Acting Out of Character (GL) - Chapter 4

Chen Ge and Song Ruyu got off the plane, each carrying a backpack. Under the blazing sun and through the thick, humid wind, they boarded the airport shuttle bus.

Cold air blasted inside the shuttle bus. Song Ruyu removed her mask and fanned herself for a long while, but she was still covered in sweat.

She looked at Chen Ge, who was wearing a black sports jacket over a fitted camisole. Despite being wrapped up like that, she showed no sign of sweating.

Curious, Song Ruyu asked, “Sister Ge, aren’t you hot?”

“I am, but I’m used to it.”

“Oh, right. You’re originally from the south. The weather down here is awful. They say it’s thirty-three degrees, the same as Beijing, but it’s so damp and humid that it feels much hotter. It’s practically a steamer! Look, even the back of my shirt is soaked…”

While Song Ruyu was complaining, she noticed a round-faced, round-eyed young woman standing across from her and repeatedly stealing glances in her direction.

The moment Song Ruyu noticed, she understood.

She had not expected the talent show she had participated in to attract so many fans. Apparently, she could run into one simply by going outside.

Song Ruyu immediately straightened her posture and smiled. “You recognized me.”

The young woman had not expected Song Ruyu to speak to her.

She did not actually follow Song Ruyu, but she had watched the talent show for her own favorite idol. Since Song Ruyu had been placed in the same group as her favorite, she remembered her.

Just now, the young woman had been wondering: Seriously? Song Ruyu had not taken the separate vehicle for first-class passengers and was riding the shuttle bus instead?

Was her company really that stingy?

After Song Ruyu took the initiative to “approach” her, the young woman politely said that she had watched Debut Now! Season Three and liked Song Ruyu very much. She thought Song Ruyu was beautiful, had excellent stage presence, and was unquestionably an all-around ACE.

She simply had not expected Song Ruyu to be eliminated so early. What a pity.

Modern fangirls had endless elaborate compliments at their disposal, and they soon had Song Ruyu beaming.

While saying, “Not at all,” Song Ruyu took the phone from the young woman’s hand and asked:

“Would you like a picture together?”

The young woman said, “Sure. But doesn’t your agency prohibit you from taking photos with fans?”

The question made Song Ruyu feel slightly awkward.

Usually, only currently popular celebrities received that kind of restriction from their agencies. For an obscure seventeenth-tier idol like Song Ruyu, even being recognized by a passerby meant that person was exceptionally knowledgeable about the entertainment industry.

Sister Si had only one requirement for Song Ruyu: do not cause trouble. Everything else was up to her.

Song Ruyu cheerfully changed the subject. “I simply spoil my fans that much.”

Then she handed the phone to Chen Ge. “Sister, please take the picture for us.”

Chen Ge noticed that everyone inside the shuttle bus was watching them as though they were observing animals at a zoo. She felt a little embarrassed.

“You want to take it… right here?”

Song Ruyu had already wrapped an arm around the young woman’s waist and urged her, “Hurry up.”

“Fine.”

Chen Ge rapidly took several pictures before returning the phone. “Take a look and see whether they’re all right.”

Song Ruyu said to the young woman, “When you post them in my super topic, remember to retouch me.”

The young woman nodded while looking toward Chen Ge.

She thought Chen Ge seemed somewhat familiar, but she could not remember where she had seen her. She appeared to be a celebrity too.

The young woman had been following celebrities for a long time. One look at Chen Ge’s presence was enough to tell her that this woman was someone noteworthy.

Not only was she beautiful and well-proportioned, but even dressed in sportswear with an unfashionable backpack and light makeup, her delicate features looked ready to appear on the big screen at any moment.

There was a cool, striking beauty between her brows and eyes that kept people at a distance. Her entire presence radiated sophistication.

Although Song Ruyu was an idol, she stood half a head shorter beside her, and both her figure and bearing were completely overshadowed by this beautiful woman.

Who was she?!

The young woman was deeply troubled. She was certain she had seen this person before, yet she could not remember where!

She took the initiative to ask Chen Ge, “Could I take a picture with you too?”

Chen Ge had not expected her to say that. Song Ruyu was equally dumbfounded.

Chen Ge said, “You can, but I’m dressed terribly today.”

The young woman immediately rushed to her side. “Not at all! You can pull off anything you wear. You’re so beautiful, Sister.”

Chen Ge blushed at the younger woman’s compliment and smiled at her.

Chen Ge was not wearing a mask or sunglasses, leaving her face entirely unobstructed. When she smiled, she became even more beautiful, like a lotus rising freshly from the water.

Her slightly narrow eyes perfectly complemented the subtle heroic sharpness of her eyebrows.

When she smiled faintly, the sense of distance surrounding her faded considerably. In contrast to her usual coolness, she even appeared somewhat shy.

This sister was tall, cool, and beautiful. At first glance, she seemed rather cold, yet she was unexpectedly adorable…

The young woman urged Song Ruyu to take the picture quickly. Song Ruyu reluctantly took one and was about to return the phone when the young woman said:

“Please take a few more!”

Song Ruyu: “…”

Song Ruyu casually pressed the shutter several more times before handing the phone back.

The young woman looked through the photos and praised Chen Ge. “Sister, you’re really beautiful. Are you an actress?”

Chen Ge said, “I suppose so. An eighteenth-tier actress without many works.”

“Are all the production teams blind? What’s your name?”

“Chen Ge. Chen as in the character formed with the ‘ear’ radical, and Ge as in ‘maxim.’”

The young woman exclaimed in surprise, “Ah! It’s you! I know you! You played Zhou Qiang!”

Chen Ge had not expected that either. Smiling, she asked, “You’ve seen Skinny-Dipping?”

Skinny-Dipping was the only film in which she had played the female lead. Zhou Qiang was the protagonist’s name.

The film had received considerable praise within the industry. It was also her debut work—the film that had lured her into becoming an actress.

Come to think of it, that film had the strongest production team she had ever encountered since entering the industry.

A famous director, an award-winning screenwriter, and an exceptionally powerful core creative team.

Although it had been a low-budget arthouse film, she had received several Best Newcomer nominations for it. Unfortunately, she had only been there to fill out the nominee lists every time.

After Skinny-Dipping, she never appeared before the public again.

Some people said that her debut had been the peak of her career.

That was certainly the truth.

The young woman remained beside Chen Ge, asking about how her career had developed over the past few years and why she had stopped making films.

Lowering her eyes, Chen Ge said, “I’ve actually made other films, but none of them were particularly good. Some were never released in cinemas, so you definitely wouldn’t have seen them.”

“You never worked with Teacher Luo again?”

“Teacher Luo? Screenwriter Luo?” Chen Ge sighed. “I would have liked to, but I never had the opportunity.”

The screenplay for Skinny-Dipping had been written by Luo Jingyi when she was seventeen.

After graduating from university, Luo Jingyi wrote several screenplays, won a few awards, and achieved a modest amount of success. Yet she had always remained attached to the script she had written in her youth.

So she found investors and decided to have it filmed as a keepsake.

At the time, Luo Jingyi had not yet achieved her present success and reputation. Before she became the Empress Dowager everyone feared, she did not have the standing to behave arrogantly or domineeringly.

It was inconvenient for her to interfere with the director’s casting decisions, so she focused on writing the screenplay. After completing it, she did not accompany the production and left everything to the director.

The finished result greatly disappointed her.

The actors’ performances were acceptable, but many details throughout the film felt overly crafted and rigid.

Luo Jingyi skimmed through it once, set it aside, and never watched it carefully again.

It was after that film that Luo Jingyi made up her mind: for every production based on one of her scripts, she would personally approve every decision. Otherwise, the final product could end up drastically different from what she had imagined.

Because of those unsatisfying and somewhat crumpled memories, Luo Jingyi barely remembered any of the actors in Skinny-Dipping, much less considered seeking them out for another collaboration.

Meanwhile, Chen Ge’s career had begun on a high note before steadily declining, leaving her struggling to this day.

Noticing Chen Ge’s disappointment, the young woman comforted her:

“I knew your presence was exceptional! You stand out wherever you go. So you really are a good actress! Don’t lose heart. Actors have to endure years of hardship and training. Plenty of people remain unknown for ten or even twenty years before becoming famous! Suffering creates art. I believe in you!”

Chen Ge genuinely took the young woman’s words to heart and fell into thought.

When the shuttle bus reached the terminal, the young woman continued chatting with Chen Ge, asking her one question after another as they went to wait for their checked luggage.

Chen Ge looked back for Song Ruyu, worried that she might get lost.

Only after Song Ruyu caught up did she continue walking.

While they waited for their luggage, the young woman asked Chen Ge and Song Ruyu:

“Are you two from the same company? Did you come here to film something?”

Song Ruyu planted both hands on her waist. Fully equipped with a hat, sunglasses, and mask, she said coldly, “That concerns our work, so we can’t disclose it.”

The young woman said, “Oh,” and did not continue asking about their work. Instead, she turned to Chen Ge.

“Sister, would it be convenient to exchange WeChat contacts and become friends?”

Before Chen Ge could answer, Song Ruyu reached out and refused on her behalf.

“No. The company prohibits private contact with fans!”

The young woman looked puzzled. “Sister Chen Ge is an actress. Isn’t private contact with fans mainly something you idols worry about? Since when do actors care about that?”

As expected of a seasoned fan, the young woman understood these things perfectly.

Song Ruyu said, “It’s still not allowed.”

Chen Ge said, “Xiao Song, your luggage is here.”

Song Ruyu spotted her sticker-covered suitcase coming around the carousel and immediately went to retrieve it.

After pulling it halfway off, she discovered that she was not strong enough to lift it and immediately called Chen Ge for help.

“Sister, hurry and help me!”

Chen Ge said to the young woman, “It truly isn’t convenient to give you my WeChat, but I have an account on Contemporary Film called Muge—the character Ge split into two parts. Add my birthday, 0411, after that. You can leave a message on my profile if you ever need anything.”

“Contemporary Film? That app? Do you write film reviews there?”

“I write a little whenever I have time.”

Chen Ge saw her own suitcase coming around as well, while Song Ruyu was nearly being dragged away by the conveyor belt. She waved to the young woman and walked toward the luggage.

The young woman had traveled lightly, carrying only a backpack. She did not have any luggage to wait for at all. She had followed them there solely because she wanted to talk with Chen Ge a little longer.

But it would not be good to keep pestering her. Chen Ge still had work to do.

The young woman left the terminal, collected the rental car she had reserved, and received a call from Luo Jingyi just as she got inside.

“Have you arrived?” Luo Jingyi asked.

“I’m here, I’m here. I’m heading to the hotel now.”

The young woman was actually older than her face made her appear. She was twenty-five, but with her round face, round eyes, and extremely casual clothes, she looked like a university student.

Her name was Zhao Lian. She had worked as Luo Jingyi’s travel assistant for three years and had lasted longer than any of Luo Jingyi’s previous assistants.

Luo Jingyi had originally employed three assistants.

One was a work assistant. Another was a personal assistant. The year was only halfway over, yet her third personal assistant had resigned the previous month, and no one had dared apply for the position since. The last was Zhao Lian, her travel assistant.

Recently, Zhao Lian had been so busy that her hair was falling out.

Not only did she have to perform her duties as a travel assistant, but she also had to take on the responsibilities of a personal assistant. Her suffering was impossible to describe.

Everyone knew that Teacher Luo was not merely a little particular.

The entire reason she needed a travel assistant was that before Luo Jingyi went anywhere, the travel assistant had to arrive first and inspect everything.

The hotel’s location, the room’s layout, the softness of the mattress, the direction it faced, the height of the floor, changes in room temperature, the professionalism of the butler, and even profiles of the hotel’s other important guests…

Not to mention whether the hotel’s Chinese restaurant, Western restaurant, and bar could satisfy Teacher Luo’s demanding palate.

Zhao Lian needed to arrive early to test the room, sleep in the bed, and sample the food.

Even the slightest dissatisfaction could directly affect Teacher Luo’s daily life and her condition while writing.

If the esteemed Teacher Luo was not properly cared for, the entire earth might tremble three times.

Zhao Lian’s job appeared extremely comfortable, but serving the exceptionally demanding Teacher Luo was actually very difficult.

She had to remain more than completely alert to ensure that absolutely nothing went wrong.

“How long until you can confirm everything?” Luo Jingyi’s voice sounded rather frightening. She was suppressing her irritation as though she might lose her temper at any moment.

Zhao Lian guessed that someone had annoyed Teacher Luo again, so she said:

“Very soon. I should reach the hotel in about half an hour. We’re platinum members, so the room should already have been cleaned and the check-in completed.”

“Send me the hotel’s location.”

Zhao Lian promptly sent it over.

“Twenty kilometers from Li Village…” Luo Jingyi murmured to herself.

“Li Village?” Zhao Lian sounded confused. “Teacher Luo, are you going to Li Village?”

“I don’t want to.” Luo Jingyi had a headache just thinking about it. “An old friend of mine is filming a reality show there. One of the amateur guests had an accident on the way and is now in the hospital, so they can’t participate. My friend has been begging shamelessly and relentlessly for me to fill in.”

“Huh? You’re going on a reality show?” Zhao Lian was stunned.

“Possibly.” Luo Jingyi found the entire situation absurd.

“Then… should I still arrange the hotel?”

“Yes, of course.” Luo Jingyi said, “I can’t possibly stay in the village. Do you think I’ve gone insane?”

Author’s Note:

Luo Jingyi: I can’t possibly stay in the village. I will never stay there.

Chen Ge: I think I see another flag fluttering proudly in the wind.