Chapter 4 - Arriving At The Shoot

Mei hastened out of the house and reached the shoot after forty minutes, trying her best to avoid the immense traffic created by the paparazzi and fans that had come on the scene for Daiyu.

When she finally arrived, she saw Lien waiting for her in the garage with one hand on her hip, a frown over her face.

She rushed to Mei and grabbed her hand, pulling her inside from one of the back doors.

"You're lucky Daiyu hasn't arrived yet or who knows what I would have done if I had seen her infuriating face." Lien pouted while flicking Mei on the forehead.

Suddenly, they heard a loud commotion as a huge crowd gathered at the front entrance.

Paparazzi surrounded the spot with flashing lights and cameras when a large black limousine entered from the glistening silver gate. The deafening sounds of the shutters clicking and blinding lights of the cameras encircled as a man in a black buttoned-down shirt and black pants, stepped out of the car, extending his hand out to the car door.

Daiyu stood out, one hand holding her teal embellished dress with flutter sleeves and the other holding the man's hand.

She gracefully spun back to look at the crowd and blew a kiss at the cameras.

A man with a black jacket labeled 'Director' hastened to her with another woman wearing a similar jacket, with the words "Producer", ushered her in cheerfully to a room which had been specially vacated and decorated to her liking.

The crowd howled while the entire staff showed excitement, gathering around to get a photo or an autograph.

Lien scowled at the exhilarated faces while Mei tried distracting her when Daiyu faced them, their eyes meeting as she grinned at Mei and brushed past her for a brief second.

Her heart racing, she held onto Lien's shirt and smiled softly," Shouldn't you be getting ready for your scene already?"

"Ya, I know but none of the staff is available right now because of that....." Lien paused mid-way, squinting her eyes and turning around to look at the producers standing behind her.

"What are you...."

"Shhh!"

She shushed Mei and signaled her thumb behind her back as they quietly eavesdropped on the pair chattering.

"I'm so happy Daiyu agreed to guest star this time!"

"True, to think she cut her vacation in Hawaii short just to please her fans and attend our shoot. She really is the best in the younger generation in this industry."

Lien started snickering loudly, and the producers frowned, asking her if something was wrong.

Mei pulled her back as she bowed and apologized, "I'm incredibly sorry to disturb your conversation. We were just joking around within ourselves."

They scorned and remarked at the two girls as some people in the back pointed at Mei, gossiping with each other and starting to laugh.

She bit her lips as her mood started to worsen more.

"First Daiyu and now this?" she thought, poking at Lien, nudging her to leave the spot.

"Mei, you can't just avoid every single person who makes fun of you. Say something or I will." she fumed, grabbing her arm while she whispered in her ears, "Just do it, don't let people think that they can treat you like a doormat anymore."

Mei smiled as she held Lien's hands and replied, "It doesn't matter what people think. There will be people everywhere who would criticize you or try to demean you but that doesn't mean I should go down to their level now, Should I?"

Lien nodded, when suddenly one of the girls gossiping in the back purposely raised her voice, commenting, "Gosh, let alone her dancing skills, she isn't even that pretty. Seems like anyone can be a trainee these days."

Lien began to curse out when suddenly one of the assistant directors, Ah Lam, walked up to her, informing her that the shooting was delayed for the next thirty minutes and she could have her lunch break in the meantime.

Lien instantly perked up as she started pushing Mei out the room, boasting about the food and drinks she received in the informal break room.

Upon reaching, they skipped the food and hopped over to the open bar, happily giggling and bantering while pouring a glass of red wine.

"Sure they keep the finest wines here, but this 2018 Bordeaux will always be our all-time favorite."

Mei chuckled, pouring a second glass of wine, "We drank a lot that day."

"Two bottles each, I guess?" Lien smiled, placing the bottle back carefully and sitting down on the large four-seat brown leather sofa, where she kept her legs over Mei and talked comfortably.

After ten minutes of mindless talks, a bunch of the staff members rushed inside and asked them to leave immediately for the break room was about to be occupied by the guests.

Lien looked at her phone and sighed out loud as she got up, walking out the room, "I have to head out to the dressing room anyways, Mei drink quick, and come to my room after you're finished."

Waving back, she looked down at the glass of wine that she held onto tightly and got up when she suddenly realized that the guest they had referred to was no other than Daiyu.

Unfortunately for her, she heard the voices of Director Zhang and Daiyu right outside the break-room, getting louder every passing second.

Beginning to panic, Mei walked back to keep the half-full glass back on the counter as Daiyu walked in with the producers and Zhang by her side.

"Should I get you something to drink Ma'am?", one of the producers offered.

"Oh, please do not trouble yourself Yin, it's not like I'm a stranger now, am I?" she replied in a humble tone while beaming at Yin.

"Of course Daiyu, go ahead choose anything you like. We just reshelved to the best selection of wines we could find for you." Zhang bragged loudly while patting her back.

"You flatter me, Director Zhang." flushing, Daiyu walked over to the counter where Mei stood frozen on the spot.