Chapter 142: Hiring a Temporary Worker

Filming a wilderness tracking documentary film proved to be far more arduous than imagined. Aside from exercising personal caution, the crew had to adapt to the character traits and linguistic environment shaped by the screenwriter. To make matters worse, if a take was botched, trying to recapture it based on the wolves' immediate reactions often meant waiting for many days. Conversely, just as everyone lay paralyzed with exhaustion, if the wolves suddenly performed in accordance with the script, they had to leap up and shoot.

Not to mention the actresses in the production, even many of the male actors were reaching their breaking points.

"Cut! Mo Qi, that take is good. Come over and take a rest for a while, and be careful not to startle the wolf pack."

Tang Bin's voice came through the Bluetooth earpiece. Mo Qi's tightly strung nerves relaxed slightly as she said to the other new actors nearby, "Thank you all for your hard work."

"Sister Mo Qi, you haven't slept since last night. Please go and rest for a bit."

Mo Qi smiled and nodded, stepping toward the safe zone.

Little Zhang immediately hurried over holding a bottle of water and a clean towel. "Mo Qi, drink some water."

"Thank you, Brother Zhang." Mo Qi gulped down a little less than half a bottle of mineral water before taking the towel Little Zhang handed her to wipe the sweat from her face and neck.

The weather was stiflingly hot. Staying in this regional forest offered no coolness whatsoever; instead, it was intensely muggy, and mosquitoes were everywhere. A single bite would leave behind either a red dot or a swollen welt, making it exceptionally agonizing.

Xi Miaomia hurried over clutching a powder compact. "Sister Mo Qi, this has an exceptionally good sweat-absorbing effect. Let me touch up your makeup."

"The makeup on my face has become sticky from the sweat, and it's quite uncomfortable. See if you can wipe off a layer," Mo Qi said while reaching up to scratch her cheek.

"Oh, Sister Mo Qi, wait a moment." Xi Miaomia caught Mo Qi's hand and swiftly used a portable makeup remover wipe to clear away the fake mud theatrical greasepaint on her cheek.

"What is it?" Mo Qi asked, tilting her head.

"Sister Mo Qi, your face is having an allergic reaction! We must wash off this greasepaint immediately!" Xi Miaomia said with grave seriousness.

Mo Qi shook her head. "I don't feel anything unusual myself, so it shouldn't be serious. I have another scene shortly, so I'll remove the makeup after we finish shooting."

"Sister Mo Qi!" Xi Miaomia grew anxious. "Aren't you afraid of ruining your face?"

"This makeup took over three hours to apply. Do you think we have time to apply it all over again today?" Knowing Miaomia was worried about her, Mo Qi patted her shoulder and said, "Don't worry, this is my own face; I won't do anything reckless."

"Then at least let me apply some vitamin E capsule liquid to your skin first," Xi Miaomia compromised.

"Thank you."

Xi Miaomia sighed, twisted open a vitamin E capsule, and evenly smeared the liquid inside across Mo Qi's cheeks.

Little Zhang also brought over anti-bug spray, coating Mo Qi in layer after layer while muttering under his breath, "I really hope Brother Shen goes back on his word right now and comes over immediately to drag you back. What kind of terrible filming environment is this? It's simply not fit for human habitation!"

"Brother Zhang," Mo Qi said helplessly. If Little Zhang truly conveyed the reality of the situation here to Shen Yijue, the man would likely turn right back around and return.

"I know. I won't tell Brother Shen." Little Zhang sighed. He was only complaining out of sympathy for Mo Qi because the filming conditions were so grueling.

Mo Qi smiled. "I'm going to catnap for a bit. Wake me when it's my turn."

"Working yourself to the bone like this will break your health down sooner or later. Go on and rest!"

Little Zhang pushed Mo Qi into a simple makeshift tent that had been set up, lit a mosquito repellent coil, and turned back to instruct her to sleep soundly, only to find that Mo Qi had already fallen fast asleep against the air cushion.

Had she not reached the absolute limit of exhaustion, how could she have fallen asleep the moment her head hit the pillow?

Little Zhang had accompanied Mo Qi into the crew for four days. During these four days, apart from sleeping hours, he had shadowed her constantly and gained a thorough appreciation of Mo Qi's work ethic.

Hardworking, persevering, and relentless! No matter how difficult things were—even when the male staff members were groaning endlessly—she never let out a single complaint. Even when she was temporarily summoned in the middle of the night to re-film a scene and had to get her makeup done, she treated it with utmost seriousness without a single grumble.

Little Zhang looked at Mo Qi's small face, covered entirely in greasepaint. Now that she was asleep and the mask of her smile had faded, the fatigue etched deep into her brows finally became visible.

Behind every person's success lay unimaginable hardship. Their silence did not mean they were truly not tired.

Lightly and cautiously, Little Zhang picked up a piece of cardboard from the side, squatted down beside Mo Qi, and began fanning her to drive away the heat.

Mo Qi had not slept for long before she was awakened by the sound of crying. Frowning slightly, she opened her eyes; Little Zhang was no longer inside the tent.

Rubbing the bridge of her nose, Mo Qi got up and walked outside. A young actress was weeping, and she was crying bitterly.

"It's too hard, I'm not filming anymore! Whoever wants to shoot can shoot! I'm going home! Sob, sob, sob!" The actress wept as she scratched at her arms. Everyone could see the red mosquito bites on her arms, which had already been scratched until they bled.

Tang Bin frowned. "If you're so afraid of hardship, why did you come to shoot a movie in the first place? Roll back to school and stay there!"

The air was humid and stifling, and everyone's nerves were stretched taut. Irritated by the crying, Tang Bin lost his amiable expression.

Frightened by Tang Bin's stern face, the actress flashed a look of panic in her eyes and momentarily didn't know what to do.

Hu Ye, the actor playing the male lead, finally stepped forward to smooth things over. "Director Tang, I see everyone is a bit tired. Why don't we take a short break?"

Hu Ye was a veteran actor, so Tang Bin naturally had to give him some face. "Everyone take a fifteen-minute break."

The tense atmosphere eased slightly, and the people around quietly breathed a sigh of relief, finding places to sit and rest.

Seeing Mo Qi when he turned back, Little Zhang walked over in a few strides and lowered his voice. "Did I wake you? Do you want to sleep a bit longer?"

Mo Qi shook her head. "No more sleep. Brother Zhang, do you have any more of the anti-mosquito spray you prepared? Send a bottle over to her."

The actress was presumably still a student. With no assistant to take care of her when she joined the crew and a lack of personal experience, it was normal for her to be unable to endure the hardship.

Though Little Zhang was reluctant to give away what was currently their most vital supply, he reluctantly parted with it to help Mo Qi build good relations with the rest of the crew.

The actress received the insect repellent with immense gratitude, wiped away her tears, and thanked Mo Qi rather awkwardly.

Mo Qi smiled. "Spray a bit more on yourself, and the mosquitoes won't bite."

"Sister Mo Qi, thank you."

"It's not easy being away from home for the first time. If you run into any difficulties, you can come to me. I'll help with whatever I can."

"Sister Mo Qi." These words caused the young girl's eyes to well up with tears once more, and her closeness to Mo Qi deepened considerably.

"Don't cry anymore, your makeup is running."

Listening from the side, Xi Miaomia chimed in cooperatively, "Come over here, I'll touch up your makeup for you."

"Sister Mo Qi, I'll come find you to hang out after we finish shooting," the actress said as she followed Xi Miaomia away.

Mo Qi breathed a sigh of relief. Tang Bin walked over from nearby and said, "It looks like it's going to rain again. We'll wrap up early today; go back to the camp and rest."

Mo Qi looked at the filming equipment scattered around. "Many of the staff members went down the mountain today to resupply. Since it's going to rain, someone needs to carry this equipment back or cover it up."

"I hired some local residents as temporary workers. See, those ones over there." Tang Bin pointed into the distance. "Among them is even a medical worker, just in case anyone gets injured."

Mo Qi looked in the direction indicated, her eyes suddenly narrowing slightly.

That medical worker was the nurse from the county hospital!