\A small, red-brick Western-style house stood with its upstairs windows facing the sun and a cozy courtyard below, where a lush green camphor tree grew in one corner.
This was one of the filming locations for Jinfen Family.
At the moment, Yuffie was seated in front of a makeup mirror, getting a touch-up from the stylist.
She'd just finished shooting a crying scene, and it hadn't gone well. If there was time later, the director might ask for a reshoot.
The director had given her some notes, and she was feeling a bit down.
Seeing her like this, Chen Kun, who played the male lead Jin Yanxi, stepped over to offer some comfort.
"This is your first time acting. It's normal to have some hiccups. You'll get the hang of it with experience," he said.
For the next decade, Chen Kun would be one of mainland China's hottest young actors. When netizens tossed around nicknames like "Kun Kun" or "My Kun" online, even non-fans would instantly know who they meant.
That is, until that guy with the middle-parted hair and white suspenders showed up.
"Thanks for the encouragement. I'll keep working at it," Yuffie said with a nod.
"No pressure, just take it easy," Chen Kun added with a smile.
His gentle demeanor toward Yuffie wasn't driven by ulterior motives. For one, guys tend to be a bit softer with beautiful women. For another, there was that dazzling suitor of hers.
If those two ended up together, a little kindness now could pay off big time down the road.
In the entertainment industry, you've gotta play all angles—keep every connection tight, because you never know when one might open a door.
Seeing Chen Kun's attitude, Dong Jie, who played the female lead Leng Qingqiu, felt a spark of irritation.
She couldn't help but throw out a jab. "Some people are just born lucky, aren't they? No matter how bad they mess up, someone's always there to coddle them."
In terms of looks, Dong Jie was at her peak—her fresh, lily-like aura had made her the dream girl of countless young guys.
Sure, she was shorter than Yuffie, but on camera, where it's all about the face, they were neck and neck. Maybe she even had a slight edge over Yuffie, who hadn't fully blossomed yet.
But the more Dong Jie recognized her own beauty, the angrier she got.
Why hadn't she stumbled into an opportunity like that? And here was this annoying girl, acting like she couldn't care less about it. Infuriating!
The "opportunity" Dong Jie was referring to was Fei Yang, the guy relentlessly pursuing Yuffie.
We're talking about a young heir from a family on the Hurun Rich List, and she was brushing him off?
Hooking up with a guy like that could save you years of hustling.
If she had that chance, she wouldn't have to kiss up to anyone or beg for scraps anymore. She'd be picking and choosing starring roles in big-budget films.
The more Dong Jie thought about it, the madder she got. She added, "I wonder if she'll regret it when she realizes what she's thrown away."
Yuffie stood up from her chair.
"Don't stoop to her level. There's no point in arguing," Wang Bozhao said, trying to calm her down.
Wang played Bai Xiuzhu's brother, Bai Xiongqi, in the show, so he and Yuffie were pretty close.
Fun fact: he also played the Little White Dragon in Journey to the West. With a mustache in this role, most people didn't even recognize him.
"Don't worry, I'm just going to talk to the director," Yuffie said with a nod, heading toward him.
Director Li Dawei was mentally mapping out the next scene when Yuffie approached. He looked up instinctively. "What's up?"
Li Dawei didn't have strong feelings about Yuffie one way or the other, but he definitely wasn't giving her special treatment.
As for her high-profile suitor? He'd deal with that if they actually got together. For now, it wasn't worth thinking about.
"Director, just a heads-up—my boyfriend might stop by the set later," Yuffie said.
"Alright, just don't let it mess with filming," Li Dawei replied with a nod.
Set visits were normal, and as long as they didn't disrupt the shoot, he wasn't going to be a jerk about it.
But he couldn't help being curious. Yuffie had a boyfriend? Did that mean Fei Yang was out of the picture?
If she wasn't into that guy, what kind of boyfriend did she pick?
Hearing this, Dong Jie couldn't resist jumping in. "You've got a boyfriend? Since when?"
Her first thought: Is there someone even better than Fei Yang? I'd better watch my step—crossing her might not be smart.
Yuffie smiled. "A friend from when I was studying in New York. We've known each other since we were kids."
Dong Jie's heart leapt with glee. She ditched a watermelon for a sesame seed!
Still, she couldn't resist another dig. "Young love, huh? So unreliable. Blinded by so-called 'love.' I feel bad for Fei Yang. You'll regret this someday."
Yuffie just shook her head with a faint smile. "No regrets. There's no one better than him in my eyes."
"Hmph! Keep talking tough. Let's see if you're still saying that in a few years," Dong Jie scoffed.
The news that Yuffie had a boyfriend—and that he was coming to visit—set the rest of the cast buzzing.
"Man, when Fei Yang showed up, I knew I didn't stand a chance. But hearing she's got a boyfriend? Still stings a bit."
"Childhood sweethearts? That's kinda sweet. If they make it to the end, that's like, the ultimate love story."
"But passing on Fei Yang? That's gotta hurt. A guy with his looks and money? You can't find many like him in the whole country."
Shu Chang, who played the Jin family's eighth sister, sidled up to Yuffie and threw an arm around her. "You got a boyfriend and didn't tell me? What's the deal?"
A former child star, Shu Chang was around Yuffie's age and had a bubbly, outgoing personality, so they'd naturally become friends.
Now, hearing her friend had been hiding a boyfriend, she was instantly curious.
"We were just in that 'talking' phase before. It only got official recently," Yuffie explained.
"What's he like? Tall? Hot?" Shu Chang pressed.
"Pretty tall, about 6'2". Looks-wise… maybe on my level?" Yuffie said with a grin.
"Are you serious? That's not even human talk! I'm jealous!" Shu Chang teased, pretending to pout.
"I'll introduce you when he gets here," Yuffie said, laughing.
"When's he coming?"
"Any minute now."
Just then, a voice called from outside: "Is this the Jinfen Family set?"
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American TV Series: Young Sheldon mike edition