Reborn Superstar

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

01 Second-Rate Action Star
When Mei Yu received the call from her agent, several strong, muscular men were busy surrounding her, helping her attach wires. Soon, she would be performing a difficult stunt; the wires would suspend her in mid-air, and she would have to perform a side somersault and two front somersaults like a top gymnast.
Wire work, also known as stunt work in this industry, is the Chinese translation of the English word "wire." It involves attaching extremely thin steel wires to the actor's body and suspending them in mid-air, where they perform various high-difficulty movements such as leaping and bounding.
After filming, the traces of the wires are erased through post-production editing, so that what the audience sees is the scene of the actor flying through the air like a god.
Amidst the noise, the agent's shrill voice remained jarring. Mei Yu habitually moved the phone away three inches. "Xiao Yu, I heard you turned down Director Chen's role again. Do you know how hard I worked to get this opportunity for you?! You're just a second-rate martial arts actress. Every day, countless young and beautiful girls appear in this world. What right do you have to be so picky?!"
It was the same old cliché. Mei Yu was getting annoyed. She gestured to the martial arts instructor beside her, indicating she could handle the rest herself.
The martial arts instructor knew that while this actress wasn't a top-tier star, she was quite capable for a second-tier actress. He and Mei Yu had worked together before. He nodded knowingly, extending his right hand in an "OK" sign.
Seeing that no one was around, Mei Yu tightened the wire buckle while patiently explaining into the phone, "Brother Liu, I've read Director Chen's script. One of the supporting characters is being chased by a pack of hungry lions. You know, my knees haven't been feeling well lately, and I'm worried about the danger."
Before her agent could complain, Mei Yu emphasized, "Besides, I've told you many times I don't want to film these action scenes anymore. Can you give me some scripts with more substance?!"
With that, Mei Yu decisively hung up. She wasn't young anymore; many of her contemporaries had retired at the height of their fame. If they weren't incredibly popular, they had already found a way out—either marrying into wealth or into the financial world. Only she was still striving for a vague, unattainable dream.
When Mei Yu was young, she was discovered by a talent scout because of her pretty face and rashly entered the entertainment industry. With a fierce determination and a willingness to endure hardship, she struggled for many years. Her beauty gradually faded, and burdened with injuries, she became a second-tier action star, at least managing to make a living.
She was confident that after all these years, she could definitely win one or two awards based on her acting skills. Unfortunately, the scripts offered to her were either martial arts heroines or ethereal goddesses—all roles that emphasized martial arts prowess over acting skills.
Her agent was the most blunt, stating bluntly that if it weren't for the need for action scenes, at her age, she wouldn't even be wanted as a pretty face, at most playing a sharp-tongued old nanny serving the empress.
The director called out through a megaphone, and Mei Yu quickly snapped out of her thoughts. She waved her arm at the director, and the spotlight shone on her face, the blinding light blurring her vision. She forced herself to open her eyes, otherwise, she would be filmed with her eyes closed, creating a comical scene.
After her eyes adjusted to the bright light, Mei Yu could clearly see the gentle woman standing next to the director, nestled against him like a little bird, the two chatting and laughing, as if it were just an insignificant scene.
A surge of resentment rose in Mei Yu's heart. Just last year, she had played a mother in a low-budget tearjerker, giving a truly dedicated performance, vividly portraying the pain of a middle-aged mother who had lost her husband and whose beloved son suffered from an eye disease.
Although not the lead, many film critics said her brilliance far overshadowed the main character, and many predicted she would be the undisputed winner of the Best Supporting Actress award at that year's Golden Phoenix Awards.
Cheng Wan, the woman chatting and laughing with the director, suddenly burst onto the scene as a dark horse, inexplicably winning the Best Supporting Actress award for a melancholic, decorative role in a commercial film by an internationally renowned director, and quickly riding this wave to become a top-tier actress.
Mei Yu's decision to take on this cheesy TV series, flying around on screen and being suspended by wires for four or five hours a day, wasn't without a sense of pride. She wanted to prove that even as a supporting character in this drama starring Cheng Wan, she could outshine the lead.
With a shout of "Action!", Mei Yu was quickly hoisted into the air. She endured the discomfort in her lower back and abdomen, waving her long, flowing sleeves. From a distance, she appeared ethereal in her ancient costume.
Following the script, Mei Yu flawlessly performed a forward roll and a side somersault. The director should have called "Cut!" and moved on to the next scene, but she didn't hear the command.
Mei Yu struggled to maintain her balance in mid-air, glancing towards the director. She spotted Cheng Wan laughing hysterically beside him. The assistant director rushed over and whispered something in the director's ear, finally drawing the attention of Mei Yu, who had stopped moving.
The director immediately stood up, shouting angrily, "Stop what? Who told you to stop? Reshoot!"
He then sat down, still grumbling, "It's actors like this, half-famous but thinking they're big stars, carelessly wasting all the staff's work, making everyone's efforts go to waste."
Mei Yu's face paled. She didn't say anything, just silently adjusted her body, preparing for the next round of filming. In a film crew, unless you're an international superstar, you should obediently follow the director's orders. The director is the local tyrant of the crew; a second-rate star is someone you can't afford to offend.
It's common for actors to be replaced halfway through filming. Just claim scheduling conflicts or diva behavior. In this industry, smearing someone is always much easier than making them famous.
Cold sweat began to bead on Mei Yu's forehead. The director hesitated to call "action," leaving her hanging in mid-air, her chest tight. She'd had this symptom for a long time, but she'd never dared to see a doctor. Both her parents died of heart disease, and she suspected it was hereditary.
Her parents had always hoped she would settle down soon, marry into a well-off family, and have children. But she always wanted to win an award to console herself for all the hardships she had endured over the years. Her parents, who had always been by her side, finally died with their eyes wide open in disbelief.
Mei Yu watched the ground sink lower and lower, and seemed to see her parents' faces. Confused, she wondered, what was happening?
She heard screams from the film crew: "The wire broke! Quick, the safety cushion!"
02 New Identity
It felt like countless little people were arguing in Mei Yu's head, making her mind buzz. She painfully opened her eyes and shouted, "Quiet! Quiet!"
Her roar was only heard as a low groan. Mei Yu was slightly startled; a torrent of information surged from the depths of her mind, like a fountain suddenly erupting from barren sand, instantly washing away all her common sense.
Gradually understanding the hidden meaning within the information that had entered her mind, Mei Yu raised her hands in disbelief, staring at the slightly slender hands before her. Mei Yu had no doubt that these fair, almost translucent hands belonged to the girl named Ang, not her.
These hands had long, slender fingers, and the skin was so smooth that not a single pore was visible. Her hands were also beautiful, but years of filming action movies had left them calloused, and the knuckles were slightly deformed. They
were far inferior to the exquisite, work of art-like hands before her.
Mei Yu's hands trembled as she touched her face again. It felt smooth and elastic; this was definitely not her face. Her face, honed by years of outdoor filming, was roughened by wind and sand. No matter how much she cared for it, her skin aged with time, requiring heavy makeup to conceal it during filming.
A makeup artist had once told her regretfully, "Even if you had done basic skincare every day when you first started out, your skin wouldn't be this bad."
Mei Yu smiled bitterly. When she first entered the industry, relying on her youth, she would stay up all night, and after work, she'd go to street stalls for barbecue and beer, and be praised as a heroine. She wouldn't even have dark circles the next day, so she genuinely believed she was naturally beautiful.
Mei Yu stared blankly for a while, then felt slightly dizzy. She slid down the pillow, reached out her hand, hesitated again, still unaccustomed to having such beautiful hands on her own body. She pulled the blanket up, closed her eyes, and began to process the information she had gathered.
Ang, whose parents divorced when she was young—both were successful businesspeople who later remarried—was deeply affected by their divorce, fostering her withdrawn and introverted personality. She
dropped out of school after junior high and now lives alone in a luxury house her parents bought for her. Every month, her parents deposit 500,000 yuan into her account for allowance, and she can ask for more if needed.
Unfortunately, Ang doesn't get what she wants most. Her parents rarely see each other, so she uses the money to do strange things to attract their attention, such as smashing up shops or hanging out in bars. Each time, her parents manage to get rid of her with money, leaving the young girl increasingly desperate.
This time, she used money to buy a maid role in a third-rate film crew and invited a group of friends to celebrate. These friends, probably trying to please her, even tried to coax her into taking high-energy pills.
Her body was too weak to handle such a strong drug. She fell into a coma shortly after taking the pill. Her so-called friends, utterly disloyal, ran away. It was only after the pub owner discovered her that they frantically rushed her to the hospital.
Her parents, however, only deposited enough money into the hospital account for medical expenses and didn't even visit her once.
Mei Yu could feel the girl's despair. She held up her right hand, looking at the faint blue veins against her almost translucent white skin—a striking contrast.
Mei Yu's lips curled into a smile. Since Ang didn't want to live anymore, let her take over and live on properly. She
didn't want parents like that; she didn't want any more entanglement with them. From now on, she would start anew on her own.
This body was incredibly weak. Even after just a short while of consciousness, Mei Yu felt utterly exhausted. Her eyelids felt heavy as if filled with lead, and she quickly drifted off to sleep.
When Mei Yu woke up again, she felt much better. Just then, a nurse came to change her dressing. She was in a VIP room, a private room with a TV, a private bathroom, and a dedicated senior nurse.
This nurse was clearly not an inexperienced fresh graduate; she was in her early thirties, always smiling. While taking Mei Yu's temperature, she tried to distract her with conversation while subtly avoiding her private matters. "Where do you often go shopping, Miss An?"
Mei Yu tried to recall Ang's behavior, smiled shyly, and whispered, "I rarely go shopping."
Nurse Li skillfully and casually found topics to discuss, avoiding both an overly demanding interview and an awkward silence. Mei Yu admired her approach and secretly noted her name: Li Mingyan.
After the examination, Mei Yu felt a growing familiarity with Nurse Li and casually asked, "Sister Li, what's the date today? I'm so confused about dates. Could you please find me a daily newspaper?"
Nurse Li smiled gently. "No wonder you're confused. You were in the ICU for three days before you woke up."
Mei Yu was stunned. Three days of resuscitation? Three days! Didn't the parents of this body come to see their child? What kind of parents are these!
Nurse Li was very efficient; she brought her a copy of the day's daily newspaper in less than fifteen minutes. Mei Yu eagerly searched for the date, and upon seeing it, she was immediately stunned. July 4th! It was July 4th! Subtracting the time Ang was unconscious, it should coincide with the time she had the accident on the filming set.
In other words, the two of them actually died almost simultaneously, but Mei Yu was reborn through Ang's body.
Mei Yu sighed for a moment, then immediately flipped to the entertainment section. After searching for a while, she finally found a news article about herself in a corner: the legendary martial arts actress Yu Mei had passed away on set due to a sudden heart attack, and her funeral was being held today.
Because her surname sounds like "unlucky" in Chinese, her agent said that no stage name would be auspicious, so it was better to simply reverse her name. She was used to being called Yu Mei, so few people knew that her real name was actually Mei Yu.
The news was short, briefly mentioning the address of the memorial service and the burial site. Mei Yu was overwhelmed with mixed feelings. Few people would live to see their own funeral.
Come to think of it, although Liu Cixin was a bit harsh, he was a decent person. Judging from the burial site, he must have paid part of the money himself.
Mei Yu sighed for a while, then closed the newspaper unopened and tossed it aside. There was no point in dwelling on it now; she should focus on getting better and being discharged from the hospital as soon as possible.
If possible, she hoped to visit her own grave, as a way of saying goodbye to her past self.
03 Luxury Home
A month later, Mei Yu finally received her doctor's permission to be discharged.
Wearing a light white dress, its seemingly simple cut and perfectly placed stitching at the waist and sides accentuated her graceful figure, she stood
by Lane Crawford's latest collection—the same dress Ang wore when he was admitted to the hospital. Mei Yu hailed a taxi, got in, and immediately gave the driver an address. The driver gave her a knowing, ambiguous smile. She knew he must be mistaking her for some kept woman.
Theoretically, a young girl like her couldn't possibly afford such a place.
The driver deliberately probed her, "Are you a local, young lady?" "Who's in your family?" "Studying or working?"
Mei Yu was almost frantic. She desperately wanted to give him the middle finger and yell, "What do you care who I am? You're more gossipy than a woman! "
She ignored all the driver's questions, and the car quickly arrived at its destination. Mei Yu glanced at the timer; it was exactly nineteen yuan and fifty cents. She pulled out a twenty-yuan note and handed it over.
The driver hesitated, watching her for a long time before finally reluctantly handing over a fifty-cent note, muttering under his breath, "You stingy little wench."
Mei Yu pretended not to hear, forcefully pushed open the car door, got out, spat on the fifty-cent note in her hand, stuck it to the car window, and said to the driver with a forced smile, "Here's your tip, keep it safe."
Her pent-up frustration vanished with this casual gesture. She smugly wiggled her hips, looked up at the towering skyscraper, and pushed open the revolving glass door. A waiter in a crisp uniform glanced at the taxi driver who had chased after her and smiled as he asked, "Miss, do you need me to help you?"
Hearing this, Mei Yu turned back to look at the thin, sleazy-looking taxi driver and casually said, "Just don't let him come in."
A 1.8-meter-tall waiter grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, and greeted her confidently.
Mei Yu skipped and hopped to the two elevators in the middle of the lobby, inserted her room card into one of them, and the card's information was instantly transmitted to the security center. After confirmation, a safe signal was sent back, and the elevator doors slowly opened.
Mei Yu stepped into the elevator, which was surrounded by mirrors on all four sides. She noticed fresh flowers in one corner and the word "Tuesday" clearly written on the leather carpet under her feet.
Unlike typical elevators, there were no floor selection buttons next to the elevator. In this upscale apartment building, each floor, approximately 200 square meters, housed only one resident. Inserting the room card was equivalent to selecting the floor.
Of course, residents could also remotely control the elevator from their homes for the convenience of visitors. This way, guests who did not have the owner's trust could not even enter the elevator.
This apartment building was about thirty stories high, with only sixty residents in the entire building. Each elevator could accommodate thirty households. Because the security was extremely thorough, almost reaching international standards, it was sold out before it even went on sale.
The residents who can move in are all extremely wealthy and powerful. The annual security costs are enormous, enough to buy a small secondhand apartment in the city. Even the waiters at the revolving door are specially trained bodyguards; they look harmless, but they can subdue a 300-pound man with their bare hands in an instant.
The elevator doors opened, revealing her room door. She inserted her key card again, and the electronic doors clicked open, slowly sliding to either side. Mei Yu couldn't help but gasp. Although she was somewhat prepared, the room's luxury still exceeded her expectations.
It was clear that this was Ang's private space, with no intention of accommodating guests. The entire room was completely open-plan, with no living room. The enormous 200-square-meter space, combined with the floor-to-ceiling windows, created a breathtaking visual impact.
To the left was an entire TV wall, made up of twenty flat-screen TVs, typically used on the rooftops of high-rise buildings as advertising billboards.
To the right was a huge mirror. Sunlight streamed into the room through the floor-to-ceiling windows, reflecting off the mirror in a kaleidoscope of colors. Mei Yu looked up at the zodiac-themed colored lights on the ceiling, knowing this room must be even more magical at night than during the day.
In the center of the room was a large bed, about five meters square, surrounded by a hand-woven carpet in a fresh, elegant color—quite unusual.
Mei Yu cheered, kicked off her shoes, and plopped onto the bed, rolling around a few times. Then she grabbed the remote control from the bedside table and snapped on the TV screen. A list of subtitles appeared, offering channels from various countries, classic movies, rare TV series, and past variety shows.
Mei Yu randomly selected a currently popular movie, a new work by a renowned director, about a city girl who meets a simple, honest boy in the countryside, and the intense emotional collision between them—a pure and beautiful first love.
The enormous figures of the characters rushed towards her, the powerful impact causing her to momentarily lose control of her body.
After a long while, Mei Yu finally caught her breath. She looked at the TV wall with great interest, noticing that the sheer size of the figures magnified every flaw. Even the girl's pouty lips, which looked cute and innocent, were actually caused by a painful blister on her lip.
The fine wrinkles around the male lead's eyes convinced Mei Yu that this supposedly high-achieving, sunny young man from a prestigious university looked at least twenty-five.
Mei Yu watched half the movie, finally collapsing on the bed laughing during the kiss. This kiss, touted as the most perfect kiss of the early 2000s, was actually a misaligned kiss. While it might not be noticeable on the movie screen, on the TV wall, the subtle differences between the leads were magnified, clearly showing that the male lead's lips were at least half an inch away from the female lead's.
Mei Yu realized her reluctance and decisively pressed the remote control, snapping the TV off. She got out of bed, her bare feet stepping onto the soft carpet. She walked barefoot to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, her hands unconsciously gripping the glass. Looking down at the city as night fell, the narrow, ribbon-like streets were filled with cars moving back and forth like matchboxes, and countless pedestrians like ants.
04 Abandoning Wealth and Glory
Standing atop this high-rise, she had a fleeting sense of supreme power, as if everything was under her control. Mei Yu shook her head, trying to shake off this pointless thought.
She strolled back into the room, picked up another remote from the mirrored marble cabinet by her bed, and gently pressed it. The mirrored wall split in two, revealing a wardrobe that stretched from the base of the wall to the ceiling, divided into three sections.
At the top was a row of handbags, many of which, judging from the tags, were from luxury brands like LV and Hermès. It was clear that Ang preferred opulent styles; most of these women's handbags were glittering and adorned with various diamond clasps.
The middle section was entirely clothing, like clothes in a department store, covered in transparent plastic bags, one after another, stretching for a full ten meters. Mei Yu glanced at them and immediately spotted several of the latest seasonal items from major brands. Many of these clothes even still had their tags attached.
At the bottom was a row of shoes—all kinds of shoes: high-heeled strappy sandals, custom-made tennis shoes, supple ballet flats…
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In this huge wardrobe, only the shoes showed obvious signs of wear. The clothes and bags seemed to be purely for collecting and appreciating, just to satisfy some kind of hobby of their owner.
Mei Yu didn't even glance at the handbags on top. She rummaged through the clothes in the middle for a long time, but finally gave up in frustration. Any one of these clothes would cost more than half a month's salary for a white-collar worker. For someone who was preparing to start from scratch, it was simply too much of an eyesore.
Mei Yu picked and chose among the shoes below, only taking a few pairs of comfortable sneakers. These custom-made shoes didn't even have brand names on them; they were obviously bought from a street stall, which suited her perfectly.
Mei Yu found a suitcase, which was also an LV. She had no choice but to make do and threw the shoes in with it. Finally, she searched around the room and found a lot of loose change in several corners. She also found some hundred-yuan bills in the pocket of her old trousers. After a quick count, it was about two thousand yuan.
She was very satisfied with her haul and stuffed the money into her pocket. Once inside, Mei Yu took one last look at the luxurious apartment, then left without looking back, carrying her suitcase.
She only took Ang's ID card; all her credit cards and bank cards were tossed under the bed. Mei Yu was determined to start from the bottom. She was already content to be able to continue living in Ang's body; she didn't want to occupy Ang's identity—that was Ang's life, not hers.
In this vast city, there's a group of people who like to call themselves the "drifters." They have no fixed income, no fixed jobs, and spend their days traveling between various film sets. They ran around the city, searching for a bit part, dreaming that one day a famous director would discover their talent and cast them as the lead in a big-budget film, propelling them to stardom.
Mei Yu was once one of them.
She knew all too well the different places in the city to stay: crowded courtyard houses, damp basements, even subway and bridge underpasses—all could become refuges for these drifters.
Mei Yu was heading to a very ordinary courtyard house, where some struggling extras, barely managing to establish themselves, had gained a little fame in various film crews.
What she needed now was not just an opportunity to enter the industry, but also to leverage other people's connections to quickly integrate into the circle.
This LV suitcase truly lived up to its reputation; the heavy, metallic-reflecting fabric and the gleaming silver handle were surprisingly light to pull, the two small wheels making almost no sound as they touched the uneven concrete.
Mei Yu was reluctant to throw the suitcase away.
At the convenience store next to the bus stop, she bought several large plastic bags and some toiletries, took her shoes out of the suitcase and tossed them into the plastic bags, then carried the bags in one hand and dragged the empty suitcase to the bus stop. After
checking the route, she waited about five minutes until the bus arrived. A stir ran through the waiting crowd, and there was a brief moment of jostling at the doors. Mei Yu took the opportunity to release the suitcase, picked up the plastic bags, and boarded the bus.
It was rush hour, and Mei Yu, carrying a large plastic bag, drew many disapproving glances. Calmly, she stood in the soft, folding section of the bus, leaning forward.
Normally, leaning against this area isn't allowed, but many people don't care. In the limited space, a little more room means more comfort, and few consider the one in ten thousand chance of danger.
This area swayed more violently than other places, and Mei Yu skillfully swayed her body gently with the bus's movement—a simple balancing technique, using body swaying to counteract the swaying.
Mei Yu once filmed a martial arts drama where she played a fisherwoman, wearing a straw hat and rowing a small boat on a lake every day. Originally from the north, she was a complete landlubber.
Initially, she would vomit incessantly as soon as she boarded the boat, and the director even considered replacing her. Mei Yu gritted her teeth and persevered. She ate and slept on the fishing boat every day, only stopping to go ashore when she needed to relieve herself, and finally mastered the skill of rowing.
After filming was completed and submitted for review, some unsuspecting viewers pointed at the screen and jokingly asked the director, "Where did you find such professional extras? Were they local fishermen?"
Memories slowly returned, and Mei Yu felt herself gradually replacing Ang. She had returned to her familiar acting life, like a fish that had accidentally jumped ashore and returned to the water, free and at ease, with everything under control.
The bus announcement interrupted Mei Yu's thoughts. She picked up the plastic bag at her feet and forcefully pushed her way out. Getting on the bus was like charging, getting off was like fighting a battle; she needed the spirit of "I will go even if there are millions of people" to carve a path through the chaos.
After getting off the bus, Mei Yu approached the bus stop sign, studied it for a moment, and counted on her fingers. Four stops to go. After a slight hesitation, she made her decision, slung the plastic bag over her shoulder, and strode forward.
She currently has no income and has to save every penny. Among the necessities she just bought was a thermos, which was expensive, over fifty yuan, but worth it.
The film crew usually provides bottled water, but it's not unlimited; generally, one person gets two bottles a day, which is definitely not enough in the summer.
Of course, if you're a big star, you can use bottled water to wash your hair when filming desert scenes.
Mei Yu did a simple calculation: if she brings her own water bottle and saves two bottles a day, that adds up to sixty yuan a month.
Moreover, her makeup artist once advised her that drinking warm water is very important for self-care.
05 The Charming Landlady
Taking care of your stomach is equivalent to taking care of your whole body. Only with a healthy stomach can you fully absorb nutrients from food and withstand various harsh filming environments.
Mei Yu kept this in mind.
She walked quickly and steadily. Mei Yu's life goals were clear: to fulfill the wishes she hadn't achieved in her past life and win one or two Oscars. Acting wasn't just a hobby; her love for acting was deeply etched into her life, becoming an inseparable part of her.
Seeing Ang's luxurious apartment, Mei Yu had been tempted. Through that enormous wardrobe, she could imagine the extravagant life Ang had led. No woman could resist such temptation: fine clothes, a mansion, and more than enough pocket money.
But after careful consideration, she resolutely gave it all up.
Because everything Ang possessed wasn't earned through her own efforts; it was all a gift from her parents. In other words, Ang was essentially a parasite, a true freeloader.
Mei Yu wasn't Ang; she couldn't comfortably enjoy everything Ang's parents provided. It was like finding a wallet on the street filled with bundles of cash, but she wouldn't casually spend the money inside—it didn't belong to her.
Mei Yu was very confident in herself. She believed she could carve out her own path and become an excellent actress through her own hard work and abilities.
This was the pride of a woman with an independent personality.
She disdained becoming someone else.
She was grateful to Ang because it allowed her to continue living and pursuing her dreams, but she didn't want to inherit Ang's connections and become a second Ang; that wasn't the life she wanted.
So she only took her ID card, leaving everything else in the apartment. Ang's parents would find the things in the apartment one day, and she would return them to their rightful owner without feeling any guilt.
Mei Yu's steps grew longer and longer; she could already see a new life beckoning her. A smile involuntarily appeared on her face. Living was such a wonderful thing.
She walked for twenty minutes, covering two bus stops, and stood in front of this ordinary courtyard house. Mei Yu was filled with mixed emotions.
Many years ago, this was her place of refuge, where she had endured many difficult years. When she moved out of this courtyard, she had also cried tears of joy.
Mei Yu took a deep breath and shouted, "I'm here! The entertainment industry!"
The landlady of this courtyard house was a shrewd woman with ambiguous relationships with many producers and directors. She often gave small roles to the girls in the courtyard, but she took a 30% cut of the pay. The girls in the courtyard secretly called her "Vampire."
But it was precisely because of "Vampire's" presence that this small courtyard was different from other places, unlike the cramped living conditions of the "ant tribe," becoming a place for newcomers to enter the entertainment industry.
As far as Mei Yu knew, there were several such courtyards in the city, and this courtyard house was the best of them. Although "Vampire" took a larger cut, the jobs she introduced were reliable.
At least among her peers, she wasn't the first to move out of this courtyard house.
Mei Yu carried two large plastic bags, looking at the room with the light on to her right. In the darkness, the orange light was very soft, like a home calling to a wandering prodigal son.
Mei Yu knocked politely on the door, which creaked open, revealing a woman in a pomegranate-red cheongsam with gold lettering. Her short, shoulder-length hair was styled in waves that cascaded smoothly behind her ears. She leaned against the door, her eyes alluring, scrutinizing Mei Yu from head to toe.
This woman exuded the decadent charm of old Shanghai, like opium, intoxicating and intoxicating. She was the owner of this courtyard house, the legendary vampire, Sister Ning.
Mei Yu readily allowed Sister Ning to examine her. She knew that Sister Ning was so successful in the entertainment industry because of her discerning and experienced eye; she could tell at a glance whether a girl had a future in the industry. The girls she introduced got into character quickly and performed exceptionally well, which was why more and more agents sought her help.
A faint smile crossed Sister Ning's face as she turned slightly to the side and stepped into the house, saying to Mei Yu, "Come in."
As she walked, the side slit of Sister Ning's cheongsam opened and closed intermittently, her steps unhurried, her two slender, beautiful legs appearing and disappearing, arousing endless imagination.
Mei Yu secretly observed Ning Jie's figure, silently learning from her. A close friend of hers from years ago, who later became a spokesperson for a well-known cosmetics brand, had once privately advised her: "Ning Jie possesses an elegance of old-fashioned women. This kind of poise cannot be casually displayed in life without the accumulation of generations."
That friend patted her shoulder proudly, revealing her last secret: "Actually, when I auditioned, I imitated Ning Jie, and I was immediately selected."
From then on, Mei Yu paid attention to this elegant landlady and discovered her unknown side.
Ning Jie's small living room was decorated warmly and comfortably, with two simple fabric sofas, a simple rattan coffee table, and a table lamp with a light yellow floral lampshade. An old-fashioned record player in the corner was playing Teresa Teng's "Small Town Story." The room exuded an indescribable languid atmosphere, making one unconsciously immerse themselves in it, and one's thoughts would unconsciously stop.
After Mei Yu sat down, Sister Ning quickly brought over a rental agreement and placed it in front of her. She then sat down on another sofa chair, casually picked up a cigarette case from the coffee table, took out a slender women's cigarette, and before lighting it, glanced at Mei Yu with a questioning look.
Mei Yu smiled brightly and shook her head slightly: "No, I don't mind."
Actually, she did mind, but she knew that sometimes you have to get used to secondhand smoke. When filming late-night shows, almost everyone had a cigarette in hand, and if you didn't allow others to smoke, you would immediately become the target of everyone's criticism.
In the wisps of smoke, Sister Ning's face became indistinct. Mei Yu glanced at her, held up the contract, and asked pleadingly, "Could you be lenient with paying six months' rent upfront?"
Mei Yu hesitated, touching her purse, and said softly, "I can only afford one month."
Sister Ning raised an eyebrow, her eyes sweeping over Mei Yu. After a moment's pause, just as Mei Yu thought she would be rejected, Sister Ning exhaled a beautiful smoke ring and replied with a half-smile, "Okay, one month it is."
06 First Job
Mei Yu was overjoyed. She knew why Sister Ning's gaze had paused earlier. Sister Ning must have noticed that her simply cut dress was a Lane Crawford seasonal item. Anyone would be suspicious if someone could afford a $500 dress but couldn't afford $500 in rent.
Sister Ning pulled the contract over, and Mei Yu noticed that Sister Ning's beautiful fingertips were painted with light purple nail polish, with a circle of green vines drawn on them—exceptionally alluring.
Sister Ning quickly changed the rental period, and Mei Yu readily signed it.
Sister Ning gracefully picked up the contract, handed a copy to Mei Yu, and walked elegantly to the window. She lifted a corner of the pale yellow curtain, pointed to the west corner of the courtyard, and smiled softly, "You'll live in that room. There are two other girls there; you'd better get along well."
Mei Yu picked up the bag, grabbed the contract, stood up, and smiled, "Don't worry, I know the rules. By the way, do you have any suitable roles? You know, I'm really short..."
Mei Yu swallowed the word "money" indistinctly, tucked the contract under her arm, and rubbed her thumb, index, and middle fingers together in a money gesture.
Sister Ning chuckled, returned to the sofa chair, bent down slightly, and casually stubbed out the remaining third of her pipe in the crystal ashtray. "I do have a role," she said nonchalantly, "just a minor one," she added. "I don't know if you'd be interested."
Mei Yu's eyes widened, and she nodded happily, saying frankly, "No problem, any role is fine as long as I can act."
Sister Ning straightened up, crossed her arms over her bare shoulders, tilted her head, and smiled mockingly. "Any role? Including kissing scenes, bed scenes, nude scenes?"
Even though Mei Yu had lived two lives and was worldly-wise in her previous life, she was speechless at Sister Ning's question. She chuckled awkwardly, offering no reply. Sometimes, silence is better than a direct refusal, leaving room for maneuver.
Seeing Mei Yu's embarrassed state, Sister Ning couldn't help but laugh heartily. Watching Sister Ning sway back and forth, the phrase "a willow swaying in the wind" involuntarily came to Mei Yu's mind.
Sister Ning laughed for a while, patted her shoulder, and saw her out, explaining with a bright smile, "Don't worry, this time I'm just playing a little maid."
A little maid? Mei Yu suddenly had a subtle feeling. She stopped at the door, turned around to look at Sister Ning, and politely asked, "What drama is this? Who is the director?"
Sister Ning tilted her head and thought for a moment, adding a touch of innocence to her mature charm. Mei Yu suddenly realized that Sister Ning liked to tilt her head when she spoke, which avoided the oppressive feeling of direct eye contact and prevented the person she was talking to from feeling rude.
Ning Jie thought for a moment, then hesitantly said, "It seems to be some kind of history about Emperor Wu of Han, a TV series directed by a new director."
Mei Yu felt a huge weight lifted from her heart. She asked with certainty, "Is it 'The Secret History of Emperor Wu of Han'? Directed by Zheng Qiu?"
Ning Jie nodded in understanding, patting Mei Yu's shoulder approvingly, "That's right, that's the show. How about it, interested?"
Ning Jie's beautiful eyes darted around, and she lowered her voice, saying, "I heard the girl who was originally supposed to play this role was hospitalized because of drug use, and they urgently needed someone else, so they approached me."
Mei Yu smiled bitterly. What a dilemma! The role that Ang had spent a fortune to buy had ended up falling to her.
Mei Yu pursed her lips, a beautiful smile curving her lips, and said with a smile, "Do I have a choice?"
Sister Ning looked at her, finding this girl quite interesting. The two laughed together. Sister Ning told her to wait a moment, turned around, took out a business card, and skillfully tucked it into the neckline of Mei Yu's dress. She then gently patted Mei Yu's chest, watching as Mei Yu's fair face instantly turned bright red. Sister Ning teased, "You've got quite a figure."
After saying this, Sister Ning turned and went back into the house. Before closing the door, Sister Ning poked her head out again, blinked her right eye, and lightly reminded her, "Don't be late."
Mei Yu stood there dejectedly for a while, then cheered herself up, picked up her bag, and strode towards the house on the west side of the courtyard. In the blink of an eye, she arrived at the door.
The curtains were drawn from the inside, revealing only two silhouettes, both with slender figures. Mei Yu knocked lightly on the door twice, and someone inside immediately asked, "Who is it?"
Mei Yu glanced up, carefully choosing her words, and replied in a soothing voice, "The new one, sharing a room with you."
The door opened abruptly from the inside, not like Ning Jie's half-open style, but wide open, completely unobstructed. A girl with a ponytail, wearing a gray sports vest and tight denim shorts, stood casually in the doorway, extending her hand confidently and introducing herself, "Hello, my name is Han Jiali."
Mei Yu hurriedly grabbed all the bags and held them in one hand. Hesitating for a moment, she wiped her hand on her skirt before taking Han Jiali's hand and replying simply, "Ang."
Han Jiali held her hand, playfully winking and looking at the bags in Mei Yu's hand, laughing heartily, "I reached out to help you with the bags, and you just threw yourself at me!"
Mei Yu instantly took a liking to this cheerful and generous girl. Without any hesitation, she piled all the bags she was carrying onto Han Jiali, jokingly saying, "It's such an honor to have such a beautiful woman serve me.
" Li hugged the bag containing several pairs of shoes, swaying slightly before managing to steady herself. Immediately, a pair of slender, fair hands reached out and took one of the bags from Han Jiali. A slightly hoarse female voice chided, "Showing off again, huh?"
Mei Yu looked behind Han Jiali and saw a young girl in a silver-gray dress with a white tassel belt, gracefully holding Mei Yu's bag. Her face wasn't as beautiful as her hands, but it was very fair, with striking features that gave her an air of elegance.
The girl smiled faintly at Mei Yu and calmly uttered two words: "Qin Rong."
Mei Yu smiled politely back. Some people need a warm response, while others are best left as a courtesy.
Clearly, her new roommate belonged to two different types, but judging from their harmonious interaction, they were both easy to get along with.
Han Jiali warmly helped Mei Yu make a bed, and when she learned that Mei Yu didn't have any bedding, she brought over her own freshly washed and dried bedding. Luckily, it was summer, and a mattress and a spring/autumn quilt would suffice.
07 Protagonist and Supporting Characters
In this courtyard house, the bathroom facilities were communal. Early in the morning, a long queue had formed in front of the only public toilet in a corner of the courtyard. Most of the girls were dressed lightly, in spaghetti-strap nightgowns, shorts, tank tops, and lace-trimmed pajamas—a vibrant and pleasing sight.
Mei Yu, carrying toothbrush and face wash, with a towel draped over her arm, followed behind Han Jiali. Han Jiali occasionally tiptoed, watching the line slowly move forward. She couldn't help but turn around and mutter a complaint, "That chubby girl in the east room must be in there. She's always constipated, always up earlier than everyone else. There's no way to deal with her."
Mei Yu chuckled. A moment later, sure enough, a voluptuous girl emerged from the bathroom, swaying her hips. Her thin nightgown couldn't conceal her ample bosom. Walking up to Han Jiali, the girl deliberately stuck out her bottom and pouted, striking a classic Marilyn Monroe-esque pose while holding her skirt.
Han Jiali was both amused and exasperated, raising her hand as if to hit her. The girl let out a string of silvery laughter and ran off happily.
Mei Yu watched their playful banter with a smile. It seemed Han Jiali and that girl were old rivals.
After about fifteen minutes, it was finally Mei Yu's turn. In this simple bathroom facility, there was a public toilet on one side and a washbasin on the other. Han Jiali squatted in the stall, chatting casually with Mei Yu through the door.
The girls slept in the beds yesterday. This morning, they learned from Han Jiali that Qin Rong was a pianist in a band and had gone to rehearsal early in the morning. She had a performance at the famous Fallen Angels bar tonight.
Mei Yu swallowed a mouthful of water, spat out the toothpaste foam in her mouth, and answered Han Jiali's question: "Sister Ning introduced me to a minor role. I'm auditioning today."
Han Jiali groaned weakly. After Mei Yu finished washing up, she glanced at the still-closed bathroom door and tentatively asked, "Are you constipated?"
A roar came from inside the door. Mei Yu laughed and ran out. No wonder Han Jiali hated that girl so much and even called her "little fat girl." They were in the same boat.
Mei Yu returned to her room, quickly tidied herself up, and went out again. Following the business card Ning Jie had given her yesterday, she found a convenience store, used the payphone to make a call, and was quickly answered. Mei Yu explained the situation briefly, and the other party impatiently gave her an address, telling her to come herself, before abruptly hanging up.
Mei Yu frowned, staring at the receiver. It seemed this minor role was truly dispensable. Even when she frequently played supporting roles, producers and directors were always very polite to her; after all, a seasoned supporting actor was much harder to find than a decorative lead.
Mei Yu boarded the bus, watching the bustling crowd outside, and began to ponder the role she was going to play. The film mainly tells the story of the grudges and love affairs between Emperor Wu of Han and his several concubines. He and his cousin Chen Ajiao were childhood sweethearts, but their relationship ended, and he fell in love with Wei Zifu. To regain Emperor Wu's favor, Chen Ajiao sent one of her personal maids, surnamed Wang, to the emperor. This maid indeed won the emperor's favor.
However, after becoming Lady Wang, this maid did not speak up for Chen Ajiao, which incurred Chen Ajiao's resentment. When another maid, Xiaoqian, offered to stand up for her, she was resolutely refused and severely beaten, ultimately dying from her injuries.
Mei Yu was to play Xiaoqian.
Xiaoqian's character has a tragic element; according to the script, she wholeheartedly protects her mistress, but ultimately dies at her mistress's hands. Therefore, the role of this palace maid must be highlighted to evoke a strong emotional response from the audience when she dies.
When Mei Yu got out of the car, she already had her own understanding of the role. She was confident that she could portray Xiaoqian's palace maid brilliantly.
Unfortunately, a supporting role is just a supporting role. Although the life of this palace maid named Xiaoqian was very dramatic, she only appeared as a major supporting character in one short episode of the entire TV series. The rest of the time, she was just a background character, silently accompanying the protagonist Chen Ajiao.
Mei Yu tugged at the hem of her t-shirt, which she had borrowed from Han Jiali that morning. Han Jiali looked tall and slender, but in fact, she was half a head shorter than Mei Yu. The t-shirt was a bit short on her, and it accidentally revealed her slender waist, which made Mei Yu feel a little uncomfortable.
Today was just a simple audition. The TV series had not officially started filming yet. When filming started, the actors, main creators, director, producer, and other staff would hold a ceremony together, and a feng shui master would be consulted to choose the date and direction.
Since it was a period drama, it would most likely be filmed in one of the nearby film and television cities, Mei Yu thought to herself. She took the elevator and, following the instructions on the phone, went directly to the twenty-fourth floor.
As the elevator stopped and the doors slowly opened, a bright red figure rushed into the corridor. Mei Yu nimbly dodged to the side. Someone behind her, panting, shouted, "Stop her! Stop her!"
Mei Yu feigned ignorance; she was unfamiliar with the area and didn't want to get herself into trouble.
The person chasing her finally pulled the girl out before the elevator doors closed, then gave Mei Yu a knowing glare. Mei Yu smiled at him, shrugged, and looked completely innocent.
The pursuer was a young man of medium build, wearing a name tag around his neck that read "Production Manager," indicating he was a member of the film crew. Sweating profusely, he pleaded, "Grandma, please wait a little longer."
The woman in red being chased had delicate features and was skilled at makeup; her face was exquisitely made up, resembling a fine doll. She stamped her foot, her brow furrowing, and bluntly said, "Production Manager Li, this is just a minor role, isn't it? Why do I have to play a supporting role to a maid's audition?! I also have the dignity of a lead actor, okay?"
Mei Yu realized something was amiss. So, this was that arrogant and domineering Chen Ajiao!
The production assistant glanced at Mei Yu, probably thinking she posed no threat, and lowered his voice to explain to Chen Ajiao, "Don't you know what kind of temper our director has? This was specially invited back by President Wan. If he weren't buddies with President Wan, would he be directing this script? Please cooperate."
Mei Yu coughed awkwardly, attracting the attention of the production assistant and the girl in red. She raised her hand slightly and weakly explained to herself, "I think I'm the maid..."
Suddenly, the girl in red's attention was drawn to her. She raised an eyebrow, looked Mei Yu up and down, snorted, and swayed back gracefully, her sharp voice echoing in the corridor: "Production Assistant Li, aren't you supposed to be auditioning? Why aren't you hurrying up?"
08 Audition
Director Zheng Qiu is a well-known up-and-coming director in the industry. He won the Best Documentary Award at the Cannes Film Festival with a documentary about protecting the marine environment, instantly becoming one of the most powerful directors in China.
He subsequently filmed a series of documentaries, including "The Earth's Fission," documenting post-disaster reconstruction, and "On the Water's Edge," about drought and flood disasters. According to Mei Yu's recollection, Director Zheng Qiu was a true environmentalist; his films were all very impactful, but they were largely unprofitable, making him stand out amidst a sea of extravagance.
Theoretically, he shouldn't have made such commercial films. Judging from what the production assistant, Li, had just said, Director Zheng seemed to have been specially invited by someone named Mr. Wan.
Amidst Mei Yu's many doubts, she arrived at a large hall. As soon as she appeared, she glanced at the cameras and backdrops set up in the hall and was pulled aside by several staff members to a dressing room.
Xu Wei'ai, dressed in red, arrived in the dressing room before her. Several costume designers hurriedly changed her into a bright red Hanfu, with a two-inch wide band around the collar embroidered with dragon and phoenix patterns. The long skirt trailed gracefully on the ground.
It must be said that Xu Weiai is very suitable for this bright red dress. Her features are bright and striking, and with makeup, they are even more three-dimensional. When she doesn't smile, she exudes an air of authority, making her very suitable for the role of Chen Ajiao.
Mei Yu changed into a light blue dress. The dark blue skirt rolled up in layers, resembling a spiraling blue wave at the bottom. The hem of the skirt just covered her feet. The palace maid's clothes were naturally different from the empress's, and this simple attire was more conducive to movement.
After changing into her costume, Mei Yu sat in front of the makeup mirror as instructed by the makeup artist. Looking at the slightly unfamiliar face in the mirror, Mei Yu raised her eyebrows uncomfortably.
Ang's features are soft and delicate, but unfortunately, they lack sharp angles, which inadvertently limits her acting roles. Her appearance is very suitable for leading roles in tragic dramas.
It would be troublesome if she were to play a modern woman with personality in an urban drama.
The makeup artist's hands seemed to possess magic; in the blink of an eye, a woman in ancient costume, as if she had just stepped out of a classical painting, appeared before everyone. Everyone stopped what they were doing, involuntarily holding their breath and staring at Mei Yu, even Xu Weiai was no exception.
Some people look drastically different before and after makeup, and Ang was clearly one of them, especially since Ang's face was particularly suited to period dramas.
Mei Yu herself was stunned. She knew Ang had a good foundation and excellent features, but she hadn't expected her to be so captivating after makeup, like a real ancient beauty.
Mei Yu quickly recovered from her shock, playfully making various faces at herself in the mirror, trying to make her face more expressive. As she made these faces, the staff around her also snapped out of their daze, their eyes scanning Mei Yu and Xu Weiai, secretly comparing the two girls' period costume looks.
Xu Wei'ai's eyes widened as she looked back at everyone. The makeup artist and costume designer averted their gazes. Mei Yu, observing this, thought to herself, "This Xu Wei'ai certainly has a queenly aura; she's quite suitable for the role of Chen Ajiao."
Xu Wei'ai turned her head, defiantly raising her chin at Mei Yu, and arrogantly said, "Let's go, let's go out for the audition."
Mei Yu nodded silently and followed behind Xu Wei'ai, carefully avoiding stepping on her skirt.
Under the direction of the production assistant, Li, the two walked to the center of the hall, where a low couch and a seating area were set up. A deputy director surnamed Yu stepped forward and briefly explained the scene.
The scene they were to film was the moment when Chen Ajiao learned that Emperor Wu of Han had promoted a maid surnamed Wang to the rank of Lady.
Chen Ajiao was filled with both joy and jealousy. This scene was a tremendous challenge for the actress playing Chen Ajiao. As for Mei Yu, her character Xiaoqian reminded her of her past interactions with Lady Wang. She needed to express her joy for her mistress while also conveying a sense of unease.
Because the camera would primarily focus on Chen Ajiao, Xiaoqian's role would only appear briefly on screen. The best approach would be to keep her head down, seeking only to avoid mistakes rather than make a significant impact.
Mei Yu didn't do that. She believed that even a supporting role should be brought to life. Only when all the characters were brought to life could the drama truly resonate with the audience.
With the signal for action, Mei Yu quickly immersed herself in the role. She leaned forward, her head tilted back, tears glistening in her eyes. Half of her small face was beaming with a smile, her mouth opening and closing repeatedly, as if she had something to say but couldn't bring herself to say it.
The theater was silent. Everyone stared at this newcomer, stunned by her genuine expression.
Among them, Xu Weiai, who played Chen Ajiao, felt it most deeply.
Xu Weiai gritted her teeth, then suddenly stepped forward, blocking Mei Yu completely from the camera's view.
This behavior is technically called "scene-stealing" in filming.
Many veteran actors use their experience to subtly undermine newcomers, using props and positioning to obstruct the camera's angle, making the newcomer appear fragmented and incomplete on screen.
Even if the director is aware of this, they can't say anything, because this subtle scene-stealing doesn't violate the rules.
However, Xu Weiai's actions this time were too obvious; even Zheng Qiu behind the camera frowned.
Before he could speak, Xu Weiai suddenly put her hands on her hips, threw her head back, and burst into laughter. Her appearance was manic; although she was laughing, it didn't evoke joy, but rather a kind of mad, alienation.
She laughed so hard she bent over, her beautiful figure fully revealed as her robes swayed. The crew was captivated, momentarily forgetting Mei Yu's stunning performance.
Xu Wei'ai's laughter abruptly stopped, a smile still lingering on her face, a tear slowly sliding down her cheek, perfectly portraying the sorrow of a disgraced empress.
In the silence, a faint sob suddenly sounded behind Xu Wei'ai. Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to her back. From Zheng Qiu's angle, only half of her beautiful shoulder could be seen rising and falling with her sobs, strangely alluring.
Xu Wei'ai's face twitched. A twisted grimace of insane jealousy and the joy of a successful scheme contorted the empress's expression. She turned and roared, "What are you crying for? I'm not dead yet!"
"Cut!"
Zheng Qiu shouted, ending the scene. The assistant director ran up with two bottles of water, fairly giving one to each of the two actresses. The crew began to chat and laugh; the lead actress's performance had been excellent, and everyone had confidence in the drama.
P.S., updates resume today. This month we're going to tackle a challenge called the New Book Potential Ranking. We need everyone to use their recommendation votes to defeat about twenty bosses and win a chrysanthemum as a souvenir. To make the girls' fighting power stronger, I'll use a buff called "Double Updates Every Other Day." When we complete the task and enter the top fifteen, the book will level up and gain the skill "Double Updates Daily."
Okay, many of you probably don't play games, so to put it simply, we're aiming for the New Book Potential Ranking in July. All we need are recommendation votes, and this is only for this month, so please support us with your votes; they won't be useful after this month. Starting tomorrow, double updates every other day. If we can climb to fifteenth place in the new book rankings, I'll immediately start double updates daily.
09 The Director's Decision
Xu Wei'ai, holding water, glanced at Mei Yu, and demurely lifted her skirt to exchange pleasantries with Assistant Director Yu. Mei Yu smiled, unscrewed the cap of the mineral water bottle, tilted her head back, and took a large gulp. A small stream of water flowed down her lip, down her smooth neck, and into her collar.
The heat from the thick costume was extinguished by the coolness. Mei Yu turned her head halfway and met a pair of intrigued eyes. Startled, she lowered her water bottle to her chest and nodded politely to the person looking at her.
Getting the director's attention is never a bad thing.
The staff around her began packing up; everyone was in high spirits. Although it was just an audition for a supporting role, they had unexpectedly witnessed a wonderful scene. Both actresses were excellent, their acting was outstanding.
Mei Yu greeted the assistant director and returned to the dressing room to remove her makeup. Xu Wei'ai watched her retreating figure with a mixture of envy and jealousy, as if she hadn't yet stepped out of character.
Mei Yu arrived at the dressing room and heard the unrestrained voices of several makeup artists inside: "Did you know? This film was invested in by President Wan, and it was specially tailor-made for Miss Xu."
"Really? What's the relationship between Miss Xu and President Wan?"
A knowing laugh rippled through the room. Mei Yu frowned. These kinds of inside stories happened occasionally; some wealthy bosses would often venture into other industries. It didn't cost much anyway, and pleasing their mistresses wasn't more extravagant than buying an expensive apartment. However,
most of these dramas were poorly made, and only about 30% would actually air on television.
Mei Yu politely knocked on the door, signaling them to be quiet. The door opened, and the makeup artists all looked at her. Mei Yu met their gazes with an open and honest expression. As an actress, disguising her emotions was the easiest thing for her.
Mei Yu took off her costume and makeup, and walked straight out of the performance hall. The assistant director had told her that she would probably be notified of the results the day after tomorrow. She planned to visit her own grave tomorrow to fulfill a wish.
Zheng Qiu was a very conscientious and responsible person. This TV series wasn't something he wanted to film, but since he had promised his friend, he would do his best—that was his principle.
That evening, he was the only one left in the empty performance hall. He pointed the camera at the central screen and played back the footage shot during the day, watching it again and again.
The screen was large, a standard movie projection size, and it magnified every movement of the two actresses, showing even the smallest gestures and subtle expressions.
A tall figure slowly walked to his side, stood and looked at the curtain for a while, then suddenly chuckled in a low voice: "This girl is very beautiful. What, has our iceberg handsome guy finally fallen for her?"
Zheng Qiu turned around. He had an overly handsome face; if it weren't for his thick eyebrows adding a touch of masculinity, he might be mistaken for a woman. Coupled with his slender build and long hair tied in a ponytail that cascaded down his shoulders, he really had the potential to be a cross-dresser.
Zheng Qiu's actions, however, were very masculine. He stretched out his large foot, and his limited-edition Michael Jordan sneakers coolly kicked the newcomer. The other man didn't seem to mind, letting the sneakers leave a large gray shoe print on his custom-made suit.
The newcomer raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery on his sharply defined face: "Not bad, not bad. Even if we can't get Director Zheng's claw mark, getting a hoofprint isn't bad either."
Zheng Qiu smirked, picked up a cigarette from the table, flicked it lightly at the bottom of the pack, offered one to the newcomer, lit his cigarette with practiced ease, exhaled a puff of smoke, and lazily asked, "What, Young Master Wan, you've taken the time out of your busy schedule to come watch an audition?"
It turned out this man in a suit was Wan Ren, the investor in the TV series, and also Zheng Qiu's buddy. The two had grown up together, practically inseparable.
Wan Ren took a deep drag on his cigarette, a wry smile on his face: "It was Xiao Ai who called me, telling me to use my connections to get the female supporting actress eliminated from today's audition."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zheng Qiu's thick eyebrows furrowed, clearly displeased.
Wan Ren knew that the reason he was able to get his childhood friend to agree was mainly because he had promised ample funding and that he wouldn't interfere during filming. He had clearly broken those promises, so naturally, the other party was unhappy.
Wan Ren gritted his teeth, avoiding the question, and frankly asked, "If you were me, what would you do?"
Zheng Qiu stiffened, remembering Wan Ren's relationship with Xu Wei'ai. His dark, agate-like eyes looked at Wan Ren, and he slowly answered, "That's right, I would do the same thing as you."
Wan Ren looked at Zheng Qiu and sincerely said, "Thank you."
Zheng Qiu's face suddenly relaxed, a childlike innocence appearing in his previously nonchalant expression. He laughed loudly, "Even if you hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have used this girl."
Wan Ren's expression became uncertain with these words. He had always considered himself very clever, having built his career from scratch without his father's help, but he had repeatedly been thwarted by his best friend, who was known as a genius.
Zheng Qiu stubbed out his cigarette in the celadon ashtray, twisted his body, and spun his chair halfway around to face the laptop on the workbench.
Zheng Qiu's fingers were long and slender, but with prominent knuckles, exuding masculinity. His expression was serious as he typed on the keyboard, then turned slightly to Wan Ren and said, "Come and see."
Wan Ren leaned closer, watching the rapidly flashing images on Zheng Qiu's laptop. These images were all of Xu Weiai's solo performances; her expressions were vivid and lifelike, making it seem as if a peerless, tragically fallen empress had truly appeared before them.
Wan Ren's brows furrowed. He had only glanced at the screen casually, not looking closely. He asked, puzzled, "When did Xiao Ai's acting improve so dramatically?"
Zheng Qiu tapped the table with her hand, answering confidently, "It's because her co-star was so strong that she was able to deliver an extraordinary performance."
In the entertainment industry, there are some respected veteran actors whose greatest skill isn't portraying their own characters realistically, but rather elevating the performances of their co-stars to a new level.
Wan Ren knew this, but he hadn't expected such a young girl to possess such talent.
Wan Ren took a deep breath, sensing something unusual, and asked directly, "Since she can make Xiao Ai perform beyond her usual level, why don't you keep her?"

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