Chapter 588 Performance and Actor (5000-word long chapter) Zhuang Sheng got up very early today.
Ye Chu said she wanted him to know exactly what he lacked compared to the cast of "Happiness Street, Please Come In!" Zhuang Sheng, of course, wanted to see. If Ye Chu couldn't produce convincing evidence—actually, there was no "if," because even if Ye Chu had that ability, he didn't think Huang Feizhang and the others could convince him with their acting skills.
During his time working with the crew, he never felt that the people in the film crew were anything special.
Zhuang Sheng didn't have any scenes today. But he still called a makeup artist to give him a makeover from head to toe. He has great taste; he specially wore a new outfit today and changed his hairstyle five or six times. He looked handsome and dashing, radiating youthful energy.
Even his manager, who was furious with him yesterday, couldn't help but say, "You don't have any scenes to film today, so why are you dressed like this? You look like a groom getting into a sedan chair."
At 7:43, Zhuang Sheng arrived at the film set.
Ye Chu hadn't finished her makeup yet. Mei Yaohong, Huang Feizhang, and Fatty Zhang were chatting to the side, their eyes and brows full of joy at their long-awaited reunion.
Zhuang Sheng heard Mei Yaohong say, "Shall we have hot pot together tonight?"
Huang Feizhang said, "Hot pot can go on forever. Xiao Ye is leaving tomorrow, so it's best for him to get some rest."
Fatty Zhang muttered, "Just don't eat roast duck. I feel like throwing up whenever I see roast duck now. Even if Old Ye wants to eat it, it's no good. Tell her to take that duck as far away as possible."
Mei Yaohong giggled and said, "Ye Zi, she..."
As the three were talking, Huang Feizhang suddenly noticed Zhuang Sheng and immediately coughed lightly. All three of them immediately fell silent.
It's always like this.
That uncomfortable feeling is back.
Huang, Mei, and Zhang were very close on set, forming their own little group. Zhuang Sheng usually disliked their behavior, but today that dislike was amplified. If Huang Feizhang hadn't replaced him, he should have been the one standing among the crowd, discussing Ye Chu with such familiarity and closeness.
Zhuang Sheng turned his head away, pretending to be uninterested in the conversation, but did not leave.
At 8:10, Ye Chu finally appeared. Zhuang Sheng was taken aback when he saw her appearance.
Today, Ye Chu looked disheveled and unkempt, a far cry from her radiant appearance yesterday. Her face was painted a sallow color, and it was unclear how the makeup artist managed to do it; in fact, it made her look even thinner, giving her a bitter, wretched look.
As Ye Chu approached, Zhuang Sheng's eyes widened even more: Ye Chu had actually become much shorter!
He had watched the movie "Happiness Street, Please Come In!" countless times. In the movie, Ye Chu was just up to Huang Feizhang's chest, about the same height as Mei Yaohong. But now, Ye Chu visually appeared much shorter than Mei Yaohong.
The trio from Happiness Street also noticed the problem. Mei Yaohong exclaimed, "Ye Zi, why are you hunching over before you've even turned on the machine? It's tiring! Straighten your back!"
Ye Chu shrugged awkwardly, straightened up, and returned to her usual upright and graceful posture. Zhuang Sheng's attention had been entirely on her face, but now he noticed that Ye Chu's clothes and pants were very loose, just enough to cover the curve of her hunched back and shrunk shoulders.
So Ye Chu did it on purpose. Zhuang Sheng thought, Mei Yaohong actually saw through it right away. But it's not a big deal, he just didn't realize it at first.
While Zhuang Sheng was lost in thought, the trio from Happiness Street quickly walked up to Ye Chu and started chattering around her.
“This makeup is awful,” Huang Feizhang stretched out his arm and compared it to Ye Chu’s face. “Her skin is even darker than mine.”
Fatty Zhang chuckled and said, "How can you play a minor role without black dots? On the first day, the team leader dragged me away to be the main character."
Ye Chu laughed loudly: "Who do you think you are? It has to be at least a Grand Special, with no upper limit!"
"What's so great about it?" Mei Yaohong laughed. "The first day after getting into the top university is all glory, but by the end of the month, all that's left is 'glory' and 'emptiness.' The 'wind' of drinking the northwest wind, the 'emptiness' of a penniless pauper..."
The four of them burst into laughter again, a knowing laugh that drew the attention of passing staff.
Zhuang Sheng knew what "big prospects" and "big special" meant: actors who were a level above extras and could appear on camera. But he didn't understand what the others were laughing at.
It's very difficult for contract actors at Hengshi Film and Television Base to get roles; they might only work a few times a year. Their work is even less stable than that of ordinary extras.
Zhuang Sheng was discovered by Ji Juntao because of his looks, and his first role was the third male lead. He had never played a minor role before, nor had he ever competed for opportunities in a group like ordinary actors. Of course, he wouldn't understand this insider's bitter joke.
As the group continued chatting and laughing, Zhuang Sheng felt it necessary to draw Ye Chu's attention to him. Just as he was about to step forward, a glance out of the corner of his eye revealed that Wu Jianing had also arrived on set at some point.
Zhuang Sheng had read the full script; Wu Jianing and Ye Chu didn't have any scenes together. That meant she didn't have any scenes today. Yet, she unusually got up very early. Zhuang Sheng frowned and turned to ask, "What are you doing here?"
"You're allowed to come, but I'm not?" Wu Jianing was holding a script and looking down at something.
Zhuang Sheng then guessed that Wu Jianing also wanted to see how the top star acted. Her submission yesterday was to the power that Ye Chu represented, not to Ye Chu herself. Just like Zhuang Sheng, she also wanted to see how much of Ye Chu's talent was genuine.
Zhuang Sheng thought disdainfully, "Do you think Ye Chu is worthy of being tested?"
Just then, Ye Chu, who was talking to Mei Yaohong and the others, suddenly turned her head, and Zhuang Sheng clearly saw her eyes light up.
Zhuang Sheng's heart skipped a beat. Could it be...?
Ye Chu rushed up, perfectly brushing past Zhuang Sheng, and exclaimed in surprise, "Teacher! When did you arrive?"
Zhuang Sheng turned her head and saw Teacher Qi Ming standing not far behind her. Ye Chu excitedly pounced on her, and Teacher Qi Ming patted her head and said, "How was it in Yinzhou? I heard it's cooler there than here."
"It's nothing special, just the difference between a steamer and an oven," Ye Chu laughed. "How are you doing on set? Did you like the Haicheng specialties I sent you last time?"
Teacher Qi Ming waved his hand as he walked: "It's too sweet. I like it, but I'm afraid if I eat too much, I'll have to take insulin. Oh, Xiao Zhuang, Xiao Wu, good morning."
Wu Jianing quickly responded, "Good morning, Teacher Qi!" and then went forward with a smile to help Teacher Qi Ming's arm.
Zhuang Sheng found her behavior utterly distasteful. Wu Jianing was always fawning over Teacher Qi Ming on set, and now she was putting on an even bigger act in front of Ye Chu. Disgusting. Ye Chu would only dislike her more because of it.
"Mmm," Teacher Qi Ming nodded, subtly sliding his arm out, "You go ahead with your work, I'm going to talk to Xiao Ye for a bit."
Wu Jianing showed no embarrassment whatsoever, and sweetly said, "Then you and Teacher Ye can chat first~"
Zhuang Sheng thought to himself, "Wu Jianing is really shameless."
Ye Chu and Teacher Qi Ming were closer than the others, and they talked for a long time. Zhuang Sheng listened, mostly Ye Chu talking and Teacher Qi Ming listening. There were insights into acting, confusion on set, and some questions about "The Legend of Happiness Street". Apart from the lines, Zhuang Sheng had never heard Ye Chu talk so much or ask so many questions before.
“Yes, yes,” Zhuang Sheng heard Teacher Qi Ming say, “Who did you learn all this from? You’ve met a great director.”
After Ye Chu said something, Qi Ming laughed and said, "Him? He's really good. He's easygoing, and except when he's filming, he's polite to everyone..."
Throughout the entire process, Ye Chu did not glance at Zhuang Sheng once.
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Filming has officially begun.
The first scene, naturally, is when Ye Chu walks into the bookstore and tells Grandma Hu that her dream is to become an actress.
Zhuang Sheng watched intently from the side.
"Action!"
Ye Chu's costume in this scene was quite comical; it was a cartoon mascot costume sponsored by a milk tea advertiser—a snowman with a pointed nose. Ye Chu was completely wrapped in the chubby snowman mascot costume, with not a single hair showing.
Ye Chu, the snowman, strode over on her two chubby, short doll-like legs.
The snowman stood in front of the bookstore.
Despite not making any movement, Zhuang Sheng strangely sensed a desolate aura emanating from a snowman doll.
After remaining silent in front of the bookstore for a long time, Ye Chu took off the doll's headgear.
Zhuang Sheng kept wondering what expression Ye Chu would have under the hood? Tired, speechless, expectant, longing, moved?
The moment Ye Chu's face was revealed, Zhuang Sheng was surprised to find that all his guesses were wrong.
Ye Chu's expression was surprisingly serious!
Not only was her expression solemn, but her movements were also dignified. Ye Chu removed her hood with measured steps, like a general removing his helmet. She held the helmet solemnly, even straightening her body and puffing out her chest.
The snowman's plump belly jiggled with her movements, as smooth as milk wrapped in a plastic bag.
Ye Chu walked with measured steps, neither too fast nor too slow. His gaze swept around the room, like a lion surveying its territory. Zhuang Sheng even seemed to hear the crackling of tiny flames.
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