Seeing Li Chu’s firm agreement, Tang Congnan reluctantly asked, “It’s not too explicit, right?”
“Not at all, not at all. We’re not making pornography. It’s just to add some feeling , you know? We’re all decent people, aren’t we, old chap?” Director Ji spread his hands outwards, then enthusiastically patted San Qiu’s shoulder.
San Qiu, already petite beside Director Ji, swayed precariously under the force of the hearty pats.
San Qiu pushed up his glasses and nodded. He had included romantic storylines in his previous works, but they never quite hit the mark. He’d even seen some reviews complaining about the unnecessary romance. As a screenwriter with dreams of sweet love stories, he couldn’t accept defeat!
“Any revealing scenes, whether it’s legs, back, or stomach, you must call me first to discuss the details. Is that okay, Director Ji? It’s not that I don’t trust you, but it’s Xiao Chu’s first time filming this kind of drama, and I’m worried she might not be comfortable.”
Tang Congnan was clearly very skeptical about the phrase “decent people.” Even though he was facing a director and screenwriter who had nurtured top talent, he still worried about Li Chu. It wasn’t that he forbade her from showing skin, but he was afraid she wouldn’t fully understand the situation and would just naively agree.
“No problem, no problem!” Director Ji said cheerfully, putting an arm around Tang Congnan and inviting him for a drink like they were best buddies.
The matter was settled amidst the jovial atmosphere created by Director Ji. Knowing Li Chu’s low alcohol tolerance, he focused on plying Tang Congnan with drinks. By the time they left, Li Chu was perfectly sober, while Tang Congnan was completely drunk.
Qian Duoduo helped Tang Congnan into the car and gave him a hangover candy.
Tang Congnan lay down, while Li Chu fiddled with her phone. She had just added Director Ji and San Qiu on WeChat and been pulled into a small group chat.
【This Time For Sure [5]】
San Qiu: Congratulations on our female lead’s arrival! Qin Mu is here!
Zhao Zhichun: Congratulations, congratulations! Director Ji and Teacher Qiu finally found a suitable female lead? Does this mean I don’t have to twiddle my thumbs at home anymore?!
Li Chu: Hello everyone, I’m Li Chu.
Li Chu: cat bowing.jpg
Zhao Zhichun: Hello! I’m Zhao Zhichun! Playing Li Rui in this drama.
Zhao Zhichun: Your pic is fine, next second it’s mine.
Li Chu: hahahahha Brother Zhao, feel free!
Li Chu chuckled. She knew Zhao Zhichun. He was academically trained and had been accepted into several schools with top scores in the art entrance exams. As a newcomer, he was chosen to star in a TV series jointly produced by Director Ji and San Qiu. Upon its release, the series swept major awards for Best Newcomer, making him the biggest dark horse of that year. However, after achieving such acclaim, he chose to pursue further studies, and there had been no news of him in the entertainment industry since. She hadn’t expected him to return now, and with such a big project.
【This Time For Sure [5]】
San Qiu: Lao Ji is drunk and insists on sending red envelopes. Being the thoughtful person I am, I’ve already entered the amount. Get ready to grab them!
Zhao Zhichun: Quick, quick, quick! A once-in-a-lifetime chance to fleece Director Ji! Li Zi, get ready to grab! Director Ji usually charges me for a single cigarette!
Li Chu: Okay, okay!
Director Ji sent a 200 yuan red envelope. Li Chu grabbed 55. She also sent one for good luck, and then the screen showed someone had sent three in a row.
Ning Manqing: Welcome to the female lead.
Zhao Zhichun: Whoa! Lao Ning is generous!
Li Chu: Thank you, Teacher Ning!
Zhao Zhichun: Then I’ll send one too~~
Li Chu: Thank you, Brother Zhao~~
The atmosphere in the small group chat was jubilant. Li Chu collected the red envelopes and clicked into her private chat with Ning Manqing.
【Xiao Chu】: cat saluting.jpg
【Xiao Chu】: Teacher Ning, I successfully passed the first hurdle!
【Teacher Ning】: Wonderful. I knew you could do it.
【Teacher Ning】: ruffling cat’s head.jpg
【Xiao Chu】: obedient.jpg
Although it was just text, Li Chu could picture Ning Manqing’s confident smile and the way her lips curved upwards. It seemed that no matter what, Teacher Ning would always affirm her so resolutely.
Tang Congnan’s whimpering from the car broke Li Chu’s reverie. She looked over and met a pair of resentful eyes. Along with Tang Congnan’s whines, it was a symphony of grievance, longing, and sorrow, so lingering that Li Chu mentally recited the Ode to the Red Cliffs .
“Baby, why did you agree?”
“Brother Nan, I’m an actress, not an idol. These things are nothing.”
Li Chu sincerely expressed that this was professionalism.
Li Chu wasn’t resistant at all to filming intimate scenes with Ning Manqing. Bed scenes definitely wouldn’t be real, and as for kissing scenes, real or fake, she was fine with either. However, Li Chu agreed also because Xi Yiyun was played by Ning Manqing. If it were another actress, she might not be able to act so naturally, and kissing scenes would definitely require camera tricks.
This was Schrödinger’s professionalism.
Tang Congnan continued to lie on the seat, whimpering at Qian Duoduo. He understood the logic, but he still felt like his precious cabbage was chasing after a pig to be devoured.
Tang Congnan was quite drunk. After his whimpering, he lay down, and the car fell silent again.
Just as Li Chu was starting to feel drowsy, Tang Congnan suddenly sprang up like a carp, startled awake from his drunken stupor.
“I don’t know who’s playing the second female lead. I forgot to ask!”
“Ning Manqing. Director Ji told me.”
Li Chu didn’t mention that she knew beforehand that Ning Manqing would be playing that role, as it might make Tang Congnan overthink things.
Hearing the name, Tang Congnan lay back down with a sigh of relief. He remembered her. She was a good person.
In early August, Li Chu declined all her engagements and flew to the city where the filming was taking place, accompanied by Tang Congnan and Qian Duoduo.
Filming hadn’t officially started, but Director Ji had already set up Qin Mu’s residence. He wanted Li Chu to familiarize herself with the environment for a while so she could better immerse herself in the role of Qin Mu. Li Chu readily agreed; this was exactly what she wanted. She could use the time before filming began to lose weight.
Her current figure was already quite good. At 1.65 meters tall and weighing 85 pounds, she was already on the slim side. However, to appear even more fragile on camera, she needed to lose more weight.
So, in the fully furnished “Qin Mu’s” home, at the dining table, Director Ji, San Qiu, the assistant director, and Zhao Zhichun were enthusiastically feasting on crayfish, while Li Chu ate chicken breast.
Ning Manqing arrived, weary from her journey, and this was the scene that greeted her. On one side, a pile of bright red crayfish; on the other, Li Chu sat, gazing longingly at the food while resentfully chewing on her diet meal.
The bright lights clearly outlined Li Chu’s profile. Her jet-black hair and cloud-white skin made her look like a delicate butterfly sketched in ink.
Ning Manqing’s first thought was: She’s lost weight. Much thinner than before.
“Teacher Ning!” Li Chu also saw her and gave her a surprised look.
The fatigue from the overnight flight seemed to dissipate in that single glance. Ning Manqing smiled at her.
“Yo, Lao Ning is here! Come eat with us!” Director Ji, his mouth full of red oil, looked up and called out to Ning Manqing.
“Teacher Ning is still so young, why do you all call her Lao Ning?” Li Chu put down her salad and asked curiously. Not only Director Ji called her that, but Zhao Zhichun, San Qiu, and even the actress playing Qin Mu’s mother, Qin Zhiyuan, did as well. Li Chu found it strange. It didn’t make sense. Teacher Ning was only twenty-five or twenty-six. Although she wasn’t as youthful as a young girl, she had her own unique charm. The first time Li Chu saw her, she felt she was perfect for playing a powerful figure in a cheongsam in a Republican-era setting – classically beautiful and as cold and sharp as a gentle knife.
But now, she was being called “Lao Ning” by a group of actors in their thirties and forties. Why?! This wasn’t the path her goddess should be taking!
The burly man, slurping on a crayfish, pondered, “Yeah, Lao Ning is still young, but she gives off a mature vibe.”
Director Ji mused that Li Chu probably hadn’t seen Ning Manqing angry. Even when she was a beta, she gave off a cold and aloof aura. After her differentiation, he could sense her pheromones, and that coldness could freeze his blood.
“Come, come, Li Zi, pull up a chair and let her join us. We bought twelve pounds!”
The large basin on the table was proof of the weight. To Li Chu, that pile of crayfish, coated in sauce, was something she desperately craved but dared not touch.
Wuwuwuwu, this is more torturous than a tragic love story.
“I’m not eating. Whose bright idea was it to eat this in front of her?” Ning Manqing stopped a chair with her foot and swept her gaze lightly over the four men.
The assistant director was as quiet as a mouse. Zhao Zhichun stopped chewing. San Qiu paused his peeling. Director Ji silently wiped his fingers.
“It was Director Ji! He said I was eating my salad too slowly and wanted to stimulate my appetite!” Li Chu, emboldened by Ning Manqing’s arrival, complained about Director Ji’s inhumane mental torture. These people were monsters! Eating crayfish in front of someone on a diet! Slurping! Sucking their fingers! And making her watch!
“Haha,” Director Ji gave an awkward laugh. “Well, we’re a team, a loving family. How could we not lend a hand when a family member is facing difficulties?”
Director Ji declared righteously, “Li Zi was forcing herself to eat, suffering in body, and I felt her pain in my heart. So I decided to let her be mentally satisfied. The aroma would make her food taste better!”
“Since we’re a family, we should be neat and tidy.” Ning Manqing smiled gently and beckoned to her assistant.
Ten minutes later, the four men each had a diet meal in front of them. The crayfish were taken away by the crew and shared among the staff.
“Eat.” Ning Manqing sat down, her face radiating gentleness.
Director Ji didn’t want to back down, but… but Ning Manqing wasn’t just an actress, she was also an investor!
With the director giving in, Zhao Zhichun, watching his crayfish disappear, tearfully began to eat his boiled chicken breast.
Li Chu, beside them, was almost rolling on the floor with laughter. Her face was aching from smiling.
“Teacher Ning, you’re amazing! Hahahahahahaha!” Tears of mirth welled up in Li Chu’s eyes, shimmering under the lights.
Teacher Ning’s revenge was truly hilarious. Her appetite greatly improved, and she quickly finished her diet meal, then watched Director Ji and the others eat theirs.
She had been here for half a month to familiarize herself with the environment. Director Ji and the others were easy to get along with, and she had long since relaxed, able to interact with them openly and playfully.
In this not-so-quiet, even somewhat noisy environment due to the presence of several staff members, Ning Manqing suddenly realized she could only hear Li Chu’s laughter.
Not hearing a response from Ning Manqing for a while, Li Chu turned to look at her and suddenly found herself gazing into those quiet eyes.
Time seemed to freeze, and everything fell silent.
Help me decide what to translate next by voting for the novels you’re most interested in reading or suggesting ones you’d like to see translated.
If you’d like to read ahead and support me, you can request extra chapters or get the full novel as an EPUB.
