The Storm’s Premonition and a Twisted Revelation

The day before filming began, Huo Kai received a message from Yi Siyu, asking him to look after Jian Ye in S City.

Yi Siyu’s political marriage had been a rather low-key affair within their circle. Apart from Xie Fei, who had served as a groomsman, everyone else had been unable to attend due to various commitments. This was the first time Huo Kai had heard the name of Yi Siyu’s spouse.

Since Huo Kai had mentioned in their group chat that Director Wu Xiaozhi was signed under his family’s film and television company, Yi Siyu had taken note and messaged him privately.

[A K, the Retired Flower Gardener]: “Rest assured, CEO Yi! I’m dropping everything today to personally visit their film set. Wouldn’t you say that shows sincerity?”

[Yu]: “Don’t tease him, and don’t scare him. He’s easily shy.”

[A K, the Retired Flower Gardener]: “Hey, what do you mean? I’m not a pervert like Xie Fei!”

[Yu]: “Thanks.”

[A K, the Retired Flower Gardener]: “Between brothers, there’s no need for thanks. Old Yi, you’ve become increasingly sentimental after getting married.”

Huo Kai chatted with Yi Siyu for a while before putting away his phone and driving himself to the film set. He had asked Director Wu, who informed him that the first scene was scheduled to be shot at Linhe Bridge. Today, the crew was there for lighting tests, not official filming, but rather preliminary preparations. The actual commencement ceremony was set for tomorrow.

****

Actors had been arriving in succession, but Jian Ye had come even earlier than most. His role primarily involved internal monologues, with very few lines of dialogue. Unlike other actors who needed to sit together for discussions, his segment was a solo performance, demanding deep self-immersion and emotional connection.

He arrived at the set with Mo Huan that morning. Jian Ye glanced at the sky. It remained overcast, and the air felt even more stifling than yesterday, as if the wind had completely stilled.

Upon seeing Jian Ye, Director Wu’s face broke into a wide grin. “Little Ye is here… Oh, and Little Mo too? You two are practically inseparable.”

Jian Ye nodded to Director Wu. “I came to check. Are we filming the bridge scene first tomorrow? The weather doesn’t look too good.”

Director Wu explained, “The forecast says rain, and this scene specifically requires the rain.”

“Hmm? Isn’t it the scene where Luo Ying jumps off the bridge?” Jian Ye recalled the script stating it was a clear day, a cloudless one at that. It was precisely because it was such a beautiful day, with the college entrance exams approaching, that the loss of such a young, vibrant life made viewers feel such an unsettling sense of injustice.

Director Wu paused, surprised. “No, who told you we’re filming the bridge jump tomorrow? That’s still a long way off. Tomorrow’s scene is about Luo Ying, after being bullied by students, snatching an umbrella, and then walking home alone in the rain. Along the way, he encounters a drenched kitten and wraps it in his only remaining jacket before taking it with him.”

Mo Huan, thinking Jian Ye was nervous, interjected, “The crew won’t throw a major scene at newcomers right away. They’ll give you time to adapt. Don’t worry about tomorrow’s scene; you’ll understand it after a few runs with the camera.”

Director Wu merely smiled, saying nothing. Mo Huan was still unaware of how perceptive the person he recommended was in acting. Only Director Wu understood that Jian Ye wasn’t nervous at all; he excelled at solo performances like this.

As Director Wu spoke with Jian Ye, the student extras nearby showed expressions of envy. They had recently heard of Jian Ye, a freshman from Yunjing Media University who had suddenly become popular online.

Even the usually serious Director Wu was smiling at Jian Ye? They certainly didn’t receive such treatment. They had assumed a suddenly popular newcomer like him would be a bit arrogant, but he was unexpectedly approachable.

“You have a really good relationship with Director Wu,” one of the young extras whispered.

Jian Ye paused. “I only just met Director Wu a few days ago.”

“Ah, really? I used to work on Director Wu’s sets too, and he was so strict, so fierce.”

Mo Huan seized the opportunity to explain, “Director Wu is very serious about his craft. But today isn’t official filming yet, is it? Perhaps Little Ye is just too good-looking, and Director Wu can’t bear to give him a stern look.”

The half-joking remark made the group of young, aspiring actors laugh. Just then, a car, clearly very expensive, pulled up not far away. A young man, tall and poised with an extraordinary demeanor, stepped out of the car.

Everyone watched as Director Wu respectfully went to greet him, exchanging a few words they couldn’t quite discern.

“Who is that person? Even Director Wu is being so enthusiastic?”
“A financial backer?”
“Such a young financial backer?”
“Doesn’t look like any famous actor in the industry either…”

Places with many young people tend to be hotbeds of gossip. Jian Ye also followed everyone’s gaze. He had a faint feeling that the man had cast a subtle glance in his direction earlier. Not long after, as the group dispersed, the man everyone had speculated to be a ‘financial backer’ approached him directly.

Jian Ye instinctively stepped back a few paces. Huo Kai found it amusing. Seeing the young man guarding against him as if he were a wolf, he couldn’t help but smile.

‘For instance, when you’re out, you’re not allowed to talk to strange men, and if a strange man talks to you, keep your distance.’

Huo Kai decided not to prolong the suspense and extended his hand. “Hello, I’m Huo Kai. I suppose you could say I’m a friend of your… partner.”

Huo Kai cleared his throat slightly, deliberately lowering his voice when he said “your partner.”

Jian Ye’s mouth was slightly agape, and he blinked twice in a daze. “Is… did Siyu-gege tell you I was filming here?”

Huo Kai nodded, chuckling. “Don’t blame him. A group of us were just curious to see what the ‘little one’ he keeps showing off is like.”

Jian Ye remembered now. Yi Siyu had mentioned he had a group of old friends, and this person before him must be one of them.

“Showing off everywhere?” The young man tilted his head.

Huo Kai slapped his mouth. “Oops, slipped out. It’s not exactly ‘showing off,’ more like ‘flaunting.'”

Jian Ye: “…”

‘Truly, the art of verbose nonsense.’

“Director Wu works for my film and television company. Knowing you were involved in this project, I just came by for a casual look. Just pretend you don’t know me, and don’t feel any pressure.”

Jian Ye was inwardly astonished once more. So, he wasn’t just a financial backer, but the big boss! No wonder even Director Wu was so respectful. Yi Siyu’s connections always seemed to surface at the most unexpected moments.

If others knew about his indirect relationship with the film company’s boss, surely no one would believe he got into the crew through his own audition, right? Huo Kai had clearly considered this, which was why he chose a relatively secluded spot to speak with him.

The two didn’t converse for long, ensuring they wouldn’t attract attention. After Jian Ye and Huo Kai formally met, they each went their separate ways. Huo Kai didn’t rush off. Once in his car, he immediately started gossiping with his other friends.

Inside the group chat:

[A K, the Retired Flower Gardener]: “Hey! I met Old Yi’s ‘little one.’ Up close, even I’m smitten. Such a beautiful child.”

[Old Wang Who Wants to Go Home]: “@Yu”

[CEO Qi Who Doesn’t Want to Be a CEO]: “@Yu”

[The Highest Good Is Like Water]: “@Yu”

[Yunjing’s Second Handsomest]: “@Yu”

[Yunjing’s Second Handsomest]: “Siyu, someone’s taken a fancy to your spouse. Better hold them tight.”

[Old Wang Who Wants to Go Home]: “Hiss, you’ve made me want to fly to S City right now to see for myself.”

[The Highest Good Is Like Water]: “You bunch of old perverts, how can you even joke about a child?”

[A K, the Retired Flower Gardener]: “Ren Fangyuan, stop pretending! You’re probably thinking, ‘Let me at ’em!'”

At that moment, Yi Siyu popped into the chat.

[Yu]: “If you have time, take some photos and videos. It’s been a few days since I’ve seen them.”

Everyone: “…”

‘Turns out the real obsessive is right here. The stench of romance is practically overflowing from the screen.’

[A K, the Retired Flower Gardener]: “Alright… I, a big boss, have turned into a paparazzi reporter. For your sake, brother, I’ll be your ox and horse just this once.”

Jian Ye was completely oblivious to the group of men discussing and observing him behind his back. He was currently walking alone on the bridge. This road had been closed in advance for filming, so there was no one on the asphalt now.

It was three in the afternoon. The wind had picked up significantly compared to midday, much like the day he first arrived in S City. Someone from the crew shouted in the distance, “Hold the canopy! It’s about to fall!”

As these words fell, the sky almost abruptly darkened. It was the first time Jian Ye had seen storm clouds gather without any buffer. He realized in his heart that this rain… was unlikely to be light. The director was also instructing the crew to pack up the camera equipment, as the wind had intensified yet another degree.

A rumbling sound already echoed in the sky, like heavy clouds crashing and rubbing against each other violently. One drop, two drops, three drops… then it became a torrential downpour, falling like a cliff, leaving no room for escape.

“Quick! Pack up the equipment!” Everyone nervously and hastily carried various props and equipment into the cars.

Jian Ye covered his head with his hands, intending to find a place to shelter from the rain. Not far away, Mo Huan, holding an umbrella, was rushing towards him. “Little Ye!”

But soon, Jian Ye watched as Mo Huan’s umbrella was also snapped by the strong wind. This storm was truly fierce. The weather forecast hadn’t given any warning? It was as if fate had deliberately orchestrated it.

‘Deliberately?’

A chill ran down Jian Ye’s spine. He suddenly realized he was in a novel. Some things truly defied logic.

[System 748: Host, a plot point is about to occur here. However, because it involves an insignificant minor character, the author glossed over it.]

[Jian Ye: What plot point?]

[System 748: According to regulations, to unlock future plot points you haven’t yet learned, you need to exchange Green Tea Value.]

[Jian Ye: How much? Hurry and exchange it for me!]

For some reason, he felt this plot point was crucial. A strange intuition filled him with a sense of unease.

[System 748: 250 Green Tea Value is sufficient. Host currently has 2000 Green Tea Value. After deduction, 1750 Green Tea Value remains. System is exchanging, please wait…]

While the system was exchanging the plot, Mo Huan had already reached Jian Ye. He grabbed Jian Ye’s arm. “There’s no shelter on the bridge. We can take cover under the building a hundred meters ahead on the road.”

The boy’s clothes were soaked through, his glasses covered in water, streaming down. Jian Ye was pulled a few steps, and the system in his mind began to reveal the exchanged plot.

[System 748: In the original novel, the villain’s half-sister dies today. Cause of death: Drowning.]

[Jian Ye: What?! You don’t mean… she dies in this river, do you?]

[System 748: The villain becomes even more twisted after his sister’s death. Later, he arrives in Yunjing and becomes an irreconcilable rival to the Protagonist Gong. They fight fiercely over the Protagonist Shou.]

Jian Ye: “???”

‘Damn! What kind of dramatic plot is this?’

Jian Ye’s mind was filled with a single image: two men fighting fiercely on a rooftop, while the Protagonist Shou yelled from the sidelines, “Stop fighting, both of you!”