The cast of the anti-Japanese war drama, including Bao Ruanruan, efficiently changed into their designated costumes, a series of dark student uniforms.
However, as soon as the assigned male make-up artist saw her, a hint of disdain appeared on his face.
As Bao Ruanruan sat down, the make-up artist took out a compact powder - the Dark Wheat series.
He applied it to Bao Ruanruan's fair and flawless transparent skin, giving it a dark camouflage. It turned her white snow skin into the colour of a muddy swamp.
"Our entire production team follows a simple style for the Anti-Japanese War theme, but your face clearly belongs to the petite bourgeoisie with delicate aesthetics, young lady. You need to be transformed."
Bao Ruanruan: "?"
Her radar went off.
She looked along the make-up table and saw the make-up artist's mobile phone, the screen of which happened to light up. It showed a screensaver with a poster of Tang Yuxin.
D*mn!
The make-up artist was very quick with his hands.
Not only did he paint her face black, but he also added freckles.
Bao Ruanruan looked at her face in the mirror and saw it was dirty.
It looked like an egg that had rolled on the ground.
It had a layer of mud on it and some ink stains.
"You don't mind, do you?" the make-up artist smiled, revealing two laugh lines.
Bao Ruanruan blinked. "Are you done?"
The make-up artist chuckled in a sarcastic tone. "If you think I've done something wrong, you can talk to the director⸻"
"Well, it's not very good," Bao Ruanruan commented as she looked in the mirror.
The make-up artist smirked.
Bao Ruanruan pointed at her dirty face and asked, "Do you have a darker shade?"
The make-up artist: "?"
"Also, make the lips a bit whiter and add more freckles."
The make-up artist: "???"
Bao Ruanruan looked at herself in the mirror and felt that being dirty wasn't enough. Her natural complexion was too fair, so she needed to use three or four shades darker to blend in better with the crowd.
It wouldn't be suitable for the upcoming intense gunfight escape!
*
On the set, with its Republic of China-style street, the director and the main cast were already in position, discussing the scene.
"In this chase scene, we're going to do a single continuous shot until you fire the gun."
Halfway through, the director frowned.
"You recommended that Bao Ruanruan. Really... She doesn't look like a low-key female student at all, and her appearance has nothing to do with the character. Her face is even whiter than a reflector, and she knows she's here to act, but she still put on so much powder. Did she even read the script?"
Bao Ruanruan was born with that look.
The actress in front of him, Ding Xiang, smiled awkwardly. "Why don't you give it a try? It's just a few seconds of footage, and if it doesn't work, we'll replace her." She didn't know why her senior brother, Han Mo, asked her to recommend Bao Ruanruan.
She had also seen the rumoured Bao Ruanruan enter the set just now. Her skin was truly white to the point of glowing, and her lips were a delicate pink.
Her character in the drama wasn't a delicate young lady who would faint at the slightest breeze but rather an ordinary girl still in school. She had to appear honest and down-to-earth.
This character image didn't suit her.
"Don't be upset. The make-up artist is right here, and touch-ups can be done quickly," said Ding Xiang, lacking confidence in it herself.
Some newcomers were very concerned about their appearance.
They would rather be criticised for their acting skills than look unattractive on the set, so looking good on camera was their priority.
The director grumbled. "Find me someone with an edge next time!" But just as he was about to call a fifteen-minute break to give Bao Ruanruan time for a makeover, he saw a girl in student attire approach the camera.
Her skin wasn't fair; it had a light tan and an oily sheen as if she had done a lot of manual labour at home. Her lips were unusually dull.
As she got closer, faint freckles on her nose became visible.
She seemed a little timid and took two cautious steps before bowing to the director. "Hello everyone, I'm Bao Ruanruan. I'm here to make a guest appearance as a student."
"?"
The director, who had just complained about her fair skin, rubbed his eyes hard.
He looked at her coal-like make-up...
"Which make-up artist did this! Are you bored after having a full meal1? Am I shooting an African student?"
"!"
The male make-up artist who was being scolded: "... Director, she said she wanted to be darker..."
Which actresses would ask to be painted as black as charcoal?
I've never seen one!
The director glared at him. "My camera is already on, and I'm here waiting for you to explain it, not for you to make up a story! If you don't want to do it, then don't!"
The make-up artist almost cried at the injustice.
Bao Ruanruan blinked and looked sceptically into the mirror.
She thought she looked pretty good.
Amid the flying chickens and jumping dogs2, the male make-up artist with a dark complexion applied more white makeup to her face.
Bao Ruanruan looked regretful as she said, "Next time I play an African, I'll find you to do my makeup again. This shade is quite good, you know."
The make-up artist was furious, but he couldn't say anything.
He was burning with anger inside.
After Bao Ruanruan finished her make-up, she got ready.
When she thought about how her character was destined to be killed by the Japanese, a wave of sadness came over her, and she blurted out a patriotic anti-Japanese song.
"Our swords raised over the devil's heads, hack 'em off!📹"
The male make-up artist who was automatically replaced: "..."
He was upset.
And he started to get so angry that he could even have a stroke.
All the production crew units were ready. Even though the make-up artist had great courage, he dared not delay the shooting progress. He could only suppress his anger and endure.
He had to stand around and watch this Bao Ruanruan, who couldn't act at all and relied on pulling strings to join the team. Sooner or later, she would make a fool of herself and be scolded to tears by the director!
"Later, when you walk out of this Decheng Restaurant, you will first look around."
"Shortly after, the enemy will discover something unusual, and you will run towards the camera and get shot as you pass by this jade shop."
This role was really small, with no lines, just getting shot.
So, there was no audition for the role beforehand.
The director explained it to her once by walking through the scene with her, and then they were ready to shoot.
And it was Ding Xiang, who played the role of the Japanese military leader, who would shoot her.
Two women with different roles, one good and one evil, one chasing and one escaping, in one continuous shot.
There were also more than a dozen extras playing ordinary townspeople who appeared in the scene's background.
"Action! "
Ding Xiang entered the scene immediately.
Bao Ruanruan also went into action instantly. She had already observed the entire shooting street.
From the Decheng Restaurant to the jade shop, there were four shops and nine stalls selling fruits, vegetables, and repair services.
Along the way, some shops had advertising light boards on the door, and some stalls had flags flying.
The clothes of the extras playing passers-by were dark blue, black, grey, white, or dark brown.
They were somewhat similar to her black skirt and blue school uniform.
All she had to do was follow the camera and run.
This job was really simple.
But then came the sound of click-clack--
Ding Xiang was pulling the trigger of the gun behind her.
Bao Ruanruan instantly felt a chill down her spine and her scalp tingling.
She had experienced many chases and escapes during her time in the game.
The reaction etched into her muscles and blood was faster than her brain.
I have to escape.
Her face turned pale instantly, and she blended into the crowd!
Like a fish swimming, she wiggled through the crowd of passers-by wearing similar colours to her school uniform!
As she passed the jade shop, she made a little jump and blended in with the shop's colourful advertising board!
......
The director watched the monitor and saw Ding Xiang sprinting after someone, as well as the nervous and flustered expression on the female student's face at the restaurant entrance. The scene felt very realistic and natural.
He nodded in satisfaction but soon stopped. The sound of the gunshots that should have been heard was late in coming.
"?"
"??"
"Shoot! Ding Xiang, what are you doing? Don't lose focus!"
Ding Xiang was sweating profusely.
She didn't lose focus.
But... looking at the dozen or so extras in front of her, where was Bao Ruanruan?!
She also wanted to shoot!
But in the agreed upon location, the jade shop, there was no sign of Bao Ruanruan!
Where should she aim the gun?
"Cut! What's going on, Ding Xiang?"
"......"
"Let's do this again. As soon as she's in the jade shop, you shoot, got it?"
"........."
Was she in the jade shop?
It was hard for Ding Xiang to express her current feelings in one word.
Did she just lose focus and not notice Bao Ruanruan at the entrance of the jade shop?
This was a continuous shot.
Bao Ruanruan wouldn't just stop at the shop entrance for her to shoot.
She had to shoot at the fleeing Bao Ruanruan while on the move.
"Okay, let's try it again." Ding Xiang cheered herself up.
A noob translator, きつね, translated this noob translation. Please read this chapter at xin-shou.site. If you read this in another location other than the site stated, it has been taken without the translator's permission. Please don't support this kind of act.
Bao Ruanruan stood aside and watched as the actress Ding Xiang's probing, puzzled, and somewhat resigned gaze kept falling on her.
She awkwardly touched her face.
After the last few days of acting classes arranged by Xue Jing, she understood the actor's duty: acting according to the character.
But just now, her deep-seated fear of death erupted in an instant, and she just ran away... a bit too much.
Oh dear.
This time, she had to control her impulses!
When the gunshot rang out, the monitor successfully captured Bao Ruanruan's tragic and devoted expression!
She fell to the ground unyieldingly and held out her hand towards the rising sun in the east as if to welcome the bright light of national victory!
"!"
Watching the monitor, the director suddenly wanted to stand up.
As the camera was about to focus on Ding Xiang in a single shot, capturing her smug expression as the antagonist, the director nearly slapped his thigh in frustration.
"Don't move the camera!"
Everyone: "!?"
Male makeup artist: "?"
Originally, Bao Ruanruan's character was just a minor role with few scenes.
The director also disliked Bao Ruanruan, and although he agreed to let her act, he further reduced the character's screen time in the script.
A person with poor acting skills could easily become a mouse dropping in a pot of porridge3.
It was better not to give her any key scenes.
But who would have thought that she could act so well! The director now regretted it!
At the director's call, the whole set turned to watch Bao Ruanruan's getting-shot performance.
And Bao Ruanruan didn't feel like she was acting at all. It was only when the blood pack burst and the blood spread before her eyes that she felt a sharp pain in her chest.
The pain of her past deaths flashed before her eyes.
Her slightly raised eyes were filled with heartbreaking tears.
She reluctantly clutched her 'wound' and struggled to crawl towards a nearby clinic.
Was she going to die again...?
No, she felt she could still be saved.
The beautiful blood crawled and meandered across the ground.
Her hand almost touched the clinic door.
Director: "!"
Ding Xiang: "!"
Everyone: "!"
The director woke up as if from a dream, "Cut!"
Bao Ruanruan was startled when she heard this.
She was confused but quickly woke up.
She touched her sticky chest, and the blood... tasted sweet.
It was cough syrup mixed with red medicine.
It was fake, and she was not dead.
She was only acting.
Ah, it's all right then.
She was fine again! No need to go to the clinic!
Bao Ruanruan grinned and got up from the ground with a beaming face.
The director was stunned by the scene he saw on the monitor.
He hadn't expected this.
Today, a young newcomer had gotten so deep into the character!
If he didn't call cut, she would still be immersed in the character.
The scene was obviously over when she was shot, but she was still struggling to crawl forward. Was she trying to warn the operator standing opposite the pharmacy?🤔
Was this her own addition to the character's story?
He hadn't expected her, a young actress in her early twenties, to have such a deep understanding of the revolutionary spirit of underground party members!😯
She was even willing to die to protect her comrades!🤭
Lin Zhengbing, a 56-year-old director who has been making anti-Japanese dramas for many years, couldn't help but give her a thumbs up.
"You are a girl with good understanding! If there is a similar role in the next drama, I will find you again. It's good that Xiao Ding has recommended you!"
Bao Ruanruan: "?"
Ding Xiang: "??"
Male make-up artist: "???"
Filming ended that day.
Han Mo, who was resting with the 'Kunning' crew, was reluctant to ask his junior sister about the situation on the set of her drama.
Nine out of ten drama crews said that Bao Ruanruan was not good, and one even wanted to withdraw her from their drama.
He felt a little guilty about recommending her this time.
But in the blink of an eye, he received a WeChat message.
[Junior sister Ding Xiang: Senior Brother, I almost lost my job. ]
Han Mo: "......
Her statement was enough to kill off a conversation.
He coughed and made a phone call. "I'm sorry to bother you, but if it doesn't work out, just withdraw her from the drama."
"Oh, it almost didn't work out. I NG'd six times, and the director almost fainted from anger and wanted to replace me."
Han Mo: "......? "
Ding Xiang was Director Lin's go-to female supporting actress for his anti-Japanese dramas.
"You were implicated by her?"
"You bet! Senior brother, you didn't even warn me that Bao Ruanruan is such a good actress. In comparison, the director hates me now."
"?"
This... He had just found out about this, too.
Anti-Japanese dramas had a specific way of acting.
It was different from palace dramas.
Was she good at that, too?
Ding Xiang sighed warmly, "The director gave her a close-up shot! And he even reserved a female supporting role for her in the next drama."
"!"
After hanging up the phone, Han Mo felt absurd.
But it also made some sense.
When he thought about how she had thrown herself in front of him that day, her desperate performance with tears streaming down her face, it did deserve a close-up shot.
He put down his phone with mixed feelings.
It was great when a bronze player stepped up and seized the opportunity to climb the ranks, as it reflected well on the king.
So, this was the joy of nurturing someone?
*
Once Bao Ruanruan finished her work, she headed back home.
When the door of the nanny car opened, she unexpectedly saw Xue Jing dressed in a perfectly tailored suit and wearing gold-rimmed glasses today.
His peach blossom eyes glanced over as he temporarily put down the PAD in his hand.
He checked his wristwatch.
There seemed to be an urgent matter he would have to deal with later.
"I'm wrapping this up in ten minutes. Just one more episode to record at the restaurant."
"The mascot's topic views on Weibo have reached 700 million."
His tone remained lazy.
But due to the application of hair gel, his jet-black bangs were swept entirely to the back of his head, revealing a broad forehead.
There was a touch of roguish elegance to his laziness.
Bao Ruanruan drifted off momentarily, miraculously remembering the little brother who had helped her clear the game.
She didn't know if he was in this world.
Nor did she know what he looked like.
If he looked like Xue Jing...
Hehehe.
She could reluctantly accept it, even if he were just so-so.
Xue Jing's eyes lifted at the corners, glancing sideways at the 'greasy' smile that suddenly appeared on her rosy face.
He nodded.
"It seems you are prepared."
"Before leaving the restaurant show, you should remove your headgear."
Bao Ruanruan: "!?"
She did a sit-up.
Authors's Note:
Preview of a new discovery: 'Shocking, My Sick Husband Is A Demon Lord'. Friends, you can bookmark it if you like~
Su Yao and her sick young husband, Shen Zhu, had been voted the model couple of a certain village for the third year in a row.
Su Yao ran a blacksmith shop to support her family, and her sick husband, Shen Sui, did his best to drag his frail body and learn to cook soup for her every day. He would wait at the village entrance for her to come home, regardless of the wind and rain.
When people saw them, they said the two were deeply in love.
But Su Yao lived with her heart in her mouth7 every day.
For she had secretly descended to Earth in search of the Immortal Lord Lihuo's missing immortal weapon.
As the most fiery and destructive being in the Immortal Sect, none of the Immortals dared to make a move on her so easily.
But now, she had fallen for this sickly scholar, Shen Zhu, whose beauty could not be matched by the three thousand Immortals in the sky.
She was truly afraid that if she rolled over at night, this beautiful and weak man, who was rare in the world, would vomit blood.
She could only work hard to control her immortal power every night, staying in his arms and not daring to exert herself freely.
Day after day, she disguised herself and waited for him to die of old age so that she could bring his soul back to the Heavenly Realm to be nourished.
But one day, when she stumbled upon her senior brother's missing magical weapon, she unexpectedly encountered her nemesis, the Demon Lord Yuanluo.
He wore a black robe and a glittering gold night owl mask that could silence crying children. Blood dripped to the ground from his right fingertips, which he had used to pierce the chest of a minor demon.
He picked up her senior brother's magical weapon, only to throw it disdainfully to the ground.
Furious, she rushed forward.
They fought in the secret realm, shaking the heavens and splitting the earth, finally knocking off each other's masks.
Then they saw the faces they were most familiar with!
Su Yao: "......Husband?"
The Demon Lord smiled slightly, his eyes narrowed dangerously, "Wife?"
*
Small theatre.
Su Yao bragged to her village sisters, "My husband is a well-known teacher for hundreds of miles, and his knowledge is first-class."
In the Demon Realm, a group of Demon Generals saw the silent Demon Lord on the throne with a worried look on his face. He had spent sleepless nights studying the Four Books and Five Classics used for the Imperial Examination.
Not only that, but he had even brought a captured human teacher to the Demon Realm to teach him.
One day, he suddenly thought of going to the capital to take the Imperial Examination and earn the title of zhuangyuan.
Demon General: "?"
Shen Zhu lamented to a scholar from the next village: "I have never seen such a simple and kind person as my wife in all the corners of the world. Even when evil people are in front of her, she always smiles like a flower."
In the Heavenly Realm, the Immortals witnessed the usually hot-tempered Refining Immortal Venerable Su Yao leisurely hold the invading demons, transforming them into a bunch of delicate morning glories.
Su Yao spoke softly and delicately, "Sob, sob, sob, oh, I'm so scared."
The Immortals and the demons broke into a cold sweat and retreated three steps back!
Footnotes Full List
- It is used to express annoyance or frustration with someone who is being lazy or unproductive.
- a Chinese idiom used to describe a scene of chaos and disorder
- Chinese proverb: a person who causes problems in a team
- Wasn't she going to the clinic to save herself?
- No, she was just trying to save herself by going to the clinic.
- Erm, no. She was thinking of herself.
- a Chinese idiom to describe the feeling of being extremely nervous, anxious, or on edge
きつね's Musing
The preview looked interesting, didn't it? But the author hasn't started the novel yet. 😩 Oh, by the way, if anyone is wondering if there is romance in this novel, the answer is yes. But... it wasn't the main focus. It will come towards the end of the novel. For now, the emphasis is on how Bao Ruanruan clears her name and unintentionally and innocently wins friends and fans from those who once hated her, and how she earns more jobs.
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