The next day, Bai Lixin, feeling both refreshed and uneasy, sat in the nanny car arranged by his agent.
The advertisement was divided into two parts: one part was to be filmed in a studio set at the film base, and the other part was an outdoor shoot.
According to the schedule, they would complete the indoor scenes first and then proceed with the outdoor scenes.
When Bai Lixin arrived, the director and crew were already in place. His agent took him to greet everyone, and it was clear that the agent was well-regarded in the industry, as everyone on the set treated him with great respect.
The director didn’t rush to start filming but kept checking the time.
The agent walked over to Bai Lixin and said, “One more actor hasn’t arrived yet.”
Bai Lixin: “A big star?”
The agent raised an eyebrow, “You can tell?”
Bai Lixin: “If he weren’t, the director would have already called him to hurry him up.”
Now he was just standing there stomping his feet, obviously afraid of offending the other party.
The agent: “He’s an international movie star called Emil. With his long blond hair and pure, beautiful face, fans affectionately call him ‘Angela’.”
The agent lowered his voice and added, “But his personality is far from angelic. He’s arrogant, has a bad temper and lacks professionalism…In short, he has quite a number of bad habits but he’s very popular with audiences. Don’t you think it’s infuriating? He’s naturally made for this industry, so even the director can only wait patiently for him.”
“You’ll see. When he arrives, the director will probably go over to flatter him.”
The agent looked Bai Lixin up and down and clicked his tongue regretfully. “I heard from President Sun that you’re just helping out temporarily and don’t plan to enter the entertainment industry. I have a sharp eye; if you joined the entertainment industry and followed me, I guarantee that within two years, you’d be one of the top stars in Country H, and within five years, your worth would rival Emil’s and you’d be an international superstar.”
“Please, Brother Zhang, don’t give me big promises like that,” Bai Lixin quickly waved his hand. “Becoming a top star isn’t that easy. You’re only telling me the good parts, not the downsides.”
The agent laughed heartily. “Anyone who makes it to the top has faced controversy. When the wind comes, you’ll be pushed up there, whether you want to or not.”
Bai Lixin felt a headache coming on and didn’t want to continue the topic.
He took the script and moved to one side.
There wasn’t much of a script for the advertisement; some scenes were even being adjusted on the spot by the director and producer. Bai Lixin had insisted, so the agent managed to get him a script.
It detailed the fragrance’s concept and the style he needed to convey. Bai Lixin stared blankly at the two words describing the style.
[Pure desire.]
What did that even mean?
It was really giving him a headache.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside. Bai Lixin looked up and saw a procession of men in black suits and sunglasses, dressed like gangsters, marching in.
Behind them was a young man with long golden hair, fair skin, and a tall, slender build. His shimmering golden hair was so striking that it was hard to look away.
As soon as the young man entered, almost everyone’s eyes were glued to him.
He was used to this attention, and his handsome face held an air of nobility and cold arrogance.
“My dear Mr. Emil, you’ve finally arrived.” The director went up to greet him. Though his expression wasn’t exactly “fawning”, he was clearly lowering himself.
Bai Lixin finally realized who Emil was. He had seen a movie Emil starred in before—a Western fantasy film about angels and demons, and Emil played an angel. The portrayal was so stunning that people once speculated he was a 3D model.
So it was him.
The agent leaned close to Bai Lixin’s ear and whispered, “Jealous? Being surrounded by people who treat him like a star.”
‘Jealous?’
‘Jealous of him having photos of him urinating in public leaked, or of all the scandals online about him?’
‘Not a bit.’
Emil interrupted the director’s pleasantries impatiently. “Is everyone here? Can we start filming?”
To Bai Lixin’s surprise, Emil spoke fluent Country H language.
The agent: “I heard that Emil’s mother has Country H heritage, so he’s been learning Country H culture from a young age and can speak the language.”
In just a few seconds, Emil’s gaze had already landed on Bai Lixin. “You’re the actor partnering with me for this?”
When he looked at Bai Lixin, it was as if he was assessing the value of an object. “You look decent enough. I’ll give you a heads-up—I have high standards for the scenes. If you mess up, I’ll curse you out on the spot. So don’t go crying later.”
Bai Lixin rarely encountered someone this arrogant and was momentarily stunned.
After his declaration, Emil turned and went to the dressing room. The agent frowned and whispered in complaint, “ ‘Decent enough?’ Who knows who’d win if we compared faces. Our Bai Lixin is better looking.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Was a man’s competitive spirit really that easy to trigger?’
The fragrance’s target demographic was young men, and as per the stylist’s instructions, Bai Lixin changed into a simple white shirt.
As for Emil, he changed into a lavish Western-style court outfit. His hair was meticulously styled, each strand falling obediently like a waterfall kissed by sunlight.
The general concept of the ad was that a nobleman was lost in the forest and stumbled into a sea of flowers.
There, he encountered an elf sleeping among the flowers. Startled by the sound, the elf opened his eyes. Beneath his innocent expression was a pure yet seductive aura that completely captivated the nobleman.
The elf fled in panic, leaving behind a crystal bottle filled with purple liquid, like Cinderella at the stroke of midnight.
The noble picked up the perfume and inhaled its scent, his expression intoxicated.
After returning from the forest, he lost his appetite and could think of anything else. So he ordered a search for the mysterious elf.
After a long search with no results, the noble returned to the forest dejectedly, and suddenly caught that familiar scent again.
He ran toward the depths of the forest, and by a lake, he saw the elf he had been longing for.
The elf smiled at him and waved.
The noble, entranced, accepted the elf’s invitation and slowly walked into the lake.
The elf smiled with a bewitching expression, wrapped his arms around the noble’s neck, and gradually pulled him deeper into the water.
As his body began to sink, the noble sensed that something was wrong, but he did not struggle. Instead, he opened his arms and embraced the elf, almost as if offering himself as a sacrifice.
Just before he sank below the lake’s surface, the noble whispered, “Your pure desire has made me willing to fall.”
The name of the perfume was “Pure Desire.”
Its tagline was: Pure Desire, Willing to Fall.
When Bai Lixin read the first half of the plot, he thought it was just another clichéd love story of a prince falling in love, but the ending was quite unexpected and novel.
This was a 90-second ad with a plot, and it was divided into three main scenes.
The first scene was the initial meeting between the elf and the noble in the forest. The second was the noble searching for the elf. The third was the noble finding the elf in the forest again.
Most of the first scene would be filmed in the studio, the second in a rented indoor location, and the last part of the first scene and the third scene would require outdoor shooting.
The set was already decorated with flowers, with a large green screen in the background for later CGI processing.
Bai Lixin played the enchanting elf, while Emil portrayed the noble.
“Elf,” the director frowned at Bai Lixin, “Unbutton your shirt a bit more. You’ve got the purity, but the desire is missing.”
They filmed a take, but the director wasn’t satisfied.
The issue lay with Bai Lixin.
He had no idea how to convey this so-called “pure desire”.
The director shouted, “Cut,” and Emil glanced at Bai Lixin coldly. “If you haven’t eaten pork, you’ve at least seen a pig run, right?”
Bai Lixin: “?”
Emil: “Don’t tell me you’ve never watched adult films?”
Bai Lixin finally understood what Emil meant and felt embarrassed.
Emil continued coolly, “I’ll give you another chance. If you mess up again, don’t blame me for being harsh.”
Ten minutes passed for adjustments, but Bai Lixin, who’d gone to the bathroom, hadn’t returned.
Emil’s impatience grew. He was used to others waiting for him, not the other way around.
This newcomer was really bold.
In those few seconds, he’d already mentally prepared a scolding.
A figure hurried through the door, rushing into the frame while apologizing and catching his breath. “Sorry, I’m late.”
Emil was about to curse him, but froze when he saw his appearance.
The young man’s hair was slightly damp, and two buttons on his shirt had been undone, revealing a glimpse of smooth, fair skin.
His eyes were clear, but the corners had a faint red hue, which extended behind his ears—a shy blush mixed with a hint of flirtatiousness.
The director’s eyes lit up. “Ready!”
Under the green screen backdrop, the noble stood arrogantly, his noble bearing undiminished even when lost.
Suddenly, he twitched his nose. His gaze shifted in a direction, and his proud expression softened.
He walked carefully toward the scent, and found a dark-haired elf asleep amidst a sea of flowers.
The elf’s eyes were half-closed, his damp hair hanging loosely in a messy beauty.
A twig snapped under the noble’s foot, creating a crisp “crack”.
The sleeping elf’s eyes flew open, looking at the intruder with a mixture of confusion and fear.
He tried to shield himself with flowers, his eyes misty.
The noble’s arrogance vanished, replaced by a gentle tenderness. He cautiously reached out, afraid to scare away the timid elf.
But the elf fled in a panic, leaving the noble with only a fleeting glimpse of his back and the perfume-filled crystal bottle.
“Cut!”
The director was very excited. “Good, good! That was excellent. The elf’s performance was spot on! Emil’s performance was also outstanding!”
The director watched the playback on the monitor. “Keep up this energy, and let’s film a few more takes to capture the best shots.”
The advertisement was only 90 seconds long, so they couldn’t include everything they had just performed.
Edited down, the first part would last around 30 seconds.
As Bai Lixin sat nearby resting, a shadow suddenly loomed over him.
He looked up and found that Emil was standing in front of him at some point.
The arrogance on Emil’s face had lessened, and he spoke more gently, “I didn’t realize you had such talent. You picked it up right away. What’s your name?”
“Bai Lixin.”
Emil: “Are you interested in acting in a film? I happen to have a role that suits you perfectly.”
Bai Lixin declined outright, “No, thanks. I don’t think I’m suitable.”
The agent sitting nearby widened his eyes and looked at Bai Lixin with a “hate-iron-for-not-being-steel” expression.
“You haven’t even looked at it, how do you know it’s not suitable?” Emil grew anxious and sat down beside Bai Lixin. “It’s a work by Director Kristin, and it’s competing for global awards. People would break their heads just to get a part in it, and you’re saying no? Are you crazy?”
Bai Lixin: “I don’t think I’m fit for the entertainment industry. I’m sure there are people more suitable than me.”
Emil: “No. We’ve been searching for a suitable person for that role for months; no one fits it better than you.”
The agent nearby was grinding his teeth audibly.
‘Agree!’
‘Just agree already!’
‘It’s Director Kristin!’
From a distance, the director, who was unaware of what they were discussing, waved at them, and Bai Lixin changed the topic. “The director is calling us. Let’s get back to filming the advertisement.”
The two of them shot eight more takes before the director was finally satisfied.
By then, it was already dusk outside, and they had been filming all day.
The director was pleased. “Looks like we can finish ahead of schedule. Everyone, let’s have dinner first. After that, we’ll push forward and head to the next location to film the night scenes.”
The night scenes mainly featured Emil’s character, who was lost in longing and unable to eat or sleep.
But Bai Lixin also needed to appear, as there was a moment where, amidst his longing, the dazed nobleman seemed to have seen the elf’s figure. So Bai Lixin had to make a brief appearance.
The second scene was set to be filmed at a castle. Xuan Yang Group was generous with its budget, and the crew actually rented a real castle.
“We can only use this castle for one day. We have to finish filming tonight and tomorrow. There’s no extra budget to rent it for a second day,” the director said seriously.
“Where will we be staying tonight?” Bai Lixin asked.
As the car drove further from the city, the surrounding scenery shifted from towering buildings to scattered trees.
“We’ll stay at the castle,” the director explained. “The castle is quite remote, and there are no nearby hotels. But there are many rooms in the castle. We’ve already informed the owner, and he agreed to let us stay overnight.”
The buildings behind them gradually disappeared, leaving only two rows of dim streetlights.
The car drove out of the city, following an asphalt road along the coast and climbing toward a cliff.
The moon hung high, and in the hazy night, Bai Lixin caught a vague glimpse of a castle perched on top of the cliff.
Naturally, Emil was too high-profile to travel with them and followed in a separate vehicle, guarded by bodyguards.
Bai Lixin’s phone rang. He looked at the unfamiliar number on the screen and picked it up, asking politely, “Hello, who’s this?”
“It’s me, Emil. Put me on speaker.”
Bai Lixin looked at his phone, puzzled. “How did you get my number?”
“Don’t worry about it. If I want to know, I have my ways. Just turn on the speaker.”
Bai Lixin did so, and Emil immediately launched into an angry tirade. “Director! Where the hell are you taking us?! I’m about to call the police!”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Good brother, you just said what I didn’t dare to.’
The director started sweating profusely, “We’re almost there! Just hang on a little longer.”
Emil: “I’m definitely putting you on my blacklist!”
The call ended with a loud “click,” followed by a busy tone on the other end.
The director grabbed the driver’s seat. “Speed up, speed up, drive faster.”
Fifteen minutes later, the car pulled up in front of the castle.
From afar, the castle looked desolate, but up close, it wasn’t as abandoned as it seemed.
The gate was painted in an elaborate black paint, and tulips filled the castle grounds.
Marble tiles lined the path, and a pebble-stone road led the way.
Two rows of bright streetlights lined the path, and a faint light shone from the slightly open gate.
The director got out of the car, wiping away sweat.
The gate opened with a dynamic password, which supposedly changed with every rental.
The director entered the password, and the heavy gate creaked open.
Inside, the castle was spacious, and the group drove in and parked in the parking lot. After they entered, the heavy iron gate slowly closed behind them, and for a moment, Bai Lixin felt that they were like birds caught in a cage.
There didn’t seem to be anyone in the castle. From the moment they opened the gate until they parked, not a single person appeared.
The vast courtyard was empty, yet it was not desolate, as if it had just been cleaned.
‘Perhaps it was due to the rental arrangement,’ Bai Lixin thought and quickly dismissed his concerns.
As soon as the black limousine stopped, Emil stormed over to the director, seemingly ready to confront him.
The director smiled apologetically. “Emil, why don’t you go check out your castle?”
Emil gave the director a sidelong glance, grabbed Bai Lixin, who was watching from the side with amusement, and strode toward the castle.
The door was open, and the lights were on, making the room very bright.
A long red carpet with lily patterns stretched all the way to the stairs in the back.
A luxurious red velvet throne adorned with diamonds and jewels sat at the top, like a seat meant for a king.
Emil released Bai Lixin’s hand and stepped onto the red carpet.
He walked straight to the throne, and in the next moment, Bai Lixin saw him sit down.
But Emil’s expression was odd.
It wasn’t an expression of enjoyment or disdain but rather a dazed look.
Bai Lixin sensed something was wrong so he walked over and called his name, “Emil?”
The dazed expression on Emil’s face shifted. He suddenly stood up from the chair with a pale face, and backed away in a panic.
“What’s wrong?” Bai Lixin asked.
Emil: “Did you hear anything just now?”
Bai Lixin: “What sound?”
“A man’s whispering voice.”
“No.”
Bai Lixin scrutinized Emil. Could he be haunted by something supernatural too?
“Everyone, let’s push through this! After we finish tonight’s work, we can get some rest!” the director shouted from the door, rallying the busy crew carrying equipment.
Someone cheered, “Director, you owe us extra meals!”
The director: “There’ll be food, definitely enough to fill you up! I’ll prepare a midnight snack once we’re done!”
Emil, always the professional, delivered exactly what the director wanted within two hours.
At this time, a faint aroma wafted into the room from some direction.
After a long day, many people were already hungry.
Smelling the aroma, someone immediately followed it to the source. Shortly after, they returned, saying, “Director, you really prepared a midnight snack for us in the kitchen. So many delicious dishes! Did you secretly hire a chef? Why didn’t you tell us? You’re the best!”
The director was bewildered. “A chef? I don’t even have the budget to hire a chef. The midnight snack I prepared was instant noodles; whatever’s in the kitchen, I didn’t arrange it. Don’t eat it casually.”
“If it wasn’t you, then who prepared it?” the person scratched his head. “Could it be the castle owner? Director, you’re too late—I saw people already eating in the kitchen before I came over.”
The director frowned. “Hold on, I’ll check with the agent.”
He made a call, then hung up. “The agent couldn’t reach the owner, but he said if there’s food in the kitchen, it should be from the owner. The rental agreement includes ‘providing food’. So, if you’re hungry, go eat.”
“Long live the director!” The weary crew cheered, running in small twos and threes toward the kitchen.
The director looked at Bai Lixin, who was still standing still. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
“…I’m not hungry,” Bai Lixin replied.
‘Didn’t they find it strange?’
‘From beginning to end, they hadn’t seen a single person. So, where did all that food in the kitchen come from?’
