Chapter 50: Do Not Be Afraid I Will Catch You
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
The two rested at Xi's Manor for one night and, the next morning, they were ready to return to the film set.
Auntie Zhou and another helper busily loaded bags and boxes into the car's trunk, containing daily necessities and food. Ruan Yesheng repeatedly said, "It's enough, it's enough. The film crew has everything."
While Auntie Zhou stuffed the cooler with lunchboxes, she chattered on, "You rarely come back, the film set is nothing compared to home. Auntie has prepared everything for you without a mistake. I also made some snacks, all your favorites. They're in here; once you reach Hengdian, take them out. Put them in the hotel fridge to chill, heat them when you want to eat."
She didn't forget to add, "Remember to ask Miss Ruan to join you."
Xi Mo: "..."
Ruan Yesheng smiled, "I know, I'll definitely call her."
Xi Ji stood alone by the car, silently watching. Once Auntie Zhou and the others finished their tasks and the two were ready to depart, he approached.
Ruan Yesheng said, "Dad, we're leaving."
Xi Mo added, "Uncle Xi, please go rest."
Xi Ji observed them for a moment and said, "If Xiao Ruan has time in the future, feel free to visit again."
Xi Mo had now somewhat resolved a knot in her communication with her father, and her mood was much lighter in front of Xi Ji. She smiled, "I will. Thank you, Uncle Xi, for your hospitality."
Then Xi Ji shifted his gaze to Ruan Yesheng, his voice steady, "Don't always focus solely on filming. Rest when it's time to rest."
Ruan Yesheng nodded, exchanged a few more words with him, and then returned to the car with Xi Mo, leaving the manor.
Auntie Zhou and the other helper went back, while Xi Ji remained in place, watching the direction the car left with a serious expression.
The phone rang, Xi Ji glanced at the caller ID, his face darkened a bit, and he answered the call.
Until he finished listening to the report on the other end of the phone, he remained silent. The person on the other end respectfully said, "Being able to trace it to this extent this time was quite challenging. Unexpectedly, the leads suddenly went cold. I'm wondering if they sensed something and went into hiding. If that's the case, the other party must be on high alert now, making future contact more difficult."
Xi Ji frowned, "Deploy more people, continue the investigation. I've also assigned Old Ding to keep an eye on it. He has a few experienced individuals under him for this kind of work."
"With Mr. Ding on the case, it's indeed a significant boost. On my end, I'll continue the investigation. Rest assured, I'll report to you as soon as there's progress."
Xi Ji hung up the phone, glanced once more in the direction of the manor's exit, then turned back.
When Ruan Yesheng and Xi Mo arrived at the airport, Lu Qingming and Feng Tangtang were already waiting. Lu Qingming looked at the two walking side by side, his expression not showing any particularly noticeable changes. He arranged for luggage check-in, while Feng Tangtang, as usual, displayed excitement and happiness on her face. It seemed as if she was afraid others wouldn't notice. When Ruan Yesheng wasn't paying attention, she quietly said to Xi Mo, pulling her arm, "When Sister Xi mentioned booking a return ticket for you, I was so surprised!"
"Oh?" Xi Mo raised an eyebrow, smiling at her. "How big is a whale? How many days will it take to finish eating?"
Feng Tangtang: "..."
Feng Tangtang didn't dare to ask any questions to her "Sister Xi", but facing her "Ruanruan", she still had some gossipy thoughts and couldn't help but ask Xi Mo: "Have you been staying with Sister Xi these two days? together?"
"Ask your sister Xi, she will tell you."
Of course, Feng Tangtang wouldn't dare to ask. She felt that "Ruanruan" had a secretive look on her face and probably didn't intend to really tell her, so she had to give up.
Back on the set, the monotonous life of the studio and the hotel continued again, but even a dull piece of candy like Feng Tangtang could see that after this short vacation, the relationship between her sister Xi and Ruanruan had changed.
Ever since entering the film set, she felt that those two individuals, who initially seemed to have a bit of a contentious relationship, gradually eased tensions. Their connection improved over time; not only did they exhibit perfect chemistry while acting as counterparts, but off-screen, she often witnessed the two of them moving together, even sharing meals at the same table.
After this return, their relationship seemed to become even more nuanced.
Yes, nuanced.
Feng Tangtang thought about it for a long time and felt more and more that only the word nuanced could properly describe the indescribable feeling. Then she discussed the matter with Gu Qisong when she had free time. It was called a discussion, but Gu Qisong was actually nothing but a gourd. After Feng Tangtang made a long and eloquent speech, he didn't say a word.
Finally, Feng Tangtang asked him: "Brother Gu, do you feel the same way as I do?"
Gu Qisong nodded stiffly: "Yes."
Feng Tangtang was very excited to get someone who agreed with her point of view. She didn't know why she was excited, and she happily concluded: "Let me just say, my intuition is not wrong. This time they are much better than before."
Gu Qisong once again agreed like a stick: "I understand, this is the bond you often talk about."
Feng Tangtang: "..."
Blame it on Director Lin and his constant talk about bonds on the set; perhaps he brainwashed Brother Gu. However, considering Brother Gu's usual brain structure seems different from ordinary people, brainwashing him likely wouldn't cause any substantial harm. With this thought, Feng Tangtang felt more at ease.
The shooting progress advanced day by day, and finally, it was time for outdoor scenes. Although "Sui Ting" was a palace drama, there were still outdoor scenes, just not as frequent as the court scenes. Lin Qitang chose a suitable time for outdoor shooting, planning to take advantage of the good weather these days to concentrate on capturing the outdoor scenes.
Outdoor scenes involve the main highlights of horse riding and the prominent wire work on the water. Both are considered relatively troublesome during filming, posing significant difficulties and hardships for both actors and crew members. There's even potential danger if not careful.
The martial scenes involving horse riding and wire work on the water are undertaken by Xi Mo. She plays the dual role of Ding'e, serving as Deng Sui's maid, and at the same time, being Deng Sui's protector. She clears obstacles for Deng Sui, cutting off all those who harbor ill intentions toward her. In the later part, she even becomes a sharp sword in Deng Sui's hands, holding significant power. When necessary, she eliminates dissidents in the court for Deng Sui.
This time, they are shooting the scene where Ding'e rescues Deng Sui on the boat and then escapes ashore on horseback with her. Since the boat scene involves wire work on the water, Lin Qitang arranged it for the last day of outdoor scenes. They don't follow the script's chronological order for shooting; it's done based on convenience. So, today, they decided to shoot the horse riding scene in advance.
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
In this scene, Ding'e appears in male attire. The stylist changed Xi Mo's hairstyle, transforming her originally dignified palace long hair into a high ponytail. As usual, the stylist adorned Ding'e with the jade clasp given by Deng Sui and finally, slightly lifted her delicate eyebrows, giving them a subtle tilt.
When Xi Mo, dressed in this cool black attire, emerged carrying a long sword, many crew members' attention was instantly captured. Especially a few female crew members who were already familiar with her and had a good relationship, privately calling her Ruanruan. Seeing Xi Mo in this outfit, their eyes lit up, gathering around her to admire from all angles.
The coordinator, also a woman, was truly amazed by Xi Mo's appearance. She came over, smiling, and said, "Oh my god, if I were Deng Sui, I'd definitely choose Ding'e over Liu Zhao."
A girl from the styling team immediately teased the coordinator, "I didn't expect you to have such a princess preference?"
Donning a big smile, the coordinator, who usually had a dedicated demeanor when organizing work schedules, playfully responded, "I have even more princess preferences!"
Saying that she lifted the girl from the styling team around the waist. The girl from the styling team suddenly felt shy, covering her face while calling and laughing in the coordinator's arms. The other girls around joined in the excitement. Xi Mo watched them having so much fun, and she couldn't help but smile. Her gaze swept over and caught Ruan Yesheng sitting on a folding chair not far away, smiling as she looked at her.
Lin Qitang shouted, "Get ready, everyone!"
The lively crowd dispersed immediately. Some crew members brought a horse over and tied it to a tree. Xi Mo had already interacted with this horse before. Now, she walked over, gently stroking its mane. The horse seemed quite gentle, cooperating with her. It even lowered its head, nuzzling against her palm.
Lin Qitang walked over and briefly discussed the scene with her, then said, "Although you know how to ride, be careful later. I've reminded them to pay extra attention while shooting."
"Thank you, Director Lin. I'll be careful. I spent some time test-riding this horse yesterday, and it feels quite suitable."
"That's good. When you told me you could ride, I was a bit surprised, to be honest. Nowadays, there are very few actors who can ride, especially female ones." After such a long time of filming, Lin Qitang observed the performance of "Ruan Yesheng" and was not just satisfied but impressed. Several times he considered signing her to his studio, and his appreciation overflowed, "While riding can be done with a stunt double or a fake horse for upper body shots, it's not ideal. Most people can't ride, and using a fake horse is relatively convenient. But where can you find a character that looks good on a real horse on screen?"
Hearing Lin Qitang's words, Xi Mo felt a bit concerned for Ruan Yesheng. If they collaborate in the future and Lin Qitang decides to give her more horse riding scenes, that could be challenging.
It seems like she will have to bring Ruan Yesheng to the horse ranch a few more times and continue to teach her until she becomes proficient. Additionally, she might need to customize a few sets of riding outfits for her.
A crew member brought a bucket of water and said to Xi Mo, "Miss Ruan, sorry to trouble you. It won't take long."
Xi Mo nodded. The crew member poured water over her, creating the effect of just emerging from the water. Although the weather was hot, being drenched in cold water without changing clothes brought a slight chill, but it wasn't too piercing. Actors often endure various hardships during filming, and Xi Mo, known for her professionalism, considered this a minor matter. Drenched, she stood there calmly, lifting her wet hair that was dripping water.
This time, since it was genuine horseback riding without any need to avoid certain scenes, Lin Qitang specifically set up a panoramic shot using a different camera angle to capture the entire horseriding scene. When Lin Qitang gave the cue to start, Xi Mo rode the horse, charging out with a heroic demeanor. Other camera angles immediately followed, capturing side shots and close-ups.
"Very good!"
“Very good! Assassins, surround them!"
"Cut! The previous shot was off; let's redo it!"
Xi Mo had several scenes of solo horseback riding, providing enough footage for later editing. Lin Qitang finally said it passed and instructed everyone to move on to the next scene.
The next scene involved both characters riding horses together. After Ding'e rescued Deng Sui from the boat, she temporarily hid her in the woods on a tree and went to deal with the assassins. Later, she returned with a horse to pick up Deng Sui.
The makeup artist came over to touch up Xi Mo's makeup, adding a blood-stained effect and tousling her hair a bit before continuing the shoot.
Ruan Yesheng sat on the tree, and for safety reasons, she still had a safety harness, as requested by Lu Qingming.
Xi Mo dismounted and approached the tree where Ruan Yesheng was positioned. Her chest heaved noticeably as she looked up, saying, "Miss."
"...Ding'e!" Ruan Yesheng responded nervously: "Are you okay?"
"I am fine." Xi Mo forced a smile, "Miss, please come down."
"...How did you carry me up here? Do the same to take me down."
Xi Mo fell silent for a moment, a bit hesitant. "I injured my leg a bit just now, temporarily unable to use Qinggong* to climb the tree. Jump down, and I will catch you."
*轻功 or lightness skill, a training technique for jumping off vertical surfaces from the Chinese martial arts.
Ruan Yesheng gripped the tree trunk, anxious. "You injured your leg? Did you not say you were fine just now?"
"It is not a big deal."
At this moment, Deng Sui had long ceased to be the romantic young lady from the past. The intrigues of the deep palace forged her intellect and cunning. With the downfall of the former Empress Yin, she transformed, firmly holding Liu Zhao in her grasp. Liu Zhao, in turn, bestowed upon her the title of the new Empress.
Even so, in such a moment, she ultimately revealed the dependence she once had in front of Ding'e. Seeing the immediate danger subside, Ruan Yesheng, trying to capture Deng Sui's mindset and tone from back then, hesitated and said softly, "It is too high; I... I dare not jump."
Looking at Ruan Yesheng in this state, Xi Mo couldn't help but feel a softness in her heart, experiencing for a moment the emotions Ding'e had back then. Ding'e looked up at Deng Sui from under the tree, and reassured her gently, "Miss, do not be afraid; I will catch you."
There was still no movement on the tree. Xi Mo repeated, "Do not be afraid, trust me."
Ruan Yesheng looked at her, smiled as if comforted, and was about to jump.
"Cut! This scene is done; take a break!" shouted Lin Qitang.
Ruan Yesheng descended from the tree, took a break, and then shot a few close-ups of facial expressions, including the scene where Ding'e held her in her arms. Although the script involved jumping from the tree and being caught by Ding'e, the actual filming wouldn't capture this process. Instead, clever editing would transition between shots of the intent to jump and the landing. The crew brought a chair for Ruan Yesheng to stand on. From there, she simulated the descent, portraying the moment as if she had just come down from the tree, adding a touch of startled emotion for the landing close-up.
The camera was positioned perfectly, Ruan Yesheng jumped from the chair, leaning forward, and Xi Mo stepped forward, catching her, and holding her tightly. With Ding'e having a leg injury at this point, Xi Mo frowned, gritted her teeth, staggered a bit, and after securing Ruan Yesheng, she gracefully fell to the ground. The two rolled on the ground, with Xi Mo protecting Ruan Yesheng's head with one hand and embracing her waist with the other.
In such close proximity, Ruan Yesheng noticed Xi Mo's ice-cold, soaked clothes sticking to her body. Through the fabric, she truly felt the sensation of the touch of her skin.
Xi Mo hugged her and said softly: "I told you, I will catch you, Miss."
The voice was right by her ear, and Xi Mo's warm breath brushed against Ruan Yesheng's ear, causing her heart to suddenly flutter.
After finally finishing the scene, Yan Tinghuan, who rarely appeared on set, rushed forward. While replacing Xi Mo's dirty and wet outer clothes, she wiped her with a dry towel and wrapped her in a thin blanket.
After all these days, Xi Mo finally felt a bit of warmth from her manager. She thought Yan Tinghuan might have a hint of a conscience. Just as she was about to reconsider her opinion of her, Yan Tinghuan, while doggedly helping her dry her hair, grinned and said, "Ruanruan, am I exceptionally good to you? There's no one else in this world who treats you as well as I do. You better remember my kindness and repay me well in the future."
Xi Mo wanted to slap her to death with a towel.
"Oh, goddess, why are you blushing?" Yan Tinghuan said again abruptly.
Xi Mo was taken aback, and as she looked up, Ruan Yesheng had already walked over to them. It turned out Yan Tinghuan was addressing Ruan Yesheng. However, prompted by Yan Tinghuan's remark, Xi Mo couldn't help but pay a bit more attention to Ruan Yesheng's complexion. She noticed a faint blush on her face, adding a touch of spring-like radiance, and couldn't figure out why.
Ruan Yesheng knew that Yan Tinghuan was looking for trouble so she glared at her and pretended to say: "It's nothing, maybe I'm a bit tired, causing some rush of blood."
Yan Tinghuan's heart was clear, she raised the corners of her eyes and gazed meaningfully at Ruan Yesheng, knowingly asking, "Could it be that embracing my dear Ruanruan just now was too exhausting? Well, being in each other's arms for so long must be tiring, and it's easy to feel breathless. This scene is quite challenging to shoot."
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
You can shut up.
Xi Mo: "..."
After that, they filmed a horse riding scene between the two of them. Ruan Yesheng had already seen Xi Mo's riding skills. She sat in the back, hugged Xi Mo's waist, and leaned against Xi Mo's back, feeling extremely at ease.
On the last day of outdoor shooting, there were some difficulties encountered. Operating the water-suspended wire system was not easy, causing slow progress in filming. Xi Mo was repeatedly lifted by the wire for several hours, making her feel dizzy and uncomfortable. Despite the physical strain and the prolonged immersion in the lake, the result still did not meet Lin Qitang's satisfaction. Lin Qitang urged her to endure a bit longer, and Xi Mo silently endured without saying anything. Besides feeling sore from the wire operation, she had to repeatedly enter the water, leaving her body feeling numb. When she finally came ashore, Xi Mo's face was pale, her legs were shaky, and she had to rest, wrapped in a blanket and leaning on a chair.
Ruan Yesheng felt anxious and swiftly took the towel and thin blanket handed to her by Feng Tangtang. She then walked over to help Xi Mo dry her hair and wrapped her up securely. With this, Yan Tinghuan's only task was taken, so she reluctantly moved to another chair nearby, squinting her eyes while observing the situation.
Seeing Xi Mo still wearing wet clothes, Ruan Yesheng urged, "This won't do, come to my car and change into dry clothes quickly."
Xi Mo was so exhausted to the point of struggling to keep her eyes open and just wanted to sleep. She mumbled a vague acknowledgment, indicating her agreement, but remained motionless, likely having little energy left.
Ruan Yesheng leaned in, touched her forehead, and gently said, "Get up for a moment, okay? Don't sleep, or you'll catch a cold soon."
"…Okay," Xi Mo, in a daze, held onto Ruan Yesheng's wrist, closed her eyes, and responded to her.
Ruan Yesheng glanced at her and quickly called over Gu Qisong and Feng Tangtang. Yan Tinghuan also joined, and together they moved Xi Mo into the car.
"You all can go out for now," Ruan Yesheng dismissed the others, changed Xi Mo's clothes, and let her continue to sleep drowsily. Ruan Yesheng got out of the car, arranged some things, then returned to the car. She had Xi Mo lie on her side, resting against her thighs, instructing the driver, "Back to the hotel."
Arriving at the hotel and settling Xi Mo into her room to rest, Ruan Yesheng was worried and stayed by her side. She even had dinner brought in by Feng Tangtang. Fortunately, Xi Mo woke up during dinner, and the two of them ate together. Ruan Yesheng asked, "Feeling better?"
Xi Mo nodded, but her expression still showed some fatigue.
The intensity of today's shoot, with the repeated wire suspensions and frequent entries into the cold lake, would be challenging for anyone. Ruan Yesheng felt uneasy and said, "Director Lin could have split this shoot into two days; he was a bit rushed today."
Xi Mo expressed her understanding: "The weather will change tomorrow. There is nothing we can do about it. If it rains, we won't be able to shoot."
They sat facing each other, probably to express comfort. She reached out and ruffled Ruan Yesheng's hair, and said softly: "I'm fine."
Ruan Yesheng looked at her hand and was stunned.
Xi Mo took her hand back: "..."
A smile played on Ruan Yesheng's lips. "You should get some rest early today, recharge your energy."
"You too," Xi Mo replied.
Ruan Yesheng returned to her room, and the next day, when she arrived on set, she didn't see Xi Mo or Yan Tinghuan. Today, there were scenes with Ding'e and Deng Sui. Lin Qitang searched for Xi Mo around the set but couldn't find her. Midway through, he received a phone call, his expression changed slightly. He called the assistant director over and said, "Delay Ding'e's scenes for today. Let's film Deng Sui and Liu Zhao's scenes first. Yan Mu, come here for a moment!"
Yan Mu innocently strolled over, greeting Ruan Yesheng cheerfully as he passed by, "Sister!"
Ruan Yesheng, somewhat absent-minded, managed a faint smile in response. Once Yan Mu walked away, she found a quiet spot and called Yan Tinghuan, who took a while before answering.
Ruan Yesheng immediately inquired, "Where's Xi Mo? Why didn't she come today?"
Yan Tinghuan replied, "I just spoke to Director Lin and was about to tell you. It seems Xi Mo has a slight fever and couldn't make it to the set. I requested leave for her, and I'll get some medicine for her later."
Hearing a hint of urgency in Yan Tinghuan's tone, and considering her usual nonchalant attitude, Ruan Yesheng sensed that the situation might be serious. Calming her emotions, she asked, "When you went to check on her, did she answer the door when you knocked?"
"Yeah, I knocked for quite a while, and she opened it slowly. She didn't say anything, just glanced at me and went back to sleep. I assumed even if I knocked again later, she wouldn't open the door, so I took her room key. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to bring the medicine back."
"You go buy the medicine quickly; I'll come over later."
Ruan Yesheng hung up the phone and walked up to Lin Qitang. She coughed a few times and said, "I caught a bit of a chill from the wind on the lake yesterday. I'm not feeling well today. Can we reschedule my scenes for tomorrow?"
Lin Qitang was well aware of the significance of "Xi Mo." Back when he went through the trouble of inviting this top-tier star to film Sui Ting, it was no easy task. Now, he couldn't refuse. He expressed concern, asking her a few questions before saying, "You go back and rest assured. Yesterday's shoot was indeed quite demanding. Ruan Yesheng is also unwell. Her manager just asked for leave for her. Today, we'll film scenes for other characters first."
Ruan Yesheng rushed back to the hotel and stood outside Xi Mo's room, anxiously waiting as Yan Tinghuan had not arrived yet.
After a while, Yan Tinghuan finally returned, carrying a bag of medicine. She handed the room key to Ruan Yesheng, saying, "I'll leave it all to you.”
Ruan Yesheng took it, and Yan Tinghuan noticed the sweat on her forehead, dampening her hair. She remarked, "Okay, okay, it's just a cold. Look how worried you are."
"What do you know?" Ruan Yesheng said and glared at her.
Yan Tinghuan smiled coquettishly: "I don't know anything."
"Hurry up and leave." Ruan Yesheng also urged her with a smile.
"Alright, I'll leave right away. I won't disturb your special leave to come back and take care of the patient," Yan Tinghuan waved her hand casually and left.
Ruan Yesheng stood at the door for a moment before using the room key to open it and walked inside.
