Chapter 30: If I Promise You, I Will Definitely Do It. If I Can't Do It, I Won't Make Promises
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
The camera returned to its position, and Ruan Yesheng walked back to the starting position.
The script supervisor claps the slate, and then Ding Pei walks in again. Ruan Yesheng stands up to greet him and then kneels down again.
Ding Pei stammered, "Qiang Guardian Deng Xun, benevolent, virtuous, and noble, he devoted himself tirelessly. Upon hearing this... dreadful news, I feel like I've lost an arn*..."
*Ding Pei mispronounced, he said 弘骨 (hóng gǔ) instead of "肱骨" (gōng gǔ) which refers to the humerus bone or the bone of the upper arm in the human body.
"Cut!" Lin Qitang, upon hearing him make another mistake, shouted, "It's not 'arn'! It's 'arm'! Say it with me, 'arm,' not 'arn'! And why are you stuttering like this, your expression is completely wrong! You're here to read the imperial edict, not recite a confession!"
He is not that kind of stern director. He is generally easy to get along with, and sometimes he can liven up the atmosphere. Now that he is yelling like this, it seems that he is really angry.
Ding Pei was already very nervous. He had just made a big joke when he mispronounced it for the first time. He clearly heard someone laughing at the scene. Now he had done it for the second time and was yelled at by Lin Qitang. He became even more nervous and didn't know where to stand. He didn't know where to put his face, so he could only apologize repeatedly, saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
Actually, making mistakes in lines during filming is quite common. It's often a matter of getting the words in the script in the wrong order, accidentally misspeaking, or actors improvising when they forget their lines. However, making pronunciation mistakes on such obvious words is rare. Usually, when actors encounter unfamiliar words in the script, they will look them up themselves or assistants will mark unfamiliar words for them. Most words are common, so there are very few instances of mispronunciation.
Saying the wrong lines can make people laugh on set, and these situations are usually quite relaxed. Many bloopers with actors laughing are very interesting to watch. But if you mispronounce words, especially common ones, it becomes a bit of a joke - although no one says it outright, some people must be silently mocking this singer for having a good-looking face but lacking culture.
Lin Qitang wasn't originally upset about Ding Pei's pronunciation mistake, but rather because it had caused some people to laugh. As soon as Ding Pei heard others laughing, his state of mind became very unsettled, and he grew increasingly nervous, to the point where he couldn't perform. While mistakes in dialogue can be fixed with dubbing in post-production, his overall state was affected, necessitating a reshoot, which was what bothered Lin Qitang.
Xi Mo, who was kneeling in the corner, frowned when she heard the suppressed laughter of some people.
She had always felt that it was very rude to add insult to injury by making fun of others. Initially, she didn't have much of an impression of Ding Pei, only remembering that Yan Tinghuan had been coaxing him to drink at the dinner table. Now, seeing him standing there all nervous, she couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for him. However, she was far away, and given her current body and status on the set, she couldn't really say or do much.
Although Ding Pei had a small group of fans from his singing competition days, he wasn't considered a big celebrity, especially in the realm of acting where he was quite inexperienced. There was a tendency in the entertainment industry to both elevate and criticize and if it had been someone like Yan Mu who made the mistake, surely no one would dare to laugh in his presence.
Lin Qitang was dissatisfied and demanded a retake. Unfortunately, in the following attempts, Ding Pei remained too nervous to get into the right state, so Ruan Yesheng had to get up and kneel again, repeating this monotonous scene.
After several NGs, Lin Qitang waved his hands and finally lost his temper: "Okay, let's adjust for a few minutes and try again later. Ding Pei, look at your line again. If you really can't get it, just recite a few poems that you are familiar with. Like 'The bright moonlight before my bed, I suspect it is frost on the ground'. Don't be affected by the lines so that you can't take the picture. I don't ask for anything else. As long as your expressions and movements are in place, we'll dub your lines later."
Ding Pei knew that there was no other way, so he bit his lip, blushed, and nodded: "Okay, thank you, Director Lin."
When Ruan Yesheng stood up this time, her legs were trembling slightly, and she stumbled a step outward. She composed herself, adjusting her posture discreetly, and then stood upright. She had been kneeling throughout the previous mourning scene, and just now, she had knelt multiple times, causing a subtle ache in her knees.
Ding Pei hurried over and said awkwardly: "I'm sorry, Sister Xi. I'm really sorry! It's... I'm so useless."
He was so frightened that he didn't dare to say anything else except sorry.
Ruan Yesheng was afraid that he would be under pressure, so she maintained a gentle demeanor, "Everyone makes mistakes with their pronunciations; don't take it too hard. It's your first time acting, which is completely normal. We've all been through this."
"Thank you, Sister Xi." Ding Pei's eyes welled up slightly. "But I know I'm just too clumsy. Even if it's someone's first time acting, they definitely wouldn't waste as much of the crew's time as I have."
Ruan Yesheng glanced around and lowered her voice, "I have a rather direct question for you, and I hope you won't mind. I truly don't mean anything else by it."
Ding Pei shook his head hurriedly: "How could it be possible? Go ahead and ask, Sister Xi."
Ruan Yesheng paused and said, "If you were very, very popular now, do you think they would laugh like just now?"
Ding Pei was stunned. He lowered his head and muttered after a while: "They will definitely not laugh."
"Actually, they can still laugh." Ruan Yesheng said softly: "But they will only laugh secretly in their hearts and dare not laugh out loud. If you can't see or hear, you won't be affected. Once you become very popular, they won’t laugh at you in front of your face, they will only dare to do it behind your back.”
Ding Pei bit his lip and remained silent.
Ruan Yesheng looked at him and said, "If a person isn't nervous and performs well in acting, they may not necessarily become famous. But if that person is very nervous and encounters problems in portraying their character, then they lose the foundation for becoming famous. In this industry, if you're not famous, others dare to embarrass you openly, and embarrassment leads to nervousness. It's a cycle. So, do you want to be nervous or not?"
Ding Pei raised his head, his face showing a complex expression. Then, as if dispelling the gloom, he seemed to find some determination and nodded to Ruan Yesheng, saying, "I understand now. I want to be less nervous."
Ruan Yesheng smiled: "As I said just now, I didn't mean anything else. It's not about how you are now."
Ding Pei bowed to her sincerely: "I understand your intentions, Sister Xi. Thank you so much. I will definitely work hard."
Seeming to muster up quite some courage, he blushed and whispered, "Sister Xi, please don't think badly of me for being curious, but I wanted to ask, when you first started acting, did you ever mess up and become the subject of laughter? You... You can trust me, I won't gossip."
Ruan Yesheng casually replied, "I don't think so. After all, I would have used my glare to kill them first."
Xi Mo did indeed do that back then, and Ruan Yesheng knew this very well. With a single glance, Xi Mo could make sure no one dared to offend her to her face. Her strong background was widely known in the industry.
Ding Pei: "..."
Xi Mo watched from a distance as Ding Pei spoke with her, not knowing what they were discussing. However, whatever it was, it seemed to have rekindled some youthful vigor in Ding Pei's face, which had previously been filled with embarrassment. Even though she couldn't hear, she could guess that Ruan Yesheng had probably lent him some support.
But she didn't guess that Ruan Yesheng would "blacken" her again.
After a few minutes, Lin Qitang asked Ding Pei's choice, "So, what do you think this time? Are you going to recite your lines or poetry?"
Ding Pei's eyes sparkled this time and he said, "I will read the lines well. Please give me another chance, Director Lin."
Lin Qitang glanced at him and acquiesced: "Go ahead."
After clapping the slate and moving, Ruan Yesheng knelt again.
Ding Pei read out: "Qiang Guardian Deng Xun, benevolent, virtuous and noble, he devoted himself tirelessly. Upon hearing this dreadful news, I feel like I've lost an arm and my heart is sad. His daughter, Deng Sui, is beautiful, gentle, and virtuous. Originally scheduled to enter the palace next month, I sympathize with her sudden misfortune and admire her filial piety. I'm willing to wait for her to observe a three-year mourning period for her father. After three years, she can enter the palace, and additional rewards will be given."
Ruan Yesheng lowered her head and knelt on the floor. Her voice was neither sad nor happy, like a piece of wood: "Deng Sui received the order and thanked His Majesty for his great kindness."
The filming of this scene went smoothly. At least Ding Pei was no longer nervous. As long as he overcame his nervousness, he had no problems reading the lines and his expressions were basically in place. After one more take, which was even better, he quickly improved, and Director Lin Qitang let him pass."
Time was tight, and there was no time to go back to the hotel at noon, so they all had lunch on set. Afterward, they each found a folding lounge chair and took a short nap before continuing to work.
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
After such a busy day, it was finally time to leave at around five o'clock. Since there were no night scenes tonight, many people looked a lot more relaxed. At least they could go out to play in the evening, or cover their heads and catch up on some sleep.
Xi Mo was busy packing her bag, and Ruan Yesheng walked over to watch her, but she didn't say anything.
Xi Mo noticed the shadow cast by the person beside her as she approached. She turned her head to glance at Ruan Yesheng, who clearly had a look of anticipation as if she wanted to say something but was holding back. It made Xi Mo feel like Ruan Yesheng was still the same as she used to be in college, and for the first time.
She thought that she was cute.
This is also the first time that she feels that the word cute is not inappropriate when used on Ruan Yesheng.
Ruan Yesheng also invited Xi Mo out for dinner when they were in college. She only agreed three times. But after agreeing, Ruan Yesheng always seemed to want to accompany her from start to finish, as if she was afraid Xi Mo would come up with some excuse not to go. Seeing Ruan Yesheng like this, it seemed like she had been stood up often but couldn't do anything about it, which had left her with some psychological shadow.
However, Xi Mo had kept her promise all three times she was invited, and since she always kept her word, it was likely that the person who often stood Ruan Yesheng up was someone very close to her. Otherwise, Ruan Yesheng wouldn't be so concerned, behaving as if she might be let down for some reason while waiting for someone to keep an appointment.
Xi Mo thought about it but didn't express anything on her face. She simply said, "If I promised you, I will definitely do it. If I can't do it, I won't make promises. Tell me the address, and I'll come to find you when the time comes."
She was afraid that Ruan Yesheng's lack of security would emerge, so she added: "Don't worry."
Ruan Yesheng felt that although her words were faint, they were obviously thoughtful and comforting. Her eyes became much brighter and she said in a good mood: "Mm, I know you have always been trustworthy."
Xi Mo said nothing, and Ruan Yesheng told her where to eat: "Then I'll wait for you."
Xi Mo packed up her bag and walked a few steps, then turned around and asked her: "What did you say to Ding Pei before? He got into the mood pretty quickly after that."
Ruan Yesheng curled her lips and smiled: "Oh, um, I gave him some of those poisonous chicken soup* in WeChat Moments to encourage him. He is simple and likes to drink it. It's simple and effective."
*contents or posts on social networks that appear to be motivational/emotional boosters but actually contain marketing and fraudulent information.
Xi Mo: "..."
You are really poisonous.
Ruan Yesheng returned to the hotel room. She was tired after a long day, sweating a lot, and she still had to have dinner with Xi Mo later. She didn't want to go smelling sweaty, so she quickly took a shower. After taking a shower, she changed into clothes she was satisfied with. She opened the curtains and stood by the window to take a casual look. She is staying on a higher floor and has an unobstructed view of the nearby streets.
The area where the hotel is located is quite lively, with many shops lined up. Ruan Yesheng looked at it for a while, and her eyes were immediately attracted by a figure. She saw Xi Mo wandering on the street from a distance.
The clothes Xi Mo was wearing were different now than when she had returned earlier, probably after taking a shower. Judging from the time, it seemed that she had just come out. She walked as if looking around casually, but she was extremely focused, almost scrutinizing the surroundings as if she wanted to see through everything around the hotel. After thinking for a moment, she walked into a fruit shop.
She didn't know what Xi Mo said to the boss. It took a while before she came out, carrying a bag of fruit in her right hand. When she was leaving, the boss kept waving to her, beaming as if he had just sent away a god of wealth.
Ruan Yesheng found it strange. At first, she thought that Xi Mo had become polite because they were going to have dinner together in the evening, and she even prepared some fruits.
But she quickly dismissed it, Xi Mo would not do that.
Ruan Yesheng would rather believe that she bought the fruit to use her sky-high shelf to launch the fruit into outer space to comfort the astronauts on the space station or to use her noble and cold aura like the snow in the Changbai Mountains to create an ice knife and practice her knife skills for a fruit carving exhibition, rather than believing that Xi Mo bought the fruits for them to eat after dinner.
Besides, the restaurant would provide dessert fruits after the meal, so there was no need to buy these.
Ruan Yesheng thought for a moment, went out, took the elevator downstairs, and in the hotel lobby on the first floor, she positioned herself with an apparently coincidental gesture, saying with a smile, "What a coincidence."
Xi Mo didn't expect her to show up, and said, "Didn't I ask you to wait for me there? I'm going to go there now."
Ruan Yesheng said nonsense: "I wanted to go out to buy something, but I didn't expect to bump into you."
Xi Mo stared at her for a while, making Ruan Yesheng a bit nervous. Then Xi Mo said, "Your hair is only half-dried. Are you sure you want to go shopping on the street? Find another reason to lie next time."
Ruan Yesheng didn't feel embarrassed after being exposed. She smiled and said, "You are still so smart."
XiMo sighed helplessly, "You're still the same as before. I've already said that if I agree, I will definitely come."
Ruan Yesheng was a little stunned after hearing this. She was originally curious about why Xi Mo was wandering the street and buying fruits. This was not like her style, so she deliberately intercepted her. Unexpectedly, Xi Mo misunderstood and thought that she was still afraid of her not coming as before, so she followed her until dinner time.
After a brief moment of surprise, she pondered and felt a different kind of taste. The more she thought about it, the happier she felt. She said, "I didn't expect that even after so many years, you still remember."
Xi Mo glanced at her: "I just have a good memory."
No matter what Xi Mo said, Ruan Yesheng just felt happy.
She still remembers.
After Xi Mo finished speaking, he picked up the bag and walked to the left: "Let's go."
Ruan Yesheng said hurriedly: "The restaurant is not there."
Xi Mo looked at her and said, "Go and dry your hair first, You might catch a cold."
