"What are you guys looking at me like that for?" Fang Miaomiao chuckled lightly, "Or do you all want to die?"
"Cough, cough." Yang Huanyang was the first to snap back to reality, looking at Fang Miaomiao with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Teacher Fang, stop messing around. You've scared our staff quite a bit. If they get too spooked and all request leave, how are we supposed to finish filming?"
"Director Yang, I don't think Chen Yao would shed tears at that moment. Even if her left and right hands died in front of her, she's the villain. She doesn't understand emotions."
Besides, Chen Yao wasn't the type to show her vulnerability to others.
"Yes, Director," Cui Mantong said after watching the footage on the monitor. "I think Miaomiao's performance is great."
As she spoke, Cui Mantong threw an arm around Fang Miaomiao. "Boss, you absolutely have to avenge me later."
Fang Miaomiao looked down at Cui Mantong hanging on her, her lips curling upwards, her eyes filled with undisguised mischief and bloodlust. "Don't worry, not a single person who hurt you will escape."
Yang Huanyang, seeing the two of them ready to dive back into character at any moment, waved his hand impatiently. "Alright, you two. I didn't say you were bad just now. Your tasks for today are finished."
"Thank you, Assistant Director."
Yang Huanyang's eyes crinkled as he smiled. "Go on, go on. Next group, get ready to move in."
The two returned to the makeup room to remove their makeup.
"Miaomiao, how about we go out for dinner tonight?" Cui Mantong suggested. "My scenes are almost done too."
"I'll miss you."
"What's there to miss? If there's a good script later, we can act together again. I really like acting with you right now," Cui Mantong said with a smile. "What have you thought about dinner tonight?"
Fang Miaomiao politely declined.
Cui Mantong looked suspicious, then suddenly thought of something. "Classmate Miaomiao, you're not up to something behind my back, are you?"
"Cough, cough. How could that be?" Fang Miaomiao looked everywhere but at Cui Mantong. "I'm just acting, I have to watch my diet and take care of my body."
Cui Mantong smirked. "Don't lie to me. Are you rushing back tonight to be with someone?"
"How did you know?"
"Don't try to fool me, I've been through it. " Cui Mantong gave her a sidelong glance, a hint of pride in her tone. "Your husband came to see you last night, didn't he?"
Her lips looked a little off.
"Shh!"
Cui Mantong gave her an "I understand" look. "Don't worry, I'm not a gossip. I wouldn't talk about things like this."
Fang Miaomiao plastered on a smile. "How about I treat Sister Mantong to dinner after I'm done filming?"
"Eat what?"
"Whatever Sister Mantong wants to eat."
Cui Mantong's eyes lit up. "Then I'll bring Sisi to your place, and you can cook. Sisi misses your cooking and An An."
"Sure," Fang Miaomiao nodded. "Let's make a plan then."
They chatted for a while longer before Cui Mantong got to the serious matter. "I suspect those paparazzi were sent deliberately. Be careful lately, those people are no good."
"I know, Sister Mantong, don't worry. I'm not an idiot," Fang Miaomiao said with a smile.
"That's good. And don't listen to the nonsense online. A relationship between two people doesn't come easily, and it should be cherished. Don't make mistakes and regret it later. I think your husband treats you quite well. Those people, when you're down, they'd love to stomp on Wen Zhiyan and prevent him from getting back up."
"But you have to understand, Wen Zhiyan is very capable. If one place doesn't want you, there are plenty of others. Wen Zhiyan will rise again," Cui Mantong said, patting Fang Miaomiao's hand with the earnestness of someone who had been through it. "In my husband's words, those people are just a bunch of useless fools blinded by money."
They still wanted to take over the Wen Corporation, as if they had the ability.
"I know," Fang Miaomiao said sweetly. "I'm even planning to support Wen Zhiyan."
Fang Miaomiao was stunned by this remark and immediately gave a thumbs-up. "Miaomiao, well done!"
After seeing Cui Mantong out of the set, Fang Miaomiao sat by the side, watching the others act.
It had to be said, Fang Yan Huan was quite talented. Her acting skills had improved by leaps and bounds in recent days, and Chen Tianming's gaze towards her had become a bit more amiable.
"Not bad, Yan Huan has been putting in good effort these past few days," Chen Tianming called out, stepping out from behind the monitor. "Keep it up, and you'll become a very good actress."
"Thank you, Director Chen."
"Director Chen, I told you Yan Huan's acting was good, didn't I?" Wen Wenlan said with a smile, standing next to Fang Yan Huan.
"Mm, everyone take a break. We'll resume at two in the afternoon." Chen Tianming looked at Fang Miaomiao, who was leaning back on a lounge chair. "This afternoon, you have scenes with Fei Qingqing. Are you ready?"
Fang Miaomiao sat up straight and gave Chen Tianming an OK gesture. "I'm ready, Director. Don't worry."
"That's good then."
Chen Tianming waved his hand. "Dismissed, everyone. See you this afternoon."
With that, Chen Tianming walked over and sat down next to Fang Miaomiao. "Did you see Mantong off?"
"Mm," Fang Miaomiao nodded obediently.
"How did it feel acting with Cui Mantong?"
Fang Miaomiao raised an eyebrow. "What do you think, Director Chen?"
"I think the two of you did a fantastic job in your scenes together."
"I think so too."
Hearing her shameless remark, Chen Tianming rolled his eyes. "Can't you be a little more humble?"
"Director, what use is humility?"
Chen Tianming: "..."
Very good, that sounded exactly like Fang Miaomiao.
"By the way, Director, I want to discuss the ending."
"What about the ending?"
"I feel the ending is a bit too contrived."
"Contrived?" Chen Tianming became a little more serious. "Why do you say that? Isn't it acceptable for Chen Yao and Ruo Lan to perish together?"
"But Chen Yao's strength was originally superior to Ruo Lan's, and at the final moment, she absorbed all the energy from the meteorite. How could Ruo Lan be Chen Yao's opponent?"
Chen Tianming frowned. It seemed there was some truth to that.
"Then, we can't have Chen Yao kill Ruo Lan, can we?" he shook his head decisively. "Even though this is a show with a big villain, for it to be released in the country, righteousness must ultimately triumph over evil."
Fang Miaomiao's lips curved upwards. "You make it sound like Chen Yao is the villain. She's actually the most pitiful and sympathetic one."
From the time she could remember, she had been subjected to various experiments in laboratories. When the apocalypse broke out, she was saved by Ruo Lan's scheme. However, she was constantly used by Ruo Lan and ultimately forcibly eliminated.
Did she resent it?
She probably did, but was resentment all there was?
It was likely not.
"Then what's your suggestion?"
"I want to change the ending so that Chen Yao jumps off a cliff herself."
This was the best solution she could think of. In the eyes of humanity, Chen Yao shouldn't have existed in the first place. She killed those who had insulted her, yet she still couldn't bring herself to harm Ruo Lan, who had brought a ray of light into her life.