Chapter 39: Forever And Ever, My Heart Will Remain Unchanged
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
The plant called “attachment” in Ruan Yesheng's heart seemed to become a little greener because of Xi Mo's words.
It has sprouted new leaves and tender petals and is filling up Ruan Yesheng at a visible growth rate. This kind of growth was so rapid that a slight distraction could provoke the budding and blooming sensation she struggled to suppress.
"I'll wait for you," Ruan Yesheng smiled, maintaining her composure. "I'll wait until you can tell me."
Xi Mo just looked at her.
Ruan Yesheng had rarely seen her look at her like this, and her eyes were a bit complicated. Although she didn't understand what Xi Mo was thinking at the moment, Ruan Yesheng understood that she liked Xi Mo looking at her like this.
“It's almost time. Let's head to the set," Xi Mo stood up, glancing at the pile of gifts from fans. "Ask Lu Qingming to handle these. He knows what to do."
Ruan Yesheng nodded and followed her to the set.
During the night scene, both Xi Mo and Ruan Yesheng were in good condition. Lin Qitang was very satisfied. After filming several regular scenes, there was still a scene where Ding’e removes Deng Sui's makeup at the end of the night.
The hair and make-up came and loosened Xi Mo's previously styled hair, then used satin at the back, and gathered it near her shoulders, making a simple and elegant style. Ding'e's character image was originally not meticulously crafted; the usual makeup was also relatively light. The makeup artist now made Xi Mo's facial makeup even lighter, almost bare-faced. However, Ruan Yesheng's original skin foundation was truly excellent; when the light shone on her, she still radiated a remarkable and incomparable brilliance.
Ruan Yesheng didn't need to remove makeup for now. Instead, she needed to sit on a stone stool in the inner courtyard of the sleeping palace, with cameras capturing her surroundings. At this point in the storyline, due to interference from the young Empress Yin, misunderstandings arose between Deng Sui and Liu Zhao. Deng Sui was confined to the sleeping palace, feeling gloomy and upset.
In palace dramas, it's almost inevitable for the main character, once entering the palace, to be confined by the emperor. Some unlucky ones even face confinement multiple times. Then, the protagonist relies on various means to turn the situation around, as if this is the only way to have conflicts, although it's unclear who set this rule.
Xi Mo carried a lantern and draped a cloak over her arm as she walked into the filming area. Approaching Ruan Yesheng from behind, she helped her put on the cloak and softly said, “Noble Lady, it is late, time to rest."
The summer night was oppressively hot, making it difficult for the cast, already dressed in layered and restrictive Han Dynasty costumes, to endure. However, they had to endure, especially considering the script's seasonal changes. Even in such intense heat, they had to portray a desolate feeling of a chilly night wind.
Ruan Yesheng raised her hand and adjusted the cloak before turning to look at Xi Mo.
Xi Mo's gaze drifted slightly, noticing that Ruan Yesheng's neck, wrapped in several layers of clothing, was sweating from the heat.
Although Deng Sui was not in a good mood at this time, she always smiled sweetly at Ding'e. Ruan Yesheng turned around and said with a smile: "I have said it hundreds of times, do not call me Noble Lady in private. Just call me Miss."
"I dare not."
"You do not have to be afraid in front of me. There is no one else here, you may continue to address me as 'Noble Lady' in public."
Xi Mo bowed and said, "Yes, Noble Lady."
Ruan Yesheng covered her lips and smiled. After smiling for a while, she looked at her and said in a low voice: "You are such a block of wood."
Xi Mo remembered when Ruan Yesheng had called her a block of wood after lunch. Hearing the same line now, her expression flickered a bit.
Usually, she hardly got distracted while acting and believed nothing could disturb her during filming. However, when acting opposite Ruan Yesheng, instead of immersing herself in the character of Ding'e, her thoughts drifted to the practicalities of being Xi Mo. It made her feel a bit embarrassed.
Ruan Yesheng was causing her distraction.
She was disrupting her.
When Xi Mo realized this, she felt even more embarrassed. What was even more dreadful was that this distraction was silent, inexplicable, like an unseen mist creeping in, unnoticed by Ruan Yesheng herself.
Ruan Yesheng was still in the character of Deng Sui, her eyes were expressive as she smiled at her.
"Cut!" Lin Qitang called for a halt.
Xi Mo and Ruan Yesheng stopped simultaneously.
Lin Qitang asked, "Why didn't Ruan Yesheng say her lines? You forgot them?"
"Sorry, Director Lin," Xi Mo hurriedly responded, "I just got stuck suddenly."
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
In Lin Qitang's eyes, this "Ruan Yesheng" he personally selected had always performed exceptionally well—captivating appearance, and outstanding acting skills—and rarely stumbled or forgot lines. From the start of filming until now, he has believed he had made the right choice. As he was fond of nurturing talents, Lin Qitang naturally treated this "gem" kindly, saying to Xi Mo, "It's okay, let's do it again, but pay attention this time."
Doing it again, Ruan Yesheng smiled angrily and said, "You are such a block of wood."
"...Yes, Miss." Xi Mo lowered her head and eyes. She always looked humble and calm, but her voice was gentle: "I am a block of wood."
Ruan Yesheng stretched out her hand, and Xi Mo reached out to hold her, helped her up, and sent her back to the palace.
Several cameras kept chasing behind them, taking close-ups of their footsteps and swaying lanterns. After entering the palace, the camera position changed. Ruan Yesheng sat down in front of the bronze mirror. Xi Mo bent down behind her and carefully arranged the hem of her hanging palace dress. Then, she began to remove the hairpins and ornaments from Ruan Yesheng's head, placing them neatly into the jewelry boxes.
There are several jewelry boxes on the table. The hairpins, earrings, and bracelets inside are eye-catching. They were all given to Deng Sui by Liu Zhao.
Ruan Yesheng looked at the jewelry silently.
After removing her adornments, Xi Mo started to comb Ruan Yesheng's hair, her fair and slender fingers weaving through Ruan Yesheng's long black hair.
"Do not put on such complicated make-up tomorrow. It is better to keep it simple." Ruan Yesheng sighed: "No one will come to see it anyway."
She picked up a jade hairpin from the jewelry box, weighed it in her hand, and looked at it for a moment, then threw the hairpin away as if she was mocking herself: "Indulging in vanity does not last."
Xi Mo said: "Miss, if you wear makeup like this, you will look more energetic. When Miss looks spirited, it is very good. I will take care of your makeup, it is no trouble."
Ruan Yesheng turned her body sideways, looking back at Xi Mo. After a while, she said, "I wish not to meddle in others' affairs, but hope they do not meddle in mine. If such a day were to truly come, what do you think?"
This was the first clear display of Deng Sui's autonomous consciousness in the drama. She didn't confide in anyone else but felt safe sharing with Ding'e. She was unwilling to be confined within the narrow confines of the harem. She could only smile when the king smiled; when the king was gone, she was nothing, living like a rootless duckweed, without any support. She was unwilling.
Xi Mo stopped combing her hair, holding the comb in her hand as she stood there.
Ruan Yesheng chuckled, "If I speak such rebellious words, will I be executed?"
Xi Mo knelt before her, whispering softly, "I do not know about others, nor do I care. But I wish to serve Miss, forever and ever, my heart will remain unchanged.
Feng Tangtang, who had been observing the whole scene from nearby, couldn't help but stand up from her chair. Every time her Sister Xi and Ruanruan acted together, the process flowed smoothly like silk, rarely encountering any hiccups. It was evident that they could finish this scene in one go.
She pondered over the depth of affection between Deng Sui and Ding'e in the play, finding it both touching and overwhelming, especially the eye exchanges, dialogue delivery, and synchronized breaths between Xi Mo and Ruan Yesheng during their acting, which seemed to ferment and permeate throughout the entire set.
Once the scene was done, Lin Qitang called for a halt, and the makeup artist hurried over to remove Ruan Yesheng's makeup.
Ancient rouge and powder could be washed off with water. Later in the plot, Ding'e needs to wash Deng Sui's face to remove the makeup. Ruan Yesheng couldn't wash her face with modern, non-water-soluble makeup on; she had to remove it before washing her face to avoid exposing the anachronism. Lin Qitang was meticulous about such details.
After removing the makeup, Ruan Yesheng continued shooting. Xi Mo helped her remove the outer layer of the palace dress, leaving the inner garment. Then, she brought water to wash Ruan Yesheng's face and gently dried her cheeks with a towel.
During the face wiping, Ruan Yesheng's hair was slightly disheveled, sticking to her ears. Xi Mo glanced at her and delicately brushed away those stray hairs.
Ruan Yesheng's heart fluttered and she glanced at Xi Mo.
This action wasn't in the script; Xi Mo improvised it on the spot. Lin Qitang found it very natural and didn't call for a stop.
After washing her face, Ruan Yesheng said, "Ding'e, why do you not put on some makeup? You are always too plain."
Xi Mo portrayed Ding'e's slightly surprised posture, taking a step back with the towel. There was a hint of shy reluctance in her silence as she shook her head, "Since no one is looking at this servant, it is unnecessary."
"I am," Ruan Yesheng smiled, pulling out a jade clasp from a jewelry box.
The props of the Sui Ting drama were well thought out. Props used by important characters were custom-made. This jade clasp, presented by Deng Sui to Ding'e in the drama, was used later on by Ding'e. The prop was meticulously crafted, although not expensive, made of real jade, and quite exquisite.
Ruan Yesheng walked to Xi Mo's back and untied the silk that held her hair, using a jade clasp to tie up her long hair just like before.
Feng Tangtang, seeing this, suddenly felt like these two were getting a bit too ambiguous to look at. She glanced at the staff present; they were all stunned, probably not daring to watch.
Whether it was Ding'e and Deng Sui, or Sister Xi and Ruanruan, the atmosphere was strange.
Although she couldn't dare to watch, Feng Tangtang was especially eager to see and inexplicably excited by this scene. Her cheeks flushed red as she stared fixedly at Xi Mo and Ruan Yesheng. If she had a cheering flag right now, she would surely be cheering for the two actors in the scene.
"Do you have a cold or fever?" Gu Qisong asked stiffly next to him.
"No." Feng Tangtang turned her face in confusion.
"You're blushing unnaturally." As a bodyguard, Gu Qisong was very cautious about anything unusual: "If you have a fever, you need to take medicine."
Feng Tangtang: "..."
Gu Qisong looked in the direction of Xi Mo and Ruan Yesheng again and said in the same tone of voice: "Director Lin called something about bonding on the set a while ago. I didn't understand, so I went to check it out. Is this the bond they have now?"
"Yes... right." Feng Tangtang was sweating on her forehead, thinking that Brother Gu was handsome, but sometimes it was difficult to communicate with him using normal people's thinking.
After finishing work, Ruan Yesheng returned to the hotel with Xi Mo accompanying her, while Gu Qisong followed not too far behind. Ruan Yesheng dismissed Gu Qisong and stood at the door of her room, saying to Xi Mo, "Lu Qingming has organized those gifts; most of them have been taken away. There's still a small portion left in my room. They're mostly handmade, and there are letters written for you. Would you like to take a look?"
"I can take a look." Actually, she could see them whenever she had time, not necessarily confined to this moment. However, facing Ruan Yesheng's invitation, Xi Mo found it a bit difficult to refuse her.
Ruan Yesheng's eyes lit up with joy and she invited Xi Mo inside. Xi Mo sat down silently, and Ruan Yesheng placed a small box containing handmade gifts and letters in front of her, saying, "Lu Qingming didn't say much; he just left these behind. I guess it's because you used to read fan letters and handmade gifts."
Xi Mo said lightly: "Writing letters and doing handicrafts are quite laborious."
Ruan Yesheng sat next to her, holding her chin and looking at her: "No wonder they admire you so much."
Xi Mo added: "I don't read them all. I don't have that much time. I have to randomly pick some when I have free time. It's not realistic to read them all."
Ruan Yesheng still maintained her chin-supporting posture.
"Don't look at me like that." Xi Mo glanced at her: "It's a bit disgusting."
"This is the look of admiration." Ruan Yesheng said narrowly.
Xi Mo sneered: "You are not a fan, what do you admire?"
Ruan Yesheng said, "Stand up."
Xi Mo frowned.
"Stand up." Ruan Yesheng urged her and stood up at the same time.
This urging tone seemed to mix in a hint of coquettishness. Ruan Yesheng's voice naturally carried a soft and charming quality, and within it, this slight taste of coquetry was subtly concealed. It seeped into one's bones with her voice, making it more irresistible than direct coquetry.
Xi Mo silently stood up, maintaining a straight posture, and looked into Ruan Yesheng's eyes. "What for?"
"Hug," Ruan Yesheng smiled.
Xi Mo: "..."
Deep down, Ruan Yesheng was actually quite anxious, fearing Xi Mo's rejection. Yet, she still said, "You said fans ask for hugs, and as long as it's within the bounds of politeness, could you accept?"
Xi Mo just looked at her, saying nothing.
"I've said, I'm your fan too. Can you give me a hug?"
Ruan Yesheng wore a smile on her face, but inside, she was prepared for possible rejection. Xi Mo never liked any intimate contact with others. Even during filming, she never accepted kissing scenes, let alone other forms of intimacy. It was fortunate that she came from a good family background; otherwise, with her particularities about acting, it would be difficult for her to survive in the entertainment industry.
If she rejected it, it would be fine.
Feeling a bit melancholic, Ruan Yesheng thought she could brush it off later, hopefully avoiding an awkward situation.
Xi Mo approached Ruan Yesheng. Originally, Xi Mo was slightly taller than Ruan Yesheng, but after swapping bodies, their heights had switched, so now when Xi Mo looked at Ruan Yesheng, she had to slightly raise her gaze.
"Extend your hand," she said.
Ruan Yesheng looked somewhat puzzled, "..."
"If you don't reach out, how can I hug you?" Xi Mo said.
Ruan Yesheng hesitated for a moment, then slowly extended her hand. As her hand was about to touch Xi Mo's back, it stopped midway in the air. She was so nervous that even this impending embrace couldn't bear the weight of her more cautious hopes.
Sensing her hesitation, Xi Mo lifted her hand and gently embraced her.
Xi Mo hugged without hesitation, her arms encircling Ruan Yesheng's body, hands resting on her back. Through their embrace, she could even sense Ruan Yesheng's rapidly beating heart.
At that moment, Ruan Yesheng felt as if the entire world had emptied. Her hands found solace in Xi Mo's responsive embrace, clasping tightly onto Xi Mo's back.
