CHAPTER 10

"Ah? He want to cut her scenes?" Screenwriter Cheng Yi was taken aback. "Why?"

The crew was leaving Yangcheng today. She had finished packing her bags in her room and was flipping through the script on her iPad.

The weather in Yangcheng had been oppressively hot for days, but now dark clouds were gathering in the sky, and the wind was picking up, making the humid air feel a bit more bearable.

Xiang Xiaoyuan had surprised her so much. After watching her performance as the eldest sister, Cheng Yi felt a surge of inspiration and wanted to add more to the character. However, the script was likely already set, and significant changes probably wouldn't be possible.

She took out a mint candy, just as she put it in her mouth, Lao Chen called her over and delivered this piece of news, sending a chill through her heart.

"..." Chen Yunxiu let out a sigh, the wrinkles on his forehead deepening. "I was just informed last night."

"This?" Cheng Yi was unwilling. "I still wanted to discuss it with you. The sister only has two scenes left, and I don't think that's enough. Cutting everything? Is that reasonable? I disagree!"

Cheng Yi was a top-tier screenwriter signed on by "Tonghua Media," an A-list artist, possessing a certain level of authority. Even directors and producers couldn't casually ask her to alter the script.

"Whose scenes is he planning to delete?" He Chenying also joined in. The three of them exchanged a few words, sharing information.

Wei Jiabao had taken a liking to someone, but she wasn't willing, so now he wanted to cut her scenes.

"We can't just let him do this!" Cheng Yi was primarily concerned about her script but also felt a bit fond of Xiang Xiaoyuan, finding it hard to accept.

"The scenes are great! That girl is really talented!" The more she thought about it, the more she felt it was a pity.

"I know, I know!" Chen Yunxiu was even more troubled and reluctant than she was.

"Lao He, you have a good relationship with Director Wei, can't you persuade him?" Cheng Yi turned to He Chenying, who had been silent all this time.

"I can't persuade him!" He Chenying shrugged. "He's too stubborn. The more you try to persuade him, the more he might push back, maybe even do something more extreme."

Cheng Yi rubbed her temples and muttered, "This guy!"

Suddenly, a thunderclap echoed in the distance, and lightning struck, causing the window glass to rattle with a series of popping sounds.

He Chenying smiled contentedly, "Finally, it's raining!"

Once she said this, the raindrops became even more dense, gradually turning into a roaring sound, pouring down heavily, as if being poured into one's ears.

For a moment, everyone fell silent. In that brief stillness, the crisp sound of "tap tap" from heels could be heard, mingling with the patter of rain, sometimes fading away, sometimes blending in.

The light dimmed slightly, and the room remained unlit. A newcomer stepped in, treading softly through the rain. The black silk shirt absorbed the atmosphere, the collar buttoned tightly, framing a pale neck.

He Chenying, sitting at the outer edge, seemed to sense something and looked toward the door, straightening up in surprise. "Oh?"

"President Wei?"

"President Wei, you're here?"

Chen Yunxiu and Cheng Yi both stood up, one after the other.

The newcomer nodded slightly, tall in stature, slowly walking in. The slightly thin red lips parted slightly, her voice low, chilling to the ears, like ice shattering high in the sky, "Deleting scenes?" Her tone did not fluctuate, flat and calm.

Her gaze swept around the room, subtly thinning the air. Her semi-curled hair, not long, reaching only to her shoulders, as black as ink.

The light was dim, and she took a seat, revealing a hint of a golden watch on her wrist.

Chen Yunxiu decided to cut the scene between He Chenying and Xiang Xiaoyuan.

He Chenying and Cheng Yi both watched her final performance on set, the first time seeing her on screen.

In a close-up shot—

The young girl wore a black dress, her slender figure striking. Her shoulders were narrow and stiff.

Her forehead was as white as snow, with two elegant, long black brows slightly arched, accentuating her gradually revealing features, with her eyes subtly lifted.

They were a pair of clean, bright, and captivating eyes.

"Wow! She really looks great on camera, those eyes are full of life." Cheng Yi couldn't help but praise.

For an actor, whether or not they can perform well largely depends on their eyes—they need to be expressive, heartfelt, and able to convey emotions vividly.

And nowadays, many actresses like to stick on fake eyelashes, wear colored contact lenses, and line their eyes heavily. Despite looking beautiful, their actual acting skills are lacking, their eyes appearing hollow and lifeless, their pale interpretations failing to convince the audience.

But the girl on the screen was different.

The light in her eyes gradually dimmed, turning into a void.

She watched her mother and sister go upstairs.

They were a family, and she was just herself.

They sought her only for her kidneys.

Blood ties, family affection, and the luxurious mansion they lived in all did not belong to her.

In this vast world, she has nothing.

In a close-up shot, every subtle expression was laid bare, her pupils seemed frozen, her gaze lifeless. Her body swayed slightly, only her physical form moved.

Yet there was a mist slowly spreading, filling her eyes. Even when her eyes came to life, it was merely a struggle to survive, and an overwhelming sadness surged in, consuming her.

The camera slowly pushed in.

Her body trembled, her face lowered to avoid the lens capturing it.

She clutched her right arm with her left hand, supporting herself, refusing to collapse.

The camera gradually pulled back.

Chen Yunxiu was so moved at that moment that he ran over to the cinematography area, gesticulating and directing the shot. The cinematographer was quick and captured the entire scene.

"Phew," He Chenying breathed out softly, eyes slightly moist. As a fellow actor on set, she couldn't help but be affected.

"President Wei, you see, it's like this..." Chen Yunxiu began to explain but was cut off.

"Are there other angles?" Wei Zhuang raised her gaze.

Her eye sockets were slightly deeper than average, her high and delicate nose, slightly pronounced cheekbones, and thin lips all exuded an air of cold arrogance. The sofa was black, and her entire outfit was dark, sitting there alone yet hard to overlook, like a piece of jade in the dark night.

"Yes!" Chen Yunxiu's tone carried a hint of joy. That day, he couldn't resist running over to the cinematography team, trying to preserve as much material as possible.

He couldn't gauge if cutting it would make Xiang Xiaoyuan's second or third takes better than this one. He wasn't sure if this was her improvisational performance or a product of her mature performance design.

On set, sometimes inspiration was fleeting.

The first take was always the best.

They all looked at the screen again.

From the side view of Xiang Xiaoyuan, she wasn't standing straight but rather stiff, with a slightly bowed posture.

The camera panned down to the floor.

On the bright floor, her shadow was reflected, supporting and embracing her own shadow, as if that was the only way she could draw a little comfort and courage.

Only she could rely on herself.

The group let out a few sighs.

"At the time, I thought this girl was pretty good, but now, she's even better than I thought." He Chenying's lips curved with a hint of a smile, glancing towards Wei Zhuang.

Wei Zhuang stared at the screen, her long eyelashes like still moth wings resting beneath her eyelids when she was focused. This subtle softness, strange yet seamlessly blending into her cold aura, exuded a different kind of charm.

It made people want to look yet hesitate to gaze too closely.

Chen Yunxiu sighed, "When Lao He recommended Xiang Xiaoyuan to me, he said she was the type of actress who surprises you, with talent that speaks for itself. And not just that, if you asked her for 80%, she would give you 100% or even 200%. No matter how you edit later on, the material is always full."

"President Wei, take a look..." Cheng Yi was almost pulling at her clothes in agitation, "Her scenes can't be cut!"

"Xiang Xiaoyuan?" Wei Zhuang mused.

"All flowers shed and the only one remains pure, capturing all elegance, Xiaoyuan." Cheng Yi extemporized, adding, "Her name is well-chosen, too."

........

"I'm worried he'll cut your scenes!" In another area, Cai Juan anxiously packed his luggage.

Xiang Xiaoyuan remained silent.

Cai Juan wanted to say something else, but a staff member approached the door, and he stepped outside. The other party was polite, saying, "...You don't need to come with us for now. We'll contact you again later."

Xiang Xiaoyuan pressed her lips together. While she had expected this, her heart sank.

Cai Juan exchanged a few words with the person, got their WeChat contact, and then came back inside.

Cai Juan understood this circle too well, there were also transactions involved. Some of them weren't so shady, some were just about making friends. The more friends you had, the more connections you gained.

He had seen similar situations with other artists he managed. After a year or so of getting to know each other, if the other party had the ability to help, opportunities would quickly arise. Such mutual agreements weren't considered shameful.

Wei Jiabao wasn't that terrible, he was quite popular. Many people wanted to get close to him.

However, Brother Zhishi had told him from the start that Xiang Xiaoyuan should have full control over her own matters. If she didn't like something, she shouldn't be forced into it. They should avoid the unspoken things as much as possible.

He glanced at Xiang Xiaoyuan, who looked back at him with a hint of despair in her eyes.

More worries weighed on Cai Juan's mind. If they only cut scenes from the end of this movie, that would be fine, but he feared there might be more to come. He held back from saying these things.

"Forget it, let's go home." Xiang Xiaoyuan said, standing up and pulling her suitcase, leading the way outside.

Cai Juan sighed behind her. This kid, besides acting, really didn't seem to care about anything else.

Summer showers came quickly and left just as fast. A streak of moving blue appeared in the sky, and the heat on the ground dissipated.

They hadn't left yet, and the tea had already cooled. Their ride hadn't been arranged. It was difficult to catch a cab in the suburbs, so Cai Juan made some calls.

Xiang Xiaoyuan stood by the roadside, with two 24-inch suitcases behind her—everything she and Cai Juan owned. She gazed into the distance, catching a glimpse of a corner of the villa and the lychee grove.

"I really do like you. Won't you consider being with me? I guarantee this film will make you famous, and you can immediately join Tonghua. Your resources will be top-notch by then."

"I admit you can act, and you look good, but without anyone helping you, without anyone giving you opportunities, it will be very tough for you. How old are you this year? 23, 24? You know this industry. It's not just about talent or looks, being good-looking won't guarantee success. There are new talents emerging constantly, the competition is fierce. How long can you keep being so selective? How many more years can you pick and choose?"

"I'm 21 this year. To be honest, I have everything you want. Just nod, and you can use everything I have."

"Alright... then I wish you don't regret the decision you're making today."

The words still ringing in her ears, she lowered her gaze, looking at her pair of small white shoes.

After the rain, the uneven concrete road had collected quite a bit of water, reflecting a pair of slender legs, free of excess flesh, perfectly proportioned, framed by blue denim shorts.

In the distance, a jet-black Bentley Mulsanne approached swiftly, splashing water droplets onto her shins.

Xiang Xiaoyuan snapped back to reality, taking a step back, lifting her eyes, catching a glimpse of the woman's half face in the back seat.

In profile, her dark hair glimmered slightly, and beneath the soft curve of her jaw was an exceptionally white complexion. The side profile resembled a perfect sculpture.

Xiang Xiaoyuan's breath hitched, just as the woman turned to look outside as well.

A fleeting glance.

She momentarily froze, unable to dodge the splashing droplets, these droplets bursting like pearls, scattering a fine mist of jade powder in the air.

BACK | TABLE OF CONTENTS | NEXT