Mad Dog

Chapter 76: Cameo — “This servant” was being disrespectful.

At seven o’clock, Jiang Qi had put on his costume and arrived at the filming location.

The scene he was about to film with the dancer was called “Joyous Journey in the Military Camp.” He didn’t need to wear armor. Instead, as a great general in his tent, he wore a deep gray robe, his long hair tied up, casually sitting in the main seat, drinking leisurely.

For this scene, the costume and makeup department didn’t need to put in much effort.

The real “headache” came from other aspects.

Jiang Qi arrived at the set, looking “worried,” his gaze somewhat vacant as he looked at the staff setting up the scenery, clearly absent-minded.

He didn’t even notice Lin Qihang’s meaningful and delighted expression.

After the set was ready and before they started filming, Jiang Qi sat in the main seat, coldly watching the group of actresses dressed as dancers in green gowns file in, suppressing the irritation building inside him.

Sometimes, Jiang Qi felt like there was something wrong with him — aside from Zhi Qi, the touch or approach of other women made him feel intensely disgusted, so much so that he couldn’t help but avoid them.

This was why he had failed this simple scene so many times.

Lin Qihang had once worriedly commented that this would be a major hurdle in Jiang Qi’s acting career unless he only played male-only roles for the rest of his life.

But Jiang Qi thought there was nothing wrong with only playing male roles.

An actor should play the roles that suit them best.

However, when he said this before, Qiu Mi, who was managing his schedule, cluelessly added—

“But Qi-ge, fans online think you’d be perfect for the role of a cool and domineering CEO.”

…

Domineering? Domineering towards whom?

Jiang Qi looked at him and asked expressionlessly, “Are you going to play the female lead?”

Qiu Mi instinctively shivered.

And after that, he sensibly kept quiet.

Just as he was thinking about this, the side lights were already on. Once the supporting actors and extras for the military camp scene, which had a heavier focus, were in place, the director gave the signal, “Action,” and filming officially began.

Jiang Qi forced himself to get into character, speaking the scripted lines to the deputy general beside him, “There’s no need to rush on the return journey to the capital. Take it slow.”

At this point in the script, the army led by Liang Jieyu had just achieved several consecutive victories and was returning to the capital in triumph.

The actor playing his deputy general nodded, his voice clear and firm, “Understood, General.”

As their lines ended, the dancers began filing into the tent.

This was something the considerate adjutant had specially arranged to “reward” the high-ranking generals.

Jiang Qi smiled indifferently, his tall frame leaning back against the large fur cloak draped behind the main seat. He gave a slight nod, “Since they’re here, let them serve.”

The character Liang Jieyu didn’t care much for indulgences like “entertainment and women.” While the other soldiers were engrossed in the rare appearance of women after months of battle, he merely observed with cold detachment.

—Until the lead dancer “danced” her way to him.

The young woman wore a turquoise veil that matched her long dress, with slender wrists and ankles adorned with fluffy silver rings and bells, like a beautifully dressed but caged pet.

Dancers were nothing more than playthings for these rough men, though they, too, were people with tragic fates.

Liang Jieyu had also been through hardship, so he would never touch these women just to satisfy his momentary desires. After a few cups of wine, the man intended to return to his tent to wash up.

However, he hadn’t expected a “cat” to dare test his patience right under his nose.

The little cat’s face was hidden under a veil, with only a pair of clear black eyes showing, gleaming with emotions that seemed both hesitant and brimming with unspoken desire. Her body was soft and pliant, more like a green snake, obediently kneeling at the man’s feet to pour him wine.

This stopped Liang Jieyu from leaving.

He leaned back for a moment, lowering his gaze to the woman with the exposed white neck. “Go serve someone else.”

As he spoke, he glanced at the deputy general standing nearby.

The deputy immediately panicked and hastily said, “I dare not, General!”

“What are you afraid of?”

Liang Jieyu laughed heartily, full of bravado, “Haven’t you ever indulged before, boy?”

The dancer kneeling on the ground, out of the camera’s view, had a slight flicker in her eyes.

This was Zhi Qi’s real reaction—she felt a bit happy.

Because Jiang Qi’s ability to portray a “smile” had improved significantly compared to before.

As she thought this, she deliberately softened her voice, speaking the lines the director had taught her, “General… I only wish to serve you.”

Why did that voice sound so familiar? Jiang Qi squinted his eyes in suspicion, lowering his gaze to look carefully at the girl kneeling and pouring wine. After a few seconds, he resumed his lines, his tone indifferent: “Serve me? Do you even know how?”

“I… I…”

A faint blush crept up Zhi Qi’s ears as she gritted her teeth and recited her lines, “I know how to do everything.”

Her voice was soft and delicate, but it sounded even more familiar now.

Jiang Qi’s expression became dazed, and without thinking, he automatically delivered the lines he had memorized long ago: “Then come to my tent.”

With that, he bent down and grabbed the girl’s slender wrist, dragging the dancer into the back of the camp in full view of his astonished subordinates.

In the script, at this point, Liang Jieyu had already noticed that the dancer’s movements were not those of an ordinary entertainer. Her steps were composed and steady, so he decided to bring her into his tent for questioning.

Whenever Jiang Qi reached this part of the scene, he would feel awkward about having to grab the actress’s wrist, and it would come across as unnatural, leading to multiple takes.

But today, without thinking, it all flowed smoothly.

Behind the camera, Lin Qihang was both excited and shocked, thinking this was almost miraculous.

They had planned to surprise Jiang Qi, keeping the truth from him, and now that Zhi Qi hadn’t even shown her face, Jiang Qi’s sharp emotions had already softened unconsciously… Could this be a real connection between husband and wife?

Amazing, truly amazing.

As he marveled, the camera followed Liang Jieyu and the dancer as they “struggled” into the tent in the back courtyard.

The so-called struggle was really just one-sided manhandling.

Liang Jieyu dragged the woman into the tent and “ruthlessly” threw her onto the ground—of course, as an actor, Jiang Qi used camera tricks to protect the actress.

Though it looked like she was thrown hard, it didn’t actually hurt.

But Zhi Qi had to act as if it hurt a lot, her eyes lowering with a mix of grievance and anger. Her wrists, ankles, and even the golden hairpin in her hair jingled with a delicate sound. Her veil loosened slightly, and a few strands of hair escaped, playing teasingly in the soft candlelight, making her look even more pitiful and endearing.

“Come on.”

The man sat on the couch, a flicker of cold malice flashing through his eyes as he said with a half-smile, “Didn’t you say you wanted to serve me?”

He deliberately emphasized the word “serve,” which made Zhi Qi’s hands and feet go weak, as if her neck would be snapped in the next second… But this was just the final scene.

Acting—it was only acting, nothing to be afraid of.

Zhi Qi kept reassuring herself, trembling as she stood up and knelt by the edge of the bed, obediently pouring wine for the man.

The script required that the dancer, following Liang Jieyu’s orders, perform a sword dance for him.

In reality, the man was testing her abilities. Although she pretended to be clumsy, her decade of martial arts training would inevitably show through. So, halfway through the dance, she had no choice but to throw the sword away, pouting playfully and claiming she couldn’t do it, then deliberately leaning toward Jiang Qi.

Amidst the long curtains, the woman’s soft body entwined around Liang Jieyu like an innocent snake.

This scene was meant to be filled with deadly seduction, designed to make people irresistibly captivated.

Liang Jieyu had to act drunk, smiling as he pulled the dancer onto the bed, but the moment she probed about military secrets, he was to suddenly sober up.

His eyes needed to shine like those of a wolf hidden in the mountains, colder and more ruthless than any predator.

Previously, Jiang Qi had always stiffened at this part, especially when the dancer pretended not to know what she was doing and threw herself at him, making him so uncomfortable that he would push the actress away, causing multiple retakes. But this time… since they hadn’t told him Zhi Qi would be making a cameo, even Lin Qihang wasn’t sure how things would go.

As the critical moment approached, Lin Qihang’s eyes were fixed on the screen, his fingers unconsciously clenching into fists.

To everyone’s surprise, this time, Jiang Qi didn’t push the actress away.

Following the script, he wrapped his arms around the woman’s soft, slender waist, and under the deliberately intimate atmosphere, the two pretended to lose their balance, tumbling onto the bed together.

Zhi Qi, lacking filming experience, was momentarily disoriented by the candlelight and stage lights. It was her first time wearing such a cumbersome historical costume, and the long dress tangled around her ankles.

The girl actually fell, but luckily Jiang Qi’s large hand cushioned her fall. Slightly dazed, she still dutifully recited her lines: “General…”

“Qiqi.”

However, before she could finish saying, “This servant has offended you,” she heard Jiang Qi’s soft whisper in her ear, and froze instantly.

They were in a spot outside the camera’s view, where only the two of them could hear their “conversation.”

His cool voice carried a restrained hint of laughter as he murmured, “You’re so sweet.”

So sweet it hurt.

She actually came all the way to do a cameo for him.

Zhi Qi’s small face beneath the veil instantly burned, and she whispered faintly, “How did you know it was me?”

She had been planning to give him a “surprise” after the shoot, but now it was all ruined.

Jiang Qi smiled, “How could I not know?”

Even if she deliberately changed her voice, he could still tell. Back when he pulled her into the back tent during the military scene, he had already figured it out.

His initial shock had turned into pure delight.

Zhi Qi must have known how difficult this scene was for him, which was why she came to “help” him.

So if he couldn’t get through this scene smoothly with Zhi Qi, that would be really embarrassing.

Thinking this, Jiang Qi gently pinched the girl’s waist, his voice low as he ordered, “Continue with the lines.”

…

Oh.

The girl, still slightly dizzy, murmured her lines in a soft voice, “This servant has offended you, I’ll get up and pour more wine for you.”