Against the Light - Chapter 14
Chapter 14: Growing Suspicious
【Holy shit! Damn! Gu Xinran is a hidden gem! Ahhh, I’m so in love with her voice, it’s so gentle, wuwuwu. Listening to her sing makes me feel like she’s a very affectionate person!】
【This cameraman knows what to say, get her to say more!!】
【????? Is this Gu Xinran?】
【???】
【Luo Bing’s fans, come out and take a beating! Listen to what real singing is! Singing isn’t just about showing off techniques, the most important thing is to sing from the heart!】
【Oh my god, that was so beautiful! I think she must have been thinking of Teacher Bai when she was singing. She was so emotional, she must really, really love Teacher Bai. Why on earth did they break up!】
【Tch, it’s not even her original song. What’s there to be proud of singing someone else’s song? If you’re so great, write one yourself.】
【To the sister who was just clamoring for Gu Xinran and Luo Bing to have a singing battle, I’m sorry, I didn’t know my idol well enough. You motherfucker, get your ass out here and take a beating!】
【Gu Xinran’s voice is honestly on par with a professional singer’s. Singing is also a form of emotional expression. Listening to her, I can feel her emotion; she’s confiding, expressing herself. When Luo Bing sings, there’s definitely a bit too much showing off technique, it’s unnecessary.】
【Gu Xinran is crying, she sang until she cried! She must be thinking of Teacher Bai!】
【Seeing the tears in her eyes, I can feel the light in her heart!】
【This is obviously lip-syncing, okay? Tell me, how much did the production team get paid to whitewash her?】
【LMAO, saying she’s lip-syncing under these conditions. If she’s lip-syncing, then your idol is lip-syncing too!】
【Luo Bing’s fans are just stubborn. If she were lip-syncing, are the staff and your idol on site deaf? Is it all an act? Can Luo Bing’s fans use their brains when they talk? Oh, sorry, I forgot you don’t have any.】
The comment section was in an uproar, and in the live stream studio, the two hosts were also dumbfounded, completely unable to get a word in.
On the film set, everyone looked at each other in dismay, then said in unison, “Are we seeing things??”
Even Bai Yilan was slightly shocked. She then furrowed her brow, a trace of suspicion flashing in her clear eyes.
In the cave, everyone intentionally or unintentionally glanced at Luo Bing, wanting to see the expression on her face for some reason.
As expected, the expressions on the faces of Luo Bing, Zhang Tingting, and the others were quite a spectacle, turning red and pale like a face-changing performance. On closer inspection, fine beads of sweat had even appeared on Luo Bing’s forehead, showing just how shocked she was.
“No, I want to hear more. Xinran, sing another one!” Huo Jie, still immersed in Gu Xinran’s unique voice, looked at her expectantly.
“I… don’t know any others.” Gu Xinran looked troubled. There really weren’t many songs she knew how to sing. She had only learned this one because Xiao Ye had particularly liked it. Later, she felt the lyrics were so wonderfully written that she sang it for Yilan.
She had even said she would sing this song to Yilan for a lifetime, until they both grew old and their hair turned white. When that time came, they would sit by a bonfire together and reminisce about their youth.
“You only know this one song? No way!”
“Because this song has a special meaning.”
“Oh? Don’t tell me it was specifically for Teacher Bai~” Everyone wore a gossipy expression, only realizing after they spoke that they might have said the wrong thing.
Gu Xinran smiled faintly, not minding much, but she didn’t say anything more.
On the film set, the crew had gone from whispering to discussing loudly.
They were mainly divided into two factions. One believed that Gu Xinran had truly changed and was completely different from before. The other believed it was just a persona for the screen. After all, it’s easier to change rivers and mountains than to change a person’s nature. Besides, even if she had changed, it was impossible for her to be completely reborn in just a few days. So, in conclusion, it was all an act.
Ming Zhen, looking suspicious, leaned closer to Bai Yilan. “Did she really sing that song for you? That’s not right. If she had, you would’ve known she’s a good singer. How come I’ve never heard you mention it?”
Only after asking did Ming Zhen notice that Bai Yilan’s expression had clearly soured. She put her phone face down and called for everyone to prepare for filming.
??? What’s going on? She never sang it for her? Then what did Gu Xinran mean by ‘special meaning’? And that deeply affectionate look on her face when she was singing…
Holy shit! Could it be for some other woman she’s keeping on the side!??
That scum! Next time I see her, I’ll have to slap her a few more times to vent my anger!
In the cave, the atmosphere was very strange. Luo Bing and the others were silent, Gu Xinran seemed lost in her own world, and the staff didn’t dare to speak. The situation grew cold.
Shen Can and Huo Jie exchanged frequent glances, signaling for the other to say something to save the situation.
“Ahem, well, how about I sing a song for everyone!” Shen Can said, bracing herself.
“Don’t. Your singing is terrible,” Fang Jinghai retorted at just the right moment.
“Fang Jinghai, you’re about to be unemployed, you know that!”
Everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere finally eased a little.
Shen Can’s singing was terrible, but she was good at livening things up. She even got all the staff members to howl along with her, and the group inexplicably got hyped up.
【Hahahaha, what kind of treasure is Cancan? Her singing is so bad, yet she’s so into it. It’s like seeing myself in a karaoke room [doge]】
【Everyone, look at Luo Bing’s expression! She keeps looking at Gu Xinran, and her expression is so off!】
【Holy shit, holy shit, Luo Bing is about to show her true colors! Where are her fans? Isn’t your big sister supposed to be a kind, gentle, and lovely person? Then what’s with that resentful, I-want-to-eat-you-alive expression?】
【Damn, so she’s the real white lotus.】
【Honestly, I originally came to watch this show for Luo Bing, but after watching, I’ve become a fan of Gu Xinran. What do I do?】
【Sister, you won’t regret stanning Xinran. She’s a potential stock, a hidden gem. As her fan, I only found out today that she could sing so well [doge]. Life is full of surprises. I’m not a fake fan, she’s just too low-key!!】
Gu Xinran smiled as she listened to everyone sing, temporarily pushing her worries aside. Luo Bing wasn’t nearly as relaxed; her expression remained stern, and her gaze toward Gu Xinran carried a trace of resentment.
Gu Xinran noticed her gaze, looked over, and smiled at her, which nearly made Luo Bing fume with anger.
It was late at night, the time when people were most exhausted. The group had long since run out of energy and were leaning against the stone walls, asleep in various positions.
The wind and rain outside had gradually subsided. The cave became extremely quiet, with only the pitter-patter of the rain outside, the sound of everyone’s breathing, and the crackling of the firewood.
Gu Xinran turned her head and looked around. Everyone was asleep. She tiptoed to the fire and added some dry grass to help it burn, then stared blankly at the dancing flames.
The film crew had also finished their work for the day. Bai Yilan looked weary as she exchanged goodbyes with everyone. After helping pack up the props, they left together.
In the car, Bai Yilan sat in the passenger seat, rubbing her forehead.
“What’s wrong? Headache? You really are something. Couldn’t you have supervised the day scenes? You just had to supervise the big night shoot, staying up for most of the night. Even someone made of iron couldn’t take it.” Ming Zhen complained as she drove, only remembering after she spoke that Bai Yilan had been suffering from insomnia for a long time and couldn’t sleep at night. And today, she had seen Gu Xinran’s show…
“How about I take you for a massage to relax?”
“No need. Let’s just go home.”
Bai Yilan gazed out the window, lost in thought.
“Hey, hey, don’t tell me you’re thinking about her!”
“No, but…”
“No buts! I admit she acted like a decent person on the show just now, her performance was commendable. But this is a variety show, after all. You’re in this circle too, you’ve met plenty of actors. You should know how many masks those people wear. Anyway, I refuse to believe a person can change so completely in such a short time. And don’t you forget, I could tolerate her unreasonable tantrums, but cheating is something she can never be cleared of!! I absolutely will not allow you to go back to her. You need to get a grip, Bai Yilan!!”
“Mm.”
“Don’t just humor me! You should say, ‘Okay, I know!’”
Bai Yilan gave a helpless smile. “Okay, I know, Young President Ming.”
Ming Zhen was still a little worried. “I’m staying at your place tonight.”
“…”
That night, Bai Yilan tossed and turned in bed. Her insomnia was back. Her mind was filled with the song Xinran had sung, and that deeply affectionate face was seared into her memory, making her feel like this person was a complete stranger.
She had never heard her sing this song, so what was this so-called special meaning?
Xinran was young and very childish. Even when she intentionally tried to create a persona in front of others, some unconscious little expressions and actions would always betray her. But just now, the person on the screen, her every move and gesture was composed and mature, as if she were a completely different person from her original self. Even her tone and manner of speaking were entirely different.
Why? What on earth did she go through to change so drastically?
Bai Yilan lay awake all night, only drifting into a light sleep as the sky began to brighten.
Meanwhile, at the recording site, the sky was already bright. After a night of heavy rain, the early morning air was filled with a rich, fresh scent, mixed with a hint of barbecue!
Everyone woke up one by one, following the aroma to its source. Gu Xinran and Huo Jie were sitting near the cave entrance, chatting while grilling food.
“Wow—is there good food this early in the morning!” Shen Can’s eyes weren’t even fully open as she followed the smell out.
The staff members’ appetites were also whetted. They ran out and sat obediently around the two, staring eagerly at the few skewers of grilled mushrooms.
In the cave, the guests had taken off their mic packs and placed them together yesterday. The staff’s headphones were also nearby. At that moment, the director’s hysterical roar blasted through everyone’s earpieces.
“Don’t you motherfuckers want your bread and butter anymore!! Fang Jinghai—get your ass—”
“Dir-dir-dir-director, don’t, don’t, your voice is being broadcast…”
“???”
【Holy shit, that scared me to death. I was just about to go back to sleep, and the director’s yelling woke me right up!】
【Hahahaha, good morning, sisters~】
【Your master is trash, and you’re a little piece of trash too! Not as good-looking as Gu Xinran, can’t sing as well as Gu Xinran, but you sure act all pure and innocent! Fucking white lotus!】
【???】
【Pah, Gu Xinran is the trash. Who doesn’t know what she was like before? She acts like a decent person on the show, and immediately people start hyping her up. You’re just a blind fucker! Can’t even tell a person from a dog!】
【??? Sisters? Why is everyone so fired up this early in the morning?】
【hhh Little friend, do you have many questions?】
【These two gods have been cursing at each other all night, without repeating a single insult. I woke up after 3 AM yesterday and saw them at it.】
【…】
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