Chapter 41

As soon as Mo Yueshuang arrived on set, Guan Anru blocked her path.

Previously, at the hospital, Li Sheng had stopped him, so Guan Anru had not been able to properly talk with Mo Yueshuang. After that, because the female lead was absent, he had become the one carrying the crew, and his scenes had multiplied several times compared to usual. The pressure on him had also increased greatly.

As for everyone else in the crew, because of the high-intensity filming and Director Wen’s high artistic standards for the work, they had all become mentally exhausted. Every morning, the moment they arrived on set, they began looking forward to wrapping up at night. They had no energy at all.

When Mo Yueshuang came today, the crew members became slightly more spirited. But after learning that Mo Yueshuang had only come with Li Sheng to visit the set and would not be participating in filming, their hearts sank again.

“You haven’t been here these past few days, so you don’t know what kind of deep water and scorching fire everyone has been living through.” Guan Anru noticed the change in everyone’s attitude toward Mo Yueshuang. Afraid Mo Yueshuang would be unhappy, he explained on everyone’s behalf.

On this matter, Guan Anru was indeed refined and gentle. His title as a jade-like young master was somewhat deserved. As the eldest young master of an aristocratic family, there were not many people present worth him opening his mouth to explain things for. Yet when it came to Mo Yueshuang, in order to take care of her emotions, he did this.

Mo Yueshuang did not have much hostility toward Guan Anru. However, his repeated confessions had left her with some psychological shadow. Now, seeing Guan Anru, she was nervous and afraid he would bring up old matters again. Because they had once been in a relationship of confession and rejection, Mo Yueshuang also felt somewhat awkward.

“Are your injuries healed?”

Mo Yueshuang was an actress, so naturally, she could sense through subtle emotional changes whether the other person was sincere or acting. At this moment, she could clearly feel that Guan Anru’s concern for her was very sincere.

This made Mo Yueshuang feel somewhat troubled. Although she had rejected Guan Anru several times, judging from the current situation, Guan ​Read on BaiLianTales​Anru did not seem to have given up yet.

“Thank you for your concern. I didn’t suffer any serious injuries. It was only a sprained ankle and some superficial scrapes on my back.” Mo Yueshuang answered truthfully. While speaking with Guan Anru, she tried to maintain a distance that was neither intimate nor too distant.

A flash of hurt passed through Guan Anru’s eyes, but fortunately, he was a film emperor crowned with glory. He could still steady himself in this small situation.

He smiled lightly and said to Mo Yueshuang in a rather mysterious way, “To celebrate your escape from danger this time, and also to help your heart settle a little more, I prepared a big surprise for you.”

Mo Yueshuang froze when she heard this. Very quickly, she came back to herself and smiled. “Thank you. May I ask what the surprise is?”

Mo Yueshuang was afraid Guan Anru would bring a bomb and tell her he was inviting her to watch fireworks.

Guan Anru continued keeping it mysterious. “Since I said it’s a surprise, how could I tell you in advance? Just wait for the surprise to appear tomorrow.”

Mo Yueshuang was not looking forward to it. Instead, panic rose in her heart.

Seeing that Mo Yueshuang’s complexion did not look very good, Guan Anru worried that the injuries on her body had begun hurting again. Before he could say words of concern and comfort, an annoying voice blocked him.

“The crew is about to start work. Why are you still chatting?”

Li Sheng walked over with both hands in her pants pockets, looking [Read on BaiLianTales]roguish and wicked. That posture made her seem arrogant and intimidating. An ordinary person would probably find it hard to stand properly and look at her directly.

However, Mo Yueshuang was not in the category of ordinary people, and Guan Anru was not a small figure either. Although he had been startled at first sight, after only a few breaths, he steadied himself and looked intently at Li Sheng as she walked toward them.

Seeing that Li Sheng had none of the bearing of an aristocratic young lady and instead had such a female ruffian-like posture, Guan Anru’s heart overflowed with disdain. If he did not still have to maintain his identity as a noble young master, he would have already flicked his sleeves and left.

Li Sheng met his gaze, full of provocation.

Guan Anru snorted coldly and snapped at Li Sheng without a pleasant expression.

“The director hasn’t even said anything yet. Aren’t you meddling too much, Screenwriter Li?”

Guan Anru disliked Li Sheng as much as ever.

Li Sheng did not care about these things. Too many people disliked her. Guan Anru would not even make the list in this lifetime.

Li Sheng smiled lightly. In the next second, the director picked up his megaphone and shouted for the actors in each group to hurry onto set and reshoot a flawed shot from earlier.

The problem in this scene had been pointed out by Li Sheng just now. Li Sheng had stated that the love between the base chief and the slave was intense, repressed, and restrained. So even if there was intimacy, it could not be open and obvious. It could only be the base chief secretly making small moves.

Therefore, the earlier friendly brotherly hug was changed into one person taking an afternoon nap while the other went over to hold his hand, brush the loose hair from his forehead, and carefully cover him with a blanket.

Through these small actions, it would express love in the apocalypse, love with a difference in status, and the delicate love between two men.

Director Wen liked this kind of inner content. When Li Sheng proposed it, he agreed. Afterward, when he looked back at two grown men hugging, it indeed did not coordinate and blend well with the overall film.

So with one order, all parties took their positions, restarted, and began filming again.

Li Sheng walked to Mo Yueshuang’s side. Her expression turned a little colder, but it was not directed at Mo Yueshuang. On the contrary, when she spoke to Mo Yueshuang, her tone was even gentler than usual.

“If you don’t like him, you can stay away from him. You don’t need to fear the family behind him. No matter how great or strong the Guan family is, it can’t compare to the Li family, which has been passed down for a thousand years.”

This was an open declaration that her shoulder was there for Mo Yueshuang to lean on, and her thigh was there for Mo Yueshuang to cling to. Sweetness rose faintly in Mo Yueshuang’s heart.

When Li Sheng came over, Mo Yueshuang had quietly softened her body and leaned against her. Li Sheng supported her shoulder with one hand and held Mo Yueshuang in her arms.

The two stood there planning to finish watching this scene before leaving. This was Mo Yueshuang’s request. It had to be said that Guan Anru’s acting was indeed very good, the kind that could be selected as a textbook example.

Mo Yueshuang had never studied systematically. Although she had formed her own style, she was still “greedy” and wanted to learn more from others’ strengths to use for herself.

So under her strong request, Li Sheng endured her dissatisfaction with Guan Anru and bailiantales.com stayed to watch the acting with her.

“So impressive. When he’s being teased, even his facial muscles tremble for an instant. And there’s that slight trembling in his hands. His control over these details is really strong.” Mo Yueshuang was somewhat envious. “He must have practiced a lot in private. Otherwise, it would be very difficult to handle these details so well.”

Li Sheng also felt Guan Anru’s acting was good. At least, to an outsider like her who did not understand acting, Guan Anru seemed to have brought the base chief from her previous life into this world in another way.

“Then between you and him, whose acting is better?” Li Sheng felt Mo Yueshuang’s acting was better. Perhaps it was because Di Xue had left such a deep impression on her that even a slight similarity could make her recall the real Di Xue. Or perhaps Mo Yueshuang’s acting truly was very good, and once she entered the role, she seemed like Di Xue with a changed face.

Hearing her beloved ask this, Mo Yueshuang’s heart skipped several beats. Very quickly, the tips of her ears turned red, and she came out of Li Sheng’s arms, saying softly, “If it’s you asking like this, Li Sheng, then I can only say we are evenly matched. In a high-intensity crew environment, my ability to withstand pressure may be stronger, and my acting may improve more the more setbacks I face. Anru, he…”

“Mm… Mr. Guan’s acting is steady and solid. He stands at a very high position, and a lot of the time, he overpowers the scene, causing psychological panic in the other actors. Although others complain constantly, Mr. Guan always feels he is doing a good thing by improving everyone’s acting. In reality, many crews avoid him somewhat.”

“Because no one wants to see only one role shine brightly in a film, and they also don’t want to bring resentment from other companies and have actors from other agencies refuse to cooperate again.”

“My acting is from an unorthodox path, so it can’t compare to their orthodox training. But as the director said, I have more spirituality than others. If others are jade that can be carved at will, then I should be a pool of soft mud, able to freely change shape without losing my true nature. This is also the reason I can win those major awards.”

Mo Yueshuang’s evaluation of others was very fair. When speaking of herself, she inevitably carried a little pride. If she were in front of outsiders, she would have been a bit more modest, but the person she was facing now was Li Sheng.

Mo Yueshuang put away all outward disguises, leaving only her most fundamental and pure side for Li Sheng.

Li Sheng chuckled softly and nodded along. “I think you’re right. I’ve also watched Guan Anru’s dramas. His aura is too strong. bailiantales.com It’s fine when he plays imperial roles, but when it’s changed to a young wanderer of the jianghu and the like, he still has that lofty posture. If not for his acting being good enough to cover that aura, he might not even be as good as those actors with average acting.”

“Right. There are private rumors saying that Mr. Guan is too stiff and guarded when filming.” Mo Yueshuang pressed her lips together slightly, not knowing whether she should continue.

But under Li Sheng’s waiting gaze, she ultimately said it.

“In comparison, although I don’t have such a high starting point, and my level has some ups and downs, because of my personality, I’ve made many friends on set. While filming, I also won’t rely on a sudden burst of acting to highlight my own strength. Instead, I try as much as possible to guide others into the scene and avoid stealing their spotlight. This has resulted in many people still being willing to film with me, even if my acting has highs and lows. Some directors are also very satisfied with how I take care of others during filming. That is why I’m blackened into charcoal outside the industry, but a hot commodity inside the industry.”

Although Mo Yueshuang was praising herself, Li Sheng still read the disappointment in her eyes. A hardworking actress who acted seriously had ultimately suffered the blows of being misunderstood, unsupported, and attacked by countless antis. Mo Yueshuang must also feel wronged and sad inside.

Li Sheng stepped forward and held her hand. “You are an extremely outstanding actress. Once this film is finished and you step onto the international stage, those people who blacken your name will also have to start weighing what kind of things they themselves are. Don’t be afraid of these rumors. You are not a traffic star who relies on false popularity to earn a living.”

“There are many people who understand art, many rational fans, and passersby who don’t participate in gossip or follow the crowd to attack. Those are the public we need to serve. So be happier. As an actress, properly experience every day on set. Feel with your heart those characters you shape and give souls to. These are all beautiful things you love.”

After this scene ended, Li Sheng took Mo Yueshuang away.

Accompanying her beloved to watch her love rival act—no matter how Li Sheng thought about it, it felt awkward. Fortunately, Mo Yueshuang had only seriously analyzed acting the entire time. Otherwise, Li Sheng feared she would have lost control and directly picked Mo Yueshuang up and carried her away.