Chapter 52: Liu Man’s First Scene
Princess Man was probably Liu Man’s account. Both of them had a “Man” in their name.
Yang Huayue scrolled through Princess Man’s Wei Bo. She was a live-streamer who wasn’t even that famous. She was probably favored by Qiu Jing only because she was a student at the Capital City Music University.
Cyber stars and the real superstars do have a difference. Most cyber stars were born with normal backgrounds and didn’t have professional training, they only became famous because they entertained people. Yang Huayue really thought cyber stars were low and couldn’t compare to professional actors like her.
Although she had this thought, she still decided to follow Princess Man.
Yang Huayue’s follow finally made the fans of Princess Man feel something was wrong.
Liu Man didn’t post anything new, so they could only comment under Liu Man’s most recent post with the Oriental Pearl Tower.
“What did sis do? Why are Tang Tu and Yang Huayue both following her within just a day?”
“Yeah, and that’s not the scariest thing. Tang Tu even dropped likes and reposted her posts!”
“Both of them are superstars! How would our live-streamer know them?”
“I am so happy. I’m a fan of both Tutu and Princess Man!”
“Didn’t they say Tang Tu and Yang Huayue are both filming a new movie in Shanghai? Sis is in Shanghai, too. Maybe they met somewhere?”
“What the- The chance of this happening is too small.”
“Too bad sis is not live-streaming now, or else we can just ask her. I also want to ask her why she suddenly turned the live-stream off last night. That was the moment when Coco and Hanfu Goddess cooperated with each other! Sis was standing on such a good spot in such a good angle, but she turned her live-stream off. I was so angry I almost unfollowed her.”
“Don’t be angry, we could still watch their performance from Coco’s video.”
“That’s not the same as an actual live-stream.”
“Anyway, Tang Tu also followed Coco and reposted her video. I still feel like something is wrong.”
The fans of Princess Man analyzed everything and came up with several theories, but no one thought about the possibility that Hanfu Goddess was Princess Man.
There was only a fan named “Me, me, me, little Lu Ban,” who commented, “This is so strange. Don’t you guys know sis IS Hanfu Goddess?”
However, her comment quickly got drowned out by thousands of other comments, and nobody noticed her.
Liu Man didn’t have time to live-stream or check on her Wei Bo. She had to participate in a scene tomorrow, and she, being inexperienced, had to study the script again.
Ji Ning appeared in the movie for a total of five minutes, which was divided into four scenes, including the rival show of Ji Ning and Ji An which Liu Man tried out back in the audition. These scenes were all from the main characters’ memories.
Tomorrow, Liu Man was going to film her first scene, when Ji Ning returned from America and it was her first day of school.
The setting was set to Shanghai Experimental Middle School, where Gu Qing and Duan Nanfeng went to in the movie.
The school closed a few days ago because of the holidays, and there was not a single student on campus that day. With the principal’s help, the crew successfully entered the school to start staging and setting up the equipment.
Liu Man arrived early. The make-up artist and the costume crew were all ready. Ye Zian wanted the scenes that happened on the campus to be finished within two days, and Liu Man started to get ready as soon as she arrived.
After she finished her costume, Liu Man walked out of the resting room, and the crew members all turned to stare at her.
She was wearing a white dress. In Li Xiaoru’s memory, the Liu Man wearing a white dress had stunned her, and the Liu Man at this moment continued to impress others.
The silky black hair gently lay on her shoulder, reflecting her flawless, porcelain skin. Probably because there were too many people looking at her, she lowered her long eyelashes to cover her shiny dark eyes, so she could cover her timidness with aloofness. But the corners of her lips tilted up a little, giving her a feeling of softness.
Everyone thought it so magical. This girl obviously had a western face, but she was beautiful in a classic way. There was a feeling of elegance and royal about her.
Ye Zian nodded and told the few make-up artists, “This appearance is great. From now on, just do Ji Ning’s costume exactly like this.”
“Don’t just stare, let’s start working.”
Ye Zian clapped his hands to wake up the crowds who were in a trance as they gazed at Liu Man. The normal staff members and even Tang Tu and Qiao Xin, who were used to seeing pretty girls, were stunned for a long moment.
Qiao Xin asked Tang Tu, “I heard this girl goes to the same school as you?”
Tang Tu answered with an “Mhm.”
“Liu Man must be famous in your school?”
Tang Tu thought carefully, he really didn’t think Liu Man was famous. He didn’t even know her before, and she never performed during concerts.
“Maybe it’s just that she usually doesn’t like to put make-up on,” That was how Tang Tu explained how anonymous Liu Man was in the past.
The camera aimed at the sign which read ‘Class 1 of 11th grade,” to give it a close-up.
TL’s Note: In China, they kind of call High School a higher middle school, so don’t be confused.
The actor playing the teacher walked up to the podium and said to the noisy class, “Everyone, please be quiet for a moment. Today, we are going to welcome a new student to our class.”
After hearing this, the students who were all wearing blue and white PE uniforms all looked toward the doorway with much curiosity, but they only saw the corner of a white dress.
“Ji Ning, come in,” The class teacher called.
Qiao Xin, who was playing Gu Qing, had his jaw placed on top of a hand. He looked bored and didn’t show any curiosity, for he had already been introduced to Ji Ning at home.
But when Ji Ning walked up the podium, he was still stunned.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Ji Ning, and from now on, I’ll be your fellow classmate,” Liu Man said.
“Cut,” Ye Zian called, “Liu Man, relax. Don’t be too nervous.”
“Sorry, Director Ye,” Liu Man quickly apologized.
She was only wearing a tenuous dress and was already shivering from the cold, but her palms and her back were all sweating.
Ye Zian was tolerant, “It’s alright, it’s your first time taking part in a film and it’s normal to be nervous. Just feel the environment and try to remember what it was like when you were in junior high. Don’t look at the cameras, just pretend like they’re not there.”
Liu Man nodded. After her two previous performances with Coco, she was no longer nervous when people stared at her. She was scared, however, as she noticed the black cameras aiming at her. Her limbs stopped working when she saw the cameras.
Tang Tu and Qiao Xin sat in the classroom with a group of young extras. They were all wearing uniforms, but because this movie occurred at the end of Spring and the beginning of Summer, although the weather was cold, Tang Tu pretended to feel hot and didn’t zip up his jacket while Qiao Xin scrolled up his sleeves. At a first glance, nobody would be able to notice the difference between them and real middle schoolers, for good-looking men do not look old.
Tang Tu saw how nervous Liu Man was. He looked at her with eyes filled with encouragement.
Liu Man breathed out deeply and told Ye Zian, “Director Ye, I’m ready.”
“Okay, let’s start again. Lights, camera, action!”
Liu Man, once again, walked from the doorway to the podium, “Hello, everyone. I’m Ji Ning, and from now on, I’ll be your fellow classmate.”
Liu Man looked around the classroom and introduced herself with confidence.
“Stop,” Ye Zian called again, “This doesn’t feel right. Think about it, Ji Ning is now no different from an orphan. She used to be a confident girl, yes, but now her mother has passed away and her father treats her like a burden. Her blood-related younger sister detested her, and her stepmother disliked her even more. She went from the perfect daughter to someone who was living in a house where no one liked her. You didn’t act out this feeling.”
No wonder the entire entertainment thought Ye Zian as the director who was talented but merciless. He had really high expectations for actors.
“Do you understand what I mean?” Ye Zian asked Liu Man.
Liu Man looked down, “Yes, I do.”
Everyone thought she was scared by Ye Zian, but Liu Man was only thinking about her days back at the cold palace. When Madam Xu passed away, her days were arduous.
Was Ji Ning’s feeling a bit similar? There was no longer anyone alive to care about her. She was bewildered and helpless, and all her pride in the past had just shattered away.
Credits: Sydney, Michelle, & a bit of help from Isabella
THIS CHAPTER UPLOAD FIRST AT NOVELBIN.COM