<h4>Chapter 372: Frequent On-Set idents</h4>


    Two weekster, Eric apanied E as they joined the film crew heading into the mountains for the shoot.


    Having Mr. Nelson personally overseeing the production had the cast and crew buzzing with excitement. Morale was at an all-time high, and everyone was brimming with enthusiasm.


    After all, how often does a productionpany show this level ofmitment to a smaller film?


    The mountain, located just two hours away, was called Lantern Mountain, aptly named for its unique shape—broad in the middle, narrowing to a sharp peak, and full of treacherous terrain. At its base, a clear stream meandered through, its water sparkling under the sunlight.


    The mountain also housed several old, abandoned houses from the 1940s and 50s, making it an ideal location for a horror film. Austin and Richard had been captivated by the site and decided to use it for the shoot.


    On the first day, aside from resting, the crew set about preparing the sets. E lent a hand, taking on lighter tasks, grateful for the cooler autumn weather that made the work more bearable. Otherwise, she would have been drenched in sweat.


    Eric stayed close by, asionally helping her with the more cumbersome tasks.


    Most of E’s time, however, was spent encouraging Amanda, staying at her side and offering advice on various scenes. Amanda had clearly worked hard over the past month—her lines were wless, and she appeared well-prepared.


    Meanwhile, some of the male actors joined the directors in scouting locations around the mountain. By the afternoon, the group returned, chattering about a small incident.


    "That was close! A huge boulder nearly hit Director Adams."


    "Yeah, it was terrifying. Good thing he jumped out of the way in time!"


    "This ce is full of dangers—we need to stay vignt."


    E overheard the conversation and walked over, her voice soft. "What happened? Director Adams was almost hit by a boulder?"


    "Yes," one actor replied in a hushed tone. "It gave us all a fright. What’s strange is that the area seemed clear when we first scouted it—there weren’t any loose rocks in sight."


    E nced at Austin, her brow furrowing.


    Eric, also concerned, asked, "Are you okay?"


    Austin quickly nodded. "I’m fine, Mr. Nelson. It was just a scare, nothing serious."


    E gave a small nod. "That’s good. Take some time to rest and reset. You’ll need to be in good spirits for tomorrow’s shoot."


    Austin nodded and quietly excused himself.


    Outside, some crew members were setting up offerings on a long table, praying to the mountain spirits for a smooth production.


    E’s gaze inadvertently fell on Tiffany, who was chatting andughing with Amanda not far away. Grabbing Eric by the arm, she pulled him outside.


    "Eric," she whispered, "make sure the crew checks all the props and equipment thoroughly before each shoot. I’m worried..."


    Eric’s expression darkened slightly. "You think... the boulder incident wasn’t an ident?"


    E nodded. The dense forest provided ample cover—someone could have easily pushed the boulder and hidden before being spotted.


    "I’ll make sure it’s taken care of," Eric said firmly.


    E exhaled, relieved, though her unease lingered. She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was deliberately sabotaging the production to ensure her film would fail.


    If the director or actors were injured, the shoot would undoubtedly face dys—or worse, cancetion.


    Eric noticed the worry etched on her face and chuckled softly. "Rx. Nothing serious is going to happen."


    Before she could respond, he reached out, tilting her chin, and kissed her deeply.


    E’s cheeks flushed as she quickly pushed him away. "There are people around!"


    Sure enough, actors and crew members bustled nearby, and being caught in such an intimate moment would be mortifying.


    Eric grumbled, his displeasure evident. "This ce is so basic. Looks like I’ll be deprived of certain forts’ for the whole month."


    E burst intoughter, her amusement clear. The mountain amodations were indeed sparse, with limited rooms and poor soundproofing. Privacy was hard toe by.


    "Consider it... a chance to practice self-restraint," she teased.


    Eric sighed dramatically, resigning himself to the situation. He couldn’t bear to be apart from E, nor could he leave her alone in a ce that didn’t feel entirely safe. If staying meant keeping her secure, it was worth enduring a little difort.


    The next day, filming for The Sinful Mountain officially began. The morning shoot went smoothly. E had expected Amanda to be nervous and require multiple takes, but to her surprise, Amanda adjusted quickly, only needing four or five takes before fully getting into character.


    E smiled faintly, pleased with her decision. Amanda truly had a natural talent for acting.


    Amanda herself felt more confident than ever. Having E by her side reinforced the belief that her role was important, boosting her self-assurance and improving her performance. Even Richard and the veteran director couldn’t stop praising her.


    During a break, E suddenly remembered something and took out her phone to call her uncle. She was surprised to find she had no signal indoors, even though she had received a call from Chloe just the day before in this same location.


    Stepping outside, her phone signal returned. A flicker of suspicion crossed E’s eyes. Something felt off.


    E dialed Mia. Despite Eric having fired Mia after the incident with the fake maid, E had maintained a friendly rtionship with her.


    "Mia, could you bring me some snacks?" E said yfully. "The conditions here are dreadful, and I can’t take it anymore!"


    Mia, as usual, reacted with exaggerated surprise. E chuckled softly but spoke with a tone of quiet seriousness, "Mia, there are two small boxes in my personal drawer. Could you bring them to me?"


    Mia readily agreed, and E finally exhaled in relief.


    The boxes weren’t snacks—they were her secret weapons.


    After ending the call, E returned to the set.


    The scene being filmed was eerie and atmospheric, with Amanda suspended mid-air by a wire harness, surrounded by swirling mist. It was a key moment in the story, depicting the third bizarre encounter experienced by the protagonists.


    The set was designed to be unsettling, but with so many people around, the atmosphere was more fascinating than frightening.


    E nced around and noticed Allison, Tiffany’s assistant, standing nearby. Something about her expression—an odd, sly smirk as she stared up at Amanda—caught E’s attention.


    E’s gaze snapped upward, and she noticed something rming: the wire harness holding Amanda was fraying, about to snap!


    Pushing her way through the crowd, E rushed to the director’s side. Allison let out a faint gasp, drawing E’s attention just in time.


    "Danger!" Eric’s voice boomed, his sharp eyes also catching the precarious situation. Without hesitation, he kicked a broken sofa nearby, sliding it directly under Amanda’s position.


    Amanda, startled and forgetting all about the scene, suddenly felt herself plummeting. The harness had snappedpletely!


    Gasps erupted from the crew as Amanda fell, but to everyone’s astonishment, shended safely on the tattered sofa Eric had kicked into ce. His quick thinking and precise timing had saved her from a potentially serious injury.


    Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. Tiffany rushed forward, her face full of concern. "Amanda, are you alright?"


    Two bodyguards helped Amanda to her feet. Her face was pale, and she looked shaken, clearly still processing the near-miss.