Chapter 58: Absolutely Not, Absolutely Not – The Warmth of Her Palm
Dong Ling’s next scene was the empress’s coronation ceremony, followed by the wedding night.
Yu Shuangwei postponed filming this scene, not because Dong Ling wasn’t prepared, but because the wound on Dong Ling’s lip hadn’t healed yet.
She had bitten it quite hard in the previous scene, and it had already scabbed over. Yu Shuangwei didn’t want to cover it with makeup, because she felt it wouldn’t look good. She was very particular about the details on camera and disliked imperfections.
This gave Dong Ling more time to practice for the next scene, and of course, she still needed Song Mingzhi’s help.
This was a field she couldn’t master no matter how hard she tried, and to prevent her facial expressions from going haywire in front of the camera, she had to rehearse.
It was troublesome for Song Mingzhi, who had to coach her after her own filming every day.
Sometimes Dong Ling felt frustrated and impatient with her own incompetence, but Song Mingzhi was still very patient, correcting her again and again without complaint.
She was currently practicing the scene where You Su Changying’s veil was lifted, revealing Liang Jin’an’s face. There were no lines in this scene, Dong Ling could only convey the emotions through her facial expressions.
“This expression is very good, surprised but also expecting it, with a hint of forced joy and genuine joy.”
Song Mingzhi looked into Dong Ling’s eyes and praised her performance.
Dong Ling breathed a sigh of relief and rubbed her stiff cheeks.
“It’s been hard on you, helping me practice, I really don’t want to act anymore after this movie is finished.”
If it weren’t for the task system, Dong Ling wouldn’t have taken this job.
021: [Ten percent, ten percent, ten percent.]
Dong Ling: […If you offer this price again, pretend I didn’t say anything.]
No one could refuse the task system’s ten percent! No one!
“You didn’t have to do this, it wasn’t hard on me, you’re the one working hard.”
Song Mingzhi shook her head and handed Dong Ling some water.
She didn’t have to say this, Song Mingzhi was using her own rhetoric, hoping to hear certain words from Dong Ling.
“I didn’t want you to miss this opportunity, this was a perfect opportunity I wanted to secure for you, if it weren’t for you, my participation and efforts would be meaningless.”
Dong Ling swallowed the warm water, wiped the water stain from the corner of her lips, knelt on the bed, and said to Song Mingzhi with a bright smile.
The corners of Song Mingzhi’s lips curved upwards, Dong Ling wasn’t as direct as before, but every word and every action conveyed the same message.
‘I’m participating because of you.’
‘Only for you.’
It was an addictive drug.
The girl in front of her was still excitedly praising her efforts and talent, her eyes reflecting the light, like a lake filled with stars.
She was like a mysterious galaxy, making one unconsciously fall into its depths.
Song Mingzhi didn’t know if all affections were like this, troubled by how to reject the other person, yet also increasingly anxious by their ambiguous actions.
So close, yet so far.
Dong Ling noticed that Song Mingzhi was lost in thought, she tilted her head slightly and waved her hand to get her attention.
“What are you thinking about?”
Song Mingzhi replied: “The next scene.”
Dong Ling also suddenly remembered what the next scene was, recalling her awkwardness during the last intimate rehearsal and that dream, a heat spreading through her back.
“This… this time, it’s… um… covered, right?”
This time, the filming would be more implicit. Yu Shuangwei wanted to use the sounds of pleasure from the dragon bed in the main hall to contrast with the emperor’s loneliness, so there wouldn’t be any explicit shots, there should be curtains.
There were no specific requirements for the positions either, Yu Shuangwei didn’t even draw any illustrations this time, just roughly explained that Song Mingzhi would hold her, and she just had to follow Song Mingzhi’s movements, no active actions required, only passive compliance.
“Yes, so don’t be too nervous, just follow my lead and immerse yourself in the role.”
They hadn’t rehearsed this scene in advance, so when she sat on the dragon bed in costume, she felt very tense.
The veil covered her face, so her expression couldn’t be seen on camera.
The red bed curtains were warm, the candlelight bright.
Yu Shuangwei filmed the veil-lifting scene once, gestured silently, and signaled them to continue.
Today was a joyous occasion, You Su Changying was wearing red, and so was Liang Jin’an.
Dong Ling looked at Song Mingzhi’s approaching face, to match Liang Jin’an’s age, the makeup artist had drawn wrinkles at the corners of Song Mingzhi’s eyes.
The traces of time didn’t make Song Mingzhi look old or haggard, but rather added to her charm.
This was a powerful, domineering, and heroic woman, she single-handedly destroyed her homeland, making her fall from grace, from a princess to a lowly plaything.
But she also raised her up high, to the most noble position, that of an empress.
This was an affection and grace that could both kill and revive, making one hate her to the core, yet also eternally grateful.
“My Lian Nu, you’re very beautiful today.”
The Empress Dowager’s fingers, accustomed to wielding swords and spears, were a little rough, even with meticulous care, there were still traces of battles. She repeatedly caressed the woman on the dragon bed, who was her daughter-in-law today.
No, she had always been her woman.
Dong Ling was pulled into the scene by Song Mingzhi’s gaze, her heart pounding from the burning affection and possessiveness, she unconsciously moved back a little, the jade pendants on her body jingling, which seemed to excite the Empress Dowager even more. The woman’s skin on the dragon and phoenix embroidered quilt was delicate and white.
The bed curtains were drawn by the movement, their figures intertwined and blurry.
Amidst unrestrained laughter and soft gasps, the Empress Dowager’s voice was clear and satisfied.
“Wild grass grows, dew drops glistening. There is a beautiful person, graceful and elegant. A chance encounter, and we shall be together.” (A slightly modified version of a poem from the Book of Songs)
Her breath was fragrant, like orchids.
Dong Ling felt the hand reaching in from outside her clothes, even though there were two layers of fabric between them, her inner garment and her own shirt, she still felt the hand on her waist burning hot.
She felt a little dizzy and lightheaded, Song Mingzhi’s hand wasn’t usually this warm.
Even when she held her ankle, it was cool.
Except for that night, when their lips met, Song Mingzhi’s hand on the back of her neck also had this same heat.
The camera moved, Yu Shuangwei stared intently at the monitor. The assistant director glanced at the time, which had already exceeded the planned duration, but still didn’t say anything.
Dong Ling, pressed beneath, also felt that it had gone on for too long.
But since Yu Shuangwei hadn’t yelled “cut” yet, she didn’t dare move.
Song Mingzhi had already detached herself from the role, through the blurry veil, her eyes were filled with a deep tenderness.
They exchanged glances and started improvising.
Dong Ling didn’t have much room for improvisation and simply let Song Mingzhi move.
Song Mingzhi leaned against the side of her neck, seemingly kissing and sucking on her skin, while whispering to Dong Ling.
“I’ll lift you up and put you on my waist, let’s switch positions, just lie in my arms.”
Her voice was very soft, almost a breath, brushing against Dong Ling’s ear.
Dong Ling’s body was very sensitive, certain areas that were already erogenous zones were even more so.
Her heart felt like it was being tickled by a feather, waves of tingling sensations washing over her.
Dong Ling’s mind turned to mush, she could barely think.
Song Mingzhi noticed Dong Ling’s face becoming visibly flushed, her earlobes and neck as well.
She knew how much she disliked being touched, and also knew her reaction to being touched.
Her eyes were slightly glazed, not with tears, but something more alluring.
Dong Ling was suddenly flipped over, she realized Song Mingzhi wasn’t exaggerating, her arms were indeed very strong.
She did as Song Mingzhi said and lay in her arms.
She had no natural talent for acting, her performance clumsy without guidance, Yu Shuangwei was a great help, even the one who decided on the main plot points, but Song Mingzhi was even more important.
All her performances bore Song Mingzhi’s mark, she even relied on Song Mingzhi.
She obediently followed her instructions in front of the camera, just like You Su Changying obeying Liang Jin’an in the script.
The script was too misleading, blurring the lines between them.
When she felt a soft, moist touch on her collarbone, Dong Ling even felt it was only natural.
But she quickly realized it shouldn’t be, but caught in the scene, she couldn’t refuse.
Not averse, even welcoming.
She felt a little lost, habitually avoiding deeper thought.
After what felt like an eternity, Yu Shuangwei finally yelled “cut.”
Dong Ling breathed a sigh of relief, as if she was overheating, fanning herself with her hand.
The assistants rushed forward, Xiao Tong handed Dong Ling a towel and some water, Dong Ling drank the entire glass in one gulp, her throat parched, then, under Xiao Tong’s hesitant gaze, she looked at her neck, but didn’t see anything.
“Is there something wrong?”
There were many people around, Xiao Tong didn’t speak, but took out a small mirror and handed it to Dong Ling.
Dong Ling saw the faint red mark just above her collarbone, her skin easily bruised, even though Song Mingzhi hadn’t used much force, it still left a mark.
Dong Ling’s face burned even more, she quickly patted some powder on it to cover it up, Song Mingzhi, not far from her, saw her actions, lowered her head, unable to hide her joy.
Dong Ling had more scenes today, she still had to film the scene where she met the emperor after daybreak.
Although some people knew that the ones on the dragon bed last night weren’t the emperor and empress, but the Empress Dowager and the empress, Empress Dowager Liang still didn’t want to completely disrespect her son, and left before daybreak.
The emperor was invited back to the main hall, where Dong Ling and Pu Xingchun had a scene together.
The makeup artist touched up Dong Ling’s makeup, and at Yu Shuangwei’s instruction, she adjusted her clothes and sat back on the dragon bed.
Although Pu Xingchun was a young actor, he was professionally trained and his acting was solid, which also helped Dong Ling get into character.
The emperor’s attitude towards You Su Changying was one of extreme disgust, he seemed to be venting all the hidden resentment he couldn’t direct at the Empress Dowager on this fallen princess, her becoming the empress was a humiliation to him, the emperor.
You Su Changying was a little ashamed at first, but later became indifferent, she beckoned to the emperor and talked about a political matter he was very concerned about.
Liang Jin’an didn’t know that after she left the dragon bed, her son and her favorite consort began their silent confrontation.
To satisfy Yu Shuangwei, this scene was filmed four times, and after it was done, Dong Ling still had to film some close-ups, it was already dark when they finished.
Song Mingzhi hadn’t finished filming yet. Dong Ling changed into her casual clothes, took down her hair, and prepared to go back, remove her makeup, and sleep.
When she reached her door, she saw an unexpected person.
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