The filming of First Love in Summer began under the blazing autumn sun of Haicheng's riverside park. Lin Chen's role was small — the male lead's loyal friend — but his OST had already made him the quiet center of attention among the crew.
Still, attention was a double-edged sword.
Trouble on Set
On the third day of shooting, tension hung heavy in the air. The director, Wang Jiaxin, a man in his forties with a reputation for being "artistic," had been re-shooting the same scene for over five hours.
Trouble on Set
On the third day of shooting, tension hung heavy in the air. The director, Wang Jiaxin, a man in his forties with a reputation for being "artistic," had been re-shooting the same scene for over five hours.
"Cut! Cut! CUT!" Wang waved his arms in frustration. "It's wrong! You're not feeling the character!"
The male lead, Li Haoran, exhaled sharply. "Director, we've done twenty takes. The sun's going down—"
"That's your problem, not mine!" Wang snapped.
Yang Mei, who was visiting the set, frowned. Every wasted hour was eating into their already fragile budget.
Lin Chen, leaning against a prop bench, quietly activated his latest system reward.
The Directorial Concept Module
[Directorial Concept Module Activated.]
[Host now has the ability to instantly analyze scenes, adjust blocking, lighting, and pacing for maximum emotional impact.]
Through Lin Chen's eyes, the messy set transformed into a crisp blueprint. He saw the problem immediately — the scene was being filmed from the wrong angle, failing to capture the emotional arc. The actors were forced to overcompensate, and it was falling flat.
Lin Chen walked over to Yang Mei. "Director Yang, give me two minutes with the crew."
Her eyes narrowed. "This isn't your role."
"It's my drama," he said quietly. "If it fails, the OST fails too."
Something in his tone made her pause. After a moment, she gave a subtle nod.
Lin Chen approached Director Wang respectfully. "Director, may I suggest something? The scene is about nostalgia and regret, yes?"
Wang frowned. "And you know this how?"
"Because I'm in it," Lin Chen said evenly. "But right now, we're shooting from a flat angle. Move the camera ten feet left, lower it, and let the sunset light hit the actors' faces. Also—" He turned to the actors. "Don't force the emotion. Just walk slowly, look at the river, and remember. The silence will speak louder."
The crew exchanged glances, but Yang Mei's quiet, "Try it," carried weight.
The camera rolled. The sunset cast a warm glow, the river shimmering gold. The two actors walked side by side, their expressions unforced, their movements natural.
When the scene ended, even Wang Jiaxin was silent for a long moment.
"…Perfect," he finally muttered. "Move on."
Later, Yang Mei found Lin Chen leaning against the railing, sipping water.
"You're not just an actor or singer, are you?" she asked.
Lin Chen's smile was faint. "I told you I wouldn't disappoint you."
She studied him for a moment, then shook her head in quiet amusement. "You might be the most dangerous rookie I've ever signed."
[Quest Complete: Save drama production.]
[Reward: Business Management Insight Module Unlocked.]
Lin Chen's eyes gleamed. Business management…
That meant it was time to start preparing for something bigger — far beyond one drama or one song.