Chapter 20
Lu Dingyun, finished with his makeup and costume, was about to leave when a small figure darted towards him, landing on his lap.
He instinctively reached out to protect the small figure, his palm touching the kitten’s soft fur.
“Meow~”
The kitten, having landed, immediately stood on its hind legs, its front paws gripping Lu Dingyun’s abdomen, looking up at him pleadingly.
Wei Yuan was actually burning with embarrassment, but it knew this was Lu Dingyun’s weakness.
To go to the film set, it had to reluctantly use its “charms.”
Lu Dingyun, as expected, was completely smitten, his voice softening. “What’s wrong, baby?”
“Meow, meow—”
Wei Yuan pointed its paw towards the window as it meowed.
Out, take the kitten out to play.
Understand?
Dou Dou and Xiao Zheng were stunned. This kitten was so human-like!
Lu Dingyun, long accustomed to the kitten’s intelligence, looked out the window, then back at the kitten, asking tentatively, “You want to go out?”
“Meow!” Wei Yuan’s eyes shone as it nodded vigorously.
Lu Dingyun, usually infinitely indulgent towards the kitten, hesitated for the first time. He frowned. “It’s raining heavily outside, and it’s cold. And the film set is chaotic. I have to work and can’t play with you.”
Wei Yuan was anxious, but the language barrier made it difficult to express itself.
Then, its eyes lit up.
If reasoning didn’t work, it would resort to force.
Lu Dingyun was about to try coaxing the kitten again when he felt a weight on his shoulder and a soft, furry sensation against his cheek.
The kitten had jumped onto his shoulder, nuzzling its head against his face and purring softly in his ear.
It was acting cute.
Definitely acting cute!
Lu Dingyun instantly surrendered.
He lifted the kitten off his shoulder, kissed its head, then turned to Xiao Zheng. “Did we bring any other clothes for Gui Yuan?”
“Yes, yes, some thicker ones,” Xiao Zheng rummaged through the luggage.
As assistants, they were used to packing extra clothes and toiletries for their artists, just in case.
Lu Dingyun usually didn’t care about such things, having no particular preferences for clothing. He usually wore whatever his assistants gave him.
But today, he had personally packed numerous cat treats, cat food, several outfits, and toys for the kitten. Half of his suitcase was filled with cat supplies.
Xiao Zheng had found Lu Dingyun’s behavior amusing, like a doting father, and had even filmed it to send to the publicity team. The videos would probably be circulating online soon.
Lu Dingyun walked over to the bed, and Xiao Zheng had already found a few outfits.
“Wow, so cute!” Dou Dou held up an outfit, comparing it to the kitten, her heart melting.
Wei Yuan jumped onto the bed from Lu Dingyun’s arms, ready to choose its attire.
It had to admit, it and Lu Dingyun had good taste. All the clothes were beautiful, making it difficult to choose.
As it hesitated, Lu Dingyun picked up the thickest outfit.
It was a coffee-colored onesie made of thick fleece, covering its entire body, including its paws and butt. The large hood had two small antlers attached.
“This one is perfect!” Xiao Zheng and Dou Dou exclaimed almost simultaneously.
Wei Yuan also approved, meowing at Lu Dingyun.
Lu Dingyun smiled, bending down and expertly dressing the kitten.
The previously thin kitten, now bundled up in the thick onesie, looked round and cuddly.
“So cute!” Dou Dou filmed Lu Dingyun dressing the kitten, then focused on capturing the kitten’s cuteness from every angle.
Wei Yuan, being an idol, had impeccable camera presence.
It held its chin high, running and posing, creating a miniature fashion shoot.
Xiao Zheng chuckled. “Truly worthy of being Brother Yun’s kitten. Its camera presence is better than many celebrities.”
Lu Dingyun was usually reserved in public, his smiles barely perceptible.
He was a man of few words, but his eyes were full of affection as he watched the kitten show off.
His Xiao Gui Yuan was definitely the best.
Wei Yuan thought it looked cool, but when Dou Dou showed it the photos, it cringed.
Why did it look so silly?
It looked at the “photographer” suspiciously, thinking Dou Dou’s photography skills weren’t that great.
But the three humans adored the photos, especially Lu Dingyun, who immediately set two of them as his phone’s wallpaper and lock screen.
After a while, they left the room.
The shoot wasn’t for another three or four hours. Usually, the assistant director would brief the actors during this time, but Lu Dingyun preferred to familiarize himself with the set and blocking early, so he decided to go directly to the location and discuss it with the director.
Lu Dingyun, holding the kitten, reminded it repeatedly as they walked. “Baby, the film set is chaotic. Don’t run around, okay?”
Wei Yuan: “…”
It tugged at the leash attached to its harness. Where could it possibly run to?
Wei Yuan didn’t like being on a leash, but Lu Dingyun wouldn’t take it out otherwise.
So, after a brief standoff, Wei Yuan had compromised.
Tonight’s scene was outdoors, and they drove to the location.
It was a forest about three kilometers away, with a small artificial mountain, about five or six meters high, often used for cliff-jumping scenes.
Lu Dingyun would be suspended on wires, jumping from the mountain.
The crew had already set up the equipment, and the director was under a rain canopy, directing everyone. The camera crew, used to filming in such conditions, were wearing raincoats and practicing their movements.
The extras playing cultivators and demons were waiting in the buses, touching up their makeup or catching up on sleep.
The car stopped by the rain canopy, and Lu Dingyun got out, holding the kitten, and walked over to the director.
Director Li, seeing the kitten, was surprised. “It’s so cold, why did you bring the kitten out?”
“It’s very attached to me,” Lu Dingyun replied.
Director Li: “?”
Was he bragging?
Wei Yuan glanced at Lu Dingyun, thinking, who’s attached to you?
It just wanted to get some fresh air, okay?
Both Lu Dingyun and Director Li prioritized work, so without much small talk, they began discussing the scene.
The two male leads, finished with their makeup and costumes, arrived an hour later, and Director Li briefed them as well.
Tonight’s scene involved Lu Dingyun’s character, the Grandmaster, witnessing the devastating battle between cultivators and demons, which had also affected innocent civilians, his heart filled with grief.
Unable to bear the carnage, he defied the laws of heaven, ascending to a higher realm, and using his overwhelming power, pushed the demons back to the edge of Wu Wang Cliff. Then, he sacrificed himself, transforming into a seal and jumping off the cliff, trapping the demons in the demonic realm.
The two male leads, still young at the time, were deeply moved by his actions, solidifying their resolve to protect the world from demons.
But it was all part of the Grandmaster’s plan. He was a madman, doing all this to be reborn and challenge the heavens.
Since the scene included the battle between cultivators and demons, the rise of talented cultivators, the suffering of civilians, and the Grandmaster’s sacrifice, it was undoubtedly a major scene.
Wei Yuan had heard Lu Dingyun describe the scene before and was looking forward to seeing it.
It wanted a front-row seat.
And the best viewing spot was, of course, next to the director.
The kitten’s eyes lit up. It had another brilliant idea.
It looked at Director Li, who was busy briefing the two male leads, and slowly extended its paw.
Director Li, mid-sentence, paused.
He looked down and saw a small, fluffy paw on the back of his hand.
Round and soft.
He looked up, meeting the kitten’s adorable face and its bright, star-like eyes.
Half an hour later, the actors were in position, their clothes soaked by the artificial rain, their long robes billowing in the wind.
The kitten, nestled comfortably in the director’s arms, watched the monitors.
Filming began, and five or six cameras rolled simultaneously.
The monitors displayed different angles: the fighting extras, wide shots, close-ups, the two male leads taking a breather back-to-back, exchanging a few lines before separating and rejoining the battle.
These shots would be filmed repeatedly from different angles.
The first shot focused on Lu Dingyun.
The camera looked down from above, showing the chaotic battle between the black and white armies.
The camera slowly descended, revealing the white-clad Grandmaster, moving gracefully like a dragon, his silver sword gleaming in the rain, its every swing seemingly capable of cutting through the rain itself.
The camera flipped, showing the Grandmaster’s flowing robes and the approaching tip of his sword.
Following the sword, the man’s handsome face came into focus.
His expression was resolute, his eyes filled with compassion, like a benevolent deity.
But then, a glint of excitement flashed in his dark eyes, sending a chill down the spine.
Wei Yuan’s heart skipped a beat, and it instinctively shrunk back.
That look was creepy, quite frightening.
“Cut! Perfect!” Director Li shouted, beaming.
The first shot had been perfect in one take, much to the superstitious director’s delight.
Wei Yuan, held by Director Li, craned its neck to look at Lu Dingyun.
Lu Dingyun, standing in the rain, signaled to Director Li to film another take, which was also perfect, even better than the first.
He filmed several more takes, then moved on to the sacrifice and cliff-jumping scene.
For a whole hour, he stood in the rain, showing no signs of impatience.
The other actors, having finished their group scenes, returned to shelter from the rain, watching as Lu Dingyun, suspended on wires, repeatedly jumped from the artificial cliff, striving for perfection.
Wei Yuan watched the man on the screen, his long hair now plastered to his face, his clothes soaked, looking quite disheveled.
It suddenly felt a pang of sympathy.
He was already a movie emperor, why was he working so hard?
Lu Dingyun’s excellent performance had energized Director Li, who, while petting the kitten, decided to film all the remaining rain scenes.
Lu Dingyun readily agreed, enduring another half hour in the rain.
When it was the two male leads’ turn, Director Li wasn’t satisfied with their performance.
Lu Dingyun offered some guidance and even demonstrated the scene himself, earning the gratitude of the two leads, who almost wanted to become his disciples on the spot.
As they prepared to film the leads’ scenes, Wei Yuan lost interest. It jumped down from Director Li’s arms and ran towards Lu Dingyun.
Lu Dingyun, wrapped in two bathrobes, took the hot water Xiao Zheng offered him.
After two sips, he saw the kitten jump down from Director Li’s arms and run towards him.
Such a clingy little thing.
Lu Dingyun’s heart warmed, and he crouched down.
The kitten reached him, meowing softly, looking up at him.
Wei Yuan wasn’t heartless, especially after seeing Lu Dingyun endure the rain for so long. It just wanted to go back to the hotel and have him take a hot bath.
After all, if Lu Dingyun caught a cold, who would make it delicious cat food?
Lu Dingyun, his body cold and wet, didn’t dare hold the kitten, only petting its head with his dry hand. “Baby, do you still want to play?”
“Meow~” No.
The kitten shook its head vigorously.
Xiao Zheng, having packed everything up, picked up the kitten, concerned. “Brother Yun, let’s go back. Sister Dou Dou has prepared a hot bath for you. Go soak and warm up, so you don’t catch a cold.”
Lu Dingyun nodded, excused himself to the director, and returned to the hotel.
A hot bath was waiting for him, the temperature perfect.
Xiao Zheng made him a cup of cold medicine, and Dou Dou helped him remove his wig. After he changed out of his costume, the two assistants took it away.
The conditions weren’t suitable today, and the kitten couldn’t bathe too often, so Lu Dingyun didn’t bathe with it, instead putting on a cartoon for it to watch.
Wei Yuan lay on the bed, and when it heard the water running in the bathroom, it knew Lu Dingyun was bathing.
It immediately closed the video, opened the browser, and logged into its email account.
It remembered its grandfather and maternal grandfather’s email addresses, so it quickly composed a message and sent it to each of them. Just in case, it also sent one to its older brother.
Then it logged out and cleared its browsing history.
When Lu Dingyun emerged from the bathroom, the kitten was already dozing off.
Lu Dingyun picked it up, kissing it gently, and Wei Yuan didn’t even bother opening its eyes.
A knock on the door startled them. Lu Dingyun opened it, revealing a hotel staff member.
He was a man in his early thirties, wearing glasses, slightly chubby, his uniform ill-fitting.
He held a tray, smiling politely. “Teacher Lu, I hope I’m not disturbing you. Director Li asked us to bring everyone some late-night snacks and ginger tea.”
Lu Dingyun thanked him, took the tray, and closed the door.
He checked his phone. The other actors had also received their snacks and were praising Director Li in the group chat.
Lu Dingyun sent an emoji.
A kitten emoji, holding up its paw like a beckoning cat.
Lu Dingyun was indeed a little hungry. He rubbed the kitten’s belly. “Baby, are you hungry?”
Wei Yuan hadn’t been hungry before, but cats didn’t have fixed meal times, usually eating small portions throughout the day. Now, it actually was hungry.
“Meow~” Hungry.
Wei Yuan wasn’t shy about expressing its needs.
Lu Dingyun, never minding the effort, meticulously prepared a meal for the kitten, then sat down to eat his own snack.
The man and cat ate in comfortable silence, the wind and rain raging outside, the room warm and cozy.
After their meal, Lu Dingyun diligently cleaned up.
Wei Yuan, lying on the pillow, yawned, watching Lu Dingyun.
A strange thought crossed its mind.
If it stayed with Lu Dingyun, it would probably be spoiled rotten.
Lu Dingyun finished cleaning and lay down.
He wanted to play with the kitten, but it could barely keep its eyes open.
Lu Dingyun chuckled, pulling the drowsy kitten into his arms.
Perhaps because he was tired today, Lu Dingyun also felt sleepy and quickly drifted off.
Cats had sharp senses. In the middle of the night, Wei Yuan, sleeping soundly on Lu Dingyun’s chest, suddenly stopped purring, its ears twitching.
What was that sound?
Wei Yuan opened its eyes blearily.
It looked up, trying to locate the source of the sound.
It was coming from outside the door. Someone was knocking and calling Lu Dingyun’s name.
In the middle of the night, had something happened?
Wei Yuan nudged Lu Dingyun’s face, but the man, who usually woke up at the slightest movement, was now fast asleep.
Wei Yuan’s first thought was that he had a fever.
But his breathing was steady, his face wasn’t flushed, and his body wasn’t warm.
What was going on?
Wei Yuan, anxious, nudged him harder, even scratching his hand with its claws.
But Lu Dingyun remained unresponsive, as if unconscious.
Wei Yuan, now worried, prepared to jump off the bed and open the door.
With enough effort, it could probably reach the doorknob.
But before it could move, the knocking stopped.
Then it heard a “beep,” the sound of a keycard unlocking the door.
Wei Yuan’s heart leaped.
It knew Xiao Zheng had a spare keycard, but the voice outside had been unfamiliar, definitely not Xiao Zheng.
So, who was it?
