Recently, discussions about filming clips from The Boundless had reached a fever pitch.
They were currently in the pre-shooting phase, not formal production yet, so the clips were mostly disorganized, and a large portion was meant for overseas promotional use. Wang Hui didn’t have any excessive secrecy measures in place, nor did he need them.
A crowd gathered around the caution tape, each person holding various cameras and filming nonstop. Wang Hui didn’t stop them, nor did he prevent them from posting the footage online.
Both he and The Boundless needed this round of exposure.
Yu Xi and Yi Chen’s school uniform photos frequently topped the hot searches.
【I have to say it a hundred times: they look so handsome in school uniforms, aaaaaah!】
【Wuwuwu, campus stories need male leads like this!!!】
【What good deeds did I do in my past life to go to school with them!!!】
【I’m so envious of their high school classmates!!】
【Can anyone tell me what they were like in high school?】
【Me me me, my best friend went to school with them! They were the Materialization of the white moonlight! So handsome and top students!!】
【Vocal! I just dug this up now—Yu Xi participated in academic competitions before! He even won a national award! Oh my god!!!】
【He could have gone straight to university, but he insisted on getting into A University on his own merits. I’m crying.】
【Does anyone know why Yu Xi suddenly stopped competing? The whims of a top student?】
【No idea, I’ll dig into history later. For now, I’m shipping them—they look so perfect together, aaaaaah!!!】
【Can’t wait for the overseas version! Oh god! Mom asks why I’m crying nonstop!!】
【Bedtime wish: in my next life, I want Yu Xi’s face, Yu Xi’s grades, and a boyfriend like Yi Chen!!】
While Yu Xi and Yi Chen dominated the hot searches, things weren’t going smoothly for Yu Wan.
After the dance variety show ended, the director pulled her aside for a talk. “Sister Yu Wan, I believe you had no other intentions and were just sharing your thoughts innocently, but I still have to regretfully inform you that because your comments about the past brought some bad momentum, the investors have decided to replace you for now.”
A dance program they had been negotiating with, where cooperation seemed promising, also sent an email declining her: “Sister Yu Wan, we’re very sorry. Although we’re extremely satisfied with all your qualifications, after comprehensive comparison, we’ve found a more suitable guest. We look forward to opportunities to work with you next time.”
The idol dance competition that had been preparing to have her as a judge messaged: “Very sorry, Yu Wan. This judge position might need someone more familiar with the entertainment industry. You’ve just returned, so take some time to adjust to the scene. We’ll definitely have other collaboration opportunities.”
The dance studio they were discussing an endorsement ad with also told her: “Sister Yu Wan, the situation has changed! We’re very satisfied with your proposal and ideas, but our leadership thinks it needs more revisions. Time is too tight now, and I can’t wait any longer. How about we leave it for this time, and next time we have a suitable ad, we come to you again?”
The agency they were negotiating a contract with also sent someone to apologize profusely: “Very regrettable, Sister Yu Wan. We probably can’t sign this management contract with you.”
Collaborations fell through one after another, without any warning. Yu Wan was baffled and extremely irritated. “Why?”
Her agent was reluctant to answer, but under her persistent questioning, could only say euphemistically, “You’re excellent, but this industry is all one big circle. We don’t need to get involved in your family grudges, right?”
Yu Wan’s subtle pity-party remarks in the previous show might have swayed the public, but as insiders, they knew better than anyone. They’d seen too much of this sort of thing—some had even used these tactics themselves. They could clearly see what Yu Wan’s intentions were.
—Yu Wan was most likely trying to piggyback on Yu Xi’s popularity.
As for what goals she wanted to achieve, that wasn’t in their purview.
And there was likely a rift between Yu Xi and Yu Wan. Otherwise, with Yu Wan back for so many days and even appearing on a variety show, Yu Xi wouldn’t have shown zero response.
Not only no response, but Yu Xi had also posted on his Moments.
The content was very subtle, just a few words and a photo.
【Yu Xi: My home [Picture]】
He posted a photo of a tightly shut door—snow-white door, pitch-black frame, and a key that only he possessed.
He said nothing explicit, but the meaning was obvious: family matters were no one else’s business. Outsiders didn’t need to stir up trouble between him and Yu Wan.
The issues between Yu Wan and him were for them to resolve themselves.
The choice? Easy.
On one side was Yu Wan, who had just returned, with fame not big enough yet, background unclear, and commercial value uncertain. On the other was the current top-tier A-lister, with solid skills, no scandals in background checks, and extremely high commercial value—Yu Xi. They knew exactly who to choose.
“So, I’ll hang up?” the agent said. “Good night, Teacher Yu Wan.”
The agent feared more haggling and having to explain further, which might accidentally sell out Yu Xi and bring trouble. Without waiting for Yu Wan’s response, he hung up.
The receiver emitted a cold dial tone.
Yu Wan turned off the screen, took a deep breath, then slammed the phone face-down on the table. Her fingers clenched tightly, and the disposable paper cup beside her was unconsciously crumpled into a ball.
Their statuses—Yu Wan and Yu Xi’s statuses—had completely reversed.
Once, she could effortlessly control Yu Xi, control his actions, his thoughts, his goals. She used money, lifestyle, blood ties as threats and shackles, firmly holding the high ground.
But now, everything had changed.
In the years she was away, Yu Xi had grown desperately. Now, she was overshadowed by this colossal figure.
When the agency rejected Yu Wan, Yu Xi was filming with Yi Chen.
It wasn’t official shooting, so Wang Hui didn’t overly restrict Yu Xi and Yi Chen’s performances. The clips had high freedom; Wang Hui only provided the required plot points and key lines, leaving the rest to their improvisation.
With such freedom, Yu Xi often forgot he was in front of cameras, that they were filming.
The protagonist in Wang Hui’s script was very much like him—and back then, it was precisely because the protagonist’s experiences mirrored his own that he accepted Wang Hui’s script without hesitation.
They wandered aimlessly on the sports field, lay on the grass using each other as pillows, vaulted over walls laughing as they were chased, crossed the school gates, and held hands in secluded spots.
It was so much like the past.
Like the vast sky, the clouds and sunlight missed in the past crossing thousands of miles and eons to dye the present.
During the clip shooting, The Boundless even trended on a black hot search.
A marketing account posted an edited video accusing a certain “repeated-word” drama crew of borrowing the filming location, messing up classrooms, discarding items randomly, and damaging venue property.
The marketing account didn’t name the crew explicitly, but all the clues pointed straight at The Boundless.
Yu Xi, surfing the web on the front lines, directly reposted the marketing account’s video upon seeing it.
【Yu Xi V: ??】
【Yu Xi V: Which newbie ops is running this marketing account? Truly too green.】
【Yu Xi V: Forwarding for fans to enjoy.】
【Yi Chen V: ?】
【Yi Chen V: Don’t call us a repeated-word drama crew. Say our name loud and proud!】
The venue owner couldn’t resist reposting the marketing account too: 【We were just negotiating to let Director Wang borrow the place for a couple more days. Good grief, are you a competitor sent to sabotage? I suggest you delete it now, or I’ll trace the IP and come to your house!】
【Saying it again: delete delete delete. If I lose this deal, I’ll fight you for real.】
【Hahahahahaha, too hilarious, I’m dying!!】
【Hahahahaha, our little The Boundless is hyped before filming even starts! Black hot searches arranged.】
【Hahahahaha, you guys are fun. Let me dig into which rival this is?】
【Is it that concurrent campus drama? They mocked The Boundless for being too artsy with no market, doomed to flop. Now we’re hot during filming, so they want a piece?】
【What to do, the more they blacken, the more I anticipate. I really want to see my CP dating!!】
【Oh man, marketing accounts have it easy. Throw together some video, splice and edit, drop associative clues, and boom—black hot search.】
【How much per edit? I can do it too, I wanna try!!】
【Hahahahaha I can too! Boss, hire me. Your editor isn’t cutting it, I can make it up on the spot! Hahahahaha】
【Boss is too funny, waiting for the desperate fight! Hahahahahahahahaha】
The marketing account’s black hot search didn’t impact The Boundless much. The provocative comments were quickly deleted, causing no waves.
“Why’d they delete it already?” In the car, Yu Xi was still unsatisfied.
It had been a long time since he’d encountered such a blatantly stupid marketing account. He wanted to play a few more rounds.
“Stop looking.” Yi Chen covered Yu Xi’s eyes. “Rest for a bit, brew some emotions.”
Wang Hui had originally planned to shoot here for just one or two days, enough clips without losing the venue rental money.
But the more they shot, the better it felt. Conveniently, the venue owner wanted to extend the rental too. Wang Hui’s eyes lit up: “Shoot, keep shooting! More footage!”
Next, Yu Xi and Yi Chen needed to film a fight scene.
During a hiking trip, a quarrel erupted between them.
The protagonist played by Yu Xi went on the hike alone without a word. There were professional guides, so it wasn’t too dangerous, but the problem was his phone broke during the hike. In the woods, he relied on a walkie-talkie with no signal. By the time Yu Xi reached the next rest point, Yi Chen had been out of contact for a full day and night.
