Chapter 34: Alarm Bells Rang In Her Heart
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
As the days progressed day by day, the Sui Ting crew had a full schedule of daily tasks, and the main set was also moved to the Han Palace.
Although there are occasional issues during this period, and NG happens every day, overall, the filming is going smoothly. Needless to say, Xi Mo and Ruan Yesheng are exceptionally talented. Yan Mu, after years of training, has transformed from an idol who relied mainly on his looks to a strong male god with both looks and acting skills. Even actors like Ding Pei have been improving these days and no longer feel nervous. Lin Qitang even praised his rapid progress on set one day.
In the morning, they were shooting a scene with Xi Mo and Liu Yusi. Ruan Yesheng and Ding Pei, both in makeup and costumes, sat on the side, watching and waiting for their scenes.
Since receiving encouragement from Ruan Yesheng last time, Ding Pei has always been grateful to her and often secretly sends some practical gadgets to Ruan Yesheng in private. When it was too hot on the set, he gave her a small portable fan that could blow cool air. There were a lot of mosquitoes during night scenes, so he gave Ruan Yesheng a mosquito repellent. It was very effective in getting rid of mosquitoes. Ruan Yesheng even specially asked for one more to give to Xi Mo. With these exchanges, they became quite familiar.
After a while, Yan Mu, who was free, also came over. Ding Pei quickly called out "Brother Mu" and brought a stool for him. Yan Mu never used airs on the set, so he nodded kindly in response and then greeted Ruan Yesheng with a smile, saying, "Sister."
"Mm." Ruan Yesheng responded calmly.
Ruan Yesheng knew that Yan Mu had always had a good relationship with Xi Mo. He called her "Sister" quite frequently. Ruan Yesheng wasn't sure how Xi Mo felt about Yan Mu, but she was aware of Yan Mu's deep concern for Xi Mo. Now, as she stood in for Xi Mo in the role of Deng Sui, she had a lot of scenes opposite Yan Mu. Every day, she saw Yan Mu being attentive to her on set, and even in the evenings, he sent her WeChat messages asking if she wanted to go out.
Ruan Yesheng felt displeased when she thought that Yan Mu's attentiveness was actually for Xi Mo. Therefore, every time Yan Mu invited her, she found various excuses to decline and imitate Xi Mo's previous demeanor, trying to appear elegant and aloof, effectively putting an end to Yan Mu's continuous attentiveness.
Yan Mu sat down, looked at the shooting area, and said: 'Sister, I have some good medicated plasters that can activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis. You have a lot of kneeling scenes. Use that to relieve the pain. "Shall I bring a few boxes to you this afternoon?"
"No need, I bought medicated oil, thank you." Ruan Yesheng glanced at him pretending to be nonchalant: "Give it to the friends in the crew who need it. Everyone is working hard."
"I have a lot of plasters." Yan Mu smiled and said, "Sister, you don't need to worry. Just use them. I've already set some aside to give to friends."
Ruan Yesheng wanted to roll her eyes at this misunderstanding, but she put on a cool smile that made it hard for anyone to get close and said, "I really don't need it. You have so many friends, even if you share some of the plasters, you'll run out."
The kindness of giving plasters was rejected several times, and Yan Mu didn't think it was a big deal. He still said with a smile: "Okay, sister, let me know next time when you need it, and I will save some for you."
After all, Ruan Yesheng was too far away from Xi Mo's life. How could she understand that Xi Mo didn't like to deal with Yan Mu in the past? He fearlessly treated Xi Mo as his sister, as if he had antibodies. Ruan Yesheng's way of avoiding his attention was simply part of Xi Mo's consistent style. So, rather than being scared away by Ruan Yesheng's aloofness, he became even more enthusiastic.
Every time Ruan Yesheng saw him being more attentive, alarm bells rang in her heart. She wondered if he had ulterior motives towards Xi Mo and was surprised that even these efforts couldn't drive him away.
As Yan Mu, who Ruan Yesheng suspected of having ulterior motives, sat in his chair, he stared fixedly at the shooting area where Xi Mo was playing Ding'e. He genuinely praised, "Miss Ruan is doing so well today."
There were tiny stars in his eyes, like those of a true fan.
Ruan Yesheng didn't hear this as the assistant director came over and asked her to prepare for her entrance. She then stood up and walked away.
On the other side, as the camera was pushed over, Liu Yusi, who played the role of the young Empress Yin, let out a cold laugh and glared at Xi Mo, saying, "How dare a lowly servant like you defy heaven?!"
When filming a palace drama, it seems that it can’t be called a real palace drama unless a few villains roll their eyes and glare a few times. Who knows who made this rule.
Xi Mo knelt on the ground, her body straight and her face neither humble nor arrogant, letting Liu Yusi get angry.
"Servant!" Liu Yusi said: "Drag and give me thirty strikes…Ah, I'm sorry, Director Lin, I misspoke."
Xi Mo: "..."
Doing it again, Liu Yusi shouted: "Servant! Drag her down and give her thirty strikes as punishment, as a warning to others!"
This scene took place in Deng Sui's palace. At this time, Deng Sui was favored by Liu Zhao. When the young Empress Yin shouted, no one in Deng Sui's palace moved. Young Empress Yin became more and more angry, causing several of her own servants from the palace to take Ding'e away.
Several extras who played palace maids approached. Xi Mo's gaze swept over each of them, sending a bone-chilling feeling. These extras assumed a cowering, fearful posture and dared not come any closer.
Yan Mu, who was not far away, said in a low voice: "Miss Ruan's eyes are so on point today."
Ding Pei said carefully from the side: "Brother Mu, you said the same thing yesterday."
Yan Mu: "..."
"That's because Miss Ruan's eyes are so on point every day." Yan Mu said, the light in his eyes shining again.
Ding Pei observed his expression from the side and felt that the person he was most suitable to play at this moment was not Emperor Han of He, but a brainless fan.
Liu Yusi looked around and saw that the other extras on the left and right were all shrinking their necks and not daring to come over. She walked up to Xi Mo angrily and raised her hand as if to slap her, saying, "How dare you, lowly servant!"
Although this is filming, it is natural for Liu Yusi to incorporate her own emotions into the film. However, she usually does not like this new "Ruan Yesheng" in the production team. She feels that her arrival has caused Yan Mu to take care of her in every way, and her jealousy naturally makes her unhappy with the boss Xi Mo.
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
This dissatisfaction was more or less reflected in the young Empress Yin's dislike of Ding'e, so Liu Yusi's slap in the face, although it was not meant to actually strike Xi Mo, be it according to the script or to maintain a facade of harmony within the cast and crew, Liu Yusi did have a certain amount of anger when she waved her hand. With anger, the force of her wave naturally became stronger.
Xi Mo raised her head and accurately grasped Liu Yusi's wrist according to the script. She noticed the obvious strength on her wrist and her eyes suddenly turned cold.
Liu Yusi felt a little guilty when she saw this look in her eyes and was actually so frightened by Xi Mo that she broke into a cold sweat.
Lin Qitang, unaware of the underlying currents, saw Liu Yusi's expression, a mix of fear and embarrassment, as she tried to maintain a queenly demeanor despite being put in her place. He couldn't help but praise, "Liu Yusi's performance in this scene is outstanding! It's so realistic as if she's genuinely acting in the moment!"
Liu Yusi: "..."
Director Lin, do you even know how to praise people?
Liu Yusi had always been strong on the outside but stubborn on the inside. She felt that the "Ruan Yesheng" in front of her was not as easy to bully as she thought, so she did not dare to act like a monster and continued to act with Xi Mo honestly.
And the real Ruan Yesheng has already walked near the camera as required, waiting to be taken into the frame.
"You are so brave!" Liu Yusi took back her hand and continued to slap Xi Mo for the second time.
At this time, it was Ruan Yesheng's turn. Ruan Yesheng took a step forward and took Liu Yusi's wrist, blocking her in front of Xi Mo and staring at her.
Liu Yusi's face turned blue and white, and she screamed in her heart: Why is it that an Empress like me is 100% set to be grabbed by someone's bare hands?! What a broken script!
Ruan Yesheng blocked Liu Yusi's hand pushed it back slightly, then knelt down with a calm face and said politely: "May the Empress be safe."
Liu Yusi said with a strange tone: "I, who lives in the middle palace*, is disciplining one or two disobedient palace servants, does Lady Deng want to teach me something?"
*中宫 (zhōng gōng) middle palace, the Empress' residence. Can also be used by the Empress to refer to herself, like the royal 'I or me'
Ruan Yesheng smiled slightly and said: "If Your Majesty wants to discipline the palace people, I dare not overstep. It's just that the only person I brought over from the Deng family is Ding'e. She is my servant and can only be disciplined by me." Outsiders are not allowed to interfere, this is what His Majesty personally promised to this concubine. His Majesty said that no one in this world can directly discipline Ding'e except His Majesty and this concubine. The Emperor is true to his words, and I believe His Majesty has treated you with great affection, I hope you will not let His Majesty break his word."
This is because Deng Sui once pleased Liu Zhao. Liu Zhao favored her very much and agreed to her request. Deng Sui didn't ask for anything for herself, but she asked for such a privilege for Ding'e. Liu Zhao thought that it wasn't a big deal, so he agreed to her request.
Having said this, Ruan Yesheng lowered her body and bowed on her knees: "But if Ding'e angered the Empress, I will personally punish her severely. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."
Liu Yusi became even more angry: "Now you really dare to say all kinds of nonsense for such a lowly servant."
"I dare not deceive Your Majesty. The Emperor is on his way here. When Your Majesty sees him later, you will know."
As Ding Pei watched, he couldn't help but say, "Brother Mu, is there something wrong with this script?"
Yan Mu watched with great interest and responded casually: "What's the problem?"
Ding Pei struggled to find the words for a while and said: "I just think Deng Sui is too good to Ding'e. She finally got a privilege, but she asked for it in favor of Ding'e. There are also some scenes that were filmed before. The two of them are really… very Lily, it's blinding, really Ji*, are they really treating Brother Mu as absent... No, I mean, really treating the male lead Emperor Han of He, absent?"
*姬 or 姬姥 (Ji/Ji Lao) slang for lesbians
"What Ji? What does Lily mean?" Yan Mu turned his head and looked at Ding Pei: "Isn't that a kind of flower?"
"Brother Mu, don't you know what Ji and Lily mean?" Ding Pei quickly gave him some popular science.
The two of them huddled aside and muttered for a long time. Ding Pei showed him his phone again. When they got to the back, Yan Mu had a shocked expression on his face as if he discovered a new world.
"How do you know so much?" Yan Mu held onto Ding Pei's phone.
Ding Pei answered honestly: "I didn't know at first. I was only familiar with that other Ji Lao*. My sister told me about this Ji Lao. She knows Lily better."
*基佬 (ji lao) slang for gay guys
Yan Mu was shocked and moved back subconsciously: "You are actually very familiar with that Ji Lao?"
Ding Pei was shocked when he saw him like that, and quickly clarified: "Brother Mu, I'm just familiar with it, but I'm not gay!"
Yan Mu: "..."
Ding Pei: "..."
On the other side, Lin Qitang called a "cut", and one scene passed and the next one came on.
When the work was over, Ruan Yesheng invited Xi Mo to have lunch at her place. Feng Tangtang asked the small kitchen to cook vegetables, which was much better than the boxed meals from the crew, and the nutrition was well-balanced. If Ruan Yesheng invited her before, she would have been lucky if Xi Mo agreed a few times, but now, she agreed every time and kept her promises without fail.
"You go first, I'll be back later." Xi Mo said calmly while cleaning up.
Ruan Yesheng nodded and left with peace of mind.
Halfway through cleaning up, Yan Mu came over and smiled at Xi Mo: "Miss Ruan, haven't you had lunch yet?"
Since Group A and Group B both arrived at the Han Palace, Yan Mu would often appear in front of her, showing concern and care. Xi Mo remained vigilant and replied, "Not yet. I'm going to Xi Mo's place for lunch. She invited me."
"Really? Sister invited you." Yan Mu showed a slightly disappointed expression.
From the beginning, when the crew started the banquet, Yan Mu took the initiative to come over and greet her.
Afterward, whenever he had free time, he would sit on set to watch scenes related to Ding'e, wearing a brilliant smile.
Seeing how attentive he was, Xi Mo deliberately pretended to be cold in front of Yan Mu so that he could retreat despite the difficulties. Who knew that Yan Mu didn't retreat at all?
When Xi Mo noticed that Yan Mu had no intention of backing down, alarm bells rang in her heart. She had never thought that Ruan Yesheng, the coquettish fairy, would be suitable for anyone, but she was certain that she wasn't a match for someone as naive and sweet as Yan Mu. She knew Yan Mu was a good person, but she believed that Yan Mu and Ruan Yesheng were completely incompatible.
If her body were to return to normal in the future, and Yan Mu continued to pursue Ruan Yesheng, it would be even more unsuitable. She felt it was necessary to cut off this "unsuitability" in advance.
Yan Mu quickly regained his smile: "By the way, I see that you were a little injured while doing wire works a few days ago. I have a few boxes of plasters here, which are very useful. Can you try it and see how it works?"
Xi Mo pondered whether this guy had ulterior motives regarding Ruan Yesheng. She smiled and politely declined, "Thank you, but I've already bought some medicated oil. I'm just worried that the oil and the plasters might conflict with each other, so it's best to give the plasters to someone else on the set who might need them."
Yan Mu couldn't hide his disappointment and asked, "Oh, so you also bought medicated oil, Miss Ruan?"
He didn't realize that he had received the "medicated oil" card from both of them at the same time and that they were simultaneously suspicious of his intentions. He felt a bit sorry for himself, unable to give away those plasters.
However, he was an optimist and chatted with Xi Mo a bit before leaving to not delay her lunch.
Feng Tangtang set up a small table in the lounge and set the food. When Xi Mo came in, she waved quickly: "Ruanruan, come here, I've been waiting for you."
Xi Mo washed her hands and sat down at the table. Ruan Yesheng noticed that she seemed a little unhappy, so she asked her, "What's wrong? You don't look good."
Xi Mo said casually: "It's nothing, I'm a little tired from filming too many scenes."
Ruan Yesheng stopped asking, filled a bowl of soup and handed it to her.
Xi Mo took the soup, said thank you, took a sip, and said, "Is the medicinal oil I gave you very useful? Does it help with your knees from all that kneeling during filming?"
"It's very useful." Ruan Yesheng didn't know why she suddenly mentioned this.
Xi Mo continued to look at her and said, "I told you, medicated oil is definitely more effective than plasters."
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
