THE CEO's LOVE 112 Fall

Heads snapped towards her. 

"Yes! She should repeat it!" Yin Anhao supported.

"What..." 

"Producer Fang, are you saying I am wrong?" Deng Yue asked with raised eyebrows.

Now, will she be the new trouble? Yin Anhao was fond of toying with newcomers.

Producer Fang could only sigh. Xiujun was taking long. Though they were very far from the city, he wanted him here already! 

"I think that was a good fall, no..." Director Ye was about saying when Fangxi interrupted.

"You think?" Fangxi gave a dry laugh. "This is a drama the whole nation is waiting for in antic.i.p.ation. We shouldn't make any mistake,"

Director Ye sighed. "Believe me, it was enough."

Meanwhile Mei Han pa.s.sed Xueyan the chilled mineral water, "The sun is so hurt... I bet your throat is dried up."

She used a scarf to cover Xueyan's head. "This isn't enough. You'll become tanned before this drama's shoot is over. And now, this three ugly ladies are making it harder for you."

Xueyan looked at the three ladies. "No, Deng Yue is very beautiful."

"I agree. But a bit...mmm."

Xueyan put a hand over Mei Han's mouth. Then shook her head. "Some things are better left unsaid."

Mei Han narrowed her eyes. "Mmm," and Xueyan let go. "Now they want you to repeat the fall. It was a hard one, do they want to leave a scar on your waist?" She placed a finger to her jaw. "Do you think they have seen your skin? And discovered it's pure white, as smooth as jade and as s.h.i.+ny as the stars... I bet they are jealous! So they want to leave a mark on every spot. They want you to look as dry as them... They are just haters. Jealous! Of your beauty and your curves. They want your spinal cord broken! They hate you that much!" Mei Han waffled.

"You only met them today, why are you so sure they hate me?" Xueyan questioned.

"It's obvious! They had barely spent an hour here but already giving you a hard time. And I hate them for it!" Mei Han hissed.

Xueyan pulled Mei Han's hair behind her ear. "Just ignore them. Or any little thing they do will get to you. They are here to p.r.i.c.k you. Don't fall for it!"

"I will beat them with my shoes! I can fight them off!" She boasted. Not knowing the person she was ready to protect wasn't as simple as she looked. Not just anyone could bully her!

"Last time I checked, you were locked in a toilet,"

"Last time I remembered, I gave the person a hot slap." She smiled, hitting her chest. And it made Xueyan chuckle. "You laugh with every little thing, tell me, do you ever lose your cool?"

Xueyan thought. "I sure do," there was only one person capable of doing that. His image appeared in her mind... When he had smiled at Qingran. Xueyan immediately shook her head to put the image at the back of her mind.

'He said he was sick, you didn't check up on him.' A voice whispered to her.

'Doesn't matter if you do. He has a wife and son. They can take care of him.' Another said.

'No! I don't think he has anyone but you...'

'Shut up! What do you know? He has a complete family! That scammer, better don't fall for him.'

Xueyan thought she was going to run mad.

What the heck? Shut up you two! She screamed in her mind.

'I was just saying! He's a lier! A fraud!'

The names made Xueyan head hurt.

'Don't call him that, you imp!'

Xueyan thought her head was going to explode. Shut it!

'Be quiet! She's had enough of your nonsense.' That was the angel, scowling at the devil.

"Steady your cameras, we repeat the fall. Get your best shot! No mistakes!" Director Ye yelled out, interrupting the two things speaking in Xueyan's head.

"What? The fall, again?" Mei Han was shocked more than Xueyan herself. "How is that even possible?"

"Mei Han, it's okay."

"No it isn't! It isn't! I'm so mad! How can they do this? It's unfair. You'll get your skin chapped..."

"We are still in the summer," Xueyan tilted her head.

"Doesn't matter, you know what I mean." Mei Han cast her lips down. Her face doleful.

"It's really okay," Xueyan patted her shoulder. "I'm fine! You don't believe that?"

"No. You're a woman! You should cherish your 

body—your skin more."

Xueyan nodded. "Now go, the camera's been positioned." She threw the scarf at Mei Han.

Everything like it had happened before was repeated.

The instinct to help her father. The pull that had sent her unconscious.

Fangxi wasn't so pleased when the director moved to the next scene. But then she watched the man quickly get into character as the camera moved to him.

 Ruqin, in her clouded mind. Would hear different voices as it will turn to a cacophony. And then, slowly but steadily she will open her eyes. To a very bright sun.

It burned her eyes as she shut her eyes and tried to sit up. She used her hand to support her head. It was aching so bad.

"Ruqin'er..." She heard the soft murmur of her name. "Qin'er? Qin'er?" She heard it again. She looked down, for her blurry sight to settle. It did, then she looked around her. Everywhere was silent! But they were a lot of people. So many people! Many in silk and many more in rags.

What was she doing here? Where was she?

"h.e.l.lo, milady."

She turned. It was Dasheng, squatting beside her. He flashed her a smile. 

"You're on the square, ready to be sold!" He clicked his tongue. "There's your old man," he pointed at a corner then he stood straight.

When she saw the bitter smile on the man's face, her heart broke. She had failed this man! 

"Are... Are you okay?" Yan Ping said through harsh breathing. It was becoming harder to breathe as the day pa.s.sed.

The soft tone p.r.i.c.kled at Fangxi. He was acting. Did he have to make it look so real? Her jaws clenched as she looked away.

Yan Ping with shaky hands wiped his daughter's face. "Look, you got a cut. I told you... you to always take better care of your skin. You're so careless with so many things...as a woman you...you...you," the man started coughing.

"Please, stop talking." Ruqin pleaded.

"Ruqin... I've failed you..."

"No... Stop talking," a tear dropped from Ruqin's eyes.

Yan Ping drew in a breath. "I...I..."

Ruqin shook her head. "No, please stop."

"Cut!" Director Ye said. And the make-up artist rushed to the people dressed in silk. The two brothel women. They highlighted their makeup.

"Brother Mingfe, is so good I must say," Yin Anhao praised.

Deng Yue raised a brow. "We all know that,"

Yin Anhao rolled her eyes. "Yes, you know. Many people don't. Thankfully they didn't have to repeat the scene because of the new comer..." She paused and darted a look at Xueyan. "Her acting is horrible, right Fangxi?"

Hearing her name, Fangxi turned. "What?"

"I meant..." Yin Anhao trailed off. The vibe radiating from Fangxi wasn't cool. "Nothing,"

Fangxi saw from the corner of her eyes, Huang Mingfe talking to Xueyan. Her interest piqued. What are they discussing.

Deng Yue nudged her shoulder and pa.s.sed her a bottle water when Fangxi turned. Deng Yue used her brows to point at Huang Mingfe and then back at the water. 

Fangxi smiled understanding what Deng Yue meant. She immediately grabbed it and stood up, then strode towards Huang Mingfe and Xueyan.

When she got close, she could hear Xueyan laughing at a joke Mingfe made. Even the makeup artists were smiling.

"Senior Mingfe you're so talented," Mei Han said. "I so enjoyed your Hollywood pirate film. You acted as a villain, you were so good with your controlled emotions..."

"I thought you weren't a fan," Xueyan narrowed her eyes at Mei Han.

Mei Han immediately shook her head. "No, you're wrong Xue. I'm a fan! A big fan!"

They all laughed.

"Since you're a fan, I'd be sure to make you my pirate queen."

"Ah!" Mei Han gasped. "That would be great!"

They all laughed again. 

Xueyan makeup artist was done, so Xueyan stood up excusing herself to go back to the market square. Where almost everyone was gathered.

Fangxi immediately pivoted towards Xueyan. When she was close enough, she stepped on Xueyan cloth. Since it was rag clothe, it had many torn part. 

Xueyan took a step forward and halted when heard a rip sound. With immediate effect she turned and came face to face with a smirking Fangxi.

Fangxi tilted her head. "Take another step,"

Xueyan looked down on her ripped attire. It was large and had pa.s.sed her knee. "What are you trying to do?"

"What do you think?" Fangxi returned a question.

Xueyan was putting up an act. An act of being brave. She wanted to tear that mask off her face. And this way a good way to start.

Xueyan hands balled into fist. Fangxi was taking this game over. She eyed Fangxi cheek, what would it feel like to struck at that soft cheek.

Xueyan pouted, a smile on her face. "You really want to do this? In a shameless way?" And the smile vanished.

It made Fangxi reconsider her decision. That smile was so sweet and now the look on Xueyan's face was livid, dangerous. "Wh... What would you do? Apologize and I'll stop."

Yin Anhao and Deng Yue watched the two ladies. Anhao was happily clapping. "Go Xi, that face shouldn't scare you!"

Deng Yue shot a silencing glance at Anhao and she immediately shut it.

Everyone was watching, waiting for Xueyan retaliation. Producer Fang thought he would suffer a heart attack from just watching. Why did they come? To torment Xueyan? Tsk tsk...this was going to be hard.

Xueyan freed her hands, she raised the right hand up to see her palm. There was light shade of crescent moon... Almost disappearing. She always kept her nails, trimmed and neat.

"Miss Ru, you should be apologizing for stepping on my cloth..."

"You mean, your rags?" Fangxi was quick to interrupt. "I can get you as many rags as you want!"

Xueyan casted her eyes down, Fangxi was still standing on the ripped part.

She saw Mei Han heading towards them and turned to tell her to stay back. 

She then looked towards the Director area, her two friends were waiting, eagerly... Well... So bad that they are a bit far.

Xueyan swirled around, it was so sudden and unexpected that Fangxi lost her balance.