Chapter 28

“Which character am I playing?”

There were quite a few characters in the script. Meng Shi skimmed through all the different names and felt her head beginning to ache.

Fang Yu raised an eyebrow proudly.

“Tianque.”

“Oh.”

Meng Shi did not immediately react. She continued flipping through the script and noticed that Tianque’s name appeared on almost every page.

“Hmm? Wait, isn’t this wrong? This is such an important role!”

Meng Shi spread the script open before Fang Yu and pointed at the pages filled with Tianque’s lines.

Hadn’t Fang Yu said she would not receive a role with too much screen time at first?

“What? You don’t want it?”

“Uh, no.”

Meng Shi was secretly delighted. This was a good thing for her!

But…

Something still seemed wrong.

“Wait. Tianque is… a man, isn’t he?”

Meng Shi finally realized what the problem was.

This character was male!

They wanted her to play a man?

And he was blind!

Meng Shi’s head immediately began to ache.

“Although Tianque is cruel and ruthless in the novel, his appearance and bearing are extremely feminine. Mm, the author’s preferences are somewhat unclear, but the readers love that sort of thing.”

“Therefore, to respect the original work and its author, the director is willing to accept a woman playing the role. The actor must closely resemble the character’s original image. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been able to secure the role.”

“…So he’s rather gay?”

…

Meng Shi had originally assumed that, combined with this body’s existing foundation in acting, her own intelligence, and her extraordinary natural talent, acting should not be particularly difficult.

However, after receiving the role, she became completely bewildered.

Especially since she was playing a blind man…

As for a story about immortals falling in love, Meng Shishi had…

Nothing to say!

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

Fang Yu watched as Meng Shi nearly buried herself inside the script.

“Hmm? No. Oh, right. When is the audition?”

Meng Shi’s heart pounded nervously.

She felt as though she had entered a battlefield only to discover that she had forgotten her weapon.

“There’s no need for an audition. Everything has already been finalized. The role is yours.”

“…”

Could they really be this arbitrary?

Meng Shi felt enormous pressure.

“Then who is playing the little bamboo demon?”

“Su Yutong,” Fang Yu answered.

Hearing the familiar name, Meng Shi sighed in relief.

Fortunately, it was someone she knew.

“It’s extremely difficult for a newcomer to receive such a good role. You need to make proper use of the opportunity and learn more from Yutong.”

“Mm. Understood.”

…

At Max Hill Restaurant, Meng Shi followed Fang Yu into a private room and saw that Su Yutong and her manager had already arrived.

“Sister Fang.”

The two hurriedly stood and greeted Fang Yu.

“Mm.”

“Sister Yutong. Sister Xin.”

Meng Shi also obediently greeted them.

“Huh… Sister Bai?”

When they saw Bai Ling entering behind Meng Shi, their eyes widened. They exchanged astonished glances.

“It’s been a long time.”

Bai Ling warmly exchanged greetings with them.

She certainly had good relationships with everyone.

Meng Shi listened to their conversation without absorbing a word. She examined the room instead.

A short beige jacket had been draped over the chair opposite her. Someone had apparently already arrived.

Meng Shi yawned and checked the time.

There were still several minutes before their scheduled meeting.

“I’m going to the restroom.”

…

Mo Xiaobei had always been an obscure online novelist.

Writing was both an obsession and a dream for her.

She loved wandering through the worlds inside her stories and watching the characters she had created.

People often compared their works to their children, but Mo Xiaobei considered hers to be her lovers.

For example, High God Tianque represented her earliest fantasy of love.

She had never expected her novel to become popular, much less that investors would want to adapt it into a television drama!

After finally accepting everything, she began to worry and feel anxious.

Would the actors possess the feeling she had imagined?

【What should I do? I’m at the restaurant now. The director said both leading actors have already been chosen. I’m so worried about my Que.】

Mo Xiaobei hid in a restroom stall and sent voice messages to her close female friend.

【Friend: Didn’t you already explain your requirements to the director?】

【Mm… They really found a woman to play my god Que…】

【Friend: Isn’t that exactly what you wanted? Your story only pretends to be a heterosexual romance. It’s actually yuri!】

【Nonsense! I’m mainly worried that a woman won’t be able to portray Que’s proud, aloof, cold, and decisive temperament. Although, if my Queen Yan played the role, I would raise both hands and feet in approval!】

【Friend: Stop dreaming. By the way, didn’t you say Su Yutong might play Luo Xi? Is that true?】

【It’s true, true, true! I already saw her! She looks even better in person than on television, and she’s very approachable! I even shook her hand!】

【Friend: Holy crap! Get me an autograph! And remember to take a picture together!】

【All right, all right. I’ll ask later. The director hasn’t arrived yet. Only Su Yutong and her manager were in the room just now. It was too awkward, so I escaped first.】

【Friend: Where’s your courage? It’s your work! They’re bailiantales.complaying characters you created. What are you afraid of?!】

【I… Oh, you wouldn’t understand! Forget it. The meeting is about to begin. I’m going back.】

【Friend: Remember the autograph! The autograph!】

…

Mo Xiaobei sighed, adjusted her emotions, and left the stall.

She went to the sink, looked in the mirror, fixed her hair, and straightened her clothes.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed a young woman washing her face nearby.

She had not paid much attention at first.

However, when the woman raised her head, Mo Xiaobei saw her delicate profile and smooth, tender skin.

Drops of water slid across her face, gathered at her chin, and fell with soft plops.

Mo Xiaobei swallowed.

Through the mirror, she carefully examined Meng Shi.

Her eyes were slightly lowered, as though no one was worthy of entering her sight. Her expression carried a lazy, unconcerned air.

How could this young woman look so beautiful without makeup?

Mo Xiaobei hurriedly took out her phone and secretly photographed Meng Shi through the mirror.

Click.

The camera shutter sounded.

Meng Shi raised an eyebrow slightly. Amusement appeared in her eyes as she glanced through the mirror at the woman secretly photographing her.

The woman wore black-framed glasses and had neat, well-behaved bangs.

While washing her face outside, Meng Shi had already overheard the woman’s WeChat conversation from inside the restroom, so she naturally knew her identity.

【Mo Xiaobei: Oh no! Aaaaaah! How did I forget to mute it? This is so embarrassing!!】

Mo Xiaobei secretly glanced at Meng Shi several times.

Seeing that she did not react beyond slightly curving her lips, she assumed Meng Shi had not noticed.

She hurriedly shoved the phone into her pocket, quickly washed her hands, and left.

After exiting the restroom, Mo Xiaobei repeatedly patted her chest.

That had been close.

She took out her phone, enlarged the photograph, examined it, and sent it to her close friend through WeChat.

【Look! I just discovered an absolute beauty!!】

【Friend: Wow, who is she? She’s pretty! Is that High God Que?】

【No. I just happened to encounter her in the restroom. I nearly got caught secretly photographing her. Don’t you think she possesses a kind of classical beauty? She would look amazing in historical clothing!】

【Friend: That’s enough. I’m only interested in Que right now. Have you returned yet? Have you seen the actor or not?】

“Did you walk too far?”

A gentle, extremely attractive voice came from behind her.

Mo Xiaobei instinctively turned around and immediately saw the beauty from the restroom.

She pointed at herself.

“Are you… speaking to me?”

Meng Shi looked up at the room number, then glanced at Mo Xiaobei.

“Huh?”

She truly had walked past it!

“Thank you!”

Mo Xiaobei hurriedly thanked her and took two steps forward.

Then she stopped.

“Huh? You…?”

She stared in astonishment at Meng Shi, who was standing in front of the same private room, and repeatedly looked between her and the number on the door.

…

All sorts of small dishes had already been served inside the room.

For once, Meng Shi did not reveal her gluttonous nature.

She sat obediently and listened as Qiao Xin introduced everyone.

“This is Director Qi Zhongming, a famous director within the industry. He will personally direct Bamboo Branch Ballad.”

Qiao Xin briefly introduced the director.

Meng Shi looked at Director Qi, who was seated in the center.

He appeared to be a man in his forties, yet he wore his hair in a ponytail like a young woman.

“Hello, Director Qi. I’m Meng Shi. I hope you’ll offer me plenty of guidance in the future.”

Meng Shi stood and extended her hand.

Qi Zhongming examined her from head to toe and repeatedly nodded.

“This is Mo Xiaobei, the original author of Bamboo Branch Ballad. She will also serve as its screenwriter. You’ll frequently interact with her in the future.”

Qiao Xin continued the introductions.

“Hello. I hope you’ll guide me.”

Seeing Meng Shi’s long, slender fingers, Mo Xiaobei hurriedly extended her hand and shook it.

“Hello! L-let’s guide each other!”

“Director Qi, Ah Meng is a newcomer. Please be understanding if she makes any mistakes while working.”

Fang Yu personally poured Qi Zhongming a glass of wine.

“Xiao Fang, you’re being far too polite. Huayu’s artists are excellent in every respect. Besides, this isn’t our first time working together.”

Meng Shi listened attentively while they exchanged pleasantries.

She constantly felt someone staring at her.

When she looked up, Mo Xiaobei hurriedly avoided her gaze.

Meng Shi assumed she was worried about whether Meng Shi could properly portray Tianque, a character she cared about so much.

However, Mo Xiaobei was not thinking that deeply.

She was excitedly sending messages to her friend.

【It’s her! It really is her! My Que!】

【Friend: Hmm? What? Who?】

【The girl in the photograph I sent you earlier. Her name is Meng Shi.】

【Friend: Holy crap! Really? Can you take another clearer photograph and send it to me?】

【Wait. I’ll find an opportunity!】

…

The meal passed relatively easily.

With Fang Yu and Bai Ling present, Meng Shi barely needed to speak.

While the managers and director chatted enthusiastically, she spoke briefly with Su Yutong, and the two became somewhat more familiar.

After leaving the restaurant, Fang Yu called Bai Ling away and instructed the driver to take Meng Shi home.

Meng Shi dismissed the driver and decided to walk instead.

After taking several steps, she turned around and discovered Mo Xiaobei following her from a distance.

During the meal, the woman had repeatedly appeared as though Read on BaiLianTales she wanted to speak but was hesitating.

Meng Shi turned and walked toward her.

【Mo Xiaobei: She’s coming over! She’s coming toward me!!】

By the time Mo Xiaobei finished panicking, Meng Shi was already standing before her.

“Hello. Could we exchange contact information? I would like to ask you many questions about the character Tianque.”

Meng Shi spoke first.

“Uh, hmm? Yes, yes, of course!”

Mo Xiaobei hurriedly gave her phone number and WeChat account.

“Mm.”

Meng Shi entered the information into her phone.

“Huh? You like Yan Qing too?”

Mo Xiaobei sneaked a glance at her screen and saw Yan Qing as her phone wallpaper.

“Mm.”

Meng Shi secretly smiled.

That older woman truly had fans everywhere.

“Um, are you busy right now? How about we find somewhere and have a drink together?”

Mo Xiaobei did not know where she found the courage to ask.

Meng Shi had been about to agree.

She wanted to hear what the author expected from the Tianque she had created.

However, her phone vibrated.

A message from Her Majesty the Queen had arrived.

The content was blank—probably another single space.

【Mo Xiaobei: Her Majesty the Queen? Could she be a fellow member of the women-loving-women community?!】

“Sorry. I still have something to do. Let’s meet another time.”

Meng Shi firmly—though not really, since she had clearly intended to go—rejected Mo Xiaobei’s invitation.

Only after walking some distance away did she open the message.

That single blank space had nearly become a secret code between them.

Now that Meng Shi had an assistant and manager around her, she no longer possessed [Read on BaiLianTales]as much freedom as before.

Therefore, the clever older woman sent only a single space.

Even if someone else saw it, it would mean nothing.

Meng Shi called her.

“You’re finished?”

Yan Qing answered quickly.

Meng Shi had told her yesterday that she would be finalizing her script and role today.

Yan Qing cared greatly because this was the little thing’s first role, and it was extremely important to her.

“Mm. Sigh…”

Meng Shi sighed, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

“What happened? Is there a problem with the role? Not enough screen time? Or—”

Yan Qing sounded worried.

“No. It’s exactly the opposite.”

“There’s too much screen time. I’m even one of the leads. I…”

Yan Qing was slightly surprised.

Then she remembered how excessively Fang Yu had been promoting Ah Shi over the past several days and understood.

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

She sighed in relief.

“Sigh… But the character is a man. And he’s blind. I…”

Yan Qing immediately understood.

Cross-gender acting would be extremely difficult for Meng Shi’s first performance.

Furthermore, portraying a blind person was genuinely challenging.

Even through the phone, she could imagine the worried expression covering the little girl’s face.

“How about this? I have something to do tomorrow.”

“The day after tomorrow, I’ll pick you up from your home in the morning.”

“Tell your family in advance that you’ll be staying outside for several days.”

“Hmm?”

Meng Shi’s little mind unconsciously began imagining all kinds of strange things.

“Wouldn’t that be inappropriate…? At a time like this, we still—”

The older woman looked thoroughly disgusted.

“It’s serious business!”

“Oh.”