### Chapter 81: The Film Wraps Up
The next day, on set, Richard continued filming the remaining scenes.
There were four scenes to shoot today. Annie had moved into Aunt Sabas's house, where Sabas also lived. After their last conversation, the two had parted on bad terms.
In an attempt to win Annie over, Sabas played loud symphonic music at the indoor pool of the villa, disturbing Annie while she was studying.
"What are you doing in the room?" Sabas asked, tapping the armrest of his wheelchair with a smile.
"I'm reading!" Annie replied.
"Did you find anything interesting?"
"Yes, a lot!"
"That's good!" Sabas said, standing up from his wheelchair. He handed her a paper bag. "This is a gift for the new semester."
"You don't need to do this," Annie said, taking the bag and finding a purse inside.
"Don't you like it? It must be a lousy gift then," Sabas said, grabbing the purse and pretending to throw it away.
"No, I like it very much. It's just that you didn't need to do this," Annie said, taking the purse back.
"Cut! That's a wrap!" the director called out.
After finishing a scene, the crew took a half-hour break, shifting the camera positions and props.
Richard returned to the makeup room to cover his scars, as his next scene required him to be shirtless. Sabas, being a wealthy character, shouldn't have many scars, so they needed to be concealed.
After makeup, the crew resumed filming the scenes between Sabas and Annie. Sabas continued to try to win over Annie to win a bet, but he gradually fell in love with her purity.
After five more days of filming with the crew, most of Richard and Reese's scenes were completed, and Sarah Michelle Gellar joined the set.
Dressed in a black women's suit, sunglasses, and high heels, she strode into the living room like a mob boss's wife. The crew greeted her enthusiastically.
"Hey, Reese, sorry I'm late," Sarah said, removing her sunglasses with a smile.
"No worries!" Reese replied, putting down her script with a smile.
"Sarah, welcome back!" Richard waved.
Sarah looked him up and down, frowning slightly. "And you are?"
"Hello, Ms. Sarah Michelle Gellar. I'm Richard Braid, playing Sabas in the film," Richard introduced himself, extending his hand.
"Richard Braid?" Sarah looked him up and down again. "I've never seen you before. Are you a new actor? How did a newbie get the lead role? Did you get it through the casting couch? Who did you sleep with? I heard you're close to Mr. Moritz. Could it be… Wow~"
Sarah covered her mouth in shock, her eyes filled with mischief.
Richard's face twitched as he sat down with a dark expression.
Reese covered her mouth with the script, laughing heartily.
"Hmph, I don't want to work with an actor like you," Sarah said, raising her chin proudly and sitting next to Reese.
"Sarah, don't you think that's a bit harsh?" Reese asked, trying to stifle her laughter.
"Harsh? Not at all. Compared to what that jerk has said, I'm being too polite. People like him need to be dealt with harshly," Sarah said, loud enough for Richard to hear.
"Did he badmouth you too?" Reese asked, smiling.
"Yes, his words are infuriating. After talking to him for a while, I was depressed for three days. I'm still angry when I think about it. You don't need to be polite to people like him."
Reese smiled, "You're right. Last time, he almost drove me crazy. Richard, I think your boxing practice is justified. Otherwise, you would've been beaten to death already."
Richard shrugged, "My bad. I'm sorry. It's not entirely my fault, though. When I was in elementary school, a chubby friend told me that to get along with girls, you have to annoy them constantly, like pulling their hair or putting caterpillars in their pockets."
"You're using elementary school tactics to deal with us?!" Sarah frowned.
"But it seems to work. We're all friends now, aren't we?" Richard said with a gentle smile.
Sarah clenched her fists. "Reese, I want to punch him, really hard!"
"Don't be impulsive. We can't beat him," Reese said, laughing.
"It doesn't matter if we can't beat him. We can pressure him during the scenes."
"Good idea!" Reese snapped her fingers and laughed.
"Ladies, please don't mess around."
"We're not messing around. We're guiding your acting. We just want to make the movie better," Sarah said with a smile.
---
"Everyone, get ready!"
At noon, the set was prepared, and the crew returned to their positions. Richard, Reese, and Sarah took their places.
"Scene 65, shot 1, take 1, action!"
Director Roger shouted, putting on his headphones and sitting down to watch the trio's performance. It was a scene where all three main characters appeared together, engaging in conversation.
After a while, Director Roger called, "Cut! Richard, keep up the energy and stay in sync with them!"
"Got it!" Richard replied, focusing on his performance.
After several more takes, Richard finally adjusted his acting to match the two female leads, passing after six tries.
"Scared?" Sarah asked smugly.
"Scared? How do you spell that?" Richard retorted.
"Alright, you wait. It's easy to deal with a newbie like you," Sarah said coldly, walking away.
For the next few days, Sarah and Reese constantly pressured him during the scenes, sometimes sticking to the script and other times improvising. Miraculously, every time they did this, the director criticized Richard.
Exhausted and pale, Richard endured, swearing his innocence to Paul and Alvin, who frequently suspected him of mischief.
"Richard, won't you beg for mercy?" Reese asked after a scene.
"Why would I? Most of the remaining scenes are intimate. You know I'm a bit of a lecher," Richard said with a sly smile.
"Pervert!" Reese rolled her eyes, moving away from him.
Realizing his scheme, Reese and Sarah rarely disrupted the scenes anymore. The trio entered a period of close cooperation, shooting five or six scenes a day, speeding up the filming progress.
By mid-April, the filming of "Dangerous X Game" was complete.
"Cheers!" The crew celebrated with a party at a hotel on the wrap-up day.
"Richard, you did well on set. Everyone is pleased with your performance," producer Neal Moritz said, raising his glass.
"Thank you, Neal. I appreciate the opportunity you gave me," Richard replied with a smile.
"No need to thank me. You earned this opportunity. Do you have any other roles lined up?"
"No, the first round of the boxing tournament is still critical. I've been preparing for the match and haven't taken any other roles," Richard explained.
Over the past two months, he had participated in three more matches, achieving a record of 10 wins, 10 victories, and 6 KOs, just one step away from the semi-finals.
"That's good. Focus on your matches. Once you become a boxing star or champion, many roles will come your way. Good luck!"
"I will!" Richard raised his glass.
"Richard, cheers!" Sarah walked over and clinked her glass against his.
Richard smiled, "Sarah, thank you and Reese for everything."
"Why thank us?" Sarah blinked.
"Because of your guidance, my acting has improved significantly. I sincerely thank you!" Richard said, raising his glass.
"Hmph, no need to thank me!" Sarah said irritably. This thick-skinned guy was tough to break. In the end, instead of defeating him, she and Reese had given up first.
"How are things between you and Reese?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb. Reese likes you. I don't believe you can't see that."
Richard shook his head. "Reese is a dedicated actress who invests emotionally in her roles. She's probably just caught up in the character, not really interested in me."
"I don't think so. Reese is very rational and smart, and she knows the difference between roles and reality. If she really likes you, what will you do?"
"Well, I'd accept it, of course. You know I'm a bit of a lecher and very loving. I currently have only one girlfriend, so adding Reese wouldn't be too much," Richard said, stroking his chin.
"Are you serious?"
"Of course. If you also like me and want to be with me, I'd accept you too. How about it?"
"Ugh, you're so shameless," Sarah said, stepping on his toes before walking away with her dress lifted.
Richard smirked and walked to the corner where Reese, with a flushed face from drinking, was strumming a guitar and singing. Many people around her sang along.
"Don't worry, be happy. Don't worry, be happy..."
---
**Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!**
(End of Chapter)