Is This How the Entertainment Industry Works? (GL) - Chapter 7

The practice session with Yan Zhen was purely accidental, but the results were unexpectedly good.

Zhao Baoshang was genuinely happy in her heart. She could say she had never practiced a scene with such joy before; it felt as if every movement truly returned her to a flourishing and magnificent dynasty. This was definitely the best she had ever performed.

Suppressing the delight in her heart, Zhao Baoshang kept a straight face and asked Yan Zhen, “How was my acting?”

Yan Zhen said, “Not bad.”

Zhao Baoshang felt proud.

“But it’s still far from a real General,” Yan Zhen added. “A female general is still a general, but many movements shouldn’t be too stiffly masculine. Their strength differs from that of a man, so they need specific techniques.”

Yan Zhen picked up a branch and held it in her hand. “Those with great strength use their upper arms to drive the power of their palms. If strength is lacking, one must use the wrist to lead the arm. Otherwise, if the strike is slow, life is lost.”

She made a casual motion, slicing a ripple across the river’s surface. The koi fish instantly scattered in a panic.

“All of this, of course, manifests in the posture of playing chess as well.” Yan Zhen picked up a stone and placed it on the ground.

Zhao Baoshang was puzzled. “Where did you learn all of this?”

“Naturally…” Yan Zhen thought for a moment and replied, “The town library.”

This was an obvious brush-off. However, Zhao Baoshang believed it and continued to ask with great interest, “Are there any other techniques?”

Yan Zhen shared another. “A female general wouldn’t tilt her chin so high. Though she is proud, it is a low-profile pride.” Yan Zhen tapped Zhao Baoshang’s chin. “Lower your head slightly, and the General’s aura will emerge.”

Zhao Baoshang felt a sudden moment of clarity. She went to the riverbank to practice her expressions. The water only showed a faint silhouette, but she was very happy. Banking on her good looks, she adjusted her face into several majestic expressions.

The wind by the river was strong, and a sudden fierce gust blew through. Yan Zhen noticed the back of Zhao Baoshang’s hand turning blue from the cold, so she reached out to hold it, warming it with her palm.

Zhao Baoshang’s heart tightened, and she squeezed back even harder. She realized that only this person was truly good to her—selflessly good. She was usually too lazy to maintain a pleasant face for others, so she had few friends. Even the nanny who raised her from childhood disliked her, often nagging her about being cold or unfeeling.

But Yan Zhen was different. She could see Yan Zhen’s gaze; it was always like rippling spring water, warm and gentle, as if she were willing to give Zhao Baoshang everything. This was a look she had never seen on anyone else. Even Xu Fengmei, who had won two Golden Statuettes, had never given her any actual acting guidance.

Thinking of this, Zhao Baoshang’s eyes dimmed again.

“How old are you?” Zhao Baoshang asked.

Yan Zhen said, “I’m in high school.”

Zhao Baoshang asked, “Taking the College Entrance Exam this year?”

Yan Zhen nodded. Zhao Baoshang’s eyes lit up. “Which school do you plan to attend?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” Yan Zhen said.

“Then come to the Imperial Capital,” Zhao Baoshang said. “I’m in the Capital.”

Yan Zhen hadn’t forgotten that the “Eldest Princess” still had a “Death Calamity” to face. Being close to her was naturally for the best. She nodded.

Zhao Baoshang was satisfied. “Then I’ll wait for you.”

She returned to the inn in a high mood. In the small common room, Xu Fengmei was sitting on the sofa waiting for her. The dim yellow light cast a soft glow over Xu Fengmei, softening her sharp facial features.

Out of politeness, Zhao Baoshang called out, “Sister Xu.”

Xu Fengmei looked at her, her eyes full of warmth. “You’re back?”

Zhao Baoshang paused. “Mhm.”

“Why so late?” Xu Fengmei asked.

“Reading the script for a bit.”

“You can read the script anywhere. Why do you have to go outside?”

Zhao Baoshang felt a surge of impatience and didn’t bother responding. Xu Fengmei knew she was nearly exhausting Zhao Baoshang’s goodwill and realized some things couldn’t be delayed any longer.

She asked another question: “Were you bullied the night before last?”

Zhao Baoshang said, “It was an accident.”

“Did you find out who did it?”

Zhao Baoshang nodded. It was undoubtedly her siblings; in the fight for the family inheritance, they were capable of anything.

Xu Fengmei pressed, “Who was it?”

Zhao Baoshang thought for a moment. “Sister Xu, it’s better if you don’t know.”

But Xu Fengmei kept pushing. She was twenty-nine this year; in another year, she would enter the “old age” of the entertainment industry. Currently, Zhao Baoshang was her only “Golden Thigh,” but Zhao Baoshang was just a woman and the second daughter.

The “Golden Thigh” Xu Fengmei truly wanted was someone who could secure the position of the head of the Zhao family. Currently, the patriarch was in poor health, and the children were fighting over the estate. It was hard to say who would win.

Because of this, picking a side was crucial. Xu Fengmei wanted to get information from Zhao Baoshang to help her stand in the right camp, so that even if she left the industry, she could live a wealthy life.

But things didn’t go her way. Zhao Baoshang stared at Xu Fengmei for a while, feeling increasingly uneasy. She seemed to see through Xu Fengmei’s intentions and remained silent. Not until the floor lamp flickered did she shake her head and say, “I don’t know yet.”

Xu Fengmei was disappointed. “Really?”

The clock struck midnight, and the sound of snoring drifted from one of the rooms. Zhao Baoshang said, “Sister Xu, we have filming tomorrow.”

Xu Fengmei gave a brief response, and they both returned to their rooms.

The next day, Yan Zhen went out wandering with a chicken leg in hand. She ran into Zhao Baoshang on the road and rushed up to greet her.

“Want some breakfast?” Yan Zhen asked, waving the chicken leg.

“No.”

“I happen to have some here, don’t let it go to waste.” Yan Zhen sidled up to her.

Zhao Baoshang saw the leg covered in goosebumps and almost gagged. “Keep it away.”

“What’s wrong?” Yan Zhen looked at the chicken leg, then at Zhao Baoshang’s pale face. “You don’t eat meat?”

How could Zhao Baoshang not eat meat? She just found that ugly-looking chicken leg repulsive and didn’t want to look at it a second time. She turned to leave.

She hadn’t taken a few steps when she suddenly tripped. Immediately, a sharp pain shot through her ankle, followed by a dull ache and numbness, until her head began to spin.

Zhao Baoshang looked down and saw a dark, slithering creature by her foot. On closer inspection, it was a sharp-headed black snake. It looked poisonous.

This hellhole. A few days ago it was centipedes, now it’s snakes.

Zhao Baoshang cursed inwardly and instinctively reached down to choke the snake, but her vision suddenly went black, and she couldn’t see clearly.

Yan Zhen took two steps toward her. Hearing her, Zhao Baoshang shouted, “Don’t move!”

“What’s wrong?” Yan Zhen was confused, but then she looked down and saw the black snake flicking its tongue.

“You were bitten?” Yan Zhen turned pale with fright.

Zhao Baoshang gave a weak response. Realizing the situation, Yan Zhen rushed over. “Are you scared?” she asked.

Zhao Baoshang’s head hung low; she didn’t move.

“I’ll kill it first, don’t move,” Yan Zhen said. She struck out with lightning speed, grabbing the snake by its seven-inch mark (the fatal spot).

Zhao Baoshang felt a wave of relief but also embarrassment, so she turned her head away from Yan Zhen. Yan Zhen snapped the snake’s neck and threw it into the river. The swift current swept the black snake away instantly.

She ran back and looked down at Zhao Baoshang’s injury. Two blackening dots were punctured into her fair, slender ankle. It looked painful and venomous. The area around the wound was red—red and black together against her snow-white skin, a sight that pained the heart.

Yan Zhen pulled out a handkerchief and tied it around Zhao Baoshang’s calf. “Is your leg numb?”

Zhao Baoshang didn’t have the strength to speak.

“Endure it for a bit,” Yan Zhen said. She sucked out the snake venom and spat it onto the ground.

Feeling uneasy even after that, she bit her own fingertip and used her blood to draw a talisman over the wound to ensure Zhao Baoshang’s safety. When she finished and looked up, she realized Zhao Baoshang had already fainted.

Yan Zhen felt Zhao Baoshang’s calf and hoisted the woman onto her back.

Author’s Note:

Zhao Baoshang: Why am I always getting hurt?

Yan Zhen: Don’t be afraid, Princess. Your servant is proficient in 130 types of medicine—it’s just that I’ve never actually saved anyone before.

Zhao Baoshang: Blocked. Contact me via “Message in a Bottle” if there’s an emergency.