Chapter 55: Absolutely Not, Absolutely Not – Wrist Strength Is Also Very Good
After attending her cousin’s wedding, Dong Ling immediately joined the film crew.
The main filming location was a small coastal city, where there was a palace set that Yu Shuangwei spent half a year reconstructing, referencing various historical materials and hiring experts.
The palace set wasn’t large, only the main gate and the main hall, used to film the scene where You Su’s capital was captured, and Liang Jin’an took You Su Changying away.
Not far from this set was the interior set of the Great Liang palace, meticulously designed.
The film crew was bustling with activity, a scene of busy but orderly work.
After the southern and northern expeditions, the Great Liang Kingdom under Liang Jin’an became even more prosperous. After all, the treasures from other countries’ treasuries and the reparations from various countries were substantial, the Liang palace was filled with eunuchs and palace maids, a picture of flourishing prosperity.
To film such a grand scene, they needed a lot of extras.
Dong Ling went to the small white building specifically for costumes, makeup, and props, and found her room with the help of a staff member.
Yu Shuangwei arrived shortly after, full of energy, and handed Dong Ling the scenes she would be filming later.
Yu Shuangwei had already rehearsed this scene with Dong Ling, so Dong Ling knew how to perform.
“So soon?”
“Liang Jin’an’s action scenes are being filmed right now, no need to change her makeup, if you come later, you won’t be filming this scene.”
“Okay.”
Dong Ling nodded in understanding, and after drinking some water, she let the makeup artists work their magic.
Because it was the scene of her kingdom’s fall, she needed to wear gorgeous clothes, but the makeup was relatively simple, after all, a fourteen-year-old princess, upon hearing the news of her father and brothers’ deaths in battle, wouldn’t have the time or energy to dress up.
Dong Ling didn’t have any lines in this scene, it was all in her eyes.
The makeup artist paid special attention to her eye and lip makeup, adding a touch of fragility even though Dong Ling’s expression didn’t change.
Dong Ling felt a little awkward, not used to it.
As they started styling her hair, Dong Ling heard 021’s voice in her mind.
[Girl, part of the plot has been unlocked, go check it out!]
Dong Ling immediately clicked to read, it started with this filming scene, and she felt even more awkward.
That bastard Wen Han, he actually added his own scenes, acting alongside the female lead, engaging in all sorts of ambiguous actions, making their relationship develop rapidly, escalating from ambiguity to a thin, almost transparent, layer of separation.
What made Dong Ling feel relieved was that there were only fake bed scenes at this stage, no actual passionate scenes, although there were some seemingly insignificant kisses… Dong Ling cried inwardly, insignificant, my ass, but compared to actual sex scenes, it was indeed less awkward.
After the two’s relationship developed, a supporting character who looked somewhat similar to the female lead appeared.
And then… there was no “then”!
Dong Ling was exasperated: [Why are you guys like this with the outlines? And then what?! What happened, what’s this person’s role, are they on the side of good or evil?]
021: [Patience, girl, it’s fine, you’ll find out eventually.]
Dong Ling was speechless, 021 had gone from a greasy middle-aged uncle obsessed with domineering CEO novels to a calm and collected middle-aged man sipping tea and watching the world go by.
Because the one doing the tasks wasn’t this bastard, it didn’t matter how anxious it was.
Sometimes Dong Ling wanted this system to do the tasks itself, but thinking about that scene, forget it, forget it, she wouldn’t defile the male leads.
Although she didn’t know what the next plot point was, Dong Ling could basically conclude that this character was Zhong Zhong, as expected, a character who looked somewhat similar to the female lead and also entered the entertainment industry wouldn’t be an insignificant passerby.
After getting her hair done, Dong Ling sent a message to Yuki, asking her to keep an eye on that artist named Zhong Zhong at Dream Factory, and also to ask when Zhong Zhong would be ready to sign a contract.
Although this might change the future development of the plot, who cared? The plot was already messed up anyway.
Dong Ling arrived at the set. The place was filled with crew members, Yu Shuangwei was adjusting the camera and lighting. Dong Ling lifted her skirt, stepped over the wires, and walked over to Yu Shuangwei.
“Yes, yes, yes! That’s the feeling! Very You Su Changying, later you have to act soft and delicate, but with an inner resilience, both fearful and resentful, wanting to kill her, but also aware of your situation.”
Yu Shuangwei’s instructions were both specific and abstract, like asking for colorful black.
“This eyebrow, extend it a little towards the end of your eye…”
Yu Shuangwei muttered, took an eyebrow pencil from the makeup artist, and carefully drew on Dong Ling’s face.
Her expression was serious and devoted, like treating a piece of art.
Dong Ling knew she wasn’t looking at her, but at the You Su Changying in her work.
When Song Mingzhi entered the palace set, she saw this harmonious eyebrow-drawing scene, the usually aloof director was very close to Dong Ling, her face beaming with joy.
Dong Ling’s clothes were exquisite, the belt accentuating her slender waist, her round shoulders covered with thin gauze, her profile exuding a captivating fragility.
Song Mingzhi thought perhaps she hadn’t yet detached herself from the role, which was why she had such a strong urge to possess and confine Dong Ling upon seeing her.
Dong Ling saw Song Mingzhi arrive from the corner of her eye, but she could only see a blurry figure because she didn’t dare move while Yu Shuangwei was doing her makeup, so she could only wave at Song Mingzhi.
Seeing the hand waving from beneath her sleeve, the gloom in Song Mingzhi’s eyes dissipated, she took a few steps forward and held Dong Ling’s hand.
Dong Ling’s hand was suddenly held, as if frozen in place, she couldn’t move at all.
Zuo Zhen was the only person who came to the set with Song Mingzhi, and seeing this scene, she felt a lump in her throat.
But as an agent, she still had to maintain appearances, although it didn’t make much difference whether she did or not. She looked around, and not seeing anyone secretly taking pictures, she was relieved.
Seeing that Dong Ling’s makeup was even more in line with her vision, Yu Shuangwei nodded with satisfaction and asked Song Mingzhi and Dong Ling to rehearse their positions.
It was mainly Song Mingzhi rehearsing, because Dong Ling’s character just sat on the throne, and then was carried away horizontally, she didn’t have to walk at all.
After Song Mingzhi rehearsed her positions twice, Yu Shuangwei felt it was good enough and asked them to prepare and get into character.
“By the way, can you carry her? No need for a stunt double, right?”
Yu Shuangwei didn’t like actors using stunt doubles, except for special effects scenes, after all, there was no need to make things difficult for actors if it was something non-professionals couldn’t do.
This princess carry did require a certain level of physical strength, especially arm strength, from the actors. Some male actors couldn’t even carry their female co-stars, let alone Song Mingzhi, who was also an actress.
Just as Dong Ling was about to answer that it should be fine, she was lifted into the air, the sudden loss of gravity making her let out a short “Ah,” and she instinctively wrapped her arms around Song Mingzhi’s neck.
Song Mingzhi easily demonstrated for Yu Shuangwei, and Yu Shuangwei nodded with satisfaction: “Not bad.”
Dong Ling hurriedly jumped down from Song Mingzhi’s arms and asked softly with some concern: “Am I too heavy?”
Song Mingzhi was still wearing the prop armor, making it even more difficult to carry her.
Song Mingzhi shook her head, her warm breath brushing against Dong Ling’s ear.
“You’re not heavy, and I’ve been working out consistently, don’t worry, my arms and wrists are strong, I won’t let you fall.”
The warmth of her breath seemed to crawl into Dong Ling’s ear canal, down her throat, and into her blood, making her heart unnaturally hot.
Dong Ling responded softly, then belatedly realized, arm strength was understandable, but why mention wrist strength as well, was it in case she needed to grab her to prevent her from falling?
Yu Shuangwei called for the countdown, and Dong Ling quickly pulled herself out of her confusion and immersed herself in You Su Changying’s emotions.
The iron cavalry of the Great Liang Kingdom had razed her kingdom, the news of the emperor’s death in battle and the fall of the capital quickly spread throughout the palace. The palace staff hurriedly packed whatever they could carry and fled. You Su Changying, as the last member of the royal family, sat on the throne, her soul adrift.
She wanted to die, but didn’t dare to. She didn’t know what she would face, so she could only stare blankly at the entrance of the main hall.
The sound of footsteps arrived before the person, followed closely by the smell of blood.
You Su Changying heard and smelled it, looking at the person stepping through the door with horror.
It was a woman, without any makeup, her helmet removed and thrown on the ground, her blood-stained black hair disheveled, making her look terrifying.
No one would notice how beautiful her face was, only her ambitious and triumphant eyes, like a beast that had just devoured its prey, bloodstains still on the corners of her lips.
“Hmm? There’s another little one here, I’m satisfied with this trophy.”
Liang Jin’an laughed heartily, her sword hanging from her waist, blood dripping from the edge of the scabbard, she pulled it out and threw it aside, it was clear how many people she had killed along the way.
She didn’t refer to herself as “this Empress Dowager,” but “I, the Emperor,” her guards simply pretended not to hear, or perhaps, this was already a tacitly accepted fact.
The fallen princess was lifted like an object, she was so scared she couldn’t speak, her hairpins falling loose as she struggled, her expression panicked and terrified.
She tried to appear calm, but there were tears in her eyes, tears that didn’t fall, like a spring lake.
Liang Jin’an, on the other hand, was exhilarated, the thrill of victory had heightened her emotions to the extreme. Looking back at the palace, she casually threw a lit oil lamp onto some flammable material, and seeing the flames rise, she laughed even more heartily.
“Cut! Perfect!”
Yu Shuangwei yelled with satisfaction, the one take clearly to her liking. She happily let the props team set more things on fire, filming the burning palace.
Crew members outside were standing by with fire extinguishers, ready to put out the fire.
Dong Ling had just detached herself from the character, her legs still weak.
Her acting was just a performance, but when Song Mingzhi entered, that look in her eyes pulled her into the role.
That look wasn’t like Song Mingzhi at all, filled with bloodlust and a cruel desire, full of strangeness.
Dong Ling calmed herself down and looked at the burning set with a stiff expression.
“She’s actually burning it?”
Although the set wasn’t made of solid wood, it was still expensive! Just burning it like this after one take?
Dong Ling finally understood why people in the industry said Yu Shuangwei was meticulous and her productions were expensive, she was too capricious.
“Wait… that’s all money, my heart aches for the investors.”
Although Dong Ling had also invested some money, it wasn’t a significant amount, and she hadn’t even asked who the main investors were.
The main investor was standing quietly beside Dong Ling, nodding in agreement.
Her money was Ling Ling’s money in the future, it was only natural for the future wife to be concerned about the money.
Leave a Reply