The door of the dressing room was knocked on, and Wu Fangyuan gently poked his head in. He saw Luo Ding's brow furrow slightly as he spoke, a moment of tenderness flashing in his eyes. Whenever Luo Ding worked early or late shifts, he never let Wu Fangyuan stay, always sending him back to rest with various excuses. Wu Fangyuan didn't dare to disobey Luo Ding, whose imposing presence was becoming more intimidating by the day, but he wasn't stupid either. Of course, he understood that Luo Ding was silently caring for those around him in other ways. In the past, when Luo Ding wasn't famous, he worried and fretted for him, but now that Luo Ding was famous, watching him busy every day without time to eat or sleep made him feel indescribably uncomfortable.

"I thought you were asleep," he sighed inwardly, with a smile on his face, no longer tiptoeing around as he walked in, holding up a pair of large thermos flasks in his hands. "I brought breakfast for you guys. I personally made lean pork congee with preserved eggs." Naturally, this was Luo Ding's instruction. Wu Fangyuan was good at cooking, so Luo Ding often asked him to make chicken soup, bone broth, or congee to bring to the crew for everyone to share. During filming, there was basically nothing good to eat, even the boxed meals were very simple. At times like this, a cup of thick, steaming, hand-cooked soup became a rare delicacy more cherished than anything else.

Sure enough, everyone smiled as soon as the thermos flask was opened, and the fragrant smell of lean pork congee with preserved eggs wafted out. The hungry crowd quickly grabbed cups and lined up.

People are easily pleased; after drinking Luo Ding's congee, they naturally felt a bit closer to him. These details that scratch the itch are more useful than running around helping.

"Hey, what are you eating?" Suddenly, the door of the dressing room was pushed open, and a smiling female voice asked.

Everyone turned around, a bit in chaos for a moment. "Sister Yuan!"

"So fragrant!" Yuan Bing took a deep breath, the rich fragrance of meat and preserved eggs making her stomach grumble a bit. She turned to the person behind her and said, "Over here!" Then she smiled and asked everyone, "Is there any for me?"

These things were always prepared in abundance. Not to mention one Yuan Bing, even if ten more came, there would be enough. Knowing she also had a share, Yuan Bing eagerly took a disposable cup from the water dispenser and eagerly asked Wu Fangyuan to pour some for her.

It was the first time Wu Fangyuan had such close contact with a top-tier celebrity. He was so nervous he didn't know where to put his hands and feet. Luo Ding was truly helpless and had to take the thermos flask and pour a cup for Yuan Bing.

"Why did Sister Yuan come so early?"

Yuan Bing, while carefully blowing on the congee, smiled, "Guess what? It's all for you, your brother Duan..."

"What's wrong with me?" Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by the magnetic voice of Duan Xiubo, who entered afterwards. "Sister Yuan, it's a good habit to sleep and wake up early, good for the skin."

Yuan Bing smiled politely, not showing any disdain in front of everyone. Listening to Duan Xiubo talking nonsense here, it seemed as if he was doing it for her own good, like he didn't wake the hotel wake-up service and keep calling from five o'clock onwards to urge her to come to the crew early just for her sake.

As she ate the congee, she scrutinized Luo Ding. His legs were as thin as chopsticks, truly enviable.

Because they were about to film, Luo Ding didn't dare to eat too much. After drinking a cup, he didn't eat anymore.

Yuan Bing slurped a mouthful of hot congee, squinting her eyes, her expression turning into a smile of enjoyment. "Mmm... it's so fresh, you've cooked it for a long time, right? And you added dried scallops?"

Seeing Wu Fangyuan nod, she turned to ask Duan Xiubo, "Old Duan, won't you have a cup?"

Duan Xiubo, still frowning at Luo Ding's thin arms and legs, momentarily recovered. He sniffed and felt a bit hungry himself, leaned over to the water dispenser, only to find that all the disposable cups were gone.

Looking around, he walked over to Luo Ding and picked up the cup he had used, putting a hand on Luo Ding's shoulder. "Are you still drinking? Have another cup?"

With him looking so thin, if he didn't eat a bit more, how could his body take it?

Luo Ding shook his head, "No, I won't. We have wire stunts later, and there's a fight scene. I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it if I eat too much."

Duan Xiubo also had experience. After he said that, he remembered these taboos and didn't persuade anymore, but asked, "There are no more cups over there. Do you need this one?"

Luo Ding's mouth twitched and he shook his head. He hadn't expected Duan Xiubo, who seemed so particular, not to have OCD...

Duan Xiubo naturally used the cup that had been used by Luo Ding to pour himself a cup of congee. He moved to a position Luo Ding hadn't touched and slowly started drinking. He didn't talk much to Luo Ding, but his gaze always seemed to land on Luo Ding. There was a momentary distraction when he saw the beautiful collarbones outlined by the slightly open neckline of Luo Ding's costume, then his brow furrowed tightly.

Luo Ding's current state was indeed too haggard, so thin. How could he have the energy to film properly like this? Later, he should talk to Mi Rui and order some stewed beef and pork trotters from the restaurant outside the film and television city to add a meal for the crew at noon.

From the moment Duan Xiubo used the cup that Luo Ding had used to drink the congee, Yuan Bing felt a bit uncomfortable. Everyone said Duan Xiubo was easygoing, but did their old friends not know how finicky he was in private? This person always had a smiling face, but his inner emotions about things were never revealed. However, from the little details of daily life, one could always tell that Duan Xiubo strictly controlled the distance of interpersonal interactions!

Now this person who didn't care about details like Duan Xiubo was actually the same person who never used shared chopsticks outside?

She glanced at Duan Xiubo staring at Luo Ding with a substantial gaze, her mouth stalling for a moment, not daring to think further.

After the wig was fixed, Luo Ding quickly started doing his makeup.

His features were naturally good-looking, and with fair skin, he didn't need much effort with foundation. Just deepening the lines around his eyes would do. Because the character of Prince Guangling Guanglin was positioned with a bit of villainy, the makeup artist extended the curve of his eye position slightly longer and slightly upward.

Yuan Bing watched with some curiosity. In fact, she had felt this way since she first saw Luo Ding. This newcomer was really different from many newcomers she had encountered before. He seemed completely oblivious to the others, focusing solely on his own makeup, as if he had no concept of nervousness. Although the entertainment industry didn't explicitly state its hierarchy, it definitely existed. Just by looking at Wu Fangyuan's nervousness in front of Yuan Bing and Duan Xiubo, one could see that fame and value were the weights by which artists measured their interactions. Just like many subordinates would have some awe for their superiors, in the entertainment industry, this was no different. But Luo Ding completely failed to give her that feeling.

He was just so natural, knowing exactly what to say and what to do, striking the perfect balance. There was respect, but absolutely no fear or flattery.

She didn't understand why Duan Xiubo treated such an emerging newcomer differently, but after spending some time together, even she began to appreciate his gentle and refreshing way of interacting. She didn't know if his understanding of interpersonal relationships was innate or cultivated over time, but to possess such smooth skills at this age, she couldn't match it at all. With this skill alone, he would surely thrive in the entertainment industry, not to mention his impeccable appearance. Thinking of Duan Xiubo's praise for Luo Ding's acting skills during their conversations, she couldn't help but frown.

I heard he's been in the industry for many years now, but only started to gain fame recently, in his twenties. Duan Xiubo's so-called good acting skills are probably just compared to people his own age, right? To be honest, the entertainment industry nowadays is mixed, and the quality is indeed not as good as it was when they first debuted.

She swallowed a bit awkwardly as she listened to the assistant whispering in her ear. "The studio says it's almost ready. I'm going to change clothes. Take your time eating, everyone, and get ready."

The group of people hurriedly bid her farewell, and Luo Ding, who was doing his makeup, opened one eye, not moving his head, but giving her a sideways glance, smiling and waving, "Sister Yuan, take care."

His eyelashes were already thick, and the eyeliner made his eyes even more radiant. With the slightly raised corners of his eyes matching his not-so-wide smile, there was an inexplicable playful charm.

Yuan Bing was slightly stunned, her mind blank, feeling as if his gaze was like a baited hook, enticing and dangerous.

By the time she came to her senses, she had been dragged out of the public dressing room by her assistant, arm in arm.

This was Luo Ding's first appearance since joining the "Crouching Dragon" crew.

Because of Huo Xie's bad temper, everyone's nerves were always on edge during filming. The high level of concentration reduced the number of outtakes, but it also put a lot of pressure on the actors. Filming was really a very hard thing to do. Luo Ding almost exhausted himself for a few shots and a few minutes of screen time, but Huo Xie was even busier. He was demanding and wanted to oversee every shot himself, never delegating to the assistant director. He rested even less than the actors, cursed when he didn't get enough sleep, and everyone could understand.

Although Yuan Bing was already a queen of acting, she still felt a bit wary of him. As she walked towards the studio with Luo Ding, she asked her assistant, "How is Director Huo today?"

The assistant gave her a helpless look. "Yesterday, Zhang Ni NGed more than twenty times for a single shot, and Director Huo didn't wrap until three in the morning. He only slept for an hour and a half just now, so he definitely didn't sleep well."

This was bad.

Everyone immediately prepared themselves to be scrutinized and criticized. Huo Xie's sharp tongue was not something anyone could withstand, but life was like a battlefield, and you couldn't avoid it; you could only convince yourself to enjoy it with a smile.

When Huo Xie raised his hand, the smile on Luo Ding's face disappeared instantly, and at the same time, he stretched out his slender hand, curving it into an eagle's claw, and grabbed Yuan Bing's nape from behind.

His palm was cool, causing Yuan Bing to shiver slightly. Before she could recover, she heard Huo Xie's voice: "Action!"

Luo Ding casually threw her towards the ground, then sidestepped and rotated, his flying sleeves drawing out a watery texture as he gracefully fell onto the royal couch.

Yuan Bing fell to the ground along his momentum, not fully immersed in the scene yet, but lifted her head with a look of horror as she gazed at the figure on the couch.

This scene was focused on Luo Ding; she didn't need to express much emotion. However, as a dedicated actor, even if she didn't have lines, she had to ensure her scene partner played their role well.

Then she froze.

The man leaning on the couch, with snowy skin, black hair, and a crimson robe draped over him. He propped his head up with one arm, his slightly narrowed eyes looking directly at her, cold yet somehow charming due to their slender shape, exuding a unique charm.

In the green screen studio, only the royal couch beneath him could be called magnificent, but this man, with his natural aura, made it seem like this was his only abode in the entire world, a magnificent mountain palace that rivaled any imperial palace.

Yuan Bing felt as if she had suddenly encountered the Prince Guangling Guanglin who had gracefully descended from the script, arrogant and proud, looking down on the world as if it were beneath him.

She opened her mouth, her breathing becoming erratic.

Prince Guangling Guanglin flashed a indifferent smile, lazily curling the corner of his lips as if the woman before him was hardly worth his attention. His beautifully curved lips parted slightly: "Speak."

That single word was as heavy as a thousand pounds, landing sharply on the ground, its murderous intent and coldness tangible, causing Yuan Bing to tremble with fear.

"I don't know anything..." She hugged herself, her voice already tinged with a sob.

Prince Guangling Guanglin's scattered gaze finally focused, lazily falling on her.

Then his smile suddenly widened, and he leisurely propped himself up halfway on the couch, his upper body leaning towards Yuan Bing. His thick lashes shielded his slightly lowered eyes, deep and mysterious. The momentum that had been restrained suddenly became seductive. He reached out his slender, beautiful hand, simultaneously smiling without speaking, gently caressing Yuan Bing's cheek.

His voice was soft and gentle, sighing as if in admiration: "Princess Yu, you know everything, understand everything. Able to escape the palace alone, and evade the thousands of soldiers sent by me, there is no one in this world smarter than you."

His words were laced with sarcasm, twisting right and wrong, but his approaching face and body exuded a powerful aura that made Yuan Bing's heart clench.

Luo Ding noticed Yuan Bing's stiff gaze and discreetly flicked her ear where the camera couldn't capture.

Yuan Bing instantly snapped out of her daze, quickly returning to her role as scripted, making a motion as if to dodge backwards.

Prince Guangling Guanglin's expression turned cold, grunting lightly. With lightning speed, he single-handedly grabbed Yuan Bing's slender neck, pulling her back.

The restrained killing intent emanated from him, chilling to the bone.

"Speak."

---

"Cut!" The tense atmosphere relaxed instantly at the sound of this word.

Luo Ding quickly let go of Yuan Bing's hand, helping her up from the ground. "Are you okay? Did I push too hard just now?"

Yuan Bing shook her head blankly, still somewhat immersed in the emotions of the scene, the physical contact with Luo Ding giving her a sense of uneasy apprehension.

The director's team was jubilant as if it were a festival: "Wow, no NG, finally escaped from Zhang Ni's curse!"

Huo Xie rubbed his eyes, expressionless, but his mood was much better than before the shoot.

"Take a fifteen-minute break, prepare for the next scene." He generously granted a break longer than ten minutes. Leaning back in his chair, he yawned, catching a glimpse of Duan Xiubo sitting behind him, staring intently at the scene. He casually patted the other's shoulder, "Good eye, thanks, I owe you a favor."

Duan Xiubo's brow twitched slightly, then he flashed a gentle smile, completely concealing the distraction he had just experienced. Knowing that Huo Xie was referring to Luo Ding, he inexplicably felt a sense of pride.

He refocused his attention on Luo Ding, who was having his makeup touched up. Luo Ding was now tilting his head slightly, allowing the makeup artist to apply powder to his face in a submissive posture.

The alluring smile from earlier flashed through Duan Xiubo's mind, causing his heartbeat to accelerate inexplicably. Their scene together was coming up soon, and his chest churned with indiscernible, complex emotions. Was it determination? He clenched his fists tightly.

After a while, Duan Xiubo lowered his gaze, licking his dry lips, and beckoned to Mi Rui to quietly discuss ordering stewed pig's trotters and beef.

The makeup artist stared at Yuan Bing, unsure how to proceed.

The flush on her face had spread to her ears; how could makeup cover it up?