This Best Actress is a Bit Annoying - Chapter 16

“Pfft,” Jenny couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “Qingye, this little assistant of yours is quite fun.”

“Film Queen Nie doesn’t eat people, Yu Lan. Why did you barge in so frantically?” Xia Qingye spoke flatly, her voice cool like the white frost on a leaf in the early morning. The chill instantly snapped Yu Lan back to reality.

Yu Lan scratched her head guiltily. “It’s my first time seeing a Film Queen up close; I got a little over-excited.”

Connecting the dots, Xia Qingye guessed that when Nie Zhuying turned down the lead role in The Twin Flowers, she must have agreed to some sort of “unequal treaty” with Director Xun. Once her makeup was done, sure enough, she learned that her final scene would be acting opposite Nie Zhuying.

Seeing her look a bit dazed by the news, Xun Guang immediately comforted her. “I specifically dragged her here for a cameo. Just treat her like a normal actor; don’t feel any pressure. Perform exactly as you usually would.”

Xia Qingye: “Oh.”

Nie Zhuying’s makeup was also done by Jenny. Dressed in the colorful, patterned cotton jacket typical of the old era, the Film Queen—who usually radiated brilliance—underwent a transformation in clothing and hairstyle that instantly gave her a dusty, weathered look. One had to admire Jenny’s god-like makeup skills.

When Nie Zhuying saw Xia Qingye, she raised an eyebrow. Those enviable phoenix eyes slanted slightly upward, carrying a touch of roguishness and an innate authority, even while she was bundled in cotton pants and looking as bloated as a bread roll.

“Director Xun, it’s the last scene. We don’t need to waste time rehearsing, right?”

“Xiao Xia, what do you think?”

Xia Qingye sensed a hint of hostility in Nie Zhuying’s tone. Although she wasn’t sure when she had offended this “little ancestor,” she decided it was best to go along with her to avoid truly provoking her. For Xia Qingye’s current standing, that would be a huge headache. “I ask the Film Queen to show some mercy, then.”

The final scene was simple: Bai Qinying, having survived by a thread, leaves the blood-soaked and heartbreaking city of Shanghai with her contact. They return to the Communist intelligence hub to hand over tasks to the next agent. This person will take over the fight from her and “Eagle,” who died for the cause. The fire of revolution can start a prairie fire.

Nie Zhuying had only one shot, very short. She just had to open the door, see the two of them, and exchange the secret code.

The emotions of Bai Qinying, played by Xia Qingye, were much more complex. Her face needed to be a mix of the sorrow of losing comrades and the relief of achieving a partial victory. These emotions intertwined and finally returned to a calm state upon seeing the successor of the revolution. The revolution is not yet over; more effort is needed.

“Cut! Xiao Xia, your final emotion should be very peaceful.”

“Director Xun, let me find the feeling.”

Xia Qingye found herself a bit distracted by Nie Zhuying’s outfit. She found a quiet spot to meticulously contemplate Bai Qinying’s faith and her tumultuous life—the pain, the tears, the joy, and the grief. Before the fate of the nation, these complex personal emotions became very small. There is no home without a country.

“Director, I’m ready.”

“Get ready—Action!”

Bai Qinying stepped forward and knocked three times. When the door opened, their eyes met. Xia Qingye looked into Nie Zhuying’s beautiful eyes, which held a calm, steady light. She instantly fell into character.

“Who are you?”

“We are from Shanghai. we have an appointment with Mr. Shen Liang.”

With the end of those few short lines, The Twin Flowers officially wrapped.

The moment she heard “Pass,” Nie Zhuying immediately ran over to Xun Guang’s side, urging him to replay the shot. Seeing her “rustic” image on the monitor, she couldn’t help but grit her teeth. “Director Xun, couldn’t you have found something other than this floral cotton jacket?”

Director Xun shook his head. “Finding you a floral jacket was already pretty good. You only have one shot and you’re still being picky? Disperse, disperse! Join us for the wrap party later.”

Nie Zhuying stamped her feet in frustration. Zhou Ling, standing nearby, pushed her toward the dressing room. “It’s your own fault for being in the wrong first. Don’t go tarnishing the Nie family brand.”

At the mention of the “Nie family brand,” Nie Zhuying could only swallow her anger, silently greeting eighteen generations of Xun Guang’s ancestors in her head.

Xia Qingye had the self-awareness to return to her room first to remove her own makeup. Yu Lan followed her in and out like a little shadow. “Sister Xia, that Film Queen Nie seems to have a bit of a temper. I heard her scolding Director Xun when I left.”

Xia Qingye thought of the way Nie Zhuying had rambled nonsense to Director Xun before and wanted to laugh. People usually only speak so recklessly to those they consider friends. It was clear Nie Zhuying viewed Director Xun as a friend or a “senior” she could joke with. She asked, “Yu Lan, what are you trying to say?”

Yu Lan cleared her throat. “Sister Xia, do you think the Film Queen might be upset about you two trending together? What if she keeps giving you a cold shoulder in the future?”

Xia Qingye finished removing her makeup and washed her face. “She’s a Film Queen, and I’m a rookie who just debuted,” she said unhurriedly. “The Twin Flowers is just a brief intersection. I haven’t offended her; she has so many newcomers around her, she won’t necessarily remember me specifically.”

Yu Lan thought about it and realized she was right. Her heart, which had been hanging by a thread, finally began to settle.

The celebration banquet arrived quickly. Xia Qingye wore a champagne-colored long dress with a navy blue coat, her hair simply pinned up in a bun with light makeup. She looked fresh and capable.

Qi Jiani waved to her, but before Xia Qingye could head over, she heard Director Xun’s voice: “Hey, Xiao Xia! Come, come sit here.”

Xia Qingye sent Yu Lan to another table. As she sat down, she greeted everyone at the main table one by one. She was about to sit next to Xun Guang when Lu Yu spoke up: “Sit here; that seat is taken.”

Xia Qingye realized whose seat it was and felt her scalp go numb. “Thank you, Brother Lu.”

Lu Yu, usually stern and humorless, gave her a slight nod.

Then, Nie Zhuying arrived. Her long, wavy hair cascaded down. She wore a large down jacket over a black vest and high-heeled boots. She walked with a commanding aura and sat down dominantly next to Director Xun. “Sorry everyone, made you wait. Let’s begin.”

Xun Guang, used to her ways, urged everyone without a change in expression, “The banquet has started! Don’t be formal, eat until you’re full.”

“You have to penalize yourself with three glasses today,” Xun Guang added.

“Fine, three glasses it is.” Nie Zhuying heroically used a large glass. “But Director Xun, one thing must be clear: after these three glasses, this matter is settled. No bringing it up later.”

Xun Guang stood up and said with a smile, “This matter is settled, but you still owe me a female lead role, understand?”

Nie Zhuying was so annoyed her nose nearly went crooked. “Fine. First glass!”

Xia Qingye looked up slightly to see Nie Zhuying drain a glass of red wine. Her slender neck was exposed to everyone’s view; her fair skin was quite alluring under the lights. From this close, she could smell a scent coming from Nie Zhuying—a cool fragrance mixed with a hint of rose. It was very pleasant and tempting.

Taking advantage of the fact that everyone’s attention was on Nie Zhuying, Xia Qingye quickly shoveled a few mouthfuls of food to line her stomach.

“Good!”

“Sister Nie’s alcohol tolerance is impressive.”

“Don’t just watch me drink, everyone come toast our Great Director Xun.”

Nie Zhuying skillfully diverted the “trouble” to the East, drawing everyone’s attention to Director Xun. People from several tables came over to toast him. Xia Qingye inevitably drank several glasses as well. She knew her own limits, but she had underestimated the tolerance of this new body. By the time she realized something was wrong, the world before her was spinning.

“Sister Nie, for the sake of the past, I toast you a glass.”

“Little Nizi, you’re here too.” Nie Zhuying looked at Qi Jiani in surprise. “Haven’t seen you in years; you’ve become even more beautiful. Come, take it easy, don’t get drunk—it’ll be a hassle.”

Qi Jiani naturally didn’t dare force her to drink, taking only a couple of sips before noticing Xia Qingye sitting nearby. “Qingye, thanks for your help these past few months. I toast you too.”

Nie Zhuying watched the woman next to her with interest. Her sense of gossip was tingling.

Xia Qingye looked up at Qi Jiani, raised her glass, clinked it, and drained it in one go. Afterward, she sat quietly in her seat, staring at the table full of food, motionless.

Qi Jiani looked at her strangely. “Qingye, are you drunk?”

Xia Qingye shook her head, stood up, and walked out like a marionette—losing her usual liveliness and gaining an indescribable, dazed silliness.

Qi Jiani and Nie Zhuying exchanged a look. The former went to find Yu Lan, while the latter wore a look of disdain. “That tolerance is way too poor.”

Zhou Ling, after a round of toasting, leaned in close to Nie Zhuying. “Drinking on an empty stomach—I’ll remember this. Next time your stomach hurts, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Get ready, I’ll go say my goodbyes and then we leave.”

Nie Zhuying clicked her tongue impatiently. “So naggy. I’m going to the restroom.”

In the restroom, Xia Qingye was leaning against the wall, pressing her burning face against the cold surface to soothe the heat in her body. Yu Lan was buzzing in her ear, but she didn’t hear a word.

When Nie Zhuying entered the restroom, she saw Xia Qingye clinging to the wall like a gecko. She glanced at her, washed her hands, and looked in the mirror. Seeing that the girl couldn’t even stand steadily as she tried to leave, Nie Zhuying turned back. “Why are you here alone? Where’s your assistant?”

“Hey, hey!”

Xia Qingye smelled a familiar fragrance—sweet and very cool. It felt as though smelling it more could reduce the burning sensation.

Nie Zhuying hadn’t expected her act of meddling to result in the woman clinging to her like a koala. No matter how she pulled, she couldn’t get her off. “Don’t you dare go crazy on me. I’m telling you, if you puke on me, I won’t—”

Xia Qingye opened her eyes hazily. She saw something moving—something very tempting. With an “A-woo,” she leaned in and bit down directly.

Yu Lan rushed in at that moment, clutching a down jacket and a bunch of tissues. “Sister Xia, are you—”

She froze in shock. The ball of tissues in her hand rolled across the floor two or three times.

Author’s Note:

Xia Qingye: Mmm, delicious.

Nie Zhuying: Dammit, this is a wolf-dog.