“Wen Rou, quickly get a towel for her to wipe herself.” Ji Qingqing turned to Shen Weiwei and apologized, “It’s all my fault, I didn’t expect the cup to be that hot. I wanted it to be placed on the table, but you insisted on handing it over to me.”
Then, Wen Rou returned with a towel for her to wipe the stains.
Shen Weiwei glanced at her coffee-stained clothes. Her face stiffened but she still forced a smile, “Let me get you another cup.”
Upon saying that, she went and got her another cup of coffee.
“You can just put it over there, thanks,” Ji Qingqing pointed to the chair beside the small table.
Struggling to maintain her smile, Shen Weiwei placed the coffee on the table and left.
Whether Shen Weiwei’s apology was sincere, or fake didn’t really matter to her. The strong smell of the coffee wafted over. From just a slight smell, she could tell that it was very bitter. She decided to leave it there and not drink it.
By the time it reached forenoon, Ji Qingqing had memorized her lines to the point where she could recite them fluently. And she was also able to fully grasp the feelings of her character. Though there seemed to be a bit of a problem on Director Zhou’s end. Filming progress was slow, a whole forenoon passed and not a single scene got filmed, and she could hear him scolding.
“Jing Yun, what’s the matter with you? Why could you not get into character today? Weren’t you fine yesterday? Why are you forgetting your lines or getting distracted today? And you Jiang Su, what’s going on? You received the ‘Best Male Lead’ award, but why can’t you even act out feelings of being conflicted and depressed?”
Director Zhou was so furious that he slammed the script down.
Even up to midafternoon, they were unable to capture what Director Zhou wanted to portray. So, the crew had no choice but to temporarily stop filming to let the male and female leads practice their lines and get used to it more.
As for Director Zhou, he headed out for some fresh air and to get a smoke. His gaze was suddenly captured by an actor by the corner.
That actor was facing the wall practicing lines. He could not see who it was upfront, but those lines were the ones Qi Jingyun couldn’t get past even after 12 NGs.
Stubbing out his cigarette, he walked over to have a listen. The emotions incorporated were robust, the crying scenes could evoke feelings, and the lines were done with a strong foundation. That was exactly what he wanted to capture!
“You are?”
Upon hearing his voice, the actor panicked and turned around. Faint tear streaks could still be seen on her face.
“Director Zhou, I…”
“Oh, it’s you Weiwei, the lines that you recited earlier…”
“I’m sorry Director Zhou, I just wanted to try out, I didn’t act well,” Shen Weiwei was all flustered like she had committed a mistake.
“It’s good! How can it not be good! Alright, follow me.”
And Shen Weiwei cautiously followed him from behind.
Soon after, Ji Qingqing spotted Director Zhou bringing Shen Weiwei into the filming site. Then, in front of the whole cast, he requested Shen Weiwei to act out the part that Qi Jingyun had gotten NG for earlier.
Ji Qingqing looked on in displeasure.
Director Zhou sure is blunt, getting Shen Weiwei to act out Qi Jingyun’s part in front of her, and even learn from her?
Isn’t that like a slap in her face?
After Shen Weiwei finished, Qi Jingyun smiled and praised her acting. And even thanked Shen Weiwei for giving her inspiration. Subsequently, filming resumed, and the scene was approved on its first take.
Satisfied, Director Zhou discussed a few things with Qi Jingyun and Jiang Su before announcing that it was time for a lunch break.
Meanwhile, Ji Qingqing was amazed, “What a good ‘show’!” she proclaimed.
Though, how will Shen Weiwei sort this out later?
The crew stopped filming and the staff wheeled in the packed lunches from outside.
All of the cast ate packed lunch and there was no difference in the portions, at most there could be an extra vegetable or two.
Outside, a black Cayenne pulled over and Lu Lixing stepped out of the car, with Qin Yue following closely behind.
Meanwhile, Director Zhou was speaking to some of the main cast about the day’s progress while having lunch. When a staff notified him that Lu Lixing had arrived, he instantly put his lunch down and went outside.
“What’s going on?” The group of actors looked at each other, confused.
“I heard that Lu Lixing came.”
“Lu Lixing? Lu Lixing from the Lu family?”
“Yes! That’s right!”
“Why is he here?”
“Not sure.”
While they were talking among themselves, Lu Lixing had already entered the filming site.
Director Zhou had met him once before. Though he did not know why Lu Lixing came, he smiled and walked towards him.
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