Chapter 57
The room wasn't particularly luxurious, but it was clean. The decor was antique, with rattan chairs. There were no assistant rooms, so the two agents were arranged in another room.
“Hurry up and get ready for the set; the opening ceremony is about to begin.” Xiang Huaimeng looked at the schedule and busied herself arranging things as soon as they entered the room. After gathering the necessary items, she led them to the crew's van.
The car drove onto a main road, passed through a wooden archway inscribed with three large characters – Wuyi Town – and stopped in front of the yamen.
Xia Linxia stood at the entrance, looking up with fresh eyes. The set was quite well-constructed.
“Let’s go,” Ji Fengxue said from beside her.
Inside, people were busy setting up. In the center, an altar was set up with incense and a pig’s head, and a banner celebrating the opening ceremony had been hung.
Someone saw them arrive and called out. Then they heard that Qiu Xingzhou had arrived. Everyone was rushing around, their feet barely touching the ground, like they were in a battle.
The director and main cast members offered incense and then took photos before being led to the makeup room to change and take their character portraits.
The makeup room was small, with four or five actors squeezed inside and many people coming and going.
Xia Linxia looked around and felt that the atmosphere here was a bit different, without any hierarchy. She didn't have a dedicated makeup room or makeup artist. All the staff members greeted them without fawning smiles; their faces were filled with seriousness about their work.
She glanced at Ji Fengxue, who was resting with her eyes closed, and couldn't help but smile.
In such a noisy environment, she could actually sleep peacefully?
Or perhaps, returning to a familiar place, this instinct to rest whenever possible was naturally manifesting?
“Linxia, go change your clothes first,” the stylist said, patting her shoulder and leading her to the changing room.
The costume was layered, with white as the main color. It wasn't a flowing, ethereal dress like those worn by women, but rather somewhat androgynous, simple and convenient for movement, perfectly fitting the character's personality.
“Wu Yi” was a historical drama.
The emperor’s favorite concubine, who had been favored for half a year, was suddenly murdered. He ordered a thorough investigation, vowing to capture the culprit and exterminate their entire clan. All government departments worked together to apprehend the suspect, but to no avail.
Wuyi Town was located on the border, and beyond the city gates lay a secluded valley. The people here were simple and honest, and the town was bustling with activity. The county magistrate was a kind old man. The prefect above informed him that a renowned detective from the capital, after an investigation, had discovered that a suspicious culprit had fled to Wuyi Town, and the constables would be heading there to apprehend the criminal.
The county magistrate dared not spread the word, but secretly cooperated with the work. Little did he know that this news was overheard by his daughter.
Everyone in Wuyi Town knew that the county magistrate had only one daughter, Lu Ke. Moreover, this girl Lu didn't like studying but loved martial arts. She spent her days with her maid, punishing evil and promoting good on the streets. Her only ambition was to protect the peace of Wuyi Town for her father.
When she accidentally overheard that a wanted criminal had entered Wuyi Town, she naturally couldn't stand idly by. Her sense of justice ignited once more. This wasn't some petty bandit or thief; this was a major criminal with a reward of ten thousand taels of gold!
Thus, she also began to secretly investigate the matter.
After changing, she came out and saw that Ji Fengxue was no longer in her original spot. She had likely gone to change as well.
The makeup artist styled her hair half-up, with the rest falling naturally down her back. A slightly old hairpin was placed in her hair, with no extra accessories. Even her makeup was a natural, "barely-there" look.
“Your skin is so good, this is perfect,” the makeup artist smiled.
Looking at the person in the mirror, who had the demeanor of a female knight, she curved her lips upwards, very satisfied.
Taking character portraits was a piece of cake for her. In no time, the photos were finalized.
As she was looking at the photos behind the camera, she heard a commotion from the doorway. Two figures, one black and one red, entered at the same time, and she couldn't help but freeze.
Qiu Xingzhou’s attire was similar to hers. After all, his character was a renowned constable, dressed in black, with a sword to match. His features were already deep and three-dimensional, and the scattered strands of hair on his forehead added a touch of disheveled charm, making him look nothing like the famous constable Cheng Youwei.
But what made her freeze wasn't Qiu Xingzhou, but Ji Fengxue beside him.
Before, she had seen Ji Fengxue in a few movies, mostly art films. There was the melancholic beauty of smoking under dim lights, the poignant beauty of walking on train tracks at dusk, and the lively beauty of looking back and smiling while walking on campus.
But she had never seen Ji Fengxue like this.
Red dress, heavy makeup, a cinnabar mark between her brows, a graceful figure, and captivating eyes.
Flamboyant and bewitching.
These two words seemed to have no connection to Ji Fengxue, but from the moment she saw Ji Fengxue, she couldn't hide her astonishment.
It was as if a pure white, flawless flower on an ice mountain, which you thought was one with heaven and earth, suddenly revealed itself to be a wild rose that made all other backgrounds pale in comparison.
Making one willing to surrender.
As she was marveling to herself, Ji Fengxue suddenly looked over from the crowd. The corner of her eye lifted in a small arc, one side of her mouth curved upwards, different from her usual calm and composed smile.
Her expression hinted at unspoken words, adding a touch of flirtatiousness.
Xia Linxia's fingers twitched, and she instinctively turned her back, returning a smile.
Next was the photoshoot. Now that she was done, she simply stood there watching the two of them.
Qiu Xingzhou, needless to say, had an innate sense of the camera. Moreover, his character was a perpetually stoic one, so it was enough to find the most handsome angle and get the shot. He walked behind the camera to look at the photos and was very satisfied. He asked Xia Linxia, who was nearby, “Look, isn’t this shot very handsome?”
The other party didn't respond.
He looked up at her, following her gaze to the person in front of the green screen. The green background and the red dress, no matter how you looked at it, seemed mismatched colors, but at this moment, it didn't feel awkward. Because the person in the lens was completely focused, sitting on a green plastic chair, her shoulders tilted halfway, as if leaning against a window. She tilted her chin up slightly, revealing a beautiful neckline, her lips curved slightly, but there was no smile in her eyes, only complex thoughts.
With each flash of the camera, her expression changed slightly, not much, but her aura felt vastly different.
“Holy crap, is this the power of a film empress?” Qiu Xingzhou muttered softly. Then, thinking of his own unchanging icy expression, he felt inferior. He then looked at the person who was already staring blankly and exclaimed, “What exactly does Film Empress Ji see in you?”
Xia Linxia rolled her eyes: “Of course, she sees my soul.”
“Do you even have such a thing?”
Qiu Xingzhou was defeated.
In the evening, all preparations were almost complete. Chen Lianjie looked at the sky and ordered everyone to have dinner first, after which they would start filming the night scenes.
On the first day of joining the crew, they were already eating boxed meals. However, since everyone had filmed before, they were mentally prepared.
Xia Linxia finished her meal in a few bites and then, holding her script, ran to Ji Fengxue's car to humbly seek advice: “I'm going to film a scene with Teacher Wang Yuan later, and I'm a bit nervous.”
Wang Yuan, sixty-eight years old, was a famous veteran supporting actor. In his middle age, he became very popular after starring as the second male lead in a historical drama, which became a classic historical series. In “Wu Yi,” he played Magistrate Lu, Xia Linxia's "father."
Xia Linxia had mostly filmed idol dramas before, and her co-stars were mostly newcomers. It was rare for her to act with so many talented actors at once, and she was even more nervous than when she first went on stage.
“Will they think I'm just a vase, all looks and no substance?” Xia Linxia sighed.
A piece of flatbread was handed to her mouth. She opened it and ate it, muttering, “I’m talking about something serious here.”
“I’m listening,” Ji Fengxue said with a chuckle. “If you think you’re a vase, how can you expect others to believe you can hold your own with them?”
“I’m just scared. Don’t you know people always say I’m a vase?” Xia Linxia said.
“I know. So, do you think they are right?” Ji Fengxue looked directly into her eyes.
“I…”
“Since you’ve joined the crew, don’t think about what others think. What you need to do is get into character.” Ji Fengxue pulled her out of the car and walked towards the set. The night had fallen, but the lights were bright ahead, and everyone was still busy.
For them, the day had just begun, and it wouldn't end until the wrap-up.
“You don’t need to consider others’ opinions. Just be bold. If you don’t understand something, you can humbly ask the director and other teachers. As long as you are sincere and humble, even if you’re a bit slow, it’s okay. Everyone will be happy to improve together.”
Xia Linxia nodded, savoring the words. “Who are you calling slow?”
Ji Fengxue chuckled, “Director Chen chose you as the female lead, so you must have a shining point. Otherwise, why would he ask you to come, just to annoy him?”
Hearing this, Xia Linxia felt as if she had eaten a reassuring pill: “Right, all the mistakes are the director’s fault.”
“…” Ji Fengxue pursed her lips. Fine, let the director take the blame.
She looked around and saw Wang Yuan making a phone call to his family not far away. She smiled and said, “Speaking of which, doesn’t your father’s name sound quite awe-inspiring when spoken?”
Xia Linxia was taken aback: “A little?”
“People who don’t know him, wouldn’t they think he’s a very serious and intimidating big entrepreneur?”
“That’s really true!” Xia Linxia confirmed.
“But in reality, you can act spoiled and throw tantrums in front of such a powerful man. Isn’t that quite unbelievable?”
“But I’m his daughter, isn’t that normal?”
“So what are you afraid of?” Ji Fengxue turned to look at her, her eyes gentle, having shed the worldly charm she maintained all afternoon, her gaze as clear as the crescent moon tonight. “You are also Teacher Wang Yuan’s ‘daughter’.”
Xia Linxia was instantly enlightened!
“I get it! I should treat him as my father, not an industry senior!” She was too reserved, afraid of embarrassing herself in front of the big shots, afraid of making mistakes that would displease the director, afraid of this and that, which made her hesitant.
“Go ahead, go say hello to your ‘father’.” Ji Fengxue saw that Wang Yuan had finished his call and gently pushed her back.
“Okay!”
Just as Xia Linxia took a step, Qiu Xingzhou, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, blocked her path: “Hmm? You want to say hello to your daddy?”
“Get lost.” Xia Linxia stepped on his foot and then ran towards Wang Yuan.
During the formal filming, Ji Fengxue and Qiu Xingzhou were both watching from the side. Chen Lianjie sat behind the camera, repeating the coordination between the camera and the track.
Several stylists surrounded Xia Linxia, tidying her clothes and hair. She took a deep breath and, catching a glimpse of a red figure out of the corner of her eye, gave her an "ok" gesture.
“All departments, prepare,” Chen Lianjie said, holding his pager.
The script supervisor walked to the center of the set and clapped the slate. Silence fell all around.
Late at night, the surroundings were quiet, with only one house still lit. Two figures were reflected on the window – the county magistrate was talking to someone. Magistrate Lu was incredulously pacing the room, distressed that a wanted criminal had escaped into the town.
At this moment, a sound came from outside.
“Who?”
“Meow~”
The two people in the room dismissed it as a stray cat.
Little did they know, a woman was crouching outside the window. She meowed again in a disguised voice and then sneakily returned to her room.
“Miss, you should rest quickly.” The maid hurried to prepare hot water for her when she saw Lu Ke collapse on the bed, her face serious. “Miss, what’s wrong?”
Lu Ke sat up straight, touching her chin. “Wuyi Town is in trouble.”
“What trouble?”
Lu Ke pondered for a moment: “I have to do something big, and I can’t let Father know. If this succeeds, I might be able to ask the Emperor to arrange a minor official post for me.”
“Miss, women cannot be officials,” the maid reminded her for the 108th time.
“That’s why this must succeed!” Lu Ke said.
“What exactly is it?”
“Sleep, we’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
Tomorrow, she would be able to see the renowned detective from the capital.
Xia Linxia filmed for nearly two hours before Chen Lianjie was satisfied with these few minutes of the scene.
The first scene was bound to have some issues: actors not cooperating, props going wrong, camera continuity errors, etc. Therefore, Chen Lianjie watched every frame very carefully. Once a problem was found, they had to start over.
However, this was also Chen Lianjie's way of warning everyone, demanding precision, and not allowing anyone to be lazy, otherwise, the entire crew would be held back.
“Xia Linxia, come here,” Chen Lianjie called out.
Xia Linxia walked over nervously: “Director.”
“Your overall performance today was acceptable, but the details still need some work. Go back and ponder on it.”
“Okay!”
“Go back and rest early. You have to get up early tomorrow and give me your best state.”
“Okay!”
Filming doesn't follow the script's order. It often adjusts based on weather or personnel changes. After filming this scene, Xia Linxia was scheduled to film the scene where the emperor discovers his concubine's murder and becomes furious, which would be placed at the beginning of the final film.
There were no more scenes for tonight, so they could finish early. On the way back, she couldn't help but sigh: “Teacher Wang Yuan is really amazing. Even when I was squatting outside eavesdropping, I could imagine what kind of official he was just from his tone.”
“That’s the power of dialogue,” Ji Fengxue said with a smile. “However, your lines have improved a lot. You haven’t neglected your practice during this time, which is great.”
“It’s all because you were checking,” Xia Linxia sighed. Although she was very busy during this time, she still had to send voice messages to Ji Fengxue every day for her to check her line work.
After returning to the hotel, they took turns showering. She then checked her phone and found that the character portraits had been retouched and released.
The still photo showed a tall building with two walls. The camera cut in from the corner, dividing it into two. She stood in the center, laughing heartily.
From this angle, the two walls slanted and extended behind her. Qiu Xingzhou stood with his arms crossed, holding a sword, looking at her sideways.
On the other side, Ji Fengxue sat by the window on the upper floor, swinging her legs, looking up slightly, and glancing sideways, it was unclear at whom. There were many people on the street, but they were all blurry figures passing by. The words “Wuyi” were pressed heavily on the tall building.
[This poster is too high-quality! Love it!]
[Ahhhhh, I can accept this styling! What a divine poster!]
[I’m dead, this beauty in red is too captivating!]
[No wonder Ji Fengxue chose the supporting female role. Her styling alone can charm a large crowd. Looking forward to the main film!]
[Wow, Xia Linxia’s innocent and cheerful smile is so healing!]
[Wallpaper acquired]
Xia Linxia also thought it looked good and saved the picture. Her gaze was also drawn to the woman in red, and she even zoomed in to look at the details.
Impeccable.
Her phone vibrated and hit her in the face. Seeing that it was her mother calling, she quickly answered: “Mom, is something wrong?”
“Ahhhhhhhh!”
Xia Linxia held her phone further away and asked, “What are you doing?”
“Xiao Ji is too beautiful!!!” her mother yelled. “Quick, tell me, what role is she playing?”
Xia Linxia glanced at the person lying beside her reading a script and said, “A prostitute.”
"..." Her mother was silent for a moment, then consoled herself, “She must be one of those tragic women who sell their art but not their bodies, that’s how they usually portray them on TV.”
“No, she only sells her body, not her art.”
Her mother was silent for a long time: “It’s okay, hehe, it’s just a role. Go to sleep early, goodnight.”
After hanging up, her mother asked her father with a worried expression: “Our daughter’s girlfriend is going to play a prostitute. Do you think we should still watch this show?”
Meanwhile, just as Xia Linxia was about to browse Weibo, her phone was snatched away. Ji Fengxue put down her script, turned off the lights, and lay down, saying, “Sleep.”
After a while, Xia Linxia asked in the darkness: “Lao Ji, do you have any talents?”
“No.”
"..."
“What’s wrong?”
“I just feel like you fit the role quite well,” Xia Linxia swallowed, looking at the person sharing her bed. “Only selling your body, not your art.”
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