A OO Love After Officially Announcing with the Best Actress - Chapter 3

At five o’clock in the morning, Lu Tu dug Lin Ke out from under her blankets. “Eldest Miss, time to get up.”

After a night of metabolism, Lin Ke’s body carried a faint, sweet-and-sour scent of pheromones.

Lu Tu: “Go take a shower, quickly!”

Lin Ke ducked into the bathroom with bedhead; she had been chased by Lin Bingran in her dreams all night.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Lin Ke saw the aftermath of a chaotic night—dark circles under her eyes from the early start.

Even after getting into the van, she kept her eyes closed to rest, looking exhausted.

Lu Tu said: “See that? A whole row of vans downstairs, and we’re the earliest to set out.”

Lin Ke nodded: “Yeah, go back and run a wave of ‘dedicated worker’ trends on the hot searches.”

Lu Tu: “Right, speaking of hot searches, the company had a meeting last night to discuss the situation between you and Lin Bingran.”

Lin Ke’s eyelashes flickered, and she opened one eye slightly.

Lu Tu: “The company wants you to act as usual on set. Focus on your acting. You’re the top billing (First Lead) this time, and Lin Bingran is supporting you. Once the opening ceremony happens and the crew posts to Weibo, that’s pure traffic! It’s impossible not to ride the hype. Anyway, you hate her, and given the crazy things Lin Bingran has done in the past, taking a bit of her hype is just balancing the scales, right?”

Lin Ke yawned: “Oh.”

Lu Tu: “That tired?”

Lin Ke said: “Dreamt of the Great Demon King. I was her foot-washing maid, and she still wanted to kick me out of the crew.”

Lu Tu: “…That topic isn’t exactly appropriate for the set.”

“I know,” Lin Ke replied.

At the filming site, the makeup rooms and studios were located in a three-story building.

The third floor had actor lounges and the director’s lounge. The second floor housed the makeup and equipment rooms. The equipment room door was open, with staff moving in and out, large locks piled on the floor. Next to it was the director’s workspace; Lin Ke peeked in—it was empty.

She was actually the first actor to arrive.

Lin Ke sat in one of the few chairs in the makeup room, closing her eyes to catch some sleep whenever possible.

Lu Tu came up with breakfast: two buns and a cup of strong instant coffee.

Shaking Lin Ke awake, Lu Tu pointed to the person beside her: “This is Xiao Wang, Assistant Model No. 2. If I’m not around and you need something, just tell him.”

Lin Ke nodded and took a sip of the coffee: “So bitter.”

Lu Tu: “Tea instead then?”

Lin Ke frowned: “I hate tea the most.”

Lu Tu said to Xiao Wang: “Nothing much now, go handle other things first.”

Xiao Wang nodded and left without a word.

Lu Tu immediately turned to Lin Ke: “Your persona right now is a Lin Bingran fan. How can you hate tea!”

Lin Bingran’s pheromones were tea—Longjing tea, the finest of its kind.

“Life is but a play!” Lin Ke lamented. Both coffee and tea were bitter; drinking either was the same. “Fine, go brew me a cup of strong tea.”

The stylists arrived and, seeing Lin Ke, began her makeup first.

Lu Tu sent Xiao Wang to find tea for Lin Ke while she stayed to supervise the styling.

“You’re too pale,” the makeup artist said. “Almost the same as Teacher Lin.”

Lin Ke pursed her lips, avoiding the mention of Lin Bingran: “The foundation doesn’t need to be too white.”

The makeup artist nodded, using a foundation two shades darker to do Lin Ke’s makeup. “I also need to add some freckles.”

Lu Tu’s mouth twitched. “Teacher, there’s no need to make her too ugly. We have to post to Weibo later.”

Makeup Artist: “It’s fine. A few freckles make her look younger.”

Lu Tu: “…”

Lin Ke kept her eyes closed, feeling a hand wielding a thin brush dabbing and poking at her face.

Before long, the makeup was finished, and she was called by the costume department to change.

Lu Tu sat in the makeup room scrolling through Weibo. she logged into Lin Ke’s verified account; the mentions and private messages were already 999+.

The internet was in an uproar. A post on “Group 8” leaked: Lin Bingran just joined the crew, filming in a southern water town. The director is Shen Feng. She’s supporting Lin Ke as the second lead in a Category III film.

“Take away Goddess Ranran, we refuse the coattail-riding and the ‘chatting companion’ roles.”

“A Category III film? Hilarious. A Triple-Crown Best Actress diving into that? Can marketing accounts stop writing nonsense?”

“What even is LK? If ‘Wind Chime’ can’t find actors, are they just biting anyone they can?”

“Isn’t Lin Ke that 18th-tier star who’s been frantically riding Lin Bingran’s hype lately? They’re actually collaborating? Everyone knows Lin Bingran likes to torment minor actors. Waiting for the hot search about Best Actress Lin playing the big shot, adding scenes for herself, and driving away the newcomer.”

“Plus 1 to the above, though neither is any good. Just dogs biting dogs.”

“I could **********.”

“Is Jiale Company self-promoting? Lin Ke’s agency has too many of these trashy track records.”

Setting aside the censored profanity and scrolling further, Lin Ke’s paid “water army” and Lin Bingran’s fans had arrived on the battlefield.

Cookie: “Is Lin Ke shameless? It’s one thing to ride our hype, but she’s claiming she’s the lead? I remember ‘Wind Chime’ was registered as a dual-female lead story.”

Love Ke for 10,000 Years: “Can Lin Bingran’s fans stop with the self-climaxing? Why are you guys everywhere?”

“With all the money spent on these PR articles, you should find a way to improve your acting. When has Lin Ke ever won a Triple Crown? A Best Actress supporting you? Are you even worthy!”

34858588: “Can Lin Bingran’s fans stop with the self-climaxing (…”

“It’s common knowledge that what Lin Ke is famous for isn’t her acting or her looks, but her bot followers and paid commenters.”

“Sister Ran, should we issue a clarification?”

Lin Bingran was wearing a black sheet mask, holding the handle of a teapot, leisurely brewing tea in her trailer.

The speaker was her assistant, Guo Rongrong.

Lin Bingran: “Clarify what? Which part of those posts is incorrect?”

Guo Rongrong was stifled and indignant: “You’re clearly playing a couple! Who is the first lead?”

Lin Bingran didn’t care at all, blowing the tea leaves off the surface of her cup. “This tea is quite good.”

Outside the trailer, the floor manager arrived, saying the opening ceremony was ready.

“Teacher Xiao Lin,” there was a knock on the dressing room door. “The auspicious hour has arrived. The director is calling everyone over to offer incense.”

Lin Ke stepped out of the dressing room. When Lu Tu caught sight of her, she nearly spat out her coffee.

Lin Ke’s hair was cut blunt to her chin with a straight fringe across her forehead. With wheat-colored skin, a scattering of freckles, a pilling grey short-sleeved shirt paired with cuffed shorts that hit her knees, and a pair of straw sandals on her feet—her big toes wiggling. She looked exactly like a high school student from a poor family who had dropped out to find work in the city.

Lu Tu: “…”

“I haven’t had such a dorky hairstyle since high school,” Lin Ke complained, reaching up to push the bangs back. Fortunately, she had a highly versatile face. She ruffled her hair and, feeling the weight of her “idol baggage,” asked, “Is this better? Can my looks go back up to an 8/10?”

Lu Tu nodded: “Poor thing. No wonder Lin Bingran was willing to take a supporting role; this styling is truly as dorky as it gets. Even a Best Actress couldn’t survive this.”

Lin Ke: “…”

At nine o’clock, the altar for the opening ceremony was set up in the widest marketplace of the town.

Lin Bingran held two incense sticks in one hand. She was dressed casually in white clothes and pants. She was bare-faced, her skin glowing with a natural, translucent dewiness. With amber pupils and pale pink lips, she looked like a university student, making it impossible to tell she was nearly 28.

Lin Ke was placed next to Lin Bingran. In contrast, her dorky styling was jaw-dropping.

Lin Bingran tilted her eyes upward, recalling the information her assistant Rongrong had shared.

Rumor had it Lin Ke was the daughter of a group based abroad—a low-profile rich second generation. Was she so stiff because she wasn’t used to this outfit?

Lin Ke’s whole body was rigid. She held her hands high above her head to cover her face, eyes closed. She bowed once, then twice toward Director Shen Feng’s position. She was about to bow a third time.

Lin Bingran: “Are you feeling unwell?”

Lin Ke turned her head. Turning right would expose her to the public; turning left would put her closer to Lin Bingran.

She didn’t want to be overshadowed by the beautiful Lin Bingran, so she started making things up: “No… Director Shen is quite tall, I’m just using her to block the sun.”

Shen Feng was an Alpha. While not as tall as a male Alpha, she was taller than a female Omega. At 176cm, she cast a small shadow behind her—just enough to cover Lin Ke’s toes.

Lin Ke: “…”

Lin Bingran withdrew her gaze: “You’re bowing crookedly. Do you want to worship the gods or send Director Shen off?”

Lin Ke: “…”

Lin Ke twisted her awkward upper body back. Several media outlets were present, and after a few camera flashes, Lin Ke’s “local villager” styling was frozen in the frame.

The opening ceremony ended, and people began to disperse.

The crew’s official Weibo account posted: “Congratulations on starting production.”

Lin Ke spent some time talking to several actors. When she was free, she signaled Lu Tu for her phone to retweet the official post.

“Damn it,” Lin Ke cursed under her breath.

Lu Tu: “What’s wrong?”

Lin Ke: “People online are asking why I’ve become a ‘little black kid.’ Aren’t I embarrassed to have sent out so many ‘beauty-overshadowing’ press releases before?”

Lu Tu comforted her: “Don’t be mad. It’s all a sacrifice for art. Oh, right…”

Lu Tu looked left and right, then whispered: “Follow Lin Bingran’s Weibo.”

Lin Ke’s volume spiked, her reaction like touching a live wire: “Why would I—”

“To keep up appearances, of course!” Lu Tu said. “Hurry up, follow her now. Don’t let Lin Bingran take the initiative and give people something to talk about. Don’t forget Li Mengying and Zhang Du either.”

Unwillingly, Lin Ke searched for Lin Bingran’s Weibo and specifically put her into the “Unimportant People” folder.

Lu Tu sighed: “Children are always disobedient; mostly they just need another scolding.”

Lin Ke went to take promotional photos. Passing the makeup room, she saw Lin Bingran surrounded by three makeup artists.

Being a big shot really is different.

Lin Ke thought sourly. On set, Lin Bingran was “Teacher Lin,” while she was “Teacher Xiao Lin.” Her words carried no weight—she couldn’t even get the makeup artist to make her paler—while Lin Bingran could be dressed to the nines.

After taking the photos, Lu Tu kept a few raw files. After some professional retouching, Lin Ke’s wheat-skinned photos turned into hardcore magazine cover shots, finally compensating for the two “face fans” she had lost.

“A waste of talent,” Lin Ke said. “You’re great. Can you make my chin a bit sharper?”

Lu Tu was sick of photoshopping. she prepared to head back to the trailer with Lin Ke. “Lunch is bought. Rest for two hours. Script reading starts at two, prep at four, and we’ll film the second scene during the twilight glow.”

Stepping out of the studio, they saw Lin Bingran entering through the back door.

Lin Ke huddled in the trailer to look at the script. Turning the page revealed the second scene.

It was the first meeting between the female lead and the second lead.

No wonder Lin Bingran’s makeup was so exquisite.

“Are you possessed?” Lu Tu waved her hand to snap her back. “Eat.”

Lu Tu served a salad with dressing squeezed on top. A fist-sized cake was cut in half, giving Lin Ke only half.

Lin Ke set the script aside and complained: “This is more vegetarian than what a monk eats.”

After finishing the costume photos, Lin Bingran walked out from under the spotlights.

Guo Rongrong quickly used a tissue to wipe her sweat, asking with concern: “Are you tired?”

Lin Bingran: “I’m hungry.”

Eating lunch on the spot, even a Best Actress had to control her weight. Lin Bingran’s lunch was a vegetable salad with chicken breast, and the staple was a bowl of purple rice porridge.

Guo Rongrong: “Sister, retweet the official Weibo post.”

Lin Bingran didn’t look at her phone while eating. Once finished, she leaned back on a lounge chair and opened her phone. After retweeting, she saw a related recommendation.

[Lin Keke: @LinBingran / Teacher Lin, please look after me in the future (Cute) (Cute) / “Wind Chime” officially starts production /]

The Weibo post was from two hours ago.

Guo Rongrong: “Sister, follow the other teachers in the crew while you’re at it.”

Lin Bingran raised an eyebrow. “Did the company buy hot searches?”

Guo Rongrong nodded: “They bought a hot search for Lin Ke’s ugly photos. There are a few photos from the opening ceremony where her angles are particularly blurry.”

That styling wasn’t actually ugly; on Lin Ke, it had a natural, unadorned beauty that returned to simplicity, like a small animal in the wild. The freckles and wheat-colored skin were to make the character more three-dimensional.

Lin Ke’s looks were absolutely top-tier; she could withstand the test of the big screen with no “dead angles” on her face. Changing her styling was like changing her face; she could play any role, having high versatility. This was one of the reasons Shen Feng chose Lin Ke—the styling could be dorky, but the actor couldn’t be unattractive.

Lin Bingran mused: “No need to follow Lin Ke back. Buy some ‘water army’ commenters to say she ‘knee-slid’ to follow Lin Bingran.”

Guo Rongrong paused, then gave Lin Bingran a thumbs up: “That’s truly malicious.”

After a short nap, Lu Tu woke Lin Ke up half an hour early.

“Get up and wake yourself up. I brewed tea for you.”

Lin Ke was still in a daze after waking up. It was midsummer, and the sun was scorching, brighter than Ultraman’s lasers.

“Are the haters attacking me?” Lin Ke asked.

Lu Tu had been fighting with her alt-account for an hour. She said: “Lin Bingran actually didn’t follow you back! And… given your ‘slip up’ liking her black material a few days ago, plus today’s ‘Teacher Lin, please look after me’ fawning, everyone is mocking you. They’re saying you’re afraid of being fired from the crew, so you ‘knee-slid’ to the Best Actress.”

Lu Tu analyzed: “Getting on the hot search so quickly, I bet the Great Demon King hired a water army.”

Lin Ke was fully awake now. She slammed the blanket on her knees onto the floor, so angry she was sizzling with pheromones. “I knew following her was unnecessary! On the surface, she acts calm and unpretentious toward me, but behind my back, she’s just a Great Demon King!”