Chapter 252 - 250: It Won’t Be Long Before She Cries

Lily Sterling had only spoken up to keep the conversation from dying.

But to her surprise, Jade Smithson merely glanced back after hearing her speak and offered no reply.

Lily didn’t think much of it and just continued to look out the window curiously.

The mountain road was bumpy. Not long after they set out, someone couldn’t take it anymore and had to throw up. Lily also felt her head spinning from the shaking. Seeing this, the director had the convoy stop so everyone could take a short break, get out, and get some fresh air.

Lily took out her phone and saw that it had no signal. It was probably because they were in the mountains. She wondered if she’d get service once they reached the village.

Laughter and chatter came from nearby, and she subconsciously looked up.

She saw Jade Smithson gathered with a few male actors around her age, deep in conversation. Jade, in particular, was doing most of the talking, going on and on.

"Is this the first time you guys are filming a movie in this genre?"

"I’ve done plenty. This is my third time working with Director Ashton."

"You mean his award-winning film? Ah, I couldn’t make that one. My schedule was full at the time, so I missed out."

"You look a little familiar. Weren’t you in that hit drama last year? A period piece..."

In front of the three men, she was so talkative, effortlessly joining the conversation and cracking jokes. Her hearty laughter rang out from time to time, and she quickly hit it off with everyone.

Lily didn’t pay it much mind. After listening for a moment, she went back to the van on her own.

Unbeknownst to her, Jade Smithson had been watching her from the corner of her eye. Only after Lily got back in the van did Jade change the subject. "You guys aren’t like Xavier Hearst, are you? You can handle a little hardship, right?"

"No way, we’re mentally prepared."

"We’ve already signed the contracts. I don’t have the money to breach it."

"Exactly. No matter how tough it gets, we just have to grit our teeth and finish. Luckily, the shooting schedule for this movie isn’t long. We just have to push through it."

The male actors all shook their heads, insisting they could endure.

Jade Smithson laughed carefreely. "I’m used to it all. I’ve been on shoots with way tougher conditions than this. It’s just that some people... you have to wonder what they’re even here for."

"Who are you talking about?" The men looked at her curiously.

Jade Smithson gave a slight smile and a pout, prefacing her comment to state her ’intentions.’ "Look, I’m not trying to single anyone out or look down on them. I’m just worried some people blindly chase an opportunity without realizing they can’t handle it. Filming in the countryside is seriously tough. You guys can grit your teeth and get through it, but it’s really hard for women."

As she spoke, she glanced toward the van and added, "Have you guys looked into the one in the van?"

"You mean Lily Sterling?"

Jade Smithson nodded.

Someone quickly chimed in, "Yeah, I know her. Didn’t she trend a few times last year? She’s really quiet and pretty in person."

The others also said they knew of Lily Sterling.

Jade Smithson said with feigned casualness, "It’s not my place to say, but for an actress who’s only done historical idol dramas to suddenly take on this kind of film... can she really handle it?"

"Jade, you can’t be so sure. You’re a woman too, and you’ve always filmed these kinds of movies, right?"

"I’m different. I’ve always seen myself as one of the guys, I’m not even exaggerating. The young actresses I’ve seen try this genre either give up halfway or film while crying their eyes out. Afterward, they all swear they’ll never do it again."

Hearing this, the men couldn’t help but exchange glances. When they pictured it, her words didn’t seem like an exaggeration. Most women really couldn’t handle these kinds of filming conditions.

Seeing their reactions, Jade Smithson couldn’t help but feel smug. ’Just watch. It won’t be long before she’s in tears!’

After a short break, Director Titus Ashton called for everyone to get back in the vans and continue the journey. Through the window, Lily Sterling saw Jade Smithson laughing and roughhousing with the male actors as they boarded. You couldn’t tell at all that they had just met; they seemed more like old friends who had known each other for a long time.

Lily blinked, a little surprised. She had never possessed the ability to blend in so quickly with a group of new faces, and this was the first time she’d seen it happen in person.

But remembering how she had tried to join the conversation only to be met with indifference, she felt a strange sense of unease.

The convoy drove for nearly another hour on the mountain roads before finally arriving at the filming location: Redwood Village.

The village, nestled deep in the mountains, was built on a cleared slope of Roundtop Mountain. Large swathes of farmland had been cultivated around the settlement. Looking out into the distance, all one could see were endless forested slopes.

For the first time, Lily truly understood the meaning of the phrase "trapped in the mountains."

Perhaps because it was the first time a film crew had come to shoot here, the villagers all rushed over to watch the spectacle upon hearing the news. Most of them were elderly people and children who had been left behind, and the remaining young and middle-aged adults were all women.

Director Titus Ashton was in a hurry to arrange the opening ceremony. This was an indispensable ritual for any film crew, meant to pray for a smooth production, and it couldn’t be skipped.

The actors gathered to offer incense and pay their respects. When a crew starts filming in a new location, they must also ask for the blessing of the local deities. While it might be superstition, everyone believed that sincerity brought results, and this ritual was standard practice for all film crews.

As if they’d never seen so many outsiders before, the villagers gathered at a distance to watch, their expressions varied. Most were curious, but many were also wary.

Before long, the village chief, Isolde, arrived late.

The film crew had already spoken with the village chief about the shoot; it was through her that they were renting houses in the village.

After exchanging greetings, the village chief led the crew’s vehicles toward the center of the village. The gawking villagers didn’t disperse, but instead followed along at a leisurely pace. The children even chased after the cars, laughing and shouting.

There were no paved roads in the village, only muddy dirt paths that were still wet. The damp, post-rain air mixed with the smell of cow and horse manure on the ground, creating a pungent odor.

"This place is really something else. How did the director even find it?"

someone commented, looking at the dilapidated, backward village.

The others just chuckled in agreement, but Lily’s lips moved slightly. Just as she was about to speak, she swallowed her words.

Remembering the awkwardness of trying to join the conversation earlier only to be ignored, she decided to stay quiet this time.

But she knew the answer to the person’s question. The film was based on a true story, and the real events had taken place in a village on another peak of Roundtop Mountain.

For this film, the director had actually visited that original village, then scouted several others in the surrounding area before finally choosing this one as the location.

This was all part of the prep work Lily had done to get the role. She had done a lot of research, so she was very familiar with these details.

Before long, the vehicles slowly came to a stop, and everyone got out.

The assistant director, his face scrunched up in a pained expression, called everyone to gather. "Alright, let’s get the lodging sorted out first. The rooms are all rented from the villagers. The crew has prepared new bedding, so don’t worry about that. The only thing is, we can’t give everyone their own room. This was noted in the contract, so you should all be aware."

Just then, Jade Smithson raised her hand. "Director, I have an RV, so you don’t need to arrange anything for me."

On the other side, Harvey Hayes also spoke up. "I brought an RV too."

Seeing this, Lily had no choice but to raise her hand as well. "Director, I have an RV too."