Jinling Film City, Azure Coast.
The Azure Coast was a truly unique scenic site within Jinling Film City. Its centerpiece was a vast man-made lake spanning over ten thousand mu (approx. 1,600 acres). On its southern shore, over 500 meters of artificial beach had been laid down, complete with planted vegetation and carefully arranged reef rocks, forming a lifelike, natural coastline.
It was said that all the sand was sourced from the seaside, then washed clean until it became fine, white, and beautiful, mixed with plenty of broken seashells. Under the sunlight, it sparkled like scattered diamonds, making it one of the most popular attractions in the entire film city.
Additionally, the Azure Coast was a frequent shooting location for major film crews. After filming on site and a bit of post-production, the scenery was so realistic that it could easily pass for the real thing, saving significant costs.
The final scenes of 'Autumn in My Heart' were filmed right here at the Azure Coast.
It was already dusk. The setting sun cast long shadows across the empty beach, where a solitary wheelchair sat abandoned.
A trail of footprints stretched out from the wheelchair, leading off into the distance.
Lu Chen was carrying Chen Fei'er on his back, walking forward step by step. Each step was heavy, slow, and filled with effort.
Dressed in a hospital gown, Chen Fei'er had her eyes closed and face resting gently against Lu Chen's shoulder. Her long hair was in disarray, and her complexion was deathly pale. She was silent, utterly lifeless.
Lu Chen, as if oblivious, kept walking into the setting sun. His handsome, resolute face was overwhelmed by a grief so thick it could not be dispersed. In his dark eyes was a sorrow that cut to the bone.
That feeling of helplessness, so deep, so visceral, soaked into the blood, the soul, and the heart, and slid slowly down his cheeks in the form of tears, falling quietly onto the sand.
"Enxi… did you know?"
"I love you."
"I love you."
"I love you so, so much!"
It was a dazed, heartbroken murmur, a confession to the person he loved most, now forever gone.
But she would never hear those words again. That kind of sorrow defied description. It pierced the heart, engraved itself into the soul, and would never fade, not in this lifetime. The film crew, deeply moved by the scene, worked silently. No one showed any of the usual excitement or joy that came with wrapping up a shoot.
Director Fang Hui stared at the monitor for a long time, wordless.
This wasn't her first time directing a TV drama. She had worked with all sorts of actors, but never had she seen a newcomer as outstanding as Lu Chen. He seemed born to act, instinctive and natural, as if it required no effort.
From the very first day of shooting, Lu Chen's performance had been shockingly consistent. His portrayal of the character was flawless, his emotional delivery impeccable, no worse than any veteran actor.
Fang Hui had always struggled to understand: how could someone like Lu Chen, who had never studied acting or appeared in a film before, achieve this level of performance? Was this what people meant by innate genius?
It was said that some people were born actors. They could slip into character within seconds, cry or laugh on cue, memorize lines after a few reads, and almost never needed retakes.
Fang Hui had never worked with such a powerhouse before, but now she was sure: Lu Chen was exactly that kind of actor.
As a director, working with him felt like a dream.
When she first agreed to direct 'Autumn in My Heart', it was purely because the script had moved her emotionally. She hadn't expected this angsty love story to boost her career or status in the industry.
She had figured that as long as the show didn't lose money, it would be worth her directing fee. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect 'Autumn in My Heart' to blow up, to become a massive hit!
In just one month, Fang Hui became one of the most sought-after rising TV drama directors in the industry. Through her agent and direct calls, she had already received dozens of offers to direct new projects.
Fang Hui had turned them all down.
Because she knew very clearly that the success of 'Autumn in My Heart' wasn't primarily due to her directing. Without a great script and outstanding actors, even the most talented director couldn't make magic out of nothing.
And normally, a script this good, and actors like Lu Chen, would be far out of her reach.
It was Lu Chen who had given her the chance to shine.
That's why Fang Hui wanted to work with him again. She already knew that Lu Chen was preparing to shoot a new drama next year.
And she very much hoped she could be the one to direct it.
When that time came, everything would be different. Just investment alone, people would be lining up with their wallets out.
With ample funding, production quality would naturally improve. Fang Hui still had a lot of regrets about 'Autumn in My Heart'. She felt that many parts hadn't been as perfect as they could have been.
"Director."
A voice in her ear snapped Fang Hui out of her daze. The monitor showed a scene that made her realize, she had spaced out at such a critical moment.
Lu Chen was nearly at the end of the beach, still carrying Chen Fei'er on his back.
But it didn't matter now.
"Cut!"
Fang Hui shouted, "That's a wrap!"
She stood up with a joyful smile. "I officially declare: 'Autumn in My Heart' has wrapped filming!"
Wrap complete!
On set, the crew burst into cheers. Some people even hugged each other in celebration.
It was done. The shoot was finished. They could finally, finally, relax.
On the nearby beach, Lu Chen gently set Chen Fei'er down and turned to the cameraman and assistant who had been following him with a fill light. Giving them a thumbs-up, he smiled and said, "Nice work, everyone. Dinner's on me tonight!"
The cameraman and assistants all laughed. One of them said, "Thank you, Brother Lu."
Throughout the two-month filming period, the 'Autumn in My Heart' production crew had always maintained a great working atmosphere, no petty rivalries or toxic infighting. Everyone had been working toward the same goal, which ensured the project wrapped up smoothly.
Leaving aside the other actors, Chen Fei'er was a Heavenly Queen of the music industry, and Lu Chen was not only a musical prodigy but also the creator, male lead, and investor of the TV drama. Within the crew, his status was actually higher than even the director's.
Yet both Lu Chen and Chen Fei'er had always treated the crew with kindness. Neither ever acted like a diva or put on airs. They were polite, respectful, and approachable. Everyone has their own inner scale; people can tell who's genuine and who's not. When it came to these two stars, the entire crew held them in high regard and deep respect.
While the camera team and crew packed up their equipment, Lu Chen and Chen Fei'er didn't rush to leave. Instead, the two of them strolled side by side down the beach, retracing the deep footprints they had left earlier.
With 'Autumn in My Heart' now wrapped, both of them were feeling quite emotional.
Chen Fei'er's assistant had initially run over to meet her, but upon seeing this quiet moment, she tactfully stepped back.
As they walked, Chen Fei'er brushed aside her disheveled hair and suddenly asked, "Do I look awful right now?"
Her makeup made her appear sickly, pale lips with no hint of color, looking particularly fragile and gaunt.
Lu Chen smiled. "You look beautiful no matter what."
"You really know how to sweet-talk me."
Chen Fei'er rolled her eyes at him, but the corners of her mouth curved up slightly, revealing the sweetness in her heart.
But just as the smile bloomed, her eyes flickered with a trace of fear. She bit her lip and said, "Just now... when I heard you saying those lines, I felt like I was really about to leave you forever."
Lu Chen sensed the shift in her emotions. He understood that she hadn't fully stepped out of character yet, so he reached out and took her hand. "As long as you want me to, I'll stay by your side forever."
Lu Chen wasn't the type of playboy who excelled at charming women with sweet words, but this simple sentence struck directly at Chen Fei'er's heart, instantly dispelling her unease and lingering sorrow.
If there weren't so many people around, she probably would've thrown herself into his arms and given him a passionate kiss right then and there.
A sweet, warm atmosphere flowed between the two of them.
Chen Fei'er asked, "Now that filming is over, what are you planning to do next?"
Lu Chen thought for a moment. "The New Year's coming soon, I want to take a few days off and relax."
Chen Fei'er gave him a look. "Dream on. The days before the New Year are the busiest. You're not thinking of skipping all your appearances, are you?"
Lu Chen had no comeback for that.
Being a celebrity really did mean you weren't fully in control of your own time. Even if you had your own studio and called your own shots, you still couldn't act recklessly, unless you didn't care about your future anymore.
For instance, Lu Chen usually avoided chaotic, low-quality variety show invites. But he did have two endorsement deals and was contractually obligated to cooperate with the sponsors' promotions. And if major networks like Capital City TV invited him to a program, it would be disrespectful not to attend.
Chen Fei'er said, "After the New Year, I'm planning to release a new album. You'll need to make time to help me."
Her new album had originally been scheduled for release before the New Year. But filming 'Autumn in My Heart' had caused delays, and fans were already growing impatient.
Chen Fei'er had sacrificed a lot for this drama. She had even planned a solo concert in the Capital City, which now had to be pushed to next year. As for all the other appearances and activities she had turned down, there were too many to count.
Not that she cared about the financial loss. 'Autumn in My Heart' had been well worth it. But she still needed to calm her fans; she couldn't afford to delay the album again.
Lu Chen smiled. "And what do I get in return?"
Chen Fei'er immediately caught the teasing tone in his voice and eyed him warily. "What kind of reward are you thinking of?"
Lu Chen grinned and lightly scratched her palm with his finger, whispering, "Spend the night with me."
The last time, when she had shared a bed with him after he got drunk, nothing much had happened, and Lu Chen had regretted it ever since.
Now, thinking about it again, he was feeling more than a little tempted.
A faint blush spread across Chen Fei'er's delicate face, one even her makeup couldn't hide. She pulled her hand back and glared at him with a playful pout. "Men. Is that all you ever think about?"
Lu Chen looked innocent. "What I meant was, spend the night with me… watching a movie. What were you thinking about?"
Realizing she'd been played, Chen Fei'er blushed deeper, flustered and furious. She pinched him hard.
Her fingers found the soft spot at his waist with pinpoint precision.
Faced with this classic female "divine skill," Lu Chen could only raise his hands in surrender and offer a deeply sincere apology.
The two of them joked and laughed, leaving behind two sets of parallel footprints in the soft white sand.
The setting sun dipped lower into the horizon, painting the clouds in fiery hues, grand, radiant, and stunningly beautiful.
Everything was just perfect.
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(End of Chapter)
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