Chapter 89: Film Emperor (9)

While Tong Jianxu was busy filming, Qian didn’t always stay in the rest area waiting for him. She would toddle off on her short little legs to explore the surroundings.

This newly built film city had some areas open to tourists, and several film crews were shooting here. There were sets like the ancient architectural complex for Moonlight of the Southern Dynasty, and others resembling Jiangnan towns or Republican-era streets.

The Moonlight of the Southern Dynasty crew was well-funded and had rented out most of the palace area for filming. A few smaller crews shared the remaining space.

With people constantly coming and going, the smaller crews didn’t have strict management like Moonlight of the Southern Dynasty—tourists could even get up close. Cheap props and costumes, casual and slack crew members, and actors in costume squatting or sitting on stone steps, playing on their phones.

Qian wore a small mask, slung a pink teddy bear water bottle over her shoulder—prepared by Tian Miao—and held a bubble gun in hand, blowing bubbles as she passed two crews.

One of them had a few child actors in costume, looking between five and ten years old.

A little boy noticed the floating bubbles and ran over to Qian, reaching up to pop them.

Qian watched him play and, once he’d popped a few, sprayed out more bubbles beside him.

Neither of them spoke, just one blowing bubbles and the other popping them—playing in silent cooperation.

Soon, two more child actors ran over to join them.

Seeing the kids having fun, Tian Miao stepped aside to take a phone call. Who would’ve thought that in just that short time, the fun would turn into a dispute?

It started when a fairly good-looking boy got tired of popping bubbles and took a liking to Qian’s bubble gun. He demanded a turn, but Qian, still having fun, refused. Spoiled and used to getting what he wanted, the boy tried to snatch it when she didn’t hand it over.

Qian was shorter and not as strong. He pried her fingers open and grabbed the gun.

Then, cocky and triumphant, the boy sprayed bubbles right at Qian’s face, laughing obnoxiously.

Tian Miao, still on the phone with Tong Jianxu, was telling him where they were when she suddenly heard a sharp scream and turned around quickly.

Qian had grabbed her teddy bear water bottle and sprayed water all over the boy’s face. His blue costume darkened from being drenched.

Of course, the one screaming was the boy. Qian ran off the moment she sprayed him.

Tian Miao hurried over and caught Qian in her arms.

“What happened? What’s wrong?”

She quickly checked to make sure Qian wasn’t hurt.

A young woman in costume rushed down the palace steps toward the soaked boy.

“What happened? I told you not to get your costume dirty! We’re about to film—this is holding everything up!”

She glanced at the ruined costume and then glared at Tian Miao. Without any courtesy, she snapped, “Our crew is filming here. Who let you in? Don’t you know tourists aren’t allowed near the set?”

Most tourists wouldn’t dare argue with crew members. Even a low-level actress carried a certain authority on her home turf.

She raised her eyebrows, demanding, “Is this your kid? Can’t you watch her properly? She ruined my nephew’s costume—how are we supposed to keep filming? Do you know how much it costs to delay a shoot?”

But Tian Miao had seen enough of the world to spot bluster when she saw it.

Big deal. Even her boss, a film emperor, didn’t act this cocky.

She gently patted Qian’s shoulder to comfort her and coldly sneered.

“Tourists aren’t allowed near? Your crew only rented that palace over there. This part isn’t your territory—who are you trying to scare? And your nephew? He’s still holding our kid’s toy. What kind of boy snatches a little girl’s toy—doesn’t he feel embarrassed?”

“Give back our bubble gun.”

Seeing the crew name didn’t intimidate her, the young woman rolled her eyes and reached for the bubble gun. The boy didn’t want to let go, but she forcibly took it from him—and then, while he whined and cried, flung it far away.

It hit the ground with a shattering noise.

“Here. Go fetch it yourself.”

She turned and snapped at the boy, “What are you crying for? All you do is cause trouble. Now how are we going to shoot this scene?”

The broken bubble gun slid across the ground and stopped in front of a pair of boots.

Tong Jianxu bent down and picked up the shattered toy.

Still in costume, he looked toward the child clinging to the assistant’s leg.

“What happened?”

The moment Qian saw him, her eyes turned red, and she began to sob miserably.

Tian Miao handed her over, and Tong Jianxu gently patted her back, coaxing her in a soft voice, “Don’t cry, don’t cry. Daddy will buy you a whole box of bubble guns.”

Qian clutched his long hair and wailed so hard his brow furrowed.

Normally, his frown had a pitiful charm to it—but now, with lingering traces of the Prince Li Lingshu character, it held a natural air of authority.

The young woman had been stunned the moment she saw him walk over. Now, anxiety crept onto her face.

Anyone aiming to become an actor or star would recognize Film Emperor Tong.

She hadn’t paid attention to the child’s masked face, but now she remembered a recent viral Weibo post—and panic hit. That boy who bullied the little girl… could he have messed with Tong Jianxu’s daughter?

If she offended the Film Emperor, how would she keep acting?

Thinking she still had a chance, she pulled a pitiful face and dragged her nephew forward.

“Mr. Tong, I’m so sorry, really, truly sorry. Kids just had a little spat—my nephew was being naughty and accidentally broke the toy.”

Tong Jianxu finally glanced at her and even gave a polite smile. But he didn’t listen to her apology—too busy soothing his daughter as he walked away with her in his arms.

Although she didn’t get to talk to the Film Emperor, since he still smiled at her, it probably meant there wouldn’t be any trouble.

The young woman watched them leave, feeling both regretful and relieved. If only she had gotten along with the kid earlier, maybe she wouldn’t be stuck in a minor role in this tiny production.

Holding his daughter, Tong Jianxu walked forward while listening to Tian Miao recount what had just happened.

He didn’t show much of a reaction, simply patting the child’s back and lightly asking, “What production is that over there?”

Tian Miao understood what he meant immediately and quickly said, “I’ll go check it out later.”

There are plenty of people in the entertainment industry who get arrogant before they’re even famous—and plenty of cases where entire roles get cut during editing.

Tong Jianxu didn’t say anything more, but he started thinking about something else.

The kid was always hanging around the set, surrounded by adults. Maybe she really wanted a playmate her own age?

A couple of days later, during a break, Tong Jianxu brought his daughter over to a nearby production set.

That set was also filming a historical drama. Tong Jianxu greeted the director and crew—people he had worked with before—and they exchanged some pleasantries.

Before long, a little boy wearing a headpiece and child-sized costume was brought over by his mother-slash-agent.

The boy was named Chu Yizhao, and funnily enough, he had once played Tong Jianxu’s son.

He had been well raised and didn’t have the usual unruly attitude of boys his age. Tong Jianxu had specifically brought his daughter here to find her a little friend.

It just so happened that the two sets were close together. If Qian liked him, they could play together often.

“Yizhao, take little sister to play, but you can’t bully her, okay?” his agent-mom said with a smile.

The little boy answered brightly and took Qian’s hand to lead her off to play.

Chu Yizhao gave Qian a tour of his filming area, showed her his little bow and sword, and even performed a set of punches for her on the spot.

He had once played a little Shaolin monk when he was younger.

Qian clapped earnestly and even shared her bubble gun with him.

Tong Jianxu brought his daughter over a couple of times to hang out, and soon, whenever Chu Yizhao wasn’t filming, he’d come over to the Moonlight of the Southern Dynasty set to play with Qian.

After finishing his scenes, Tong the Film Emperor would watch the two kids huddled together playing games. Later he’d see them run off together. Even the newly bought mini-digger toy truck had no room left for him.

Alone on his reclining chair, the Film Emperor experienced the bittersweetness of an empty-nester.

A month went by like this. The other production was about to wrap up, and Chu Yizhao came over sadly to ask for a phone number, saying he wanted to visit Qian at Tong Jianxu’s home next time.

His agent-mom teased with a big smile, “My Yizhao really likes his little sister. He’s been going on and on about her lately, even said he wants to marry her when they grow up!”

Tong Jianxu: “……”

The smile he managed to show at that moment was purely out of politeness.

Once the boy and his mom left, his expression changed completely.

That Chu Yizhao kid who used to seem kind of cute? Thinking back, not really. Dark and skinny. No way he’d grow up to be good-looking.

“Qian, what do you think of Chu Yizhao? Do you like him?” Tong Jianxu asked his daughter.

Qian was busy playing a game and feeding ducks, so she just nodded casually.

Tong Jianxu immediately turned her tiny body toward him. “Daddy won’t allow it!”

“If Qian gets married, Daddy will definitely cry.”

Qian looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes.

Tong Jianxu pulled her into his lap, speaking with great seriousness: “You mustn’t date too young, and definitely don’t get married too early. Thirty is okay—no, forty is even better!”

Learning a lesson from this little incident, the Film Emperor took Qian to visit another production set.

This one was a small crew filming a kids’ show—something like Magical Girl Fairy—with all-girl child actors.

Seeing his daughter playing happily with a bunch of colorful little girls and completely forgetting about her former buddy Chu Yizhao, Tong Jianxu nodded in satisfaction.

Wants to marry his daughter? Don’t even think about contacting her again.

After two days at the Magical Girl set, the director approached the Film Emperor and asked if Qian could appear in the show. They could even add a new role just for her.

Tong Jianxu politely declined.

He just wanted his daughter to have fun, not to work. Especially not at her age—filming isn’t as fun as it looks.

Three months passed on set, and they were given a three-day break.

The S City Film Festival had begun. Director Fang’s movie had been nominated for Best Picture and had a strong chance of winning. He had to go prepare for the award ceremony.

Coincidentally, a movie starring Tong Jianxu had also been nominated, including a nomination for Best Actor.

So, both the director and the lead actor returned to S City.

The Golden Carp Awards were one of the four major film awards in the country. While not quite as prestigious as the other three, they were still a noteworthy achievement.

As expected, Tong Jianxu won. Director Fang also took home an award. The Moonlight of the Southern Dynasty crew returned triumphant.

The Film Emperor, looking serene and modest on the award stage, stepped down and handed his shiny trophy to his adorable daughter.

“Look, Daddy won an award. Impressive, huh?”

He’d won many awards before, even the most prestigious ones, but had never looked this proud.

“So impressive!” the child said, hugging the heavy, golden trophy.

Tong Jianxu leaned in with a smile. “Then give Daddy a kiss as a reward!”

The child leaned in and gave him a loud smooch on the cheek.

Tong Jianxu lifted his daughter high, as if hoisting his trophy.

“Daddy’s taking you out for a big celebration dinner. Let’s go eat some giant shrimp at the Cloud Restaurant, okay?”

“Okay!”