MQSP - Chapter 11
Chapter 11
For the past two days, Baiye hadn't been able to sleep soundly. At night, she kept dreaming of Lin Yuqing, either furious or looking at her with a disappointed expression. What hurt the most was when, in her dream, Auntie Lin said she didn't want her anymore and told her to leave… She would wake up to find a small patch of her pillowcase damp with tears. She spent two days in a state of constant anxiety.
This morning, Baiye forced herself to get up. She looked terrible. A lack of rest, high levels of stress, and an irregular diet were bringing on the early signs of a stomach problem. Baiye was naturally thin, not because she intentionally restricted her food intake, but because her childhood experiences had taken a toll on her body.
"Hey, are you okay?" Her roommate, who had been lazing in bed, heard someone get down and pulled back her curtain to take a look. It was a four-person dorm. Their last exam had been yesterday, marking the start of the holiday break. Two of their roommates had already gone home.
"I'm fine, it's nothing." Baiye clutched her stomach as she drank some hot water.
"Period?"
"Uh, no, my stomach just hurts a little."
"Are you going home today?" the roommate asked.
"I… guess so…" Baiye's reply lacked any conviction. But the holiday had started. Where else could she go if not home?
"Then can I have your key? I lost mine and need to get another one made."
"Okay."
"I have some stomach medicine, do you want some?"
"No, it's okay. Thanks."
"I'm heading out then. You can go back to sleep," Baiye said before leaving.
She bought a cup of congee and drank it as she walked. She only started to feel a little better once she was on the bus.
"Hey, Gu Baiye?"
Baiye froze and looked up. The person who had gotten on the bus behind her was none other than the senior sister she had met at the film studio, Ye Jingwen!
"Senior Sister?" Baiye was surprised, and they both sized each other up for a moment.
"Are you going to the film studio too?" Ye Jingwen spoke first.
Baiye was startled again. Too?
"Yes, are you?"
"What's with the formality? We're schoolmates, no need to be so polite. I'm going to the film studio too. I think I saw you when I went to audition the other day. Are you also with the cast of 《Half a Lifetime of Peace》?"
"Y-Yes, I am."
"What a coincidence," Ye Jingwen said with a smile.
"Which role did Senior Sister audition for?"
"The lead, of course."
"An Xi?"
"That's right. They notified me to come for a makeup test today. My manager has already contacted them, so it should be a done deal. After playing so many supporting roles, I finally get to be the lead!" Ye Jingwen was lost in her own excitement, completely oblivious to the color draining from Baiye's face.
"Hey, did you know? I went for this role specifically for Lin Yuqing. I just love her so much. Seeing her in that suit of armor the other day was absolutely stunning. How can a woman be so handsome?" Ye Jingwen had a starstruck look on her face. "There's even a kissing scene in this drama. Just thinking about getting to kiss my idol is so exciting!"
Baiye's hand, clutching her stomach, tightened its grip on her clothes. Her mind was in turmoil. How could this be… If Senior Sister was playing An Xi, then what about her?
She immediately pulled out her phone and found the text message, reading it again. It definitely told her to come for a makeup test, but it didn't specify which role!
"Hey, did they ask you to come for a makeup test too? What's your role? Besides An Xi, it seems like only An Liang is still open. Are you playing An Liang? Doesn't that make you my older sister in the show?" Ye Jingwen laughed.
Baiye forced a tight smile. "I… I'm not really sure…"
She truly didn't know which role she was supposed to play, but seeing Ye Jingwen's confidence, it really didn't seem like she was joking.
Throughout the bus ride, Ye Jingwen was immersed in the excitement of being able to act as a couple with Lin Yuqing, chattering nonstop. She even said she thought Baiye was pretty good and that she could recommend her to her manager, so they could be colleagues at the same company in the future. Baiye just smiled and didn't pursue the topic. After saying it, Ye Jingwen didn't bring it up again either, as if she, too, realized it was inappropriate.
The two-hour bus ride felt like two centuries to Baiye. When they arrived at the Qin Chuan Film Studio, they both found their way to Su Yu's set with ease. Filming was already in progress, and no one noticed the two of them.
Baiye's eyes immediately found Lin Yuqing on the training grounds, dressed in bright silver armor, her figure tall and straight, looking valiant and heroic. She watched as Lin Yuqing walked into the center of the field with her hands behind her back, her gaze sweeping over the seven little kids in front of her before finally landing on the smallest, thinnest one. She walked closer, bent down, and pinched the little one's chin with one hand. The child had a timid expression, which made Baiye want to laugh. Her Auntie Lin really wasn't very good with kids.
As Baiye was watching, she was startled by a sudden pat on her bottom, nearly jumping out of her skin. She turned to see Xia Xiaozi, who had just passed by, looking back at her with a mischievous, teasing smile.
Baiye pouted. That girl!
"Hey, you're here. Did you two come together?" Wang Qiong only noticed them after Xia Xiaozi pointed them out and hurried over. "The director is still busy. Why don't you wait in the dressing room for a bit?" She led the two of them inside.
Seeing the room, Baiye felt a wave of nostalgia. It was here, last time, that she had been able to touch Auntie Lin so intimately.
Because filming was underway, no staff members had time for them. The two waited in the room for nearly half an hour before the door was finally pushed open.
Su Yu and Lin Yuqing entered one after the other, followed by Wang Qiong, the assistant director, Xia Xiaozi, and others. Xia Xiaozi's face was long, the word "unhappy" practically written on it, a stark contrast to her playful demeanor just moments ago.
"You're here. First, congratulations to you both on being selected. I was very satisfied with both of your acting skills. However, when I choose actors, I don't focus too much on acting ability. I pay more attention to the actor themselves. What I hope for is that you don't just act as the character, but that you become the character. I want people to believe you are that character. In this regard, I feel Baiye did a better job. The emotions she conveyed between her An Xi and An Luocheng were able to move me."
Ye Jingwen shot a surprised look at Baiye. Only at that moment did she realize that Gu Baiye had also been competing for the role of An Xi! She was trying to steal the lead role from her?!
Baiye didn't feel relieved by Su Yu's words. In fact, she grew more worried, because every time Su Yu looked at her, her eyes held a complex emotion that Baiye couldn't decipher.
Sure enough, no sooner had Su Yu finished speaking than she immediately added, "But."
Baiye's heart sank, but she tried her best to maintain her smile.
"Putting the emotional scenes aside, Jingwen's portrayal of An Xi is very clever, lively, and cheerful, with a bit of a roguish charm, which fits the character profile."
"So I've decided, Jingwen, you will play the role of An Xi."
"Thank you, Director Su! I'll do my best! Teacher Lin, I've always admired you so much. I'm so happy to finally have the chance to work with you. Please take good care of me!" Ye Jingwen couldn't contain her excitement. She walked over to Lin Yuqing and bowed deeply.
The moment Su Yu announced the result, Baiye clenched her fists tightly and closed her eyes. The smile she had been forcing herself to maintain finally collapsed, and her stomach twisted painfully at the inopportune moment.
"Baiye, I think you could try the role of An Liang. You…"
"I'm sorry, Director Su." Baiye interrupted her. "I know I still have a lot to learn, and I may not be up to the task for this role. So I've decided to withdraw. I'm sorry, everyone." Baiye bowed deeply, apologizing several times. Without looking up at anyone, she turned and left, trying to keep her steps steady, trying not to look so pathetic, not like she was fleeing in defeat.
In truth, back on the bus, when she learned that Ye Jingwen might get the role of An Xi, Baiye had already made her decision. If that was the case, she would quit. She didn't think she was magnanimous enough to watch Ye Jingwen be intimate with Auntie Lin without feeling jealous. She didn't want to become ugly with envy, nor did she want to become a pitiful wretch. The best solution was to stay away from it all.
She would rather not see Auntie Lin at all than watch her be affectionate with another girl right in front of her. She would break down.
Lin Yuqing watched Baiye's retreating figure, her brow deeply furrowed. For a fleeting moment, her heart ached. She desperately wanted to run after her.
No one understood why Baiye would be so resistant to the role of An Liang, nor did they expect her to quit so decisively. They stared blankly at her back, watching as her pace slowed, her steps growing smaller and smaller, until she finally just squatted down by the side of the road. Was she… crying?
Seeing Baiye's frail body, squatting on the ground, curled into a tiny ball, Lin Yuqing felt a sharp, real pang in her chest. The pain made her breath catch, and her hands unconsciously clenched into fists.
At that moment, Xia Xiaozi wanted to rush over, to hold Baiye in her arms and comfort her, or to offer a shoulder for her to cry on. Because when she herself had learned that the role Baiye had already secured was taken by someone else, she had been furious. And what's more, the role had been given away by Lin Yuqing herself!
However, before Xia Xiaozi could move, someone else beat her to it.
"Baiye? What's wrong?" When Lu Qing saw Baiye squatting by the road, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. After confirming it was her, she immediately ran over and knelt beside her. She saw the little one's forehead was covered in a fine sweat, her face pale, and she had bitten her lip so hard there were teeth marks on it. Her eyes were red, clearly brimming with tears. The sight made Lu Qing's own heart ache.
"Where are you feeling unwell? I'll take you to the hospital."
"It's okay… Teacher Lu… I just want to sit for a bit…"
"Alright, let's go to my car. Slowly." Lu Qing helped Baiye up, letting her lean against her as she supported her toward the parking lot.
"Where does it hurt?"
"It's nothing, it'll be better in a minute." Baiye sat in the car, leaning forward and clutching her stomach, occasionally sucking in a sharp breath. It looked like she was in a lot of pain.
"Wait here, I'll go get you some hot water."
Lu Qing grabbed a water bottle and headed straight for Su Yu's set. "Hey, is Baiye okay?" Su Yu spotted her from a distance and hurried over to meet her.
"I was about to ask you the same thing. We can talk later, just get me some hot water first."
Meanwhile, Lin Yuqing sat alone in the dressing room, her brow locked in a tight frown as she stared blankly at the floor.
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