This Best Actress is a Bit Annoying - Chapter 11

Filming for The Twin Flowers had been underway for a month, and the plot was one-third complete. Over the past few days, the supporting cast had been arriving at Hengdian one after another; the remaining two-thirds of the script officially began today.

Director Xun Guang had originally planned for a four-month shoot. With stars like Nie Zhuying and Lu Yu—both powerhouse actors—he expected things to move quickly. However, the schedule was completely thrown off when Nie Zhuying was invited to Hollywood for a guest role. He had been nervously eyeing the budget, estimating the shoot couldn’t exceed six months. Then, he found a hidden gem.

“Xiao Xia, come here.”

“Director Xun.”

Xun Guang had observed Xia Qingye on set for a month. In all his years of directing, it wasn’t that he hadn’t seen talented actors, but he had never seen someone who combined talent, perceptiveness, earnestness, and humility so perfectly.

“Once this drama is finished, what are your plans?”

Xia Qingye glanced at him. After asking the question, he had turned to stare elsewhere. She thought for a moment and said seriously, “I’ll have to ask Sister Xiang. She usually handles my work arrangements.”

Ask when necessary, work when it’s time to work—this was the rule Xia Qingye currently lived by, especially since she had a gold-medal agent backing her.

Xun Guang appreciated this quality. Unlike some people who didn’t focus on acting and only looked for shortcuts, she understood that an actor’s primary job is to act well. “I have an old friend who is filming a commercial drama at the end of the year. He’s been preparing for it for several years. Your image fits a character in it quite well; go try out for it when the time comes.”

This was a literal “meat pie falling from the sky.”

Xia Qingye mentally scanned Director Xun’s social circle. She couldn’t immediately recall who this “old friend” might be, but a friend of a famous director wouldn’t be a nobody. “Thank you, Director Xun.”

Xun Guang waved his hand dismissively. “No need to thank me. I’m only responsible for recommending you. Whether he uses you or not depends on you.”

Xia Qingye understood. For a newcomer, a director’s recommendation was a massive stroke of luck. Many people simply lacked that initial connection. “Director Xun, I’ll have Sister Xiang—”

“Director, Director! This is bad! Qi Jiani’s agent just called to say their flight was delayed. They might not make it today.”

“What happened? Didn’t I tell them to arrive a day early?” Director Xun hated these kinds of “accidents.” If the actors weren’t there, he couldn’t film. His good mood vanished instantly, and his face grew long.

The assistant babbled on about how Qi Jiani had been rushing another shoot and missed her flight; after rebooking, she hit a weather delay. Regardless, she wasn’t coming today. Finally, the assistant asked weakly, “Director, what do we do now?”

Xun Guang’s eyebrows shot up, his expression fierce. “If she can’t come, tell her not to bother coming at all! What kind of professionalism is this? I specifically told you to notify them days in advance, and she still tries to squeeze in another…”

“Director Xun.”

“Hmm?”

Xia Qingye suggested with a smile, “Why don’t we film the scenes between me and Chu Rou? This is a good opportunity for us to build some chemistry and try to get it in one take.”

The entire crew knew about the bad blood between her and Chu Rou. Even the guy handing out lunch boxes would gossip with the cleaning lady about their “grudge.” As a result, Chu Rou acted as if Xia Qingye were invisible whenever they met.

Xun Guang thought about it. “Fine, let’s do that. Go tell the others they can rest today.”

The assistant wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Yes, Director. I’m on it.”

In The Twin Flowers, Bai Qinying and Noriko Arima never actually meet face-to-face while they are working against each other; it’s a psychological battle of wits.

However, before Noriko dies, Bai Qinying—as the older sister—asks a contact to help find her long-lost sister. She finds her. Restricted by her identity, she can only observe her sister from the shadows. During a street shooting, Bai Qinying sees Noriko in danger and instinctively rushes out to protect her.

That was the first time the two sisters truly met—facing each other, yet unable to recognize one another.

Chu Rou wasn’t supposed to film today. When she was called in, she was in a bit of a foul mood. Her complexion wasn’t great, so the makeup artist had to apply a thick layer of foundation.

The assistant director walked over and said earnestly to Chu Rou, “Go discuss today’s scene with Xiao Xia. Study the characters’ mindsets and lines. Don’t go making Director Xun unhappy again.”

“Alright, I’ll give you ten minutes.”

Chu Rou’s expression soured even further, looking as if a vein were about to pop on her forehead.

The two walked to a secluded corner. Chu Rou glared viciously at Xia Qingye. Thinking of the things Fang Xiang had said last night, she had to swallow her pride. “Xia Qingye, I was wrong about what happened before. Can you please ask that person of yours to stop?”

Xia Qingye stared at her, feigning ignorance. “What?”

Chu Rou clenched her fists so hard her teeth nearly ground to dust. “Fang Xiang took those photos of you and that guy without my knowledge. For the sake of our past ‘friendship,’ could you please ask him to show some mercy?”

“Oh.” Xia Qingye put on a look of realization, then asked in confusion, “What did he do?”

“You—!”

“What’s wrong? Is it hard to say?” Xia Qingye looked innocent, then murmured as if to herself, “That might be difficult. He’s used to being domineering and arbitrary; people usually just follow his orders. If I cross him, the consequences aren’t something I can handle.”

Xia Qingye was telling the absolute truth. Xia Yanbo’s desire for control was immense; she really couldn’t just step in and “plead” regarding Chu Rou. If she did, her brother might just get angry and blacklist the woman entirely.

“Xia Qingye, don’t push people too far!” Chu Rou snapped, stomping her foot and walking away.

Xia Qingye let out a cold snort. Nowadays, no one believes the truth.

Perhaps because the “peace talk” failed, Chu Rou spent the next few hours making trouble during their scenes. The set was filled with the director’s shouting: “Cut, cut, cut! Chu Rou, are you a pig? Bai Qinying is your sister, not your f–king mortal enemy! If you look at her with that gaze one more time—”

“Five-minute break.”

When the director called for a retake because one person was off, everyone had to suffer through multiple NGs.

Yu Lan handed Xia Qingye water and a small blanket. “Sister Xia, you weren’t even supposed to film today. Why waste time staying here to get yelled at alongside Chu Rou? If you want to finish her off, just let CEO Xia keep leaking the scandals.”

Xia Qingye gave her a nonchalant look and warned, “Don’t talk about such things on set. There are too many ears around; be careful of eavesdroppers.”

Yu Lan lowered her head and peeked around cautiously. “I understand, Sister Xia.”

Xia Qingye traced the rim of her tea cup with her finger, tapping the glass lightly. She looked down at her slender fingers, and the assistant’s words from earlier echoed in her mind.

Qi Jiani.

“Sister Tianqing, there’s something I don’t know if I should tell you.”

“It’s April Fool’s Day today—you’re not giving me some weird prank gift, are you?”

“Well, it is April Fool’s. I just saw Sister Zhong calling the CEO of Siji Company. It sounded like a dinner date. You should ask her; maybe she’s just joking.”

…

“Sister Xia, Sister Xia! The director is calling.”

“Mhm.”

Xia Qingye stood up, handed the cup and blanket to Yu Lan, took a step, then turned back. “Yu Lan, come here. There’s something I need you to do.”

After being lectured by the assistant director, Chu Rou behaved. At least she didn’t stare with murderous intent at the “benefactor” who had just saved her life. However, that “sharp” gaze actually suited Noriko Arima’s character. As a Japanese spy, she was ruthless and never hesitated to kill. In the moment she was tackled to the ground, Noriko’s eyes should have held a hint of malice, which then had to be quickly hidden upon seeing Bai Qinying—the high-ranking officer.

Chu Rou was stuck on that transition, unable to grasp it.

Xun Guang was extremely strict during filming. If the gaze was wrong, retake. If the posture was wrong, retake. Lines wrong, retake. Again and again. He insisted on a performance that satisfied him.

For the first time in a month of filming, Xia Qingye was N-G’d over a dozen times.

Everyone on set looked at her with pity. Even Yu Lan wanted to call CEO Xia to complain, but all reports had to be approved by Xia Qingye first. She decided to call Wei Xianghong instead—and got a lecture for her trouble.

After finishing for the day, Xia Qingye received a call from Wei Xianghong and was similarly scolded for talking to Chu Rou alone for ten minutes.

“Yu Lan, what did you do this time?”

“I… I was bored and gave Sister Xiang a call.” Yu Lan shrank back guiltily. She hadn’t done it on purpose; she didn’t think Sister Xiang would scold Xia Qingye too.

Xia Qingye was amused by her. “Forget it. Did you find out what I asked you to?”

At the mention of business, Yu Lan immediately turned serious. “I found out most of it. I don’t know if the details are true, though.”

“Tell me.”

“Qi Jiani was originally an artist at Tianqing Studio. When her boss, the Film Queen Xia Tianqing, was alive, her resources were great. She starred in several hit dramas and was more popular than Chu Rou is now. She was on track to surpass the current top starlets. But after Film Queen Xia died, her luck turned. She first offended Film Queen Zhong from the same studio, then insulted the boss of Siji Company in public. She was blacklisted for three years. She only started making a comeback in the last two years, but she’s ‘past her prime’ now. Now she can only look for supporting roles wherever she can.”

Xia Qingye’s face turned like frost, a biting coldness in her eyes.