Acting Out of Character (GL) - Chapter 5

Luo Jingyi never imagined she would participate in some unlucky reality show, let alone one filmed in a mountain gully.

If it hadn’t been for her childhood friend following her for three days and nights, begging as if her life depended on it, she would never have agreed to such a thing.

It was truly ironic. Luo Jingyi had just managed to trick her mother and her mother’s girlfriend into coming to her house to recover—mostly to take care of her cat, Zuzong. Just as her scheduling assistant walked out the door to scout the path for her creative trip, a “job offer” from her friend Feng Yunxin popped up.

Three days ago.

Luo Jingyi had woken up at 6:00 AM sharp to work on her script, but things weren’t going well. Suddenly, Feng Yunxin, with her pink “Sailor Moon” profile picture, popped up on her screen.

Feng Yunxin sent a voice note, her tone sugary and flattering:

“Sister Yi, what have you been up to lately? Have you found your fated female lead yet? How’s the new script going? Are you eating, drinking, and sleeping well?”

Without even seeing her, Luo Jingyi knew from that sycophantic, servant-like tone that this brat wanted a favor.

Luo Jingyi replied with a single word: “Speak.”

Seeing the one-second voice reply after her long string of messages, Feng Yunxin knew the “Grand Empress” was in a terrible mood—likely because the lead hadn’t been found and the script was stalled.

Fine. Permission granted. She let her request fly:

“Here’s the deal: I recently took on a web variety show—a reality show—as the director. It’s filming in a beautiful little village down south. We invited some rising stars and non-celebrities, but the project hit a snag. The crew is already on-site, but one of the non-celebrity guests we signed broke his leg in a motorcycle accident two days ago. He can’t make it. I thought and thought: who could fill this massive hole? Only our omnipotent Sister Yi is fit for the job.”

Feng Yunxin dumped the entire story in one breath, hoping for a result. predictably, Luo Jingyi didn’t agree easily. She replied:

“You’ve fallen so low you’re directing reality shows now?”

Feng Yunxin pouted, muttering to herself, “She hasn’t even said yes and she’s already insulting me.”

Luo Jingyi sent another message: “It’s easy to find a non-celebrity. Why drag me all that way? Can’t you just grab a random assistant director or crew member?”

Feng Yunxin immediately began to flatter: “How could I! First of all, even though this show is obscure, the cast is a group of handsome men and beauties. Even a flop needs to flop with dignity, right? An assistant director or crew member? How could those ‘crooked melons and split dates’ stand among the immortals? Even if we need a non-celebrity, I have to find a fairy to save the day. I thought about it, and besides Sister Yi, who else could hold down the fort? I only know one fairy, and that’s you.”

“Can you stop with the mindless flattery? You know I won’t participate in these shows.”

Feng Yunxin practically knelt through the Wi-Fi: “My lady, I beg you! My sky is leaking, and I’m just waiting for you to patch it up!”

Luo Jingyi remained cold: “Go find Nüwa if you want the sky patched.”

Feng Yunxin knew Luo Jingyi was low-profile. She didn’t even go on stage to accept awards, all to keep her face out of the public eye so she could live an ordinary life. In Luo Jingyi’s words, she was a writer; her job was to chronicle joys and sorrows, digging into character arcs and the truth of the world. Playing a role in the entertainment industry wasn’t what a screenwriter should do.

But this time, the show was truly desperate. Every day they sat idle, they burned money. The budget was tight, mostly spent on the location; if they went over, the crew would have to foot the bill. They had searched the surrounding area and found no one suitable. Agents in industry groups either looked down on their low-tier show or had talent with conflicting schedules.

Feng Yunxin thought of her old friend. While Teacher Luo might not have “variety sense,” she had a noble, beautiful face. She wouldn’t even need to speak; just appearing as a “beautiful vase” would be enough.

And if Teacher Luo came, she could help with another fatal issue—one that might actually give this reality show a chance to survive.

Feng Yunxin pestered her for two days. Luo Jingyi eventually warned: “If you keep chirping, I’m blocking you. Believe me?”

On the third day, Feng Yunxin tried a video call. Luo Jingyi, waiting for her assistant’s feedback on a hotel, was met with this annoyance instead. Fine. She’d let her see what a face of “divine terror” looked like.

When the video connected, she didn’t see Feng Yunxin—only a screen full of green nature.

“Ta-da! Sister Yi! Guess where I am?!”

“In a ‘beautiful mountain village’ down south where you’re filming your miserable show.”

“Correct! But look! Isn’t this village beautiful? Doesn’t it look like exactly the kind of place you’d want to go for inspiration? With these mountains and clear water, your script block will vanish instantly!”

“Are you spying on my itinerary? Who told you? Xiao Zhao?”

“Zhao Lian is a timid girl. Even if you gave her three lives’ worth of courage, she wouldn’t dare betray you.”

“Then who did?”

Luo Jingyi’s brain worked fast. She guessed on the next try: “My mom?”

Feng Yunxin’s hand shook, accidentally switching to the front-facing camera and revealing her guilty expression.

Luo Jingyi sat in her massage chair, cold-laughing. “Tell me, how did you bribe the old lady into giving away my location?”

“Sister, stop shaking, you’re turning into a mosaic. Sigh… the old lady is just beautiful and kind-hearted. I didn’t even have to bribe her. I just acted pitiful, and she spilled everything.”

“You’re driving a wedge between me and my mother.”

“No way! I’m offering you a great idea for your trip! Didn’t you say your new script is based on a true story? A story set in a southern town? I bet you’re stuck because you’re in Beijing. You need to be in the South to get the atmosphere right!”

“I appreciate the concern, but Xiao Zhao already booked my hotel. I’m about to leave.”

“Where to?”

“Wuyi Mountain.”

Hearing this, Feng Yunxin’s grin reached her ears. “Sister Yi, look at us! Talk about fate!”

Luo Jingyi: “…”

“Our crew is in Li Village, just twenty kilometers from Wuyi Mountain! Oh, when are you arriving? Should I pick you up?”

“No need.”

“Then I’ll find you after you check in!”

“…”

Feng Yunxin changed her expression to a serious one. “Sister Yi, I’m not lying—Li Village has a lot of history and is very representative of this region. If you want to get close to the lives of the Wuyi people, Li Village is perfect. Our crew has connections with the local government and villagers. If you come over, I can help you find any material you need.”

Luo Jingyi said quietly, “The true story my script is based on… it happened in Li Village.”

Feng Yunxin nearly jumped. “Really? Why didn’t you say so earlier?!”

“You never asked.”

“Then it’s settled! We have a deal!”

“…Wait. How is it settled? I haven’t agreed yet.”

“Oh, I know our Sister Yi has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. How could you refuse!”

Seeing her thirty-something-year-old friend jumping around like a kid, Luo Jingyi gave in. She only had this one childhood friend. Besides, her location was exposed; Feng Yunxin would just haunt her anyway.

Luo Jingyi gave a stern condition: “Do not use my real name on the show.”

Feng Yunxin nodded frantically. “No problem! You’ve kept yourself so well-wrapped that no one knows what you look like anyway. We’ll just use a fake name!”

“Can I not show my face?”

“You actually want to blur your own face with a mosaic?”

Luo Jingyi had agreed—half-voluntarily, half-guilt-tripped. But she refused to stay in the village. She could already imagine the bugs and animal waste. She wouldn’t stay there even if it killed her.

When Chen Ge and Song Ruyu came out of the airport, the crew met them at the arrival gate, helped with their luggage, and headed to the underground parking lot.

Entering the van, they found a young man already sitting inside. He was in his early twenties, tall, with long legs that had nowhere to go. Despite the heat, he wore a thick layer of foundation, making him look porcelain white, topped with a head of bright blonde hair.

Song Ruyu chirped, “Qian Yu? You’re Qian Yu?”

The boy recognized her as a fellow survival show contestant, and the two immediately started chatting. Chen Ge sat in the back. As the car started, she looked out the window. The scenery was beautiful—green mountains and light clouds, reminding her of her hometown. After the gray skies of Beijing, the lush green felt like home.

After over an hour on winding mountain roads, they arrived at Li Village. The crew had set up camp in a large farmhouse courtyard. All the guests would stay there, and it was the primary filming location.

Song Ruyu hopped out and marveled at the scenery. “Not bad! I thought it would be an old mud hut, but it’s quite modern. A three-story building with floor-to-ceiling windows. Very spacious.”

Qian Yu said, “Exactly. We’re here to make a show. Who would watch if it was just dirt and grime?”

Song Ruyu chuckled. “You think people will watch just because it’s not dirty? This is just a gathering of ‘flops’ anyway.”

As she spoke, some crew members walked by and gave her a look. Song Ruyu stuck her tongue out.

The parking lot was a distance from the main gate. Qian Yu dragged his suitcase toward the staff. Song Ruyu stopped him. “Aren’t you going to help me with mine?”

“Huh? You only have one. Can’t you roll it yourself?”

Song Ruyu shook her shoulders. “The ground is uneven. It has to be carried.”

Reluctantly, Qian Yu grabbed both suitcases and struggled toward the courtyard. Chen Ge dragged her own 28-inch suitcase from the trunk. Song Ruyu gave her a smug smile, pointing at Qian Yu’s back as he carried her bag.

Chen Ge gave a faint twitch of her lips. Song Ruyu, hands behind her back, strolled into the courtyard with ease.

A crew member came to help Chen Ge, but she said, “No need, I can manage.”

The crew member looked at the massive suitcase, knowing it must be incredibly heavy—female celebrities’ luggage was never light. The old cement road was full of cracks and holes, left that way on purpose for a “raw” aesthetic.

Chen Ge pushed it twice, found it inconvenient, and simply lifted the suitcase off the ground. She wasn’t exceptionally strong, but thanks to her gym habit, she could carry her own bag without trouble. Once she reached the gate, the ground became smooth enough to roll.

As she pushed the bag inside, she felt someone behind her. She turned to see a cameraman filming her.

“Oh?” Chen Ge laughed. “We’re starting already?”

“The director said to capture the most authentic rural life,” the cameraman replied. “We value realism.”

This was her first time on a reality show with a camera in her face. Chen Ge felt a bit stiff, her smile slightly forced as she navigated this new environment.

The guests hadn’t all arrived, so official filming was set to start tomorrow. Song Ruyu, tired from the trip, showered and went to sleep early.

Chen Ge, sharing a room with her, found the Wi-Fi was down. She went downstairs to ask the crew and ran into Qian Yu in the living room.

“Hey!” Qian Yu beckoned her over with a grin. “I was looking for you. Director Feng wants you to go pick someone up.”

“Pick someone up?”

“The car is ready at the gate. You go with the assistant director.”

Chen Ge was confused. “Pick up who?”

“Director Feng’s close friend,” Qian Yu lied smoothly, afraid Chen Ge wouldn’t want to go. “Actually, it’s her lover. They’re coming to visit the set, but the director is too busy. Keep it a secret, don’t tell anyone.”

Chen Ge looked at the clock. 10:30 PM. It was over an hour to the airport…

Feng Yunxin had actually asked Qian Yu to go. In the show, the guests were paired up to do tasks, and the person he was supposed to pick up was his partner—Luo Jingyi, who was saving the day as the “non-celebrity” guest.

The plan was to film the partners’ first meeting at the airport and then drop Luo Jingyi at her hotel. Qian Yu, however, was lazy. If it were a big-name director or writer, he would have scrambled, but a non-celebrity? He didn’t want to travel that far so late. Seeing Chen Ge, he decided to trick her into doing it.

“Alright then.” Chen Ge wasn’t that sleepy. Since it was the director’s lover coming from afar, she’d help out. It would take about as long as watching a movie.

When Chen Ge got into the van, the assistant director, Hu, was already snoring in the passenger seat. He had intended to give the guest some brief instructions and film with a handheld camera, but he’d fallen into a deep sleep.

The driver, knowing two people were supposed to go, saw someone get in and didn’t wake the assistant director. He simply drove off toward the airport.

Feng Yunxin had just finished an exhausting argument with her father on the phone. Checking her messages, she saw a string of texts from Teacher Luo. She quickly replied:

“I really can’t get away. The person picking you up has already left. See you at the airport. Get along well with the ‘kid’—they’re your CP partner for the show.”

Luo Jingyi, on a flight with Wi-Fi, replied with a fierce “knife-eyed cat” emoji.

Feng Yunxin explained: “As I mentioned, you have to pretend to be in a relationship. Not for real, just like in the movies—it’s for the audience. But you need some familiarity to make it feel right. Build some chemistry with the kid so it looks natural on camera.”

“I have to build chemistry too?”

“Of course! You’re a writer, not an actor. I’m afraid you’ll look unnatural in front of the camera if you don’t build a vibe first.”

Now that she had successfully tricked Luo Jingyi into joining, Feng Yunxin felt like she was the boss. She added one more thought: “If you really don’t know how to do the CP thing, just boss the kid around. ‘Queen and Puppy Dog’—that vibe works too.”

The Author has something to say:

They’re finally about to meet.

Grand Empress: Let me see, which little puppy has come to serve me?

Chen Ge: Not me, I already have a business CP.

Grand Empress: Oh, then I’m your real CP.

Chen Ge: ??