Daddy CEO's Beloved Wife

'Click!'

'click!'

The sound of shutters coming from the cameras poured down like rain during a storm, ceaseless and omnipresent. The bustles that had started from the numerous reporters and journalists who had come to present their companies were speaking in whispers, while the casts and the production team were getting ready to start the booting ceremony.

Red fabrics were spread around the area where the boot ceremony would take place; a stage was built in the center with the back wall of it carrying the title of the movie in classic calligraphy. On the other hand, a spread of auspicious dishes were on the long table just a few steps away from the stage.

"What's happening? Why are the female lead and second lead still not here?!" Director Zhao, with his eyebrows creased in a worried manner, shot a glare at the assistants scattered before him. He looked at his wristwatch and sighed, "There's only a few minutes before we start the booting ceremony. Just what are they thinking?"

One of the assistants went forward to the director and lowered his voice as he explained: "Director Zhao, the female lead, just called and told the crew that their car was stuck in a traffic jam. It'll take them twenty minutes to arrive here. As for the second female leads..."

Letting his voice trail, the assistant bowed his head even lower. He was afraid that if he were to continue the words that he wanted to say, Director Zhao's ire might fall on him instead. And so, the assistant kept his mouth shut and let Director Zhao understand what he meant.

Director Zhao's expression darkened at the mention of the second lead of the movie. Thirty minutes ago, the second female lead had already arrived to the location where the ceremony would take place. This was a thing worthy of thousands of praises since it was quite special for an actress or an actor to come early to the filming site. 

If an actress or an actor arrived early, the crew would be happy since they could end the shooting and go home early.

However, Director Zhao couldn't even smile. His head was full of gathering dark clouds with thunder clapping above it. Just because the second female lead that was praised by the crew for being punctual was none other than Ran Xueyi, and not his niece!

Director Zhao really wanted to know what his niece was doing and where the hell was she? The crew were already here and the time for the start of the booting ceremony was about to come, even the female lead will arrive on time at least. But she, a second lead, whose role was on the verge of floating away and enthroning another, was still not around.

Taking his own phone from his pocket, Director Zhao called his sister and bellowed, "Call Qin Ling's phone! Tell her, if she doesn't arrive before the start of the ceremony then, I will take her name off from the cast list!"

Qin Ling's mother seemed to have something to say on the phone, but Director Zhao already hung up on her and kept his phone inside his pocket and completely ignored their calls.

Although Director Zhao had used the back door to let his niece, Qin Ling, in the cast list of the movie "The Great Empress' Love", this was his first time using his influence on this movie to bring in a family member. The last several times that Qin Ling did this was all done by her father, who was Director Zhao's brother-in-law.

However, that didn't mean that he wouldn't be strict towards his niece. Before the movie had even announced the production of it, Director Zhang had already decided that he wouldn't show any favors or partialness to his niece.

Yet, because of Ran Xueyi's sudden appearance at the audition, he just broke one of the principles he established upon himself. 

But now, even his niece, made him lose face!

The crew saw that Director Zhao was having trouble with his niece, the supposed second female lead in the movie, and they couldn't help but look at the closed doors of the filming studio where the rest of the actors and actresses were waiting. 

Deep inside, they already knew that Director Zhao just had lost some points in the duel for the second female lead role.

Ran Xueyi slowly came out of the dressing room, wearing a light blue hanfu1 and had her hair done with hair extensions attached to her hair to make it look much longer. The movie was set in a historical tone and so, the dresses and hair had to match to the setting. After looking at the crowd of actors, actresses, and extras at the waiting area, she walked towards a young girl in a maid's outfit.

With a smile on her face, she asked after looking at the clock against the wall: "Hello, is the ceremony still not starting?"

Mao Hualing, the third female lead, heard a euphonic voice from behind her. She looked at the person speaking to her, and nodded dazedly.

"Yes, but there seems to be trouble," answered Mao Hualing.

Ran Xueyi blinked her thick, full eyelashes and asked innocently, "What trouble?"

Mao Hualing gulped and looked around her before lowering her voice. She whispered: "Meng Chen and Qin Ling still haven't come. Meng Chen already said that she'll be here any minute. But Qin Ling... I don't know if she'll arrive on time." 

Mao Hualing paused and shut her mouth. She heard of the gossip in the movie during the audition. Of course, she knew that Ran Xueyi was here to contend against Qin Ling for the second lead role. 

Finally knowing the reason why the ceremony still hasn't begun, Ran Xueyi looked down as she contemplated in silence. Then a second later, she patted Mao Hualing's shoulder and said, "Sister Hualing, don't be too anxious. I'm sure they'll come on time. Meng Chen is not the kind of person who will make the crew wait."

This was true. Meng Chen was praised among all the crews she joined for being on time. Even when she's stranded in a traffic jam, she will find other means to come to the filming site no matter what. Even in the past, Meng Chen was always like this so Ran Xueyi was not worried.

As for Qin Ling...

Ran Xueyi secretly showed a sardonic smile. She didn't really care whether Qin Ling would arrive or not.