Chapter 128: Chapter 129: Mr. Gu Visits the Set

Filming resumed, but Shen Manbing continued to find excuses for reshoots. The director, initially planning a break, was overruled. Xia Yangyang, bundled in a down jacket, ran more than ten kilometers for a single scene, her hair repeatedly drying and wetting. Despite the grueling conditions, she persevered.

Chen Yu filmed Xia Yangyang's ordeal and sent the video to Shen Shichuan, pleading for help. Shen Shichuan forwarded it to Gu Qichen, who was attending Shengyuan Group's quarterly report meeting. Ignoring the high-level executives and shareholders, Gu Qichen repeatedly watched the video. He abruptly adjourned the meeting, instructing his assistant, Fang Zhengdong, to compile the meeting notes and email them. This unprecedented action stunned everyone present; Gu Qichen, a notorious workaholic, had never before left a meeting early, especially one as important as the quarterly report. Even Fang Zhengdong, standing beside him, was astonished. He had seen the video: a young girl, sweltering in a down jacket, seemingly on the verge of heatstroke. Gu Qichen's reaction—a darkened face and clenched fist—was unsettling.

Approximately half an hour later, Gu Qichen arrived at A University. Su Xiaoman (Xia Yangyang) was filming her 27th running scene. Yangyang knew challenging Shen Manbing would jeopardize the entire crew, so she endured. However, Shen Manbing showed no sign of relenting.

Gu Qichen arrived just as Yangyang, flushed and clearly overheated, was nearing collapse. He immediately approached the director.

"Cut!" the director called, granting a break. "Take a short break. Manbing, come here."

Shen Manbing emerged from her car, composed and stunning. Yangyang, nearly fainting, was supported by her assistant, Lu Yao.

"Yangyang, are you okay? If you can't continue, let's tell the director to stop. You'll need to go to the hospital," Lu Yao urged.

Yangyang drank a bottle of ice water. She tolerated Shen Manbing's abuse because the actress was only available for three days; upsetting her risked her departure. However, Shen Manbing's commercial value was undeniable. "Cinderella," a modern fairy tale drama featuring mostly unknown actors, relied heavily on Shen Manbing's participation to mitigate post-production market risks and generate pre-release buzz. Yangyang didn't want to jeopardize the production because of herself.

Suddenly, someone exclaimed, "Look! Mr. Gu is here! Sister Bingbing just joined the crew, and Mr. Gu's already visiting! The rumors must be true!"