Hearing Rong Guang say this, Chu Feiliang finally managed to dig out the origin of this picture from the depths of her mind.
Over the years, quite a few of her photos had circulated. She had tried many different styles, colors, and looks. As long as one was willing to spend money, there was no fear of not being able to hire a good designer. Therefore, she was generally very successful when it came to photoshoots and fashion magazines, regularly appearing on their covers.
So, it was usually quite difficult to remember if a specific picture was hers.
As for this picture…
Chu Feiliang raised an eyebrow. She remembered.
It was from a set of magazine photos she had done a few years ago, similar to a public service announcement. The intention was to encourage people with scars not to feel inferior, to keep striving forward, and the photos were shot from an angle meant to inspire confidence.
She didn’t have a strong impression of this particular photo, but many other photos from the same set that were used had won quite a few major awards at the time.
Because Chu Feiliang was never afraid of looking unattractive, nor did she worry about her image being marred on screen. She always went for the most extreme portrayal. Although the images presented at the time were later banned, they had caused quite a sensation.
“You specifically asked the editor-in-chief for it?” Chu Feiliang looked again, the proud expression on her face finally softening, even showing a hint of a smile.
Rong Guang nodded, put her phone away, and said, “Yes, I’ve done a few photoshoots for NV Magazine before, so I know the editor-in-chief. She… she knows you’re my idol, so she gave me a few clearer copies.”
After all, it was a small favor, and the photos were from years ago, so there were no confidentiality agreements or anything like that.
Chu Feiliang, naturally, wouldn’t fuss over such a thing. Hearing this, she let out a soft hum as an answer, then said, “Next time you want to use a picture like this as your background, just come ask me directly. Don’t I have a more complete collection than this? I can give you a new one every day for three hundred and sixty-five days without a single repeat.”
Rong Guang asked in a small voice, “Aren’t you angry?”
“Angry? What’s there to be angry about?” Chu Feiliang waved her hand magnanimously. “Plenty of people use my pictures as their background. If I got worked up over every single one, wouldn’t I die of anger? Take mine and use them as you please. If you run out, come find me anytime. I have plenty. The real deal is right here, do whatever you want.”
Rong Guang’s face flushed red with excitement.
For all these years, she had collected every interview video and any magazine-related photo of Chu Feiliang, sorted by group and series, onto a dedicated drive on her computer, which she regularly organized and updated.
But in the end, it was all just bits and pieces she had collected herself, not a complete set.
If she could really get them from Chu Feiliang herself… then…?
Rong Guang was thrilled!
Long after Chu Feiliang left, Rong Guang was still secretly happy about what had just happened.
Chacha leaned over, poked her arm, and said with a smile, “Sister Guangguang, are you still this happy?”
“Chacha, do you understand the feeling of having the person you like talk to you?” Rong Guang’s eyes were shining. This year was probably one of the happiest in her twenty-plus years of life. Even in her past life, long after she had gotten to know Chu Feiliang, she had only dared to use her photo as a background secretly, not wanting to scare her with her feelings and thoughts.
But this time, she had been given permission by the person herself!
How could she not be excited!
“Not really,” Chacha said bluntly. “But I think I can understand. Lots of young fans who get to talk to their idols at the airport get so excited they faint. Compared to them, you’re amazing.”
Rong Guang chuckled. “That’s true.”
At least she could restrain herself from pouncing on her.
Before long, Chu Feiliang returned to her seat with water and handed a bottle to Rong Guang.
Rong Guang thanked her, took the bottle, and drank from it in small sips. She glanced at the weather and said, “The weather today is actually quite suitable for shooting a big outdoor scene. The atmosphere is quite grim.”
It had been bright and sunny at noon, but in the afternoon, the sky had suddenly turned overcast, and a strong wind had picked up, blowing in gusts and whistling.
Near the studio base, there was a sizable outdoor set. The area wasn’t huge, but it was more than enough to serve as a training ground. The director of the B-unit, seeing the change in weather, had already led his people over to take a look.
Chu Feiliang nodded and said, “It’s all the same, no matter what we’re shooting.”
Rong Guang thought for a moment and asked, “In this drama, are there any scenes that left a deep impression on you?”
“You mean in terms of plot?” Chu Feiliang said, “There are too many in the plot. But whether we can actually bring the scenes we envision in our minds to life during filming is another matter… The script for 【The Eldest Princess】, has so many moving points, not just in terms of family, but also love, and even patriotism and righteousness.”
Rong Guang nodded, recalling a scene that would likely happen in the future. She nodded again and said, “Indeed.”
The scene to be filmed then was a battle of certain death.
It was the scene where Ji Ying, knowing she would die, dismissed most of her army and went to rescue Jinyang City, escorting the citizens out and choosing to remain with the city herself.
Whether it was the scene of tens of thousands of soldiers kneeling in unison, shouting that they would advance and retreat with their general until death, while Ji Ying, unable to speak of the royal struggles she bore, felt a mix of helplessness and emotion; or the surviving child in the city, riding on a soldier’s horse and protected in his arms, looking back from afar and raising a small wooden knife in a salute with a resolute yet childish face; or the family that survived against all odds, suddenly reunited amidst the ravages of war, their joy of survival instantly collapsing into heart-wrenching sobs—every scene was deeply moving.
There were too many moving points. Whether they could be filmed successfully depended not only on the director and actors but also required the united effort of the entire crew to achieve it completely.
Every part was interlinked; not a single one could be missing.
Rong Guang pressed her lips together, her eyes shining, and said, “I hope 【The Eldest Princess】 can become a drama that no one can surpass for the next ten… or even twenty years!”
Chu Feiliang turned her head to look at Rong Guang. A certain light flashed in her eyes. She chuckled softly and said, “That’s everyone’s hope.”
Just then, Rong Guang’s phone vibrated.
Chu Feiliang paused, subconsciously glancing at the screen. A WeChat message had automatically popped up. She said, “You have a message.”
Rong Guang was taken aback. As she took the phone and was about to look, she heard Chu Feiliang say, “In the future, remember to hide your message previews. Don’t have them display fully on the lock screen, just in case.”
Rong Guang blinked. “Okay.”
Chu Feiliang took another sip of water and went back to studying her script.
Only then did Rong Guang open her phone to look.
The notification was from WeChat. The sender… was Duan Nong.
She frowned and opened it to see.
Nongnong: You took The Eldest Princess?
Nongnong: You really went to act?
Nongnong: You there?
Nongnong: Reply, thanks.
Nongnong: ?????
Rong Guang looked at this string of messages, feeling a headache coming on.
Chacha leaned over to look and clicked her tongue. “Is this that sister we met at your place who was throwing things?”
“Yes, that’s her.” Rong Guang frowned, her head aching a little.
Duan Nong had always been spoiled and willful. Whether at home, at school, or at the company, she was always the one everyone doted on.
Rong Guang had always given in to Duan Nong.
From small things like daily necessities, as long as Duan Nong asked, she would give them to her.
To bigger things, even performance opportunities. A few times, Duan Nong had said she couldn’t make time for plans they had made to go out and wanted to switch with Rong Guang, and Rong Guang had given those to her as well.
It just seemed that she didn’t receive equal treatment in return.
Chacha asked, “Should you reply?”
“I don’t know how to reply.” Rong Guang pressed her lips together, feeling that no matter whether she replied or not, it would be the wrong move.
In her past life, because of a Weibo post from Duan Nong, Rong Guang was flamed to the top of the trending topics. The news even reached her grandmother’s hometown, which directly caused her grandmother in her past life… to die from a fit of anger.
Her grandmother’s death wasn’t directly related to Duan Nong herself. In fact, Duan Nong had always been like this. The fact that she dared to post that Weibo message meant she wasn’t afraid of anyone and was ready to completely tear things apart with the company and with her, just to get to the bottom of things.
But what she did was indeed the catalyst for that result.
Rong Guang didn’t want to misplace her anger, but she couldn’t completely eliminate a person’s normal emotions and desires.
She sighed, handed the phone to Chacha, and said, “Just say I’m not here. Chacha, over the next few days, send more pictures of me to Grandma. And take the opportunity to get more photos of me with Sister Chu and some work photos, so Grandma won’t worry.”
Chacha held the phone and nodded in agreement.
Then, when there were fewer people around, she whispered, “Sister Guangguang, is something about to happen?”
Rong Guang was taken aback.
“You look very worried.” Chacha frowned, a flicker of anxiety and nervousness on her young face. She said, “What is it? Can I help? Don’t hide it from me…”
“It’s nothing major.” Rong Guang paused, looking at Chacha very seriously. “If something really happens, I will definitely tell you. You don’t need to be afraid, understand?”
Chacha stared at Rong Guang for a long time, as if to finally confirm that what Rong Guang said was true.
Then she nodded seriously, let out a heavy breath, and said, “Then I’ll chat more with Grandma and talk to her more.”
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