Acting Out of Character (GL) - Chapter 24

“When you have time, read this script and perform it for me.”

Sitting on a plastic chair in the hospital corridor, Chen Ge looked through the script Sister Luo had sent her.

Did Sister Luo enjoy watching stage plays…?

She wanted Chen Ge to perform it for her in person? That was a rather unusual request. Apart from auditions, Chen Ge had never done anything like that in her life.

Chen Ge carefully read the script. It contained only character profiles and three scenes, and the characters’ names had all been replaced with the letters A and B, making it impossible to tell what production the scenes came from.

She had always thought she had watched a respectable number of films. Unexpectedly, Sister Luo could casually send her a script she had never seen before.

It seemed she still needed to expand her watchlist.

Although the material provided was limited, the script was fascinating.

The character profile alone immediately drew Chen Ge in.

A was the female lead. When she was seventeen, her best friend died.

Ten years later, someone who looked identical to the person she had killed back then appeared in her life, gradually exposing the truth behind that long-buried incident.

It turned out that the person who had killed her best friend was A herself.

As Chen Ge read the script, the hair on her arms stood on end.

She desperately wanted to continue, but Sister Luo had sent her only a short excerpt.

Wasn’t this unbearably tantalizing…?

Chen Ge tried to immerse herself in the character of A. She silently recited the lines, imagining what expression she would wear while speaking to the other character under A’s circumstances…

“Chen Ge.”

Someone suddenly called her name. Chen Ge looked up and saw Song Ruyu.

Song Ruyu said quietly, “Sister Chen Ge, could you come with me for a moment? I have something to tell you.”

After everything absurd that had happened before, Chen Ge did not particularly want to deal with Song Ruyu.

However, Sister Si stood behind Song Ruyu, signaling to her with her eyes. Song Ruyu also wore a pleading expression, as though she genuinely had something she wanted to explain.

Chen Ge put her phone into her pocket and followed Song Ruyu and Sister Si to the end of the corridor.

Song Ruyu said softly, “Sister Chen Ge, what I did before was wrong. I was too desperate to show myself off and too eager for people to notice me, so I did some… terrible things to you. I’m sorry.”

Chen Ge had assumed they wanted to discuss work. She had not expected Song Ruyu to apologize.

Song Ruyu took Chen Ge’s hand and said, “Sister Si scolded me, and I realized I was too anxious and behaved badly. If you think I’m truly unbearable and don’t want to forgive me so easily, you can hit or scold me. I promise I won’t fight back! Just… please don’t hate me.”

Chen Ge glanced at Sister Si.

Sister Si’s expression remained cold. She watched Song Ruyu closely throughout the entire apology, supervising her rehabilitation.

So Sister Si knew everything.

Sister Si had been overwhelmed too.

She had spoken with Feng Yunxin. The production team had been kind and requested compensation only for basic lost wages and medical expenses. They would not pursue anything else.

The other artists did not intend to make a fuss either. After all, they all worked in the same industry. The entertainment industry was not exactly small, but it certainly was not very large.

Connections were especially important in their line of work. Every additional friend opened another path, so if something could be overlooked, they preferred to overlook it.

Sister Si thanked everyone profusely and bought a huge amount of fruit to deliver to them one by one. As she handed each basket over, she repeatedly assured them, “It isn’t poisonous. I promise it isn’t poisonous.”

After finally calming both the crew and the guests, Sister Si still had some time.

Since she was already there, she decided to visit the directing team and review the footage they had recently filmed. That way, she could gain some understanding of the web variety show’s quality and her artists’ performances.

She had been fine before watching.

The moment she did, her anger shot three stories high.

What was Song Ruyu doing?!

Why was she constantly praising Chen Ge openly while subtly putting her down?

She insisted on stealing the spotlight everywhere, never spoke properly, and behaved in the most irritating way possible…

And she still wanted to become popular? She had gained a few fans during Debut Now! Season Three, but she had attracted plenty of haters too. Once the show aired, the internet would tear her apart like shredded flatbread.

The more Sister Si watched, the angrier she became. Promoting a CP with Chen Ge was a perfectly good opportunity, and Chen Ge had cooperated fully. Song Ruyu was the only one behaving foolishly!

Sister Si dragged Song Ruyu aside and gave her a severe scolding. Finally, she warned her:

“If you keep creating trouble like this, I’ll stop managing you. The company can assign whoever it wants to take over. I won’t care anymore. Who do you think you are? Some grandmaster of passive-aggressive snark? Who are you constantly making backhanded remarks at? Once this web variety show airs, the entire industry will see your true face. Even if you leave White Horse Pictures, no one else will dare sign you! Your career will be finished, understand?”

Sister Si spoke so seriously that Song Ruyu was stunned into silence.

She had begun with a harsh beating to frighten this little bastard into submission. Now that Song Ruyu was scared, Sister Si gradually softened and taught her what she should do.

“Chen Ge is an actress. Her work is what matters most. She doesn’t need to promote a CP for attention, yet she’s still cooperating with you and directing traffic your way without complaining, isn’t she? You need to seize every opportunity. This web variety show might seem obscure now, but becoming popular in this industry is practically mysticism. Who knows what might make you famous overnight? What if this web show is the destined opportunity that makes you explode in popularity? If you miss it, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

Seeing that Song Ruyu seemed to be listening, Sister Si took the opportunity to ask:

“Xiao Song, do you trust me?”

Song Ruyu replied sullenly, “Of course I trust you.”

“Good. Then listen to me. Go apologize to Chen Ge. Afterward, continue promoting your CP properly. Don’t waste any opportunity. This isn’t for me, Chen Ge, or the company. It’s for your own future. Do you understand?”

Song Ruyu nodded.

Sister Si smiled and patted her back.

“Be sincere.”

And so Song Ruyu came to apologize.

Sister Si watched the entire process. Song Ruyu’s words could be considered heartfelt.

Chen Ge already had a fairly easygoing personality. Since Song Ruyu had apologized so sincerely, she saw no reason to continue holding a grudge.

The two discussed how they should promote their CP from then on.

Sister Si finally felt relieved. She still needed to speak with the production team and editors later to see whether the first episode could be recut and whether more of Song Ruyu’s footage could be squeezed into the preview.

Song Ruyu and Chen Ge reconciled. Since Sister Si still needed to catch a flight that afternoon, she prepared to leave after finishing her negotiations with the production.

Before departing, she called them both over again, patted their heads, and said:

“Don’t worry about the compensation. The company and I will handle it. I manage both of you, so you’re both my children. I hope the two of you can succeed. Work hard. Your work won’t betray you.”

They both nodded, and Sister Si left.

After the car carrying Sister Si disappeared from sight, Song Ruyu suggested that she and Chen Ge eat together.

Chen Ge had little appetite, and Song Ruyu could not eat much either. They each drank some congee before returning to the hospital.

When they arrived, they discovered that half the production had already left. Feng Yunxin was completing the discharge procedures, with Luo Jingyi standing beside her.

Noticing Chen Ge from the corner of her eye, Luo Jingyi turned her gaze toward her.

Chen Ge greeted her. Seeing Song Ruyu beside her, Luo Jingyi said:

“Xiao Chen, come here.”

Chen Ge obediently stepped forward. Luo Jingyi admired her docile appearance for a moment before saying:

“You’ll ride back with us later.”

Chen Ge said, “Huh? All right…”

Seeing that Chen Ge probably would not return anytime soon, Song Ruyu went to find Qian Yu.

Chen Ge asked how Feng Yunxin was feeling. Feng Yunxin appeared much more energetic, though she was still somewhat wilted.

“I won’t die. The filming schedule is too packed, so we can’t afford delays. A few people are still seriously ill and need to remain here for observation. Everyone capable of moving has already returned. Sigh… earning a living in this industry is genuinely difficult. Your head hangs from a rope every day, and the moment you relax, you’ll be strangled.”

Luo Jingyi brought Chen Ge with her in Feng Yunxin’s car.

Feng Yunxin drove. Luo Jingyi normally sat in the passenger seat, but since Chen Ge had joined them this time, she sat in the back with her.

Feng Yunxin was extremely curious about Chen Ge. She had long noticed that Teacher Luo treated this young actress differently.

How novel. Their Teacher Luo was an old tree that had withered on the soil of romance before it had ever even flourished.

Their group of friends had often wondered what kind of person the great troublesome Luo might become interested in. Unexpectedly…

Luo Jingyi knew Feng Yunxin was silently gossiping. Their gazes met in the rearview mirror, and Luo Jingyi immediately suppressed the eager gleam in her eyes.

After Chen Ge entered the car, neither woman spoke, making the atmosphere feel strangely stiff.

She remembered how she had previously mistaken them for a couple and asked awkwardly:

“Did I come at a bad time?”

Feng Yunxin replied cheerfully, “Of course not. We were waiting for you.”

She drove onto the main road, her mouth never stopping.

“I heard you previously thought Luo… Sister Luo and I were a couple?”

Chen Ge’s face reddened. “That was a ridiculous misunderstanding. Please don’t mention it.”

Feng Yunxin sighed dramatically with a cheerful expression.

“Sadly, I don’t have the fortune to date Sister Luo. Ever since middle school, our Sister Luo received love letters every day. The girls and boys chasing after her could fill an entire subway car. It would look exactly like Beijing’s Line 4 at seven in the morning—packed to the point of exploding.”

For some reason, Chen Ge focused on one detail—the girls.

“But Her Excellency’s standards are far too high. To this day, no one has caught her eye.”

Luo Jingyi said, “I’m a clean freak.”

Feng Yunxin said, “Yes, yes. High standards and a clean freak.”

Luo Jingyi: “…”

“But when Sister Luo took care of you yesterday, I couldn’t see any sign of her cleanliness issues.”

Feng Yunxin took a moment to glance back at Chen Ge with a sly smile.

“That was the first time I’d seen anything like it in twenty years.”

Luo Jingyi thought: Here she goes again.

For the twenty years since Feng Yunxin met Luo Jingyi, two of the greatest mysteries in her life had been: Why wouldn’t Luo Jingyi date anyone? And when would Luo Jingyi finally date someone?

The slightest sign of activity excited her enormously. She practically wanted to shove Luo Jingyi’s and the other person’s heads together and make them marry immediately.

Luo Jingyi herself did not care, but Chen Ge was thin-skinned, and she worried that the teasing would be too much for her.

Unexpectedly, Chen Ge smiled and replied, “Director Feng and Sister Luo met that early? You’ve known each other for twenty years?”

Feng Yunxin said, “Of course. This ill-fated bond began in middle school.”

Feng Yunxin began chattering about their middle-school years. Luo Jingyi had heard these stories hundreds of times and practically had calluses in her ears.

To her surprise, Chen Ge listened attentively. She occasionally laughed at Feng Yunxin’s stories, always at the right moment rather than merely responding out of politeness.

After talking until her mouth was dry, Feng Yunxin paused to rest.

Luo Jingyi asked Chen Ge, “Did you read the script?”

Chen Ge said, “Mm, I did.”

“Have you memorized the lines? When can you perform it for me?”

Seeing Luo Jingyi’s obvious impatience, Chen Ge became even more nervous about opening this private little theater.

“Whenever Sister Luo has time. I can do it anytime.”

“So soon?”

Luo Jingyi seemed quite satisfied. Evidently, Chen Ge had not neglected the script she had inexplicably handed her.

Feng Yunxin asked, “What are you two talking about? What play? There’s going to be a live performance too? How exciting. Can I watch?”

Chen Ge’s ears turned completely red. She propped her chin on her hand and looked outside the window.

Luo Jingyi said, “I think it’s time to add the silk radical to your surname.”

Feng Yunxin asked, “What does that mean?”

“Keep babbling and I’ll sew your mouth shut. Then you can become Feng Yunxin—with the ‘Feng’ meaning ‘to sew.’”

Feng Yunxin: “…”

Most of the production returned to the farmhouse courtyard. They filmed a little that evening, but proper work could not resume until everyone returned the following day.

The directing team went to review the footage.

They had already reviewed the earlier rough cut. The manager from White Horse Pictures had made several requests, and Feng Yunxin agreed that they were genuinely intended to improve the program. Otherwise, if the show aired with nothing but people tearing each other apart, it would look terrible.

Therefore, Feng Yunxin gave the editors several suggestions. She asked them to reduce the footage of Song Ruyu causing trouble and instead create an atmosphere of unity, friendship, mutual assistance, and positivity.

Adding more positive energy would also make it easier to pass content review.

The editors followed her instructions.

Unexpectedly, once they finished, the resulting cut was nothing but boring.

Feng Yunxin nearly fell asleep after watching for a while.

She began pestering the editors again, demanding more plot and conflict.

Editors: “??”

Hadn’t she said she did not want people fighting?

The editors were nearly driven insane by her.

They told her plainly that there was no time. The broadcast schedule had already been decided, and the program would air soon. The remaining time allowed for only one more edit.

One. Absolutely no more. Otherwise, they would fail to deliver the episode.

Feng Yunxin had only just left the hospital, yet she began staying up late again to extract interesting moments. All the work that should have been handled during preliminary planning and script development had fallen onto her shoulders.

The other members of the directing team were too exhausted and had all gone to sleep. Only Luo Jingyi remained with her.

With Luo Jingyi present, they organized the narrative fairly quickly. But the early preparation had been inadequate, and the editors had cut the footage without using their brains. The storylines were a complete mess. Unless everything was recut, the show would remain as dull as plain water.

Feng Yunxin became discouraged. “I’m definitely going to flop again, aren’t I?”

Luo Jingyi asked, “Do you want the truth?”

Feng Yunxin said, “…Please say something pleasant and comfort me instead.”

Luo Jingyi said, “You won’t flop. Honestly.”

Feng Yunxin was just about to smile when Luo Jingyi continued:

“You’ve never been popular, so how could you possibly flop? You’ve been lying flat on the ground the entire time.”

Feng Yunxin: “…”

Li Village remained unbearably hot even at night. Chen Ge discovered a small shop nearby and decided to buy some ice cream to cool down.

On the way, she received a WeChat message from Song Ruyu:

“Sister Ge, are you going to the shop? Could you bring me back a colorful-ball ice-cream cone?”

A colorful-ball cone?

Chen Ge was standing before the freezer and asked the shopkeeper, “Do you have colorful-ball cones?”

The shopkeeper rummaged around and found several for her.

Chen Ge thought the design printed on the packaging was cute, so she bought two—one for Song Ruyu and one to try herself.

Since Song Ruyu had sincerely apologized, Chen Ge did not want to remain at odds with her.

After all, they worked for the same company and would continue seeing each other. If their relationship genuinely became hostile, Sister Si would be placed in a difficult position, and even visiting the company would become uncomfortable for Chen Ge.

Carrying the cones, Chen Ge headed back. She saw members of the production discussing the next day’s filming plan in front of the courtyard, so she entered through a small side gate.

Before she reached the house, she heard Song Ruyu speaking with Qian Yu.

“…She’s only an obscure eighteenth-tier flop who’ll never become popular. The company sent her here to be my assistant.”

It was Song Ruyu’s voice.

Chen Ge stopped walking.

Qian Yu exclaimed, “Your assistant? If you call her that, will she actually answer?”

Song Ruyu laughed. “Didn’t you see that my manager came today entirely to resolve my problems? Sister Si spoke to the directing team for ages to reduce the amount I need to compensate. She negotiated with them for a long time, added plenty of my footage to the preview, and removed everything that made me look bad. Chen Ge and I share the same manager, but have you seen Sister Si care about her like that? Besides, Sister Si left this afternoon because she needed to help another actress from our company negotiate a new drama. She’d be the fifth-billed third female lead. That’s a very good opportunity. Chen Ge hasn’t had a new project in over a year, and this web variety show is her only job. Why do you think Sister Si didn’t give that role to Chen Ge?”

After hearing her explanation, Qian Yu said, “You’re right. Your manager is clearly biased.”

Song Ruyu giggled. “Obviously, she looks down on Chen Ge and thinks she has no future. All right, I’m done talking. She’ll bring my cone back soon. She can’t hear any of this, or the little performance where I reconciled with her will have been wasted. Hey, tell me—don’t you think my acting is better than hers?”

Third floor, Feng Yunxin’s lounge.

After hearing Luo Jingyi’s account, Feng Yunxin was stunned.

“What? Xiao Chen really said that? Why do I find it so hard to believe?”

Feng Yunxin had been frantically prying into Luo Jingyi and Chen Ge’s relationship, so Luo Jingyi told her how she had heard Chen Ge confess in front of everyone that night.

Feng Yunxin’s mouth twisted.

“She said she’d liked you for a very long time? That no one could replace Teacher Luo Jingyi’s place in her heart? Seriously? Could you have misunderstood her?”

Luo Jingyi snorted. “Do you think I’m the kind of idiot who imagines other people are in love with me?”

Feng Yunxin said, “That’s difficult to say… Xiao Chen doesn’t seem like someone who would passionately confess in front of people she barely knows.”

Luo Jingyi gave her a sidelong glance. “You were the one chasing me for answers, and now you’re also the one questioning them. If you don’t believe me, why did you ask?”

Feng Yunxin said, “…I was merely proposing a possibility. Why are you angry?”

Luo Jingyi had no interest in continuing the conversation and went downstairs.

As she descended, Luo Jingyi recalled the scene in which she had heard Chen Ge’s confession.

It seemed she genuinely had heard only the latter half.

What had Chen Ge been saying before that?

Could Luo Jingyi truly have misunderstood?

Filled with self-doubt, Luo Jingyi had barely reached the lower floor when she saw Chen Ge eating an ice-cream cone.

She was eating one and holding another.

Seeing Luo Jingyi come downstairs, Chen Ge called out:

“Sister Luo.”

Luo Jingyi stopped. Chen Ge approached and asked, “Do you like ice-cream cones?”

“They’re all right.”

Luo Jingyi thought: I occasionally eat handmade Italian gelato.

Chen Ge handed her the cone and smiled sweetly.

“My treat.”

Luo Jingyi accepted the same cone Chen Ge was eating, somewhat surprised.

“Thank you.”

Song Ruyu emerged from the room and saw Chen Ge eating the colorful-ball cone she had requested.

Confused, Song Ruyu approached and asked, “Sister Ge, where’s mine?”

Chen Ge looked at her. “I didn’t buy one.”

Song Ruyu asked, “Why? Didn’t you see my WeChat message?”

Chen Ge took another happy bite from her cone. “I saw it.”

Song Ruyu’s forehead filled with question marks. “Then why didn’t you bring me one?”

Chen Ge said, “Find whoever your assistant is and ask them.”

Song Ruyu’s heart sank. She realized that Chen Ge had overheard what she and Qian Yu had said.

Chen Ge finished her cone. Before leaving, she said to Song Ruyu:

“I have nothing to say about your acting ability, but there’s one thing you should understand. Acting is not as shallow as you imagine. Acting is the process of studying this world and studying people. It requires constant observation, learning, understanding, immersion, and awakening. It is not the same as your tiresome, hypocritical performance.”

With that, Chen Ge left, leaving behind Song Ruyu, who had received no cone and was filled with rage.

Meanwhile, Luo Jingyi stared at the cone Chen Ge had given her for a long time before swiftly turning and heading upstairs.

She kicked open the door to Feng Yunxin’s lounge and nearly shoved the cone directly into her face.

Feng Yunxin: “??”

Luo Jingyi said, “Do you see this? This is proof. Proof that Chen Ge loves me.”

Feng Yunxin: “???”

“She just gave it to me. She gave one only to me.”

Feng Yunxin said, “But right now, you’re Luo Xin, not Luo Jingyi.”

“She said that although she had never met me in person, she had heard many things about me. This proves that whether I’m Luo Xin or Luo Jingyi, she likes me.”

Feng Yunxin sank into contemplation.

She seemed to have been persuaded…

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, something still felt wrong.

Luo Jingyi opened the wrapper, examined the cone for a long time, and took a bite.

Mm. Just as she had imagined.

It tasted entirely of artificial additives.

Still, it was rather sweet.

Author’s Note:

Luo Jingyi: I don’t care how many Disney castles you carve out with your toes from secondhand embarrassment. Chen Ge loves me.

Chen “Afraid to Move” Ge: Yes, yes, of course…