Chapter 23: Riding on Someone's Coattails

During a break in filming, Chen Kun and the others pulled Zhang Yuan aside to ask what his secret was for such rapid progress lately.

Zhang Yuan, of course, couldn't reveal his strategy of "winning money from Chen Kun and then losing it to the veteran actors." He simply said that he frequently sought advice from several masters on the crew, and they had given him a great deal of guidance.

The others looked troubled.

As young people, they felt awkward bringing it up. Besides, even if they did ask, there was no guarantee the veterans would teach them, nor that they would be able to learn.

Everyone envied Zhang Yuan's social skills. How could he manage to charm everyone from the director to the actors so effortlessly?

Even the high-and-mighty Liu Xiaoli was extremely polite to Zhang Yuan, and her daughter, who acted like a little princess, often hovered around him.

As they walked and talked, they passed the resting area where the extras were gathered, and a weak voice called out from the crowd.

"Zhang... Zhang Yuan..."

Zhang Yuan turned around and looked closely.

Wasn't that his roommate!

At this moment, Zhao Jin was dressed in a set of coarse grey linen clothes, looking exactly like a servant from a wealthy household.

Clearly, he had managed to land a job as an extra.

Generally, extras earned about 50 a day; stingy productions like *Conquest* only paid 30. However, the *Golden Silk Era* crew was wealthy; they selected young, well-featured extras and paid them 80 a day!

Still, the crew leaders and casting directors always took their cut, so after being fleeced, he only took home a little over 50.

"What are you doing here!" Zhang Yuan was pleasantly surprised to run into an acquaintance.

But Zhao Jin was different from his usual casual self in their rented room; he appeared extremely constrained.

"I saw the pay was good so I came. I didn't expect to actually run into you."

Zhang Yuan had mentioned before that he would be participating in a TV series starring Chen Kun, which had made the kid incredibly envious at the time.

He knew that any production starring Chen Kun would be a major project.

However, he had assumed Zhang Yuan would only have a small role—at most, a fifth-billed supporting character.

But looking at him now, Zhang Yuan was walking arm-in-arm with Chen Kun; their relationship was clearly extraordinary. Was this the kind of treatment a minor supporting actor received?

Furthermore, Chen Kun, Qiao Zhenyu, and Dong Jie were all seeking advice from Zhang Yuan. The three of them surrounded him, with Shu Chang following closely behind.

Though Zhao Jin couldn't quite believe it, seeing the way they were positioned, he felt as if Zhang Yuan was the leader of this group of stars.

Thus, he felt timid and fearful. Even the way he called Zhang Yuan's name betrayed his lack of confidence, as if he were afraid the other man wouldn't even acknowledge him.

After all, such things were all too common in the entertainment industry; many people completely cut ties with their impoverished old friends once they achieved fame.

When Zhang Yuan greeted him with his usual attitude, Zhao Jin felt a small surge of emotion.

"Is this your friend?" Chen Kun asked, raising an eyebrow.

"My roommate."

"Hello." After learning the connection, Chen Kun and Qiao Zhenyu both greeted Zhao Jin and even shook his hand. Since Dong Jie and Shu Chang were women, it wasn't convenient to shake hands, so they simply nodded.

Zhao Jin swallowed hard in excitement.

*A big star greeted me!!!*

*And shook my hand!*

Zhao Jin made a mental note right then and there: he wouldn't wash his hands for the rest of the week.

Up close, Dong Jie looked so pure.

And Shu Chang was so beautiful; she looked much thinner in person than on TV.

Zhao Jin was too excited to speak. Zhang Yuan chuckled, amused by his roommate's lack of composure.

"Zhang Yuan, Director Li is looking for you!" At that moment, the assistant director called out. Zhang Yuan waved in response.

"I have something to attend to, so I'll head off. Have fun with the crew."

As Zhang Yuan turned to leave, the surrounding extras all crowded around Zhao Jin.

"Is that your friend?"

"Holy crap, you actually know celebrities!"

"Big boss, take me with you!"

When everyone carries the sedan, the sedan rises. Zhao Jin's originally slightly hunched back straightened up under the group's flattery.

"You know Zhang Yuan?" At this moment, the crew leader who had brought Zhao Jin to the set approached him to ask.

"We live together."

"Oh..." A crew leader was a type of person who knew everything—who belonged to which production, who was whose relative, and who was whose friend. They were shrewd professionals who saw through everything.

Upon learning that Zhao Jin was a friend of Zhang Yuan, the leader quickly flashed a smile: "I won't take a cut of your pay today. Leave me your phone number."

His treatment changed instantly, leaving the other extras around him green with envy.

Looking at Zhang Yuan's departing figure, Zhao Jin felt that he looked much taller than before...

***

Zhang Yuan was unaware of what had happened behind him. His roommate was having the time of his life, even getting an extra chicken leg in his lunch box.

By the afternoon, filming resumed.

The current scene involved Zhang Yuan's character, Liu Chunjiang, meeting the eldest daughter of the wealthy Lin family for the first time.

This would initiate a love triangle that would echo throughout the series.

The elders of both families sat in the main hall, with Miss Lin by their side, as Zhang Yuan stepped into the room.

His mother introduced him to Mrs. Lin and her daughter. Zhang Yuan performed a deep bow, his attitude humble and cautious, embodying the poise of a scion from a great family.

"He plays the part perfectly," Director Li Dawei muttered in front of the monitor.

This scene was a common trope of a formal introduction between great families, serving as preparation for a future marriage alliance.

The actress playing Miss Lin, a woman surnamed Huang, had only arrived yesterday because her scenes were scheduled much later, unlike Zhang Yuan and the others who had been with the crew from the start.

Zhang Yuan glanced at her. She was not the same person he had imagined playing Miss Lin; it seemed his arrival had caused some unexpected changes.

When it was her turn to perform, Zhang Yuan frowned the moment she spoke her lines.

She was stumbling through them, clearly having not memorized her lines properly.

Normally, if there were scenes with a co-star the next day, professional actors would at least spend a day getting familiar with their partner, running lines, and even checking their blocking.

But Zhang Yuan hadn't even met this woman before this scene began.

However, according to the script, Miss Lin was arrogant and willful, possessing the strong personality typical of a young lady of high status, much like the character Bai Xiuzhu played by Liu Xiuxi.

While her lines were lacking, Miss Huang performed the character's personality with ease.

Zhang Yuan strongly suspected she was simply playing herself.

The scene had to be reshot six times due to various issues, all stemming from this "newcomer" on set.

After wrapping up, Zhang Yuan approached Li Dawei with a look of helplessness. The director also shook his head with a bitter smile.

"She's an investor's woman. Just bear with it."

*No wonder...* Zhang Yuan felt a sense of understanding.

It was true that the *Golden Silk Era* crew was wealthy and well-staffed, but no one ever complained about having too much money—especially since this production was indeed incredibly expensive.

It was understandable to make appropriate compromises for the sake of money.

As the day's work ended, all the actors and staff began walking out of the set, creating a noisy crowd.

Zhang Yuan was leaving with the other lead actors, but just as they reached the main gate, a cry of pain erupted from behind them!

"Ow!"

The group turned around to see Shu Chang had fallen to the ground, her knees and elbows scraped raw from contact with the floor.

The ground here was rough concrete, feeling much like sandpaper. The young girl's skin was fair and delicate, and blood began to seep out immediately.

Zhang Yuan was the quickest to react, rushing forward to help her.

"It hurts..." Since she cried out in pain at the slightest movement, Zhang Yuan simply scooped her up in a princess carry and carefully placed her on a nearby bench.

Medical personnel arrived shortly after. Following Liu Xiuxi's previous fainting spell, the crew had upgraded their medical team, and they responded quickly.

Disinfection, stopping the bleeding, and applying gauze—fortunately, her face wasn't injured, though she would have to wear long sleeves and long skirts for her subsequent scenes.

Shu Chang was usually very well-behaved and a talented actress, so the crew treated her like a little sister. When this happened, dozens of people gathered around, looking at her with deep concern.

"I'm fine, I can walk back by myself." Once the bandaging was complete, seeing Zhang Yuan move to help her again, Shu Chang hurriedly refused, her face flushing as she remembered being carried in a princess carry.

As she spoke, she cast an unnatural glance toward the onlookers, her eyes filled with a hint of timidity and resentment.

That look was caught perfectly by Zhang Yuan.

Following her gaze, Zhang Yuan discovered that Miss Huang, the woman who had been his scene partner earlier, was currently wearing a contemptuous smile on her face...