MQSP - Chapter 17
Chapter 17
When Gu Baiye was called over by Su Yu to comb Lin Yuqing's hair, she was completely bewildered. She stood behind Lin Yuqing, wooden comb in hand, unsure where to even begin.
"What's wrong? Didn't you do a fine job last time?" Su Yu watched the scene unfold with amusement. Her sets were always harmonious and peaceful, and she didn't want any conflict between her two leads. It was best to improve their relationship sooner rather than later.
Lin Yuqing was utterly resigned to the situation. She simply sat still, letting Su Yu orchestrate things.
The stylist standing nearby was speechless. What kind of actress did the director find? she thought. Is she here to replace me?
"This hairstyle is a bit complicated. I'm not sure how to do it..." Gu Baiye said, at a loss.
The stylist was delighted. I can do it! I can do it!
Su Yu glanced from side to side. "In that case..." She gestured to the stylist. "Teach her."
"...!"
Lin Yuqing lifted her eyelids. "It's fine. Go ahead and take your time. I get paid by the day, anyway."
Upon hearing that, Su Yu decisively surrendered and had someone else do Lin Yuqing's makeup.
Gu Baiye quickly made way for the stylist, watching and learning attentively from the side.
"Baiye, come over here and sit down." Su Yu found a makeup bag, pulled over a stool, and had Gu Baiye sit next to Lin Yuqing, brazenly taking over the actress's dressing room.
"Hm? Me?"
"That's right. I'm going to do your makeup. We'll do a test run today."
"You're going to do my makeup?" Gu Baiye froze, not moving an inch. Does she... even know how? She glanced doubtfully at Lin Yuqing, only to find the actress's gaze as sharp as a predator's. Lin Yuqing looked first at Su Yu, then back at Gu Baiye, making the girl feel as if she were on pins and needles, too afraid to move.
"Come on, you don't trust me? I'm just lazy, otherwise this whole makeup team would be out of a job."
Unable to refuse Su Yu's enthusiastic invitation, Gu Baiye walked over apprehensively and sat down. Before she was even settled, Su Yu reached out and patted her on the head, startling her so much that she jolted and shot back to her feet.
"What's wrong?" Su Yu was startled as well.
Gu Baiye touched her hair awkwardly. Could she admit that she wasn't used to being touched affectionately by people she didn't know well? The sensation gave her goosebumps. The few times Teacher Lu had touched her, it hadn't been quite that bad, but it had still felt incredibly awkward. And she was a complete stranger to Su Yu.
"I'm sorry, Director Su," Gu Baiye apologized and sat back down.
Lin Yuqing watched the entire exchange. Strange, she thought, I've never seen her jump like that just from being touched before.
This time, Gu Baiye was mentally prepared. And Su Yu, being crafty, held her head in place to prevent her from jumping up again.
"Tsk, your hair is in such good condition. So dark and shiny, with no split ends at all. Tsk, tsk..."
"Oh, and your skin is wonderful, too. So supple and dewy. Youth is really something else. Your bare face is prettier than mine with a full face of makeup." Su Yu, acting overly familiar, reached out and pinched Gu Baiye's cheek, lost in her admiration and completely oblivious to the murderous glare coming from beside them.
Gu Baiye didn't know whether to laugh or cry and felt a little embarrassed. Fortunately, Su Yu only prodded her skin for a moment before pulling her hand back.
Su Yu took a hair tie, gathered Gu Baiye's hair, and lifted the bangs on her right side. Before she could do anything else, her gaze froze. She stared at the reflection of Gu Baiye's right temple in the mirror. "How did this happen?"
Gu Baiye was startled and quickly pulled her bangs down to cover the spot. Lin Yuqing frowned deeply, silently averted her gaze, and closed her eyes.
The memory of the first time she had met little Baiye surfaced in her mind.
The little girl's hands had been swollen like steamed buns, the backs of them covered in the marks of fingers from being struck. When she saw Lin Yuqing, she had hidden her hands behind her back, clenching them tightly.
Her delicate little face had also been covered in injuries, her lips chapped and cracked. But what had wrenched Lin Yuqing's heart the most was the patch of dried blood on her temple, where a trickle had run down and dried on her cheek.
Afterward, despite Xia Xiaozi's meticulous care, a scar the size of a fingernail had remained on her temple.
They had tried all sorts of scar removal products, and while the mark had faded, it was still visible to this day. It was something Lin Yuqing could never quite let go of. Gu Baiye, on the other hand, remained optimistic. Once her hair grew out, she simply kept her bangs styled to the right to cover the scar and never spoke of the matter again.
Gu Baiye glanced guiltily at Auntie Lin. "That... um... I bumped it by accident when I was little."
"Will it affect the filming?" Gu Baiye asked worriedly.
"No, not at all. We can just cover it with makeup. It's fine." Su Yu shook her head, not pressing the issue any further, which made Gu Baiye sigh in relief.
Before long, Lin Yuqing's hair was done, and she went into the inner room to change into her costume. The stylist immediately moved on to Gu Baiye's hair.
"Xiao Ye Jiejie!" Xiao Bao came bouncing into the room, running straight for Gu Baiye.
Gu Baiye saw her in the mirror. She had already changed into her costume—a loose, white practice uniform—and her hair was tied up in a messy bun. She was absolutely adorable as she hopped about.
"Xiao Ye Jiejie, you're getting your makeup done too! When will you be finished? Are you going to be filming?"
"I don't have any scenes right now, I'm just doing a makeup test." Gu Baiye naturally wrapped an arm around the little girl. Xiao Bao leaned half her body onto Baiye's lap, the two of them incredibly affectionate. Gu Baiye truly adored children.
Seeing this, Su Yu felt a great sense of relief. Finally, someone could handle this little rascal!
"Then, Auntie Su, can you please hurry up? I want Xiao Ye Jiejie to watch me act! I want Jiejie to be with me!" Xiao Bao grabbed Gu Baiye's hand and swung it back and forth, putting on a whiny little display that made Gu Baiye unable to resist booping her on the nose. She was just too cute.
"Be with you for what? How old are you that you still need someone to keep you company?" a discordant voice scolded.
Gu Baiye watched as the smile on Xiao Bao's face instantly vanished. She glanced back at Lin Yuqing, who had just finished changing into her costume. The moment she put on the armor, her entire aura intensified. Combined with her signature glare, it was no wonder Xiao Bao was frightened; even Gu Baiye instinctively shrank back, not daring to meet her eyes.
"So mean..." Xiao Bao muttered under her breath. Having been scolded by Lin Yuqing in front of everyone, she felt embarrassed and lowered her head, picking at her fingers.
Gu Baiye sensitively noticed the little girl's embarrassment and patted her on the head. "I'll probably be a little while longer. You go film your scene first, and I'll come watch as soon as my makeup is done, okay?"
"Okay!" Xiao Bao immediately brightened up.
Gu Baiye sighed with emotion. Children were wonderful—so simple, without too many worries, their moods easily swayed by the smallest of things.
"Then you have to be a good girl, listen to the aunties, and take your acting seriously, okay?"
"Okay! Then you have to come quickly, Jiejie!"
Lin Yuqing was out of patience. She shot a glance at Gu Baiye, then turned and walked out.
Xiao Bao saw this and made a face at her retreating back.
"Xiao Bao, you shouldn't do that," Gu Baiye gently chided.
"Auntie Lin is actually pretty cute..." Gu Baiye hadn't even finished her sentence before Xiao Bao clapped a hand over her mouth. The little girl glanced toward the doorway, then whispered conspiratorially, "You can't call her Auntie! She'll yell at you!"
Before Gu Baiye could process that, another voice drifted into her ear. "And where, exactly, do you see anything cute about her?" Su Yu asked, her face a mask of curiosity.
Caught off guard, Gu Baiye was so startled she nearly jumped out of her seat.
You people are unbelievable! o(╯□╰)o
"She's really mean! She even spanked my butt!" Xiao Bao continued to complain.
"Huh?" Gu Baiye was a little confused. Auntie Lin had never liked being around children. As for hitting one, she probably couldn't even be bothered.
Su Yu put a hand to her forehead. "I already told you, that was for a scene..." Has this kid gotten too deep into her role?
"Well, I just don't like her!" Xiao Bao declared, crossing her arms and huffing like a little calf. Her pouty expression amused Gu Baiye.
"You're not allowed to like her either, Jiejie!"
Gu Baiye was speechless, unsure whether to laugh or cry. This kid was certainly precocious. Auntie Lin, how am I supposed to salvage your reputation with children?
"Promise me!" Xiao Bao wheedled, hugging Gu Baiye's arm.
"I..."
Gu Baiye was still trying to figure out how to change the subject when she saw the color drain from Xiao Bao's face. The girl let go of her arm. Gu Baiye quickly turned around and, sure enough, saw Auntie Lin striding toward them menacingly. She bent down, wrapped an arm around Xiao Bao's stomach, tucked the girl under her arm, and lifted her up with one hand, walking away without another word.
Xiao Bao was so scared she forgot to struggle. She craned her neck and yelled, "Ahhh—don't hit me! I'll be good!"
Gu Baiye put a hand to her forehead. This kid certainly knew when to back down...
Su Yu was equally helpless. Those two were like fated enemies. Still, it was thanks to Xiao Bao's "be naughty or die" personality that she was such a perfect fit for the character of An Xi.
"You should learn a thing or two from Xiao Bao."
"Hm?" Gu Baiye looked at Su Yu in the mirror, confused.
"Be a little tougher. Don't be so well-behaved. People who are too well-behaved get bullied easily. Look at Xiao Bao—she's a little tyrant on set. None of the other kids dare to provoke her. That one always gets her revenge."
"Besides, considering the character, An Xi isn't exactly a good little girl. You need to let yourself be a bit more roguish, understand?"
"Uh..." Gu Baiye looked troubled. Being roguish was a bit beyond her capabilities...
"Don't worry, there's still time. I'll help train you. I'll strive to help you achieve a perfect transformation. All you have to do is listen to me obediently," Su Yu said with a mischievous smile.
Seeing that smile, Gu Baiye felt a sudden chill, and the fine hairs on her arms stood on end.
Once her makeup was finished, Gu Baiye went into the dressing room. A suit of armor was already laid out for her. It was a dark silver, similar in style to Auntie Lin's set. Gu Baiye reached out and touched one of the plates. It was cool to the touch. The sensation was so real. This wasn't a dream. She had taken this step. She was finally, finally one step closer to Auntie Lin!
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