Bursting Tomato 19

In Night City these days, whether people were fighting on all fronts or holed up in a room, the mundane, lively atmosphere felt like it belonged to a different era.

Yan Xianchuan mixed her dipping sauce and grabbed a plate of seedless watermelon. On her way back, she passed the next table, where a few servers were pushing a cart with a birthday cake. They wore little colored lights on their heads and held up signs, all singing the birthday song together.

The birthday girl was a mixed-race little girl with light golden hair tied into two braids, a small crown on her head, and she was clapping along as she sang.

Yan Xianchuan stood to the side holding two plates and waited. She let her gaze drift and fell on Lu Mingqiu, who had gone around the other way.

For everyday outings, she didn't particularly like to dress up. Her clothes were mainly casual and loose-fitting—a T-shirt, a pair of shorts, and sneakers. Only her legs were exposed, with well-proportioned muscles and fair, delicate skin, as if carved from mutton-fat jade, dazzlingly white.

She exercised year-round, with firm muscles, and she walked like a wild deer in the forest. Yan Xianchuan couldn't help but take a few glances.

She stared for so long that when she realized it, she felt it wasn't appropriate to intrude on someone's privacy, so she looked away. She noticed others were also glancing, whether intentionally or not, and she felt a surge of irritation, wanting to throw the plates she was holding at their faces.

She felt these people were truly disrespectful and didn't know how to behave—just kept staring at other people's legs. She mulled this over in her head a few times and was about to act on it when a voice interrupted her.

"Excuse me, guest? Could you please step aside?"

The server who had finished singing the birthday song needed to push the cart away, but she was blocking the way.

Yan Xianchuan snapped back to reality, grunted in displeasure, and stepped out of the way. Just then, Lu Mingqiu sat down in her seat, and the tables and chairs blocked her from view, so people naturally stopped looking.

She put down what she was carrying and tied on the black apron designed to prevent oil splatters. The server named Anna came over and brought a bucket of barley tea, saying it was refreshing and cut through the grease.

Yan Xianchuan poured herself a glass and downed it. Whether it was refreshing or not she didn't know, but when Lu Mingqiu pointed at the ice cream on the screen and asked if she wanted some, the little frustration in her heart instantly vanished.

The hotpot had four tastes: clear broth, spicy, tomato, and tom yum.

They had eaten many meals together and rolled around in blood and dirt, so naturally they wouldn't worry about the fact that, setting aside the food itself, eating hotpot was essentially an exchange of saliva.

The soup base was rich in ingredients, and the food had enough flavor even without dipping sauce.

Shrimp paste bobbed up and down in the tomato pot. Dark red duck blood was coated in dark red chili oil. When bitten into, it was tender, juicy, and scalding hot, almost enough to make one's tongue fall off.

The hotpot steamed and hissed, and voices were muffled and rowdy. Yan Xianchuan looked into the other's eyes and could still glimpse the true shadow beneath the false face.

Her drifting heart settled down and took root, sprouting at this moment.

The vanilla ice cream melting on her tongue turned into the most nourishing fertilizer, watering the tip of this newly sprouted shoot.

Lu Mingqiu was someone who couldn't stay idle. She had just given herself two days off and then had to get busy again, planning to film a movie.

To maintain her status, she needed at least one new work every year. This year's had already been filmed and would be released at the end of the year to hit the Spring Festival slot.

And now she happened to have some free time, so she might as well finish next year's quota first. The future was unpredictable, and she didn't want to be caught off guard by too many sudden events that would disrupt her plans.

Once she decided, she acted. Danyou Media was a property of the Resistance's own Spark organization, and the company had signed countless artists—so many they were like stars in the sky. Moreover, for the sake of their reputation, they only chose people with real talent, either gifted or formally trained; they were proper and beyond reproach.

If she wanted to make a movie, picking people from inside was more than sufficient.

The script was set by Lu Mingqiu herself—a small-scale film about the story of two female leads during the modern reform era, a wealthy young lady and a songstress.

Since she decided to make it, she naturally had to prioritize her needs. Hiring the director, choosing the cast, renting the location—all of it had to be in place as soon as possible.

The lead role had long been decided. It was a new-generation actor also under Danyou Media, named Wen Qiao. She had just graduated not long ago and had only one work to her name, but she was extremely talented and acted with great spirit, already having a fan base. As long as nothing went wrong, she would surely become hugely popular and successful in the future.

The northern district of Nanjin City had a film and television base specifically for shooting all kinds of works, with many buildings built in various styles as backdrops. It was called Star Building, a place that created stars.

Lu Mingqiu went to film the movie, which certainly wouldn't be finished in just a day or two. Before leaving, she specifically asked Yan Xianchuan if she wanted to come along.

In the past, she wouldn't have asked such a question. She didn't trust Yan Xianchuan and wouldn't let her out of her sight.

But after the mission in Night City, she had gained a new understanding of her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have let her return alone to the branch base for training; she would have kept a close eye on her personally.

But now, by asking this question, her implicit meaning was to indicate that if Yan Xianchuan didn't want to go, she could refuse.

After she asked, Yan Xianchuan gave her a puzzled look. "Didn't you say I should stick to you like glue? I've already packed my bags."

She had specially bought a large suitcase to hold her clothes and household items, and it was now packed to the brim, like a fat radish.

Lu Mingqiu didn't say anything more, just nodded and rode with her in Su Hong's car.

When filming, there was naturally no need to disguise her face. Yan Xianchuan, delighted to finally show her real face that had been cooped up, said excitedly, "I've never seen what it's like to film a movie!"

Lu Mingqiu sat in the back with her and smiled at this. Sunlight brushed through her hair, as if giving her a halo, shining brightly.

"Live-action shooting is manageable, but for scenes that need chroma keying, actors have to perform in front of a green screen, relying entirely on their imagination. Honestly, it looks pretty funny."

"I saw a trending topic before about an actor who was so good that they made the director cry or something," Yan Xianchuan said, turning around curiously. "Is that real?"

Lu Mingqiu hesitated for a moment. "There are some directors who are more empathetic and do get drawn into the story, but it's very rare."

"How long does it take to shoot a movie?" Yan Xianchuan asked.

"If it's fast, and I finish all my scenes, it takes about half a month," Lu Mingqiu said, and as if performing a magic trick, she pulled a chilled mango mousse from a small cabinet in the car. As expected, she saw the person beside her eyes suddenly light up.

She chuckled inwardly, handed it over, and continued, "During that time, we'll stay in a hotel near the film base. A assistant will bring meals. I'll send you their contact number later. If there's anything you'd like to eat, just let them know."

"By the way," she said, looking toward the driver's seat, "did you bring your ID badge?"

Su Hong, gripping the wheel, replied, "Got it. It's in my bag."

"After we get out, put on your badge too and don't take it off casually. If you do, the staff will mistake you for a tourist who wandered in and kick you out." Lu Mingqiu reminded her. "Also, the film base isn't just our crew; other people are shooting there too. If you want to watch, you can go ask, but you can only watch—no recording. If you record, you could get sued."

Yan Xianchuan's mouth was busy, and her eyes were busy too. Her ears, though idle, couldn't multitask while eating. She grunted vague acknowledgments, clearly not listening carefully.

Lu Mingqiu had no choice but to let her be.

When they arrived at Star Building, they didn't enter through the same passage as tourists. Only after a security check were they let in.

People in this circle valued copyright and privacy highly, and it was highly profitable. Any staff allowed in had signed confidentiality agreements.

Moreover, most in the circle were omegas, and those who could afford to invest in their children's careers in this field usually had some connections at home. Few were foolish enough to leak secrets from filming.

It was hard for others to distinguish omegas from the other two genders—at least Yan Xianchuan couldn't tell them apart—but among themselves, they could spot whether someone was an alpha or an omega at a glance, which was quite fascinating.

The three of them first went to the hotel, each dragging a suitcase. Lu Mingqiu never put on the airs of a big movie queen, so she carried her own things.

The other assistants would arrive today and hadn't ridden in the same car.

Before getting out of the car, Su Hong took her badge out of her bag. While registering at the front desk, Yan Xianchuan, bored, looked down and grabbed the card hanging around her chest.

It was a small square badge with the same pattern on both sides: half of a red wing with simple lines forming a semicircle. That was Danyou Media's trademark.

"Senpai, are you filming again recently? What a workhorse."

Hearing this, Yan Xianchuan looked up. A sweet-faced young woman was approaching with a delighted look, followed by four or five assistants, each holding something.

"Oh, sorry, sorry, I didn't notice Miss Yan was here too." She shifted her gaze to meet Yan Xianchuan's and said apologetically, "I didn't expect you two to be so close that Miss Yan tags along for filming."

Yan Xianchuan swept her eyes over her, put down her badge, and had no intention of speaking.

Lu Mingqiu turned around with a smile. "Xiao Shu, aren't you filming 'The Wei Yang Palace' recently? How's it going? Shooting smoothly?"

The woman named Xiao Shu complained in a familiar tone, "Everything's fine, but the previous assistant was always a bit clumsy. Whenever I asked her to buy something, she'd get it wrong, always muddleheaded. She really couldn't do anything right."

"What about you, senpai? Didn't you just finish recording that variety show? Don't you rest?" She looked quite concerned, but apart from that first glance, she didn't even look at Yan Xianchuan. "Senpai, you look thinner."

Lu Mingqiu replied with a smile, "It's for a role, so I lost some weight. I still need to take my luggage upstairs, and it's busy here. Let's catch up some other time."

As soon as she finished speaking, the other looked disappointed. "Alright then. Take care, senpai."

Su Hong finished the registration and came over with three magnet-like cards, which she slapped onto the badges. They merged into one, and the magnetic strip seemed to be eaten by the badge, vanishing without a trace.

She still had two left, probably for the other assistants.

"Let's go," Lu Mingqiu said, and nodded at Xiao Shu before heading to the elevator.

Xiao Shu watched her retreating back for a while, then left the hotel and sent a short message to her manager.

Among the top-tier conglomerates, there was naturally no such thing as keeping one's identity secret. But one level down, one's view would be veiled by a semi-transparent gauze, and the further down, the thicker the gauze, leaving people blind and unseeing.

Xiao Shu's family background was middle-class. She was a local, and among the several omegas of the Shu family, only she had entered the entertainment industry.

The Shu family could say a few words in Nanjin City, but compared to the top families, it was the difference between an ant and an elephant.

She was a person with ideas, wanting to climb up. And as an omega, what was the most convenient and quickest way? Naturally, marriage.

Lu Mingqiu had shares in Danyou, and since no one could uncover her true identity, she must be a daughter of one of the major conglomerates. Whoever was legally married to her would also have to be of a well-matched family.

Her surname was Yan, and there happened to be a Yan family. It made one wonder.

The two shared a hotel but took two separate rooms. Wasn't that strange? Xiao Shu had sharp eyes and could tell at a glance that they had never slept together, and the so-called loving relationship the outside world talked about was fake.

There had even been rumors about a contract marriage that were quickly clarified and suppressed, but where there's smoke, there's fire. Her eyes flickered, and a plan slowly formed in her mind.

The hotel was quite luxurious, after all, it was for the big stars and important figures in the industry. Danyou Media had a dedicated floor here, not rented out to others, which was why Su Hong directly gave the two of them room cards.

The room was not small, with an impeccable minimalist style, white sheets and quilts. There were other styles of bedding in the wardrobe that could be changed by requesting the service.

But many stars who came here brought their own, not using the hotel's supplies.

Yan Xianchuan wasn't so particular. She changed into slippers, paced around the room, and had nothing to do.

But before long, Lu Mingqiu knocked on her door. Yan Xianchuan opened it and saw her wearing a sun hat, still in a simple, loose T-shirt and shorts—a very light green, like a green lotus.

"Since we have time today, let me show you around."

Yan Xianchuan naturally had no reason to refuse. The two took the elevator downstairs, stepped into the cooling air, and strolled slowly along the path.

"This is the ancient district," Lu Mingqiu said, leading her into a cluster of buildings with antique charm. Pavilions and towers were arranged tastefully, rockeries and gardens were elegant, and a vermilion gate stood wide open. They walked along a cobblestone path, skirted a few golden chrysanthemums ready to bloom, crossed a wooden corridor, and arrived at a koi pond.

The koi in the pond were plump and beautiful, their wide fins of gold and red swaying like gauze.

Yan Xianchuan stared at them and suddenly said, "Are koi tasty?"

Lu Mingqiu was taken aback, then thought seriously. She had never eaten one. "Probably not. If they were tasty, they'd probably have been put on the menu long ago. The fact that they're still kept in the pond as ornamentals suggests they're only for looking at, not eating."

"Makes sense." Yan Xianchuan stopped looking at them with such a burning gaze.

The two passed through the ancient district and came to a street that was a bit old-fashioned yet had a strange bustle. Some buildings still matched the style of the ancient district, with blue bricks and white tiles, full of classical charm, while others were multi-story buildings with dazzling neon signs bordered by rings of yellow or blue lights.

Black street lamps stood every few meters, with long bulbs hanging below, their covers a hazy yellow, presumably giving off a dim, dreamy light.

"This is the modern district, where we'll be filming tomorrow," Lu Mingqiu said, pointing to a four-story building with a sign reading 'Bailou House.' "I'm a songstress there."

"A songstress, someone who sings." Yan Xianchuan said. "I've never heard you sing."

"My singing is just average. Surely it would need post-production tuning," Lu Mingqiu admitted frankly.

Yan Xianchuan's gaze rested lightly on her soft lips. "No, you speak beautifully, so your singing can't be bad either."

The person who was inexplicably complimented laughed inexplicably, and her bright red lips curved slightly, like a little crescent moon.

"I'm not good at everything. I'm really just average, at least not as good as you." Lu Mingqiu said.

She had heard this person hum before. She didn't know what tune it was, but the melody was catchy.

Yan Xianchuan's control over pitch was like her handling of a small knife: precise and flawless.

She could sing and dance. Her balance rivaled acrobats trained from childhood to walk on tightropes. She controlled her body as if it were a precision machine.

But Yan Xianchuan was also accustomed to accommodating those around her. A person who strictly controls themselves is very frightening, so she had to act loose.

Her strides varied in length, and her smiles were diverse, but the length was her own choice, and the curve of her lips was similarly controlled.

Just as she now raised an eyebrow and flashed an expression of surprise tinged with playfulness, "I really thought you had to be good at everything."

"I'm only human, how could I be so magical?" Lu Mingqiu said with a smile, a helpless glimmer rippling in her blue eyes.

Yan Xianchuan shook her head. "You are."

There were more than just the two of them in the film base. Many crew members were walking around, and when they saw Lu Mingqiu, most let out small gasps, but none came over to disturb their stroll.

If a couple was chatting and laughing, it would be rude to suddenly go over for an autograph or a photo. Anyway, there would be plenty of opportunities later.

But the news that she was at the film base spread quickly—people on the inside did love to gossip among themselves, they just wouldn't tell outsiders.

Someone took a photo, and that photo made its rounds until it ended up in Su Hong's hands, who then sent it to Lu Mingqiu.

In the evening, when she returned, she lay alone on the bed and opened this candid shot. Under the iron-black street lamp, she was smiling into the sun, while the other person was gazing at her with a focused look. Their shadows were overlapped, stretching long.

Lu Mingqiu looked for a while and thought it was well taken, so she replied, "Use this as promotional material and release news about the new film to generate some buzz."

Su Hong acknowledged.

The next morning, after breakfast at the hotel, everyone headed to the crew's studio. The director and others were already in place, and the crew was setting up props.

A few lead actors came up and greeted Lu Mingqiu enthusiastically. They had arrived yesterday afternoon and initially wanted to meet with her first, but were told she had gone out. By the time she returned, it was already late, and visiting at that hour was inappropriate, so they all came at once today.

Yan Xianchuan didn't wait for them to crowd around; she followed Su Hong and stepped aside, found a chair, and sat behind the director.

The director knew she had connections, so he didn't stop her.

After the actors exchanged pleasantries and finished makeup, filming was about to officially start.

Actors had to read through the script thoroughly. Filming didn't follow the story's chronological order; instead, the director decided which scenes to shoot first based on what was best.

The first scene shot was the songstress going to the photography studio to retrieve her photos.

Lu Mingqiu watched for a while, then asked Su Hong for the script.

The script was well-written, and the story flowed smoothly. Yan Xianchuan read on slowly. When she got to the part where the songstress was drugged by a customer who wanted to take advantage of her, and the young lady happened to find out and rescue her, where they then, to counteract the drug's effects, went at it in the room—her gaze suddenly froze.