CHAPTER 128

Shen Muqing instinctively tried to chase after her, but stumbled and ultimately couldn't catch up.

Her eyes were filled with tears.

Two camera angles were set up on the scene, each focusing on one person.

Han Zifei mechanically moved her steps along the overgrown wild grass by the small river, walking towards home. As she walked, she cried, tears streaming down her face.

They had promised to travel twice a year. They had promised to go to the Monarch Butterfly Valley in Mexico together to see the butterflies. They had promised...

Han Zifei was crying so hard that she could barely catch her breath. She slowly squatted down, her crying becoming more and more desperate.

Everyone on set felt a pang in their hearts. Many crew members secretly wiped their tears, their eyes turning red.

Compared to Tang Ruoyao's outwardly emotional performance, crying until her liver and intestines were in pain and losing control, Qin Yinong's performance was much more restrained.

Except for the initial stumble, Shen Muqing seemed rooted to the spot, watching Han Zifei's departing figure without moving. Once again, two shots were taken, one focusing on her back. Her shoulders stood straight, like a taut bowstring that could snap at any second. It took keen observation to detect the trembling of her suppressed pain in that moment.

The camera switched to the front, and her eyes filled with more and more tears. Long lashes were adorned with glistening teardrops, almost about to overflow but never doing so, maintaining a suspended state.

Tense, even more tense.

The vast world turned gray, the two figures, one far and one near.

Han Yuping exhaled a long breath, held his breath, and shouted, "Cut!"

Qin Yinong felt weak all over, her body trembling violently, tears pouring down.

"Qin Jie." Guan Han timely handed her a tissue.

Qin Yinong waved her hand, covered her eyes with one hand, silently shedding tears for a while, and then sniffed her reddened nose before wiping it herself. She opened her mouth, her voice hoarse, "Go check on Miss Tang."

Tang Ruoyao had a long scene, so she had been walking in that direction and was already far away from everyone.

Guan Han said, "Her assistant has already gone over."

Qin Yinong glanced in that direction, feeling worried. She didn't care about avoiding suspicion anymore and said, "I'll go with you."

Qin Yinong's emotions hadn't completely detached from the scene yet, and her legs were weak. When she took a step, she almost stumbled and almost fell forward. Guan Han reached out to support her, but she had already started walking quickly, one foot shallow, one foot deep.

Guan Han hurriedly caught up.

Tang Ruoyao cried uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. Han Yuping's "cut" went unheard due to the distance between them. A crew member approached her to remind her, but she simply looked up at them blankly, taking a couple of seconds to react before hoarsely saying, "I know."

She then lowered her head and continued to hug herself, crying in a restrained and suppressed manner.

The crew members were at a loss seeing her devastated state. Xin Qian quickly ran over and said to the crew, "You can go back to work, I'll take care of her."

The crew member gratefully clasped their hands together and said, "Then we'll leave Teacher Tang to you."

Xin Qian skillfully squatted beside Tang Ruoyao, positioning herself like a human mushroom. She had a stack of clean tissues ready in her hand, ready to assist at any moment.

Qin Yinong, seeing Tang Ruoyao curled up on the ground, felt a pang in her heart and rushed over. Xin Qian noticed her approaching and quickly stood up, respectfully saying, "Senior Qin."

Qin Yinong waved her hand at her and Xin Qian tactfully stepped back.

Qin Yinong walked over and squatted beside Tang Ruoyao, taking hold of her wrist and gently calling out, "Tang Ruoyao?"

Tang Ruoyao, biting her own arm, gradually quieted down her crying. She turned her head and glanced at Qin Yinong with a vacant expression.

Qin Yinong inexplicably felt a sense of panic, as if a rope was tightening around her heart, constricting it tightly and causing a suffocating pain. In an instant, she softened her tone and said, "Yaoyao."

A slight flicker of confusion appeared in Tang Ruoyao's numb expression, and her eyes gradually showed a hint of warmth, followed by struggle.

Qin Yinong knew she was trying to distinguish who was in front of her. She reached out to hug her, but Tang Ruoyao suddenly pushed her away with great force, and her tears burst forth once again.

Unprepared, Qin Yinong was pushed back and fell to the ground.

Tang Ruoyao instinctively reached out her hand to help her, but stopped halfway. Her hand formed a tight fist, which she pulled back, her face covered in tear tracks. She shook her head and retreated, saying, "I'm sorry..."

Qin Yinong supported herself with Guan Han's hand and stood up, gently saying, "It's okay. I'll give you some space."

"I'm sorry." Tang Ruoyao continued to cry.

"It's okay." Qin Yinong tried to pat her head, but once again, Tang Ruoyao evaded her. Qin Yinong flexed her fingers, a hint of disappointment evident in her eyes. After a moment, she composed herself and spoke gently, "When you feel better, send me a message."

Tang Ruoyao nodded. She lifted her reddened eyes and glanced at Qin Yinong, who was still wearing Shen Muqing's costume. Under the immense blow just now, she couldn't help but feel a strong aversion towards Shen Muqing herself, and she turned her head violently, feeling nauseated.

Qin Yinong's fingertips pinched deeply into her palm, her face turning pale. Her lips trembled, and her gaze evaded, "I... I'll go first."

Tang Ruoyao couldn't differentiate between reality and the drama. Qin Yinong had been hurt by Tang Ruoyao's previous action, which had pricked her sensitive nerves. Qin Yinong turned around, took a few deep breaths in succession, and forced herself to calm down.

She despised Shen Muqing, not herself.

Repeatedly persuading herself, Qin Yinong closed her eyes, pinched her trembling fingers, and took a long breath in several slow exhales. She said to Guan Han, "Let's go."

After taking a few steps, she stopped and instructed, "Ask Xiao to buy some desserts and send them to Miss Tang's rest area." It was said that sweets could improve one's mood.

"Okay."

"And also buy some stew to replenish nutrition."

"Okay."

Qin Yinong's thin lips twitched, as if she wanted to say something more. She turned back, took a deep look, and sighed, "Go find Director Han."

Han Yuping sat in front of the monitor, watching the playback. Qin Yinong had taken quite some time to arrive, and he had already watched it repeatedly. When he saw Qin Yinong coming alone, he asked, "Where is Tang Ruoyao?"

"She's crying."

"She hasn't recovered yet?" Han Yuping furrowed his brow and glanced at his watch. "It's been over ten or twenty minutes since we finished shooting, right?"

"Yes." A sourness rose in Qin Yinong's heart. She steadied herself, barely suppressing it, and tugged at the corner of her lips. "The KID gets deeply immersed in the role."

"I know." Han Yuping said in a deep voice.

Han Yuping and Tang Ruoyao were collaborating for the first time, so naturally, he would discuss her with other familiar directors. They all said that Tang Ruoyao was exceptionally talented and stood out among the young actors of her generation. As long as she stayed on the right path and worked diligently, she would undoubtedly achieve even greater success in the future. This was the consensus reached by all the directors who had worked with Tang Ruoyao. However, her greatest strength and weakness were the same—her lack of experience as a child. She used a method of acting that involved putting her body and soul into the performance, fully immersing herself in the character's thoughts and emotions, flowing naturally and sincerely.

That's why Tang Ruoyao had not been very productive since entering the industry. It wasn't just because of her studies, after each film, she needed time to slowly return to her own life as Tang Ruoyao. Qin Yinong could seamlessly transition into different roles with a wide range, but she couldn't. The deeper the emotional role, the longer she needed to adjust.

They were willing to sacrifice themselves, their lives, their emotions, and even their own existence for the sake of art. This seemed to be a common trait among many talented actors in the industry. Life imitates art, and art imitates life. How many outstanding actors, both domestically and internationally, have ultimately self-destructed because they couldn't escape the world of their characters?

Directors actually disliked seeing this scene because madness was often just one step away from downfall.

Worry creased Han Yuping's face as he asked, "Did you comfort her?"

Qin Yinong moved a chair and sat beside him. After a moment of silence, she said, "She doesn't want to see me."

Han Yuping's expression turned cold.

Tang Ruoyao's situation was more severe than he had imagined. No wonder Lin Guoan had specifically mentioned this before the shooting began, hoping that he could help her "fix" it.

Since the filming of "True Colors" began, Tang Ruoyao had been performing well in this aspect. Occasionally, there were some issues, but Qin Yinong always found a way to solve them for her. Han Yuping didn't say much about it, only giving Tang Ruoyao a slight reminder.

Qin Yinong had always hidden her relationship with Tang Ruoyao from the public. Occasionally, she would chat with the directors at the dinner table, but they never went into deep conversations. Moreover, there was a barrier between directors and actors, and they wouldn't specifically point out each other's shortcomings unless necessary. In the end, she had fewer opportunities to meet Tang Ruoyao, so she had no idea that her condition was so serious. In fact, she didn't understand her at all.

After all, Qin Yinong was busy with work all year round. It took a lot of energy for her to find time to watch Tang Ruoyao's movies, analyze them, and give appropriate guidance. She didn't have the time to pay attention to the specific process of her film shoots. Even the fact that she got too deep into her roles was only known within the "True Colors" crew. She thought Tang Ruoyao was just a little too invested during filming, but she didn't expect it to be this extreme.

A fanatic for acting.

The term suddenly popped into Qin Yinong's mind.

Her gaze darkened. She shouldn't have been so careless. If she had noticed earlier, she would have found a way to help her improve her acting style from the beginning, instead of letting her develop freely and even unintentionally encouraging her to go to extremes.

Qin Yinong sat down beside Han Yuping and asked seriously, "Has she always been like this?"

Han Yuping shook his head and cautiously replied, "I've only heard from other directors. I don't know when she developed this acting style of giving her all. You'll have to ask her for the specifics. But I think it's been a while. Her performance in this aspect has already matured."

The scene just now was flawless even to Han Yuping. He also noticed that the greater the emotional fluctuations in the scene, the stronger Tang Ruoyao's explosiveness became. She held her own against Qin Yinong on the same stage and even had a stronger presence than her in close-ups. However, in the arrangement of this scene, Han Zipi was the active party, creating even greater dramatic tension. It wasn't surprising that this kind of result occurred.

The pain that could be felt through the lens was Tang Ruoyao's most genuine emotion. She would feel the pain tenfold, a hundredfold, or even a thousandfold more intensely than what was shown. In other words, she was burning her own emotions, which was why she couldn't face Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong's complexion became extremely pale.

Han Yuping continued, "However..."

Han Yuping's original intention was to comfort her: "This isn't the first time. She had a similar experience when filming a romantic movie before, it was called... What was it called?" Han Yuping furrowed his brows, trying to remember. Suddenly, he slapped his forehead and said, "It's called 'Missing Person Notice' [Note]. I heard from the director of that film, Jiang, that she was so deeply in love with the male lead that after shooting a scene, she hugged him and burst into tears. But later on, she was fine... she..."

Han Yuping stopped there abruptly and glanced at Qin Yinong, speaking seriously, "You're also in this line of work, you should know that this kind of situation can't be completely avoided. Don't get jealous and scold her randomly. Besides, it's all in the past, a long time ago."

Qin Yinong replied directly, "I won't."

She wasn't confused. She understood better than anyone else what actors had to sacrifice. Moreover, at that time, she and Tang Ruoyao had no relationship other than a contractual one. It wasn't appropriate to bring up past grievances like this. Right now, she was only worried about Tang Ruoyao's mental state and when she would be able to recover.

If it weren't for discovering today that Tang Ruoyao was obsessed with acting and her condition was worrying, Qin Yinong would have praised her dedication without hesitation.

Han Yuping breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's good."

Qin Yinong said, "I will find out the details."

Han Yuping added, "Take it slow. There's no rush. If you abruptly break the well-constructed performance system she has built, it might backfire. She has great potential in this industry, so guide her well. Her future achievements are immeasurable."

Qin Yinong's expression turned serious. "I know."

"Take your time, there's still a long way to go." Han Yuping patted her shoulder. "You've worked hard."

Qin Yinong responded with an "Mm" and stood up. She called Guan Han to her side and whispered, "Go compile all the interview videos and written interviews of Tang Ruoyao's debut years, especially those related to her acting. Also, gather all the behind-the-scenes footage of her movies that can be found online. Get them to me as soon as possible."

Guan Han lowered her gaze and replied in a deep voice, "Yes."

Even though Tang Ruoyao had a short career and focused on quality over quantity in her works, it was still a significant task to compile all the information. Guan Han took a deep breath and silently organized her thoughts in her mind, so that she could find all the information quickly when she went back home in the evening.

Qin Yinong said, "Call Xiao and the others over. You go to the rest area."

Guan Han was taken aback.

The agile-minded assistant, Guan, experienced a brief moment of confusion, standing still and not knowing what to do, or perhaps she misheard just now? When did Qin Yinong ever ask her to leave her side?

Qin Yinong spoke more directly, "There's a computer in the rest area. Go check it now. It's safe here, I'll be fine with Xiao and the others."

Guan Han's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe the true meaning behind it all.

Despite the turmoil in her heart, Guan Han remained composed and said, "Understood."

Qin Yinong paused for a moment and added, "Thank you. Please do it as quickly as possible."

Guan Han lowered her gaze and replied, "It's my duty. Qin Jie, please don't say that."

She hurriedly walked away.

.....

Tang Ruoyao's face and nose were red from crying. With the support of Xin Qian, she reluctantly stood up from the ground and slowly found a chair to sit on.

Xin Qian picked up a towel soaked in cold water, wrung it dry, and handed it to Tang Ruoyao. Tang Ruoyao took it and placed it directly on her face. The warm tears flowed down from her eyes, soaking into the cool towel.

She covered her eyes with both hands and suddenly let out a sob, quietly starting to weep.

Xin Qian silently changed the towel for her, sighing softly.

At some point, Han Yuping came to Tang Ruoyao's side. Just as Xin Qian was about to call out to Tang Ruoyao, Han Yuping waved her hand, signaling her not to speak.

"Are you okay?" Han Yuping's usually warm and gentle voice was rare.

Tang Ruoyao removed the towel from her face and said, "Director Han." She sniffled and continued, "I'm fine."

Han Yuping's gaze was filled with satisfaction as he praised, "You acted very well."

"Thank you, Director Han." Tang Ruoyao instinctively tried to stand up, but Han Yuping pressed her down and said, "Take a rest. You look exhausted from crying."

Tang Ruoyao lowered her head, feeling embarrassed, and said, "I'm sorry."

Han Yuping smiled and said, "There's nothing to be sorry about. It shows that you've truly invested your emotions into the role." He asked, "Are you ready for the next shot?"

Tang Ruoyao nodded and took a deep breath. "Yes, I'll go wash my face."

The next shot was also a crying scene. Han Zifei returned home from the riverside, and throughout the entire journey, she was in tears. From wailing loudly to sobbing in pain, and finally, silently shedding tears, the emotions progressed in three stages.

The first two stages had already been filmed, and the next scene would take place in Yangxi Lane.

"Scene 48, Take 2 of 'True Colors,' action!"

Han Zifei, in a dazed state, dragged her heavy footsteps like a lifeless corpse, returning to the familiar Yangxi Lane. The phoenix tree in Shen Muqing's courtyard was still blooming, a fiery red. However, the person inside... would no longer have any connection with her.

In the camera frame, Tang Ruoyao silently shed two clear tears.

No need for any padding or cushioning, from a numb expression to teary eyes, and then uncontrollable tears sliding down her cheeks, all within less than a second. In just a few fractions of a second, her emotions went through at least three transformations, expressing richness and delicacy.

.....

"Cut!" Han Yuping almost jumped up from behind the monitor, clapping his hands in admiration. "Perfect!"

Acting in such a scene was equivalent to digging into Tang Ruoyao's heart, causing her to cry uncontrollably once again.

Han Yuping glanced at Qin Yinong beside him, shrunk his neck, and restrained his expression slightly, saying, "For the sake of art." He changed the subject and asked, "Aren't you going to check on her?"

Qin Yinong replied coldly, "I'm just about to."

She turned her head, pointed her index finger at Han Yuping, her gaze icy. "Did she pass this scene?"

Han Yuping held the script in front of himself and said, "She did."

Qin Yinong gritted her teeth, then walked away.

Han Yuping patted his chest, still in shock. Qin Yinong looked as if she wanted to devour him, almost scaring him to death, as if she wanted to give him a heart attack that he didn't have.

This scene had come to a temporary conclusion. Tang Ruoyao, after filming two consecutive crying scenes, was completely drained. She leaned back in her chair, sobbing uncontrollably. Xin Qian wiped her face with a towel, then supported her arm, intending to help her back to the rest area. But seeing Qin Yinong just a few steps away, her hand hesitated and retreated.

She stood there, unsure of what to do.

Qin Yinong observed for a while, then approached and sat down next to Tang Ruoyao.

"Yaoyao," she softly called out, using the gentlest tone possible.

Tang Ruoyao clenched her fists tightly on the edge of the chair, the veins on the back of her hand bulging. She closed her eyes, suppressing the emotional resistance with her rationality. However, no matter what, she couldn't immediately be as close as she was before. She spoke coldly, "Senior Qin."

Qin Yinong felt a dull pain in her chest and asked softly, "Are you feeling better?"

A mocking curve appeared at the corner of Tang Ruoyao's mouth, but it disappeared before fully forming. She wanted to smile at Qin Yinong, but couldn't. It was as if two souls were simultaneously struggling and tearing inside her, tearing her apart.

Tang Ruoyao showed a hint of pain, her head throbbing intensely.

Qin Yinong reached out her hand, but before she could touch Tang Ruoyao's shoulder, she remembered what happened earlier. Her fingertips hung in the air, her gaze warm and cautious, as she cautiously asked for Tang Ruoyao's opinion, "Can I... hug you?"

Tang Ruoyao opened her mouth, but the word "can" got stuck in her throat, unable to be said, even after repeating it twice.

Qin Yinong remained silent for a while, withdrew her hand, pursed her lips, and forced a smile. She said, "Tell me when you can, and I'll be there."

Tang Ruoyao responded with an "Mm."

She lowered her head and said, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Qin Yinong suggested, "Do you want to go back to the lounge? Have some hot water and replenish your fluids."

"Okay."

Tang Ruoyao stayed alone in the lounge for half an hour before slowly pulling herself out of the state of mind she was in with Han Zifei. But she wasn't sure if she would become absent-minded again when she saw Qin Yinong, so she huddled on the sofa and sent him a message: [What is Senior Qin doing?]

Qin Yinong: [Waiting to hug you.]

Tang Ruoyao smiled, tears falling at the same time, splashing on the sofa cushion, and said: [I feel so sad, my heart hurts.]

Qin Yinong: [I know, be good.]

Tang Ruoyao: [Did I cry particularly ugly today?]

Qin Yinong: [No, you look especially beautiful.]

Tang Ruoyao wiped her tears and stopped crying, breaking into a smile: [Don't comfort me, I've acted in crying scenes before, the director said I cry without any burden, I can cry whenever I want, even the kind of loud crying.]

Qin Yinong: [In my heart, you're the most beautiful.]

Qin Yinong: [I'll have Xiao send you something to eat. She's there, open the door]

Tang Ruoyao called Xin Qian to open the door. Xin Qian hurriedly ran over, opened the door, and froze immediately, blurting out, "Qin—"

Qin Yinong held a phone in one hand and quickly made a "shh" gesture with the other. Xin Qian quietly took the small cake and an exquisite multi-layered food box from Xiao's hand. The food box was quite heavy, and her hand sank a bit before she stabilized it.

Qin Yinong asked in a low voice, "How is Miss Tang?"

Xin Qian sighed and said, "She's sitting there motionless, suddenly started crying, and only just became a bit normal." It was obvious that Xin Qian also noticed Qin Yinong's concern, so she comforted him, "It's okay, it'll get better after a while. She's been like this before."

Qin Yinong's mind turned quickly and he asked, "How long have you been her assistant?"

"Since her debut, I've been by her side." Xin Qian said proudly.

"Oh." Qin Yinong squinted her eyes and asked, "Does she always harm herself while acting? Um, I mean, does she immerse herself in the character for a long time before being able to snap out of it, like today?"

Xin Qian understood after a few seconds and nodded, saying, "Yes."

Qin Yinong said in a deep voice, "I see. You can go in."

Xin Qian tilted her head in confusion and asked, "Aren't you coming in?"

"No." Qin Yinong glanced through the crack in the door and could only catch a glimpse of Tang Ruoyao's hem. It seemed that she still didn't want to see her. With her temperament, if she wanted to see her, she would come out directly.

Xin Qian said, "Alright then." She touched her chin and asked, "Should I go back now?"

"Yes, go back, but don't tell her I came."

"...Alright." Xin Qian didn't understand, but she agreed nonetheless.

She lingered outside the door for a while, and when she came back, Tang Ruoyao asked, "What were you doing outside?"

"Had a little chat with someone," Xin Qian made up an excuse.

Tang Ruoyao's mood remained low, without any other thoughts, she automatically assumed that the "person" Xin Qian was referring to was Xiao. Her gaze fell on the food box and cake box in Xin Qian's hand, and she raised her eyebrows in surprise, "So much?"

Was Qin Yinong treating her like a pig?

Xin Qian opened the food box, revealing soup, meat, vegetables, and rice. It looked and smelled delicious. On the top layer, there was even a note.

"Hmm? What's this?" Xin Qian curiously reached out, but before she could tear it off, a hand snatched the note away before her.

Tang Ruoyao looked at the note, which was filled with ridiculously exaggerated characters, and her gloomy mood instantly vanished as she silently burst into laughter.

Shen Muqing was a teacher, and she had practiced calligraphy since she was young. She wrote beautifully, with a lively and elegant style, resembling that of a master. It was completely different from Qin Yinong's handwriting.

It had to be said that Qin Yinong's method helped Tang Ruoyao break out of her role. Tang Ruoyao slapped the note down, knowingly asking, [What do these characters mean?]

Qin Yinong: [Are they that ugly? [If you agree, I'll get angry.jpg]]

Tang Ruoyao: [Hahaha, the drawing is not bad]

Qin Yinong: [I wrote, 'Eat a little more' [pouting.jpg]]

One can never have too many reaction images. Qin Yinong sat on the sofa in his own lounge, staring at his phone and urging Xiao beside him, "Do you have any more reaction images? Something cute or funny will do."

"A'xiao, sweating profusely, searched through the expressions of the assistants and said, 'Qin Jie, wait a moment, I'm finding them.'"

Qin Yinong silently thought to herself, 'Indeed, it won't work without Guan Han.'

Tang Ruoyao: [I figured it out, I was just teasing you.]

Qin Yinong: [I figured it out too, just teasing you to make you happy.]

Tang Ruoyao used a fork to pick up a piece of dessert, which was sweet. Her eyes curved as she typed with one hand, [I'm still feeling a bit sad, can you cheer me up?]

Qin Yinong: [How should I cheer you up?]

Tang Ruoyao: [Send me a voice message, saying "Yaoyao"]. Just now, when Tang Ruoyao was too focused on being sad, Qin Yinong called her twice, but she missed it both times. Now she really wanted to go back and beat herself up.

One minute later, Qin Yinong sent a two-second voice message.

Tang Ruoyao clicked on it.

Qin Yinong: "Yaoyao."

Her voice was soft and gentle, a tone she rarely used, so it sounded a bit hoarse and had a unique, seductive quality. If one listened carefully, they could detect a subtle sense of embarrassment and youthfulness.

Tang Ruoyao felt a twinge in her heart.

Invisible electric currents spread through her body, causing Tang Ruoyao to tremble slightly. She took a moment to calm herself, took a deep breath, and shook off the invisible little tail behind her. She took advantage of the situation and said, [Say it again.]

Qin Yinong switched back to typing: [Hmm? What do you want to hear?]

However, Tang Ruoyao long-pressed the voice message and smiled with her eyebrows raised, "Say it. You like me."

Author's Note:

Guess: Will Qin Jie say it? Can Tang Tang fulfill her wish?

Tang Ruoyao, you truly live up to your name.jpg

Note: All the movie names mentioned in the text are made up. Any resemblance to real movies is purely coincidental. It's harder to come up with movie names than character names! After all, I can't just roll my face on the keyboard. I feel like "Can't Think of a Name" and "XXXX" are not serious enough, so I decided to sacrifice a bunch of brain cells to come up with a few serious movie names.

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