Chapter 30: It Was Agreed That The Two Heroines Should Punish Corruption And Eradicate Evil, So Why Should There Be Sexual Tension?
On the day of joining the set, Shen Qingzhi deliberately let Gu Jinrong leave an hour earlier, and then she arrived at the set at the appointed time.
As filming had not yet started, the busiest on-set departments were the set design and props teams. As for the actors, they were casually chatting and gossiping in small groups.
In addition to the two heroines, this movie also has more than a dozen main supporting roles. From the powerful to the new generation, they are all well-known figures in the entertainment industry.
In the entertainment industry, social etiquette is common practice. Most other actors arrive early and establish good relationships with their colleagues in advance.
From a distance, Shen Qingzhi could see that around Gu Jinrong, there were already quite a few young and beautiful actors, creating a lively scene.
In everyone's impression, Gu Jinrong is famously gentle and easy-going, but after all, her status in the industry is well-established.
Therefore, those actors who dare to take the initiative to join in have some social cow genes in them.
Some told jokes while some handed snacks. It was a happy scene.
Hmph, you think you're the emperor of Earth.
Shen Qingzhi snorted softly in her heart, and looked away, unwilling to look again.
She pulled a suitcase and intended to find a place to settle it down. At this moment, a young girl with twisted braids came forward.
"Zhizhi-jie, you finally arrived. Give me your luggage."
Shen Qingzhi looked at the unfamiliar face in front of her and didn't react for a moment. "Who are you?"
The young girl cheerfully introduced herself, "I'm Li Qian, your new assistant. Didn't you ask me to wait for you on set?"
An assistant, that seems to be the case.
After a year of self-reliance in the industry, Shen Qingzhi was promoted earlier due to this movie.
The company's management was unusually generous and assigned her an assistant with a casual wave of their hand.
The assistant is a senior student at Y University, so she can be regarded as her junior.
Originally, this little assistant was going to pick her up from her house, but then that would mean her marriage would also be exposed.
Previously, she had intended to tell her manager Song Ling the truth, but Song Ling didn't believe her. Now, at this moment, she didn't want to say anything.
So it ended up like this. Her first encounter with her own assistant was on the set of the filming.
Li Qian, seeing Shen Qingzhi still standing there dazed, took the suitcase from her hand and introduced while pushing it along.
"When I came, I already found out that your dormitory is in the building to the north, on the same floor as...the Movie Queen Gu."
As Li Qian said this, her eyes were shining.
Shen Qingzhi noticed, not knowing who was feeling hurt: How come even my new assistant is that black-hearted movie fan?
She followed behind Li Qian, passing by Gu Jinrong. She didn't know if it was her sensitivity, but she always felt a gaze sticking to her as if it were an inseparable shadow.
Shen Qingzhi raised her neck like a proud swan, deliberately not caring about Gu Jinrong's movements.
She deliberately avoided the taboo so much that even the little assistant at the side noticed it.
When there were no others around, Li Qian leaned in close to Shen Qingzhi's ear and whispered.
"Zhizhi-jie, I've been at the set for over an hour, observing carefully. Queen Gu has been alone all this time. Even the snacks other actors offered her, she handed them over to someone else without taking a bite herself."
Upon hearing this, the slight gloom in Shen Qingzhi's heart instantly disappeared.
She pursed her lips, trying not to appear too happy, and maintained a serious expression. "Why are you telling me these things? You're my assistant; you don't need to observe others."
....
The movie will be filmed here for several months. The production team has secured the two best buildings in the area, one for accommodating the crew and the other for housing the main actors.
Shen Qingzhi's room has been arranged on the seventh floor, offering a wide view and fewer occupants – a rare good condition.
However, she felt somewhat uncomfortable deep down.
After Li Qian had placed Shen Qingzhi's luggage, she noticed that Shen Qingzhi didn't enter the room and was standing in the corridor. Li Qian stood in the middle of the corridor, looking thoughtful.
As if she could read minds, she pointed to another closed door and carefully explained.
"Zhizhi-jie, Queen Gu has this room. You'll be staying next door. Don't worry, the two of you are the only ones on this floor."
Shen Qingzhi: !
Who told you to mention her again?!
I'm even more worried if you say that!
Shen Qingzhi stared at her assistant with a serious expression on her face, "If... I mean, if, if I go to ask for a change of dormitory now, will it be considered as playing big cards?"
"Yes."
The prompt reply shattered any lingering hope in Shen Qingzhi's heart.
In other words, for the next few months, not only would she have to spend every moment with Gu Jinrong on the filming set, but even in their accommodations, they'd be practically inseparable. With others around, she couldn't afford to appear too distant from her.
Why did it feel like it would be even more of a headache than being at home?
Seeing Shen Qing's distressed face, Li Qian didn't know what the young couple had been arguing about lately.
However, as the owner of the group Rong Shen Zhi Di and having finally become Shen Qingzhi's assistant, it is her duty to protect the family's CP.
She stepped forward to comfort her, "I checked this building in advance, and there should be no problem in terms of security.
"And to protect the privacy of actors, the seventh floor is not monitored."
"So on this floor, you don't have to worry too much about who you want to find or what you want to say. Other dormitories don't have such good treatment."
Shen Qingzhi naturally heard the implication of the little assistant, telling her not to bother about changing rooms.
In fact, even if the other party doesn't say anything, she is not such an ignorant person. Anyway, there are still two doors between, at worst, she can just close the door when she returns.
She looked at this little assistant who was younger than her. Although the other party kept talking about Queen Gu, she seemed quite calm in handling things.
While heading back to the set, Shen Qingzhi curiously asked, "I see you've been saying movie queen a lot. You, becoming my assistant, could it be because you wanted to chase stars at close distance?"
Li Qian was silent for a moment and chose a compromise between Wei* Fan and CP Fan.
*a die-hard fan of one celebrity. a solo fan. when it comes to idol groups, they only have one fave member. Note that this is different from duwei fans which are solo fans but toxic/akgaes
"I have watched a few movies of Queen Gu, and I really admire her."
"But I like you the most, Zhizhi-jie, so I want to be your assistant.
Do you not want me as an assistant, just because I also like Queen Gu?
Hearing that she was the more favored one, Shen Qingzhi instantly felt relieved in her heart. "How could that be? I'm not that petty."
When Shen Qingzhi returned to the set, the group of people around Gu Jinrong had already dispersed. She was sitting alone on a wicker chair, discussing something with Director Xue, who was beside her.
Director Xue Yao, the famous director with the most prestige and the most masterpieces in China today, has both commercial films and literary films.
She is fifty years old this year and is still in good spirits.
Shen Qingzhi met her once during the audition before, and today is the second meeting.
Facing Gu Jinrong, when there were few people, she could still pretend to turn a blind eye. But for Director Xue, basic courtesy is a must.
"Hello, Director Xue." Shen Qingzhi stepped forward, said hello, and planned to run away, but was stopped by Director Xue.
"Qingzhi, you came just in time. Jinrong and I are just now discussing the details of tomorrow's filming. It just so happens that the two of you have a scene together. Tell me your thoughts."
Shen Qingzhi had read the complete script outline of "Divine Beings" two days ago. The main line is that the two heroines fight against evil forces for the peace of the world. Through this process, they grow together and gradually develop feelings. The heroine, Feng Ya Song, spent her whole life not believing in gods or spirits, but in the end, she becomes a deity for the sake of love.
In this story, the personal growth and emotional changes of the two female leads are the focal point of the entire drama. In simple terms, it's an emotional stream under the guise of a plot.
Shen Qingzhi portrays Feng Yasong, a young maiden from the ethnic Yuan Clan who has lived in seclusion for sixteen years. She is innocent, romantic, and extraordinarily pure. Initially, her introduction to the mortal world led to many comical misunderstandings. She unintentionally uncovers the secret of the antagonist's forces and finds herself in danger. Luckily, she's rescued by the other heroine Cang Xingyun, and they become temporary partners. Despite their vastly different personalities, they transform from initial mutual dislike into fond adversaries and eventually become each other's closest confidante.
Gu Jinrong's portrayal of Cang Xingyun depicts her as a disciplined and traditional scion of a respected family, an unparalleled martial genius at a young age, earning fame in the martial world. Raised under strict family education for twenty-one years, she spent the first half of her life adhering to rules and duties, dedicating herself to safeguarding the martial realm's stability. However, everything changes when she encounters Feng Yasong, whose temperament is entirely opposite to her own. It's as if a splash of color has entered her otherwise monochromatic life.
Because of the scene setup, tomorrow they will prioritize shooting the scene where Feng Ya Song is being pursued and hides under Cang Xingyun's quilt. This is also the first scene in the drama where the two of them have close contact.
Director Xue opened the script and pointed to a section with many marked lines, saying to Shen Qingzhi.
"This is the first time the two of you have a close scene, and there will be a lot of close-up shots. Every reaction of the two of you here will set an initial tone for the entire movie.
"Because Cang Xingyun is initially disciplined and reserved, her behavior towards a suddenly intruding stranger must show restraint."
"But this scene, as the highlight of the first meeting, sexual tension is very important, so what do you think, Qingzhi?"
Shen Qingzhi rubbed her reddening ear: To hide from pursuers and have sexual tension, truly befitting of you, Xue Baihe*.
*百合 (Baihe) means Lily, which can also refer to a genre of fictional media that focuses on romantic or sexual relationships between female characters.
She tilted her head and thought for a moment, "Are you suggesting that I, proactively, tease her?"
Oh well, I just casually said it. What's with that look in your eyes?
Shen Qingzhi can only bite the bullet and continue, "Feng Yasong just had a quarrel with Cang Xingyun during the day, so she must not be interested in Cang Xingyun so quickly right now."
"Cang Xingyun doesn't want to talk to her right now, but for her safety, and because she lacks the concept of ethics will definitely push and pull on people recklessly."
"During this period, the two are bound to have new friction, and most of these frictions should involve pranks and unintentional elements."
"Once the crisis subsides, due to Cang Xingyun's unusual shyness, she will make some teasing gestures."
Director Xue nodded in satisfaction, "Indeed, it's better to have the actors come up with the details themselves. So, you can design those little gestures on your own."
Shen Qingzhi felt a little dizzy, "That... won't there be choreography?"
Director Xue gave her a puzzled look, "It's not an action scene, why do we need choreography? The specific actions don't matter, what's important is how to convey that atmosphere.
"In romantic scenes, Jinrong has the most experience. Spend more time together to cultivate that feeling, and there won't be any issues."
Shen Qingzhi quietly glanced at Gu Jinrong who was smiling and silent, her ears felt hot for no reason.
Me and her, cultivate feelings?
It was agreed that the two heroines should punish corruption and eradicate evil, so why should there be sexual tension?