Duan Nong’s face seemed to scream: Don’t bully me for being inexperienced, don’t tease me just because I’ve never acted before.
Chacha looked at Duan Nong’s expression and popped a sunflower seed into her mouth. She thought Duan Nong looked incredibly silly right now, completely lacking the shrewdness she had when they first met.
It was a pity Ye Zi had gone to school and couldn’t discuss this fool with her.
Besides, Rong Guang and Duan Nong were talking about serious business, so it wasn’t right for her to interrupt.
Rong Guang glanced at her twice and said, “Because she’s beautiful.”
Duan Nong: “…”
Duan Nong was practically suffocating. She almost wanted to ask if Rong Guang was a roundworm living in her stomach. She rolled her eyes so hard they nearly reached the heavens.
She glared at Rong Guang for a moment, then pointed at herself and said, “Just because she’s beautiful? Beautiful enough that she could kill over a dozen of the emperor’s children and continue to live safely in the rear palace? Look at me, look at me! I’m this beautiful, and if I did something like that, I wouldn’t have the face to live!”
“Not just that.” Rong Guang also felt that explanation was a bit too general.
If she hadn’t been the one to say it, she would have thought she was being deceived herself.
But what she wanted to teach Duan Nong wasn’t the answer, but the process of solving the problem. She wanted her to understand the character of Ding Wenren herself.
“Ahem, it’s like this… The character you need to analyze isn’t just Ding Wenren, but also Ji Zheng, and the relationship between Ji Zheng and Ding Wenren.” Rong Guang cleared her throat, thought carefully, organized her words, and said, “What I can tell you is actually quite one-sided. For more details, you can take a trip over to the screenwriting team, have a chat, and ask them about their ideas for the character’s design.”
Duan Nong was suspicious for a long time before saying doubtfully, “Go on, tell me.”
Rong Guang’s eyes curved as she said, “For Ding Wenren to be able to run rampant in the palace for so long, it’s impossible that the emperor wasn’t spoiling her and protecting her. And why exactly was it that she could nearly wipe out the emperor’s entire line of succession, yet still continue to live?”
Duan Nong waited for her to continue. “Why?”
Rong Guang said, “It’s because the emperor was indulging her in doing so.”
Duan Nong paused, frowning. “Although it’s not obvious in the script, hearing you say it, it does seem to have that implication…”
Ding Wenren’s methods of harming others weren’t sophisticated; you could even say they were full of holes. If she were caught, any single reason would be enough to report to the emperor and have her executed immediately.
But the people around her were all personally assigned to her by the emperor.
One of the actresses playing the head palace maid by Ding Wenren’s side was a well-known supporting actress among middle-aged actresses. Although not famous, her value lay in her superb acting skills, and she had appeared in many highly-rated films.
For someone with such a familiar face to play a supporting role to a supporting character really seemed like a waste of talent.
Duan Nong fell into deep thought.
After a while, inspiration struck her. “I remember now!”
She had just recently watched that scene between Rong Guang and Zhao Xiuqi!
The person who personally killed the royal heirs was none other than Ji Zheng himself, played by Zhao Xiuqi. It was he who didn’t want to experience the tragedy of a succession struggle, who didn’t want to be schemed against for the throne by his own children, so he simply plotted, step by step, to kill all of his own children!
It was precisely because she had Zhao Xiuqi backing her that Ding Wenren dared to be so unscrupulous!
“But this way… why do I feel like something’s not quite right?” Duan Nong propped her chin on her hand and said, “On what basis did Ding Wenren become the emperor’s pawn to help him harm people, and why did the emperor choose her… The character’s logic is a bit confusing to me.”
“That’s simple too.” A voice suddenly appeared beside them, tapping on the script. “Because in the end, Ding Wenren was the only concubine willing to be buried with the emperor. She was also the only one who attended to him without even taking off her clothes when he was on his deathbed. In other words, it was true love, without any impurities. She personally told the emperor to have her son give up the struggle for the throne, so Ding Wenren’s only child survived, was adopted by the emperor’s own brother, and inherited the title of prince. The emperor also began to open back doors for her everywhere.”
When Rong Guang saw Chu Feiliang approach, she stopped talking.
When it came to teaching someone how to act or how to grasp a character’s shining points, she was no match for Chu Feiliang.
Some people improve their acting skills through experience, countless failures, and a bit of innate talent, honing them step by step.
But some people are just born to do this.
The moment they get a script, countless ideas emerge. They can clearly see what kind of person the character they’re playing is, and how to express it to bring the character to life most vividly.
Chu Feiliang was undoubtedly the latter.
And compared to most naturally talented actors, she possessed a most rare quality: she was hardworking and diligent, and she also knew how to delve deep into her research.
Other actors study their own roles, only caring about how to bring out their own character’s best performance.
But Chu Feiliang didn’t just do that; she would also study every single person in the script.
It was also because of this that she could often chat with the screenwriting team. The screenwriting team and Zhang Nanchuan would also frequently listen to Chu Feiliang’s opinions, make final summaries, and slowly adjust the script.
Duan Nong seemed to understand a little.
She wasn’t stupid, after all. Chu Feiliang had already gotten to the main point with her. The rest, regarding her own thoughts and expression of Ding Wenren, could only be solved by herself and Zhang Nanchuan.
Rong Guang looked at Duan Nong’s contemplative expression and said, “You don’t have to rush. You can add some of your own things for the details. If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask me anytime.”
“I have a test shoot tonight, right away.” Duan Nong looked up and said, “Can you stay and keep me company?”
Rong Guang was taken aback.
Then she pressed her lips together and ultimately refused.
Duan Nong’s expression instantly soured. She hadn’t expected Rong Guang to refuse her at all. “Why? This is my first time filming. If you’re not there watching, I’ll feel nervous. You… didn’t you always stay with me before?”
“Nongnong, I can’t follow you around forever. You have to learn to be independent and improve. Besides…” Rong Guang tilted her head and said, “Teacher Chu and I also have an outdoor scene to shoot tonight.”
“Given the pace you two are filming at, you’ll have time to come find me when you wrap up.” Duan Nong glared at Rong Guang. She had been watching Rong Guang and Chu Feiliang’s scenes for a long time. Although they didn’t always get it in one take, the extra takes were entirely because Zhang Nanchuan wanted to shoot a few times to compare which one was better.
Chu Feiliang smiled, stated it plainly with a shrug, and said, “But she’ll be very tired.”
It was already the end of October, and the temperature wasn’t high. Today’s scene required not only artificial snow but also strong winds.
At night, the temperature would only be a few degrees above zero. No matter how thickly you dressed, you’d be chilled to the bone after standing outside for a short while. What’s more, they had to face a wind machine constantly. If they couldn’t get it right in one take, they’d have to do it many times, which was draining not just physically, but mentally as well.
Duan Nong’s lips moved, but she sulked and said nothing more.
After a moment, she mumbled something under her breath. Rong Guang didn’t hear it clearly. Seeing Duan Nong’s sullen look, she couldn’t help but sigh.
Sitting in the car on the way to Green Mountain Temple, Rong Guang rubbed her hands together, opened her phone to check, but there were no messages.
Chu Feiliang was sitting with her. Hearing the movement, she turned to look and asked, “Cold?”
Rong Guang shook her head, put her phone away, and said, “I just wiped my hands with a wet wipe, so they’re a little cold. I’m just rubbing them.”
Chu Feiliang nodded. After a moment, she asked, “How many years have you been with Duan Nong?”
Rong Guang calculated for a moment, frowning slightly. “Almost four years, I think…?”
The NO.1 Group would have been formed for exactly three years by the end of this year. But before their formation, the four of them had lived together for about a year, getting used to each other, getting to know each other, before finally being selected by the company to debut as a group.
Chu Feiliang said with some surprise, “That is a long time.”
Rong Guang snuggled down a bit and looked out the window.
There was already condensation on the window. Looking through it, she could only see the distant train tracks and the occasional flickering lights on the platform, an orange-yellow glow that carried the unique sense of loneliness found at a station.
She nodded, feeling a bit nostalgic, and smiled. “Yeah… it really has been a long time.”
At the time, she was the youngest in the group. Duan Nong was a few months older, but born in the previous calendar year, making her one year older by traditional age counting.
Although she was the youngest, Rong Guang was the most level-headed one, much more so than the other two members.
Chu Feiliang seemed to be in a good mood today and felt like chatting. She said, “I used to occasionally watch your behind-the-scenes videos. In your group, you were clearly the youngest, but it seems you played the role of the matriarch?”
In any team, there’s always someone who quietly gets things done. This isn’t uncommon, especially in idol groups; there’s always someone like that.
This wasn’t just a persona assigned to her—to be so meticulous for several months on a reality show that filmed almost twenty-four hours a day, without ever having an emotional breakdown, one had to have that kind of patience inherently.
Rong Guang was a little embarrassed by Chu Feiliang’s praise. “I guess so.”
Having said this, Chu Feiliang fell silent.
Rong Guang glanced at her and didn’t say anything more either.
The drive wasn’t long, but because it was late at night and there weren’t many people in their car, it seemed exceptionally quiet.
After a while, Chu Feiliang was heard letting out a long sigh. “There were four people in the group, and the other three were all older than you. Leading them through meals and training, correcting their movements one by one, talking through their worries, helping them manage their moods… it must have been tough, right?”
Rong Guang paused, thought for a moment, and said, “It was actually okay…?”
Although she felt tired occasionally, it was inevitable for negative emotions to appear in the group. And while Duan Nong was willful, in most situations, she was also the one who motivated the whole group.
Chu Feiliang smiled and shook her head. “You don’t understand. I watched that show of yours many times. Others were breaking down, playing the victim, or slacking off… but you were the only one, like a little sun all day long, as if you never got tired. Wherever you were, a group of trainees would follow you. Many people said that seeing you made them want to strive and work hard alongside you.”
“I’m actually a little curious.” Chu Feiliang turned sideways and raised an eyebrow. “Everyone says the training intensity was high back then. Were you really not tired, or are you just being modest?”
Many people on that show were exhausted to the point of collapse. More than a dozen contestants dropped out midway because they couldn’t handle the intensity. It was also because of these dropouts that the show received a huge wave of exposure, ultimately claiming the title of that year’s variety show king on the strength of its contestants’ solid skills.
Many people’s impression of Rong Guang at the time could be summed up in one word: strong.
Not only was she strong, she was also very selfless, willing to teach everyone and lead them all in practice. That’s why she ultimately debuted in a high position with a landslide victory, even leading to an unprecedented situation where all her teammates frantically voted for her.
Rong Guang’s character was beyond doubt; she had known this for years.
She was just a little curious if Rong Guang ever got tired.
Rong Guang couldn’t quite remember the events of that time anymore.
It was indeed hard, and it was indeed tiring… but it wasn’t unbearable. Once it was over, it was over.
Facing Chu Feiliang, Rong Guang said very seriously, “Actually, it was tiring. But it’s been too long, I can’t really remember anymore—I just feel that no matter what you do, you have to do your absolute best. At the very least, you can’t fail to meet your own standards, only to hate yourself the next day for not giving it your all the day before.”
As she spoke, Rong Guang saw the mountain gate of Green Mountain Temple right outside.
She remembered that tonight’s plot could be considered a climax, and she immediately started to get nervous, with no time to think about other messy things.
Chu Feiliang nodded, observed Rong Guang’s state for a moment, and said with satisfaction, “Yes, that’s it.”
Rong Guang didn’t react until Chu Feiliang got out of the car.
Just now, Chu Feiliang had gently patted her head and then pinched her cheek.
The gestures weren’t big, not even particularly intimate.
But for some reason, Rong Guang always had a feeling… as if she were being held in the palm of someone’s hand, being carefully cherished…?
Chacha finally woke up from her half-asleep state, yawned, hoisted up her learning device, and said slowly, “Sister Guangguang, it seems like Sister Chu was comforting you.”
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