Chapter 25: Every Villain Has Their Match

“Not at your pleasure?” Huang Yuanwen’s eyes were filled with mockery. “And how exactly am I supposed to be impolite?”

Relying on the financial backer behind her, she clearly held Zhang Yuan in contempt.

“In all my life, I’ve never met anyone who dared to be so arrogant with me.”

“Well, today you have.”

“All departments, attention! Last rehearsal. Actors, take your positions.”

Just as the tension between the two reached a breaking point, the director, Li Dawei, called out the final notice before filming.

The scene involved Zhang Yuan’s character, Liu Chunjiang, failing to elope with Xiao Lian. To avoid further implicating the young master Liu, who was already betrothed, Xiao Lian leaves the Jin family alone to seek refuge in a nunnery.

Chen Kun plays the eldest son of the Jin family, who is close to the maid Xiao Lian. Upon discovering her disappearance, he comes to Liu Chunjiang’s clinic to demand answers. As the young master Liu attempts to leave to search for his lover, he is blocked by Miss Lin, eventually storming off in anger.

What they were about to film was the moment Huang Yuanwen’s Miss Lin blocks Zhang Yuan’s Liu Chunjiang from leaving to find the person, resulting in Zhang Yuan pushing her to the ground.

“This script is wrong.” Before filming began, Huang Yuanwen checked the script, only to find the content slightly different from what she had seen yesterday.

“Oh, right. The director asked me to tell you that there have been some minor adjustments to our scene.” Zhang Yuan’s face was bright with a smile, but it was a smile that felt bone-chilling to the arrogant Miss Huang.

“Originally, I was supposed to push you. Now, it’s changed so that in a moment of agitation, I slap you instead.”

“What?” Huang Yuanwen’s eyes widened.

If the script was changing, fine, but to notify her right before filming?

“Haven't you ever filmed a scene involving being hit? Do you understand the concept of a camera angle?” Zhang Yuan made exaggerated gestures, ensuring the director and the crew could see them rehearsing the "missed" hit.

“*The Story of a Noble Family*, Scene 145, Shot 1, Take 1, ACTION!”

Before Huang Yuanwen could recover from her shock, filming officially commenced.

She had no choice but to follow Zhang Yuan’s rhythm, but an extremely ominous premonition began to rise in her heart.

“You aren't allowed to go!”

“Don't stop me! Let go! LET GO!!!” Zhang Yuan roared. He swung his arm in a wide arc, bringing it down high toward Huang Yuanwen’s left cheek.

A loud *slap* echoed through the narrow alleyway used for the shoot!

Huang Yuanwen felt half her face go numb. It took a moment for her sensation to return, and then it felt as if a jar of condiments had burst open—salty, sour, and spicy sensations flooded her senses.

“Oh dear! Are you alright? We agreed on a camera angle! Why didn't you dodge?” Zhang Yuan rushed forward with a look of intense concern, his expression as pained as if his own mother had fallen.

“Cut!” Li Dawei shouted.

“What happened?” Li Dawei even offered a compliment: “Miss Huang, your performance was good today. Your reaction after being hit was very realistic.”

“Director Li, my fault. I messed up the acting. Let’s do it again,” Zhang Yuan said "kindly," taking the blame upon himself.

“Alright then. All departments, reset. One more time.”

Huang Yuanwen stood up in terror. Before she could fully process what was happening, the director shouted ACTION.

“Don't stop me! Let go! LET GO!!!” Zhang Yuan raised his hand high once more.

Huang Yuanwen learned her lesson. She tilted her head quickly, and Zhang Yuan’s descending palm grazed past the tip of her nose.

But before she could feel relieved for even half a second, Zhang Yuan’s hand snapped back like a drawn bowstring, whipping around to strike her right cheek!

*Slap!*

The sound was incredibly crisp!

If her head were a watermelon, that single sound would have been enough to prove it was ripe.

Slaps are divided into forehand and backhand. Even a thin person has flesh on their palm, but the back of the hand is different—it is all bone!

This strike was even more powerful than the last!

Huang Yuanwen felt her head buzzing, as if a full ritual of bells and gongs were ringing inside her skull.

“Director, I didn't stand steady just now. My apologies,” Zhang Yuan apologized again, requesting a retake.

If the first time hadn't been enough to convince her, the second backhand slap made it crystal clear: Zhang Yuan was doing this on purpose!

*Slap!*

*Slap!*

*Slap!*

“Director, I’m not in the right state.”

“Director Li, I said the wrong line.”

“Director Li, some dust got in my eye...”

Huang Yuanwen: *F*** *this...*

After taking five consecutive slaps, Huang Yuanwen’s face was swollen like a pig's head, and she sat on the ground wailing.

“What’s wrong with her?” Li Dawei asked.

“She feels she didn't act well and broke down in tears,” Zhang Yuan explained with a smile.

“Miss Huang, please adjust your emotions quickly. The crew's time is limited, and we have a heavy filming schedule.”

“Did you hear that?” Zhang Yuan stepped in front of her, casting her entirely into his shadow. “The director said time is limited.”

“Crying counts as time, too!”

Zhang Yuan crouched down. “I forgot to tell you one thing.”

“I was the one who suggested the script change to the director.”

“Ah!” Huang Yuanwen propped herself up with her hands and scrambled backward on the ground.

In her eyes, Zhang Yuan wasn't an actor; he was a living Yama!

She understood now. She understood the meaning behind his words, "Not at your pleasure."

“You hit people... I'll tell the director...”

“Go ahead. Tell him. Tell him I hit you, and then he will find out what you did to Shu Chang.”

“What did you do to her tutor?”

“Go on. Tell him.”

Huang Yuanwen froze.

If she didn't speak, she would keep getting hit.

If she did speak, her "little indiscretions" would be exposed.

The nearby crew members had long realized that Zhang Yuan was doing this intentionally.

But not a single person stepped forward to say anything.

Why?

Because Miss Huang was usually too arrogant and had no supporters.

In a corner not covered by the camera lens, Chen Kun, Dong Jie, Qiao Zhenyu, Shu Chang, Liu Xixi, and others were waiting their turn, reviewing their lines.

Hearing that Zhang Yuan—who rarely had NGs—was making continuous "mistakes," they had come to see what was happening.

And they saw it immediately.

The first to react was, naturally, Shu Chang.

She covered her mouth, her eyes reddening, tears on the verge of falling.

Zhang Yuan had asked her about being bullied, so she understood: Brother Yuan was getting revenge for her!

Most people in the crew were kind to her; she was young, sensible, and well-liked.

But while many knew or suspected she was being bullied, only Zhang Yuan had truly stood up for her.

She thought to herself that, aside from her deceased mother, no one had ever cherished her like this.

Suddenly, her emotions surged like a breaking dam, though she didn't know how to express them.

Though she hid it well, she was actually quite insecure due to her family background.

Liu Xixi often complained about her mother Liu Xiaoli’s constant restrictions, but to Shu Chang, that kind of "care" was something she dreamed of.

Why work so hard at acting? Why study so hard? Why try to be the best at everything?

Because she knew that with her mother gone, she could only rely on herself!

But now, it seemed she had found someone else to lean on.

The heavy pressure on her shoulders and the oppression brought by Huang Yuanwen seemed to vanish in this moment.

“Changchang, what’s wrong?” Liu Xixi touched her shoulder, which also alerted Chen Kun and the others to Shu Chang’s change in demeanor.

Looking at Shu Chang and recalling the recent rumors involving her and Huang Yuanwen, combined with Zhang Yuan’s behavior toward Huang, these young actors from professional academies realized what was happening.

“Zhang Yuan, he...”

A look of horror appeared on Chen Kun’s face, accompanied by a surge of shame.

He was shocked that the usually kind Zhang Yuan could strike so ruthlessly, acting like a completely different person.

He even began to frantically recall if he had offended Zhang Yuan or shown any professional arrogance, fearing the same might happen to him.

But at the same time, he felt guilt.

Had he not heard about what happened to Shu Chang?

Of course he had!

But he had chosen to mind his own business. Why offend others?

*If I help Shu Chang, will I be targeted too?*

*Forget it. As long as it doesn't involve me, I'll just turn a blind eye.*

He had chosen to be part of the indifferent majority.

But seeing Zhang Yuan strike back without hesitation, a spark of passion stirred in a corner of Chen Kun’s heart.

As fellow actors, Zhang Yuan was younger, earned less, and had less experience.

But his courage was far greater than his own!

When a friend is in trouble, I hesitate and worry about my own interests, but he strikes with heavy blows!

Chen Kun asked himself: If given the chance, would he dare to stand up for a friend like that?

Even in his imagination, the answer was no.

“It's over. I've been completely outclassed by Zhang Yuan.” Since entering the Beijing Film Academy, this was the first time he felt incompetent and small.

A farce eventually needs someone to end it, and at that moment, the voice of Director Li’s father, Liu Guoquan, rang out across the set.

“Everyone, take a thirty-minute break. Zhang Yuan, Huang Yuanwen, Li Dawei—come with me...”