MQSP - Chapter 22
Chapter 22
There was still over half a month before they were scheduled to film the scenes from the characters' youth, but Su Yu notified the actors for those roles to join the production early. She wanted them to do some prep work, like getting into character and learning some martial arts moves. After all, there were fight scenes, and as the saying goes, last-minute preparations are better than none.
Over the past two days, the actors for the youth arc had been arriving one after another. The production crew was short-staffed, so Gu Baiye helped the staff arrange accommodations for the newcomers.
Just as Baiye finished helping two people get settled, she saw another girl approaching from a distance. Her assistant followed close behind, pulling a large, pink rolling suitcase and carrying a pile of luggage. The girl wore exaggeratedly large sunglasses and a sun hat, fanning herself as she walked.
Baiye walked over quickly, a smile on her face. "Hello, are you one of the new actors? Your room is ready. Let me take you there."
The girl nudged her sunglasses down, revealing her eyes. She looked Baiye up and down. "So you're Gu Baiye? You're not all that, huh." She huffed softly and pushed her sunglasses back up.
Baiye was a bit baffled. How did this girl know who she was?
"Are you happy, taking a role someone gave you out of pity?"
"What?" Baiye frowned. Now she could clearly feel the girl's hostility toward her.
"Oh, my mistake. I forgot, 'pity' isn't the right word. After all, you got it by playing the victim. Senior Sister is just too naive. That's why she pitied you and let you wrap her around your little finger."
Baiye was even more confused after hearing this. She felt there must be some misunderstanding, but she understood one thing: this girl must have some connection to Ye Jingwen. She had secretly asked Su Yu about Ye Jingwen's withdrawal, and it seemed to be related to her boss. How had she gotten dragged into it?
The girl glanced at Baiye and tried to walk around her.
"If that's what you think, I have nothing to say. But I'd advise you to get your facts straight before making accusations." Baiye's attitude was also firm. She remembered what Teacher Lu had said: never show weakness to others. Being approachable was good, but if you let people think you were a pushover, you'd made a huge mistake.
"Hmph."
Baiye paid her no more mind, but when she turned, she saw the assistant struggling with all the bags, nearly crushed by the luggage. She sighed helplessly. "Let me help you." She stepped forward with a smile and took two backpacks from her hands.
"Th-thank you!" The young assistant struggled to push up her glasses with her nose.
Through her conversation with the assistant, Baiye learned that the girl's name was Wu Mengmeng. She was also a newly signed artist with MG Entertainment and was very close with Ye Jingwen. Furthermore, the reason Ye Jingwen had come to audition for this production in the first place was because Wu Mengmeng had told her Lin Yuqing was in it.
No wonder she was so hostile toward her and thought she had stolen Ye Jingwen's role.
Baiye didn't want to over-explain the matter. Since Wu Mengmeng had shown hostility the moment she saw her, she probably wouldn't believe any explanation anyway. Why waste her breath? She led them to their room and left.
"Look at her, so full of herself. Playing a main role, does she think she's all that?!"
The assistant gave a wry smile and didn't reply.
Because they were filming a scene where everyone ate roast beef with the soldiers in the camp, they had prepared some beef steaks in advance. During the lunch break, Su Yu invited everyone in the cast and crew to grill the beef together. It was also a good opportunity for the new actors to get to know everyone.
And you had to admit, a group of people sitting around a fire, grilling meat, really created a great atmosphere. Plus, the weather wasn't too hot, and there was even a light breeze from time to time. It was simply delightful.
Lin Yuqing also made a rare appearance at the group activity. Still wearing her costume armor, she sat cross-legged right on the ground, looking quite free and easy.
Baiye sat directly across from her. Whenever she looked up, she could see the dashing figure. The viewing angle was excellent.
"Alright everyone, don't be shy. Let's do some introductions. This is the first time our whole cast is assembled," Su Yu said, in high spirits. Looking at the young actors, it was as if she saw her younger self, who had set out to make her way in the world with a dream in her heart.
However, a few of the young actors were a bit timid. Su Yu looked around. "Alright then, let's go in order of the characters' importance." She casually pointed to a young woman with short hair.
The young woman didn't refuse this time and was about to stand up.
"You can stay seated. We're not so formal here."
"Okay. My name is Chen Ying, and I play An Liang in the drama." Chen Ying just introduced herself briefly and said no more. Su Yu was starting to regret having her go first. This one was a real quiet type, just like Lin Yuqing—the kind you couldn't squeeze a word out of!
"Hey, let me add a couple of things. Xiao Ying is a student. And let me tell you, you'd better not mess with her. She's practiced combat sports for six years, and she used to be a stunt double. Someone like you guys, she could knock you down with her little finger." Su Yu couldn't help but give a thumbs-up.
"For real?" The others expressed their disbelief and looked Chen Ying up and down.
Chen Ying just smiled. "Director Su is flattering me. I wouldn't dare say I could do it with my little finger, but taking one of you down with one hand wouldn't be a problem."
"…You're really not one for modesty, are you." Su Yu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. When this girl spoke, she had a mysterious self-confidence that made it impossible not to believe her. This was the main reason Su Yu had chosen her.
"Hello everyone, my name is Wu Mengmeng. This time, I'm playing the second sister, the not-so-bright An Duo. I hope everyone will take good care of me~" Wu Mengmeng gave everyone a polite, sweet smile. She was like a completely different person from the one who had shown hostility to Baiye earlier.
Baiye frowned slightly and continued to listen attentively to the other introductions.
Soon, it was her turn. Baiye was quite composed. She gave a simple self-introduction; after all, she had been around everyone for a while and they already knew her. The other newcomers were all friendly with one another. Wu Mengmeng acted just like a sweet-type pretty girl and was very popular.
"Hey, let's talk about something cliché. Why do you want to act?" Su Yu started a new topic.
"Me, me, me!" Wu Mengmeng eagerly raised her hand.
"Go ahead, you."
"Because in this industry, you can meet a lot of big stars. I especially love Teacher Lin. Having the chance to work with her this time is like a dream come true!!" Wu Mengmeng cupped her face with both hands, staring at Lin Yuqing with a look of infatuation.
Baiye really disliked the blatant way she was staring at Auntie Lin and couldn't help but pout.
Lin Yuqing had no reaction when she heard Wu Mengmeng say she liked her. But when she subconsciously glanced at Xiao Ye and saw the little one pouting, her mood improved immensely.
Hmph, little thing. You may not like me, but plenty of other people do!
"Hey, hey, can you act a little more excited? This is your little fangirl here," Su Yu poked Lin Yuqing.
Lin Yuqing gave her a cool glance. "So many people in the world like me. If I got excited for every single one, I'd die of exhaustion."
"Pfft…" Baiye burst out laughing. Yep, her snarky Auntie Lin was back.
Lin Yuqing heard her laugh, and for some reason, she wanted to laugh too. But she quickly caught herself and forced herself to keep a straight face.
"Why act…" Ji Ming belatedly pondered Su Yu's question, resting her cheek in one hand and looking a little melancholy.
"Ji Jiejie, what's wrong?" Baiye, who was sitting right next to her, quickly asked.
"It's nothing, I just thought of someone. She was my only motivation for getting into this industry." Ji Ming sighed and absently poked at the grilled meat on the rack with her chopsticks.
"Ooh, who's the secret crush?" Su Yu overheard and couldn't resist teasing.
"Stop it." Ji Ming waved her hand dismissively. "She was the most charismatic woman I've ever seen. Every time I saw her on TV, it was like my soul was being bewitched by her…"
Hearing Ji Ming say this, everyone else became interested too. "Who is it, who? Tell us all about her!"
"What's there to say? She's already passed away. Sigh, heaven is jealous of talent…"
Lin Yuqing and Su Yu exchanged a look and couldn't help but frown.
"You're talking about…" Anyone who had been in the industry for a while pretty much knew who she was talking about.
"That's right, it's her. Even though she's gone, the thing she did earned my lifelong admiration!"
"What did she do?" Baiye asked quickly.
Ji Ming turned to look at her. "She married a woman!"
Many people still gasped. Even though many years had passed, in their hearts, it was still a magnificent feat.
"Married… a woman?" Baiye looked shocked.
"Yes. Do you think she was crazy, too?" Ji Ming scoffed.
"No." Baiye shook her head very firmly.
Ji Ming looked stunned. She looked up at her, and the others were also surprised to varying degrees.
"I… I've always believed that love is beautiful and free. It shouldn't be obstructed by anything. Gender… or…" Baiye paused, not daring to look at Lin Yuqing. She could only stare straight at Ji Ming. "Or… age."
Hearing this, Lin Yuqing frowned deeply. Is she confessing her feelings to Ji Ming!!?
"I didn't expect someone so young to have such an enlightened view." Ji Ming was pleasantly surprised, her hand unconsciously coming to rest on Baiye's shoulder.
Baiye smiled. "It's just what I think."
"Enlightened, very enlightened! We have to have a good talk about this!" Ji Ming was exceptionally excited. She pulled Baiye to her feet, and they headed toward the dressing rooms together.
Su Yu was speechless. She had clearly found a little wife for Lin Yuqing, so how did a Ji Ming pop out of nowhere and snatch her away?
As she thought this, she shot Lin Yuqing a look of exasperation. Well, well, this Old Fellow's face was blacker than the bottom of a pot. Was she… jealous?
"Hey, if you don't go check on them, your little wife is going to get snatched away~" Su Yu muttered under her breath.
Lin Yuqing ground her teeth resentfully and dragged Su Yu toward her own dressing room.
"That scene where Ji Ming gets caned… I didn't perform it well before. I want to reshoot it."
"Pfft… So, are you planning to cane her to death?"
"Is that an option?"
…Oh-ho, your methods of revenge are certainly unique~
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