She coughed twice, covering her mouth, and when she looked up, a glass of water appeared in her line of sight, offered by Su Yan.

The woman kept her head lowered, seemingly casually eating her own boxed lunch, yet she didn’t adhere to the “no talking while eating” rule. Her movements remained graceful as she spoke:

“Gao Lu is allergic to eggplant and seafood. She hasn’t been eating properly these past few days because she’s been feeling unwell. I saw her assistant buying stomach medicine for her earlier.”

Chu Xiyue paused, slightly stunned.

Gao Lu had kept her illness well-hidden. None of the other actors on set seemed to have mentioned it, including Director Yang and the others. It was impossible they would knowingly arrange for her to eat foods containing allergens.

Gao Lu, being a minor actress, likely chose to endure the discomfort silently, adhering to the principle of “less trouble is better.” She probably figured she could simply eat less. She never expected Su Yan to notice such a small detail, let alone offer a special explanation.

Was this… a gesture of goodwill?

But she hadn’t even been angry about such a trivial matter!

For some inexplicable reason, Chu Xiyue felt a slight annoyance at having her hidden thoughts exposed. Yet this irritation quickly melted away under Su Yan’s soothing words, leaving her feeling buoyant and cheerful.

The day’s meal, enhanced by the homemade sauces and new dishes, satisfied everyone, and the atmosphere was pleasant. The team had managed to catch up on their filming schedule, nearly completing their scenes at Film City. Next, they would be heading to the countryside for a short shoot.

While some scenes could be filmed against green screens, nothing could replicate the authenticity of shooting on location. The remote mountain village they were heading to was located in a distant province. The nearest airport was in the provincial capital, requiring a train journey to the lower-tier city followed by a series of bus transfers to reach the village.

This shows just how remote the village was. I have no idea where Director Yang found this location.

Over the past few weeks, everyone had grown quite familiar with each other, especially with the two leads. The production required a large number of extras, but they couldn’t leave Film City to follow the cast. So, before parting ways, Chu Xiyue treated everyone to milk tea.

Some of the bolder extras, finding her much more approachable than rumored, even asked for photos. Chu Xiyue graciously agreed to each request, without a hint of impatience.

After officially leaving Film City, they flew directly from the local airport to the provincial capital. However, upon landing, the weather turned severe. For safety reasons, the director decided against risking a further transfer and opted to stay overnight in the capital. With filming impossible that afternoon, the actors were given the day off.

This was Chu Xiyue’s first time in the city. She snapped a photo of the airport, posted it on her WeChat Moments, then turned off her phone to catch up on sleep. She was still drifting in dreamland when the ringing of her phone jolted her awake.

The call was from Chi Yao, a friend of Chu Xiyue’s in the entertainment industry. Chi Yao had debuted earlier, and the two had hit it off during a variety show, often hanging out together in their free time.

Since joining the film crew, Chu Xiyue had less free time, so they usually just kept in touch by phone or text. Unexpectedly, Chi Yao was also in town. Seeing Chu Xiyue’s itinerary on social media, she immediately offered to visit the set. They arranged to meet for dinner. After tidying up and applying light makeup, Chu Xiyue headed out.

As she was heading downstairs, she happened to run into Su Yan’s assistant, Xiao Le. Noticing Chu Xiyue’s carefully put-together appearance, which didn’t look like she was going to see the director, Xiao Le casually asked, “Going out to have fun, Sister Chuchu?”

“Yeah,” Chu Xiyue replied, pulling on her hat and sunglasses as they approached the lobby to ensure she wouldn’t be recognized. “Meeting a friend.”

With that, the taxi she had called arrived at the entrance. Chu Xiyue turned to wave goodbye to her assistant before getting into the car. Xiao Le watched Chu Xiyue’s departing figure and couldn’t help but smile. Later, she shared the incident with Su Yan.

The rare moment of downtime seemed to stretch out languidly. Su Yan sat in her room, brewing tea with a freshly boiled kettle. The delicate aroma of Lapsang Souchong filled the air. When Xiao Le mentioned Chu Xiyue’s “friend,” Su Yan instinctively asked:

“Who?”

“I don’t know. Teacher Chu is quite popular in the industry, so it’s probably just one of her friends from the circle,” Xiao Le replied. “Teacher Su, you seem quite concerned?”

Setting down her teacup, Su Yan’s coffee-colored eyes flashed with a hint of resignation. Xiao Le burst into laughter, clearly pleased with her successful teasing.

“I know, I know, I was just joking! Look how tense you are, Teacher Su. What, do we have lines to rehearse even during our rare afternoon break?”