34: Waiting for the opportunity

"Just you wait!"

On Lin Da's phone screen, those three arrogant words were like the last struggles of a clown.

He deleted the message, his face showing no ripple of emotion. The more furious the other party was, the more it proved they had run out of tricks.

However, this kind of constant harassment, though it couldn't harm him in the slightest, was truly annoying.

Lin Da did not take action immediately. He knew that enemies in the dark were best at creating chaos and luring opponents into disarray. What he needed to do now was to remain calm, observe the situation, and wait for the right moment to strike a decisive blow.

The next day, when Lin Da stepped into the studio again, he keenly felt that the hostility in the air directed at him seemed to have intensified.

The morning's shoot was a scene where Wei Zhongxian served Emperor Yongle as he reviewed memorials in the imperial study. This scene seemed ordinary, but it demanded extremely high attention to detail from the actors. Every glance, every bow, every tea-serving motion of Wei Zhongxian had to perfectly convey his reverence, loyalty, and hidden shrewdness towards the emperor.

However, just before filming was about to begin, Xiao Liu, the prop master, ran over in a panic, his face pale: "Lin...Teacher Lin Da, this...this is bad! The...the special Duan inkstone you...you need to use, it's...it's gone!"

Duan inkstone?

Lin Da frowned slightly. That Duan inkstone was a prop specially customized by the crew, quite valuable, and also an important visual element in this scene. Its sudden disappearance would inevitably affect the shoot.

"Don't panic, Xiao Liu, look carefully, did you put it somewhere else?" Lin Da's tone remained calm.

"I...I've looked everywhere, it's really gone!" Xiao Liu was on the verge of tears, "If Director Zheng finds out, he'll skin me alive!"

Not far away, Sun Hao and Zhang Yang exchanged an almost imperceptible sneer. They knew this was just the beginning.

Lin Da's gaze swept over their faces, and he understood. It seemed the other party's tactics had escalated from hidden rumors to direct sabotage.

"System, use [Interpersonal Insight Card (Basic)] on target 'Prop Master Xiao Liu'." Lin Da thought to himself.

Target: Liu Ming (Prop Master Xiao Liu)

Personality Traits: Careless, not very responsible, easily tempted by small gains, but not bad at heart.

Current Emotions: Panic (9/10), Fear (8/10), Apology to Host (4/10).

Attitude towards Host: Neutral to friendly (due to Host's usual gentle demeanor).

Key Interpersonal Relationships: Recently had several private contacts with actor Zhang Yang's assistant.

Recent Abnormal Behavior: Was called out for drinks by Zhang Yang's assistant last night, during which the other party promised some benefits. After discovering the Duan inkstone missing this morning, his first reaction was to conceal it, but he was very conflicted internally.

As expected, it was Zhang Yang pulling strings again.

Lin Da's eyes slightly chilled, but a gentle smile appeared on his face as he patted Xiao Liu's shoulder: "Xiao Liu, don't panic yet. The loss of a prop isn't just your responsibility. How about this, you go look again carefully, especially in those corners we don't usually use. I'll also talk to Director Zheng and see if we can use other props as a substitute for now, or adjust the shooting schedule."

His words not only showed no trace of blame but also actively helped Xiao Liu share the responsibility, making Xiao Liu immensely grateful and nod repeatedly, then turn and search even more diligently.

Lin Da then calmly walked up to Director Zheng Guofeng and briefly explained the situation.

Director Zheng Guofeng's face immediately darkened upon hearing this. He naturally saw through the trickery and glared fiercely at Zhang Yang nearby, but ultimately suppressed his anger and said to Lin Da: "Lin Da, what are your thoughts?"

"Director Zheng," Lin Da smiled slightly, "While the Duan inkstone is important, it's not irreplaceable. I remember there's also a She inkstone in the storeroom; although its quality is slightly inferior, it should be fine for an emergency. Alternatively, we can first shoot some scenes that don't require close-ups of the inkstone. I believe this small mishap won't affect our crew's professional standards."

His words were neither humble nor arrogant, preserving the crew's reputation while also demonstrating his magnanimity and adaptability.

Director Zheng Guofeng nodded in approval: "Good! We'll do as you say! Assistant, go to the storeroom and get that She inkstone! Camera crew, adjust your positions, shoot the medium and long shots first!"

A small disturbance was once again cleverly resolved by Lin Da.

Zhang Yang and Sun Hao watched from the side, secretly gritting their teeth. They hadn't expected Lin Da to be so composed and always find ways to resolve crises.

In the subsequent filming, Lin Da displayed astonishing focus and skill.

He seemed utterly unaffected by external disturbances, perfectly capturing Wei Zhongxian's subtle emotions in different situations. Whether it was his humble reverence when facing Emperor Yongle, his calm and seasoned demeanor when handling court affairs, or the faint hint of fatigue and loneliness he revealed in private, he portrayed it all vividly.

He even skillfully used the skills of [Qi Chang Control - Focus] and [Aura Control - Intimidation] (when the role required it) when acting opposite Teacher Chen Daoming, not only perfectly matching the other's performance but also invisibly enhancing the dramatic tension and appeal of the entire scene.

Teacher Chen Daoming's gaze towards Lin Da gradually shifted from initial admiration to a true sense of recognition and... the excitement of meeting a worthy opponent.

After several scenes, all the crew members were utterly impressed by Lin Da's professionalism and personal charm. Those who had previously harbored ill feelings towards him due to rumors also changed their attitudes, actively starting to communicate with him and seek his advice.

Lin Da, however, always maintained his humility and friendliness. He knew that in this complex environment, having one more friend was always better than having one more enemy. He cleverly used the skill of [Aura Control- Affinity] to subtly bridge the distance with other crew members, making his popularity within the crew grow steadily.

Meanwhile, Sun Hao and Zhang Yang seemed to be isolated, appearing increasingly out of place. The rumors they had spread earlier had collapsed on their own in the face of Lin Da's strength and personal charm.

At the end of the workday in the evening, Prop Master Xiao Liu, with a flushed face, found Lin Da, holding the recovered Duan inkstone in his hands.

"Lin...Teacher Lin Da, I'm sorry! The Duan inkstone has been found! It...it was my carelessness earlier, I accidentally put it in an old box, and only remembered this afternoon." Xiao Liu's voice carried a hint of shame and unease.

Lin Da looked at him, smiled slightly, and did not expose him. He knew that behind this, there was probably some "guidance" from certain people.

"It's good that it's found." Lin Da took the Duan inkstone and patted Xiao Liu's shoulder, "Be more careful in the future. Let this incident be a lesson."

Xiao Liu expressed his gratitude profusely.

Lin Da watched his retreating back, his gaze deep.

He knew this was just a small round. The real contest was yet to come.

And he, like a mantis stalking in the shadows, was quietly waiting for those self-important praying mantises to expose their fatal flaws.

This drama in the capital was becoming more and more interesting.