Chapter 138: Storm Filming Begins (1)
To ensure everyone saw it, Xuan Yushu had the operations team purchase a trending topic right after the official announcement.
A drama crew that no one had ever heard of suddenly snagged a trending spot with an official announcement, leaving netizens completely baffled.
— What is this production team? I’ve never even noticed it before. So sudden! With so few comments and likes, it must have been a bought trend, right?
— Is that really the point? The real shocker is that a completely unheard-of crew actually managed to gather the famous director Xuan Yushu and every member of The Galaxy?! With such a jaw-dropping lineup, they still had to buy a trending spot? I don’t get it. This world is too surreal. I need a moment to process this.
— Is this for real? Wait—today isn’t April Fool’s… Nope, April Fool’s is in April, and it’s January, so this must be real?!
— So it wasn’t for any of The Galaxy members’ birthdays? Damn, I guessed wrong!
As soon as the official account for Storm posted the first day of filming photos, all nine members’ studios and personal Weibo accounts started reposting them one after another.
Even though no one had heard of the Storm production team at first, the news about the start of filming for the new movie Storm quickly spread thanks to the nine members’ reposts.
In the start-of-filming photo released by the Storm team, Shen Xiu stands in the light of the morning sun, wearing a black T-shirt that reveals his arms on the top half and loose-fitting gray cargo pants cinched with a black belt on the bottom half. The pant legs are tucked into black combat boots.
The entire look is sharp and striking. Shen Xiu slightly lifts one arm, his cold gaze falling onto his own palm. Even through the photo, the chill he exudes is palpable.
— What kind of role is Boss Xiu playing this time? This look feels anything but simple. Is he a ruthless mercenary? I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but the killer aura is way too strong—especially during the incense scene. I got the feeling that he could be paying respects one second, and the next second… blood would splatter everywhere!
— So it wasn’t a planned group trip—it was a plan to film a movie together?! Shang Yu is wearing a dress shirt and slacks, Ning Sinian is in a changshan (traditional robe), and Song Chengwang and Mu Zhenchu’s outfits are similar to Boss Xiu’s. What is this film even about? I need to know the original novel of Storm in one minute!
The comment sections under the nine members’ personal and studio Weibo reposts were filled with harmony—fans were shocked, excited, and joyfully bonding.
But on the trending topic plaza, many people expressed doubts about their acting skills.
Even beneath rational and analytical comments, some haters slipped in to stir up trouble.
— Even though it’s just a few pictures and no video, everyone looks amazing, damn! But… can they actually act?
— Of course not. Didn’t you see? The entire cast of The Galaxy is in it, and the director is Xuan Yushu. Xuan Yushu’s done plenty of cash-grab commercial films for money. Isn’t it obvious? He’s teaming up with The Galaxy to sell nostalgia, ride their popularity, and milk their fans dry.
— Tsk tsk, the jealousy is real. Don’t forget—even if Xuan Yushu directs commercial films, they’re still above average. I truly believe that with Director Xuan and Boss Xiu involved, even rookies can become pros!
— Ugh, stop fighting already, it’s annoying! Jealous haters, get lost! Even if their acting isn’t great, with all nine of them in it, I’m more than happy to watch it—got a problem with that?
Ever since The Galaxy debuted, their popularity has never waned. Their solid fanbase made sure that a few haters were no match—soon, the negative comments were deleted, and the trolls disappeared.
The individual fans and group fans of the nine members went through three emotional stages: shock, arguing with haters, and then a united front to search across all major novel sites for the original Storm novel.
After searching for half an hour, the fans found nothing. In the end, they could only go to the film’s official account to ask:
— If you’ve got the guts to start filming, then hand over the original novel too!
— I’m not forcing you to release the original novel. I just want to know: what’s the name of the character my Xiu-baby is playing?
— Trying to search for the novel using the character name, huh? Xiuologists, ready to dive in!
The operations team saw the comments and contacted the assistant director, who then informed Xuan Yushu.
Only then did Xuan Yushu realize that in the official announcement, they’d completely forgotten to mention that Storm was an original screenplay written by Lu Wen.
“If it wasn’t mentioned, then leave it for now. While the public doesn’t yet know about the cast’s acting abilities, it’s best to maintain a sense of mystery.”
As the director, he had to ensure that the film’s basic box office appeal remained intact.
After replying to the assistant director, Xuan Yushu looked at the monitor in front of him with a satisfied expression. He picked up a small loudspeaker and called out, “Cut! That’s a take!”
He really enjoyed working with veteran actors who often played supporting roles—their acting was not only excellent but also professional, and most of the time, they nailed it in one take.
Hearing Xuan Yushu call “Cut,” Shang Yu’s body involuntarily tensed.
That scene was done—next up was his confrontation scene with Shen Xiu.
After deciding to take on the role of Zhou Yanlin, Shang Yu had asked a coach to give him some crash-course training. But he knew full well: teachers may say encouraging things, but the truth of his acting skills… would only be revealed by Xuan Yushu’s reaction today.
What made Shang Yu even more nervous was that his very first scene was with Shen Xiu. Even though their interaction lasted less than a minute, the pressure doubled instantly.
“Shen Xiu, Shang Yu, Song Chengwang, Mu Zhenchu, get ready!”
Upon hearing Xuan Yushu’s voice, Shen Xiu and the others immediately moved to their designated spots, just as he had instructed them earlier.
“Are you all ready?” Xuan Yushu didn’t look at Shen Xiu but turned to Song Chengwang, Shang Yu, and Mu Zhenchu.
Shang Yu leaned against the cage and raised his hand to make an “OK” gesture. Song Chengwang and Mu Zhenchu, who were standing behind Shen Xiu, did the same.
Xuan Yushu’s gaze locked onto Shang Yu, who was playing the lead role of Zhou Yanlin.
Noticing the director’s gaze, Shen Xiu felt immensely relieved that Xuan Yushu wasn’t staring at him. This was his first time acting in front of his idol, and he was already nervous—being stared at would only make it worse.
Xuan Yushu stared at Shang Yu for a few seconds, then said, “I know this is your first time playing a lead. Don’t be nervous—follow Shen Xiu’s lead, he’ll help you get into character.”
Shen Xiu: “?”
‘So much for being relieved!’
Shang Yu smiled, though it was a bit strained. “Okay.”
His acting coach had told him that good actors can pull their scene partners into the moment, but… he still feared he might not do well enough.
Xuan Yushu’s gaze moved to Mu Zhenchu, who was playing Ba Ze, Han Fei’s bodyguard. “You already look exactly like the character in the script. Just bring out the fierce energy you show on stage, and you’ll be Ba Ze.”
Mu Zhenchu: “…Got it.”
Then Xuan Yushu turned to Song Chengwang, who was playing Yi Chen, Han Fei’s personal bodyguard. “Just be more serious, and you’ll be Yi Chen.”
Song Chengwang nodded thoughtfully. “Thank you, Director Xuan. Understood.”
After giving instructions to everyone, Xuan Yushu turned toward the staff member in charge of calling the start of the scene.
Shen Xiu: “?”
Wait… nothing for me? Not getting any direct notes, Shen Xiu felt just a tiny bit disappointed.
The story begins with the second young master of the Zhou family in Yicheng, Zhou Yanlin, encountering and clashing with Han Fei, the eldest young master of the Han family, in Amara…
“Action!”
Han Fei stepped out of the tent. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a cage not far off. His steps shifted, heading in its direction.
“Mr. Han, you can’t go over there—”
“Can we now?” Ba Ze, standing behind Han Fei, pulled out a gun. The cold, dark barrel pointed straight at the man who had tried to stop Han Fei, a faint smirk playing on Ba Ze’s face.
Seeing the black muzzle aimed at him, the man swallowed hard, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. He nodded frantically. “Y-Yes, yes, of course!”
“Good boy.” Ba Ze lightly tapped the man’s face with the icy barrel of the gun.
Yi Chen cast Ba Ze a glance. “Quit messing around.”
Ba Ze immediately wiped the smirk off his face, and the two quickly followed after Han Fei.
Rustle, rustle…
Locked in a cage, Zhou Yanlin, pale and weak, leaned against the bars. Hearing the sound of footsteps brushing through the sand, he tried to open his eyes—but the blazing sunlight made it impossible.
Han Fei stood in front of the cage, looking down at the man inside—his dress shirt and slacks covered in dust, his face pale and exhausted.
The sound of footsteps on sand ceased. Even without opening his eyes, Zhou Yanlin knew someone was now standing directly in front of him.
Although he couldn’t see who it was, just the oppressive aura of the man before him—and the way the kidnappers had spoken—told Zhou Yanlin this was no ordinary figure.
Opening his eyes might provoke this person, and given he was currently kidnapped, Zhou Yanlin simply chose to keep them shut. He lay motionless, playing dead.
Maybe, if the man got bored, he’d just leave.
Han Fei’s gaze swept the man in the cage from head to toe, brows knitting slightly.
The next second, Zhou Yanlin heard a cold voice from above: “He’s a doctor.”
Zhou Yanlin: “?”
And?
The kidnapper quickly nodded. “Yes, Mr. Han, that’s correct.”
“Yi Chen.” As he spoke, Han Fei’s furrowed brows relaxed and he raised his hand.
Yi Chen, understanding him perfectly, immediately handed over a dagger and said to the kidnapper, “Open the cage.”
The kidnapper didn’t dare. Flustered, he tried to explain, “Mr. Han, the people who told us to take him said he mustn’t be—”
Before he could finish, Han Fei tilted his head slightly, his cold gaze landing on the kidnapper. A chilling voice rumbled from his throat: “Hm?”
That one emotionless syllable was enough to shut the kidnapper up instantly. He obediently opened the cage.
Zhou Yanlin: “!”
The sound of the cage opening broke his pretense. He could no longer fake it—he forced his eyes open.
The moment he opened them, all Zhou Yanlin could see was a tall man standing directly in front of him.
The man stood against the light, and the dark shadow over his face made it hard for Zhou Yanlin to tell whether it was just the backlighting—or if the man himself exuded that oppressive, violent aura. In any case, Zhou Yanlin froze for a second.
Han Fei stared coldly at the man in the cage, his brow furrowing once again. “Done pretending?”
He had a deep, equal-opportunity disdain for anyone who reeked of privilege.
Zhou Yanlin: “…”
How did he know I was pretending? He hadn’t even twitched since noticing this “Mr. Han” approaching.
Hearing the man’s icy voice, Zhou Yanlin snapped back to his senses and looked at him warily, carefully avoiding the dagger in the man’s hand.
The man in the cage remained silent, but Han Fei didn’t care. His cold gaze locked onto Zhou Yanlin and he continued, “You think if you don’t look, you won’t have to suffer?”
Zhou Yanlin tried to muster a relaxed expression and shrugged with mock helplessness. “…You’ve really got a sense of humor.”
He must be cursed! Was this man a worm living in his gut or something? How could he know exactly what Zhou Yanlin was thinking?
“I don’t like your hands,” Han Fei said, his gaze falling to Zhou Yanlin’s hands.
No matter how dirty they looked on the surface, the underlying softness—nurtured by years of privilege—was unmistakable. They didn’t belong in his world.
Zhou Yanlin offered a faint smile. “Well, my apologies for that.”
No wonder he knew I was a doctor—he was observing my hands!
Han Fei said nothing more to Zhou Yanlin. He tossed the dagger to the ground.
Ba Ze immediately kicked the kidnapper and passed on Han Fei’s order: “What are you standing around for? Chop his hands off!”
The kidnapper was stunned. As far as he knew, Han Fei was only here for business—just passing through, more or less. And now, just like that, he was demanding to hack off the hostage’s hands? Was that really okay?
If the boss came back and found the hostage maimed, he’d be dead meat either way. No matter what he did, he’d die. Desperate, the kidnapper raised his voice: “Mr. Han, he can’t die…”
Ba Ze growled, “You—”
But before he could finish, Han Fei raised his hand. Ba Ze instantly fell silent.
Han Fei’s icy gaze locked onto the kidnapper, his expression serious: “Cutting off hands and feet doesn’t count as killing. He’ll just never be able to go back to the operating table. He won’t be able to play savior of the world anymore.”
Zhou Yanlin: “…”
So that’s why he said “he’s a doctor” earlier—he was setting this up from the start!
This unprovoked malice chilled Zhou Yanlin to the bone.
Gu Xi had been right—he never should’ve come to Amara. This lawless land, soaked in blood and violence, was no place for him.
Zhou Yanlin glanced at the panicked kidnapper, who clearly didn’t know how to respond. Then, smiling brightly, he tilted his head and said, “Mr. Han, if you don’t like them, you can simply look away.”
Zhou Yanlin didn’t understand either—if the person behind this had ordered the kidnappers to abduct him, why go to the trouble of keeping him alive?
Han Fei heard Zhou Yanlin’s words and gave a slight nod. “Mm, you’re right.”
Zhou Yanlin: “?”
That easy to convince?
Even though “Mr. Han” had agreed with him, Zhou Yanlin suddenly felt uneasy.
Han Fei stopped looking at the man in the cage and turned to leave.
The next second, Zhou Yanlin’s unease came true. “Mr. Han’s” cold voice drifted to his ears.
“Yi Chen. Two bullets.”
“Yes, Mr. Han.”
Yi Chen raised his hand and, without hesitation, aimed directly at Zhou Yanlin’s heart and pulled the trigger.
In that instant when the gun was pointed at him, the smile on Zhou Yanlin’s face froze.
Bang…
The sound of the first gunshot rang out, and Zhou Yanlin fell backward in the cage, eyes wide open.
Bang…
The sound of the second gunshot followed. Before the kidnapper could say a word, he collapsed to the ground in shock.
Yi Chen put away the gun and turned to follow Han Fei.
Ba Ze climbed into the front passenger seat and, through the rearview mirror, stole a glance at Han Fei in the back seat. Grinning, he muttered, “Aiya, Yi Chen, you really are too violent!”
Yi Chen started the car without responding to Ba Ze.
The car drove off, growing smaller in the camera until it completely disappeared from the frame.
“Cut!” Director Xuan Yushu’s excited voice rang out, snapping everyone back to reality from the intense performance.
His voice came through the intercom in the car, reaching the three actors inside. Upon hearing it, Song Chengwang turned the wheel and began driving the car back.
As the car exited the frame, Shen Xiu let out a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness he didn’t have many lines in this scene—if he’d forgotten them in front of his idol, it would’ve been too humiliating!
“Scared me to death!”
Shen Xiu had just let out a breath of relief when he heard the driver, Song Chengwang, speak up: “Good thing my hands didn’t shake just now!”
Otherwise, if everyone nailed their first performance and he alone messed up, that would’ve been truly embarrassing.
Mu Zhenchu, sitting in the passenger seat, couldn’t help but chime in: “Honestly, I think this role really suits you, Old Song. Just now, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to pull off that sly, sarcastic vibe like you did—but lucky for me, I’ve seen you smirk enough times to learn it.”
Hearing that both Song Chengwang and Mu Zhenchu had been nervous too, Shen Xiu felt a bit more at ease.
As long as someone else was nervous with him, it didn’t seem quite so scary anymore.
After speaking, Mu Zhenchu and Song Chengwang exchanged a glance.
While steering the car back around, Song Chengwang asked Shen Xiu, “Be honest, Captain Xiu, were you nervous just now?”
Shen Xiu nodded. “Nervous.”
Then he felt those two syllables didn’t fully capture his anxiety and added earnestly, “Especially when I saw Director Xuan—my heart almost jumped out of my chest.”
Xuan Yushu, listening in through the intercom, couldn’t help but speak up: “…Are you serious?”
