OSM Chapter 24: “Surprise, I’m visiting your set.”

He Zhiqiu was still a little worried about Li Yuze’s stomach, afraid that if he didn’t cook it properly, it would just hurt more as he ate.

So, he explained the recipe for the fish porridge in detail again before finally putting down his phone.

It was snowing outside the window.

The indoor temperature had dropped a few more degrees.

He Zhiqiu walked to the door of the room and turned the air conditioning up, then glanced at the calendar on the table. Early February was almost over.

The filming schedule for Pingsha was very long. Many of the actors would be on set for four to five months, and the crew would be there even longer, traveling between various locations for shooting and scenes for almost eight months.

Since being an actor doesn’t come with holidays, not many people were able to go home for the Spring Festival.

The director, who usually appeared strict, was very relaxed during the holiday. Not only did he generously treat the entire crew to a hot pot meal at a restaurant, but he also rarely said a few words of praise, complimenting the actors who usually got scolded by him.

When it came to He Zhiqiu, he raised his glass and said earnestly, “Do your best, and you’ll have a bright future.”

He Zhiqiu smiled gratefully and finished the entire glass.

His alcohol tolerance was average—he could drink a few sips of red wine, but the director was drinking white liquor, which He Zhiqiu couldn’t handle as easily.

The restaurant was noisy with the chatter of the crew, and He Zhiqiu sat among them, sometimes laughing foolishly with everyone and other times quietly staring at the bubbling hot pot, lost in thought.

He wasn’t sure how long it had been, but then the sound of joyful countdowns reached his ears. He turned his head to look at the fireworks outside the window and, just as the clock struck midnight, sent a New Year’s message to Li Yuze.

A few seconds later, Li Yuze replied.

Happy New Year.

If good times are fleeting, then the fleeting smile of the director made that short moment even more real.

The next day, the first day of the new year.

While everyone was still immersed in the previous night’s drinking, the director had already picked up the script with a stern face and entered work mode.

The scene today was filmed at the male lead’s house. The production team had rented the most famous local garden as the male lead’s mansion. However, because of the snowy, desolate weather, only indoor scenes could be shot.

Gao Kui, wrapped in a black down jacket, sat at the door of a narrow little room, holding a heater in his arms and with an electric heater beside him.

When he saw He Zhiqiu walking from a distance, he waved at him to come over and sit.

Since it was rare for them to have a scene together today, He Zhiqiu also wanted to take the opportunity to ask Gao Kui for some acting tips.

Gao Kui was open and didn’t hold back, even offering him some sunflower seeds as he talked.

He Zhiqiu politely declined.

Gao Kui stretched lazily, not eating the seeds either, and asked his assistant for a cup of hangover tea to rinse his mouth.

He had drunk a lot yesterday and still hadn’t recovered, but was forced to get back to work.

So, he complained, “Director Mu really doesn’t understand the struggles of the crew. What’s wrong with resting for one day on the first day of the New Year? Look at everyone, they’re all so tired. If he doesn’t make us shoot a few hundred takes, he’ll never know the meaning of a work-life balance.”

While listening to Gao Kui’s complaints, He Zhiqiu glanced around at the staff.

Indeed, everyone looked pretty exhausted.

Many of the actors were wrapped in thick winter clothes, sitting next to the electric heater, with their eyes closed, resting.

The usually energetic crew members were speaking in a low, drained voice.

The female lead in front of the camera still seemed somewhat energetic, but after one take, she quickly rubbed the back of her neck and yawned.

“Hangover,” Gao Kui said, “This is just a hangover.”

“Yesterday, everyone drank so much with him, but he could hold his liquor like a thousand drinks wouldn’t faze him. He should consider how much others can drink,” Gao Kui said, then asked He Zhiqiu, “How about you? Did your head hurt when you woke up this morning?”

He Zhiqiu replied, “A little.”

He didn’t drink much, so it wasn’t too bad.

“That’s right,” Gao Kui said. “In this industry, the only one who can drink as much as that old man is Li Yuze. No one else can outdrink him.”

Upon hearing Li Yuze’s name, He Zhiqiu visibly froze and asked, “Li Yuze… is he good at drinking?”

Gao Kui confirmed, but after finishing a sip of hangover tea, he seemed to remember something, immediately adding, “Though he does get drunk sometimes.”

He Zhiqiu didn’t focus on that part, but instead asked, “Is his stomach bad because of drinking?”

Gao Kui blinked, unsure where He Zhiqiu and Li Yuze stood in their relationship at this point. He’d been so busy with work that he hadn’t had the time to pay attention to his friend’s personal matters.

But since He Zhiqiu had asked, he decided to share what he knew.

“The last few years have been fine, but it was really bad a few years ago, especially right after he graduated from college. I heard… about certain things, and he was in a really depressed state. He got his stomach problems around that time, and that’s when he started building his tolerance for alcohol.”

Right after graduating from college?

He Zhiqiu asked, “Could I know… what caused him to be so depressed?”

Gao Kui hesitated for a moment, wondering whether or not he should tell He Zhiqiu. At the same time, he wondered what exactly happened back then that caused such a huge misunderstanding between the two.

But thinking it over, he realized that it was Li Yuze’s private matter, and it wasn’t his place to pry into it.

Just as he was about to change the subject, he noticed that the staff, who had been looking tired, were all standing up, looking towards the door in groups.

Even the director answered a phone call and shouted “cut,” allowing the female lead to take a break.

Gao Kui, always a fan of watching the excitement, asked his assistant, “Who’s here?”

The assistant, who had been scrolling through his phone, opened the work group and said excitedly, “Looks like it’s Li Yuze!”

“Huh? Why is he here?” Gao Kui asked, surprised.

Just as he was about to get up, he saw Li Yuze already walking in and saying to him, “Surprise, I’m visiting your set.”