Chapter 89
According to the Gregorian calendar, a new year had arrived.
The movie theater was crowded. Li Chu had booked a late-night showing and went with Ning Manqing, both wearing masks.
The premiere of 《Behold Me, Ling Shan》 was a success. Li Chu had been following it during the day and noticed that most viewers had given it very high ratings, making her feel incredibly proud.
"But which part of the plot really got to those people? They were screaming so loudly on their Weibo feeds."
Before the movie started, Li Chu couldn't help but ask her girlfriend sitting beside her, hoping the lead actress could reveal something.
Li Chu had seen the promotional trailers and some short clips. Overall, it was very inspiring, filled with patriotism and a sense of national duty, which particularly enhanced national pride at the beginning of the new year. However, besides that, there seemed to be another scene that really got those people excited, but Li Chu didn't know what it was.
Because those people were just screaming wildly online, saying things like "Sister is so handsome," "Sister, slay me," "Sister, come take me," but without specific details, leaving Li Chu feeling both jealous and intensely curious.
However, Li Chu knew that Ning Manqing didn't have any passionate scenes in this movie, which only fueled her curiosity further.
"Hm? Was there?"
Ning Manqing wasn't quite sure which scene Li Chu was referring to either. She had starred in it and watched the premiere today, how could she not remember such a scene?
Li Chu was also a bit puzzled, but the movie was about to start. She pushed those thoughts aside and said, "Never mind, let's watch it first. You can just rewatch it."
《Behold Me, Ling Shan》 was indeed a highly successful film, worthy of being recorded in cinematic history. On the big screen, the sheer impact assaulted the senses. The displayed patriotism, national narrative, and destiny resonated deeply, making hearts clench even for those who knew the history—or perhaps precisely because they knew the history and lived in the aftermath, they empathized even more strongly with the perseverance and were more profoundly moved.
It truly embodied the spirit of being willing to live or die for the good of the country.
The storytelling power of the visuals struck deep into the heart. Even though Li Chu was a transmigrator and not native to this era, she was still moved to tears.
At this moment, the girlfriend beside her wasn't just a girlfriend anymore. Li Chu leaned into her embrace, sobbing, asking her to pull her mask up higher, otherwise, she'd be pulled out of the movie.
Ning Manqing, amused and exasperated, hugged her girlfriend, handed her tissues, and obediently pulled her mask up a bit more, trying not to let her girlfriend get distracted by the modernly dressed lead actress sitting next to her before the movie ended.
Even halfway through the movie, Li Chu hadn't found the scene that could make those perverts scream like that. Although Ning Manqing's portrayal of General Ling Shan was indeed incredibly heroic and valiant, how did it relate to that kind of thing?
Then, she seemed to understand.
What those people were talking about must be the scene where Ling Shan, after being ambushed, crawled back from a mountain of corpses to deal with the traitor. Ling Shan had just washed off the blood, her somewhat damp hair loose, sitting commandingly in the main tent's chair, facing a group of officers who had come to congratulate her.
Ling Shan toyed with her whip, initially joking with the officers, then suddenly her expression changed, demanding the traitor reveal himself. If she had to act, his fate would be several times worse.
The men exchanged glances, their expressions varied, but no one stepped forward.
The whip in Ling Shan's hand lashed out like lightning, striking one of the men.
The entire screen went black for an instant, and Ling Shan's low whisper echoed in the brief darkness.
"Crawl over here."
Deep, cold, ruthless.
Accompanied by piercing screams, it sent shivers down the spine.
Ning Manqing hadn't used a voice actor; her line delivery was excellent, and she could even do some voice modulation, allowing her to capture Ling Shan's tone perfectly.
Li Chu's heart was struck. She finally understood why Weibo was in such a frenzy, why people could say things like "Sister, whip me."
She felt she must have been led astray by the comments she'd seen earlier. She wasn't interested in S&M, but in that moment, she suddenly imagined being tied up and crawling on her knees towards Ning Manqing. Forgive this base human nature, sob sob sob.
When the screen lit up again, the traitor was already barely breathing, a knife stuck in him, his expression terrified.
This image successfully dispelled the thoughts from Li Chu's mind, bringing her back to the film.
Ling Shan's methods against the traitor were cruel, not just severely injuring him. She ordered him brought before the soldiers, sentenced to death by dismemberment, and then hung on the military banner.
"Traitors shall end up like this man."
The crowd cheered.
Ling Shan was an extremely charismatic figure. Li Chu hadn't actually delved deeply into the history of this famous general, nor had she read her biography, but she felt Ning Manqing had brought the person described in texts to life.
Actually, even if Ning Manqing took off her mask, Li Chu wouldn't have been pulled out of the movie, because while watching, Ling Shan was Ling Shan, not Ning Manqing.
Li Chu praised Ning Manqing all the way out of the theater, while Ning Manqing, listening to her girlfriend's chatter, opened Weibo.
Seeing some of the descriptive terms used, Ning Manqing nodded inwardly with understanding.
So that was it. She just didn't know if Xiao Chu would like it.
Li Chu was still happily chattering away, unaware of what was about to happen.
Li Chu's New Year's Day night was exceptionally fulfilling. All she could say was that she and Ning Manqing had reached a spiritual resonance. Just when she had a vague feeling or desire, without even expressing it clearly, Ning Manqing had already extended probing tendrils.
Like sprouting willow leaves, or like a fine, long chain.
Li Chu didn't have such things at home, nor did Ning Manqing. Overall, she was a thoroughly refined and gentlemanly person, rarely having intense or peculiar preferences.
But this wasn't difficult. A necktie, long and soft, was also an excellent choice.
However, Ning Manqing probably wasn't skilled at coaxing, so she could only watch Li Chu's reaction.
Li Chu wasn't actually a very dependent person. Although she appeared somewhat soft and delicate when with Ning Manqing, her soul was quite independent. But occasionally abandoning worldly constraints to indulge in thoughts that dismantled her constructed world wasn't entirely unacceptable.
To tremble for a soul surrendered, to feel shame for being broken down, to lose oneself in submission.
When her mind blanked, it was like the movie screen going black, and in that moment, the whisper seemed to overlap.
Only the tone of the command was slightly different. Li Chu's vision was obscured, unable to see, yet she saw it in her imagination, letting out a very soft whimper.
After New Year's Day, with 《Behold Me, Ling Shan》 still showing, Ning Manqing became very busy.
Li Chu, meanwhile, attended promotional events while sorting through scripts, occasionally exchanging complaints with Zhao Zhichun about the bizarre scripts they encountered.
Zhao Zhichun was even pickier than Li Chu. Furthermore, the boss behind Juxing Pictures, the company he signed with, was Ning Manqing, who wouldn't force him to take roles he didn't want. So Zhao Zhichun righteously embraced being lazy, but even a salted fish gets restless after too long.
【Zhao Zhichun】: Any good scripts? Recommend some, pretty please.
【Xiao Chu】: Recommend some, please please.
Li Chu hadn't found anything satisfactory either. Some weren't bad, but she felt they were missing something. When Tang Congnan asked her what exactly was missing, Li Chu couldn't articulate it.
Li Chu felt troubled and messaged her girlfriend. Ning Manqing didn't reply immediately, likely busy.
Ning Manqing was indeed busy, currently in an interview.
The host was quite professional, asking questions related to the movie, such as her perspective on the character Ling Shan and what preparations she made to portray the role.
"Did you ever experience a low point? During our interview, the director mentioned he was actually worried about your state at times, because Ling Shan's personality undergoes extreme ups and downs due to her experiences. But you managed it very well. Do you have any secrets?"
"Low points happen. As for secrets, thinking about things that motivate and affirm me helps."
Ning Manqing's lips curved upwards. Although this sounded somewhat official, it was indeed what she did during low points and bottlenecks.
She would think of Li Chu, not just because she was her girlfriend and she missed her, but she missed her gaze and words—the gaze and words that sparked feelings of love in her.
Her eyes seemed to hold stars, firmly believing that she was the one most worthy of pursuit and affirmation.
The host smiled and asked, "You look very happy. Is it because you recalled those motivating things?"
Ning Manqing nodded. The host curiously pressed, "Would you mind sharing?"
"It's the people who steadfastly support and like me, the audience members who affirm me."
Ning Manqing's sentence sounded like one statement, but it was actually two.
Her fingers resting on the sofa armrest couldn't help but gently rub against each other, her smile growing even brighter.
After the interview, Ning Manqing saw the message from her little girlfriend, exchanged some sweet words, and updated her on her schedule.
At the same time, she saw a message from Ran Yanru.
As her agent, Ran Yanru still handled most of the coordination and notifications for Ning Manqing's work in the entertainment industry.
【Ran Yanru】: Director Wang sent over a script proposal for you, hoping you'll star in his new drama. He says he specifically wants you. Should I politely decline?
Ran Yanru knew Ning Manqing didn't have the time. This year, the overseas company was taking off, and Bai Wu was already swamped. Ning Manqing definitely couldn't abandon those responsibilities to join a film crew.
【Ning Manqing】: What kind of drama? Details.
Ning Manqing didn't have time, but she kept an eye out for Li Chu. Her network and connections were broader than Li Chu's. Black Gold Entertainment didn't manage Li Chu closely and wouldn't put too much effort into her, so even with talent and looks, Li Chu might not necessarily land high-quality scripts.
【Ran Yanru】: A criminal investigation drama. He really liked your look in the previous drama and thinks you're perfect for the female lead in his new show. Are you interested? But don't you lack the time?
【Ran Yanru】: I think I get it. I'll send you the contact information.
Ning Manqing was pleased with her old friend's astuteness. On the way to her next engagement, she contacted the director and communicated with him. After a week of discussion, she persuaded him.
A few days later, a script outline titled 《The Exiled》 landed in Li Chu's hands. Li Chu was surprised when she saw it because the role seemed perfectly suited for Ning Manqing.
"Does it feel a bit familiar?"
Li Chu answered honestly, "A bit like Xi Yiyun, but different."
This difference wasn't just because the character was set as an Omega, but stemmed from the character herself.
Ning Manqing: "Actually, this character was initially an Alpha too. I asked the director to change it to suit you, but only the gender was altered. Nothing else changed. Regardless of the character's gender, it doesn't affect her behavior patterns."
Li Chu: "Making her even more unique?"
The female lead in this drama was calm and formidable, but unlike the straightforwardly heroic Xi Yiyun, she resembled a high-speed, precision instrument. Rather than human, she seemed more like an android, or artificial intelligence.
Li Chu's heart pounded nervously; she had never attempted such a role before. She was very interested, but the contrast with her own personality was immense, not just externally but also in internal expression.
This was the kind of different feeling Li Chu had been searching for. She always craved novelty, never content to stay in her comfort zone. Yet, faced with something that wasn't a sure thing, Li Chu couldn't help but feel her heart tremble with nervousness.
"Yes, I believe in you."
Ning Manqing saw Li Chu's apprehension and gently ruffled her hair.
It was precisely because she believed in and understood Li Chu that Ning Manqing had pursued this. She knew that although Li Chu seemed soft, she possessed a strong spirit for learning and challenge, a soul that constantly yearned for broader horizons.
Ning Manqing's gesture successfully soothed Li Chu, allowing her to exhale the unease in her heart.
"Okay! How can Ning Manqing's woman say she can't do it!"
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