THE CEO's LOVE 111 DARKNESS

"Hello, Director Ye."

The man squinted his eyes. "Welcome Miss Ru," he tilted his head in a bow. It was almost invincible.

"How's the shoot going?" She sat beside the director.

Deng Yue and Yin Anhao caught up.

Yin Anhao turned to glance at Xueyan. The latter smirked. And it made Anhao frown hard.

"You know them?" Mei Han probed.

"Yes," her cut answer said she didn't want to talk about them.

Xueyan went back to her shade to relax. She took up her script and started studying.

Mei Han stood behind her and gave Xueyan light massage. 

"Exactly what I needed," Xueyan sighed.

"Ah! You're so lucky I must say." Mei Han pressed her lips tight.

"Why?"

"Getting a contract even without a test. You didn't even study acting. But you're so good. I think the Almighty does things in a wonderful way... Now, you will have money. You can do the things you admire... Travel overseas. Visit memorable places... Ah. Life's going good for you." Mei Han digressed.

"You want to act too?"

"No, no." Mei Han quickly shook her head. "No way! A happy family would do. I just wish to have a family,"

Xueyan blinked twice. "I pray your wishes are heard!" 

"Thanks," 

*

"Miss Ru, it's an honour to have you here. Even though you didn't need to. Your first scene starts the day after tomorrow... You should really take this time to rest." Director Ye, blathered.

"It's okay, I came to make sure everything was going well." 

Producer Fang felt his eyes roll. Ru Fangxi was known to be very rude. And they have gotten used to it. Her sarcastic words, rude and disrespectful ways. 

"Sure, sure. Thank you." Producer Fang replied.

She then turned to Deng Yue. Communication with the eyes. 

Deng Yue immediately understood. "Director Ye, you seem very tensed..." She trailed off, on purpose. "Tell me, are you having lots of trouble... You are growing quite old and don't need stress."

Director Ye chuckled. "No no. I'm very okay."

"I meant," Deng Yue darted a look at Xueyan behind them. A bit far. "She's not that experienced, you must have repeated a lot of scenes..." Yue sassed. 

"... Ah..."

"No, no. Everything has been going good." Producer Fang grinned. Cutting through the director's sentence. 

"Are you done shooting for the day?" Anhao asked. "You can continue doing your thing. And just put a blind eye on us."

Yin Anhao's statement made a bright smile appear on Fangxi's face.

"Please," Fangxi cajoled.

Director Ye could only sigh. He felt like something was going to happen.

Producer Fang immediately gathered the employees. Everyone positioned on their post, and Ruqin standing beside Dasheng. Xueyan thought about the past. About the things that made her cry and suddenly her eyes misted up, as tears started trickling down. 

Director Ye turned the camera on, the instant he saw her get into character. He opened his mouth to say something but then Fangxi beat him to it.

"No," her tone soft, almost a murmur. "It's wrong... Look, her emotions looks fake. The tears seemed practical. It should be more like..." She paused, to take a brief look at the stunned Xueyan. "Agony...she should weep. That will be much better I say," she joined her two hands together on her lap. "It is a painful cry, right?"

"Yes, yes. This is the part she met her father. If she can't weep sorrowfully, then it's of no use." Yin Anhao was quick to support. "Or you need help? A balm perhaps?"

The director's face scrunched up. Now what are they trying to do? Get me in trouble?

"No, we don't need a balm..."

"How are you so sure?" Yin Anhao interrupted. "You're not trying to protect her, are you?"

The man was bewildered. "What I meant was..."

"She's good by herself and doesn't need assistance?" Yin Anhao frowned hard.

Fangxi still had her light smile. Yes, they had come here to trouble Xueyan. Yin Anhao was doing great.

"She obviously does. She can't cry and make it seem painful. She needs help!" Yin Anhao wasn't backing down any time soon.

"An'er," it was Fangxi. "What are you saying? I believe the director knows more than we do. He's the director anyway...so just let it be."

Yin Anhao scoffed. "So I'm wrong then?"

"No, that's not what I meant." Fangxi defended.

She glanced at Xueyan, she was still under the sun. Waiting for the director.

Fangxi wanted to laugh. It was really fun watching.

"Director Ye, take on my advise." Yin Anhao then turned to a female employee. "Get a balm."

The employee bowed and left.

Mei Han stood with her hand akimbo watching Xueyan. "Now what do you say? Who are those ladies? More like women. I remember the other one, dressed in pink. She was the one that came to the office, the other day. Does she enjoy troubling you?"

Xueyan remained calm. "It's okay,"

"It's not, are you saying they know better than the director? I wish I can sit and ride on them."

Xueyan laughed. It hadn't meant to be loud but the three ladies head it. And their head snapped, glaring daggers at Xueyan.

Xueyan didn't stop at that. She rolled her eyes. She repeated it again.

Yin Anhao was the weakest amongst the three. She could never take such insult. She was just like Cui Yao. A fool that thinks she's wise.

"Tell me a joke... You shouldn't be that tensed," Xueyan droned. 

They watched Xueyan mouth move but didn't hear a thing.

Mei Han eyes nearly fell out. "What is your problem? You're going to make my head ache!"

And that made Xueyan laugh. Again.

Yin Anhao's face twisted in anger as she stood up and the chair toppled over. "Hey! Xueyan!" She pointed at Xueyan as her chest rose and fell.

Xueyan pretended not to hear and covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

Producer Fang mouth fell open.

Director Ye jaw dropped.

Fangxi slapped her forehead. What was Anhao doing? She's getting angry for no reason... Shit! Anhao might ruin this... 

Fangxi glanced at Deng Yue. A sign for her to take over.

"It appalls me that you all can easily ignore the problem." Yin Anhao said through gritted teeth.

Fangxi covered her face. Hiding from Anhao's shame.

Deng Yue grabbed onto Yin Anhao's upper arm, but the latter flung her hand away.

"Don't touch me!" She screamed. 

Mei Han chuckled. "She's one crazy lady!"

"Let's go," Xueyan sauntered to the director's area. "You called for me, my assistant had said." Xueyan's tone carried with it a cool breeze. It said she wasn't bothered one bit by whatever they were trying to do.

Producer Fang glanced at his watch. They needed this scorching sun, but here they were, wasting away time.

Something seemed to click. There's only one person who could get the shoot going. 

He quickly took out his phone and sent out a message.

"Miss Yin?" Xueyan arched a brow. 

"Miss Bai, what were you laughing at?" Yin Anhao's eyes widened.

Xueyan turned to look at Mei Han. Mei Han raised her two hands saying she didn't know why.

"I'm sorry if you misunderstood me. We were merely laughing at a joke."

"What joke?" Yin Anhao questioned. "Me?"

"No no," Mei Han shook her head in disapproval. "You're not a joke, are you? I made a joke and Xueyan laughed. That's it."

"Make it again! I want to laugh to! Right?" She turned to Deng Yue. Deng Yue folded her arms and looked away. 

Mei Han then laughed, it was so sudden that Xueyan laughed too.

"We don't have all day, Miss Yin. Why don't I make you this joke at night?" Mei Han suggested.

Before Yin Anhao could say a word, the director said, "That will be great! We need this sun for the shoot. Tomorrow's weather isn't going to be that great! I need this sun," after he said that, he sat back down. "Xueyan go position yourself. The Sun's still blazing."

"Yes director," Xueyan immediately went back, into the shining sun. She smiled, basking in the sunlight.

It made Yin Anhao want to go mad. It was over? Just like that? Xueyan still had that taunting smile on. And she was going to continue the shoot... What the fuck! She swore internally. I won't go easy on her again!

Mei Han quickly grabbed a chilled mineral water, stood at a spot hidden from the camera. She would rush forward anytime the camera went off.

A make-up artist went to retouch Xueyan's makeup and Dasheng's.

They were already close to the market place, when Ruqin heard noises coming from behind them.

She turned, it was her father. Dragged by a rope, the man's stomach made a path on the sand... The sand... It was hot, even against her shoe. She had refused on pulling them and leaving them for the woman. 

Instincts, she rushed to go help her father, she had only taken a step when she was pulled back with force.

Since she wasn't prepared for that, she fell, buttocks hitting the ground first then her back. She heard a bone crack. It was a sandy ground, but being pulled with so much force, she had hit the ground with some force. And a tear fell from her eyes. It was painful. She had never experienced a pain as much as this in her life. Even when their hands was tied with a bamboo and starved. Even when the woman grabbed her hair.

This was worst! Her eyes bloodshot as veins popped in her temple.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Easy on her," Dasheng squatted beside her. "A noble, you shouldn't forget."

"I! Will! Make! You! Pay!" She said with the only strength she could gather. Everywhere became dark as she struggled to keep her brain alive, her eyes open and her ears erect.

"Oh, you sure will!" She heard Dasheng say before she fell into darkness.

No! No! She hated this feeling! This feeling of insecurities. She wanted to open her damn eyes... But she couldn't. She struggled but the more she did, the more she seemed to be falling into darkness. A world she never wanted to return to! Her past.

She heard screams, then mocking laughter. The laughter became a taunting one. She would hear it anywhere she turned to.

And then cries, sobs, weeps... What is going on? Where was she? No no! She didn't want to be here! Never again! 

"That fall didn't seem real! She should repeat it!" Deng Yue said, with her cool and calculated expression.

Chapter end