Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Sister Qi Visits the Set, Thomas Skin’s Warning
Helipad.
"Missy, remember to come back early."
Drake White watched Emma White leave with a reluctance that rendered his subordinates speechless. Emma was just leaving for a few days, but the boss looked like he might never see her again.
With a twitch of her brow, Claire Green’s eyes showed a hint of amusement as she spoke nonchalantly, "Hmm, the fish is already on the hook, make sure you reel it in tightly."
Understanding her implication, Drake White gave her a reassuring look, "By the time you get back, this fish should be ready to cook."
He had heard her explain the specific effects of that needle, and with his understanding of Lowe, that guy wouldn’t withstand it for many days.
As the plane took off, Drake White sighed and leisurely made his way back to the car with his hands behind his back.
...
The next afternoon.
Thomas Skin raised an eyebrow at the uninvited guest in his office, stood up, and poured a cup of coffee, handing it over.
"What brings you here?"
Claire Green swirled the cup, taking a small sip, "How’s the ad shoot going?"
At these words, a trace of disappointment—one even he didn’t notice—flashed through Thomas Skin’s eyes. He feigned a playful tone.
"No wonder you came uninvited, turns out it’s for those two little artists of yours."
He glanced at the time, "They should be shooting now, want to go take a look?"
Setting the cup down, she stood up leisurely, "Lead the way."
Seeing this.
Thomas Skin couldn’t help but chuckle wryly, "Your tone sounds like you’re ordering me around."
But that was just J.
Not long after.
Thomas Skin drove Claire Green to a duplex castle, with both sides adorned with exotic flowers and plants.
Claire Green surveyed her surroundings, curling her lips nonchalantly, "Quite a grand gesture."
"Of course, for the god of J’s game, the best scenes are necessary for filming the promo," Thomas Skin said with a smile, gesturing for her to proceed.
The two of them walked side by side into the castle, instantly overhearing a burst of awkward and non-fluent speech in Z Country’s language.
"Your expressions are off, weren’t the previous scenes performed well, why is it so bad now?"
Charlotte Shaw and Edward Monroe exchanged a glance and smiled wryly in unison.
The previous scenes were normal, they could transition smoothly into them back then.
But now they were shooting a post-apocalyptic scene, and looking around, nothing resembled a post-apocalypse. At most, it was a small haunted house. Getting into character was simply a pipe dream.
Though as artists, it’s inadvisable to have continuous takes needing do-overs, the premise is having an environment conducive to settling into the role.
"Looks like your artists aren’t filming too smoothly," Thomas Skin shrugged, watching from a distance with a theater-like amusement.
He never considered that if they didn’t film well, his promotional timing would be consequently extended.
Edward Monroe was listening to the director’s reprimand when he glimpsed a familiar figure from the corner of his eye, revealing joy in his eyes.
Soon enough.
The director also noticed the two’s presence, toning down his anger and speaking blandly, "Take a break, find your rhythm."
Saying this, he strolled away with the script.
"Miss Green," Charlotte Shaw greeted excitedly, "Long time no see."
Edward Monroe nodded behind her, a smile on his face.
"Tell me what’s going on," Claire Green raised her eyebrow, her tone laden with implication.
Upon hearing this,
Charlotte Shaw bit her lip in a somewhat embarrassed manner, "It’s the final scene regarding the apocalypse. Both Edward Monroe and I can’t get into character, no matter how we film, the director is unsatisfied."
Gazing at the current environment, understanding dawned in Claire Green’s eyes, no wonder.
She walked to the side, whispering a few words to Thomas Skin, who initially seemed surprised, then cast an envious glance at Charlotte Shaw and Edward Monroe before stepping out to make a call.
That glance left the two puzzled.
Yet before long, they understood.
A group of people swiftly dismantled the previous scene, efficiently setting up a large new set in the castle garden.
Looking at the gray skies, the broken houses, all shops tightly shut, wide streets littered with garbage, leaves, and rusty vehicles... every scene acted as a constant reminder that this was indeed a ruined city.
"How do you feel after seeing it?" Claire Green asked lazily, hands in pockets.
"Desolate, lonely," Edward Monroe expressed his true first impressions.
If the original set left him untouched, this scene before him, which he witnessed being built, instantly sparked ideas in him.
If truly in an apocalyptic time, the state would likely be even worse than seen here.
Director James Nash returned after making a round, repeatedly uttering "cool" upon seeing the completely new scene.
"Edward, Charlotte, are you ready?"
He was already eager to start filming.
Edward Monroe and Charlotte Shaw exchanged an encouraging smile, this time they felt confident.
Miss Green had even rebuilt the set for them, to not do well now would be disappointing.
"You really care about them,"
Thomas Skin remarked with slight emotion while watching the two.
He had never seen anyone change a set for an ad shoot because actors couldn’t get into character.
Typically, in such cases, artists adjust themselves; if not, they get replaced.
Claire Green chuckled, "Isn’t it for our game?"
There wasn’t much time left until the launch, and both the ad and promotional video had to be pushed out promptly.
Soon, James Nash nodded in satisfaction, telling Thomas Skin, "I’ll go see if there’s anything that needs changing."
Watching his retreating figure, Thomas Skin had to admit that the efficiency was indeed different after changing the set.
...
"Where’s Ethan Song?"
Claire Green propped up her chin, casually flipping through the menu, and asked as if in passing.
Usually, those two were inseparable, yet that guy let him travel abroad alone this time.
Edward Monroe scratched his nose, "He wanted to come, but there was a problem with a variety show he needed to discuss personally, so he didn’t make it."
Claire Green uttered a soft hmm, falling silent.
For a moment, the private room held an awkward atmosphere.
Eventually.
Charlotte Shaw, nervously squeezing her fingers, broke the silence, "Miss Green, did you specifically come to see us?"
Before the girl could reply, Thomas Skin returned from his call and jumped in.
"What else? Your Miss Green is quite the busy person, I don’t get such a drop-in treatment easily."
What’s more, inviting her usually cost money.
"She treats you really well, giving you endorsements and even paying for the set changes."
Even though it was his money that got spent.
But he didn’t mind using this to help J win over people’s hearts.
The old cat had already told him how the two joined her company, but sometimes when someone becomes ambitious, anything could happen.
Understanding his intention, Claire Green didn’t stop him, leaning back against the chair, arms casually crossed on the table.
Her eyes, cast down, were as dark and inscrutable as ever.
Charlotte Shaw was just about to speak when Thomas Skin changed his tone, now with a sarcastic smile, his opening filled with threats.
"Of course, as her friend, if I find out later you harbor thoughts you shouldn’t, forget the entertainment industry, even other fields won’t have a place for you."
His words left Charlotte Shaw and Edward Monroe startled, but they quickly composed themselves once they grasped his meaning, earnestly assuring.
"You don’t need to say anything. To us, Miss Green is already the best choice."
Nowadays, who in the entertainment industry doesn’t envy the two of them?
"That’s good then."