"Boss, your phone is ringing."

Qu Yanting sat in the front passenger seat, wearing an Italian linen shirt. The sunlight turned the oatmeal-colored shirt to a creamy shade. The sleeves were rolled up twice, revealing a brown antique watch on his wrist.

With a slight turn of his head, Qu Yanting's face was reflected in the side mirror. His complexion was fair, and his slightly long hair was styled with gel, revealing a clean forehead and neat eyebrows. A pair of square sunglasses rested on the bridge of his nose. Half of his face was hidden beneath the lenses, his expression unreadable.

The phone kept ringing. The assistant driving, Yu Nan, reminded him again, "Boss, aren't you going to answer it?"

Qu Yanting finally reacted, raising his hand. The ringing and vibrating phone was held between his fingers. The caller ID showed "Ren Shu." The pad of Qu Yanting's thumb paused on the screen for three or four seconds before swiping the call button.

Yu Nan sighed silently, thinking to himself: 'What a hassle.'

As soon as the call connected, Ren Shu's voice came through the phone. It was strong and resonant, sounding like a cheerful old fellow. "Hello? Yanting, it's me. Have you set off yet?"

Qu Yanting's back lifted from the seat. His other hand, which had been loosely clasped, relaxed and rested on his thigh, rubbing a crease on his trousers back and forth. He glanced at the road sign outside the window and replied, "We're almost at the airport."

Ren Shu said happily, "Alright, I'll send a car to the airport to pick you up. Do you want to go directly to the hotel or come to the set first?"

Qu Yanting asked, "Where are you?"

Ren Shu replied, "I'm shooting on location today. If you come to the set, I'll wrap up early to await your grand arrival."

Qu Yanting said, "Don't delay your work. I'll go to the hotel."

"That works too. You can go back to the hotel and rest for a couple of hours, and we'll meet tonight." Ren Shu calculated the time. "We have to eat hot pot tonight, right? I'll book a table in advance."

After a few sentences, Qu Yanting's straight back slowly relaxed, and he leaned against the seat again. His tone also lightened a bit. "Okay, I'll wait for you to finish work. See you tonight."

The car entered the road in front of the airport terminal and pulled over to the side, turning off the engine.

After hanging up, Qu Yanting undid his seatbelt and instructed, "Later, notify the hotel you booked. Stock the fridge full of black coffee, canned is fine."

Yu Nan had been with Qu Yanting for seven years, serving as his assistant since the very beginning when Qu Yanting's "Zhishang Yanyun Studio" was founded. He knew all of Qu Yanting's habits and said, "I've already notified them. Boss, make sure you rest well. Don't stay up too late."

Qu Yanting let it go in one ear and out the other, wondering if it was the low or high season for tourism. Were there many tourists? He disliked encountering a lot of people at hotels.

"The room is 6206, a suite on the top floor. There aren't many rooms on that floor, so don't worry," Yu Nan answered proactively. "I wasn't sure what day you'd be back, so I booked it for a week first."

Qu Yanting wasn't sure either; the length of the work depended on whether things went smoothly. He tossed his house keys onto the center console and said, "Help me feed the cat and water the plants. The house might be a bit messy."

Despite being his assistant for many years, Yu Nan had been to Qu Yanting's residence a very limited number of times, unless Qu Yanting was away on a long business trip. He picked up the keys and said, "Then I'll help tidy up."

"No need." Qu Yanting wasn't being polite. "I like it messy."

Yu Nan nodded awkwardly. His phone received an email containing care instructions for over a dozen types of plants and notes on feeding the cat.

"Got it?" Qu Yanting put his phone away. "Same old rules: email me if anything comes up, send fewer messages, and only call me if it's a matter of great urgency."

Yu Nan knew Qu Yanting's habits like the back of his hand, but he still couldn't help but complain internally. 'If I call you for a matter of great urgency, by the time you answer, I'd probably have third-degree burns.'

Qu Yanting glanced at his watch. It was time to go. He gave one last instruction, "Pick out a gift and send it to Group Leader Zhang who reviews the film. The budget is under one hundred thousand. He'll know what it means."

Yu Nan assured him, "I've got it. Don't worry, Boss."

Qu Yanting entered the airport just in time. His suitcase was checked in, and he only carried a black H Brand Phantom bag, which held the scripts he needed to read during the flight.

After passing through security, there was no time to wait at the gate. He was almost the last passenger to board the cabin.

Qu Yanting enjoyed the process of flying. He could justifiably turn off his phone in broad daylight without worrying about sudden text messages or calls. The moment the screen went black brought him a sense of peace and relaxation.

The plane taxied and took off.

The city shrank to resemble an integrated circuit, then was buried beneath the swirling clouds.

Inside the quiet first-class cabin, some were reading, some were listening to music. Qu Yanting was focused on a script, a pen between his fingers, occasionally making notes and revisions.

Everyone was doing their own thing. No one noticed that at this very moment, in this enclosed cabin—sat a celebrity.

The flight attendants walking back and forth also didn't fucking notice.

In a window seat, Lu Wen was dozing off with his head tilted back. The script covering his face gradually tilted with the plane's turbulence, sliding down his right cheek onto his shoulder.

Lu Wen's agent sat next to him. He had a buzz cut, black-framed glasses, and a Nike outfit cobbled together at great expense. He reached over the partition, picked up the script, rolled it into a tube, and tapped Lu Wen's shoulder.

Lu Wen jolted awake, straightening his neck.

He wore no sunglasses or mask, and no makeup. His face was bare and clean—wheat-colored skin, prominent brow bones, a high-bridged nose, and a smooth, three-dimensional profile that was full of manliness. But his eyes threw a wrench in the works; the corners were soft rather than sharp, and the silkworms beneath his eyes were full, adding a bit of innocent boyishness to his masculine face.

Not long ago, he had wrapped up filming for a period drama. The hairpiece had torn at his sideburns, leaving them red and irritated like a small wound. Anyone who didn't know better would think he'd gotten into a fight.

Sun Xiaojian said, "We're joining the production crew this afternoon. I can't believe you can still sleep."

Lu Wen rubbed his eyes. "I'm joining a crew, not going to prison. Why wouldn't I be able to sleep?"

Sun Xiaojian turned sideways and leaned on the partition, whispering, "How can this time be the same as before? This time, you're the male lead. If this were prison, you'd be a felon serving a heavy sentence."

Lu Wen also twisted around, leaning on the partition to face Sun Xiaojian, a hint of joy in his eyes. "That's why I'm sleepy. I was so excited last night I barely slept."

Just then, a flight attendant passed by and gently reminded them, "Sir, please remain seated."

In the entertainment industry, the first-tier were big shots, and the second-tier were also very glamorous. The third-tier were worth a bit less, but they were still considered to have names for themselves. The fourth-tier called their "inability to get popular" being low-key. The fifth, sixth, and seventh-tiers, even though they were at the bottom, could still scrape together a group of fans. The eighth-tier were best off buying their own followers to maintain some dignity.

Those who wouldn't be recognized even if you met them face to face were uniformly referred to as the eighteenth-tier.

As an eighteenth-tier minor actor, Lu Wen had appeared in four or five TV dramas, each time as a minor supporting role, male number five and beyond. His part would end before he could even become a familiar face.

A year and a half into his career, he had no fans clamoring for him, no large team managing everything, only Sun Xiaojian, a workplace rookie with zero experience and zero connections, acting as both his agent and assistant.

However, Sun Xiaojian was extremely dedicated, diligently attending to his every need like a parent accompanying a high school senior. Most importantly, he was full of hope for Lu Wen, firmly believing that Lu Wen would one day become a huge star, a dazzling morning star in the entertainment industry.

The plane's wings brushed past the misty clouds. After a three-hour flight, this yet-to-be-consecrated morning star circled over the southwest region and slowly landed in the Mountain City of Chongqing.

Passengers disembarked one after another. Lu Wen stood up, his height of 188cm making him stand out like a crane among chickens.

He unfolded a long trench coat and put it on. He was one of the few who could pull it off; if it were Sun Xiaojian, it would probably drag on the floor. Underneath was a simple T-shirt paired with Chinos and a pair of canvas shoes on his feet.

After disembarking, Lu Wen strode ahead with his long legs, leaving Sun Xiaojian far behind. He walked straight to the terminal building and stopped, standing amidst the bustling crowd.

Sun Xiaojian caught up and said, "I just contacted the production assistant. He said a car is coming to pick us up and will send me the license plate number soon."

This was the norm for an eighteenth-tier actor. At Jiangbei Airport, one of the top-ranked airports in the country, there were no fans chasing him, no passersby asking for photos, no airport fashion pictures, and not even an advance reception from the production crew. They were even being left to wait for a moment.

Lu Wen couldn't sit still. "Let's go wait outside then. The crew's car will have a sign anyway, it'll be easy to find."

There were quite a few cars parked outside. The two of them strolled along the white line, one after the other. Based on past experience, it would most likely be an MPV. With particularly poor crews, they had even ridden in a beat-up van.

Lu Wen scanned the row of cars. When he saw one up ahead, he stopped dead in his tracks.

Sun Xiaojian peeked out from behind him, followed Lu Wen's gaze, and pushed up his glasses in disbelief after getting a clear look. "...Damn."

A ninety-percent new Porsche Cayenne, freshly washed and maintained. The lines of its body had a faint gleam, and its windows were more reflective than a mirror. In the driver's seat sat a big brother in a shirt and tie, with proper features.

Lu Wen had been to many production sets, but this was the first time he had ever received such treatment. He said, lacking confidence, "There must be a mistake, right?"

Sun Xiaojian jutted his chin towards the windshield. In the bottom left corner, there was a sign with the words: The First Night production crew, A1.

For organizational purposes, every car in a production crew is numbered. A1 was the highest tier. With it written in black and white, there shouldn't be a mistake. Lu Wen gained a bit more confidence and said gleefully, "Did I get famous during those three hours on the plane?"

Sun Xiaojian was always good with sweet words. "Do you have to be famous to ride in it? You're not an extra."

Give Lu Wen a little sunshine and he'll shine brightly. He nodded. "Right, I'm the male lead this time, the soul of the entire show. A soul should have the status of a soul."

Sun Xiaojian, ever so perceptive, stepped forward and pulled open the car door. The interior was lined with brand new carpets, the leather upholstery exquisite and beautiful. On each seat rested a Sichuan Embroidery cushion. As they got closer, they could smell a faint, fragrant aroma.

Lu Wen coolly swung open his trench coat, lifted his leg into the car, and settled into the sofa-like seat in one smooth motion.

The driver was startled. He half-turned his body and looked in surprise at the sudden appearance of Lu Wen and Sun Xiaojian, staring for a good four or five seconds.

Lu Wen extended a hand, snapped his fingers in the air, and said, "Master, did my handsomeness stun you?"

The driver came back to his senses and greeted them hesitantly, "Are you... going to the set?"

"Yeah, we just got off the plane," Sun Xiaojian said. "Don't just stand there, give us a hand with the luggage."

The driver got out to help, sizing them up as he lifted the suitcases. He couldn't help but confirm again, "You're going to The First Night production set?"

"How could that be wrong?" Sun Xiaojian said. "The production assistant is pretty unreliable. You were already here, but he didn't send the license plate number earlier. Good thing this car is conspicuous."

Lu Wen felt thirsty. He twisted open a bottle of Perrier that had been prepared in the car and handed Sun Xiaojian a can of coke. He took a sip and asked, "Master, how long will it take to get to the set?"

The driver replied, "About... an hour and a half."

Lu Wen frowned. He felt this driver was very wishy-washy, hemming and hawing with every sentence. At home, he had two drivers, one old and one young, who always abided by three principles: answer precisely, act quickly, and drive steadily.

It was getting late. He said, "Alright, let's go then."

The driver didn't move. Instead, he looked towards the terminal, finally voicing his confusion, "Director Liu went in to pick you up. You didn't see him?"

Outside the arrivals gate, a well-dressed middle-aged man had been waiting for a long time. His surname was Liu, and he was the production director for The First Night.

The VIP channel was becoming quiet. Qu Yanting had been the last to board before takeoff and was almost the last to deplane upon landing. He knew someone was waiting for him, but the closer he got to the exit, the more his pace uncontrollably slowed.

Director Liu spotted Qu Yanting's figure with his sharp eyes, immediately waving a hand and calling out enthusiastically, "Screenwriter Qu, it's been a while since we've seen each other!"

Qu Yanting heard the voice, and his hand gripping the luggage handle tightened. As he walked gracefully closer, he shook the other party's outstretched hand and said, "Long time no see. I didn't expect you to trouble yourself to pick me up."

"Don't mention it," Director Liu said with a smile. "The car is just outside. We'll take you to the hotel to rest first."