[Grandpa Crew: As the TV drama filming approaches its conclusion and is about to be released, in order to make ourselves familiar to everyone, we will sporadically release behind-the-scenes footage.]
[When Martial Arts Meets Comedy: (Short Video)]
Ever since Ai Jing got hooked on this novel a year ago, he’s been stuck in the fandom. Even though the novel has concluded, he occasionally takes it out and gives it a read.
Upon learning that the novel was adapted into a TV drama, though not expecting much, he adopted a bystander attitude and started following the crew’s account.
Early today, while scrolling through his phone, he came across this short video.
“What’s this?”
Opening it up, he saw three people in the video. Two of them were discussing actions, and one had their back to the camera, making it hard to see their face.
The old man in the middle, dressed like that, is probably the male lead.
“Looks quite convincing, old enough. I thought they might have chosen an uncle.”
Thinking to himself, Ai Jing continued to wait for the continuation.
Having read the original work, he knew that, considering physical fitness at the beginning, the old man chose Tai Chi as an entry point. This was probably about demonstrating related movements.
The next moment, the person with their back to the camera walked up, demonstrated a few moves, and then the other two tried to follow along, with their movements comically off-kilter.
After watching the entire video, Ai Jing couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Are you good at playing Mahjong?”
Later on, those guys unexpectedly rhymed in their speech. What was even more hilarious was when the tall young man’s movements were compared to the old man’s—it had this inexplicable sense of humor that kept people from stopping.
Finding it amusing, he directly reposted and liked the video, recommending it to everyone.
During the crew’s break, Director Wang looked at the online activity, stroked his little beard, and said with satisfaction, “Looks like the effect is good.”
Zhu Yan was also watching but felt a bit dejected. “Everyone says I look like a grandpa; I’m out of love.”
“Doesn’t this prove that you fit the character setting?” Director Wang patted his shoulder.
“Director Wang, why not give Xiao Chu a full-face shot? Look at the comments in the bullet screen; so many people are saying it. How about showing Xiao Chu’s face in the next video? Or maybe, let Xiao Chu play an old man next time, what do you think?” Zhu Yan suggested.
Chu Qianze: Zhu Yan, do I have a grudge against you?
“Hehe, it’s not just me playing an old man; that would be too lonely. Besides, it wasn’t my idea; it was suggested by the netizens,” Zhu Yan laughed.
“We’ll stick to behind-the-scenes footage; nothing else,” Director Wang set the limits. “The next video will follow the same style. Xiao Chu won’t show his face. If he does, who would bother watching you guys? If it weren’t for showing everyone a comparison image and creating a contrast effect, I wouldn’t even put up a silhouette.”
“Ouch, that hurts,” Zhu Yan shed tears for this harsh reality.
On this day, Zhu Yan was sneakily browsing through the official microblog, reading the comments on the preview, when he suddenly froze, his thick eyebrows furrowed tightly.
Zhu Yan’s reaction was intense; he scratched his head and cheeks. Chu Qianze asked, “Zhu Yan, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Zhu Yan looked up, grinned, and then continued scrolling through his phone.
Seeing that something was off, Chu Qianze took out his phone, unlocked it, and heard Zhu Yan say, “Xiao Chu, can you pass me that towel?”
Handing over the towel, Chu Qianze picked up the phone, but before he could do anything, Zhu Yan called out, “Xiao Chu, what’s the situation?”
“Let me tell you, recent surveys show that people are spending significantly more time on their phones every day. Although phones are fun, you should also be careful not to develop nearsightedness. Compared to entertainment, health is more important, don’t you think?” Zhu Yan said with a serious expression.
“I’m just checking it out this time,” Chu Qianze replied with a smile.
Zhu Yan’s unusual words made Chu Qianze even more certain that something had happened. Following the recent routine of the past few days, Zhu Yan should have been checking the crew’s official microblog.
With this in mind, Chu Qianze opened the webpage.
Unable to hide it any longer, Zhu Yan had to give a warning.
“Um, if you want to check the official microblog, be prepared for what you might see.”
Understanding the situation, Chu Qianze acknowledged him with a sound, and when he looked, he saw a flood of negative comments.
[Every day just knows how to make fun of things. Come on, this is filming a TV drama! If the fight scenes in the drama are like this, I’ll really laugh. Who would watch this garbage?]
[It’s too eye-catching, damn it. I absolutely won’t watch it. Damn, is there no high-quality novel adaptation into a TV drama anymore?!]
[Fans of the original work are truly crying; you’ve ruined the image of Bai Yuguang in my heart!]
[Damn, you’ve ruined the original work, right? Strongly resist!!]
[Wasn’t the scriptwriter the author? If the TV drama turns out like this, don’t you care at all? Clearly, as long as there’s money, you’ll do anything, it’s simply disgusting!]
Chu Qianze scrolled up and down, reading through various comments.
Summing it up, negative comments fell into three categories: those mocking the director and actors, those calling for a boycott of the TV drama, and those mocking the original author (himself).
Yesterday everything was peaceful, and today it felt like they were being dragged through the mud. No matter how you looked at it, something was off.
“Are we being targeted?” Chu Qianze expressed his doubts.
At that moment, Director Wang approached, waving his hand, “Xiao Chu, have you checked the official microblog?”
“I have,” Chu Qianze walked over and pulled a small stool to sit down.
“We’ve speculated a bit about this. It’s probably the rival’s doing, hiring trolls to give us a hard time. They are notorious for causing trouble. I expected something would happen, but I didn’t think they’d go straight for the smear campaign.” Director Wang shrugged.
So calm, it seems like he was prepared for this.
Having gotten the answer he wanted, Chu Qianze didn’t press further. Instead, he lowered his head and continued scrolling through his phone. The pace had picked up by now, with more and more comments and, surprisingly, many so-called revelations.
“They’re even saying I’m only in it for the money; they really underestimate me.”
Chu Qianze picked up a nearby water cup and took a sip.
“I’m here to work. How could I be satisfied with just some money? Of course, I also want to learn from the masters.”
“You, kid, it’s your first time being criticized like this, and you’re so calm.” Director Wang gave Chu Qianze a look.
“I thought you’d be upset.”
Chu Qianze remembered the comments he had just read and sighed. “It’s alright, but seeing those repetitive comments is indeed quite uncomfortable.”
“Just keep an open mind. Rest about enough? Get ready; we’re about to start filming,” Wangdao said as he walked away.
Zhu Yan, seeing Director Wang leave, approached, “Are you really okay?”
“What could be the matter?” Chu Qianze found it amusing.
“Your mental resilience is really strong.”
Zhu Yan gave a big thumbs up. “The first time I was criticized like that, it bothered me for days.”
“Is it better now?”
“It still bothers me now. I just can’t get used to it. But when it does bother me, I can chat with my girlfriend and ask her for a ‘Sanlian.'” Zhuyan’s expression visibly brightened.
“A ‘Sanlian?”
Like, comment, and collect?
“Kiss, hug, lift high! After doing those things each time, our relationship improves a bit. I’ve already planned it. After we finish shooting this time, I’ll go on a trip with my girl.” Zhu Yan grinned and stood up.
“Since you’re fine, I’ll be going. It’s better to avoid looking at those things online now; it’s disheartening.”
“Yeah, I’ll come out in a bit too.” Chu Qianze responded, lowering his head to fiddle with his phone.
Thinking about Zhu Yan’s so-called “Sanlian,” Chu Qianze contemplated whether to give it a try.
At that moment, his phone rang, and it was Chai Heling.
Answering the call, Chu Qianze put the phone in his ear. “Why are you calling me now?”
“Have you seen those comments online?” The voice on the other end was a bit noisy, sounding like he was outside.
Chu Qianze responded, “Yeah. Have you seen them too?”
“I’ve seen a bit. I think you should know, after all, it’s about the crew.”
Chai Heling paused and asked, “Do you want me to help you cool down the situation?”
“No, you haven’t done anything yet, right?” Chu Qianze asked.
“Not yet. I think the crew might take some action, so I wanted to ask for your opinion first,” to avoid interfering with the crew’s actions.
Chu Qianze said, “For now, just leave it.”
There was a moment of silence at Chai Heling’s end, his tone unwilling. “…So, we let them smear your reputation like this?”
“The main target is to smear the crew. I’m just a side effect. Did you not see how they’ve smeared Director Wang? We know the quality of the TV drama. When it airs, everyone with discerning eyes will see it. This is just free publicity.”
I wonder what those colleagues are thinking. Instead of spending money to criticize others, they could use it to improve the quality of their own work.
Hearing sudden silence from the other end, Chu Qianze asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to see you being criticized like this.” Chai Heling’s voice was somewhat low.
When he saw people maliciously spreading rumors about Chu Qianze on the official microblog, he really wanted to drag them out and give them a good beating. It’s strange; when he’s the one being talked about, he doesn’t feel much, but when it comes to Chu Qianze’s rumors, he can’t help but be affected.
“…Yeah, I know. Where are you now? It doesn’t sound like you’re in the office.”
Chu Qianze stood up and walked outside.
Out there, Duan Fa saw Chu Qianze and was about to greet him when he noticed Chu Qianze pointing to his earpiece.
Turns out he was on the phone. Duan Fa nodded in understanding.
“Speaking of which, you actually managed to hold back and not explode. That’s a bit unexpected,” Chu Qianze teased.
Chai Heling buried his face in the steering wheel. “What do you mean unexpected? I’ve always been calm.”
Just as they were talking, he heard a light tapping on the car window. Lifting his head, Chai Heling saw that Chu Qianze had somehow appeared outside.
Seeing that Chai Heling had finally noticed him, Chu Qianze pointed to the car door.
“Open the door.”
The voice entered Chai Heling’s ears through the earpiece.
“How did you know I was here?” Chai Heling asked as Chu Qianze got into the car, lowering his head.
“I had a feeling you’d come, so I came over here to check my luck, and it turns out I really ran into you. Why are you staying here and not going to the set?”
Turning his head to look at Chai Heling, Chu Qianze noticed that Chai Heling wasn’t paying attention to him. So he leaned over, resting his chin on Chai Heling’s shoulder.
“I came all the way from the set just to find you, and you’re so indifferent.” He spoke in a lowered tone, sounding a bit aggrieved.
“Wait, don’t look at me yet,” Chai Heling said, lifting his hand to grab something.
Chu Qianze intercepted his arm and leaned over to take a look. As expected, Chai Heling was crying.
“Why are you so fond of crying?” Chu Qianze said with a hint of helplessness.
“You read it wrong.” Chai Heling squinted his eyes and turned his head away.
“I’ve been criticized like that. Don’t you want to comfort me a bit?” One hand rested on the back of the chair, and the other supported Chai Heling’s side of the seat. Chu Qianze leaned in, making Chai Heling only one able to see him.
Just as he finished speaking, Chu Qianze felt a weight on his head, and he was momentarily stunned.
Chai Heling patted his head. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you vent.”
His tone was serious and solemn.
Chu Qianze smiled and reached up to stroke the back of Chai Heling’s neck. “Instead of that, I’d prefer something else.”
After saying that, he directly pressed down.
The inside of the car was a closed space, isolating external sounds and magnifying internal movements.
After the kiss, Chu Qianze looked at Chai Heling, who was now slouched in the seat. He chuckled and wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb. “Today, I learned a new term.”
“… What?” Chai Heling tried to look somewhat normal, following Chu Qianze’s lead.
“Do you know ‘Sanlian’?”
“Collect, like, and repost?”
Upon hearing this answer, Chu Qianze couldn’t help but laugh. “Indeed, we think alike. But according to another interpretation, it means ‘kiss, hug, and lift high.’ Now that we’ve kissed, when do we continue with the rest?”
Hearing this, Chai Heling felt a rush of heat throughout his body. Meeting Chu Qianze’s teasing gaze, he pressed the nearby control button and lowered all the curtains around.
“Let’s do it now.”
After saying that, Chai Heling grabbed the collar of the other’s shirt and bit down directly on the collarbone.
Chu Qianze’s hand smoothly slid under his companion’s shirt, exploring continuously. The two entwined, nibbling and biting.
At this moment, the ringtone of a phone echoed in the car, unusually conspicuous.
Chai Heling’s breath became chaotic; he cursed under his breath and took out his phone from his pocket, only to find it wasn’t his call. It wasn’t his phone.
He looked at the person in front of him and realized he had picked up the phone, refusing to be outdone, and continued with what they were doing.
“Hello,” Chu Qianze said.
Chu Qianze answered the phone, holding back the disobedient hand of Chai Heling. “Sorry, I’ll be right there.”
After hanging up the phone, he met Chai Heling’s gaze.
“The crew is about to start working. Let me go.”
Chu Qianze showed an innocent expression.
“You did this to me, and you won’t take responsibility?”
Chai Heling leaned back in his seat, looking resentful.
With a slightly apologetic look, Chu Qianze kissed him on the lips. Then he planted another kiss on his eyes.
“I’ll make up for it later. From now on, except in bed, I don’t want to see you cry anywhere else.”
“Only in bed? Can’t it be other places like the bathroom, the sofa, the study…”
Hmm, Chu Qianze combed back Chai Heling’s hair. “No, you have to endure it.”
“I’ll try my best.” Chai Heling buried his head, opened Chu Qianze’s collar, and left a mark on his collarbone. Satisfied with the result, he loosened his grip.
Seeing this triumphant look, Chu Qianze reciprocated by biting his throat and whispering in his ear.
“Wait for me tonight.”
With that, he opened the door, got out of the car, and closed the door, all in one go.
Thinking about Chai Heling’s expression when he closed the door, Chu Qianze raised his hand to cover the smile at the corner of his mouth.
Not sure how long Chai Heling will stay.
Back at the set, he quickly adjusted his state and approached Director Wang. “Sorry, I’m late.”
“Your timing is perfect. Come, take a look at this.”
Director Wang waved his hand, inviting Chu Qianze over.
[Host, I have saved screenshots and online traces.]
“Well, you’ve done well,” Chu Qianze responded casually.
He had read those online comments. Coincidentally, he wasn’t one to be bullied easily.
Since he didn’t advocate for using special means, he decided to play by the rules of this world.
When Chu Qianze finished work and returned home, he didn’t see Chai Heling. It was only when he entered the bedroom that he found Chai Heling asleep on his bed. The other man was wearing only a long shirt.
“He really waited for me here.”
Not waking him up, Chu Qianze turned him over, covered him with a blanket, and then went to the kitchen to prepare something to eat.
In the morning, Chai Heling opened his eyes and, realizing something, sat up abruptly.
Awoken by this movement, Chu Qianze opened one eye slightly and then closed it again. Because he had just woken up, there was still a magnetic bubble-like quality to his voice. “What’s wrong?”
“I, uh, fell asleep last night?”
Chai Heling looked bewildered. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“…You were sleeping so soundly; I didn’t want to disturb you.”
Seeing that Chai Heling was about to speak, Chu Qianze extended his arm and pressed him down on the bed, not allowing any movement. “It’s still early; lie down for a bit longer.”
Is he saying it’s still early? Does he know how much preparation I did?!
Chai Heling repeatedly recalled what he did last night, getting angrier the more he thought about it. Not feeling sleepy at all, he looked at the person sleeping soundly beside him, and all he wanted was to make up for what they hadn’t finished last night.
Just as he was about to extend his hand again…
The alarm on his phone went off.
Getting up.
Chu Qianze covered Chai Heling’s ears, picked up the phone, turned off the alarm, and held the person next to him even tighter. He closed his eyes and continued to sleep.
All done in one go.
When the second alarm went off, he opened his eyes and found Chai Heling staring at him.
Rubbing his neck, Chu Qianze lazily greeted, “Morning.”
Pouting, Chai Heling replied without any enthusiasm, “…Morning.”
Getting up and heading to the bathroom, Chu Qianze was brushing his teeth while looking at himself in the mirror when he heard the door open beside him. Glancing toward the entrance, Chai Heling also approached.
Shifting aside to make room, he gestured for Chai Heling to take a spot, but the person ended up following and moving closer to him.
Finding it somewhat amusing, Chu Qianze turned his head and raised an eyebrow, asking what was going on.
Chai Heling, also brushing his teeth at this point, wanted to say something but was blocked by foam. In the end, he could only pull off a fake smile, then turn back to look at the two in the mirror.
Chu Qianze made breakfast.
Since living together with someone, Chai Heling’s three meals a day became particularly regular, and his previously troublesome stomach no longer caused any issues.
The two went out together, and Chu Qianze patted his pocket, only to find it empty.
A box of xylitol appeared in his line of sight.
“Did you forget to buy it? I have it in my car.”
Chai Heling tossed the box in Chu Qianze’s direction without looking and started the car.
“Thanks.”
Taking two pieces and placing them in his mouth, Chu Qianze, with nothing else to do, turned his head to observe someone driving beside him as the street scenes continued to retreat.
Shifting gears skillfully, the driver asked, “What are you looking at?” Chai Heling silently straightened his posture, adding a touch of elegance.
“I’m looking at how good-looking you are,” Chu Qianze replied.
“Oh, really,” Chai Heling said, suppressing a smile and casually remarked, “But with you looking like this, I can’t help but think of doing some intimate things.”
Still thinking about yesterday.
Chu Qianze chuckled lightly, withdrawing his gaze to glance at his phone.
“…Why are you not looking at me again?” Chai Heling became displeased. Was the phone more interesting?
“It’s not that. I’m just afraid you’ll make a mistake and lead us into a ditch,” Chu Qianze said casually.
Chai Heling retorted, “I’m a skilled driver.”
I won’t flip the car, just look at me again!
Sensing the underlying meaning, Chu Qianze turned his head to look out the window, a smile playing on his lips that he couldn’t hide.
“Now that the later stages are almost done,” Director Wang said casually.
“Ready to start broadcasting?” Chu Qianze was wiping dust off the nearby camera.
“Yes, Xiao Chu, the crew needs a favor from you,” he said, flashing a brilliant smile.
Hearing this, Chu Qianze’s hands paused, “Hmm?”
[Grandpa’s Crew: Episode 1 airs at 8:00 tonight. Welcome everyone to watch and critique.]
The crew continued to push forward with production, expecting to wrap up in a few more days.
After finishing a round of scenes, it was already past ten in the evening.
Observing the visibly distracted crew members, Director Wang sighed, realizing that this wasn’t productive. He announced a break.
At the same time, everyone picked up their phones and started to read comments about the TV series.
[I actually finished watching it?]
[Not good at all! Damn, isn’t the male lead too old?!]
[The action scenes seem okay? It’s not as bad as the online criticism suggests.]
[I can’t believe I found those action scenes quite cool. Anyone else eager to learn like me?]
Seeing the reactions, the crew breathed a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, the official account posted a new video.
[When Action Scenes Meet Dialogue]
In the video, a young man in a hoodie wearing a mask and the old grandpa played by Zhu Yan demonstrated some of the fight scenes from the first episode. Dubbed with behind-the-scenes commentary and accompanied by an energetic soundtrack, it conveyed a sense of excitement.
At the end of the video, bold subtitles appear.
[Did you learn it?]
Shortly afterward, a martial arts master shared the video and gave it a thumbs up.
The comment read: “Precise movements, practical, very beginner-friendly, everyone should give it a try.”
The online community exploded.
Initially, people thought it was a comedic video, then they were told it’s an action-packed drama. Now, it turns out to be a tutorial?
#OldGrandpaCrew#
#MartialArtsAndComedy#
#ThatActionFilm#
#TaiChiMasterGrandpa#
#TheGuyWithTheMask#
Related topics consecutively trended, and with the positive reviews emerging, the negative comments were pushed down below.
The Old Grandpa Crew makes a comeback.
The atmosphere within the crew was noticeably more relaxed the next day, with everyone frequently checking the online developments.
One of the most apparent changes was seen in Zhu Yan, whose mysterious smile seemed to compete side by side with the sun.
“Brother Yan, tone down your expression a bit; Director Wang has been keeping an eye on you,” Chu Qianze said, sitting nearby, feeling a bit uncomfortable with Zhu Yan’s laughter.
“Hahaha, isn’t it great that I’m cheering for our crew?” Zhu Yan rubbed his face, “Look at this expression of mine; it’s almost frozen from smiling.”
“Alright, stop it. Relax your expression a bit; we have a crying scene later. Director Wang is holding back his frustration right now, and if you mess up, he might nag you to death,” Chu Qianze said somewhat helplessly.
“Oh no, I’m trying to adjust, okay?” Zhu Yan knew the urgency of the situation. He was about to check his phone again but decided against it.
After a glance, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “Xiao Chu, you’re trending again!”
“Is that masked guy trending again?” Chu Qianze casually replied.
“No, look at this.” Zhu Yan handed his phone to Chu Qianze.
#ManInHoodie#
“Thanks to that tutorial video, I became a fan of the masked guy. I searched the whole internet and found nothing until I stumbled upon this video. Check it out, and appreciate it! (P.S. Can parachute in at the last second)”
It was a video from Valentine’s Day when Chu Qianze received a truckload of flowers.
“Look at the discussions online—the martial arts director, the actors. How come no one thought you were the screenwriter? And this one is hilarious—the little fairy boy who popped out from the roses.” Zhu Yan burst into laughter after saying this, and his hands holding the phone were trembling.
“I’ve read some comments too. Netizens are praising your performance, saying you really look like a grandpa.” Chu Qianze responded with a fake smile.
Zhu Yan’s face stiffened, and the phone slipped from his hand. He couldn’t laugh at the thought that his former girlfriend’s fans had turned into fans of his ‘grandpa’ role.
“Everyone is confident in your acting skills. Congratulations on successfully joining the league of seasoned actors,” Chu Qianze patted his friend’s shoulder.
“Hahaha, I can easily switch between being an idol and showcasing my skills.” Zhu Yan boasted again.
A new message appeared on his phone.
Chai Heling: [People online are saying they want to be your girlfriend.]
Chu Qianze smiled and replied: [Did you see that trend? I only have a boyfriend.]
Chai Heling: [There are also guys saying they want to be your girlfriend qwq]
“Xiao Chu, what are you looking at? You’re laughing so happily,” Zhu Yan asked after observing him for a while.
“Brother Yan, you’re still here.”
“Where else should I be if not here?” Feeling a bit silly, Zhu Yan responded.
Watching Chu Qianze engrossed in his phone conversation, Zhu Yan couldn’t help but notice how similar it looked to something, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
“Xiao Yan, what are you doing? Stop looking at your phone and come over here!” Director Wang shouted from the side.
Zhu Yan acknowledged and hurriedly ran over. When his eyes glanced at the logistics area and met his lover’s gaze, he suddenly remembered.
The way Chu Qianze looked at his phone just now, wasn’t it similar to how he looked when chatting with his partner, captured by a colleague?
Could it be that Chu Qianze is dating someone?
Zhu Yan felt like he had uncovered a big secret!
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