Pre-marital cohabitation

  Cheng Han's eyes were very sharp, but at this moment, he had to admit that Tong Jing, this newcomer, was very suitable for the female lead in his next film. A gentle and lively merchant's daughter in peaceful times, she transformed into a resilient and unyielding new generation of Chinese women in turbulent war-torn times.

  "Sign it, Big Beard, you signed my Oriental doll, I'll make sure your next box office hits 600 million." Mettel pulled on Cheng Han's arm and shook it vigorously. Although she was a tall and slender foreigner with blonde hair, at this moment she was acting cute and coquettish with Cheng Han.

  "Get out, don't disgust me. Let her come for a screen test in a few days. Making a movie isn't like taking promotional photos." Cheng Han was disgusted by Mei Te's words and pulled his arm back, staring at Mei Te who was smiling with a fierce gaze, and asked loudly, "Are you doing this for Tong Yang or to use my movie to promote your clothes?"

  "There's no contradiction between the two." Mettel's handsome doll face revealed a pure and innocent smile, had already decided that this time the big beard movie needed costumes to be designed by himself, which was more cost-effective than spending a lot of money on advertising fees and publicity fees, and the effect would definitely be better.

  "Sneaky foreigner!" Cheng Han's face, covered in stubble, twitched with rage. He really had a knack for making poor friends. Back when he was filming in France, why did he think this innocent-looking young foreigner would be perfect for the supporting role? If only he knew he'd end up with such a troublesome friend, Cheng Han would have rather cut that scene altogether than be tormented by Mettel now.

  "Alright, to thank Big Beard, I'll treat you to roast duck for lunch today." Mettel's eyes were laughing so hard they were almost closed, and just thinking about authentic Beijing roast duck made him feel like his saliva was about to flow out.

  "Get the hell back to France, I've had enough of eating roast duck with you for three days, you think you can turn into a duck? I'm not going to play along!" The coarse curse was loud enough to shake the roof off, Cheng Han's eyebrows were furrowed tightly as he stared at Mettel, this foreigner who seemed to have a few screws loose.

  Qian Li, who was just about to leave the studio to get some fresh air, heard the loud discussion inside the house and his already gloomy face turned even darker. Although everyone in the entertainment industry knew that Director Cheng Han had a fiery temper and would scold people on set without mercy, but over the past few years, all the films he directed were huge hits and the artists who starred in them became overnight sensations.

  Qian Li turned back to look at Tong Jing under the spotlight, this newcomer who was completely inferior to Wu Minru. If it weren't for her, all of today's achievements would have belonged to Minru. Qian Li even looked forward to the day when Wu Minru would reach the pinnacle of the entertainment industry and become a true queen superstar. But all of that had been ruined by Tong Jing, who had stolen the fame and glory that rightfully belonged to Minru!

  After finishing the morning shoot, Mettel successfully loaded Da Hu Zi and Tong Liang into a car to head to the Jun Yue Hotel, where he continued eating his Beijing roast duck. Meanwhile, Qian Li, the agent, was left behind by Mettel. After all, foreigners don't understand Chinese subtlety. In Mettel's eyes, Tong Liang is his friend, while Qian Li is just an employee of the cooperation company this time.

  Complaints aside, Meitel was savoring his food with relish, and Cheng Han was also enjoying himself. Of course, he didn't have roast duck today, but instead ordered a few small stir-fries. Meanwhile, Tong Jiang surprisingly displayed the same trait as Meitel, burying her head in her food and devouring the roast duck with gusto, without any hint of elegance or refinement.

  Cheng Han, although hot-tempered, had a pair of eyes that were quite poisonous. He looked at Tong Jiang with a thoughtful gaze, as if he was thinking deeply. As an artist, she couldn't not recognize him, but apart from the usual pleasantries and polite smiles when they met, there wasn't even a hint of fawning or flattery. It was genuinely absent. After many years in the entertainment industry, Cheng Han could naturally distinguish between genuine coldness and deliberate pretence.

  Actually, Cheng Han was wrong, Tong Jing really didn't know who he was, just thought he was a friend of Mettel's. Because the back of his hand had been cut by a dagger two days ago, he couldn't get it wet or cook, so Tong Jing had been eating lightly for the past few days and now she ate without even lifting her head.

  Damn it! This foreigner, Mettel, is already a starving ghost reincarnated, but how can this artist, Tong Jiang, also be like a starving ghost? The two of them are even quietly competing to eat! It's really "birds of a feather flock together"! Cheng Han's mouth twitched slightly, luckily they were in a private room, otherwise eating with these two would truly be embarrassing.

  "Xiao Tong, isn't it said that Eastern people are reserved?" The plate only had one wing left, and Mettel smiled slyly as she spoke, but her gaze was fixed greedily on the last piece of food.

  "I've also heard that French men are gentlemen." Tong Jing raised her eyes and snorted, where was his gentlemanly demeanor to let her have some? When it came to grabbing food, there was no distinction between Easterners and Westerners, whoever acted faster would get it.

  Cheng Han's hand holding the chopsticks trembled slightly, staring at the last wing in the plate, while two pairs of chopsticks were pinched on top, with a momentum like two tigers fighting.

  Just as lunch was finally over and we were walking out of the hotel, suddenly a group of reporters swarmed in from all sides, holding up microphones and flashing cameras, with twenty or thirty journalists from various newspapers and magazines pushing forward.

  "Director Cheng, is your relationship with Tong Jiao an old one or a new acquaintance?"

  "Yes, Director Cheng, are you planning to let Tong Jing participate in the filming of the new movie? What role will she play?"

  "Tong Jing, as a newcomer, do you have confidence in joining Director Cheng's film? Will there be any pressure?"

  They crowded in, with reporters asking one question after another, each trying to push forward and capture as much footage as possible. Director Cheng Han and newcomer Tong Liang were simply having a meal together, but in the eyes of the journalists, it was like they had stumbled upon an illicit affair or uncovered some hidden rule, so they excitedly asked questions that started off ordinary but became increasingly explicit.

  "Nothing to report, stop pushing, get out of the way!" Cheng Han yelled in a hoarse voice, one hand protecting Tong Dang, the other pushing away the reporters who were like chickens on steroids, trying to squeeze out a path. What the hell, who leaked to the press that he would be eating here? Tong Dang? Trying to make a name for herself by taking advantage of the situation?

  But with so many people around, it was unclear whose camera had violently bumped into Cheng Han's forehead. In an instant, the director, who already had a bad temper, turned pale with rage, his thick beard trembling, and his eyes gleaming with ferocity.

  The more chaotic the scene became, the more excited the reporters grew, and they all turned their cameras to Cheng Han who was about to explode, while Tong Jing took advantage of the situation to quickly drill through the crowd, preparing to break out.

  Suddenly, two bodyguards quickly pushed aside the reporters on both sides. Tong Jing immediately forgot about the friendship they had just shared over a meal, and under Cheng Han's murderous gaze and Mei Te Er's envious eyes, she quickly followed the two bodyguards who came to her rescue and squeezed out of the crowd.