CHAPTER 68

Guan Han silently watched the two of them chat.

When it came to observing and understanding others, she was quite talented. Coupled with her clear perspective as an onlooker, Tang Ruoyao's changes were fully displayed in her eyes within a short period of time.

In the past, although Tang Ruoyao appeared calm, there were times when it was evident that she was pretending to be calm in front of Qin Yinong. But now, she had truly settled down, giving a much more solid impression.

She was no longer like a little lover dependent on Qin Yinong's nurturing, but rather an independent individual engaging in an equal conversation with Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong seemed to be somewhat enthralled by this feeling and unconsciously spoke a lot to her.

It was not until Han Yuping's people came over to call her that the conversation came to a halt.

"Senior Qin, you must be busy. I'll take my leave. Thank you for your guidance." Tang Ruoyao gave a light bow, stood up, and left without any hesitation.

Qin Yinong watched her figure as she left and realized that she had once again been lost in her thoughts. She quickly pulled her scattered thoughts back together.

The assistants were tactful and voluntarily stepped aside when Qin Yinong was engaged in conversation. Now, only Guan Han remained by her side. Qin Yinong glanced at Guan Han, and Guān Han responded with a knowing look. They exchanged a silent agreement.

Tang Ruoyao took a sip of water handed to her by Xin Qian, half-closing her eyes as she glanced towards Qin Yinong, but she didn't linger. She immediately withdrew her gaze, lowered her head, and flipped through the pages of the script. With a focused and undistracted mind, she became even more concentrated.

In the early stages of the production, the crew will try to schedule the shooting content more densely to avoid being constrained in the later stages when time is not sufficient.

Qin Yinong finished work and returned to the hotel. Tang Ruoyao had a night scene, which was quite simple. It involved her meeting Shen Muqing and developing a slight curiosity towards the other person. She asked her parents about the situation next door and there was also a scene of her looking into Shen Muqing's yard from her room window.

A bright incandescent lamp hung from the ceiling of the living room. The previous lights were not as bright as they are now, and the resulting light was dim and yellowish. The dining table was set, and the dishes were still steaming hot. The three actors of the family took their positions, and each department was ready.

"Scene 3 of 'True Colors,' take one, action!"

"Cut." Han Yuping, expressionless behind the monitor, said, "NG." [Not Good takes]

Tang Ruoyao showed a hint of surprise and embarrassment.

To have an NG right from the beginning was almost unheard of in her career.

Except for when she first entered the industry and the first director was coaching her. She was inexperienced in acting and made many mistakes that new actors make, such as not being able to find the right camera angle, which is the most basic thing. That's why she had quite a few NGs back then.

Tang Ruoyao silently readjusted herself, thinking, 'Luckily, Qin Yinong isn't here, otherwise I would be so embarrassed that I'd want to crawl into a hole.'

However, Han Yuping walked over to her.

Tang Ruoyao: "???"

"You have a bit of a problem with your posture. You should do it like this..." Han Yuping brought over a chair and sat on it, demonstrating it to her once. "Maintain a casual demeanor with a sense of tension. Got it?"

Tang Ruoyao had a strange expression, looking at Han Yuping as if he were an alien.

Why did he suddenly change his attitude?

Han Yuping originally intended to say this and then leave. But when he saw her expression, he frowned and suddenly spoke with a compassionate tone, "You had the same issue this afternoon. You either can't let relax when you should or you relax too much, appearing superficial and lacking depth."

Film is an art of the camera, where every movement is magnified on the big screen. The demands on actors are already strict, but Han Yuping is even stricter. Tang Ruoyao's acting had long exceeded the passing line and could be considered excellent by most directors. However, in Han Yuping's eyes, even the slightest imperfection is unacceptable. He seeks perfection to the extreme.

"Senior Qin also pointed out this issue to me, and I will diligently correct it." Tang Ruoyao humbly accepted.

"I know." Han Yuping casually added, and said lightly, "Make some adjustments and prepare for the second take."

However, Tang Ruoyao thought about the casual remark Han Yuping made, 'I know.'

The conversation she had with Qin Yinong in the afternoon was known only to the two of them, oh, and Guan Han too, but Guan Han would definitely not reveal it. Before Tang Ruoyao left, Han Yuping happened to call Qin Yinong over for a conversation.

So Qin Yinong and Han Yuping must have discussed it, that's why he came over personally to demonstrate it to me?

Tang Ruoyao temporarily suppressed her doubts and immersed herself in the scene.

"Scene 3 of 'True Colors,' one continuous shot, take two, action!"

The dim yellow light flickered, and the table covered with a checkered tablecloth was filled with simple homemade dishes, exuding a warm atmosphere of a traditional small family.

Han Zifei held a pair of chopsticks and gestured over several dishes on the table, as if unsure which one to indulge in first, unable to make a decision. Fang Jiao called her from the kitchen to bring out the dishes, and Han Zifei picked up a chopstick full of stir-fried meat, holding both the chopstick and the meat together, skillfully making her way into the kitchen.

If one talk about liveliness, Han Zifei is the liveliest character Tang Ruoyao has portrayed since she entered the industry. Due to her physical appearance, the roles she used to be cast in were more introverted or heroic characters seeking justice.

This time, she suddenly played an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl from a regular social background. This liveliness was not only expressed internally but also reflected in her external personality, resulting in many small physical movements.

Performing these small movements can easily lead to overacting if not careful. Tang Ruoyao has only been an actress for three years, and she just graduated. Despite her outstanding talent, she is still considered a newcomer by conventional standards. Tang Ruoyao never experienced the stage of being a teenage girl and never played roles where she had a harmonious relationship with her parents. The lack of personal experience and exposure cannot be compensated for in a short period of time.

Especially under Han Yuping's discerning eyes, even the smallest flaws that could be ignored were magnified infinitely by him.

Sure enough, Tang Ruoyao encountered her first setback after becoming famous.

"Cut!"

"Why did your hand move unnecessarily?"

"Cut! Where are your eyes looking while eating?"

"Why are your legs trembling? Didn't I tell you not to be careless? Do you think such a character would be liked if they appeared on the screen? Would Shen Muqing like it? What do you have to attract her?!"

With a thud, Han Yuping slammed the microphone onto the table, his hands grabbing his short hair and pulling it back forcefully.

The set fell into silence.

Tang Ruoyao's face turned red.

Her assistant, Xin Qian, couldn't bear to watch and closed her eyes.

After another "cut," 

Tang Ruoyao clasped her hands together and bowed to the staff members beside her, including the director. "I'm sorry, everyone. It's so late at night, and I've been causing you trouble."

She called Xin Qian and instructed her to order cold drinks for delivery.

It was early spring, and although the weather outside was cool, the filming center was sweltering. The machines and crowded people filled the room, especially those holding reflector boards, who were already drenched in sweat.

With frequent "cuts," the shooting time dragged on indefinitely, and everyone was getting frustrated. But seeing Tang Ruoyao, this young girl, sincerely apologizing, they all waved their hands generously, indicating that it was okay. The guy holding the boom microphone cleared his throat and encouraged her loudly, "It's alright. Many people have been scolded by Director Han before. Just keep up the good work."

His command of language was purely taught by a physical education teacher. It's unclear whether he wanted Tang Ruoyao to get past it quickly or endure more scolding.

Amidst their hardships, they found amusement and laughter filled the air.

Tang Ruoyao gently adjusted her breathing and walked towards Han Yuping, whispering, "I'm sorry, Director Han."

Han Yuping pinched his brow with one hand, deepening the lines on his forehead. He glanced at her through his fingers and coldly replied, "Is an apology useful? If apologies could deliver a good performance, the world would be full of Oscar winners. Do you think you're needed?"

Han Yuping's words left no room for mercy. Tang Ruoyao's face turned red and then pale, and she lowered her head in shame, saying, "I'm sorry."

Han Yuping suppressed his anger and asked, "How did you used to get along with your family before?"

Tang Ruoyao fell silent for a moment and whispered, "My mother passed away early."

Han Yuping choked for a moment, staring at her.

Afterwards, Han Yuping softened his tone a bit and said, "That's not a reason for you to not perform this scene well. Do you have to be a real murderer to play a murderer?"

"It's my fault." Tang Ruoyao didn't defend herself.

However, there were still differences between the two situations. Playing a murderer is detached from real life, and actors can undergo artistic processing when interpreting the role. But reality is different. It needs to resonate with the audience.

Han Yuping looked at her, sighed heavily, and said, "Let's stop here for tonight. Continuing would only lead to repeated failures."

Tang Ruoyao suddenly looked up and said, "Director Han, I..."

Han Yuping interrupted her and decisively stated, "Next time we'll continue shooting."

Han Yuping raised the loudspeaker and declared, "Wrap it up! Everyone, go rest!"

Tang Ruoyao went to remove her makeup with a downcast mood, while Xin Qian comforted her in a low voice, "It's okay. I've heard people say that's just how Director Han is. No actor who works with him escapes criticism. Just get used to it."

Tang Ruoyao forced a slight smile, but there was no trace of joy in it.

"Ms. Tang, your makeup is removed." said the makeup artist, her voice barely audible, influenced by Tang Ruoyao's emotions.

"Thank you." Tang Ruoyao stood up, took the coat from Xin Qian's hand, and put it on. "Let's go, the car is waiting."

During the journey from the set to the hotel, Tang Ruoyao remained unusually silent.

Xin Qian tried her best to make her laugh, but Tang Ruoyao directly said, "Let me be quiet for a while." She didn't dare to speak any further.

The door of the room across the corridor was tightly closed. Tang Ruoyao glanced at it, then stepped into her own room and gently closed the door.

.....

In the room of Qin Yinong, separated by a corridor."This child is exactly like you back then." Han Yuping said over the phone.

"How is she like me?" Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow. She was unaware of what had happened on the set tonight and asked casually, "Did the evening shoot go smoothly?"

Qin Yinong had high expectations. Tang Ruoyao had exceptional talent in this aspect, and she had asked Han Yuping to spend extra effort teaching her the moves. It should have gone smoothly. She had originally planned to stay and observe, but she came back first, afraid of affecting Tang Ruoyao's performance.

"Smoothly? How can I be like this if it went smoothly? There was a scene about family affection, and she always fell short, unable to deliver the right emotions." Han Yuping fumed, his nostrils flaring. "It infuriates me! She could have done better, but at the crucial moment, she falls short! So disappointing!"

Qin Yinong was taken aback.

She understood the meaning behind Han Yuping's initial statement. She, too, used to struggle with family scenes, instinctively resisting and rejecting the mention of parents. At that time, she was not mature enough to separate her emotions on and off the set. But now, she had long overcome that.

Han Yuping continued, "She mentioned that her mother passed away..."

Qin Yinong absentmindedly responded with an "Mm."

After investigating and reporting to her, Guan Han had informed her that Tang Ruoyao came from a reconstituted family. Her biological mother seemed to have passed away due to illness when she was too young to remember. Her father remarried, and she also had a half-brother from her father's side.

Han Yuping asked, "Do you have any experience to share with her?"

Qin Yinong fell silent for a moment and replied, "Me? What does it have to do with me?"

Han Yuping spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, "I've noticed that you two seem quite close."

"When did we become close?"

"During the afternoon break, you two were all lovey-dovey, and you even reminded me to be more patient." Han Yuping pondered for a moment, then said in confusion, "At first, you two were like enemies, ready to attack each other. How come you're all sweet and affectionate now?"

"How did you become a director with such a poor level of applying idioms?" Qin Yinong almost squeezed out the words from between her teeth.

What does "lovey-dovey" mean? What does "sweet and affectionate" mean?

It was just a normal and straightforward conversation! The kind that you wouldn't be afraid of anyone overhearing!

Han Yuping said, "The scene for tonight has been postponed. I'll let her practice on her own in private. When we shoot in a few days, you can keep an eye on her and see if there are any adjustments needed."

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "Are you the director or am I the director?"

Han Yuping replied, "If I teach her, I have to scold her until she's at wit's end."

"..." Qin Yinong said, "Let me teach her." She licked her lips and, as if speaking for someone else, added, "You're getting old, so try not to get angry often. It's not good for your health."

Qin Yinong didn't need to see it to know that Tang Ruoyao must have been scolded badly tonight.

She hoped the child wouldn't secretly cry.

Han Yuping thought she was concerned about him and was secretly moved. He said, "I'll rest first. You should go to bed early."

"Goodnight, Uncle."

"Mm, goodnight."

After hanging up the phone, Qin Yinong walked to the door, peered through the peephole, and glanced outside. The corridor was silent and deserted at this late hour, and there wouldn't be anyone around. However, she still silently looked for a while before slowly returning to the bed.

The next morning, Qin Yinong intentionally went downstairs early and sat on the sofa in the lobby for about ten minutes.

Tang Ruoyao came out of the elevator and walked over, greeting her.

Qin Yinong took off her sunglasses and glanced at Tang Ruoyao's eyelids. They looked fine, not swollen. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief but immediately became concerned. Why did she look so exhausted?

"You didn't sleep well last night?" Qin Yinong heard her own calm voice.

Tang Ruoyao glanced at her, slightly surprised. After a brief pause of two seconds, she answered, "A little." In fact, she didn't sleep at all. She stayed up all night rewriting her character's backstory, analyzing emotions, and studying previous excellent performances.

"Did Director Han scold you?""

...No." Tang Ruoyao denied, pursing her lips, her brows furrowing lightly. It was too embarrassing.

"Little one." Qin Yinong chuckled.

Tang Ruoyao sensed a hint of intimacy in her words, and it lingered softly in her ears and on her tongue for a moment before sinking into her heart.

"The car has arrived. I'll go first. See you on set." Qin Yinong stood up, gently patting her shoulder. "Keep up the good work."

Another scene was filmed during the day.

While getting her makeup done, Tang Ruoyao closed her eyes for a moment, trying to refresh herself a bit. When Han Yuping came over to discuss the scene with her, she remembered the painful experience from last night, causing her whole body to involuntarily tensed up. But then a soft palm pressed against her back from behind, stopping her from stepping back.

The warmth against her back momentarily distracted Tang Ruoyao. She uncomfortably turned her head to the side, and then a soft voice whispered by her ear, "Don't be afraid."

After saying this, Qin Yinong returned to a safe distance, intentionally or unintentionally shielding half of Tang Ruoyao's body behind her. She looked at Han Yuping with a lazy smile and said, "Director Han looks radiant today."

Han Yuping casually replied, "Thanks to you."

He looked at Tang Ruoyao behind Qin Yinong, the two of them standing together, and they both seemed too lazy to walk any further. They stopped discussing the scene there.

Qin Yinong made room for Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao cast a complicated look at Qin Yinong's retreating figure.

After Han Yuping left, Qin Yinong turned her head and said to Tang Ruoyao, "Director Han can be strict, but he means well. You'll get used to it after a while. Don't be afraid of being scolded, and don't develop a resistant mentality."

"I know." Tang Ruoyao said softly, with her eyes half-lowered.

"Don't make that kind of backward movement again in the future. If he catches you, you'll get scolded."

Tang Ruoyao responded with an obedient tone, "Thank you, Senior Qin."

Qin Yinong suddenly felt a bit at a loss for words, made a noncommittal sound, and went to prepare in front of the mirror.

Tang Ruoyao followed suit.

"Scene 4 of 'True Colors,' take one, action!"

...

After work, Shen Muqing returned home and saw a figure squatting at the entrance of the neighboring courtyard, lazily poking the ground with a stick.

Shen Muqing recognized the person from their long, black ponytail and the distinctive school uniform. She took a step forward, bent down, and softly asked, "Han, is that you?"

Han Zifei suddenly raised her head, her eyes widening, looking somewhat startled.

"Teacher Shen!" She vigorously rubbed her toes against the ground, hastily standing up.

For some reason, every time she saw the other person, she inexplicably felt nervous, her heart racing, and her palms sweating, as if she were sick.

"Why are you squatting at the entrance?" Shen Muqing asked.

"I..." Han Zifei cleared her throat and said, "I forgot to bring my keys."

"If you don't mind, would you like to rest at my house for a while?"

"...I'm sorry for the trouble." Han Zifei hesitated for a moment, straightened her back, and politely said.

If Fang Jiao saw this, she would probably suspect that her daughter had been possessed by something.

Shen Muqing subtly raised an eyebrow, seemingly slightly surprised.

Fang Jiao always told her that this daughter of hers was very unruly, so if she ever saw her, she should help discipline her. But isn't she a well-mannered and polite young girl?

Shen Muqing was someone who rarely showed strong emotions. Her facial expressions were always light and gentle. If it weren't for Han Zifei's gaze constantly falling on her face, she wouldn't have noticed this subtle expression.

Shen Muqing turned around to unlock the door. "Please come in."

What caught the eye was a vibrant red phoenix tree. As Han Zifei walked in, she chatted casually, "This phoenix tree has been here since I was little. Now it's growing bigger and almost reaching our house."

"It's very beautiful." Shen Muqing followed her gaze and looked up. The slender swan-like neck formed a graceful curve, and strands of hair softly hung on the snowy white side of the neck, creating a clear contrast between black and white.

Not as beautiful as you.

The girl said in her heart.

There were tables and chairs in the courtyard, and she could see that Shen Muqing was about to lead her there, and then she would go inside the house by herself. Han Zifei suddenly spoke up, "Teacher Shen, I'm a bit thirsty. Do you have water at your house?"

Shen Muqing stopped in her tracks and gently replied, "Yes, I do."

Han Zifei surveyed the first floor. She had heard that the details of a family's decoration best represented the hostess's aesthetic sense. This house gave her a very exquisite first impression. Whether it was the spotless floors and furniture or the neatly arranged furnishings, it showed that the other person was someone adept at managing their surroundings.

There was even a whole floor-to-ceiling bookshelf in the innermost room, containing more books than Han Zifei had used in textbooks and exercise books throughout her life.

The water needed to be boiled, and Shen Muqing was in the kitchen, standing with her back to the girl. The intense gaze behind her made her somewhat uncomfortable. She turned around and saw the other person earnestly staring at the bookshelf.

That gaze seemed like her imagination again.

"Be careful, it's hot." Shen Muqing poured a bowl of water into an enamel cup and handed it over, gently reminding her.

Her fair cheeks were flushed from the heat in the kitchen, and sweat dotted her skin.

Han Zifei was momentarily lost in thought, and then hurriedly reached out with both hands, accidentally brushing against the other's fingers. They felt cold, like icy jade.

Her hand trembled slightly.

......

"Cut!"

Tang Ruoyao held her breath, nervously waiting. Han Yuping watched the playback twice and exclaimed, "Not bad. Take a break, we'll do another take later."

Although she didn't get it in one go, Tang Ruoyao was satisfied. At least she didn't mess up.

She sighed and smiled wryly.

"Losing confidence?" Qin Yinong's assistant wiped her sweat, giving her a sidelong glance.

"No." Tang Ruoyao quickly denied.

Qin Yinong pursed her lips, as if she wanted to say something to her, but both of them were called over by Han Yuping. He nodded at Qin Yinong first, "You performed normally, well done."

It was Tang Ruoyao's turn, and she tensed up.

Qin Yinong couldn't help but smile.

Han Yuping said, "Little Tang, you did well this time, but there was a lack of focus in your eyes. You can do better."

Tang Ruoyao discreetly breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Where?"

Han Yuping replied, "In the courtyard when you looked at Shen Muqing. It was too restrained. You're only sixteen, without any romantic experiences, and you don't even know if you like her. Why would you be so restrained?"

Tang Ruoyao nodded.

Qin Yinong listened on the side, recalling a past memory.

She had just started getting to know Tang Ruoyao when she noticed something strange in the way Tang Ruoyao looked at her. Perhaps it was infatuation with her appearance, as Tang Ruoyao would occasionally get lost in staring at her and would awkwardly laugh when caught. At that time, Qin Yinong didn't think much of it since she had seen that kind of gaze from others many times before. But one day, Qin Yinong realized that she couldn't meet Tang Ruoyao's gaze anymore. Every time she looked over, Tang Ruoyao would quickly avert her eyes, pretending to be looking at the scenery around them, but her ears would turn red.

Her acting skills were terribly poor.

Since then, she must have fallen in love with herself.

Qin Yinong knew what Tang Ruoyao liked about her: her beautiful appearance, her powerful aura, her gentle and considerate nature, and perhaps even the way she looked at her.

But one day, she would eventually discover that most of what she liked about her was not real. The appearance would eventually age, and she was just an insignificant person among the masses, not gentle or considerate at all. She didn't know how to love, nor did she deserve to be loved.

Just like Shen Muqing in the movie, she couldn't live up to her love.

Qin Yinong calmly tilted her face upward and quietly walked away.

"Scene 4, take 2, action!"

Tang Ruoyao filmed that scene again, changing her gaze from being 50% restrained to 30% restrained and 70% reckless. It passed.

The next scene is Han Zifei returning home. Unable to endure it any longer, Han Zifei leaves and goes back to her own house. In her room, she silently takes out the house key she had hidden in her backpack. As long as there is no scene involving her parents, Tang Ruoyao's performance can hardly be faulted.

Work ended in the evening, and Han Yuping reluctantly gave Tang Ruoyao a smile.

The scene that was repeatedly messed up last night was temporarily postponed and the schedule for it was not yet determined. Tang Ruoyao had been on edge all day and finally got a momentary relaxation. She looked around the set but didn't see Qin Yinong. She didn't ask and packed up her things to leave.

Finishing work early, Tang Ruoyao had Xin Qian prepare some fruit for her and placed it next to her computer. She wasted no time in preparing for the scene that had been messed up. She didn't want to endure another night of scolding.

Time unknowingly passed, and she pressed the pause button, stretching her sore neck. Then, she heard a faint sound in her ear.

Beep—

The sound of a room card swiping to open a door.

Tang Ruoyao remained seated, not getting up to confirm. She reached for her phone and opened the group chat for script discussion. The messages in the group were still on the interface of the last time she and Qin Yinong exchanged red envelopes.

Tang Ruoyao clicked on Qin Yinong's profile picture, added her to contacts, and sent a verification message: [I have something to ask you.]

It was done in one breath.

She put down her phone and pinched her trembling fingers, calmly waiting.

The box of fruit on the table was almost empty, and her phone made a notification sound.

[System Message: You and dakfjsjfa are now friends. You can start chatting.]

Author's Note:

Mini Theater:

Qin Jiejie: Didn't you want to get to know me? Well, come on, get to know me deeply, the deeper the better.

PS: I previously wrote in the story about Tang Tang privately chatting with Jiejie, but a reader reminded me that WeChat doesn't have a private chat feature. However, I can't change it now, so let's consider that chapter as fictional. You can still chat privately! I don't care what you think, I care about what I think. When I say you can chat privately, you can.

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