Chapter 70: Original Version

Deleted/Changes are in green text

__________

There was some light rain last night, and the air was filled with a fresh scent. When Gu Xizhi got up, Liang Ying was already having breakfast with the puppy and Qu Xizhi on the balcony. The breakfast smelled delicious, and Liang Ying enthusiastically waved at her. "My dear Xiao Gu, we bought breakfast for you. Aren't you touched?"

Gu Xizhi didn't bother to look at her and went straight to the bathroom.

After washing up, Qu Xizhi went back to the bedroom to change clothes. Gu Xizhi came to the balcony and saw that Liang Ying was still eating, so she sat down in front of her. "Why are you up so early?"

"Xiao A'Qu said that you have to get up at five o'clock to buy the breakfast you like." Liang Ying said while eating. "She asked me to go with her."

Gu Xizhi paused in the act of picking up her breakfast and after a moment, looked at Liang Ying with an uncertain expression. "Are you telling the truth or lying?"

Liang Ying, after studying her expression for a while, giggled and said, "Of course, I'm lying."

Gu Xizhi glanced at Liang Ying and then at the food on the table. She stood up and said, "I'm in a hurry and don't have time to eat these. Go eat alone."

"Skipping breakfast will make you stupid!"

Gu Xizhi went back to the bedroom to change clothes.

During the day, the main scenes being filmed were of Qin Shiyu and Yun Xiaoxiao participating in a violin competition. After arriving at the set, Gu Xizhi continuously communicated with the instrumentalist about the use of instruments. What gave her a headache was that Liang Ying didn't want to stay in a guest room, and with Qu Xizhi's indulgence, she was brought to the set. Besides addressing the grandmothers as "Aunt" and the aunts as "Sister," which made the actresses on set charmed, she also took her dog Qiqi to play with a female street dog. When the director started filming, she didn't cause any disturbances and behaved well, making the cast praise Liang Huan for her good parenting skills.

The scene of the violin competition was filmed in a local concert hall in the city, and the production hired many extras. The story mainly revolves around Qin Shiyu, who is determined to compete with Yun Xiaoxiao to win first place. Before the competition, Qin Shiyu accidentally cut her own finger, but Yun Xiaoxiao indeed won first place and received recognition from the whole school. In contrast, Qin Shiyu, due to her injured finger, didn't receive any ranking and was scolded by the counselor.

Because the scene was relatively large, filming this scene was also troublesome. The director spent almost an entire afternoon setting up the location and organizing the extras. She was relieved to see that the main actors had a very accurate grasp of the emotions related to the protagonists' musical performance. Therefore, by 7:00 in the evening, the entire scene had already been completely filmed.

In the plot script, the performance hall where this scene appears is out of town. The protagonists Qin Shiyu and Yun Xiaoxiao, along with many classmates in the class, travel here by train to stay in a hotel. The exact words on the script are: Through the window of the hotel, you can see the magnificent outline of the concert hall.

The film crew searched for a suitable hotel in the vicinity for a long time and rented the most suitable floor. Therefore, as soon as this scene ended, the main actors went straight to the hotel.

The filming process was actually very dull. Liang Ying, who had to follow the crew around all day and then watch the night scenes, was clearly very unhappy. She kept being restless in the car.

"My dear Xiao Gu, I don't want to stay here any longer."

Gu Xizhi was reading the script and clearly couldn't be bothered with her.

At this moment, Ling Xian, who was in the same car, waved to Liang Ying and whispered a few words. Liang Ying's eyes instantly lit up, and she loudly said in the car, "My dear Xiao Gu, do you want to act in a bed scene with Xiao A'Qu?"

The voice was so loud that it made Gu Xizhi's scalp numb, but it caused laughter inside the car.

"That's not a bed scene," Ling Xian explained again, "it's scenes on the same bed."

"Then it's a bed scene."

Gu Xizhi looked at Qu Xizhi who was riding in the same car from the rearview mirror, her expression a little embarrassed. Qu Xizhi also looked at her at that moment, but her eyes were calm.

The hotel where they were filming was not very big, but it was clean and neat. Looking from the floor of the production team towards the exquisitely designed and spacious concert hall, various colored lights were flashing, and the starry night seemed to be draped in a magnificent cloak.

The crew members were busy on their own. After changing clothes, Gu Xizhi touched up her makeup while reading the script, seemingly unaffected by the noisy environment.

The so-called "bed scene" is actually because Qin Shiyu and Yun Xiaoxiao had to sleep in the same room and on the same narrow bed in the hotel due to it being fully booked, the day before they came by train to this city to participate in the competition. In the script, while lying on the bed, they discuss the upcoming competition. In the middle of their conversation, Qin Shiyu, who was bored, suddenly started playing a "breast-attack game", typical among female friends. Of course, facing Yun Xiaoxiao, who appeared gentle on the surface but was shrewd inside, she didn't take any advantage. However, after playing for a while, Qin Shiyu complained that she didn't develop as well as Yun Xiaoxiao, so Yun Xiaoxiao wanted to feel and see. Surprisingly, Qin Shiyu agreed. What happened next was that Yun Xiaoxiao touched something unknown, Qin Shiyu blushed, immediately shook away her hand, turned off the light, and went to sleep.

This scene is not too long. If everything goes well, it can be shot in one night. After putting on makeup, the set manager has already set up the scene. Since it was nighttime, the actors without scenes had gone back to rest early, so the set was relatively quiet.

After Gu Xizhi finished filming an inner drama in which she was blow-drying her hair and looking longingly at the concert hall through the window, she lay down on the bed and got under the quilt.

The staff, who were used to seeing various scenes, had no reaction to this scene. However, Liang Ying, who was holding the dog, found the best seat when she saw Gu Xizhi lying down on the bed, moved a bench, and sat down as if she was watching a play.

"The camera is ready. Xiao Qu, please stand in the same spot as before. When you come out of the bathroom later, walk to the bedside and deliver your lines. Does the lighting team need to adjust the lights again?" Scarlett Li asked. She quickly received a hand gesture response from the lighting team, so she used her eyes to signal Qu Xizhi that it was okay.

After the script supervisor clapped the board, Qu Xizhi, dressed in pajamas, came out of the bathroom. She tied up her waist-length hair while sitting down at the bedside. At this moment, the camera captured two faces. Qin Shiyu, who had been reading, saw Yun Xiaoxiao and immediately put down her book and held her long hair to "assist" her in lying down. The script used the word "tacit" to describe these two actions, and in reality, the two main actresses on screen indeed exhibited a great deal of harmony.

"Xiaoxiao, did Auntie tell you that you must win first prize in this competition?" After both of them lay down, Gu Xizhi, with her arm around Yun Xiaoxiao, delivered the first line of dialogue. Under the lighting, her expression was very sweet, like a carefree princess in a castle.

"No, Mom said as long as I don't lose to a bad guy, it doesn't matter what rank I get."

"Mm?" Gu Xizhi raised an eyebrow, conveying Qin Shiyu's restrained sharpness, and then, following the script, she turned over reluctantly, looking at her with an imposing posture. "Are you telling the truth or lying?"

Qu Xizhi met her gaze and remained silent, smiling.

Gu Xizhi immediately pinched her cheeks with both hands, using a tone that was entirely Qin Shiyu's sweet voice, "You're the bad guy."

After some playful fighting, Gu Xizhi breathed gently and lay back on the bed. Under the thin blanket, she still held Qu Xizhi's hand, just as it was written in the script, showing their intimacy.

"To be honest." Gu Xizhi looked at the ceiling, her black hair spread on the pillow, "I'm confident that I can win with the violin."

"That's right, my Xiaoyu has been the best among the best since she was little."

She looked at her sideways, Are you willing to lose?"

"I might not necessarily lose."

"You'll definitely lose," feeling smug.

She ignored her.

The air fell silent for a while, and it was time to enter the next stage.

Gu Xizhi looked at the camera above for a moment, then tilted her head and glanced at Qu Xizhi. She noticed Qu Xizhi's eyes were fixed on the ceiling, lost in thought, and then her eyes suddenly sparkled. She immediately turned over and headed straight for her chest.

The filming continued, and Liang Ying, who was sitting watching the show, had already found melon seeds and started cracking them.

In the plot, the relationship between the two girls is very good. This kind of sudden slapstick action often happens. Qu Xizhi reacted very quickly. She grabbed her hand before she finished the action and raised her eyebrows, "What are you playing now?"

According to the script, Qin Shiyu originally intended to put her hand into her collar, but because Yun Xiaoxiao reacted very quickly, she pressed Yun Xiaoxiao's chest through her clothes. During the actual filming, Qu Xizhi had already quickly held down her hand, but because it was inconvenient to move across the quilt, the movement was still a beat slower than expected in the script. This direct action led to Gu Xizhi's hand partially entering Qu Xizhi's collar, making contact with the skin of her chest, while the other half remained over her clothing. However, Qu Xizhi's firm pressure on her hand stopped it from moving further, and Gu Xizhi's hands truly sank into some kind of soft texture.

The warmth under her fingers burned, and Gu Xizhi leaned slightly towards Qu Xizhi. In the previous second, she was unmistakably Qin Shiyu, but at this moment, she had completely forgotten her lines.

"Tell me, in the end, who is more skilled?"

Gu Xizhi thought of this line for a long time and hurriedly added it, but the camera keenly captured the subtle emotional changes. A few seconds of hesitation marked the end of this scene.

"Cut." Scarlett Li walked away from the monitor and said to the two actresses, "Xiao Qu, your movements were a bit slow just now. When we re-shoot it later, pay attention to keeping pace. Xiao Gu, remember to say your lines." Then, she signaled to the props master, "Remove the decoration at the head of the bed."

During the break, Gu Xizhi took a sip of water and lay down on the bed again contemplating on her next lines. Qu Xizhi sat down beside her after she lay back down. and the two remained silent until they resumed filming.

When everything was ready, the script supervisor clapped the slate once again. Gu Xizhi gazed at the ceiling in silence, then turned her head to steal a glance at Qu Xizhi. Following the script's direction, she rolled over, and her hand swiftly moved toward Qu Xizhi's chest.

This time Qu Xizhi moved faster, and Gu Xizhi's hand was firmly pressed against her chest.

"What are you playing now?"

Qin Shiyu wasn't one to stay still, even when suppressed, she continued to move forward, so Gu Xizhi's hand shifted a bit more. Her tone was still very arrogant.

"Tell me, in the end, who is more skilled?"

Qu Xizhi in the camera looked at her chest, then looked up at her, not yielding to her. "Of course."

Gu Xizhi pretended to be angry. She put her hand on Qu Xizhi's chest and kept trying to break through. But at this moment, she didn't mention the competition anymore. While exploring her chest, she spoke as if she had discovered a new world.

"Xiaoxiao, I found that this place seems much bigger than usual, did you grow it by secretly stealing fodder?"

"It's my own issue, okay."

"Who said that it's just like eating and drinking?"

"Maybe I have an illness."

"Really?"

"Should I check?"

"Auntie, you're not a medical student."

"By influence."

"Mm..." After a moment of hesitation, she said, "Okay." She retracted her hands and lay flat on the bed.

In the story, Qin Shiyu was always shrewd, but she never guarded herself against Yun Xiaoxiao. Moreover, Yun Xiaoxiao appeared harmless in everyday life. At this point in the story, Qin Shiyu truly felt like she had been turned over to the wolves.

Liang Ying, who was sitting while eating melon seeds, almost whistled at the two actresses.

The filming continued, and Qu Xizhi in front of the camera glanced at the woman beside her, thought for a moment, and reached under the thin quilt towards her chest to grope.

The quilt is very thin, and her every move in the camera is very clear. Gu Xizhi's expression appears calm like Qin Shiyu, but her hands under the quilt were clutching the hem of her clothes tightly.

Qu Xizhi followed the request of "groping her chest" and put her hand on her chest, then inserted her hand through the gap between the buttons of her clothes, reaching her chest. She moved her hand over a thin bra and gently squeezed it.

She doesn't know if it was because her hands were tainted with cold air or for some other reason, but Gu Xizhi felt her body trembling when her hand reached over.

If she persists, the scene will be over soon. Giving up now means starting over, and although this feeling is terrible, Gu Xizhi persists and waits for her to finish the lines.

As long as she can get through the last few lines, she can quickly push her hand away, turn off the light, and, with just a little more patience, this scene will be completely over.

Gu Xizhi's expression in the camera became even more relaxed.

"Seems like there's not much." When she said this line, it was perhaps by accident that the tips of Qu Xizhi's fingers brushed over the highest point on her chest. "Maybe it doesn't absorb well."

The part she touched became hard in an instant. Gu Xizhi was stunned, her face suddenly turning bright red. The script mentioned that Qin Shiyu's cheeks were blushing, but in reality, the rosy color had spread below Gu Xizhi's neck."

Subconsciously, completely out of instinct, Gu Xizhi immediately threw her hand away.

The studio fell silent, and most people who were watching the development of the scene were stunned in silence. After Gu Xizhi waved her hand, she realized that this was filming. She immediately turned over, turned off the lights, and said the last line in a gruff tone, "Go to sleep!"

After the scene was completely over, the director called for a halt. The staff standing aside were still staring at Gu Xizhi on the bed in shock. Someone was unable to hold themselves back, as Gu Xizhi was about to get up from the bed, "Miss Gu, your acting skills are really great. I only know that many actors can control tears. How can you control the speed of blushing?"

Gu Xizhi was extremely embarrassed, but the expression on her face was quite natural, "This..." After thinking for a long time, she smiled, "Just practice more."

Liang Ying, who was sitting on the side, couldn't bear to laugh until she almost squeezed the dog in her arms and suffocated it.

On the way back, Gu Xizhi continued to share the ride with Qu Xizhi but, just as during the day, they didn't exchange a word. Fortunately, Liang Ying was busy entertaining the passengers, so the atmosphere wasn't too awkward.

Probably because the temperature was cooler at night, Qu Xizhi kept coughing on the way back. After getting off the car, Ling Xian went directly to the hotel to get medicine. Gu Xizhi and Qu Xizhi took the elevator back to the room. Qu Xizhi continued coughing, and Liang Ying, noticing her discomfort, tugged at Gu Xizhi's sleeve to signal her to check on the situation. Gu Xizhi hesitated all the way, only speaking up when they reached the door of room C666, asking, "Are you okay?"

The door was half open, and Qu Xizhi raised her head to look at Gu Xizhi, shaking her head and saying, "I'm fine."

The door clicked open, and Liang Ying was the first to run and jump back to the room with the dog in her arms. Gu Xizhi just nodded when she heard her saying she was okay. When she was about to go in, she heard her say, "During the filming, I accidentally touched it. I hope there's no issue?"

Gu Xizhi was stunned for a moment, then her cheeks turned red again after realizing what she said, "No, it's fine." She then quickly entered the room.