THE CEO's LOVE 104 We're, Under Attack.

"You close early on Fridays, why are you just returning?" Zhihao touched the man's face. "You said it's freezing but you have been out for long. Look at the tip of your nose bright pink." He complained.

"Ah'zhi?"

Zhihao looked up and saw who it was. "Uncle Xiangyang?" He smiled.

"Yes, how are you?"

"Fine, fine." Zhihao answered.

"We will have that discussion some other time." Zhaolin said and pushed the door open.

Xiangyang stood there for a while before driving away.

Xueyan has a child... Did she marry? If so, where's her husband?

*

It was Monday morning, Xueyan had arrived early at the company. They used the long bus to drive to their first shooting location.

Three extra cars following up and a truck.

It was nine o'clock when they arrived. It was a small village outside the city.

In the drama, they would be a total of four kingdoms, two provinces and seven villages.

"Where are we, now?" Xiujun asked.

"This should be Yanbian, a village inside Jilin Province." Jingtang answered.

"The first scene starts here," the director announced after setting the cameras. One set firmly on the tripod. Two cameras carried by two different young men. And a drone set to fly into the air.

Lights and microphones raised and ready.

The long bus brought with it a shade and chairs were arranged for the artists to apply makeups.

"Is everyone ready?" The producer asked. He checked his time. Some actors were running late.

Xueyan ready in her flowing gown, had gotten her makeup done. Mei Han kept chatting with her so she wouldn't be bored.

Xiujun eyes darted from the cameras to the house meant for the little princess. "Someone is missing."

"Huang Mingfe," Jingtang replied.

"Why?" A crease forming on Xiujun's face.

Jingtang had the urge to roll his eyes. How would he know?

"Have you investigated the house? How's it?"

"Neat! Clean! Arranged with the finest material. Not too small and homely. It will make more sense since it's just a village."

Xiujun turned and fired an angry look at Jingtang. "You know what I'm talking about."

"And you know what I'm talking about too! It's safe!" After saying that Jingtang strode towards the director seated behind a camera by his right and a computer with good editing app by the left.

"Fool!" Xiujun said to himself. He knew exactly what he was asking but didn't go straight to the point. He didn't even have a scene among the three scenes today but came here to watch over Xueyan.

He strutted towards Xueyan and the talking parrot Mei Han.

"Oh my, morning handsome." Mei Han greeted.

"Morning, damsel." Xiujun replied. All the while not taking his eyes off Xueyan.

Mei Han giggled.

Xiujun bent close to Xueyan. "Are you nervous?" His voice gentle.

"No. Oof. Or maybe yes." Xueyan mind was in whirlwind.

He smiled. "It's okay. Think about the thing you love most or maybe view her little smiling face, before you go into action." He brushed her shoulder.

Xueyan thought for a while. "Thanks,"

"Welcome anytime."

It was fifteen past ten when everything was sent. But they waited for Huang Mingfe, it didn't take long when they heard the sound of a car heading towards their direction.

He was a tall man, young and handsome but couldn't be compared to Xiujun. Handsome in his own ways, he was still able to attract his own fans.

Huang Mingfe had attended the same high school as Xueyan. When he saw her, he smiled and walked over. "h.e.l.lo, Miss Bai. I must have kept you waiting, I apologize." He made a slight bow.

"Put the formalities aside. You must have had things to attend to." Xueyan made a slight bow too.

By then Xiujun had left to go sit with the director.

"Is he that nice towards newcomers or he's putting on an act." Mei Han crossed her arms.

"He was never a talker. Always quiet." Xueyan narrowed her eyes. "He's that nice,"

When Huang Mingfe got close, he received that horrible look from Xiujun and only smiled.

"Apologies..."

"Save that for later and go get changed." Xiujun interrupted.

The director said nothing and only watched the two.

Huang Mingfe bowed and left. The man wasn't a talkative person and always stayed by himself. The director wondered what would have caused his lateness, had he come to the company earlier, he would have easily avoided the traffic.

Twenty minutes later, Huang Mingfe was changed into his attire. With his makeup that made him look a bit older, he wore abs and shoulders to look more real.

And then they were both positioned, looking towards the staircase.

The drone was controlled by the director as he lifted it into the sky, they made a dramatic cloud before it slowly descended on the rooftop.

The small house had a hallway, they seemed to be discussing.

The drone camera was quickly changed to the one set firmly on the tripod.

Bai Xueyan would be playing the character of Yan Ruqin. A young girl in a village, with her father as the leader.

"Ru'er, it will only take a few days." The man said.

The camera moved from the dried mud zinc, to reveal two people standing, and facing a lake. It had a bridge in the middle linking it to the other end of the lake. There was another house at the end.

The birds chirped, the cool breeze blew around. Their compound was the closest to the mountain, so they always enjoyed fresh air even when the sun was s.h.i.+ning heavily.

Ruqin had her head bowed as the man touched the top of her head and kissed her forehead.

Finally she raised her head, her beautiful black eyes glistened, her nose lay straight down her face, like a finger with the end joint tilted up. The earring dangled freely with the cool breeze.

"Be safe and return at once," her voice as soft as melody. She then turned to look at the beautiful lake, that had fishes swimming around and lotus floating on the surface. And the camera captured her whole face.

"Cut," the director shouted. And makeup artists rushed over to retouch their makeup.

Xiujun had his hand supporting his chin and a light smile on his face.

"She didn't even need to practice to be perfect," he muttered to the director and the man smiled.

"She's that good, I agree."

The camera turned on again, now her father had exited and she took light steps on the bridge, making no single sound as she crossed over to the other end. Her back now in view, it showed her hair neatly combed, twisted into Arabic headscarf and two pins holding it in place.

She was dressed in a light blue Hanfu, almost the colour of the sky.

The camera then moved to the stable, as the stable boy pulled a brown horse out and headed to the house's main gate. There Yan Ping, stood with his hands clasped at his back.

Ten guards stood behind him, already seated on their horses.

"My lord," the stable boy bowed. And pa.s.sed him the reins.

Yan Ping used the stirrup to sit on the saddle and rode away with the other men following closely behind.

Back in the quiet house, Ruqin trained with her sword. The house was big as it was hammered into the white rock of the mountain, there was three lines of scarecrow made of hard woods, Xueyan exited and a stunt girl entered.

According to Xiujun, a clone to represent her.

The girl was good in martial art, as she swiftly moved the sword. She hit the wooden scarecrow so hard that it left a mark.

"Cut," the director said and the stunt girl, dressed in the same outfit as Xueyan heaved a sigh. She tried to reach for her other shoulder for a ma.s.sage.

But couldn't.

"Let's take a break," the director said and everyone sighed in relief.

Almost all the employees strutted to the truck to grab refreshments.

Xueyan by the left, Xiujun by the right and the director in the middle with the producer behind him. They watched the first and second scene on the computer while the director made little adjustments.

"The next scene is the ambush scene. We will move to the mountain area for that." The director announced. "So be fast, the time is running out on us."

They waited for the sun to set, by then all cameras were positioned.

The rocky mountain area had been inspected by the animal's team. So literary, it was safe.

It was six pm by the time they started.

The whole village had gone inside their compound. Lanterns lit, as every house turned to golden colours.

There was a shuffling sound in the mountain area. Breeze blew the trees and the rustling sound came from the bandits in black, with long silvery swords.

They stood at the mountain top and looked down at the Yans houses.

It had a total of seven houses including the two linked by a bridge.

"Fweet!" The whistle sound was to alert all their members as they had the village totally rounded.

Then wires were used to drop them down. The leader silently landing on the training house, then rolled over and came down on his feet.

Wooden torches came up around the bushes as the villagers were taken unaware.

Cries rang throughout the village, a handmaiden ran with speed to Ruqin's room. Pulling her simple Hanfu up to prevent her from falling she panted heavily.

She pushed the door open and entered, not forgetting to close it.

Yan Ruqin, had taken her bathe and had supper. Now dressed in her inner clothing she was ready to fall asleep when the door opened and a gust of cold wind swept in.

"Miss, we...we're un...under attack," the handmaiden stuttered due to panic.