Xu Yi hesitated for a moment before refusing: "Thank you, but you don't need to buy it for me. It's too much trouble for you."
"Hey, it's no big deal." He Xiaojing ate happily, then turned down the air conditioning and asked Xu Yi, "Were you busy outside today?"
"I want to find a job." Xu Yi thought of the repeated rejections she had received that day. Even the foreman at the construction site wouldn't hire her. As the head disciple of the Cangyun Sect and the senior sister who had been the center of attention since childhood, how sad she must be today.
"What are your requirements for the job? Do you need my help? I used to work part-time when I was in school, so I have a lot of part-time experience."
"I don't have any specific requirements, I just want to make more money." Xu Yi hadn't even managed to scrape together her tuition fees.
He Xiaojing looked her up and down, especially at that face etched with worry. The more He Xiaojing looked, the more envious she became, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness in her heart.
"Hey, you're so pretty. Why don't you come with me to the film set tomorrow and give it a try? There's a scene today where an actress felt her role was too small and asked the director to add more scenes, but the director disagreed, and the two got into an argument. In the end, the actress went on strike. The director is in a hurry to film the rest of the scenes and is looking for replacements everywhere. Do you want to give it a try? I think your appearance is quite suitable; maybe you'll catch the director's eye?"
"Acting? Can I do it?" Xu Yi didn't know anything about acting. She was born into a prestigious family and had always been upright and righteous. She did what she was supposed to do and had never told a lie, let alone acted out a scene with someone.
"Don't worry about whether it's possible or not, just give it a try. Although it's not a big role, it's at least a character with screen time and lines. What if you succeed? The pay will be much higher than what you would earn working hard."
Xu Yi was somewhat tempted and readily agreed.
He Xiaojing directly told the group leader, who was in charge of her acting, in the group chat that she would bring someone over tomorrow. After making the arrangements, the takeout arrived.
The two enjoyed a delicious meal. Xu Yi was deeply impressed by the advanced development of this world. Apart from their short lifespans, mortals seemed to be no different from immortals, and even knew better how to enjoy life than immortals.
As night deepened, He Xiaojing went to her room to rest early, while Xu Yi paced back and forth in the living room. In the end, she made up her mind to visit Miss Gu again, but this time she brought Xiao Shitou to the balcony to borrow the spiritual power of heaven and earth, hoping that the result would be more accurate.
Xu Yi was setting up an array, while Miss Gu, whom she longed for, was on her way to the airport.
Exhausted, Ono struggled to drag her suitcase. She was surrounded by fans as soon as she got off the plane this morning. Luckily, a female celebrity was there and kindly sent her bodyguards to help out when she saw the commotion.
Once on the plane, Xiao Ye, having nothing else to do, started cursing Hong Sheng again, "Even the donkeys in the production team aren't as busy as you. You flew over this morning to help someone out, and now you have to fly back to continue working. Sister, your body can't take it."
"Just bear with it a little longer." Gu Yueyue had no other choice. She was under contract, and besides, she desperately needed money. Being busy was better than being unemployed and ignored.
"Sis, you should get some sleep. We're heading to the film studio as soon as we land. Old Yao just gave us another TV series." Xiao Ye glanced at the electronic script. "It's an ancient costume fantasy drama. The character is the leader of the Loose Cultivator Alliance. He doesn't have many scenes. He appears at the beginning of the war between immortals and demons, and his role ends when the war ends."
Gu Yueyue breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a long-lost sense of ease. "It's good that I can act. Let me see the script."
"No, you should go to sleep first. I'm afraid you'll collapse before the crew can finish." Ono took out an eye mask for her and urged her to rest quickly. "Do you know how terrible you look after you take off your makeup? You have no energy at all. If you continue like this, those gossip media outlets that make money from dirty deeds might spread rumors that you are doing drugs and raising ghosts."
Gu Yueyue put on the blindfold and was startled by what she blurted out, "You can't say things like that carelessly, or someone might overhear you based on hearsay."
Ono stuck out her tongue and shrugged: "I know, I know what I'm doing. Sis, you should go to sleep."
Perhaps she was too tired, as soon as Gu Yueyue relaxed, she fell into a deep dream. There were towering mountains, pavilions and towers, and a lonely moon. She felt as if she was in the dream, yet also detached from it.
"Master, someone from the Cangyun Sect has arrived."
'Cangyun Sect? What are they doing here?'
"I heard they want to form a marriage alliance with our Gu family."
'Ha, they're quite the schemers. Who's coming? Oh well, it can't be her anyway. Let them go back.'
"Yes, I will take care of it immediately."
Gu Yueyue felt detached, but within this dream, she became increasingly anxious and worried. She didn't know when it started, but she began to have this kind of dream. What was difficult to explain to others was that she fell in love with a woman as pure and gentle as the moon and the breeze in her dream. However, all her memories were blurry when she woke up, and only in her dream were they clear and distinct.
At that moment, she watched as the man she admired went down the mountain to propose marriage, only to be chased away by his servants.
"Patriarch, Senior Sister Xu has already left."
'Who did you say left?'
'The eldest disciple of the Cangyun Sect's leader, Senior Sister Xu...'
Gu Yueyue couldn't hear the person's name clearly and was extremely anxious. However, she saw the head of the family, who had been leisurely drinking alone under the moon, disappear like a bird released from its cage. Dressed in a red dress, she vanished under the moonlight, leaving only a fleeting shadow.
Gu Yueyue woke up from her dream again. Xiao Ye was sitting next to her, scrolling through Weibo and covering her mouth, laughing.
"Sis, you're awake?" Ono put away her phone and asked teasingly, "What sweet dream did you have? I saw you smiling the whole time you were asleep."
Gu Yueyue couldn't remember what she had dreamed about. She rubbed her aching temples. "What pleasant dream? I'm just thankful I don't have nightmares. Is it almost time?"
"Okay. Soon. We'll head straight to the film set later."
As dawn broke, Xu Yi stared incredulously at her array. Her soul, which had just returned to its original state, was still in shock. Miss Gu... how could she be flying again?
There was a noise coming from the living room. He Xiaojing had already gotten up. She was slightly surprised to see Xu Yi on the balcony. "Good morning! It's good that you're up. Hurry up and get ready, I'll take you to the film set. I'll tell you about the role on the way."
He Xiaojing mistakenly thought that Xu Yi got up early for work, but in fact Xu Yi hadn't slept at all.
After a flurry of activity, the two arrived at the film set half an hour later on their small electric stove.
As He Xiaojing stopped her electric scooter, she asked her, "Do you understand everything I've said?"
"Mm." Xu Yi nodded, indicating that she understood.
This is a period fantasy drama, and the role she is trying to play is a senior sister of a righteous cultivation sect, which is quite in line with her original identity.
He Xiaojing rushed her to the film set, where the group leader was already distributing tasks to a group of extras.
"Sister Liu, I've brought my friend over." He Xiaojing introduced them, "Sister Liu, this is my friend Xu Yi. Xu Yi, this is Sister Liu Yuan. She takes great care of me on set, just like my own sister. Please greet them."
"Hello, Sister Liu." Xu Yi followed He Xiaojing's lead and called her Sister Liu.
Sister Liu's eyes were fixed on Xu Yi's face, then slowly moved to her body. "I'm telling you, little sister, it's such a waste for you to be an extra with your looks. You should just debut as a professional actor."
Xu Yi couldn't understand what she meant, so she turned to He Xiaojing for help.
He Xiaojing picked up the conversation and said with a smile, "Sister Liu, our Xiaoyi is still in school."
"Still studying?" Sister Liu felt sorry for her and clicked her tongue. "I've been here for so many years and I've seen all kinds of beautiful actresses, but it's rare to see someone with such a special temperament as Xiao Yi. If she's determined to develop in the entertainment industry, it's only a matter of time before she becomes famous."
“Sister Liu is right, I also think she looks great. It’s just that…” He Xiaojing pulled Sister Liu aside and whispered, “This young lady is focused on her studies and has a cold and aloof personality, which doesn’t suit our circle. It’s just that her family is struggling financially and she’s worried about tuition fees, otherwise I wouldn’t have brought her here to bother you.”
Sister Liu also has children in school. When she heard that Xu Yi was focused on her studies, she looked at Xu Yi with more concern.
"This personality isn't quite right. Everyone in this circle is shrewd, isn't they?" Sister Liu said, then suddenly laughed. "But there is one stubborn, simple-minded person who isn't shrewd at all. He came over early this morning."
"Who is it?" He Xiaojing asked curiously.
"Who else could it be but the one who played the leader of the Loose Cultivator Alliance?" Sister Liu whispered in her ear, "Gu Yueyue, you know, she has such good qualities, she even won Best Actress last year, but she was manipulated by the company and her career got worse and worse. She's just not quick-witted, stubborn, and loyal to Hongsheng to the death. If I were her, I would have found a new company and dumped Hongsheng long ago."
"Yes, Sister Liu is really amazing; she sees everything so clearly. So, about Xiaoyi's matter..."
"Okay, don't worry about leaving her in my care. I promise you, I'll make sure she has enough tuition fees before the start of the semester."
"Oh, thank you, Sister Liu." He Xiaojing breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Xu Yi had agreed. She called Xu Yi over and gave her a few instructions, "You'll work with Sister Liu. I have work to do this morning, so I can't stay with you. Sister Liu is a straightforward and generous person. Don't be afraid to work with her. Just do your job well."
Sister Liu patted He Xiaojing on the shoulder with a smile, "Don't flatter me, go and get back to what you're doing." She was clearly in a good mood.
Xu Yi didn't understand the interpersonal relationships between these people. She did whatever they told her to do, as long as it didn't violate the laws of nature, it was all within her acceptable range.
“Okay, I’ll introduce you to the director. Be quick-witted.” As she spoke, Sister Liu thought about how the character was supposed to be a serious and rigid noble fairy, so she added, “Never mind, just leave it as it is.”
A note from the author:
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 19:47:51 on November 30, 2021 and 16:24:23 on December 2, 2021!
Thank you to the little angels who threw landmines: 与匿名名比命长、六月七- 1;
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: June 7th - 10 bottles; and 2 bottles longer than the anonymous user;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter Six
The director grabbed a few actresses for auditions, but none of them were suitable. He couldn't afford to waste the lead actor's time, but he also didn't want to just find someone to fill in and ruin the pure and innocent image of the senior sister, Qiuyue. So he racked his brains until he finally found a suitable person.
Sister Liu brought Xu Yi over, and before she could even introduce her to the director, the director's eyes lit up when he saw Xu Yi. "You're here for an audition, right? Try acting in this scene."
The director handed her a freshly printed page of the script, which Xu Yi quickly skimmed through.
"There's no sword." Xu Yi handed the page back to the director and spoke in a cold, clear voice. The director was taken aback and then called over a stagehand to bring over the prop sword.
The sword was handed over, and Xu Yi took it in her hand, casually twirling it. Before anyone else could react, the director excitedly slapped his thigh and shouted "Bravo!"
The sudden sound made Xu Yi hesitate, unsure of what to do next.
The director stood to one side and told the crowd to make way, "Don't be afraid, be brave and keep going."
As the crowd dispersed, Xu Yi began to wield her sword with graceful movements and agile swordsmanship. Wherever the blade passed, it created gusts of wind. Even though the sun was high in the sky and the heat was intense, the onlookers felt a chill in their hearts.
This scene takes place on the eve of the great war between immortals and demons, where the leader of the righteous path dances with his sword under the moon to commemorate his deceased friend.
As Xu Yi finished her final move, she subconsciously tried to retract her natal sword and integrate it into her body. It was only when her spiritual energy stirred that she realized that what she held in her hand was not her natal sword, but a prop from the film crew. This made her realize that she was acting.
Sheathing his sword, Xu Yi, following the script, gazed at the blood moon shrouded in demonic energy, and thought, "In this battle, evil will not prevail over good."
The director's eyes lit up. He saw the senior sister in the play through Xu Yi. He was so excited that he kept clapping his hands. The people around him came to their senses and applauded thunderously.
Xu Yi thought she had probably been hired, so she returned the props to the stage manager and said thank you in a cool voice, which made him blush.
Liu Yuan could tell that Xu Yi had caught the director's eye. Judging from the director's enthusiastic attitude, this was a rare and successful start for the young girl if she wanted to make it in the industry.
"Director, isn't my sister great?" Liu Yuan was more attentive to Xu Yi than before, and even showed some enthusiasm, helping Xu Yi negotiate the contract and remuneration with the director, trying her best to get more for Xu Yi.
Director Ma, a rising star in the directing world, was impressed by Xu Yi's talent. Seeing that even the cunning Liu Yuan praised Xu Yi to him, he felt even more confident in his judgment.
"Then it's settled. Sign the contract, and we'll start filming today." Director Ma personally went to print out the contract.
Xu Yi, somewhat unaccustomed to holding a pen, wrote her name with a hard pen, the characters flowing and powerful.
Liu Yuan watched with envy; her two mischievous kids' handwriting looked like a dog's scribbles.
"Okay, go get your makeup done. We'll shoot once everyone's here." Director Ma, relieved of a worry, sat down in his designated resting chair, took a sip of goji berry tea from his thermos, and then suddenly yelled, "Have the people Hongsheng sent arrived yet? Don't try to put on airs again."
Someone in the crowd replied, "Director, Teacher Gu is the first one to arrive."
"Teacher Gu? Which Teacher Gu?" Director Ma asked himself, "Oh, Hongsheng's Xiaoyue. I'm relieved that she's here. Everyone else, hurry up and start filming as soon as the male and female leads arrive."
Liu Yuan took Xu Yi to the dressing room. She had other things to do and couldn't stay with her all the time. She only gave her a few instructions before handing her over to the makeup artist.
"What skincare products do you usually use? Your skin is so well-maintained!" The makeup artist carefully examined her face, unsure of where to begin. "I think you don't need any makeup. I'll just apply some lip color to brighten your complexion."
When the costume department delivered the senior sister's fairy robe, Xu Yi was asked to change into it. However, Xu Yi only realized after putting it on that the robe was too short.
The director came over and looked at her mismatched outfit. He frowned and said through gritted teeth, "This dress was custom-made for the original actress. She was 162 cm tall. Xiaoyi, how tall are you?"
174.
"Damn it." Director Ma walked over to Xu Yi and realized that Xu Yi was a little taller than him, so the original costume was no longer useful.
"Hurry up and find a suitable one." Ma Duocai was so anxious he was almost cursing. Yesterday, the actor surnamed Zhang went on strike, the male lead had diarrhea and took leave, and the minor actors from Hongsheng were filming multiple projects and didn't like his small crew so much that they just ran away. Hongsheng temporarily replaced him with another one. If it weren't for the fact that it was Gu Yueyue, whom he had worked with many times before, he might have directly taken his anger out on the newcomer.