NFBE Chapter 141 Joining the Group
Chapter 141 Joining the Group
The study door opened from the outside, and Chu Fanyan carried a tray with a pot of brewed tea and a plate of sliced fruit, all of which were Shang Yibo's favorites, including navel oranges, pears, and dragon fruit.
As she walked toward the sofa, she said, "Why are you scolding me again? Can't you speak properly? It's not like whoever shouts the loudest is right."
The three people sitting on the sofa remained silent, watching as Chu Fanyan skillfully placed the fruit plate on the coffee table, then took three empty cups from a hidden compartment under the coffee table, placed them on the table, and brewed tea. She then said to Chu Fanqing in an annoyed tone, "Drink tea. You've been shouting for so long, you must be thirsty. I heard you yelling as soon as I came up the stairs."
Zhou Yanruo picked up a fruit fork and placed it on the fruit plate, then said to Chu Fanyan, "Thank you, Aunt Yan."
Chu Fanyan said, "Have some fruit. You didn't eat any vegetables just now."
Chu Fanqing picked up her teacup and took a sip, perfectly concealing her earlier lapse in composure. "Put it down and go about your business."
Chu Fanyan was still standing by the sofa, rubbing her hands together as she said, "What are you still busy with? Don't you know it's past midnight? Can't we talk about this tomorrow? Let Yibo and President Zhou go back and rest."
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shang Yibo teased, "That's right, Dad. I'm fine with it anyway, since you scold me all the time. But Zhou Yanruo is working. Doesn't that count as overtime? Are you going to pay her overtime?"
Zhou Yanruo hurriedly waved her hand, "No, no, I won't report for overtime."
Shang Yibo couldn't help but laugh when he saw Zhou Yanruo's embarrassed state.
Chu Fanqing put down his teacup, stood up, and said, "That's enough for today, you can go back now."
Zhou Yanruo stood up as well. "Chairman Chu, I'll go back and sort out the contents of today's conversation, and report to you next Monday."
Chu Fanyan asked, "Is Yibo staying at home today?"
Shang Yibo was already walking towards the study door when he replied, "No, I have to go back to the company for an acting class early tomorrow morning. It's too far from here." Chu Fanyan said, "I'll have Lao Zhang take you. I'll have him prepare the car now." After saying that, she went downstairs first.
Shang Yibo said to Zhou Yanruo, "Let's go, I'll take you home first."
The two went downstairs; the living room lights were still on.
When Fang Xichen saw them come down, she walked over from the living room and said, "We're done talking. I asked Xiao Hong to prepare some snacks for you to take with you. You didn't eat much for dinner, so you can have something to eat if you get hungry."
Shang Yibo said, "Mom, why aren't you resting yet?"
Fang Xichen replied, "Well, I'm not used to going to bed early, so I'll read a book here for a while. You guys should go back quickly, and send me a message when Yibo gets home."
Zhou Yanruo glanced at her watch; it was almost midnight. Fang Xichen was clearly worried and had deliberately waited for them here.
She said, "President Fang, Chairman Chu told me about the preparations for the film and television company. I am grateful for your appreciation and have prepared a plan to report to you."
Fang Xichen smiled and said, "Don't rush to express your gratitude. The key is whether you have the ability. The plan doesn't need to be too detailed. Just have a framework and ideas first, and then you can bring it out for discussion. If you go too deep and the direction is wrong, it's just a waste of energy and time."
Zhou Yanruo nodded, "Okay, Mr. Fang. I will complete the initial outline as soon as possible."
Chu Fanyan walked over carrying two bags and handed them to Zhou Yanruo. "I brought you some snacks and some frozen wontons. Remember to freeze them. Tomorrow morning, pick up Yibo early and cook him some breakfast. Yibo doesn't like dry bread, so you should prepare some noodles for him more often; it'll be better for his stomach..."
Fang Xichen interrupted Chu Fanyan and asked, "Sister Yan, is the car ready? Should we arrange for Lao Zhang to take them?"
"Everything's ready. I'll see them out." Chu Fanyan said, then pointed at Shang Yibo's head as he sat on the entryway cabinet changing his shoes. "Grow your hair out. A bald head looks awful. Is it for easier washing your hair?"
Zhou Yanruo scoffed, "Of course not! Aunt Yan, he's going to join the film crew next week for a role in the drama. But it won't be long before he finishes filming this part, and he probably won't need to shave his head next month."
"Yeah, keep it, keep it. It's only because it's my Yibo, it would be even uglier if it were anyone else..."
Chatting and laughing, the group walked out the door...
Shang Yibo's life appears glamorous to outsiders, and his personal image frequently appears in the public eye in various forms: from the role he played in the popular TV series "The Swordsman's Journey" broadcast on major platforms and TV stations, to the national-level product advertisements that cover almost all the opening and closing credits, and even follow the weather forecast during prime time every day, to the ubiquitous hard broadcast screens in public places such as airports, train stations, and shopping malls, his figure is everywhere.
However, Shang Yibo's private life is quite simple. Once he's on set filming, he seems to enter a state of "seclusion," almost completely cutting off contact with the outside world. Especially in his current drama, as the absolute male lead, he carries the weight of the entire series, with all the plot twists and developments closely revolving around the character he plays.
Shang Yibo poured his heart and soul into this drama. Despite having made thorough preparations beforehand, he still felt immense pressure once filming began. His daily schedule was packed. In addition to the intense filming work, he would also need to repeatedly rehearse his lines with the acting coach after returning to the hotel to prepare for the next day's filming. This kind of lifestyle often kept him busy until late at night before he could finally rest.
In such a high-pressure work environment, he had almost no time to pay attention to his mobile phone, let alone browse the Internet or participate in online social networking. All his time and energy were devoted to studying the role and the script.
As autumn arrived, the northern sky appeared exceptionally high and clear. At the break of dawn, Zhou Yanruo was already dressed and ready, driving alone towards the Zhuocheng Film and Television Base. With the car window half-open, the fresh air, carrying a slight coolness and the scent of fields soon to be harvested, rushed in, instantly invigorating her. Despite the busy morning, this tranquility and coolness allowed her to temporarily forget the immense pressure of preparing for the film and television company's launch.
"The Legend of Huizhou Merchants," Zhou Yanruo's first project after becoming Shang Yibo's agent, has garnered her a great deal of effort, with over a month of intense filming since its commencement. This drama, depicting the glorious history of Huizhou merchants during the Ming and Qing dynasties, not only boasts a dramatic plot but also incorporates rich historical and cultural elements, making it highly anticipated by the industry. Now, with the scenes in Zhuocheng nearing completion, the entire crew is about to move to Huizhou for location shooting, undoubtedly marking another important milestone in the project's progress.
For Zhou Yanruo, this past month has been almost entirely dedicated to the preparatory work of the film and television company. From project planning and fundraising to team building, she had to personally handle every aspect, making her incredibly busy. Even so, she remained concerned about the filming progress of "The Legend of Huizhou Merchants," and this was only the second time she had taken time out to visit the set since Shang Yibo joined the production.
However, this visit to the set was different from the previous one. A hint of worry inadvertently appeared between Zhou Yanruo's brows, because her purpose in coming was not just to visit Shang Yibo, but more importantly, she needed to discuss with him the adjustments made by the production team, which would have a significant impact on him.