The clock struck 3:45 a.m. While the entire city of Sai Gon was still sunk in the quiet darkness, Lam Moc Tra had to slip out from under her blanket without waking Lan, her roommate. Lan had stayed up until 2 a.m. cramming for the HSK 5 practice test the night before, and was still mumbling a few Chinese words in her sleep.
Tra hurried through her morning routine. Knowing it would be a long day of standing and running around nonstop on the film set, she carefully slipped on the ballet-style sneakers with thick soles she was incredibly proud of. They were comfortable, offered excellent arch support, and looked fairly stylish—enough to keep her from looking too shabby among the entertainment industry's glamorous crew.
At exactly 4:30 a.m., Tra arrived in the company lobby. The truck carrying the twenty boxes of props from the day before was already parked there. Vu Hoang Hai stood beside it with a clipboard in hand, his face cold and showing no trace of fatigue even though the sky wasn't fully light yet.
"Everyone's here. Get in the truck." Hai gave the terse order when he saw Tra running up.
The film set was on the outskirts of the city. By the time the crew arrived, dawn was just beginning to break. The atmosphere immediately grew as tense as a military operation. Tra and Tuan threw themselves into carrying and arranging props, reironing costumes, and preparing the artists' rest area.
At 7 a.m., a luxurious MPV pulled into the parking lot. The door opened, and Khanh—the rising young singer starring in today's music video—stepped out wearing oversized sunglasses that covered nearly his entire face. Right behind him was a young woman in a tight burgundy silk dress and razor-sharp high heels, radiating a sharp, haughty air.
That was Bao Anh, StarBrite's External Relations Director.
Bao Anh swept her eyes across the chaotic film set, her willow-shaped brows drawing together slightly. She walked straight over to Hoang Hai, who was standing and discussing something with the director.
"Hai, we're running way too behind schedule. Our Khanh has another event tonight. He can't spend all day stuck on this dusty film set." Bao Anh's voice was shrill, half reproachful and half coquettish.
Hai didn't look at her, keeping his eyes fixed on the monitor.
"We're setting up the lighting. Take your artist to the makeup room. We'll start shooting in thirty minutes."
Bao Anh gave a soft scoff and turned toward the rest area. As she passed a row of clothing racks, she stopped. Tra was hunched over, using clear tape to reattach the sole of an old shoe being used as a prop.
"Hey, you there!" Bao Anh called sharply. "Who ironed this schoolgirl uniform? Why are the sleeve creases still this wrinkled? Where are your eyes? What kind of operation are you running, handing Khanh's costar this rag to wear?"
Tra jumped to her feet in surprise. She looked at the uniform. She had clearly ironed it very carefully the day before, but after being stuffed into a cardboard box for transport, it was impossible to avoid a few small wrinkles.
"I'm sorry. I'll get the steamer and iron it again right away." Tra lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly.
Bao Anh folded her arms across her chest, her disdainful gaze sweeping over the ballet-style sneakers on Tra's feet.
"A new intern? You're here to work events, not perform ballet, so why are you wearing such fussy shoes? Slow and clumsy. Is StarBrite out of people, or did they really hire this fresh-faced student who hasn't even learned to wipe her own nose?"
Tra's face burned. Her wounded pride rose into her throat, but she had to bite her lip to keep from talking back. She knew that in this industry, people at the bottom had to learn patience before anything else.
"That outfit is for a scene where the schoolgirl gets caught in the rain on her way home. A few wrinkles will make it look more authentic."
A deep, icy voice rang out from behind them. Vu Hoang Hai stepped forward and positioned himself between Tra and Bao Anh. He looked straight into the External Relations Director's eyes.
"She's with the Production Department and is doing exactly what she's supposed to. If there's a problem with the costumes, come to me. Don't take it out on the intern."
Bao Anh froze, the smile on her lips turning slightly stiff. She glanced at Hai, then shot Tra one last sharp glare before turning on her heel.
"Fine. This project's your responsibility, Hai."
Tra let out a small breath of relief and murmured, "Thank you, boss..."
"Don't dawdle." Hai cut her off, pressing a 500,000-dong bill into her hand. "Go collect the whole team's orders. Get everyone milk tea from DING OI, and remember to tell them to go easy on the ice and sugar for the cameramen. Everyone's dying of thirst. Move."
He said it and immediately walked away, but Tra still managed to catch the faint flush on his ears beneath the harsh morning sunlight. She clenched the bill in her hand, the corners of her lips unconsciously curving into a radiant smile. Her boss was cold on the outside but warm underneath. In the end, he wasn't nearly as scary as she'd thought!