Who is Helping Me Win by Lying Down [Transmigration] - Chapter 43

Chapter 43

When? Chen Shu asked.

Yan Jingchuan said, Tonight.

It was already past ten o’clock.

Chen Shu was somewhat surprised: So urgent?

Zhang Shi added from the side: We originally planned to leave this afternoon, but Director Yan wanted to bid farewell to you in person, so it got delayed until now.

Yan Jingchuan glanced at him: Too much talk.

Zhang Shi silently retreated.

He had used the word farewell.

Chen Shu said, You don’t need me to accompany you back?

Yan Jingchuan said, No, it’s just a small matter. I’ll return quickly.

Over the past two months, Wangcai had been by his side during the day, and with returning to Wangcai’s body at night, the weakness of his physical condition had greatly improved.

A round trip of two days shouldn’t pose any problems.

Chen Shu noticed Zhang Shi’s expression twist for a moment and asked further: Company matters?

No, it’s my grandfather. He’s seriously ill. Yan Jingchuan paused, No need to worry, this is just his excuse to make me return.

Chen Shu understood.

Yan Jingchuan had already reached the door.

Zhang Shi, carrying the suitcase behind him, stepped forward to open it.

Before stepping out, Yan Jingchuan stopped and looked at Chen Shu: I’m leaving.

Chen Shu said, Be careful on the road.

Yan Jingchuan said, Alright.

Zhang Shi hurried outside, looking everywhere but at them, afraid of seeing something he shouldn’t.

But as soon as their conversation ended, he saw his boss walk past him, feeling utterly confused.

When they visited the set before, even a brief separation was hard to bear, leading to a car kiss in public.

Now, with a proper long trip, they weren’t kissing?

Was it not exciting enough in his own room??

Of course, even with doubled courage, he wouldn’t dare say this in front of Yan Jingchuan. He just followed Yan Jingchuan to the elevator, full of doubts.

Chen Shu also turned and went back to his room.

He needed to get up early tomorrow to go to the outdoor shooting location. After a quick wash, he went to bed.

—

The next day.

After getting in the car, Chen Shu saw the message Yan Jingchuan had sent last night.

As the car started, He Qiyu was about to say something to him when she saw him reply to a message, and soon after, his phone rang with an incoming call.

No need to guess.

It must be that clingy one again.

Why didn’t you sleep more?

Yan Jingchuan said, I’m not tired. What about you, are you at the set?

Chen Shu said, We’re shooting outdoors today.

Outdoors? Yan Jingchuan asked, You won’t be at the hotel recently?

Chen Shu said, No.

Yan Jingchuan didn’t ask more: Take care of yourself. Call me tonight.

Chen Shu said, Alright.

He Qiyu listened to the entire conversation. Seeing him end the call, she quickly asked, Is that cling—

She paused and corrected herself, Your friend isn’t with you, did he go home?

Otherwise, how could he not know Chen Shu was going outdoors today?

Chen Shu said, Yes.

He Qiyu smiled: That’s good.

When she brought it up, Chen Shu said, Before tonight, send me the address for the outdoor accommodation.

What do you mean before tonight? I can send it to you now.

He Qiyu said with a laugh, then asked him, But we have a driver, why do you need the address?

Before Chen Shu could answer, she remembered the phone call and her smile stiffened: It’s not because your friend asked for it, is it?

Chen Shu said, You could say that.

Yan Jingchuan had said he would return quickly and specifically called to remind him about checking in tonight, so he probably wouldn’t be gone for long.

…What a letdown. He Qiyu quickly changed the subject. By the way, Director Cui mentioned that ‘Moon in the Mirror’ will wrap up in at most one month. After that, we’ll just need to join one or two variety shows with the crew for promotion before it’s all over. How long would you like to rest before taking on your next project?

Thanks to Director Yan’s connections, Huayuan had given Chen Shu a contract with maximum flexibility. However, she still needed to scout suitable scripts in advance based on Chen Shu’s schedule to avoid another rushed situation like this one, where options were limited.

Chen Shu said, Two days.

He Qiyu thought she misheard. Two days?

Chen Shu confirmed, Mm.

Ever since Yan Jingchuan invested in the barbecue restaurant originally owned by Chen Shu’s family, his parents had been frequently calling him with good news. The debt originally projected to take fifteen to twenty years to repay was now estimated to be cut in half. Although their single shop had expanded into a chain, keeping them busier than before, Chen Hexuan had already resigned from his previous position to fully focus on transitioning into the food and beverage industry. With his management experience, the transition had been progressing smoothly.

But nearly ten years was still a considerable amount of time.

No need to push yourself so hard, right? He Qiyu tried to persuade him. Aren’t you the type who strives for perfection? Jumping straight into another project right after finishing one could affect your immersion in the role. Taking a longer break would help you reset—

Enough, Chen Shu cut her off. Do as I say.

His tone made it clear the matter was settled. He Qiyu opened her mouth but eventually conceded, Then what type of project do you prefer for your next one? I’ll keep an eye out.

Chen Shu said, The one that pays the most.

Any script Huayuan could offer would be of decent quality.

He Qiyu: ……..

No need to be so blunt, was there?

Seeing that Chen Shu wasn’t joking, she asked, Are you short on money?

Chen Shu said, Mm.

He Qiyu thought for a moment. In that case, how about taking on a variety show?

During these two months of filming, Chen Shu had also found time to record two singles, releasing one per month. His popularity had only continued to rise, so there had been no shortage of invitations. With some filtering, they could definitely find a high-quality program.

Another reason was that variety shows were more lucrative and less demanding than filming dramas. Since Chen Shu had just finished a series, taking on a variety show could count as a break.

Chen Shu said, You arrange it.

Just like with TV dramas, he wasn’t familiar with variety shows either, so leaving it to the professionals was best.

He Qiyu said, Alright.

When they arrived at the filming location, she got out of the car with Chen Shu. Glancing toward Cui Jiancheng’s direction, she suddenly let out a soft exclamation.

Isn’t that Han Shan? Only after speaking did she realize and turn to Chen Shu. You haven’t acted in film or TV before, but you must have heard of Han Shan, right?

Chen Shu said, No.

In the original storyline, Chi Yu shone on stage, with little description of people or things beyond it.

Really? He Qiyu looked surprised but still explained, Han Shan is one of China’s top renowned directors—he’s won numerous international awards.

Xiao Tian, who had followed them out of the car, happened to overhear. Sis Yu, isn’t Han Shan a film director? What’s he doing here?

He Qiyu said, I’m wondering the same thing.

She looked toward the distance again, where Han Shan was standing with Cui Jiancheng, and made a reasonable assumption. He’s probably a friend of Director Cui’s.

Just then, a staff member approached to escort Chen Shu to the fitting room.

He Qiyu and Xiao Tian followed along together.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Han Shan—who had just been mentioned by He Qiyu—was also watching Chen Shu’s retreating figure. Is that the actor you told me about?

Cui Jiancheng replied, Yes, that’s Chen Shu.

Han Shan frowned. I heard before coming that this Chen Shu in your crew has been in the industry for less than half a year and had no acting experience before. Old Cui, you’re not pulling my leg, are you?

Cui Jiancheng said, I don’t like hearing that. I invited you here because I consider you one of us. If I didn’t know you were preparing for a new project, no one would be allowed to disturb my set.

Han Shan remained skeptical. Just a newcomer—is he really as remarkable as you say?

You’ll see for yourself, Cui Jiancheng said, walking forward with him. Besides, didn’t you mention recently that you wanted a fresh face this time?

Han Shan fell silent.

Cui Jiancheng was playing dumb on purpose.

The fresh face Han Shan had in mind referred to someone who fit the script—a talented newcomer he could mentor and shape.

Chen Shu had debuted as a singer and, under Cui Jiancheng’s direction, had just finished shooting an idol drama—the kind of project most likely to wear down an actor’s potential. After three months of filming, if his acting style had become fixed, transitioning to film would be challenging. That was far from what Han Shan wanted.

Before coming, he had indeed looked into Chen Shu’s background: an outstanding young man, famous and popular. But film was different from television—popularity alone wasn’t enough.

Audiences spending real money on movie tickets needed to see genuine skill before choosing to enter a theater.

Han Shan wasn’t desperate enough to compromise his standards for money.

How good could a singer-turned-actor with only six months of experience really be?

Seeing Han Shan’s silence, Cui Jiancheng didn’t bring up Chen Shu again.

Seeing for oneself was better than endless descriptions.

Once all departments were ready, the actors changed into costume, rehearsed their scenes, and filming began.

Han Shan and Cui Jiancheng sat together behind the monitor.

Watching Chen Shu’s cold expression, Han Shan frowned again.

Chen Shu’s appearance was undoubtedly advantageous—his face was pleasing on screen—but such a character type could be played even by someone with limited expression, making it hard to gauge his actual skill.

Cui Jiancheng remained unperturbed. What’s the rush?

Today’s scenes involved Chen Shu’s character being ambushed, betrayed by someone close to him, severely wounded, and falling off a cliff—scenes that heavily tested his ability to convey inner emotion.

Han Shan had almost begun treating this visit as a casual catch-up with an old friend, but he straightened slightly upon hearing Chen Shu deliver his first line.

The microphone perfectly captured Chen Shu’s voice.

His vocal skill was evident.

Soon, Chen Shu’s character on screen was ambushed. He dodged smoothly, his movements fluid and precise, without any stiffness.

He didn’t even need a stunt double for action scenes?

Han Shan glanced at Cui Jiancheng and leaned forward.

In the next shot, the opposing actor raised a palm to strike Chen Shu’s back. Chen Shu couldn’t fully avoid it, only managing to shift away from a vital spot.

The camera angles shifted rapidly, with one quickly zooming in for a close-up of Chen Shu’s furious glance as he turned.

Cut!

The clapperboard snapped shut.

A long take was complete.

Cui Jiancheng looked at Han Shan. Well?

Han Shan was still staring at the final frozen frame on the monitor.

The close-up was tight enough to reveal every detail of Chen Shu’s expression. The emotions in his eyes were rich and intense, yet not overacted—only his gaze sharp as a blade.

It showed both a grasp of the character and absolute control over his performance.

Finally, hearing Cui Jiancheng’s question, he smiled and said, There’s killing intent in his eyes.

Then, he looked away from the screen.

Chen Shu was walking through the next scene with his co-actors, their lines fluctuating in volume, but only his voice came through clearly.

After filming resumed, Han Shan noticed he needed no preparation time to get into character—seamlessly continuing from the previous scene without the slightest hesitation.

After completing four consecutive scenes in one take, Han Shan belatedly realized Chen Shu had flawlessly nailed every single shot without needing retakes.

Cui Jiancheng watched his gradually brightening expression and chuckled, Satisfied already?

Han Shan looked at him, What do you mean?

Cui handed him two scripts, These are Chen Shu’s revised versions. Take a look.

After flipping through a few pages, Han Shan couldn’t help laughing, Old Cui, where did you find this guy? A serious actor actually doing idol dramas?

Cui retorted, Well! I help you cast actors, and this is how you thank me?

My bad, I’ll treat you to dinner later, Han Shan laughed heartily, But the meal isn’t free—remember to help make the connection.

Cui laughed too, Then prepare to splurge!

Chen Shu’s acting style was remarkably mature. Having such an actor film idol dramas seemed almost wasteful compared to the potential he’d show on the big screen.

But one day was too short to fully showcase his talent—this was all he could manage for now.

During the noon break, Cui Jiancheng specifically brought Han Shan to meet Chen Shu.

After introductions, Han Shan quickly got to the point.

An audition for Director Han’s film? He Qiyu, who had accompanied them, couldn’t help glancing at Chen Shu.

Though she’d guessed this might be the topic after meeting Han Shan, she still marveled at the opportunity.

In her experience, no newcomer without prior acting credits had ever successfully auditioned for a major production like Moon in the Mirror purely on merit, let alone received an unsolicited audition invitation from an internationally renowned director like Han Shan before finishing their first drama.

Having witnessed Chen Shu’s acting skills recently, she’d been wondering where to find worthy scripts matching his talent.

Now her wish had been granted beyond expectations—this opportunity far exceeded anything she could have arranged.

For entering the film industry, there was no higher starting point than collaborating with Han Shan.

This alone revealed Chen Shu’s limitless future prospects.

Clearly, Zhang Shi having Huayuan sign Chen Shu wasn’t just helping the actor—it was helping Huayuan itself.

The company desperately needed such outstanding actors to bolster its reputation.

Han Shan confirmed, Yes.

Playing it safe, he wouldn’t cast Chen Shu based solely on one TV drama performance, but he believed one audition would be enough if the actor truly had potential.

Here’s the script, Cui Jiancheng handed it to Chen Shu, Director Han’s film is still in preparation phase—it’ll be months before shooting. You can review this first.

Chen Shu accepted it, saying, Thank you.

Aside from Cui Jiancheng, probably no one else could have persuaded Han Shan to come today.

Cui smiled, You earned this yourself—no need for thanks. But I’ll be clear: don’t let this script affect your filming schedule for Moon in the Mirror, or I’ll have to take it up with Director Han.

Han Shan also laughed, Feel free to come at me!

He would have liked to chat longer with Chen Shu, but unfortunately, a phone call soon pulled him away.

After he left, the crew continued filming.

It wasn’t until they finished shooting the afternoon and evening scenes that Chen Shu finally had time to look through the new script.

But before he could start reading, while still on his way back to the hotel, he received a phone call.

It was Yan Jingchuan.

As soon as the call connected, his voice came through: Still busy?

Chen Shu said: We’ve wrapped for the day.

Yan Jingchuan frowned: Why didn’t you call?

Chen Shu corrected himself: Just wrapped up.

Yan Jingchuan paused, didn’t press further, and instead said: I can’t come back tomorrow.

His family matters sounded rather complicated, so it wasn’t surprising he needed more time to handle them. Chen Shu simply said: Okay.

Okay?

Yan Jingchuan pressed his lips together, stood up from behind his desk, and walked to the window: Are you busy lately?

Chen Shu raised an eyebrow slightly, catching his underlying meaning: Do you need me to come back and keep you company?

Yan Jingchuan paused again: If you’re not busy, come back for a while.

After speaking, he added casually, as if it were nothing: I’m not feeling well.

Not feeling well? Chen Shu frowned. Have you been to the hospital?

Yan Jingchuan said: Not yet.

Chen Shu checked his watch and said to the driver: Change course to the airport.

He Qiyu: …

She listened as Chen Shu said to the person on the other end of the phone:

Rest first. I’ll be back tonight.

Author’s note: ??