Against the Light - Chapter 65
Chapter 65: Only a Kiss from My Wife Will Make It Better
The next morning.
The cast and crew saw the news of Teacher Zheng Yuan's hospitalization on Weibo. They all sent heartfelt well-wishes, praying for her safe recovery and victory over her illness.
When Liu Ping's crew saw the news, they were filled with emotion.
"Hey, do you think their production has bad feng shui? Why do they keep having problems with their cast?"
"I don't know, but it is pretty strange."
"Tsk, I wonder how those young ladies are doing. They must be heartbroken, right?"
"What? You want to go play knight in shining armor?"
"No, I just think they're a fun bunch. A group of young women who are just as tough as any man. I really admire them."
"Tsk."
"Hey, should we go over and see? See if they need any help?"
After a brief discussion, they decided to go.
Seven or eight burly men walked over to the neighboring studio. Just as they were about to peek inside, they heard a burst of cheers. The young women were shouting and screaming, incredibly excited.
The men looked at each other, bewildered. This wasn't the scene they had imagined. Weren't they supposed to be dejected and upset?
"Holy crap! Run, run!" One of them peeked inside, got a shock, and immediately turned to flee.
"What's wrong?"
"Yu Hua! It's Yu Hua! Run!!"
"What!?"
The group scrambled back to their own set. The man in the lead finally caught his breath. "I just… I saw Yu Hua. Scared me to death…"
"…" The group exchanged glances. "What's she doing here?"
"Who the hell knows. Anyway, I'm never going near that set again, never…"
Meanwhile, in Bai Yilan's production.
One second, everyone was saddened by the news that Teacher Zheng Yuan could no longer participate. The next, they were told that Teacher Yu Hua would be taking over the role of the King of Yue.
The entire crew erupted in an instant, their cheers shaking the studio. This was a truly divine cast, a divine cast!!!
"What are you all yelling about?" Yu Hua looked displeased, waving her hand for everyone to calm down.
"Let me make this clear. I know how to direct, but I'm not great at acting. And I have a bad temper. I don't like NGs. If you make me NG a scene more than three times, I'm quitting," Yu Hua said, glancing at the crowd.
"Ooh, is our director pulling rank? Can we tolerate this, everyone?"
"Absolutely!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
"Alright, stop fooling around. Let's get Teacher Yu fitted for her costume. Xiaobei, give Teacher Yu the script," Bai Yilan instructed.
"Yes!" the crew responded in unison, immediately getting back to their tasks.
Bai Yilan gathered the screenwriting team to revise the shooting schedule, deciding to film all of Teacher Yu's scenes first to avoid the old lady pulling rank later.
The morning's shoot was another grand scene. Ling Yao personally leads three thousand of her private soldiers to save the throne, confronting the second princess, Ling Hong, head-on. War is on the verge of breaking out!
At the critical moment, the King of Yue herself appears!
The extras had arrived early and were changing into their costumes in an orderly fashion under the staff's direction.
Gu Xinran had also changed into her costume: red battle attire with bright silver armor. Her hair was tied up high, a neat, long ponytail hanging down to her waist. Her black cape billowed dramatically in the wind from the fans.
As she brandished a wooden spear, her little fangirls' eyes sparkled like stars. Even the extras applauded and cheered for her. The entire crew's morale was at an all-time high!
The moment Bai Yilan saw her enter, her eyes seemed to be glued to her, completely unable to look away. She pressed her lips together, but couldn't hide the smile in her eyes. She lowered her head, trying to calm her racing heart, when she caught a flash of red in her peripheral vision.
She looked up and met Xinran's gaze. Bright eyes, pearly teeth, a smile in her eyes—she was the very picture of heroic spirit!
"Do I look good?" Xinran straightened up and cleared her throat.
Bai Yilan pouted. "So vain."
"Ahhhhh! What is this divine CP? They're so shippable!!"
"Oh my god, I'm going to cry. It's been so long, but I finally got to ship them! Waiting for content from these two is so hard!"
"Huh? Hey! Lin Guo? Guozi? Someone help, Lin Guo fainted!!"
"…"
"Alright, stop messing around. Everyone, to your positions," Bai Yilan called out, and the crew immediately returned to their posts obediently.
Qin Qiong was playing the villainous second princess, Ling Hong. As luck would have it, she was once again playing Gu Xinran's sister.
The group moved in a grand procession to the filming location for the royal city.
Qin Qiong stood with her soldiers at the entrance of Xuanwu Avenue. In a moment, she would lead them charging down the street, straight for the palace gates.
At the same time, Gu Xinran would lead her forces through a secret passage directly into the royal city, intercepting the second princess and her troops in front of the King of Yue's bedchamber.
Bai Yilan explained the scene to everyone, then looked at Qin Qiong and Xinran.
"Understood," the two nodded in unison.
"Good. Alright, all departments, get ready. Stand by."
"Action!"
Qin Qiong led her troops, galloping on horseback.
The group sped past, leaving a cloud of dust in their wake.
The scene shifted. Ling Hong led her forces straight to the King of Yue's bedchamber. Believing victory was within her grasp, a look of joy even appeared on her face. But when she saw a lone figure standing before the chamber, her expression changed drastically.
Ling Yao stood before the palace, one person with one spear. Her posture was ramrod straight, her expression cold. Strands of her hair danced in the wind, and her black cape billowed.
Upon seeing Ling Hong, she looked up, her deep eyes glinting with a cold light.
"Ling Yao!? What are you doing here?" Ling Hong was shocked. The entire royal city was already under her control. How did Ling Yao break through the heavy guard to get here?!
"Forcibly entering the forbidden palace, you have some nerve!" Ling Hong roared. "Men, seize her."
Ling Yao slowly raised her long spear, its tip aimed directly at Ling Hong. "I'd like to see who dares!" With a sharp cry, her fierce gaze forced Ling Hong's soldiers back.
"Ling Hong, you colluded with the imperial guard, intending to usurp the throne. Where is your regard for the bond between mother and daughter, for the loyalty between sovereign and subject! As long as I am here today, you will not set foot in our mother's bedchamber!" Ling Yao planted her spear by her side, her eyes blazing, ready for a fight to the death.
"Just you?" Ling Hong sneered and raised a hand. The soldiers behind her immediately assumed a battle-ready stance.
Ling Yao struck the ground with the butt of her spear. With a thud, the sound seemed exceptionally heavy in the vast, empty space.
The moment the sound faded, countless masked figures in white, wielding sharp blades, poured out from both sides of the palace. These white-clad people moved in perfect unison, forming a line in front of Ling Yao, their long swords held horizontally as they faced off against Ling Hong and her soldiers.
Ling Hong was stunned, forced back down the steps by the white-clad soldiers.
She stared at the soldiers who had suddenly appeared, a strange light flashing in her eyes. "Ling Yao, as a royal heir, you dare to keep a private army!? This is a capital offense, punishable by death!"
Ling Yao stepped forward with her spear. "I, Ling Yao, am grateful that all you generals are willing to entrust your lives to me. In today's battle, I will lead the charge. I only ask that you, my soldiers, protect my mother and ensure her safety."
"We will protect Her Majesty's safety!" the generals roared in unison.
Ling Yao gave a slight nod. Standing on the steps, she looked down from above, the tip of her spear pointed directly at Ling Hong.
Ling Hong glanced around, then let out a soft laugh. She raised her hand, signaling her soldiers to stay put, while she slowly ascended the steps and walked up to Ling Yao.
"If Mother knew you had such filial piety, I wonder if she would be moved, or… wary?" Ling Hong whispered in her ear.
Ling Yao gave her a cold look. "If Mother knew of your wolfish heart, I wonder how heartbroken she would be."
"Generals, hear my command!" Ling Hong suddenly shouted.
Ling Yao raised her hand.
The two locked eyes.
A great battle was about to erupt!
Suddenly, with a creak, the hall doors behind them slowly opened.
Ling Yao's body trembled. She spun around to see countless soldiers pouring out, instantly surrounding her and her people.
And behind these soldiers, the King of Yue slowly walked out.
She wore a silver dragon robe embroidered with black dragon patterns. Her expression was cold, radiating an effortless authority.
When Ling Yao saw the King of Yue appear, the heart that had been lodged in her throat finally dropped.
Mother and daughter locked eyes. Ling Yao's eyes reddened slightly, while the King of Yue's gaze was deep and cold, her emotions unreadable.
Just as Ling Yao sensed something was wrong, Ling Hong beside her turned, walked to the King of Yue, and dropped to her knees.
"Greetings, Mother. You must have been frightened."
Ling Yao froze.
"Long live Your Majesty! Long, long live Your Majesty!" Down below the steps, Ling Hong's soldiers cheered in unison.
It dawned on Ling Yao. As if struck by lightning, her face turned deathly pale. She looked at the King of Yue in disbelief.
The King of Yue's gaze was profound. Her sharp eyes swept over everyone before finally settling on Ling Yao.
"So it truly is your private army." Her voice was deep, her tone betraying no emotion, but every word was like a sharp blade, stabbing viciously into Ling Yao.
Ling Yao's hand, gripping the spear, tightened until her knuckles turned white, trembling violently.
She looked at the King of Yue's wary gaze, and her heart felt as if it had been brutally torn apart, the pain making it hard to breathe.
She had thought her mother was gravely ill and in mortal danger.
She had recklessly mobilized her private army, even willing to shield her with her own body!
But in the end, it was all just her own wishful thinking.
With a clang, the long spear fell to the ground.
Ling Hong's soldiers rushed forward, pointing their weapons at her.
Ling Yao let out a soft, bitter laugh as a scalding tear suddenly streamed down her face.
"Cut!" Bai Yilan exhaled. That was brilliant, absolutely brilliant acting!!
Gu Xinran hadn't broken character yet. The feeling of giving someone your whole heart only to have them shatter it left her unable to compose herself, and she was sobbing violently.
Bai Yilan hurried over and gently patted her on the back. "Xinran? It's okay, it's okay now. It's just acting." Yilan kept stroking her back, comforting her ceaselessly. Seeing her sob like that made her heart ache terribly.
Fang Yi quickly handed over a bottle of water. Gu Xinran took a few sips and started to feel a little better.
Yu Hua stood nearby with her hands on her hips, watching Gu Xinran. Finally, she turned to the person next to her and asked, "Am I playing a bad guy?"
"…What do you think?"
"Tsk, that won't do. Won't that ruin my image?"
"…"
"Hey, Yilan, aren't there any positive roles? If I play a major villain, won't I get flamed to death by netizens when this airs?" Yu Hua was already starting to worry about her public image.
Bai Yilan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Don't cause trouble, I'm busy," she said, glancing at her before turning back to comfort Xinran.
"Feeling better?" she asked softly.
Gu Xinran nodded, then quickly shook her head. "Mm, no, it still really hurts. My heart is throbbing with pain."
"Hmm? Here?" Bai Yilan placed a hand over her heart.
"Maybe… it would feel a little better with a kiss," Gu Xinran said, frowning with a troubled expression.
"…" It dawned on Bai Yilan, and she was almost angered into laughter.
"You're going too far." Was this person really taking advantage of the situation?
"Ouch, my heart hurts so much~"
"Gu Xinran!"
"It hurts so much I could die. I can't… I can't film anymore…" Gu Xinran clutched her chest, a look of agony on her face.
Bai Yilan was exasperated. She looked up and saw everyone staring at her with eyes glowing green like a pack of wolves.
"You all…"
"Oh no, why is my heart starting to hurt too? Sister Ran's sadness must be contagious!"
The group chimed in to help their cause.
"…" Bai Yilan pressed a hand to her forehead, not knowing whether to laugh or cry at this bunch. She turned back to Xinran. "Alright, you. That's enough."
Gu Xinran pouted and sighed inwardly. Just as she was feeling disappointed, she felt a cool touch on her cheek and froze instantly.
Bai Yilan had given her a quick kiss. Without looking at her again, she stood up nonchalantly and glanced at the crew. "How long are you all going to stand there dazed?"
"Awoo!"
"Awooo-ooo—"
"Awoooo!!"
Besides howling and screaming, the group had lost the ability to speak, each one of them overcome with excitement.
In the vicinity of the royal city set, all the other film crews suddenly stopped what they were doing and looked at each other. Why… did it sound like a pack of wolves howling?
Gu Xinran snapped back to her senses, cleared her throat, and felt utterly ecstatic. She looked up and saw Teacher Yu walking down the steps with her hands behind her back, looking sullen.
"Teacher? Where are you going?"
"Hmph. To pull some rank."
"?"
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