Chapter 67: Original Version

T/N: The ones in green texts are the deleted/changed scenes, some may have been permanently deleted and some may just be reordered and we might see it in future chapters (not sure). I hope you don't find the colored text hard to read, I did it so you can easily find what changed and you can skim past the rest, especially if you already read the new version.

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"Instrumentalist, take away the harp and zither and replace them with violin and pipa."

In the musical instrument room, the sounds of various musical instruments reverberated early in the morning, and the staff was busy, but the director seemed particularly quiet in the busy atmosphere.

Even though it was just an instrument test with not too many people present, everyone was amazed by the performer's solid skills on various instruments.

After the audition of the six musical instruments was completed, everyone followed the performer's movements and shifted their gaze, finally focusing on the black and white piano keys.

Outside the window, there was the singing of birds, the fragrance of flowers, and the shade of trees. The morning on the university campus was peaceful and free of noise.

As the fingertips pressed down, the first note pierced through the thin sunlight and permeated the fresh air. With each note's leap, the people in the instrument room gradually became particularly surprised by the performer's skill.

When it comes to musical instruments, most people just choose the one they like and learn it thoroughly. Even a teacher in this field cannot grasp the flute and suona. But the person in front of them is not only an outstanding actor but also a master of musical instruments, especially so many kinds of instruments. The mastery of the instrument is no worse than that of a professional.

After listening to a melody, the assistant director finally couldn't help but look at Qu Xizhi's back and whispered, "Miss Qu is so versatile."

Scarlett Li lowered her gaze slightly and said quietly, "She's been through a lot."

The sunlight pours into the room, the willows and the breeze are jumping in the notes, and the blue sky is as pure as a child's ​​smiling face.

The silhouette in front of the piano remained upright and graceful, like a queen from medieval Europe.

The shadow of the sun is getting heavier and heavier, changing the angles of light and shadow, and that beautiful back figure is gradually becoming somewhat unreal. Scarlett Li swayed in the bright sunshine, walked slowly to her side, watched her strike the final note, tilted her head, and smiled, "Xiao Qu, thank you for helping me."

An hour later, in a hotel room.

"This is just a series of unfortunate events. Sun Xi's role in this film could have contended for Best Newcomer, but Qu Xizhi is competing for Best Actress."

After answering the phone, the assistant kept yelling in the room, completely unable to accept the news of changing the female lead, while Gu Xizhi just sat on the balcony and quietly read the script, looking serious and focused.

Three days later. On location.

"Three, two, one...action!"

"My ideal is to make Xiao Xiao a world-class top composer so that people all over the world can listen to her music and listen to her stories."

"Xiao Yu, what I'm asking about is your ideal."

"This is my ideal."

"Don't you have your own ideal?"

"Xiaoxiao's ideal is my ideal."

"Stop." Scarlett Li called a stop and looked at the actors on the set from outside the camera, "She Jia, move a little to the right later, or else your body will block the left half of Gu Xizhi's face in camera 2."

She Jia made an "okay" gesture and found a place to stand.

Scarlett Li looked at the monitor for a while, then listened to the assistant director on the side say, "Looking at it, I still think she is Yun Xiaoxiao."

Scarlett Li smiled disapprovingly, "If she were Yun Xiaoxiao but could perform Qin Shiyu exceptionally, that's the real beauty."

The location work ended at 8:30 in the evening. Gu Xizhi, who had worked hard all day to keep up with the schedule, immediately got in the car back to the hotel. She was accompanied by two young actors. The two were chatting when Gu Xizhi got in the car.

"I saw her at a Paris show last time. She definitely killed a group of actresses instantly. It's a pity that she doesn't act in movies and is just a vase."

"It's hard to woo her now that she's like this. She won't pay attention to even second-tier male actors at all. If she appears on the big screen another day and becomes famous, I think it would take a god to match her."

"Are you kidding? She has always been very easygoing."

"What easy-going? She's cold as ice, wasting a golden ratio face."

"I saw her last night downstairs at the hotel, bringing Qu Xizhi over. They were talking and laughing, and I even greeted them. She's not as cold as they say."

"So, I suspect she and Qu Xizhi are lesbians," in a hushed tone.

"Are you kidding? Miss Qu Xizhi is about to get engaged to Mr. Shen Ya."

The driver came up to drive at this point, and the two stopped discussing. Gu Xizhi put on her headphones and remained quiet throughout the journey.

Scarlett Li planned to use three days to catch up on the original six-day scenes. Qu Xizhi had read the script before and got into the role relatively quickly. It took three days to really complete the earlier scenes.

She never stays on set when she doesn't have scenes. The crew would also joke that she was acting like a celebrity, but it was really just a joke.

When she returned to the hotel, it was already late. Gu Xizhi took a quick shower and flipped through the script. She was about to rest when the doorbell rang. She hurriedly set aside the script and went to open the door. 

"Hello, Miss Gu. I've come to pick up the key for Xiao Qu. She's not in her room right now, and I'm in a hurry to go back. Can you please pass the key to her?"

Standing outside the door was Zhong Linshan. Since Qu Xizhi came over to shoot, her name had been mentioned more frequently, so seeing her, Gu Xizhi wasn't surprised at all.

"No problem." Gu Xizhi looked at her delicate face, smiled, and stretched out her hand.

"Thank you." She handed over the key and smiled, "Sorry for the trouble."

Gu Xizhi glanced at the ring on her hand, took the key she handed over, and replied, "You're welcome."

That night, Gu Xizhi went to bed early due to the exhaustion of shooting. The next day, when she arrived at the set, she remembered the key. At that moment, Qu Xizhi was acting with a supporting actor. Gu Xizhi approached Ling Xian and said, "Miss Ling, this key belongs to Miss Qu. Could you please give it to her later?"

Ling Xian looked at the key and said, "Okay."

Gu Xizhi smiled politely and returned to the makeup artist to touch up her makeup.

Today is still on location, the scenes are already new, and the two leading actresses had many scenes together. After Qu Xizhi finished one scene, she went back to rest. At that moment, Director Scarlett Li approached Gu Xizhi and asked, "Xiao Gu, did you discuss today's scenes with Xiao Qu?"

Gu Xizhi shrugged, "...I think there should be no problem with this scene."

"That's good." Scarlett Li patted Gu Xizhi on the shoulder and returned to the monitor to look at the camera.

Qu Xizhi had just finished a scene and was resting for a moment when Ling Xian handed her the key and said a few words. After taking the key, Qu Xizhi looked in Gu Xizhi's direction and then placed the key with Ling Xian before turning her attention back to the script.

After a five-minute break, the actors went through their positions and the scene was ready for filming again.

The main content of the scene is that Yun Xiaoxiao*, who had just entered college not long ago, heard that Qin Shiyu was bullied by her seniors, angrily defended her. Qin Shiyu was very surprised when she heard about this incident and found her by the lake on campus. After the two exchanged a few words, Qin Shiyu kissed Yun Xiaoxiao on the spur of the moment, explaining it as a way to demonstrate their friendship as close friends. Yun Xiaoxiao, who is usually reserved and deep, responded with a kiss of her own and told her it was a way to return the favor.

*the roles were reversed in the new one, in this version Gu = Qin Shiyu, Qu= Yun Xiaoxiao 

It was indeed not a complicated scene, and Gu Xizhi didn’t even put much thought into it.

"Come here, and when we leave, make sure not to cross this willow tree," Qu Xizhi had already seated herself on the grass by the lakeside. Scarlett Li gestured to Gu Xizhi for her designated spot, and the crew had prepared the microphones.

"Three, two, one...action!"

After the clapperboard sound, Gu Xizhi's gaze fell on Qu Xizhi's back. Her expression and state had noticeably changed compared to earlier, and she could even be considered a completely new person.

"Xiaoxiao." with a girl's emotional voice.

After calling the other party's name, Gu Xizhi walked a few steps towards Qu Xizhi who was sitting by the lake, sat down next to her, and looked at the calm lake, "They said you had a half-hour argument with that Xiong Panpan, on the playground, and you ended up driving him away. When did you become so tough?"

A close-up of Qu Xizhi appeared in the camera, who glanced at her nonchalantly and said in a very calm tone, "I've always been like this."

"No, you never quarreled with others easily before." She hugged the other's arm, and her demeanor appeared very affectionate.

"You're so noisy, why so many questions?" And gave her a " how troublesome" look.

"Yun Xiaoxiao, you are avoiding my question."

"Avoiding what?"

"The question."

"What question?"

"Yun Xiaoxiao." Raising her brows, she looked at her with cold eyes, as if she was about to change her expression.

Qu Xizhi in the camera glanced at her sideways, and finally showed some "Yun Xiaoxiao" smile, "Alright, ask your question again."

"No more repetitions." She let go of her arm, pretended to be angry, and looked back at the calm lake.

"Mm." It was Qin Shiyu who held the other person's arm, "Are you angry?"

"No." With a cold expression.

"Then I'll tell you." She held her chin up and looked at her, "Actually..."

In the frame, Gu Xizhi playfully moved her ears, looking lively. "Mm?"

"Actually..."

"Mm..."

"...Yun Xiaoxiao?" She raised an eyebrow again.

"Alright." Holding her arm, "Who told him to bully you? I won't allow it."

Gu Xizhi raised her eyebrows, portraying Qin Shiyu's smug look. "Then tell me why he is not allowed to bully me?"

"Mm." Qin Shiyu let go of her arm, casually picking up a stone from beside her and tossing it into the lake. Her tone was nonchalant, "Because you're more important."

Gu Xizhi's expression looked surprised, then, in a slow-motion portrayal, she used appreciative and restrained loving eyes to silently gaze at Yun Xiaoxiao's side profile for a while, flipping her body, kneeling on her lap, and cupping her chin. "Xiaoxiao."

Qu Xizhi raised her eyes, her long black hair dancing in the wind, and her light makeup, which looked rare and pure with the lake in the background of the campus.

"Mm." The eyes that looked directly at her were calm, and the blush on her cheeks showed the unknown shyness of a girl, just like Yun Xiaoxiao in her teenage years in the script.

Gu Xizhi's heart moved as if she was possessed by Qin Shiyu, her eyes suddenly became a little hot, and she lowered her head and kissed her lips clumsily.

It's said to be clumsy, it's actually because this is the first time the outwardly strong Qin Shiyu kisses Yun Xiaoxiao, and also her first kiss ever.

The feeling of being secretly in love for a long time cannot be suppressed when meeting the lips that have been yearned for a long time. The script described Qin Shiyu's emotions at this moment as "not calm" and "eager" like a tidal wave and a landslide.

While acting, one's eyes were a window exposed under the camera, making it impossible to be distracted. But when closing their eyes, the inner emotions were like building a high wall, and no one could capture the activities inside.

The aura of the person in front of her was undoubtedly familiar. Her tenderness, her passion, her delicacy, no matter how long had passed, whenever Gu Xizhi was enveloped by this aura, the memories would resurface vividly and profoundly in her mind.

Her lips kissed hers blindly. Gu Xizhi held her hand tightly, not knowing whether she was kissing Yun Xiaoxiao or just the person in front of her.

The girl's kiss was inexperienced, but two hearts so close made the inexperienced kiss especially sweet.

The script required that when Qin Shiyu kissed Yun Xiaoxiao, Yun Xiaoxiao would be a little surprised at first, but she would quickly accept the kiss with some confused responses.

Gu Xizhi kissed her with all her strength, her lips pressed tightly against hers, although she was clumsy, she was extremely devoted.

They probably kissed for a long time, so long that everyone present felt there was no need to continue. Gu Xizhi finally noticed something.

She had kissed the person in front of her with all her might for a long time, but the response was no different from a block of ice.

From the beginning to the end, she seemed like an emotionless creature. Gu Xizhi had exhausted all her enthusiasm, but it seemed like the kiss did not affect her at all.

She felt that the person she was kissing was not a living person at all.

"Cut!"

Without any surprise, Scarlett Li stopped and walked from the monitor to Qu Xizhi.

"Xiao Qu, although Yun Xiaoxiao is reserved, Yun Xiaoxiao likes Qin Shiyu at this time. Even if she is usually composed, when faced with a proactive kiss from Qin Shiyu, she couldn't possibly not react at all. The reaction just now was too much. It’s cold.”

"Sorry, it's been a long time since I've done a kissing scene, so I might not be used to it," Qu Xizhi said casually.

"It's okay, let's try again." After speaking, Scarlett Li looked sideways and waved to Gu Xizhi, "Come with me."

Gu Xizhi was stunned for a moment, then immediately followed her.

Scarlett Li took Gu Xizhi to a rockery far away from the crowd and then said, "Xiao Gu, have you ever taken the initiative to kiss someone before?"

Gu Xizhi seemed to be puzzled by her question. and after thinking for a while, she replied, "No."

"That's probably the problem." Scarlett Li looked at Qu Xizhi who was retouching her makeup in the distance, "Actually, the kiss you just gave us was a very good interpretation of the role of Qin Shiyu, but Xiao Qu's condition is off right now, so I hope you kiss her with a little more enthusiasm later...and..."

Seeing her stay silent for a while, Gu Xizhi probably realized there was something she was hesitant to say, so she said, "Sister Jia, if you have any requests, please tell me."

Scarlett Li smiled and said, "It's not a big deal, kissing scenes are just a part of the job. We'll take some more time and work on the technique in the next take. Even if it doesn't come out perfectly, both of you need to get into the right mindset."

Gu Xizhi nodded, and after a moment, she seemed to realize that nodding vaguely wasn't the best response. She asked, "Sister Jia, I don't know... how to kiss better."

Scarlett Li looked at her for a while, hesitated, cleared her throat, and then said in a lowered voice, "Stick your tongue in."

Gu Xizhi suddenly blushed and she opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something but just nodded and quickly ran away.